by The Immolator
Exclusive to OnlineOnslaught.com

It’s been a heck of a year in wrestling, both for myself and for the world at large. Immo has gone from humble beginnings to holding the No. 2 belt in MainStream Wrestling, a small indie promotion running mostly out of bars in and around Halifax, Nova Scotia. I’ve learned a lot inside the square circle, and there’s tons more left to learn. But for now, MSW is on a seven-week break, and I’m putting myself on the “inactive” list. In theory, this could be the last you hear, read or see from Immo. But not even Mick Foley can withstand the siren song of the ring… or can he?

THE VERY BEST OF 2003

BEST WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: KURT ANGLE
The wrestler who not only performed at the highest levels both in the ring and behind the microphone, but did so in important, marquee matches for his/her company.
1st Runner-Up: Eddie Guerrero
2nd Runner-Up: Chris Jericho

Comments: It was a bit difficult for me to put someone who’s been injured for large parts of the year in the one-slot, but Angle’s the man. WM and Summerslam main events with Brock Lesnar. Ironman match on SD! With Lesnar. Chris Benoit at the Royal Rumble. John Cena. Rey Mysterio. Angle was instrumental in getting all these guys that extra step over, especially Lesnar. Plus his mic work is second only to The Rock.

Guerrero creates absolute works of art in the ring. And he’s gold on the mic. I think Eddie will get every chance in 2004 to carry the ball.

Jericho is the best all-around performer on RAW. Kind of like the way A-Rod had the best all-around performance in the AL last year. But just as the NL was loaded with Bonds, Pujols and Sheffield, Jericho’s year was behind the best of the SD! roster.

It pained me not to include Benoit, but the mic is still not his strength. The fact he’s been able to get as far as he has despite his “personality handicap” speaks volumes about just how damn good he is in the ring. Personally, I’d pay money to see him first and foremost. But I’m weird.

Big ups to Ric Flair (always), Christian, Tajiri and Jamie Noble for their excellent combination of wrestling and characterization.

Just about all the big names (Goldberg, Lesnar, HHH, Hogan, Rock, et al) miss out because of one-dimensionality or extended absences. That doesn’t mean they’re not money.

BEST TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR: DUDLEY BOYZ
The tag team that not only performed at the highest levels both in the ring and behind the mic, but did so in important, marquee matches for their company.
1st Runner-Up: America’s Most Wanted
2nd Runner-Up: Chris Jericho and Christian

Comments: Not a very good year for tag teams. Not that there has been for quite a while, I’m afraid. The Dudley Boyz almost win this one by default, but they also happen to be a fantastic team. Bubba Ray is a ring general. He and D-Von are over like gangbusters from the instant the music plays and the curtain opens.

AMW gets in here at No. 2 because of the awesome work they did in NWA-TNA. They lack a shade or two on the personality side, which almost made me put XXX here, but that was more of a group than a tag team. Their tag matches, along with the X Division, made TNA watchable.

“Vitamin C” gets the nod at No. 3. Again, Jericho and Christian are beyond solid both in the ring and on the mic. That gets them the edge over The World’s Greatest Tag Team, which has the potential to be much bigger than all of us, but still has a ways to go in the personality department.

BEST FEMALE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: TRISH STRATUS
The woman who, week in and week out, performed at the highest level in the capacity asked of her.  [For OO's purposes, it is up to the individual voter to decide what combination of  in-ring ability, promo/interview skill, and/or sex appeal is used to determine a winner, and to explain his/her criteria in the comments section.]
1st Runner-Up: Molly Holly
2nd Runner-Up: Stacy Keibler

Comments: Ah, so now it’s “performer” instead of “wrestler”? Well, Trish gets the nod either way. She’s clearly the woman that gets the biggest reaction. Her in-ring work constantly improves, and her current angle with Jericho shows she’s anything but wooden as an actor. Did I just mention “wood”? Sorry.

Molly Holly, meanwhile, is the glue holding the entire women’s division together. She’s arguably the best wrestler on the roster, and when Gail Kim (of whom I’m a big fan) got the belt too early, it was a natural move to pair Gail with Molly and get the strap on the latter.

