Shining a Spotlight 12.24.09: 2009's Gifts for Fans

Posted by Michael Weyer on 12.24.2009

A look back at the year with the gifts (and a few lumps of coal) wrestling gave fans in 2009.




Another year done already? How time does fly. It's about time then for my annual list of the things wrestling gave fans this year to make you happy to love the business. Before I do that, however, a bit of a change. Seeing as how I just did a big "decade in review" column, I'll be looking at more of the year 2009 itself. In that regard, I have to kick off my talking about a few lumps of coal in the stocking:
　

Hardy Arrested: I've never been a huge Jeff Hardy fan but did appreciate how the guy recovered from a pretty bad 2008 to win the WWE title. However, ‘09 wasn't the best of years for him either. He lost the belt fast and had a feud with brother Matt that was pretty much Matt beating Jeff down in constant matches although Jeff did get the win in their final one. He did win the World title back only to have CM Punk instantly cash in MITB and win the belt. He'd get the belt back from Punk but drop it in weeks and finally lost a "loser leaves town" cage match. This was supposed to give him time off to heal but then he was arrested for possession which will no doubt harm attempts at a comeback. A shame to see a man of potential once more taken down by his personal issues even as his career was going well.


　

Injury Bugs: Injury at the wrong time is par for the course in WWE but this year outdid itself. First, Edge was forced out after tearing his Achilles just after he and Chris Jericho formed what looked to be a great tag team championship pairing. But that was topped when Ken Kennedy made a big return, being set up as a challenger to Orton, only to go out injured literally a week later. Given that was about the fourth time plans for him were altered due to injury/suspension, WWE cut its losses and dropped him. A few other injuries but these two really shook things up.
　

RAW is SNL: Yes, there have been a few gems in the "guest general manager" stuff like Bob Barker and Jesse Ventura. But for the most part, the whole thing has been way too grating on viewers with unfunny appearances by Jeremy Piven, Verne Troyer and more, people who have no idea about wrestling and don't fit well with the show. Week after week, fans must endure this horrible skits and pushing these "stars" into things which leaves the show looking all the worse off and the business more of a joke. It's time to put out a real GM and let this whole thing die out.


　

Main Event Mafia: Proving once again that no gimmick isn't worth retreading, TNA planned a big program about the MEM against the "TNA Originals." While good in concept, it suffered as the MEM were shown to be far too powerful, always ending up on top of things despite the advanced age of guys like Sting and Nash and how the Originals were shown as in-fighting too much to be a united force. Throwing Joe on the MEM's side made no sense and the thing dragged with no real resolution. Think it's just coincidence that "Impact" started to improve sharply when the group went away?
　

Well, with that out of the way, here's a look back at some things in 2009 that made you happy to be a fan. First off, yes, the signing of Hulk Hogan to TNA is a huge deal but too early to say whether it's good or bad so not quite fitting it on either list. But for the good stuff of the year:
　

Christian's Return: After three years away, Christian made his surprise return to WWE. Having cut his teeth as a main-eventer in TNA, he was back more ready for the big time and over huge. A surprise was that rather than insert him on RAW or SmackDown, WWE put him in ECW. But this proved to be a good move as Christian and Swagger had a great feud for the ECW title and having Christian win the belt made the brand seem more important. He'll probably jump to one of the bigger shows in the coming year but he showed how some time away honing himself paid dividends for fans.


　

TNA Champion AJ Styles: As a longtime fan of the Phenomenal One, I was ecstatic when TNA finally gave him the shot at the top he'd long deserved. Not only was he put over as champion but has done a great job with the title defenses, always shown as the strong champ and his amazing style in the ring winning the fans over more. Even better has been TNA restarting the classic feud with Styles against Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels, leading to some of the best matches of the year. The coming of Hogan may shift things up but for now, it's great to see a true TNA original as the top dog of the company.


