PUSH-ME POLL APRIL 2005

From TheSmartMarks.com

Commentaries
PUSH-ME POLL APRIL 2005
By Struan Mackenzie
May 21, 2005, 20:14

Unfortunately, this is probably the final Push-Me Poll, at least in its present form, for the time being. It�s simply become too time consuming. I love compiling it every month and may continue to do so in an abridged form (perhaps taking in just WWE, TNA & ROH). This was to have been the last Push-Me Poll on TSM regardless - Larry Csonka had offered me a position to publish it over at 411. However, there has been some severe miscommunication over the past few weeks which has basically made me lose all enthusiasm for 411 in particular and the Push-Me Poll in general. I have enjoyed putting it together for TSM over the last year and would like to single out Dr Tom for thanks in helping me get started, as well as all those who have PM�d or emailed me to offer feedback and support. If any generous benefactors would like to start paying me for the time it takes to compile this, then please do feel free to email me at [email protected]. Otherwise, for one last time �

�Welcome once again to the statistical wonder that is the Push-Me Poll. For those new to its painstakingly structured charms, the Push-Me Poll is a monthly rankings system for North American Pro Wrestling, based purely on the push any given wrestler is getting at any given time.

How does one accurately gauge success in the pro wrestling industry? Match quality? No - a good worker may not, and often never will, get beyond the mid-card. Win-loss records? No - a winning mid-carder is clearly less successful in the business than a losing main eventer. By awarding points for main events wrestled, championship matches worked and supercard appearances, the Push-Me Poll raises the cream of the industry - the men the promoters have the faith in to carry their product - to the top of the rankings to give a truly accurate reflection on who is ruling the wrestling roost at any given time.

The April 2005 Push-Me Poll encompasses every card from WWE Raw & Smackdown, NWA: TNA, Ring of Honor, IWA Mid-South, CZW, PWG, Jersey All-Pro, OVW, Full Impact Pro, 3PW, NWA: Wildside, NWA: CyberSpace, UXW, IWC, Chikara Pro, NWA: Florida, ECWA, Pro Wrestling Unplugged, IWS, SCCW, Pro Wrestling WAR, Border City and FWA UK in addition to shows from smaller feds such as APW, IWA East-Coast, NYWC, AWA Superstars, AWS, Stampede, NECW, IWF and Gateway.

Following the Push-Me Poll Top 50 each month is the North American Top 250 Rankings - the cumulative scores for the previous 12 months giving an overall ranking for a worker�s position in the industry over the last year. The numbers in parenthesis are the wrestler�s position in the poll the previous month.

