Men, women, AXEL Action: welcome to the first edition of the GCW Stock Exchange, a new column exclusive to GCWOnline.net!
By Johnny Paycheck 2010-04-02
Men, women, AXEL Action: welcome to the first edition of the GCW Stock Exchange, a new column exclusive to GCWOnline.net!
Every month we'll attempt to run through the GCW roster and highlight the top ten movers and shakers in the company. By considering all of the month in question's shows and ranking GCW's top superstars based on their accomplishments for that month. We take everything into account: wins, losses, titles, announcements, interviews... not one second of what goes down on WorldWide and pay-per-view will be ignored, for better or for worse. For March, we'll be including everything from NC-17, WorldWide 127, and WorldWide 128.
The factors influencing a wrestler's rank are pretty straightforward. Lose a PPV blow-off match and you're gonna slide down the table like a greased eel, but capture a title belt and you're in the money. There is no points allocation formula; those compiling the rankings are expected to use their own judgement, and that includes you.
Yes, that's right. You, the GCW fan. For administrative purposes, this month's edition of the GCW Stock Exchange has been put together by GCW staff, but the people will have a say in every Stock Exchange from here on out. From April onwards, you'll be in-charge of deciding who's hot and who's not.
Without further ado, let's get right into it!
1. LeStatt Knight (443.8 points)
If you're going to dispute LeStatt Knight's current position as GCW's top dog then you obviously haven't been watching the shows. March 2010 has been one of the strongest months of The Icon's long career. After defeating the unorthodox Clyde Fox at NC-17, LK defeated long-time rival Andy Murray at WW127 to capture a historic 4th World Title reign, and he rounded off an incredible month when tagging with Murray yielded a victory over Clyde Fox and Jay Terror. WW128 may have ended on a sour note for the Hall-of-Famer, but there's not a wrestler in GCW that can touch Knight at the moment. If his stellar career really is about to reach it's conclusion then LK is definitely going out on a high.
2. Tessa Windsor (362.1 points)
After many years stuck between the United States division and the main event, Tessa is finally making giant strides towards the GCW World Heavyweight Championship. At NC-17, she overcome former friend Markus Stone after one of the most bitter rivalries GCW has ever seen. She followed this huge victory with a win over Shaman at WW127, and with Chris Storm's return at WW128 Tessa will surely be looking to the future with a smile on her face. Tessa is as close to World Title contention as she's ever been, and with LeStatt Knight seemingly on the way out of GCW, she might be in with a shot.
3. Andy Murray (340.9 points)
The Scottish King of Cool might not be the Champion any more, but he won the biggest match of his career on the biggest night of the GCW calender year. An NC-17 victory alone would have been enough to catapult Murray to the top of the list if it weren't for the stunning form of LeStatt Knight and Tessa Windsor. His loss to Knight at 127 was a crushing blow, but The King came out swinging by Knight's side at 128. Determined not to let the end of his record-breaking title reign get to him, Murray has already outlined his plans for 2010 by donning a Dangerous Games t-shirt at WW128. However, with Windsor on the rise, the next couple of months could be a testing time for GCW's most popular wrestler if he wants to maintain his main event relevancy.
4. Bryan Mayhem (326.8 points)
Talk about a turnaround. The Lunatic found life in GCW tough-going after a win-less period stretching from his Dangerous Games return right up to February, but he bounced back at NC-17 by defeating long-time foe Shaman and his partner Jorge Samuelsson. Since then there's been no stopping Mayhem. His newly-won Tag Team Titles were smelted into a single Hardcore Title at WW127, which he promptly defended against Donny Diamond and Bishop Steele. After another title defence at WW128, Mayhem went undefeated during March and has re-established his credentials as a threat to anyone on the GCW roster. And can anyone think of a more appropriate man to hold the GCW Hardcore Title? Didn't think so.
5. PAZUZU, THE DARKNESS (287.3 points)
Okay, who saw this coming? A guy who thinks he's a demon strolls into GCW wearing a thong and a pair of Ugg boots, and promptly becomes one of the most effective wrestlers on the roster. He's overcome every grappler that's been put before him so far. The oddity defeated Bishop Steele and Kris Michaels at NC-17, before a shock victory over the much-fancied TV Champion Tempest at WW127. Since then he's gone on to successfully defend that belt against SurReal and has shown no signs of slowing done. Though his antics continue to edge towards ridiculousness, P-ZU has overcome initial mockery to prove that he's no joke when it comes to in-ring action.
