3. Wade Barrett – WWE (#9)
Fan Vote: Wade Barrett
Podswoggle: Wade Barrett has been rocking and rolling on Smackdown, as evident by his new theme that a Sex Pistols cover band apparently made. Putting out Randy Orton reestablished himself as a legitimate heel threat after being murdered so many times by John Cena in 2010. Going forward, Barrett looks to be murdered again by Randy Orton, but he is already an early favorite to win Money in the Bank at WrestleMania. As long as Barrett doesn't establish a new stable with even worse grammar, he looks like a great candidate for a World Championship reign in 2012. That, my friends, would not be the end of days. That (in a DDP voice) would be a great thing.
Editor's Note: We really hesitated to move Barrett so far up the card so fast. What it really came down to was his dominating month, Cody Rhodes' lack of real direction, and the huge falls of guys like Mark Henry, Zack Ryder, and a few others. Barrett may not have really deserved to go up six places, especially after the way he was handled in the Rumble, but we really had no choice… He was just better than everyone else in his way!
2. Dolph Ziggler – WWE (#2)
Fan Vote: Dolph Ziggler
Sorry Mr. Ziggles, we really were pulling for you this month! In fact, if he happened to walk away with the WWE title, or a Royal Rumble victory we were all set to FINALLY pass the torch to this up-and-coming game changer. Unfortunately, he's just a small step behind the Best in the World. Next month he has another shot at the WWE title, this time inside of the Elimination Chamber. It's not likely he'll walk out with the belt, but if Punk loses and Ziggler continues to perform at the level he has… we may have a new #1 here on the Depth Chart. Keep up the good work kid!
In the Zone: CM Punk – WWE (#1)
Fan Vote: CM Punk
For the third time, CM Punk finds himself in our #1 spot. So what else can be said that hasn't already been covered a hundred times by our Wrestlezone staff? The obvious answer is nothing, so we're going to turn the reigns over to the fans. After all, he is the Voice of the Voiceless, and the champion of the people. He's YOUR champ, so let's hear you defend him…
@BigBadDad0417: "CM Punk is world class on the mic and in the ring, makes you believe in what he's selling and truly seems to want to make wrestling great again."
@johndabomb84: "CM Punk is good. Hell he's really really good. His mic work is great, his ring work is great, but for some reason I feel there's something missing. Cast your mind back to the promo that shook the world. Man, I remember watching that the following day after seeing Twitter and Wrestlezone go ape shit for it, and I felt I was watching something really special that you only get to witness once in a blue moon. It was pure genius. However, since then I can't help but feel he has taken a few steps backwards. The hook in the promo was the "shoot". Punk made it feel real, because it felt real to him – and it was to a large degree. But since then his promos have felt forced. Don't get me wrong, I know he hasn't exactly been blessed with the greatest of creative help from the company… but I feel others in this great business would have made it work better than he has done. Maybe I'm being harsh and looking through rose tinted glasses, but for all the hype over Punk – and I feel it's deserved for the most part – I still feel slightly let down."
Anonymous (no, not the internet terrorist group): "When Punk comes out, I feel like we're watching a truly dynamic character. Somebody that has changed a bit of the landscape in pro wrestling recently, and who has started succeeding in his goal to "make wrestling fun again". He's not perfect, and I still believe he's a far cry from Steve Austin in his intensity and the way creative handles him, but the Punk character continues to be the best WWE delivery in years."
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So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, your January Depth Chart! This month we said goodbye to Zack Ryder, Mark Henry, and Randy Orton due to injuries, inactivity, or just plain getting buried, but said hello to Bully Ray, Austin Aries, and Kane! Who will move up or down, join the list, or get the big boot after the Elimination Chamber? Find out on the February edition of Wrestlezone Presents: The Depth Chart!
I'd like to personally thank my friends at Podswoggle for their contributions, as well as friend and former Wrestlezone writer Ken Napzok for his continued participation. Both can be followed on Twitter by following the links in the names on the previous pages. And thanks to all the Wrestlezone readers for contributing and making this the most interactive rankings system in all of pro wrestling! Until next time, I'm Mike Killam…you stay classy Wrestlezone!
