Monday, September 15, 2014

Wrestlenomics for the WON Hall of Fame Ballot

Analysis by Chris Harrington

I've been compiling several areas of research:
  1. Days as champions for major belts (specifically starting in 1984-2014)
  2. Four star+ matches 
  3. Total PPV Main Events for U.S.
  4. Total 10,000+ crowds for Japan (75% complete for wrestler attribution)
  5. Wrestler of the Year and Match of the Year tallies

WON HOF Candidates 2014

HISTORICAL PERFORMERS: Gene & Ole Anderson, The Assassins (Joe Hamilton & Tom Renesto), Red Bastien, June Byers, Pepper Gomez, Dick Hutton, Pedro Morales, Ciclon Negro, Kinji Shibuya, Wilbur Snyder, John Tolos, Enrique Torres, Von Brauners & Saul Weingeroff , Tim "Mr. Wrestling" Woods, Johnny "Mr. Wrestling II" Walker 
MODERN PERFORMERS: Junkyard Dog, Edge, Owen Hart, Curt Hennig, Ivan Koloff, Brock Lesnar, Fabulous Moolah, Dick Murdoch, Ken Patera, C.M. Punk, Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson), Sgt. Slaughter, Jimmy Snuka, Sting, Ultimate Warrior
WRESTLING IN JAPAN: Jun Akiyama, George Gordienko, Gran Hamada, Volk Han, Masahiko Kimura, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata, Seiji Sakaguchi, Mike & Ben Sharpe, Minoru Suzuki, Kiyoshi Tamura, Akira Taue
WRESTLING IN MEXICO: Brazo de Oro & Brazo de Plata & El Brazo, Cien Caras, Hector Garza, Ultimo Guerrero, Karloff Lagarde, Blue Panther, L.A. Park, Huracan Ramirez , El Signo & El Texano & Negro Navarro, Vampiro, Villano III, Dr. Wagner Jr.
WRESTLING IN EUROPE: Jim Breaks, Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Horst Hoffman, Billy Joyce, Kendo Nagasaki, Jackie Pallo, Rollerball Mark Rocco, Johnny Saint, Otto Wanz
WRESTLING IN AUSTRALIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS/CARIBBEAN/AFRICA CANDIDATES: Spyros Arion, Johnny Barend, Brute Bernard & Skull Murphy, Carlos Colon, King Kong Czaja, John DaSilva, Domenic DeNucci, Killer Karl Kox, Mark Lewin, Mario Milano, Jan Wilkens
NON-WRESTLERS: Bill Apter, Dave Brown, Jim Crockett Jr., Jim Crockett Sr., Gary Hart, Jimmy Hart, Howard Finkel, Jerry Jarrett, Larry Matysik, Gorilla Monsoon, Gene Okerluind, Don Owen, George Scott, Jesse Ventura, Stanley Weston

The data that I've compiled is really going to give insight for "Modern Performers" and will also provide some relevant comparisons for modern "Wrestling in Japan" candidates.

#1 Days as Champion for Major Belts (1984-2014)

Among Wrestlers who have held major belts for extended time-periods, many are already in the WON HOF:
1. Hulk Hogan (1996)
2. Ric Flair (1996)
3. Mitsuharu Misawa (1996)
4. Keiji Mutoh (1999)
5. John Cena (2012)
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi (2013)
7. Shinya Hashimoto (2000)
8. Kenta Kobashi (2002)
9. Triple H (2005)
10. Vader (1996)
11. Kensuke Sasaki (2013)
12. Tatsumi Fujinami (1996)
14. Toshiaki Kawada (1997)
15. Bret Hart (1996)
18. Jumbo Tsuruta (1996)
22. Genichiro Tenryu (1996)
22. Randy Savage (1996)
27. Steve Austin (2000)
29. Stan Hansen (1996)
31. Undertaker (2004)
34. Shawn Michaels (2003)
36. Riki Choshu (1996)
37. Kurt Angle (2004)
39. Rock (2007)
40. Antonio Inoki (1996)
49. Chris Jericho (2010)
58. Chris Benoit (2003)
61. Rey Mysterio (2010)
64. Eddie Guerrero (2006)
67. Nobuhiko Takada (1996)
71. Steve Williams (2011)
73. Ricky Steamboat (1996)
82. Mick Foley (2000)
84. Masahiro Chono (2004)
89. Dusty Rhodes (1996)
90. Terry Gordy (2005)
91. Vince McMahon (1996)
92. Bob Backlund (2004)
93. Harley Race (1996)
94. Andre the Giant (1996)