6. Valentine (269.4 points)
Defeat to former lover Andy Murray at NC-17 was a crushing blow to The Bulletproof Blonde, and may just have pushed her over the iceberg. The former fan favourite recovered at WW127 to capture the departing Dan Black's US Title, but it remains to be scene whether or not her fractured psyche will ever be the same. This is hammered home by the brutal beat down (and subsequent branding) of LeStatt Knight at WW128's conclusion. Has Vivica J. Valentine lost the plot once and for all? Quite possibly. She may be a bigger danger to herself than ever before, but that also means she's a bigger danger to everyone else as well.
7. Jay Terror (255.2 points)
The Established's power in GCW appears to be waning. A huge victory over Jason O'Neil will have no doubt brought a smile to Steven Caldera's lips, but with his benefactor leaving GCW television once and for all, Jay's influence on the promotion is not what it was. There's a new sheriff in town, and Garbage Bag Johnny has made it quite clear that he will not groom Terror as Caldera did. It would be stupid for anyone to write-off Terror as a main event threat, however. Despite a tag loss at WW128, Jay remains one of the most capable brawlers on the roster. Who's to say he won't use Caldera's disappearance to his advantage, and come out determined to re-establish himself as GCW's number one bad guy?
8. Tim Shipley (222.8 points)
Just one match so far for the Englishman (a pinfall victory over fellow newcomer Aaron Fujita at WW128), but the Just promoter continues to make waves outside of the ring. Not a week passes by without Shipley sticking his nose in someone else's business and ruffling a few feathers, and now it seems that he's set on doing just that to former AWC colleague Andy Murray. Shipley will have no doubt been disappointed to miss out on the GCW comissioner's job, but his personality has shone brighter than any other new-hire recently, and he's sure to be an early favourite for the Rampage tournament.
9. Digital Mortality (201.4)
The king of slipping under the radar has done it again. Digi won the American Dream (entitling him to a shot at the United States Title whenever he pleases) at Dangerous Games, only to slink into the shadows again. There were whispers of the enigmatic DigiMort being done with GCW for good, but he rolled into WW127 and secured a pinfall victory over MMA star Kris Michaels, and another over AXEL Action at WW128. His on-air presence may not be as strong as some of his co-workers', but Digital Mortality is one of the most skilled athletes on the roster. Who knows when the mysterious Puerto Rican will try and claim Vivica J. Valentine's US strap?
10. Tempest (182.7)
March has been a mixed month for The Sparkly One. She wrestled an infatuated Cheap Labor at NC-17 and came out victorious, only to suffer a devastating victory at the handers of PAZUZU, THE DARKNESS on WW127. Despite not managing a single defence of her Television Title, Tempest continues to be a strong backstage presence. She has definitely stamped her personality all over every edition of WorldWide she's appeared on in a way that we've not seen since the days of Chris Bagwell. She will taste gold again before long.
There you have it, folks; a comprehensive run-down of all GCW's top movers and shakers for the month of March! It would be unfair not to mention those who came oh-so close to cracking the top ten, though.
Honourable Mentions
Markus Stone: Were it not for the fact that Stone handed in his GCW resignation prior to WW128, he would surely have appeared in the top ten. Despite his NC-17 loss, Markus Stone's star rose more than anybody's during 2010's first couple of months. 2010 was his for the taking, but alas, it wasn't to be.
SurReal: The Irishman survived a brutal glass tables match at NC-17 and ended Lori Equinox's short GCW career in the process. Unsuccessful in his attempt at taking PAZUZU's Television Title, the Irishman has nonetheless proven himself a fearsome competitor.
And how about a few guys who haven't been doing so well for themselves lately?
Off the Radar
AXEL Action: Dear oh dear. What's happened to the Angel of Vengeance? GCW's "next big thing" has fallen away from the competition spectacularly. After a loss to Dan Black stripped him of all his worldly possessions, AXEL strolled into WW128 covered in filth and stinking of garbage. This rising star has a lot of work to do.
