WWE News: Wrestling Observer Names 10 Most Overrated Wrestlers of 2011

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards have been around since 1980 and their main intention is to recognize the very best and the very worst in professional wrestling each and every year.

As with other wrestling accolades, such as those handed out by Pro Wrestling Illustrated or the WWE’s Slammy awards, the WON’s awards have come under criticism because many fans don’t think they accurately reflect what really goes on in pro wrestling.

And after taking a look at the WON’s top 10 finishers on its “Most Overrated Wrestler” list, I have to question the publication as well.

From LordsofPain.net:

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Crimson has been named Most Overrated Wrestler in the 2011 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards. He is trailed by Mason Ryan, Kevin Nash, Mr. Anderson, Jeff Hardy, Triple H, Sin Cara, Matt Morgan, CM Punk and Randy Orton.

"

I don’t watch TNA enough or care about it enough to comment much on its stars on this list, although I have heard a lot of people rip Crimson and can’t really object to him topping the list too much.

But the majority of the rest of the names that are mentioned are complete crap.

Mason Ryan and Kevin Nash can’t be overrated when no one really thinks they’re any good to begin with. I mean, I literally don’t think I have ever heard one wrestling fan praise either of those guys at any point in 2011, so how they became “overrated” is beyond me.

While I actually agree with Sin Cara’s inclusion because a bunch of his matches were botch-fests and he was basically a dud this year, I can’t really see how Triple H, CM Punk and Randy Orton are on this list.

Triple H only wrestled one match in the first eight months of the year and it was one of the best matches of 2011. Period. Meanwhile, the other matches he competed in were definitely above average and he was relegated mainly to a non-wrestling TV role throughout the year.

It’s also easy to call Punk and Orton overrated because they were both absolutely fantastic in 2011 and people gave them a lot of praise. But if any two stars deserved that praise, it was Orton and Punk.

Orton put over a ton of talent last year and had that great series of matches with Christian, while Punk had an epic 2011 on the mic, in the ring and as a character.

This list of “Most Overrated” is an absolute joke and should be called "Wrestlers We Just Want to Criticize."

How this thing ever reached publication is beyond me.

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