The Oklafan Top 50 out later today
Posted: Dec 31st 2012 By: mikeiles
Today is December 31st and later tonight as the clock strikes midnight, Burnham will be posting the 2012 Oklafan Top 50. The Oklafan Top 50 is bittersweet. I kind of have a love-hate relationship with it.
It was my idea in 2005 to do a Top 50. Actually I wanted to do a Top 100 but there weren't enough wrestlers back then to actually have a Top 100. Obviously the idea came from Pro Wrestling Illustrated's PWI 500 they do every year. That is usually the only issue of PWI that I purchase each year.
Last year I wrote a similar story to this one and in it I mentioned that in 2005, the first year for the Top 50, there were only 6 active feds. To end 2012, we have 7 feds. Last year to close 2011, there were 10 active feds.
As with every Top 50, the thing I don't look forward to is the complaints from wrestlers and/or promoters because their guy (or them themselves) weren't ranked. I have listed some things to remember below. Some of these are repeats from last year's column I wrote about the Top 50. I have made some changes as well.
1. The ENTIRE thing is a work. This includes the list itself and the opinions of the voters.
2. Yes, the voters are all marks. Technically, everyone involved in wrestling all the way up the ladder to Vince McMahon is a mark is some form or fashion. Otherwise we wouldn't be involved in this crazy business.
3. You won't get booked any more or any less depending on where you were or weren't ranked. This one came from "Big Money" Chris Matthews who told me that in 2005 when he was ranked #36 despite not wrestling in Oklahoma for the latter part of 2005. This one is a big one. I doubt very seriously that WWE, TNA, Ring of Honor, or any fed overseas is going to look at the Oklafan Top 50 and decide who they will be booking or signing.
4. This last one is my rule. There were 167 wrestling shows in 2012 (up from 143 in 2011), not counting the WWE and TNA shows. If a wrestler didn't work at least 12 matches during the year, I did not consider them. I was looking for the Top 50 wrestlers in Oklahoma for 2012 (according to my opinion) and if a wrestler couldn't get booked on at least 1 show per month out of 7 active feds and 167 shows, they weren't one of my Top 50. I have had some close friends not make the list in the past because of this rule and they ribbed me about it (Jason Jones being one of them). Does that exclude some wrestlers that if they had 12 matches they would have been at or near the top? Absolutely. But again this is my opinion and it is only for a 12 month period. Not a career achievement. Again, this rule is what I go by. I don't know if the other voters have a similar rule or not.
So tonight as you are looking over the Top 50, keep these things in mind. If YOU as a wrestler are happy with how you are being booked and how you are being perceived in the feds you work in, then the list shouldn't mean squat to you.
Have a Happy New Year everyone!!!
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1974 Tex McKenzie & Johnny Valentine def. The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Lanza) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 1975 Jose Lothario def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 2000 Grenade def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 2016 Xavior became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 2016 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 2016 Psycho Mike def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 2017 Kikutaro def. Ryan Davidson for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 2017 Dusty Gold def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 2017 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Womens Title
- 2017 Double D def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 2017 Drake Gallows def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
- 2017 Xavior def. C. J. Ward for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 2017 The Omega (O’Brien & O’Malley) def. The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 2023 Skidz def. Oscar Amazing for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 2023 Koko def. Dan Webber for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 2023 Sweetness (Cappuccino Jones & Romeo Reese) def. Southern Aristocracy (Eddie LeVaughn & Anthony Wild) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 2023 Killbane def. Leo Fox for the UWE Apex Title
Week of Sun 09-20 to Sat: 09-26
- 09-20 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Title
- 09-20 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-20 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 09-20 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-20 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Title
- 09-20 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 09-20 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-20 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
- 09-20 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-20 2025 Gideon Vane became the EPW International Champion
- 09-20 2025 Miles Bane became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 09-20 2026 Neo Genesis def. T. J. Spade for the ASP WTF Title
- 09-21 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-21 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
- 09-21 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
- 09-21 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
- 09-21 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
- 09-21 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-21 2024 Brandon Warhawk def. Seth Daniels for the UWE Apex Title
