Best Angle
----------
Award Description:
To be given to the best angle you've seen in the sport this year.
Previous Winners:
1994: Shane Douglas forfeits NWA title moments after winning it
1993: WWF brings in Sean Waltman as 1-2-3 Kid
1992: Ric Flair "knew Elizabeth first"
1991: "Real World Champion" Ric Flair challenges Hulk Hogan
1990: Horsemen turn heel
This Year's Winner: WWF: Barry Horowitz finally wins
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 75 (= 375 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 68 (= 204 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 64 (= 128 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
17 7 9 124 WWF: Barry Horowitz finally wins
11 6 5 83 WWF: Bam Bam Bigelow shoves Lawrence Taylor
5 4 6 49 ECW: Bill Alfonso takes on promotion
4 4 3 38 WCW: Lex Luger debuts on Monday Nitro
2 6 5 38 WWF: British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith turns on Diesel
5 4 0 37 SMW & USWA: Interpromotional feud
3 5 2 34 WCW: Arn Anderson turns on Ric Flair
3 3 2 28 WWF: Sid becomes Shawn Michaels' bodyguard
4 1 2 27 WWF: Bob Backlund runs for president
3 0 0 15 WWF: Shawn Michaels collapses on RAW opposite Hulk
Hogan vs. Sting on Nitro
1 0 5 15 WWF: Triple header match at In Your House
0 3 3 15 ECW: Terry Funk returns
2 0 2 14 ECW: Shane Douglas leaves ECW Arena for WWF
1 2 0 11 WWF: Gorilla Monsoon as WWF President
1 2 0 11 ECW: Tommy Dreamer vs. Raven
2 0 0 10 WWF: Shawn Michaels turns face the day after WMXI
1 0 2 9 WWF: Goldust debuts
0 1 3 9 NJ: Masa Chono turns heel in New Japan
1 1 0 8 WWF: Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon in a ladder match
0 2 1 8 WCW: Ric Flair & Arn Anderson & Brian Pillman
attack Sting to reform Horsemen
0 2 1 8 ECW: Cactus Jack "refuses to work"
1 0 1 7 WWF: Sid power bombs Shawn three times; Diesel
makes the save
1 0 1 7 WWF: 1-2-3 Kid's heel turn
1 0 0 5 WWF: Owen Hart accomplishes his dream of taking the
WWF title from enemy Bret Hart
1 0 0 5 WWF: Jeff Jarrett's music video and music career
1 0 0 5 WCW: Who will be in the Four Horsemen?
1 0 0 5 WCW: Cruiserweights brought in
1 0 0 5 ECW: Steve Austin's WCW-bashing interviews
1 0 0 5 ECW: Giant falls off a five story building
1 0 0 5 ECW: Chris Benoit power bombs Sabu through Rocco
Rock on a table
0 1 1 5 WWF: Shawn Michaels is first in at Rumble, but wins anyway
0 1 1 5 ECW: Tommy Dreamer's crucifixion
0 1 0 3 WWF: Wild Card match at Survivor Series
0 1 0 3 WWF: Shawn Michaels & Diesel make up
0 1 0 3 WWF: Savio Vega advances through the King of the
Ring tournement
0 1 0 3 WWF: Owen Hart's late arrival in "Double Belts" match
0 1 0 3 WWF: Owen Hart picks Yokozuna as his mystery partner
0 1 0 3 WWF: Bob Backlund signs the contract to wrestle
Jeff Jarrett for the IC Title
0 1 0 3 WCW: Jimmy Hart turns on Hulk Hogan
0 1 0 3 SMW: Dream matches
0 1 0 3 SMW: Buddy Landell/Jim Cornette's Militia series of
matches/events
0 1 0 3 ECW: The Dudleys
0 1 0 3 ECW: Mikey Whippreck gets pushed
0 1 0 3 ECW: Eddy Guerrero wins ECW TV title at his first match
0 1 0 3 ECW: Axl Rotten & Ian Rotten feud
0 0 1 2 WWF: Lex Luger & Davey Boy Smith team up as Allied Powers
0 0 1 2 WWF: Hakushi turns on Skip
0 0 1 2 WCW: Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage & Lex Luger & Ric
Flair & Sting: who's siding with whom?
0 0 1 2 WCW & WWF: Promotions blur the lines between face and heel
0 0 1 2 WCW & USWA: Big Van Vader terrorizes the USWA
during his "Road Kill Tour"
0 0 1 2 ECW: Tazmaniac turns heel
0 0 1 2 ECW: Steve Richards gets pushed
0 0 1 2 ECW: Sandman vs. Mikey Whipwreck caning match
0 0 1 2 ECW: Dean Malenko speaks during an interview after
his final ECW match
JIM BAINES: All I can say is, a LOT of RSPWers marked out (including myself)
when Bigelow shoved Taylor. A lot of us just plain bought it (at least
at first). Say what you want about Monsoon; at least he's made the
presidency interesting to watch.
STEVE BLACK: Jim Cornette said that the one thing that people will still
believe, deep down, about the wrestling business is that there's heat
between the different promotions. He and Jarrett played on that belief
to produce some of the best series of cards that have been seen in Tennessee
and on the southern TV shows in many, many years. You couldn't ask for a
better drawing card. The Terry Funk return was spectacular, combined with
Shane Douglas saving Cactus Jack from a hellacious beating...incredible.
And Masa Chono's heel turn was a thing of beauty. Whoever said that the
Japanese can't do a good storyline?
PETE CHU: Horowitz wins! Enough said.
OTTO HEUER: I narrowed this down finer and finer. When I finally got
it down to the four most amazing things of the year, I noticed something
interesting. Three of them came out of the creative slough of the
ECW: 1. Bill Alfonso takes on the hardcore style of ECW, 2. Tommy Dreamer
& Raven in ECW, 3. Lex Luger debuts in WCW on Monday Nitro, 4. Shane
Douglas' departure from ECW
TOM O'CONNOR: As good as the LT-Bigalow fued, the Horowitz wins angle
was just too good. Jobber for years makes good. A Barry T-shirt - that
was the deciding factor!
Best Organization
-----------------
Award Description:
To be given to the organization/promotion that has the best product.
This is the organization whose TV and house shows you just can't miss.
Previous Winners:
1994: ECW
1993: SMW
1992: WCW
1991: WWF
1990: NWA
This Year's Winner: WWF
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 82 (= 410 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 70 (= 210 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 60 (= 120 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
33 18 11 241 WWF
32 14 7 216 ECW
7 12 10 91 WCW
4 7 4 49 New Japan
1 5 11 42 SMW
3 1 5 28 All Japan Women
0 4 5 22 AAA
0 2 3 12 USWA
1 1 1 10 All Japan
1 1 0 8 MEWF
0 1 1 5 UFC
0 1 0 3 SMA
0 1 0 3 Pancrase
0 1 0 3 FMW
0 1 0 3 Championship Wrestling USA
0 0 1 2 PWA
0 0 1 2 IWA (in Japan)
STEVE BLACK: I can hear the complaints now. "Steve, how the hell can you
rate some nothing-happening promotion like the MEWF the best thing
available today?" Look at what they've done. They've managed to become
a hardcore success in *Maryland*, perhaps the worst place on earth to put
a wrestling show, without tons o' blood, without most of the name stars,
yet still retain enough of a WWF feel to attract a younger audience.
Bottom line: it's the perfect mix. WCW, for all its problems, has not
let itself get pigeonholed into a kiddie corner, or into a hardcore
format. They too provide balance, even if we don't always like the
results of that balance. ECW is still, in general, the most fan-friendly
promotion on the planet, but the heavy reliance on a total hardcore
format is blocking their expansion.
