In my January Athlete of the Month post, I began rolling out some of my pre-blog archives (archives being the word I'm using to describe a literal lifetime of inveterate list-making; I was not so much for the playing with the other children, but I sure liked composing a list of the Ten Best Happy Days Episodes during recess; were I a couple of decades younger, I would have lived entirely a virtual life, unencumbered by human interaction; this either would make me perfectly suited to earn a living writing the blogs that instead I do entirely for free - or would mean I would have flunked out of undergrad and be working part time at a baseball card shop) to list my 1990 Athletes of the Week/Month/Year.
Another list I keep is my prediction on the point spread outcome of every Super Bowl since 1990. I became aware of the point spread over ten years earlier; I got into a pretty good shouting match when I was nine over a disputed call in a Steeler/Oiler Monday Night game that cost me five dollars; how did a nine year old go about understanding the betting line on a football game? Have you met my mother?
But I've only kept the records for the past 20 Super Bowls.
Here are the salient details.
A. I've lost 4 straight. I had the outright winner last year and in 2007, but not with the number.
B. I've taken some pretty solid beatings on Super Sunday this century. I had the Rams giving -14 to the Pats, the Raiders giving 4 to the Bucs, and the Pats giving a dozen to New York.
C. I am, sort of remarkably given the context of this season, dead at .500. 9-9-2 picking the last 20 super Bowls. I say that because, picking every game this year and the first two rounds of the playoffs - I was exactly .500. I won both conference championship games, including getting the NFC both right straight up (Saints) and against the number (taking 3 1/2 and the Vikes).
That victory means I'm over level for the season regardless of the outcome of the game - but wouldn't that be a helluva thing - if not only were I playing to nudge over .500 for the year - but for my lifetime of making Super Bowl picks as well (this is really far fetched, as the first Super Bowl I ever picked was 32 years ago, but, for the sake of the story, and because I don't have a piece of paper to attest otherwise, we're going to start with 1990.)
I picked this year's game back in Sunday's Tendown. I'm going to copy it below, but first, some additional thoughts:
I see more running in this game than the public thinks - the Saints were 5th in the NFL in carries and defensively they don't put up much fight against the run, so it makes sense for both sides to put a little less air in the ball than the public believes it will see.
The total 56.5, will be the highest over/under at kickoff in SB history. I see three currents that you might be able to swim against (1) the Manning narrative; the overarching story during the run to the game is Manning's place in QB history; there's a lot of public belief that he's going to have one of those Montana 4 TD games (2) the Saints gave up 500 yards to the Vikes and (3) everyone watches the SB, people like to see points - so they're betting on the game they want to see.
So - I like the under.
And then I like some of the inflated numbers that go with that under.
Total completions for Brees - under 24.5
Total attempts for Brees - under 35.5
Additional props I like:
-Shots on TV of Archie Manning over 2.5
-Shots on TV of Eli Manning over 2.5
-Will there be 3 consecutive scores by one team - yes
-Will there be a touchdown of over 51.5 yards - No
-Robert Meachem over 3 receptions
-Jeremy Shockey under 3.5 receptions
-Will Darren Sharper intercept a pass - No
Finally, Pierre Garcon is 15-1 to win MVP; given the Haiti situation, if he scores a couple of TDs I think a tie between he and Manning is in the cards. That's worth a flyer.
That's 10 bets beyond the side and total. If you also play Colts on the moneyline, that's 13. 13 plays!
You win, consider the tip jar. What's a better deal than that?
Here's the pick from Sunday:
Last Week, I gave you both conference championship winners - both straight up and against the number, and that required a little needle threading, as I had to pick the Saints outright - but the Vikes plus the 3 1/2. And as you can read, I did.
So, while I was dead at .500 for the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs, I was a little better than that this week.
Which is why it's here as one of the best elements of the week. Because I like to be right (I also picked Colts/Saints at the top of the playoffs to make the SB) more than I like to be anything (I'd trade right for wealthy; you can pick any belief I've ever offered, if you want to trade it for real money, I'm open to discussion. Yup, that's where we are in 2010).
And I have a Super Bowl pick.
And here it is.
Colts to win. Saints to cover. I'm threading the needle again.
Colts are the better team, but just by a little bit, one point, two points - after the conference title games I thought 4 would be the number, that anything under 4 and I take the Colts, anything over four and I take the Saints.
Right now, Sunday afternoon, one week before kick, the number is 5 1/2.
Take it. (I mean, if you have to play; if you don't, don't play, it's just one game. Play season long win totals instead; if you pay attention when I do my preseason picks - in baseball, NBA, NFL, you'll see that I give suggestions about which win totals I most like - go back if you're inclined to those picks, from MLB in 2009 to NFL and NBA right now - and NCAAF too, you'll see real success, real demonstrable success, in the totals where I say I have the most confidence - really, this past year I have had a nearly perfect, in fact, maybe a completely perfect, mark. So, don't play the SB.)
But if you have to play, play the dog. Let the public bet Manning. Play the dog. And if it climbs to 7, then, even if you don't play, that becomes a really attractive number.
Or - ignore the game altogether and watch the Super Bowl as directed by Tarantino.
The Top 100 Wrestlers in the World, 2010-11
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Occasionally, I write about wrestling. Like here. Or here. Or here. I could keep going. But you see my point (or "catch my drift", which I hear all the cool kids saying these days; with their slicked back hair and their windbreakers. You kids in your windbreakers get out of my yard!).
For about a decade, approximately every other year I've sat down to systematically construct a top 100 wrestlers in the world list; it's not an all-time value list, nor is it a snapshot of this second ('cause dudes get knee injuries) instead it's what you'd conventionally think of when asking - "okay, who are the best wrestlers?"
Unless by "who are the best wrestlers?" what you think of is impact on the business or the ability to draw money or memorable promos. I don't care about any of that. I look at a wrestling match the same way I look at a television show and evaluate its quality based on some normative standard of excellence that exists in my head. If I can say "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is a better show than "Two and A Half Men" which is utterly without qualification or any interest in a view contrary - I can make the same claim about a wrestler, even if he draws less money.
I also don't watch a lot of lucha. I'm sorry.
With that - The Top 100 Wrestlers in the World, 2010-11 version.
101. Takuya Sugawara - Zero One
-Not on the list is Sugawara; I've decided that's where the line is, to make the list, you have to be better than he is; sort of like Duke Snider on my baseball list.
