RIPPA Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Some of this was originally written by Jae DVDVR MARCH MADNESS 7 March Madness started in 2009. I think. It was a bit messy with more emphasis on madness. In the second year it became the sort of Wrestler of the Year competition though it really isn't. For the third straight year, we include the world. (The first 4 years were only US/Canada folks). For the first time ever - the field has expanded to 96 wrestler field. I say "wrestler" because it is Men, Women and Tag Team/Groups this year. I know that a lot of you haven’t seen shit from a big chunk of these folks. I ask that you at least give each unknown a shot before voting. A match or two isn’t asking much and who knows maybe you’ll find something you can watch considering how many of you are hate watching the WWE. RULES Eligible Work is from March 1, 2015 - February 29, 2016 Generally speaking one votes based on a wrestler's performances over the last year. People are allowed to argue in favor or against any wrestler, as well as post any video evidence needed to back up said arguments. However don't take shit personally - this is all in good fun, and any trolling should be recognized as such. IMPORTANT: If you take things too far, or become too much of a nuisance - you'll be getting a time out. So if you're trolling and having a laugh- don't go over the line. If you're being trolled, wake the fuck up. Above all: Don't be an idiot. HALL OF CHAMPIONS 2010: Rey Mysterio (Runner Up: CM Punk) 2011: Daniel Bryan (Runner Up: CM Punk) 2012: Daniel Bryan (Runner Up: CM Punk) 2013: Daniel Bryan (Runner Up: CM Punk) 2014: Antonio Cesaro (Runner Up: Daniel Bryan) 2015: Shinsuke Nakamura (Runner Up: Rusev) POLLS OPEN MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2016 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPPA Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 HOW THE FIELD WAS DETERMINED/ORGANIZED I started by looking at all the nominations (as I mentioned - over 160 names were given). Plus, I added folks myself that I thought were worthy. I aimed to make a balanced field with the 96 best choices I had. I ended up making pools to organize who I had - basically of the folks I KNEW were going to be. After that - I did a little tweaking* to make even numbers. So it looked a little something like this WWE - 20 spots Lucha - 16 spots Japan - 16 spots UK/Other - 20 spots Groups - 8 spots Women - 8 spots (* - both in the sense of adding a person if a group was say at 15 instead of 16. And in the sense of what "category" I considered people. Like Ricochet is in Other (though he could be Lucha). And AJ Styles is in WWE (instead of Japan), etc...) That left 8 open spots - thus that created The Last 8 - 8 spots (These could be from anywhere) DETERMINING BYES - I needed 32 "top seeds". Balance again was the key - so I could evenly distribute seeds around the bracket WWE - 8 seeds Lucha - 4 seeds Japan - 4 seeds UK/Other - 8 seeds Group - 4 seeds Women - 4 seeds A seeded wrestler COULD NOT be someone in the Last 8 or someone who missed significant time (though I probably fucked that part up). I then I did a random draw to determine spots on the bracket that were the same for all 4. (So like you will see the Women seeds on the same exact spot on each bracket) The "unseeded" wrestlers were then placed into 4 pools and drawn into pre-determined spots (based on another random draw). Those pools were: WWE & Groups Lucha & 1/2 the last 8 Japan & 1/2 the last 8 UK/Other & Women So yeah - y'all hate me now. (I also love the fact that instead of focusing on the 96 people who made it you really want me to tell you who the First 8 out were) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPPA Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 ANDRE THE GIANT BRACKET If you are too lazy to watch the video DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Big Damo) vs. AERO STAR Winner meets ROMAN REIGNS KONGO KONG vs. BIFF BUSICK Winner meets TOMOAKI HONMA VIRUS vs. KYLE O'REILLY Winner meets ZACK SABRE JR DALTON CASTLE vs. KATSUYORI SHIBATA Winner meets BARBARO CAVERNARIO DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. SAMI ZAYN Winner meets FINN BALOR MAXIMO (SEXY) vs. MINORU SUZUKI Winner meets SASHA BANKS JACK SWAGGER vs. LOW KI Winner meets JOHN MORRISON JOHN CENA vs. LA SOMBRA Winner meets NEW DAY 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPPA Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 JUMBO TSURUTA BRACKET For those who don't watch the video JIMMY RAVE vs. FENIX Winner meets KEVIN OWENS JOHNNY GARGANO vs. TYLER BREEZE Winner meets SHINSUKE NAKAMURA RUSH vs. MATT SYDAL Winner meets WILL OSPREAY SAMI CALLIHAN vs. KAZUCHIKA OKADA Winner meets DRAGON LEE KENNY OMEGA vs. BARON CORBIN Winner meets DEAN AMBROSE ULTIMO GUERRERO vs. HIDEKI SUZUKI Winner meets MEIKO SATOMURA NEVILLE vs. BECKY LYNCH Winner meets TIMOTHY THATCHER WYATTS vs. KING CUERNO Winner meets LUCHA DRAGONS 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPPA Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 VILLANOS BRACKET For those already sick of my voice RODERICK STRONG vs. HECHICERO Winner meets BROCK LESNAR YUJI OKABAYSHI vs. AMERICAN ALPHA Winner meets DAISUKE SEKIMOTO TOMMASO CIAMPA vs. EC3 Winner meets RICOCHET/PRINCE PUMA MICHAEL ELGIN vs. HIROSHI TANAHASHI Winner meets KAMAITACHI KOTA IBUSHI vs. DASH/DAWSON Winner meets SAMOA JOE RYOTA HONMA vs. TETSUYA NAITO Winner meets IO SHIRAI SHEAMUS vs. KIMBER LEE Winner meets DAVE MASTIFF USOS vs. MIL MUERTES Winner meets THE BRISCOES 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPPA Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 WILLIAM REGAL BRACKET (No video yet because my editing software crashed. So tonight... though you won't care by then) SPEEDBALL MIKE BAILEY vs. SHUJI ISHIKAWA Winner meets AJ STYLES ISAMI KODAKA vs. THE MIZ Winner meets TOMOHIRO ISHII KIARI HOJO vs TREVOR LEE Winner meets CHRIS HERO ASUKA/KANA vs. KUSHIDA Winner meets NEGRO CASAS JUN AKIYAMA vs. CESARO Winner meets RUSEV REY MISTERIO JR vs. DRAGO Winner meets BAYLEY SETH ROLLINS vs. EMMA Winner meets MARTY SCURLL CHRIS JERICHO vs. PENTAGON JR Winner meets THE YOUNG BUCKS 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPPA Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 PICK EM LINK: http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=462207 (Assuming I did that right) PICKS DUE BY 3 AM EST - TUESDAY, MARCH 1 (It might be 6 AM EST - the website was a little confusing if it was Eastern or Pacific) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Z Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Thanks for doing this again, Rippa! It seems like you put a lot of effort into this. Man, the pick em tournament will be hard this year. It used to be that you already knew that Punk vs. Bryan would be the finals and you only had to figure out the rest. There are a lot of stand-outs this year, but I think the board will be very divided many times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.T. Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Jesus, what a great tourney! I am looking forward to being enraged! NXT and Lucha Underground are really going to shape my voting this year. I lurked in the nom threads but didn't post anything because I was pretty sure guys like El Dragon would have my back and they did not disappoint. Pretty much everyone I wanted to get into the tournament made it. The Pick 'Em Link works just fine. Sad that three time winner Daniel Bryan was too injured to make one last run and retired ( I don't think he will unretire given his injury ) so that he won't be in anymore of these. It is the end of an era. I wonder how bad the vote rigging will be to make sure that Bayley wins this thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 This was such a hard bracket to predict. I thought I was on a good path and then I got to about the third round and thought, damn, I have no idea which way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodear Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 I only looked at the Steven Regal bracket so far since I'm not in a place where I can listen to Rippa's sweet tones... lets see what we got ASUKA/KANA vs. KUSHIDA Winner meets NEGRO CASAS Oh FFFFF REY MISTERIO JR vs. DRAGO Winner meets BAYLEY UUUUUUU! CHRIS JERICHO vs. PENTAGON JR Winner meets THE YOUNG BUCKS OH FUCK YOU RIPPA! SETH ROLLINS vs. EMMA Winner meets MARTY SCURLL And your horse! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirSmUgly Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Kong vs. Busick round one DAMN IT COME ON SHIT EDIT: Dolph Ziggler: Supposed Stand-Up Comic LOLOLOL okay these videos with the commentary are the best. DOUBLE EDIT: I'm glad we're acknowledging that, while Kevin Owens was never U.S. Champ, he should have been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Natural Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Thanks again for running this, RIPPA. Added thanks for the videos announcing the brackets with the funny bios and voice over. Now I'm off to do my PICK EM LINK. My highest ever placing was second missing out on top spot by one bloody point. Actually before I do, I hadn't considered whether to give it thought or wing it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man Known as Dan Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Fuuuuucks sake this bracket man. Rippa, you are the best, and thank you for the effort. But you are trying to destroy me, and I don't appreciate that aspect much with putting this loaded of a tournament in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man Known as Dan Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 SO LETS TALK SNUBS! Actually, no, let's not. Off the top of my head, you missed nobody big, which is a huge help of the 96 man field. God this bracket is difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Natural Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 The deed is done. No wimping out and starting over... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Natural Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 March Madness y'all: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man Known as Dan Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Wanna know why my bracket is gonna fail miserably? I only have 3 WWE people (4 if you count recent signings) in the final 16. And none of the reasons why I'll be voting for them is from the main show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirSmUgly Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 I guess I have to try and watch all of LU this weekend on DailyMotion. Which season(s) are eligible for the voting period again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man Known as Dan Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Everything from March on. It's when it was aired, not when it was put together. You can just focus on Cuerno, Fenix, Muertes, Puma, Pentagon, Drago, and Aerostar though, so that's good. Am I missing anyone there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPPA Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 I guess I have to try and watch all of LU this weekend on DailyMotion. Which season(s) are eligible for the voting period again? Everything from Season 1 - Episode 17 on until the episode that just aired this past Wednesday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirSmUgly Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Thanks, folks. I appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPPA Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 Everything from March on. It's when it was aired, not when it was put together. You can just focus on Cuerno, Fenix, Muertes, Puma, Pentagon, Drago, and Aerostar though, so that's good. Am I missing anyone there? \ Mundo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man Known as Dan Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Ah, of course. No clue why I forget about Johnny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 I think I am not doing a ballot this year (which is always based on what I think the board will vote) and I'm just going to run with what I feel is best in my heart in my arguing. Rob or cubs or someone should list Non-LU AAA matches for the LU guys in AAA too. I have no idea how Cuerno looked in Fantasma matches, for instance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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