Wrestling Observer 2012 Awards Featuring MMA!

[FunKay the Inevitable]

Wrestler of the Year: Hiroshi Tanahashi
Oh look, Meltzer picked a Japanese wrestler over the hottest one on the planet (Punk) and the most deserving (Orton). What a surprise. Can't you hear it in my voice.

MMA Most Valuable Fighter: Georges St-Pierre
No nothing about MMA for the most part so; SKIP!

Most Outstanding Wrestler: Davey Richards
Bahahahahahahaha! Outstanding wrestler. Funny. No really, who's the winner?

Best Box Office Draw: The Rock
I can smell it...

Feud of the Year: Cena vs. Punk
I stand by my original analysis that the feud was never Punk vs. Cena but Punk vs. The Dated WWE Machine. Christian vs. Orton surpasses it by a way for me.

Tag Team of the Year: Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson)
They did more than any other tag team I can think of, and I barely even know what they did this year, so what does that tell you?

Most Improved: Dolph Ziggler
Mark Henry, Cody Rhodes, R-Truth or Jeff Hardy (His match quality has been through the roof since returning. Amazing what not being stoned will do) not doing it for you? Pick the guy whose only real improvement was on the mic.

Best on Interviews: CM Punk
No complaints from me.

Most Charismatic: The Rock
Can we just rename it the Rock/Cena Award? Between the two of them I think they own like a decade's worth.

Best Technical Wrestler: Daniel Bryan
By default as he's won it every year since Christ's death (or Benoit's prime, whicever came last).

Best Brawler: Kevin Steen
Won it last year, seems to be rather good at it. Yeah, sure.

Best Flying Wrestler: Ricochet
Better than Sin Cara and I haven't even seen a single match of his.

Most Overrated: Crimson
Makes sense though there were plenty of options to chose from all the major American promotions (including ROH).

Most Underrated: Dolph Ziggler
Who came to this conclusion? How the hell was he underrated?

Promotion of the Year: UFC
The WRESTLING Observer Newsletter awards ladies (who am I kidding?) and gents.

Best Weekly Television Show: WWE Friday Night SmackDown!
Check this out right here. That show in mah fave five!

Most Outstanding Fighter: Jon Jones
He'll be quite good, eh? Indy? JMT? Guy?

Match of the Year: Cena vs. Punk: Money in the Bank
Obviously Taker/HHH was robbed.

Fight of the Year: Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua


Rookie of the Year: Daichi Hashimoto
Better than Crimson for sure, and I don't even know who he is.

Best Non-Wrestler: Ricardo Rodriguez
¡Les presento a usted, el más grande "de México" estrella del año calendario que se 2011; RICARDOOO RODRRRRIGUEZ!

Best Television Announcer: Joe Rogan
[YOUTUBE]IDwxDnNTzvQ[/YOUTUBE]

Worst Television Announcer: Michael Cole
He is quite annoying, isn't he?

Best Show: Money in the Bank 2011
Predictable, but well deserved to say the least.

Worst Show: TNA Victory Road 2011
It sucked without the Hardy/Sting debacle. That only made it 100x worse.

Best Wrestling Manoeuvre: Ricochet for the Double Rotation Moonsault
Clearly they forgot about the Ace Crusher.

Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic: WWE anti-bullying campaign & treatment of Jim Ross
Stop trying to stop bullying!

Worst Television Show: TNA Impact/Impact Wrestling
For awhile it was, but it's picked up quite a bit since BFG. ROH's TV stuff sounds turrible too.

Worst Worked Match of the Year: Sting vs. Jeff Hardy @ Victory Road 2011
Not sure I'd call it a match.

Worst Feud of the Year: Triple H vs. Kevin Nash
Yeah, because Joker Sting vs. Immortal Hogan was so much better.

Worst Promotion of the Year: TNA
He hates TNA with a passion so it was obvious.

Best Booker: Jado & Gedo
Vince was never going to get it. No one else in WWE was going to get it. Russo and friedns were never going to get it. He knows ROH has questionable booking. At least he didn't pick MMA again.

Promoter of the Year: Dana White
I can see it now; "The Dana White Award for Best Wrestling Promoter of the Year".

Best Gimmick: CM Punk as the anti-corporate rebel
WHOA-OH!?!?

Worst Gimmick: Michael Cole as a heel announcer
Well deserved.

Best Pro Wrestling Book: Chris Jericho: Undisputed
I liked the first one better.

Best Pro Wrestling DVD: Greatest Rivalries: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart
Quite good. Orton's was much better though.

 

[Gelgarin]

Stone the crows, the internet continues to hate TNA.