Bishop Steele: It's Bishop Steele. Need I say more?
By Johnny Paycheck 2010-04-02
Men, women, AXEL Action: welcome to the first edition of the GCW Stock Exchange, a new column exclusive to GCWOnline.net!
Every month we'll attempt to run through the GCW roster and highlight the top ten movers and shakers in the company. By considering all of the month in question's shows and ranking GCW's top superstars based on their accomplishments for that month. We take everything into account: wins, losses, titles, announcements, interviews... not one second of what goes down on WorldWide and pay-per-view will be ignored, for better or for worse. For March, we'll be including everything from NC-17, WorldWide 127, and WorldWide 128.
The factors influencing a wrestler's rank are pretty straightforward. Lose a PPV blow-off match and you're gonna slide down the table like a greased eel, but capture a title belt and you're in the money. There is no points allocation formula; those compiling the rankings are expected to use their own judgement, and that includes you.
Yes, that's right. You, the GCW fan. For administrative purposes, this month's edition of the GCW Stock Exchange has been put together by GCW staff, but the people will have a say in every Stock Exchange from here on out. From April onwards, you'll be in-charge of deciding who's hot and who's not.
Without further ado, let's get right into it!
1. LeStatt Knight (443.8 points)
If you're going to dispute LeStatt Knight's current position as GCW's top dog then you obviously haven't been watching the shows. March 2010 has been one of the strongest months of The Icon's long career. After defeating the unorthodox Clyde Fox at NC-17, LK defeated long-time rival Andy Murray at WW127 to capture a historic 4th World Title reign, and he rounded off an incredible month when tagging with Murray yielded a victory over Clyde Fox and Jay Terror. WW128 may have ended on a sour note for the Hall-of-Famer, but there's not a wrestler in GCW that can touch Knight at the moment. If his stellar career really is about to reach it's conclusion then LK is definitely going out on a high.
2. Tessa Windsor (362.1 points)
After many years stuck between the United States division and the main event, Tessa is finally making giant strides towards the GCW World Heavyweight Championship. At NC-17, she overcome former friend Markus Stone after one of the most bitter rivalries GCW has ever seen. She followed this huge victory with a win over Shaman at WW127, and with Chris Storm's return at WW128 Tessa will surely be looking to the future with a smile on her face. Tessa is as close to World Title contention as she's ever been, and with LeStatt Knight seemingly on the way out of GCW, she might be in with a shot.
3. Andy Murray (340.9 points)
The Scottish King of Cool might not be the Champion any more, but he won the biggest match of his career on the biggest night of the GCW calender year. An NC-17 victory alone would have been enough to catapult Murray to the top of the list if it weren't for the stunning form of LeStatt Knight and Tessa Windsor. His loss to Knight at 127 was a crushing blow, but The King came out swinging by Knight's side at 128. Determined not to let the end of his record-breaking title reign get to him, Murray has already outlined his plans for 2010 by donning a Dangerous Games t-shirt at WW128. However, with Windsor on the rise, the next couple of months could be a testing time for GCW's most popular wrestler if he wants to maintain his main event relevancy.
4. Bryan Mayhem (326.8 points)
Talk about a turnaround. The Lunatic found life in GCW tough-going after a win-less period stretching from his Dangerous Games return right up to February, but he bounced back at NC-17 by defeating long-time foe Shaman and his partner Jorge Samuelsson. Since then there's been no stopping Mayhem. His newly-won Tag Team Titles were smelted into a single Hardcore Title at WW127, which he promptly defended against Donny Diamond and Bishop Steele. After another title defence at WW128, Mayhem went undefeated during March and has re-established his credentials as a threat to anyone on the GCW roster. And can anyone think of a more appropriate man to hold the GCW Hardcore Title? Didn't think so.
5. PAZUZU, THE DARKNESS (287.3 points)
Okay, who saw this coming? A guy who thinks he's a demon strolls into GCW wearing a thong and a pair of Ugg boots, and promptly becomes one of the most effective wrestlers on the roster. He's overcome every grappler that's been put before him so far. The oddity defeated Bishop Steele and Kris Michaels at NC-17, before a shock victory over the much-fancied TV Champion Tempest at WW127. Since then he's gone on to successfully defend that belt against SurReal and has shown no signs of slowing done. Though his antics continue to edge towards ridiculousness, P-ZU has overcome initial mockery to prove that he's no joke when it comes to in-ring action.