RAY DUFFY: ECW wins because it's actually motivated me to go all the way
down to Philly twice a month. I enjoy the New Japan Jr.'s and the month
of SMW I got to see was great. Unfortunately, I think ECW will be hurting
soon from the number of loses they've experienced recently. I had included
SMW in the previous statement when I originally did my ballot... and it
held true... They folded :-(
OTTO HEUER: It's just TOO appropriate that ECW was listed twice on the
ballot. I would have voted for it twice (using that as a technicality)
if I felt like getting in a fight with Herb. ;-) Interesting again that
five different organizations have won this award in the five years of
the poll (if we call NWA and WCW "different").
TOM O'CONNOR: Back on top! Vince has put the guys back on top.
The New Generation has arrived!
Best TV Show
------------
Award Description:
To be given to what is on average the best wrestling TV show.
In 1994, TV shows and major shows were given separate award
categories.
Previous Winners:
1994: WWF Monday Night RAW weekly TV
1993: WWF Monday Night RAW weekly TV
1992: 01/18/92: WWF Royal Rumble
1991: 03/21/91: WCW & New Japan Supershow (aired on tape)
1990: N/A
This Year's Winner: WWF Monday Night Raw
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 84 (= 420 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 67 (= 201 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 64 (= 128 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
44 11 17 287 WWF Monday Night Raw
11 29 14 170 WCW Monday Nitro
22 3 6 131 ECW weekly TV
1 8 7 43 WCW Saturday Night
0 5 7 29 WWF Superstars weekly TV
2 2 2 20 USWA weekly TV
1 3 2 18 SMW weekly TV
2 1 0 13 All Japan weekly TV
0 1 3 9 WWF Action Zone
0 1 2 7 New Japan weekly TV
0 1 2 7 AAA weekly TV on Galavision (Lucha Libre on Telelatino)
1 0 0 5 Championship Wrestling USA weekly TV
0 1 0 3 Deep South Weekly TV
0 1 0 3 All Japan Women's TV
0 0 1 2 WCW Main Event
0 0 1 2 NWC weekly TV
STEVE BLACK: ECW, week in and week out, has the best television product
in this country, indeed in the world. I defy anyone who can speak
and understand the English language to sit in front of the set for one
hour of their television and not come away from it thoroughly entertained.
Sadly, I am only now discovering what the USWA has been doing for years
now down in Memphis. Their TV each week is almost irresistable. And
NWC...folks, we can believe the hype. From everything I've seen, this
promotion is the real deal for anyone west of the Rockies.
DOUG CORTI: (3rd place Lucha Libre) In terms of action, this show should
be number one. But, the camera work is terrible, the lighting in the
arenas is poor at best and the matches with jobbers are way too long.
OTTO HEUER: If you had asked me on January 1, 1995 what would be my #1 pick
here, I would have said "Raw... what else could take it's place?" Ten
and a half months later I'm sitting here shaking my head as Raw comes
in 4th place on my ballot.
KEVIN M: I think you should discern between the live and the non-live
Raws because there is such a difference between the two, especially among
the RSPW'ers. (but if you don't, still keep my vote the same)
DEAN RASMUSSEN: I only get WCW and WWF(with a monthly dose of public access
independent stuff of ECW and SMW handheld) so that's what I judged. The
WWF has basically two shows repackaged four times. WCW pumps out five
hours a week, some of which is actually watchable (according to my
Guerrero, Malenko, Benoit, Flair tape, four hours in all since September.)
Best Major Show
---------------
Award Description:
To be given to the best major event. This could be a pay-per-view,
a TV special, or any big arena event. In 1994, TV shows and major
shows were given separate award categories.
Previous Winners:
1994: 03/20/94: WWF WrestleMania X
1993: WWF Monday Night RAW weekly TV
1992: 01/18/92: WWF Royal Rumble
1991: 03/21/91: WCW & New Japan Supershow (aired on tape)
1990: N/A
This Year's Winner: 95/08/27: WWF SummerSlam
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 65 (= 325 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 64 (= 192 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 56 (= 112 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
20 5 7 129 95/08/27: WWF SummerSlam
13 13 9 122 95/01/22: WWF Royal Rumble
9 7 3 72 95/02/04: ECW Double Tables
6 9 2 61 95/04/02: WWF Wrestlemania XI
1 7 13 52 95/07/22: WWF In Your House II
4 1 5 33 95/ / : ECW Hardcore Heaven
2 2 5 26 95/04/08: ECW Three Way Dance
0 6 2 22 95/04/15: ECW Hostile City Showdown
3 0 3 21 94/11/20: All Japan Women Tokyo Dome Show
2 1 0 13 95/04/02: Weekly Pro Tokyo Dome show
1 2 0 11 95/08/ : SMW Superbowl of Wrestling
1 1 1 10 95/08/26: ECW Gangsta's Paradise
0 1 3 9 95/05/14: WWF In Your House I
1 0 0 5 95/10/29: WCW Halloween Havoc
1 0 0 5 95/08/04: Collision in Korea
1 0 0 5 95/ / : FMW Onita Retirement
0 1 1 5 95/09/17: WCW Fall Brawl
0 1 0 3 95/11/ : ECW November to Remember
0 1 0 3 95/09/24: WWF In Your House III
0 1 0 3 95/09/02: All Japan Women Tokyo Budokan Hall
0 1 0 3 95/08/20: IWA King of the Death Match tourney
0 1 0 3 95/07/13: New Japan Jr. Tourney final
0 1 0 3 95/05/25: WWF King of the Ring
0 1 0 3 95/03/19: WCW Uncensored
0 1 0 3 94/11/2?: WWF Survivor Series
0 0 1 2 95/04/07: UFC V
0 0 1 2 95/ / : ECW Heatwave
STEVE BLACK: A terrible year for American house shows, but the #1 pick
has got to be ECW's Double Tables. Granted, I didn't attend this show, but
everything that I've seen on tapes and on television makes me wish I had.
The interpromotional show from Tokyo this past spring was phenomenal, and
even managed to outdo the AJW Tokyo Dome show (though that was mainly
because the AJW show went too long).
OTTO HEUER: Gee... it really says something about an org when not ONE of
its PPVs or Clashes make the nominations ballot. :-) WCW major events
SUCKED from 11/94 to 11/95.
HERB KUNZE: The AJW Egg Dome show was the best. Other AJW shows were
great too, but I'll pick the NJ Jr. Tourney final as second, and
the Royal Rumble as third.
Best Promotional Move
---------------------
Award Description:
To be given to the best move made by a promotion this past year. This
could include giving somebody a push, demoting someone, firing someone
hiring someone, or anything of a promotional nature.