 

[.]

HAY! Stop all teh hatez for Davey! I love the fact that he can do the same kick 89 times in one match!

 

[Daniel]

Stone the crows, the internet continues to hate TNA.

Dave Meltzer is not the internet.

 

[The_Misson]

I agree with this entire list except for wrestler of the year and most outstanding wrestler. Wrestler of the year I believe should of gone to CM Punk with Tanahashi being 2nd. For Most Outstanding Wrestler there are so many better options then Davey Richards. CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura are all better choices then Davey Richards.

 

[Harthan]

Your lack of appreciate for Davey Richards is...disturbing.

 

[.]

I agree with this entire list except for wrestler of the year and most outstanding wrestler. Wrestler of the year I believe should of gone to CM Punk with Tanahashi being 2nd.

I disagree. Punk's begining and end to 2011 didn't exactly set the world on fire whereas Tanahashi was on fire all year.

 

[Con T.]

I disagree. Punk's begining and end to 2011 didn't exactly set the world on fire whereas Tanahashi was on fire all year.

This. Really, if you think about it, Orton would be a better competitor for Wrestler of the Year. Punk had about three great months, Orton was outstanding all year along.

For the record, WWE stars had won the Wrestler of the Year four straight times before this. So I don't know how fair Funkay's synopsis of the award was.

 

[Gelgarin]

I'd flag Crimson as most overrated talent as the dumbest pick. It's the only one that I literally cannot understand the reasoning behind.

Who is he supposed to be overrated by?

 

[FunKay the Inevitable]

For the record, WWE stars had won the Wrestler of the Year four straight times before this. So I don't know how fair Funkay's synopsis of the award was.

I followed the stereotype, what can I say? Oh, and Orton was my choice for Wrestler of the Year.

I'd flag Crimson as most overrated talent as the dumbest pick. It's the only one that I literally cannot understand the reasoning behind.

Who is he supposed to be overrated by?

Seeing as Kane won it last year, I'd say the company.

 

[The_Misson]

I disagree. Punk's begining and end to 2011 didn't exactly set the world on fire whereas Tanahashi was on fire all year.

Forgot Punk didn't start off that great this year. So, I'm gonna have to agree and say Tanahashi has been on fire this entire year.

 

[Con T.]

I followed the stereotype, what can I say? Oh, and Orton was my choice for Wrestler of.

I think Orton was better than Punk, too. Only problem is that Orton wasn't quite the same draw Punk was for WWE. Both men were also hurt by not being the top star of the company. I just really hate the stereotype that Meltzer salivates when the WWE is doing poorly.

Also, for whatever it's worth, the Wrestling Observer awards are voted on by the readership, so it isn't just Meltzer. That isn't to say he's always right, but this is a pretty good batch of awards

 

[Gelgarin]

Seeing as Kane won it last year, I'd say the company.

But how on earth is TNA overrating Crimson? He hasn't been allowed anywhere near the main event. He has had zero high profile singles feuds. He's held no significant gold and pinned nobody more significant that Samoa Joe. He is seldom given mic time or exposed at length on television.

In what way is the company overrating him?

 

[Con T.]

But how on earth is TNA overrating Crimson? He hasn't been allowed anywhere near the main event. He has had zero high profile singles feuds. He's held no significant gold and pinned nobody more significant that Samoa Joe. He is seldom given mic time or exposed at length on television.

In what way is the company overrating him?

Didn't he also have that feud with Angle before he was knocked out of the BFG tournament? Remember, the guy had about sixty something points in the BFG tourney before getting hurt. I can only assume they gave him the award based on that.

Other than that, who else would you put? Personally, I'd say Anderson, or maybe Mason Ryan, but that's me

Edit; totally forgot Sin Cara. Yep, there's your winner

 

[Paralyzer Z]

Wrestler of the Year: Hiroshi Tanahashi

I have no idea who this guy until I saw this video

[YOUTUBE]6hItBFOBCko[/YOUTUBE]

Basically He likes to do frog splashes, pose, and sing. I don't see how this guy is better than Punk.

MMA Most Valuable Fighter: Georges St-Pierre

I don't care about MMA

Most Outstanding Wrestler: Davey Richards

Awesome! Great in ring talent (which is what this award is strictly based on). Sorry DB.

Best Box Office Draw: The Rock

Seems like he's cooking up something good at the box office

Feud of the Year: Cena vs. Punk

Fantastic feud! Especially the mic work these 2 had in their promos and the contract signing.

Tag Team of the Year: Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson)

I have no idea who these guys are. However it doesn't seem they have bad intentions for Metzler now.

