2010 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards
Here are Meltzer’s WON Awards for last year. Not a fan of the guy but this is a big deal in a way. Still hate the mixing of MMA and wrestling but for the most part I think this list is pretty solid. There are some that I think are completely idiotic and is nothing but Meltzer trying to show off that he’s smarter than the average fan, but a lot of these make sense. Your thoughts? Awards listed below.
Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year)
1. John Cena (1,451)
2. Takashi Sugiura (802)
3. Masato Yoshino (754)
4. Prince Devitt (634)
5. Chris Jericho (551)
6. Davey Richards (473)
7. Shinsuke Nakamura (394)
8. The Miz (383)
9. Kurt Angle (340)
10. Mistico (322)
Honorable Mentions: Daniel Bryan (281), Rey Mysterio (278), Satoshi Kojima (268), Randy Orton (266), Daisuke Sekimoto (240), Naomichi Marufuji (178), Dr. Wagner Jr (164), Naruki Doi (142), L.A. Park (115), Tyler Black (113), Chris Hero (101), Shawn Michaels (100), Sheamus (96), Hiroshi Tanahashi (95), YAMATO (86), BxB Hulk (72)
MMA Most Valuable
1. Brock Lesnar (2,951)
2. Georges St. Pierre (2,609)
3. Cain Velasquez (543)
4. Quinton Jackson (274)
5. Anderson Silva (242)
6. Jose Aldo Jr (196)
7. Alistair Overeem (134)
8. Chael Sonnen (119)
-. Urijah Faber (119)
10. Frankie Edgar (90)
Most Outstanding Wrestler
1. Daniel Bryan (2,037)
2. Davey Richards (1,835)
3. Prince Devitt (1,525)
4. Naomichi Marufuji (758)
5. Shingo Takagi (515)
6. Chris Hero (509)
7. Kurt Angle (448)
8. YAMATO (209)
9. Chris Jericho (190)
10. AJ Styles (158)
Honorable Mentions: Shinsuke Nakamura (125), Daisuke Sekimoto (115), Rey Mysterio (87)
Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year
1. George St. Pierre (1,789)
2. Jose Aldo Jr (1,736)
3. Cain Velasquez (1,428)
4. Frankie Edgar (514)
5. Anderson Silva (411)
6. Alistair Overeem (244)
7. Ben Henderson (90)
8. Nick Diaz (72)
9. Dominick Cruz (57)
10. Urijah Faber (48)
Best Box Office Draw
1. Brock Lesnar (3,813)
2. Georges St. Pierre (1,667)
3. John Cena (1,542)
4. Mistico (348)
5. Quinton Jackson (199)
6. Chael Sonnen (155)
7. BJ Penn (151)
8. Rey Mysterio (136)
9. Josh Koscheck (35)
10. Urijah Faber (30)
Feud of the Year
1. Kevin Steen vs. El Generico (2,004)
2. Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen (1,036)
3. Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans (972)
4. Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck (713)
5. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (681)
6. John Cena vs. Nexus (643)
7. BxB Hulk vs. Shingo Takagi (402)
8. Beer Money vs. Motor City Machine Guns (373)
9. Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk (309)
10. L.A. Park vs. La Parka (255)
Honorable Mentions: Prince Devitt vs. Naomichi Marufuji (210), Mistico vs. Volador Jr (187), New Japan vs. NOAH (127), Chris Hero/Claudio Castagnoli vs. Mark & Jay Briscoe (116), Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz (87), John Cena vs. Batista (86)
Tag Team of the Year
1. Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli (2,506)
2. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley (1,948)
3. Robert Roode & James Storm (780)
4. Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi (733)
5. Mark & Jay Briscoe (396)
6. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (375)
7. Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi (343)
8. Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards (214)
9. Shingo Takagi & YAMATO (153)
10. David Hart Smith & Tyson Kidd (86)
Honorable Mention: Generation Me/Young Bucks (75)