Previous Winners:
1994: WWF pushes Bret Hart as champion again
1993: WWF works with SMW & USWA
1992: WCW signs Jake Roberts
1991: WWF signs Ric Flair
1990: N/A
This Year's Winner: WCW: Signs Sabu, Chris Benoit, Eddy Guerrero & Dean Malenko away
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 74 (= 370 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 65 (= 195 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 65 (= 130 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
21 15 8 166 WCW: Signs Sabu, Chris Benoit, Eddy Guerrero & Dean
Malenko away
15 3 6 96 WCW: Monday Nitro is created
6 4 4 50 WWF: Pushes Shawn Michaels as a top babyface
2 10 4 48 ECW: AAA wrestlers brought in
3 8 2 43 WWF: Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon Ladder match
5 1 3 34 WWF: Vince McMahon acknowledges Internet fans on
the air
2 4 4 30 ECW: Hosts internet convention
3 2 2 25 WWF: Pushes Barry Horowitz
2 1 2 17 WWF: Replaces Jack Tunney with Gorilla Monsoon as president
1 2 3 17 WWF: Pushes Shawn Michaels to the IC Title
2 1 1 15 WCW: Signs Lex Luger to debut on Monday Nitro
1 1 2 12 ECW: Mikey Whippreck is pushed
0 2 2 10 ECW: Steve Austin is signed
1 0 2 9 SMW: Hosts Fanweek
1 1 0 8 WWF: Creates In Your House PPVs
1 1 0 8 WCW: Drops Honky Tonk Man
1 0 1 7 WWF: Hires Tammy Fytch
0 1 2 7 WCW: Takes WWF Title off Hulk Hogan
1 0 0 5 WWF: Pam Anderson & Jenny McCarthy in Wrestlemania
1 0 0 5 WWF: Lawrence Taylor wrestles in Wrestlemania
1 0 0 5 WWF: Golddust
1 0 0 5 WCW: Removes Ric Flair from booking committee
1 0 0 5 WCW & WWF: WCW Nitro competes with WWF Raw
1 0 0 5 NJ: New Japan signs Sabu
1 0 0 5 ECW: Goes on-line on the World Wide Web
0 1 1 5 WWF: Goes on-line on AOL
0 1 1 5 SMW & USWA: Interpromotional feud
0 0 2 4 WWF: Pushes 1-2-3 Kid
0 1 0 3 WWF: Signs Shane Douglas
0 1 0 3 WWF: Ignores WCW Monday Nitro
0 1 0 3 WWF: Drops Tekno Team 2000
0 1 0 3 WWF: Advertises during WCW Monday Nitro
0 1 0 3 WWF & WCW: Bring in Japanese women wrestlers.
0 1 0 3 WCW: Signs and successfully pushes big-name stars
like Randy Savage & Lex Lugar
0 0 1 2 WWF: Signs Lawrence Taylor for WrestleMania
0 0 1 2 WWF: Removes Bob Backlund from the spotlight
0 0 1 2 WWF: Keeps 1-2-3 Kid despite injuries
0 0 1 2 WWF: Has tripleheader match
0 0 1 2 WWF: Continues working relationship with independents
0 0 1 2 WCW: Turns Jimmy Hart heel
0 0 1 2 WCW: Takes potshots at the WWF during Nitro
0 0 1 2 WCW: Ric Flair brought out of retirement
0 0 1 2 WCW: Puts on Nitro ads during WWF Monday Night Raw telecast
0 0 1 2 WCW: Pushes Renegade & Giant as The Ultimate
Warrior & Andre clones
0 0 1 2 WCW: Lex Luger's appearance on Monday Nitro debut
0 0 1 2 NJ: New Japan turns Masahiro Chono heel
0 0 1 2 ECW: Makes Shane Douglas departure seem like a plus
STEVE BLACK: WCW's signing of Sabu, Benoit, Guerrero and Malenko was the one
single thing that has a chance at turning this promotion into something
worth watching. As I write this, WCW is letting the junior heavyweights
work hard, and Guerrrero and Benoit are set to get big-time pushes. If
this is not true by the time the awards are announced, forget I said
anything. :> As for the ECW and SMW conventions, they are doing something
that the big two are going to have to do eventually. They realize that
the backbone of their promotions are the fans, and that those are the
people who will continue buying the product in the long run.
OTTO HEUER: I narrowed this down finer and finer. When I finally got
it down to the four most amazing things of the year, I noticed something
interesting. Three of them came out of the creative slough of the
WCW: 1. WCW creates Monday Nitro, 2. WCW signs Sabu, Benoit, Eddy
Guerrero & Dean Malenko from ECW, 3. ECW pushes Mikey Whippreck,
4. WCW drops Honkeytonk Man
ROB NEWLAND: Many people were sorry to see Shawn Michaels turn face
and I for one agree I prefer to see him as a heel but on the basis of a
promotional move it has generated massive gimmick sales and given the WWF a
top face who can actually carry his opponents and work classic matches unlike
the stiff Diesel whose face run was obviously a failure back in March when
half the people watching WrestleMania were on the heels side.
TOM O'CONNOR: Gotta hand it to WCW. You may not like their anti-WWF
diatribes, but what a great promotional move.
Worst Manager
-------------
Award Description:
To be given to the manager whose presence at ringside and during
interviews is really unnecessary. This person does little to enhance
the matches in which his/her wrestler(s) participates.
Previous Winners:
1994: Harvey Wippleman
1993: Harvey Wippleman
1992: Harvey Wippleman
1991: Coach John Tolos
1990: Mr. Fuji
This Year's Winner: Harvey Wippleman
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 79 (= 395 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 71 (= 213 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 62 (= 124 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
29 5 9 178 Harvey Wippleman
11 16 8 119 Mr. Fuji
9 11 10 98 Jimmy Hart
9 8 13 95 Kevin Sullivan
6 10 7 74 Colonel Robert Parker
4 10 5 60 Shinja
2 4 4 30 Ted DiBiase
1 3 3 20 Sister Sherri
2 1 0 13 Paul Bearer
2 0 0 10 Sonny
1 1 0 8 Taskmaster
1 0 1 7 Ralph the rabbit
1 0 1 7 Jason, the sexiest man alive
1 0 0 5 Sonny Oono
0 1 1 5 Brandon Baxter
0 1 0 3 Diamond Mike (USWA)
STEVE BLACK: Fuji: beyond useless. Shinja: useless. And Brandon Baxter is
about as fun to watch as grass growing. You know he'll shut up, you just
don't know *when* - but you hope it'll be very very soon. What Paul Herzog
ever saw in this guy, I'll never know.
Worst Announcer
---------------
Award Description:
To be given to the commentator/announcer who makes the dumbest comments
while pushing his product. This person probably gets you to turn down
the TV when he/she is announcing.
Previous Winners:
1994: Eric Bischoff
1993: Vince McMahon
1992: Vince McMahon
1991: Vince McMahon
1990: Vince McMahon
This Year's Winner: Eric Bischoff
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 82 (= 410 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 69 (= 207 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 59 (= 118 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
52 13 7 313 Eric Bischoff
10 13 8 105 Vince McMahon
2 12 15 76 Todd Pettingill
7 10 5 75 Gene Okerland
4 8 2 48 Gorilla Monsoon
2 3 6 31 Charlie Minn
0 3 5 19 Tony Schiavone
1 2 2 15 Chris Cruise
1 1 2 12 Steve McMichael
2 0 0 10 Dusty Rhodes
1 0 0 5 Paul E. Dangerously
0 0 2 4 Dave Brown (USWA)
0 1 0 3 Dutch Savage
0 1 0 3 Chip Kessler
0 1 0 3 Bruce Beck (UFC)
0 1 0 3 Bobby Heenan
0 0 1 2 T.C. Martin
0 0 1 2 Michael Buffer
0 0 1 2 Lance Wright (ECW hype guy)
0 0 1 2 Jerry Lawler
0 0 1 2 Brian Webster (ICW)
STEVE BLACK: It's not enough that Bischoff exposes the business, makes
horrible personnel decisions, and all but makes WCW unwatchable. I would
vote him worst announcer simply on the basis of voice. It's the most
irritating thing I've ever heard this side of a Kamala interview. In fact,
it's because of Bischoff that I've taken to watching Benoit matches without
the sound, going back later to see what stupid comments I've missed.
Kessler, of SMW, is so lacking in charisma it's pathetic. T.C. Martin,
out of NWC in Las Vegas, is almost as irritating as Bischoff, and is in
seriously need of being shot with some animal trank.
PETE CHU: I hate Bischoff voice more than anyone else, is he trying to
sound like McMahon? Why? Okerlund gets second for his constant lying
with the Hotline. Pettengill gets 3rd for his annoying habits.
