21st Century Fantasy Wrestling Draft

[Big Papa Paegan]

Is it allowed to draft a tag team in one pick if you forego the second round, particularly if drafted/booked AS A TEAM, or is the 2-for-1 only good after round 20?

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

2 for ones are only good for after Round 24

 

[Hawk 34]

All State Arena at the Rosemont Horizon

My selection will be one of the most versatile performers of this century, a man who has worn many hats and been a top star attraction for three major companies. I will lock in on what I felt was his overall creative and quality peak as a performer and that from his proclaimed “Best in the world at what it is he does” era and that’s is...

CHRIS JERICHO

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

And that was my first choice for wrestler and venue. I guess that's what I get for temporarily forgetting Hawk.

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

That guy was totally on my list, and that same era, no less. Great pick, Hawk.

For my venue, I'm going with somewhere that was home to my one of my favorite wrestling moments of all-time (Cruiserweight Battle Royal, WCW SlamBoree 1998), one where I saw my first concert, attended a SmackDown taping, a TNA house show, and used to regularly attend the Rock n' Shock convention. It's located in the heart of Worcester, down the street from the dilapidated Palladium, and just blocks away from the death trap that is Kelley Square. Where better to host my card filled with grit? I'm talking, of course, about the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.

As for my first pick, I'm nabbing one of the biggest stars of the last 20 years, a man who put on a few classics in the first few fleeting years of his professional wrestling career, whose return has seen mixed results, but whose legitimate credentials cannot be questioned. I'm talking about the NEXT BIG THING...

...BROCK LESNAR (circa 2003)

 

[Baby Shoes]

We setting up shop on the site of the largest wrestling attendance site of all-time - AT&T Stadium in Dallas, TX

Who will it take to fill that building? How about THE ROCK

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

My work computer is old and janky so I'll have to add in a picture later.

Seems like we have an East Coast (or Far East Coast in CWM and Tekcop's case) bias for most of the picks. I'm gonna take my show to the West and to the entertainment capital of the US. This venue has hosted its fair share of wrestling events in the '90s but has recently become AEW's Perhaps more notably, it was home to a lot of great boxing matches since the '90s, which will lend a big fight feel to the main event of my show!

The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

I'm pleasantly surprised that this guy fell to me. He wasn't on my draft board cause I assumed he'd be a Top 5 pick but excited that everyone ahead of me passed him up. I think he was the most exciting thing to happen so far this century in pro wrestling. One of the best promos of all time and excellent as a heel and face as well as a hell of a worker.

With my first selection, I'm proud to select...

https://youtu.be/wroqcQVcoIg
CM Punk ( Summer 2011 era)

 

[Brooklyn Zoo]

Eddie Guerrero

Staples Center

 

[909]

I thought about what I would do with these picks for a little while, and everyone who I thought would be gone is gone. This is still not easy, but...

Shawn Michaels (2005 era HBK is the best one)

Rey Mysterio Jr. (in his prime of course)

And for a venue I'll go with Metlife Stadium.

 

[Brocklock]

Ah damn, I was hoping everyone would forget about Rey.

 

[Brooklyn Zoo]

AJ Styles

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

This was coin flip pick for me but ultimately, I went with the bigger star over the guy who could probably have the ***** classic with Punk. This might be a somewhat controversial pick because of era. But I want a guy who isn't gonna put up with CM Punk being a wiseass and will be able to put him in his place and fight from underneath to draw some great babyface sympathy. I could also have them flip places and have Punk being the obnoxious heel and this pick be the tough old gunslinger babyface. I also want someone who has legit credibility to add the big fight feel I'm going for.

These guys did feud IRL and had a match that was probably the last great match of both guys career (well, after this weekend, I should preface that with arguably, last great match). But I think this feud/match would even be better.

https://youtu.be/wGrdVh8pbpY
"Big Red Evil" The Undertaker

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

Great call there. If the Taker/Punk match had more intrigue around it, as if there were a chance Punk could've actually won? We'd be talking about it in the same scope as the matches with HBK.

 

[Baby Shoes]

Dang. I had a reach pick I was thinking I was going to do but how often can you get a FRANCHISE in the second round?

big match JOHN CENA

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

I was mildly surprised that Cena fell almost to the middle of the 2nd round but then I remembered we're all jaded, cynical thirtysomethings and are target demographic Cena haters...

Being said, I think he is worthy of being a top pick and it obviously ran across my mind to pick him with my 2nd pick (although he is not the guy I did a coin flip over Vs Taker with my last pick) since he is a natural rival of Punk. History will look back mostly fondly on Cena, unlike some of his '00s WWE contemporaries.

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

I need to get somebody who can go 1-on-1 with peak Lesnar and not only be a believable threat, in terms of both ability and presence, but also be willing to work with him on every conceivable level. He'll make Brock look great and, at the same time, make himself look great by giving as much as he can take. Ladies and gentlemen. Please say hello to the Samoan Submission Machine...

SAMOA JOE

 

[Hawk 34]

And laz turns it back on me taking the target I had in mind. 04 Joe against 08 Jericho was the plan. Back to the board.

 

[Hawk 34]

I need someone that is just a great face that can be a workhorse and when he gets to be his authentic self, he oozes coolness and the audience loves him for it and that’s what I’m going to utilize here with my second selection that I feel can be a great adversary for Chris Jericho.

ITS ROMAN REIGNS, Y’ALL!

 

[OG]

The key for me is versatility. Need a guy who can be a heel or a face, either draw on top against Austin or have a show stealing match in the midcard. This may be a reach but there aren't a lot of guys that fit that criteria.

Edge (Rated R Superstar era, circe 2007)

 

[tekcop]

I'm building a card I want to watch and a show with Minoru Suzuki will always be a card I want to watch. A bad man who does bad things. 2004 version specifically.

 

[Brocklock]

I was mildly surprised that Cena fell almost to the middle of the 2nd round but then I remembered we're all jaded, cynical thirtysomethings and are target demographic Cena haters...

Being said, I think he is worthy of being a top pick and it obviously ran across my mind to pick him with my 2nd pick (although he is not the guy I did a coin flip over Vs Taker with my last pick) since he is a natural rival of Punk. History will look back mostly fondly on Cena, unlike some of his '00s WWE contemporaries.

If I was picking around 5 or 6 I would've taken Cena. I just wanted to snag Danielson whenever I could. He's Big Match Jahn and people here should Never Give Up.

 

[cobainwasmurdered]

I've already got one of the greatest champions ever, now I'm going to take another:

Kenta Kobashi specifically from his legendary 2003-05 GHC reign.

 

[Brocklock]

I was gonna go with a grittier card with hard hitting matches, but I didn't think this guy would still be around. One of the best big match main event workers of the last twenty years. I choose

Hiroshi Tanahashi (Circa 2012 Main Event Ace Champion)

 

[cobainwasmurdered]

Tana and Misu were both very much on my list. Great picks

 

[Brooklyn Zoo]

I was mildly surprised that Cena fell almost to the middle of the 2nd round but then I remembered we're all jaded, cynical thirtysomethings and are target demographic Cena haters...

Being said, I think he is worthy of being a top pick and it obviously ran across my mind to pick him with my 2nd pick (although he is not the guy I did a coin flip over Vs Taker with my last pick) since he is a natural rival of Punk. History will look back mostly fondly on Cena, unlike some of his '00s WWE contemporaries.

If I was picking around 5 or 6 I would've taken Cena. I just wanted to snag Danielson whenever I could. He's Big Match Jahn and people here should Never Give Up.

Was going to take Cena but last sec took AJ cause we didn’t see that match, I don’t think (Eddie/AJ)

 

[Baby Shoes]

May not be the best game plan but I’m working with most interesting names first and then figuring out what version of the wrestler and I’m using and what matches.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Interesting to see that puroresu has gotten a lot more popular since our last draft.

I was reading the 2012 draft here out of boredom and I just picked a bunch of puro guys mostly cause they were available and p much had no idea what to do with any of them. I had Tana work a sleazy but pre dickflip, TNA lower mid carder era Joey Ryan

Edit---wait a second, Joey Ryan is a lower midcarder in TNA/Impact now too. But it's post dickflip era I guess.

Edit edit---sorry if anyone is mad cause they're planning on picking Joey Ryan next.

 

[Master Thrasher]

HHH

Probably not the best choice but he was over when he came back in 2003, Hulk Hogan.

 

[Baby Shoes]

Get my talent out of your pick pic, bro

 

[Master Thrasher]

No one likes to admit that Hogan carried him during the match.