PUSH-ME POLL APRIL 2005

1�(4)�Batista, WWE Raw World Champion, 130 points
2�(3)�John Cena, WWE Smackdown World Champion, 114 points
3�(2)�Triple-H, WWE Raw World Champion, 96 points
4�(1)�John Bradshaw Layfield, WWE Smackdown World Champion, 83 points
5�(8)�A.J. Styles, NWA: TNA, PWG & IWC, 59 points
6�(13)�Kurt Angle, WWE Smackdown, 54 points
7�(19)�The Big Show, WWE Smackdown, 54 points
8�(11)�Rey Mysterio, WWE Smackdown Co-Tag Team Champion, 53 points
9�(5)�Jeff Jarrett, NWA: TNA & NWA CyberSpace Champion, 52 points
10�(NEW)�Jimmy Jacobs, IWA Mid-South Champion, 52 points
11�(10)�Eddie Guerrero, WWE Smackdown Co-Tag Team Champion, 50 points
12�(6)�Orlando Jordan, WWE Smackdown U.S. Champion, 42 points
13�(28)�Outlaw Billy Gunn, NWA: TNA & IWA Mid-South, 42 points
14�(27)�Christian, WWE Raw, 41 points
15�(32)�Abyss, NWA: TNA, NWA: CyberSpace & NWA: No Limits, 41 points
16�(23)�Homicide, JAPW & FIP Champion, 40 points
17�(30)�Booker T, WWE Smackdown, 37 points
18�(12)�Shawn Michaels, WWE Raw, 35 points
19�(NEW)�Chris Hero, IWA Mid-South, PWG, Chikara & IWA East-Coast, 33 points
20�(24)�Chris Benoit, WWE Raw, 32 points
21�(36)�Chris Jericho, WWE Raw, 32 points
22�(33)�C.M. Punk, ROH, IWA Mid-South, FIP & IWC, 31 points
23�(43)�Sean Waltman, NWA: TNA & Border City, 31 points
24�(42)�Shelton Benjamin, WWE Raw Intercontinental Champion, 30 points
25�(7)�Dallas Page, NWA: TNA, 30 points
26�(16)�Ric Flair, WWE Raw, 29 points
27�(22)�Edge, WWE Raw, 29 points
28�(34)�Petey Williams, NWA: TNA, ECWA Super 8 Winner, 27 points
29�(NEW)�Muhammad Hassan, WWE Raw, 27 points
30�(NEW)�Trish Stratus, WWE Raw Women�s Champion, 27 points
31�(25)�Carlito Caribbean Cool, WWE Smackdown, 26 points
32�(29)�Austin Aries, ROH & PWW Champion, 26 points
33�(14)�Randy Orton, WWE Raw, 25 points
34�(15)�Monty Brown, NWA: TNA, 25 points
35�(41)�Raven, NWA: TNA & NWA Florida, 25 points
36�(18)�Kane, WWE Raw, 24 points
37�(NEW)�Jigsaw, Chikara Young Lion�s Cup Holder, 24 points
38�(NEW)�Steve Corino, IWA Mid-South, PWU & AWA, 23 points
39�(NEW)�Arik Cannon, IWA Mid-South & Chikara, 23 points
40�(20)�The Basham Brothers, WWE Smackdown, 22 points
41�(45)�B.G. James, NWA: TNA, 22 points
42�(NEW)�MNM (Joey Matthews & Johnny Nitro), WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions, 22 points
43�(NEW)�B-Boy, IWA Mid-South, CZW, JAPW & SCCW, 22 points
44�(17)�Christopher Daniels, NWA: TNA X-Champion, 21 points
45�(NEW)--Brandon Thomaselli, IWA Mid-South & CZW, 21 points
46�(NEW)�Shirley Doe, IWC Champion, 20 points
47�(NEW)�Michael Shane, NWA: TNA, NWA: No Limits & NWA: CyberSpace, 19 points
48�(48)�Chris Candido, NWA: TNA, IWA Mid-South & UXW, 18 points
49�(NEW)�Elix Skipper, NWA: TNA, NWA: CyberSpace & UXW, 18 points
50�(NEW)�The Naturals (Chase Stevens & Andy Douglas), NWA: TNA, 18 points

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PUSH-ME POLL NORTH-AMERICAN RANKINGS TOP 250
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR (May 04-April 05)

1�(1)�JOHN BRADSHAW LAYFIELD, 692 points
WWE Smackdown
No.1 contender: WWE Smackdown World title (May)
WWE Smackdown World Champion (Jun-Apr)

2�(2)�TRIPLE-H, 638 points
WWE Raw
No.1 contender: WWE Raw World title (Jul)
WWE Raw World Champion (Sep-Nov)
No.1 contender: WWE Raw World title (Dec)
WWE Raw World Champion (Jan-Apr)

3�(6)�BATISTA, 501 points
WWE Raw
No.1 contender: WWE Raw World title (Jan-Mar)
WWE Raw World Champion (Apr)

4�(3)�RANDY ORTON, 454 points
WWE Raw
WWE Raw Intercontinental Champion (May-Jul)
WWE Raw World Champion (Aug-Sep)
No.1 contender: WWE Raw World title (Oct-Jan)

5�(5)�JEFF JARRETT, 451.5 points
NWA: TNA
NWA: TNA Champion (Jun-Apr)

6�(9)�JOHN CENA, 391 points
WWE Smackdown
WWE Smackdown U.S. Champion (May-Jul)
WWE Smackdown U.S. Champion (Aug-Oct)
WWE Smackdown U.S. Champion (Nov-Mar)
WWE Smackdown World Champion (Apr)

7�(8)�A.J. STYLES, 382.5 points
NWA: TNA & Indies
NWA: TNA Champion (May)
NWA: TNA X-Champion (Jun-Jul)
IWA Mid-South Champion (Oct)
NWA: TNA X-Champion (Jan-Mar)

8�(4)�CHRIS BENOIT, 379 points
WWE Raw
WWE Raw World Champion (May-Aug)
WWE Raw Co-Tag Team Champion (w/ Edge, May)
WWE Raw Co-Tag Team Champion (w/ Edge, Oct-Nov)
No.1 contender: WWE Raw World title (Dec-Jan)

9�(7)�EDDIE GUERRERO, 378 points
WWE Smackdown
WWE Smackdown World Champion (May-Jun)
No.1 contender: WWE Smackdown World title (Jul, Dec)
WWE Smackdown Co-Tag Team Champion (w/ Rey Mysterio, Feb-Apr)

