----It is hard to believe that one third of the year is already over. This seems to be a favorite “Coach’s Corner” from last year. It also became a good lead up to announcing the winners to the 2008 RRO Awards. It gives everyone a chance to see how the picks either change or stay the same. Below is my analysis for the five main categories and below that are my quick picks all for 1/3 of 2009 for the RRO Awards.
----Wrestler of the Year 2009 is even harder to pick this year than last year. Three time winner Derrick King is always mentioned, but he really don’t seem to be close to the top this year. The landscape of wrestling is this area continues to change with promotions closing down and older names drawing big gates. This award is based on drawing power, influence, exposure and all that combined into one. My #1 Pick this year is Jerry Lawler. The Memphis Wrestling-USA promotion with Bert Prentice has taken Lawler as the top drawing name in all these small towns in Tennessee and the fans have responded. At this point in the year, Lawler has been on all the top shows. My #2 pick would have to be Rodney Mack. I have not seen a babyface get a pop like he does in this area in a long time. Rodney is the top babyface of a promotion that is drawing 200+ a week. He may even have the edge over Lawler in the sense that he is the only big time name on the roster of their weekly shows. #3 pick goes to Brian Christopher. I know that one is going to get some heat, but he has performed on all the top shows this year as the #2 babyface behind his dad. He also caused more interest in one night than the whole area has most of the year. Kevin White and Doug Gilbert have been the two top heels on the big shows and should be considered.
----MVP Performer of the Year 2009. Some of the names from last year have to be considered as Austin Lane, Stan Lee and Greg Anthony are always good workers. I am going in a direction with my first two picks being new to this category and both have worked their asses off this year. #1 pick is Pokerface. I have seen him in two over [***] matches in a single and in a tag. He is always been considered one of the top in the area, but mostly as a tag team wrestler – winning MVP Tag Team 2007. #2 pick is Jon Michael. He was also the winner of a tag team award in 2006, but he is shining as a single wrestler and recently had an excellent performance at NBW “Spring Breakout 2009”. Flash Flanagan, Derrick King, Austin Lane, Kid Nikels and Eric Wayne should be looked also.
----Tag Team of the Year 2009. My top pick, as it was last year and they didn’t even get nominated, is the “Asylum” [Psycho/Pappy]. This team has wrestled from 25 to 30 dates already this year and that might the number of shows some teams do all year long. #2 pick is the “East Coast Bad Boys” [Serpent/C-Money]. These guys continue to help the MCW promotion draw a regular crowd and would be over in almost any arena in the area if given the chance. #3 is really hard here with teams like “Midnight Gold”, “Genocide”, “Picture Perfect”, “NBOP”, “Sons of the South” and Syn/DJ Stunner all being in the mix. I would give the nod to either “Genocide” or “PP”.
----MVP Tag Team of Year 2009. This is a hard category also. What teams are flawless and work the hardest?? The three teams that come to mind the most for me are “East Coast Bad Boys”, Kid Nikels/Eric Wayne and Derrick King/Pokerface. ECBB would probably be my favorite here with Wayne/Nikels in the close second. If DK/Poker wrestled as a team everywhere, they would easily be the best.
----Promotion of the Year 2009. Both the top picks are two different animals, but need the nods. Memphis Wrestling – USA promotion behind the booking expertise of Bert Prentice has had the top crowds of the year. RWA draws close to 800 fans every month with a weekly show. I am not sure if MW-USA could do that or not. My third pick is last year’s winner ASWF with TIWF close behind.
Other picks:
*Most Improved - Jeremy Moore, Crazy Train, Seth Knight, Christopher Lee, Brandon Barbwire, Shannon Lee
*Most Underrated - Devon Day, Shawn Reed, Frankie Tucker, Seth Knight
*Rookie – JD Kerry, Michael Gilbert, Chris Lexxus, The Regulator, Ty Hamiliton
*Best Booker – Bert Prentice, Rodney Mack, TIWF Committee
*Match of the Year – Wayne vs King Jr vs Nikels, PK/DK vs ECBB and Genocide vs Reed/King Jr
*TV Match of the Year: Dustin Starr vs Kevin White
*Best Announcer – Brian Thompson, John Steele, Terrance Ward
*Best Manager – Rashard Devon, Jimmy Tidewell, Hollywood Jimmy, Brian Thompson, Cash McCoy, Garry White
*Best Wrestling Web Site –Dustin Starr’s “the Starr Treatment”, WNC
*Columnist of the Year – Dustin Starr – no one works harder for that award!!
*Best Ref – Downtown Bruno, Chuck Poe
* Best Gimmick – “Asylum” [Pappy/Psycho], Malkavain, “Midnight Gold”
*Female Performer: Su Yung, Destiny, Lil Bit
*Horizon Award: Kid Nikels, Jon Michael, Brian Thompson
----Let the controversy begin!! VOICE YOUR OPINION ON THE KAYFABE MESSAGE BOARD!!
