Daily News Update – January 25, 2023

5. Men’s Royal Rumble – Royal Rumble
4. New Day vs. Brawling Brutes – Wrestlemania XXXVIII
3. Nikkita Lyons vs. Lash Legend – NXT – April 26
2. Vince McMahon vs. Pat McAfee – Wrestlemania XXXVIII
1. Ric Flair/Andrade El Idolo vs. Jay Lethal/Jeff Jarrett – Ric Flair’s Last Match

Like this could be anything else. This wasn’t so much a match as much as it was a horrible embarrassment/a cry for help. There were parts of the match that were acceptable, which you knew would be the case with the other three involved. But then Flair teased a heart attack and had to lay on the apron because he couldn’t stand. This match made me feel wrong to be watching it and you could almost feel Flair and Conrad Thompson counting the money in their heads throughout the whole thing. This is a runaway #1 and nothing is touching it.

Rookie/Newcomer Of The Year (As in rookie/newcomer on a show, not new to wrestling. And no, I won’t be cutting them off if they had a match or two in 2021.)

5. Raquel Rodriguez
4. Roxanne Perez
3. Pretty Deadly
2. Hook
1. Logan Paul

Like this could have been anyone else. I had barely heard of Paul before he showed up in WWE but then he gets announced for a match at Wrestlemania. Then he’s winning there, beating Miz at Summerslam, and blowing it out of the park in a Saudi main event against Roman Reigns. This is something that felt like it should have been a horrible joke and wound up being a massive success. Paul has more than proven himself and it was a blast to watch him more often than not.

Worst Wrestler Of The Year (Not counting people who had one or two matches that is)

5. Shanky
4. Kip Sabian
3. Lash Legend
2. Top Dolla
1. Aliyah

Aliyah debuted in NXT in 2015. Roman Reigns hadn’t even headlined Wrestlemania yet and Aliyah had her first match under the WWE banner. How in the freaking world has she not picked up SOMETHING yet? There are worse wrestlers out there, but how is it possible that she hasn’t gotten at least the basics down at this point? I had to think about this one for a bit and then thought back to what Aliyah had done in her career. Realizing how long it had been was enough to put this one over the edge.

Worst Angle Of The Year

5. Jade Cargill And The Baddies
4. Andrade/Hardy Family Office Contract Nonsense
3. Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin/Madcap Moss
2. Jay Lethal/Jeff Jarrett vs. Ric Flair/Andrade El Idolo (There was a build to that monstrosity.)
1. Kip Sabian Has A Box On His Head

This went on for months and for the life of me I still cannot tell you what in the world the point was supposed to be. Sabian literally sat there for months (without being acknowledged for most of the time), eventually unboxed, and then lost to Pac before the whole thing was dropped and not mentioned again. I have no idea what they were going for here and I don’t think AEW does either.

Title Reign Of The Year

5. Bron Breakker – NXT TItle
4. Josh Alexander – Impact Wrestling World Title
3. Roman Reigns – Undisputed WWE World Title
2. Usos – WWE Tag Team Titles
1. Gunther – Intercontinental Title

This has been the year of the long title reigns and really, some of them are getting boring. We’ve seen the Usos and Reigns hold their titles for so long that you know nothing is going to happen to them for a very long time. The same is true of Alexander and Breakker, as there are only a few people who are going to take the title from him. That left me with Gunther, who has made the title seem so much more important, while also having the longest title reign in over ten years (even if you might not have realized it). Gunther takes this one for me, as I want to see how much longer he can hold the thing.

Surprise Of The Year (In-Ring/Storyline Only)

5. Bray Wyatt Returns
4. Cody Rhodes Returns
3. Bayley/Damage Ctrl Returns
2. Sami Zayn Makes The Bloodline So Much Better
1. Steve Austin Wrestles

This is one of those things that I never thought I would actually see and then it actually happened. That is the kind of wonder that you do not get in wrestling very often but dang is it a special moment. I don’t think there was any doubt that Austin would do something physical, but how many people had “Steve Austin is going to main event Wrestlemania” back in October 2021? This wins by a landslide and it felt special, even to a not very big Austin fan.

