2014 Year End Awards (Wrestling)

Happy New Year Everyone! As we close out a very noteworthy year, I would like to present my Awards for the best performers in the last year. I would like to recognize who stood out the most, best matches, etc. My criteria for the awards are as follows:

Consistency
Match Quality
Storyline Quality
Innovation
Rivalry Chemistry

I am doing my best to model my awards after the blueprint of PWI, while adding my own creativity with my own twist. May you enjoy. 

Diva of the Year: Paige
Paige has done an incredible job carrying the Divas Division from day one when she made her debut the night after WrestleMania. That night on RAW, Paige put herself on the map when she scored an upset victory over AJ Lee to become the new WWE Divas Champion. The win ended AJ's 295 day title reign, the longest of the Modern Era (Women's version of CM Punk's title reign). Paige continued to carry the ball with her ongoing feud with AJ, along with strong performances to hold up the sinking ship known as Women's Wrestling.

 

Tag Team of the Year: The USO's
This was an undisputed choice. In an Era where the Tag Team Division is a shell of what it once was, the USO's have been the most consistent team in an otherwise lackluster era. Jimmy and Jey started their year of dominance by defeating the Legendary, Hall of Fame New Age Outlaws to become the new World Tag Team Champions. They would go through the Wyatts before losing the titles to the Dust Brothers. Not long after they won the Slummy for Tag Team of the Year, the USO's would defeat The Miz and Mizdow to regain the belts. The USO's would end the year strong as Tag Team Champions.

 

Dominant Performance of the Year: Brock Lesnar winning the WWE Title

This deserves recognition. We have NEVER seen a WWE Champion lose the title this way in his prime. Not Austin, Rock, Hogan, etc. Brock Lesnar continued his momentum from breaking the streak by demoralizing and dismantling John Cena. When you watch this match, you would think that you were watching a longer version of King Kong Bundy vs SD Jones at WrestleMania I. Lesnar wiped the ring and Staples Center with Cena. John only got at least four moves of offense as Brock drilled him with 16 German Suplexes and 2 F-5's to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Lesnar made Cena look like  This is clearly the start of the change of the guard as Cena became the transitional champion. Brock will now be the channel that the title passes through once Wrestlemania comes around.

 

Surprise of the Year: Brock Lesnar breaking the Streak

The Superdome in New Orleans was dead silent the night of April 6, 2014 at Wrestlemania XXX. There were many surprises this year, but this stands out because of the historical impact. Brock Lesnar did the unthinkable. He CONQUERED hallow ground, as he ended the Undertaker's Wrestlemania Streak. The Streak was the last larger than life, heroic spectacle that fans had to look forward to. The match itself was subpar, but the finish is what elevated it overall. When Brock hit the F-5 for the last time as the ref counted to three, the world stood still. The victory was earth shattering. This is not a lame cliché, but it is how things really were in the world of wrestling. This made headlines all over the globe. The Internet went insane. Brock Lesnar made history on the 30th Anniversary of Wrestlemania. Not only was it historic, but career redeeming for Lesnar as well.

Inspirational Wrestler of the Year: Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan without question was the biggest inspiration this past year. He had the watershed Wrestlemania Moment when he defeated Randy Orton and Batista in the Triple Threat Main Event of Wrestlemania to become WWE/World Heavyweight Champion. This moment was made even more special, because of how Bryan was excluded from the Royal Rumble. The WWE eventually gave in to the momentum of Bryan because of the demands of the fans.

Return of the Year: Ultimate Warrior's Return

This was something we as fans had all been waiting to see for 18 long years. When the Ultimate Warrior returned to WWE with his commercial for WWE 2k14, it was the moment where the seeds were planted for him to make his long awaited return. After years of bad blood against each other, Warrior and WWE finally made peace. WWE had made the pitch to him before in 2010 for him to return for WM 26 in Arizona (his hometown). However, Warrior refused, because of his displeasure for their Self-Destruction DVD. By the end of 2013, WWE promised Warrior that they would rewrite his story and tell it right. Warrior finally agreed. The events of Wrestlemania weekend were amazing. His Hall of Fame speech was tremendous as well as his journey to make peace with Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan and others. His last appearance on RAW was the perfect way to top off his momentous return. Even though he passed away the next day, Warrior made amends and WWE repaired the bridge that they burned.

 

Rookie of the Year: Rusev

There was no one better to win this award than Rusev. His momentum has been strong from his feud with America. Rusev's wave of heat was rewarded when he won the US Championship.

