The G9Z Wrestling Honor Roll: Class Of 1997

 

Welcome to another edition of the HONOR ROLL. Every year during my "Year End Awards" I give out roughly 15 awards. Of those awards, "the big four" are the Wrestler, Woman, Tag Team & Match of the year. The winners of these awards were generally the most awesome performers of the year and with hundreds of prominent wrestlers worldwide, it's a true honor to be able to snag one of the four. This section of the blog will be dedicated to the winners for every year dating all the way back to 1990 (roughly the time I first began watching wrestling)! Every week I will add another year's winners until the database is up to date. This is just a fun series that will give you an idea of what the best of the best was in any year you may have missed. Any current and/or future winners will also be added to the honor roll and join the most prestigious group in all of blogging!

This week, we're announcing the class of 1997!

Wrestler Of The Year: Bret Hart

The Hitman is now the first wrestler to win the G9Z Wrestler Of The Year award on three different occasions.  What makes things more compelling is the fact that he did so at three very different stages of his career.  The first during his rise to prominence as a singles star, the second in his prime as WWE Champion and this one as a grizzled veteran who was watching his kingdom fade away before his very eyes.  His legendary feud with Steve Austin ignited after Austin cost him his fourth WWE title in what then resulted Hart's shortest title reign.  Hart and Austin would battle in an all time classic at Wrestlemania XIII which sparked the rise of the man now known as the WWE's biggest superstar.  After becoming simultaneously the most loved and hated man in the biz, Hart would win the WWE title for a fifth time later in the year.  Things would come to a crushing end however, when Hart lost the belt in the most infamous screwjob in wrestling's history. 

Runner Up: Mitsuharu Misawa

 

Woman Of The Year: Sable

While many eyes were on the voluptuous Sunny, there was another smoking hot diva waiting in the wings to make her mark.  After getting her start as the valet to Hunter Hearst Helmsley who began a huge angle with her then-husband "Wildman" Marc Mero, Sable would break out on her own and become arguably, the most popular diva of all time with her breathtaking allure and surprising strength.  Later in the year, he would also win two Slammy Awards including one for Diva Of The Year.

Runner Up: Terri Runnels

Tag Team Of The Year: The Outsiders

Easily the most controversial pairing in WCW history, the charismatic team of Kevin Nash and Scott Hall would make history as two of the three main centerpieces of the now legendary New World Order.  Being a part of the most iconic stable in the company aside, the two would capture their third and fourth WCW World Tag Team Championships in 1997 by defeating former TTOTY winners The Steiner Brothers & The Harlem Heat respectively.  They would reign for a combined total of over 250 days all the while remaining part of the most over act in the business.

Runner Up: Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama

 

 

Match Of The Year:: WWE Wrestlemania XIII: Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin

When on the topic of the greatest Wrestlemania matches of all time, this one always makes it's mark near the top of the list.  From an in-ring standpoint it's arguably, both men's best work.  The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife as Hart & Austin beat each other near death for a prize almost more important than any title, pride.  The awe inspiring sight of Steve Austin, covered in blood & refusing to tap out to The Hitman's Sharpshooter is one of the most iconic visuals you will ever see in the WWE.  Austin would pass out due to the fact that he would rather do so then quit and the fans adored him for it.  Bret then became the most hated heel in the biz as Austin rose to levels of popularity never seen again.  This kind of double-switch is something we rarely see in pro wrestling and perhaps, it's these legendary moments that may even eclipse just how the tremendous a match it actually was.  Essential viewing for any true fan of pro wrestling.

Runner Up:: WWE Badd Blood: Hell In A Cell: Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker