2015 Year End Awards (Wrestling)

Welcome to 2016. I hope everyone has enjoyed their holidays and kicked off the New Year strong. Now is the time to present my Awards for the previous year. This is a tradition that I started last year, and I would like to continue by once again recognizing the wrestlers that stood out the most. My criteria is still the same as before:

Consistency
Match Quality
Storyline Quality
Innovation
Rivalry Chemistry

Diva (s) of the Year: Nikki Bella/Sasha Banks
This may not be the most popular choice, but Nikki gets the award for Diva of the Year. However, this was not as convincing of a choice as Paige last year. Nikki's biggest claim to fame is the fact that she broke AJ Lee's record for longest Title reign as Diva's Champion. Of course, the biggest criticism of her is the fact that she was only the champion because of the following reasons:

1. AJ Lee retiring
2. Relationship with John Cena
3. Ratings for Total Divas

Nikki has improved very much in the ring compared to where she was before, but that is not saying much. She is still leagues behind female legends like Trish Stratus, Lita, Madusa, Sherri Martel, etc to contemporaries like Natalya, Paige, Sasha Banks and AJ herself. In the long term, I think Nikki will just be seen as a placeholder Champion with not much to offer. However, she was the most consistent due to her run as champion in a fledgling Divas Division and a failed "Divas Revolution". The standards have not been high for the Divas to begin with lately, and Nikki was pretty much all that they could offer from a Main Roster standpoint.

This award was tough, but I have to call it a tie as Sasha Banks was the female MVP for NXT. Sasha proved night in and night out that she was truly the Boss. Banks carried the NXT Women's Title with respect and her own personal swagger. The Boss knew how to bring it as NXT Women's Champion. The highlights of her time in NXT were here matches with the likes of Becky Lynch, Charlotte and Bayley. Their match at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn is considered by many to be the best Women's match ever, or at least in the Top 5 somewhere. Sasha won in epic fashion. This match put the "Divas" to shame as it was typical Wrestling 101 for Women. They followed that with the Ironman/Ironwoman Match at NXT Takeover Respect with Bayley winning in Sasha's NXT farewell. Both of these matches have become modern day classics as they add to Sasha's NXT legacy.


Tag Team of the Year: New Day

This was clearly the best choice hands down. Ever since the USO's stepped away due to injury, the New Day has carried the Tag Team Division. They are truly the ultimate entertainers on the Main Roster of WWE. Initially, this was looked at as a joke, but they struck gold with this gimmick. This has been a great vehicle for them to not only showcase how entertaining they really are, but it is a great boost to each of their careers. Their segments have been excellent, and they have been able to back up their words with their work in the ring. By nature, the New Day are heels but their comedic timing keeps the fans from truly hating them. Even though they chant "New Day Sucks", this team continues to prove that "New Day Rocks". The biggest feather in their hat has been their victory over the Legendary Dudley Boyz. Don't be sour.

Dominating Performance of the Year: Brock Lesnar destroys New Day at Beast in the East

What else needs to be said? Brock Lesnar doing what he does best. Arrive, Destroy, Leave, Repeat. WWE held their exclusive Network Event "Beast In the East" live in Japan on the 4th of July at 5 am. I did not wake up that early, but I caught the repeat. Brock Lesnar was the marquee attraction as he was heavily advertised in the promotional photos. Lesnar destroyed Kofi Kingston almost like King Kong Bundy destroying S.D. Jones at the first WrestleMania. after defeating Kingston in easy fashion, Lesnar wiped the ring with Big E and Xavier Woods as he left a trail of destruction in the ring.

Surprise of the Year: Seth Rollins cashing in at WrestleMania

Seth Rollins turned heads and created the much needed headlines for WrestleMania as he cashed in the MITB Briefcase to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Rollins ran in to cash in the Briefcase as he focused on Roman Reigns. Seth cashing in at Mania is what helped save an otherwise middle of the pack WrestleMania and making it a headline success. Even though Seth had the briefcase, nobody expected WWE to pull the trigger for him to cash in on the Grandest Stage of them all.

Inspirational Wrestler of the Year: John Cena
This may not seem like the popular vote among the IWC, but John Cena has been a huge inspiration just from this year alone. From the time that he reclaimed the US Championship from Rusev at WrestleMania, John has not disappointed. The way that Cena has elevated the value of the United States Championship while raising the bar for younger talent (ex: Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins). Cena's status as champion has done miracles for that title. In fact, one can make the case that this has been Cena's best year when it comes to in-ring work. From his series of matches with Rusev, Kevin Owens, Rollins and even Cesaro, John has stepped up to the plate from one match after another. John is an inspiration simply from the way that he rises above his lifetime critics in the IWC. If anything, Cena looks more like the good guy as the IWC looks more like villains.

Return of the Year: The Dudley Boyz

After a 10 year absence, the Dudley Boyz made their long awaited return the night after Summerslam to an electric crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It was a natural homecoming not just from WWE, but from the New York crowd as well considering how legendary they are in that area as well as around the world. Bubba and D-Von did not waste time as they interrupted the New Day by giving them the 3-D Dudley Death Drop. The Dudleyz started their return run by feuding with New Day for the Tag Titles. They came up on the losing end, but they elevated the hottest Tag Team today. Anytime you are considered worthy of the Dudleyz attention, you have to be special.

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Owens

Without question, Kevin Owens has made the biggest impact from the NXT Class that is being called up to the Main Roster. Kevin is very impressive both in the ring and on the mic. Owens knows how to cut a great promo not only in WWE, but on Social Media (look at how he owns the trolls on Twitter). Even though he has spent many years on the Indy Scene (ROH), Kevin is still considered a rookie by the WWE standards. Owens made a giant splash of momentum from the time that he first arrived on the Main Roster to feud with none other than John Cena himself. Owens did not break under pressure. In fact, Kevin brought his game to another level as his trilogy with Cena has raised his stock within WWE. Kevin made waves when he defeated the legendary 15-time champion by pinning him cleanly (no interference). Even in his two losses to Cena, Owens still looked like a star ready for bigger things. The best thing about this is the fact that Kevin has not had to change what has made him a star. He has stuck to his guns, and the fans and executives have learned to respect him for that. Kevin Owens is a true original, and his performance against the franchise of this era has been outstanding. Even though he was robbed of the Slammy Award in favor of Neville (bad idea), Kevin Owens has proven that he is the true MVP of NXT.


Most Improved Wrestler of the Year: Roman Reigns

2015 has been a roller coaster year for Roman Reigns. It has been a tale of two cities. In the first half of the year, Reigns won the Royal Rumble in front of one of the most hostile wrestling cities ever (Philadelphia). From there, he was prematurely launched into the Main Event scene for WrestleMania. Clearly, the heat from the fans forced WWE to push the panic button for Seth Rollins to save the main event of Mania. I'm sure that WWE knew that Roman needed to make improvements, but they did their best early on to be as optimistic as possible when they put Reigns in that position. They were clearly in denial about what he seriously needed to improve on. Then, he goes into the feud with the Wyatt Family. That ultimately culminates in their HIAC match with Roman winning. In between that time, Reigns worked hard to make improvements and smooth out the edges to develop and become sharper. It has not been an easy process by any means, but it has paid off with him winning the title at the end of the year.

