A list of puns related to "List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards"
*1980 β Bob Backlund vs Ken Patera (5/19 in MSG. WWF, Texas Death-Match)
*1981 β Pat Patterson vs Sgt. Slaughter (4/21 in MSG. WWF)
*1982 β Tiger Mask vs Dynamite Kid (8/5 in Tokyo, NJPW)
*1983 β Ric Flair vs Harley Race (11/24, NWA Starrcade)
*1984 β Freebirds vs Von Erichs (7/4, WCCW)
*1985 β Tiger Mask II vs Kuniaki Kobayashi (6/21, AJPW)
*1986 β Ric Flair vs Barry Windham (2/14, NWA Battle Of The Belts)
*1987 β Ricky Stemboat vs Randy Savage (3/29, WWF Wrestlemania)
*1988 β Ric Flair vs Sting (3/27, NWA Clash Of Champions I)
*1989 β Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (4/2, NWA Clash Of Champions VI)
*1990 β Jushin βThunderβ Liger vs Naoki Sano (1/31, NJPW), I couldnβt find this match, but here is the legendary Misawa-Tsuruta match from 6/8 (AJPW), which was the second match on the list.
*1991 β Steiner Brothers vs Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (3/21, NJPW)
*1992 β Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas vs Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (5/25, AJPW)
*1993 β Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki (4/11, AJW)
*1994 β Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania X, WWF), Itβs also worth noting that probably the greatest match of all time, Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada from 6/3, AJPW wa
... keep reading on reddit β‘Hi, i'm a usual from r/SquaredCircle. Eachh year, Wrestling Observer Newsletter surveis its readers and take note of the worst and best of the year on wrestling and MMAs. Some categories are MMA or wrestling only, others are co-ed. So, there's a register of the award "Most Disgusting promotional tactic" that is co-ed and i'm curious about some of those from the world of MMA. Could you explain what you can if it's possible? Thanks in advance.
From 2019:
-UFC/USADA handling of Jon Jones
-UFC using Greg Hardy
From 2018:
-UFC using McGregorβs criminal footage to sell Nurmagomedov fight
-UFC booking Rachael Ostovich on same show with Greg Hardy
-UFC moving show out of Las Vegas due to Jones situation
From 2017:
-Rizin promotion of Gabi Garcia against older smaller women
-Conor McGregor racial promos
-Promotion of Rico Verhoeven vs. Bigfoot Silva
From 2016:
-BELLATOR KIMBO VS. DADA 500 FIGHT (this won that year's award on that category)
-Rizin booking Gabi Garcia vs. Shinobu Kandori
-Rizin booking Kazushi Sakuraba in fights
From 2014:
-UFC hiring Thiago Silva and then having to fire him
From 2013
-Dana White criticizing GSP after his fight
As usual: voted on by Observer subscribers, not decided by Dave himself.
Category A Awards
Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year)
Most Outstanding Wrestler
Tag Team of the Year
Best on Interviews
Promotion of the Year
Best Weekly TV Show
Match of the Year
Category B Awards
US/Canada MVP
Japan MVP
Mexico MVP
Europe MVP
https://twitter.com/JRsBBQ/status/1365426709785419780
"Congrats to all the @aew team members for being recognized by @WONF4W in their awards issue. Especially @ShutUpExcalibur who gets better every week and is deserving of any broadcaster award. Smartest dude in the room."
(Further in this twitter thread is some great banter between Excalibur and Eddie Kingston.)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic "award" [thread]
1981: Monster character (Tony Hernandez) - LeBelle Promotions
The promotion was on it's last legs, and in one last ditch attempt promoter LeBelle proceeded to push "a real monster" made in a lab
1982: Bob Backlund As WWF Champion (WWF)
Backlund had held the title since 1978 and by 1982 fans (and Dave) were sick and tired of him on top.
