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we have come to the end of another wretched year, with everything feeling about as low as it can go. but wrestling still seems okay! in the spirit of making everyone feel a little bit better about the world that we all inhabit, vote for superlatives in these most prestigious awards. categories are drawn and stolen wholeheartedly from Wrestling Observer year-end awards. you can vote for as many or as few as you'd like. voting will end at or around 11:59 PM on January 16th. we'll come back at a later time and enjoy all the results, together. make your case for your favorite wrestling work of the year in this thread! tell the world why YOU think Kidd Bandit should be in the running for Most Outstanding because of the Naruto run. hilarious. what a classic. VOTING LINK: https://forms.gle/xjawmfJWMc5y9oPa6 our discussion thread from the previous few months surrounding Observer Awards (which you can use as a signpost because the categories are pretty much ripped off whole-hog here!) are in this thread, if you want to see how others in the forum have been leaning. our gigantic 2021 Pro Wrestling Match of the Year thread is here, if you'd like to peruse and take in what you may have missed before making your vote. 2021 year-end voting for FIGHT ISLAND's MMA awards are in this thread. make sure to vote in both and impact the lives and welfare of the fighters we hold dearly. the categories are here if you want to copy and paste it in this thread or see them before going to the Google Form: code:
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# ? Jan 1, 2022 19:29 |
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# ? May 12, 2024 21:25 |
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I'm starting the HOOK for Most Charismatic campaign right here
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# ? Jan 1, 2022 19:48 |
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By mid-year it seemed worst gimmick was all locked up in a two horse race between Fiend Alexa v Nikki ASH yet it seems likely that neither will win and the race is now between House of Torture v Joe Gacy what an age we live in
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# ? Jan 1, 2022 19:57 |
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Apollo Crews developed a Nigerian accent overnight and he's not even going to crack the top 3
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# ? Jan 1, 2022 20:01 |
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Went back and forth on it, but decided to flip my "worst" match from the thread. I don't tend to watch shows I think are bad, so this list contains ONE (1) show I didn't actually watch, but which objectively observes to be included on principle. (It's the fuckin' zombie thing). Lou Thesz/Ric Flair "Wrestler of the Year" Award: 1. Kenny Omega 2. Roman Reigns 3. Shingo Takagi Most Outstanding Wrestler: 1. Shingo Takagi 2. Bryan Danielson 3. Rey Fenix Tag Team of the Year: 1. The Young Bucks 2. Lucha Bros 3. Dangerous Tekkers Best on Interviews: 1. Eddie Kingston 2. CM Punk 3. MJF Promotion of the Year: 1. All Elite Wrestling 2. Game Changer Wrestling 3. Impact Wrestling Best Weekly TV Show: 1. AEW Rampage 2. AEW Dynamite 3. Impact Wrestling on AXS Pro Wrestling Match of the Year: 1. Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros, All Out 2. Bryan Danielson vs. Hangman Page, Winter is Coming 3. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shingo Takagi, New Beginning Best Show of the Year: 1) AEW Full Gear 2) AEW All Out 3) GCW Homecoming Worst Show of the Year: 1) Triplemania Regia II 2) WWE Wrestlemania Backlash 3) Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, Night 1 Best Wrestling Maneuver: 1) Double Springboard Moonsault, Dante Martin 2) One Winged Angel, Kenny Omega 3) REDRUM, HOOK (meme category gets meme vote) Category "B" Awards: Best Box Office Draw: CM Punk Feud of the Year: Hangman Page vs. Kenny Omega Most Improved: Matt Cardona Most Charismatic: Eddie Kingston Bryan Danielson "Best Technical Wrestler" Award: Zach Sabre Jr. Bruiser Brody Memorial "Best Brawler" Award: Tomohiro Ishii Best Flying Wrestler: Rey Fenix Most Overrated: Will Ospreay Most Underrated: Emi Sakura Rookie of the Year: Dante Martin Best Non-Wrestler: Don Callis Best Television Announcer: Excalibur Worst Television Announcer: Matt Striker Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic: WWE's relationship with Saudi Arabia Worst Television Show: WWE Raw Worst Match of the Year: Toru Yano vs. Chase Owens, "I Quit" Match, Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome - Night 1 Worst Feud of the Year: Toru Yano vs. EVIL Worst Promotion of the Year: WWE Worst on Interviews: Liv Morgan Best Booker: Tony Khan Promoter of the Year: Tony Khan Best Gimmick: Matt Cardona Worst Gimmick: Joe Gacy Best on Social Media: Nyla Rose Worst on Social Media: Brian Cage Best Pro Wrestling Book: MOX Best Pro Wrestling DVD/Streaming Documentary: Dark Side of the Ring, "The Plane Ride from Hell" Best Pro Wrestling Podcast: [blank, I don't listen to podcasts] maruhkati fucked around with this message at 03:37 on Jan 2, 2022 |
# ? Jan 2, 2022 00:12 |
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There are still 15 shows on my "to watch" list from 2021 either because they've not made it online yet for various reasons or I'm just sidetracked trying to get the shows with heavy hitters that might bother my top 25 matches watched first (sorry Final Battle). New Japan, despite a pretty uninspiring year, still blew away the competition with 2 *****, 8 ****¾, 13 ****½ & 20 ****¼ matches. DDT had the 2nd most MOTYCs, 26 in total, NOAH had 3rd most at 24, Dragongate had 20, All Japan & Stardom had 18, SEAdLINNNG had 17, AEW had 16, with GLEAT & Ice Ribbon rounding out the top 10 with 12 a piece. But NOAH had a ***** & 2 ****¾ & 11 ****½, while DDT had just 1 at ****¾ & 6 ****½. So on raw MOTYC NJPW 1, NOAH 2, DDT 3. But that doesn't take into account the booking, & New Japan is the single most infuriating promotion in the world. Like, WWE has lovely booking & wrestling but why would you expect anything else, they've been this way for a few years now. So there's no way they can be my #1. And SEAdLINNNG got all those noms from just 15 shows & GLEAT had 19, where as I've seen 65 NJPW shows, 47 DDT & NOAH 41. So I'm maybe leaning NOAH 1, SEAdLINNNG 2, GLEAT 3. But not having NJPW when the matches that were good were really loving good is churlish. This is hard. Anyway, wrestling was pretty good in 2021 despite everything going against it. I can tell you that much with certainty.
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# ? Jan 2, 2022 14:56 |
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id like to suggest a best deathmatch wrestler category for next year, just nestle it by best brawler.
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# ? Jan 2, 2022 16:03 |
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I would also like to suggest a new category for next year: Best Tournament. There’s many and they’re often good, and I don’t think the G1 would win every year either, for example this year
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# ? Jan 2, 2022 16:52 |
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a cyborg mug posted:I would also like to suggest a new category for next year: Best Tournament. There’s many and they’re often good, and I don’t think the G1 would win every year either, for example this year I genuinely enjoyed the N-1 Victory more than the G1 this year.
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# ? Jan 2, 2022 17:11 |
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AEW's Women's US/Japan Eliminator Tournament would walk it this year
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# ? Jan 2, 2022 18:10 |
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bring back the Strongest Wrestler award
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# ? Jan 2, 2022 18:28 |
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Rarity posted:AEW's Women's US/Japan Eliminator Tournament would walk it this year Pretty much what made me think of it really.
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# ? Jan 2, 2022 18:36 |
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Rarity posted:AEW's Women's US/Japan Eliminator Tournament would walk it this year Well, yeah, of course it would, it's AEW and this forum. But I'd vote for the D-Ou or 5☆GP
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# ? Jan 2, 2022 18:41 |
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forkboy84 posted:Well, yeah, of course it would, it's AEW and this forum. The tournament in question was half joshi and had a field of Ryo Mizunami/Emi Sakura/Yuka Sakazaki/Mei Suruga/Maki Itoh/Aja Kong/Rin Kadokura/VENY
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# ? Jan 2, 2022 18:49 |
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Rarity posted:The tournament in question was half joshi and had a field of Ryo Mizunami/Emi Sakura/Yuka Sakazaki/Mei Suruga/Maki Itoh/Aja Kong/Rin Kadokura/VENY Yes, I saw it at the time. It was good, had Kong Aniki at 4¼. Glad it happened. Still wouldn't be in the top 5 tournaments I saw in 2021. About on par with the AEW World Title Eliminator & ahead of the TBS Title Tournament for me.
