To coincide with WWE's Slammy Awards edition of RAW tonight, it's time for The CC Network to take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly in the 5th Annual Wrestling Rant Awards! There are a total of 30 awards up for grabs, with 8 awards debuting for the first time!
"IN THE NEWS" STORY OF THE YEAR: Hulk Hogan getting fired and blacklisted for racist and homophobic comments
With both Dusty Rhodes and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper dying in the summer, I thought I would once again be giving this award to a wrestler's untimely and unfortunate death (with Paul Bearer & Ultimate Warrior's deaths receiving it in the last 2 years). However, what can trump death itself? WWE's biggest icon showing himself to be a racist homophobe, that's what.
The story of Hogan's offensive remarks shook WWE to its core, with him losing his job and having him cut from WWE's public records. It received major news coverage from every outlet imaginable, including the BBC here in the UK. If the BBC end up following a wrestling news story, then it has to be something of magnitude. They did it with the Benoit Murder/Suicide, the vocal reaction to Daniel Bryan, Roddy Piper's death and then this. It even got reported on the TV bulletins, not just the website.
When I look back at 2015, it will be remembered as the year that Hogan's statue took a mighty fall, crumbling before us. Will he come back? Who knows. While I don't agree with what he said, and have never been a fan of his, I do still hope he can return some day because WWE isn't the same without him. We'll just have to wait and see how kind the company are to him.
The story of Hogan's offensive remarks shook WWE to its core, with him losing his job and having him cut from WWE's public records. It received major news coverage from every outlet imaginable, including the BBC here in the UK. If the BBC end up following a wrestling news story, then it has to be something of magnitude. They did it with the Benoit Murder/Suicide, the vocal reaction to Daniel Bryan, Roddy Piper's death and then this. It even got reported on the TV bulletins, not just the website.
When I look back at 2015, it will be remembered as the year that Hogan's statue took a mighty fall, crumbling before us. Will he come back? Who knows. While I don't agree with what he said, and have never been a fan of his, I do still hope he can return some day because WWE isn't the same without him. We'll just have to wait and see how kind the company are to him.
WRESTLING MEME OF THE YEAR: Unexpected Cena
It was adapted against many sources, from animation to live action drama and news stories. Wherever a video lay on the internet, the cry of "AND HIS NAME IS JOHN CENA" was dreaded by many. Hell, even I included it in my Night Of Champions Predictions video. The Unexpected Cena meme shattered all perceptions of pro wrestling memes dating back to the rise of the format earlier this decade, overtaking the RKO Outta Nowhere in terms of prominence. While it may be tiring to see now, and can be predicted far too easily, it's a meme that will live on as one of the greatest not just in wrestling, but across the whole interwebs. Hell, I went to a screening of the two-part finale of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and STILL couldn't escape the meme... THAT is how large it has gotten, that even Bronies can't help but do it.
Congratulations John, you've received immortality now. Enjoy it, as it will be something that will live far longer than you. Hogan was an icon of the 80's thanks to catchphrases, Austin was an icon of the 90's thanks to beating up his bosses, and John Cena is an icon of the 2000's & 2010's for being the newer and more annoying Rick Roll. What a wonderful accolade to have.
PPV THEME SONG OF THE YEAR: Cool For The Summer - Demi Lovato (Summerslam 2015)
This years PPV themes have been largely forgettable, with Friction by Imagine Dragons (Payback 2015) being the only other one that has gotten me full on excited for its connection to an event. It would have won, if not for a pop song sung by a former Disney starlet turned pop diva.
I never expected a pop song like this to be used as a WWE event theme, let alone it be good enough to warrant me attention, and have me like it. This song delivered in intensity with its driving beat, catchy verses and choruses, providing an anthemic backdrop for Undertaker's rematch VS Brock Lesnar and making the event feel big. It did its job, which for a song I didn't have high hopes for before listening, is a job well done. WWE's Music Licensing team pulled a rabbit out of the hat with this one, that's for sure.
I never expected a pop song like this to be used as a WWE event theme, let alone it be good enough to warrant me attention, and have me like it. This song delivered in intensity with its driving beat, catchy verses and choruses, providing an anthemic backdrop for Undertaker's rematch VS Brock Lesnar and making the event feel big. It did its job, which for a song I didn't have high hopes for before listening, is a job well done. WWE's Music Licensing team pulled a rabbit out of the hat with this one, that's for sure.
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR: The Undertaker
In this year we saw Sting's WWE in-ring debut, Samoa Joe arriving in NXT and Cesaro going from nowhere to Tag Champion & consistent all-round match of the night winner on RAW. However, surprisingly it was The Undertaker who surpassed them all in terms of a comeback.
After Wrestlemania XXX, the loss of the Streak and his declining health looked to signal the end for The Deadman. We all considered him to have wrestled his final bout, fuelling Lesnar's monster push and giving us a moment we'd NEVER forget on his way out. Come the next year, he's back wrestling a quality match with Bray Wyatt. He wasn't seen for 4 months, attacking Lesnar at Battleground to reignite their rivalry. In doing so, Taker has been on his most consistent schedule since 2010, fighting at Summerslam, Hell In A Cell and Survivor Series, with those matches receiving ****1/2, ****1/4 and ** ratings respectively and appearing on RAW regularly to promote them. He's looked better than he has in years and shows that even at 50 years old, his conditioning is fantastic. For his 25th Year in the company, this rooster still has some fight left in it, and with his retirement looking set to be on the horizon, I couldn't be happier to see Taker continue to wow when we all thought he was spent. You can never count a legend out, not in this business.
RISING STAR OF 2016: Kevin Owens
The Rising Star Award, an award that has NEVER been able to fulfil its promise. Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose have all fallen to this awards dreaded curse. Whether it be injury, booking problems or just a lack of progression, this award has never delivered. I was going to choose Cesaro for this award at first, but then I thought, who could become a major player in WWE quicker than him to ensure this award finally does some good. Then Kevin Owens came to mind in an instant, and my mind was made up.
The now former Intercontinental Champion has what it takes on the mic and in-ring to improve and go to the top in 2016. He's already going in and out of upper mid-card feuds after less than a year on the main roster, and with Sami Zayn's return from injury almost a certainty in 2016, we know it will only help improve the stock of Owens to where he can truly fight for the main title afterwards. He got to the Semi-Finals of the Survivor Series WWE Championship Tournament for a reason, so its obvious WWE have plans for him. I just ask, can they finally do the right thing and have a winner of this award get what they deserve? I'll have to wait and see.
MAIN ROSTER ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Kevin Owens
When the nominees for this award are Kevin Owens, Neville, The Lucha Dragons, Charlotte and Sasha Banks, which of them has done the most? It's an obvious answer. Kevin Owens.
Owens had three match of the year candidates with John Cena, beating him in the first of them and winning the Intercontinental Championship after winning the NXT Championship 7 months before, it all adds up to form an incredible portfolio of success. He's got a bright future, and for a debutant on the main stage, he's the first in years to naturally belong and fit right in with the rest without sticking out like a sore thumb. It shows his ability nicely.
NON-WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Lana
While I could have continued Paul Heyman's streak of 3 consecutive wins, I realise that even though Heyman's ability on the mic is unparalleled, it has gotten stale. One non-wrestler came out of the shadow of her client, where up until her injury in September was set to be a major player: Lana.
