And…..yeah I can’t say I’m surprised.

It’s that time of year again. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards have been released and that means it is time to hear about how bad WWE is, how great AEW is and how no one really knows any other promotions aside from those two and New Japan. As usual, some of these are going to be good, some of these are going to be in the middle, and some of these are going to either make you laugh or need an aspirin. Let’s get to it.

As usual, I’ll be skipping the MMA awards because they’re still not wrestling.

Wrestler Of The Year – Jon Moxley

I can get this, but the garbage brawls in the main events were starting to grate on me. It was almost always going to be him or Drew McIntyre though and that’s fine. Roman Reigns was great, but he was gone for about half of the year so it’s kind of hard to go with an amazing four months over a very good twelve months.

Most Outstanding Wrestler – Kenny Omega

Are you really surprised by this in any way, shape or form? It’s pretty clear that Meltzer thinks Omega is the greatest thing ever so him winning this is hardly a shock whatsoever.

Tag Team Of The Year – Young Bucks

They don’t hold the Tag Team Titles for most of the year but they’ve won the award five times before so…..yeah of course they win here, despite maybe not being in the top three teams in AEW.

Best Interviews – Eddie Kingston

Yep.

Promotion Of The Year – All Elite Wrestling

Some of you may be noticing a pattern emerging here and while this is far from some ridiculous pick, I think you might be starting to see how these awards are going to go. If you’re talking just WWE vs. AEW then yeah I can see it, but I’d take NXT overall if that’s an option (and fair enough if it wasn’t).

Best Weekly TV Series – AEW Dynamite

It’s a toss up between this and NXT, though Ring of Honor’s Pure Tournament stuff was quite good. Again though: with a six month hiatus, how much praise can you really give them? Same with NXT UK, though the hour being chopped off is a helpful tool.

Match Of The Year – Kenny Omega/Hangman Page vs. Young Bucks

That’s what I had too.

MVP Awards

USA – Kenny Omega

Japan – Tetsuya Naito

Mexico – Rey Fenix

Europe – Walter

Non-Heavyweight – Hiromu Takahashi

Women’s Wrestling – Bayley

These continue to be the most pointless awards of the year, but given that Fenix wrestled in Mexico FIVE TIMES in 2020 (and not at all from March 7 – December 12), I think there might be some better candidates.

Box Office Draw Of The Year – Conor McGregor

The guy fought once for 40 seconds in January. This is a totally realistic comparison to wrestlers appearing for free on television 52 weeks a year.

Feud Of The Year – Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston

I had it on my list of options but went with Bayley vs. Sasha Banks instead. Part of the problem is they only had two matches, one of which was thrown onto TV because of Lance Archer being held off the show. The promos were great, but I could go with a bit more than something that lasted about five weeks, started out of necessity more than a plan, and had some pretty obvious results.

By the way: that is now eight awards (not counting ones including MMA or the regional MVPs) and AEW has swept the year. WWE’s lone win: their international developmental champion who didn’t appear for six months and wrestles elsewhere.

Most Improved – Britt Baker

I could see this one, but I’m really not sure I can go with it. Bobby Lashley had a banner year and seemed primed to FINALLY move into the main event. Roman Reigns is the best heel in years (again: time issue). Bayley found every groove you could want as a heel. But then there’s Main Event Jey Uso, who may I remind you is JEY USO IN THE MAIN EVENT. Baker was very good and I don’t see it as some horrible choice, but Uso blows this away for me, just due to the surprise factor alone.

Most Charismatic – Maxwell Jacob Friedman

If you go with the stuff before the Inner Circle, it’s hard to argue. Sidenote: Orange Cassidy got second place. Isn’t his thing that he doesn’t have charisma or energy or anything close to it 90% of the time?

Best Technical Wrestler – Zach Sabre Jr.

That guy is so good with this stuff that he scares me, mainly because I don’t know how he is doing what I’m watching. I’d say that qualifies (and it has for seven years in a row now).

Best Brawler – Jon Moxley

His brawls aren’t even that great. I’m not sure who I would give this to, but I don’t think it’s Moxley. Lance Archer maybe? His are a bit more entertaining a good chunk of the time.

Best Flying Wrestler – Rey Fenix

I mean, he misses a lot of stuff but there are times where I can’t believe what I’m seeing from him so yeah I’m good with this too.

Most Overrated – Bray Wyatt

One day I’m going to need to get a definition of overrated, because it seems to be a lot closer to overpushed than anything else. And hey: WWE won something! Sure it’s a negative award but the streak is broken!

Most Underrated – Ricochet

Again: who thinks Ricochet is underrated? People are begging for him to be more regularly pushed. That’s not what underrated means, at least anywhere else. By the way: this is now 24 years in a row (and 27/28) that a WWE wrestler has won this award.

Rookie Of The Year – Pat McAfee

I would have been actually mad if this had been ANYONE else.

Best Non-Wrestler – Taz

I had Pat McAfee as he barely wrestled, but Taz is a fine choice as he has revitalized his career.

Best Television Announcer – Excalibur

Not until he learns how to properly say “combination”. Excalibur isn’t the best commentator on either show he appears on, nor is he anywhere close to the best in the business today. That goes to the criminally underrated Ian Riccaboni, who makes wrestling sound like a sport, makes Nickelodeon and TGIF references and seems like the nicest guy in the world. This is the most wrong of all the choices, but I guess commentary stopped being about telling stories etc. and becoming more about knowing who invented an armbar in Japan thirty years ago while wearing a mask and insulting JR for suggesting that Mid-South was good.

Worst Television Announcer – Michael Cole

Is that who is under Excalibur’s mask?

Best Major Wrestling Show – Revolution

I didn’t even have to look it up. I’m going to assume that Takeovers don’t count as major shows because I need to keep my blood pressure low and move on.

Worst Major Wrestling Show – Super Showdown

It’s the only show where I felt guilty for watching it so I think that qualifies.

Best Wrestling Maneuver – One Winged Angel

You knew this was coming as that’s 4/5 years in a row. I can’t wait for someone to kick out of that thing so we can stop acting like it’s the legdrop or Stunner.

Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic – WWE Releases Wrestlers While Making Record Profits

And no. Back in April, WWE released a few dozen wrestlers. Some of the names included:

Eric Young

EC3

Mike/Maria Kanellis

Aiden English

Heath Slater

Curt Hawkins

Sarah Logan

Primo/Epico

No Way Jose

Curtis Axel

There were other names and yeah some of them (Rusev/Good Brothers) felt pretty ridiculous. But look at that list of 12 names and tell me who had any serious value in WWE. Not who COULD have had value, but which of them was more than house show filler at the time of/within let’s say six months of their release.

Yeah it sounds harsh that they were released, but WWE isn’t a charity and as William Regal once said, no one owes you a living. The same is true of the agents who were furloughed: there aren’t as many shows taking place, so what are they supposed to get paid to do? I get the knee jerk reaction to this (and I had one as well because it was so shocking), but WWE has done this kind of spring cleaning for YEARS (not as much recently, but it’s hardly some unheard of idea) and it wasn’t a big deal. Low level wrestlers got released. That’s not disgusting.

You know what is? Matt Hardy flying off of a lift, slamming his head onto the concrete and being cleared about three minutes later so he could climb the set to do a stunt to end a match with Sammy Guevara at All Out. What WWE did was business (not nice business, but business). What AEW did with Hardy was disgusting.

Worst Television Show – Raw

At least it didn’t have Tommy Dreamer as a featured star, a still going feud over a wad of money, a portal to another dimension so the wrestlers could have a reality show, Eric Young as World Champion and a whodunit over a manager getting shot at a wedding by someone who was changed into another personality by cologne. Oh or another promotion coming in to constantly point out how pathetic the show is. I can’t imagine how badly that show would be seen. The more I read these things, the more convince I am that I’m the only person who watches ROH and Impact.

Worst Match Of The Year – Bray Wyatt vs. Braun Strowman (Swamp Fight)

I went with that too, though if you want to go with an actual match, that time where Matt Hardy’s head bounced off of some concrete and he continued the match in a few minutes because AEW’s concussion protocol can be done faster than defrosting a frozen General Tso’s chicken might qualify.

Worst Feud Of The Year – Braun Strowman vs. Bray Wyatt

That’s kind of hard to argue.

Worst Promotion Of The Year – WWE

AEW’S OWNER IS COMING TO IMPACT WRESTLING EVERY WEEK TO TELL THEM HOW MUCH THEY SUCK AND IMPACT’S OWNERS ARE COMPLETELY OK WITH THIS!!! As usual, fans think that Raw is all WWE does and as usual, those people are wrong.

Also, the Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic Award was related to WWE’s business practices. Those practices are making them millions upon millions upon millions of dollars a year, not counting the latest (yes latest) BILLION dollar deal that they announced early in 2021. Yeah they have one bad TV show, but they probably make more in a month than most promotions do in a year. Now what’s worse: a bad TV show from a company making no money or a bad TV show from a company making more money than we could ever hope to spend in a lifetime?