Most Improved: Dolph Ziggler

I didn't know Ziggler went from being Kool aid man to monster heel.

Best on Interviews: CM Punk

Not a problem at all.

Most Charismatic: The Rock

Same guys always win this, no surprise.

Best Technical Wrestler: Daniel Bryan
Well if he doesn't win most outstanding wrestler he certainly had this one in the bag.

Best Brawler: Kevin Steen

I thought he was technical wrestler. Shame on you creator of "Kevin Steen" from the SVR 2011 community creations!

Best Flying Wrestler: Ricochet

In the words of Daniel Bryan: YES, YES, YES, YES, YES YES! I love Ricochet, DRM forever!

Most Overrated: Crimson

Of course...

Most Underrated: Dolph Ziggler
No! He won a world title for god sake!

Promotion of the Year: UFC
The WRESTLING Observer Newsletter awards ladies (who am I kidding?) and gents.

What he said.

Best Weekly Television Show: WWE Friday Night SmackDown!

As always...

Most Outstanding Fighter: Jon Jones

If I could I would give this award to Rocky Balboa, a true fighter!

Match of the Year: Cena vs. Punk: Money in the Bank

[YOUTUBE]m1KtvyBhkJ4[/YOUTUBE]

Fight of the Year: Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua

Rookie of the Year: Daichi Hashimoto

Haven't seen to many rookies this year be in any way good.

Best Non-Wrestler: Ricardo Rodriguez
¡Les presento a usted, el más grande "de México" estrella del año calendario que se 2011; RICARDOOO RODRRRRIGUEZ!

.

Best Television Announcer: Joe Rogan

Look I know the WWE announcers aren't the best in the word but...

Worst Television Announcer: Michael Cole[/QOUTE]
Justice has been served!

Best Show: Money in the Bank 2011

There is no alternative.

Worst Show: TNA Victory Road 2011

I remember the comment reaction's on another sight to this. Let's just say there was an overdose of emoticons on my screen. This sucked, needless to say.

Best Wrestling Manoeuvre: Ricochet for the Double Rotation Moonsault

Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic: WWE anti-bullying campaign & treatment of Jim Ross

Something tells me Metzler has some cyber bullying experience.

Worst Television Show: TNA Impact/Impact Wrestling

At least TNA managed to close the margin this a bit this year.

Worst Worked Match of the Year: Sting vs. Jeff Hardy @ Victory Road 2011

It's unanimous.

Worst Feud of the Year: Triple H vs. Kevin Nash

Ridiculous. This wasn't THAT entertaining, but at least it beats anything immortal related.

Worst Promotion of the Year: TNA
Once again, at least they closed the gap, slightly though.

Best Booker: Jado & Gedo

Promoter of the Year: Dana White

This guy wins it every year, why should this year be any different.

Best Gimmick: CM Punk as the anti-corporate rebel

He's jumped on "Punk is just like Austin" bandwagon!

Worst Gimmick: Michael Cole as a heel announcer

Justice at it's greatest.

Best Pro Wrestling Book: Chris Jericho: Undisputed

Never read a wrestling book before.

Best Pro Wrestling DVD: Greatest Rivalries: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart

I'm disappointed in myslef, I didn't get any wrestling DVD's this year.

All in all Dave picked he usually picked in some categories (Rise above TNA, hating on WWE anti-hate campaigns), and we got some surprises (Joe Regan).

 

[Gelgarin]

Overrated should be somebody who is getting major television time, presumably in the main event, who does not deserve it.

Based on TNA alone (since that's all I watch) the sensible answer is Abyss or possibly Anderson.

 

[Con T.]

I got about a tenth of the way through your opinions before I felt compelled to remind you, Z

A. These are voted on by his readership, not Meltzer himself. It isn't just him, but his readership that makes these decisions. In fact, here's a little thing you may enjoy. In writing about how WWE finished fifth in promotion of the year,

WWE is too low. For all the hardcore ROH fans who may enjoy ROH more than WWE, the idea that ROH, which struggled to survive and draws in hundreds, finished ahead of WWE for promotion of the year makes no sense

Meltzer isn't alone on this, this is a vote of his readership. Again, dude's not always right, but he's not some biased moron without a clue.

Gelgarin, Abyss would be a good choice, but I'd go with Sin Cara. Given how much was poured into the guy, can't see how it ain't him

 

[Paralyzer Z]

I got about a tenth of the way through your opinions before I felt compelled to remind you, Z

A. These are voted on by his readership, not Meltzer himself. It isn't just him, but his readership that makes these decisions. In fact, here's a little thing you may enjoy. In writing about how WWE finished fifth in promotion of the year,



Meltzer isn't alone on this, this is a vote of his readership. Again, dude's not always right, but he's not some biased moron without a clue.

