Top 30: WWE PPV Superstars of 2011

I wanted so hard to put Zack Ryder on this list.

I really do.

I have a bunch of names here that I don’t even want to write and I had to extend the list to 30 to accommodate all my faves but Ryder just saw action in three PPV's (Royal Rumble, Vengeance, and TLC).

Apart from my usual basketball man-love, I am a huge wrestling mark. I was raised in a time where WWE was still competing with WCW, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Undertaker, and DX were locking horns with Goldberg (yes, I was a fan of the streak), the cruiserweights, and the New World Order.

2011 brought a lot of new names in the forefront. Sporadic appearances from Triple H and Undertaker paved the way for guys like The Miz (later part of 2010), Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler, and Daniel Bryan to become first-time World/WWE champions while Cody Rhodes, Ziggler, and Ryder made the secondary belts respectable again.  WWE still has no tag team division but Air Boom is giving the title worthiness against makeshift teams. In the Divas side, 2011 saw the last of Melina, Maryse, and Gail Kim and the rivalry of the Barbie Dolls versus the Divas of Doom dominated the division.

Veterans like Christian and Mark Henry finally realized their dreams of becoming major titleholders. Rey Mysterio and Big Show also re-realized their dreams again, only to lose it in an instant.

And of course, there’s CM Punk, Randy Orton, Edge, and John Cena.

I prepared a list of the wrestlers that dominated the live pay-per-view events. While win-loss records work in most cases, the WWE will not feature stars in their main shows if they can’t sell tickets. In 2011, there are only two wrestlers that worked in all PPV events – CM Punk and Randy Orton. Using this list, you'll probably figure out what's the intention of WWE in pushing some of the guys in it. For the last quarter of 2011, we have heard the roars of the crowd chanting Zack Ryder's name and WWE just caught it now. Let's check out the other names on the list. 

Grading System:

3 Points – Major Title Match winner (WWE and World Title) and Royal Rumble winner

2.5 Points – Major Title Match loser (WWE and World Title), traditional Survivor Series match winner, Money in the Bank winner, non-title Elimination Chamber match winner, major storyline title match winner, and major storyline non-title match winner

2 Points – Traditional Survivor Series match loser, Money in the Bank loser, Elimination Chamber match loser, major storyline title match loser, major storyline non-title match loser

1.5 Points – Minor storyline title match winner, minor storyline non-title match winner, Divas match winner

1 Point – Minor storyline title match loser, minor storyline non-title match loser, Divas match loser

0.5 Point –

Notes: CM Punk get an additional point for winning Superstar of the Year and except for the actual Rumble match and the Survivor Series match, all matches that happened on the Big Four (Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, Summer Slam, Survivor Series) will have an additional 0.5 point.

Game starts now!

30 HEATH SLATER

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 4/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 0-4

WINS:

None

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: Santino Marella and Vladimir Koslov (Tag Team Titles)

Wrestlemania: Kane, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Santino Marella

Money in the Bank: Daniel Bryan (Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

At the start of 2011, Slater was getting the breaks. He was part of two big time stables and as part of The Nexus and The Corre, the “One Man Rock Band” gained tag team gold. When The Corre disbanded though, he became nothing more than an enhancement talent.

29 JUSTIN GABRIEL

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 4/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 0-4

WINS:

None

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: Santino Marella and Vladimir Koslov (Tag Team Titles)

Wrestlemania: Kane, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Santino Marella

Money in the Bank: Daniel Bryan (Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Gabriel and Slater shared identical fates during the post-Corre era. The main difference between them now is that Gabriel has turned face. Gabriel was one of those guys that could have benefitted with the Cruiserweight division.

28 ALEX RILEY

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 4/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 1-3

WINS:

Capitol Punishment: The Miz

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Money in the Bank: Alberto Del Rio (Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Night of Champions: Dolph Ziggler (US Title)

A-Ri has an awesome theme song. With that said, he got exposure by being The Miz’ protégé at the start of 2011. Fans rallied behind him during his falling out with The Miz and at Capitol Punishment, he scored his lone PPV win. Afterwards, Riley was barely seen on TV.

