Tim’s Take 12.02.08: The 2008 WON Awards

The calendar year for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, sold as the most important yearly awards show on the Internet wrestling scene, ended on Sunday, meaning that the voting has officially begun for the numerous awards that will be handed out come January. While 411 will do their own awards in a month’s time to determine the best of the shows this year, I figured that while I’m not officially a subscriber to the newsletter, I would like to fill out a ballot anyway, because it would just be a lot of fun. That, and it stirs up tons of conversation on the numerous awards. I’m looking for 50 comments, people! Okay, maybe not 50, but it will still be nice to have some discussion on this. With that, here are my picks for all the awards on the docket, with me picking two runners-up for each category. I am going to stay away from the MMA-themed awards because I don’t follow it as much. This is the actual ballot for this year’s awards:

“CATEGORY A” AWARDS. PICK A FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE FINISHER IN EACH CATEGORY. POINTS WILL BE AWARDED ON A 5-3-2 BASIS. THE WINNER OF THE AWARD IS DETERMINED BY TOTAL POINTS.

LOU THESZ/RIC FLAIR AWARD – This is open to pro wrestlers, for a combination of everything, being both important and influential this year in a positive manner from a business perspective, combining both box office impact as well as either success in shoot matches or strong match quality in worked matches. Last year’s top three were John Cena, Bryan Danielson and Hiroshi Tanahashi.

First Place: Chris Jericho – After a somewhat inauspicious return, it only took Jericho a couple of months to turn from smartass heel to a complete overhaul as the best wrestler in WWE this year. Cena might have been a box office draw, but make no mistake about it. When he went down, and when Orton stayed down, it was Jericho who picked up the slack.

Second Place: Edge – Just like Cena was to the RAW brand, Edge basically carried the load on the SmackDown! brand. He has been a huge reason as to why SmackDown! is anywhere close to relevant, and he had a great feud with the Undertaker this year.

Third Place: Nigel McGuinness – I don’t understand why people can’t think of him first when it comes to Ring of Honor. It always seems to be Bryan Danielson, mainly because he’s been the face of the company for so long. But McGuinness has turned his heel act into something else, and I think that he’s been the steady force at the top of the card and has been a fantastic foil for the ROH mainstays.

MOST OUTSTANDING WRESTLER: This is based on working ability in the ring only. Simply, the best workers in the world on a consistent basis over the past year. Drawing power, charisma and push shouldn’t be considered. Last year’s top three were Bryan Danielson, Shawn Michaels and Hiroshi Tanahashi.

First Place: Bryan Danielson – Is there any doubt at all for this award? Seriously. This guy is the best wrestler in the world for a reason.

Second Place: Shawn Michaels – Okay, this is starting to look familiar. Michaels has been on fire this year. I really believe that he’s the guy who keeps people interested most of the time. Melodramatic? Yeah, probably, but there’s no denying that he is a part of the major matches of the year whenever he’s in that ring.

Third Place: Nigel McGuinness – He stepped his game up this year because he was counted on to be the heel to lead the company. He’s done exactly that.

BEST BOX OFFICE DRAW – Based on drawing big houses (or for that matter selling tickets to small houses as the case may be), buy rates and/or television ratings. Rating work shouldn’t even be considered. Last year’s top three were John Cena, Chuck Liddell and Mistico.

First Place: Brock Lesnar – While he’s the only MMA mention I’ll make on this ballot, he’s the main reason why 900,000 people bought UFC 91 and why they sold out the gate. He’ll be the cash cow in the UFC for a while, methinks. While UFC 91 didn’t outdraw WrestleMania, that’s still a great number of buys for a single UFC PPV. His PPVs will have sold about 2,000,000 buys this year alone, which is remarkable for only three shows.

Second Place: John Cena – Another easy mention, mainly because whenever he shows up, people will come and/or buy. Biggest merchandise mover in the company.

Third Place: Kenta Kobashi – Look at the attendance figures in the Budokan for whenever NOAH runs a show there. When Kobashi is near or at the top of the card, it’s no question that he’s the guy who’s causing it.

FEUD OF THE YEAR – This should be based on a combination of having a compelling storyline along with having great matches that should strengthen the box office. Last year’s top three were Undertaker vs. Batista, Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima and Mark & Jay Briscoe vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico.

First Place: Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels – There was nothing better than this on WWE programming this year. This is how all angles should be done.

Second Place: Edge vs. The Undertaker – This was great because while Taker was his usually good self, Edge absolutely went above the call of duty to be a top of the line heel.

