Big E wouldn’t have a problem with us breaking the rules for Brodie

Everybody who comes to Cageside Seats has an opinion about what’s going on in pro wrestling – The Smark’s Shoot Standings (S3) are where YOU let us know YOURS.

Cast a vote in the comments. Give us the four performers you think entertained or impressed the most in the last week, and feel free to talk about why. And/or vote for your top performer in our poll.

We also have the outcome of last week’s voting, the results of which make up our annual competition for Performer of the Year.

Remember, the Standings are for the previous week’s nationally televised and internet streaming pro wrestling shows – the Dec. 28 episode of Monday Night Raw, Tuesday’s Impact & AEW Dark, MLW Fusion, NXT & Dynamite from Weds., Dec. 30, NJPW Strong, SmackDown & 205 Live on Friday, NXT UK, ROH TV, any other televised or internet streaming wrestling released from Dec. 27, 2020 – Jan. 2, 2021.

Make YOUR mark, smarks!

Big E’s Twitter

In lieu of the bullet points nobody reads where I somewhat cryptically refer to the accomplishments which I think earned last week’s top ten their votes, I’d like to address a couple things.

One, Brodie Lee wasn’t on television during the week these Standings represent. But the news broke hours before the post went up, and if there was ever a time to bend the rules, this is it.

Two, the question of “how is Sasha Banks so far ahead in the performer of the year race?” came up in last week’s comments. The short, smart-alecky answer is “because more people have voted for her / put her higher on their ballots than they have other wrestlers.”

The longer answer is that we’ve tweaked our rules and scoring system a few times over the years to ensure a fair result without silencing any of the types of fans who make up the wrestling community. Has Banks benefited from a core of devoted fans? Sure. Becky Lynch did last year, and in the past guys like Finn Bálor and (once upon a time, believe it or not) Seth Rollins have, too.

But like The Man in 2019 – 2020, it’s not like the only reason to vote Sasha in 2020 – 2021 is because you stan The Boss. She’s been in the women’s division’s top program in whatever brand she’s been on all year, starred in a feud and match that got a lot of best of the year love, and is currently enjoying an extended championship run. It’s not like Liv Morgan (no offense) is running away with this thing.

Sasha’s got a sizeable lead, but it’s not insurmountable. If she is off television for a while, or somehow starts being booked like she was in 2018, Reigns could certainly catch up to her.

My plea to folks for whom Banks’ #1 status doesn’t sit well is this – lobby for who you think is deserving of her votes / ballot positioning, but don’t diminish or attack the voters who are supporting her. We endeavor to represent all corners of the wrestling internet. We don’t want to be yet another place where one type of fan tells another type of fan they’re watching wrong.

Anyway, here’s the latest S3…

The S3: 2020 – 21, Week 38

1. Big E
2. Roman Reigns
3. Kevin Owens
4. Brodie Lee
5. Sasha Banks
6. Charlotte Flair
7. Carmella
8. Asuka
9. (tie) Cedric Alexander
9. (tie) Shelton Benjamin

Points in our weekly Standings determine our annual list – full details on rules and scoring HERE.

Where The Tribal Chief picked up another three points on The Blueprint…

The S3 Performer of the Year – through the Week ending Dec. 13

1. Sasha Banks – 184
2. Roman Reigns – 141
3. Asuka – 89
4. Bayley – 82.5
5. Drew McIntyre – 79
6. Jon Moxley – 74
7. Io Shirai – 71
8. Sonya Deville – 63
9. Kenny Omega – 50.5
10. Bray Wyatt – 41.5

Time to rep your faves again…

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