27 EZEKIEL JACKSON

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 5/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 2-3

WINS:

Over The Limit: Wade Barrett (Intercontinental Title)

Capitol Punishment: Wade Barrett (Intercontinental Title)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Wrestlemania: Kane, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Santino Marella

Extreme Rules: Kane and Big Show (Tag Team Titles)

Jackson found himself back in the PPV scene by joining the ex-Nexus in Smackdown to form The Corre. The Corre would later turn their backs on Jackson and they will make a feud out of this. He had a “storied” rivalry with Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Title.

26 JERRY “THE KING” LAWLER

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 4/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 1-3

WINS:

Over The Limit: Michael Cole

LOSSES:

Elimination Chamber: Lost against The Miz (WWE Title)

Wrestlemania: Michael Cole

Extreme Rules: Michael Cole and Jack Swagger

I hope people dreamt of this because if you did, then your dream came true. The King had a relevant wrestling gig at the start of the 2011 highlighted by a title match against The Miz. And then he became involved in one of the worst feuds of the year (aka Michael Cole).

25 SIN CARA

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 4/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 2-2

WINS:

Over The Limit: Chavo Guerrero

Hell In A Cell: Hunico (Sin Cara Negro)

LOSSES:

Money in the Bank: Daniel Bryan (Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Survivor Series: Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Hunico (Traditional Elimination Match)

Sin Cara started out with serious hype. He was acquired as a safety net to Rey Mysterio’s imminent retirement. However, Sin Cara hasn’t really connected with the fans and his first year in the WWE was marred by injuries.

24 DANIEL BRYAN

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 4/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 2-2

WINS:

Money in the Bank: Won at the Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match

TLC: Big Show (World Title)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Summer Slam: Wade Barrett

Internet’s favorite wrestler had only four trips to PPV city. Bryan in the process had the most number of dark matches in 2011 – the biggest of which was at Wrestlemania against Sheamus. While he used his Money in the Bank contract to successfully claim his first World Title, he was gravely misused before it.

23 KELLY KELLY

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 6/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 3-3

WINS:

Money in the Bank: Brie Bella (Divas Title)

Summer Slam: Beth Phoenix (Divas Title)

Night of Champions: Beth Phoenix (Divas Title)

LOSSES:

Over The Limit: Brie Bella (Divas Title)

Hell In A Cell: Beth Phoenix (Lost Divas Title)

TLC: Beth Phoenix (Divas Title)

Kelly had a fantastic 2011. She was the poster girl of the Barbie-looking Divas that were poised to stop the onslaught of the Divas of Doom. She yells a lot but sometimes her looks shields her mediocre wrestling skills. I hate putting her over Daniel Bryan but she was basically the “face” of her division.

22 BETH PHOENIX

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 6/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 4-2

WINS:

Hell In A Cell: Kelly Kelly (Divas Title)

Vengeance: Eve Torres (Divas Title)

Survivor Series: Eve Torres (Divas Title)

TLC: Kelly Kelly (Divas Title)

LOSSES:

Summer Slam: Kelly Kelly (Divas Title)

Night of Champions: Kelly Kelly (Divas Title)

Beth Phoenix barely saw TV time at the start of the year. But just like CM Punk’s drive for change, the Glamazon wanted the Diva landscape to choose talent over beauty as it should. Teaming up with Natalya, she held the title and successfully defended it on Barbies like Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres.

21 TRIPLE H

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 4/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 2-2

WINS:

Night of Champions: CM Punk

TLC: Kevin Nash

LOSSES:

Wrestlemania: Undertaker

Vengeance: The Miz and R-Truth

Triple H rarely saw action in the course of 2011 but when he did, he was involved in high-profile feuds. He was the latest person to attempt on Undertaker’s streak. There’s always a grandiose feel whenever he fights which is oddly lacking in the current roster.

20 EVAN BOURNE

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 7/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 5-2

WINS:

Capitol Punishment: Jack Swagger

Night of Champions: The Miz and R-Truth (Tag Team Titles)

Hell In A Cell: Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger (Tag Team Titles)

Vengeance: Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger (Tag Team Titles)

TLC: Primo and Epico (Tag Team Titles)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Money in the Bank: Alberto Del Rio (Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Bourne seriously benefited when he started to team up with Kofi. Air Boom has been unstoppable whenever they defend their titles on PPV’s. This is one of the reasons why Bourne is hot as of this moment and is sporting a very wonderful win-loss record.