10�(11)�C.M. PUNK, 297 points
ROH & Indies
ROH Co-Tag Team Champion (w/ Colt Cabana, May)
ROH Co-Tag Team Champion (w/Colt Cabana, May-Aug)
No.1 contender: ROH title (Oct-Dec)
IWA Mid-South Champion (Oct-Feb)

11�(16)�KURT ANGLE, 277 points
WWE Smackdown
No.1 contender: WWE Smackdown World title (Jan)

12�(12)�THE UNDERTAKER, 268 points
WWE Smackdown
No.1 contender: WWE Smackdown World title (Aug-Oct, Dec)

13�(14)�BOOKER T, 264 points
WWE Smackdown
WWE Smackdown U.S. Champion (Jul-Aug)
No.1 contender: WWE Smackdown World title (Oct-Dec)

14�(10)�SAMOA JOE, 261 points
ROH & Indies
ROH Champion (May-Dec)
No.1 contender: ROH title (Feb)

15�(16)�HOMICIDE, 260 points
ROH & Indies
No.1 contender: ROH title (May-Aug)
Full Impact Pro Champion (Sep-Apr)
Jersey All-Pro Champion (Mar-Apr)

16�(13)�EDGE, 253 points
WWE Raw
WWE Raw Co-Tag Team Champion (w/ Chris Benoit, May)
WWE Raw Intercontinental Champion (Jul-Sep)
WWE Raw Co-Tag Team Champion (w/ Chris Benoit, Oct-Nov)
No.1 contender: WWE Raw World title (Dec-Jan)

17�(19)�THE BIG SHOW, 237 points
WWE Smackdown
No.1 contender: WWE Smackdown World title (Jan-Feb)

18�(24)�REY MYSTERIO, 222 points
WWE Smackdown
WWE Smackdown Cruiserweight Champion (Jun-Jul)
WWE Smackdown Co-Tag Team Champion (w/ Rob Van Dam, Dec-Jan)
WWE Smackdown Co-Tag Team Champion (w/ Eddie Guerrero, Feb-Apr)

19�(20)�PETEY WILLIAMS, 219.5 points
NWA: TNA & Indies
IWA Mid-South Champion (May-Sep)
NWA: TNA X-Champion (Aug-Jan)

20�(17)�CHRISTOPHER DANIELS, 216 points
NWA: TNA & Indies
ECWA Champion (May)
NWA: TNA Co-Tag Team Champion (w/ James Storm, Sep-Oct)
3PW Champion (Aug-Feb)
NWA: TNA X-Champion (Mar-Apr)

21�(18)�RIC FLAIR, 216 points
WWE Raw

22�(22)�CHRIS JERICHO, 215 points
WWE Raw
WWE Raw Intercontinental Champion (Sep-Oct)
No.1 contender: WWE World title (Jan)

23�(23)�AUSTIN ARIES, 207 points
ROH & Indies
ROH Champion (Dec-Apr)

24�(26)�ORLANDO JORDAN, 206 points
WWE Smackdown
WWE Smackdown U.S. Champion (Mar-Apr)

25�(21)�KANE, 205 points
WWE Raw
No.1 contender: WWE Raw World title (May-Jun)

26--MONTY BROWN, 169
27--SHAWN MICHAELS, 166
28--CHRIS HERO, 166
29--SUPER DRAGON, 161
30--JIMMY JACOBS, 161
31--CHRIS HARRIS (AMERICA�S MOST WANTED), 159.5
32--JEFF HARDY, 156
33--FRANKIE KAZARIAN, 154.5
34--JAMES STORM (AMERICA�S MOST WANTED), 149
35--RON KILLINGS, 147
36--CHRIS SABIN, 146.5
37--B-BOY, 145
38--LUTHER REIGNS, 142
39--ABYSS, 133.5
40--DANNY BASHAM (THE BASHAM BROTHERS), 132
41--AMERICAN DRAGON, 129
42--RAVEN, 127.5
43--RODERICK STRONG, 125.5
44--SHELTON BENJAMIN, 123
45--ALEX SHELLEY, 122
46--JACK EVANS, 120
47--DOUG BASHAM (THE BASHAM BROTHERS), 120
48--CHRISTIAN, 119
49--ELIX SKIPPER, 118
50--DALLAS PAGE, 117.5