Some wrestlers are currently on the ballot:
16. Satoshi Kojima (ballot) - listed as a tag team with Tenzan
17. Brock Lesnar (ballot)
19. CM Punk (ballot)
20. Jun Akiyama (ballot)
24. Yuji Nagata (ballot)
25. Edge (ballot)
32. Sting (ballot)
42. Ultimate Warrior (ballot)
51. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (ballot) - listed as a tag team with Kojima
62. Akira Taue (ballot)
77. Sgt Slaughter (ballot)
Some wrestlers are not on this year's ballot:
13. Randy Orton (not eligible yet)
21. Takashi Sugiura (n/a)
26. Batista (fell off ballot in 2013)
28. Kazuchika Okada (not eligible yet)
30. Kazuyuki Fujita (n/a)
33. Kevin Nash (fell off ballot in 1998)
35. Shinsuke Nakamura (not eligible yet)
38. Sheamus (n/a)
41. Alberto Del Rio (n/a)
43. Yokozuna (n/a)
44. Bradshaw (n/a)
45. Big Show (n/a)
46. Goldberg (n/a)
47. Takeshi Rikio (n/a)
48. Lex Luger (fell off in 1998)
50. Yoshihiro Takayama (fell off in 2003 and 2005)
52. Takeshi Morishima (n/a)
53. Go Shiozaki (n/a)
54. Daniel Bryan (not eligible yet)
55. Togi Makabe (n/a)
56. Miz (n/a)
57. Kane (fell off in 2012)
59. Yoshinari Ogawa (n/a)
60. Ron Simmons (n/a)
63. AJ Styles (fell off in 2013)
65. Scott Norton (n/a)
65. Booker T (fell off in 2006)
68. Sycho Sid (n/a)
69. Naomichi Marufuji (not eligible yet)
70. Mark Henry (n/a)
72. Jack Swagger (n/a)
74. Jeff Hardy (fell off in 2012)
75. Dolph Ziggler (n/a)
76. Bob Sapp (n/a)
78. Ron Garvin (n/a)
79. Great Khali (n/a)
80. Tadao Yasuda (n/a)
80. Salman Hashimikov (n/a)
83. Manabu Nakanishi (n/a)
85. Christian (n/a)
86. Diamond Dallas Page (n/a)
87. Rob Van Dam (fell off in 2007)
88. Kerry Von Erich (fell off in 1999 and 2007)

#2 Four Star+ Matches

Among Wrestlers with 15+ ****plus matches, many are already in the WON HOF:
1. Kenta Kobashi (2002)
2. Mitsuharu Misawa (1996)
3. Toshiaki Kawada (1997)
5. Kurt Angle (2004)
6. Chris Benoit (2003)
8. Jushin Thunder Liger (1999)
10. Shawn Michaels (2003)
11. Hiroshi Tanahashi (2013)
14. Jumbo Tsuruta (1996)
15. Ric Flair (1996)
15. Rey Mysterio (2010)
17. Chris Jericho (2010)
19. Eddie Guerrero (2006)
20. Steve Williams (2011)
21. Triple H (2005)
26. Steve Austin (2000)
27. Keiji Muto (1999)
34. John Cena (2012)
40. Undertaker (2004)
56. Masahiro Chono (2004)

There are several wrestlers who are the ballot who also have 15+ ****-plus matches:
4. Akira Taue (ballot)
7. Jun Akiyama (ballot)
9. Edge (ballot)
48. CM Punk (ballot)
51. Yuji Nagata (ballot)
51. Sting (ballot)
61. Minoru Suzuki (ballot)