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# ? Jan 2, 2022 23:02 |
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gently caress I nominated Tsukushi rather than Tsukasa Vince is right two wrestlers should never have slightly similar names and be named things like Berg Hammond or Marik Malops to prevent confusion fez_machine fucked around with this message at 23:40 on Jan 2, 2022 |
# ? Jan 2, 2022 23:38 |
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Reminder that Willie Urbina being a racist and Will Ospreay attacking fka Bea Priestley both happened this year. I had to look those up to make sure. Also in a psoitive note, please remember Mata Ne was this year. Senerio fucked around with this message at 00:19 on Jan 3, 2022 |
# ? Jan 3, 2022 00:15 |
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Senerio posted:Willie Urbina being a racist This was obviously terrible but not sure it counts as a promotional tactic when the dude did it off his own initiativeand got shitcanned straight after
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# ? Jan 3, 2022 00:41 |
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fez_machine posted:gently caress I nominated Tsukushi rather than Tsukasa if you want to change it, I can just fix it in the spreadsheet
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# ? Jan 3, 2022 01:14 |
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Bard Maddox posted:if you want to change it, I can just fix it in the spreadsheet thank you, I would love that!
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# ? Jan 3, 2022 01:39 |
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Rarity posted:This was obviously terrible but not sure it counts as a promotional tactic when the dude did it off his own initiativeand got shitcanned straight after I meant voting him as Worst Announcer, if you don't wanna just slam pick a WWE duder.
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# ? Jan 3, 2022 02:28 |
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Bard Maddox posted:if you want to change it, I can just fix it in the spreadsheet Hey I just had a massive brainfart and forgot that Eddie Kingston existed when doing the best on interviews. Can you put him in at number 1 on mine?
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# ? Jan 5, 2022 08:24 |
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spamman posted:Hey I just had a massive brainfart and forgot that Eddie Kingston existed when doing the best on interviews. Can you put him in at number 1 on mine? yes, I just moved everyone else down one spot and put in Kingston at #1.
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# ? Jan 5, 2022 18:20 |
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I hope everybody remembers to put The Hana Kimura Memorial Show in 1st place as Best Show of the Year, because it was
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# ? Jan 5, 2022 23:14 |
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here's a category that's pretty tight at the moment: Best Gimmick! what do you think the best gimmick of the year was? make your case and you could make the difference with new voters!
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# ? Jan 7, 2022 15:23 |
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Bard Maddox posted:here's a category that's pretty tight at the moment: Best Gimmick! what do you think the best gimmick of the year was? make your case and you could make the difference with new voters! I almost voted Britt Baker or Luchasaurus, since their gimmicks have really helped push them above their previous ceilings. But then I realized the answer is Lego Joker Goblin Shunma Katsumata
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# ? Jan 7, 2022 16:41 |
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Jerusalem posted:I hope everybody remembers to put The Hana Kimura Memorial Show in 1st place as Best Show of the Year, because it was Mata Ne
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# ? Jan 7, 2022 16:42 |
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I voted Miro because 'man who believes he's a holy warrior blessed by god to smite the weak' is incredible material on its own and then he takes it to the next level
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# ? Jan 7, 2022 16:57 |
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I'm torn between Miro and Black's "two horned one eyed flying grumpy Varsity eater" gimmick.
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# ? Jan 7, 2022 22:12 |
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I don't remember if I nominated anything for best gimmick but if I didn't please change it to "Cody Rhodes"
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# ? Jan 7, 2022 22:49 |
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I voted Kenoh as #1 gimmick because the gimmick of petulantly angry manbaby who throws tantrums at basically the most minor of perceived slight but just happens to have kicks hard enough to break your skull is in fact the perfect wrestling gimmick to me.
