Year End Wrestling Observer Awards voting begins

[shoe]

 

2015 WRESTLING OBSERVER AWARDS

Voting is now open for the 36th annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, which will be released in January. Balloting will end at midnight on January 13, 2016, with results published later in our annual double awards issue.

Voting is only open to Observer subscribers. With the addition of online subscriptions, to vote, you have to send your name, and whether you are subscribing by print or on-line so we can double-check. If you are an online subscriber, please send a receipt from your last order. You can submit ballots by mail, e-mail or fax.

These awards cover the period from December 1, 2014, through November 30, 2015, so keep that in mind while voting. Anything that takes place before or after those dates shouldn't be considered. If you are mailing in a ballot, please do so by Christmas, because holiday mail often slows things up. Every year we get dozens of ballots after deadline, and in some close races, and this year figures to have many, they can make a difference in the final results. If you've got any thoughts on the awards, you are encouraged to send them in to [email protected] for publication on the Observer web site.

These awards every year get more mainstream coverage than any pro wrestling awards aside from the exclusively Japanese Tokyo Sports awards.

Just to clarify the major awards, the Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Wrestler of the Year award is open only to working pro wrestlers. The MMA MVP award is similar to the Thesz/Flair award in that it should combine importance to business and drawing power with success in the cage. For both MMA and pro wrestling, there is a separate award for the best in-ring performer, the Most Outstanding Wrestler and Most Outstanding MMA fighter. The MMA award is for purely who had the best year in the ring or the cage, throwing out business considerations, and the Most Outstanding is for who had the best matches over the past year and was the best in-ring wrestler, throwing out business considerations.

There are still some combined MMA/pro wrestling awards such as Best Promotion, Promoter of the Year, Feud of the Year, Best Show and Best Drawing card, because essentially business goals of both pro wrestling and MMA are the same–drawing money and putting on good shows.

In regard to actual competitive (non-worked) matches, the main categories are Most Outstanding MMA fighter and MMA Match of the year. They are open to all MMA rules promotions. Most Outstanding MMA fighter of the year should be based entirely on success in legitimate matches during the time period.

Both performance in the ring as well as drawing power, marketability, value to the promotion and significance during the year among both shoot and worked matches should be considered for the big two awards.

Most Outstanding Wrestler is purely the best in-ring, bell-to-bell performer. Anything that takes place in a legitimate match situation should not be considered.

Best Box Office Draw is self-explanatory. It's open to everyone whether participating in worked or legitimate matches. This is for the person who moves ticket sales, TV ratings and/or PPV sales.

Tag Team of the Year and Most Improved are both limited to worked promotions.

Feud of the Year is about drawing money, creating excitement and delivering in the ring. Shoot feuds and worked feuds are both eligible. Best on Interviews and Most Charismatic are also open to both worked and shoot promotions.

Best Promotion is open to worked and non-worked companies. Match of the Year is only for worked matches. Rookie of the Year is open to only pro wrestlers making a major promotion professional debut after September 1, 2012. Best and Worst TV announcer and Best and Worst Major show are also open to both worked and shoot promotions.

"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.

1. 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 strong match quality in worked matches. Last year's top three were Shinsuke Nakamura, A.J. Styles and Hiroshi Tanahashi.

2. MMA MOST VALUABLE FIGHTER: This is also for a combination of fighting inside the ring and importance outside in a positive manner from a business perspective as well. Last year’s top three were Ronda Rousey, Chris Weidman and Jon Jones.

3. 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 A.J. Styles, Tomohiro Ishii and Shinsuke Nakamura.

4. MOST OUTSTANDING FIGHTER: This should be based on in-ring ability and wins against the top level of competition during the calender year. Last year's top three were Ronda Rousey, Chris Weidman and Demetrious Johnson.

5. 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. Ring work shouldn't even be considered. Last year's top three were Ronda Rousey, John Cena and Hiroshi Tanahashi.

6. 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 Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier, Daniel Bryan vs. The Authority and Rush vs. Negro Casas.

7. TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR - For the best working and most valuable tag team during the previous year. Last year's top three were The Young Bucks, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly and T-Hawk & Eita.

8. 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 Rusev, Charlotte and Sasha Banks.

9. 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 Paul Heyman, Conor McGregor and Jay Briscoe.

10. 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 Shinsuke Nakamura, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Conor McGregor.

