The 2014 Wrestling Observer Award Winners

[cero2k]

Class A awards
1.1.1 Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year)
Shinsuke Nakamura, New Japan Pro Wrestling

1.1.2 MMA Most Valuable Fighter
Ronda Rousey, Ultimate Fighting Championship

1.1.3 Most Outstanding Wrestler
A.J. Styles, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor

1.1.4 Best Box Office Draw
Ronda Rousey, Ultimate Fighting Championship

1.1.5 Feud of the Year
Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier, Ultimate Fighting Championship

1.1.6 Tag Team of the Year
The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson)
New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Ring of Honor

1.1.7 Most Improved
Rusev, WWE

1.1.8 Best on Interviews
Paul Heyman, WWE

1.1.9 Most Charismatic
Shinsuke Nakamura, New Japan Pro Wrestling

1.1.10 Best Technical Wrestler
Zack Sabre, Jr., Pro Wrestling Noah

1.1.11 Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler)
Tomohiro Ishii, New Japan Pro Wrestling

1.1.12 Best Flying Wrestler
Ricochet, Dragon Gate, Lucha Underground

1.1.13 Most Overrated
Kane, WWE

1.1.14 Most Underrated
Cesaro, WWE

1.1.15 Promotion of the Year
New Japan Pro Wrestling

1.1.16 Best Weekly Television Show
WWE NXT

1.1.17 Most Outstanding Fighter (formerly Shootfighter of the Year)
Ronda Rousey, Ultimate Fighting Championship

1.1.18 Match of the Year
A.J. Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki, New Japan Pro Wrestling, G1 Climax 24, August 1

1.1.19 Fight of the Year
Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler, Ultimate Fighting Championship, March 15

1.1.20 Rookie of the Year
Dragon Lee II, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre

1.1.21 Best Non-Wrestler
Paul Heyman, WWE

1.1.22 Best Television Announcer
William Regal, WWE

1.1.23 Worst Television Announcer
John Layfield, WWE

1.1.24 Best Major Show
G1 Climax 24: Day 7, New Japan Pro Wrestling


Class B Awards

1.2.1 Worst Major Wrestling Show
WWE Battleground, WWE

1.2.2 Best Wrestling Maneuver
The Young Bucks's Meltzer Driver
New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Ring of Honor

1.2.3 Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic
WWE insulting fans who purchased PPVs

1.2.4 Worst Television Show
WWE Raw

1.2.5 Worst Worked Match of the Year
John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt , WWE Extreme Rules, May 4

1.2.6 Worst Feud of the Year
Brie Bella vs. Nikki Bella, WWE

1.2.7 Worst Promotion of the Year
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

1.2.8 Best Booker
Gedo and Jado, New Japan Pro Wrestling

1.2.9 Promoter of the Year
Takāki Kidani, New Japan Pro Wrestling

1.2.10 Best Gimmick
Russian nationalists Rusev and Lana, WWE

1.2.11 Worst Gimmick
Party animal Adam Rose, WWE

1.2.12 Best Pro Wrestling Book
The Death of WCW – 10th Anniversary Edition, Bryan Alvarez and R.D. Reynolds

1.2.13 Best Pro Wrestling DVD
Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman, WWE

[cero2k]

Nice to see that Ronda took all important MMA awards, and i'm not really surprised about the wrestling awards. Sucks that Danielson lost his best technical award streak, but understandable since last year was mostly off time and matches with nothing technical on them

[Big Red Machine]

I'm not the biggest MMA fan, but from what I understand, the only real knock on Ronda was level of competition, but after hearing Dave's explanation (the people she did face, she murderized, and Sara McMann was actually undefeated), there is no way she shouldn't have won them.


On to the important stuff, though:
1. Glad to see that the Meltzer Driver won.
2. Glad to see that Ishii didn't get first place for "most outstanding"
3. Alexa Bliss got completely robbed for Rookie of the Year (she finished 4th)
4. I'm utterly baffled that so many people thought Battleground was worse than ANY of the TNA PPVs this year.

[cero2k]

I'm not the biggest MMA fan, but from what I understand, the only real knock on Ronda was level of competition, but after hearing Dave's explanation (the people she did face, she murderized, and Sara McMann was actually undefeated), there is no way she shouldn't have won them.


On to the important stuff, though:
1. Glad to see that the Meltzer Driver won.
2. Glad to see that Ishii didn't get first place for "most outstanding"
3. Alexa Bliss got completely robbed for Rookie of the Year (she finished 4th)
4. I'm utterly baffled that so many people thought Battleground was worse than ANY of the TNA PPVs this year.

2. I'm sure he had a bunch of guys to overcome to win it. do you know what place he ended up in?

3. she's having 5 minute matches on the internet show once every 4 weeks, it's hard to really stand out like that considering that most of the other contenders get far more exposure. 4th is actually pretty good for her.