100. Manabu Nakanishi - New Japan
99. Paul London - Independent
98. Walter Inoue - New Japan
97. Doug Williams - TNA
96. Tomohiro Ishii - New Japan
95. Fit Finlay - WWE
94. Chris Sabin - TNA
93. Mistico - CMLL
92. Shuji Kondo - All Japan
91. Teddy Hart - AAA
Probably, this will be the last time on the list for Nakanishi and Fit, given their age; Kondo and Mistico are both lower than they were two years ago; I like both Ishii and Inoue and think they could move in either direction over the next couple of years; I'm probably a little too hard on Sabin; I don't know what's gonna happen with London, his career path is up in the air as of this writing - and I'm a Teddy Hart mark, I like that whole shtick, I'd like to see him come back to the states; I'd think, even with the baggage, it would make sense for TNA to capitalize on his name.
90. Takayuki Iizuka - New Japan
89. Kenta Kobashi - NOAH
88. Makoto Oishi - KDojo
87. Jack Evans - AAA
86. Akihiko Ito - NOAH
85. Testsuya Naito - New Japan
84. John Morrison - WWE
83. Claudio Castagnoli - ROH
82. Koji Kanemoto - New Japan
81. Yujio Takahashi - New Japan
Iizuka got picked over a big group of Big Japan guys; I wound up taking just a couple of the BJ garbage wrestlers for this list, as I find it hard to incorporate most of them into this analysis but I think the best of those light tube matches are really good. We get a bunch of juniors here - both Yujio and Naito, young Oishi and Ito and not so young Kanemoto. Claudio has really improved in the last few months and could be poised for a workrate breakout; Morrison's here instead of Shelton Benjamin or MVP or both Young Bucks; and Kobashi's the greatest wrestler who ever lived but health is a skill he no longer possesses.
80. Toru Yano - New Japan
79. Minoru Fujita - Zero One
78. Satoshi Kojima - All Japan
77. Masaaki Mochizuki - Dragons Gate
76. Kenny Omega - PWG
75. Jun Akiyama - NOAH
74. Takeshi Sasaki - Big Japan
73. Yoshinobu Kanemaru - NOAH
72. Kagetora - Dragons Gate
71. Kengo Mashimo - KDojo
-I love Akiyama, think he's incredibly underrated historically, but he's apparently wrapping it up this year; Sasaki is one of the BJ garbage workers who I like a lot and put here; I like Omega but the comedy wears me out a little bit, Kanemaru's uneven, Mochizuki and Kojima are on the back sides of their productive careers, then there are the juniors and the lesser half of a longstanding good NJ tag team.
70. Genki Horiguchi - Dragons Gate
69. Kohei Sato - Zero One
68. Ryouji Sai - Zero One
67. Isami Kodoka - Big Japan
66. Masashi Takeda - Big Japan
65. Homicide - TNA
64. Ricky Marvin - NOAH
63. Evan Bourne - WWE
62. Brian Kendrick - TNA
61. Kevin Steen - ROH
Hard for me to separate Sato/Sai and Kodoka/Takeda; Horiguchi maybe should be higher than this - Homicide maybe should be lower, he's hard to evaluate given how little he's asked to do in TNA; two more years at his current level of work and he's not on the list. Marvin was much higher the last time I did this list, he had a ridiculously good year just a couple of years ago but has slid; Sydal's good every time, but he got taken from the indies so quickly that its hard to tell if he can do a lot more than he shows; Kendrick's just now coming out of that WWE style funk, hopefully he'll get a chance to crank it up in TNA; and despite the weight gain Steen's only slid a little bit.
60. Taka Michinoku - KDojo
59. Ultimo Guerrero - CMLL
58. Mike Quackenbush - Chikara
57. Tyler Black - ROH
56. Chris Jericho - WWE
55. Christian - WWE
54. Rocky Romero - AAA
53. Mark Briscoe - ROH
52. Jay Briscoe - ROH
51. Kurt Angle - TNA
-Lot of guys you know here. Taka's maintaining a lot of his value; there's Romero and Guerrero - Ultimo's my highest lucha worker on the list and Quack's the only Chikara rep. Briscoe Brothers are the highest of the "how do you separate them" pairings. Black's on his way up; I'm a big Christian fan considering that style of match - and the two famous guys are here too.
50. Fujita Jr. Hayato - MPro
49. Yamato - DGate
48. Minoru Tanaka - All Japan
47. Harashima - DDT
46. Ryo Saito - DGate
45. Dragon Kid - DGate
44. Suwama - AJapan
43. BxB Hulk - DGate
42. Pac - DGate
41. El Generico - ROH
-Dragons Gate takes over this block with half of the representatives; everyone else is a jr. too save for Suwama.
40. Rey Mysterio - WWE
39. Roderick Strong - ROH
38. Chris Daniels - TNA
37. Susumu Yokosuka - DGate
36. Atsushi Aoki - NOAH
35. Go Shiozaki - NOAH
34. CIMA - DGate
33. Taiji Ishimori - NOAH
32. Chris Hero - PWG
31. CM Punk - WWE
-Rey's an all time legend; he and Punk are the first representatives from WWE in the top 50. 3 NOAH guys, and 4 if you include Hero - who also could be included as a ROH guy with Strong, or he and Strong could be called PWG guys. And Daniels, who is screwed in the new TNA configuration.
30. Low Ki - WWE
29. Steve Regal - WWE
28. Daisuke Sekimoto - BJapan
27. Hiroki Goto - NJapan
26. Togi Makabe - NJapan
25. Prince Devitt - NJapan
24. Ikuto Hidaka - Zero One
23. Masato Yoshino - Dragons Gate
22. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NJapan
21. Takashi Suguira - NOAH
-I love me some Low Ki; I love me some Steve Regal. I wouldn't mind watching them go 8 minutes on ECW next week. Make it happen! We get some powerhouse guys here - Goto/Makabe/Suguira/Sekimoto - and the talented juniors, Devitt/Hidaka/Yoshino. Tanahashi supporters will be upset that he's this low.
20 best wrestlers in the world:
20. Takeshi Morishima - NOAH
-falling since the last ranking, but not falling as much as others would have him go.
19. Nigel McGuinness - TNA
-I enjoyed hearing Hogan on Bubba say that Desmond was "real close" - "just missing something" as if the words coming out of his face ever had any content.
18. AJ Styles - TNA
-Wooooooooo! I assume eventually they pull the plug on this and Flair turns on AJ to instead align with another young guy as the Nature Boy.
17. Alex Shelley - TNA
-Alex Shelley's awesome.
16. Kaz Hayashi - All Japan
-If Kaz wrestled top end guys on a constant basis I wonder if he'd be in the top 5.
15. Austin Aries - ROH
-I dislike the current gimmick, not as a gimmick, as a gimmick it's good - but when he incorporates the chickenshit aspect into his matches it drives down the work.
14. Kota Ibushi - DDT
-Best high flyer in the world.
13. Naruke Doi - Dragons Gate
-He got my vote for the WON Wrestler of the Year in '09.
12. Yuji Nagata - NJapan
-Always been good - was good with WCW and has just maintained that good - I'd enjoy a Yuji/Regal program right now.