11. 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 Zack Sabre Jr., Kyle O’Reilly and A.J. Styles.

12. 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 Tomohiro Ishii, Katsuyori Shibata and Dean Ambrose.

13. 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 are sometimes hit and sometimes miss. Last year's top three were Ricochet, Kota Ibushi and Flamita.

14. MOST OVERRATED - The wrestler who gets the biggest push, despite lacking ring ability or charisma. Last year's top three were Kane, Roman Reigns and Randy Orton.

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 Cesaro, Tomoaki Honma and Tyson Kidd.

16. 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 New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor and Dragon Gate.

17. 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 WWE NXT, Ring of Honor and Lucha Underground.

18. 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 A.J. Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki from August 1 in Tokyo, Kazuchika Okada vs. Shinsuke Nakamura from August 10 in Tokorozawa and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Katsuyori Shibata from September 21 in Kobe.

19. MMA MATCH OF THE YEAR - Pick the three best matches, in order, from the time period listed. Again, please list both the date and location of the match. Last year's top three were Robbie Lawler vs. Johny Hendricks from March 15 in Dallas, Matt Brown vs. Erick Silva from May 10 in Cincinnati and Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva from December 8, 2013 in Sydney, Australia.

20. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - This is based on ring performance, not how someone is pushed or necessarily 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 1, 2014. Top contenders for this award are Chad Gable, Jay White, Dana Brooke, Takehiro Yamamura, Kaito Ishida, Cody Hall, Yuma Aoyagi, Kumagoro, Shotaro Ashino, Hugo Knox, Mike Rallis aka Riddick Moss, Josh Woods, Braun Strowman, Nia Jax, Jon Webb and Shiro Tomoyose. Last year's top three were Dragon Lee, Moose and Yuga Hayashi.

21. 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 Paul Heyman, Stephanie McMahon and Lana.

22. BEST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER - Last year's top three were William Regal, Shimpei Nogami and Jim Ross.

23. WORST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER - Last year's top three were John Layfield, Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole.

24. 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 New Japan G-1 tournament show on August 1 in Tokyo, New Japan G-1 tournament show on August 3 in Tokyo and WWE WrestleMania on April 6 in New Orleans.

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

1. WORST MAJOR SHOW OF THE YEAR - Last year's top three were WWE Battleground on July 20 in Tampa, TNA Lockdown on March 9 in Miami and WWE Royal Rumble on January 26 in Pittsburgh.

2. BEST WRESTLING MANEUVER - Last year's top three were the Young Bucks Meltzer Driver, Kazuchika Okada’s Rainmaker and Neville’s Red Arrow.

3. MOST DISGUSTING PROMOTIONAL TACTIC - Last year’s top three were WWE insulting fans who purchased PPVs on television, Dixie Carter Tweeting that a Storm was coming to Tokyo during a typhoon, and TNA building TV for months about Dixie Carter going through a table.

4. WORST TELEVISION SHOW - Last year's top three were WWE Raw, TNA Impact and WWE Smackdown.

5. WORST MATCH OF THE YEAR - Last year's top three were John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt on May 4 Extreme Rules in East Rutherford, NJ, Kazushi Sakuraba & Yuji Nagata vs. Daniel & Rolles Gracie on January 4 at the Tokyo dome and Naomi vs. Cameron on September 15 in Lafayette, LA.

6. WORST FEUD OF THE YEAR - Last year's top three were Nikki Bella vs. Brie Bella, Minoru Suzuki vs. Toru Yano and John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt.

7. WORST PROMOTION - Last year's top three were TNA (for the eighth straight year), World Wrestling Entertainment and CHIKARA Pro.

8. BEST BOOKER - Last year's top three were Gedo & Jado, Genki Horiguchi and Paul Levesque/Ryan Ward.

9. PROMOTER OF THE YEAR - Last year's top three were Takaaki Kidani, Dana White and Scott Coker

10. BEST GIMMICK - Last year's top three were Rusev & Lana, The Bullet Club and Yosuke Santa Maria.

11. WORST GIMMICK - Last year's top three were Adam Rose, Samuel Shaw and The Bunny.

12. BEST WRESTLING BOOK - Last year's top three were Death of WCW, by Bryan Alvarez and R.D. Reynolds, The Best in the World At What I have No Idea, by Chris Jericho and Bluegrass Brawlers: The Story of Professional Wrestling in Louisville, by John Cosper.