Babyface/Most Popular Wrestler of the Year: Cesaro

Ever since Vince McMahon said that he could not connect with the fans and could not grab the "Brass Ring" in his Interview on Stone Cold's Podcast, Cesaro has answered the challenge to prove his doubters wrong. Each time an opportunity comes, Cesaro has stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park. After that "Brass Ring" statement, Cesaro's fans support has risen to a new level. Even Austin himself has gone to bat to defend him. This has been a turnaround for Cesaro after his identity was ripped apart once he won the Andre The Giant Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXX. We know how that story went. First, he turns heel. Next, his Big Swing is taken away. Then, he aligns with Paul Heyman only to be naturally overshadowed by Brock Lesnar himself. Then, he splits from Heyman only to go on a losing streak. When 2015 hit, Cesaro made a turnaround. He teamed with Tyson Kidd with Natalya as their manager. I call them the "Brass Ring Club". Together, they won the Tag Team Titles before Tyson got injured. Cesaro has provided great quality matches and has shown that he is capable of making the best out of whatever opponent he has been given to work with. Soon, he was given his Big Swing back by creative. Cesaro has proven to be a top notch performer. He is a remarkable athlete as a man his size has been able to do incredible things during his matches. As time goes on, Cesaro has continued to add new weapons to his arsenal. From the Sharpshooter to the Crossface and even a flying forearm. Whatever you need, Cesaro can deliver. From John Cena, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens to Big Show and Ryback. Cesaro has proven that he can bring the best out of himself and his opponent. His matches with Cena for the US Title have been some of the biggest highlights of RAW this year. They created masterpieces together. They were not only the best of Cesaro's career, but they can rank among the best of Cena's career as well. Cesaro's popularity has grown to the point where he has his own fan section in every arena that he goes to. Cesaro is a wrestling machine in every sense of the word. He is a throwback to the legendary technical wrestling that fans have been used to for years. His momentum was put on hold from an injury as this leaves him out for WrestleMania. This is one of the many huge blows that WWE has suffered going into the biggest show of them all. However, you cannot deny that Cesaro has made a great rebound compared to where he was a year before.

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

This was the most power packed event of an already loaded Summerslam weekend. Many can say that this was even better than Summerslam itself which says a lot. NXT Takeover took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn the night before Summerslam. The Main Event was Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor in a rematch for the NXT Title in a ladder match. Finn Balor defeats Owens to remain champion in a spectacular encore of their match in Japan. Other matches included Bayley vs. Sasha Banks for the NXT Women's Title, Japan legend Jushin "Thunder" Liger vs Tyler Breeze, and Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin. The show received widespread critical acclaim. It has received reviews from 8/10 to 9.5/10. This was by far the best NXT show of the year. You can even say that this was the best show of WWE overall this past year.

Breakout Star of the Year: Kevin Owens

Enough said.

Feud of the Year: Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker

This was a story of unfinished business from Brock Lesnar's groundbreaking victory over Undertaker at WrestleMania 30. Taker took a full year off to heal. He returned for a cup of coffee at WrestleMania 31 to show that he still has it. Fast forward to July. Brock Lesnar was on the verge of defeating Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship. Suddenly, the lights went out. As soon as they came back on, it was The Undertaker. Taker wasted no time in destroying Lesnar as he made the exclamation point using the Tombstone Piledriver. This was a highly intense feud, so much so that the entire locker room had to hold them back from each other. It was a clash of the titans. This would lead to their match at Summerslam, where Taker defeated Brock with "Hell's Gate". During the feud, Undertaker went a different route by constantly giving Brock a low blow. It has even become a punchline. The series would conclude with their vicious "Hell in a Cell" match with Brock getting the victory.

Match of the Year: Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins (Royal Rumble 2015)

This match was in fact a Showstopper. Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Championship in a great Triple Threat Match at the Royal Rumble to kick off 2015. He defeated John Cena and Seth Rollins. One thing that made this so special was that it was the polar opposite of the Royal Rumble match itself. People were worried about Brock as Champion because of his limited schedule. Cena was reinventing himself as a Workhorse, and Seth was still "Mr. Money In The Bank" as he was the Wildcard in this match. This did not disappoint at all. In fact, it went beyond expectations. Seth showed Lesnar, Cena and the WWE Universe that he could hang under pressure in the Prime Time Main Event spotlight. Rollins and Cena threw everything including the kitchen sink. This match further established Brock is a Superhuman mutant that can withstand multiple assaults and still come out as the conqueror. He went back to the well with the German Suplexes. Those are Cena's Kryptonite (watch Summerslam 2014). Seth's arsenal as a showstopping workhorse was on full display. He brought his A Game and took it to two of the all-time greats. The highlight of the match was when Seth gave Brock an Elbow Drop through the announce table. Rollins pulled out moves that were never seen in the Shield. Lesnar withstands everything as an overpowered monster and finishes things off with the F5 to remain WWE Champion.


