Most Underrated Wrestler

Award Description:

To be given to the person whose ability merits a far greater push than the
person receives. There may be many such people, but the winner of this award
should have the most ability with least push.  

Previous Winners:

  1990: Terry Taylor 
  1991: Cactus Jack 
  1992: Owen Hart 
  1993: Chris Benoit 
  1994: 1-2-3 Kid 
  1995: Barry Horowitz
  1996: Owen Hart
  1997: Chris Benoit
  1998: Chris Benoit

**1999**: D'Lo Brown

345 first place votes
331 second place votes
320 third place votes

 28 16 11  210   D'Lo Brown
 21 16 12  177   Al Snow
 23 14  4  165   Chris Benoit
 12 15  9  123   Booker T.
 15  9  6  114   Edge
 10 10  9   98   Christian
  7 11 14   96   Vampiro
  9  8 13   95   Norman Smiley
 10  6 13   94   Taka Michinoku
  8 11 10   93   Blitzkrieg
  7 12  9   89   Hardcore Holly
 11  7  6   88   Grandmaster Sexy
 10  8  6   86   Jerry Lynn
  9  9  5   82   Chris Jericho
  8  7 10   81   Test
 11  5  5   80   Jeff Hardy
  6  8  9   72   Kanyon
  5  6 12   67   Kane
 10  2  5   66   Owen Hart
  5  9  7   66   La Parka
  7  6  4   61   Eddie Guerrero
  5  7  7   60   Kaz Hayashi
  5  6  8   59   Psychosis
  7  5  1   52   Yoshihiro Tajiri
  4  8  4   52   Lenny
  3  4  7   41   Papi Chulo
  3  6  1   35   Hugh Morrus
  2  3  5   29   Triple H
  3  4  0   27   Danny Doring
  1  4  5   27   Perry Saturn
  4  2  0   26   Steve Blackman
  2  4  2   26   Rob Van Dam
  4  1  1   25   Nova
  1  3  6   26   Faarooq
  3  2  2   25   Cat
  2  3  3   25   Val Venis
  0  7  2   25   Juventud Guerrera
  2  1  4   21   Meng
  2  1  4   21   Lash LeRoux
  2  1  4   21   Dean Malenko
  2  2  2   20   Crash Holly
  2  2  2   20   Chyna
  1  2  4   19   Silver King
  1  3  2   18   Mike Awesome
  2  1  2   17   Shane McMahon
  2  1  2   17   Mona
  1  2  3   17   Viscera
  1  2  3   17   Lance Storm
  1  2  3   17   Kidman
  1  3  1   16   El Samurai
  2  1  1   15   Steve Corino
  2  1  1   15   Masahito Kakihara
  2  1  1   15   Chavo Guerrero Jr.
  2  1  0   13   X-Pac
  2  0  1   12   Buff Bagwell
  1  1  2   12   Steve Regal
  1  1  2   12   Lodi
  1  2  0   11   Roadkill
  1  0  3   11   Super Crazy
  2  0  0   10   Road Dogg
  2  0  0   10   Justin Credible
  2  0  0   10   Evan Karagias
  2  0  0   10   Diamond Dallas Page
  0  2  2   10   Prince Albert
  1  0  2    9   Little Guido
  1  1  0    8   Lexie Fyfe
  1  1  0    8   Kurt Angle
  1  1  0    8   Disco Inferno
  1  0  1    7   Scott Steiner
  1  0  1    7   Ken Shamrock
  1  0  1    7   Jacqueline
  1  0  1    7   Ivory
  0  1  2    7   Goldberg
  0  2  0    6   Minoru Tanaka
  0  0  3    6   Stevie Richards
  1  0  0    5   Yumi Fukawa
  1  0  0    5   Tony Rivera
  1  0  0    5   Raven
  1  0  0    5   Mark Henry
  1  0  0    5   Mankind
  1  0  0    5   Kenta Kobashi
  1  0  0    5   Hulk Hogan
  1  0  0    5   Gangrel
  1  0  0    5   Curt Hennig
  1  0  0    5   Chi-Chi Cruz
  1  0  0    5   Bradshaw
  1  0  0    5   Blue Meanie
  1  0  0    5   Adam Pearce
  0  1  1    5   Sean Stasiak
  0  1  1    5   Sabu
  0  1  1    5   Luna
  0  0  2    4   Vito LaGrasso
  0  0  2    4   Riptide
  0  0  2    4   Mr. Ass
  0  0  2    4   Matt Hardy
  0  0  2    4   El Pantera
  0  1  0    3   Violent J
  0  1  0    3   Toshiaki Kawada
  0  1  0    3   Steven Regal
  0  1  0    3   Scotty Too Hottie
  0  1  0    3   Scott Hall
  0  1  0    3   Rock
  0  1  0    3   Reckless Youth
  0  1  0    3   Pete "Gas"
  0  1  0    3   Mikiko Futagami
  0  1  0    3   Meiko Satomura
  0  1  0    3   Johnny Smith
  0  1  0    3   Jeff Jarrett
  0  1  0    3   Hacksaw Jim Duggan
  0  1  0    3   El Dandy
  0  1  0    3   David Young
  0  1  0    3   Chris Chetti
  0  1  0    3   Brandi Alexander
  0  1  0    3   Brad Armstrong
  0  1  0    3   Axl Rotten
  0  0  1    2   Wrath
  0  0  1    2   Van Hammer
  0  0  1    2   Torch
  0  0  1    2   Simon Diamond
  0  0  1    2   Sid Vicious
  0  0  1    2   Shiro Koshinaka
  0  0  1    2   Rodney
  0  0  1    2   Michiko Omuka
  0  0  1    2   Funaki
  0  0  1    2   Don Montoya
  0  0  1    2   Bret Hart
  0  0  1    2   Big Show

REJECTED 

  1  5  1        Hardy Boyz
  0  1  0        Too Cool
  0  0  1        "Tie" votes


EDC: Chavo has every bit of ability as Eddy has, yet he still hasn't held
any belt to speak of. Lenny Lane was a victim of Politics, but he has
proven if given the chance, he can perform. Vito LaGrasso may become ECW's
secret weapon.

RFLAGG13: Blitzkrieg is one of the best highflyers I've ever seen. I don't
know if I buy the bit about his photographic moveset, but he's incredible
for such a young guy. Rob Van Dam is rather underappreciated by a lot of
people, who apparently haven't bothered to notice that he's actually a
well rounded wrestler now. Third is the criminally underlooked Papi Chulo,
who would be a prime candidate for the WWF Light Heavyweight title if
someone would just revive the damned division.

K. CANZANELLA: Tony Rivera is one of the most underutilized talents in
wrestling. The guy is the best low/midcard technico EMLL has but they give
him no push and he doesn't get much recognition online. La Parka has too
much charisma to be jobbing left and right for everyone. Kaz Hayashi is
ultra talented but they do nothing with him. I wish they'd cut him and
NJPW would pick him up full time.

WILLIAM SCHLICKENMAIER:  It was purely happenstance that all three men I
named here were black.  I feel that they are underrated as wrestlers --
the color of their skin has nothing to do with it.  I was going to mention
people like Edge, the Hardy Boyz, and Vampiro, but I feel that they are
already acknowledged.  D'Lo, Farooq and Norman are really not.

MR. JF: TAKA based on the push he's getting. Booker T is too often
overlooked as a future main eventer, and Triple-H is a lot better than
what a lot of people on the Net give him credit for.

FETT9025: 1 & 2 are write-ins.

SVEN MASCARENHAS: Owen Hart never won the world title. That says it all.

MATTHEW CLEARY:  Once again, the ARSION trio deserves some recognition
here, as does Rie Tamada.

AARON: Why isn't there a cult for Danny Doring yet!? I see a huge future
for this guy, as long as he takes Roadkill along for the ride. La Parka
is, obviously, the second coming of Christ, which warrants mention here.
And Farrooq, well, he got mad skillz, cracka.

JOHN ROMANO:  Farooq deserves a chance.  He could handle anyone they put
out there.  Viscera is so underrated.  No one, and I mean no one, does a
belly-to-belly suplex like this man.

DON BECKER: No one gives Al Snow any credit for his in-ring abilities,
maybe because he doesn't get to show them that often.  Norman Smiley is
finally getting a chance at stardom because of his skill.  Meng,
meanwhile, is a legitimate badass whose career is stalling because he
can't be more than just your token savage in baggy pants.

SHAWN MULLIN: Eddie Guerrero can get over as a heel like that, he oozes
charisma, he can work a mic, and he's probably the 2nd best wrestler in
North America. So, why can't he get a decent freakin' angle!?  Wow, it
must be fun playing 4th to Konnan, mini-Konnan and "I'm just not a homy"
Kidman.

MAX CHITTISTER: The laugh is obnoxious, to be sure, but Brian Christopher
really does have skills.

JBELL55146: Edge<1st> WILL be a star in this sport.  Eddy<2nd> and Booker
T<3rd> are yet another example of WCW's inept booking team

CAN00K: Kanyon and Christian are two wrestlers with major potential, and
seeing Kaz Hayashi now is depressing when you consider he was once the
great masked god of Kaientai DX, Shiryu.

PAUL SHOCK:  It's like the song goes; you don't know what you've got ‘til
it's gone.  Owen Hart is the easy choice as most underrated wrestler.  
Booker T is second, and Al Snow gets third.  The good thing is these two
are starting to get some semblance of a push, especially Snow.

BLOB: I still believe that Psychosis is WAYYYY underrated and needs about
a spot on more WCW PPV's. Al Snow is very underrated as well, especially
considering his good technical wrestling and ring savvy. Leroux is a young
threat just waiting to go up the WCW roster.

JOHN C.:Until Booker T. gets a long U.S. title reign he'll be the most
underrated wrestler in the business.

ELLIOT SPARKS: Brian Christopher is the most under-rated man in pro
wrestling today. Forget D'lo Brown and X-Pac; if one WWF wrestler is being
short-changed by the fans and bookers alike, it's the supremely talented
'Too Sexy'. Seven years spent learning the craft in Memphis are going to
waste as long as Jerry Jr. is in such a low-profile position.

DONALD SEMACK:  It doesn't matter who signs him, (although I'll only get
to see him live with the WWF) , as long as they push him he'll be a big
star.

RUTGERSGYM: Psicosis deserves better than a couple of sub-one week
Cruiserweight title reigns, solet's put him in as WCW's token misused
cruiserweight and as #1 in my vote.  Al Snowhas been caught up so much in
the hardcore/comic relief division that we forget that hecan wrestle (as
we saw glimpses of in his performances the week after No Mercy) , and Val
Venis is actually decent as well.

JOE GAGNE: Steve Corino is talented on the mic and in the ring. Now, if
only he could win a match.  Danny Doring acts like a goof, but he really
is an entertaining wrestler.  Al Snow is much more than a brawler, and
will hopefully get to show his skills in the future.

JAMES GOWDEY: Steve Blackman...he may not have the interview sKilZ, but
he's still one helluva worker.

SEAN FLYNN: Put them in any order really, I like watching all of them.  
Guido gets one because he gets NO respect, even from online fans, which at
least like Papi and Sho.

B. SZPAKOWICZ: Chris Benoit (who may be in World's title contention as you
read this, but wasn't during the voting period. Give him the bloody strap,
Russo. I don't care how, just do it.) , and TAKA are both great overall
wrestlers who should be doing far better than they are. And Kane gets
third on account of being far better in the ring then all the online fans
give him credit for.

WILL BRICKLES: Damn, Bradshaw is so underrated he doesn't make your
underrated list (You seem unclear on the concept - CRZ)

COLIN MACKINNON: The rumors seem to be leaning towards Papi Chulo being
repackaged and placed back into the WWF mainstream.  It's about time.  
Papi Chulo's had some great matches on Heat and Jakked/Metal, and, if the
WWF ever pushes him as a credible contender or brings the LH Division
back, he could get over.  Papi just needs that one big break.

RICK SCAIA:  It's a shame that Owen Hart never really got the chance at
main event status that I think he really deserved.  Six months of top
matches against his brother Bret is a distant memory, and more fans will
remember him as the mid-carder he was during the latter stages of his
career.  It was easy for all of us to recognize Owen's talents after his
death, but it's kind of sad to think that if we'd all been just a bit more
observant of them during his life, he never would have been in the
position of reprising the Blue Blazer at all.  The Slammy Award Winning
"King of Harts" might have been all the gimmick he needed.  Rounding out
my list of most under-utilized and under-appreciated performers for 1999:  
Al Snow (who should be much more than a hardcore comedy act and jobber to
the stars) and Ivory (whose gimmick of cutting heel promos and challenging
women out of the crowd was great, but was tossed aside in favor of
dragging Moolah and Mae Young out of retirement to totally devalue the
entire concept of the women's division) .

JEREMY SORIA: Ken Shamrock, in my opinion, still hasn't gotten a lot of
the respect that he certainly richly deserves. Lenny Lane is just plain
underrated, period. Lodi tried to help him, and himself, get higher up in
the minds of wrestling fans, but of course GLAAD but the kabosh on that.

JUSTIN JONES: Booka T! Give that brutha a title shot already! Sucka.

SELENA KYTE:  Lexie Fyfe and Riptide would probably receive more press if
they went with the current direction of evening gown matches and the such,
but because they produce good matches on the independent circuit, which is
what they do best, very little is said about them.  Too bad; today's fans
are missing out on a couple of exciting ladies.

MICHAEL STAKELY: Most underrated These of course are a few of the very
talented people who are often referred as jobbers whenever someone *cough
Scaia cough* bitches about lack of starpower on Thunder.  1st. Should be
trading world title matches with Benoit. 2nd. Has one of the best gimmicks
in wrestling, should be TV title champion... oh wait... 3rd. "Hey Vince
what about this guy? Great wrestling, entertaining facial expressions. But
he doesn't have good mike skills." "Eh, useless then. Let's have almost
every match he's in interrupted and then have him squashed by Steve
Williams."

HEATM:  Take away Val Venis' gimmick and you're left with a very good
wrestler who doesn't get enough credit for his solid matches.

OTTO "HACK-MAN" HEUER: Most Underrated Wrestler. 1st: Chris Benoit (since
his push didn't get off until after the end of the voting period) , 2nd:
Lenny, 3rd: Psychosis, 4th: Norman Smiley, 5th: Kanyon, 6th: Papi Chulu,
7th: Jerry Lynn, 8th: Jeff Hardy, 9th: Jerry Flynn, 10th: Kaz, 11th: Fit,
12th: Tajiri, 13th: Super Crazy, 14th: Lash (who wasn't pushed until the
end of the period we're voting on) , 15th: Lodi, 16th: Steve Regal

MDB: Booker T could be World champ so easy.  Though I should count my
blessings, Russo pushing Booker would no doubt result in a Maivia clone.  
I wish Kaz and Vampiro had been around in like 97/98 when they you know,
wrestled, in WCW.