I’m personally tired of the Stacy thing, but she’s money. Big money. A little push from creative would go a looooong way for Stacy.

Big ups to Victoria, Jazz, Ivory and Jacqueline for making the women’s division what it is. Gail is almost there. Another nod to Sweet Sarah, who kicked Calum’s ass (along with every other guy she wrestled here) and has a ton of potential.

BEST FEUD OF THE YEAR: KURT ANGLE V. BROCK LESNAR
The rivalry that produced the best storylines, matches, angles, and/or promos of the year.
1st Runner-Up: Kurt Angle v. Chris Benoit         
2nd Runner-Up: Chris Benoit v. Eddie Guerrero

Comments: Proper feuds have been hard to come by for years. But the brand split left SD! both top-heavy and short on talent, making it necessary for the best workers to pair up on a regular basis. Angle-Lesnar gets the nod because of the colossal rub it gave Lesnar.

The absence of RAW here is mostly due to the questionable directions the show took from a creative standpoint. The recent improvement is showing in the Jericho-Trish feud, which could become next year’s big thing in whatever form it takes.

I really wanted to get into Raven v. Shane Douglas, but TNA has poor continuity and Douglas’ promos are getting stale.

BEST MATCH OF THE YEAR: KURT ANGLE V. CHRIS BENOIT (Royal Rumble)
The match that best combined great ringwork and psychology/storytelling to get fans off their seats and cheering.
1st Runner-Up: America’s Most Wanted v. XXX (Cage Match, June 25)
2nd Runner-Up: Shawn Michaels v. Chris Jericho (WM)

Comments: Hands down on this one. Fantastic execution and storytelling. Gigantic pops of doom for both wrestlers. The cage match had more Holy Fecal Matter content, but was a bit spotty at the expense of psychology. Michaels-Jericho had great storytelling for weeks heading into WM, and was pulled off very well in the ring.

The Angle-Lesnar Ironman match misses out because they were hitting Germans and Angle Slams way too early, leaving the last stages of the bout a bit anticlimactic.

MOST FAVORITE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: CHRIS BENOIT
A purely subjective choice; the performer who, regardless of objective talent, entertained this voter the most.
1st Runner-Up: Tajiri
2nd Runner-Up: Eddie Guerrero

Comments: Most favorite? Is that, like, the one I prefer the most the most?

I mark for all three of these guys, but Benoit’s a guy I’ve been following since he was tagging with Biff Wellington. And, yes, there’s that old Canadian pride showing through.

Tajiri’s mannerisms – heel and face – are priceless. An absolute pro. And what else can I possibly say about Eddie? Buck up, little trooper, No. 1 is just around the corner.

Other purely subjective favorites: Ultimo Dragon, Jericho, Christian, RVD, Piper, Daniels, Heyman, Rey Rey, and almost all of the women.

There are very few wrestlers that I don’t care for at all. But I have little patience for poorly conceived matches, no matter how talented the performers.

THE OTHER BEST OF 2003

BEST TECHNICAL WRESTLER: EDDIE GUERRERO
The grappler who displayed the widest variety of wrestling holds and maneuvers and who executed them realistically and crisply.
1st Runner-Up: Chris Benoit
2nd Runner-Up: Jamie Noble

Comments: Normally most of us would look at the name of this award and instantly say “Benoit,” but the Rickster went and put the word “variety” in the criteria. That makes me give the edge to Guerrero, who really elevated his game this year and uses a beautiful mix of styles. Benoit is still A-plus-plus in my books, but Guerrero had that extra touch of artfulness to his work this year.

Jamie Noble ekes in at No. 3 based on some absolutely solid cruiserweight work. His technical ability is an excellent complement to the high-flying arsenal of guys like Mysterio.

Mad props here to Ultimo Dragon, American Dragon, Lance Storm, Val Venis, William Regal, Matt Hardy and all the Japanese workers I wish I could add to this list, but haven’t had a chance to see this year.

