2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards

[zappa]

Meltzer's is just an Elite/AEW shrine these days. Sad state of affairs. Remember last year Kenny Omega finished higher on biggest box office draw than Floyd. Then again I don't expect Meltzer's circle jerk to know shit about boxing.

[Crappler El 0 M]

Mar 19, 2019 10:04:57 GMT -5 zappa said:

Meltzer's is just an Elite/AEW shrine these days. Sad state of affairs. Remember last year Kenny Omega finished higher on biggest box office draw than Floyd. Then again I don't expect Meltzer's circle jerk to know shit about boxing.

That's more because not all voters know if you should include boxers for awards that cover wrestling and mma. Floyd and Conor had a boxing match, so I'm sure most figured that this shouldn't count toward wrestling and MMA awards.

[JoDaNa1281]

Mar 19, 2019 10:04:57 GMT -5 zappa said:

Meltzer's is just an Elite/AEW shrine these days. Sad state of affairs. Remember last year Kenny Omega finished higher on biggest box office draw than Floyd. Then again I don't expect Meltzer's circle jerk to know shit about boxing.

TBF, Dave didn't pick these, readers voted. He's disagreed with some winners before.

[JoDaNa1281]

Mar 18, 2019 21:10:45 GMT -5 Aceorton said:

Coach or Triple H: Which guy do you think is more butthurt while trying to pass it off like they don't care?


WORST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER
1. JONATHAN COACHMAN 446
2. Michael Cole 176
3. Renee Young` 129
4. Corey Graves 92
5. Lanny Poffo 69
6. Byron Saxton 42
7. Vampiro 37
8. Percy Watson 36
9. Jim Ross 23
10. Matt Striker 14
HONORABLE MENTION: Booker T 12, Mauro Ranallo 11


WORST MATCH OF THE YEAR
1. UNDERTAKER & KANE VS. MICHAELS & HHH 11/2 RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA 289
2. Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar 4/8 New Orleans 57
3. Undertaker vs. HHH 10/16 Melbourne 44
4. Asuka vs. Carmella 7/15 Pittsburgh 37
5. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe 5/6 Newark 29
6. Eli Drake vs. James Ellsworth 10/14 New York 26
7. Jeff Hardy vs. Jinder Mahal 4/27 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 25
8. Shane McMahon vs. Dolph Ziggler 11/2 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 22
9. Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman 9/16 San Antonio 20
10. Asuka vs. Carmella 6/16 Chicago 19

Off topic, but one of the Asuka/Carmella matches should be replaced with Charlotte/Mella from Backlash.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

On Omega being among the top for box office draw - I think there's a case for it, at least if you limit it to wrestling (since the nature of the industries means whoever is the top boxing/MMA draw is likely going to be the top one overall). Obviously he didn't work for the company that draws the most money - WWE. But it's hard to argue anyone there is by themselves a draw because the promotion itself has become the draw. Kenny helped ROH set attendance/gate records. He helped fill buildings for New Japan both in the US and in Japan. And his feud with Jericho brought a lot of eyes and dollars to New Japan as well (that is admittedly more tilted towards Jericho, but he played a part in it). He also dramatically increased the attendance of every promotion he went to outside of the main ones I just mentioned. Obviously this doesn't mean that he himself is putting the most butts in the seats. But if you were to measure it by ability to increase the draw of a crowd based on them being on the card or not, he makes a big difference. I didn't vote for him, but he should be up there.

[toodarkmark]

Kind of silly to say Meltzer picked these. These aren't the Apter Magazines, these are fans picking. Pretty much in line with who I would have picked.

Maybe if you disagree with a lot, it just means you are different then average wrestling fans who know about these awards. You didn't have interest in the biggest indie card in America in a generation. You're a rebel. That's fine. But stop saying Meltzer carries the water for The Elite if A) they had major success this year and B) got votes for worst gimmick.

[rnrk supports BLM]

HBK's last match was the 2010 WON best match of the year. His comeback is the 2019 WON worst match of the year.

Dude doesn't do anything half-cocked.