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To paraphrase the D-O-double G (Snoop, not Road), we have hit, legit, and now we're on parole. Or, for a proper wrestling reference, cSs...is...Rueter!
Welcome, to the first edition of the Smark's Shoot Standings (S3) written by someone with their name on the masthead. But I'm still the same 's1rude' at heart.
Hopefully, everyone enjoys seeing your comments and votes in a brighter spotlight, because otherwise it's business as usual here at the S3. You comment with the top three people who entertained you the most from the previous week (Monday - Sunday) of television programming from TNA and WWE. And/or weigh in via mouse click for your top performer in our poll. We assign points to everyone's votes and compile an aggregate list of the best of the week. Based on those weekly standings, points are awarded toward our Performer of the Year rankings.
If that's a little unclear, follow along with the excellent crew of Cagesiders who make this thing hum week in and week out. It's a good bit of fun, and provides an interesting glimpse into how the internet wrestling community (IWC) views what the two nationally televised promotions serve up every seven days.
Remember, the Standings are for the previous week - the January 7th episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Wednesday night's WWE Main Event, TNA Impact Wrestling from January 10th, Friday the 11th's airing of WWE SmackDown and TNA's Genesis 2013 pay-per-view (PPV) from Sunday, January 13th.
Make YOUR mark, smarks!
So, due to legal concerns (I can't afford to get sued) the "'witty' caption on a random pic I found on the internet of the winner" portion of the S3 is hereby discontinued. This week, we'll feature a particularly bad ass tweet from the dude who took number one:
I’m Swiss, not Swedish. It’s Cesaro, not Cesario. If you approach me you call me "Sir". Use "please" if you ask me for something #USChampion
— Antonio Cesaro (@AntonioCesaro) January 13, 2013
- Neutralizer on a Punjabi giant = win, vincere, gewinnen, gagner and victoria.
- The foreign invasion of your standings consumes the top three, as the new Intercontinental Champion, the new (baby)face of WWE's Latino marketing efforts and his adorable little buddy had the week on lock.
- A strong showing by a female wrestler in an actual wrestling match was enough to earn the first place vote of the S3's favorite TNA aficionado Flyingpigs.
- A lot of people got a little bit of love as there was a sister kissing party in our sixth spot. Hell No and Randy Orton represented for shows that air on Comcast-owned media outlets; while the champ, one of his challengers and a damn funny tag team heel showed up for the one on a Viacom channel.
The S3 - Week Ending January 6
1. Antonio Cesaro
2. Wade Barrett
3. (tie) Alberto Del Rio
3. (tie) Ricardo Rodriguez
5. Gail Kim
6. (tie) Daniel Bryan
6. (tie) Bobby Roode
6. (tie) Kane
6. (tie) Randy Orton
6. (tie) Jeff Hardy
6. (tie) Kazarian
Punk's ascendance into what is shaping up to be a legendary main event feud may end up making our annual contest an even bigger blowout than it already looked to be.
But there's still intrigue in the two through six slots amongst former indy talents and smark faves...think of it as a contest for WWE's World Heavyweight Championship. And that makes 7 on down the IC belt, and there is a ton of action going on there as evidenced by the recent moves by guys like Del Rio and Cesaro.
The S3 Performer of the Year - through the Week Ending January 6
1. CM Punk - 219 points
2. Daniel Bryan - 174
3. Dolph Ziggler - 141
4. Austin Aries - 134.5
5. AJ Lee - 133.5
6. Damien Sandow - 114.33
7.Bobby Roode - 74
8. Big Show - 72.5
9. Antonio Cesaro - 66.5
10. Alberto Del Rio - 64.25
There was a lot of great stuff happening in WWE last week, and I can't wait to see how you smarks decide to dole out your votes. Will TNA get lost in the shuffle even in a week where they pushed their big Hogan angle to the sky and held a PPV? Catch up on all of last week's action with the Cageside Seats' Week in Wrestling and the live match coverage of Genesis.
Feel free to ask any questions about voting and ties, too. Either I, or one of our regulars, will be happy to assist. The S3 are your Standings, Smarks. Shoot away!