BEST HIGH FLYER: REY MYSTERIO
The wrestler who displayed the most jaw-dropping array of cleanly-executed and creative high risk maneuvers.
1st Runner-Up: Christopher Daniels
2nd Runner-Up: RVD

Comments: I can’t even begin to describe how great it is to have Rey Rey away from the Filthy Animals and with his mask back on. I’m not that big a fan of the (619), but the West Coast Pop is a thing of beauty.

I enjoyed Daniels more as “Curry Man,” to be honest, but I’m weird.

RVD’s current moveset certainly is creative, although we have seen those same moves over and over again since the InVasion.

BEST BRAWLER/POWER WRESTLER: RIC FLAIR
The wrestler who most effectively took a basic punch/kick/slam moveset and still crafted exciting, high-impact matches.
1st Runner-Up: Goldberg
2nd Runner-Up: The Rock

Comments: There’s that wacky criterion again – the “basic” moveset, which makes me disqualify Brock Lesnar and put Flair right at the top.

I don’t equate brawling with power (obviously, or else Flair wouldn’t qualify). And I don’t mean to say that all Flair has is a basic moveset. But that’s his bread and butter, the old-school punching and stomping. Goldberg is not a brawler, really, but he’s all power. Rock’s a bit of both.

BEST INTERVIEWS: RIC FLAIR
The performer who could be relied upon to most effectively advance storylines and enthrall the audience with his/her promos.
1st Runner-Up: Steve Austin
2nd Runner-Up: Mick Foley

Comments: Good Lord n’ Butter, does it drive me crazy when they give the mic to somebody who’s promos reek of cue-cardedness. Praise be to Ric Flair for continuing to cut the greatest promos of our time (or likely anyone’s time).

Guys like Austin, Foley (and The Rock in a close No. 4) are so valuable to the company, even in non-wrestling or rarely-wrestling roles. That’s how good they are at being who they are – thus the value of taking interesting people and “turning up the volume,” as they like to say. You can’t teach that, just as you can’t teach size or genetics.

Raven is very close in my books, but just a little too lyrical for my tastes. The majority of those in TNA should stick to wrestling. But I guess you could say that for every fed out there.

BEST HEEL: KURT ANGLE
The wrestler who, by virtue of promos or ringwork, most easily turned entire crowds vociferously against him/her.
1st Runner-Up: HHH
2nd Runner-Up: Vincent K. McMahon

Comments: Mr. Yousuck gets the nod here because of his willingness to be a blatant coward. This is such a huge part of being a heel, and one that is sadly lost. Props to HHH for warming up to cowardliness against Goldberg and Kane.

You could make the argument that Angle failed as a heel because crowds ended up loving him in the end, but this is the age where you can divide fans into two groups: somewhat smart (people who revel in booing a great heel lustily) and too smart for the good of the business (people who cheer for a great heel). Again, props to HHH for getting heat from both groups.

Really, Vince is such a great heel, better than the top two on this list. I give him the No. 3 slot here only because he barely qualifies as a wrestler.

Big heel pops to Vitamin C, Steven Richards, Tajiri and Matt Hardy. Test is getting there.

BEST BABYFACE: ROB VAN DAM
The wrestler who, by virtue of promos or ringwork, most easily convinced entire crowds to get vocally behind him/her.
1st Runner-Up: Trish Stratus
2nd Runner-Up: Rey Mysterio

Comments: Pure babyfaces are fewer and farther between, with people turning heel to face and back again like clockwork. Not that all faces are better than all heels, but it generally takes a higher grade of performer to get a genuine pop, and an even better grade to keep that popularity over an extended period of time.

RVD gets the nod here, although Trish has some very obvious qualities that he cannot match. Rey Rey also has a built-in advantage of being smaller than everyone else. Props to The Hurricane, reaching out to the very important younger demographic.