11. Masato Tanaka - Zero One
-Who would have thought that Tanaka would actually be better a decade after those ECW matches with Awesome?
The Ten Best Wrestlers in the World...
10. Yuko Miyamoto - Big Japan
-The most underrated wrestler alive, he can do a four star light tube match any time he wants. The best garbage match wrestler alive.
9. Shinsuke Nakamura - New Japan
-Nakamura's a bad, bad man. With the leather pants and kicking you in the orbital bone.
8. Samoa Joe - TNA
-Who the hell knows? Hogan and Bischoff talked about Abyss as their young breakout franchise star - I don't know if they get Joe.
7. Kotaro Suzuki - NOAH
-Kotaro's been behind more high profile NOAH juniors, but he's pretty damn terrific in his own right.
6. Naomichi Marufuji - NOAH
-Marufuji's one of those more high profile juniors, I haven't seen any of his return work yet, hopefully he's rounding back into form.
5. Davey Richards - ROH
-2 years ago I put Richards in the top 20 and heard protest; no one's protesting now.
4. Shingo Takagi - Dragons Gate
-Goddamn Shingo. You see that guy? I want Shingo and Davey battering each other all year, frustrating that Davey's pulled from the DGUSA shows.
3. Katsuhiko Nakajima - KOffice
-He might have gotten my vote for most improved each of the past three years; two years ago maybe he's the 80th best wrestler in the world - today, he's right here at number 3.
2. Bryan Danielson - WWE
-A WWE wrestler is the second best wrestler in the world? Yup. Yes he is. I don't know if you'll ever see him, but he is.
1. Kenta - NOAH
-Kenta was in 14 of the 50 best matches of the decade. The Observer online had a poll for the top wrestlers of the decade - there should have been only 2 choices; Kobashi, who won - and Kenta, who wasn't on the list of nominees.
And that's your list.
For about a decade, approximately every other year I've sat down to systematically construct a top 100 wrestlers in the world list; it's not an all-time value list, nor is it a snapshot of this second ('cause dudes get knee injuries) instead it's what you'd conventionally think of when asking - "okay, who are the best wrestlers?"
Unless by "who are the best wrestlers?" what you think of is impact on the business or the ability to draw money or memorable promos. I don't care about any of that. I look at a wrestling match the same way I look at a television show and evaluate its quality based on some normative standard of excellence that exists in my head. If I can say "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is a better show than "Two and A Half Men" which is utterly without qualification or any interest in a view contrary - I can make the same claim about a wrestler, even if he draws less money.
I also don't watch a lot of lucha. I'm sorry.
With that - The Top 100 Wrestlers in the World, 2010-11 version.
101. Takuya Sugawara - Zero One
-Not on the list is Sugawara; I've decided that's where the line is, to make the list, you have to be better than he is; sort of like Duke Snider on my baseball list.
100. Manabu Nakanishi - New Japan
99. Paul London - Independent
98. Walter Inoue - New Japan
97. Doug Williams - TNA
96. Tomohiro Ishii - New Japan
95. Fit Finlay - WWE
94. Chris Sabin - TNA
93. Mistico - CMLL
92. Shuji Kondo - All Japan
91. Teddy Hart - AAA
Probably, this will be the last time on the list for Nakanishi and Fit, given their age; Kondo and Mistico are both lower than they were two years ago; I like both Ishii and Inoue and think they could move in either direction over the next couple of years; I'm probably a little too hard on Sabin; I don't know what's gonna happen with London, his career path is up in the air as of this writing - and I'm a Teddy Hart mark, I like that whole shtick, I'd like to see him come back to the states; I'd think, even with the baggage, it would make sense for TNA to capitalize on his name.
90. Takayuki Iizuka - New Japan
89. Kenta Kobashi - NOAH
88. Makoto Oishi - KDojo
87. Jack Evans - AAA
86. Akihiko Ito - NOAH
85. Testsuya Naito - New Japan
84. John Morrison - WWE
83. Claudio Castagnoli - ROH
82. Koji Kanemoto - New Japan
81. Yujio Takahashi - New Japan
Iizuka got picked over a big group of Big Japan guys; I wound up taking just a couple of the BJ garbage wrestlers for this list, as I find it hard to incorporate most of them into this analysis but I think the best of those light tube matches are really good. We get a bunch of juniors here - both Yujio and Naito, young Oishi and Ito and not so young Kanemoto. Claudio has really improved in the last few months and could be poised for a workrate breakout; Morrison's here instead of Shelton Benjamin or MVP or both Young Bucks; and Kobashi's the greatest wrestler who ever lived but health is a skill he no longer possesses.
80. Toru Yano - New Japan
79. Minoru Fujita - Zero One
78. Satoshi Kojima - All Japan
77. Masaaki Mochizuki - Dragons Gate
76. Kenny Omega - PWG
75. Jun Akiyama - NOAH
74. Takeshi Sasaki - Big Japan
73. Yoshinobu Kanemaru - NOAH
72. Kagetora - Dragons Gate
71. Kengo Mashimo - KDojo
-I love Akiyama, think he's incredibly underrated historically, but he's apparently wrapping it up this year; Sasaki is one of the BJ garbage workers who I like a lot and put here; I like Omega but the comedy wears me out a little bit, Kanemaru's uneven, Mochizuki and Kojima are on the back sides of their productive careers, then there are the juniors and the lesser half of a longstanding good NJ tag team.
70. Genki Horiguchi - Dragons Gate
69. Kohei Sato - Zero One
68. Ryouji Sai - Zero One
67. Isami Kodoka - Big Japan
66. Masashi Takeda - Big Japan
65. Homicide - TNA
64. Ricky Marvin - NOAH
63. Evan Bourne - WWE
62. Brian Kendrick - TNA
61. Kevin Steen - ROH
Hard for me to separate Sato/Sai and Kodoka/Takeda; Horiguchi maybe should be higher than this - Homicide maybe should be lower, he's hard to evaluate given how little he's asked to do in TNA; two more years at his current level of work and he's not on the list. Marvin was much higher the last time I did this list, he had a ridiculously good year just a couple of years ago but has slid; Sydal's good every time, but he got taken from the indies so quickly that its hard to tell if he can do a lot more than he shows; Kendrick's just now coming out of that WWE style funk, hopefully he'll get a chance to crank it up in TNA; and despite the weight gain Steen's only slid a little bit.