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# ? Jan 7, 2022 23:29 |
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forkboy84 posted:I voted Kenoh as #1 gimmick because the gimmick of petulantly angry manbaby who throws tantrums at basically the most minor of perceived slight but just happens to have kicks hard enough to break your skull is in fact the perfect wrestling gimmick to me. ....gimmick?
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# ? Jan 8, 2022 05:47 |
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I voted for GM Imabayashi as best non wrestler, but it just hit me at work today that I overlooked the (formerly) hardest working man in wrestling, DDT's Mr. Haku. Pretty much every English speaking DDT/TJPW fan had him to thank for going above and beyond to bring us live translations of every single live show (in addition to his actual job of doing backstage interviews), to the point he was running after them at the last Rojo match in the Tokyo Dome so he could hear what they were shouting
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# ? Jan 10, 2022 14:32 |
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Rarity posted:I voted Miro because 'man who believes he's a holy warrior blessed by god to smite the weak' is incredible material on its own and then he takes it to the next level "and is really horny for his wife"
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# ? Jan 10, 2022 14:38 |
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SG Bamboo posted:I voted for GM Imabayashi as best non wrestler, but it just hit me at work today that I overlooked the (formerly) hardest working man in wrestling, DDT's Mr. Haku. Pretty much every English speaking DDT/TJPW fan had him to thank for going above and beyond to bring us live translations of every single live show (in addition to his actual job of doing backstage interviews), to the point he was running after them at the last Rojo match in the Tokyo Dome so he could hear what they were shouting Very good point, glad I bookmarked my entry so I could go back and edit it, Mr. Haku definitely deserves all the recognition in the world for how accessible they made those Wrestle Universe shows.
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# ? Jan 10, 2022 15:05 |
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here's another category that's pretty tight where a few votes could make a big difference: Most Improved! who was real dogshit or a little dogshit in years past and now is pretty good?
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# ? Jan 10, 2022 20:28 |
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I mean this with no hint of irony or memery, Maki Itoh is easily the most improved this year. She started 2021 as very solid worker but still mostly a thing cause she was good at the Twitters. She's come out fo 2021 as a legit international superstar who can match anyone in TJPW for match quality and who could conceivably carry the company. Her growth this year's been incredible. Or if not her vote Tay Conti. She's still not the finished article but she's putting her game together really fast.
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# ? Jan 10, 2022 20:43 |
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Bard Maddox posted:here's another category that's pretty tight where a few votes could make a big difference: Most Improved! who was real dogshit or a little dogshit in years past and now is pretty good? The Bunny is most improved. She went from a poor 2020 to watchable in early 2021 to genuinely really good at the end of 2021, doing new moves and really reinventing herself.
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# ? Jan 10, 2022 21:40 |
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The most improved is Bryan Danielson. This is a person that literally did not exist before August and is now one of the best wrestlers in the world.
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# ? Jan 10, 2022 22:53 |
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# ? May 12, 2024 21:25 |
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Bard Maddox posted:here's another category that's pretty tight where a few votes could make a big difference: Most Improved! who was real dogshit or a little dogshit in years past and now is pretty good? Diamante. No, not that one. When Diamante came to Dragongate in 2019 he was there because he'd worked with Ultimo Dragon in Mexico & Ultimo trusted him not to kill him I guess. And that was the extent of why he came as far as I can tell. But he did a solid 4 months & got a bit better. And then pandemic hit & he's basically stuck in Japan & working pretty regular as part of RED, no longer just Ultimo's dance partner. By the end of 2020 he's a pretty decent hand. Zip forward to the end of 2021, and he's worked 10-16 times a month for the entire year, he gets paired with the rookie La Estrella early in the year because it turns out he's turned into one of the best bases in wrestling. He's not going to dazzle you, but by god does he make everyone he faces look better.
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# ? Jan 10, 2022 23:14 |