May Pound per Pound Rankings

STAMFORD, CT — The month of May 2001 will go down as the most volatile period in combat sports history. Between the cross-promotional wars, the “Nen-Awakening” on Monday Night RAW, and a Judgment Day PPV that saw legends fall and titans rise, the World Fighting Council (WFC) has officially released the Pound-for-Pound rankings heading into the summer.

The “New Warrior” era is officially under siege by the “Attitude” elite. Here is the breakdown of the Top 10 as of May 31, 2001.

[[ THE TOP 10 P4P RANKINGS ]]

[[ THE LEADERS: A TIE AT THE SUMMIT ]]

While Ryu technically clings to the #1 spot due to his Undisputed Title reign, his “invincibility” has vanished. After a lackluster draw and a shocking non-title squash loss to Steve Austin at Judgment Day, Ryu’s index remained stagnant while his record took a hit. Meanwhile, The Rock has surged to a perfect 10-0, punctuated by his absolute demolition of Ken Masters. For the first time in WFC history, we have a statistical tie for the best fighter on the planet.

[[ THE BIG JUMP: THE RATTLER & THE MAGICIAN ]]

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin is the biggest mover of the month, leaping from #5 to #4 and increasing his Index from 4.50 to 6.25. By dismantling the P4P King in under five minutes, Austin has silenced the critics who said “Attitude” couldn’t handle “Nen.”

Entering the list at #5 is the enigmatic Hisoka Morrow. Despite a rocky start, his technical brilliance and “invisible” tactics against the likes of Chris Benoit have forced the committee to recognize him as a top-tier threat.

[[ THE FALL: THE OLYMPIAN & THE DRAGON ]]

It was a rough month for Kurt Angle. Dropping from #6 to #8, the Olympian’s back-to-back draws against Might Guy have analysts wondering if his “pure” wrestling style can handle the unorthodox stamina of the foreign invaders. Similarly, Ken Masters plummeted to #10. After being “extinguished” by The Rock in a one-sided affair, Masters is hanging onto the Top 10 by a thread.

[[ NEW FACES & DEPARTURES ]]

• WELCOME: Kim-Solo (#7) makes a sensational debut in the Top 10. His bloody, tactical submission victory over the heavyweight Balrog on RAW proved that the “North Korean Technique” is more than just flashy kicks—it’s championship caliber.

• FAREWELL: The “Excellence of Execution” Bret Hart and the powerhouse Goldberg have both fallen out of the Top 10. Hart’s inactivity and Goldberg’s recent string of losses have relegated them to the “Contender” pool as the field becomes more crowded with supernatural talent.

[[ THE ANALYSIS ]]

JOE ROGAN: “Look at that Top 5, man. You’ve got the World Warrior, The Great One, The Hulkster, The Rattlesnake, and a Magician. We are living in the golden age of violence. But watch Kim-Solo at #7—that kid is the dark horse of the King of the King tournament.”

STEVE BLACKMAN: “Statistically, the gap between #1 and #4 has closed by 30% in thirty days. The hierarchy is no longer a pyramid; it is a collision course.”