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Pro's from the Palace (#226) - The 2007 Pro's from the Palace Awards |
» Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
» On Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at 1:55 PM EST
I had attempted on different avenues to encompass some assemblance of fan and reader interaction to my end of the year Palace Awards column, but it never seemed to pan out. While I appreciate the people that have taken the time to respond both on the blog and at the message board, there's not enough data to compile a worthy poll and award winners.
With that being said, I'm going to try and give you some of my highlights of the past year of pro wrestling, and from there, hopefully, you'll take the time to debate me on them, one way or another. People are going to be mad at me for the fact that my experience leans more towards one or two companies, but opinions are opinions, and everyone is entitled to them.
One last thing to try and make this as fair as possible. I will try and encompass two answers to each category. One from WWE, obviously, and one from either ROH, TNA, or an independent promotion. This way, I can't be taken to task that I'm bashing anybody.
Ok. Let's get going.
Storyline of the Year
One from WWE, and one from Ring of Honor.
First off, from Ring of Honor, Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima. Quite honestly, I love this feud for one reason. It's about one upping the other man. It's about revenge. It's about who's better. It's not about wanting this, or wanting that. It's about the world title, and who is the better man, and that's just intense. Morishima has brought out the best hardcore aspect of Danielson's talents, which just makes Dragon's claims that he's the best in the world all more legitimate. Dragon has brought out a viciousness in Morishima that the US fans have not seen in his eight plus month reign as ROH World Champion, and frankly, I love it. I think it's amazing. Their match at the Rising Above PPV this past weekend was off the charts, their match at Glory By Honor VI was incredible, and the intensity Morishima showed at the Man Up PPV was almost scary.
From WWE Smackdown, the feud between MVP & Matt Hardy. I thought this was done exceptionally well between a man who can promo his way out of a paper bag, and a wrestler who has a loyal following just dying to show their appreciation for this guy's dedication throughout his time in WWE. It was only a matter of time before Matt Hardy won the US title from MVP, and he was snakebit by the appendicitis ailment that knocked him out of action. However, the feud leading up to that, and the subsequent title run as WWE Tag Team Champions was extraordinarily entertaining, and well deserving of recognition in a forum like this.
Rookie of the Year
I know these guys are not technically ROOKIES, but rookies in the companies they are performing in. Let's do it that way, okay?
In WWE, it has to be CM Punk. For the simple reason that he has been given the responsibility of trying to keep an entire brand afloat, and he hasn't been on the brand for upward of two years yet. He continues to grow as the matches pile up, and it's obvious that WWE sees it. I say that because the rumour the instant that Punk won the title that he was going to lose it back to Morrison once his suspension was over. Obviously that hasn't been the case, and WWE has to realize they have a diamond in the rough, and they're allowing him to develop properly.
I'm probably wrong in saying this, but I am going to give the nod for "rookie" of the year in ROH to NOAH stalwart Naomichi Marufuji. While Marufuji is no rookie by any straight, I believe this is his first year of competing solidly on the ROH circuit, and from what I have seen of him, he is as accomplished as they come. A quote on the ROH message board says it best. Marufuji could wrestle a broom and make it look good. Fuij's speed is second to none, and it's obvious he can fight juniors, and he can fight heavies, from his work in NOAH, and his success in ROH, espcially lately with two very imrpessive singles wins over Claudio Castagnoli.
This nod to Marufuji in a category like this is tainted, I know, but I can't come up with someone else. I invite you to come up with another name for me.
Best Moment of the Year
This one is going to get only one nod for me, because its the winner hands down. When I began following Japanese puroresu, I have grown significant interest in their talents. When the chance was there to see one of the legends from Japan live in the United States, I jumped at the opportunity, and I am glad I did. On November 3rd in New York City, NOAH founder and GHC Heavyweight Champion Mitsuharu Misawa had an amazing match defending his championship against KENTA. For someone who looked as old as Misawa did before, during, and after the show, Misawa brought his A game to the contest, and entertained the fans from bell to bell.