1983: Eddie Gilbertβs Broken Neck (WWF)
WWF used a real-life neck injury to further a feud between two wrestlers who had nothing to do with Gilbert (Backlund and Masked Superstar)
1984: Blackjack Mulligan Fakes Heart Attack (CWF)
Blackjack Mulligan faked having a heart condition before faking a heart attack.
This was one of the many reasons why Dave hated Florida that year.
1985: Usage Of Mike Von Erichβs Near Death (WCCW)
Mike had contracted toxic shock syndrome, a potentially fatal illness caused by a bacterial toxin. The promotion rushed him back after suffering brain damage. WCCW claimed it was a βliving miracleβ, promoting his big return before putting him back in the ring in tag team matches with his brothers.
1986: Exploitation Of The Death Of Gino Hernandez (WCCW)
World Class made video packages which treat the tragedies of Ginoβs death and the kayfabe blindness of Chris Adams with equal sadness. Many saw this as insulting to Ginoβs memory.
1987: Exploitation Of The Death Of Mike Von Erich (WCCW)
WCCW changed their David Von Erich show (who died in β84 in controversial circumstances) in to the David & Mike memorial show. They charged extra for VIP tickets, and even had a female mud wrestling match.
1988: Fritz Von Erichβs Fake Heart Attack (WCCW)
Fritz collapsing on television doing a βheart attackβ angle to try and get sympathy not so long ago they held the David & Mike memorial show, so to put their fans through losing another Von Erich was awful and tasteless at best.
1989: JosΓ© GonzΓ‘lez babyface push (WWC)
In 1988, Bruiser Brody was stabbed in locker room showers by JosΓ© GonzΓ‘lez and died shortly afterwards.
After the case was closed abruptly in early 1989, JosΓ© GonzΓ‘lez returned to WWC as Invader #1; and booked as a babyface.
1990: Atsushi Onita βStabbedβ by JosΓ© GonzΓ‘lez (FMW)
As Bruiser Brody had been a big star in Japan, Onita wanted to capitalise on it with an angle
After Onita & GonzΓ‘lez met to hype the match in a press conference, GonzΓ‘lez left. Onita decided to blade his stomach several
... keep reading on reddit β‘Sorry you goofs had to find out this way but the Fed is officially dead. Vince failed, itβs over.
All major companies and dark horses considered, who should be the one to win each respective award?
BEST GI?MMICK: *could include the following, name whomever you wish*
Note: R.I.P. to Rocky Johnson. My condolences to The Rock and his family on this.
Plans Change
I didn't really know that much of Kevin Owens until he started in NXT. Was this how a lot of people felt about him at this time? Did he have a buzz around him at this time that he could become huge, or was he always just going to be a "indi" guy? I'm really surprised TNA never signed him. Here is the full quote below.
"Steen always confuses me anyway because why would a guy work so damn hard at this, get as good mentally at working a match as he is, do as much in the ring s he does, but let himself get so out of shape. You would think a guy with that much desire and ability would have the goal to make it and his body dooms him in todayβs market place from being a television star. "
This just serves as a guide and discussion for people who like to. If it bothers or upsets you alot, then ignore it and move on. But these are the 10 wrestlers with the most career matches rated 5 stars ( or sometimes more, via the Wrestling Observer Newsletter ( run by Dave Meltzer of course )
1st: Mitsuharu Misawa - 25 Matches ( the most ever )
2nd: Kenta Kobashi - 23 Matches
3rd: Kazuchika Okada & Toshiaki Kawada are tied with 21 Matches
5th: Kenny Omega - 18 Matches
6th: Will Ospreay - 16 Matches
7th: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Akira Taue are tied with 15 matches
8th: Kota Ibushi & Manami Toyota are tied with 13 Matches
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wrestling_Observer_Newsletter_awards#Bruiser_Brody_Memorial_Award_.28Best_Brawler.29
Thats more than anyone else! Go Foley go!
who made several appearances on AEW Dark in 2021, and even made a single appearance on AEW Dynamite, losing to Anthony Ogogo.
The reasoning behind Meltzerβs report is that Karter is being advertised as wrestling his final independent match on January 22, and he was part of a WWE tryout back in December 2021.
