Goddamn, what a match Omega vs. Kidd was. I’m confident it will win Match of the Year from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter next year. I already know it’ll be one of my votes. The rest of Wrestle Dynasty was great (Jack Perry aside) but that was the highlight. We’re so lucky to have Omega back.
That being said, it is kind of sad just how much Wrestle Dynasty overshadows Wrestle Kingdom (held the day prior). Wrestle Kingdom has been NJPW’s iconic event and to see it basically get used as set-up for a collaboration with AEW is a great sign of how one-sided the AEW-NJPW partnership is.
One other person who is dismayed by that one-sidedness is English language commentator Chris Charlton, who went into business for himself during the show. He made a bunch of jabs at AEW while an audibly uncomfortable Rocky Romero tried to settle him down. He has been suspended for two months. I agree with most of what Charlton said (especially about how AEW has booked Jay White) but doing it live on air is the height of unprofessionalism. I’ve seen some people try to defend him because Gabe Kidd has been making jabs too but he made them in character as part of his feud with Kenny Omega. It’s the difference between Eddie Kingston trashing CM Punk in their feud and Hangman going off script to trash Punk.
The other big news this week was Raw debuting on Netflix. I’ve heard a lot of criticism of the show but, honestly, I enjoyed it. I thought Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa, Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan, and especially CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins were all great matches. Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre was the only dud match but it has potential to help the McIntyre vs. Bloodline feud, so I can’t be too mad.
The biggest news from Raw on Netflix however was Hulk Hogan’s appearance. The crowd booed the everloving fuck out of him. It was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen, I’m not sure which part I love best. Him trying to get pops by mentioning Randy Savage and Andre the Giant (who both hated him) only to get louder boos? Him saying the fans were his best tag team partner while getting booed? Him failing to completely rip his shirt and storming off with it dragging on the floor, looking like a baby with a full diaper? Jimmy Hart obliviously waving the American flag in the background? I’ve seen a few people (usually right wing shitstains) try to claim it was political discrimination but the Undertaker unfortunately also went full MAGA (even having the orange fuck on his podcast) and he got a great pop. The fans just hate Hogan.
Finally, the voting for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards is open and here’s what I voted for:
Wrestler of the Year-Cody Rhodes, Will Ospreay, Bryan Danielson
Most Outstanding Wrestler-Will Ospreay, Bryan Danielson, Zack Sabre Jr.
Best Tag Team-Fraxiom, FTR, Young Bucks
Best on Interviews-Drew McIntyre, CM Punk, MJF
Best Promotion-WWE, AEW, NJPW
Best Weekly TV Show-Dynamite, NXT, Raw
Wrestling Match of the Year-Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson (4/21), CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (10/5), Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (2/11)
USA/Canadian MVP-Cody Rhodes
Japanese MVP-Utami Hayashashita
Mexican MVP-Hechicero
European MVP-Michael Oku
Best Non-Heavyweight MVP-Darby Allin
Women’s Wrestling MVP-Jordynne Grace
Best Feud-CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
Most Improved-Konosuke Takeshita (he was already great but this year he has been leaps and bounds better than before)
Most Charismatic-The Rock
Best Technical Wrestler-Bryan Danielson (I usually wouldn’t vote for Bryan because the award is named for him but he had so many great performances this year that I just had to vote for him)
Best Brawler-Gunther
Best Flying Wrestler-Joaquin Wilde (he really only had two standout flying moments this year but those two of the very best that I’ve ever seen)
Most Overrated-Chris Jericho
Most Underrated-Jay White
Rookie of the Year-Je’Von Evans
Best Non-Wrestler-Nick Aldis
Best Announcer-Nigel McGuinness
Worst Announcer-Tony Schiavone (was waffling between him and Booker T but Schiavone’s announcing on World’s End (otherwise one of the best shows of the year) pushed him ahead)
Best Show-AEW Revolution
Worst Show-AAA TripleMania XXXII: Monterrey
Best Wrestling Maneuver-Will Ospreay’s Tiger Driver 91
Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic-Beyond Wrestling Drew Gulak/Masha Slamovich storyline playing off of Gulak’s sexual harassment accusations
Worst Weekly TV Show-AEW Rampage
Worst Match-Billy Gunn vs. Jay White
Worst Feud-Chris Jericho vs. Mark Briscoe
Worst Promotion-AAA
Best Booker-Paul Levesque
Best Promoter-Nick Khan
Best Gimmick-Final Boss Rock
Worst Gimmick-The Learning Tree
Best Wrestling Book-Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl
Best Documentary-Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal