The HWA TOP 20 (2010 Edition)

2010 is in the books and what better way to close out one year and start another here in the HWA than by ranking the Top 20 HWA Wrestlers of 2010? The criteria for ranking the Top 20 was based on wins/losses, titles held and significance of wins/losses throughout the year. This list is bound to start controversy among both wrestlers and fans alike [Danny O'Brien has already threatened to sue both me and the HWA over the list, but that's a story for another time]. Hope you enjoy reading this list and I'd love to get as much feedback as possible on it. After you've finished reading this, send me an email at Grevas1984@aol.com and let me know what you liked and didn't like or if you thought someone deserved a better or worse spot on the list. Thanks as always - General Grevas

"Angelic Assassin" Aaron Williams

Aaron started off January 2010 as both the HWA Heavyweight Champion and HWA American Luchacore Champion. Before the month was over, Aaron would lose both titles and would lose one rematch against Jesse Emerson in an attempt to recapture the Luchacore title and that was the last time we saw Aaron Williams in the HWA. Will he return in 2011 to try and recapture the titles he worked so hard to win? Only time will tell.

Jon Murray

Jon Murray debuted in the summer of 2010 here in the HWA and has quickly become one of the fan's favorites. His win/loss record is good, not great, but he's been in the ring with the biggest and best and never backed down. Look for 2011 to be a breakout year for Jon Murray here in the HWA.

Dameon Daniels

Daniels started off 2010 in a team with Aaron Xtreme, before Xtreme turned on him in what was supposed to be Dameon's retirement match with the HWA. Xtreme knew of Dameon's severe neck problems and went right after his now former partner's injured neck. Dameon retired as planned but it wasn't long before his thoughts of revenge brought the big man out of retirement and hot on the trail of  Aaron Xtreme in the fall of 2010. Look for those two to continue their war in 2011.

Aaron Xtreme

Fans were shocked to see Aaron Xtreme turn on his Terminal Velocity tag team partner,  Dameon Daniels, and align himself with Dustin Rayz in 2010. Aaron is a truly innovative competitor who has all the tools to hold HWA gold in 2011, but to do so he needs to first end his war with Daniels. Expect those two to have some downright brutal matches in early '11.

The Hybrids

The Hybrids weren't as successful in 2010 as they were in 2009, but that's not to say they didn't earn their share of quality wins. Fans were surprised to see Donovan compete in singles action while his partner Jason took a bit of time off in the mid to late summer. Following their loss at WW3, The Hybrids can no longer team so it will be interesting to see how Jason and Donovan do in the singles ranks in 2011. Both Jason and Donovan still hate their former manager, Danny O'Brien.

Jock Samson

Jock made his HWA debut in 2010 and has made a pretty big impression on both the fans and HWA matchmakers. He is an old school powerhouse who is as tough as he looks. Jock should be a more prominent player in 2011 and should be a contender for HWA gold. I for one wouldn't be surprised if 2011 was the Year of Jock Samson.
 

Tarek the Legend

Tarek returned to the HWA in January and spent 2010 doing what he does best: Beating down anyone who dared step in the ring with him. Tarek's lifelong enemy, The American Kickboxer showed up in the HWA and began training Kid Fabulous to become American Kickboxer 2. Tarek spent much of the year feuding with those two, usually winning the matches. In September, Tarek won a "Fans Choose The Challenger" to get a shot at Gerome Phillips and his HWA Title. Tarek had the title won only to have the ref reverse the decision.

American Kickboxer 2

The former Kid Fabulous had a breakout year in 2010. The original American Kickboxer trained Kid to become American Kickboxer 2 and ever since, we've seen a whole new side of the man we used to call Kid Fabulous. As AKB2, he went toe to toe with Tarek the Legend in some of the most hard hitting matches seen anywhere all year long. With that feud now behind him, look for American Kickboxer 2 to focus on moving up the ranks in 2011 and try to challenge for the HWA American Luchacore Championship.

Tim Donst

Donst is one of the most skilled mat based wrestlers in the sport today. Donst has a very hectic schedule - you can see him compete all over the country and he's also wrestled in Japan but when he's in the Ohio area he is always trying to get matches in the HWA. Donst spent part of 2010 feuding with Danny O'Brien - his former manager and whomever Danny could throw in Donst's way. No longer fighting that war, Donst is in the title hunt and has to always be considered a threat to any title he's competing for.

"The Madness" Chris Hall

What a year this man had. His feud with Gerome Phillips [ then known as King Vu] is something no HWA fan will soon forget. Madness and Phillips had some of the most brutal matches of 2010 and as a result of winning the feud's final match, Madness became number one contender to the HWA Title, then held by Jon Moxley. Madness came oh so close to winning the gold but ultimately fell short. Nagging injuries and run ins with Dustin Rayz and Aaron Xtreme plagued Madness for much of the second half of 2010 but, Hall ended his 2010 on a high night at HWA World War 3, advancing into the semi-finals of the #1 Contender's Tournament.