I was going through the list of awards over again and can't help but wonder if AJ is taking home wrestler of the year in both rankings.
Usually it is released in January but it's already march. What happened?
This must be the fan's vote, but heck I'm listing them out as I listen to the WOR, which is awesome by the way @ http://f4wonline.com.
The list below is as per how Bryan and Dave discuss on the Radio, and the full version is now available on the website. In the radio, they just discussed briefly each category, so I added a few details here and there like promotion brand and whatnots.
UPDATE: I'm done listening. Enjoy folks.
Wrestler of the year - Ric Flair/Lou Thesz Awards:
Most outstanding wrestler:
Tag team of the Year:
Best on Interviews:
Promotion of the Year:
Best weekly TV show:
Match of the Year:
Feud of the Year:
Most charismatic:
Best technical wrestler:
**Best brawler -
... keep reading on reddit β‘Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year): Hiromu Tanahashi
Most Outstanding Wrestler: Kola Ibushi
Best Box Office Draw: Test Nighto
Feud of the Year: Seto Kaiba v Yugi Moto
Tag Team of the Year: Los Matadores Japan
Most Improved: Taji Ishimorey
Best on Interviews: Minority Suzuki
Most Charismatic: Hiroshi Takahashi
Bryan Danielson Award (Best Technical Wrestler): Lightsabre Jr
Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler): Tomohawk Day One Ishy
Best Flying Wrestler: Will O'Spray
Most Overrated: Brock Lesnar
Most Underrated: Hirooki Goku
Promotion of the Year: NJPW
Best Weekly TV Show: NJPW World
Pro Wrestling Match of the Year: Kenny Omega 3 v Kazuchoker Ocardoor
Rookie of the Year: Tofu Yano
Best Non-Wrestler: Joey Wheeler
Best Television Announcer: Maximillion Pegasus Kid
Worst Television Announcer: JBL
Best Major Wrestling Show: One of the NJPWs
Worst Major Wrestling Show: One of the WWEs
Best Wrestling Maneuver: Meltzer Driver (unbiased call this one)
Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic: Inserting Charlotte into SummerSlam without having her earn it
Worst Television Show: Raw
Worst Match of the Year: John Cena v Randy Orton
Worst Feud of the Year: WWE v my inteligance
Worst Promotion of the Year: WWE
Best Booker: Gecko
Promoter of the Year: NJPW owners
Best Gimmick: Joe Anoa'i 'cancer battler'
Worst Gimmick: Roman Reigns 'tough guy'
Best Pro Wrestling Book: Talk is Jericho
Best Pro Wrestling DVD: Being the Elite
Since we got around 3 months for 2016, I was curious about everyone for who were their nominees for these categories. You can pick one or more to make a list of these individuals or groups.
Wrestler of the Year
Most Outstanding Wrestler
Best Box Office Draw
Feud of the Year
Tag Team of the Year
Most Improved
Best on Interviews
Most Charismatic
Best Technical Wrestler
Best Brawler
Best Flying Wrestler
Most Overrated
Most Underrated
Promotion of the Year
Best Weekly Television Show
Match of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Best Non-Wrestler
Best Television Announcer
Worst Television Announcer
Best Major Show
Worst Major Wrestling Show
Best Wrestling Move
Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic
Worst Television Show
Worst Worked Match of the Year
Worst Feud of the Year
Worst Promotion of the Year
Best Booker
Promoter of the Year
Best Gimmick
Worst Gimmick
Make sure to get people discussing this early prediction of the WON Awards 2016
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter has yearly awards: the judging period for them runs from December 1st of the previous year through November 31st of the current year. So, since the year is now over, people have done everything that they can to make their case to win an award.
So, based on the wrestling you watch, whether you subscribe to the Observer (which earns you the right to vote) or don't, who would you vote for in these categories? Copy the form below to answer.