51--NICK �EUGENE� DINSMORE, 117
52--B.G. JAMES, 116.5
53--MICHAEL SHANE, 112
54--KEVIN NASH, 111
55--IAN ROTTEN, 110
56--B.J. WHITMER, 104
57--DANNY DANIELS, 104
58--BOBBY RUDE (TEAM CANADA), 102
59--ARIK CANNON, 101
60--SHIRLEY DOE, 99
61--OUTLAW BILLY GUNN, 99
62--KID KASH, 98.5
63--BRANDON THOMASELLI, 98
64--JOHN HEIDENREICH, 95
65--ROB VAN DAM, 94
66--RENE DUPREE, 94
67--SONJAY DUTT, 93.5
68--TRISH STATUS, 93
69--COLT CABANA, 92
70--CARLITO CARIBBEAN COOL, 92
71--ERIC YOUNG (TEAM CANADA), 91
72--DAN MAFF, 90
73--SLYCK WAGNER BROWN, 88
74--CHASE STEVENS (THE NATURALS), 87.5
75--JOHN WALTERS, 86

76--JAY LETHAL, 86
77--KONNAN, 85.5
78--ANDY DOUGLAS (THE NATURALS), 84
79--ROB CONWAY (LA RESISTANCE), 82
80--SYLVAN GRENIER (LA RESISTANCE), 81
81--MATT MORGAN, 79
82--JOEY MATTHEWS / JOEY MERCURY (MNM), 78
83--NATE WEBB, 75.5
84--GENE SNITSKY, 74
85--RYAN BOZ, 73
86--CHRIS CANDIDO, 72.5
87--RAINMAN, 71
88--CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI, 70
89--CHRIS BOSH, 69
90--ONYX, 68
91--RUCKUS, 68
92--ROCKY ROMERO (THE HAVANA PITBULLS), 67
93--TYSON TOMKO, 67
94--MATT SYDAL, 66.5
95--MAVEN, 66
96--JIMMY RAVE, 65.5
97--LEX LOVETT, 64.5
98--RICKY REYES (THE HAVANA PITBULLS), 64
99--LOW KI, 64
100--LANCE HOYT/ DALLAS, 63.5

101--MUHAMMAD HASSAN, 63
102--CHARLIE HAAS, 62
103--MARK JINDRAK, 62
104--MIKE QUACKENBUSH, 62
105--PAUL LONDON, 62
106--JIGSAW, 62
107--D-VON DUDLEY (THE DUDLEY BOYZ), 61
108--THE MESSIAH, 61
109--NIGEL McGUINESS, 61
110--AZRIAEL/ ANGEL DUST, 61
111--BUBBA-RAY DUDLEY (THE DUDLEY BOYZ), 59
112--LITA, 59
113--TRENT ACID, 58
114--CHAVO GUERRERO, 58
115--SEAN WALTMAN, 58
116--SPIKE DUDLEY, 57
117--SABIAN, 57
118--WILLIAM REGAL, 57
119--SIMON DEAN / NOVA, 55
120--ERIC XTASY, 54
121--KENZO SUZUKI, 54
122--BILLY KIDMAN, 54
123--MICKIE KNUCKLES, 54
124--DELIRIOUS, 52
125--EDDIE KINGSTON, 52

126--TRIK DAVIS, 52
127--THE AMAZING RED, 51.5
128--DUSTIN RHODES, 51.5
129--JAMES GIBSON/ JAMIE NOBLE, 51
130--TAJIRI, 50
131--SCOTT LOST, 49
132--HUMAN TORNADO, 48
133--MIKE KRUEL, 48
134--QUICKSILVER, 47
135--DOUG WILLIAMS, 47
136--TANK, 47
137--SCORPIO SKY, 46
138--J.C. BAILEY, 45
139--VICTORIA, 45
140--SCOTT HALL, 44.5
141--ALEX SHANE, 44
142--KEVIN STEEN, 44
143--PUMA, 44
144--FAST EDDIE VEGAS, 44
145--STEVE CORINO, 44
146--CHAD COLLYER, 43.5
147--CORPORAL ROBINSON, 43
148--HARDCORE HOLLY, 43
149--TONY DeVITO (THE CARNAGE CREW), 43
150--TRACY SMOTHERS, 43