13. BEST PRO WRESTLING DVD - Last year's top three were Ladies and Gentleman: My Name is Paul Heyman, by WWE, Macho Man: The Randy Savage Story, by WWE and Wrestling Road Diaries II, by Colt Cabana.

 

[shoe]

1. LOU THESZ/RIC FLAIR AWARD -

1. AJ Styles

2. Sasha Banks

3.Okada

 

3. MOST OUTSTANDING WRESTLER

1. Roderick Strong

2.AJ Styles

3.Timothy Thatcher

 

6. FEUD OF THE YEAR

1.Sasha Banks vs Bailey

2.Lethal vs Strong

3.Okada vs Styles

[WingedEagle]

Thanks for posting this. Have a few matches left to rewatch but this'll be helpful in throwing my ballot together.

[shoe]

7. TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR

1. New Day

2.The Kingdom

3. Young Bucks

 

8. MOST IMPROVED

1. Roman Reigns

2. Moose

3. Michael Elgin

 

9. BEST ON INTERVIEWS

 

1. Paul Heyman

2. Adam Cole

3. New Day-Xavier Woods

[Jimmy James]

Mahabali Shera has to be Most Overrated if you even vaguely consider TNA a significant promotion anymore.

[Ready_Willing_Gable]

1. LOU THESZ/RIC FLAIR AWARD - AJ Styles, Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns

3. MOST OUTSTANDING WRESTLER: AJ Styles, Cesaro, Tomohiro Ishii

6. FEUD OF THE YEAR - Sasha Banks v Bayley, Jay Lethal v Jay Briscoe, Silas Young v Dalton Castle

7. TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR - New Day, Enzo & Cass, Jason Jordan & Chad Gable

8. MOST IMPROVED - Bayley, Jay Lethal, Dalton Castle

10. MOST CHARISMATIC - Shinsuke Nakamura, Dalton Castle, EC3

11. BEST TECHNICAL WRESTLER - Cesaro, Kyle O'Reilly, AJ Styles

12. BRUISER BRODY MEMORIAL AWARD - Tomohiro Ishii, Katsuyori Shibata, Dean Ambrose

13. BEST FLYING WRESTLER - Kalisto, Ricochet, KUSHIDA

14. MOST OVERRATED - Kane, Paige, Alberto Del Rio

15. MOST UNDERRATED - Cesaro, Kalisto, Rusev

16. PROMOTION OF THE YEAR - NXT, NJPW, ROH

17. BEST WEEKLY TV SHOW - NXT, ROH, Raw

18. PRO WRESTLING MATCH OF THE YEAR - Bayley v Sasha Banks NXT Takeover Brooklyn, KUSHIDA v Kyle O'Reilly NJPW Best of the Super Juniors, Kazuchika Okada v Hiroshi Tanahashi NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9

20. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Chad Gable, Dana Brooke

21. BEST NON-WRESTLER PERFORMER - Vince McMahon, Paul Heyman, William Regal

23. WORST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER - Jerry Lawler, Elijah Burke, Josh Matthews

24. BEST MAJOR SHOW - NXT Takeover Brooklyn, NXT Takeover Respect, NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9

1. WORST MAJOR SHOW OF THE YEAR - TNA Bound For Glory

2. BEST WRESTLING MANEUVER - Big E's rhythmic headlock

3. MOST DISGUSTING PROMOTIONAL TACTIC - Charlotte/Paige-gate

4. WORST TELEVISION SHOW - TNA Impact

6. WORST FEUD OF THE YEAR - Bray Wyatt v Ryback

7. WORST PROMOTION - TNA

8. BEST BOOKER - Triple H

10. BEST GIMMICK - Dalton Castle

11. WORST GIMMICK - Adam Rose (although, isn't Ryback's gimmick basically just 'Dumbass dude' at this point?)

[Parties]

Re: Box Office Draw - as people bring up every year, this is an only semi-subjective category. Ronda should be #1, but who have the best cases after that? Did Conor make enough money in his one qualifying fight this year? Can Cena be credited as a draw compared to any of the three best UFC options?

[Slasher]

NXT can't be considered a promotion, can they?

[shoe]

NXT can't be considered a promotion, can they?

They were last year. So I doubt it has changed.

[Dylan Waco]

Hoping to post my full thoughts on this with my ballot this week. More than any year previously, I think this year really illustrates the flaw in the way some of these awards are worded and understood.

[shoe]

10. MOST CHARISMATIC

1.Dalton Castle

2.Sasha Banks

3. Nakamura

 

11. BEST TECHNICAL WRESTLER

1.Timothy Thatcher

2 .Zach Sabre Jr.

3. Drew Gulak

[shoe]

12. BRUISER BRODY MEMORIAL AWARD

1.Chris Hero

2.Tommy End

3.Paul Robinson

 

13. BEST FLYING WRESTLER

1.Dragon Lee

2. Ricochet

3.Will Ospreay

 

14. MOST OVERRATED

1.Makabae

2.Seth Rollins

3. Jay Lethal

 

15. MOST UNDERRATED

1.Jimmy Rave

2.Konga Kong

3.Andy Dalton

 

16. PROMOTION OF THE YEAR

1. NXT

2. ROH

3.Progress

[dkookypunk43]

Lou Thez/Ric Flair Award

1) AJ Styles

2) Kazuchika Okada

3) Seth Rollins

 

MMA Most Valuable

1) Connor McGregor

2) Rhonda Rousey

3) Daniel Cormier

 

Most Outstanding Wrestler

1) Roderick Strong

2) Zack Sabre Jr

3) Cesaro

 

Most Outstanding Fighter

1) Daniel Cormier

2) Donald Cerrone

3) Connor McGregor

 

Best Box Office

1) Connor McGregor

2) Rhonda Rousey

3) Brock Lesnar

 

Feud of the Year

1) McGregor vs Aldo

2) Sasha Banks vs Bayley

3) Brock Lesnar vs The Undertaker

 

Tag Team of the Year

1) New Day

2) Young Bucks

3) Strong BJ

 

Most Improved

1) Moose

2) Michael Elgin

3) Bayley

 

Best on Interviews

1) Connor McGregor

2) Paul Heyman

3) Seth Rollins

 

Most Charismatic

1) Connor McGregor

2) Shinsuke Nakamura

3) John Cena

 

Best Technical Wrestler

1) Zack Sabre Jr

2) Cesaro

3) Kyle O'Reilly

 

Bruiser Brody Memorial Award

1) Minoru Suzuki

2) Kevin Owens

3) Tomohiro Ishii

 

Best Flying Wrestler

1) Will Ospreay

2) Speedball Mike Bailey

3) Mascara Dorada

 

Most Overrated

1) Alberto Del Rio

2) Bray Wyatt

3) Yujiro Takahashi

 

Most Underrated

1) Cesaro

2) Yohei Komatsu

3) Luke Harper

 

Promotion of the Year

1) NJPW

2) PWG

3) ROH

 

Best Weekly TV Show

1) NJPW on AXS

2) WWE NXT

3) Lucha Underground

 

Pro Wrestling Match of the Year

1) Kazuchika Okada vs Genichiro Tenryu (11/15 Ryogoku Sumo Hall)

2) Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kota Ibushi (1/4 NJPW)

3) Seth Rollins vs John Cena vs Brock Lesnar ( Royal Rumble)

 

MMA Fight of the Year

1) Robbie Lawler vs Rory McDonald UFC 189

2) Travis Browne vs Andrei Arlovski UFC 191

 

Rookie of the Year

1) Chad Gable

2) Jay White

3) Dana Brooke

 

Best Non Wrestler

1) Paul Heyman

2) Gedo

3) Xavier Woods

 

Best TV Announcer

1) Mauro Rinallo

2) Josh Barnett

3) Corey Graves

 

Worst TV Announcer

1) JBL

2) Michael Cole

3) Jerry Lawler

 

Best Major Show

1) Wrestle Kingdom 9

2) PWG Don't Sweat the Techinque

3) Genichiro Tenryu Retirement Show

 

Worst Major Show

1) WWE Payback

 

Best Wrestling Manuever

1) Meltzer Driver

 

Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic

1) Paige mentioning Reid Flair

 

Worst TV Show

WWE RAW

 

Worst Match

Los Villanos vs Psycho Circus

 

Worst Fued

PCB vs BAD vs Bella

 

Worst Promotion

Wrestle-1

 

Best Booker

HHH/ Ryan Ward

 

Promoter of the Year

Takaaki Kidani

 

Best Gimmick

Dalton Castle

 

Worst Gimmick

Stardust

 

Best Book

Is Wrestling Fixed... I Didn't Know It Was Broken by Bill Apter

 

Best DVD

Sting DVD

[shoe]

17. BEST WEEKLY TV SHOW

1. ROH

2. Lucha Underground

3. NXT

[Bierschwale]

Flair/Thesz: 1) AJ Styles, 2) Sasha Banks, 3) Roman Reigns/The New Day.