60. Taka Michinoku - KDojo
59. Ultimo Guerrero - CMLL
58. Mike Quackenbush - Chikara
57. Tyler Black - ROH
56. Chris Jericho - WWE
55. Christian - WWE
54. Rocky Romero - AAA
53. Mark Briscoe - ROH
52. Jay Briscoe - ROH
51. Kurt Angle - TNA
-Lot of guys you know here. Taka's maintaining a lot of his value; there's Romero and Guerrero - Ultimo's my highest lucha worker on the list and Quack's the only Chikara rep. Briscoe Brothers are the highest of the "how do you separate them" pairings. Black's on his way up; I'm a big Christian fan considering that style of match - and the two famous guys are here too.
50. Fujita Jr. Hayato - MPro
49. Yamato - DGate
48. Minoru Tanaka - All Japan
47. Harashima - DDT
46. Ryo Saito - DGate
45. Dragon Kid - DGate
44. Suwama - AJapan
43. BxB Hulk - DGate
42. Pac - DGate
41. El Generico - ROH
-Dragons Gate takes over this block with half of the representatives; everyone else is a jr. too save for Suwama.
40. Rey Mysterio - WWE
39. Roderick Strong - ROH
38. Chris Daniels - TNA
37. Susumu Yokosuka - DGate
36. Atsushi Aoki - NOAH
35. Go Shiozaki - NOAH
34. CIMA - DGate
33. Taiji Ishimori - NOAH
32. Chris Hero - PWG
31. CM Punk - WWE
-Rey's an all time legend; he and Punk are the first representatives from WWE in the top 50. 3 NOAH guys, and 4 if you include Hero - who also could be included as a ROH guy with Strong, or he and Strong could be called PWG guys. And Daniels, who is screwed in the new TNA configuration.
30. Low Ki - WWE
29. Steve Regal - WWE
28. Daisuke Sekimoto - BJapan
27. Hiroki Goto - NJapan
26. Togi Makabe - NJapan
25. Prince Devitt - NJapan
24. Ikuto Hidaka - Zero One
23. Masato Yoshino - Dragons Gate
22. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NJapan
21. Takashi Suguira - NOAH
-I love me some Low Ki; I love me some Steve Regal. I wouldn't mind watching them go 8 minutes on ECW next week. Make it happen! We get some powerhouse guys here - Goto/Makabe/Suguira/Sekimoto - and the talented juniors, Devitt/Hidaka/Yoshino. Tanahashi supporters will be upset that he's this low.
20 best wrestlers in the world:
20. Takeshi Morishima - NOAH
-falling since the last ranking, but not falling as much as others would have him go.
19. Nigel McGuinness - TNA
-I enjoyed hearing Hogan on Bubba say that Desmond was "real close" - "just missing something" as if the words coming out of his face ever had any content.
18. AJ Styles - TNA
-Wooooooooo! I assume eventually they pull the plug on this and Flair turns on AJ to instead align with another young guy as the Nature Boy.
17. Alex Shelley - TNA
-Alex Shelley's awesome.
16. Kaz Hayashi - All Japan
-If Kaz wrestled top end guys on a constant basis I wonder if he'd be in the top 5.
15. Austin Aries - ROH
-I dislike the current gimmick, not as a gimmick, as a gimmick it's good - but when he incorporates the chickenshit aspect into his matches it drives down the work.
14. Kota Ibushi - DDT
-Best high flyer in the world.
13. Naruke Doi - Dragons Gate
-He got my vote for the WON Wrestler of the Year in '09.
12. Yuji Nagata - NJapan
-Always been good - was good with WCW and has just maintained that good - I'd enjoy a Yuji/Regal program right now.
11. Masato Tanaka - Zero One
-Who would have thought that Tanaka would actually be better a decade after those ECW matches with Awesome?
The Ten Best Wrestlers in the World...
10. Yuko Miyamoto - Big Japan
-The most underrated wrestler alive, he can do a four star light tube match any time he wants. The best garbage match wrestler alive.
9. Shinsuke Nakamura - New Japan
-Nakamura's a bad, bad man. With the leather pants and kicking you in the orbital bone.
8. Samoa Joe - TNA
-Who the hell knows? Hogan and Bischoff talked about Abyss as their young breakout franchise star - I don't know if they get Joe.
7. Kotaro Suzuki - NOAH
-Kotaro's been behind more high profile NOAH juniors, but he's pretty damn terrific in his own right.
6. Naomichi Marufuji - NOAH
-Marufuji's one of those more high profile juniors, I haven't seen any of his return work yet, hopefully he's rounding back into form.
5. Davey Richards - ROH
-2 years ago I put Richards in the top 20 and heard protest; no one's protesting now.
4. Shingo Takagi - Dragons Gate
-Goddamn Shingo. You see that guy? I want Shingo and Davey battering each other all year, frustrating that Davey's pulled from the DGUSA shows.
3. Katsuhiko Nakajima - KOffice
-He might have gotten my vote for most improved each of the past three years; two years ago maybe he's the 80th best wrestler in the world - today, he's right here at number 3.
2. Bryan Danielson - WWE
-A WWE wrestler is the second best wrestler in the world? Yup. Yes he is. I don't know if you'll ever see him, but he is.
1. Kenta - NOAH
-Kenta was in 14 of the 50 best matches of the decade. The Observer online had a poll for the top wrestlers of the decade - there should have been only 2 choices; Kobashi, who won - and Kenta, who wasn't on the list of nominees.
And that's your list.
1st and Ten: The Weekly Tendown, January 24-30 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Dear Internet,
Welcome to this, the 12th Issue of the Weekly Tendown, my look back at the very best cultural happenings of the past 7 days; Last Week, in BizarroDown, we discussed Citizens United, Velveeta Fudge, "Pants on the Ground", and the thrilling conclusion to my days as a member of the ownership society. But this week we return to our flurry of unfettered optimism as we smackdown some Tendown!
First: One vs. 140
There's no way anyone on the Left can honestly support Obama with anything more than wishful ambivalence; today, Greenwald writes about how Obama's civil liberties record is to the right of Reagan's; in fact, the country whose policies toward "non military combatants" most resembles ours is Libya. Further, Howard Zinn died this week; I wrote about it here; if there's one theme throughout Zinn's scholarship its that top-down leadership is the most overblown of all historical perspectives; if you want to look at the history of progressive movement in the United States - you don't look at Lincoln or FDR or LBJ - who you look at are popular movements agitating for change. Power is not predisposed to relinquish itself; you don't get worker's rights legislation without radical unions; you don't get civil rights legislation without a civil rights movement; when people say "Why hasn't Obama done anything" - be it get troops out of Afghanistan or fight against the drug companies, or close Guantanamo - the response should be - who is making him? The popular movement of 2009 which had social impact was the Teabag movement; and saying that it was backed by corporate money doesn't defeat the impact - the impact was it provided the narrative that still holds with huge numbers of the American people - that health care reform is somehow a scam, or unneeded, or too complicated, or unfair to those who already have insurance. Had proponents of health care reform stormed town halls with equal numbers and force and volume as opponents - with stories of tragedy that result from our commodification of health care, that's what would have forced the issue into a different frame and given the Democrats predisposed to moving with the current a reason to push the legislation through. An unfortunate element of American political debate is we take as a strength our departure from the policies of the rest of the advanced world. When Europe tries terrorist defendants in civilian criminal courts (the way we always have) it's viewed as demonstrating systemic strength; when Europe (and everyone else) treats health care as a public good, its viewed as analogous to police or fire protection or education - and instead of recognizing that the citizens in those nations aren't rallying en masse to make their countries' policies more like ours - we view our being out of step with the rest of the advanced world as a sign of their not measuring up to American standards. We don't look at the vast disparity in scientific understanding, in understanding about our own history, in refusal to accept basic truths like evolution - between us and the rest of the advanced world as red flags signifying American decline - instead we look at even asking those questions, even suggesting that there might be ways that the United States can learn from the rest of the world as unpatriotic.