Biggest Story of the Year in Wrestling
It's obvious here, the Benoit murders. A story that still rocks the wrestling industry to its foundation on a daily basis. From this, we have steroid probes in congress, and a lot of talents looking over their shoulders, literally, for what may happen next, or whats the next shoe that is going to drop. This story has legs that may be running forever, and that's not a good sign for the weeks, months, and possibly years to come in the business of pro wrestling.
Surprise of the Year
Here, I am going to go a little different. I think the surprise was Booker T jumping ship from WWE, and signing with TNA. I think Booker got very agitated when WWE refused to align itself with PWA in Houston, Booker T's promotion as a new territory for WWE developmental. Then, when Booker got popped for another wellness violation, he decided to walk. I was surprised of that, but not stunned, but when Booker signed with TNA, I have to say I was stunned. I think it will benefit Booker, but only if the problems in the TNA offices are worked out ahead of time.
Actually, there's another one that needs to be recognized. Rob Van Dam's return match on the Raw XV show. I thought for sure Van Dam was done with WWE, but the chance does still exist that he may return, and that's good news, I think, for anyone who is fan of the Whole F'N Show.
Biggest Stock Drop of the Year
One obvious answer. Ken Kennedy. He was in the midst of a run to the world title, as the money in the bank winner, and then a misdiagnosed injury cost him that title reign. Soon afterwards, he sticks his foot firmly down his throat with the steroid allegiations, and he hasn't been able to come out of it since. He lost his slot as the McMahon illegitimate child, which I am sure would've led to something significant title wise, and he hasn't been able to regain his status as a main eventer since. He is also the man that was involved in taking out WWE's crown jewel, accident or not, and I have to believe someone, it's human nature, someone in the back of WWE's hierarchy may blame Kennedy for that.
Comeback of the Year
Triple H and Rey Mysterio. Triple H has two torn surgically repaired quad muscles and is wrestling main event calibre matches on a day in day out basis. Mysterio is obviously still hurting, but is competing in world title matches against men three times his size. If that isn't worthy of recognition, tell me what is.
Disappointment of the Year
Truth, it's the suits in TNA, and what they have done to the character/gimmick of AJ Styles. I am a HUGE fan of AJ Styles work, from all the times I have seen him live in Ring of Honor. To see him reduced to a lackey for Cage and Angle, and being used as a bouncing ping pong ball is just criminal. Not much else can be said about this.
Most Impressive Newcomer
I know she's not new, but this is the first time I have seen her compete, and she is just plain awesome. I am talking about Awesome or Amazing Kong. I have seen her decimate talent in TNA with reckless abandon, and she has been able to wrestle with the best of them in some brief SHIMMER matches I have seen. She is a specimen of epic proportions, and someone who can dominate female wrestling for years to come in the United States, like she did back in Japan.
Most Improved Talent
Candice Michelle. From being eye candy and nothing more than that, to being able to hold her own against the current women's champion Beth Phoenix, for Michelle to even have had a run with the women's title in WWE is damn impressive, and I am curious to see if her improvement will continue when she returns from injury.
Funniest Moment of the Year
Santino Marella getting a beer bath from Stone Cold Steve Austin. What else can I say about that?
Best Wrestling Match
For sheer brutality and insanity, you MUST pick up Man Up, the PPV from Chicago Ridge and watch the ladder war between the ROH World Tag Champions, Mark & Jay Briscoe against Kevin Steen & El Generico.. It is an experience in itself. I bought in to the hype. I read all the hype on Man Up throughout the sites, and spent money I shouldn't have to pick it up. I am glad I did. The PPV card is outstanding, it's one of the best DVDs from ROH I have not been able to have the pleasure to attend in person. The bonus matches are enjoyable as well, and feature an angle that was done right, in my opinion, although it is as physically sickening to endure as possible with the debut of the "Age of the Fall" faction.