6. Valentine (269.4 points)
Defeat to former lover Andy Murray at NC-17 was a crushing blow to The Bulletproof Blonde, and may just have pushed her over the iceberg. The former fan favourite recovered at WW127 to capture the departing Dan Black's US Title, but it remains to be scene whether or not her fractured psyche will ever be the same. This is hammered home by the brutal beat down (and subsequent branding) of LeStatt Knight at WW128's conclusion. Has Vivica J. Valentine lost the plot once and for all? Quite possibly. She may be a bigger danger to herself than ever before, but that also means she's a bigger danger to everyone else as well.
7. Jay Terror (255.2 points)
The Established's power in GCW appears to be waning. A huge victory over Jason O'Neil will have no doubt brought a smile to Steven Caldera's lips, but with his benefactor leaving GCW television once and for all, Jay's influence on the promotion is not what it was. There's a new sheriff in town, and Garbage Bag Johnny has made it quite clear that he will not groom Terror as Caldera did. It would be stupid for anyone to write-off Terror as a main event threat, however. Despite a tag loss at WW128, Jay remains one of the most capable brawlers on the roster. Who's to say he won't use Caldera's disappearance to his advantage, and come out determined to re-establish himself as GCW's number one bad guy?
8. Tim Shipley (222.8 points)
Just one match so far for the Englishman (a pinfall victory over fellow newcomer Aaron Fujita at WW128), but the Just promoter continues to make waves outside of the ring. Not a week passes by without Shipley sticking his nose in someone else's business and ruffling a few feathers, and now it seems that he's set on doing just that to former AWC colleague Andy Murray. Shipley will have no doubt been disappointed to miss out on the GCW comissioner's job, but his personality has shone brighter than any other new-hire recently, and he's sure to be an early favourite for the Rampage tournament.
9. Digital Mortality (201.4)
The king of slipping under the radar has done it again. Digi won the American Dream (entitling him to a shot at the United States Title whenever he pleases) at Dangerous Games, only to slink into the shadows again. There were whispers of the enigmatic DigiMort being done with GCW for good, but he rolled into WW127 and secured a pinfall victory over MMA star Kris Michaels, and another over AXEL Action at WW128. His on-air presence may not be as strong as some of his co-workers', but Digital Mortality is one of the most skilled athletes on the roster. Who knows when the mysterious Puerto Rican will try and claim Vivica J. Valentine's US strap?
10. Tempest (182.7)
March has been a mixed month for The Sparkly One. She wrestled an infatuated Cheap Labor at NC-17 and came out victorious, only to suffer a devastating victory at the handers of PAZUZU, THE DARKNESS on WW127. Despite not managing a single defence of her Television Title, Tempest continues to be a strong backstage presence. She has definitely stamped her personality all over every edition of WorldWide she's appeared on in a way that we've not seen since the days of Chris Bagwell. She will taste gold again before long.
There you have it, folks; a comprehensive run-down of all GCW's top movers and shakers for the month of March! It would be unfair not to mention those who came oh-so close to cracking the top ten, though.
Honourable Mentions
Markus Stone: Were it not for the fact that Stone handed in his GCW resignation prior to WW128, he would surely have appeared in the top ten. Despite his NC-17 loss, Markus Stone's star rose more than anybody's during 2010's first couple of months. 2010 was his for the taking, but alas, it wasn't to be.
SurReal: The Irishman survived a brutal glass tables match at NC-17 and ended Lori Equinox's short GCW career in the process. Unsuccessful in his attempt at taking PAZUZU's Television Title, the Irishman has nonetheless proven himself a fearsome competitor.
And how about a few guys who haven't been doing so well for themselves lately?
Off the Radar
AXEL Action: Dear oh dear. What's happened to the Angel of Vengeance? GCW's "next big thing" has fallen away from the competition spectacularly. After a loss to Dan Black stripped him of all his worldly possessions, AXEL strolled into WW128 covered in filth and stinking of garbage. This rising star has a lot of work to do.
Bishop Steele: It's Bishop Steele. Need I say more?