PPV of the Year: WrestleMania 31

This WrestleMania came as an unexpected surprise. WWE did a great job of turning the corner when it comes to being too predictable. The highlight of this as I have said before was Seth Rollins becoming champion. Earlier in the show, Rollins lost to Randy Orton in a spectacular match. The highlight for me was when Orton countered the Curb Stomp with the RKO. Daniel Bryan won the Intercontinental Title in a great Ladder Match. Sadly, he could not hold onto it because of injuries. Triple H defeated Sting in the WCW Icon's debut match. It was still special even though Sting came out on the losing end. Undertaker returned to defeat Bray Wyatt to bounce back from his loss to Lesnar the year before. John Cena defeated Rusev to reclaim the United States Championship in honor of America. These were the things that made WrestleMania 31 a hidden gem in the history of Mania.

Wrestler of the Year: Seth Rollins

Once again, Seth Rollins has been the MVP of WWE. With his ups and downs, Seth has been the lightning rod for highlights and high-quality matches. Very few people have raised their game the way that Rollins has. Seth finished what he started in 2014 following the breakup of the Shield. He won MITB, had the top feud with Dean Ambrose and was without a doubt the top heel and most improved of the three. 2015 was the completion. Rollins cashed in his MITB Briefcase at the most opportune time at WrestleMania to become the new WWE Champion. Rollins defeated each challenger that came his way, big or small. He defeated Shield members Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns along with future HOF'er Randy Orton in a Fatal Four Way match. He retained the title against Brock Lesnar at Battleground (thanks to Undertaker). Rollins defeated another future HOF'er and modern day legend in John Cena at Summerslam to become the WWE Champion and US Champion. At Night of Champions, he defeated WCW Icon Sting. Rollins is a hybrid of Edge and HBK and their influence continues to shine in his performances. Other than Cena, nobody has been as consistent as Seth Rollins. He has been consistent, has great match quality, innovation and chemistry in the ring. When you add everything together, Seth Rollins was the Wrestler of the Year without question.

2014 Year End Awards

Athlete of the Year: Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant had another banner year. This time, he added an MVP Award to his impressive resume. Durant would also win his fourth scoring title as he helped to lead the Thunder to the WCF where OKC would fall short to the San Antonio Spurs. Durant would also be chosen as the player to appear on the cover of NBA 2k15. This has indeed been a special year for Durant.

Team of the Year: San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs added a 5th NBA Championship Trophy to their Trophy Case to their storied history. The Spurs added to their legacy as they dismantled and obliterated the Miami Heat in merely 5 games. This was the ultimate revenge for the Spurs as they were one game away from beating Miami the year before. San Antonio was an all-around machine that ran to perfection. The Spurs finished first in their division. Their playoff run was great, as they defeated the Mavericks (4-3) in the first round, ran through a young Blazers team in the second round (4-1), and theiincce rival OKC (4-2) in the Conference finals before the rematch. San Antonio redeemed themselves in great fashion as they defeated Miami with technique and execution. The Heat were exposed with no help from shady calls by the refs in their favor. The Spurs destroyed the Heat on the boards, as well as on the perimeter. It was a textbook victory that basketball purists could be very proud of. Aside from LeBron's cramps, Kawhi Leonard neutralized him fairly well. Leonard won the Finals MVP. This series reminded me of the first title win over the Knicks in 1999, and the series against LeBron's Cavs in 2007. The Spurs added to their legacy as a Dynasty. The Spurs are currently 4th in most championships in NBA History.