There's also several wrestlers who are not on this year's ballot:
11. AJ Styles (fell off in 2013)
13. KENTA (not eligible yet)
17. Shinjiro Otani (n/a)
21. Daniel Bryan (not eligible yet)
23. Kazuchika Okada (not eligible yet)
24. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (n/a)
25. Naomichi Marufuji (not eligible yet)
27. Randy Orton (not eligible yet)
27. Koji Kanemoto (n/a)
30. Samoa Joe (n/a)
31. Masanobu Fuchi (n/a)
31. Christopher Daniels (n/a)
31. Jeff Hardy (fell off in 2012)
34. Shinsuke Nakamura (not eligible yet)
36. Yoshinari Ogawa (n/a)
36. Tetsuya Naito (n/a)
36. Christian (n/a)
36. El Samurai (n/a)
40. Tomohiro Ishii (n/a)
42. Yoshinobu Kanemaru (n/a)
51. Chris Sabin (n/a)
51. Davey Richards (n/a)
51. Johnny Ace (n/a)
56. Shelton Benjamin (n/a)
56. Hirooki Goto (n/a)
61. Seth Rollins (not eligible yet)
61. Scott Steiner (as a tag team with Rick: fell off in 1998 & 2007)
61. Juventud Guerrera (n/a)
61. Alex Shelley (n/a)
61. Low Ki (n/a)
61. Katsuyori Shibata (n/a)

#3 Total PPV Main Events

(This includes WWF/WWE, TNA, ECW, WCW PPVs but does not include weekly TNA.)

Among Wrestlers with 10+ main events, many are already in the WON HOF:
1. John Cena (2012)
2. Triple H (2005)
2. Undertaker (2004)
5. Kurt Angle (2004)
6. Hulk Hogan (1996)
8. Shawn Michaels (2003)
12. Ric Flair (1996)
13. Steve Austin (2000)
19. Rock (2007)
22. Chris Jericho (2010)
23. Mick Foley (2000)
24. Bret Hart (1996)
25. Randy Savage (1996)
33. Vader (1996)
36. Rey Mysterio (2010)
45. Chris Benoit (2003)
45. Vince McMahon (1996)
45. Roddy Piper (1996)

There are four wrestlers who are the ballot who also have 10+ PPV main events:
4. Sting (ballot)
16. Edge (ballot)
21. CM Punk (ballot)
36. Brock Lesnar (ballot)

There's also many wrestlers who are not on this year's ballot with 10+ PPV main events:
7. Randy Orton (not eligible yet)
9. Big Show (n/a)
10. Jeff Jarrett (n/a)
11. Kevin Nash (fell off ballot in 1998)
13. AJ Styles (fell off in 2013)
15. Batista (fell off in 2013)
17. Samoa Joe (n/a)
17. Kane (fell off in 2012)
19. Jeff Hardy (fell off in 2012)
26. Christian Cage (n/a)
27. RVD (fell off in 2007)
28. Lex Luger (fell off in 1998)
29. Booker T (fell off in 2006)
29. Scott Steiner (as a tag team with Rick: fell off in 1998 & 2007)
31. Bubba Ray Dudley (fell off in 2007 as tag team)
32. Sid Vicious (n/a)
33. Sheamus (n/a)
33. Bobby Roode (n/a)
36. Abyss (n/a)
39. Alberto Del Rio (n/a)
39. Goldberg (n/a)
39. James Storm (n/a)
42. Daniel Bryan (not eligible yet)
42. JBL (n/a)
44. Christopher Daniels (n/a)
45. Scott Hall (fell off in 1998)
45. Rhyno (n/a)
45. Miz (n/a)
51. DDP (n/a)
51. Sabu (fell off in 2000)
53. D-Von Dudley (fell off in 2007 as tag team)
53. Ron Killings (n/a)
53. Davey Boy Smith (fell off in 1998 and 2006)
56. Mark Henry (n/a)
56. Wade Barrett (n/a)

#4 10,000+ Crowds for Japan (75% complete; mostly 1973-2013 time-frame)

Among Wrestlers with 30+ appearances in the top third of crowd, many are already in the WON HOF:
1. Keiji Muto (1999)
2. Masahiro Chono (2004)
3. Kensuke Sasaki (2013)
4. Mitsuharu Misawa (1996)
5. Toshiaki Kawada (1997)
5. Riki Choshu (1996)
7. Genichiro Tenryu (1996)
8. Shinya Hashimoto (2000)
9. Kenta Kobashi (2002)
11. Tatsumi Fujinami (1996)
14. Stan Hansen (1996)
19. Steve Williams (2011)
20. Jumbo Tsuruta (1996)
21. Hiroshi Hase (2006)
23. Jushin Thunder Liger (1999)
25. Giant Baba (1996)
26. Antonio Inoki (1996)
27. Hiroshi Tanahashi (2013)
28. Vader (1996)
37. Nobuhiko Takada (1996)

