The Wrestling News Experience: 12.26.11
Posted by Stephen Randle on 12.26.2011
From Sheamus's face turn and Bobby Roode giving us hope for TNA to Randy Orton and Christian's feud being likely forgotten, CM Punk and Daniel Bryan giving us faith in wrestling and more, 411's Stephen Randle presents his year-end awards!
Monday, December 26th, 2011
From 411Mania's Canadian offices in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, this is The Wrestling News Experience, with Stephen Randle!
Merry Boxing Day!
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Experience. I'm Stephen Randle, and for the very few of you who are probably reading this, we're breaking from our normal format because it's Christmas and everyone has better things to do that deal with the minutia of pro wrestling. So, instead, we're doing the expected awards show, dealing with those things in 2011 that might just get overlooked when the "real" 411 awards come out next week.
First, though, let's pay some bills.
Last week, the name of the game was "change", and that's what we saw, as Raw opened and closed with the trio of US Champion Zack Ryder, World Champion Daniel Bryan, and WWE Champion CM Punk standing tall in the ring, having overcome careers full of major obstacles to hold three of the biggest titles you can earn in pro wrestling. Up next for all three men is the Royal Rumble, where the stakes are highest when you hold major gold, because not only is it likely that Punk and Bryan will be defending their titles at the event, the Rumble match itself will determine who will challenge one of them at WrestleMania.
Plus, it seems like Kane may indeed have an issue with John Cena, or maybe just the shirt that he was wearing. I guess Kane does not wish to rise above hate, given that it's the source of his powers. Anyway, after apparently attempting to suffocate Cena last week, an act which left Cena clearly shaken, what will Kane have in store for everyone tonight?
And it's still the Christmas season, with five weeks until the Rumble, so tonight's probably a throwaway show anyway, I imagine we'll get Christmas-themed Diva's match, maybe Santa Claus…although they did all that on Smackdown a few weeks ago. So who knows what we'll see, tonight on Raw!
These awards were handed out at a small, invitation-only dinner held at the McDonald's down the road from my apartment. Any of the winners who couldn't be able to attend in person to pick up their awards, feel free to contact me and we'll arrange delivery as soon as possible. The voting committee consisted of the author of the preeminent Monday wrestling news report on the entire Internet, Buddy the Cat, and a bottle of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum. The results were written on a napkin and left lying around for anyone to read for at least three days. For more information about the TWNE Year End Awards, feel free to make up your own jokes.
Now, on with the show!
The Hade Vansen Memorial Award For "Death By Debut Promo"
WINNER: Brodus Clay
Word out this week that Brodus' debut is on hold indefinitely, which was pretty much what I expected to happen once they had not one, but two three hour Raws on which he could have debuted easily, but they chose to run…well, other stuff, anyway. And with Henry and Show as competing monsters on Smackdown and Kane back on Raw, where would Clay fit in, anyway? The real shame is, Brodus is a big guy who can actually work and has a unique look.
The Goldberg Award For Biggest Botched Title Reign
WINNER: Beth Phoenix
Okay, nobody cares about the Divas title, and a lot of this has to do with the fact that a) Kharma got pregnant and b) there are no real workers aside from them in the division, but you can't deny that for all the talk about being "Pin-Up Strong", Beth and her hetero life-mate Natalya sure spend a lot of their time getting beaten by Barbie dolls via "shocking" roll-ups. It's like they're trying to kill the Official Finisher of the X-Division or something.
The "Fire Russo" Award For Why You Should Still Think That There's Hope For TNA Yet
WINNER: Bobby Roode
While things like Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, The Hardys, Samoa Joe, Crimson, and a whole myriad of booking issues might continue to leave TNA a pale shadow of the company they wish they could be, at least they have a bright spot in their current World Champion, Bobby Roode. Although they tanked the payoff for his face run at Bound For Glory, after turning on his partner a week later Roode has shown that he has the ability to be one of the best heels in the business, and after it seemed like he'd be stuck in the tag ranks forever leading up to 2011, Roode has proved that he belongs in the top tier.