Most Outstanding: 1) Cesaro, 2) Roderick Strong, 3) Jimmy Rave/AJ Styles,

Feud of the Year: 1) Kamaitachi vs. Dragon Lee, 2) Sasha Banks vs. Bayley, 3) The Briscoes vs. The Kingdom/Ethan Carter III vs. Rockstar Spud.

Tag Team of the Year: 1) The Briscoes, 2) La Dinastia Felino, 3) Burning Wild/The Usos.

Most Improved: 1) Darren Young, 2) Bayley, 3) Kamaitachi/Roman Reigns.

Best on Interviews: 1) The New Day, 2) Ethan Carter III, 3) John Cena/Rockstar Spud.

Most Charismatic: 1) Mark Briscoe, 2) Rush, 3) Dean Ambrose/Sami Zayn.

Best Technical Wrestler: 1) Hechicero, 2) Virus, 3) Drew Gulak/Cesaro.

Best Brawling Wrestler: 1) Kongo Kong, 2) Roman Reigns, 3) Katsuyori Shibata/Mil Muertes.

Best Flying Wrestler: 1) Dragon Lee, 2) ACH, 3) Mike Bailey/Kairi Hojo.

Most Overrated: 1) Sexy Star, 2) Seth Rollins, 3) Togi Makabe/Stardust.

Most Underrated: 1) Luke Harper, 2) Tama Tonga, 3) Mascara Dorada/El Torito.

Promotion of the Year: 1) WWNLive, 2) CMLL, 3) RoH/DDT.

Best Non-Wrestler: 1) Xavier Woods, 2) William Regal, 3) Maria Kanellis/Renee Young.

Best TV Show: 1) CMLL Super Viernes, 2) NXT, 3) RoH on SBG/Shotgun TV.

Best Announcer: 1) Corey Graves, 2) Rich Brennan, 3) Rob Naylor/Dan Wilson.

Worst Announcer: 1) Steve Corino, 2) D'Angelo Dinero, 3) Vampiro/Booker T

Best Maneuver: Kairi Hojo's diving elbow drop.

Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic: Dario Cueto feeding Bael to Matanza.

Worst TV Show: Paragon Pro Wrestling.

Worst Feud of the Year: Pentagon, Jr. vs. Sexy Star.

Worst Promotion: TNA.

Best Booker: Ryan Ward.

Best Gimmick: Dalton Castle.

Worst Gimmick: Vampiro.

[shoe]

18. MOTY

 

1.Bullet Club vs ROH All Stars 5/15

2. AJ Styles vs Will Ospreay 2/15

3. Nakamura vs Ibushi 1/4

 

20. ROTY

 

1.Jay White

2. Chad Gable

3. Dana Brook

 

21. BEST NON-WRESTLER PERFORMER

1.William Regal

2. Dario Cuerto

3.Maria

 

22. BEST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER

1. Mario Runallo

2. Dan Wilson

3. Michael Schiavello

 

 

3.

[shoe]

23. WORST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER

1.JBL

2.Michael Cole

3.Vampiro

 

24. BEST MAJOR SHOW

1.ROH 2/21/15 Atlanta show

2. PWG-From Out Of No Where

3. NJPW WK 9

[Dylan Waco]

Lou Thez/Ric Flair Award
1) Sasha Banks
2) John Cena
3) AJ Styles

Most Outstanding Wrestler
1) Jimmy Rave
2) AJ Styles
3) Cesaro

Best Box Office
1) John Cena
2) Grado
3) AJ Styles

 

Feud of the Year
1) Dragon Lee v. Kamaitachi
2) Sasha Banks v. Bayley
3) Rockstar Spud v. Ethan Carter III

 

Tag Team of the Year
1) New Day
2) Cesaro/Tyson Kidd
3) Twin Towers (Sato/Ishikawa)

 

Most Improved
1) Bayley
2) Moose
3) Jason Collins

 