Most Improved
1. Sheamus (1,053)
2. The Miz (976)
3. Dolph Ziggler (822)
4. Eddie Edwards (520)
5. Bobby Fish (432)
6. Alberto Del Rio (404)
7. Akira Tozawa (279)
8. Wade Barrett (277)
9. Ricochet (242)
10. Jack Swagger (207)
Honorable Mentions: Rhett Titus (150), Magnus (147), Cody Rhodes (118), Hiroshi Yamato (90), Claudio Castagnoli (81), Kenny Omega (74)
Best on Interviews
1. Chael Sonnen (2,783)
2. The Miz (1,036)
3. CM Punk (920)
4. Chris Jericho (690)
5. Kevin Steen (614)
6. Ric Flair (478)
7. Jon Moxley (454)
8. Wade Barrett (275)
9. Josh Koscheck (215)
10. John Cena (164)
Honorable Mentions: Batista (96), Alberto Del Rio (90), Frank Mir (72)
Most Charismatic
1. John Cena (1,959)
2. Brock Lesnar (1,162)
3. The Miz (763)
4. Alberto Del Rio (370)
5. YAMATO (367)
6. Georges St. Pierre (319)
7. Josh Koscheck (253)
8. Hiroshi Tanahashi (245)
9. CM Punk (208)
10. Chael Sonnen (167)
Honorable Mentions: Ric Flair (159), Jeff Hardy (142), Batista (119), Wade Barrett (83)
Best Technical Wrestler
1. Daniel Bryan (2,765)
2. Davey Richards (1,719)
3. Prince Devitt (1,205)
4. Kurt Angle (874)
5. Naomichi Marufuji (148)
6. Douglas Williams (96)
7. AJ Styles (87)
8. Mike Quackenbush (84)
9. Eddie Edwards (72)
10. Chris Jericho (69)
Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler)
1. Kevin Steen (1,174)
2. Jon Moxley (918)
3. Togi Makabe (647)
4. Masato Tanaka (467)
5. Necro Butcher (453)
6. Samoa Joe (388)
7. Brodie Lee (334)
8. Sheamus (300)
9. Abyss (298)
10. Jimmy Jacobs (220)
Honorable Mentions: Yuji Nagata (211), Daisuke Sekimoto (188), El Generico (150), Shingo Takagi (125), Steve Corino (88)
Best Flying Wrestler
1. Kota Ibushi (1,903)
2. Ricochet (1,591)
3. Pac (1,149)
4. Mascara Dorada (1,093)
5. Evan Bourne (994)
6. Prince Devitt (767)
7. Dragon Kid (398)
8. Rey Mysterio (292)
9. Jack Evans (215)
10. La Sombra (187)
Honorable Mentions: Aero Star (184), El Generico (175), AJ Styles (147), BxB Hulk (124), Volador Jr (91), Masato Yoshino (78)
Most Overrated
1. Kane (1,596)
2. Randy Orton (677)
3. Abyss (402)
4. Rob Van Dam (338)
5. Drew McIntyre (318)
6. Matt Morgan (301)
7. Mr. Anderson (299)
8. Jeff Hardy (289)
9. Big Show (206)
10. Tommy Dreamer (205)
Honorable Mentions: David Otunga (199), Rob Terry (150), John Cena (139), Michelle McCool (99), Team 3D (81), The Miz (75), Kevin Nash (75)
Most Underrated
1. Kaval (786)
2. Christian (683)
3. Evan Bourne (607)
4. Yoshi Tatsu (542)
5. Jack Swagger (418)
6. Desmond Wolfe (306)
7. Samoa Joe (258)
8. Tyson Kidd (255)
9. Daniel Bryan (229)
10. Dolph Ziggler (186)
Honorable Mentions: Zach Ryder (159), John Morrison (145), William Regal (123), Prime (116), Katsuhiko Nakajima (115), Goldust (114), Trent Baretta (99), MVP (96)
Promotion of the Year
1. Ultimate Fighting Championships (2,713)
2. Dragon Gate (1,293)
3. New Japan Pro Wrestling (1,089)
4. Ring of Honor (1,080)
5. World Wrestling Entertainment (851)
6. World Extreme Cagefighting (766)
7. Pro Wrestling Guerilla (268)
8. Consejo Mundial Lucha Libre (161)
9. Pro Wrestling NOAH (143)
10. CHIKARA (117)
Honorable Mentions: DDT (97), Big Japan Pro Wrestling (88)
Best Weekly TV Show
1. Ring of Honor on HDNet (2,129)
2. UFC Ultimate Fighter (1,422)
3. WWE Monday Night Raw (1,119)
4. Dragon Gate Infinity (867)
5. WWE Smackdown (634)
6. Bellator Fighting (489)
7. New Japan Pro wrestling (223)
8. WWE Superstars (206)
9. AAA (162)
10. CMLL (125)
Honorable Mention: TNA Impact (108)
Worked Match of the Year
1. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels 3/28 Phoenix (1,885)
2. Tyler Black vs. Davey Richards 6/19 Toronto (1,711)
3. Bryan Danielson vs. Shingo Takagi 7/24 Philadelphia (1,099)
4. BxB Hulk vs. Shingo Takagi 7/11 Kobe (695)
5. Chris Hero vs. Akira Tozara 9/5 Reseda (566)
6. Prince Devitt vs. Naomichi Marufuji 6/19 Osaka (365)
7. Koji Kanemoto vs. Fujita Hayato 12/20/09 Tokyo (321) (Why is this included?)
8. Chris Hero/Claudio Castagnoli vs. Shelton Benjamin/Charlie Haas 9/11 New York (282)
9. Chris Sabin/Alex Shelley vs. Robert Roode/James Storm 8/12 Orlando (277)
10. Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler 10/24 Minneapolis (189)
Honorable Mentions: Prince Devitt/Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kota Ibushi/Kenny Omega 10/11 Tokyo (182), Prince Devitt vs. Naomichi Marufuji 1/20 Tokyo (178), Kurt Angle vs. Mr. Anderson 4/18 St. Charles (165), Naomichi Marufuji vs. Koji Kanemoto 3/5 Tokyo (145), Volador Jr vs. La Sombra 8/30 Mexico City (122), LA Park vs. La Parka 6/6 Mexico City (94), BxB Hulk/Masato Yoshino/Naruki Doi vs. GAMMA/CIMA/Dragon Kid 3/27 Phoenix (87), Prince Devitt vs. Kota Ibushi 6/13 Sapporo (83), Naruki Doi vs. Masato Yoshino 3/22 Tokyo (70)
SHOOT MATCH OF THE YEAR
1. LEONARD GARCIA VS. CHAN SUNG JUNG 4/24 SACRAMENTO (1,834)
2. Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 8/7 Oakland (1,794)
3. Chris Leben vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama 7/3 Las Vegas (1,302)
4. Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin 7/3 Las Vegas (847)
5. Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez 12/19/09 San Jose (736)
6. Jorge Santiago vs. Kazuo Misaki 8/22 Tokyo (463)
7. Michael Zambidis vs. Chahid 10/3 Seoul (365)
8. Yves Jabouin vs. Mark Hominick 6/20 Edmonton (205)
9. Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez 10/23 Anaheim (182)
10. Shane Roller vs. Anthony Pettis 8/18 Las Vegas (91)
HONORABLE MENTION: Jose Aldo Jr. vs. Urijah Faber 4/24 Sacramento (72)
Rookie of the Year
1. Adam Cole (2,189)
2. Green Ant (989)
3. Rich Swann (805)
4. Kazuki Hashimoto (703)
5. Tama Tonga (694)
6. Percy Watson (388)
7. The Usos (271)
8. Naomi (173)
9. King Fale (149)
10. Christina Von Eerie (139)
Honorable Mentions: Kyosuke Mikami (120), Hiromu Takahashi (108), Tamina (77)
Best Non-Wrestler
1. Vickie Guerrero (1,935)
2. Jim Cornette (1,072)
3. Ricardo Rodriguez (698)
4. Michael Cole (679)
5. Mike Briscoe (342)
6. Ric Flair (285)
7. Eric Bischoff (273)
8. Paul Bearer (198)
9. Truth Martini (16)
10. Teddy Long (156)
Honorable Mentions: Hulk Hogan (147), Dana White (135), Vince McMahon (84)
Best TV Announcer
1. Joe Rogan (1,912)
2. Michael Schiavello (784)
3. CM Punk (525)
4. Mike Goldberg (480)
5. Josh Matthews (477)
6. Mike Hogewood (442)
7. Taz (313)
8. Michael Cole (302)
9. Dave Prazak (279)
10. Stephan Bonnar (270)
Honorable Mentions: Mike Tenay (217), Jimmy Smith (158), Kevin Kelly (142), Dr. Alfonso Morales (120), Mauro Ranallo (115), Matt Striker (100), Jim Cornette (96), Jerry Lawler (75)
Worst TV Announcer
1. Michael Cole (2,167)
2. Matt Striker (1,645)
3. Todd Grisham (726)
4. Jerry Lawler (448)
5. Mike Tenay (313)
6. Mike Hogewood (292)
7. Taz (185)
8. Dave Prazak (157)
9. Josh Matthews (106)
10. Maruo Ranailo (99)
Best Major Wrestling Show
1. UFC 116 7/3 Las Vegas (1,312)
2. ROH Death Before Dishonor 6/19 Toronto (1,264)
3. WWE Wrestlemania 3/28 Phoenix (762)
4. PWG 7 7/30 Reseda (626)
5. New Japan 10/11 Yokyo (624)
6. Dragon Gate USA: Enter the Dragon 7/24 Philadelphia (536)
7. WEC 48 4/24 Sacramento (533)
8. Strikeforce 12/19/09 San Jose (294)
9. New Japan 1/4 Tokyo Dome (291)
10. WWE Money in the Bank 7/18 Kansas City (267)
Honorable Mentions: Dragon Gate Uprising 5/8 Mississauga (255), K-1 World Grand Prix 12/5/09 Tokyo (235), CMLL Dos Leyenadas 3/19 Mexico City (175), Dragon Gate 7/11 Kobe (163), UFC 117 8/7 Oakland (163), ROH Big Bang 4/3 Charlotte (158), ROH Glory By Honor 9/11 New York (114), Dragon Gate USA Mercury Rising 3/27 Phoenix (81)
WORST MAJOR WRESTLING SHOW
1. TNA HARDCORE JUSTICE 8/8 ORLANDO172
2. TNA Turning Point 11/7 Orlando126
3. WWE Bragging Rights 10/24 Minneapolis72
4. WWE Survivor Series 11/21 Miami37
5. TNA Destination X 3/21 Orlando33
6. WWE Over the Limit 5/23 Detroit18
7. TNA Bound for Glory 10/10 Daytona Beach17
8. Strikeforce on CBS 4/17 Nashville17
9. TNA Sacrifice 5/16 Orlando15
10. Impact Fighting Championships 7/18 Sydney14
BEST WRESTLING MANEUVER
1. RICOCHET DOUBLE ROTATION MOONSAULT178
2. Daniel Bryan LeBell lock117
3. Justin Gabriel 450 splash57
4. Prince Devitt Bloody Sunday DDT56
5. Kota Ibushi Golden star press40
6. Shinsuke Nakamura bom a ye39
7. Randy Orton DDT37
8. Naomichi Marufuji Tiger frosien27
9. Evan Bourne shooting star press24
10. Pac 360 shooting star press20
HONORABLE MENTION: Generation Me More Bang for Your Buck 19, Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli KRS-1 17,
Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley Skull & Bones 15
MOST DISGUSTING PROMOTIONAL TACTIC
1. STAND UP FOR WWE CAMPAIGN168
2. Rob Terry chair shot75
3. Tommy Dreamer bloodbath in front of his young daughters57
4. John Cena firing angle46
5. Vickie Guerrero constantly promoted as fat and ugly39
6. Eric Young concussion angle comedy19
7. TNA making Jeff Hardy world champion while indicted17
WORST TELEVISION SHOW
1. TNA IMPACT402
2. WWE NXT184
3. WWE Smackdown25
4. WWE Raw22
5. AAA18
WORST MATCH OF THE YEAR
1. KAITLYN VS. MAXINE 10/19 EDMONTON223
2. Vince McMahon vs. Bret Hart 3/28 Phoenix197
3. Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia 4/10 Abu Dhabi53
4. Undertaker vs. Kane Hell in a Cell 10/3 Dallas51
5. Andre Winner vs. Nik Lentz 8/28 Boston32
6. Frank Mir vs. Mirko Cro Cop 9/25 Indianapolis26
7. Konnan vs. Cibernetico 3/12 Aguascalientes10
WORST FEUD OF THE YEAR
1. EDGE VS. KANE296
2. Undertaker vs. Kane113
3. Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff vs. Dixie Carter62
4. EV 2 vs. Fortune55
5. John Cena vs. Nexus41
6. Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase vs. Cody Rhodes25
7. Team 3-D vs. Nasty Boys19
WORST PROMOTION OF THE YEAR
1. TNA562
2. IWA Mid South38
3. WWE25
4. AAA18
5. Strikeforce11
BEST BOOKER
1. JOE SILVA298
2. Gedo & Jado161
3. Mike Quackenbush119
4. Gabe Sapolsky67
5. Adam Pearce58
6. Sean Shelby49
7. Konnan36
8. Hunter Johnston31
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
1. DANA WHITE709
2. Sanshiro Takagi49
3. Cary Silkin27
4. Vince McMahon12
BEST GIMMICK
1. ALBERTO DEL RIO259
2. Nexus79
3. C.M. Punk Straight Edge Society47
4. Santino Marella29
5. Batista25
6. Dashing Cody Rhodes21
7. Pope D’Angelo Dinero18
8. Chael Sonnen12
WORST GIMMICK
1. ORLANDO JORDAN148
2. Mystery General Manager55
3. Eric Young concussion angle52
4. Robbie E51
5. Abyss49
6. Michael Cole32
7. Winter30
8. Hornswoggle26
9. Jeff Hardy heel16
10. EV 215
BEST PRO WRESTLING BOOK
1. COUNTDOWN TO LOCKDOWN BY MICK FOLEY286
2. The World According to Dutch by Dutch Mantel23
3. Heart for the fight by Brian Stann19
4. 101 Strangest matches by Oliver Hurley16
BEST PRO WRESTLING DVD
1. CHRIS JERICHO BREAKING THE CODE274
2. Ricky Steamboat Life Story of the Dragon75
3. Hart Family Anthology62
4. Shawn Michaels My Journey43
5. Best of Raw 1993 & 199432
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Thanks to X who I totally copied and pasted this from.