So, I'm pessimistic is the point.
But on Friday, something pretty wonderful happened. Obama met with the Republican caucus and stood (without a teleprompter, incidentally) and took live bullets from 140 Republicans ripping off the full run of right wing talking points; and he whipped their ass. How do you know? Because with 20 minutes left, Fox News cut away from the broadcast.
140 Republicans firing live bullets at Obama - and with 20 minutes left Fox News cuts the feed.
How do you think it was going?
On the record, Republican Congressman Tom Cole said "he (Obama) did really well," off the record, a source told Luke Russert, "it was a mistake that we allowed the cameras to roll like that." Here's the reaction from The Atlantic:
He displayed a familiarity with Republican proposals that seemed to astonish those who asked questions of him. And at the end, Republicans rushed up to him, pens and photo cameras in hands, wanting autographs and pictures.
And from The Nation:
The President put on a clinic in public discourse, political argument, intellectual dexterity and moral courage. It was a reminder of what democracy could be if we engaged our opponents with substance, patience and civility rather than invectives, gamesmanship and boorishness.
For me, it was the most I've liked Obama - found myself "rooting" for him, ever. It is his best possible light, and the Democrats should look to put him in that position more often. Words are just words, particularly when they come from those in power, but Friday was a ray of light in a dark, frustrating stretch to be on the left. Here's the Salon take.
That's the best thing that happened this week - after the jump - the rest of the Tendown!
Welcome to this, the 12th Issue of the Weekly Tendown, my look back at the very best cultural happenings of the past 7 days; Last Week, in BizarroDown, we discussed Citizens United, Velveeta Fudge, "Pants on the Ground", and the thrilling conclusion to my days as a member of the ownership society. But this week we return to our flurry of unfettered optimism as we smackdown some Tendown!
First: One vs. 140
There's no way anyone on the Left can honestly support Obama with anything more than wishful ambivalence; today, Greenwald writes about how Obama's civil liberties record is to the right of Reagan's; in fact, the country whose policies toward "non military combatants" most resembles ours is Libya. Further, Howard Zinn died this week; I wrote about it here; if there's one theme throughout Zinn's scholarship its that top-down leadership is the most overblown of all historical perspectives; if you want to look at the history of progressive movement in the United States - you don't look at Lincoln or FDR or LBJ - who you look at are popular movements agitating for change. Power is not predisposed to relinquish itself; you don't get worker's rights legislation without radical unions; you don't get civil rights legislation without a civil rights movement; when people say "Why hasn't Obama done anything" - be it get troops out of Afghanistan or fight against the drug companies, or close Guantanamo - the response should be - who is making him? The popular movement of 2009 which had social impact was the Teabag movement; and saying that it was backed by corporate money doesn't defeat the impact - the impact was it provided the narrative that still holds with huge numbers of the American people - that health care reform is somehow a scam, or unneeded, or too complicated, or unfair to those who already have insurance. Had proponents of health care reform stormed town halls with equal numbers and force and volume as opponents - with stories of tragedy that result from our commodification of health care, that's what would have forced the issue into a different frame and given the Democrats predisposed to moving with the current a reason to push the legislation through. An unfortunate element of American political debate is we take as a strength our departure from the policies of the rest of the advanced world. When Europe tries terrorist defendants in civilian criminal courts (the way we always have) it's viewed as demonstrating systemic strength; when Europe (and everyone else) treats health care as a public good, its viewed as analogous to police or fire protection or education - and instead of recognizing that the citizens in those nations aren't rallying en masse to make their countries' policies more like ours - we view our being out of step with the rest of the advanced world as a sign of their not measuring up to American standards. We don't look at the vast disparity in scientific understanding, in understanding about our own history, in refusal to accept basic truths like evolution - between us and the rest of the advanced world as red flags signifying American decline - instead we look at even asking those questions, even suggesting that there might be ways that the United States can learn from the rest of the world as unpatriotic.
So, I'm pessimistic is the point.
But on Friday, something pretty wonderful happened. Obama met with the Republican caucus and stood (without a teleprompter, incidentally) and took live bullets from 140 Republicans ripping off the full run of right wing talking points; and he whipped their ass. How do you know? Because with 20 minutes left, Fox News cut away from the broadcast.
140 Republicans firing live bullets at Obama - and with 20 minutes left Fox News cuts the feed.
How do you think it was going?
On the record, Republican Congressman Tom Cole said "he (Obama) did really well," off the record, a source told Luke Russert, "it was a mistake that we allowed the cameras to roll like that." Here's the reaction from The Atlantic:
He displayed a familiarity with Republican proposals that seemed to astonish those who asked questions of him. And at the end, Republicans rushed up to him, pens and photo cameras in hands, wanting autographs and pictures.
And from The Nation:
The President put on a clinic in public discourse, political argument, intellectual dexterity and moral courage. It was a reminder of what democracy could be if we engaged our opponents with substance, patience and civility rather than invectives, gamesmanship and boorishness.
For me, it was the most I've liked Obama - found myself "rooting" for him, ever. It is his best possible light, and the Democrats should look to put him in that position more often. Words are just words, particularly when they come from those in power, but Friday was a ray of light in a dark, frustrating stretch to be on the left. Here's the Salon take.
That's the best thing that happened this week - after the jump - the rest of the Tendown!
RIP Howard Zinn
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Howard Zinn - American hero - died today. He was 87. The smartest obit I've read is here. Here's a tribute to Zinn from Democracy Now, which will also appear on the Tendown Sunday. And here is the Nation from February 1
In recent days, he was asked his thoughts about Obama's first year. Here they are:
I' ve been searching hard for a highlight. The only thing that comes close is some of Obama's rhetoric; I don't see any kind of a highlight in his actions and policies.