Third Place: Jimmy Jacobs vs. Austin Aries – This was the feud that lit a fire under Aries and Jacobs and carried the middle of the card for ROH basically all summer long.

TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR – For the best working and most valuable tag team during the previous year. Last year’s top three were Mark & Jay Briscoe, Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley and Kevin Steen & El Generico.

First Place: Kevin Steen & El Generico – They finally stepped up and took down the champs in Tyler Black and Jimmy Jacobs, and became the most over tag team in the company while doing it.

Second Place: Beer Money, Inc. – A rushed together tag team at first, they worked on becoming a great tag team and are now the lifeblood of TNA’s tag team division.

Third Place: The Miz and John Morrison – These guys really hit their stride in the second half of the year after being a great tag team to start things off. These guys have star written all over them.

MOST IMPROVED – This is based on making the biggest strides in ring work during the previous year. This should not be for someone who was already good, but was given a bigger push. Last year’s top three were MVP, Claudio Castagnoli and Tomko. Wow, look at what happened to those three this year.

First Place: Tyler Black – He had to get the push because he turned into a star before our eyes. When he first arrived in the Age of the Fall, nobody thought too much of him. Now, he’s the guy people think could be the future of Ring of Honor. His matches with both Danielson and McGuinness have been phenomenal.

Second Place: The Miz – Seriously, who would have thought this guy would have gotten a pin over SHAWN MICHAELS? He’s been incredibly effective with Morrison.

Third Place: SUWAMA – He is the man who has risen up to become the new ace of All Japan Pro Wrestling, and his performance in the Champions Carnival and his win over Kensuke Sasaki to win the Triple Crown has made him the future of that company. He’s gone from heel afterthought in the Voodoo Murders to the ace of the company.

BEST ON INTERVIEWS – Who has given the best interviews on a consistent basis over the past year? Reputation from previous years shouldn’t be taken into consideration. It should be based on work over the course of the year as opposed to one or two memorable interviews. Last year’s top three were John Cena, Santino Marella and Edge.

First Place: Santino Marella – It’s close, but not really. Let’s face it. Every time he took the mike, he was solid gold, baby.

Second Place: Chris Jericho – He’s been incredible on the mike this year, pulsating electricity and intensity and making every feud he’s been a part of seem like it was the most important feud on the card.

Third Place: John Morrison – He’s been great with The Miz on the mike, and I truly believe he’s the second coming of Shawn Michaels at this point.

MOST CHARISMATIC – What person had to do the least to get the most out of it? Who do crowds naturally react to emotionally even before the person does anything? Last year’s top three were John Cena, Quinton Jackson and Cibernetico.

First Place: John Cena – Boo him, cheer him, do both, but he’s the guy who can rile up a crowd like no other. Royal Rumble, anyone?

Second Place: Vickie Guerrero – No, I’m not joking. She seriously got some of the craziest reactions out of anyone this year. I still have no idea how it happened.

Third Place: Randy Orton – I’d have him higher if he wrestled more this year, but he has become one of the biggest heels in wrestling, if not the biggest.

BEST TECHNICAL WRESTLER – This is for having the ability to use high level technical wrestling moves within the context of building a great worked pro wrestling match. Last year’s top three were Bryan Danielson, Nigel McGuinness and Yuji Nagata.

First Place: Bryan Danielson – Duh.

Second Place: Naomichi Marufuji – This guy has seriously stepped up his game in 2008 to become of the more well-rounded wrestlers in the world today.

Third Place: Blue Panther – At 48, the guy can still go. No doubt about it.

BRUISER BRODY MEMORIAL AWARD – This is for the wrestler who uses brawling tactics to put together the best matches during the previous year. It’s not for a guy who does brawling matches that aren’t any good. Last year’s top three were Takeshi Morishima, Umaga and Samoa Joe.

First Place: The Undertaker – Whether it was with Edge at WrestleMania or with The Big Show at No Mercy, this guy could go. Regardless of Michael Cole’s commentary.

Second Place: Jimmy Jacobs – Spike Dudley wishes he could be as good as Jacobs is at his size during his prime.

Third Place: Necro Butcher – He’s been a huge asset to Ring of Honor this year for his ability to have crazy, crazy brawls.

BEST FLYING WRESTLER – This is for the wrestler who does the most innovative and solidly executed flying maneuvers within the context of putting together great wrestling matches. This is not for simply the hottest daredevil moves, which sometimes hit and sometimes miss. Last year’s top three were Mistico, Ricky Marvin and Jack Evans.

First Place: Evan Bourne – This guy is officially the best young flier in the world today.

Second Place: Ricky Marvin – He’s the king of the hurracanrana and he ups the difficulty basically every time he goes out there.

Third Place: Metalik/Mascara Dorada – He might be obscure to you, but look him up on YouTube and you guys will be amazed. I only put him at 3 because I haven’t seen too much of him, but rest assured, there is talk that this guy could be the new Mistico at some point.

MOST OVERRATED – The wrestler who gets the biggest push, despite lacking ring ability or charisma. Last year’s top three were Great Khali, Mr. Kennedy and HHH.

First Place: Triple H – Is it really that hard to understand why?

Second Place: Mark Henry – He hasn’t worked as well this year as he did in years previous.

Third Place: Sting – I just don’t think he deserves to be at the top of TNA at all.

15. MOST UNDERRATED – The wrestler with the most ability, who, for whatever reason, doesn’t get a push commensurate with their ability. This should be based on this past year, and not a business reputation earned in prior years. Last year’s top three were Shelton Benjamin, Jamie Noble and Paul London.

First Place: Samoa Joe – Is this bitterness? Of course, but think about the fact that while he was the champion of the company, he was always billed as a second banana, and he never got a chance to go over a big name in a one-on-one capacity. His failed push is what’s wrong with TNA.

Second Place: The Brian Kendrick – He got a cup of tea, but he deserves a lot better than that.

Third Place: Jamie Noble – From what I’ve seen with him and Regal, they could have a great little feud going on if they really wanted to.

PROMOTION OF THE YEAR – Should be based on which group put together the best live and television product on a consistent basis, and secondarily, the ability to sell that product at a high level. This means box office and marketing combined with product quality. Theoretically, the top pick should be a company at or near the top on both categories. Last year’s top three were the Ultimate Fighting Championships, Ring of Honor and World Wrestling Entertainment.

First Place: World Wrestling Entertainment – For the first time in a while, they acted like they ruled the wrestling world.

Second Place: Ring of Honor – Their product might be down from last year, but it’s still viable and still good.

Third Place: Dragon Gate – They have drawn very well and their sales are way up this year in what has been a down year for business in Japan. They’re the ROH of Japan.

BEST WEEKLY TV SHOW – Weekly television shows are the only ones eligible, not monthly shows, specials or individual episodes of a specific program. This is for the best consistent program. Last year’s top three were UFC’s Ultimate Fighter, WWE Raw and WWE Smackdown.

First Place: WWE Raw – The Michaels/Jericho stuff, Santino, Orton, Cena, you name it, this show had it.

Second Place: ECW – Yes, ECW. It’s become a fantastic one-hour program that has put wrestling first and has still developed its characters.

Third Place WWE SmackDown! – Since HHH got on the scene, there hasn’t been much good going on, but Edge ruled over the brand with an iron fist and did a great job in doing so.

PRO WRESTLING MATCH OF THE YEAR – Pick the three best matches, in order, from the time period. Remember, matches from last December are eligible, but nothing after November 30th from this year is eligible. Please list both the date and location of the match, because some matches were held many times during the year. Last year’s top three were Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima on August 25, 2007 in New York; KENTA & Taiji Ishimori vs. Kota Ibushi & Naomichi Marufuji on July 15, 2007, in Tokyo’s Budokan Hall; and Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness on June 9, 2007 in Philadelphia.

First Place: Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair on March 30, 2008 in Orlando, Florida – Emotionally gripping and for my money, the best match I saw from Michaels this year, including his best with Jericho. Unbelievable atmosphere, and the match that meant the most to me this year.

Second Place: Blue Panther vs. Villano V on September 19, 2008 in Mexico, City – This was probably the best mask vs. mask match since Villano III vs. Atlantis in 2000, which is the greatest mascara contra mascara match in history. It’s not full of workrate, but it’s dramatic, well paced, HOT AS ALL HELL and has a fantastic ending.