There are five wrestlers who are the ballot who also have 30+ appearances on the top third:
10. Jun Akiyama (ballot)
12. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (ballot) - on ballot as a tag team with Kojima
13. Akira Taue (ballot)
15. Yuji Nagata (ballot)
17. Satoshi Kojima (ballot) - on ballot as a tag team with Tenzan

There's also several wrestlers who are not on this year's ballot:
16. Yoshihiro Takayama (fell off in 2003 and 2005)
17. Manabu Nakanishi (n/a)
21. Shiro Koshinaka (n/a)
23. Scott Norton (n/a)
28. Johnny Ace (n/a)
28. Kengo Kimura (n/a)
28. Gary Albright (n/a)
28. Kazuo Yamazaki (n/a)
33. Super Strong Machine (n/a)
34. Takao Omori (n/a)
35. Yoshiaki Fujiwara (n/a)
35. Shinsuke Nakamura (not eligible yet)
37. Takashi Iizuka (n/a)

#5 WON Awards: Wrestler of the Year & Match of the Year Points

Timeframe: 1980-2013

Among Wrestlers with 25+ points who are already in the WON HOF:
1. Ric Flair (1996)
2. Kenta Kobashi (2002)
3. Mitsuharu Misawa (1996)
4. Shawn Michaels (2003)
5. Toshiaki Kawada (1997)
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi (2013)
8. John Cena (2012)
9. Steve Austin (2000)
9. Triple H (2005)
11. Chris Benoit (2003)
12. Kurt Angle (2004)
15. Keiji Muto (1999)
16. Ricky Steamboat (1996)
18. Chris Jericho (2010)
18. Jushin Thunder Liger (1999)
20. Bret Hart (1996)
22. Mick Foley (2000)
23. Manami Toyota (2002)
24. Undertaker (2004)
26. Rey Mysterio (2010)
28. Genichiro Tenryu (1996)
29. Jumbo Tsuruta (1996)
31. Hulk Hogan (1996)
32. Akira Maeda (1996)
32. Eddie Guerrero (2006)
34. Kensuke Sasaki (2013)
35. Rock (2007)
36. Tiger Mask (1996)
38. Bobby Eaton (2009)
39. Nobuhiko Takada (1996)
42. Bob Backlund (2004)
42. Ted DiBiase (1996)
44. Vader (1996)
45. Terry Funk (1996)
45. Terry Gordy (2005)
51. Harley Race (1996)
56. Dynamite Kid (1996)
58. Randy Savage (1996)
58. Stan Lane (2009)
63. Steve Williams (2011)
63. Tatsumi Fujinami (1996)

There are eight wrestlers who are the ballot who also have 25+ points:
13. Jun Akiyama (ballot)
20. CM Punk (ballot)
25. Edge (ballot)
36. Yuji Nagata (ballot)
45. Akira Taue (ballot)
45. Brock Lesnar (ballot)
49. Sting (ballot)
56. Sgt Slaughter (ballot)

There's also several wrestlers who are not on this year's ballot:
6. Daniel Bryan (not eligible yet)
14. KENTA (not eligible yet)
16. Samoa Joe (n/a)
27. Davey Richards (n/a)
29. Kazuchika Okada (not eligible yet)
39. Barry Windham (n/a)
39. Kerry Von Erich ((fell off in 1999 and 2007)
50. Shingo Takagi (n/a)
51. Naomichi Marufuji (not eligible yet)
51. Nigel Mcguinness (n/a)
51. Rick Steiner (as a tag team with Rick: fell off in 1998 & 2007)
51. Scott Steiner (as a tag team with Rick: fell off in 1998 & 2007)
60. Larry Zbyszko (n/a)
60. Mistico (n/a)
60. Naruki Doi (n/a)

Conclusion

This looks at some raw metrics but doesn't necessarily encompass "drawing power" or even "working ability".

Looking at the 2014 WON Ballot Candidates 
Akira Taue, Yuji Nagata, Sting, CM Punk, Edge, Jun Akiyama each appear in at least four different categories. Brock Lesnar is in three categories. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Sgt Slaughter are in two categories while Ultimate Warrior and Minoru Suzuki each appear once.

If I limit it to top 40 ranked wrestlers in each category, Edge & Akiyama has four top forty finishes, Nagata & Punk have three top forty finishes, Sting/Taue/Lesnar/Kojima have two top forty finishes and Tenzan has one.

Other

In terms of wrestlers not on the ballot currently, strongest names look like Daniel Bryan, Kazuchika Okada, Randy Orton, Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura.
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