WWE Best of the Month: June 2012

Here are the highlights from June 2012:




Superstar of the Month: Dolph Ziggler

Ziggler may not have boasted the best win/loss record of the month, but he damn sure put on some of the best performances.  Many (including me) have touted him as the heir to the Shawn Michaels throne, but it's arguable that he did not TRULY show that potential until now.  In a manner similar to Michaels, he ditched his sidekick and established himself as a credible challenger to Sheamus' World Heavyweight Championship.  At No Way Out, he may not have stolen the show, but he put forth a valiant effort and left the PPV looking stronger than ever, even in defeat.  In a follow up match on Smackdown, Ziggler again took the champ to his limits and came even closer to capturing his first true World title, earning the full support of the WWE Universe in the process.  Stealing the show is great, but it means nothing if nobody takes you serious.  In June 2012, Dolph Ziggler elevated his game and we're all better off for it.





Match of the Month:: WWE No Way Out 2012: WWE Championship match: CM Punk(c) vs. Kane vs. Daniel Bryan

Yet another MOTM winner for both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, who now both have earned legitimate claims to being the best wrestler in the world.  However, the most intriguing part of their rivalry has been the dynamic that Kane has added to it.  I have to admit that at first, I rolled my eyes at his involvement, but he has come out of this feud a better competitor.  There is just something about the chemistry between he and both Bryan and Punk, that brings something new and exciting out of Kane as a performer.  This match will stand as a testament to that.  It was thrilling, it was fast paced and it was easily, the best match of the month.

Match Rating: ****

Moment of the Month: Vinnie Mac is Back

Vince McMahon's past appearances on Monday Night Raw, were usually controversial and at times, he was downright evil.  This month however, he was lighthearted, funny and easily the most entertaining presence of the month.  Treating the WWE's flagship show like a giant toybox (for the CEO, in many ways it really is), McMahon destroyed Johnny Ace's People Power reign (and scooter), had some memorable backstage interactions with David Otunga, Daniel Bryan, the Funkadactyls and Zack Ryder, and ended the night on the receiving end of Big Show's WMD.  It was over the top, yet oddly hilarious television, even if it came at the expense of most of the WWE lockeroom.





Surprise of the Month: Strange Love

The most compelling component of WWE television throughout the month of June, came in the form of a 107lb tornado of insanity named AJ.  No one moment in particular stands out as the most shocking, but that is due to the fact that the WWE's resident Crazy Chick, has been entirely unpredictable for weeks now.  What's even more surprising is the niche that she has carved for herself, becoming arguably, the most featured performer on the WWE roster right now and unarguably, the WWE's breakout star of the year thus far.  As Kane, CM Punk and Daniel Bryan can all testify, there is no one in the WWE more surprising than AJ.










Top Ten WWE Superstars Pound for Pound:


*(The number in parenthesis is the superstar's rank in the last month's list)

1. CM Punk (1) WWE Champion: Punk is still 'the man' in the WWE right now, again turning in the most dominant performances of the month and further cementing his 226+ day reign as one of the WWE's all-time greatest.
2. Sheamus (2) World Heavyweight Champion: The Great White defeated Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio in a series of back to back contests, turning back yet another pair of credible challengers to his World Championship.
3. Daniel Bryan (3): The number one contender to CM Punk's WWE Championship has been on a rocket to superstardom for a while now and stands alone as Punk's number one rival on the roster.
4. Christian (7) Intercontinental Champion: Captain Charisma continues to restore prestige to the IC title, yet again defeating Cody Rhodes in a memorable match at No Way Out and by being arguably, the WWE's most consistent performer of the month. 
5. Dolph Ziggler (-) June's Superstar of the Month bounced back into the WWE's main event scene, defeating his ex-partner Jack Swagger, IC Champion Christian and The Great Khali along the way.
6. John Cena (10): Cena is still facing the most awkward phase of his career, but he's not going down without a fight.  He defeated a formidable Big Show in a Steel Cage match and again has his sights set on becoming WWE Champion.
7. Big Show (4): Show has lost a bit of momentum since losing to Cena, but also looks to earn a shot at the WWE title at MITB.  And the giant continues to lay a path of destruction along the way.  Just ask the Funkasaurus.
8. Ryback (9): The increasingly popular human wrecking machine still remains undefeated, but he'll have to step it up and earn some victories over more noteworthy competitors if he wants to climb any further up in the rankings.
9. Alberto Del Rio (5): Del Rio is still the number one contender and the top threat to Sheamus' World Championship, but he also missed out big time at No Way Out due to a concussion delivered by The Great Khali.
10. Kane (6): Even though the Big Red Monster has delivered some of the best work of his career, he has not seen any success in his trysts with WWE Champion CM Punk, again letting a woman distract him from a slew of major victories.