From WWE, the best match emotionally wise for me was the return match of Triple H at Summerslam vs. King Booker. I got goose bumps when he came out, and he performed like he never missed a beat. End of story.
Best Wrestling Card
From WWE, it was No Mercy. The 3 WWE title matches, the insanity that Triple H went through, and the other matches on the card, especially the Prison Match were tremendous.
From ROH, it's Man Up. Bar None. There is nothing else that can be said to that.
From TNA, I'll go with the Slammiversary PPV. Not much has really impressed me with TNA over the past feww PPVs, but I am a huge fan of the King of the Mountain match, and from that match, I will give the nod to this card as TNA's best of the year.
Worst Card of the Year
TNA's Hard Justice. It's painful to endure. Absolutely painful.
Best failed experiemnt
Wrestling Society X. I still have to watch the DVD, but the briefs I watched are fun and entertaining, and we were given some new exposure to talent all over the world that hopefully will be shining in the majors, somewhere, down the road.
Best Future Prospects
In WWE, there are two. Colt Cabana and Matt Sydal. I know both of them from seeing them both in ROH repeatedly. They are amazing talents. Cabana can wrestle, he can fight, and he can make people laugh. If that's not close to the complete package, tell me what is? Sydal, as a cruiserweight, if allowed to compete at his top potential, could be the jewel to revitalize the division, and bring the title back in to prominence with a feud with Rey Mysterio. Mysterio vs. Sydal. Book it now, and let's go to war. I would love to see it.
In TNA, Homicide I think Homicide is being seriously underutilized in LAX. He could be an amazing champ in the X division, and could be a mouthpiece for himself, or someone else of colossal proportions. Homicide has all the tools, and if given the chance, he would run with it, in a big, big way.
In ROH, Tyler Black Black has the viciousness to be as good as he wants to be. He has the skills to back it up, and with the movement involved with his faction, the Age of the Fall, he has the niche to keep himself busy in ROH for a long time to come. He has all the skills on the mat, and he has a creative mind that is second to none, as evident by his blogs on ageofthefall.com.
Wrestlers of the Year
My first winner is ROH and NOAH's Takeshi Morishima. Anyone who could run with the ROH World title for eight months, and compete FULL time on both sides of the world for ROH and NOAH in quality matches with stars like Danielson, Aries, Claudio, Brent Albright, Adam Pearce, and others must be recognized. The man is a monster. He is getting better as he gets older, and he is getting meaner. I look for big things on the horizon for the former ROH World Champion.
My WWE winner as wrestler of the year is difficult for me to say, but it has to be Edge. I thought Batista, but Edge deserves it. He won the world title under auspicious circumstances when Undertaker got hurt, got hurt himself, and managed to return in time before the year concluded to win the belt back. His ability off the mat is second to none, and his ability to captivate audiences bioth in and out of the ring is top notch, by any and all counts. I personally don't like the character, which means he's doing his job to the letter, and hence, will get the nomination as the wrestler of the year in the WWE from me.
For TNA, it's Jay Lethal. No I am not going to recognize Kurt Angle, because Angle's push is Jarrett's doing, or Dixie Carter's doing or whatever the case may be. I think it's more political than anything else. Jay Lethal has been X Division champion for months, and has managed to keep himself in the mix, in some way, shape, or form, on television on most episodes of Impact. Even while involved in this storyline of ridiculous proportions for the possession of the X title, Lethal has performed admirably. For someone so young to be featured as heavily as Black Machismo, he deserves some kudos from the public, and I will be the one to provide it for him.
Ok, that's it. On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to wish everyone who reads this column a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Shortly, I'll code a thread for link to this column for discussion of these picks at my message board. In the meantime, if you'd like to check out my blog, and email me, you can find a link at the blog by clicking here.
Thank you very much for reading.
NOTE: The views of this column do not represent those of the administration of this website.
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