A lot of great superstars emerged in 2011, but who are the biggest, baddest and best from 2011?
5. Zack Ryder
“Are You Serious Bro!”
Who else to take the number 5 spot, other than the “Long Island Iced Z” Zack Ryder.
Arguably the number one breakout star within all of wrestling, at the beginning of the year, Ryder was on the verge of being wished all the best in his future endeavors. He was never used on TV and was completely irrelevant in the company.
Most superstars in this position do not want to ruffle any feathers and hurt their stock even more, but Ryder took matters into his own hands and got noticed. He created the ever-so popular hit Youtube show “Z True Long Island Story”, and had the WWE Universe all over the globe chant “We Want Ryder” when he was still not on TV.
It took months of work by Ryder and the fans, but Ryder finally got his opportunity and he is now one of the most popular wrestlers in the whole company. His merchandise sales are in the top three of WWE, and he is now one of, if not, the most beloved superstar in all of WWE.
Ryder’s in ring work is not the best, but it is improving. However, this is okay because Ryder has what is most important in professional wrestling, which some of the most talented in ring wrestlers never obtain, a connection with the fans.
Ryder is a self-made superstar, who made the WWE and Vince McMahon pay attention to him. He has Broksi’s all over the world, who are ready to shout Woo Woo Woo at the top of their lungs and he will be a major force in 2012.
With all that said, make sure you like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his Youtube channel and most importantly, Take care, spike your hair WOO WOO WOO You Know It Bro!
4. Cody Rhodes
At number four is the current Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes.
When he was part of Legacy, many thought it was going to be Ted DiBiase Jr. who was going to go on and achieve great things. However, if Survivor Series reaction towards Rhodes was any indication, it is unquestionably Rhodes who is the Shawn Michaels of the two.
At the beginning of the year, Rhodes was stuck in his narcissistic “Dashing” gimmick, but when he legitimately broke his nose in January, in a match with Rey Mysterio, Rhodes came into his own.
Rhodes developed into a psychotic heel, and wore a protective mask over his face and handed out paper bags to fans in the front row. He won his match at Wrestlemania over Mysterio and in August captured the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
He brought back the classic Intercontinental belt, and is restoring some of the prestige to the title. The belt is supposed to groom superstars into the main event, and Rhodes is going to be a top star in 2012.
Rhodes is a very talented in-ring worker, who is developing his own unique personality, which fans around the world are really enjoying. He has packed on a lot of muscle, and does not look scrawny anymore, which will make him a future WWE Champion/World Heavyweight Champion that much quicker.
Who would have thought, a broken nose would be the best thing to ever happen to a wrestlers career.
3. Mark Henry
Out of everyone on this list, I am happiest for this wrestler, “The World’s Strongest Man” and current World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry.
Dominating and inducting numerous Heavyweight wrestlers into his Hall of Pain including Sheamus, Kane and the Big Show, Henry finally captured the World Heavyweight Championship in September against Randy Orton.
Improving in all aspects of his character, especially his in-ring work, I love every minute of Henry’s reign as champion. Putting on some of the best big man matches in quite some time, Henry is entertaining and should hold the belt all the way until Wrestlemania.
His matches have improved against competition of every size. The match at Vengeance verses the Big Show, was fantastic and entertaining, and both preformed moves I never thought these two big guys could pull off. Whether it was a flying elbow from the top rope or suplexing each other and destroying the ring, the match was one of my favorites of the year. Henry also put on another exciting match against Daniel Bryan in which he delivered a World Strongest Slam from the middle rope.
It took 16 long years, but Henry is finally being portrayed the correct way, as a monster heel and is making the most of his opportunity.
2. Dolph Ziggler
The best pure overall athlete is the number two breakout star of 2011, the longest reigning champion in WWE today, the United States Champion Dolph Ziggler.
Ziggler’s in ring work is top notch, and he usually puts on the most exciting and compelling match of the night. He sells great and is able to work with any wrestler and make them look good. In fact, the best part of the last two PPV’s, was that Ziggler competed in two matches.