The Limbo Award For Biggest Reason Why WWE Network Needs To Hurry Up And Get Here
WINNER: WWE NXT Season 5: Redemption
So, aside from Acero, who's contractually obligated to recap this for the site, is anyone, anywhere in the world still aware that Season 5 is still going on? Because it's been running for nearly, get this, ten months at this point, and it apparently stopped being a competition about six months ago, leaving us with a show featuring the forgotten members of the WWE Undercard and three "Rookies": Darren Young, Derek Bateman, and Titus O'Neill, none of whom have their original Pros (or any Pros at all, really), and the big prize of a spot in NXT Season 6 seems to have been totally forgotten. Not that it really mattered anyway, since Titus was pretty much running away with the competition from jump. But with WWE Network on the horizon, maybe WWE will remember that they need to END THIS SHOW AND START A NEW SEASON. Or just end this show. Give us some closure. Please!
The TWNE Power Rankings Award For Biggest Shift In Power
WINNER: Zack Ryder
Would you believe that Zack has been on both extreme ends of the Power Rankings? I'm not talking about #1 and #10, I mean that Long Island Iced Z has been all the way down at the very bottom of the Anti-Power Rankings, coming in at #999 one week where he was unjustly buried on Raw (and going all the way to #993 in another edition where he was being used to put over Mason Ryan on house shows), and hitting the very tip-top of the mountain when his real push began and he tagged with John Cena in the main event of Monday Night Raw. In a business that spits on feel-good stories, Zack Ryder must be considered a truly great story of perseverance against incredible odds. WWWYKI.
The DDP Award For Face Turn Out Of Nowhere That Actually Worked
WINNER: Sheamus
"I'll fight him!"
I'm still not sure how they managed this. With those three words, Sheamus went from an intense but mostly directionless heel who'd spent the first half of the year in a strange depush, reportedly because Kevin Dunn didn't like his character, to a massive fan favourite ass-kicker who regales people with moralistic tales of the old country. And it works so incredibly well that WWE has to be regretting the fact that they have nowhere to put Sheamus in the main event right now. If you wanted a dark horse pick for the 2012 Royal Rumble, I'd look no further than the man from the Emerald Isle.
Plus, have you seen his hat? Have you seen…this?
That. Is. Pimp.
The Second Fiddle Award For Best Feud That Nobody's Going To Remember Because Of Punk-Cena
WINNER: Randy Orton vs Christian
Let's face it, CM Punk vs John Cena from Money in the Bank is going to win a lot of Match of the Year awards. And probably some Feud of the Year trophies, too. But for a string of one-on-one matches, for my money, there was no better series than the one between Randy Orton and Christian. Aside from the Capitol Punishment match which was merely a decent one cut short by an overarching stipulation, every time these two met one-on-one, the result was pure gold, giving Orton some of his best matches in years and ended up with Christian being able to claim the he is legitimately a two-time WWE World Champion, and showcased the under-rated in-ring skills he's had for years.
The Michael Cole Award For Being Goddamn Michael Cole Who Should Either Shut The F*** Up Or Get Off My TV Or Maybe Just Stop Annoying The S*** Out Of Me, Yes, I Mean You, Michael Cole
WINNER: Michael Cole
In over two decades of wrestling commentary, we've had heel commentators. We've had incredibly annoying commentators. We've had commentators who were really, really bad at their jobs. Never before in wrestling history have we had a commentator who managed to be all three at the same time, but for the entire last year, the lead play-by-play announcer of WWE has reached that tarnished brass ring. Congratulations, Michael Cole, you deserve this and so, so much more.
The Fan's Award For Giving Us Reasons To Have Faith In Pro Wrestling
WINNER: CM Punk, WWE Champion and Daniel Bryan, World Champion
Really, that picture is worth a thousand words. For all the crap we put up with in 2011, this is how we ended the year: with two of the best "wrestlers" in the entire world as the champions of the biggest wrestling promotion in the universe. And that ain't not too bad.
411 will have live coverage of Raw tonight starting at 9 pm EST.
I am also contractually obligated to inform you that 411 Podcasts are back, and a new one goes live tonight at about 10:00 pm EST.
From our promotional department, I've been informed that if you really do like 411Mania and all it provides, or even just me (and really, who doesn't like me), don't forget to bookmark the site in your browser or make 411 your homepage, and tell all your friends about how awesome 411 is.
And don't forget, you can follow all of the everyday goings on in 411 on Twitter.
That's our show, That Damned Cook is in tomorrow, I will be back next week. Plus, don't forget to look for me this Tuesday in the Games Zone for Four Player Co-op.