Best on Interviews
1) Nick Gage
2) Jay Briscoe
3) Xavier Woods

 

Most Charismatic
1) Shinsuke Nakamura
2) Sasha Banks
3) Bayley

 

Best Technical Wrestler
1) Timothy Thatcher
2) Virus
3) Jimmy Rave

 

Bruiser Brody Memorial Award
1) Drew Galloway
2) Kongo Kong
3) Damien Wayne

 

Best Flying Wrestler
1) Mike Bailey
2) Dragon Lee
3) Aerostar

 

Most Overrated
1) HHH
2) Kane
3) Seth Rollins

 

Most Underrated
1) Luke Harper
2) Cesaro
3) Cedric Alexander

 

Promotion of the Year
1) ICW
2) DDT
3) ROH

 

Best Weekly TV Show
1) NXT
2) Lucha Underground
3) ROH

Pro Wrestling Match of the Year
1) Bayley v. Sasha Banks - Iron Woman Match 10/7/15
2) Bayley v. Sasha Banks - 8/22/15
3) Rush v. Kyle Matthews - Empire Wrestling Entertainment 7/11/15

Rookie of the Year
1) Jay White
2) Kazusada Higuchi
3) Chad Gable

 

Best Non Wrestler
1) Jeff G. Bailey
2) Xavier Woods
3) Dario Cueto

 

Best TV Announcer
1) Dan Wilson
2) Al Getz
3) Corey Graves

 

Worst TV Announcer
1) Matt Striker
2) Jerry Lawler
3) Josh Matthews

 

Best Major Show
1) ROH - Winter Warriors 2/21 (Atlanta)
2) Scenic City Invitational Night 2
3) New Japan Pro Wrestling - Invasion Attack

 

Worst Major Show
Triplemania

Best Wrestling Manuever
Jimmy Rave's apron STO

Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic
Paige mentioning Reid Flair

Worst TV Show
WWE RAW

Worst Match
Shuji Ishikawa v. Daisuke Sekimoto - Big Japan Wrestling 3/13/15

Worst Fued
PCB vs BAD vs Bella

Worst Promotion
AAA

Best Booker
Ryan Ward

Promoter of the Year
Takashi Okamura

Best Gimmick
New Day

Worst Gimmick
HHH savior of workrate wrestling (credit tomk with this line)

Best Book
abstain

Best DVD
Scenic City Invitational

[Matt D]

How do I watch Rush vs Matthews?

[KrisZ]

"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.

1. LOU THESZ/RIC FLAIR AWARD

1. Sasha Banks
2. A.J. Styles
3. Kazuchika Okada

2. MMA MOST VALUABLE FIGHTER:

ABSTAIN

3. MOST OUTSTANDING WRESTLER:

1. Jimmy Rave
2. A.J. Styles
3. Roderick Strong

4. MOST OUTSTANDING FIGHTER:

ABSTAIN

5. BEST BOX OFFICE DRAW

1. Floyd Mayweather
2. Grado
3. John Cena

6. FEUD OF THE YEAR

1. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley
2. Dragon Lee vs. Kamaitachi
3. Mil Muertes vs. Fenix

7. TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR

1. The Young Bucks
2. The New Day
3. The Kingdom

8. MOST IMPROVED

1. Bayley
2. Roderick Strong
3. Moose

9. BEST ON INTERVIEWS

1. Rush
2. Nick Gage
3. Kevin Owens

10. MOST CHARISMATIC

1. Shinsuke Nakamura
2. Rush
3. La Sombra

11. BEST TECHNICAL WRESTLER

1. Timothy Thatcher
2. Zack Sabre Jr.
3. Drew Gulak

12. BRUISER BRODY MEMORIAL AWARD

1. L.A. Park
2. Rush
3. Drew Galloway

13. BEST FLYING WRESTLER

1. Dragon Lee II
2. Aero Star
3. Angelico

14. MOST OVERRATED

1. Alberto del Rio
2. Kane
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi

15. MOST UNDERRATED

1. Jimmy Rave
2. T.J. Perkins
3. Rey Hechicero

16. PROMOTION OF THE YEAR

1. NXT
2. EVOLVE
3. Lucha Underground

17. BEST WEEKLY TV SHOW

1. Lucha Underground
2. NXT
3. ROH

18. PRO WRESTLING MATCH OF THE YEAR

1. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks = NXT TakeOver Brooklyn = 8/22/15
2. Atlantis vs. La Sombra = CMLL 82nd Annviersario = 9/18/15
3. A.J. Styles vs. Jimmy Rave = ProSouth Wrestling in Piedmont, Alabama = 5/18/15

