Fan Report - CSWA Workrate

Longtime CSWA fan Travis Saucier here. I'm a fan of a lot of different wrestling leagues. I get a lot of Japan stuff, a lot of indie tapes, and I also just got a dish so I can watch lucha on Galavision.

But no matter what, I still love the CSWA. The guys at the top of the ladder here in the CSWA have always been the best pure wrestlers/workers on the planet. That's always been what I love about the league-- sure, their TV shows might be sporadic at times, but the in-ring talent of the guys is just off-the-charts. As such, I've decided to make a Top 20 list of who I think the best wrestlers in the CSWA are. I've decided to factor in history and length of career into the list also, so a few guys who are partially active are on this list.

1) EVAN AHO-- The current world champion has broken through the glass cieling by being the best pure wrestler I've ever seen. Aho's just as stiff as anyone I've seen in All-Japan and also brings in a lot of the newer moves from the indie set. He combines the best of the old and the new and is the most exciting wrestler to come along in years. When it's all said and done, Aho might one day be the best ever in the ring.

2) MIKE RANDALLS-- Randalls was number one until Evan Aho broke out last year. A technical wizard in the ring who is also a great brawler who has been in many of the CSWA's most defining in-ring moments. Randalls might be loosing a step or two in the ring as some of the younger guys with more state-of-the-art movesets step up the next few years. But The Wolf still brings intensity and credibility to the ring that no one else brings. I'd love to see him versus Aho.

3) EDDY LOVE-- It's SO hard to decide between the top wrestlers right now. You can really argue that any of these guys should be number one. The Hurricane had some of the best matches of all-time the past few years and is also the most charismatic wrestler on the roster right now. His old-school mentality is a breath of fresh air and has brought back emphasis on wrestling. The past few years has seen him wrestle in some of the best matches in CSWA history. I wish him and Randalls matched up one-on-one because that would've been a classic.

4) SIMON WILCOX-- A controversial pick. The Brits might get schooled on the mic by The Pro's, everyone's new favorites. His tagteam partner might be the flashiest wrestler on the roster. But in terms of being a ring general, Simon Wilcox is as good as it gets. There's a reason why Simply Stunning has been the best tag team since the CS Express, and it's because Simon is just a force of nature in the ring, tossing people on their heads and being the strength of the most fun tag team in the sport today.

5) HORNET-- Hornet's Shooting Star Press alone gets him up here, proving that he's still willing to learn new moves to keep relevant to the younger and newer fans who love flashy offense. The number one wrestler for the early part of the 90's has to be slowing down, though, because of his back injury.

6) LAWRENCE STANLEY-- The most criminally misused talent on the roster. Stanley wrestled in more ****+ matches than anyone in the league last year, except for maybe Eddy Love. He seemed ready to be a World Champion but still hasn't been able to break out to that level yet. His ring style stands out amongst everyone elses. He was more focused as a heel, though.

7) SHANE SOUTHERN-- Everyone thought that he would be the world champ at this time, not Evan Aho. He's a world champ in some other leagues. For the past five years, Southern's consistently been in good matches. But he hasn't been in a classic match that defines a career. That's only a matter of time, though. He'll be higher on this list in the future.

8) ELI FLAIR-- A lot of people would put Eli as their number one wrestler. It's tough for me to put anyone ahead of him, also, but I'm a fan of more technical wrestling than insane brawls. That being said, Eli's the best brawler in the history of wrestling and his series of matches with Troy Windham were the best hardcore matches of all time. He's also a good technical wrestler but his brawling surpasses everyone else.

9) MARK WINDHAM-- His return to the ring has been a lot of fun to watch. A few years ago, he could have probably been number one in the world. His match against Eddy Love last week was the best match in the CSWA the past year. Windham is two or three matches away from once again being in the Top 5 in the world. At his prime, he was the best brawler in the sport while also being in the top 5 best technical wrestlers. A lot of people have said he doesn't belong back on top of the roster but those people are wrong-- a healthy Mark Windham is one of the best wrestlers ever.

10) TOM ADLER-- The grand old man is still the consumate master of ring psychology. His feud with Cameron Cruise has been the most underappreciated feud in the sport today.

11) EDDIE MAYFIELD-- Eddie's had a cult following for some time, mostly because he's the best interview in the sport today. But his match with Evan Aho last week showed that he's always been an underrated wrestler who is capable of delivering in the ring. If he focuses on that part of his game some more, he could be Aho-level good.

12) TSUNAMI-- Still the best aerialist in the sport, even after all the years and wear and tear on his body.

13) WICKED SIGHT-- A favorite of mine who has worked really hard to improve himself from being a green rookie to being a charismatic showman. His in-ring abilities have progressed nicely and I think he's a few matches away from being a legitimate world class superstar.

14) CAMERON CRUISE-- Always has been an underrated wrestler. He's a hot angle away from being much more famous than he already is. He can compete with anyone, hold-for-hold, in the ring.

15) MICHAEL HARDY-- The flashiest wrestler on the roster who gets too fancy for his own good a lot of the time. When he's on, he's must see TV. But he also has the habit to miss moves a lot of the time.

16) TROY WINDHAM-- The former slacker had his defining matches last year against Eli. Always known for his interviews, he was never known for his wrestling. The Playboys versus the ClaimStakers produced just an amazing series of matches. He'd be higher if his injuries weren't career threatening.

17) XXXSTACY-- A great interview who has had some great brawls. The influence Eli has had on him shows in the ring. He's lurking in the shadows and is poised for a major run. He's right where Evan Aho was last year. If he gets his game together in the ring, he'll be challenging for a Top 5 spot next year. The mic-work and the ability to get involved in interesting angles are there. The in-ring ability is next and he has what it takes.

18) KIN HIROSHI-- A cult-favorite, especially for those who saw him in Japan. His comedy routine is golden but he's also a great wrestler when he's serious. The CSWA doesn't know what a goldmine they have in Hiroshi.

19) CRAIG MILES-- Miles has always been a solid wrestler. He's not the greatest athlete in the ring but he's incredibly smart and knows how to get the job done. He's part of the reason why Eddie Mayfield is on the cusp of superstardom.

20) STEVE RADDER-- I hope he returns from his injuries because he was primed to be great. I think he'll return.

Wow... what a list of 20 guys. If you were to make a list including everyone in the world currently wrestling, these guys would all make the Top 50. And a lot of these guys-- Aho, Randalls, Love, Hornet, Mark Windham, Adler, Tsunami, Flair-- have all at some time been the best wrestler in the world.

There's still a lot of guys who are over and crowd pleasers-- Kevin Powers, GUNS, Dan Ryan -- who are top wrestlers who are, internationally, in the Top 250 wrestlers in the world.