Daily News Update – January 15, 2023

Make sure you check out some recent reviews:

Royal Rumble 2008 (2022 Edition)

Impact Wrestling – January 12, 2023

Smackdown – January 13, 2023

Rampage – January 13, 2023

Royal Rumble 2009 (2013 Edition)

Hard To Kill 2023

Who’s Up Next: New WWE Tournament Announced To Crown #1 Contenders.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/whos-next-new-wwe-tournament-announced-crown-1-contenders/

WATCH: Bray Wyatt Takes A Surprising Turn On SmackDown.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-bray-wyatt-takes-surprising-turn-smackdown/

Change Of Plans: Update On Ronda Rousey’s WWE Status.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/change-plans-update-ronda-rouseys-wwe-status/

WATCH: Steve Austin Works Does The Weather And Works The Drive Thru At Restaurant.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-steve-austin-works-weather-drive-thru-restaurant/

Things Change: What Might Happen To Vince McMahon If WWE Is Sold.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/things-change-might-happen-vince-mcmahon-wwe-sold/

It’s A Start: Possible Backstage Heat On Mercedes Mone (Sasha Banks) In New Japan.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/start-possible-backstage-heat-mercedes-mone-new-japan/

Cash Out? FOX Reportedly Losing A Fortune By Airing WWE SmackDown.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/cash-out-fox-reportedly-losing-a-fortune-by-airing-wwe-smackdown/

WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE Titles To Be Split Very Soon.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-wwe-titles-split-soon/

Double Ouch: Two Injuries Take Place During AEW Best Of Seven Trios Series.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/double-ouch-two-injuries-take-place-aew-best-seven-trios-series/

There She Goes: Former WWE Star Officially Announces Retirement From Wrestling.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/goes-former-wwe-star-officially-announces-retirement-wrestling/

Time Off: FTR Taking Time Away From AEW, Contracts Expiring Soon.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/time-off-ftr-taking-time-away-aew-contracts-expiring-soon/

Already: Vince McMahon Rumored To Have Problems With Some WWE Departments.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/already-vince-mcmahon-reportedly-problems-wwe-departments/

WATCH: Lacey Evans Has Awkward Interaction With Fan.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-lacey-evans-awkward-interaction-fan/

WATCH: WWE Superstar Goes Missing, Help Requested To Find Him.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-wwe-superstar-goes-missing-help-requested-find/

As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page.

Best Of 2022 Awards Part 2

We have some more.

Moment Of The Year

5. Brock Lesnar Lifts The Ring With A Bulldozer
4. CM Punk’s All Out Rant
3. Cody Rhodes Is Back
2. Stephanie McMahon Announces Vince McMahon’s Retirement
1. Steve Austin Wrestles Again

This continues to support my mantra of NEVER SAY NEVER in wrestling. Austin retired back in 2003 and has not wrestled since. But then, one day, Kevin Owens called Austin out for an appearance at Wrestlemania XXXVIII. You knew something was going to happen, but then it got even bigger as Owens challenged Austin to a No Holds Barred match. Austin gave an amazing face where you could see the wheels turning….and then he said yes. The bell rang and we were actually seeing it again. And then it was good! This was one of those things I never thought I would see but there it was, right in front of your eyes.

Angle Of The Year

5. Mickie James’ Last Rodeo
4. Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch
3. FTR vs. Briscoes
2. CM Punk vs. MJF
1. Bloodline

Where do you begin? It is very rare in wrestling for a story to keep going on for so long and not get dull. The Bloodline manages to find ways to keep going, even with Roman Reigns barely around a lot of the time. To top the whole thing off, you have Sami Zayn, who is trying his hardest to give the Bloodline a higher level of Ucey, but Reigns isn’t exactly pleased with what he’s doing. I want to see where things go week to week and that is not something I get to say very often.

Feud Of The Year

5. Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch
4. RKBro vs. Usos
3. Brawling Brutes vs. Imperium
2. MJF vs. CM Punk
1. FTR vs. The Briscoes

I was going back and forth between this one and MJF vs. Punk, but so much of MJF vs. Punk took place in 2021 that FTR and the Briscoes just beat it out. At the end of the day, there is nothing that is topping three instant classics like those three had and nothing was going to beat it. They had an awesome segment before their first match, because we can’t have the Briscoes on AEW TV so at least they had something in the way of talking. It was outstanding and they somehow kept it amazing throughout the entire feud.

News Story Of The Year

5. Wrestlers Return To WWE
4. HHH Is In charge
3. Naomi/Sasha Banks Walk Out
2. Brawl Out
1. Vince McMahon Retires

Ok so this one is already a little bit out of date, but there is nothing that comes close to touching this one. You can have your Brawl Out and all that, but the person who modernized professional wrestling and has dominated the industry for 20+ years walked away from the company he built into a global juggernaut. That is the kind of game changers that you do not see in wrestling ever and now we are dealing with the insane fallout. McMahon retiring was the story of the year, if not the story of the decade.

Match Of The Year

5. Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins – Hell In A Cell
4. FTR vs. Briscoes – Final Battle
3. Sheamus vs. Gunther – Clash At The Castle
2. CM Punk vs. MJF – Revolution
1. FTR vs. Briscoes – Supercard Of Honor

We’ll start with the best/and then there’s this (depending on which way this is posted), as you had two teams stealing the show on the biggest wrestling weekend of the year. It was the match that I knew I had to see and it blew away any and all expectations. Throw in the fact that it was a clean match that ran almost half an hour and never once felt long and you know you have something special. I can’t praise this match enough as it more than blew away the considerable hype.

Wrestler Of The Year

5. Bianca Belair
4. Josh Alexander
3. Sami Zayn
2. Jay White
1. Roman Reigns

One of the best things a wrestler can have is presence and that is where Reigns shines. You can feel something special whenever he is in on screen and it makes a huge difference. The Bloodline has featured some amazing moments, all of which revolve around Reigns. Throw in the fact that he has the matches to back it up and this is one of the easier picks of the year so far.

Daily News Update – January 13, 2023

Make sure you check out some recent reviews.

NXT LVL Up – January 6, 2023

Royal Rumble 2003 (2017 Redo)

Royal Rumble 2004 (2018 Redo)

Monday Night Raw – January 9, 2023

NXT – January 10, 2023 (New Year’s Evil)

Royal Rumble 2005 (2019 Redo)

Royal Rumble 2006 (2020 Redo)

Dynamite – January 11, 2023

ECW On Sci Fi – March 11, 2008

Royal Rumble 2007 (2021 Redo)

WATCH: Kurt Angle Kisses Undertaker At WWE Live Event, Undertaker Isn’t Happy

https://wrestlingrumors.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=115881

They’re Up? Former NXT Champions Make Main Roster Debuts

https://wrestlingrumors.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=115883&action=edit&classic-editor

The Thinking Behind It: Here Is WWE’s Reasoning Behind Taking Money In The Bank To London

https://wrestlingrumors.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=115886&action=edit&classic-editor

VIDEO: Sami Zayn Tries To Be Roman Reigns In Huge Main Event

https://wrestlingrumors.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=115888&action=edit&classic-editor

The More You Know: AEW’s Kyle O’Reilly Opens Up About His Absence, Dealing With Health Issues

https://wrestlingrumors.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=115892&action=edit&classic-editor

He’s Special: Eric Bischoff Claims Brock Lesnar Has This Special Privilege In WWE

https://wrestlingrumors.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=115895&action=edit&classic-editor

Ouch: New AEW Star Injured At Big Independent Show Over The Weekend.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/ouch-new-aew-star-injured-big-independent-show-weekend/

All Cleared Up: Monday Night Raw Star Returns From Suspension, Set For Royal Rumble.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/cleared-monday-night-raw-star-returns-suspension-set-royal-rumble/

Down Again: Current WWE Champion “Banged Up”, Out Of Action.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/current-wwe-champion-banged-action/

Another One: Former WWE Star Reportedly Back With Company, Waiting For Debut.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/another-one-former-wwe-star-reportedly-back-company-waiting-debut/

Good News: Positive Update On Seth Rollins’ Health Status.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/good-news-positive-update-seth-rollins-health-status/

Out Of Two, One? WWE Teases Separating Some United Titles.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/two-one-wwe-teases-separating-united-titles/

No More: Wrestling Couple Announces Official Separation.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/no-wrestling-couple-announces-official-separation/

Not So Fast? WWE’s Plans For Edge Seem To Have Changed.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-fast-wwes-plans-edge-seem-changed/

He’s New: WWE Reportedly Signs Former New Japan Star.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/hes-new-wwe-reportedly-signs-former-new-japan-star/

Farewell: Wrestling Legend Says His Career Is “Probably Over”.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/farewell-wrestling-legend-says-career-probably/

Up For Grabs: Former IWGP World Champion Jay White Free Agent Soon, WWE And AEW Interested.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/grabs-former-iwgp-world-champion-jay-white-free-agent-soon-wwe-aew-interested/

She’s All Gone Now: More Details On Stephanie McMahon Leaving WWE (Again).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/shes-gone-now-details-stephanie-mcmahon-leaving-wwe/

VIDEO: Five Stars Make Surprise Returns This Week On NXT.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-five-stars-make-surprise-returns-week-nxt/

That Could Mean Something: AEW Star Posts Cryptic Message, Says “Bye”.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/mean-something-aew-star-posts-cryptic-message-says-bye/

Welcome Back Soon! NXT Announces Two Stars Returning In The Near Future.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/welcome-back-soon-nxt-announces-two-stars-returning-near-future/

WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE Sold To Saudi Arabia, Huge Change Coming To Company.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/rumor-wwe-sold-saudi-arabia-huge-change-coming-company/

WRESTLING RUMORS: When Vince McMahon Could Appear On WWE TV Again.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-vince-mcmahon-appear-wwe-tv/

UPDATE: New Reports Deny Rumor Of WWE Being Sold To Saudi Arabia.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/update-new-reports-deny-rumor-wwe-sold-saudi-arabia/

A Long Time Coming: Injured AEW Star Makes Surprise Return On Dynamite.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/long-time-coming-injured-aew-star-makes-surprise-return-dynamite/

AND NEW! Title Change Takes Place On AEW Dynamite.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/new-title-change-takes-place-aew-dynamite/

As They Should: WWE Team Praised For Recent Efforts, One Member Stands Out.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-team-praised-recent-efforts-one-member-stands/

Switcheroos. WWE Made Multiple Changes To This Week’s Monday Night Raw.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/switcheroos-wwe-made-multiple-changes-weeks-monday-night-raw/

Only Room For One: Former WWE Superstar Accused Of Trying To Get Wrestlers Fired.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/room-one-former-wwe-superstar-accused-trying-get-wrestlers-fired/

They Don’t Approve: Backstage Reaction And More On Rumored WWE Sale.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/dont-approve-backstage-reaction-rumored-wwe-sale/

Time Frame: Here’s When WWE Wants To Finish Sale, Plus Possible Buyers.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/time-frame-heres-wwe-wants-finish-sale-plus-possible-buyers/

Family Business: Update On Shane McMahon’s WWE Status, How Much He Was Paid In 2022.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/keep-family-update-shane-mcmahons-wwe-status-much-made-2022/

It’s That Time: Several Names Possible For WWE Royal Rumble.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/time-several-names-possible-wwe-royal-rumble/

It’s Broken: AEW Sets New Record With This Week’s AEW Dynamite.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/broken-aew-sets-new-record-weeks-aew-dynamite/

WATCH: Max Caster Messes Up Rap During AEW Rampage Taping (And It’s Funny).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-max-caster-messes-rap-aew-rampage-taping-funny/

Upgrade: Positive Update On Hospitalized WWE Hall Of Famer.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/upgrade-positive-update-hospitalized-wwe-hall-famer/

WRESTLING RUMORS: Triple H And Stephanie McMahon Opposed WWE Sale.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-triple-h-stephanie-mcmahon-opposed-wwe-sale/

Farewell? Sting Heavily Hints At Retiring Later This Year.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/farewell-sting-heavily-hints-retiring-later-year/

Best Of 2022 Awards

Just like last year, I’ll be trying to do this over three days. I have 18 awards this year and I’ll be doing six a day, with the top five in each category.

Major Show Of The Year

5. Wrestlemania XXXVIII Night One
4. Death Before Dishonor
3. Survivor Series
2. Revolution
1. Forbidden Door

It might be a cliché, but there is something special about having all of these dream matches leading up to a big time title match main event. This is the kind of show that you only get to see every so often and that made for some of the best action of the year. It isn’t something I would want to see every week, but for a one off special event, it was good enough to make for the best show of the year.

Non-Wrestler Of The Year

5. Shawn Michaels
4. Ian Riccaboni
3. MVP
2. Stokely Hathaway
1. Paul Heyman

Can we just name it after Heyman at this point? The guy has dominated so many similar awards for so long and it’s not fair to see how much better he is than almost anyone else. Heyman doesn’t do as much as he used to, but he can get more out of a look than almost anyone else in wrestling. He has done so much for the Bloodline and that isn’t even counting the time he jumped back to Brock Lesnar for a bit. Heyman is incredible in this role and that isn’t changing anytime soon.

Group/Tag Team Of The Year

5. Briscoes
4. Young Bucks
3. RKBro
2. Usos
1. FTR

While they somehow didn’t win the AEW Tag Team Titles this year, FTR became one of the most respected and popular teams in recent memory. The reactions they were getting were off the charts and it was one classic after another almost every time they were in the ring. Things have started to turn the other way a bit near the end of the year, but sweet goodness they did some incredible stuff for most of the time.

7. Worst Major Show Of The Year

5. In Your House
4. Summerslam
3. Wrestlemania Night Two
2. Elimination Chamber
1. Royal Rumble

This show was bad. The fact that I was in the stadium for the show and had to spend four hours holding my hand over my eyes because the spotlights caused approximately 37 TURN THE LIGHTS OFF chants has nothing to do with this. The Royal Rumbles were next to worthless as they had few interesting returns or good surprises. Throw in a few other fairly meh matches and this show just did not work.

Most Improved Of The Year

5. Matt Menard/Angelo Parker
4. Carmelo Hayes
3. Ricky Starks
2. Jamie Hayter
1. Andre Chase

This might not be a common pick but Chase has turned what should be an absolutely nothing, one note idea into one of the funniest, most entertaining and complete characters in NXT. The Chase U segments have become a highlight for me with Chase being handed something and running with it as far as he can. I know he probably won’t get many votes but Chase has gone from nothing to something very fun and that is a big improvement.

Promo Of The Year

5. Kevin Owens vs. Steve Austin – Wrestlemania XXXVIII
4. CM Punk’s All Out Rant
3. “No filter, I ain’t Instagram. We make the A** Boys retire like Vince McMahon.” – Max Caster – Dynamite – August 3

I can’t pick a #1 so here’s a tie:

1. William Regal vs. MJF – Dynamite – August 16

I was in the arena for this one and it is one of the only times I can remember being hooked on every word. This is the kind of promo that makes you realize just how incredible MJF can be and he sold the heck out of the whole thing. I wanted to see these two fight, but Regal no selling the whole thing and ruining MJF’s moment that he had built up in his head for years made the segment. MJF was good, but he was in over his head and Regal knew it.

1. Jey Uso Hasn’t Been Very Ucey – Smackdown – October 28

I don’t watch a lot of stuff back again but I’ve probably seen this ten times now. There is SO MUCH in this and it goes in so many great directions.

• Jey Uso yelling at Sami Zayn and saying he doesn’t care what Roman Reigns thinks, causing Reigns’ head to snap up and everyone to realize that Jey is about to die.
• Sami trying to calm Reigns down by saying Jey hasn’t been very Ucey, causing Jey to give Sami a double take that says “you did not just say that on national TV” and Reigns to realize he has Jey dead to rites.
• Reigns saying “you’re not feeling very……ucey?” and Jey having to be held in place (Reigns: “No stay right here, stay right here.”) because he knows he’s about to crack on live TV. Then Reigns gets them again by saying Jey needs to find his “inner Ucey” (you can see the huge smile under his hands and Jimmy trying to hide his grin in the background).
• Then to top it off, Reigns gets it back on track by saying if Jey can’t figure this out, Sami Zayn is going to become Sami Uso, leaving Sami looking like a three year old on Christmas morning.

This was serious, hilarious, serious again and then sold thousands of shirts. You don’t get that kind of a segment often and it beats anything (save for one) all year.

I can’t pick. Flip a coin.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.