Oldschool
12-01-2009, 11:26 AM
Blood On The Canvas: The Best of 2009
Posted by Derek Ruttle on 11/26/2009 at 03:19 PM
In conjunction with NoDQ asking visitors to send in their votes for the annual Year End Awards, which highlight nearly every facet of pro wrestling in the last eleven months (December '08 to November '09), I thought I'd share with you readers my own votes and the thoughts behind them. I highly recommend you send in your own submissions, as the voting kicks off December 1st here on NoDQ.com.
So without further ado, my votes for the best and brightest superstars, moments and matches of 2009...
Superstar Of The Year: CM Punk
This is definitely the most heated category when it comes down to discussion, but I firmly stand behind Punk as the #1 star of the past twelve months. Even before 2008 was out, he was riding pretty high in a World Tag Title run with Kofi Kingston and having beaten Rey Mysterio in an awesome match at Armageddon, sending him en route to winning the Intercontinental Title just a short time later. By the time Mania rolled in, he went into the MITB Ladder match with something to prove and though he wasn't expected to win (because nobody can win it twice, right, IWC?), he did and stayed afloat with decent showings against Kane and Umaga at Backlash and Judgment Day. Finally, he was pushed into the main event scene by breaking up Jeff Hardy's after-party at Extreme Rules and winning the World Title. What followed was one of the best feuds in the last few years that helped both stars attain greatness and solidify Punk as a main eventer that was here to stay. Not many seemed to enjoy his feud with The Undertaker but I think it was well done and left the door open to return there. This year belonged to CM Punk, who grabbed the brass ring, impressed the higher ups and showed he's a long-term fixture in the main event scene for years to come.
Tag Team Of The Year: Chris Jericho & The Big Show (Jeri-Show)
I wonder how things would've turned out if Edge hadn't been injured this year and the two Canadian boys had stayed as a unit. Would they have imploded? Mirrored the same dominance that Jericho and Big Show have displayed? One can only imagine. Still, WWE took a nasty negative in Edge's injury and turned it into a major positive in the 'transformation' of Big Show, for lack of a better term. I don't know what it is about the colors blue and purple, but he just looks.....better. Faster, slimmer, more athletic. And the duo of Jeri-Show has shown just what I said - dominance. Legacy, Cryme Tyme, MVP/Mark Henry, Rey Mysterio/Batista, they've all fallen to the Unified Tag Team Champions. The odd couple formula works to a tee and both their Title run and matches have restored much-needed credibility to the tag team division in the WWE.
Finisher Of The Year: Big Show's KO Punch
You can almost fit this in with the previous category because it's the one move that's stopped teams from taking the Tag Titles from Jericho and the Big Show. Not to mention it's taken out guys like Undertaker (resulting in a clean win for Show), Triple H and Shawn Michaels on several occasions. While other finishers such as the Tombstone, Chin Music and Pedigree deserve points for playing their part in big matches this year, these moves have more often than not needed to be hit twice or more in order to finish an opponent; Taker needing two Tombstones to put HBK away at WrestleMania, Michaels hitting what, four or five superkicks at Survivor Series and HHH needing three Pedigrees to pin John Cena on Raw a few weeks ago are prime examples. It's not exactly a finisher if you need more than one to end the match, is it? Once Big Show clocks you with that meaty right hand, you are OUT.
Announcer Of The Year: Matt Striker
While many would give their respects to Jim Ross or Jerry Lawler (not a fan of the King, myself) in this category, I'm really liking Matt Striker calling the action on Smackdown in JR's absence. He gives even an average mid card match a bigger feel and he's a well-read historian when it comes to putting guys or feuds over. My problem with most of the announcing today is that everything is too in-the-moment; there's no educating the audience on WHY two top guys are feuding over the belt or possible reasons behind this guy's heel turn or that guy's face turn. It should be about inviting the audience into the WWE world, and Striker tries to do that each week. Take notes Michael Cole, you robotic, fake-laughing, pull-my-string-and-I'll-dance dummy.
Match Of The Year: Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25
Was there ever any doubt? Two of the most prevalent, enduring and respected veterans of the entire wrestling industry gave a stadium full of people and millions watching a 30-minute classic that was the result of great anticipation, incredible storytelling and endless action. Taker dove over the top rope, landed headfirst and nearly broke his neck after Sim Snuka botched the catch, and yet still gave it his all with over 15 minutes left in the contest. Match of the Year, one of the best of the decade and in my opinion, the REAL main event of WrestleMania.