As far as disappointments, I wasn't terribly disappointed because I didn't expect that much. I expected him to be a traditional Democratic president. On foreign policy, that's hardly any different from a Republican--as nationalist, expansionist, imperial and warlike. So in that sense, there's no expectation and no disappointment. On domestic policy, traditionally Democratic presidents are more reformist, closer to the labor movement, more willing to pass legislation on behalf of ordinary people--and that's been true of Obama. But Democratic reforms have also been limited, cautious. Obama's no exception. On healthcare, for example, he starts out with a compromise, and when you start out with a compromise, you end with a compromise of a compromise, which is where we are now.
I thought that in the area of constitutional rights he would be better than he has been. That's the greatest disappointment, because Obama went to Harvard Law School and is presumably dedicated to constitutional rights. But he becomes president, and he's not making any significant step away from Bush policies. Sure, he keeps talking about closing Guantánamo, but he still treats the prisoners there as "suspected terrorists." They have not been tried and have not been found guilty. So when Obama proposes taking people out of Guantánamo and putting them into other prisons, he's not advancing the cause of constitutional rights very far. And then he's gone into court arguing for preventive detention, and he's continued the policy of sending suspects to countries where they very well may be tortured.
I think people are dazzled by Obama's rhetoric, and that people ought to begin to understand that Obama is going to be a mediocre president--which means, in our time, a dangerous president--unless there is some national movement to push him in a better direction.
In recent days, he was asked his thoughts about Obama's first year. Here they are:
I' ve been searching hard for a highlight. The only thing that comes close is some of Obama's rhetoric; I don't see any kind of a highlight in his actions and policies.
As far as disappointments, I wasn't terribly disappointed because I didn't expect that much. I expected him to be a traditional Democratic president. On foreign policy, that's hardly any different from a Republican--as nationalist, expansionist, imperial and warlike. So in that sense, there's no expectation and no disappointment. On domestic policy, traditionally Democratic presidents are more reformist, closer to the labor movement, more willing to pass legislation on behalf of ordinary people--and that's been true of Obama. But Democratic reforms have also been limited, cautious. Obama's no exception. On healthcare, for example, he starts out with a compromise, and when you start out with a compromise, you end with a compromise of a compromise, which is where we are now.
I thought that in the area of constitutional rights he would be better than he has been. That's the greatest disappointment, because Obama went to Harvard Law School and is presumably dedicated to constitutional rights. But he becomes president, and he's not making any significant step away from Bush policies. Sure, he keeps talking about closing Guantánamo, but he still treats the prisoners there as "suspected terrorists." They have not been tried and have not been found guilty. So when Obama proposes taking people out of Guantánamo and putting them into other prisons, he's not advancing the cause of constitutional rights very far. And then he's gone into court arguing for preventive detention, and he's continued the policy of sending suspects to countries where they very well may be tortured.
I think people are dazzled by Obama's rhetoric, and that people ought to begin to understand that Obama is going to be a mediocre president--which means, in our time, a dangerous president--unless there is some national movement to push him in a better direction.
Royal Rumble 2010 Preview/Best Royal Rumble Matches Ever/I Create Words
4 times a year, I preview WWE PPVs; this is done as part of a two decade wrestleationship that you can read about here. Yes, I just coined the word wrestleationship. Friendship largely built around a shared appreciation for wrestling. Wrestleationship. Which is not as good as the word brojob that I've also coined in recent weeks. A brojob is when, in the company of men, say in prison or a frat house, one man will service another when there are no women around who are so inclined. The men involved don't view it as a homosexual act, it's just something that happens between bros and isn't spoken of again. I'll leave that to the reader to decide if the men are kidding themselves. I pass no judgment, I'm just a linguist. I can't think of a single appropriate piece of wordplay I might offer to characterize the caliber of my linguistic skills.
Brojob. You're welcome, internet. People get uncomfortable when I use it in conversation:
Publix Cashier: $87.17 is your total. You saved eleven dollars.
Me: Hey, you've gotten a brojob, right? Maybe in the corner by the Entenmann's? This guy knows what I'm talkin' about! This guy definitely knows what I'm talkin' about!
But enough of that. The Royal Rumble is Sunday. From Atlanta, I think.
1. RAW Title: Sheamus v. Randy Orton
-This is the lineal WWF Title. When we last left off at Survivor Series, Cena was the Champ, in the midst of his 5th profoundly mediocre run. He kept at Survivor Series in the 3 way with Hunter and Shawn. But he lost the strap at the December PPV in a gimmick match to a newcomer Sheamus. Yes, they spell it with the h. If it were a half dozen years ago, it would probably also end with a z.
I know you don't know who this is. Sheamus is getting the monster heel push, old school - new heel comes into the territory, beats everyone and takes their stuff. He's extra pasty white with red hair and an unfortunate facial hair configuration. It's a good look; he stands out instantly from everyone else, despite having a completely generic WWE sanctioned wrestling style. It's been a good push - they put him over Cena clean, he doesn't back down to anyone (except Mark Cuban) it's a good way to build a new guy. They've done far more right with Sheamus than wrong.
Except they picked the wrong guy, I mean, there's nothing either particularly good or bad to say about his in ring work yet; he's just a guy, apparently chosen because he and HHH work out together on the road. He doesn't suck though, there's nothing inherently wrong with him - just that you could have given this same push to a better guy, and now you can't. Had they decided to give Bryan Danielson the rocketship push (I'd have settled for Swagger, but there's nothing inherent about Danielson, even in a WWE world, that should mean he's in Florida while Sheamus has the strap) the matches would all be better, the promos would be better, and it would generate the type of interweb buzz that matters on some level.
Orton's still the top heel in the company; there's no real program here, Orton won a match to get this match. It could lead to a face turn, if they decide to go that way - but that would require one of the DX guys to go heel to avoid all the top guys on the RAW side being babyfaces. I think more likely they'll put Sheamus over, perhaps with one of Orton's guys (young Rhodes and DiBiase) costing him the match. Maybe we get Orton/DiBiase at Mania. There's no reason to think this will be either good or bad. Like most WWE matches. Like a quarter pounder with cheese, it's not really that most WWE matches are good or bad - they just taste like WWE.
2. Smackdown Title: Undertaker v. Rey Mysterio
-They put out a DVD last year claiming this was the lineal NWA/WCW title; I like the idea of that even though there's not really much of a throughline. When we last left off the 'Taker was the champ, and this is still that run. He took the belt in October and has maintained it, despite what perhaps could be a career ending back issue - and certainly appears to be a back issue that will end his ability to work on a consistent level. Rey's also working hurt here, he has a knee that needs surgery and apparently is waiting until post-Mania to shut it down. Summer has become a popular off-season for the veterans. At Survivor Series, the Taker kept in the 3 way over Jericho and the Show.