4. because it was

[Big Red Machine]

I'm not the biggest MMA fan, but from what I understand, the only real knock on Ronda was level of competition, but after hearing Dave's explanation (the people she did face, she murderized, and Sara McMann was actually undefeated), there is no way she shouldn't have won them.


On to the important stuff, though:
1. Glad to see that the Meltzer Driver won.
2. Glad to see that Ishii didn't get first place for "most outstanding"
3. Alexa Bliss got completely robbed for Rookie of the Year (she finished 4th)
4. I'm utterly baffled that so many people thought Battleground was worse than ANY of the TNA PPVs this year.

2. I'm sure he had a bunch of guys to overcome to win it. do you know what place he ended up in?

3. she's having 5 minute matches on the internet show once every 4 weeks, it's hard to really stand out like that considering that most of the other contenders get far more exposure. 4th is actually pretty good for her.

4. because it was

2. 2nd place, about 200 behind AJ, and barely beating out Nakamura, who was third. After that there is a huge drop off for the rest

4. Really? Battleground was a B show that had two matches that delivered. Lockdown and Sacrifice were both A shows (all TNA PPVs are when you only have four) that were horrible disappointments, while Bound For Glory was a complete and total joke of a show.

[cero2k]

4. Really? Battleground was a B show that had two matches that delivered. Lockdown and Sacrifice were both A shows (all TNA PPVs are when you only have four) that were horrible disappointments, while Bound For Glory was a complete and total joke of a show.

Battleground sucked haaard, nothing was worth watching, like at all. Lockdown, Sacrifice, and BFG were pretty decent PPVs, BFG was actually quite good. And being a B show for WWE is not an excuse, multibillion dollar company with the pull and money to have the best roster and creative possible and they still give out crap shows like Battleground or RR or Survivor Series? nah, they deserve to be compared to higher standards above everyone else in the US

[Big Red Machine]

4. Really? Battleground was a B show that had two matches that delivered. Lockdown and Sacrifice were both A shows (all TNA PPVs are when you only have four) that were horrible disappointments, while Bound For Glory was a complete and total joke of a show.

Battleground sucked haaard, nothing was worth watching, like at all. Lockdown, Sacrifice, and BFG were pretty decent PPVs, BFG was actually quite good. And being a B show for WWE is not an excuse, multibillion dollar company with the pull and money to have the best roster and creative possible and they still give out crap shows like Battleground or RR or Survivor Series? nah, they deserve to be compared to higher standards above everyone else in the US

Nothing worth watching? Really? You didn't think the Usos/Wyatts 2 out of 3 Falls match was worth watching? Or the Kane/Cena/Reigns/Orton match? Even the IC Title Battle Royale was fun to watch.
As opposed to the TNA PPVs where everything that wasn't Storm vs. Gunner was rage-inducing in some way or another?

[Big Red Machine]

Dave said that he doesn't actually blame the WWE announcers (who finished 1,2,3) and says that their performance is more of a function of what Vince wants them to do.

[cero2k]

Nothing worth watching? Really? You didn't think the Usos/Wyatts 2 out of 3 Falls match was worth watching? Or the Kane/Cena/Reigns/Orton match? Even the IC Title Battle Royale was fun to watch.
As opposed to the TNA PPVs where everything that wasn't Storm vs. Gunner was rage-inducing in some way or another?

Usos/Wyatts I had seen the week before, and the week before, and like 700 times too. 4 Way included two snore wrestlers, the guy that has been annoying me all year since they started his 2006 SuperCena-esque push...and Cena, so no, not worth my money. Battle Royales we get every two months or so, so no, not worth my money either. TNA included some sort of matches or wrestlers that i actually wanna see have a match and that i haven't seen in the last 3 months over and over again for free

[Big Red Machine]

Nothing worth watching? Really? You didn't think the Usos/Wyatts 2 out of 3 Falls match was worth watching? Or the Kane/Cena/Reigns/Orton match? Even the IC Title Battle Royale was fun to watch.
As opposed to the TNA PPVs where everything that wasn't Storm vs. Gunner was rage-inducing in some way or another?

Usos/Wyatts I had seen the week before, and the week before, and like 700 times too. 4 Way included two snore wrestlers, the guy that has been annoying me all year since they started his 2006 SuperCena-esque push...and Cena, so no, not worth my money. Battle Royales we get every two months or so, so no, not worth my money either. TNA included some sort of matches or wrestlers that i actually wanna see have a match and that i haven't seen in the last 3 months over and over again for free

But whether the show was worth watching or not isn't the question. The question is which show is worse.