Here it is, your Moment of Buddy
Buddy Likes The "And To All A Good Night" Part Of Christmas
I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT. the person behind the IT BEGINS videos IS CHRIS JERICHO. look at the ways. the girl and the boy in the it begins videos represent both of Jericho's sides. the boy says he will come back to take back what's his something Jericho has said and would say. and the girl plays the part of Jericho on twitter saying how he will never wrestle again or return again and this and that. and at the end of the latest video the girl throws down the book which has Jericho's name on it and says i cant help you anymore, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? something Jericho would say and has said before.. on the book it says Chris and its with an X. and the boy picks up the book in the end as to say the girl is trying to trick us. WWE and Jericho are trying to trick us. on Jan 2 2012 JERICHO WILL RETURN!! jericho has been known to trick the internet before. the prophet, the ayatollah, jericho returns soon! and Jericho trying to trick the fans on twitter is a obvious work...
Posted By: Guest#4034 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:03 PM
When @ringofhonor can outdo you on PPV with 1/10 your budget and talent, there's an issue #TNAwful
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This!!
Posted By: TheSurge (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:03 PM
Jericho favorited a picture of him pinning taker on twitter. hmmm.. Taker vs Jericho at WM perhaps? jericho mocking taker with the it begins promos? hmmmm..
Posted By: TheSurge (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:04 PM
TNA doesn't have that much good morale backstage is what i hear. things are falling apart in TNA..
Posted By: Guest#9830 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:04 PM
no. dont agree with the TNA award. they still suck.
Posted By: Guest#1986 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:12 PM
Punk and Bryan are such marks for themselves its sickening.
Posted By: Gary (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:15 PM
TNA is hopeless.
Posted By: Guest#9328 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:29 PM
Punk and Bryan are such marks for themselves its sickening.
Posted By: Gary (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:15 PM
no troll. go away!
Posted By: Guest#0798 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:29 PM
Blah blah blah Attitude Era blah blah blah PG bad blah blah.
Posted By: Dillkidisdumb (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 08:15 PM
^^^^^^^^^^ That!!!
Posted By: Guest#9643 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:30 PM
Can we really clash Christian getting FUKKEN BURIED so that he can be RKO's jobber bitch as a feud?
Posted By: Ice Dagger (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:32 PM
cole is actually the best heel cause people actually hate him..
Posted By: Guest#5496 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:36 PM
brodus and skip will both debut under the tag team name, the forgotten..
Posted By: Guest#4883 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:40 PM
WWE will never die you damn trolls! and Cena would job to other guys but its WWE's call not Cena's. Cena doesn't book. WWE is finally using more new young stars in the main event tho which is good..
and good award article. not great but good.
Posted By: Guest#4286 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:47 PM
11 Months out of the year, the IWC wants Punk and Bryan as Champs. We get and there is complaining. As part of the IWC, lets get the Fuck over ourselves.
Posted By: Jimmy Graffiti (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:54 PM
Sheamus: Kick, punch, repeat. Awful.
Posted By: Guest#6672 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 01:05 AM
People wanted Daniel Bryan as world champ? Why? All he's done was have average matches on SD with no build or character development. Seriously the most character development he's had all year was rubbing his World title win in Cole's face.
At least Punk did something to get the big push Bryan just happens to be an Indy darling
Posted By: Guest#5444 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 01:23 AM
The only thing that's a bigger joke than Zack Ryder as US Champ is Daniel Bryan as World Champ.
Posted By: shaYne (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 02:35 AM
"When @ringofhonor can outdo you on PPV with 1/10 your budget and talent, there's an issue #TNAwful"
And when that happens, they'll have an issue #RichardsvsEdwardsPart407JayLethalandabunchofmediocrejobbers
Posted By: Guest#5429 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 03:11 AM
@Punk and Danielson
Remind anyone of Wrestlemania 20? Just sayin'.
Posted By: Guest#7729 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 03:12 AM
NXT Season Purgatory is the worst thing to happen to Derrick Bateman & Percy Watson.
These guys should be rising up the midcard on the main shows.
Posted By: Jimmy Graffiti (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:54 PM
11 Months out of the year, the IWC wants Punk and Bryan as Champs. We get and there is complaining. As part of the IWC, lets get the Fuck over ourselves.
