Wrestlers who have stepped up their game within the past year.

[Ninti the Mad]

Johnny Nitro - DONT ever remove Melina from him and I think he can be a valid main eventer in 2 years. He just oozes natural charisma without even having to talk on the mic. I am not talking about arrogance either. I cant explain it.

Chris Masters - I am probably one of the few but I think he has gotten better over the course of 2006. Sure, his airtime was cut signficantly but I like his whole "do anything" attitude. Especially when he put the masterlock on Torrie to draw Carlito out. I found it humorous at the lengths they make his character go to.

There are others but I dont think they have improved enough to note.

[Londoner]

Finlay- he just seems to represent everything wrestling should be about.

[M-A-G]

Carlito. Easy.

[Crippla]

Lashley seems to have improved a lot imo.

[Londoner]

Hardcore Holly. :shifty:

[Disturbed316]

Test

[Londoner]

King BookAhh

[Team Sheep]

I second the King. This year is the first time I've ever appreciated Booker.

[Destor]

Edge, Booker and Finlay.

[Crippla]

I've always been into Booker but he has stepped it up, I don't care much for the 'King' gimmick yet I've still enjoyed him.

[ron the dial]

Edge finally convinced me that he's capable of running at the top, and I've been waiting to see that for a while.

[Crippla]

Oh yeah, Edge definately. WWE did a shitty job too, they should of gave him a longer run with the belt.

[Londoner]

Yeah I was going to say since the second half of the year Edge& Randy Orton have both stepped up their game, they both seem to have some direction now to so maybe that's why.

[ron the dial]

2006 could have been Edge's year if Vince wasn't so intent on keeping Cena pushed to the fucking moon. Not to say that his year has been terrible, because that's not it at all. It just seems as though they wasted his first title reign to put over Cena. Hell, it seems like they wasted this entire year putting over Cena/DX.

[Londoner]

^ its a shame then that i don't care about either DX or Cena.

[The One]

I'm going to go out there a bit and say that Abyss has become much better in the ring lately, and his character is starting to shows signs of being interesting. Also while everyone has their head up Ken Dorne's ass, I think Johnny has done a great job of showing his belongs on the main show. And while I am handing out praise, Big Show was fantastic this year. Probably Paul White's best year in the industry.

[Chavo Classic]

Definately Edge.

[ron the dial]

And while I am handing out praise, Big Show was fantastic this year. Probably Paul White's best year in the industry.
Didn't even consider him. Big Show did a much better job with that ECW Title than I imagined, and his effort was much appreciated. Plus, he gets to go out looking as dominant as he ever has.

[redoneja]

Big Show no question. It's been reported he's had numerous health problems yet he steps up his game while he was the ECW Champion.

[Fox]

Chavo Guerrero.

Who would've thought Kerwin White would have come so far?

[The Optimist]

I love that everyone has different answers that no one is arguing with. That's what's good about wrestling.
Personally. Big Show, no doubt. I hated ECW when it happened, then when RVD got the belt I gave it a chance again, RVD get's realistically stripped in favor of Big Show and I honestly was glad that Show got a chance. He's taken that chance and ran with it in my opinion, he was the reason I watched ECW at some points, if for nothing than his comments and reactions dring beating random ass, especially as the ECW fans hated him hard.

[El Fangel]

Edge, Nitro, Carlito, Big Show, and are we forgetting who is having a very successful year? Thats right <s> The Hurricane </s> :shifty: Gregory Helms.

[The One]

The only gimmick I hate more than The Hurricane is "Da Ali G/I don't need a gimmick" Gregory Helms. Boring.

[The Optimist]

Honestly, I liked The Hurricane at times, but being able to take Greg Helms seriously, is great. This is from a man who just admittted that he doens't mind that TNA hasn't established alot of actual heels & faces, so take it as you will.

[addy2hotty]

Triple C, thats about it. Even Michaels is phoning it in these days.

[jindrak]

Big Show- During his WWE tenure, Big Show has only been interesting (for me at least) when he first debuted in the WWE up until he jobbed to Austin, and when he was managed by Heyman as WWE champ. In the latter part of 2006, Big Show really stepped up. It's dissappointing because he finally found his niche when it was too late. Had the WWE booked him like he has been booked since July 4th 2006, he would've been thee top guy.

Edge- Since proclaiming himself the Rated R Superstar, Edge has improved leaps and bounds. He is such an effective heel that he was able to get Cena cheered at a time when crowds were overwhelmingly turning on him. I'm convinced Edge is a mainevent guy, and should mainevent a WrestleMania...yea, he is up to that status.

Finlay- Little Bastard helped get him over, but the guy is just fucking awesome. I've always enjoyed watching him and it's great to see him at such a high spot on the cards.

Johnny Nitro- He has the look, the gimmick, the wrestling ability...he has that "it" factor too, but he needs to improve his live mic work to be a bonafide maineventer.

Ken Doan- The breakout star of the SS. Should join Rated RKO and be to Rated RKO what Randy Orton was to Evolution.

RVD- His two week title reign was tremendous. Had he not been caught, RVD (in addition to ECW itself) wouldn't be floundering in abscurity.

Ken Kennedy- The proverbial "blue chipper".

Christian- I'm such a mark for the guy anyways.

Abyss- Looks like a Kane/Mankind rip-off, but has really stepped up the last few months.

Samoa Joe- This guy will be a household name in a few years.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Nigel McGuinness

[KingofOldSchool]

Edge
Carlito
Jeff Hardy
Johnny Nitro

[Batsu]

Edge, Carlito, Gregory Helms, Nitro...

mostly Edge out of this group, because he made a perfect foil for Cena, but they totally crapped on his reign.

