Oh, so you don't like Schmuck yet here you are copying his 'News/My View' style. Admit it already, the Big Schmuck is your hero

RESPONSE FROM KE: Actually I'm copying former Sun columnist John Eisenberg's "Fact and Opinion."

two things: Black unlike Danielson and Low Ki isn't this short guy that can be pushed aside from a realistic point of view. He has that look so making him lose, although well in their power, would look pretty farcical. He only needs to improve his mic work.

Second thing, how could you possible say AJ shouldn't be ranked one. Put aside the fact he is the best wrestler out of the two companies (a lot of tna guys are), but add that PWI base there ratings on things like W-L and titles. No one in WWE during that period held a world title as long as AJ and AJ didn't lose many matches in that period. And well he didn't really have any bad matches in that period. So he makes 1 easy i would have thought.

I've heard a rumor that WWE will debut a new logo on the 900th episode of Raw (August 30), and that this logo will have a shape similar to the classic WWF logo from the 1980s, but with an "E" instead of an "F." Have you heard about this, and if so, what are your thoughts on it?

RESPONSE FROM KE: I've seen the logo. My take is that a change would be appropriate. The scratch logo says Attitude Era, not PG era, to me.

WWE is still the industry standard-bearer, and therefore I think one of its stars has to occupy the top spot.

That depends whether you think the list should be purely reflective, or if PWI is entitled to use it to make a point. I like that they pushed Styles as #1. I agree that it seems a bit deliberate and manufactured, but it brings added attention to Styles (who deserves it), to TNA (meh), and to the general fact that WWE is not the only game in town.

There is a role for "activist journalism," especially in an industry dominated by a single-man monopoly, and I liked this move by PWI.

RESPONSE FROM KE: I like that. Next time someone accuses me of being biased I am going to say that I am just using "active journalism" to make a point.

Tyler Black's latest promo on ROH was pretty poor...if I were watching him on NXT cutting a promo like that I would be very un-impressed and think "this guy has no future"...He's an amazing worker and even kind'a has the WWE "look": but his (lack of) promo skills will be his achilles heel unless greatly proved. He could be a great mid carder but nothing more - I'm a big admirer of Tyler Black's in ring work and am very suprised he didn't go to TNA where he could be huge without great promo skills...just like AJ Styles.

WWE has definatly got a monopoly on the wrestling business - but I don't think that should be a hindrance to a specific performer. AJ Styles is arguably (and in PWI's view) the greatest wrestler around now, and has seen great success in wrestling's second biggest promotion; therefore I think he deserves his achievement. In mainstream terms TNA is nothing compared to WWE, but PWI (and this blog) is aimed at the niche of wrestling, and for this niche TNA is a big deal: so I think it's fair for a TNA wrestler to be given the number one spot, and no one deserves it more than AJ.

I think the fact that AJ Styles got the #1 spot is a testament to how much WWE has weakened their world titles. I'm a TNA fan, but I recognize that WWE is the biggest game in town and their #1 guy is usually going to be the biggest star in the business. The problem is, who is that #1 guy? There are a few candidates you might point to (Orton and Cena mostly), but WWE didn't show it by giving them a convincing title run in the last year; it was very common for their world titles to change hands on multiple PPVs in a row. AJ Styles was given a very strong reign that lasted for most of the period in question. Before him, it was Angle with another very strong run. The only other person to even hold the title was Foley as there were only three TNA title reigns in that period. Foley's run was a bit of a joke, but he's a big star and that is pretty elite company for AJ Styles.

I don't get everyone saying that Styles is the best wrestler going. I don't think he's that good, he's more like a highlight reel guy like John Morrison and not a solid all around guy.

"However, WWE is still the industry standard-bearer, and therefore I think one of its stars has to occupy the top spot."

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I am not convinced of that. Does the best team in the NFL necessarily have the best quarterback in the league? The best linebacker? The best defensive end? Aeneas Williams was seen as a hell of a cornerback, yet the Cardinals sucked during his time in Arizona. He wasn't disqualified from Pro Bowl consideration on the grounds of having a laughable employer.

RESPONSE FROM KE: I think you're comparing apples to oranges.

I did indeed compare apples to oranges. I had mistakenly believed that the list was of the best workers in the business.

RESPONSE FROM KE: No, it's definitely not a best workers list. I'll go over the criteria when I post my list.

I've never seen ROH, so i look forward to seeing Tyler Black in action. On another note Kevin, i guess you've heard about the tragic passing of Lance Cade, at only 29. Very sad news. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. Had a lot of potential.

It's all becoming far too often now. Something needs to be done. That being said, i don't know the cause, so i cannot say anything at this time.

That last post was from me, forgot to put details in.

aj styles #1.... pffffhahahahahahahahahahah

listen tna fanboys, even being THE big fish in the little pond can never even compare to being A big fish in the pacific ocean.

besides, these rankings aren't about "who the best wrestler is", they're about "who's the most successful". if this list meant that aj is the best wrestler, it would also mean that john cena is the 2nd best...