Third Place: Yuki Ishikawa, Alexander Otsuka and Munenori Sawa vs. Daisuke Ikeda, Katsumi Usuda and Super Tiger II on July 26, 2008 in Japan – This is from the BattlArts promotion in Japan, a federation that was big on shoot-style matches, and this particular match featured four of its greatest holders of the style…and Super Tiger II and Sawa. It’s violent and stiff and has some really sweet moments in it, and it holds up as a match that should be viewed by everyone who might be into what a real shoot-style match should be. That means you, Kurt Angle.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – This is based on ring performance, now how someone is pushed or necessary even long-term star potential. By the standards of the category, a rookie is someone who hasn’t had a regular job with a full-time wrestling company before September of 2007. Last year’s top three were Erick Stevens, Joe Doring and Tim Donst.

First Place: Tyler Black – He just makes the deadline, and let’s face it. There hasn’t been anyone at his level since he debuted with ROH in September of 2007.

Second Place: Ted DiBiase, Jr. – He quickly ascended through the developmental leagues before becoming a full-time worker with WWE. He’s been phenomenal this year, and even though he’s gone now, he’ll be big once he comes back.

Third Place: Metalik/Mascara Dorada – Like I said, he’ll be the next Mistico. You just watch.

BEST NON-WRESTLER PERFORMER – For the best performer on a television show who isn’t a traditional wrestler, whether they be a management figure, a woman who doesn’t wrestle, or a traditional manager. Last year’s top three were Larry Sweeney, Vince McMahon and Jim Cornette.

First Place: Larry Sweeney – Yeah, this guy is just as good as it gets, really.

Second Place: Vickie Guerrero – I have no idea how, but she all of a sudden became the most hated woman on SmackDown!.

Third Place: Mick Foley – I still think he’s a top-notch speaker, even if he has lost a step or two. His promo with Edge was worthwhile enough.

BEST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER – Last year’s top three were Jim Ross, JBL and Joe Rogan.

First Place: Matt Striker – Absolutely the best guy announcing wrestling this year. He makes the enjoyment of ECW increase at least ten-fold.

Second Place: Jim Ross – There’s still nobody who can capture a big moment like Good Ol’ JR.

Third Place: Tazz – I like his input aside to Michael Cole. He straightens him out a bit.

WORST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER – Last year’s top three were Don West, Michael Cole and Jonathan Coachman.

First Place: Don West – Number one with a bullet, baby.

Second Place: Michael Cole – I remember when I liked Michael Cole a lot. Then, I actually started to hear what he had to say. I started to not like him a lot.

Third Place: Dave Prazak – Seriously, this guy comes off as smug and arrogant. I know he knows his stuff, but he just doesn’t sound like someone I could enjoy hearing when he calls a wrestling match.

BEST MAJOR SHOW – This should be a major show, as opposed to a TV taping or house show, although TV specials like Saturday Night’s Main Event or Ultimate Fight Night are eligible. Last year’s top three were ROH Man Up on September 15, 2007 in Chicago; WWE Wrestlemania 23 on March 31, 2007 in Detroit and Pride Second Coming on February 24, 2007, in Las Vegas.

First Place: WWE WrestleMania XXIV on March 30, 2008 in Orlando – A fantastic show with tons of highlights and an easy pick.

Second Place: ROH Driven on September 19, 2008 from Boston – Great PPV from top to bottom with a phenomenal tag title change that just missed out on being in the MOTY drawing for me.

Third Place: WWE No Mercy on October 5, 2008 from Portland – The surprise PPV of the year. Fantastic second half of the card with an amazing main event that also just missed out on the MOTY drawing for me.

“CATEGORY B” AWARDS. PICK ONE IN EACH CATEGORY. WINNER CHOSEN ON THE BASIS OF FIRST PLACE VOTES.

WORST MAJOR SHOW OF THE YEAR – Last year’s top three were WWE December to Dismember on December 3, 2006, in Augusta, GA; TNA Lockdown on April 15, 2007 in St. Charles, MO; and WWE Unforgiven on September 16, 2007 in Memphis.

Pick: TNA Sacrifice on May 11, 2008 from Orlando – Ah yes, all that tag team crap and a rushed main-event did this show WONDERS thanks to them being able to build on Joe’s big title win.

BEST WRESTLING MANEUVER – Last year’s top three were KENTA’s Go 2 sleep, Randy Orton’s soccer kick and Petey Williams’ Canadian Destroyer.

Pick: Randy Orton’s RKO – Seriously, any way he does this move, it looks awesome. I almost went with his chinlock.

MOST DISGUSTING PROMOTIONAL TACTIC – Last year’s top three were TNA signing Pacman Jones and doing the “making it rain” gimmick as a spoof on an incident that led to the real life shooting that made former pro wrestler Tom Urbanski wheelchair bound; Vince McMahon’s fake death and WWE’s handling of the post-Benoit situation.