PPV Of The Year: WrestleMania
For all that it wasn't, I still say Mania was the best PPV of the year because, well c'mon, it's WrestleMania. Even an average Mania still outshines any B-grade PPV. While some of the stories weren't fully realized and I didn't agree with some of the creative decisions, the action was still on a scale of good to amazing and the pure spectacle of it always gets points in my book. I will say that if given the choice to name a few runner ups, I'd have to go with Backlash and Summerslam as second and third place contenders.
Breakout Star Of The Year: John Morrison
Even with Kofi Kingston and now Sheamus getting rocket pushes by management (the Sheamus issue I'll save for another edition of BOTC), I gotta give props to the Guru of Greatness, John Morrison. His babyface rise on Smackdown has been handled very smart and I applaud John for getting over as much as he has, even with his shortcomings on the mic. I'm not saying he's outright horrible because he isn't; what he DOES say still gets a reaction, and that's what wrestlers want. What I am saying is that his delivery sounds too rehearsed, as does his body language when he's cutting a promo. My hope is that he keeps practicing because that's the only thing holding him back, in my opinion. He's got a great, marketable look and his ring work is highly entertaining. His lone World Title shot against Jeff Hardy this past summer was excellent and his IC Title match with Rey Mysterio was Match of the Year quality. I've really enjoyed his series of matches with Dolph Ziggler, even though the recent 2/3 Falls bout on Smackdown was ludicrously short. Put that match on PPV, I say. I think it's just a matter of time before Morrison drops the IC Title and focuses on bigger things, and I have him on a short list of people who I believe may win the Rumble in two months.
Catchphrase Of The Year: "I am the BEST in the world at what I do!" - Chris Jericho
Catchphrases are becoming increasingly extinct in wrestling, with the exception of a handful of guys. Today's generation of wrestlers seem to think that random tirades on the mic will help get them over, but fans are looking for recognition and something that'll help them remember the performer every time they see him. Even if it's something that people can throw on a sign. Jericho's promos these days may sound repetitive and even a little monotonic, but with even the most insidious of smart fans saying they don't like it, it's still a negative reaction, which is what the heel Jericho wants.
Stable Of The Year: Legacy
Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase really started coming into their own earlier this year, and exposure in the main event Title scene between Triple H and Randy Orton only served to help. While I'm not a fan of Rhodes, I still admire how far he's come both in the ring and on the mic, and DiBiase showed he's got the chops to be a huge babyface with his performance against Orton on Raw back in the summer. Legacy's feud with Triple H and then DX over the course of three PPV matches really amped up their profile and they were hardly pushovers during that feud, even though HBK was assigned as either the fall guy or sympathy guy too much, in my view.
Comeback Of The Year: Ricky Steamboat
I was originally gonna say The Undertaker for this one, but I really enjoyed Steamboat's performance at Mania and Backlash against Jericho. It didn't last too long but it really brought back a wave of nostalgia, and showed younger fans what The Dragon was all about.
Headline Of The Year: Hulk Hogan signs with WC.....I mean, TNA
While this was earth-shattering news in the world of wrestling, we still have yet to see what Hogan plans to do in TNA. He's been saying in press, TV and radio interviews that he's gonna "run" the company, so this could either mean a shot in the arm or a deathblow to WWE's supposed competition. Personally, I think we should all head to our local hardware stores and start buying shovels so we can start digging TNA's grave right now. Hogan's a pathological liar when it comes to saying one thing and doing another, if history has shown us anything, and he's been quoted as saying he wants to sign guys like Ric Flair, Steve Austin and a host of his washed up reality show buddies like Brutus Beefcake and the Nasty Boys. But while I can't speak for Flair, it'll be a cold day in Hell (pun very much intended) before Austin signs with a rival company that has Hogan behind the book. As for his group of buddies, well, showcasing guys who weren't all that over in the 80's and 90's isn't much of a step forward in TNA's growth, is it?
Diva Of The Year: Melina
I really don't have much to say in this category because I admit, I'm not big on women's wrestling. I will say that I think Melina is nearing Trish Stratus-like levels when it comes to being a woman wrestler, and she has a great connection with the audience that'll help her career have longevity. Anytime WWE can make hot chicks learn the actual artform of wrestling is a good day. Melina's one of my favorites.
Theme Song Of The Year: A New Day (Legacy)
I've been looking for a full MP3 copy of this all over the place. Anybody have one? Really good guitar riffs and the lyrics fit the characters nicely.