19 KANE

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 6/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 3-3

WINS:

Wrestlemania: Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel

Extreme Rules: Wade Barrett and Ezekiel Jackson (Tag Team Titles)

Over The Limit: CM Punk and Mason Ryan (Tag Team Titles)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: Lost against Edge (World Title)

Money in the Bank: Daniel Bryan (Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Undertaker’s demented baby brother was just recently re-launched with a mask. He spent most of 2011 as Big Show’s tag team partner. The duo went back and forth against The New Nexus and The Corre. Before his rebirth he was inducted in Mark Henry’s Hall of Pain.

18 EDGE

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 3/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 3-0

WINS:

Royal Rumble: Won against Dolph Ziggler (World Title)

Elimination Chamber: Defended World Title at the Elimination Chamber

Wrestlemania: Alberto Del Rio (World Title)

LOSSES:

None

It’s a shame that the Rated R Superstar had to retire because of a career-threatening injury. The only good thing working for him is that he had a flawless record on PPV’s this year. He outlasted Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero at the Royal Rumble, survived the Elimination Chamber, and retained his World Championship against Alberto Del Rio at Wrestlemania 27.

17 JACK SWAGGER

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 9/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 2-7

WINS:

Extreme Rules: Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross

Survivor Series: Randy Orton, Sheamus, Mason Ryan, Kofi Kingston, Sin Cara (Traditional Elimination Match)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Capitol Punishment: Evan Bourne

Money in the Bank: Alberto Del Rio (Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Night of Champions: Dolph Ziggler (US Title)

Hell In A Cell: Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne (Tag Team Titles)

Vengeance: Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne (Tag Team Titles)

TLC: Sheamus

While he didn’t have a World title shot, he did participate in nine PPV’s. The problem though is that except for being on the winning Survivor Series team and being the tag team partner of Michael Cole, he never fared well in the PPV’s.

16 JOHN MORRISON

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 8/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 2-6

WINS:

Wrestlemania: Dolph Ziggler, Michelle McCool, Layla

Summer Slam: The Miz, R-Truth, Alberto Del Rio

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: John Cena (Elimination Chamber Match)

Extreme Rules: John Cena (WWE Title)

Night of Champions: Dolph Ziggler (US Title)

Hell In A Cell: Cody Rhodes (Intercontinental Title)

Survivor Series: Dolph Ziggler (US Title)

It’s a shame Morrison had to leave the company. At the start of 2011, it looked as if he was the next WWE champion. Despite losing a lot of matches, he participated in 8 PPV’s. He had memorable moments at the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and at Extreme Rules.

15 REY MYSTERIO

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 8/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 2-6

WINS:

Extreme Rules: Cody Rhodes

Summer Slam: The Miz, R-Truth, Alberto Del Rio

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: Lost against Edge (World Title)

Wrestlemania: Cody Rhodes

Over The Limit: R-Truth

Capitol Punishment: CM Punk

Money in the Bank: Alberto Del Rio (Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

2011 is a somewhat uneventful year for The Masked One. Apart from the Elimination Chamber, Reyrey never really had a run to win a major title. Oh yeah... he had one. It lasted less than an hour when John Cena defeated him. His most memorable feud in 2011 was against Cody Rhodes.

14 CODY RHODES

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 8/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 5-3

WINS:

Wrestlemania: Rey Mysterio

Night of Champions: Ted DiBiase (Intercontinental Title)

Hell In A Cell: John Morrison (Intercontinental Title)

Survivor Series: Randy Orton, Sheamus, Mason Ryan, Kofi Kingston, Sin Cara (Traditional Elimination Match)

TLC: Booker T (Intercontinental Title)

LOSSES:

Extreme Rules: Rey Mysterio

Money in the Bank: Daniel Bryan (Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Vengeance: Randy Orton

Who knew the cheesy “Dashing” gimmick would lead to more awesome things? After the “disfigurement” of his face, Cody turned dark and it gave a hint of ruthlessness on his persona. After that phase, he is now borrowing Randy Orton’s gimmick by turning “legend killer” on his foes.

