WrestleChat

The following excerpt’s are from CamelClutchBlog.com’s “The WWE 2010 Year in Review” article that WrestleChat’s Managing Editor, Brett Clendaniel, contributed to.  To read the entire article and to see more insight, please click here to read the complete 2010 Year in Review on CamelClutchBlog.com.  Below are WrestleChat’s choices for WWE Wrestler of the Year, WWE Match of the Year, WWE Angle of the Year, and WWE Story of the Year.

WWE Wrestler of the Year

The Miz. I really went back and forth on this one. I think that there are multiple people who could be given this award and not be wrong. With that said, to me, Wrestle of the Year means more than who put on the best matches or who main evented the most PPV’s. Not only is The Miz the most improved wrestler of the year, but not one person in the company mirror’s him on the mic, and only John Cena can compete with him in the aspect of truly becoming the face of the present day WWE. The Miz has been everywhere – on TV, magazines, radio, and the Internet. When The Miz won the Money in the Bank briefcase, many thought he would become the first man to attempt to cash in the brief case and fail. Maybe that was the plan at one point, but I believe that his work ethic prevented that. The night he cashed in the Money in the Bank brief case on RAW and defeated Randy Orton for the World Title, he instantly created one of the best moments of 2010. The Miz is the future of the WWE, and, in 2010, he was the WWE Wrestler of the Year. Honorable Mention – Randy Orton, Kane, Sheamus, John Cena, Wade Barrett

WWE Match of the Year

Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker, WrestleMania 26. There were so many incredible matches this year. The WWE did a great job in giving the true in-ring mat technicians a chance to showcase themselves on multiples events. Much credit also goes to the booking teams for pairing together people who can put on matches that would undoubtedly be a memorable one. With that said, the influx of great matches this year simply do not compare to the showcase that Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker put on at Wrestlemania 26. While arguably not living up to their first show down, HBK/Taker II still goes down as one of the greatest matches in the history of wrestling. The mat work was flawless, the crowd held an emotional investment, and the stipulations and build made the match seem like a rare special occasion. When all was said and done, Shawn Michaels was forced to retire in a moment that tugged at the heartstrings of wrestling fans both new and old. Not only was this the WWE Match of the Year, but it was one of the Top 5 wrestling matches of all time. Honorable Mention – CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio from Extreme Rules, Smackdown Money in the Bank from “Money in the Bank”, Daniel Bryan vs The Miz from Night of Champions, Daniel Bryan vs. Miz vs. Morrison Submissions Count Anywhere IC Title Match from Hell in the Cell, and Daniel Bryan vs Dolph Ziggler at Bragging Rights, John Morrison vs. Sheamus #1 Contenders Ladder Match from Tables Ladders and Chairs.

WWE Angle of the Year

The Nexus. This was pretty easy for me to decide. When it came down to it, there really were only 3 other angles worth even mentioning all year. It would either be the Undertaker/Shawn Michaels “Streak vs. Career” feud; Kane finally winning the WWE Title and putting on a great feud with the Taker that showcased some excellent promo’s and the return of Paul Bearer; or, The Miz winning Money in the Bank, teasing cashing it in multiple times, and finally doing it en route to becoming the World Title. Hands down, however, the formation of the NXT Season 1 rookies dominates much of 2010. The night the Nexus formed was one of the most memorable moments in the history of wrestling. It was shocking, unpredictable, and, well, completely shocking and unpredictable. Nobody saw it coming. I’m not even sure that the WWE saw that night play out the way it actually did. Their near 8 month long feud with John Cena was fantastic, filled with multiple twists and turns. In a day where so much of wrestling is predictable or leaked before it even airs, the Nexus angle kept most of us on the edge of our seats for most of 2010. Honorable Mention – Undertaker/HBK “Streak vs. Career” Angle, Kane vs The Undertaker with the return of Paul Bearer, The Miz shocking the world and cashing in MITB to become the new World Champion

WWE Story of the Year

Influence of Social Networking on Professional Wrestling. While discussing all of these categories and nominees over on the WrestleChat Facebook group, this would be the only category where I went against the guys. The guys were 50/50 on the top story of the year being either the failed Monday Night Wars II or, “Tie-gate”, in which Daniel Bryan was fired for choking the life out of Justin Roberts with his own tie before being rehired months later. Nobody else even suggested what I did. I believe that the story of the year is the Influence of Social Networking on Professional Wrestling. Why? I believe it is a sign of the times and a sign of things to come. With personal Facebook pages, websites, blogs, Twitter accounts, and YouTube channels flooding the Internet wrestling scene, 2010 saw social networking transcend the way a superstar relates to the fans. Multiple wrestlers used social networking as a way to talk their way out of a release (see Hardy, Matt and MVP). Twitter and Facebook petitions played a huge role in the WWE’s decision to rehire Bryan Danielson after he received overwhelming support. Wrestlers such as Goldust used social networking as an avenue to obtain more TV time. And, who can forget the fake Hulk Hogan accounts and supposed anonymous TNA wrestlers that wreaked havoc on the TNA locker room for months? We’re in a new time in wrestling history. Someone who wants a dream match can go to their Facebook pages and beg fans to make it happen. An unhappy wrestler can use his YouTube account to complain about being misused. A wrestler can now provide instant feedback and answers minutes after stepping out of the ring from a match. Heck, even released superstars appear on Twitter within days to start building relationships and obtain independent bookings. Every single wrestling website in the world are now reporting Facebook status updates and Tweets as news on a daily basis. Social Networking took off in 2010 and has engulfed the wrestling world. Could 2011 see companies enact rules that limit the usage for contracted superstars? It’d be smart because in 2010, Social Networking single-handedly controlled the wrestling landscape and became the WWE Story of the Year. Honorable Mention – Shawn Michaels Retirement, Monday Night Wars 2, The mounting death toll of pro wrestlers (2010 alone – Ludvig Borga, Jack Brisco, Angelo Poffo, Jerry Valiant, Chris Kanyon, Gorgeous George, Trent Acid, Lance Cade, Luna Vachon, Bastion Booger, and Giant Gonzalez), Linda McMahon’s Senate run, and “Tie-gate” which of course would be Daniel Bryan choking the hell out of Justin Roberts, getting fired, and getting hired back.

What would be your picks for the same exact 4 categories?  Feel free to reply to this post with your choices.  If we like them, we’ll contact you for a future story.

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