 

Heel of the Year/Most Improved: Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins did the unexpected as he turned his back on his comrades Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. The night after an epic match where they were victorious over Evolution, the Shield were destroyed. Rollins took a major step in his career by joining the Authority. Rollins was very consistent in his run as a heel in 2014. After winning MITB, Seth scored a number of noteworthy victories over the likes of Dean Ambrose as well as John Cena. Rollins elevated his heel status on the final RAW of 2014, when he forced John Cena to bring back the Authority by threatening to break Edge's neck permanently. Thankfully it never happened, but the torch was passed that night. Rollins has garnered comparisons to Edge, so it was only fitting for Seth to make his mark at the expense of his legendary predecessor.

Babyface/Most Popular Wrestler: Daniel Bryan
It speaks for itself.

 

 

Who's Next? Award (Breakout Show of the Year): NXT

This award is appropriately named after legend Bill Goldberg. This goes to the show that has had the biggest breakthrough impact. NXT wins this award, because of the moves that they have made this year with the acquisitions of Kevin Owens, Hideo Itami, and Finn Balor. Triple H deserves plenty of credit for the time that he has invested to make this product. NXT has fired on all cylinders as the place to be for you to get your pro wrestling fix without the bells and whistles from RAW and Smackdown. The show delivers when it comes to the pure quality and in-ring substance that the wrestling purists crave. The pinnacle of NXT came at NXT REvolution. This was the Wrestlemania of the show. From start to finish, the show was incredible. The show ended in great fashion with Sami Zayn defeating Adrian Neville to win the NXT Championship. Kevin Owens would go on to attack Zayn to make his heel turn. This is only a sign of things to come.

 

Breakout Star of the Year: Dean Ambrose

Since the breakup of the Shield, Dean Ambrose has found a way to make his presence known. Ambrose has been involved with the biggest feuds of this year. From the Shield vs The Wyatt Family, Shield vs Evolution to his feuds with Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt. Ambrose has been a great improviser with his incredible mic delivery. He main evented HIAC with Rollins and TLC with Bray. No matter what, Ambrose knows when to deliver no matter who he is with.

 

Interview of the Year: CM Punk on Colt Cabana's "Art of Wrestling" Podcast

There is no debate about this award. This was the biggest bombshell of the year away from the ring. After 10 months, CM Punk shattered the Internet with this ground shaking interview on his best friend's podcast. Punk aired his grievances and exposed the inconsistencies of WWE for the world to hear.

Feud of the Year: Dean Ambrose vs Seth Rollins
This was the premiere rivalry of the year and will be in the future. The seeds were planted when Seth Rollins betrayed The Shield causing the breakup. Immediately, Ambrose was on his path. Dean would hinder Seth's cash-ins every chance that he got. They had a trilogy of matches that were showstoppers (BattleGround, Summerslam, Night of Champions, Hell In A Cell). The natural chemistry between them made this feud even more intense and amazing.

 

Match of the Year: The Shield vs Evolution (Payback)
This match stole the show and the year in general. The match cemented The Shield as not only the best faction of their era, but one of the best factions ever. The match was phenomenal from start to finish, as both factions fired all of their guns at each other. This cemented an incredible run of dominance by The Shield. The match was Falls Count Anywhere, as they literally went everywhere in this battle. The action was simply electrifying (if I may use The Rock's line). Evolution showed that they could still go at a high level together, with their natural brutality with how they whipped Roman Reigns. The Shield rallied back as Ambrose and Rollins showed what kind of madmen they can truly be. All three members were dynamic as they swept Evolution by eliminating all three members. This was the ultimate pinnacle of The Shield's success as they took down three future Hall of Famers. Trips, RKO, and Batista have a combined 31 world championships between them. This was also the last night that both teams were together. Talk about ending with a bang.

 

PPV of the Year: Wrestlemania 30

The 30th Anniversary of the Greatest Event in Wrestling History. The Celebration of an Empire that has stood the test of time. When you look at marquee value, match quality, characters involved, and historical significance, nothing surpasses the pomp and circumstance of Wrestlemania. This show was a great way to commemorate such tremendous history. The show kicked off to a great start. Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, and The Rock all in one ring. That was the segment of the year. The three megastars that built Wrestlemania into what it is today. The stare down with Austin and the Hulkster was epic, as all three men celebrated. In the opening match, Daniel Bryan defeated Triple H to earn a spot in the Triple Threat Main Event. John Cena would defeat Bray Wyatt. Brock Lesnar would silence the wrestling world by Breaking Undertaker's Streak. In the main event, Daniel Bryan captured the WWE/WHC in a thrilling match. The night ended on a very high note.

