The Reality of Wrestling: The Best & Worst of 2005 (Awards Pt. 1)
By Phil Clark & J.D. Speich
With the end of the year upon us, it is time for every dirt-sheet write, internet columnist and wrestling web-site to post their picks for different awards in the world of wrestling. We at “The Reality of Wrestling” are no different. Having said that, we are dedicating the entire month of December to posting our picks for the best and worst for a year that certainly had its mix of both. The focus of this column when we began was point/counterpoint on issues pertaining to the wrestling world may it be angles, financials earnings, contracts, etc. Awards time may be the definition of what we’ve been doing since this column went up. Let the floodgates open!
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR
P.C. Says: A.J. Styles
J.D. Says: A.J. Styles
TAG-TEAM OF THE YEAR
P.C. Says: Naomichi Marufuji & KENTA (Pro Wrestling NOAH)
J.D. Says: AMW (Chris Harris and James Storm)
BEST TECHNICAL WRESTLER
P.C. Says: Kurt Angle
J.D. Says: (tie) Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe
BEST CRUISERWEIGHT/JR. HEAVYWEIGHT
P.C. Says: KENTA
J.D. Says: A.J. Styles
BEST BRAWLER
P.C. Says: Abyss
J.D. Says: HHH
BEST CARD
P.C. Says: Wrestlemania XXI
J.D. Says: Wrestlemania XXI
BEST FEUD
P.C. Says: Batista Vs. HHH
J.D. Says: Batista Vs HHH
BEST ANGLE
P.C. Says: Yuji Nagata turning heel and forming Team JAPAN (New Japan Pro Wrestling)
J.D. Says: Batista leaving Evolution and becoming new face World Heavyweight Champion (WWE)
BEST PROMOTION
P.C. Says: Pro Wrestling NOAH
J.D. Says: NWA-TNA
BEST T.V. SHOW
P.C. Says: TNA iMPACT!
J.D. Says: WWE SmackDown!
BEST PROMOTIONAL MOVE
P.C. Says: TNA signs with Spike TV
J.D. Says: TNA signs WWE wrestlers like Rhyno and Christian
BEST BOOKER
P.C. Says: Mitsuharu Misawa (NOAH)
J.D. Says: Jeremy Borash, Dutch Mantell, Bill Banks, Scott D’Amore, Mike Tenay (TNA)
BEST FACE
P.C. Says: John Cena
J.D. Says: John Cena
BEST HEEL
P.C. Says: Jeff Jarrett
J.D. Says: HHH
MOST UNDERRATED WRESTLER
P.C. Says: Alex Shelley
J.D. Says: Shelton Benjamin
BEST INTERVIEW
P.C. Says: Eddie Guerrero
J.D. Says: Eddie Guerrero
WORST WRESTLER OF THE YEAR
P.C. Says: Gene Snitsky
J.D. Says: Gene Snitsky
WORST MATCH OF THE YEAR
P.C. Says: Monty Brown Vs. Trytan (TNA Destination X)
J.D. Says: Scott Hall Vs. Jeff Hardy (TNA Final Resolution)
WORST ANGLE OF THE YEAR
P.C. Says: Kurt Angle getting “Jungle Fever” for Booker T’s wife (WWE)
J.D. Says: Eddie is Dominic’s real “Papi” (WWE)
WORST PROMOTIONAL MOVE
P.C. Says: WWE’s borderline racist/prejudicial portrayal of the Muhammad Hassan, Kerwin White, and Mexicools characters
J.D. Says: Muhammad Hassan, the storyline, not the wrestler
WORST BOOKER
P.C. Says: New Japan booking committee
J.D. Says: Vince McMahon (WWE)
WORST CARD OF THE YEAR
P.C. Says: The Great American Bash (WWE)
J.D. Says: The Great American Bash (WWE)
MOST OVERRATED WRESTLER
P.C. Says: John Cena
J.D. Says: John Cena
The Reality is…this is just the beginning of a wild month. There are still the stories that shaped the year, the moments that made the year, and the matches that were the year.