Babyface Of The Year: Undertaker
Whether it was chasing Shawn Michaels all over Raw and Smackdown before their showdown at WrestleMania, having one of the most shocking comebacks in WWE history by appearing in Jeff Hardy's place at Summerslam or dealing with crooked management and referees on Smackdown, The Undertaker continues to have 100% of the audience behind him in whatever he does. His current reign as World Heavyweight Champion isn't exactly producing five star matches as a result of him returning too soon from minor hip surgery, but I've been loving his promos and he's almost redefining what it means to be a strong, defending, babyface World Champion. We haven't seen the Phenom on the mic this often since the late 90's, and that's something I've missed.
Heel Of The Year: Chris Jericho
I almost went with CM Punk again in this category, but I have to give the nod to Jericho because Punk didn't turn heel until halfway through 2009. Jericho deserves the honor because whether it's his in-ring tactics or something he said on the mic, he defines what it means to be a heel. The dapper suits, the cocky swagger, the constant confrontations with Raw guest hosts, etc. His work on the mic was especially impressive in the buildup to WrestleMania, and even though I personally felt like the 3-on-1 handicap match was a Plan B scenario because Austin wouldn't or couldn't work a match, Jericho made the best of it and I don't think it would've came off well if it was any other heel.
Feud Of The Year: Jeff Hardy vs CM Punk
Again, I almost went with another feud in this category, that being the HBK/Taker program leading up to Mania, but that was merely a two-month issue that ended with one match. The Hardy/Punk feud during this past summer delivered on all fronts; it had emotion, great buildup, the matches got better with each outing and it was something that fans got behind quickly. While Raw was busy having recycled WWE Title matches between the same guys over and over, Smackdown was showing the rise of a main event star in CM Punk and some of the most courageous and emotional battles fought by Jeff Hardy as these two battled over the World Title. My favorite moment in this feud had to be when Punk snapped and attacked Jeff after the Champion's title defense against John Morrison, clocking him with a microphone (even drawing BLOOD, oh no, PG era!) and beating him senseless at ringside. It showed an incredibly vicious side to Punk and garnered even more sympathy for Jeff Hardy, who in turn became the biggest babyface wrestler in the WWE. If Jeff manages to come out of his problems with the law OK, I'd love to see the final chapter between Punk and Hardy written on TV.
As always, I'm loving the feedback I keep getting in my inbox and as always, you readers continue to have great counter arguments and ideas on everything WWE. If you have your own thoughts on the best and worst of the year, I'd like to read them.
See you at ringside,
Derek
Posted by Derek Ruttle on 11/26/2009 at 03:19 PM
In conjunction with NoDQ asking visitors to send in their votes for the annual Year End Awards, which highlight nearly every facet of pro wrestling in the last eleven months (December '08 to November '09), I thought I'd share with you readers my own votes and the thoughts behind them. I highly recommend you send in your own submissions, as the voting kicks off December 1st here on NoDQ.com.
So without further ado, my votes for the best and brightest superstars, moments and matches of 2009...
Superstar Of The Year: CM Punk
This is definitely the most heated category when it comes down to discussion, but I firmly stand behind Punk as the #1 star of the past twelve months. Even before 2008 was out, he was riding pretty high in a World Tag Title run with Kofi Kingston and having beaten Rey Mysterio in an awesome match at Armageddon, sending him en route to winning the Intercontinental Title just a short time later. By the time Mania rolled in, he went into the MITB Ladder match with something to prove and though he wasn't expected to win (because nobody can win it twice, right, IWC?), he did and stayed afloat with decent showings against Kane and Umaga at Backlash and Judgment Day. Finally, he was pushed into the main event scene by breaking up Jeff Hardy's after-party at Extreme Rules and winning the World Title. What followed was one of the best feuds in the last few years that helped both stars attain greatness and solidify Punk as a main eventer that was here to stay. Not many seemed to enjoy his feud with The Undertaker but I think it was well done and left the door open to return there. This year belonged to CM Punk, who grabbed the brass ring, impressed the higher ups and showed he's a long-term fixture in the main event scene for years to come.
Tag Team Of The Year: Chris Jericho & The Big Show (Jeri-Show)
I wonder how things would've turned out if Edge hadn't been injured this year and the two Canadian boys had stayed as a unit. Would they have imploded? Mirrored the same dominance that Jericho and Big Show have displayed? One can only imagine. Still, WWE took a nasty negative in Edge's injury and turned it into a major positive in the 'transformation' of Big Show, for lack of a better term. I don't know what it is about the colors blue and purple, but he just looks.....better. Faster, slimmer, more athletic. And the duo of Jeri-Show has shown just what I said - dominance. Legacy, Cryme Tyme, MVP/Mark Henry, Rey Mysterio/Batista, they've all fallen to the Unified Tag Team Champions. The odd couple formula works to a tee and both their Title run and matches have restored much-needed credibility to the tag team division in the WWE.