Lana has progressively grown in popularity and become stronger on the mic. She made Rusev's dominant run with the US title and his feud with Cena have some meaning, and came out the strongest when she split from Rusev, even surpassing Summer Rae and Dolph Ziggler in her presence and performance. People cared about her every time she was outside the ring, wanting her to do what was right. If not for injury, she may have gotten more and more involved, and if she wrestled at Night Of Champions, this award would have gone to Heyman instead. I do have to give the year 2015 some credit, for making this valet become the centre of attention for the right reasons: in showing a woman who could become a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
Whether she wrestles or not in 2016, I know she's done the position of manager/valet justice this year and is a good model for all who follow. Even though she was involved in the worst feud of the year (spoiler alert), she was the only one who has looked better coming out of it. Which is a positive.
COMMENTATOR OF THE YEAR: Michael Cole & Byron Saxton (SHARED)
The Commentator Of The Year Award has become something of a non-entity in recent years, with WWE's 3-man teams not providing much in the way of standout moments, calls and overall professionalism to warrant the award at all. Hell, my award last year went to Matt Striker of Lucha Underground, I was THAT dissatisfied with them. This year, even among the quagmire of lacklustre performances from the broadcast team (including NXT), there was one event where they shined through. For the first time ever, I'm giving this award to a single event done by WWE commentators: The "Beast In The East" WWE Network Special.
Michael Cole & Byron Saxton showcased great chemistry, as well as doing something different from the usual WWE norm. They performed with a passionate, informative approach to how they were calling the matches, by focusing on moves and history of the wrestlers rather than bickering between each other and saying things that didn't relate to the action. It was incredibly refreshing, and something I was absolutely stunned by when watching the event live. It's something I wish to see more of, alas I'm likely to have to wait for WWE to do another event like this to ensure the same quality is repeated.
INSPIRATIONAL WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Dusty Rhodes (posthumous)
This year, wrestling hasn't had any real life stories that have been 'inspirational'. So I thought, why not give the industry the award, in memory of a man who gave so much of his heart and soul to it, right until his final breaths.
Dusty Rhodes' death was a sudden and saddening event in wrestling this year. The industry lost one of its most charismatic and unlikely success stories, while also having NXT lose its producer and talent advisor. Which is a shame, but at the same time, what he has taught those who will learn from The Performance Centre will shape the future of this company for years to come.
This generation of WWE talent have learnt from the "American Dream" first hand, and by watching NXT, it shows. With the 'developmental' product having more connection with those working in the business creatively than the main roster has had in a decade, it has given us consistent quality in-ring and on the mic coming straight from his tutelage. Since his death, the NXT staff have implemented his ideology so that even though he is no longer among us, those who enter in years to come will still be able to be influenced by him.
His death may have been a major loss to wrestling, but his legacy will continue to live on. We miss you Dusty, I hope this award finds you in good faith.
"EL STUPIDO AWARD" for STUPIDEST WRESTLING MOMENT OF THE YEAR: Sunny comments "wanting a Holocaust of the Islamic Religion" after Paris Attacks
For most of the year, I thought that WWE fans almost rioting after Roman Reigns won the Royal Rumble in January would not be topped for this award. When you have fans cancelling Network subscriptions and blocking wrestlers cars from leaving the arena over a match result, you know you've encountered some stupid people. I was more than happy to give this moment of colossal tantrums my favourite award of the my award collection. Especially considering how ironic it was that the same crowd were cheering Reigns when he won the title two weeks ago. Funny how time and story changes perception.
However, those plans were undone when the Paris Terrorist Attacks took place last month, and the disgraced, 'original WWE Diva' Sunny, emerged from the woodwork with a nugget of text so offensive that I still want to punch her for typing it.
When a Facebook post you make calls for the world to "instigate another Holocaust" on the Islamic religion and deciding to hail Donald Trump at the end of it, it doesn't just reek of stupidity but outright discrimination with hate on a level that can't be rivalled or equalled. While Hulk Hogan's remarks got him fired, I can at least cut him SOME slack for being an old man who ended up saying those things while under the influence of alcohol recording a sex tape (which isn't a good set of circumstances). Sunny's remarks look to have been said in a good frame of mind, especially considering how she decided to retort to the backlash by claiming it to be a 'joke', like her other posts on Facebook are apparently.
The Paris Attacks were a tragedy, with one of my best friends being in the city experiencing it all on the night. To have a classless woman like her, support a barbaric and ridiculous statement, while praising the worst person in US politics today in the process; it really shows that America won't be the land of the free, the shining light of equal opportunity and be seen as a 'blessed land' if this type of ignorant person remains able to open their mouth and NOT get punished for it.
Sunny... you did a lot to outdo angry babies that call themselves wrestling fans for this award. So well done for that, I guess. I hope to never hear things like this again, from you or anyone. We're in the 21st Century, in a multiculturalist and globalised world that isn't slowing down. So you can either accept it or don't speak your mind on a public forum. It's that simple. However with the 2016 Presidential Election coming in 11 months, the Republicans are sure to support your statement, much to my chagrin.
WORST FEUD OF THE YEAR: Dolph Ziggler & Lana VS Rusev & Summer Rae
It is usually easy to name the Worst Feud Of The Year, because it normally involves the Divas. For the 2015 winner, we got a halfway house. It involved two Divas, and two of the best performers on WWE's roster: Dolph Ziggler & Rusev.
With Rusev losing the United States Title, he blamed and took out all his frustration on Lana, who proceeded to leave him and become infatuated with Dolph Ziggler, the rebel who allowed her the freedom to do what she pleases. Rusev angered about losing his love, tried to mould Summer Rae in Lana's image. The feud was building for a Mixed Tag Match between the two teams, which would have launched Lana as a new figure in the Divas Division and give Summer Rae something meaningful 2 years after she left Fandango. However, the entire feud fell on its face for a number of reasons. Firstly, Ziggler and Rusev had no chemistry in-ring, making the matches look awful. Secondly, the feud between Lana & Summer Rae took up more TV time and was seen as more important, despite them both never getting involved in their Ziggler or Rusev's PPV matches despite it making sense storyline wise. Thirdly, the mic segments were boring, sluggish affairs that didn't give the crowd any excitement. Finally, Lana getting injured lead to the Mixed Tag Team Match at Night Of Champions being scrapped.
The entire angle got scrapped before it could reach its aforementioned end after Rusev was injured, and his engagement to Lana was broken by TMZ. When you fast forward to November, with both Lana & Rusev kissing on MizTV and not mentioning their sour breakup beforehand... it shows how little WWE cares for continuity in this day and age. This entire feud took all four participants two steps back instead of forward. It wasn't going anywhere and had everyone turning off whenever a segment devoted to it was on their screens. It was an unmitigated disaster, and to have it end in such a way, was the icing on the cake that it deserved.
FEUD OF THE YEAR: John Cena VS Kevin Owens
When it comes to this year on WWE Television, no feud has grabbed my attention more than John Cena VS Kevin Owens. Hell, no feud has produced the quality that rivals what these two produced in just 2 months of television. Over those two months, they livened WWE programming up with electric, intense promos about the values of being somebody of status in the company, and doing all you can to prove yourself to those around you. When you combine this, with the single best PPV rating record of ANY feud since I started rating PPV events over 5 years ago then you have something truly special. When a feuds three matches are two ****1/2 matches and one ****3/4 match... I can't complain. That is an incredible return for these two. Yet, people still think Owens' 'carried' Cena in this feud, for shame. Those people have no idea, as both men made each other look equal in-ring, which makes a difference from the standard Cena-fare.
