Saturday, December 13, 2014

Reviewing some year-end match stats (WWE)

In terms of the last 12 months (December 2013-November 2014), let's start by looking at Meltzer's ***+ Star Ratings.

Most three-star-plus matches in the past 12 months

  • Randy Orton: 16 matches
  • John Cena: 14 matches
  • Dean Ambrose: 12 matches
  • Seth Rollins: 11 matches
  • Cesaro: 11 matches  
  • Roman Reigns: 10 matches
  • Bray Wyatt: 10 matches
  • Daniel Bryan: 8 matches
  • Sheamus: 7 matches
  • Jack Swagger: 7 matches
  • Luke Harper & Erick Rowan: 5 matches
  • Jey & Jimmy Uso: 5 matches
  • Adrian Neville: 5 matches (NXT)
It's interesting to see Orton so high. He's certainly not someone who people have been thinking about as having a "big" year.

It's been a year where two of the WWE stars slated for the biggest pushes (Daniel Bryan & Roman Reigns) were unexpectedly sidelined with serious injuries. Meanwhile, the old guard (Orton & Cena) continue to compete and perform at the top level. It's been a big year for the remnants of the Shield and Wyatt Family. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins really came into their own as singles stars, and the Harper/Rowan team really tore the house down when they were facing the Shield and the Usos. 

Cesaro may be the great missed opportunity in 2014. His show of strength in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, his team with Swagger as the Real Americans, his excellent singles matches with RVD, Sheamus, Ziggler, Sami Zayn Cena, and Orton. It's clear WWE's lacks complete faith in him (as evidenced by Vince McMahon's comments during the Austin podcast). However, if there was anyone who persevered and demonstrated outstanding skill throughout the year,  Here's to hoping for a much better 2015.

WWE Matches that were rated *** or higher by Dave Meltzer

Randy Orton

12/15/13 Randy Orton vs. John Cena (Tables, Ladders and Chairs)
12/16/13 Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan ****
1/26/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena ***1/4
2/3/14 Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan ****
2/7/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena (Cage) (Non-televised) ***1/2 
2/10/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena ***1/2
2/14/14 Randy Orton vs. Cesaro ***1/2
2/23/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro vs. Christian (Elimination Chamber) ***3/4
4/7/14 Batista vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton ****1/2
5/4/14 Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista ****1/2
6/1/14 Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista (Elimination) ****
6/29/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Cesaro vs. Sheamus vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Bray Wyatt (Ladder) ****
7/20/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Kane ***1/4
8/17/14 Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton ****
9/14/14 Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho ****
10/26/14 John Cena vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell) ***3/4

John Cena
12/15/13 Randy Orton vs. John Cena (Tables, Ladders and Chairs)
1/26/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena ***1/4
2/7/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena (Cage) (Non-televised) ***1/2 
2/10/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena ***1/2
2/17/14 John Cena vs. Cesaro ****1/4
2/23/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro vs. Christian (Elimination Chamber) ***3/4
4/7/14 John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt ***1/2
6/1/14 John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt (Last Man Standing) ****1/2
6/29/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Cesaro vs. Sheamus vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Bray Wyatt (Ladder) ****
7/20/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Kane ***1/4
8/17/14 Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena ****1/4
9/14/14 John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar ***1/2
10/26/14 John Cena vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell) ***3/4
11/23/14 John Cena/Dolph Ziggler/Erick Rowan/Ryback/Big Show vs. Seth Rollins/Mark Henry/Luke Harper/Kane/Rusev (Elimination) ****1/2

Dean Ambrose
12/15/13 CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose ***
2/14/14 Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose/Seth Rollings vs. Sheamus/Daniel Bryan/Christian ***3/4
2/23/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper/Erick Rowan ****1/4
3/3/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper/Erick Rowan ****1/2
4/8/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Erick Rowan/Luke Harper ****1/4
5/4/14 Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista ****1/2
6/1/14 Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista (Elimination) ****
6/29/14 Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Jack Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Kofi Kingston (Ladder) ****1/2
8/17/14 Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (Lumberjack Match) ***3/4
8/18/14 Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (Falls Count Anywhere) ****1/4
10/26/14 Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (Hell in a Cell) ****
11/23/14 Bray Wyatt vs. Dean Ambrose ***1/4

Seth Rollins
12/15/13 CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose ***
2/23/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper/Erick Rowan ****1/4
3/3/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper/Erick Rowan ****1/2
4/8/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Erick Rowan/Luke Harper ****1/4
5/4/14 Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista ****1/2
6/1/14 Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista (Elimination) ****
6/29/14 Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Jack Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Kofi Kingston (Ladder) ****1/2
8/17/14 Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (Lumberjack Match) ***3/4
8/18/14 Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (Falls Count Anywhere) ****1/4
10/26/14 Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (Hell in a Cell) ****
11/23/14 John Cena/Dolph Ziggler/Erick Rowan/Ryback/Big Show vs. Seth Rollins/Mark Henry/Luke Harper/Kane/Rusev (Elimination) ****1/2

Cesaro
2/14/14 Randy Orton vs. Cesaro ***1/2
2/17/14 John Cena vs. Cesaro ****1/4
2/23/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro vs. Christian (Elimination Chamber) ***3/4
2/27/14 Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn (NXT) ****1/4
3/18/14 Goldust/Cody Rhodes vs. Cesaro/Jack Swagger ***1/2
4/7/14 Jimmy Uso/Jey Uso vs. Jack Swagger/Cesaro vs. Ryback/Curtis Axel vs. Diego/Fernando (Elimination) ***3/4
6/1/14 Sheamus vs. Cesaro ***1/4
6/29/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Cesaro vs. Sheamus vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Bray Wyatt (Ladder) ****
8/17/14 Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro ***1/4
9/14/14 Sheamus vs. Cesaro ****
10/26/14 Dolph Ziggler vs. Cesaro (Two out of Three Falls) ***1/4

Roman Reigns
12/15/13 CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose ***
2/14/14 Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose/Seth Rollings vs. Sheamus/Daniel Bryan/Christian ***3/4
2/23/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper/Erick Rowan ****1/4
3/3/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper/Erick Rowan ****1/2
4/8/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Erick Rowan/Luke Harper ****1/4
5/4/14 Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista ****1/2
6/1/14 Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista (Elimination) ****
6/29/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Cesaro vs. Sheamus vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Bray Wyatt (Ladder) ****
7/20/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Kane ***1/4
8/17/14 Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton ****

Bray Wyatt
1/26/14 Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan ****
2/23/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper/Erick Rowan ****1/4
3/3/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper/Erick Rowan ****1/2
4/7/14 John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt ***1/2
4/8/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Erick Rowan/Luke Harper ****1/4
 4/29/14 Sheamus vs. Bray Wyatt ***1/2
6/1/14 John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt (Last Man Standing) ****1/2
6/29/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Cesaro vs. Sheamus vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Bray Wyatt (Ladder) ****
8/17/14 Bray Wyatt vs. Chris Jericho ***
11/23/14 Bray Wyatt vs. Dean Ambrose ***1/4

Daniel Bryan
12/16/13 Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan ****
1/26/14 Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan ****
2/3/14 Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan ****
2/14/14 Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose/Seth Rollings vs. Sheamus/Daniel Bryan/Christian ***3/4
2/23/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro vs. Christian (Elimination Chamber) ***3/4
4/7/14 Triple H vs. Daniel Bryan ****1/4
4/7/14 Batista vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton ****1/2
5/4/14 Daniel Bryan vs. Kane (Extreme Rules) ***1/2

Sheamus
2/10/14 Christian/Sheamus vs. Antonio Cesaro/Jack Swagger ***1/2
2/14/14 Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose/Seth Rollings vs. Sheamus/Daniel Bryan/Christian ***3/4
2/23/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro vs. Christian (Elimination Chamber) ***3/4
 4/29/14 Sheamus vs. Bray Wyatt ***1/2
6/1/14 Sheamus vs. Cesaro ***1/4
6/29/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Cesaro vs. Sheamus vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Bray Wyatt (Ladder) ****
9/14/14 Sheamus vs. Cesaro ****

Jack Swagger
12/15/13 Goldust/Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show/Rey Mysterio vs. Ryback/Curtis Axel vs. Jack Swagger/Antonio Cesaro ***1/2
2/10/14 Christian/Sheamus vs. Antonio Cesaro/Jack Swagger ***1/2
2/23/14 Big E vs. Jack Swagger ***
3/18/14 Goldust/Cody Rhodes vs. Cesaro/Jack Swagger ***1/2
4/7/14 Jimmy Uso/Jey Uso vs. Jack Swagger/Cesaro vs. Ryback/Curtis Axel vs. Diego/Fernando (Elimination) ***3/4
6/29/14 Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Jack Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Kofi Kingston (Ladder) ****1/2
8/17/14 Rusev vs. Jack Swagger (Flag Match) ***1/4

Total number of Televised Matches in the past year

Again, the preponderance of televised matches from Cesaro really speaks to both his ability and work ethic. Interestingly, Dolph Ziggler, the Usos, Cesaro's partner Jack Swagger, Seth Rollins and Goldust & Stardust (Cody Rhodes) and RybAxel (Curtis Axel & Ryback) round out the list.


In terms of best records, Roman Reigns, Big E (Langston), Rusev (one loss during the Survivor Series tag match), Cena, Paige, Adam Rose, Big Show, Adrian Neville, Viktor & Konnor, Charlotte, El Torito, CM Punk, Kalisto, Simon Gotch and Bull Dempsey all had televised winning records above 75%. 

Worst records? Curtis Axel, Damien Mizdow (Sandow), Titus O'Neil, Fandango, Heath Slater, Kane, Drew McIntyre, Xavier Woods, Jinder Mahal, Aksana, Justin Gabriel, New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg & Billy Gunn), Zack Ryder, CJ Parker and Brodus Clay. About a quarter of that crew (Drew, Aksana, NAO, Brodus Clay) aren't wrestling with WWE anymore.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

In some ways, Meltzer's star ratings tells us more about Meltzer's tastes than the actual wrestler's skill. Dave's gone on the record many times saying how subjective and frivolous they are.