TSM/PWI Best Wrestler of 2006 Elite Eight (Voting ends 9/21 at 10 PM EST)

[King Kamala]

Taking the Top 64 from the 2006 PWI 500 and deciding who we think was the best wrestler of the time period.

PWI's ranking period is from July 1st, 2005 through June 30th, 2006. We're only considering these guys' work during that timeframe.

This has been our least upset heavy tournament ever. No scratch matchups or anything but only two out of the final 8 are below a 4 seed. Did PWI get less shitty at ranking as time goes on? Be curious to see if the 2011 and 2021 tournaments at the end of this year/beginning of next year trend similarly.

McMahon Bracket Finals
2. Kenta Kobashi Vs 4. Bryan Danielson

Misawa Bracket Finals
1. Kurt Angle Vs 6. Batista

Inoki Bracket Finals
2. Rey Mysterio Vs 9. CM Punk

Carter Bracket Finals
1. Samoa Joe Vs 3. Christian Cage

 

[tekcop]

2. Kenta Kobashi Vs 4. Bryan Danielson (Two of my all time faves. Honestly could flip a coin here. But if we're following 'stardom' logic, Kobashi main eventing big shows lets him eke out the win here.)

1. Kurt Angle Vs 6. Batista

2. Rey Mysterio Vs 9. CM Punk

1. Samoa Joe Vs 3. Christian Cage

 

[Brocklock]

McMahon Bracket Finals
4. Bryan Danielson

Misawa Bracket Finals
1. Kurt Angle

Inoki Bracket Finals
2. Rey Mysterio

Carter Bracket Finals
1. Samoa Joe

 

[Hawk 34]

Dragon
Angle
Punk
Joe.

also a fun side quest to these final 8’s: what card would you create with these participants at this time?

 

[Super Leather]

Bryan Danielson
Kurt Angle
CM Punk
Samoa Joe

 

[Laz]

McMahon Bracket Finals
2. Kenta Kobashi Vs 4. Bryan Danielso

Misawa Bracket Finals
1. Kurt Angle Vs 6. Batista

Inoki Bracket Finals
2. Rey Mysterio Vs 9. CM Punk

Carter Bracket Finals
1. Samoa Joe Vs 3. Christian Cage

 

[King Kamala]

McMahon Bracket Finals
2. Kenta Kobashi Vs 4. Bryan Danielson: again like Danielson's last matchup, if we're judging purely on workrate, he'd be contender for Wrestler of the Year but it's a matter of scale of those great matches as well.

Misawa Bracket Finals
1. Kurt Angle Vs 6. Batista: Genuinely kind of surprised Batista's made it this far. To me, he didn't really find his footing as a main eventer truly until the Undertaker/Edge feuds a year or so later. Angle, as far as I'm concerned, despite the plethora of personal issues was still in his prime.

Inoki Bracket Finals
2. Rey Mysterio Vs 9. CM Punk : very surprised that Rey Mysterio Jr made it this far since for my money, this was probably the worst year of his career from the time he debuted on US scene in '95ish until like the mid 2010s when his injuries hobbled him. Summer of Punk > DO IT FOR EDDIE/EDDIE'S IN HELL, REY era 1000 times out of a 1000.

Carter Bracket Finals
1. Samoa Joe Vs 3. Christian Cage: Another no brainer. As great as Christian's '05-'06 was, Joe's '05-'06 is probably in the argument for best year a wrestler has had in North American wrestling so far this century. Wouldn't necessarily it's at the very top but definitely in the discussion.

 

[King Kamala]

also a fun side quest to these final 8’s: what card would you create with these participants at this time?

Are we talking about the 2006 versions or the 2021 versions? I feel like the latter would quickly resemble an infirmary.

 

[cobainwasmurdered]

McMahon Bracket Finals
2. Kenta Kobashi (both had tons of great matches but Kobashi is just a bigger deal and did bigger things)

Misawa Bracket Finals
1. Kurt Angle

Inoki Bracket Finals
CM Punk

Carter Bracket Finals
1. Samoa Joe

 

[Brocklock]

Rey brought it big time in the ring no matter the opponent during this period. He had some great stuff with a variety of opponents. He had a really long Smackdown match with Orton that is still one of my favorite Orton matches. His tag stuff with Batista is really good too. I think it's a lost era for Rey in ring at least because the booking of him was so bad. But, if you look there's a lot of good stuff. Here's some matches I would recommend.

vs Super Crazy - Smackdown 7/19/05
vs Eddie Guerrero - Great American Bash 05 (Good babyface work from Rey as Eddie is really good and slimy in the role. Good psychology)
vs Christian - Smackdown 8/2/05
vs Eddie Guerrero - Summerslam 05
vs JBL - No Mercy 05
with Matt Hardy vs Snitsky and Chris Masters - Taboo Tuesday 05 (Weirdly fun tag match with the babyface team busting ass to make Snitsky and a green Masters look good)
vs Shawn Michaels - Raw Eddie Tribute Show
w Batista vs MNM - Smackdown 12/13/05 (Highly Recommend)
w Batista vs MNM - Smackdown 12/27/05
w Batista vs MNM - Smackdown 1/3/06 Cage Match
vs Mark Henry - Smackdown 1/15/06 (Maybe Henry's breakout match for me)
with Lashley/Benoit vs JBL/Orton/Finlay - Smackdown 2/21/06
vs Fit Finlay - Smackdown 3/20/06 ( Highly Recommend)
vs Kurt Angle - Smackdown 3/28/06
vs Randy Orton - Smackdown 4/4/06 (Highly Recommend)
vs JBL - Judgment Day 2006
vs Kurt Angle - Smackdown 6/2/06
vs Rob Van Dam - ECW Head To Head 6/7/06
vs Sabu - One Night Stand 06 (Finish is whack, but this was really good before)
vs Mark Henry - Smackdown 6/20/06

He was one of the more consistent in ring workers in both 2005 and 2006 imo.

 

[King Kamala]

Yeah and the bad stuff from Rey's '05-'06 is almost 100% not his fault but he was booked so poorly in the back half of this period that it's so hard for me to vote for him against anyone who had a halfway decent year.

 

[Hawk 34]

Are we talking about the 2006 versions or the 2021 versions? I feel like the latter would quickly resemble an infirmary.

The time of the tournament, you silly.

 

[King Kamala]

Well I assumed that but wanted to double check since the wording confused me.

I'd say
Kurt Angle Vs Kenta Kobashi
Samoa Joe Vs Batista
Bryan Danielson Vs Rey Mysterio
CM Punk Vs Christian Cage

 

[King Kamala]

Less than 12 hours left for voting.