During a year where Owens & Sami Zayn were tearing NXT up with an emotional narrative and some simple, violent matches, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose were giving us dynamic promos and arguably the Match of the Year in the process, and Undertaker & Brock Lesnar reignited their 2014 rivalry to rave reviews, WWE's Golden Boy and its biggest new heel achieved something incredible. They delivered the most intense thing on weekly programming since Punk left with matches that in ANY other year would have won Match Of The Year. Owens may have lost this feud two to one, but he's now incredibly strong because of it. I couldn't ask for more from the company this year after this wonderful piece of television.
"THE SHELTON BENJAMIN AWARD" for UNDERRATED WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Cesaro
With this new award, I want to acknowledge a wrestler that doesn't get the respect by WWE that he or she deserves for how good they are, just like the awards namesake, Shelton Benjamin. Who in his career from 2003 - 2010, was adored by fans and critics but was never given the time or place to showcase himself. The first winner of this award is a wrestler who has wrestled some of the best matches on RAW this year, improved his mic skills exponentially, and won a competitive title for the first time since 2012, but consistently hasn't gotten the biggest rub from management: Cesaro
Cesaro showed from his work on the indies what potential he had, and upon arriving in WWE he was immediately given the United States Championship. Since then, WWE realised the fans were into his hard workrate and in-ring style, but were never enthused about how he communicated with the audience. Even after winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale and broke up with The Real American's at Wrestlemania XXX, he still wasn't allowed to carry himself thanks to WWE's thoughtless overbooking, making him look worse. Over the last year, Cesaro has defied his critics by showing his worth, and finally WWE have started to take notice.
Even though his injury last month halted his momentum, apparently Vince McMahon was disappointed it happened and wants him back as soon as possible. While they didn't elevate him to new heights like many thought, Cesaro has still proven himself to be an all-round talent of excellent calibre. Hopefully, WWE can elevate him when he returns, so he won't be a casual footnote, but someone much stronger.
WORST GIMMICK OF THE YEAR: The Mega/Meta Powers (Curtis Axel & Macho Mandow)
They say "parody is the ultimate art of flattery", unfortunately in professional wrestling, parody can be interpreted as being bereft of new, creative ideas. With this new "Mega Powers", WWE did something absolutely horrific: ruin two wrestlers momentum, which they've both failed to recover from since.
Curtis Axel, a rarely used but accomplished wrestler took his angle of not being eliminated in the Royal Rumble Match and ran with it, creating AxelMania and getting people behind him. Damien Sandow had been Damien Mizdow, The Miz's stunt double and Tag Team Champion partner since the middle of last year before turning on the Miz and the gimmick altogether at Wrestlemania 31. Some weeks after, he proclaimed that this was a new era for him and his character. We all thought it would be a return to the Sandow we knew before, leading him on a good run up the ladder to singles title success Instead, WWE loved his comedic work, and had him team with Axel as Macho Mandow, a Randy Savage parody while Axel himself became a whole parody of Hogan. This entire gimmick came across as nothing but a joke, further taking two characters who the fans like and putting them down. Their appearances were fleeting, which did nothing to help them.
You know what's the icing on the cake for this team? Due to Hogan's racist/homophobic comments, the entire gimmick was stripped away. However, they still didn't have the chemistry to connect with the audience. They disbanded soon after and we haven't seen EITHER of them since. While Sandow has returned to his 'Intellectual Saviour Of The Masses' gimmick that we all know and love, he hasn't been on RAW or Smackdown with it since the team broke up. Which shows how damaging this entire experiment with them was. Horrible, horrible stuff.
GIMMICK OF THE YEAR: The New Day (Positivity Preachers)
Over a year ago, when The New Day debuted, they were simply three under-used black wrestlers dancing and being happy. No one cared in the slightest and we all just feigned ignorance. Then, in 2015 they started gaining momentum, turned heel, became the Tag Team Champions, and started preaching positivity in the funniest promo segments on RAW. They've shown to be happy with themselves, but are still complaining and whining like heels. All of this happening while allowing each other time to have unique aspects of their on-screen personality shown.
When you couple in Xavier Woods' expert trombone playing and the recent adaption of the unicorn motifs to the mix and you have a gimmick that was unexpectedly great and never fails to deliver a smile to my face whenever they appear. Friendship is indeed magic, so is what this team has done to make themselves entertaining. Vince, they took that 'brass ring' with something that SHOULDN'T have worked, and you have been duly rewarded.
TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR: The New Day
I'm not done in praising The New Day yet.
Not only have they been the most entertaining entity on the mic outside of Kevin Owens, they've also been the most consistent tag team in terms of match quality. Cesaro & Tyson Kidd would have won this without question if Kidd didn't suffer his career threatening injury. Even with the revival of Prime Time Players, the return of The Uso's, the arrival of The Lucha Dragons and the surprise The Dudley Boyz reunion; The New Day have kept WWE's tag team division alive. Alive and beating with positivity! NEW DAY ROCKS!
WORST PPV EVENT OF THE YEAR: Fast Lane 2015 (2.5/10)
This year, WWE has had some pretty bad PPV's. From Survivor Series dull and predictable matches, to Battleground's underwhelming card that was saved from the bottom of the pile by Owens VS Cena III. I look back at the Road To Wrestlemania 31, which had already hit a pot hole with the aftermath of the Royal Rumble, and thought to myself: "Surely, the February PPV can't be as bad?" It wasn't bad, but worse. The car driving on that road suffered a massive puncture.
Fast Lane had a fairly decent looking card, but with this being the fourth PPV out of six since Summerslam 2014 not to feature Brock Lesnar defending the WWE Championship, the rest of the roster had to show what it could do. Unluckily for me, it turned out to be a really dull, boring show. While Cena VS Rusev and Bryan VS Reigns were average matches, they were the ONLY ones that got above 1 star. Which for me, is atrocious quality for a 7 match card. This was mostly due to not enough build for the matches and the matches themselves lacking pace and storytelling, which lead to consistent crowd boredom. They took a potential Wrestlemania feud between Goldust and Stardust, and reduced it into a horrible match that didn't advance the storyline from that point, wasting what the feud could have had for the biggest event of the year less than a month later. Rusev winning here foreshadowed his eventual loss to Cena at Mania, which would have been much more unpredictable if this hadn't taken place. Some claim that Bryan VS Reigns was a Match Of The Year Candidate, not in my eyes. Then again, maybe it was as good as people say, but by the time the match came around, this events fate had already been sealed, and didn't get beaten by any event since.
Fast Lane 2015 was a show that had nothing to really show for itself except another reason for the fans to hate Roman Reigns. When THAT is all you can really take from a show, you know its bad. Hopefully, Fast Lane's name doesn't become an oxymoron by cementing its disastrous start as a WWE PPV when it returns in 2016.
PPV EVENT OF THE YEAR: WrestleMania 31 (8.75/10)
WrestleMania, for the second year running, surpassed all expectations.
Seeing WrestleMania XXX live in the flesh last year was never going to be topped, but from a Network viewing standpoint, I've not had an experience like it. In terms of consistent match quality, this card hasn't been matched by many. When five of the seven matches are above *** (in my opinion), you know the event was fantastic on an in-ring level alone. When you combine that with multiple moments and a monumental title change, it's a WrestleMania that will stand up as one of the best for years to come.
WrestleMania now has its standard firmly imprinted. With Arlington and AT&T Stadium now holding its nerve, waiting for their chance, lets hope they can deliver an event similar in quality to what New Orleans & Santa Clara has given us over the last two years.