DOUG CORTI: Why in the world would somebody let the barely literate
Dusty Rhodes behind the mike??? Lawler gets his jokes from the library
insult section, and is annoying as well. McMichaels should be number one,
but I have only heard him twice (the Raw incident with Kama, and the
Nitro Males/Heat match). Maybe next year, Steve.
HERB KUNZE: Eric Bischoff, Vince McMahon, Tony Schiavone. I mention
these because it is entirely possible that Bischoff will be the best
next year since he's the only one that seems interested in learning
the names of new moves.
GLEN PATRICK RYAN: Charlie Minn {shudder}.
Worst Colour Commentator
------------------------
Award Description:
To be given to the commentator/announcer who makes the dumbest comment
while pushing his product. This person probably gets you to turn down
the TV when he/she is announcing. As of 1992, the difference
between this and colour commentator will be enforced.
Previous Winners:
1994: Dusty Rhodes
1993: Randy Savage
1992: Lord Alfred Hayes
1991: Dusty Rhodes
1990: N/A
This Year's Winner: Steve McMichael
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 78 (= 390 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 66 (= 198 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 51 (= 102 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
41 20 7 279 Steve McMichael
28 22 7 220 Dusty Rhodes
3 5 9 48 Jerry Lawler
1 5 6 32 Stan Lane
0 5 8 31 Randy Savage
2 3 4 27 Dok Hendriks
1 3 0 14 Bobby Heenan
0 0 4 8 Larry Zbyszko
1 0 1 7 Jim Ross
1 0 1 7 Eric Bischoff
0 1 2 7 Bret Hart
0 0 2 4 Todd Pettengill
0 1 0 3 Gene Okerlund
0 1 0 3 Chris Cruise
STEVE BLACK: Whoever let Steve McMichael within 15 miles of a microphone
ought to be castrated in full view of his dog, Pepe. This twit was one of
the best linebackers that ever played the game, but evidently, he took
about 20 too many shots to the head, because in the few moments (and
believe me, they *are* few) that he is coherent, he's a moron. Dusty Rhodes?
He had this award locked before McMichael came on the scene, and had
there been more time, he might have gotten it anyway. He must take about a
fifth of vodka before every broadcast, because he's almost as incoherent as
McMichael, and sometimes even worse. He deserves a clubberin'. As for
Lawler, he's long past his prime behind the microphone, especially as a heel.
PETE CHU: I have no idea why Dusty is doing color, this guy just babbles
about something irrelavant, and worse it isn't funny. I have to turn the
volume off when he came on. McMicheal doesn't belong in Wrestling.
RAY DUFFY: This phrase explains it all : "Hulk Hogan is too good of a
technical wrestler...." - Steve McMichael, Nirto debut. Dusty is
incoherient and there should be a law against him being behind a mic.
I heard raves about Lawler's interviewing skills, instead, he sits around,
cracks lame jokes and adds nothing to the show. He's a poor version
of Bobby Heenan.
OTTO HEUER: This category is as easy "as grandpa takin' out th' trash..."
--McMichael.
DEAN RASMUSSEN: Dusty Rhodes sucks. I would actually be happy if they
replaced him with Mongo. Mongo, at least, has set Bobby Heenan
up for a couple of good one-liners.
Worst Interviewee
-----------------
Award Description:
To be given to the person who gives the worst interview in the biz.
This could be a wrestler or a manager.
Previous Winners:
1994: Yokozuna
1993: Giant Gonzalez
1992: Ultimate Warrior
1991: El Gigante
1990: Ultimate Warrior
This Year's Winner: Hulk Hogan
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 75 (= 375 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 67 (= 201 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 63 (= 126 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
21 9 5 142 Hulk Hogan
12 3 4 77 Yokozuna
5 7 5 56 Renegade
8 3 3 55 Dave Sullivan
6 4 4 50 Giant
1 10 3 41 Jim Duggan
5 3 2 38 Diesel
3 3 7 38 1-2-3 Kid
1 4 2 21 Alex Wright
1 2 3 17 King Mabel
2 0 1 12 Marty Jannetty
1 1 2 12 Sid
1 1 2 12 Master (Curtis Iaukea)
0 3 1 11 Kevin Sullivan
0 2 2 10 Lex Lugar
0 3 0 9 Dean Malenko
1 1 0 8 Bret Hart
0 0 4 8 Randy Savage
1 0 1 7 Kamala
1 0 1 7 Bob Backlund
0 2 0 6 Undertaker
1 0 0 5 Paul Orndorff
1 0 0 5 Henry O. Godwinn
1 0 0 5 Goldust
1 0 0 5 Fatu
1 0 0 5 Dungeon of Doom
0 1 1 5 Zodiac (Butcher)
0 1 1 5 Tatanka
0 1 1 5 Hakushi
0 0 2 4 Dean Douglas
0 1 0 3 Meng
0 1 0 3 Chris Benoit
0 1 0 3 Big Van Vader
0 0 1 2 Trashman
0 0 1 2 Sir Mo
0 0 1 2 Savio Vega
0 0 1 2 Paul Bearer
0 0 1 2 King Kong Bundy
0 0 1 2 Dr. Issac Yankem, D.D.S.
STEVE BLACK: If I hear one more "*sniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiff*
Golllllllllduuuuuuust", I'm going to start taking hostages. Not only can
you not hear him at the time, but when you can you have no idea what the
hell he's talking about. Alex Wright has the charisma of a destroyed kewpie
doll. And Savio Vega? Why does he ever bother doing an interview?
OTTO HEUER: It was fairly easy to narrow this down to six (Dave Sullivan,
Dean Malenko, Jim Duggan, Randy Savage, Vader, Yokozuna). Picking three
was tough. I ended up picking Evad and Duggan as the top (worst) two,
then flipped a coin to decide between Savage, Vader, and Yoko.
HERB KUNZE: The Master is the worst. Embarrassing. Zodiac gets
second. Yes. No. Yes. No. YES!
Worst Angle
-----------
Award Description:
To be given to the worst angle you've seen in the sport this year.
It may be the worst because of taste or because of execution.