I don't have a problem with Metzler nor his readership, but it's easy to make comedy out of their opinions.

Thanks for letting me know.

 

[SpoodBeest]

Very glad to see SmackDown get the nod for best weekly wrestling show of the year. Well deserved in humble opinion. Also happy with MITB 2011 winning it's predictable yet rightful place as the best pay-per-view of the year as well.

 

[Mr. Artistic guy]

Wrestler of the Year: Hiroshi Tanahashi

I went Punk with WWE alone, Tanahashi best of had a very good year, whoever the fuck he is.

Most Outstanding Wrestler: Davey Richards

I haven't been inspired enough to watch ROH at this point. I would love a good reason too though.

Best Box Office Draw: The Rock

Going on take-in per appearance, more than likely.

Feud of the Year: Cena vs. Punk

I never liked Orton v Christian at all, great matches sure but that didn't make it a good feud for me. I would take this, or Punk v. the WWE corporates as was, or Angle v. Jarrett.

Tag Team of the Year: Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson)

Don't know 'em. WWE division is still crap and TNA didn't really have a stand out team even with Beer Money teaming for about half the year.

Most Improved: Dolph Ziggler

No. He had his best promo to date against Foley the other week. But that was this year. Last year he was just same old Dolph Ziggler, still knocking on the title scene door and still being disallowed in because of fear he isn't.. quite... there yet.

It's either Cody Rhodes or Bully Ray. Actually, I'd put my money on Ray.

Best on Interviews: CM Punk

Yep, or once again Ray.

Most Charismatic: The Rock

He's still on that untouchable level.

Best Technical Wrestler: Daniel Bryan

His display against Big Show demonstrated this quite well a few weeks ago. I wouldn't vote against him.

Best Brawler: Kevin Steen



Best Flying Wrestler: Ricochet

Jack Evans' Destination X display was awesome. Saying that, I've not seen Ricochet.

Most Overrated: Crimson

Easily The Miz. Way too much hype for a guy that just isn't that good.

Most Underrated: Dolph Ziggler

Eric Young. People love to underplay his in-ring abilities and his connection with the audience but he's got IT by the bucket full.

Best Weekly Television Show: WWE Friday Night SmackDown!

Nah. As bad as Raw is when it fails to deliver, it has enough great to outweigh Smackdown. My personal favourite is iMPACT but I would find it hard to make a great case as it being the best all year.

Match of the Year: Cena vs. Punk: Money in the Bank

Obvious. I would still give it to Taker and HHH but I can appreciate this decision.

Fight of the Year: Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua



Rookie of the Year: Daichi Hashimoto

Erm, Brodus Clay? Certainly looks good.

Best Non-Wrestler: Ricardo Rodriguez

FUCK. YES.

Best Television Announcer: Joe Rogan

Chu sayin' Cole?

Worst Television Announcer: Michael Cole

Yes.

Best Show: Money in the Bank 2011

The Punk/Cena match was the most exciting thing to happen to WWE for a long time. I liked the dynamic of the very first encounter between Big Show and Mark Henry and the money in the bank matches themselves are always a great watch. Then you've got yet another Orton and Christian encounter. Sure.

Worst Show: TNA Victory Road 2011

Over the Limit was a poor show. But having a poor performance is still much better than having your main event ruined, especially when the rest of the show was forgettable. Agreed.

Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic: WWE anti-bullying campaign & treatment of Jim Ross

Even if Jim himself doesn't care, I do.

Worst Television Show: TNA Impact/Impact Wrestling

NXT says, HELLO!

Worst Worked Match of the Year: Sting vs. Jeff Hardy @ Victory Road 2011

No arguments. Despite it going to plan, Lawler and Cole is a close second.

Worst Feud of the Year: Triple H vs. Kevin Nash

It was awful.

Worst Promotion of the Year: TNA

I doubt it.

Best Gimmick: CM Punk as the anti-corporate rebel

Hmm, Rhodes.

Worst Gimmick: Michael Cole as a heel announcer

Black Reign still counts right?

 

[The Bearded One]

Most Outstanding Wrestler: Davey Richards

I haven't been inspired enough to watch ROH at this point. I would love a good reason too though.

He's not a good reason to watch at all. I can't stand watching his matches.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Capitol Punishment was just as bad to me as Victory Road. No amount of crazy words that R-Truth says can ever make me like him.

Christian vs. Orton was the feud of the year for none other than that it made me like Randy for the first time in six years. That's an accomplishment.