19. MMA MATCH OF THE YEAR

ABSTAIN

20. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

1. Chad Gable
2. Jay White
3. Dana Brooke

21. BEST NON-WRESTLER PERFORMER

1. Dario Cueto
2. Al Getz
3. Jeff G. Bailey

22. BEST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER

1. Dan "The Dragon" Wilson
2. Al Getz
3. Corey Graves

23. WORST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER

1. Matt Striker
2. Josh Matthews
3. JBL

24. BEST MAJOR SHOW

1. NXT TakeOver Brooklyn
2. NXT TakeOver Respect
3. Ultima Lucha

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

1. WORST MAJOR SHOW OF THE YEAR

1. Triplemania XXIII = 8/9/15

2. BEST WRESTLING MANEUVER

1. AJ Styles' "Sunday Bloody Sunday"

3. MOST DISGUSTING PROMOTIONAL TACTIC

1. WWE using Reid Flair's death

4. WORST TELEVISION SHOW

TNA Impact

5. WORST MATCH OF THE YEAR

Los Villanos vs. Psycho Circus = Triplemania = 8/9/15

6. WORST FEUD OF THE YEAR

Seth Rollins vs. Kane

7. WORST PROMOTION

WWE

8. BEST BOOKER

Ryan Ward

9. PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

Sanshiro Takagi

10. BEST GIMMICK

New Day

11. WORST GIMMICK

Stardust

12. BEST WRESTLING BOOK

Tuesday Night at the Gardens by Mark James & Jim Cornette

13. BEST PRO WRESTLING DVD

Scenic City Invitational

[Dylan Waco]

How do I watch Rush vs Matthews?

 

Send 12 dollars to the fine folks at EmpireWrestling.net and they send you the DVD

[Tim Evans]

Lou Thez/Ric Flair Award

1) AJ Styles

2) Sasha Banks

3) Okada



MMA Most Valuable

1) Ronda Rousey

2) Connor McGregor

3) Nick Diaz



Most Outstanding Wrestler

1) Pentagon Jr

2) Jimmy Rave

3) Nikki Bella







Best Box Office

1) Connor McGregor

2) Rhonda Rousey

3) Brock Lesnar



Feud of the Year

1) Sasha vs Bayley

2) Alberto Del Rio vs Ray Gonzalez

3) Dragon Lee vs Kamatachi



Tag Team of the Year

1) New Day

2) La Revolucion

3) Gable and Jordan



Most Improved

1) Jason Jordan

2) Nikki Bella

3) Chicano



Best on Interviews

1) Ray Gonzalez

2) Enzo Amore

3) Chicky Starr



Most Charismatic

1) Big E

2) Shinsuke Nakamura

3) Enzo Amore



Best Technical Wrestler

1) Timothy Thatcher

2) Chris Hero

3) Matt Riddle



Bruiser Brody Memorial Award

1) Mighty Ursus

2) Dean Ambrose

3) Rush



Best Flying Wrestler

1) Aerostar

2) Dragon Lee

3) Flamita



Most Overrated

1) Bray Wyatt

2) Nick Gage

3) Young Bucks



Most Underrated

1) Ray Gonzlez Sr.

2) Mighty Ursus

3) Mr. 450



Promotion of the Year

1) WWC

2) Evolve

3) WWE



Best Weekly TV Show

1) WWC TV

2) WWE NXT

3) Lucha Underground



Pro Wrestling Match of the Year

1) Bayley vs Sasha Banks IronWoman match

2) Alberto Del Rio vs Ray Gonzlez 12/5

3) Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar Wrestlemania







Rookie of the Year

1) Chad Gable

2) Ray Gonzalez Jr

3) Dana Brooke



Best Non Wrestler

1) Catarina

2) Chicky Starr

3) Erika Canseco



Best TV Announcer

1) Byron Saxton

2) El Wizard

3) Corey Graves



Worst TV Announcer

1) Josh Matthews

2) JBL

3) Jerry Lawler



Best Major Show

1) NXT Brooklyn

2) WWC Euphoria

3) Wrestlemania



Worst Major Show

1) AAA Triplemania



Best Wrestling Manuever

1) Aerostar's backspring dive to the outside



Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic

1) Tijuana indie doing a stretcher gimmick after the death of Perro Aguayo Jr.