Finisher Of The Year: Big Show's KO Punch
You can almost fit this in with the previous category because it's the one move that's stopped teams from taking the Tag Titles from Jericho and the Big Show. Not to mention it's taken out guys like Undertaker (resulting in a clean win for Show), Triple H and Shawn Michaels on several occasions. While other finishers such as the Tombstone, Chin Music and Pedigree deserve points for playing their part in big matches this year, these moves have more often than not needed to be hit twice or more in order to finish an opponent; Taker needing two Tombstones to put HBK away at WrestleMania, Michaels hitting what, four or five superkicks at Survivor Series and HHH needing three Pedigrees to pin John Cena on Raw a few weeks ago are prime examples. It's not exactly a finisher if you need more than one to end the match, is it? Once Big Show clocks you with that meaty right hand, you are OUT.
Announcer Of The Year: Matt Striker
While many would give their respects to Jim Ross or Jerry Lawler (not a fan of the King, myself) in this category, I'm really liking Matt Striker calling the action on Smackdown in JR's absence. He gives even an average mid card match a bigger feel and he's a well-read historian when it comes to putting guys or feuds over. My problem with most of the announcing today is that everything is too in-the-moment; there's no educating the audience on WHY two top guys are feuding over the belt or possible reasons behind this guy's heel turn or that guy's face turn. It should be about inviting the audience into the WWE world, and Striker tries to do that each week. Take notes Michael Cole, you robotic, fake-laughing, pull-my-string-and-I'll-dance dummy.
Match Of The Year: Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25
Was there ever any doubt? Two of the most prevalent, enduring and respected veterans of the entire wrestling industry gave a stadium full of people and millions watching a 30-minute classic that was the result of great anticipation, incredible storytelling and endless action. Taker dove over the top rope, landed headfirst and nearly broke his neck after Sim Snuka botched the catch, and yet still gave it his all with over 15 minutes left in the contest. Match of the Year, one of the best of the decade and in my opinion, the REAL main event of WrestleMania.
PPV Of The Year: WrestleMania
For all that it wasn't, I still say Mania was the best PPV of the year because, well c'mon, it's WrestleMania. Even an average Mania still outshines any B-grade PPV. While some of the stories weren't fully realized and I didn't agree with some of the creative decisions, the action was still on a scale of good to amazing and the pure spectacle of it always gets points in my book. I will say that if given the choice to name a few runner ups, I'd have to go with Backlash and Summerslam as second and third place contenders.
Breakout Star Of The Year: John Morrison
Even with Kofi Kingston and now Sheamus getting rocket pushes by management (the Sheamus issue I'll save for another edition of BOTC), I gotta give props to the Guru of Greatness, John Morrison. His babyface rise on Smackdown has been handled very smart and I applaud John for getting over as much as he has, even with his shortcomings on the mic. I'm not saying he's outright horrible because he isn't; what he DOES say still gets a reaction, and that's what wrestlers want. What I am saying is that his delivery sounds too rehearsed, as does his body language when he's cutting a promo. My hope is that he keeps practicing because that's the only thing holding him back, in my opinion. He's got a great, marketable look and his ring work is highly entertaining. His lone World Title shot against Jeff Hardy this past summer was excellent and his IC Title match with Rey Mysterio was Match of the Year quality. I've really enjoyed his series of matches with Dolph Ziggler, even though the recent 2/3 Falls bout on Smackdown was ludicrously short. Put that match on PPV, I say. I think it's just a matter of time before Morrison drops the IC Title and focuses on bigger things, and I have him on a short list of people who I believe may win the Rumble in two months.
Catchphrase Of The Year: "I am the BEST in the world at what I do!" - Chris Jericho
Catchphrases are becoming increasingly extinct in wrestling, with the exception of a handful of guys. Today's generation of wrestlers seem to think that random tirades on the mic will help get them over, but fans are looking for recognition and something that'll help them remember the performer every time they see him. Even if it's something that people can throw on a sign. Jericho's promos these days may sound repetitive and even a little monotonic, but with even the most insidious of smart fans saying they don't like it, it's still a negative reaction, which is what the heel Jericho wants.
Stable Of The Year: Legacy
Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase really started coming into their own earlier this year, and exposure in the main event Title scene between Triple H and Randy Orton only served to help. While I'm not a fan of Rhodes, I still admire how far he's come both in the ring and on the mic, and DiBiase showed he's got the chops to be a huge babyface with his performance against Orton on Raw back in the summer. Legacy's feud with Triple H and then DX over the course of three PPV matches really amped up their profile and they were hardly pushovers during that feud, even though HBK was assigned as either the fall guy or sympathy guy too much, in my view.