13 WADE BARRETT

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 10/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 2-8

WINS:

Summer Slam: Daniel Bryan

Survivor Series: Randy Orton, Sheamus, Mason Ryan, Kofi Kingston, Sin Cara (Traditional Elimination Match)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: Lost against Edge (World Title)

Wrestlemania: Kane, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Santino Marella

Extreme Rules: Kane and Big Show (Tag Team Titles)

Over The Limit: Ezekiel Jackson (Lost Intercontinental Title)

Capitol Punishment: Ezekiel Jackson (Lost Intercontinental Title)

Money in the Bank: Daniel Bryan (Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

TLC: Randy Orton

Compared to his rookie season, Barrett’s 2011 season was subpar. He was placed into weak feuds against the New Nexus, Big Show and Kane, and the former Corre members – particularly Ezekiel Jackson. Business picked up when he instilled an anchor near his ass and began tormenting Randy Orton.

12 SHEAMUS

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 9/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 3-6

WINS:

Hell In A Cell: Christian

Vengeance: Christian

TLC: Jack Swagger

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: John Cena (Elimination Chamber Match)

Extreme Rules: Kofi Kingston (Lost US Title)

Money in the Bank: Daniel Bryan (Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Summer Slam: Mark Henry

Survivor Series: Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Hunico (Traditional Elimination Match)

When he was called King Sheamus, he basically sucked. When he moved to Smackdown, turned face, and called himself The Great White, he turned awesome. I guess one problem about him was that he was placed in feuds with little to no build except for his feud with Christian and Mark Henry.

11 R-TRUTH

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 9/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 2-7

WINS:

Over The Limit: Rey Mysterio

Vengeance: CM Punk and Triple H

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: John Cena (Elimination Chamber Match)

Capitol Punishment: John Cena (WWE Title)

Money in the Bank: Alberto Del Rio (Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Summer Slam: Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, John Morrison

Night of Champions: Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne (Tag Team Titles)

Survivor Series: The Rock and John Cena

R-Truth became entertaining when he stopped becoming the 2011 version of K-Kwik and became loony. While hurting people via water bottles is stupid, getting angry with all the Little Jimmys everyone isn’t. He had one breakthrough match and it involved John Cena and the WWE Title that while he lost, cemented his status in the upper midcard.

10 CHRISTIAN

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 7/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 2-5

WINS:

Extreme Rules: Alberto Del Rio (World Title)

Money in the Bank: Randy Orton (World Title)

LOSSES:

Over The Limit: Randy Orton (World Title)

Capitol Punishment: Randy Orton (World Title)

Summer Slam: Randy Orton (Lost World Title)

Hell In A Cell: Sheamus

Vengeance: Sheamus

Christian realized his life-long dream of being a World Champion when he won Edge’s vacated belt against Alberto Del Rio at Extreme Rules. He would go and face Randy Orton in a lot of awesome matches. Captain Charisma became a big time main eventer in 2011 which is sad in some ways because he started and finished the year on the injured list.

9 KOFI KINGSTON

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 12/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 7-5

WINS:

Wrestlemania: Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel

Extreme Rules: Sheamus (US Title)

Summer Slam: The Miz, R-Truth, Alberto Del Rio

Night of Champions: The Miz and R-Truth (Tag Team Titles)

Hell In A Cell: Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger (Tag Team Titles)

Vengeance: Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger (Tag Team Titles)

TLC: Primo and Epico (Tag Team Titles)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: Lost against Alberto Del Rio

Capitol Punishment: Dolph Ziggler (Lost US Title)

Money in the Bank: Alberto Del Rio (Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Survivor Series: Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Hunico (Traditional Elimination Match)

Kofi was almost a constant in the secondary titles division. His most popular feud was early in 2011 against Dolph Ziggler. The two would renew their rivalry as part of Air Boom and Vickie Guerrero’s Clientele. In some ways he brought instant credibility to Bourne and in the process, an actual tag team division in the WWE.