Previous Winners:
1994: WCW gives Hulk Hogan the WCW Title
1993: WCW's Cactus Jack gets amnesia; search leads to Cleveland
1992: Papa Shango curses the Ultimate Warrior
1991: WWF exploits the Gulf war
1990: Earthquake breaks Hulk's ribs & get well card drive
/ Black Scorpion (tie)
This Year's Winner: WCW: Giant billed as Andre the Giant's alleged son
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 75 (= 375 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 70 (= 210 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 68 (= 136 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
25 8 8 165 WCW: Giant billed as Andre the Giant's alleged son
18 8 7 128 WCW: Kevin Sullivan organizes the Dungeon of Doom
to get Hulk Hogan
5 3 5 44 WCW: Hulk Hogan is invincible
4 5 1 37 WCW: Hulk Hogan pins Ric Flair to win at Uncensored
3 3 2 28 WCW: Giant falls off a five storey building
0 6 5 28 WWF: Mabel becomes King of the Ring
3 4 0 27 WCW: Reveals WWF RAW outcomes on WCW Nitro
3 1 2 22 KKK attack Virgil
1 2 5 21 WCW: Hulk Hogan keeps the WCW title without
defending it for months
1 4 1 19 WCW: Ric Flair wears a dress at Uncensored
0 4 2 16 WWF: Fatu is repackaged as a positive role model
for urban youth
0 4 2 16 WCW: Big Van Vader turns babyface
1 1 3 14 WCW: Hulk Hogan vs. Giant monster truck battle
2 1 0 13 WCW: Hulk Hogan gets beat up by the Giant in the
Dungeon of Doom
2 0 1 12 WWF: Gorilla Monsoon Becomes WWF Interim President
0 2 3 12 WWF: Goldust debuts in WWF
1 0 2 9 WCW: Yeti is brought in by the Dungeon of Doom to
attack Hulk Hogan
1 0 1 7 WWF: Henry Godwinn throws slop on heels
0 1 2 7 WWF: Dr. Isaac Yankem debuts as Jerry Lawler's
dentist to feud with Bret Hart
1 0 0 5 WWF: Shawn Michaels faints on Monday Night Raw just
as Hulk Hogan vs. Sting wraps up on WCW Monday Nitro
1 0 0 5 WWF: Hakushi carrys around fake severed head
1 0 0 5 WWF: Barry Horowitz pins Skip
1 0 0 5 WCW: Vacant WCW title after Hulk Hogan vs. Giant debacle
1 0 0 5 WCW: Butcher turns on Hulk Hogan
0 1 1 5 WCW: Hulk Hogan's "dark side" some to the fore
0 1 0 3 WWF: Undertaker vs. Kama feud
0 1 0 3 WWF: Shawn Michaels forfeits IC title
0 1 0 3 WWF: Jean Pierre Lafitte steals souvenirs from kids
0 1 0 3 WWF: Davey Boy Smith turns on Diesel
0 1 0 3 WWF: Bret Hart vs. Jerry Lawler foot in mouth angle
0 1 0 3 WWF: Ahmed Johnson slams Yokozuna
0 1 0 3 WCW: Ric Flair's turn on Arn Anderson becomes "all
an act to fool Sting"
0 1 0 3 WCW: Renegade
0 1 0 3 WCW: Randy Savage's elbow drop revives Hulk Hogan
0 1 0 3 WCW: Gene Okerlund hawks death information on the hotline
0 1 0 3 Serbian Liberated Army Movement break up
0 1 0 3 ECW: Wrestlers abusing women in the ring
0 0 1 2 WWF: Undertaker's face is crushed by Mabel & Yokozuna
0 0 1 2 WWF: Tripleheader "screwproof" match ends up with
screw job
0 0 1 2 WWF: Screwy ending to Diesel vs. Bret Hart Royal
Rumble match
0 0 1 2 WWF: Jean Pierre Laffite steals Bret Hart's jacket
0 0 1 2 WWF: Diesel vs. Mabel feud
0 0 1 2 WWF: Diesel being champion for so long
0 0 1 2 WWF: Bob Backlund runs for President of the US
0 0 1 2 WCW: Talks about WWF
0 0 1 2 WCW: Ric Flair begs Sting to be his tag partner
0 0 1 2 WCW: Ric Flair beats up Angelo Poffo
0 0 1 2 WCW: Four Horsemen reunite
0 0 1 2 WCW: Brian Pillman becomes "California Brian"
0 0 1 2 WCW & WWF use Special Olympics to get themselves over
0 0 1 2 SMW: Gangstas' gimmick and interviews
0 0 1 2 Incredibly Strange Wrestling runs an abortion angle
JIM BAINES: Haven't we seen this somewhere before?
STEVE BLACK: This was a particularly big year for disgusting angles...so
much so that Kevin Sullivan and the Dungeon of Doom, though they'll
probably win, don't even make my top three. The KKK angle happened at an
NWC show in Las Vegas, if I'm not mistaken; do we *really* need to play
yet another race card in this country, especially with all the people
stirring up hatred on both sides? Then you have the piledriving and general
degradation of women in ECW. It's one thing to appreciate a woman for her
looks; it's quite another to piledrive them in the ring on a weekly
basis. This has no place in wrestling whatsoever. And the abortion angle?
Two wrestlers for this weird promotion, The Abortionist and Cletus the
Fetus, did an angle where they attempted to give one of the valets an
abortion in the ring (this valet, btw, is the same one who revives her
wrestlers with "golden showers"), even though she wasn't pregnant (even
in the angle). Have the bounds of good taste become so shredded we don't
even know that these are sick angles?
PETE CHU: Seeing Flair in a dress, really hurts me. I am one of his
biggest fan, the guy is a legend, but put him in a dress?! Of course
the night gets worse as Hogan beats Flair in UnCenSored when he supposed
to beat Vader. Then of course the year gets worse when DOD comes around.
RAY DUFFY: Paul Wright claiming to be the son of Andre the Giant is an
insult to a man who's considered to be a legend in wrestling. And isn't
it funny that Andre's "good pal" Terry Bollea agreed to it (hell, he
probably thought it up). The Dungeon of Doom is an insult to anyone who's
IQ is above 2.
HERB KUNZE: There's been an enormous amount of negative talk in the newsgroup
ever since Paul Wight debuted as Andre's alleged son. The flaming has
increased with his push. I don't it. It's a good angle/storyline, IMO.
Nobody is upset that Ric Flair and Arn Anderson aren't related, or that
Arn Anderson isn't even an Anderson. Nobody cared when Jesse Barr was
a long lost Funk brother. I don't get the outrage.
GIANLUCA MILANDRI: Hogan and anything related to him is the right topic for
the "Worst Angle" top three. BTW, Hogan winning Uncensored by pinning Flair
gets first place, second goes to Paul Wight as Andre's son, third once more
to Hogan who keeps the belt without even defending it.
TOM O'CONNOR: Insulting my intelligence with this makes me sick!
JASON ROBAR: I don't really appreciate race entering angles at all. However,
the one angle I thought was extremely distasteful was having KKK attack
Virgil. Why Jim Neidhart would agree to be this KKK is beyond me. This sort
of racism is not needed in the world, let alone the wrestling ring. Once
again I say that Paul Wight as Andre's son was extremely distasteful
and disrespectful. But I'll leave it at that. Having the Giant fall off
the roof of Kobol Hall, and survive the plunge after pretending like he
had died was something that sent wrestling back 10 years, and just
cemented Hulk Hogan as a comedical person in society's eye, as opposed
to somebody to be respected.
Worst Organization
------------------
Award Description:
To be given to the organization/promotion that has the worst product.
This is the organization whose TV and house shows you wouldn't
even think of attending. Probably not even as a freebie.
Previous Winners:
1994: WCW
1993: WCW
1992: WWF
1991: WCW
1990: WWF / AWA (tie)
This Year's Winner: WCW
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 69 (= 345 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 36 (= 108 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 26 (= 52 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
41 8 4 237 WCW
9 6 3 69 AWF
6 5 4 53 WWF
3 4 2 31 SMW
3 1 6 30 North Georgia
1 1 1 10 USWA
1 1 1 10 Motor City Wrestling
1 1 1 10 ECW
0 3 0 9 NWA (Texas)
1 1 0 8 Incredibly Strange Wrestling
0 2 0 6 Deep South
1 0 0 5 NWA (New Jersey)
1 0 0 5 IWA Japan
1 0 0 5 AAA
0 1 0 3 USWC (Portland)
0 1 0 3 Pacific Championship Wrestling
0 1 0 3 ICW
0 0 1 2 New Japan
0 0 1 2 NWA (not specific...)
0 0 1 2 IWCCW
0 0 1 2 ASWA
STEVE BLACK: AWF...where do we begin? The TV sucks, the round system is
ridiculous, the talent is either too old or sucks (usually both)...other
than that, it's a great promotion. NWA Texas is gone, mercifully, as is
hopefully the entire Crockett philosophy of booking...at least his 90's
version of it. And North Georgia...*shudder* If I ever voluntarily watch
another tape of that again, kill me. It says a lot about the wrestling
business when more wrestlers are developing here than anywhere else.