Comeback Of The Year: Ricky Steamboat
I was originally gonna say The Undertaker for this one, but I really enjoyed Steamboat's performance at Mania and Backlash against Jericho. It didn't last too long but it really brought back a wave of nostalgia, and showed younger fans what The Dragon was all about.
Headline Of The Year: Hulk Hogan signs with WC.....I mean, TNA
While this was earth-shattering news in the world of wrestling, we still have yet to see what Hogan plans to do in TNA. He's been saying in press, TV and radio interviews that he's gonna "run" the company, so this could either mean a shot in the arm or a deathblow to WWE's supposed competition. Personally, I think we should all head to our local hardware stores and start buying shovels so we can start digging TNA's grave right now. Hogan's a pathological liar when it comes to saying one thing and doing another, if history has shown us anything, and he's been quoted as saying he wants to sign guys like Ric Flair, Steve Austin and a host of his washed up reality show buddies like Brutus Beefcake and the Nasty Boys. But while I can't speak for Flair, it'll be a cold day in Hell (pun very much intended) before Austin signs with a rival company that has Hogan behind the book. As for his group of buddies, well, showcasing guys who weren't all that over in the 80's and 90's isn't much of a step forward in TNA's growth, is it?
Diva Of The Year: Melina
I really don't have much to say in this category because I admit, I'm not big on women's wrestling. I will say that I think Melina is nearing Trish Stratus-like levels when it comes to being a woman wrestler, and she has a great connection with the audience that'll help her career have longevity. Anytime WWE can make hot chicks learn the actual artform of wrestling is a good day. Melina's one of my favorites.
Theme Song Of The Year: A New Day (Legacy)
I've been looking for a full MP3 copy of this all over the place. Anybody have one? Really good guitar riffs and the lyrics fit the characters nicely.
Babyface Of The Year: Undertaker
Whether it was chasing Shawn Michaels all over Raw and Smackdown before their showdown at WrestleMania, having one of the most shocking comebacks in WWE history by appearing in Jeff Hardy's place at Summerslam or dealing with crooked management and referees on Smackdown, The Undertaker continues to have 100% of the audience behind him in whatever he does. His current reign as World Heavyweight Champion isn't exactly producing five star matches as a result of him returning too soon from minor hip surgery, but I've been loving his promos and he's almost redefining what it means to be a strong, defending, babyface World Champion. We haven't seen the Phenom on the mic this often since the late 90's, and that's something I've missed.
Heel Of The Year: Chris Jericho
I almost went with CM Punk again in this category, but I have to give the nod to Jericho because Punk didn't turn heel until halfway through 2009. Jericho deserves the honor because whether it's his in-ring tactics or something he said on the mic, he defines what it means to be a heel. The dapper suits, the cocky swagger, the constant confrontations with Raw guest hosts, etc. His work on the mic was especially impressive in the buildup to WrestleMania, and even though I personally felt like the 3-on-1 handicap match was a Plan B scenario because Austin wouldn't or couldn't work a match, Jericho made the best of it and I don't think it would've came off well if it was any other heel.
Feud Of The Year: Jeff Hardy vs CM Punk
Again, I almost went with another feud in this category, that being the HBK/Taker program leading up to Mania, but that was merely a two-month issue that ended with one match. The Hardy/Punk feud during this past summer delivered on all fronts; it had emotion, great buildup, the matches got better with each outing and it was something that fans got behind quickly. While Raw was busy having recycled WWE Title matches between the same guys over and over, Smackdown was showing the rise of a main event star in CM Punk and some of the most courageous and emotional battles fought by Jeff Hardy as these two battled over the World Title. My favorite moment in this feud had to be when Punk snapped and attacked Jeff after the Champion's title defense against John Morrison, clocking him with a microphone (even drawing BLOOD, oh no, PG era!) and beating him senseless at ringside. It showed an incredibly vicious side to Punk and garnered even more sympathy for Jeff Hardy, who in turn became the biggest babyface wrestler in the WWE. If Jeff manages to come out of his problems with the law OK, I'd love to see the final chapter between Punk and Hardy written on TV.
As always, I'm loving the feedback I keep getting in my inbox and as always, you readers continue to have great counter arguments and ideas on everything WWE. If you have your own thoughts on the best and worst of the year, I'd like to read them.
See you at ringside,
Derek