[cero2k]

But whether the show was worth watching or not isn't the question. The question is which show is worse.

still battleground, booking was shit, matches boring, it featured some of the worst acts/wrestlers in WWE today. Fandango vs Adam Rose, "pin them backwards" Cameron vs Naomi, Jericho/Wyatt which was the last nail in the coffin for Wyatt's credibility, Big Show and Kane main evented and the true talent was all shoved down into a battle royal that lasted 15 minutes. this is not my usual wwe hate talking, battleground was shit, ask anyone

[Big Red Machine]

But whether the show was worth watching or not isn't the question. The question is which show is worse.

still battleground, booking was shit, matches boring, it featured some of the worst acts/wrestlers in WWE today. Fandango vs Adam Rose, "pin them backwards" Cameron vs Naomi, Jericho/Wyatt which was the last nail in the coffin for Wyatt's credibility, Big Show and Kane main evented and the true talent was all shoved down into a battle royal that lasted 15 minutes. this is not my usual wwe hate talking, battleground was shit, ask anyone

Yeah a lot of great talent was in the battle royale but would you have rather had one of them job to CenaWinsLOL in the title match? The main event was perfect for where all four guys needed to go. Cameron vs. Naomi was actually decently hot going into it, and the 2/3 falls match was a great blow-off for Usos/Wyatts.
Yes, the Rollins-Ambrose thing sucked, and yes Wyatt vs. Jericho severely under-delivered, but the show as a whole was not a bad show, whereas the TNA shows were just plain bad shows.

[cero2k]

But whether the show was worth watching or not isn't the question. The question is which show is worse.

still battleground, booking was shit, matches boring, it featured some of the worst acts/wrestlers in WWE today. Fandango vs Adam Rose, "pin them backwards" Cameron vs Naomi, Jericho/Wyatt which was the last nail in the coffin for Wyatt's credibility, Big Show and Kane main evented and the true talent was all shoved down into a battle royal that lasted 15 minutes. this is not my usual wwe hate talking, battleground was shit, ask anyone

Yeah a lot of great talent was in the battle royale but would you have rather had one of them job to CenaWinsLOL in the title match? The main event was perfect for where all four guys needed to go. Cameron vs. Naomi was actually decently hot going into it, and the 2/3 falls match was a great blow-off for Usos/Wyatts.
Yes, the Rollins-Ambrose thing sucked, and yes Wyatt vs. Jericho severely under-delivered, but the show as a whole was not a bad show, whereas the TNA shows were just plain bad shows.

of course! as annoying as it is, i'm expecting cenawinslol regardless, but at least if you insert a cesaro, a ziggler, a wyatt, a jericho, etc etc into that 4way, it becomes a good match even with cena winning, but instead they book two guys that as much as i love kane and respect show, they're old and slow. Naomi and Cameron wasn't really that hot, most irrelevant divas feud of the year, who even cares about them, that was wasted time in the PPV.

[Big Red Machine]

still battleground, booking was shit, matches boring, it featured some of the worst acts/wrestlers in WWE today. Fandango vs Adam Rose, "pin them backwards" Cameron vs Naomi, Jericho/Wyatt which was the last nail in the coffin for Wyatt's credibility, Big Show and Kane main evented and the true talent was all shoved down into a battle royal that lasted 15 minutes. this is not my usual wwe hate talking, battleground was shit, ask anyone

Yeah a lot of great talent was in the battle royale but would you have rather had one of them job to CenaWinsLOL in the title match? The main event was perfect for where all four guys needed to go. Cameron vs. Naomi was actually decently hot going into it, and the 2/3 falls match was a great blow-off for Usos/Wyatts.
Yes, the Rollins-Ambrose thing sucked, and yes Wyatt vs. Jericho severely under-delivered, but the show as a whole was not a bad show, whereas the TNA shows were just plain bad shows.

of course! as annoying as it is, i'm expecting cenawinslol regardless, but at least if you insert a cesaro, a ziggler, a wyatt, a jericho, etc etc into that 4way, it becomes a good match even with cena winning, but instead they book two guys that as much as i love kane and respect show, they're old and slow. Naomi and Cameron wasn't really that hot, most irrelevant divas feud of the year, who even cares about them, that was wasted time in the PPV.

Naomi vs. Cameron was a pre-show match, and their spit was actually done well and not like you normally see in WWE.
As for the main event, I'm not sure your memory of the show is so good because it was Orton, not Big Show in the main event.

[cero2k]

Naomi vs. Cameron was a pre-show match, and their spit was actually done well and not like you normally see in WWE.
As for the main event, I'm not sure your memory of the show is so good because it was Orton, not Big Show in the main event.

true, my bad, i now remember Orton was the only thing was worth watching in that match, and that says much

[Big Red Machine]

Naomi vs. Cameron was a pre-show match, and their spit was actually done well and not like you normally see in WWE.
As for the main event, I'm not sure your memory of the show is so good because it was Orton, not Big Show in the main event.

true, my bad, i now remember Orton was the only thing was worth watching in that match, and that says much

Oh come on! I thought it was interested to see what they did with Reigns and Cena in terms of how strong they'd let Reigns look one-on-one with Cena, and also Kane rocked (though I'm a bit biased, obviously).