Perfect Hindsight 01.02.05: 2004 In The Rear View

Posted by Gavin Napier on 01.02.2005

Here comes the hate mail

Welcome to 2005. This isn't going to be the usual Perfect Hindsight. I'm going to spend my first column of 2005 talking about 2004. Next week, back to normal. But first, I've got something to get off my chest.

Thank you.

That's to the guys at 411 that gave me this spot a few months back. I backed into this spot by winning a contest and they were gracious enough to suffer through my first month's worth of columns. They forgave the fact that they weren't very good and allowed me a little more time to get into the flow of things. They've been extremely gracious when things have popped up that have kept me from being on schedule. I was concerned coming in that I wouldn't be able to hack it, that I wouldn't live up to the standards of 411. After all, this place is THE place for wrestling on the net as far as I'm concerned, and I'm not saying that because I work here. I felt that way beforehand or I wouldn't have bothered trying to get a column. And if I didn't take so much pride in 411, I had the opportunity to leave with others shortly after I came on board. I'll be here for as long as you'll have me. Some of the biggest names in the IWC have made their home here - Scott Keith, Chris Hyatte, Bower, Ashish, Widro. I'm not saying that I'm as important as or good as any of those guys, but knowing that I've earned my keep enough to stay on the roster feels good. So thanks.

Thank you.

That's to my fellow columnists that have had so many kind words to say to me. I've enjoyed working with you and I beg you for continued feedback. The IWC gets a bad rap for being full of cocky, conceited, overbearing, know it alls. You guys defy that stereotype, and I hope that I do as well. The quality of stuff that you guys produce also pushes me to get out my best stuff. The only one I worry about is Mathew Sforcina (GOT IT), because I think he could take my spot should he decide he wants it. But I don't sense a heel turn in the works from him, so yeah, you guys all rock. Thanks.

Thank you.

That's to the readers. I love to write. Since I was in grade school, I've found things to write. Whether it's about wrestling, sports, term papers, whatever, I love to write. I'm even in the process of writing a book, with the hopes of becoming a published author. But I'll take no more pride in that than I have in seeing my name on 411. And it's because of you. Seeing Ask 411 at the "headline" spot on the website with my name in there somewhere was just gratifying beyond belief. And it's because of you guys. Whether you've ever written or contacted me or not, if you've ever read anything I've written, I thank you. I couldn't do it without you. So thanks.

Thank you.

That's for Terrell Owen's leg, who brought the Eagles back to the pack in the NFC. My Falcons have a chance, baby!

2004's Awards


These are my picks. If you disagree, whatever. I encourage you to formulate your own opinions. Share them with me or don't, but hold to them. That doesn't mean any of us have to be closed minded, but don't back down from what you believe just because. Here we go.

Headline of the Year


And my nominees are: WWE loses Brock Lesnar, Bill Goldberg, and Steve Austin in 48 hours; Hall and Nash arrive in NWA TNA; Deaths of Ray Traylor, Curt Hennig, Hercules, and others; JBL is a Nazi?

And my choice is...WWE losing their big three in two days. As much as I'd like to go with the deaths, it happens so often anymore that you're only surprised by the name, not that someone from the business passed away. Going into Wrestlemania XX, it was fairly common knowledge that Brock was leaving for the NFL. How common? On the biggest pay per view of the year, Jim Ross referenced the rumors going around on the internet. What we didn't expect, though, was that in the weeks leading up to the event it would become pretty clear that Goldberg wasn't coming back either. His much-anticipated return to North American wrestling was over, and it was poorly handled from day one. Then Austin walked out - again. Personal problems were running rampant in his life, and they had again taken their toll professionally. This was bigger than Hall and Nash walking out after the Garden Party with The Kliq. Nash was a main eventer that didn't draw well and Hall never got past Intercontinental status. Between Austin, Goldberg, and Lesnar, there were 10 World Titles. Goldberg was the biggest draw WCW had after the nWo made it's initial hit. Lesnar was being groomed to be WWE's calling card for years to come. And Austin was the biggest draw in wrestling history for Vince. In 48 hours, they were all gone. Trust me, I've already got something cooked up for "If they had stayed" for this column.

Match of the Year


And my nominees are: Six Sides Of Steel (America's Most Wanted vs. Triple X), Wrestlemania XX (Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H), Hell In A Cell (Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H)

And the winner is...Wrestlemania XX. I'm not a big WWE fan. I'm not a big Triple H fan. But I wanted to see this one. I'm glad I did. This was:

a) The best three-way ever.

b) Shawn Michaels' best match ever.

c) Triple H's best match ever.

d) The best Wrestlemania main event ever.

e) Benoit's time to shine.