WORST PPV MATCH OF THE YEAR: The Bella Twins VS Naomi & Tamina (Payback 2015, ZERO)
NOTE: This award can only go to matches from WWE's main roster PPV's. Matches from NXT Takeover and other Network specials are ineligible for this award.
This year, there have been very few matches that have fully deserved the ZERO rating, with only TWO PPV events getting their worst match of the event with that rating: Payback and Elimination Chamber. While that is a good thing (for WWE's PPV quality) in the long term, those two matches were atrocious. While the Intercontinental Championship Elimination Chamber match had no life to it, at least it crowned a new champion. The Bella Twins VS Naomi & Tamina just had... well, nothing.
It was a throwaway match to ensure that The Bellas' kept momentum and Nikki held onto the championship, when she SHOULD have faced Naomi one on one. Hell, if that happened, it may have been a decent match and Naomi COULD have won, following her momentum from earlier in the year. Instead we got this lacklustre, boring match with nothing to gain from it all. The only reason I even remember it took place, was to mark it down for this award. Now I can forget about it, for good.
PPV MATCH OF THE YEAR: Seth Rollins VS Dean Ambrose (Money In The Bank 2015, *****)
NOTE: This award can only go to matches on WWE's main roster PPV's. Matches from NXT Takeover or Network Specials are ineligible for this award.
I always say, it's rare to get a 5-star match from me. To have Daniel Bryan VS Triple H get it last year after I saw it live in person was well deserved, but I thought it would be a long time before I'd see another one on WWE's events. I had to wait for a year and 2 months for the next one. Didn't see that coming at all.
Dean Ambrose VS Seth Rollins in a Ladder Match for the World Heavyweight Championship was a 35-minute match that was covered in psychology, with pace firmly rooted in Seth Rollins' corner while making Ambrose look like a "never say die badass" who can take the pain. With incredible use of weapons throughout, it was an enthralling spectacle that put an end to their rivalry that start a year prior. Even with the finish of the match being anticlimactic, it was a fitting end to their rivalry, and one match I won't forget for a long time.
WORST ON-SCREEN MOMENT OF THE YEAR: The Authority plug Apple, Hawaii & Cadillac for almost 30 Minutes (29/6/15 edition of RAW)
While a lot of what WWE did in promos or matches this year bored me, they didn't make me angry. This entire segment, featuring Seth Rollins, J&J Security & Corporate Kane made me nearly throw the TV remote at the wall.
After The Authority collectively sent Brock Lesnar to the hospital the week before, Rollins decided to reward his associates for their services. Doing this by giving them all Apple Watches, giving Kane an all expenses paid trip to the Hawaiian Island of Maui and giving J&J a brand new Cadillac. While this segment could have easily been done quick and fast, it wasn't. This segment, entirely full of the aforementioned product placement went on for almost half of the first hour... and included a stupid procession by some stereotypical Hawaiian dancers to boot. The segment was boring torture that showed WWE's ability to pay for products to be showcased in their TV programme thanks to the lucrative advertising time the USA Network gives them.
While the car was eventually destroyed by Lesnar (in a contender for Moment Of The Year), it was the sole repercussion that made this promo worth it, as Kane's holiday photos were horribly photoshopped and the watches were never destroyed. The segment was a complete waste of time, and made me question why Seth couldn't have made it easier it sit through. Even with 'The Architect' leading the promo through on the mic, it came across as cheesy, overly long and lacking any substantial content. Worse of all, it was the OPENING SEGMENT of the show. Which I'm sure had a lot of people reaching for their remotes.
While many will go for Roman Reigns and his disastrous "Suffering Sucatash" and "Tator Tots" promos, they small, tiny moments in otherwise well spoken segments. THIS however, was horrible to watch for its entirety. So, it wins overall. Makes sense right?
ON-SCREEN MOMENT OF THE YEAR: Seth Rollins cashes in Money In The Bank to win the WWE Championship (Wrestlemania 31)
For someone to be involved in both the Worst and Best Moment of the Year awards is something that has never been done. Who could blame me for having Seth Rollins make it possible, especially with a moment like this? Wrestlemania delivered again in terms of year defining moments, with a dream finally being realised.
For years, we had clamoured for someone to cash in the Money In The Bank Briefcase on the Grandest Stage. Daniel Bryan teased it, only to go back on his word a few months before. Seth Rollins, after feuding with both Roman Reigns & Brock Lesnar months prior, wanted to ensure his name was etched onto WWE history forever. With this moment, he did it. By doing so, he made a good match into a great one that capped off the event of the year in some style. Can't say much more really, it will define a lacklustre year with something that will live long in our collective memories as the day a new star was born.
NXT DIVA OF THE YEAR: Sasha Banks & Bayley (SHARED)
When looking at NXT and now much of an impact women's wrestling has had on their product this year, it's difficult to truly pick a winner between Sasha Banks & Bayley, which is why I decided to award it to both of them.
Both women showed the main roster how good and well received Women's Wrestling can be, through not just their individual matches, but their eventual rivalry. Even with Sasha moving up to the main roster and stagnating, I'm not going to deny her spot as the one of the main influence on NXT's roster this year.
Bayley has been a favourite of mine since I first saw those wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men come into shot. Seeing her live at NXT Takeover London last week was incredible, and yes... I marked out madly, more so than when Bryan won the title at Wrestlemania XXX, that's how big a fan I am of her. As a character, she's fantastic and believable, making her in-ring work fantastic to watch as a result. Over he course of the year she's taken NXT by storm, winning the Women's title, and defending it in a 30-Minute Iron Man Match a few months later. She proves that a wrestler with a happy go-lucky gimmick can have fortitude, and consist of multiple layers, not looking tired after months of exposure.
Even with my love for Bayley being extremely obvious, I can't take away from Sasha Banks what she gave in the first half of the year that set Bayley up so well to take over for the second half. Her consistent quality matches, impressive and blunt mic work as well as her connection with fans made her the true 'star' of Women's Division. It's something that has followed her, even with her booking on the main roster not being the best it could be. If not for Sasha, Bayley wouldn't be in the position she's in now. Even with the shortest NXT Women's Title reign thus far, it looks to be the most important when looking at what it has given us since it ended.
Both of these women set NXT alight this year and defined the highest of bars for which all of Women's wrestling in America has to try and match. For that, that both deserve this award equally.
WORST DIVA OF THE YEAR: Summer Rae
When you're the weakest link between the four characters who provided us with the Worst Feud Of The Year, you know you aren't very good. No one wanted Summer Rae to be involved in this feud, and what she gave us as a result wasn't a lot to write home about.
Her matches with other divas were sloppy and her mic work was horrible. I will give her some credit for wearing fake breasts and high heels everywhere she went to keep up with the gimmick for months, but that isn't going to win sympathy with me. When you return to TV, only to be the little cog in the wheel of a broken down machine that made WWE's TV product worse this year.
DIVA OF THE YEAR: Charlotte
While women's wrestling on NXT was fantastic, the main roster's women stagnated to new lows. Nikki Bella became the Longest Reigning Divas Champion, despite never really giving any good in-ring performances to show for it, AJ Lee retired from active competition, and Paige has slowly devolved into a parody of herself by taking Lee's place as the 'Anti-Diva' in the division. All hope seemed lost until Stephanie McMahon ushered in the debuts of Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Charlotte. The division split off into factions, which resulted in Natalya coming back into prominence, as well as Paige's long awaited heel turn (and sudden face turn). Even with all that, the best diva on the main roster this year, has barely been on it more than 5 months: Charlotte.