　

Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels: Given their past battles, you expected the two to give a good match at Wrestlemania. What no one expected was them stealing the entire show with a brilliant classic, each wrestling like it was twelve years earlier. The up and down, back and forth between them was wonderfully done with Michaels kicking out of a Tombstone and Taker's priceless expression at it. The incredible battle was an amazing affair with the idea the Streak could truly end high in the minds of fans like never before. In the end, the Undertaker managed to put HBK away and end one of the best Mania matches ever and showed how the "old guys" have more than a few tricks to teach the new generation of stars.


　

Shockmaster Returns: One of the few RAW hosts to work was Dusty Rhodes who had some nice stuff to work with. The best was when DX mocked him on his tenure in WCW with the Shockmaster mentioned. That was followed by a great recreation of the infamous Shockmaster entrance as a guy in the costume burst through a wall. The hilarity continued by showing how Arn Anderson was a few feet away doing the Shockmaster's voice (the joke that it was Ole Anderson who voiced the original) and him immediately walking away. And the punch line of Dusty yelling about how it should have worked and the helmet removed to show it was Santino underneath. A great laugh for old fans at one of wrestling's more infamous gaffes.


　

West Out, Tazz In: True, Tazz's entrance in TNA may have been muted but the company made a great move with him soon afterward. For years, fans have complained over how bad Don West was at the commentary booth with his howling, over-the-top style. TNA seemed to have finally got the message and gave West the boot from the booth with Tazz taking his place. Already proven as a commentator, he's fit in well and the fact that TNA has seen the in-ring product improve greatly in the last few months has given him lots of opportunities to show his style off and has helped the weekly broadcasts shine better.
　

Punk's Straight Edged Style: Fascinating not only as a character arc but a social experiment as well. Punk's heel turn was slow but wonderfully done as he pointed out he did the same thing to Jeff Hardy that he'd done to Edge but this time fans hated him for it. Even better was how the fans were booing a guy who preached clean living without drugs while cheering the guy whose flirtations with the "high" life are well-known. Punk continues to be his own individual, not playing by the classic heel/face rules and that's what makes him a great performer to watch. Whether as champ or challenger, that unique style carried him big in 2009 and will likely do so in the future.




The Wolfe Arrives: The list of big-name talents who changed companies and were saddled with horrible characters is legendary ("That 70's Mike Awesome" anyone?). So it's to their utmost credit that TNA didn't drop the ball with Nigel McGuiness. After turning down a supposedly certain WWE deal to join the company, he was given a great name in Desmond Wolfe and immediately put over Angle. This instantly made Wolfe a big player in TNA and with his likely entrance into the main event scene, he's ready to show his stuff to the fans and prove his splash well worth it.




ROH on HDNet: After seven years, ROH finally got the weekly TV show they'd long deserved. While it may not have the flash of "Impact" or the WWE shows, it still manages to deliver great action and showcases how you don't need overwhelming time on backstage stuff or skits, just matches to prove your product. While their viewership may be low, it's still good for them to get out there weekly and show there's more to the landscape than just WWE or TNA.


Tara in TNA: As a long-time fan of Victoria, I was sad to see her leave WWE. But I was glad when TNA immediately snatched her up to give the Knockouts a much-needed push. While her first reign was far too short, she's still shown her great power style off and fits in well with the others in the division. Hopefully, her second reign will be longer and give the Knockouts the credibility they once enjoyed while also giving this veteran an overdue chance to shine bright as champ.




JeriShow: At first, they seemed a real odd couple with Big Show a last-minute replacement for the injured Edge. But he and Chris Jericho have formed a truly fun tag team who actually give the anemic tag division of WWE some boost. They play off well in promos and are pretty good in the ring together, a mix of power and technical savvy that makes them believable as champs. They may be headed for a breakup soon but we still got a great heel pairing that makes you long once more for the good old days of the tag division.




ECW Champion Tommy Dreamer: Yes, the spirit of the true ECW is long dead. But it was still great to see the man who embodied that company more than anyone gaining the ECW title. It was pretty much a reward for services of course but still made more than a few ECW fans happy to see Dreamer holding that title belt after so long and the man obviously loved it as well. A great way to end your career and a warm moment for fans as well.




Sure others have fond memories but these were the ones that stuck out to me. A Merry Christmas to everyone out there. For this week, the spotlight is off.