Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards 2014

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This is just copy and pasted from the Observer with the MMA guff edited out.

Not looking for you lads to answer/reply to every category here. Too much like homework and some of awards are complex/obscure. Just though it could prompt opinions and debate as it is a good template for it.

The Wrestling Observer Awards calender is kinda weird as it ends in November. However it isn't that bad of a thing as the year is effectively over as TNA is on hiatus in December and well WWE is in a walking coma at the moment.

Voting will start on 12/1 for the 35th annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, which will be released in January. Balloting will end at midnight on January 14, 2013, with results published later in our annual double awards issue.

These awards cover the period from December 1, 2013, through November 30, 2014.

"CATEGORY A" AWARDS. PICK A FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE FINISHER IN EACH CATEGORY. POINTS WILL BE AWARDED ON A 5-3-2 BASIS. THE WINNER OF THE AWARD IS DETERMINED BY TOTAL POINTS.

LOU THESZ/RIC FLAIR AWARD - This is open to pro wrestlers, for a combination of everything, being both important and influential this year in a positive manner from a business perspective, combining both box office impact as well as strong match quality in worked matches. Last year's top three were Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada and Daniel Bryan.

MOST OUTSTANDING WRESTLER: This is based on working ability in the ring only. Simply, the best workers in the world on a consistent basis over the past year. Drawing power, charisma and push shouldn't be considered. Last year's top three were Hiroshi Tanahashi, Daniel Bryan and Kazuchika Okada

BEST BOX OFFICE DRAW - Based on drawing big houses (or for that matter selling tickets to small houses as the case may be), buy rates and/or television ratings. Ring work shouldn't even be considered. Last year's top three were Georges St-Pierre, The Rock and John Cena.

FEUD OF THE YEAR - This should be based on a combination of having a compelling storyline along with having great matches that should strengthen the box office. Last year's top three were Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada, Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate and Hirooki Goto vs. Katsuyori Shibata.

TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR - For the best working and most valuable tag team during the previous year. Last year's top three were Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns, Goldust & Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks.

MOST IMPROVED - This is based on making the biggest strides in ring work during the previous year. This should not be for someone who was already good, but was given a bigger push. Last year's top three were Roman Reigns, Tomohiro Ishii and Goldust.

BEST ON INTERVIEWS - Who has given the best interviews on a consistent basis over the past year? Reputation from previous years shouldn't be taken into consideration. It should be based on work over the course of the year as opposed to one or two memorable interviews. Last year's top three were Paul Heyman, C.M. Punk and The Rock.

MOST CHARISMATIC - What person had to do the least to get the most out of it? Who do crowds naturally react to emotionally even before the person does anything? Last year's top three were Hiroshi Tanahashi, The Rock and John Cena.

BEST TECHNICAL WRESTLER - This is for having the ability to use high level technical wrestling moves within the context of building a great worked pro wrestling match. Last year's top three were Daniel Bryan (winning for the ninth straight year), Hiroshi Tanahashi and Antonio Cesaro.

BRUISER BRODY MEMORIAL AWARD - This is for the wrestler who uses brawling tactics to put together the best matches during the previous year. It's not for a guy who does brawling matches that aren't any good. Last year's top three were Katsuyori Shibata, Tomohiro Ishii and Kevin Steen.

BEST FLYING WRESTLER - This is for the wrestler who does the most innovative and solidly executed flying maneuvers within the context of putting together great wrestling matches. This is not for simply the hottest daredevil moves, which are sometimes hit and sometimes miss. Last year's top three were Kota Ibushi, Ricochet and Adrian Neville.

MOST OVERRATED - The wrestler who gets the biggest push, despite lacking ring ability or charisma. Last year's top three were Randy Orton, Ryback and HHH.

MOST UNDERRATED - The wrestler with the most ability, who, for whatever reason, doesn't get a push commensurate with their ability. This should be based on this past year, and not a business reputation earned in prior years. Last year's top three were Antonio Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler and Tomohiro Ishii.

PROMOTION OF THE YEAR - Should be based on which group put together the best live and television product on a consistent basis, and secondarily, the ability to sell that product at a high level. This means box office and marketing combined with product quality. Theoretically, the top pick should be a company at or near the top on both categories. Last year's top three were New Japan Pro Wrestling, The Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Wrestling Entertainment.

BEST WEEKLY TV SHOW - Weekly television shows are the only ones eligible, not monthly shows, specials or individual episodes of a specific program. This is for the best consistent program. Last year's top three were WWE NXT, WWE Raw and Dragon Gate Infinity.

PRO WRESTLING MATCH OF THE YEAR - Pick the three best matches, in order, from the time period. Remember, matches from last December are eligible, but nothing after November 30th from this year is eligible. Please list both the date and location of the match, because some matches were held many times during the year. Last year's top three were Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada from April 7, 2013 at Tokyo Sumo Hall, Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tomohiro Ishii from August 4, 2013 in Osaka and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada from October 14, 2013 at Tokyo Sumo Hall.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - This is based on ring performance, not how someone is pushed or necessarily even long-term star potential. By the standards of the category, a rookie is someone who hasn't had a regular job with a full-time wrestling company before September 1, 2012. Last year's top three were Yohei Komatsu, Konosuke Take****a and U-T. Among those eligible are Flyer (CMLL), Rebelde (CMLL), Ashley Remington (CHIKARA), Australian Suicide (AAA), Alexa Bliss (WWE), Cachorro (CMLL), Dragon Lee II (CMLL), Yuga Hayashi (Dragon Gate), Chris Melendez (TNA), Chikara Momota (several Japanese groups), Black Panther (CMLL), Skadi (CMLL), Naoya Nomura (All Japan) and Moose (ROH).

BEST NON-WRESTLER PERFORMER - For the best performer on a television show who isn't a traditional wrestler, whether they be a management figure, a woman who doesn't wrestle, or a traditional manager. Last year's top three were Paul Heyman, Zeb Colter and Gedo.

BEST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER - Last year's top three were William Regal, Joe Rogan and John Layfield.

WORST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER - Last year's top three were Taz, Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole.

BEST MAJOR SHOW - This should be a major show, as opposed to a TV taping or house show, although TV specials like Saturday Night's Main Event or Ultimate Fight Night are eligible. Last year's top three were New Japan G-1 Climax August 4, 2013 in Osaka, New Japan Wrestle Kingdom 8 on January 4, 2013 at the Tokyo Dome and WWE Summer Slam on August 18, 2013 in Los Angeles.

"CATEGORY B" AWARDS. PICK ONE IN EACH CATEGORY. WINNER CHOSEN ON THE BASIS OF FIRST PLACE VOTES.

WORST MAJOR SHOW OF THE YEAR - Last year's top three were WWE Battleground on October 6, 2013 in Buffalo, WWE Survivor Series on November 24, 2013 in Boston and WWE Night of Champions on September 15, 2013 in Detroit.

BEST WRESTLING MANEUVER - Last year's top three were the Kazuchika Okada’s Rainmaker, Antonio Cesaro Giant swing and Daniel Bryan’s Busaiku knee.

MOST DISGUSTING PROMOTIONAL TACTIC - Last year’s top three were WWE’s exploitation of the death of Bill Moody (Paul Bearer), TNA’s treatment of Jessy Sorensen and CMLL not delivering the Atlantis vs. Ultimo Guerrero mask vs. mask match.

WORST TELEVISION SHOW - Last year's top three were TNA Impact, WWE Raw and WWE Smackdown.

WORST MATCH OF THE YEAR - Last year's top three were Natalya & Naomi & Cameron & Bella Twins & JoJo & Eva Marie vs. Alicia Fox & Aksana & A.J. Lee & Tamina Snuka & Rosa Mendes & Kaitlyn & Summer Rae from November 24, 2013 in Boston, Randy Orton vs. Big Show from November 24, 2013 in Boston, and Kane vs. Bray Wyatt from August 18, 2013 in Los Angeles.

WORST FEUD OF THE YEAR - Last year's top three were Big Show vs. The Authority, TNA vs. Aces & 8s and Total Divas vs. WWE Divas.

WORST PROMOTION - Last year's top three were TNA (for the seventh straight year), All Japan Pro Wrestling and CHIKARA Pro.

BEST BOOKER - Last year's top three were Gedo & Jado, Joe Silva and Hunter Johnston.

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR - Last year's top three were Dana White (for the ninth straight year), Takaaki Kidani and Vince McMahon.

BEST GIMMICK - Last year's top three were The Wyatt Family, The Bullet Club and The Shield.

WORST GIMMICK - Last year's top three were Aces and 8s, Heel owner Dixie Carter and Los Matadores.

BEST WRESTLING BOOK - Last year's top three were Mad Dogs Midgets and Screw Jobs:The History of Montreal Wrestling by Patric Laprade and Bertrand Hebert, The Hardcore Truth by Bob Holly and Ross Williams and The Squared Circle by David Shoemaker.

BEST PRO WRESTLING DVD - Last year's top three were Jim Crockett Promotions:The Good Old Days, Legends of Mid South Wrestling and Barbed Wire City.

Machismo Fan

They should really rename the Overrated category, maybe something like Overpushed would be more appropriate. Anywho, Ishii should win Most Outstanding Wrestler by a very long way. I don't think there's anybody who can come close to touching the year he had.

Tag team should be interesting. Young Bucks have to be favourites but The Hardys, Red Dragon and The Uso's have all had very good years. Heyman will likely walk away with interviews again this year, he hasn't had much competition.

Match of the year is a tough one and I'd have to have a longer think about it. Maybe one of the Ishii/Naito matches. Is there really a candidate for best announcer this year?

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Machismo Fan of all people and all categories I need to know what is your pick for Best TV show?

Painting with broad strokes in fan's eyes online at least IMPACT couldn't do anything right, NXT couldn't do wrong while Raw even on its best episode tended to be too big and baggy. Lucha Underground is still only new but fans of it initially are losing interest after a couple of weeks as it doesn't have a title or is building to a PPV or special event.

Machismo Fan

Honestly I don't know. iMPACT! had a god awful first half of the year and a solid enough second half, all things considered. I've never found a three hour Raw to be an entirely enjoyable show just due to the marathon element and the amount of filler, and I don't watch all of Smackdown and NXT often enough to really make a fair judgement. So what I'm saying is I abstain. NXT will win though.

BohsJohnny

I'm finding some categories this year pretty easy like most outstanding as Machismo Fan said Ishii all day but Thesz/Flair is hard maybe Nakamura since he headlined a lot of NJ shows including a few with Bad Luck Fale of all people and MOTY is wide open but i'll probably go with either Ishii/Naito from February or Ishii/Goto from October.

Young Bucks are my Tag team of the year they've had great matches in every company they've appeared in with a wide variety of opponents.