When looking at why, it's easy to see. She got TWO great matches out of Nikki Bella (which no one thought was possible), won the Divas Title and engaged in a heated rivalry with Paige that has FINALLY made a women's feud on RAW feel exciting. It would have gone down better in the ring on PPV if the crowd gave a damn though. She's gave the Divas Division some momentum after years of issues, and with these factions looking to implode at some point in 2016, the division (with PCB already gone) can hopefully keep building itself one slow step at a time. With Charlotte as its new figurehead, it has a good chance at succeeding. All they need to do now is promote Bayley, then we'd be set.
NXT SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR: Kevin Owens
This isn't even close. With Neville being promoted to no fanfare, Sami Zayn being injured for three quarters of the year and Finn Balor's rise not making too many headlines despite some good matches every now and again, there can be only one man to win the first NXT Superstar Of The Year Award: Kevin Owens.
When you attack the new NXT Champion on your first night and win the title two months later, have fantastic matches event after event, put on the best mic segments and give the NXT title prominence while fighting John Cena; you know you're doing well.
While I cared for Zayn and Balor, Owens is the man who made NXT more appealing than usual. The brand definitely looks weaker without him, that's for sure.
WORST SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR: Dolph Ziggler
I always say this award is the easiest to give out, however, I've had a difficult time of picking one this year due to their being so many candidates for it. I pondered giving this award to Bo Dallas, Big Show, Mark Henry and Stardust before finally deciding to give it to WWE's workhorse: Dolph Ziggler.
Don't get me wrong, Dolph is a great worker who is over with the crowd, but this year hasn't been kind to him. He came off the end of 2014 with colossal momentum behind him after being the sole survivor of Team Cena at Survivor Series, but since then he has taken a MIGHTY fall from grace. His matches have been dull, repetitive and tiresome, his gimmick has become a deflated, lifeless parody of itself, with Tyler Breeze being more the 'Show-Off' than he has been. The final nail in Dolph's coffin is his PPV performances this year. He has been on all the PPV cards except for TLC, and has the worst record out of EVERYONE on the roster, being part of the worst match on the card on FIVE of the THIRTEEN WWE PPV events this year: Extreme Rules, Elimination Chamber, Summerslam, Night Of Champions and Survivor Series. Through the quality of those matches, Dolph shown how poor his placement, feuds and matches have become in this reviewer/fan's humble opinion. 2015 has been the worst year of the characters entire WWE run, which makes him stand embarrassingly as the first LEGITIMATE competitor to receive this award. After years of Great Khali winning, and Adam Rose and The Bunny collectively taking it last year... its time someone with credibility got the nod for how awful they've been. Proving once and for all, that no one's safe from this one.
Sure Dolph, you mentioned Bronies on air this year, which I loved... however if THAT along with a few promo segments are your highlights, you need to go into 2016 re-evaluating yourself and come back much, much better.
SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR
Choosing Superstar Of The Year is always a difficult job. Especially when you have lots of contenders up for it. Seth Rollins (2014) joined his fellow ROH alumni CM Punk (2010, 2011 & 2012) and Daniel Bryan (2013) as members of this elite, award winning club. This year I had to pick between five of WWE's best performers, who delivered and in some cases exceeded expectations.
John Cena won the United States Championship, put on match of the night week after week on RAW for 8 months and proved his critics wrong by wrestling incredibly. Seth Rollins produced the greatest of Wrestlemania moments by cashing the Money In The Bank Contract on Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, proving to be a good champion despite poor booking, by being involved in many Match Of The Year candidates and its eventual winner, with his year ending badly due to injury. Dean Ambrose rose from obscurity by fighting in numerous big title and PPV matches, establishing himself in the main event scene after dipping his toes in last year. He took part in the Match Of The Year and looks strong going into 2016. Then there's Brock Lesnar, who participated in numerous Match Of The Year candidates, headlined Wrestlemania as champion for the first time and made Undertaker look good again.
While those four names all did their part, there is one man who surpassed them all: Kevin Owens.
I may sound like a broken record at this point, but Owens' 2015 was extraordinary. He's already won 4 of this years 30 awards, so why does he deserve the top honour as well? It's already been laid out for you in describing the other awards I've given him.
He was the best thing on NXT bar none, since he debuted, outside he's been the best thing on the main roster, he's put on matches of consistent high quality, with his mic work reflecting his in-ring work and for the first time in years, someone matched Cena in a feud and came out of it not looking weaker. That takes a lot to beat. Sadly, which none of them managed to get close too. He has made a stagnant WWE product watchable, all while rising up the ladder at an alarming rate, with his poor match with Ryback at Hell In A Cell being the only major negative.
While the others who I put up for contention for this award had spent the year solidifying their positions in the company (even Cena), Owens spent this year breaking the mould and bulldozing his way to his semi-main event status, all without breaking a sweat. Not since Brock Lesnar came in some 13 years ago have I been so impressed with how a wrestler has been booked by this company and adjusted to it all so well. Kevin Owens is a star, and he has done a lot over 2015 to convince me of his worth.
Kevin Owens WILL become WWE Champion in 2016, and just like Bryan and Rollins the last two years, he didn't need to win the World Title to prove himself as the best of their respective year. Which is why, for doing all he's done, Owens will join his fellow ROH alumni as a winner of this award, which in my opinion is fully deserved without a doubt. He's won the Rising Star of 2016, Main Roster Rookie Of The Year, Feud Of The Year and NXT Superstar Of The Year, now he can add the Superstar Of The Year award to this haul to become the most successful "one year" winner in this awards history. Now all he needs to do is use 2016 to top it all. I eagerly wait to see him do it.
I've been Freddy Thomas, you've been people reading. This has been the 2015 Wrestling Rant Awards for The CC Network Blog and I'll see you next time.
After Wrestlemania XXX, the loss of the Streak and his declining health looked to signal the end for The Deadman. We all considered him to have wrestled his final bout, fuelling Lesnar's monster push and giving us a moment we'd NEVER forget on his way out. Come the next year, he's back wrestling a quality match with Bray Wyatt. He wasn't seen for 4 months, attacking Lesnar at Battleground to reignite their rivalry. In doing so, Taker has been on his most consistent schedule since 2010, fighting at Summerslam, Hell In A Cell and Survivor Series, with those matches receiving ****1/2, ****1/4 and ** ratings respectively and appearing on RAW regularly to promote them. He's looked better than he has in years and shows that even at 50 years old, his conditioning is fantastic. For his 25th Year in the company, this rooster still has some fight left in it, and with his retirement looking set to be on the horizon, I couldn't be happier to see Taker continue to wow when we all thought he was spent. You can never count a legend out, not in this business.
RISING STAR OF 2016: Kevin Owens
The now former Intercontinental Champion has what it takes on the mic and in-ring to improve and go to the top in 2016. He's already going in and out of upper mid-card feuds after less than a year on the main roster, and with Sami Zayn's return from injury almost a certainty in 2016, we know it will only help improve the stock of Owens to where he can truly fight for the main title afterwards. He got to the Semi-Finals of the Survivor Series WWE Championship Tournament for a reason, so its obvious WWE have plans for him. I just ask, can they finally do the right thing and have a winner of this award get what they deserve? I'll have to wait and see.