Game of the Year: Super Bowl 48 (Seahawks vs. Broncos)
This was the ultimate surprise of the year. No one expected the Seahawks to not only win, but to murder the Broncos in the process. The Seattle Legion Defense lowered the Boom on MVP Peyton Manning and the Denver Offense by giving him no preparation time at all. The momentum was set from the first safety of the game. The Seahawks continued to bring the pain like Method Man with their swarming blitzes, and how they shut down the receivers. Denver was a heavy favorite. In this game, they were greatly exposed. Peyton Manning's Record-Setting MVP Season went up in flames, as the Seahawks spoiled his comeback story. This game was the closest thing to the 1985 Bears 46-10 wipeout of the Patriots in Super Bowl XX. The Seahawks won their first Super Bowl, as they mutilated Denver, 43-8.

Most Improved Team: Washington Wizards
Recently, the Washington Wizards have been the feel good story of not only the NBA, but Washington, DC overall. As a native Washingtonian, I am impressed and thrilled to see the success of this team. For years, the Wizards have been overlooked and practically irrelevant in the scope of the NBA. However, they have made a quiet rise and progression in the East. John Wall has emerged as an upper echelon Point Guard as he leads the way. The Wizards defeated the Chicago Bulls in convincing fashion in the playoffs before being eliminated by the Pacers. With the addition of Paul Pierce, the Wizards will look forward to building on the previous success.

Surprise Team: Dallas Cowboys
Out of all teams in the world of sports, the Dallas Cowboys have played above their recent mediocre standards. It is ironic that a team as decorated as the Cowboys has now become a surprise. Recently, Dallas has become a laughingstock in the NFL, as they have registered consecutive seasons ending in 8-8 or worse. However, the Cowboys have proven the skeptics wrong as they have gone 12-4 to clinch the NFC East. Along the way, Dallas has knocked the December monkey off of their back by going undefeated for the entire month. Along the way, QB Tony Romo has broken Troy Aikman's record as the Franchise All-Time Leader in Passing Yards. Running Back DeMarco Murray broke Emmitt Smith's Single Season Rushing Record. Pro Bowl Wide Receiver Dez Bryant also broke the Team's Single Season Record for Receiving Touchdowns. All three have made great cases for NFL MVP. Not only that, but four players from the Cowboys have been named to the All-Pro Team. How bout them Cowboys?!

Breakout Athlete: JJ Watt
JJ Watt has been the heartbeat of the Houston Texans since his arrival in 2011. After two straight All-Pro Seasons, Watt continues his run of excellence as he has recorded his second 20 Sack Season in his 4 year NFL Career. Watt also recorded 5 fumbles this season, which led the NFL. JJ has earned unanimous votes in multiple positions for the All-Pro Team. Watt's play has earned him an MVP Nomination.

Headline of the Year: Ray Rice assaults wife in elevator/Donald Sterling
These two stories share the spot for Top Headlines of 2014, because of how detrimental they have been to their respective sports. Ray Rice truly gave a black eye to the NFL with the assault of his fiancé who is now his wife. The video was disturbing to say the least. Rice was not only suspended, but he was even taken out of the Madden 15 Video Game. Donald Sterling proved that the racist 1950's mentality is still alive and well, although it is dying out. Sterling would go on to say that he did not want any black people at his games. New Commissioner Adam Silver would have a massive problem within his first term as Commissioner shortly after David Stern retired. Silver moved quickly as he dropped the hammer like Thor, when he banned Sterling for life from the NBA. Players would orchestrate a protest during the playoff series between the Clippers and Warriors, where they would wear their warmup shirts inside out. Sterling would fire back with a lawsuit. However, the NBA would nail a counter blow as Sterling would have to sell the team for $2 Billion. Steve Ballmer would go on to purchase the franchise.

