APW 2012 YEAR-END TOP 20

[Johnny Rebel]

It's the time you've all been waiting for folks... the APW 2012 Top-20, voted on by you - the APW megastars!

We had a great turnout for our first year end list with over fifteen responses from some of the most well-known megastars in Action Packed Wrestling. It's been a successful year in the APW as there were over forty different megastars listed. Each set of rankings wasn't unanimous. Some came in at #1 in some peoples rankings and weren't even listed.

Over the next few weeks leading up to Survive & Conquer, we'll slowly be revealing our list. Sit back, grab a bucket of popcorn, and enjoy your top twenty of APW for the year 2012!

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

JUST MISSED THE CUT

As mentioned previously, it's been a great year for Action Packed Wrestling. The addition of a third brand, Meltdown, has provided a launching pad for fresh new megastars looking to make an impact in the big leagues. Overdrive and Asylum continue to house the greatest collection of talent in professional wrestling. There were a number of megastars that didn't make our top-twenty but deserve to be mentioned here.

Kicking things off in our countdown "The Killerplauze" Stefan Raab (#37). Raab made his way up through the ranks of Meltdown and over to Asylum where a short-lived team with Yarmouth helped put him on the map. A whiz with social media, Raab's hoping to improve on his rank in 2013. Next up is: The Studmuffins (Armando Asante & Stan Everdeen; #35 & #36). The former tag champions didn't see the year through as Stan turned on Asante. However, a run with the tag championships earn them a spot on the outside looking in on our countdown. Chaz Dillinger (#34) fills our next slot after a successful stint on the Asylum brand in 2012. Chaz had memorable bouts with Jason Kash and Johnny Knuckles, and even a few votes in the "please return" category in the Year-End awards. Next is another APW veteran with Young Mannie (#33). A former tag champion (with the Red Shield Mafia), Mannie returned to the APW with a vengeance, ripping through the Meltdown brand, and proving that Mannie is going to be a top challenger in '13. Following him is Carmen Rivera (#32), a former North American Champion. She left the APW in late '12 and walks away as one of the most forgettable champions in our brief history. The next megastar, just barely missing out on the top twenty, is Donald Deruty (#31). Deruty is a young and upcoming megastar from the Meltdown brand and is making APW executives turn heads with his effort inside the ring. A jump to the top-20 next year isn't out of the picture!

A mysterious exit from the APW mars our next megastar, Yarmouth (#30). Widely regarded as the hardest working man in all of wrestling, Yarmouth up and left the promotion in late '12 with little-to-no warning. Next up is Blade (#29). The former tag champion had a successful year, capped off with a spot in the main event of RassleMania for the Undisputed Championship. Blade left the APW around mid-year '12 and we hope to see him rejoin the ranks sometime in '13. Following Blade is, Azrael Goeren (#28). Goeren made a dramatic entrance in to the APW, immediately promoted to the Overdrive brand, and challenging Mark Mania for the Overdrive Championship. A former CWC World Heavyweight Championship, Goeren left the APW in late '12 and certainly leaves a giant hole on Overdrive. Up next: Chris Strike (#27). Another highly regarded megastar, Strike came in to the APW with a fury, winning the Suicidal Championship from Jason Kash. Strike is another of the APW faithful that has come and gone in '12. Kaylyn James Evans (#26) checks in just outside our top twenty. She's currently making her way through the Meltdown brand, using it as her personal stepping-stone, straight to the top of APW! '13 is shaping up to be her year and a trip to the top-twenty next year is attainable.

Jair Hopkins (#25) makes an appearance for us on our year end countdown. Jair made a brief stop on the Meltdown brand before being called up to make waves on the Asylum brand. With Anthony Bailey by his side, '13 could be the year of Hopkins! The current X-teme Champion, "The Big Apple Asskicker" A.C. Smith (#24) barely misses the cut. Smith has slowly made his way up the ranks and is showing the world why he's on the shortlist to become one of the breakout megastars of '13. Big things lie ahead for the "Big Apple Asskicker!" Pence Weatherlight's protege Nick Watson (#23) is next up on our list. Watson, the man Smith defeated for the X-treme Championship, has slumped a little towards the end of '12 but won't allow his poor showings to continue. Our final two members of the "outside-looking-in" group are John Dionysus (#22) and Aubrey J. Parker (#21), both need no introductions to the APW faithful. Dionysus is a staple on Overdrive and currently locked in a blood-boiling feud with Evan Envi. AJP, a member of M&M with Logan Alexander, is currently a major force on the Asylum brand.

Stay tuned as we continue to reveal our top 20 for the year of 2012!