---
Wild GameFAQs shitposter appeared!
Posted By: Ice Dagger (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 03:12 AM
Amongst all the evidence, amother one is that even Jericho's theme song says "...you're all weak". now someone is returning to destroy the weak! There's Jerico language all over the videos.
Posted By: Y2J (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 06:40 AM
When @ringofhonor can outdo you on ppv with 1/10 your budget and talent, there's an issue #TNAwful
^^^^^^^^^^^^^This!!
Posted By: The Surge (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:03 PM
No No No, you can't write something & then put ^^^^^This!! a couple spaces down. I mean, if you're gonna quote yourself, at least make a different post(and name)to do it, don't do it in the same post.
Posted By: Guest#4589 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 07:12 AM
Fun list but Sheamus is an unwatchable waste of space as a face or a heel.
Posted By: Guest#4598 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 07:32 AM
there are reports of wwe taking the wwe championship off of cm pnuk because of how bad the raw ratings were last monday and the mainevent drew the weakest numbers since 1997.
Posted By: Guest#2423 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 07:41 AM
Somebody tell Michael Cole that the protocol for accepting their TWNE award is by having it crammed down their throat.
Posted By: Alan (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 12:29 PM
I think DDP award must go to CM Punk - the guy was heel, but then hit his now infamous promo and instantly turned good guy and face of the company.
Posted By: ermacermac (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Cole isn't a heel who makes people hate him. People hate Cole, so they decided to make him a heel so it appears people hate the "character," not the incredibly irritating and grating commentator.
The worst aspect of Cole, the very worst, is that he downplays the importance of the wrestling product. Every win is "making a statement" or "sending a message." If matches don't matter, why would we order PPVs to see high-quality matches and feud resolutions? The more Cole dominates the commentary, the more buyrates drop and WWE for some reason doesn't make this connection but blames Alberto Del Rio, Punk, or whomever is in the PPVs that bomb.
Heel commentators need to add to the product, not detract from it. Compare Cole's work to Heenan's, and Cole's cheering on of the Miz to Heenan's backing of Flair. Heenan made Flair seem important, the babyfaces he faced important, and you wanted to see them kick Flair's ass. With Cole, you want to hit the mute button when he goes on and on about the "most must-see champion" without describing any quality that would actually make you want to see Miz as champion (or for a babyface to dethrone him).
Posted By: Guest#1457 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 01:53 PM
sheamus is boring
Posted By: Guest#9465 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 03:35 PM
I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT. the person behind the IT BEGINS videos IS CHRIS JERICHO. look at the ways. the girl and the boy in the it begins videos represent both of Jericho's sides. the boy says he will come back to take back what's his something Jericho has said and would say. and the girl plays the part of Jericho on twitter saying how he will never wrestle again or return again and this and that. and at the end of the latest video the girl throws down the book which has Jericho's name on it and says i cant help you anymore, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? something Jericho would say and has said before.. on the book it says Chris and its with an X. and the boy picks up the book in the end as to say the girl is trying to trick us. WWE and Jericho are trying to trick us. on Jan 2 2012 JERICHO WILL RETURN!! jericho has been known to trick the internet before. the prophet, the ayatollah, jericho returns soon! and Jericho trying to trick the fans on twitter is a obvious work...
Posted By: Guest#4034 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:03 PM
Or Batista maybe?
Posted By: higherlevel (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 04:32 PM
Punk and Bryan are such marks for themselves its sickening.
Posted By: Gary (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:15 PM
no troll. go away!
Posted By: Guest#0798 (Guest) on December 25, 2011 at 11:29 PM
Exactly!
That's the IWC's job!
Posted By: Guest#9094 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 07:52 PM
I'm hoping Sheamus wins the Rumble and he and Danielson can have that Wrestlemania match that was denied to them last year. They could even make a storyline out of it.
Posted By: Guest#6823 (Guest) on December 26, 2011 at 10:07 PM
SMALL WINS!!!
Posted By: Small (Guest) on December 27, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Trolls no trolling! trolls no trolling! Trolls no trolling!
Posted By: Hey, it works for Dora (Guest) on December 27, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Copyright (c) 2011 411mania.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
Click here for our privacy policy. Please help us serve you better, fill out our survey.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to our terms of use.
The Hade Vansen Memorial Award For "Death By Debut Promo"