BEST CHARACTER/GIMMICK: THE HURRICANE
The unique on-screen persona that most aided a performer's ability to connect with the audience through storylines or ringwork.
1st Runner-Up: John Cena
2nd Runner-Up: Val Venis

Comments: Again, the more recent trend of letting people be amplified versions of themselves has reduced the gimmick level. Good thing too, because I was never a fan of the wrestling accountant/plumber/ichthyologist.

The Hurricane wins this one, hands down. Cena looks like he’ll take over this category in short order – I need to see more PPVs to get a sense of his non-canned pops to gauge his crowd reaction.

Venis probably got bored with his gimmick, but it’s his calling card and it’s a good thing for him to be back in pornstar mode.

I read about, though didn’t see, Shawn Daivari and his Flying Carpet top rope splash. That is pure gold. Speaking of gold, so long to Goldust. I, for one, will miss him. Big gimmicked ups to Jamie Noble, as well.

MOST IMPROVED WRESTLER: CHARLIE HAAS
The wrestler who showed the most marked improvement in all facets of his/her performance over the last 12 months.
1st Runner-Up: The Big Show
2nd Runner-Up: John Cena

Comments: The brand split has caused many a call-up from OVW and other parts to grace our screens, perhaps a bit earlier than I as a fan would like to see. Being on the road and wrestling so often with some of the top trainers and people in the business to help you, you’ll either sink (Nathan Jones) or swim.

Haas still has that touch of green, but he’s thiiiiiis close to being tremendous in the ring. Shelton Benjamin has grown along with him, but was already pretty good in 2002, in my humble opinion. Lesnar also improved dramatically, but a big chunk of that came earlier.

Show’s improvement is due to a number of factors. I credit far better booking in 2003 for bringing the Big Nasty Bastard back from the scrap heap. Much better opposition (Angle and Lesnar primarily) helped tremendously. But Show also gets props for being a survivor. Keep kicking ass.

Cena falls into both camps – better booking and improved wrestling. Big ups in this same department to Test.

MOST UNDERRATED WRESTLER: VANCE NEVADA
The wrestler who most deserves additional air-time, national exposure, and/or respect from fans.
1st Runner-Up: Scott Savage
2nd Runner-Up: American Dragon

Comments: This is the one and only category where I’ll dip into my indie background. Guys like Ultimo Dragon are getting far less airtime than they should, but also receive tremendous respect. Heck, even the most minor character in NWA-TNA gets more exposure than these three guys I’ve listed, so I’m putting their names out for your consideration.

Vance Nevada (check your PWI 500, or his eponymous website) was one of my principal trainers in NWA-ECCW. He is a true student of the game, a ring tactician, a compelling heel and I suspect would make a model employee. He’d be a TREMENDOUS figure in any locker room.

Playing the face counterpart would be Scott Savage (check that PWI 500), an excellent person to work with. He’s got the look and the style to slide right into a cruiser program in any territory.

I never did get to meet AmDrag, but I have seen him in action. He gets the No. 3 here because he has already gotten some exposure on Heat, and I suspect his mic skills may be somewhat behind his outstanding ring work, although I can’t say for sure.

BEST SECOND: STACY KEIBLER
The non-wrestler (manager/valet/etc) who most effectively added something extra to the storylines and matches of the wrestler(s) whom he/she accompanied to the ring. 
1st Runner-Up: Teddy Long
2nd Runner-Up: Paul Heyman

Comments: Another lost art. Don’t give that green guy a mic, give it to a manager instead!

Heyman would have been at the top of this list easily, but he was only in that capacity for the briefest part of 2003. Instead, we’re left with the eye candy in the top spot. She helped make Test’s airtime watchable while he developed his current heel personality. Until the whole “personal property” thing got out of hand.

Teddy Long is in the two-spot almost by default. He’s fun to watch, but he didn’t add much to Rodney Mack. He’s helping Mark Henry out, though.

A nod here for Shaniqua and her abs of steel.

BEST TELEVISION PERSONALITY: STEVE AUSTIN
The play-by-play announcer, color commentator, interviewer, or other non-wrestler/non-second who contributed the most to an entertaining TV product. 
1st Runner-Up: Eric Bischoff
2nd Runner-Up: Mick Foley

Comments: Austin was (and is, really) the central figure on RAW even though he doesn’t wrestle. Normally, I’d say that’s a bad thing. It could easily turn into a bad thing if they book it poorly. But it’s more entertaining to have him on the mic than a lot of guys are when they wrestle.

Bischoff is a great heel. I thought he was a pretty good talking head back in the day. He knows his stuff. Of course, the whole WCW thing adds a great backstory to his current character that you just couldn’t make up. Worth millions of dollars and the demise of the No. 2 promotion in North America? That might take some work.

Foley sneaks in at No. 3 despite limited airtime, because he’s that darned good. Big ups to Tazz, Terri (who’s still got it), Heyman (welcome back!) and Jim Ross, who is still second (career-wise) only to Gordon Solie in my book.

"HOLY SHIT" MOMENT OF THE YEAR: RODDY PIPER, WM XIX
The angle, high spot, stunt, or storyline swerve that was the most surprising and effective shocker of the last 12 months.
1st Runner-Up: The Rock and Sock Reunion
2nd Runner-Up: Mick Foley returns as consultant

Comments: I made the decision in the spring to back away from the Internet and find out less about what’s going on backstage, which made it easier in turn to be shocked by certain events. All three things I’ve listed are storyline swerves. Just about every highspot fecal moment I saw was in the AMW-XXX cage match, but I guess I’ve become much less of a fan of that kind of thing now that I’m, you know, actually concerned for these guys’ welfare.

After all the flotsam that’s gone under the bridge between Piper and the wrestling business in general, to have him show up at WM rivaled the open-mouthed gaping I did when he first showed up at WCW in the same capacity. Like they say, anything can happen in the WW… E.

My self-enforced media blackout may have contributed to Nos. 2 and 3. And I’m a richer man for it.

FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE YEAR: ROCK CONCERT I
The skit, promo, or other segment that, even if it wasn't really integral to storylines, was the most worthy of distinction simply for being hi-fricking-larious.
1st Runner-Up: “It’s Legal in Utah”
2nd Runner-Up: Orton invokes the name of the Honky Tonk Man

Comments: If I were still recapping, maybe I’d have a better memory of some of the top chuckles I got in 2003.

ROCK: “I’m leaving Sacramento/Sacramento, I won’t stay/ But I’ll be sure to come back/When the Lakers beat the Kings in May.” That’s pure gold, son. Sorry, CRZ.

The second annual Bischoff’s Wheel of Fish had some great nods to the first event. And HHH’s double-take when Orton listed Honnky among the greatest I-C champs of all time… priceless. Hey, HTM will always be the greatest.

Goldust was the most consistently entertaining comic wrestler in 2003. Again, sorry to see him go.

BEST WRESTLING SHOW: SMACKDOWN!
The regular television program that consistently supplied the most entertaining mix of in-ring action and great storytelling.
1st Runner-Up: RAW
2nd Runner-Up: NWA-TNA

Comments: Sure wish I had access to all the MLW shows and stuff like that.

SD! delivered on almost a weekly basis. RAW has gotten much better of late, but was adrift for most of 2003. It only edges out TNA because I really find most of their storytelling incredibly ham-handed.

BEST MAJOR EVENT: WrestleMania XIX
The one-night event, not shown on a regular/weekly free TV show, that provided the most entertaining (and, on some level, historically significant) mix of in-ring action and storytelling.
1st Runner-Up: Royal Rumble
2nd Runner-Up: Survivor Series

Comments: Ah, you just had to say “historically significant,” didn’t you? Drat. There is only one show that fits the bill. I’d probably add the Oct. 13 Tokyo Dome show featuring Hulk Hogan-Masa Chono if I had seen it. Rumble and SS go in by default. I want my King of the Ring back.

BREAK-OUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: JOHN CENA
The performer who won over fans and front office personnel to the point that he/she was most-clearly elevated to a new level of importance over the last 12 months.
1st Runner-Up: Christian
2nd Runner-Up: Trish Stratus

Comments: Cena easily gets the duke here. Christian got a solid run as Intercontinental Champion, and both he and Stratus are involved in the most compelling angle on either show right now.

Show is a close fourth because the whole US Title thing isn’t going over so well (not his fault, as I will attest later). Randy Orton and Batista have been elevated, but not because of fan reaction in my estimation.

Raven gets big ups for being an integral part of TNA after his departure from WWE.

BREAK-OUT PERFORMER OF NEXT YEAR: EDGE
The performer who has developed all the necessary skills and seems most likely to have them recognized and be elevated to a new level of importance in the next 12 months.
1st Runner-Up: Eddie Guerrero
2nd Runner-Up: Ultimo Dragon

Comments: I really, really wanted to put Eddie in the one-slot because I do believe he will hold the WWE Heavyweight Title in 2004. But I’m fearful that they just won’t put the strap on him after all. Plus, Edge is going to be coming back after an eternity and a half. He’ll get mad pops and he has the goods to sustain that level of acclaim.

UD I put here because his great work and his rep simply don’t square with the Velocity-level stuff he’s been slotted into. Either he’s just there to act as more of an agent than a wrestler, or there will be a correction and he will be kicking much ass in the New Year.

BEST "REAL WORLD" NEWS OF THE YEAR: THE RUNDOWN SCORES
The contract signing, promotional move, or other backstage/non-storyline development that most benefited a company or the wrestling business as a whole.
1st Runner-Up: Hulk Hogan wrestles in Japan, appears on TNA
2nd Runner-Up: Goldberg signs with WWE

Comments: Hollywood is still a bigger thing than all of us, and all the promotional rub the WWE gets from The Rock’s success is invaluable. The movie had a great three-week run at the start (over US$44 million, or just over half its budget), then tapered off quickly like most films nowadays. I assume worldwide sales make up the rest of the budget deficit, and video sales will make everyone very happy.

Any kind of legitimate competition will be a good thing for us as wrestling fans, for those of us who would like to make a living off it (hah!) and for the business as a whole. Hogan is one of the few names out there who can help make TNA more viable, and the reaction he got in Japan shows there is plenty of opportunity for Hulkamania to run wild.

Goldberg is the one big thing to come out of the ashes of WCW. His presence helped turn around RAW.

Big ups for Dr. Jho’s (apparently) successful surgery on Kurt Angle’s neck. I hope the procedure continues to work out for everyone involved.

THE bOOby PRIZES

WORST WRESTLER(S) OF THE YEAR: JON HEIDENREICH
The wrestler or tag team who, regularly and in key TV matches, displayed the most frustrating absence of in-ring skill and personality/charisma.
1st Runner-Up: La Resistance
2nd Runner-Up: Orlando Jordan

Comments: I hate having to do this. I could easily put my own name on this list, except I had no key TV matches. That’s the frustrating thing about having so many green wrestlers elevated so soon in their careers. All four (sorry, cinq) of these guys could turn out to be fantastic wrestlers sooner rather than later, who knows? This year, in the capacity they were placed in… yeesh.

Heidenreich gets the nod here for injuring people with his finisher. Nathan Jones escapes because in his second brief run, he showed some good heel charisma. Jackie Gayda had the worst match ever seen (Jackie-Trish I), but didn’t wrestle much, and she makes a good second. Again, elevated too soon.

WORST NON-WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: JONATHAN COACHMAN
The commentator, announcer, interviewer, manager/valet, GM, or other non-wrestler who added the least (or detracted the most) from the TV product.
1st Runner-Up: Josh Matthews
2nd Runner-Up: Linda McMahon

Comments: Folks, I like Coach as an announcer. As a heel lackey to Bischoff, not a chance. It’s ill-conceived and poorly executed. It irritates, and in the wrong way.

Matthews’ skill set is not that of an announcer.

Mrs. McMahon’s skill set is not that of a television personality.

Jerry Lawler is pushing it with the constant references to puppies, but he’s pulled himself together somewhat, much as RAW has as a whole. Lawler still has more knowledge and understanding of the events taking place in the ring than most anyone.

WORST FEUD OF THE YEAR: TORRIE V. DAWN MARIE
The on-going rivalry that produced the worst in storylines, matches, and promos.
1st Runner-Up: Coach v. Jim Ross
2nd Runner-Up: Vince v. Stephanie

Comments: Oh, Sweet Jaysis. Torrie v. Dawn Marie was like This is Spinal Tap, except that was a mockumentary and the Torrie v. Dawn Marie story was just plain dog crap. It was dog crap that was so bad, dung beetles refused it. I’d like to think there were good intentions behind it, and I do not blame the performers one iota.

For Coach v. JR, see above. But at least it wasn’t as bad as Medusa v. Oklahoma.

The problem with Case Study No. 3: why didn’t Vince just fire her? He’s already shown he can do pretty much whatever he wants at any time.

MOST OVERRATED WRESTLER: VACANT
The performer who least deserves all the air time and national exposure he/she receives.
1st Runner-Up: Vacant
2nd Runner-Up: Vacant

Comments: I do not believe in the concept of “deserving.” If I did, I wouldn't be able to watch wrestling without pulling out a gun and shooting my TV.

"GODDAMMIT" MOMENT OF THE YEAR: AL WILSON’ S TRIP TO THE GREAT GIG IN THE SKY
The awful promo, angle, blown spot, skit, or match that came closest to making you embarrassed to be a wrestling fan; the ugly cousin of the "Holy Shit Moment" Award.
1st Runner-Up: Eddie Guerrero dumps fecal matter on The Big Show
2nd Runner-Up: Just about every interaction between a man and a woman on TNA

Comments: See above for Al Wilson. Eddie’s Septic Service (where’s Savage, Medusa and Mona?) was infantile to the extreme. Worse still is the way women are constantly portrayed on TNA, although there isn’t one specific instance that tops the bill (that I’ve seen, yet).

Big downs to many of the tender moments shared by Kane and Shane.

WORST "REAL WORLD" NEWS OF THE YEAR: MMA SHARES CARDS IN JAPAN WITH PRO-WRESTLING
The contract signing, promotional move, or other backstage/non-storyline development that seemed bone-headed at the time and least likely to lead to any positive results for the company or the wrestling business as a whole.
1st Runner-Up: Zach Gowen wrestles and appears competitive
2nd Runner-Up: La Resistance

Comments: As smart as we all may be, pro-wrestling is still based on the credibility of what we see in the ring. The instant you introduce mixed martial arts onto the same card as pro-wrestling, you are effectively telling your audience, “This match you are about to see is real, while the next one is fake.” The premise for having the pro-wrestling match in the first place is lost. Pretty soon, pro-wrestling will go the way of the Russian face-slapping contests from the 1930s.

I completely admire Zach Gowen for all he has done in his life. However, the a one-legged man stepping into a ring and not getting the holy tar beaten out of him by a presumably capable two-legged wrestler is way too fantastical for an event that is supposed to suspend your disbelief.

As for La Resistance, I won’t bother arguing against cheap heat. But do they not watch WWE programming in France? How can you get away with having your faces and your announcers insulting an entire country? This is a bit beyond the good old USA v. Canada feud from a while back.

IMMO WRAP-UP: I hope I’ve been able to give people a different look at this crazy thing called pro-wrestling through my time here at OO. As I said, Calum Macbeth is “inactive” as of this writing. My other persona is just starting to find his niche as a sports journalist, and there’s only so many hours in a day for me to split between that and my domestic life. I have a beautiful wife who’s been incredibly patient with my wrestling pursuits. If I want to develop this craft any further, I need to make a career out of it, and that’s just not feasible unless fortune drops in my lap as a wrestling announcer. Then maybe you can start filling in my name as “Worst Non-Wrestler of the Year.”

Should the time or opportunity arise, I’ll make the occasional appearance on the Battle of the Brands. And I suspect there will be future appearances in the ring, as well. Until then, thanks to The Rick for continuing his website, thank you for reading, and Happy Holidays.

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