PETE CHU: WCW, everytime I thought they are going to get better, they
get worse.
JASON ROBAR: I only had one vote for worst organization, as most of the
promotions I saw were decent at least. I'll be honest, I was tempted to
leave this category blank. But for every step WCW took forward, they take
50 steps back due to Hulk Hogan's influence. Take Halloween Havoc. The
undercard contained some good matches and good angles. But when Hogan and
the Giant were involved, all hell broke loose. The Giant falls over the
edge of the building, but he survives it, and is able to compete later in
the night. Not to mention that the Monster Truck Challenge made no sense
either. I'm sorry but this destroyed everything that WCW had built up
during the night. It's really sad to be honest. I hope that they can
shape it up soon.
Worst TV Show
-------------
Award Description:
To be given to what is on average the worst wrestling TV show.
In 1994, TV shows and major shows were given separate award
categories.
Previous Winners:
1994: WCW World Wide
1993: 04/04/93: WWF WrestleMania IX
1992: 12/03/91: WWF This Tuesday In Texas
1991: 07/07/91: WCW Great American Bash
1990: N/A
This Year's Winner: WWF Mania
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 52 (= 260 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 48 (= 144 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 45 (= 90 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
8 11 6 85 WWF Mania
11 4 6 79 WCW Worldwide Wrestling
7 7 4 64 WCW Pro Wrestling
5 5 6 52 WCW Saturday Night
1 8 10 49 WWF Wrestling Challenge
6 3 3 45 WCW Prime Wrestling
4 2 4 34 AWF weekly TV
3 2 2 25 WCW Main Event
2 4 1 24 WWF Action Zone
3 1 0 18 WCW Monday Nitro
1 1 3 14 WWF Spotlight
1 0 0 5 ICW weekly TV
STEVE BLACK: AWF is the worst hour of television I have ever seen in my
life. The WWF retreads are bad enough, but for Mick Karch to absolutely
debase himself by associating himself with this promotion is unforgivable.
If AWF is not the worst, WCW Prime is. What the hell happened to the Chris
Cruise I remember from "When Worlds Collide"? Not to mention Dusty
Rhodes. Third is WWF Challenge. Rest in pieces, Challenge...you earned it.
EDWARD BRANSCOMB: The Main Event has too much Okerlund, Prime too much Dusty,
and Mania too much Petingill
Worst Major Show
----------------
Award Description:
To be given to the worst major event. This could be a pay-per-view,
a TV special, or any big arena event. In 1994, TV shows and major
shows were given separate award categories.
Previous Winners:
1994: 06/19/94: WWF King of the Ring
1993: 04/04/93: WWF WrestleMania IX
1992: 12/03/91: WWF This Tuesday In Texas
1991: 07/07/91: WCW Great American Bash
1990: N/A
This Year's Winner: 95/03/19: WCW Uncensored
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 58 (= 290 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 51 (= 153 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 45 (= 90 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
33 8 3 195 95/03/19: WCW Uncensored
14 13 6 121 95/06/25: WWF King of the Ring
6 13 16 101 95/07/18: WCW Bash at the Beach
1 6 4 31 95/09/17: WCW Fall Brawl
2 5 2 29 95/10/22: WWF In Your House IV
1 1 2 12 95/10/29: WCW Halloween Havoc
0 3 1 11 95/09/24: WWF In Your House III
0 1 3 9 94/12/27: WCW Starrcade
0 0 4 8 95/04/02: WWF Wrestlemania XI
1 0 1 7 95/08/06: WCW Clash of Champions XXXI
0 0 2 4 95/02/19: WCW SuperBrawl V
0 1 0 3 95/05/14: WWF In Your House I
0 0 1 2 95/08/04: WCW Collision in Korea
STEVE BLACK: WCW Uncensored may well be the worst show of all time. How
anybody can look at that show and say it was good was beyond me. From the
censorship of the "King of the Road" match to Hogan beating FLAIR in a
strap match against VADER to Flair in a dress attacking Savage...you
don't get any lower than that. Second place went easily to In Your House
4, one of the most sleep-inducing shows I've ever seen. Third went to
Bash at the Beach by default.
PETE CHU: UnCenSored is the worst PPV I have ever seen, not one good
match. Even worse: Renegade, Flair in a dress, stupid blood rule.
KOTR isn't much better either, seeing Mabel as a King just doesn't do it.
HERB KUNZE: Uncenored and King of the Ring were the two worst, but
Uncensored had the Tupelo concession stand brawl and KotR had nothing.
So, KotR takes first and Uncensored takes second. Starrcade takes
third.
Worst Promotional Move
----------------------
Award Description:
To be given to the worst move made by a promotion this past year. This
could include giving somebody a push, demoting someone, firing someone
hiring someone, or anything of a promotional nature.
Previous Winners:
1994: WCW lets Hulk Hogan control his scenarios
1993: WCW tapes 13 weeks of TV at one time in Orlando, Fla.
1992: WCW bans off the top rope moves under Bill Watts
1991: WCW loses Ric Flair
This Year's Winner: WCW: Gives Hulk Hogan too much control
Participation Statistics:
Total 1st Place Voters = 70 (= 350 points)
Total 2nd Place Voters = 67 (= 201 points)
Total 3rd Place Voters = 64 (= 128 points)
Detailed Results:
1st 2nd 3rd Score
11 3 8 80 WCW: Gives Hulk Hogan too much control
7 6 7 67 WCW: Brings in more old WWF wrestlers
6 5 1 47 WCW: Lets Hulk Hogan keep the title without
defending it
4 7 2 45 WCW: Makes blatantly insulting remarks directly at
the WWF
5 5 1 42 ECW: Loses various wrestlers to WCW and WWF
5 4 1 39 WCW: Suspends and drops Vader
4 4 2 36 WCW: Keeps Hulk Hogan around
3 2 3 27 WWF: Starts RAW's new season with a taped show
1 6 1 25 WWF: Makes Mabel the King of the Ring
3 0 3 21 ECW: Fire at the Arena on 10/28/95
3 0 2 19 WWF: Does not give Shawn Michaels the WWF title
1 3 1 16 WCW: Replaces Ric Flair with Kevin Sullivan as
primary booker
2 1 1 15 ECW: Loses the Sunshine Network and Prime for a while
1 2 2 15 WWF: Changes the Action Zone to a replay show like Mania
2 1 0 13 WCW: Pushes Renegade as "Ultimate Surprise"
1 0 3 11 WCW: Gives away WWF Monday Night RAW results on WCW
Monday Nitro
2 0 0 10 WWF: Runs with Diesel as champion for an entire year
1 1 1 10 WWF: Reduces Bret Hart's push
1 1 1 10 WWF & WCW: put on PPVs every month
0 1 3 9 WCW: Puts WCW Nitro on opposite WWF RAW
1 1 0 8 WCW: Creates the Giant, son of Andre
1 0 0 8 WWF: Uses Lawrence Taylor
1 0 1 7 WWF: Does not sign Chris Benoit
1 0 0 5 WWF: Redcues Sid's push
1 0 0 5 WWF: (mis)use of Al Snow
1 0 0 5 WCW: Signs Mike Rotundo as V.K. Wallstreet
1 0 0 5 WCW: Doesn't put Lex Lugar over Hulk Hogan on his
Monday Nitro debut
1 0 0 5 WCW: Continues to ignore the potential of the State Patrol
0 1 1 5 WWF: Hires Tekno Team 2000
0 1 1 5 WCW: Jobs Ric Flair
0 1 1 5 WCW: Higher-ups allow too much commotion in front office
0 1 1 5 WCW: Brings in New Japan wrestlers as stereotypical
Japanese heels
0 0 2 4 WCW: Turns Big Van Vader babyface
0 1 0 3 WWF: Turns Dustin Rhodes into Goldust
0 1 0 3 WWF: Loses Lex Luger
0 1 0 3 WWF: Keeps Diesel as champ the whole year
0 1 0 3 WWF: Does not sign good tag teams
0 1 0 3 WWF: Does not push Heavenly Bodies
0 1 0 3 WWF: Bill Watts leaves
0 1 0 3 WCW: WCW Pro Wrestling's New Japan half-hour
0 1 0 3 WCW: Tapes matches for Worldwide so far in advance
0 1 0 3 WCW: Monday Nitro goes live every single week
0 1 0 3 WCW: Gene Okerlund hawks death information on the hotline
0 0 1 2 WWF: Tripleheader "screwproof" match ends up with
screw job
0 0 1 2 WWF: Loses a load of big name wrestlers and announcers
0 0 1 2 WWF: Loses Jeff Jarrett
0 0 1 2 WWF: Jobs Shane Douglas
0 0 1 2 WWF: Does not give hard workers like Shawn Michaels
& Owen Hart titles
0 0 1 2 WWF: Burdening good workers with lousy gimmicks
0 0 1 2 WCW: Signs way too much new talent
0 0 1 2 WCW: Reduces Sting's push
0 0 1 2 WCW: Puts all the great matches on free TV, but has
sucky matches on PPVs
0 0 1 2 WCW: Produces utterly ridiculous Dungeon Of Doom skits
0 0 1 2 WCW: Jobs Dean Malenko
0 0 1 2 WCW: Creates the Dungeon of Doom
0 0 1 2 ECW: Paul E. Dangerously buries Sabu at the Three
Way Dance
0 0 1 2 AAA: Jobber matches last 20+ minutes
STEVE BLACK: For me, this category has to deal with what a promotion *does*,
rather than what happens to happen to a promotion. As a result, none of
the bad things that happened to ECW deserve to be here - except one. ECW
allowing fire in the arena was an act of utmost stupidity, and should
never, ever have happened. They turned so many people off by what
happened at the 10/28 show I can't imagine them ever doing that again.