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#20

"The Soul of Philly" TJ

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Just barely making his way in the APW Year-End Top 20 is current Asylum brand member and Tap Out Champion, "The Soul of Philly" TJ! TJ was one of the first to work his way up through the Meltdown brand and has been hard to contain ever since. TJ defined '12 with a lengthy battle against one of Asylum's most villainous megastars in Julius Farquhar, and finally broke through at Christmas Chaos, defeating the aforementioned Farquhar, William D. Williams, Yarmouth and Keaton Saint in a gauntlet match to claim his first championship in APW.

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#19

Johnny Knuckles

Easily one of APW's most outspoken megastars, Johnny Knuckles squeezes in the year-end Top-20. The climax of Knuckles' 2012 came in the co-main event of RassleMania VIII, where he went toe-to-toe with (at-the-time) APW World Heavyweight Champion, Jason Kash. While not currently recognized as an official APW championship, Knuckles is currently carrying around the "Dark Match Championship."

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#18

Michael Lively

In 2012, we saw the APW return of Michael Lively, a former Undisputed Champion. Lively had an extended stay on the Meltdown brand where he carried the North American Championship for several weeks. Recently drafted back to Overdrive where he made his mark amongst APW megastars, big things await Lively in the upcoming year! Is it long before APW's version of Jesus finds himself sitting on his throne?

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#17

Keaton Saint

Keaton Saint came in to the APW as the biggest free agent acquisition since Kurt Noble signed in late '11. Saint's success in interfed giants CWC and the Expert's have been widely publicized, but Keaton made quite a splash in the APW as well. He spent the majority of the year locked in a bitter feud with Terry Marvin, and now roams the Asylum hallways with eyes for the World Heavyweight Championship. Saint is certainly headed towards a big '13.

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#16

"The True Voice of APW" Phil Atken

The current World Heavyweight Champion, Atken checks in on our list at #16. Atken is the true "Jekyll and Hyde" of the APW... you never know which Atken is going to show up - and that's exactly the way he likes it! "The True Voice of APW" came in to the organization with guns blazing and now that he's on a mission to make it to the top of APW, can anybody stop him? Atken makes his first championship defense at Survive & Conquer against Michael Callahan in a match that is certain to blow the doors off the place!

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#15

"Quintessentially English" Julius Farquhar

It's about time that the APW countdown became a little more quintessential! It's only fitting that the Farq and Phil Atken come back-to-back, especially after their bitter feud that followed their entrances in to the APW! Bringing a little style and sophistication to the Asylum brand, Farquhar has endured a fantastic run in '12. A three month reign with the Tap-Out Championship was certainly the highlight of the year for Julius, and we're not confident that his long-running feud with TJ is over just yet. '13 will certainly be a "Quintessentially English" year as long as you don't mess with Farquhar's tea!

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#14

Mark Mania

The current APW Overdrive Champion checks in at #14 in our year end countdown. Mania has long been a threat to the top of the APW and '12 was the year where the rest of the roster stood up to take notice! A short feud with Azrael Goeren to close out the year, Mania now faces another tough task in Buckson Gooch at Survive & Conquer. There is only one place to go from here for Mania's career... up!

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#13

"Simply Put" Johnny Rebel

Overdrive General Manager, Johnny Rebel, makes an appearance on our list at #13. Rebel started off the year with a bang - finishing in the top-10 in Survive & Conquer and earning the right to compete for the Undisputed Championship and main event RassleMania. A short partnership with Level-One netted him the APW Tag-Team Championships, eventually losing to Kurt Noble and Chris Hart. Now enjoying semi-retirement, he's behind the helm of Overdrive and doesn't plan on giving up the reigns any time soon!

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#12

Chris Hart

APW's heartthrob, Chris Hart, checks in on our best-of-2012 countdown at #12. Hart's '12 can be summed up in two major moments - winning the tag championships with Kurt Noble from The Sindicate and dealing with the fallout from Noble after Kurt turned his back on his longtime friend. Truthfully, there may only be one person that can stop the madness that is Noble, and that person is Chris Hart. A date with the former Undisputed Champion awaits him at RassleMania. Can Hart keep up the momentum?

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#11

Delikado

One half of APW's famed "Envikado" duo, Delikado checks in at #11 on our year end countdown. Delikado burst on to the scene, winning the Overdrive championship from Terry Marvin and Mark Mania. "DA BAWSE" is easily one of the most outspoken APW megastars, and isn't afraid of letting his true feelings known to the APW universe. The Cuban is poised for a large year and may have to battle partner Evan Envi for the top of the APW ladder soon.