Class A Awards
Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler Of The Year: Best Total Package Talent & Business Draw):
Most Outstanding Wrestler (Greatest In-Ring Body of Work):
Best Box Office Draw:
Feud of the Year:
Tag Team of the Year:
Most Improved:
Best on Interviews:
Most Charismatic:
Best Technical Wrestler:
Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler):
Best Flying Wrestler:
Most Overrated (Overpushed):
Most Underrated (Underpushed):
Promotion of the Year:
Best Weekly TV Show:
Pro-Wrestling Match of the Year:
Rookie of the Year:
Best Non-Wrestler:
Best Television Announcer:
Worst Television Announcer:
Best Major Wrestling Show:
Class B Awards
Worst Major Wrestling Show:
Best Wrestling Maneuver:
Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic:
Worst Television Show:
Worst Match of the Year:
Worst Feud of the Year:
Worst Promotion of the Year:
Best Booker:
Promoter of the Year:
Best Gimmick:
Worst Gimmick:
As many of you know, every year the Wrestling Observer Newsletter grants a series of awards to professional wrestlers that exemplify specific criteria. Given that the year is almost over, what are Wreddit's predictions for the following awards? Obviously you don't have to answer them all -
EDIT: I'll be adding my own predictions in italics as they come to me.
EDIT 2: Ah, screw my predictions - this is about your opinions, not mine. Have fun!
Here's the complete list of 2014 Wrestling Observer Awards.
Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year): Hiroshi Tanahashi - New Japan Pro Wrestling
MMA Most Valuable Fighter: Georges St. Pierre - Ultimate Fighting Championship
Most Outstanding Wrestler: Hiroshi Tanahashi - New Japan Pro Wrestling
Best Box Office Draw: Georges St. Pierre - UFC
Feud of the Year: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada - New Japan Pro Wrestling
Tag Team of the Year: The Shield (Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) - WWE
Most Improved: Roman Reigns - WWE
Best on Interviews: Paul Heyman - WWE
Most Charismatic: Hiroshi Tanahashi - New Japan Pro Wrestling
Best Technical Wrestler: Daniel Bryan - WWE
Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler): Katsuyori Shibata - New Japan Pro Wrestling
Best Flying Wrestler: Kota Ibushi - Dramatic Dream Team, New Japan Pro Wrestling
Most Overrated: Randy Orton - World Wrestling Entertainment
Most Underrated: Antonio Cesaro - WWE
Promotion of the Year: New Japan Pro Wrestling
Best Weekly Television Show: WWE NXT
Most Outstanding Fighter (formerly Shootfighter of the Year): Cain Velasquez - Ultimate Fighting Championship
Match of the Year: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada - New Japan Pro Wrestling - Invasion Attack, Tokyo, Japan, April 7
Fight of the Year: Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez - Ultimate Fighting Championship
Rookie of the Year: Yohei Komatsu - New Japan Pro Wrestling
Best Non-Wrestler: Paul Heyman - WWE
Best Television Announcer: William Regal - WWE
Worst Television Announcer: Taz Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Best Major Show: New Japan G-1 Day 4 - New Japan Pro Wrestling
Worst Major Wrestling Show: WWE Battleground - World Wrestling Entertainment
Best Wrestling Maneuver: Kazuchika Okada - Rainmaker - New Japan Pro Wrestling
Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic: WWE exploiting the death of Bill Moody (Paul Bearer) - World Wrestling Entertainment
Worst Television Show: TNA Impact Wrestling
Worst Worked Match of the Year: Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Natalya, Naomi, Cameron, Eva Marie and JoJo vs. AJ Lee, Tamina Snuka, Kaitlyn, Alicia Fox, Aksana, Rosa Mendes and Summer Rae - WWE Survivor Series
Worst Feud of the Year: Big Show vs. The Authority - WWE
Worst Promotion of the Year: Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Best Booker: Jado and Gedo - New Japan Pro Wrestling
**Promoter of th
... keep reading on reddit β‘Please note that this site uses cookies to personalise content and adverts, to provide social media features, and to analyse web traffic. Click here for more information.