MAIN ROSTER ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Kevin Owens
Owens had three match of the year candidates with John Cena, beating him in the first of them and winning the Intercontinental Championship after winning the NXT Championship 7 months before, it all adds up to form an incredible portfolio of success. He's got a bright future, and for a debutant on the main stage, he's the first in years to naturally belong and fit right in with the rest without sticking out like a sore thumb. It shows his ability nicely.
NON-WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Lana
Lana has progressively grown in popularity and become stronger on the mic. She made Rusev's dominant run with the US title and his feud with Cena have some meaning, and came out the strongest when she split from Rusev, even surpassing Summer Rae and Dolph Ziggler in her presence and performance. People cared about her every time she was outside the ring, wanting her to do what was right. If not for injury, she may have gotten more and more involved, and if she wrestled at Night Of Champions, this award would have gone to Heyman instead. I do have to give the year 2015 some credit, for making this valet become the centre of attention for the right reasons: in showing a woman who could become a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
Whether she wrestles or not in 2016, I know she's done the position of manager/valet justice this year and is a good model for all who follow. Even though she was involved in the worst feud of the year (spoiler alert), she was the only one who has looked better coming out of it. Which is a positive.
COMMENTATOR OF THE YEAR: Michael Cole & Byron Saxton (SHARED)
Michael Cole & Byron Saxton showcased great chemistry, as well as doing something different from the usual WWE norm. They performed with a passionate, informative approach to how they were calling the matches, by focusing on moves and history of the wrestlers rather than bickering between each other and saying things that didn't relate to the action. It was incredibly refreshing, and something I was absolutely stunned by when watching the event live. It's something I wish to see more of, alas I'm likely to have to wait for WWE to do another event like this to ensure the same quality is repeated.
INSPIRATIONAL WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Dusty Rhodes (posthumous)
Dusty Rhodes' death was a sudden and saddening event in wrestling this year. The industry lost one of its most charismatic and unlikely success stories, while also having NXT lose its producer and talent advisor. Which is a shame, but at the same time, what he has taught those who will learn from The Performance Centre will shape the future of this company for years to come.
This generation of WWE talent have learnt from the "American Dream" first hand, and by watching NXT, it shows. With the 'developmental' product having more connection with those working in the business creatively than the main roster has had in a decade, it has given us consistent quality in-ring and on the mic coming straight from his tutelage. Since his death, the NXT staff have implemented his ideology so that even though he is no longer among us, those who enter in years to come will still be able to be influenced by him.
His death may have been a major loss to wrestling, but his legacy will continue to live on. We miss you Dusty, I hope this award finds you in good faith.
"EL STUPIDO AWARD" for STUPIDEST WRESTLING MOMENT OF THE YEAR: Sunny comments "wanting a Holocaust of the Islamic Religion" after Paris Attacks
However, those plans were undone when the Paris Terrorist Attacks took place last month, and the disgraced, 'original WWE Diva' Sunny, emerged from the woodwork with a nugget of text so offensive that I still want to punch her for typing it.
When a Facebook post you make calls for the world to "instigate another Holocaust" on the Islamic religion and deciding to hail Donald Trump at the end of it, it doesn't just reek of stupidity but outright discrimination with hate on a level that can't be rivalled or equalled. While Hulk Hogan's remarks got him fired, I can at least cut him SOME slack for being an old man who ended up saying those things while under the influence of alcohol recording a sex tape (which isn't a good set of circumstances). Sunny's remarks look to have been said in a good frame of mind, especially considering how she decided to retort to the backlash by claiming it to be a 'joke', like her other posts on Facebook are apparently.
The Paris Attacks were a tragedy, with one of my best friends being in the city experiencing it all on the night. To have a classless woman like her, support a barbaric and ridiculous statement, while praising the worst person in US politics today in the process; it really shows that America won't be the land of the free, the shining light of equal opportunity and be seen as a 'blessed land' if this type of ignorant person remains able to open their mouth and NOT get punished for it.
Sunny... you did a lot to outdo angry babies that call themselves wrestling fans for this award. So well done for that, I guess. I hope to never hear things like this again, from you or anyone. We're in the 21st Century, in a multiculturalist and globalised world that isn't slowing down. So you can either accept it or don't speak your mind on a public forum. It's that simple. However with the 2016 Presidential Election coming in 11 months, the Republicans are sure to support your statement, much to my chagrin.
WORST FEUD OF THE YEAR: Dolph Ziggler & Lana VS Rusev & Summer Rae
With Rusev losing the United States Title, he blamed and took out all his frustration on Lana, who proceeded to leave him and become infatuated with Dolph Ziggler, the rebel who allowed her the freedom to do what she pleases. Rusev angered about losing his love, tried to mould Summer Rae in Lana's image. The feud was building for a Mixed Tag Match between the two teams, which would have launched Lana as a new figure in the Divas Division and give Summer Rae something meaningful 2 years after she left Fandango. However, the entire feud fell on its face for a number of reasons. Firstly, Ziggler and Rusev had no chemistry in-ring, making the matches look awful. Secondly, the feud between Lana & Summer Rae took up more TV time and was seen as more important, despite them both never getting involved in their Ziggler or Rusev's PPV matches despite it making sense storyline wise. Thirdly, the mic segments were boring, sluggish affairs that didn't give the crowd any excitement. Finally, Lana getting injured lead to the Mixed Tag Team Match at Night Of Champions being scrapped.
The entire angle got scrapped before it could reach its aforementioned end after Rusev was injured, and his engagement to Lana was broken by TMZ. When you fast forward to November, with both Lana & Rusev kissing on MizTV and not mentioning their sour breakup beforehand... it shows how little WWE cares for continuity in this day and age. This entire feud took all four participants two steps back instead of forward. It wasn't going anywhere and had everyone turning off whenever a segment devoted to it was on their screens. It was an unmitigated disaster, and to have it end in such a way, was the icing on the cake that it deserved.
FEUD OF THE YEAR: John Cena VS Kevin Owens
During a year where Owens & Sami Zayn were tearing NXT up with an emotional narrative and some simple, violent matches, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose were giving us dynamic promos and arguably the Match of the Year in the process, and Undertaker & Brock Lesnar reignited their 2014 rivalry to rave reviews, WWE's Golden Boy and its biggest new heel achieved something incredible. They delivered the most intense thing on weekly programming since Punk left with matches that in ANY other year would have won Match Of The Year. Owens may have lost this feud two to one, but he's now incredibly strong because of it. I couldn't ask for more from the company this year after this wonderful piece of television.
"THE SHELTON BENJAMIN AWARD" for UNDERRATED WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Cesaro
Cesaro showed from his work on the indies what potential he had, and upon arriving in WWE he was immediately given the United States Championship. Since then, WWE realised the fans were into his hard workrate and in-ring style, but were never enthused about how he communicated with the audience. Even after winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale and broke up with The Real American's at Wrestlemania XXX, he still wasn't allowed to carry himself thanks to WWE's thoughtless overbooking, making him look worse. Over the last year, Cesaro has defied his critics by showing his worth, and finally WWE have started to take notice.
Even though his injury last month halted his momentum, apparently Vince McMahon was disappointed it happened and wants him back as soon as possible. While they didn't elevate him to new heights like many thought, Cesaro has still proven himself to be an all-round talent of excellent calibre. Hopefully, WWE can elevate him when he returns, so he won't be a casual footnote, but someone much stronger.
