----Ok, this is Stage 3 and the final stage of the 4th Annual RRO Awards Race. Below are all rest of the categories and I am going to explain them and give me thoughts on picks. Unfortunately I have been so busy working with Yearbook 2009 [it is close to 400 pages!!!] that I forget to get a Columnist Consensus as of yet. I will post that later this week. Now to Stage 3!! If you are a member of the KAYFABE MESSSAGE BOARD, then you may click over and put all your nominations there. Or you may e-mail your picks, if you do not want to post them “in the open” on the board. Send your nominations in ASAP. PLEASE PICK 3 NOMINEES for each category!!! Send your e-mail to brian_tramel@yahoo.com with subject: RRO Nominees. Deadline for these awards is Wednesday 12.30.09. You may also go over to the RRO AWARDS RACE blog by CLICKING HERE and get all the up to the date info on the awards!!! Below my picks and thoughts are the Columnists Consensus results from a poll I conducted via e-mail last week with them.
*Horizon Award: This is the award for the guy/girl/team that you think should have a TNA/WWE contract. This award was won by Eric Wayne last year with Byron Willcott [who has a contract] in close second and Dustin Starr placing in an award that he won in 2006 and 2007. I am going to leave Starr out of it this year as one of my picks, because I think it is just a given that he deserves a contract. The three guys I pick are Christian Jacobs, Matt Riveria and Tatt2. Tatt2 in third place because he has had a lot of opportunities this year that fell thru, but he has shined for the big time. Jacobs is a close second and I would have to give Riveria the nod here, because of all the out of wrestling things you see him do to just get his wrestling personality over. He is tailor-made for the WWE.
*Most Improved – Who got better in 2009? Angel-Lena, Jeremy Moore, Justin Smart and Crazy Train really have to be mentioned here. The guys work really hard and have improved. Angel-lena has gone from being GOD awful to have decent matches as a worker and is more confident around the ring. Christian Jacobs is my third pick here, because he has always HAD IT, but this year IT went just a bit better. Bishop has got tons better and has a great presence in the ring. My top pick would have to be Seth Knight just for his overall look and adding new stuff to his already stacked move set.
*Most Underrated – Brian So Fine, Shawn Reed, Ron Rage, Seth Knight, Devon Day and Mark Justice are six names I would start with. If any of those guys got nominated, I would see why. These guys have to be mentioned – they all are good at different levels. My top three picks are Kevin White [as he works lots of big shows and works hard in & out the ring], Maxx Corbin [he has a great wrestling mind, good on the mic and did a great job promoting a few shows] and my top pick would be Cody Melton. Melton has been on a lot of top shows this year and works real hard.
*Arena Report Match of the Year – These are the best matches that I witnessed at live events. This is hard to vote for some people because they do not see as much stuff as I do. But..if you attended one of these matches, then you know the quality of it. I have listed all the matches that scored [***1/2] or higher. Please pick three. I have highlighted my three picks.
-Eric Wayne vs Kid Nikels West Memphis, AR [***1/2] 1.23.09
-Kid Nikels vs Greg King Jr West Memphis, AR [***3/4] 3.06.09
-Pokerface vs Blalok The Blazer Jonesboro, AR [*** ½] 3.14.09
- Greg King Jr vs Eric Wayne vs Kid Nikels – 60 Minute Draw [****1/4] 3.15.09
-“East Coast Bad Boys” [Serpent/C-Money] vs Pokerface/Derrick King with Rashard Devon. Osceola, AR [***3/4] 4.03.09
“Genocide” [Albino Rhino/Maxx Corbin] beat Greg King Jr/Shawn Reed [*** ½] 4.04.09
- Devon Day vs Kilo Trenton, TN 4.25.09 [***1/2]
-Dustin Ring vs Eric Wayne West Memphis, AR 5.08.09 [****]
-Derrick King vs Austin Lane Tuckerman, AR 5.09.09 [****1/4]
-Jon Michael vs Scott Adams Ripley, TN 5.30.09 [***1/2]
-Dustin Starr vs Stan Lee Ripley, TN 5.30.09 [***3/4]
-Tank Benefit: 8-Man Elimination Team: Kilo/J Weezy/Gaylon Ray/Shannon Lee vs C-Money/Rockin Randy/Hardcore Yaw/Jon “Biscuit” Roberts 6.14.09 [***3/4]
-”Missouri Street Fight” - “Missouri Bad Boys” [Renegade/Mark Southern] with Cookie St. James vs “Law and Order” [Tim Davis/Ricky Hayes] [***1/2] 7.25.09
-Jon Michael vs Mark Justice Newbern, TN [***3/4] 7.25.09
-Street Fight: Derrick King vs Bishop Ripley, TN 9.12.09 [***3/4]
-Dustin Starr vs Stan Lee Ripley, TN 9.12.09 [****]
-"Dynasty" [Blalok the Blazer/Mike Anthony] with Reno Diamond beat "Natural Born Playas" [Southside Brawler/Pimptacular] Jonesboro, AR 9.19.09 [***1/2]
-Jon Michael vs Christian Jacobs Ripley, TN 9.26.09 [****]
-Eric Wayne vs Austin Lane West Memphis, AR 10.09.09 [****]
-Alan Steele vs Kid Nikels West Memphis, AR 10.09.09 [***1/2]
*TV Match of the Year: These are original matches that aired on TV this year. There has not been a lot, but I posted what I considered the top 6 bouts from TV. I have highlighted by three picks. If you think I missed one, then feel free to nominate it. The date shown is the air dates.
-Dustin Starr vs Kevin White Minglewood Hall 3.07.09
-Brian Christopher vs Doug Gilbert Hardcore Match Minglewood Hall 3.07.09
-Doug Gilbert/Tommy Rich vs Jerry Lawler/Brian Christopher Minglewood Hall 5.02.09
-Tatt2 vs Johnny Dotson Block Party 5.30.09
-Autozone Park Johnny Dotson vs Derrick King 8.08.09
-“Asylum” [Psycho/Pappy] vs “Full Scale Assault” [Xander Raines/Jason Steele] vs “SnS” [Syn/DJ Stunner] 9.19.09
*Best Wrestling Web Site –Dustin Starr’s “the Starr Treatment”, WNC, http://www.elitewrestlingentertainment.com/ are my top picks. Starr has slowed down a bit at the end of the year, but he was THE site to go to all year long. Wrestling News Center is last year’s winner and good for world news more than local. My favorite promotion site is the EWE one.
*Columnist of the Year – Even though it is his own blog, Dustin Starr has been the guy to read this year. Greg Anthony always has good columns on here. Seth Knight, Jamie Jay [for being shady] and Eric Wayne all need a mention tied in third.
*Female Performer: Angel-Lena is my favorite here because she has been more places and works hard. Athena Eclipse is an ASWF mainstay and is not your typical diva. She breaks the mold and is really good at ringside. Jazz is easily the most over female I have ever seen live. Last year’s winner Su-Yung should get mentioned also, but she was not as much “in your face” as she has been due to no TV exposure.