Second is the fact that the WCW front office continues to allow so much
commotion and controversy in the front office. If anyone, in the signing
of Hogan, had had half a brain and told him that one guy was going to
run things and that was the end of it, they wouldn't have this problem,
not to the extent that they do now. Third is putting in Kevin Sullivan as
booker. That virtually guaranteed the Dungeon of Doom (w/Hogan, of
course) being the company's main focus. Horrible move.
RAY DUFFY: WCW puzzles me so much. They COULD be so kick ass, it's not
funny. However, a two year old and a senile chimp could run the federation
better than do. Hogan continues to get pushed, yet he and all his
feuds contrast so greatly with the rest of the federation, it seems
like you're watching two different shows when you watch it. The
New Japan angle is so racist and insulting, it's not funny. And
the last one (Mabel as King of the Ring) ... hell, even Cactus Jack
couldn't believe it at the ECW Summer Con.
OTTO HEUER: Geez... WCW has won this every year. Get the feeling
they're doing something wrong promotion-wise? I narrowed this down to the
eight worst moves. 3 were ECW, 4 were WCW, one was WWF. Some
write-ins I was considering: WCW hiring Mongo and WWF's cover up of
the Blus beating up Shawn Michaels.
GIANLUCA MILANDRI: First place to WCW who brings in lots of old WWF useless
wrestlers. Second to the WWF who reduces Bret Hart's push. Third to WCW
(again!) who lets Hogan keep the belt wihtout defending it.
ROB NEWLAND: When ECW lost the Sunshine Network and Prime they also lost
the chance to run shows in Florida where attendance was huge and rising
each visit and support was growing via word of mouth every day. Now it's
off the air many casual fans were left wondering what on earth was going
on and live shows have stopped due to lack of TV in that market. Florida may
not have been the home of ECW but it was a home away from home and full of
wrestling fans with money to spend but no local promotions to take it.
TOM O'CONNOR: How do you handle your rival's attack? With a pre-recorded
episode. What kind of a "season opener" is that? You let Nitro get out
of the blocks, Vince. Very poor.
SCOTT ROGERS: 1. WCW makes blatant remarks aimed at WWF RAW - Uh Eric, if
your product is better then let it speak for itself. Your putrid comments
are a turnoff. Have fun running another wrestling fed. into the ground.
2. WWF RAW starts off with a taped episode - Not a great way to begin
the season, espically with the competition ready to announce all the
outcomes in advance. Bad bad move. 3. WCW brings in more old WWF
wrestlers - Nothing like investing in all the new, young talent out
there, eh?
GENERAL COMMENTS:
JIM BAINES: My wrestling viewing here in Maine is limited to WWF & WCW, hence
some blank spaces. I abstained from many "worst" items, and only voted
for ones that really raised my ire.
EDWARD BRANSCOMB: What a year Shawn Michaels has had. I gave him Best
wrestler, face, match, move- moonsault bodyblock off ladder-, & color
man (for his stint on Raw with near shoot comments about what a bum
Luger was). He also deserved consideration for best interview and
feud(vs. Diesel). He made major contributions to the WWF and helped
SMW draw its biggest gate of the year with an excellent interview and
match at their Super Bowl.
MARK BUREAU: Does my WCW bias show? More than that, does my DDP
bias show?
ROB EVANS: I didn't feel qualified to pick great matches and feuds or
anything Non-North American. And just how the hell are you supposed to
pick Worst when everyone listed in the categories suck?!
HERB KUNZE: As both WCW and the WWF acquire some good workers and let
them show their stuff, the prospects for the next year should be great,
and I'm sure we'll see a lot of great matches from each promotion.
Which promotion is going to shine more? The one that finally realizes
that the future lies in great workers, promotions that know how to use
them well, and commentators that know how to call the matches. That
means more than Jim Ross trying to out-yell Vince McMahon and Curt
Hennig with "Moonsault!" or pulling Mike Tenay out of the background
for a match here and there. The front line commentators like Vince
McMahon and Tony Schiavone need to learn the names of moves and
drastically improve their performances. That could well be what
makes the difference between the two groups. In Japan, All Japan
will no doubt continue to be great, with Kenta Kobashi hopefully
challenging for the Triple Crown. If only Steve Williams would
come back. All Japan Women is still the best promotion in the
world and there's no reason for that to change in 1996.
JMLANGON: Bischoff and Hogan are an awful combination for wrestling fans:
stale wrestlers, tasteless gimmicks, predictable endings. MacMahon is too
loud and overpowers the actual matches; he has cloned himself with Lawler
and Hendricks, but one was enough! Let's see more of Stan Lane and
Raymond Rougeau and less of Lawler and Hendricks; Jesse Ventura would be
a nice addition with a view to providing knowledgable, provocative,
measured commentary. Let's see more workers like Roma, Krofatt and
Benoit: high flyers with talent.
LORIE MARTIN: We don't get anything but WWF and WCW where I live so
this naturally limits my knowledge of other federations. Trying to
find more info on Japan women (time and money permitting).
TIMOTHY MEISNER: If the 1995 Survivor Series/Next day's Raw had counted
toward voting, these categories would have been affected: 3, 4, 5, 8, 9,
10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 22, 24, 29, 34, 35 (completely changed), 38, 39, 44,
48. Obviously, the worst part of this is that those 30 hours will be
forgotten by next year's awards.
The only comment that I felt important: If it weren't for Hogan, Savage,
Duggan, Renegade and the like, Dean Malenko would have been at the top of
all the "worst" lists, for his lack of selling, interviewing ability,
facial expressions, and all other things that make a wrestler exciting to
watch in North America. Not to mention that his "wrestling" ability
consists of moves so obviously choreographed, it's scary.