Gregory Helms, if only, he showed that there is indeed life after the Hurricane. His current persona is stronger than he ever was presented in WCW (except for the fact that he can't do the Vertebreaker anymore). He ought to, if he can do it to someone who could take the bump like Chavo did.

I'd like to see MNM reunite but Nitro might be the next "Edge" like talent in WWE. If Mercury could end up being a "Christian" that could be cool, too.

[Dave Youell]

Edge by a mile, he's been on the up for the last 6 mohtns of 2005, but at NYR this year he totally upped his game.

I agree with Masters, compared to how he was when he started, it's like looking at a totally different wrestler.

And Nitro, I don't really think he's upped his game, but it's not liked it slipped either, he's being given and decent mid card ball, and he's running wth it.

And whoever said Carlito is insane, that guy has been soo sloppy recently it hurts, Carlito lost his fire when he turned face, everytime he hits a flip I think he's going to break his neck

[Innovator]

Nigel McGuinnessIf ROH was mainstream, everyone would be agreeing with you. Over the course of the year he went from being a solid chain wrestling midcarder to a bonafide star. The match against Dragon in the UK and the GHC match against Marufuji made him this year.

In the WWE, this is Edge's year.

[Skippord]

Orton
Edge
Helms
Abyss...always loved him
Jeff Hardy
Sabu

[Londoner]

Dunno why people say Abyss, i always seen him as a cheap rip-off off Kane, he doesn't even play the character well imo but that's just me.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Joey Mercury
Since returning from rehab, Joey Mercury has looked fan-fucking-tastic. His hair kind of annoys me, but I think it's just going to take some time to get used to. Mercury is easily the better wrestler out of MNM, and I truly believe he is the better entertainer out of MNM. Since he's gotten back in the ring, he's been almost pitch-perfect in his work.

The WWE has their priorities backwards, in my opinion: Joey Mercury > Johnny Nitro and Matt Hardy > Jeff Hardy, in my opinion. That's not the say Johnny and Jeff are bad, it's just they're weaker when compared to their counterparts. It's a shame no one seems to be talking of a main event push for Mercury, when the guy with three years experience is being sky-rocketed to the top.

Jeff Hardy
While still not on par with his brother, Matt, Jeff Hardy has actually entertained me this year. I've always been biased towards Matt, and jealous of the way the WWE seemed to favour Jeff, just because he was more wreckless in the ring. Jeff has actually been earning my support since he's returned. Let's hope he can keep it up. :y:

Johnny Nitro
It's not so much anything that he's done, as it is something he hasn't done: looked lost. The guy has been in tag teams pretty much his entire wrestling career. Matt Cappotelli, Joey Mercury, etc. This year he's held two Intercontinental Championships, and gone toe-to-toe with the WWE Champion in the main event of RAW. Good on him, and I hope to see him get somewhere meaningful in the near-future. :y:

Chris Masters
I like the guy now. Perhaps it is just my frustration with the WWE's politics, and them being unable to look past the guy's work ethic, eagerness to learn, and potential, and only see the deflated physique and their own shortcomings as writers. Once the wellness policy was in place, the WWE should have come up with a safety net for Masters, they didn't, and they looked like idiots. It's good to see the career of Masters is back on track.

Edge
I've always liked Edge, and always thought he was a great all-round talent. The WWE has always been high on him, so his success this year wasn't too surprising. The biggest shock was that he was actually WWE Champion. What did surprise me, was that Edge carried John Cena through a several month feud. Edge has never been known as a carrier. He's always been the kind of guy that you stick in the ring with Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit or Eddie Guerrero with for phenomenal results, or stick in the ring with Kane for...less phenomenal results.

Who would have thought Edge/Cena would have been so damned fun?

King Booker
Not so much in the ring as character-wise. I've never been too fond of Booker T. When he was RAW's top babyface in 2003, my mind slept-walked through its programming. I always saw him as a guy past his prime. Well in 2006, Booker T not only won the 2006 King of the Ring tournament (finally establishing him as a man on par with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H and Bret Hart, in my opinion), but he won his sixth World Championship.

I actually think King Booker is more a WWE guy than a former WCW guy at this point in his career, and when you look at how many Championships he has won under the WWE banner, one cannot argue that he's getting his arguable fair shake on WWE soil, now. His career isn't even over yet. Amazing. Comeback story of the year.

Big Show
I've always liked Big Show, but let's face it, he's never been the most stellar performer. This year he carried ECW as its World Champion. That's enough said really. He got a WrestleMania win, an impressive run as a World Tag Team Champion, and another World Title reign. It's been a good year for Paul Wight.

Brian Kendrick
This pick is entirely my own, and may require some explaining. Here goes:

I've always been a fan of cruiserweights. They impress me in the ring. Paul London and Brian Kendrick are two of the most impressive. They were both trained in the Texas Wrestling Academy, and have bright futures ahead of them. I've always seen Brian Kendrick as the lesser of the two, though. If I had to pick a favourite, it would have always been Paul London. Not so much anymore.

It could be my taste has just changed, or the WWE's sly and subtle punishment of Paul London, by making him take quite the few heat segments in tag matches these days, but I'm really beginning to notice more nuances about Brian Kendrick's work, and I'm seeing his potential to be a player more and more. Everyone has always considering Brian Kendrick a flower amongst the bushes of sports entertainment, but right now, I think he is actually blooming. If he were still on the independant scene, I think he'd have won an ROH World Championship this year, or something.

Gregory Helms
I've been digging the character, I've been digging his work, and I've been digging his Cruiserweight Title reign. He's gotten to hang with DX on PPV for a fair go, as well. What more can anyone ask for from a guy who jobbed to Jerry Lawler on PPV at the start of the year? Good job, Greg.