151--CHRISTY HEMME, 43
152--JASON CROSS, 42.5
153--DUNN (THE RING CREW EXPRESS), 42
154--CHRIS MASTERS, 42
155--MADMAN PONDO, 41
156--MOLLY HOLLY, 41
157--MARCOS (THE RING CREW EXPRESS), 41
158--JOHNNY NITRO (MNM), 41
159--ADAM FLASH, 40.5
160--SONNY SIAKI, 40.5
161--AL SNOW, 40
162--EL GENERICO, 40
163--JERRELLE CLARK, 40
164--BALLS MAHONEY, 40
165--BABI SLYMM, 39
166--MATT STRIKER, 39
167--DAIZEE HAZE, 39
168--SAL THOMASELLI (THE IRON SAINTS), 39
169--JOSH ABERCROMBIE, 39
170--WIFEBEATER, 38
171--STEVE STONE, 38
172--JUSTICE PAIN, 38
173--CHANDLER McCLURE, 38
174--NICK GAGE, 37
175--H.C. LOC (THE CARNAGE CREW), 37

176--VITO THOMASELLI (THE IRON SAINTS) 37
177--ADAM PEARCE, 37
178--LARRY SWEENEY, 37
179--BRUCE STEELE, 36
180--ACE STEEL, 35
181--DAWN MARIE, 35
182--JONNY STORM, 35
183--HECTOR GARZA, 34.5
184--TEDDY HART, 34
185--AZRAEL (THE LOST BOYZ), 34
186--SIMON DIAMOND, 34
187--BRAD BRADLEY, 34
188--MR INSANITY TOBY KLEIN, 34
189--ALISTAIR �A1� RALPHS, 34
190--THE NECRO BUTCHER, 33
191--FABULOUS JOHN McCHESNEY, 32.5
192--MARK BRISCOE (THE BRISCOE BROTHERS), 32
193--SCOTTY 2 HOTTY, 32
194--CHRIS CAGE, 32
195--JOEY RYAN, 32
196--KAOS, 32
197--SEBASTIAN DARK, 32
198--STEVE MADISON, 32
199--VORDELL WALKER, 32
200--DAVID YOUNG, 31.5

201--FUNAKI, 31
202--PHOENIX STAR, 31
203--BONECRUSHER FRED SAMPSON, 31
204--ERICK STEVENS, 30.5
205--JERRY LYNN, 30
206--RHYNO, 30
207--SCOTTY CHARISMA, 30
208--WONDERMAN GLENN SPECTRE, 30
209--ICEBERG, 30
210--THE HURRICANE, 29
211--ROSEY, 29
212--RAY GORDY, 29
213--TANK TOLAND, 29
214--BUCK QUARTERMAIN, 29
215--NEW JACK, 29
216--TODD SEXTON, 28.5
217--SALVATORE RINAURO, 28.5
218--JAY BRISCOE (THE BRISCOE BROTHERS), 28
219--SHARK BOY, 28
220--TOPGUN TALWAR, 28
221--HALLOWICKED, 28
222--STERLING JAMES KEENAN, 28
223--SHOCKER, 28
224--RANDY SAVAGE, 27.5
235--IZZY/ INSANE DRAGON, 27

226--JERRY LAWLER, 27
227--THE COACH, 26
228--GAIL KIM, 26
229--J.J. PEREZ, 26
230--CHRIS HAMRICK, 26
231--DAVEY ANDREWS, 26
232--KARNAGE, 26
233--FRANKY THE MOBSTER, 26
234--SABU, 25
235--JOEL MAXIMO (THE SPANISH ANNOUNCE TEAM), 25
236--PSYCOSIS/ NICHO, 25
237--DANNY INFERNO, 25
238--BLACK JACK MARCIANO, 25
239--JAMES TIGHE, 25
240--DERANGED, 25
241--DIXIE, 25
242--MIKEY BATTS, 25
243--ERIC PRIEST, 25
244--DISCO MACHINE, 24
245--JOSE MAXIMO (THE SPANISH ANNOUNCE TEAM), 24
246--VENGEANCE/ SEVEN/ MORDECAI, 24
247--ROCKIN' REBEL, 24
248--BRENT ALBRIGHT, 24
249--SETH SKYFIRE, 24
250--KURT LAUDERDALE, 24

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40 points = put over strong to close a WWE or TNA PPV
20 points = main event or title match on a WWE or TNA PPV, put over strong to close a 2-hour Raw or Smackdown
10 points = appearance on a WWE or TNA PPV, main event or title match on a 2-hour Raw or Smackdown, put over strong to close a 1-hour TNA Impact or major Indy show (ROH, CZW, PWG, etc)
5 points = appearance on a 2-hour Raw or Smackdown, main event or title match on a 1-hour TNA Impact or major Indy show (ROH, CZW, PWG, etc)
1 point = main event or title match on a WWE house show, appearance on a 1-hour TNA Impact or major Indy show (ROH, CZW, PWG, etc), main event or title match on a smaller Indy show