Pick: The use of Antonio Pena’s ashes as an angle in AAA with Konnan – I don’t care about the fact that Pena might have allowed this to happen before his death, but Konnan doing this is beyond reprehensible. There’s no other way to get yourself over? Geez.

WORST TELEVISION SHOW – Last year’s top three were TNA Impact, WWE ECW and WWE Raw.

Pick: TNA Impact – It’s not even close. There might be a show here or there that is worthwhile, but the majority of TNA shows this year have been horrible.

WORST MATCH OF THE YEAR – Last year’s top three were the Chris Harris vs. James Storm blindfold match on April 15, 2007, in St. Charles, MO; Fake Donald Trump vs. Fake Rosie O’Donnell on January 8, 2007, in St. Louis; an Great Khali vs. Kane on April 1, 2007, in Detroit.

Pick: Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry on August 17, 2008 in Indianapolis – Seriously, an ECW Title match that goes 30 seconds? REALLY? At SummerSlam, no less? Nice work, WWE.

WORST FEUD OF THE YEAR – Last year’s top three were Kane vs. Big Daddy V, Voodoo Kin Mafia vs. Christy Hemme and Eric Young vs. Robert Roode.

Pick: Sonjay Dutt vs. Black Machismo Jay Lethal – It just fell flat. Nothing about it seemed like it was remotely interesting.

WORST PROMOTION – Last year’s top three were TNA, WWE and IFL.

Pick: TNA – Seriously, this promotion needs to get their stuff together.

BEST BOOKER – Last year’s top three were Gabe Sapolsky, Joe Silva and Riki Choshu.

Pick: Gabe Sapolsky – Yeah, I know, he got fired and what not, but still, while he was there, ROH was the best booked promotion in wrestling.

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR – Last year’s top three were Dana White, Vince McMahon and Cary Silkin.

Pick: Vince McMahon – I know people liked UFC and all, but McMahon made some shrewd moves this year to keep things going in the right direction. WM XXIV, CM Punk as World Champ, letting Jericho and Michaels do their thing…it was a big time win for McMahon this year.

BEST GIMMICK – Last year’s top three were Santino Marella, Jay Lethal and Black Machismo and MVP.

Pick: Santino Marella – AWESOME gimmick improvement this year. The Honk-A-Meter was incredible.

WORST GIMMICK – Last year’s top three were Black Reign, Hornswoggle McMahon and Pacman Jones.

Pick: Cute Kip – Dude brings down The Beautiful People. Do they REALLY need to keep Kip around for that stuff?

BEST WRESTLING BOOK – Last year’s top three were “Hitman” by Bret Hart; “A Lion’s Tale” by Chris Jericho and “Brody” by Barbara Goodish and Larry Matysik. Among the books eligible are “Becoming the Natural” by Randy Couture, “Gorgeous George” by John Capouya. “Ring of Hell” by Matt Randazzo, “Made in America” by Matt Hughes, “Benoit: Wrestling with the Horror That Destroyed a Family and Crippled a Sport,” by Greg Oliver, Heath McCoy, Steve Johnson and Irv Muchnick; “Tito Santana’s Tales from the Ring,” by Tito Santana; “The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists” by R.D. Reynolds; “Adventures in Larryland” by Larry Zbyszko, “Iceman: My Life” by Chuck Liddell and “Lucha Loco” by Malcolm Venville. Books had to have been released from November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

Pick: “Ring of Hell” by Matt Randazzo – It’s easy for me. It was a great look at not just how Chris Benoit got to the point where he did what he did, but his insight into some of the other things about pro wrestling were well researched and well designed.

BEST PRO WRESTLING DVD – Last year’s top three were Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen, History of the AWA and The Ladder matches. Any DVD released from November 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008 would be eligible.

Pick: WrestleMania XXIV Special Edition – Besides the great event, this one includes the ENTIRE WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, including the emotional Ric Flair induction. This one should not be missed, folks.

-There you have it. All those picks within the confines of this year’s WON ballot. Discuss what you liked, disliked, or what was missed. Can’t wait to see what you guys all come up with. Remember, the time frame for the WON awards are from December 1st, 2007 – November 30th, 2008. I won’t have an article next week as I will be in Las Vegas for the Major League Baseball winter meetings, where they have a job fair. I’ll be looking to take a step into the professional sports world next week, so wish me luck. I’ll be back in two weeks.