2011 Match of the Year Discussion.

Seeing as how it is

• a.) Approaching the end of the year and
• b.) I am now in possession of a floor seat ticket to the 2011 Slammy awards in Norfolk, Virginia.

Then I think it is time for myself and my fellow citizens of The Wrestling Ring forums to come together and come up with a good ole' fashion end of the year list. This is the year that I, and many of the people here decided to come back to the wonderful world of Professional Wrestling. Like most years, there has been quite a few high points that stick out as something worthy of being remembered and cherished forever. Also like most years, there has been a countless number of lows, so we will include those in our little end of the year celebration.

I'm starting off (and naming the thread) with the 2011 Match of the Year. Since I feel this is the most important award, I want a group of five matches from fifth to first. So no, I don't want everybody to just say CM Punk vs. John Cena and consider it over. So feel free and nominate whichever match you feel strongly about and write up a little summary of why it is the best match of the year. It can come from ANY promotion, even New Japan Pro Wrestling if you're that crazy, and the match must be easily obtainable online so the rest of us can watch whatever you're talking about. Since I'm opening up this discussion on December 1st, I'm allowing matches from December 2010 to be on the list.

Now to talk about other categories. Should we split up Wrestler of the year into best wrestler in different promotions? or have it Overall Wrestler of the Year? Should we have Worst Match/Wrestler of the Year? Best promo of the Year? Best new wrestler? Best Gimmick? Worst Gimmick? Best DVD? Best PPV? etc.

Discuss Away!

EDIT:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HXX7XPZ

This is a great idea. Definitely gonna give it some thought here (though yes... the first thing that came to mind was Punk vs. Cena at MITB).

Should there be a "Best TV Match" category as well? Because honestly some of the TV matches this year have been great and deserve some recognition, but I'm not sure they could stand-up against some of the heavy hitters from the PPVs.

its kinda bad that the first match that came to mind was angle vs sting but i cant even remember if it was a good match or not just jumped out at me that it existed and i remember it fondly. with this being the first year I've watched wrestling in my adult life most of the best matches I've seen this year has been looking back with DVDs so i probably wont be able to think of a good valid answer.

the other category's you mentioned would be easier to answer but as for further category's

• worst use of twitter
• "the alberto del rio" worst suddenly dropped feud (named so because i think it happened 3-4 times with him this year)
• worst/best stable
• most underused talent

also i think best wrestler should be split into what tear they are such as i would call kofi kingston the best mid card wrestler but i wouldn't say hes the best over all so it would be one for independent and developmental Territory's one for midcard wrestlers and one for your top tiers such as your punks your cenas and your AJ styleses

side note i dislike the concept of the slammys much like the hall of fame its ran by the wwe it doesn't include any one not in the wwe so things like sting vs Jeff hardy at victory road cant be pointed out and laughed at as the worst moment in the wrestling year

I vote for Kid Money.

a few matches from High Noon should be in consideration such as

Colt Cabana vs Archibald peck

Eddie kingston v Mike QuackenBush

2011's 2010 Match of the Year, enough said.

@slightconfuse said:

a few matches from High Noon should be in consideration such as

Colt Cabana vs Archibald peck

Eddie kingston v Mike QuackenBush

I feel that Cabana / Peck should be awarded something...

@TurboMan: Then a "Comedy Match of the Year" award or something similar.

funniest moment?

best promo?

I'll certainly put some thought into this and try to think of a top five (MY FAV FIVE RIGHT HERE) but I truly believe that nothing comes close to Cena vs. Punk. Watching that match was one of the first times since my childhood that reminded why I love/loved professional wrestling. The emotion in that arena still gives me chills. There were thousands of people in Chicago that night that cared about professional wrestling. That loved pro wrestling. And I think that's amazing. As wrestling fans, we put up with a whole lot of shit. We sit through SmackDown holiday specials, we watch David Arquette become WCW World Heavyweight Champion, we listen to Vince McMahon tell Trish Stratus bark like a dog and see John Cena spank Stephanie McMahon's ass. We put up for shit like that for moments like Money in the Bank 2011. That night and that match made me proud to love this stupid thing, even if it was for a short while.

So I'll go ahead an nominate a match that I feel is either #1 or #2 of the year:

Eddie Edwards (c) vs. Davey Richards - Best in the World 2011

Ring of Honor has had a bit of a transition year. Possibly one of the biggest tag teams of all time, The Kings Of Wrestling, is now gone to WWE. Tyler Black has also left for the WWE. Overall, it seemed that there wasn't a true face for the company in my eyes for a while (really, ever since Nigel McGuiness's run). That changed during this match, where we had two people from the same tag team fighting each other for the ROH Championship. For over 35 minutes, Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards went back and forth with some of the stiffest moves you'll see this year. Eddie is a suplex machine, and Davey's submission holds were perfectly pulled off.

There's a handful of great moments in the match, and most of them benefit Davey Richards, namely towards the end of the match where Davey sets up a dragon screw with Eddie's legs around the ropes and Eddie Edwards just starts to slap Davey and shouts at him to "DO IT!". After that moment, Davey takes controls of the match and kicks Eddie Edwards so many times in the head so hard that you're just exhausted by the time the match ends. This is the match that put Ring of Honor back on top as the #1 Wrestling Promotion brand for me personally, so that's why I think it deserves to be recognized as one of the best matches (if not, the best) of the year.

Full Match here (because I'm awesome): http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmp3ob_eddie-davey-best-in-the-world_sport

Aside from occasionally watching WCW back in the day just so I wouldn't feel completely left out when my friends would talk about wrasslin', I've never really been into it. In fact as I got older I increasingly felt like wrestling for the most part, and the people who watched it, were incredibly fucking stupid. Cut to earlier this year, I watched the movie The Wrestler and of course I thought it was awesome, but literally like two days later, Randy Savage died. His death, for reasons I didn't (and honestly still don't) fully understand, for some reason had a profound affect on me. I wish I knew why, but that's a mystery that will have to be solved some other day.

Anyway, because of the movie and Macho Man's death, I had wrestling on the brain for a while. So, maybe a month or so later, I decide, "What the hell. Watching wrestling once isn't going to kill me." So I watch an episode of Raw, and it was kind of "whatever", but then at the end, CM Punk went into his now famous tirade, and I was like, "What the fuck am I watching? This is crazy", but more importantly, it hooked me. It hooked me hard. I forget how long it was between that and Money in the Bank, but for the first time ever I genuinely enjoyed watching wrestling during that time. Anyway, I decided I was going to watch Money in the Bank, and the Cena vs. Punk match was fucking awesome. It made me get it. It made me understand why people love wrestling, and it kinda sorta made me love it too. So, even if OP doesn't want me to say Cena vs. Punk was the match of the year, I'm totally going to say Cena vs. Punk was the match of the year.

TL;DR - Cena vs. Punk, Money in the Bank

ring of Honor always puts on a show shame they can't get on tv.

Christ, I don't even remember any matches other than CM Punk Vs. Cena. That was a glorious match, I might watch that tonight. Actually, the RAW (I think?) Money In The Bank match at 'Mania was pretty good. It might not have been RAW, which one had Sheamus in it? 'Cause it was that one. I can't think of a single TNA match that I enjoyed.

I think wrestler of the year has to go to Punk. How many of us got back into watching wrestling because of the lead up to MITB? I certainly did. So while I think Ziggler is better, I think Punk has earned it.

Best gimmick I'd give to R Truth as I enjoyed that whole thing. Can there be a "Most Annoying Cunt" award that goes to Titus O'Neill/Percy Watson?

Punk and Cena at MitB. That match, the build up to it, and what happened right after are, to me, what makes wrestling great. I was invested in that storyline and I cared about who won. I remember being on the edge of my seat the entire time. I started off great with a very slow build before exploding and going into close call after close call. I honestly had no idea who was going to win and I was excited. That is the most important part here. I was excited. When Punk won I jumped up out of my chair. I'm normally not the kind of guy that does that kind of stuff. If I was in the arena then yeah I would be on my feet a lot more, but at home I stay in my seat. Punks victory got me up off my ass because I was thrilled. What happened right after with him kicking Del Rio in the head and then fleeing through the crowd was just a perfect conclusion.

