JC's 2009 Achievement Awards
hobb...@yahoo.com
with TNA.
Eddie Guerrero Memorial MVP Award: To A. J. Styles. AJ's patience was
finally rewarded with a TNA title, and it looks like he'll be feuding
with real-life pal Christopher Daniels through the winter.
Wrestler of the Year: Kurt Angle. The only knock on Kurt seems to be
including his amateur titles (Olympic medals included) in his total
count of championships, claiming to be a 13-time champ, which is
clearly a cheap shot at Triple H. Kurt will work with anyone.
Babyface of the year: Styles.
Heel of the year: Angelina Love. Sure, she's not on the roster now
(visa issues), but resorting to using sex to bribe a referee in order
to regain the women's title? How much lower can you go?
Tag team of the Year: Beer Money, Inc.. Robert Roode & James Storm
have become a premier tag team in the last year, earning a babyface
run along the way. I'd rather these two as the tag champs rather than
the British Invasion, but that's just me.
Woman of the Year: Dixie Carter. She doesn't wrestle, and with
business partner Jarrett out of the picture for the nonce, Mrs. Carter
has stepped to the forefront to lead TNA into what she hopes is the
promised land. Stress "hopes", because I don't think Huckster Hogan is
the answer.
Feud of the Year: Team 3D vs. Beer Money vs. British Invasion. Two
sets of belts, three teams. Enough said.
What to look for in 2010: Hogan claims he won't wrestle, but he'll be
a real hero if he does us all a favor and sends Vince Russo packing.
Permanently. However, I don't realistically see TNA advancing toward
2011.
WWE:
ECW/Smackdown:
Guerrero Memorial MVP award: Christian (ECW), CM Punk (Smackdown).
Punk's summer heel turn freshened his character, but at the cost of
compromising the values he represents as a straight edger. If he truly
believed in straight edge, I don't think he wins at Breaking Point.
Christian was assumed to be returning to Smackdown, which he left 4
years ago, and feud with old foe Jeff Hardy, but because those plans
were allegedly leaked to the internet prior to Royal Rumble, WWE
Uncreative changed up and sent "Capt. Charisma" to ECW. Now a 2-time
ECW champ, Christian is the leader the 3rd brand has needed for so
long.
Wrestler of the Year (covers both brands): Punk. It took that heel
turn to bring back the Anaconda Vice as a secondary finisher, 2 years
after Uncreative decided Punk couldn't use it anymore. Now that his
feud with Undertaker is over, however, the Vice has been put back in
the vault for some reason, and shouldn't.
Babyface of the Year (covers both brands): (tie) Jeff Hardy &
Christian. As I noted above, these two could've been feuding at the
start of the year, but for both their sakes, it didn't happen. Hardy
left at the end of August, but Christian soldiers on in ECW, waiting
for a likely promotion via the spring draft to either Raw or
Smackdown.
Heel of the Year: William Regal (ECW), Vince McMahon (Smackdown). I'd
retire the award insofar as Chairman Wackjob is concerned, but Regal
definitely deserves his share for his dogged, persistent pursuit of
the ECW title, manipulating Vlad Kozlov & Ezekiel Jackson along the
way. McMahon clearly was responsible for the Breaking Point screwjob,
but refused to allow for a more appropriate resolution to the angle.
At 64, Vince shouldn't be taking even the slightest temptation to risk
his neck against an old foe like Undertaker. Vince needs to retire,
and refuses to do so. His loss.
Woman of the Year: Tiffany (ECW), Michelle McCool (Smackdown). I don't
think any of us expected Tiffany to remain GM of ECW this long, but it
speaks more to Uncreative's inability to find a more appropriate
player in that role, though you have two of them there in Will Regal &
Tommy Dreamer. McCool won the women's title in July and has held on
for dear life, even though her title run's been devaluated because of
the reliance on outside help (Alicia Fox, Layla) in the important
matches, and I don't see her going too far into the new year as champ,
not with Mickie James, Beth Phoenix, and Natalya Neidhart on her
trail. But Michelle gets the nod because she stayed on the blue brand
the entire year.
Feud of the Year: CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy (Smackdown, June-August),
Christian vs. William Regal (ECW). I think these speak for themselves.
Rookie of the Year (covers both): Yoshi Tatsu (ECW). That having been
done, I don't think Yoshi will stay on Tuesdays come draft night. Now,
if only Vince could find it within himself (doubtful) to reactivate
the cruiserweight title.......
What to look for in 2010: Getting rid of Vicki Guerrero is priority 1
on Smackdown. Sending her to ECW would be perfect, because she's not
that much of an improvement over Tiffany as a talker, much less an
administrator. With talk of Bret Hart coming in for the first 3 1/2
months, expect the Hart Dynasty to bring the tag belts back to
Smackdown. Chris Jericho will chase Undertaker, and end up as victim
#18 in March (Wrestlemania). I see Batista winning his 2nd Royal
Rumble, then beating Undertaker at Elimination Chamber in February.
Next: Raw.
J. C. Gilbert