In my opinion, Ziggler no longer needs Vicki Guerrero to garner heat, because he finally has created a personality unique to him, which connects with the fans. Ziggler has all the tools necessary to become one of the best superstars in the WWE and a world champion in 2012.
The “Show Off” of the WWE, I think it is finally time for Ziggler to take the next step in his career and lose the U.S. Championship. Ziggler has outgrown what the title represents and is ready to move into the main event scene and consistently compete with the upper echelon of the WWE talent.
2012 is going to be a big year for Ziggler and I expect him to not only have a high profile matchup at Wrestlemania, but it would not be unlikely for Ziggler to win either the Royal Rumble or Money in the Bank to certify his place in the main event.
Ziggler is there, and is one of the best wrestlers to emerge in 2011 #HEEL.
1. CM Punk
The number one breakout star of 2011, is unquestionably CM Punk.
I have always seen Punk as a top star since 2008, but in 2011, Punk took not only his character but the entire wrestling industry to a new level.
This summer is rightfully called the “Summer of Punk” and that is for good reason. Punk delivered one of the all-time greatest promos in June, when he broke the forth wall and called out everything wrong with the WWE product.
The promo was so good, that he legitimately had people wondering if he performed a shoot and had outlets such as ESPN covering the moment.
He followed it up at Money in the Bank where he won the WWE Championship in a five star match with John Cena and then left the company (the first PPV I ordered, and did not stream over the internet in years.)
The storyline was so good, and made the WWE product interesting and exciting all over again. This summer was WWE at its absolute best since the attitude era and it is all because of CM Punk.
Not only this summer, CM Punk also had one of the best storylines heading into Wrestlemania with Randy Orton, which unfortunately did not get the time or coverage it deserved.
CM Punk not only put the entertainment in World Wrestling Entertainment again, but inside the ring, he is the best the WWE has. His timing and execution are flawless and he never messes up or puts on a bad match, no matter who he faces.
CM Punk has cemented himself as potentially the face of the WWE in 2011, and there is no one more deserving of the honor of being the Breakout Wrestler of 2011.
The promo which changed professional wrestling!
Honorable Mentions:
Daniel Bryan – the Smackdown Money in the Bank winner, Bryan should be on the list, but suffers from horrible booking. 2012 should be a big year for Bryan, as he still holds the Money in the Bank briefcase and will headline Wrestlemania.
Wade Barrett – big things happened for Barrett in 2011 and he is a potential big time superstar. Great on the microphone, Barrett is a British brawler who has all the tools to be a multiple time world champion. Leading two fractions, Barrett is finally on his own, where the spotlight is solely displayed on him and his "Barrett Barrage."
Alberto Del Rio – Del Rio had arguably the most success in 2011, winning the Royal Rumble, headlining Wrestlemania, winning Money in the Bank and becoming a two time WWE Champion. However, he is not on the list because of terrible booking. Del Rio should have won his first championship at Wrestlemania but because of Edge’s injury was passed over. His two world title reigns should have been better, but he was booked to look weak and cowardly, unable to ever defeat John Cena. Del Rio is going to remain a top superstar and the only reason he misses this list, is not because of his overall talent, but because of what he is given to work with.
R-Truth – turning heel was the best thing to ever happen to R-Truth. Delivering some of the best promos of the year, crazy R-Truth and his ever going feud with “Lil’ Jimmy” is some of the best stuff of the year. Headlining Survivor Series with The Miz against John Cena and The Rock, Truth’s momentum was cut short when he unfortunately failed a drug test and was suspended for 30 days. R-Truth elevated himself and while he may never win the “big one”, he is one of the most entertaining superstars to emerge in 2011.
Christian – as good as it gets. Christian has been a top superstar since 1999, but in 2011 he finally won the coveted World Heavyweight Championship. Although, he did not hold the belt long, Christian had one of the best feuds of the year with Randy Orton and has continued to put on excellent matches. An injury derailed Christian’s momentum, but he will surely return to form whenever he returns because he is so consistently good.
Sheamus – had the most surprisingly successful face turn in years. The crowd is firmly behind the big Irish guy, and he has not lost any of the bad-ass qualities which made him so successful as a heel. Sheamus is a top guy in the company and he will once again win the championship in 2012.
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