 

Wrestler of the Year: Seth Rollins
When you come down to it, this is the most deserving choice. When you look at the variables, no one has been more consistent than Seth Rollins from bell to bell. Rollins has been the consummate workhorse and ring general. He has been the most successful heel as Mr. MITB. Seth was also part of the MOTY (Match of The Year: Shield vs Evolution), along with candidates such as Shield vs Wyatts and his match vs Dean Ambrose at Summerslam. He was in the Main Event of HIAC with his chief rival. Rollins emerged victorious in each match with Ambrose. He has also scored a huge victory over John Cena. No one expected Seth to be this great when The Shield disbanded. Greater things await him and his fellow comrades.

 

 

I hope that you enjoyed this presentation. I look forward to doing more of these in the future. 

 

2014: Year In Review

2014 has been very headline worthy, for both good and bad. It has also been filled with plenty of dominating performances, and plenty of surprises. This will be my first official year in review, and what better year to analyze than this year alone? Walk with me through this roller coaster that we know as 2014. This will be a combination of Sports and Entertainment.

January:

• Florida State defeats Auburn in the BCS Championship Game. Jameis Winston is named MVP.
• CM Punk makes headlines all across not only the wrestling world, but the sports entertainment world in general as he abruptly departs from WWE. Punk's departure sent shockwaves across the Internet, with fans, other wrestlers, podcast hosts, etc speculating what led to his exit.
• Dave Batista returns to the WWE to surprisingly win the Royal Rumble, which backfired as the fans were furious about his win. What made this even worse was the fact that Daniel Bryan was not even in the Rumble.

February:

• The Seattle Seahawks demoralize and annihilate the heavily favored Denver Broncos, 43-8 in Super Bowl 48. Seattle's Legion of Boom Defense attacked MVP Peyton Manning from all corners, and shut down his receiving corps. The Broncos Defense was also exposed in this series. The Seahawks put the NFL on notice that night.
• The WWE launches their new Network (repeat it with me: it only costs $9.99). That is right. For $10 a month, you could watch every PPV in WWE History, along with every WCW, and ECW PPV. You could also watch every episode of RAW and Nitro, along with Classic Programs like World Class Championship Wrestling. Instead of the usual $40, $50, or $60, the PPV's come with the packaged deal. At first, they gave you the option of paying $55 up front for the 6-month commitment. Hulk Hogan made his return to promote the Network, along with others such as Stone Cold Steve Austin and John Cena.
• David Stern retires after being Commissioner of the NBA for 30 years, with Adam Silver taking over.

March/April:

• 11-time Champion and Coaching Legend Phil Jackson returns to the NBA to become president of the New York Knicks, the team that he won two rings with as a player (1970, 1973).
• The NCAA Men's Basketball tournament begins with The Florida Gators as No. 1.
• The UConn Men's Basketball team wins the NCAA National Championship, with Shabazz Napier as the Most Outstanding Player.
• Pro Bowl Defensive End DeMarcus Ware signs a 3-year $30 million deal with the Denver Broncos, after being released by the Dallas Cowboys.
• Ravens Running Back Ray Rice is indicted by an Atlantic City Grand Jury on a charge of third-degree aggravated assault.
• WWE celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Greatest Event in Wrestling History, as they present WrestleMania 30 at the Mercedez-Benz SuperDome (not Silverdome), in New Orleans, Louisiana. That weekend, we saw the return of the Ultimate Warrior and Razor Ramon as they took their rightful place into the WWE Hall of Fame with Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Lita, Paul Bearer, and Carlos Colon. At the start of WM XXX, we witnessed history as Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, and The Rock all stood together in the same ring. The three biggest box office draws in wrestling history stood together in one ring. What really made it special was the staredown with Austin and Hogan, which was the ultimate fantasy match for years. This was a sign of things to come, as the event was very memorable. The biggest surprise in history came when Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker to end The Streak. Heyman and Lesnar were nearly just as surprised as the fans. The image of the fan with the glasses said it all. Daniel Bryan defeated Triple H in the first match of the night, and went on to defeat Randy Orton and Batista to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion in a very special moment. This was WWE's way of rewriting what happened with Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero.
• The next night, The Ultimate Warrior comes out to Monday Night RAW to address the fans in a heartfelt, and very prophetic speech. This would be Warrior's final appearance, as he suffered a heart attack the next day. He would soon be pronounced dead only at age 54. It felt like a surreal punch in the face. Warrior's heart truly beat its final beat, and what he did in his life makes his legacy live on forever.
• On the bright side, newcomer Paige makes her debut on RAW from NXT as she defeats AJ Lee to win her first WWE Divas Championship.
• Former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling makes a controversial and racial comment towards his girlfriend, telling her that he did not want blacks coming to the games. This caused a massive outrage, as fans and players voiced their displeasure. NBA Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson was heavily involved, as Sterling dropped his name in his disgusting remarks about black players and people. Commissioner Adam Silver would soon ban Sterling for life in the midst of the firestorm.
• Michael Sam becomes the first openly Gay player to be drafted into the NFL.
• Kevin Durant is named NBA Most Valuable Player for the first time.
• Evolution reunites to feud with The Shield. The Shield defeats them at Extreme Rules.