Worst TV Show

WWE RAW



Worst Match

Los Villanos vs Psycho Circus



Worst Fued

EC3 vs Matt Hardy



Worst Promotion

ROH



Best Booker

HHH/ Ryan Ward



Promoter of the Year

Victor Jovica



Best Gimmick

Baron Corbin: Indie fav killer



Worst Gimmick

General Chris Daniels



Best DVD

Scenic City inventaional

 

[Johnny Sorrow]

Just out of curiousity , what's with the Xavier Woods as best Non-Wrestler shit? He's clearly a wrestler.

[bestintheworld3589]

Ok so I don't actually vote on the WON Awards as I'm not a subscriber, but I just wanted to let everyone know what my ballot would look like if I did vote (I don't vote in the MMA only categories).

 

Class A Awards

 

Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award

1. AJ Styles

2. John Cena

3. Sasha Banks

 

Most Outstanding Wrestler

1. AJ Styles

2. Cesaro

3. Kazuchika Okada

 

Best Box Office Draw

1. Ronda Rousey

2. John Cena

3. Brock Lesnar

 

Feud of the Year

1. Sasha Banks v.s. Bayley

2. Brock Lesnar v.s. The Undertaker

3. John Cena v.s. Kevin Owens

 

Tag Team of the Year

1. The Young Bucks

2. New Day

3. ReDragon

 

Most Improved

1. Sasha Banks

2. Bayley

3. Roman Reigns

 

Best on Interviews:

1. Kevin Owens

2. Paul Heyman

3. John Cena

 

Most Charismatic

1. Shinsuke Nakamura

2. Bayley

3. John Cena

 

Best Technical Wrestler

1. Zack Sabre Jr

2. Timothy Thatcher

3.Cesaro

 

Bruiser Brody Memorial Award

1.Tomohiro Ishii

2.Katsuyori Shibata

3. Luke Harper

 

Best Flying Wrestler

1. Ricochet

2. Neville

3. Kalisto

 

Most Overrated

1. Kane

2. Alberto Del Rio

3. The Big Show

 

Most Underrated

1. Cesaro

2. Emma

3. Luke Harper

 

Promotion of the Year:

1. NXT

2. New Japan

3. PWG

 

Best Weekly TV Show:

1. NXT

2. New Japan on AXS

3. ROH

 

Match of the Year

1. Sasha Banks © v.s. Bayley (NXT Women's Championship - NXT Takeover: Brooklyn)

2. Shinsuke Nakamura © v.s. Kota Ibushi (IWGP Intercontinental Championship - Wrestle Kingdom IX)

3. Brock Lesnar © v.s. Seth Rollins v.s. John Cena (WWE World Heavyweight Championship - Royal Rumble)

 

Rookie of the Year

1. Chad Gable

2. Dana Brooke

3. Jay White

 

Best Non Wrestler

1. William Regal

2. Paul Heyman

3. Maria Kanellis

 

Best TV Announcer

1. Mauro Ronallo

2. Corey Graves

3. Rich Brennan

 

Worst TV Announcer

1. Jerry Lawler

2. JBL

3. Vampiro

 

Best Major Show

1. Wrestle Kingdom IX

2. NXT Takeover: Brooklyn

3. NXT Takeover: Respect

 

Class B Awards

 

Worst Major Show: Triplemania

 

Best Wrestling Maneuver: End of Days (Baron Corbin)

 

Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic: The usage of Reid Flair's name in the Paige v.s. Charlotte feud

 

Worst TV Show: TNA Impact

 

Worst Match of the Year: Los Villanos v.s. Psycho Circus

 

Worst Feud of the Year: PCB v.s. Team Bella v.s. Team B.A.D.

 

Worst Promotion: TNA

 

Best Booker(s):

Triple H & Ryan Ward

 

Promoter of the Year:

Takaaki Kidani

 

Best Gimmick: Bayley

 

Worst Gimmick: Adam Rose (Party Pooper)

[The Fray Movement]

Just out of curiousity , what's with the Xavier Woods as best Non-Wrestler shit? He's clearly a wrestler.

 

Meltzer said he was eligible actually.