But the fact remains - Big Show is not as good as Vader, not as versatile as Vader, not as agile as Vader, not as fast as Vader, not as brutal as Vader, not as experienced as Vader, and has not been as successful as Vader.
David Arquette & Vince Russo have both won the W.C.W Heavyweight Championship. Vince McMahon has won the W.W.F Heavyweight Championship. Billy Kidman has defeated Hulk Hogan by pinfall. Triple H has lost to the Brooklyn Brawler.
Sorry.. I tend to ramble.. the point, you're wondering? It's basically this:
Just because someone out-matches their opponents, in every single way possible.. doesn't mean that the outcome always favors those who're the best in the match. Therefore, saying that Vader is the best - doesn't guarantee him the victory.. nor does it mean he stands any better of a chance than Andre or Big Show. It just means he's in better condition, but nothing an off-balanced, awkward ladder shot couldn't hinder.
Yes, he's fought with massively bodily injuries - so you repeat as much as I do "Edge is the Ultimate Opportunist". Once again, all that proves is he's very injury prone - and sooner or later, it could catch up to him.
1. WCW World Heavyweight Title. Won it after Jimmy Hart interfered to help Hulk Hogan in a match that was LATER explained to be a match in which the title could change hands on a DQ. "The Giant" was stripped of the belt one week later, and did not regain it when he had the chance at World War 3. He then entered a feud with...The Lochness Monster. Title reign #1 later 8 days.
I think the impressive point is, he defeated Hulk Hogan. Regardless of someone helping him or not - he still defeated Hulk Hogan.
The other thing I feel you're casting out on Show as if it was stupid - is his feud with Lochness. You use the full name, basically to give those who never knew the impression that it was some massive failure. (which in all credit, it was) However at the time - Lochness was being build as a powerful opponent, and a formidable challenge.
2. WCW World Heavyweight Title #2. Thismay be his decent reign. He beat Flair for the belt, and the reign lasted 110 days this time. He dropped it to Hogan in less than 3 months
He also defeated Sting and Lex Luger in back-to-back Pay per views. Not to mention, he only lost to Hogan thanks in part to Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Brutus the Barber Beefcake. (you failed to mention that, yet included all the times Show won a title w/ help - why?)
3. WWF Championship #1. This was the reign I references. He won the belt in a Triple Threat Match that he shouldn't have even been in, with HHH and The Rock. Right place, right time. The reign lasted 50 days - less than 2 months, and featured the amazing Big Bossman feud. Oh baby. Yes, sarcasm.
What does "right place, right time" have to do with anything? I could easily say Vader's eating disorder and ability to withstand punishment put him in situations that made it considerably "right place, right time". That's a bad argument when the truth is - Big Show defeated two guys that were above him in popularity, and talent. He overcame two of the three biggest names in the business at that time, for the W.W.F. (Why is that hard for you to admit?)
And yes, he feuded with the Bossman. Was it horrible? YES! But it was a grudge that involved Bossman doing something that hasn't been done hardly (if ever before) in which he disgraced "Big Show's Father, and Family" including an unforgettable "casket ride" scene.
Stupid yes, but obviously not forgettable. Big Show holds more memorable moments than Vader - this is obvious by all the lack-luster moments you're trying to use against Show that people remember - as opposed to all the big moments Vader's had, that even die hard fans don't fully recall.
4. WWF Championship #2. Show beat Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title when Paul Heyman turned on Brock Lesnar and decided to manage Show instead. This reign lasted a whopping 28 days before he lost to Kurt Angle before going on to be dominated in feuds with Lesnar and The Undertaker.
Once again, you hide the full details about the situation. The Big Show did something no one else had been able to do - defeat the undefeated Brock Lesnar.
And yes, his Championship reign only lasted from Pay per view to Pay per view, ending against Kurt Angle - but once again you leave out that it was due to Paul Heyman AND Brock Lesnar double crossing the Big Show, each. (Heyman went w/ Angle, while Lesnar seeked revenge on Show)
As for the feuds against Taker and Lesnar - Big Show lost the majority of them, but was hardly dominated in them. He took the fight to both men, and gave each of them "history". He helped both men become better, by notching their belts in rememberable matches against them. (once again, matches you recall - so they must be worth something)
Oh - but let's not forget, Vader lost the majority of his matches against the Undertaker as well. (in fact, his only memorable victory came thanks to Paul Bearer at the 1997 Royal Rumble - but when Vader got a Championship match later that year, he failed to capitalize on it)
5. ECW Championship #1. Actually not a bad reign. Despite being on "The 'C' Show," Wight held his title for 152 days before losing to Bobby Lashley. Of course, his title win was over Rob Van Dam, and occured when Paul Heyman interfered AGAIN. But still, he was a god ECW Champ, I thought.