- 09-21 2024 Fuel def. Killbane for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-21 2024 Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) def. Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & Faded Ghoul) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-21 2024 Super Crash Brothers (Badger James & Trench Blythe) def. Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-21 2026 T. J. Spade def. Will Chambers for the CAPW Heavyweight Title
- 09-22 1971 Bill Watts def. Dusty Rhodes for the TSW North American Title
- 09-22 2001 Jenna Love became the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 09-22 2001 Justin Lee def. Dexter Hardaway for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-22 2012 Crossfire Morrison def. Drake Gallows for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-22 2012 Kareem Sadat def. Crossfire Morrison for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-22 2023 Tommy Prince became the TexPro Dynasty Champion
- 09-22 2023 Nashoba became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 09-22 2023 Skidz def. Nashoba for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-22 2023 Oscar Amazing def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-22 2026 Billie the Kiid def. Neo Genesis for the ASP WTF Title
- 09-22 2026 Neo Genesis def. Billie the Kiid for the ASP WTF Title
- 09-23 1974 Tex McKenzie & Johnny Valentine def. The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Lanza) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-23 1975 Jose Lothario def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-23 2000 Grenade def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2016 Xavior became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 09-23 2016 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 09-23 2016 Psycho Mike def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-23 2017 Kikutaro def. Ryan Davidson for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 09-23 2017 Dusty Gold def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-23 2017 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Womens Title
- 09-23 2017 Double D def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2017 Drake Gallows def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
- 09-23 2017 Xavior def. C. J. Ward for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2017 The Omega (O’Brien & O’Malley) def. The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-23 2023 Skidz def. Oscar Amazing for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-23 2023 Koko def. Dan Webber for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2023 Sweetness (Cappuccino Jones & Romeo Reese) def. Southern Aristocracy (Eddie LeVaughn & Anthony Wild) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-23 2023 Killbane def. Leo Fox for the UWE Apex Title
- 09-24 2002 The Professionals (John Zorthos & Julian Wolfenbarger) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 09-24 2016 Ricky Starks def. Ky-Ote for the IWR Revolutionary Title
- 09-24 2022 London Calling (Dutch Hagen & Richie Adams) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-24 2022 Martin Justice def. Tyler Watts for the EPW International Title
- 09-24 2022 Logan Knight def. Kareem Sadat for the EPW All-American Title
- 09-24 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Danni Bee for the NCWO Women's Title
- 09-25 1965 Don Kent def. Red McKim for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 1981 The Great Kabuki def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 1999 Big Daddy Moore def. Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 1999 The Casualties of War (Malice & Shrapnel) def. Red Eagle & Night Hawk for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 09-25 1999 Kid Flash def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 2004 Michael Barry def. Brandon Groom for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 2010 Wage def. Bernie D for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-26 1978 Terry Latham & Ricky Fields def. Seigfried Stanke & Kurt Von Hess for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 09-26 1984 Adrian Street def. Terry Taylor for the MSW Television Title
- 09-26 2004 John O'Malley def. Mr. Brown for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-26 2009 Jeremy Quinn III became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-26 2014 Paul Puertorico def. Matt Majestic for the SRPW United States Title
- 09-26 2020 Brian Dixon def. Ethan Cole for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 09-26 2020 The Ritual (Samedi & Shadow Gemini) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 09-26 2025 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the BUW No Pressure Title
- Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd Today!
- O'Malley Sep 23rd Today!
- Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd Today!
- Len Rossi Sep 24th
- Joe Jones Sep 24th
- Kai Fayden Sep 24th
- Jason Bruce Sep 24th
- Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
- Connor Crunk Sep 24th
- John J. Bishop Sep 24th
- Chief Mike Sep 25th
- Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
- Toots Estes Sep 25th
- Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
- Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
- Lone Eagle Sep 26th
- BB Sep 26th
- Ka$haNova Sep 26th
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- Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
- Chris Matthews Sep 26th
- Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
- Angel Camacho Sep 27th
- Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
- Ben Miller Sep 27th
- Tommy Prince Sep 28th
- Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
- Scott Lee Sep 28th
- Rip Tyler Sep 28th
- Trey Count Sep 28th
- Kamille Sep 28th
- Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
- Bang Bang Bennett Sep 29th
- David Sammartino Sep 29th
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- Johnny TV Oct 3rd
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- Mr. Nasty Oct 6th
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