It's time to bid farewell to 2010, forever closed off to our memories and the history books. Yesterday, I realized a somewhat stunning feat in that I went to WrestleMania XXVI in Glendale, AZ, on March 28, 2010, and then Monday Night RAW in Phoenix the next night, and those were the only two wrestling events I attended the entire year. For a dedicated fan who used to attend a dozen wrestling shows each year (and I didn't even try to keep count at my peak in 2007), this was shocking. Understandable, but shocking. Afterall, Shawn Michaels is my all-time favorite wrestler and he retired this year. Additionally, Impact Zone Wrestling was where I attended most of my live wrestling events and I disassociated from them at the end of last year. Besides, subtract my time left after all the Jeordie gigs and there wasn't much free time for local wrestling.
Regardless, I made a lot of time for WWE on Monday nights and Thursday nights. I didn't have much time for Friday nights or their online events. I barely watched half of the WWE pay-per-view events throughout the year. So, this year will be the most limited pool of reference, but it's almost a prerequisite for any dedicated wrestling to rattle off a few Year-End Achievement Awards, so permit me to provide mine for the year gone by.
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: The Miz.
Runner-Up: Kane
Think of it this way, if this year is going to be remembered for any one particular wrestler, then it would be The Miz. John Cena had a ho-hum year. Randy Orton ran a bit hot-and-cold. And Kane may have logged the best year of his entire career, but it was often overshadowed by his challengers. Conversely, The Miz started the year beating Shawn Michaels for the last championship on his resume, picked up steam before and after WrestleMania, secured his place as an upper mid-carder at Money In the Bank, and finally, cashed in his prize to end the year as WWE Champion. When fans are supposed to hate him, there are many who love him so he is almost the anti-John Cena. Except, one thing both men clearly have in common: an indefatigable passion for the business.
MATCH OF THE YEAR: Shawn Michaels versus Undertaker, WrestleMania XXVI.
Runner-Up: John Cena versus Batista, WrestleMania XXVI.
While I have no complaints about the match quality throughout the year, there were hardly any matches that left fans breathless from beginning to end. Subtracted from the pool were both Bragging Rights (Dolph Ziggler versus Bryan Danielson) and TLC (Sheamus versus John Morrison), so maybe I would have a different opinion with a more informed opinion. Regardless, WrestleMania featured a monsterous card of marquee matches with a WWE championship match that was five years in the making, a grudge match that was 13 years in the making, and the most important WrestleMania Rematch in all 26 years. At the end of the night, John Cena and Batista had the fans eating out of the palm of their hands, but Shawn Michaels and Undertaker had the lasting WrestleMania moment as they ended the career of the greatest in-ring performer of all time.
FEUD OF THE YEAR: John Cena versus Nexus.
Runner-Up: Undertaker versus Kane.
After drawing over 80,000 fans for WrestleMania 23, John Cena only had one challenge remaining to reach a legendary status, and that was to get over without the benefit of the WWE championship. Feuds with Big Show and The Miz were unsuccessful attempts, but his trials with Nexus captured the fans' attention unlike any other throughout the year. My controversial runner-up was benefitted by the fact that the historically obligatory Hell in a Cell between Undertaker and Kane became a reality (regardless how disappointing the match itself was). Issues between Randy Orton & Sheamus were of minimal interest. The next closest runner-up would probably have been The Miz and his first NXT protege.
TEAM OF THE YEAR: The Nexus.
Runner-Up: ShowMiz.
Without question, this honor belongs to the cast of NXT, Season 1. While the participants originally looked as though they could not be any more different, their union surprisingly did not take long to buy. For seven guys whose presence recoiled an already low rating from ECW, synergy proved to be their greatest asset as the whole was truly worth more than the sum of its parts. At least leading into the main event of SummerSlam. After SummerSlam, fans had different opinions on where the group should have been used. Regardless, the tag team scene was a virtual wasteland. John Morrison & R-Truth also made a formidable team and the Hart Dynasty got its time in the sun, but the runner-up honor was given to ShowMiz by virtue of starting the quick launch of The Miz.
WOMAN OF THE YEAR: Vickie Guerrero.
Runner-Up: Michelle McCool.
World Wrestling Entertainment is subtly turning mysogynistic with their strongest Diva characters always being heel. Regardless, it is hard to hate a truly good heel, and both Vickie Guerrero and Michelle McCool proved themselves as such throughout the year. Not that there was much in terms of competition for WWE Divas this year as their division became single-branded, much like the tag division did last year. There is plenty of room for the fans to rally behind their favorite WWE Diva but, since the release of Mickie James, that position has yet to be filled.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Wade Barrett.
The creation of NXT provided a lot of opportunity for newer stars to catch fire, but thusfar, the only person who has really been elevated to a higher level has been Wade Barrett, and rightly so. The man has a natural ability with a well-earned level of confidence. Hopefully, Wade Barrett will be a major contender for years to come. He is definitely World championship material, but whether that feat materializes has yet to be seen.
EVENT OF THE YEAR: WrestleMania XXVI.
I withheld the assignment of a runner-up, but without question, WrestleMania XXVI was the biggest event of the year. Notwithstanding a huge miscalculation for the World championship match (the title should have stayed on Undertaker with HBK winning his last Royal Rumble to put Edge/Jericho as a solid midcard match instead of a forced main event), this event saw the culmination of numerous years of history. From Bret/McMahon to the Legacy triple threat, it was hard to find a weak match on the card (although I bet most fans would have named ShowMiz versus John Morrison & R-Truth if forced to choose).