8 DOLPH ZIGGLER

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 8/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 5-6

WINS:

Capitol Punishment: Kofi Kingston (US Title)

Night of Champions: Jack Swagger, Alex Riley, John Morrison (US Title)

Vengeance: Zack Ryder (US Title)

Survivor Series: John Morrison (US Title)

Survivor Series: Randy Orton, Sheamus, Mason Ryan, Kofi Kingston, Sin Cara (Traditional Elimination Match)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Royal Rumble: Lost against Edge (World Title)

Wrestlemania: John Morrison, Trish Stratus, Snooki

Hell In A Cell: Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne (Tag Team Titles)

Vengeance: Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne (Tag Team Titles)

TLC: Zack Ryder (US Title)

Moving from perfection to showoff, this guy is one of my favorite wrestlers in 2011. He is like Billy Gunn with enhanced wrestling skills. Hell I can compare him to Chris Jericho because he is one of those guys that doesn’t need to win every time to gain acclaim. Anyway after a phantom World title run, Ziggler moved to Raw and had a long reign as United States Champion. He held the record for most double duties in a PPV this year by wrestling on three PPV’s twice (Royal Rumble, Vengeance, Survivor Series).

7 MARK HENRY

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 8/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 4-3-1

WINS:

Money in the Bank: Big Show

Summer Slam: Sheamus

Night of Champions: Randy Orton (World Title)

Hell In A Cell: Randy Orton (World Title)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Survivor Series: Big Show (for World Title but Henry retains belt via DQ)

TLC: Big Show (Lost World Title)

DRAW:

Vengeance: Big Show (World Title)

Mark Henry started out 2011 as a jolly giant and it led him to nowhere. When he was traded to Smackdown he re-launched his ruthlessness. Through his Hall of Pain, he dismantled Big Show and Kane. This also gave him the chance to live his dream by finally becoming a World Champion by defeating Randy Orton at Night of Champions.

6 THE BIG SHOW

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 10/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 5-5-1

WINS:

Wrestlemania: Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel

Extreme Rules: Wade Barrett and Ezekiel Jackson (Tag Team Titles)

Over The Limit: CM Punk and Mason Ryan (Tag Team Titles)

Survivor Series: Mark Henry (for World Title but Henry retains belt via DQ)

TLC: Mark Henry (World Title)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: Edge (World Title)

Capitol Punishment: Alberto Del Rio

Money in the Bank: Mark Henry

TLC: Daniel Bryan (Lost World Title)

DRAW:

Vengeance: Mark Henry (World Title)

It felt ranking Big Show this high because the only big feud he was against Mark Henry but Show became a dependable figure in getting the people (somewhat) high on the New Nexus and The Corre alongside Kane. He briefly won the World Title at TLC but it was taken from him by Daniel Bryan.

5 THE MIZ

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 12/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 4-8

WINS:

Royal Rumble: Randy Orton (WWE Title)

Elimination Chamber: Jerry Lawler (WWE Title)

Wrestlemania: John Cena (WWE Title)

Vengeance: CM Punk and Triple H

LOSSES:

Extreme Rules: John Cena (Lost WWE Title)

Over The Limit: John Cena (WWE Title)

Capitol Punishment: Alex Riley

Money in the Bank: Alberto Del Rio (Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match)

Summer Slam: Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, John Morrison

Night of Champions: Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne (Tag Team Titles)

Survivor Series: The Rock and John Cena

TLC: CM Punk (WWE Title)

He reached main event status when he claimed the WWE Title. And then he successfully defended the title against John Cena on Wrestlemania. When he lost the belt, he was in limbo – at one point he instigated a fight with a Subway endorser. However, aligning with R-Truth and crossing paths with Triple H, Cena, and CM Punk made him relevant again.

4 JOHN CENA

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 12/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 6-6

WINS:

Elimination Chamber: Won at the Elimination Chamber

Extreme Rules: The Miz and John Morrison (WWE Title)

Over The Limit: The Miz (WWE Title)

Capitol Punishment: R-Truth (WWE Title)

Night of Champions: Alberto Del Rio (WWE Title)

Survivor Series: The Miz and R-Truth

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Wrestlemania: The Miz (WWE Title)

Money in the Bank: CM Punk (Lost WWE Title)

Summer Slam: CM Punk (Lost WWE Title)

Hell In A Cell: Alberto Del Rio (Lost WWE Title)

Vengeance: Alberto Del Rio (Lost WWE Title)

The Road to Wrestlemania started early for John Cena when The Rock foiled his chance to claim Miz’ belt. In 2011, he fought and defended for a major title a record of nine times. He also held the title four times including one where he simultaneously held the major belt with CM Punk. Aside from Rock, Miz, and Punk, he fought Alberto Del Rio four times in a PPV and John Morrison and R-Truth twice. I think it shocked people that he wasn’t part of TLC.

3 ALBERTO DEL RIO

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 12/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 7-6

WINS:

2011 Royal Rumble Winner

Elimination Chamber: Kofi Kingston

Capitol Punishment: Big Show

Money in the Bank: Won at the Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match

Summer Slam: CM Punk (WWE Title)

Hell In A Cell: CM Punk and John Cena (WWE Title)

Vengeance: John Cena (WWE Title)

LOSSES:

Wrestlemania: Edge (World Title)

Extreme Rules: Alberto Del Rio (World Title)

Summer Slam: Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, John Morrison

Night of Champions: John Cena (Lost WWE Title)

Survivor Series: CM Punk (Lost WWE Title)

TLC: CM Punk (WWE Title)

No pun intended but it was his destiny to have a major title run. The Mexican aristocrat won the first 40-man Royal Rumble and while he botched the chance, he succeeded with it when he scored he won the Money in the Bank ladder match and used it on CM Punk. While repetitive in his promos, certainly he is one of the promotion’s elite although he needs to retain the title for more than a month.

2 RANDY ORTON

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 13/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 7-7

WINS:

Wrestlemania: CM Punk

Extreme Rules: CM Punk

Over The Limit: Christian (World Title)

Capitol Punishment: Christian (World Title)

Summer Slam: Christian (World Title)

Vengeance: Cody Rhodes

TLC: Wade Barrett

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Royal Rumble: The Miz (WWE Title)

Elimination Chamber: John Cena (Elimination Chamber Match)

Money in the Bank: Christian (Lost World Title)

Night of Champions: Mark Henry (Lost World Title)

Hell In A Cell: Mark Henry (World Title)

Survivor Series: Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Hunico (Traditional Elimination Match)

Randy Orton was awesome in 2011. His cold-blooded persona was highlighted this year and he was always in the thick of things. He started the year chasing The Miz to regain his WWE Title and afterwards he tried to quell Punk’s evil intentions. But my favorite Orton feud was the series of matches he had with Christian for the World Title. Not only was the storyline favourable, they also had a couple of top-notch matches for this year.

1 CM PUNK

2011 SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR

2011 PPV APPEARANCES (AS WRESTLER): 13/13

2011 PPV WIN-LOSS RECORD: 5-9

WINS:

Capitol Punishment: Rey Mysterio

Money in the Bank: John Cena (WWE Title)

Summer Slam: John Cena (WWE Title)

Survivor Series: Alberto Del Rio (WWE Title)

TLC: Alberto Del Rio and The Miz (WWE Title)

LOSSES:

Royal Rumble: Alberto Del Rio (Royal Rumble Match)

Elimination Chamber: John Cena (Elimination Chamber Match)

Wrestlemania: Randy Orton

Extreme Rules: Randy Orton

Over The Limit: Big Show and Kane (Tag Team Titles)

Summer Slam: Alberto Del Rio (Lost WWE Title)

Night of Champions: Triple H

Hell In A Cell: Alberto Del Rio (WWE Title)

Vengeance: The Miz and R-Truth

Wow. What a year for CM Punk. Newly-christened as the Superstar of the Year, Punk started 2011 disgruntled. And then CM Punk wanted to take a break from the WWE. With the lack of proper main eventers and the sudden rise of popularity of Punk, WWE made an offer he couldn’t refuse. While the ice cream bars are still in production, Punk is now entering the ring to the tune of his former Ring of Honor music. He also had an adequate amount of “pipebomb” exposure. Punk’s most memorable match in 2011 was when Money in the Bank was held in his hometown and he won the match albeit the threat of a screwjob.

In 2012, I expect guys like Zack Ryder to break inside the list with the imminent return of Booker T, Chris Jericho, and a bunch of upstarts work their way on the list. I also think Daniel Bryan will move up on the list. 

Anyway if this becomes popular, I will repeat this next year. 

Game over!