Inspirational Athlete of the Year: LeBron James
In the wake of the devastating defeat at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs, LeBron James started to reflect on the direction of his career. Following the season, LeBron became an unrestricted free agent. As a result, the LeBron Sweepstakes would begin once again as they did in 2010. Questions swirled all across the media as to where LeBron would end up. Fittingly, one of the candidates was Cleveland. The Cavaliers made a very strong bid to bring back the hometown hero that they villified because of how he made his exit four years earlier. They pulled strings left and right, from signing Kevin Love, to having the number one draft pick (Andrew Wiggins). The stars were lining up in Cleveland. Meanwhile, LeBron scanned the roster of Miami, and realized that the well that he drank from for championship glory had now run dry. The glamour and mystique of Miami faded away. The magic wasn't there for him. The party was officially over in South Beach. Pat Riley even held a Press Conference practically begging LeBron to stay. He even put his rings on the table, challenging LeBron to be loyal. Riles made the wrong move doing that, because he basically called out LeBron for being a quitter. LBJ saw the writing on the wall as he did before in Cleveland, and knew his days with the Heat were numbered. During the Summer of 2014, LeBron made his triumphant return as the proverbial Prodigal Son to his hometown of Cleveland. LeBron made peace with the same owner (Dan Gilbert), who said that the Cavs would win a title before he would ever win one in Miami. Gilbert was the same owner who behaved like a spoiled child when LeBron left for a better opportunity. Now, they have buried the hatchet as they say. The same fans who burned his jersey when he made his "Decision" have now welcomed him back.

Most Improved Athlete: DeMarco Murray
Cowboys Running Back DeMarco Murray has been a quiet success story. In the midst of low to mediocre expectations for Dallas, DeMarco is shining brightly. This season, Murray has made a strong case for the MVP Award, as he has picked up the ball and carried it well in the absence of Adrian Peterson. Murray has had a groundbreaking season, as he has helped to spear head the recent success of the Cowboys. With an impressive offensive line, Murray has been brilliant this year. With consistency and being healthy, only time will tell what else he can do.

Play of the Year: Odell Beckham's catch vs. The Dallas Cowboys
What else can you say? Nothing compares to how spectacular this catch was by Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr., even if it was against my Cowboys.

Documentary of the Year: 1984 NBA Draft
The story about this draft is enough for me to give this the "Documentary of the Year" Award. This has to be arguably the best Documentary that NBA TV has ever done. The 1984 NBA Draft is what is considered to be by many (myself included) as the greatest Draft Class in NBA History. The class included a total of 5 Hall of Famers (3 were selected in the Top 5). This draft is legendary for the quality that it produced. The draft starts out great with Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon as the 1st Overall pick for the Houston Rockets. Olajuwon stayed in the same city where he became a star in College. It also had its classic punchline with Sam Bowie as the 2nd Pick for the Blazers right ahead of Michael Jordan at number 3 for the Chicago Bulls. Jordan's college teammate Sam Perkins was selected 4th to the Dallas Mavericks, as Sir Charles Barkley went 5th for the Philadelphia 76ers. John Stockton was the quiet coming in the draft. Brazilian Legend Oscar Schmidt was drafted, but stayed in Brazil to dominate. This draft also had great role players such as Otis Thorpe, Sam Perkins and Kevin Willis to name a few. Even Coach Rick Carlisle was drafted. What fascinates me the most is how these careers connect with each other. This draft bridged gaps from the Magic-Bird Era to the Era of Duncan, Kobe, etc. This draft has made a major mark, and the story is incredible.

Milestone of the Year: Payton Manning becomes NFL All-Time TD Pass Leader.
Peyton Manning continued to make history as he became NFL Career Leader in Touchdown Passes. The rate that he reached this milestone is even more impressive considering how efficient he has been throughout his career. Manning continues to decorate his career as he nears the end of his journey.

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.