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#10

C.J. Gates

A former Undisputed Champion checks in at #10 with C.J. Gates. Gates entered RassleMania with the top belt in all of wrestling but lost to Noble, which set off a series of tough matches involving the future Hall of Famers. Gates rebounded after a tough summer to beat Level-One in a number one contenders match and walks in to RassleMania a year later with every intention of walking away with the championship once again. If we've learned anything over the past two seasons, it's never count Gates out!

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#9

Biggs

Easily one of the greatest to step foot in the APW, Biggs checks in at #9 in our year-end rankings. Biggs offered up his retirement in early 2012, taking a much needed break from the squared circled. However, Biggs came back with a vengeance, earning a spot in the Elimination Chamber, but coming up just short of recapturing the APW Undisputed Championship. Biggs heads in to RassleMania with eyes for redemption and making sure he is everyone's favorite Spaceman!

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#8

Evan Envi

Perhaps the first true benefactor of Meltdown, Evan Envi checks in at #8 on our year end countdown. I'm not sure if there has ever been a quicker riser to the top in the APW but Envi has laid the groundwork for a fantastic 2013. A dominant tag run with partner Delikado, Evan has run through just about every division in the APW, except one - the Undisputed Championship. In '13, it isn't out of the question.

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#7

"The Promise" Anthony Bailey

"The Promise" makes good at #7 on our year end countdown. Bailey came in to the APW with guns blazing and vowed to make an impact, and that he's certainly done. He was ultimately responsible for dethroning Jason Kash and his World Heavyweight Championship run on Asylum and has since formed a dangerous group, The Dying Breed, to combat evil on the Asylum brand. It seems as if Bailey has accomplished it all in the APW, and will be looking for a Survive & Conquer win tonight.

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#6

Michael Callahan

APW's favorite politician slides in at #6 of 2012. Callahan made his debut almost one year to the date to win the Suicidal championships and quickly rebranded the title to the "Pro-Life" championship; holding the belt for an incredible seven month stretch. Callahan shot himself up the charts and now sees himself in the World Heavyweight Championship match on the card that projected his career, Survive and Conquer. If '12 was the beginning of his term as governor of APW, he's setting up '13 to be his presidential campaign.

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#5

Jason Kash

In the words of the rapper Mystikal, "I don't mean to disturb ya, but I smell smoke!" Jason Kash enters the countdown at #5. A co-main event match for the World Heavyweight Championship highlights a fantastic 2012 for Jason Kash. Kash joined Michael Lively as a grand slam champion. Currently serving a 31 day suspension, Kash returns after Survive and Conquer... and won't be very happy!

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#4

Level-One

What's left to be said about Level-One? The man has simply done everything there is to do in the APW. Undisputed Champion, Tag Champion, True Expert's. You name it, Level-One's done it. He checks in at number four on our year end list and certainly won't be thrilled without seeing the "#1" by his name. One of the APW originals, Level-One's still kicking around after all these years, and certainly can lay claim to being the king of Overdrive.

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#3

Kurt Noble

Kurt Noble turns up at #3 on our year-end countdown. At the beginning of the year, he was a certain lock for the number one position, but that isn't an indictment on him, with the APW being overloaded with talent. Noble began the year as the runner up in the Survive and Conquer match, and carried that success over to RassleMania where he captured the Undisputed Championship against C.J. Gates, Blade and Johnny Rebel. An eventual run with the tag belts highlighted his summer, however a bitter feud with Chris Hart has carried over to '13. A mystery surrounds Noble. Will he regain his form and challenge for the top belt again or have we seen the best of Kurt?

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#2

Sally Talfourd

Simply the best. There have been few that have built their reputation like Sally Talfourd. Easily one of the most recognized names on the APW roster, Sally finishes the year number two in our rankings. A career defining feud with Level-One, culminating at RassleMania, and a reign as the World Heavyweight Champion on Asylum makes for one incredible year. Who knows what the future holds for Miss Talfourd but we're hoping the APW is included in it!

[Johnny Rebel]

APW YEAR END TOP 20 RANKINGS

#1

"The Real Show" Terry Marvin

Raise your hand if your surprised? Anybody? This years #1 in the Top-20 was an absolute runaway with nobody finishing within four points in our voting of Marvin. It would be an understatement to say that 2012 has certainly been the year of "The Real Show" Terry Marvin. A run with the Overdrive championship, winning the Test for the Best Tournament, and eventually going on to conquer Kurt Noble at Shockwave for the Undisputed Championship. Go ahead and book his Hall of Fame induction, folks.