@GunslingerPanda: We should also have a "Dick Move" award and it should go to the combined efforts of Titus O'Neil, Percy Watson, Kaitlyn and AJ for consistently calling Maxine (who is on NXT) "Fish Lips", to the point where they told her that her father was in attendance only to reveal a dead fish, but only after AJ (yes cute, spunky, nerdy, innocent little AJ Lee) ostensibly calls her a whore (This led to a blowoff match based on the feud where Maxine would insinuate that AJ was sleeping with Titus to the point that Hornswoggle broke-up with AJ. Also, this would mark the last NXT appearance by AJ so that she could become Daniel Bryan's love interest). Here is video proof:

Edit: Just noticed that JTG has to cover for the heat AJ/the segment is getting at around 8:10

@DrX25: Yep, their whole "fish lips" thing got real old almost instantly. I don't understand how they are the NXT faces while Derrick and Maxine are the heels, when Titus and Percy have zero likeability.

Also every time Titus O'Neill puts his hands in that stupid fucking pose and makes those stupid fucking noises, I want to murder him painfully. Is he supposed to be a dog or an angry kangaroo?

Other matches off the top of my head that could fit into a top five list:

• Christian vs. ADR - because Christian winning the World Champion was a great moment until WWE ruined it.
• Undertaker vs. HHH - Because.. it's an Undertaker WrestleMania match
• Roderick Strong vs. Eddie Edwards - Ringmasters Challenge... very cool take on the 2/3 falls match to see who the all around better competitor... both guys looked incredible in the match
• AJ Styles vs. Bully Ray - Best TNA match, so why not throw it into the pile?
• I don't know too much about Chikara, I'll investigate to see what their best stuff was

@GunslingerPanda said:

Best gimmick I'd give to R Truth as I enjoyed that whole thing. Can there be a "Most Annoying Cunt" award that goes to Titus O'Neill/Percy Watson?

I'm almost willing to admit the field is pretty good for Best Gimmick... I'm willing to through out Cody Rhodes and Archibald Peck as candidates.

@DrX25: @GunslingerPanda: Also on the "Dick Moves" of the Year list: Every Face vs. Ricardo Rodriguez. What does RR do to these guys to initiate violence?

@GunslingerPanda: To his credit, that dog bark does get a reaction from the crowd every single time he does it.

@TurboMan: I guess because he's a mexican? Another moment is when Triple H pedigreed Zack Ryder for no real reason after the walkout angle (Hell, Ryder was the only pro-Trips guy at the end of the show)

And, also an NXT/AJ related "Dick Move", when Hornswoggle broke-up with AJ so he could go and be free on Smackdown despite the fact that AJ is on Smackdown and it's even acknowledged by both the dumped and Titus. (On a side note, she's had three on-screen relationships in the span of a year, which is both creepy and slightly weird).

Hey let's have a Diva of the Year category.

Yes, I'm joking.

@GunslingerPanda: Kelly Kelly, Kelly Kelly, Kelly Kelly, Kelly Kelly, Kelly Kelly...

Most awkward/Best cameo:

Best Tyson Kidd Manager

• Michael "P.S." Hayes
• Armando Estrada
• Matt Striker
• Vickie Guerrero
• JTG

Worst Match of the Year is a runaway winner and there should be no debating it

I'm unsure whether or not I wanna go back on my "allow matches from December 2010" rule or not... cause I'm willing to throw El Generico vs. Kevin Steen at ROH Final Battle in the pile of candidates. I think I'm going to try and upload every match on youtube dailymotion so we can have a fair vote at the end of all this :)

@GorillaMoPena: I'm sure there are some competitors to that match for worst of the year...

@GunslingerPanda: Diva of the Year goes to... Kharma

I feel Mark Henry deserves a tonne of credit for his work both on the stick and in the ring.

Dude isn't a fantastic wrestler, but he is working his arse off and deserves the recognition he is getting after so long never hitting the big time.

@TurboMan said:

I'm unsure whether or not I wanna go back on my "allow matches from December 2010" rule or not... cause I'm willing to throw El Generico vs. Kevin Steen at ROH Final Battle in the pile of candidates. I think I'm going to try and upload every match on youtube dailymotion so we can have a fair vote at the end of all this :)

Then we should have 2011's 2010 match of the year.

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

I feel Mark Henry deserves a tonne of credit for his work both on the stick and in the ring. Dude isn't a fantastic wrestler, but he is working his arse off and deserves the recognition he is getting after so long never hitting the big time.

Yes, he has truly stepped-up his game in 2011 and we should do a Breakout Star/Most Improved Wrestler award.

Hogan vSting was this year right? that match was atrocious

@DrX25 said:

@TurboMan said:

I'm unsure whether or not I wanna go back on my "allow matches from December 2010" rule or not... cause I'm willing to throw El Generico vs. Kevin Steen at ROH Final Battle in the pile of candidates. I think I'm going to try and upload every match on youtube dailymotion so we can have a fair vote at the end of all this :)

Then we should have 2011's 2010 match of the year.

I'm fine with that.... so now lets throw some more matches in from 2011 (I think I'm all out), and start piling up the best of 2010!

Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd.....wait wrong kind of ring.

Worst Match of the Year category ...

my pick.. John Cena vs. Zack Ryder

@spankingaddict: Are you serious (bro)? There was nothing wrong with that match at all.

@TurboMan: It was just off the top of my head .You're probably right . I just really dislike both of them ... but the match wasn't good .

What do all of you broski's think is the worst match you've seen this year? I'll think a bit more about this : )

@Demoskinos said:

@TurboMan: No kidding. I thought Ryder did pretty well. Was a pretty fun match to watch.

Indeed. Despite there being a surplus of headlocks, I thought it was an enjoyable match overall.

@spankingaddict said:

Worst Match of the Year category ...

my pick.. John Cena vs. Zack Ryder

Erm, that was a really good match. Probably the only one I enjoyed in this week's RAW since most of them ended quite badly.

@ImperiousRix: @GunslingerPanda: Me saying that mainly had to do with the fact that I rather watch a divas match then watch Cena or Ryder wrestle on Raw .

They are my least favorite wrestlers . Now lets move on ... : )

As a way to give Dolph Ziggler a nod, I propose a "Best Seller/Bump Taker" award.

Also, how about a "One to Watch in 2012" category.

@GunslingerPanda said:

Hey let's have a Diva of the Year category.

Yes, I'm joking.

Well, Triple H DID return...

@TurboMan said:

I'm unsure whether or not I wanna go back on my "allow matches from December 2010" rule or not... cause I'm willing to throw El Generico vs. Kevin Steen at ROH Final Battle in the pile of candidates. I think I'm going to try and upload every match on youtube dailymotion so we can have a fair vote at the end of all this :)

Gawd yeah, that match and angle was great. Both the build-up and the follow up throughout 2011 wherever Steen showed up. LIVING THE GIMMICK BABY!

I've made a survey and opened it up to the reddit.com/r/squaredcircle group.. and also you guys!

fill it out here, I'll make a winning post at the end of the week.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HXX7XPZ

@DrX25 said:

@GunslingerPanda: We should also have a "Dick Move" award and it should go to the combined efforts of Titus O'Neil, Percy Watson, Kaitlyn and AJ for consistently calling Maxine (who is on NXT) "Fish Lips", to the point where they told her that her father was in attendance only to reveal a dead fish, but only after AJ (yes cute, spunky, nerdy, innocent little AJ Lee) ostensibly calls her a whore (This led to a blowoff match based on the feud where Maxine would insinuate that AJ was sleeping with Titus to the point that Hornswoggle broke-up with AJ. Also, this would mark the last NXT appearance by AJ so that she could become Daniel Bryan's love interest). Here is video proof:

Edit: Just noticed that JTG has to cover for the heat AJ/the segment is getting at around 8:10

What the fuck did I just watch?