Rey's in a program with Batista, who turned (he's a much better heel character) - Rey went over Batista to get this shot; he will lose and given the injuries, it will probably be short. I would guess Batista interferes, maybe postmatch, to attack both guys. They're gonna do Shawn/Undertaker again at Mania this year; most people consider it WWE Match of the Year (I do not) from 2009. That and Vince/Bret looks like your double main event, with the title matches a notch below in importance. Undertaker keeps here, maybe loses to Batista at the Feb PPV. Maybe Batista defends against Cena at Mania.
3. ECW Title: Christian v. Ezekial Jackson
-Christian's been ECW Champ since last summer; he was in an elimination tag at Survivor Series, on the other side was Regal - they remain in that feud - Jackson is part of Regal's stable, I guess you'd call him a protegee - Jackson is a jacked up bodyguard type who, as of yet, hasn't shown any wrestling ability. Jackson won a battle royal (which is a term that apparently has been banned) to get this shot. Probably Jackson goes over clean; Christian's been terrific, good every single week both in promos and the ring - he and Regal have had multiple good TV matches, unsurprisingly. My Top 100 Wrestlers in the World will be posted next week, they'll both be on it. Won't help Christian here, probably he loses and it happens fast.
4. Women
-There's a women's title match. It doesn't matter.
5. Royal Rumble Match
25 Participants Named So Far:
Past Winners:
Cena
Batista
HHH
Shawn
Past Participants:
Jericho
Punk
Benjamin
DiBiase
Cody
Khali
Show
MVP
Miz
Regal
Kofi
Kane
Henry
Helms
Carlito
Santino
Masters
First Timers:
Ryder
Tatsu
Swagger
Bourne
I don't think there's much chance for a new winner. There's a pretty bright line between the past winners and everyone else in terms of current standing in the company. I'd bet on Hunter - Hunter wins and takes on Sheamus. Maybe DX winds up being the last 2 guys.
Match quality does not look promising for the 2010 Royal Rumble. I'd assume the below list stays intact another year.
10 Best Matches in Royal Rumble History:
1. Angle v. Benoit ('03)
2. HHH v. Cactus ('00)
3. Jericho v. Benoit ('01)
4. 2004 Rumble Match (Benoit)
5. Bret v. Diesel ('95)
6. 1992 Rumble Match (Flair)
7. Quebecers v. Bret/Owen ('94)
8. Rockers v. Orient Express ('91)
9. Hardys v. Dudleys ('00)
10. HBK v. HHH ('04)
And here's some general listmaking:
Past Winners:
2009 - Randy Orton #8
2008 - John Cena #30
2007 - Undertaker #30
2006 - Rey Mysterio #2
2005 - Batista #28
2004 - Chris Benoit #1
2003 - Brock Lesnar #29
2002 - Triple H #22
2001 - Steve Austin #27
2000 - The Rock #24
1999 - Mr. McMahon #2
1998 - Steve Austin #24
1997 - Steve Austin #5
1996 - Shawn Michaels #18
1995 - Shawn Michaels #1
1994 - Bret Hart #27, Lex Luger #24
1993 - Yokozuna #27
1992 - Ric Flair #3
1991 - Hulk Hogan #24
1990 - Hulk Hogan #25
1989 - Big John Studd #27
1988 - Jim Duggan #13
Most Eliminations (career): Austin (36). Kane is 3 behind, Shawn 5.
Most Eliminations (match): Kane (11, '01)
Most Rumbles: Kane (14)
Most Combined Rumble Minutes (HHH, Shawn is 21 minutes behind)
Longest Rumble Performance (Rey - 2006, 3 others have also gone over an hour)
First Entered, every year:
2009 - Rey Mysterio
2008 - Undertaker
2007 - Ric Flair
2006 - Triple H
2005 - Eddie Guerrero
2004 - Chris Benoit
2003 - Shawn Michaels
2002 - Rikishi
2001 - Jeff Hardy
2000 - D'Lo Brown
1999 - Steve Austin
1998 - Cactus Jack
1997 - Crush
1996 - Triple H
1995 - Shawn Michaels
1994 - Scott Steiner
1993 - Ric Flair
1992 - British Bulldog
1991 - Bret Hart
1990 - Ted DiBiase
1989 - Ax
1988 - Bret Hart
Second Entered Every Year:
2009 - John Morrison
2008 - Shawn Michaels
2007 - Finlay
2006 - Rey Mysterio
2005 - Chris Benoit
2004 - Randy Orton
2003 - Chris Jericho
2002 - Goldust
2001 - Bull Buchanan
2000 - Grandmaster Sexay
1999 - Mr. McMahon
1998 - Chainsaw Charlie
1997 - Ahmed Johnson
1996 - Henry Godwinn
1995 - British Bulldog
1994 - Samu
1993 - Bob Backlund
1992 - Ted DiBiase
1991 - Dino Bravo
1990 - Koko B. Ware
1989 - Smash
1988 - Tito Santana
That's your Rumble Preview. My Top 100 Wrestlers will absolutely, positively be posted next week - I will start rolling out the build to Counterfactual Mania 25 over at whatifwrestling.blogspot.com as soon as I can; I'll put up the preview for WM 26 when it becomes timely; Tendown appears every Sunday right here in this spot; and I'm almost always willing to write about a wrestling match, as I see, well, all of them.
Brojob. You're welcome, internet. People get uncomfortable when I use it in conversation:
Publix Cashier: $87.17 is your total. You saved eleven dollars.
Me: Hey, you've gotten a brojob, right? Maybe in the corner by the Entenmann's? This guy knows what I'm talkin' about! This guy definitely knows what I'm talkin' about!
But enough of that. The Royal Rumble is Sunday. From Atlanta, I think.
1. RAW Title: Sheamus v. Randy Orton
-This is the lineal WWF Title. When we last left off at Survivor Series, Cena was the Champ, in the midst of his 5th profoundly mediocre run. He kept at Survivor Series in the 3 way with Hunter and Shawn. But he lost the strap at the December PPV in a gimmick match to a newcomer Sheamus. Yes, they spell it with the h. If it were a half dozen years ago, it would probably also end with a z.
I know you don't know who this is. Sheamus is getting the monster heel push, old school - new heel comes into the territory, beats everyone and takes their stuff. He's extra pasty white with red hair and an unfortunate facial hair configuration. It's a good look; he stands out instantly from everyone else, despite having a completely generic WWE sanctioned wrestling style. It's been a good push - they put him over Cena clean, he doesn't back down to anyone (except Mark Cuban) it's a good way to build a new guy. They've done far more right with Sheamus than wrong.
Except they picked the wrong guy, I mean, there's nothing either particularly good or bad to say about his in ring work yet; he's just a guy, apparently chosen because he and HHH work out together on the road. He doesn't suck though, there's nothing inherently wrong with him - just that you could have given this same push to a better guy, and now you can't. Had they decided to give Bryan Danielson the rocketship push (I'd have settled for Swagger, but there's nothing inherent about Danielson, even in a WWE world, that should mean he's in Florida while Sheamus has the strap) the matches would all be better, the promos would be better, and it would generate the type of interweb buzz that matters on some level.
Orton's still the top heel in the company; there's no real program here, Orton won a match to get this match. It could lead to a face turn, if they decide to go that way - but that would require one of the DX guys to go heel to avoid all the top guys on the RAW side being babyfaces. I think more likely they'll put Sheamus over, perhaps with one of Orton's guys (young Rhodes and DiBiase) costing him the match. Maybe we get Orton/DiBiase at Mania. There's no reason to think this will be either good or bad. Like most WWE matches. Like a quarter pounder with cheese, it's not really that most WWE matches are good or bad - they just taste like WWE.
2. Smackdown Title: Undertaker v. Rey Mysterio
-They put out a DVD last year claiming this was the lineal NWA/WCW title; I like the idea of that even though there's not really much of a throughline. When we last left off the 'Taker was the champ, and this is still that run. He took the belt in October and has maintained it, despite what perhaps could be a career ending back issue - and certainly appears to be a back issue that will end his ability to work on a consistent level. Rey's also working hurt here, he has a knee that needs surgery and apparently is waiting until post-Mania to shut it down. Summer has become a popular off-season for the veterans. At Survivor Series, the Taker kept in the 3 way over Jericho and the Show.
Rey's in a program with Batista, who turned (he's a much better heel character) - Rey went over Batista to get this shot; he will lose and given the injuries, it will probably be short. I would guess Batista interferes, maybe postmatch, to attack both guys. They're gonna do Shawn/Undertaker again at Mania this year; most people consider it WWE Match of the Year (I do not) from 2009. That and Vince/Bret looks like your double main event, with the title matches a notch below in importance. Undertaker keeps here, maybe loses to Batista at the Feb PPV. Maybe Batista defends against Cena at Mania.
3. ECW Title: Christian v. Ezekial Jackson
-Christian's been ECW Champ since last summer; he was in an elimination tag at Survivor Series, on the other side was Regal - they remain in that feud - Jackson is part of Regal's stable, I guess you'd call him a protegee - Jackson is a jacked up bodyguard type who, as of yet, hasn't shown any wrestling ability. Jackson won a battle royal (which is a term that apparently has been banned) to get this shot. Probably Jackson goes over clean; Christian's been terrific, good every single week both in promos and the ring - he and Regal have had multiple good TV matches, unsurprisingly. My Top 100 Wrestlers in the World will be posted next week, they'll both be on it. Won't help Christian here, probably he loses and it happens fast.
4. Women
-There's a women's title match. It doesn't matter.
5. Royal Rumble Match
25 Participants Named So Far:
Past Winners:
Cena
Batista
HHH
Shawn
Past Participants:
Jericho
Punk
Benjamin
DiBiase
Cody
Khali
Show
MVP
Miz
Regal
Kofi
Kane
Henry
Helms
Carlito
Santino
Masters
First Timers:
Ryder
Tatsu
Swagger
Bourne
I don't think there's much chance for a new winner. There's a pretty bright line between the past winners and everyone else in terms of current standing in the company. I'd bet on Hunter - Hunter wins and takes on Sheamus. Maybe DX winds up being the last 2 guys.
Match quality does not look promising for the 2010 Royal Rumble. I'd assume the below list stays intact another year.
10 Best Matches in Royal Rumble History:
1. Angle v. Benoit ('03)
2. HHH v. Cactus ('00)
3. Jericho v. Benoit ('01)
4. 2004 Rumble Match (Benoit)
5. Bret v. Diesel ('95)
6. 1992 Rumble Match (Flair)
7. Quebecers v. Bret/Owen ('94)
8. Rockers v. Orient Express ('91)
9. Hardys v. Dudleys ('00)
10. HBK v. HHH ('04)
And here's some general listmaking:
Past Winners:
2009 - Randy Orton #8
2008 - John Cena #30
2007 - Undertaker #30
2006 - Rey Mysterio #2
2005 - Batista #28
2004 - Chris Benoit #1
2003 - Brock Lesnar #29
2002 - Triple H #22
2001 - Steve Austin #27
2000 - The Rock #24
1999 - Mr. McMahon #2
1998 - Steve Austin #24
1997 - Steve Austin #5
1996 - Shawn Michaels #18
1995 - Shawn Michaels #1
1994 - Bret Hart #27, Lex Luger #24
1993 - Yokozuna #27
1992 - Ric Flair #3
1991 - Hulk Hogan #24
1990 - Hulk Hogan #25
1989 - Big John Studd #27
1988 - Jim Duggan #13
Most Eliminations (career): Austin (36). Kane is 3 behind, Shawn 5.
Most Eliminations (match): Kane (11, '01)
Most Rumbles: Kane (14)
Most Combined Rumble Minutes (HHH, Shawn is 21 minutes behind)
Longest Rumble Performance (Rey - 2006, 3 others have also gone over an hour)
First Entered, every year:
2009 - Rey Mysterio
2008 - Undertaker
2007 - Ric Flair
2006 - Triple H
2005 - Eddie Guerrero
2004 - Chris Benoit
2003 - Shawn Michaels
2002 - Rikishi
2001 - Jeff Hardy
2000 - D'Lo Brown
1999 - Steve Austin
1998 - Cactus Jack
1997 - Crush
1996 - Triple H
1995 - Shawn Michaels
1994 - Scott Steiner
1993 - Ric Flair
1992 - British Bulldog
1991 - Bret Hart
1990 - Ted DiBiase
1989 - Ax
1988 - Bret Hart
Second Entered Every Year:
2009 - John Morrison
2008 - Shawn Michaels
2007 - Finlay
2006 - Rey Mysterio
2005 - Chris Benoit
2004 - Randy Orton
2003 - Chris Jericho
2002 - Goldust
2001 - Bull Buchanan
2000 - Grandmaster Sexay
1999 - Mr. McMahon
1998 - Chainsaw Charlie
1997 - Ahmed Johnson
1996 - Henry Godwinn
1995 - British Bulldog
1994 - Samu
1993 - Bob Backlund
1992 - Ted DiBiase
1991 - Dino Bravo
1990 - Koko B. Ware
1989 - Smash
1988 - Tito Santana
That's your Rumble Preview. My Top 100 Wrestlers will absolutely, positively be posted next week - I will start rolling out the build to Counterfactual Mania 25 over at whatifwrestling.blogspot.com as soon as I can; I'll put up the preview for WM 26 when it becomes timely; Tendown appears every Sunday right here in this spot; and I'm almost always willing to write about a wrestling match, as I see, well, all of them.
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