Add all those up, and it's a no-brainer. Yes, Six Sides of Steel was incredible. I'm not going to argue with you. But think about what happened at Wrestlemania XX - all three guys defied convention by making a three way match interesting. There were things done that we had never seen before. All three men had color, all three men carried their weight in the match, and the crowd was absolutely nuts. Everyone was holding their breath when Benoit slapped on the crossface, expecting everything to come unravelled again. After all, if he was too short, too plain, and too good to win the title everywhere else, then how on earth could they put him over in WWE? They did. And it was the perfect ending to a nearly perfect match.



Overacheiver of the Year
The nominees are: Ric Flair (still producing at a higher level than most at age 54), JBL (From career midcarder to a solid heel run as champ), Gene Snitsky (best cult following since Waylon Mercy), NWA TNA (Alive and kicking, and making changes to help them in the future)


And the winner is...JBL. Look, I love Flair, but we know by now that he's going to do what he can do. And NWA TNA, bless 'em, but they're not out of the woods yet. With JBL, he's went from nothing more than a midcarder to an effective heel that gets plenty of heat and carries his own in brawls. He's been a good heel champion. He survived fan and internet backlash, boring storylines, and allegations of shower misconduct to put together quite a run for himself. I don't care for his style of wrestling, but good for him. He's a veteran in the business and he's worked his way to where he is. Plus there's the Nazi thing I breifly mentioned earlier. Those old school heels that incited riots must be so proud.


Tag Team Of the Year


The nominees are: America's Most Wanted.

And the winner is...America's Most Wanted. AMW, along with Triple X, are doing everything they can do to make sure tag team wrestling doesn't die in North America. They are the best team on the planet right now. They have good chemistry, can work a great match with the right opponents, and the fans dig them. TNA's tag division is in good hands with them at the helm. The WWE booking team could learn a lot from looking at TNA's tag situation. They've got a handful of regular teams and they give them plenty of attention. There's no need for wacky mismatched partners when you've got guys like AMW that are more than willing to be more than the sum of their parts.


Wrestler of the Year

And the nominees are: AJ Styles, Triple H, Chris Benoit, Eddy Guerrero, Shawn Michaels

And the winner is...God Bless Eddy Guerrero and Chris Benoit for winning their much deserved World Titles. But I can't give this to them. God Bless Shawn Michaels for wrestling on one leg before taking time off - and doing it well. But I can't give this to him. That leaves us with two guys. AJ never has a bad match. Even on bad nights, he puts out a solid performance. That's something very few people in this business's history have ever been able to claim. Triple H, for all his faults, carries the majority of the weight on RAW. This is going to be unpopular, but I'm going with Triple H.

I know you hate him. "He plays politics!", you say. You're right. So what? Are you telling me that Hulk Hogan never did? That Dusty Rhodes never did? That Randy Savage never did? That The Undertaker never has? That Steve Austin never did? Are you really telling me that you think Triple H is the first (or the worst) to use political stroke? It's happened since wrestlers held the book. It's never a good idea, but it happens. Here's Triple H's resume for this year:

Royal Rumble: Very good match with Shawn Michaels. Crappy finish, but that's the booking team, not the workers.

Wrestlemania XX: Has the match of his career. That's saying something considering he's worked with The Rock, Jericho, Austin, HBK, and Angle in the past.

Backlash: Does the three way thing again, and does it well again.

Bad Blood: Tangles with Shawn Michaels again, this time Hell In A Cell variety. Excellent match, again.

Vengeance: Puts over Chris Benoit. Again.

Summerslam: Has an entertaining match with Nick Dinsmore aka Eugene. Two solid wrestlers going tooth and nail, and Trips was willing to take a midcard spot.

Unforgiven: Has as good of a match as can be expected with Randy Orton.

Survivor Series: Participated. That's about all you can say, given the style of the match.

And those are just the pay per views. Many times, he had the best match on the card. Sometimes the only GOOD match. He was also the mouthpiece of Horsemen 2k4, gave rubs to Orton, Eugene, Shelton Benjamin, and now Batista. He put Benoit over three times. He put Shelton Benjamin over twice. Say what you will about various guys, but noone in any promotion did more to carry his weight and justify his position in a company than Triple H did in 2004.

And who do I want more from in 2005? Rob Van Dam. Booker T. AJ Styles. Monty Brown. And you guys. Keep dropping the feedback on me because I need it. You guys are what keeps me going, so let me know what you want to see and what you don't. Give me suggestions, comments, questions, anything and everything is good with me. [e-mail] or gavdaddy2004 on AIM. Happy New Year to all, here's hoping it's better than last year for you - no matter how good last year was. God bless. See you on Wednesday with Ask 411.