WORST GIMMICK OF THE YEAR: The Mega/Meta Powers (Curtis Axel & Macho Mandow)
Curtis Axel, a rarely used but accomplished wrestler took his angle of not being eliminated in the Royal Rumble Match and ran with it, creating AxelMania and getting people behind him. Damien Sandow had been Damien Mizdow, The Miz's stunt double and Tag Team Champion partner since the middle of last year before turning on the Miz and the gimmick altogether at Wrestlemania 31. Some weeks after, he proclaimed that this was a new era for him and his character. We all thought it would be a return to the Sandow we knew before, leading him on a good run up the ladder to singles title success Instead, WWE loved his comedic work, and had him team with Axel as Macho Mandow, a Randy Savage parody while Axel himself became a whole parody of Hogan. This entire gimmick came across as nothing but a joke, further taking two characters who the fans like and putting them down. Their appearances were fleeting, which did nothing to help them.
You know what's the icing on the cake for this team? Due to Hogan's racist/homophobic comments, the entire gimmick was stripped away. However, they still didn't have the chemistry to connect with the audience. They disbanded soon after and we haven't seen EITHER of them since. While Sandow has returned to his 'Intellectual Saviour Of The Masses' gimmick that we all know and love, he hasn't been on RAW or Smackdown with it since the team broke up. Which shows how damaging this entire experiment with them was. Horrible, horrible stuff.
GIMMICK OF THE YEAR: The New Day (Positivity Preachers)
When you couple in Xavier Woods' expert trombone playing and the recent adaption of the unicorn motifs to the mix and you have a gimmick that was unexpectedly great and never fails to deliver a smile to my face whenever they appear. Friendship is indeed magic, so is what this team has done to make themselves entertaining. Vince, they took that 'brass ring' with something that SHOULDN'T have worked, and you have been duly rewarded.
TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR: The New Day
Not only have they been the most entertaining entity on the mic outside of Kevin Owens, they've also been the most consistent tag team in terms of match quality. Cesaro & Tyson Kidd would have won this without question if Kidd didn't suffer his career threatening injury. Even with the revival of Prime Time Players, the return of The Uso's, the arrival of The Lucha Dragons and the surprise The Dudley Boyz reunion; The New Day have kept WWE's tag team division alive. Alive and beating with positivity! NEW DAY ROCKS!
WORST PPV EVENT OF THE YEAR: Fast Lane 2015 (2.5/10)
Fast Lane had a fairly decent looking card, but with this being the fourth PPV out of six since Summerslam 2014 not to feature Brock Lesnar defending the WWE Championship, the rest of the roster had to show what it could do. Unluckily for me, it turned out to be a really dull, boring show. While Cena VS Rusev and Bryan VS Reigns were average matches, they were the ONLY ones that got above 1 star. Which for me, is atrocious quality for a 7 match card. This was mostly due to not enough build for the matches and the matches themselves lacking pace and storytelling, which lead to consistent crowd boredom. They took a potential Wrestlemania feud between Goldust and Stardust, and reduced it into a horrible match that didn't advance the storyline from that point, wasting what the feud could have had for the biggest event of the year less than a month later. Rusev winning here foreshadowed his eventual loss to Cena at Mania, which would have been much more unpredictable if this hadn't taken place. Some claim that Bryan VS Reigns was a Match Of The Year Candidate, not in my eyes. Then again, maybe it was as good as people say, but by the time the match came around, this events fate had already been sealed, and didn't get beaten by any event since.
Fast Lane 2015 was a show that had nothing to really show for itself except another reason for the fans to hate Roman Reigns. When THAT is all you can really take from a show, you know its bad. Hopefully, Fast Lane's name doesn't become an oxymoron by cementing its disastrous start as a WWE PPV when it returns in 2016.
PPV EVENT OF THE YEAR: WrestleMania 31 (8.75/10)
Seeing WrestleMania XXX live in the flesh last year was never going to be topped, but from a Network viewing standpoint, I've not had an experience like it. In terms of consistent match quality, this card hasn't been matched by many. When five of the seven matches are above *** (in my opinion), you know the event was fantastic on an in-ring level alone. When you combine that with multiple moments and a monumental title change, it's a WrestleMania that will stand up as one of the best for years to come.
WrestleMania now has its standard firmly imprinted. With Arlington and AT&T Stadium now holding its nerve, waiting for their chance, lets hope they can deliver an event similar in quality to what New Orleans & Santa Clara has given us over the last two years.
WORST PPV MATCH OF THE YEAR: The Bella Twins VS Naomi & Tamina (Payback 2015, ZERO)
This year, there have been very few matches that have fully deserved the ZERO rating, with only TWO PPV events getting their worst match of the event with that rating: Payback and Elimination Chamber. While that is a good thing (for WWE's PPV quality) in the long term, those two matches were atrocious. While the Intercontinental Championship Elimination Chamber match had no life to it, at least it crowned a new champion. The Bella Twins VS Naomi & Tamina just had... well, nothing.
It was a throwaway match to ensure that The Bellas' kept momentum and Nikki held onto the championship, when she SHOULD have faced Naomi one on one. Hell, if that happened, it may have been a decent match and Naomi COULD have won, following her momentum from earlier in the year. Instead we got this lacklustre, boring match with nothing to gain from it all. The only reason I even remember it took place, was to mark it down for this award. Now I can forget about it, for good.
PPV MATCH OF THE YEAR: Seth Rollins VS Dean Ambrose (Money In The Bank 2015, *****)
I always say, it's rare to get a 5-star match from me. To have Daniel Bryan VS Triple H get it last year after I saw it live in person was well deserved, but I thought it would be a long time before I'd see another one on WWE's events. I had to wait for a year and 2 months for the next one. Didn't see that coming at all.
Dean Ambrose VS Seth Rollins in a Ladder Match for the World Heavyweight Championship was a 35-minute match that was covered in psychology, with pace firmly rooted in Seth Rollins' corner while making Ambrose look like a "never say die badass" who can take the pain. With incredible use of weapons throughout, it was an enthralling spectacle that put an end to their rivalry that start a year prior. Even with the finish of the match being anticlimactic, it was a fitting end to their rivalry, and one match I won't forget for a long time.
WORST ON-SCREEN MOMENT OF THE YEAR: The Authority plug Apple, Hawaii & Cadillac for almost 30 Minutes (29/6/15 edition of RAW)
After The Authority collectively sent Brock Lesnar to the hospital the week before, Rollins decided to reward his associates for their services. Doing this by giving them all Apple Watches, giving Kane an all expenses paid trip to the Hawaiian Island of Maui and giving J&J a brand new Cadillac. While this segment could have easily been done quick and fast, it wasn't. This segment, entirely full of the aforementioned product placement went on for almost half of the first hour... and included a stupid procession by some stereotypical Hawaiian dancers to boot. The segment was boring torture that showed WWE's ability to pay for products to be showcased in their TV programme thanks to the lucrative advertising time the USA Network gives them.
While the car was eventually destroyed by Lesnar (in a contender for Moment Of The Year), it was the sole repercussion that made this promo worth it, as Kane's holiday photos were horribly photoshopped and the watches were never destroyed. The segment was a complete waste of time, and made me question why Seth couldn't have made it easier it sit through. Even with 'The Architect' leading the promo through on the mic, it came across as cheesy, overly long and lacking any substantial content. Worse of all, it was the OPENING SEGMENT of the show. Which I'm sure had a lot of people reaching for their remotes.
While many will go for Roman Reigns and his disastrous "Suffering Sucatash" and "Tator Tots" promos, they small, tiny moments in otherwise well spoken segments. THIS however, was horrible to watch for its entirety. So, it wins overall. Makes sense right?
ON-SCREEN MOMENT OF THE YEAR: Seth Rollins cashes in Money In The Bank to win the WWE Championship (Wrestlemania 31)
For years, we had clamoured for someone to cash in the Money In The Bank Briefcase on the Grandest Stage. Daniel Bryan teased it, only to go back on his word a few months before. Seth Rollins, after feuding with both Roman Reigns & Brock Lesnar months prior, wanted to ensure his name was etched onto WWE history forever. With this moment, he did it. By doing so, he made a good match into a great one that capped off the event of the year in some style. Can't say much more really, it will define a lacklustre year with something that will live long in our collective memories as the day a new star was born.
NXT DIVA OF THE YEAR: Sasha Banks & Bayley (SHARED)
Both women showed the main roster how good and well received Women's Wrestling can be, through not just their individual matches, but their eventual rivalry. Even with Sasha moving up to the main roster and stagnating, I'm not going to deny her spot as the one of the main influence on NXT's roster this year.
Bayley has been a favourite of mine since I first saw those wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men come into shot. Seeing her live at NXT Takeover London last week was incredible, and yes... I marked out madly, more so than when Bryan won the title at Wrestlemania XXX, that's how big a fan I am of her. As a character, she's fantastic and believable, making her in-ring work fantastic to watch as a result. Over he course of the year she's taken NXT by storm, winning the Women's title, and defending it in a 30-Minute Iron Man Match a few months later. She proves that a wrestler with a happy go-lucky gimmick can have fortitude, and consist of multiple layers, not looking tired after months of exposure.
Even with my love for Bayley being extremely obvious, I can't take away from Sasha Banks what she gave in the first half of the year that set Bayley up so well to take over for the second half. Her consistent quality matches, impressive and blunt mic work as well as her connection with fans made her the true 'star' of Women's Division. It's something that has followed her, even with her booking on the main roster not being the best it could be. If not for Sasha, Bayley wouldn't be in the position she's in now. Even with the shortest NXT Women's Title reign thus far, it looks to be the most important when looking at what it has given us since it ended.
Both of these women set NXT alight this year and defined the highest of bars for which all of Women's wrestling in America has to try and match. For that, that both deserve this award equally.
WORST DIVA OF THE YEAR: Summer Rae
I think that image sums it all up.
Her matches with other divas were sloppy and her mic work was horrible. I will give her some credit for wearing fake breasts and high heels everywhere she went to keep up with the gimmick for months, but that isn't going to win sympathy with me. When you return to TV, only to be the little cog in the wheel of a broken down machine that made WWE's TV product worse this year.
DIVA OF THE YEAR: Charlotte
When looking at why, it's easy to see. She got TWO great matches out of Nikki Bella (which no one thought was possible), won the Divas Title and engaged in a heated rivalry with Paige that has FINALLY made a women's feud on RAW feel exciting. It would have gone down better in the ring on PPV if the crowd gave a damn though. She's gave the Divas Division some momentum after years of issues, and with these factions looking to implode at some point in 2016, the division (with PCB already gone) can hopefully keep building itself one slow step at a time. With Charlotte as its new figurehead, it has a good chance at succeeding. All they need to do now is promote Bayley, then we'd be set.
NXT SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR: Kevin Owens
When you attack the new NXT Champion on your first night and win the title two months later, have fantastic matches event after event, put on the best mic segments and give the NXT title prominence while fighting John Cena; you know you're doing well.
While I cared for Zayn and Balor, Owens is the man who made NXT more appealing than usual. The brand definitely looks weaker without him, that's for sure.
WORST SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR: Dolph Ziggler
Don't get me wrong, Dolph is a great worker who is over with the crowd, but this year hasn't been kind to him. He came off the end of 2014 with colossal momentum behind him after being the sole survivor of Team Cena at Survivor Series, but since then he has taken a MIGHTY fall from grace. His matches have been dull, repetitive and tiresome, his gimmick has become a deflated, lifeless parody of itself, with Tyler Breeze being more the 'Show-Off' than he has been. The final nail in Dolph's coffin is his PPV performances this year. He has been on all the PPV cards except for TLC, and has the worst record out of EVERYONE on the roster, being part of the worst match on the card on FIVE of the THIRTEEN WWE PPV events this year: Extreme Rules, Elimination Chamber, Summerslam, Night Of Champions and Survivor Series. Through the quality of those matches, Dolph shown how poor his placement, feuds and matches have become in this reviewer/fan's humble opinion. 2015 has been the worst year of the characters entire WWE run, which makes him stand embarrassingly as the first LEGITIMATE competitor to receive this award. After years of Great Khali winning, and Adam Rose and The Bunny collectively taking it last year... its time someone with credibility got the nod for how awful they've been. Proving once and for all, that no one's safe from this one.
Sure Dolph, you mentioned Bronies on air this year, which I loved... however if THAT along with a few promo segments are your highlights, you need to go into 2016 re-evaluating yourself and come back much, much better.
SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR
John Cena won the United States Championship, put on match of the night week after week on RAW for 8 months and proved his critics wrong by wrestling incredibly. Seth Rollins produced the greatest of Wrestlemania moments by cashing the Money In The Bank Contract on Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, proving to be a good champion despite poor booking, by being involved in many Match Of The Year candidates and its eventual winner, with his year ending badly due to injury. Dean Ambrose rose from obscurity by fighting in numerous big title and PPV matches, establishing himself in the main event scene after dipping his toes in last year. He took part in the Match Of The Year and looks strong going into 2016. Then there's Brock Lesnar, who participated in numerous Match Of The Year candidates, headlined Wrestlemania as champion for the first time and made Undertaker look good again.
While those four names all did their part, there is one man who surpassed them all: Kevin Owens.
He was the best thing on NXT bar none, since he debuted, outside he's been the best thing on the main roster, he's put on matches of consistent high quality, with his mic work reflecting his in-ring work and for the first time in years, someone matched Cena in a feud and came out of it not looking weaker. That takes a lot to beat. Sadly, which none of them managed to get close too. He has made a stagnant WWE product watchable, all while rising up the ladder at an alarming rate, with his poor match with Ryback at Hell In A Cell being the only major negative.
While the others who I put up for contention for this award had spent the year solidifying their positions in the company (even Cena), Owens spent this year breaking the mould and bulldozing his way to his semi-main event status, all without breaking a sweat. Not since Brock Lesnar came in some 13 years ago have I been so impressed with how a wrestler has been booked by this company and adjusted to it all so well. Kevin Owens is a star, and he has done a lot over 2015 to convince me of his worth.
Kevin Owens WILL become WWE Champion in 2016, and just like Bryan and Rollins the last two years, he didn't need to win the World Title to prove himself as the best of their respective year. Which is why, for doing all he's done, Owens will join his fellow ROH alumni as a winner of this award, which in my opinion is fully deserved without a doubt. He's won the Rising Star of 2016, Main Roster Rookie Of The Year, Feud Of The Year and NXT Superstar Of The Year, now he can add the Superstar Of The Year award to this haul to become the most successful "one year" winner in this awards history. Now all he needs to do is use 2016 to top it all. I eagerly wait to see him do it.
I've been Freddy Thomas, you've been people reading. This has been the 2015 Wrestling Rant Awards for The CC Network Blog and I'll see you next time.
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