May/June:

• The Shield end their feud with Evolution at Payback. Batista leaves the next night on RAW, which opened the door for The Shield to disband. Seth Rollins takes Batista's place, as he joins The Authority.
• The San Antonio Spurs dominated the Miami Heat (4-1) to capture their fifth NBA Championship (4th all-time). Kawhi Leonard is named NBA Finals MVP. The Spurs wiped the floor with Miami, ending the party in South Beach. LeBron James would soon become a free agent, as he would take his talents back to Cleveland.
• The Los Angeles Kings win the Stanley Cup
• John Cena captures the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for the 15th time in his career. That night, Seth Rollins wins the Money In The Bank Ladder Match.

July:

• Germany destroys Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup Semifinals, to defeat Argentina 1-0 in the final to win the World Cup.
• The NFL announces that they would Ray Rice for the first two games of the season, starting August 30. Rice would also be pulled from the Madden 15 Video Game.
• Paul Pierce signs with the Washington Wizards.

August:

• Comedic Legend/Icon Robin Williams dies at the age of 63 from suicide, as a result of depression.
• LeBron James sheds a very noticeable amount of weight in the off-season from a summer-long carbohydrate cleanse.
• Steve Ballmer, who retired from Microsoft in February, buys the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion after former owner Donald Sterling sells the team.
• Michael Strahan and Derrick Brooks are headliners for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Brock Lesnar continues his run of surprises and dominance, as he conquers John Cena to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Brock won in extremely convincing fashion, as he nailed Cena with an incredible 16 German Suplexes. Cena looked like a jobber from the 80's, as Lesnar pummeled him form start to finish.

September:

• The NFL punishment of Ray Rice becomes even more severe after a surveillance video is leaked of him dragging his wife into the elevator.
• Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl Running Back and former MVP Adrian Peterson is indicted on Child Abuse, after photos were released of his son having cuts and bruises on his thighs, hands, back and buttocks. The image of the NFL took a massive blow.
• MLB and New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter retires.
• 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups retires.

October:

• The San Francisco Giants defeat the Kansas City Royals 4-3, to capture their eighth World Series Championship.
• 2K Sports releases WWE 2k15 and NBA 2k15.
• Peyton Manning becomes the NFL's All-Time Leader in Touchdown Passes.

November:

• Sting makes his very long awaited debut in WWE, as he helps Team Cena defeat Team Authority at Survivor Series.
• DC Mayor For Life Marion Barry passes away at age 78.
• Former Pro-Bowl and Future Hall of Fame NFL Cornerback Champ Bailey retires.
• New York Yankees Great Alfonso Soriano retires.
• CM Punk finally breaks his silence, as he appeared as a guest on his friend Colt Cabana's podcast.

December:

• In response to Punk's interview, Vince McMahon appears as a Special Guest on Stone Cold's Podcast. McMahon addresses a number of issues, including Punk, Macho Man, The Network, etc.
• WWE NXT: R-Evolution is highly acclaimed and received great reviews from many fans and analysts in the world of wrestling. This event showed the rise of very familiar faces from the Indy Circuit, such as Sami Zayn (El Generico), Kevin Owens (formerly Steen), Hideo Itami (Kenta), Finn Balor (Prince Devitt), and Adrian Neville (PAC). This is a great sign of things to come, as Triple H made a statement with this event.
• Roman Reigns wins Superstar of the Year at the 2014 Slammy Awards.
• Kobe Bryant passes Michael Jordan for 3rd place on the NBA's All-time Scoring List
• The Movie "The Interview" receives backlash in the midst of the North Korea controversy, and is postponed, only to be later released.
• The Dallas Cowboys clinch the NFC East Division with a 12-4 record.
• DeMarco Murray breaks Emmitt Smith's Single Season Rushing Record.
• San Francisco 49ers fire coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh later becomes Coach of The Michigan Wolverines.
• All-Star Point Guard and NBA Champion Rajon Rondo is traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

Once again, this is my first Year in Review Article. Overall, this has been a very eventful year in different ways. I hope that you enjoy it. Get ready for 2015.