This (to me) was honestly Big Show's most dominating run as Champion, and in a time when the E.C.W initials still (barely) stood for what they're always going to be known for. Extreme.
Show defeated everyone famous from the E.C.W days, that crossed over. Guys like; Rob Van Dam, (with and without help from Heyman) Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, Justin Credible, Balls Mahoney, and others.
His lost to Lashley wasn't horrible, either. Considering the surroundings of the first (and only) Extreme Elimination Chamber. At least you admit him being a good Champion - but I sense sarcasm and disdain from the "on the 'C' Show" comment.
Let's also list Wight's Wrestling Observer Awards. Okay, Rookie of the year in '96. Worst feud of the year in 1999 vs The Big Bossman. Worst wrestler for 2 years straight in 2001 and 2002, and "Most Embarassing Wrestler" in 2002. Way to go, Paul.
So, in 1999 despite winning a Championship in a match w/ Triple H and the Rock, an IWC lead magazine moves to notice a horrible feud with an undeserving challenger in the Bossman. Okay.
In 2001 he was forgotten in my opinion, in what could've been a much larger (no pun intended) role for him in the W.C.W/W.W.E wars. So while I wouldn't say "worst" wrestler (since Meat was a big part of that angle) I would consider Show to be the forgotten Superstar of 2001.
Meanwhile, in 2002 I'll fully argee that he was likely the Worst Wrestler of the year. He was thrust into the n.W.o angle, only to drop matches to guys like Booker T, X-Pac, Bubba Ray Dudley, and Jeff Hardy.
His only saving grace was how he ended 2002, defeating the undefeated Lesnar. Which is naturally not going to be noticed because of the much bigger portion of stupidity he carried throughout the year. Also, yes - losing matches to X-Pac, Booker T, and Jeff Hardy (all when they're not in 'top condition' or being pushed majorly) is embarrassing. So that 'award' is correct by my standards as well.
So, on the flip side your boy got the following..
Best Heel (1993)
Best Wrestling Maneuver (1993) Moonsault
Most Improved Wrestler (1999)
Wrestler of the Year (1993)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
Out of that, you have to look at the situations.. 1993 seems to be a year Vader was big in. Who else was big in 1993? Yokozuna, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, (when he was still coming into his own) Doink the Clown, Hulk Hogan, Lex Luger?
In the thick of things, that's not a bad list to be better than - with the overshadowed exception that Hart & Michaels were just coming into their own as stars, Luger was being seen as an "All-American" that people never took to, Hogan was on his way out, and well.. a Clown is also apart of the mix - need I truly say more? Yokozuna was the only individual who truly matched Vader through identical abilities - and the W.W.E made Yokozuna look unstoppable (sans Mania IX) throughout all of 93. What was Vader doing then?
From the looks of it - he was trading the W.C.W Heavyweight Championship back and forth with Sting, and defending it against the likes of the British Bulldog & Dustin Rhodes. (yes folks, Goldust - was a Heavyweight contender to Vader 
That was Vader's best year - a series of feuds w/ Sting (great), followed by forgettable challengers in Davey Boy Smith & Dustin Rhodes, (lame) a nice feud with Foley that Vader needed help winning in, (so-so) a Tag team that many won't remember w/ Sid Vicious, (could've worked) and losing to Flair. (really? The dominating, unstoppable Vader - lost to.. Flair.. rigggghhhhttttt.)
But on both notes - how much do either guy's awards really mean in determining who's going to win a ladder match, right? About as much as who's had more significant affect on the business. (the mainstream, portion, anyways)
By the way - that'd be The Big Show.
Everyone, PLEASE face facts - Paul Wight is pedestrian, at best. He isn't the three-continent legend that Vader is, and he never will be. He's quasi-entertaining, but playing the "monster heel" he's just failing to play the role Vader played so well for so long.
You forgot to mention how despite not being Vader, the Big Show has managed to stay mainstream in one of the two top Companies for 14 straight years. How long was Vader in a mainstream Company, again?
VOTE VADER.
Irish, you know I love your posts and think you're carrying Vader through this tournament greatly. I just wanna know you're truly trying to showcase Vader for being the best against both individuals (or in this case, all the individuals - poor Andre is just left flat out) when what it seems you've been doing is condescending Big Show's greatest achievements by claiming they're somewhat undeserving, or flukish.
When you're neglecting to showcase that he's had a much greater career through W.W.E and W.C.W than Vader ever had.
Yes, Vader is a 'Legend' (quote, unquote) on multiple continents. But truly, he's the smallest of the three names - on the one continent that truly matters the most, as far as mainstream goes.. and that's this one.
I'm still unswayed and undecided on who to vote for. But I do love Vader.. I just haven't found a way to truly believe because the guy's ability to be strong through being injury prone is his key to victory. And that's what I see you pushing the most right now.
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