GLEN PATRICK RYAN: (Not having ever seen ECW, I didn't feel qualified to vote
for it in any category)
R.S.P.Wer AWARDS:
THE "YOU HAVEN'T COME THAT LONG A WAY, BABY" AWARD:
1. McCarthey/Anderson boob-off at Wrestlemania.
2. A. Blayze's alleged breast enhancement
3. Neither WCW or WWF are willing to go all out with a women's division
despite all the good women out there
THE DISGRACE TO PRO-WRESTLING AWARD:
1. Gene Okerlund's Hotline
2. WCW's bitchy remarks about WWF
3. McMahon having Bam Bam job to Lawrence Taylor
THINGS THAT MADE THIS WRESTLING FAN HAPPIEST IN 1995:
1. Seeing Sean Waltman return from a broken neck
2. Finally seeing some tapes of the Japanese women wrestlers
3. Attending a WWF taping in Stockton California (5.5 hours of wrestling for
10 bucks!)
MOST PATHETHIC CLONE-GIMMICK:
1. The Renegade as the Ultimate Warrior
2. The Giant as Andre's son
3. Ric Flair as the great wrestler who used to be
MAN WHO MOST NEEDS A BELT:
1. Shawn Michaels (WWF World Title)
2. Chris Candido (WWF Intercontinental Title)
3. Sabu (WCW World Title)
BEST THEME MUSIC:
1. Goldust
2. Sid
3. Hunter Hearst-Helmsley
The "Zoogz-Rift award" for self-promotion goes to Hulk Hogan
for continually trying to find a way to maintain his own popularity while
making sure that others don't get in his way.
The "Kenneth Gosselin award" for wasted bandwidth goes to
all the "Have you ever ..." messages that appeared over RSPW like a bad
plague.
TASTIEST VALET/MANAGER:
1. Woman
2. Diamond Doll Kimberly
3. Beulah McGilicutty(sp)
BEST PYROTECHNICS:
1. ECW (I'm sick... go ahead and FLAME me)
2. WCW
3. WWF
BEST FOREIGN OBJECTS USED IN A MATCH:
1. Cheese grater (ECW - Tommy Dreamer on Raven)
2. Frying Pan (ECW)
3. Plastic Dinosaur(!) (ECW)
4. Chair (ECW)
WORST HOTLINE HAWKERS:
1. Obscene Gene Okerlund
2. Vince McMahon
3. Bobby Heenen
WORST IRRELEVANT RSPW THREAD:
1. Have you ever...
2. Please post results of the card that hasn't even finished yet
3. Make Money Fast!!!
BEST SHEET:
1. WON
2. Torch
3. Anything but the Lariat ;-)
BEST ENTRANCE MUSIC:
1. Harlem Heat
2. Ric Flair
3. Whoever has "Keep 'em Separated" in ECW
WORST ENTRANCE MUSIC:
1. Evad ("I Wanna Be A Hulkamaniac")
2. Doink
3. Duggan
LEAST AMOUNT OF INTERVIEW TIME:
1. Meng
2. Malenko
3. Max Muscle
4. Bobby Eaton
BEST RSPW WEEKLY:
1. TidBits
2. Hotline News
3. WWF Medium Rare Raw Report
BEST RSPW FEUD:
1. Herb Kunze vs Dave Scherer
2. Mark Bureau vs Dave Scherer
3. RSPW vs Dave Scherer
BEST ENTRANCE MUSIC
1. Harlem Heat
2. Owen Hart
3. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
HOTTEST WOMEN IN WRESTLING
1. Beulah
2. Kimberly Page ("The Diamond Doll")
3. Tammy Fytch ("Sunny")
WORST ENTRANCE MUSIC OF '95
1. Paul Orndorff's "Mr. Wonderful" theme
2. Cobra's Morse Code
3. Brian Pillman's "Blonds have more fun!"
BEST ENTRANCE MUSIC OF '95 (RECORDED HITS)
1. Ini Kamoze's "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (Public Enemy)
2. Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers" (Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, and Shane Douglas)
3. Metallica's "Enter Sandman" (Sandman)
BEST ENTRANCE MUSIC OF '95 (COMPANY-MADE)
1. Diamond Dallas Page
2. Diesel
3. Meng (pre-Dungeon of Doom evil music)
WISH IT HAPPENED IN '95, BUT IT NEVER DID
1. Reunion of the Hollywood Blonds
2. Hulk Hogan's permanent retirement
3. Big Van Vader defeats Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Title
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING???
1. Ed Leslie changes from Brutus Beefcake to The Butcher, joins Kevin Sullivan,
feuds with Sullivan and becomes The Man with No Name only to rejoin
Sullivan as the Zodiac
2. John Tenta becomes Avalanche in WCW and suddenly changes his name to
the ridiculously uncreative "Shark"
3. Dustin Rhodes leaves WCW a tough Texan to become the effeminate Gold
Dust in the WWF
WISH THEY COULD/WOULD RETURN TO ACTIVE COMPETITION
1. Barry Windham
2. Rick Rude
3. Jake Roberts
EVERBODY SAW IT COMING, BUT...
1. Sting, when Flair turned on him
2. Shane Douglas, when Vince made him a JTTS
3. nobody, everyone knew Sting vs. Hogan would end with a run in
UGLIEST THING IN A DRESS
1. Ric Flair
2. Kevin Sullivan
3. Jason
BEST SKIT
1. Steve Austin blasting Nitro
2. Public Enemy training Mikey Whippwreck
3. Lawler's Karate fighter beating Vince's
MOST IMPROVED ACCOUTERMENT
1. Alundra Blayze's chest
2. Steve Austins mic work
3. Pit Bulls choice in manager
BEST SKIT
1. Al Snow & Unabom pretend they're the Rock 'n Roll Express
2. Public Enemy lift Paul E. Dangerously's credit card in Florida
3. Sandman canes Tom Misnik on the pre-show tape at the
ECW Summer Con.
BEST T-SHIRT WORN BY A WRESTLER IN THE RING
1. Stevie Richards (Dancin' Stevie/Los Lurkers Locos/RSPW Sucks)
2. (tie) Tommy Dreamer/The Sandman (To the Extreme Convention shirts)
The Scaia Awards:
Angle of the Year, 1996:
Shawn Michaels fainting on RAW, 11/20. I may well forget how
much I loved this when next voting period rolls around, but for
now, I don't see 1996 getting any better. Shawn michaels' "near
death" on RAW was the best exectued and conceived angle of recent
memory. If you think otherwise, you either should Stop watching
wrestling, get off your damned moral high horse, or relax and quit
being pissed that Vince fooled you.
Best Ring Entrance:
Three way tie: Michaels, Undertaker, and the Sandman. The first
two have the perfect combination of music, lights, etc.... the
Sandman has five simple things: "Enter Sandman," a beer, a smoke,
a hot babe, and (till recently) the ECW gold. And people wonder why
he's my hero.....
Most Useless Awards:
Any award beginning with "Non-North American" in this year's voting.
Last year, I did not vote because the "NNA" awards were just
a waste of my time. This year, I skipped 'em. If I want the
vaunted "insiders" stroking themselves over how many non-WWF/WCW/US
wrestlers they familiar enough to vote for, I'll renew my sub
to the WON. With RSPW so lame lately, are there more than 10 votes
for NNA stuff anyway?
Worst Pro Wrestling Newgroup:
Without a doubt: rec.sport.pro-wrestling. I swear, you guys have
no lives, no brains, no skills, and no soul. Ha ha. Just
kidding... I still post here, don't I?
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