Dustin Rayz

Dustin remains one of the most manipulative, calculating wrestlers in the HWA. He always seems to be three steps ahead of whomever he's in the ring with and has the in ring skills to go with it. Dustin had N8 Flames and Aaron Xtreme join him this year, almost seeming to have them brainwashed to an extent. While he didn't hold any titles in the HWA in 2010, he was always a top contender and in 2011 Dustin has to be considered a threat to all three titles in the HWA. Dustin recently advanced to the semi-finals of the #1 Contender's Tournament.

The Heat Seekers

Jeremy Madrox and Kaden Assad spent a portion of 2010 competing in the singles ranks, but it wasn't until they unleashed The Heat Seekers on the HWA that both men's stock began to rise in the HWA. During the 3rd Annual Pick Your Poison Battle Royal, both Kaden and Madrox were two of the last three men in the ring. Then at HWA World War 3, The Heat Seekers walked away with both their OCW Tag Titles and the HWA Tag Team Titles by beating The Noble Bloods and The Hybrids in a Triple Threat Match.

Shank Barzini

Shank had a major breakout in late 2010, winning the Pick Your Poison Battle Royal and cashing in his title shot at HWA World War 3 against Gerome Phillips. While Shank didn't capture the title, he has proven himself to be the real deal and has taken his game to the next level. Brian Beech took Shank under his wing in 2010 and it showed. Shank came a long way in 2010 and it will be interesting to see where 2011 takes him. 

Sid Fabulous

Sid started off 2010 as a tag team wrestler and ended the year by winning the HWA American Luchacore Title from Ronald T. Mathis. Nobody could have predicted the levels of success Sidney Fabulous would hit in 2010. He won the "Mega Bowl" in January, which kicked off his hot streak. Sid is easily one of the top three or four most popular wrestlers in the HWA. He also went undefeated at Norwood shows this year. Sid rules! Sid's new haircut rules!

"Relentless" Ron Mathis

Mathis had an impressive 2010. His reign as HWA American Luchacore Champion lasted several months and he had several major title defenses. His biggest feuds of the year were with Jesse Emerson and Sid Fabulous. Mathis brought Gilbert to the HWA in 2010 and teamed with Kaden Assad as the "International Riot [Jerk] Squad" for a few months and had a few show stealing matches against The Irish Airborne. "Mrs. Mathis' Baby Boy" also co-hosted "The Pulse" alongside Chris The Brain.

Jesse Emerson

Jesse was arguably the MVP of the first half of the year, with the highlight being winning the HWA American Luchacore Title that was vacated by Aaron Williams. He would go on to drop the title to Ron Mathis but then impressed fans with a series of matches against Jon Moxley that really elevated Jesse in fans eyes. Jesse is one of the most popular and most talented wrestlers in the HWA. He's been focused on winning the HWA Title for a few months now and he recently advanced to the semi-finals of the #1 Contender's Tournament with a win over Moxley, getting Jesse one step closer to another shot at the HWA Heavyweight Title.

The Irish Airborne

What else can be said about The Irish Airborne that hasn't already been said? Dave and Jake Crist can do it all as a team or as singles wrestlers - and they've proved it a million times over. The Airborne spent a great deal of 2010 competing with The Noble Bloods in a feud so good it should be considered "Feud of the Decade". No matter how many times those teams wrestled, it never got old and it was always a match you left talking about. In 2010, The Irish Airborne focused more on being a team than wrestling as singles. Will that be the case in 2011? Only Jake and Dave know. Either way, as singles or as a team, you can bet The Irish Airborne will be tough to beat.

Jon Moxley

"The Most Dangerous Man in the HWA" had a top notch 2010. He won the HWA Heavyweight Title in January from Aaron Williams and held the title for a little under seven months before losing it to Gerome Phillips. In August, Mox wrestled Bryan Danielson in front of a sold out crowd in Norwood in a "Match of the Year" candidate. Mox's matches with Phillips and Jesse Emerson stand out as being some of his best.  Moxley has been known by the HWA fans as an elite talent but 2010 was the year the rest of the wrestling world figured out what we've known for years: Jon Moxley is one of the best in the world at what he does. 

The Noble Bloods

Tag team wrestling may be a lost art elsewhere, but not here in the HWA. The Noble Bloods - Sir Chadwick Cruise and Lord Matthew Taylor spent the better part of 2010 feuding with The Irish Airborne over the HWA Tag Team Titles with a series of 5 star matches culminating with a 45 Minute Marathon Match that ended up going into overtime. The Nobles won the match, the titles and the war and the two teams had a great showing of respect for one another after the match. The Noble Bloods lost their titles in a Triple Threat Match against OCW Champs The Heat Seekers and The Hybrids without being involved in the finish of the match. Going into 2011 The Noble Bloods will certainly be looking to regain the HWA Tag Team Titles. If The Noble Bloods have another year as good as they did in 2010, don't be surprised to see them at Number 1 on this list next year. 

Gerome Phillips

The wrestler formerly known as "King Vu" dominated the HWA in 2010. Who didn't Phillips wrestle in 2010? Phillips seemed to tear through another roster member week after week. He started the year off just having lost the HWA Heavyweight Title and he wouldn't regain it until the summer. Since then, he has held onto the title and fought off all challengers, often with the assistance of his lifelong best friend and manager, Andre Davis. Will anyone be able to stop the seemingly unstoppable Phillips in 2011 or will Gerome Phillips be the number one man again next year?