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 2008!
Wrestler Of The Year: Chris Jericho
After being one of the most popular and celebrated WWE superstars of all time, Chris Jericho would turn on the WWE Universe when he assaulted Shawn Michaels in a now legendary edition of his Highlight Reel interview show. He would then begin the best run of his career kicking things off with his all-time feud with Michaels that culminated with him defeating his idol in an unbelievable ladder match at No Mercy. Jericho would also pull one of the most brilliant swerves in WWE history when he snuck into the World Heavyweight Championship scramble match the month before to capture his fourth world title. The first of two WHC reigns for Jericho in 2008.
Runner Up: Kurt Angle
Woman Of The Year: MsChif
The Emerald Screamer is one of the most underrated female talents ever in the history of the sport. In the early days of SHIMMER, she was one of the central figures that made the promotion special. MsChif would win the SHIMMER Championship on April 26th and begin a 715 day title run that wouldn't be matched by any woman in North America the last decade. Not to mention her winning a championship in pretty much every company she made an appearance for (she also held the NWA Women's & Midwest Women's titles for 2+ years as well making her a Triple Crown Champion). No other competitor in any promotion boasted a better resume or was more dominant in 2008 than MsChif and noteworthy challengers such as Sara Del Rey, Jetta, Mercedes Martinez, Mickie Knuckles, Cheerleader Melissa, Awesome Kong, Daizee Haze and Ariel could all testify.
Runner Up: Awesome Kong
Tag Team Of The Year: John Morrison & The Miz
John Morrison and The Miz were one of the most over acts in the WWE for their entire run as a tag team. Not to mention they had a stronghold on both the WWE and World Tag Team Championships for nearly a year. Their "Dirt Sheet" webisodes and over-the-top personas made them one of the more unique and ultimately, one of the most successful WWE tag teams of all time. Much of The Miz' later accomplishments can be traced back to his time here. It was the start of both men's rise to elite status within the company. And though their careers would end up going in completely different directions, there's no denying their greatness as a duo.
Runner Up: Beer Money, Inc.
Match Of The Year:: WWE No Mercy: Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels
This was arguably the greatest ladder match of all time. Jericho and HBK waged a war for the ages throughout 2008, and this match was the last, and best, of their rivalry. Their match at Judgment day had great wrestling, their match at the Bash had brilliant storytelling and the dastardly final transformation of Jericho into his new gimmick. Then at Summerslam, Jericho would accidently strike Shawn's wife and bring HBK out of 'retirement' to have a brutal unsanctioned street fight. After all of these great matches, it would all come to a head here. What made this match great, is the fact that no other stipulation match in history, had as much storytelling and still delivered such memorable spots. Jericho put it all on the line here to beat his greatest rival in his own match (he even lost a tooth) and it paid off as this back and forth classic ended when Y2J was able to knock Shawn off the ladder, securing the title for the victory. This feud would go on to be the best of the decade, and having it end with the World championship on the line in what resembled a cinematic story, made the title the centerpiece of the climax.
Runner Up:: WWE Wrestlemania XXIV: Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair
Michaels and jericho own 2008. Their chemistry is unmatchable. Those two man are just awesome and living legends. And as always great article.
ReplyDeleteWhat a year..you took me back in time on this one..memorable year for sure.
ReplyDeleteYeah I'd have to say that 2007-2010 was a pretty low point for me as a WWE fan and I didn't really enjoy those years as much. But the rivalry between HBK and Y2J was easily the highlight. Thanks for the comments, peeps.
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