TSM/PWI Best Wrestler of 2006 Sweet 16

[King Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1437209058788851713

Our next tournament after this.

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.

Round 2 had more upsets than Round 1, with the first 1 seed being knocked out (Sorry Edge)

McMahon Bracket
1. John Cena Vs 4. Bryan Danielson
2. Kenta Kobashi Vs 14. CIMA

Misawa Bracket
1. Kurt Angle Vs 12. Nigel McGuinness
7. Sting Vs 6. Batista

Inoki Bracket
9. CM Punk Vs 5. King Booker
2. Rey Mysterio Vs 11. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Carter Bracket
1. Samoa Joe Vs 4. AJ Styles
2. Mistico Vs 3. Christian

 

[tekcop]

1. John Cena Vs 4. Bryan Danielson
2. Kenta Kobashi Vs 14. CIMA

1. Kurt Angle Vs 12. Nigel McGuinness
7. Sting Vs 6. Batista

9. CM Punk Vs 5. King Booker
2. Rey Mysterio Vs 11. Hiroshi Tanahashi

1. Samoa Joe Vs 4. AJ Styles
2. Mistico Vs 3. Christian

 

[Laz]

McMahon Bracket
4. Bryan Danielson
2. Kenta Kobashi

Misawa Bracket
12. Nigel McGuinness
7. Sting

Inoki Bracket
5. King Booker
2. Rey Mysterio

Carter Bracket
4. AJ Styles
3. Christian

 

[Super Leather]

McMahon Bracket
Bryan Danielson
Kenta Kobashi

Misawa Bracket
Kurt Angle
Batista

Inoki Bracket
CM Punk
Rey Mysterio

Carter Bracket
AJ Styles
Christian

 

[King Kamala]

McMahon Bracket
1. John Cena Vs 4. Bryan Danielson: Got to give nod to my fellow NEW ENGLAND MAN for having a great year on a bigger stage. ONS '06 and 2nd best feud of his career against Edge swung the vote to his pendulum.
2. Kenta Kobashi Vs 14. CIMA: Can Kenta win two of these tourneys in a row? No. He will lose in the next round.

Misawa Bracket
1. Kurt Angle Vs 12. Nigel McGuinness: Not the best year of his career or maybe not even in his Top 5 but he deserves credit for having a real good year while having a complete breakdown IRL. But he did win an Olympic Gold Medal with a BROKEN FRIGGIN NECK so anything is possible.
7. Sting Vs 6. Batista: Batista's '05-'06 stunk outside of the Eddie feud and the HIAC with Triple H (which I think is just before this cutoff period). This was the year where Sting cared about wrestling again for the first time since '97.

Inoki Bracket
9. CM Punk Vs 5. King Booker: ALL HAIL.
2. Rey Mysterio Vs 11. Hiroshi Tanahashi: Cursing under my breath that NJPW didn't give this match to us a few years ago. Face Vs Face matches usually stink and non WWE 20th Century Rey matches usually feel v. half assed but I wanted to see two of the best faces of the past 30 years go at it, damn it!

Carter Bracket
1. Samoa Joe Vs 4. AJ Styles: Still feel this might be Joe's tournament to win.
2. Mistico Vs 3. Christian: I feel like this and 2011 (which incidentally is next tournament) are only two periods where Edge Vs Christian: Which of the two will be the bigger star was somewhat legitimate debate.

 

[Brocklock]

McMahon Bracket
4. Bryan Danielson
2. Kenta Kobashi

Misawa Bracket
1. Kurt Angle
6. Batista

Inoki Bracket
9. CM Punk
2. Rey Mysterio

Carter Bracket
1. Samoa Joe
3. Christian

 

[Youth N Asia]

McMahon Bracket
1. John Cena
14. CIMA

Misawa Bracket
1. Kurt Angle
6. Batista

Inoki Bracket
9. CM Punk
2. Rey Mysterio

Carter Bracket
4. AJ Styles
3. Christian

 

[Laz]

To argue against Cena:
2006 is, arguably, the single year that stands out the most for Bryan Danielson on a pure in-ring level. Great run as ROH World champ, his first classic with Nigel McGuinness, and a great loss of the ROH World title to Homicide after the inexplicably amazing ROH/CZW war.

Cena needed Edge and a hot pro-RVD crowd to be worthwhile. Bryan just needed a body across the ring.

 

[King Kamala]

I know I sound like a WWE/big company cuck but size and scope of the match matter too to my votings. To paraphrase Chris Jericho, a great match at an untelevised event matters to only the people who were there. Having a great match at a huge PPV is remembered by thousands. ROH was (was?) essentially a super indie. Anyway, I try to take a mark-ish mindset for my voting but obviously, if you're voting by workrate/match mindset then Bryan is obvious choice 99 times out of 100.

Anyway, hump de bump for last day of voting.

 

[King Kamala]

TIEBREAKER NEEDED

1. Samoa Joe Vs 4. AJ Styles

 

[cobainwasmurdered]

forgot to vote in this.

joe