Best Booker – Tony Khan (AEW)

You knew (wait for it)

Best Promoter – Tony Khan (AEW)

It was coming (there you go)

Best Gimmick – Orange Cassidy

When your gimmick is being lazy, I’m not sure how much praise it is worth. At least he’s back down in the midcard where he belongs.

Worst Gimmick – The Fiend

It won Best Gimmick in the year of a DQ inside the Cell and wins Worst Gimmick here. What a fickle bunch. I’d probably go with Dexter Lumis, but I get that he has an audience.

Best Pro Wrestling Book – Killing The Business (The Young Bucks)

I have a wrestling bookshelf across the room from me, plus a pile next to me at the moment. Between those we have:

The Eighth Wonder Of The World (Bertrand Herbert/Pat Laparde)

Under The Black Hat (Jim Ross)

Rowdy (Ariel/Colton Tombs)

Master Of The Ring (Tim Hornbaker, which I don’t own but want to pick up)

Take any 320 pages out of those (it can be from any book in any order) and I have a feeling it’s going to be better written/more interesting than the Bucks’ story.

Documentary Of The Year – Owen Hart (Dark Side Of The Ring)

That wasn’t even the best episode of the season, but I can go with it for the emotional impact.

Final tally (ignoring awards for things other than wrestling/regional MVPs and one off wins from outside the big two):

AEW – 19

WWE – 10 (8 negative, with Underrated being kind of a negative as well)

I have no issue buying that AEW was better than Raw, Smackdown and NXT, but come on with some of these. Raw for Worst TV Show? Cole as Worst Announcer? Excalibur as Best Announcer? WWE as Worst Promotion (again: IMPACT IS HAPPY WITH AEW COMING OVER AND INSULTING THEM!)? The Bucks get book of the year?

I’ve said many times before that there is no such thing as being unbiased in reviewing (it’s literally impossible). That’s all well and good, but there is a difference between being somewhat biased and just picking what you like and going against what you don’t like. These awards have felt like they are more the anti-WWE awards for years and if that’s what the people voting think then rock on, but good grief with some of these.

WWE wasn’t great in 2020, but it’s not like AEW was that much better. These would have you believe that 2000 WCW was laughing at WWE and it just wasn’t that bad. I’m not upset about any of them (save for the Promotional Tactic deal, which was just dumb) but I’m also not surprised by some of the most ridiculous ones.

They’re back! So what if it’s mid-March? That’s totally fine in announcing the annual New Japan is Better Than You Awards and that’s what we have here. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards are back and I already have a bad feeling about them. As usual I’ll be listing the winners and giving a quick comment about each. I won’t list the top five for each unless something stands out to me.

1. Wrestler of the Year – Kazuchika Okada

Yep. Aside from AJ Styles, there’s no one in the same universe right now.

2. Most Outstanding Wrestler – Kazuchika Okada

I say it every year and I have it explained to me every year but I still have no idea why these first two both need to exist.

3. Tag Team of the Year – The Young Bucks

Maybe the Usos can win next year if they name a move after Meltzer.

4. Best on Interviews – Conor McGregor

Oh here we go. Again: it certainly must help when you only have to talk when you’re getting ready for a fight and have no restrictions. I have no idea why this is considered a fair comparison but maybe I’m just too much of a wrestling fan to understand these things.

5. Promotion of the Year – New Japan

Makes sense. WWE had a good but not great year and New Japan is almost always quality.

6. Best Weekly TV Show – New Japan on AXS

Being a highlight/Best Of show certainly must help. Being the Elite was fourth and Raw was NINTH. It’s really not that bad people.

7. Match of the Year – Okada vs. Omega – Wrestle Kingdom

No WWE match in the top five, Okada with four of the top five. You knew this was getting the top spot and nothing else was going to come close, but that’s to be expected.

8. Feud of the Year – Okada vs. Omega

I didn’t even have to look at the results. UFC had two of the top five spots.

9. Most Charismatic – Tetsuya Naito

Fair enough. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him.

10. Best Technical Wrestler Zach Sabre Jr.

That guy does stuff that I can’t even describe and makes it look like the most natural thing in the world. It’s rare that I consider someone a treat to watch but that’s the case with him.

11. Best Brawler – Tomohiro Ishii

Not my style but I get it.

12. Best Flying Wrestler – Will Ospreay

Yep. Well maybe Ricochet, who came in second.

13. Most Overrated – Jinder Mahal

WWE got four of the top six (with five being a tie). Braun Strowman was ninth. Seriously.

14. Most Underrated – Rusev

I usually scratch my head at this one but there’s very little argument here.

15. Rookie of the Year – Ketsuya Kitamura

I’ve heard good things so sure.

16. Best Non-Wrestler – Daniel Bryan

This is a sentimental pick as Zelina Vega ran away with this thing (and finished second).

17. Best TV Announcer – Mauro Ranallo

You knew that was getting the pick and I can’t argue with it.

18. Worst TV Announcer – Booker T.

I’d have gone with Watson, who took second. At least Booker has a resume while Watson is just a person you might remember if you like stupid gimmicks and bad wrestling.

19. Best Major Wrestling Show – Wrestle Kingdom XI

I’d have gone with Takeover: Chicago but this is more than acceptable.

20. Worst Major Wrestling Show – Battleground

It had the Punjabi Prison match.

21. Best Wrestling Move – One Winged Angel

You know, that move that he hits over and over and barely ever wins with the thing.

22. Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic – WWE Promoting Jimmy Snuka As A Hero

Yeah that’s kind of hard to argue.

23. Worst TV Show – Raw

OH SCREW OFF! This award should be named after Impact but it’s WWE so we must run it into the ground. Good grief no.

24. Worst Match of the Year – Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton – Wrestlemania XXXIII

The title that Bruno, Hogan and Austin wore was involved in a match containing roaches and maggots. Moving on.

25. Worst Feud of the Year – Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton

It was either this or Mahal vs. Orton.

26. Worst Promotion – TNA

But remember: they had a better weekly TV show and not as bad of a pay per view!

27. Best Booker – Gedo

Again, didn’t need to look.

28. Promoter of the Year – Takaai Kidani – New Japan

Same duh as before.

29. Best Gimmick – Los Ingobernables de Japon

Velveteen Dream got second.

30. Worst Gimmick – Bray Wyatt and Sister Abigail

I’d go with Mahal for longevity as Abigail was only a few weeks long.

31. Best Pro-Wrestling Book – Crazy Like a Fox: The Brian Pillman Story

I need to get that as I’ve heard good things.

32. Best Documentary – Ric Flair: 30 For 30

Like it was going to be anything else.

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Category A Awards

Wrestler of the Year – AJ Styles

MMA Most Valuable – Conor McGregor

Most Outstanding Wrestler – AJ Styles

Most Outstanding Fighter – Conor McGregor

Enough MMA in the wrestling awards.

Best Box Office Draw – Conor McGregor

Feud of the Year – Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz.

Erg here we go again. The top wrestling feud was AJ Styles vs. John Cena, which was nearly quadrupled in points.

Tag Team of the Year – Young Bucks

Most Improved – Matt Riddle

Best on Interviews – Conor McGregor

Most Charismatic – Conor McGregor

Nakamura was second.

Bryan Danielson Award (Best Technical Wrestler) – Zack Sabre Jr

Hard to argue that one, especially with some of the stuff he did in the Cruiserweight Classic.

Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler) – Tomohiro Ishii

Best Flying Wrestler – Will Ospreay

Most Overrated – Roman Reigns

Most Underrated – Cesaro

Promotion of the Year – New Japan

Best Weekly TV Show – New Japan

Match of the Year – Tanahashi vs. Okada (January 4)

MMA Match of the Year – Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit – January 2

Rookie of the Year – Matt Riddle

Best Non-Wrestler – Dario Cueto

Best TV Announcer – Mauro Ranallo

Was this ever in doubt? Corey Graves was a close second.

Worst TV Announcer – David Otunga

Why does he have a job? Aside from being married to Jennifer Hudson that is.

Best Major Wrestling Show – Wrestle Kingdom

Category B Awards

Worst Major Wrestling Show – Wrestlemania XXXII

I was there and I got bored.

Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic – Bellator Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 500 Fight

Worst TV Show – Raw

Am I really the only person who still watches Impact?

Worst Match of the Year – Shelley Martinez vs. Rebel – TNA One Night Only

Makes sense. It also makes my head hurt.

Worst Promotion of the Year – TNA

Best Booker – Gedo

Of course. He scored 851 points, or nearly ten times second place.

Promoter of the Year – Dana White

Real promotion/sport. Fake promotion/sport. Totally the same thing.

Best Gimmick – Broken Matt Hardy

If this was ANYTHING else, they were kidding themselves.

Worst Gimmick – Bone Soldier

Best Pro Wrestling Book – Ali vs. Inoki

Best Pro Wrestling DVD – Seth Rollins: Redesign, Rebuild, Reclaim

People still watch DVDs in the Network Era?