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THE 2001 GROSS AWARDS!!!
January 02, 2002
THE 2001 GROSS AWARDS
Welcome to the 2001 Gross Awards. For three weeks, prowrestling.com visitors have e-mailed me their picks for the best and worst in wrestling for 2001. I received an overwhelming response of over one thousand e-mails and after countless (and I mean countless) days and nights of counting them all (thank you Eric), the results are in...and some of them might surprise you. So, without any further interruptions or cheesy Joan Rivers one liners, I present to you...
THE CLASS OF 2001:
BEST HEAVYWEIGHT WRESTLER OF 2001
RUNNER UP: KURT ANGLE
AND THE WINNER IS:
STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN
THIS WASN'T A SURPRISE TO ME AS AUSTIN REALLY HAS HAD A REMARKABLE YEAR OF WRESTLING AND RESURGENCE IN CREATIVITY AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. SURPRISING TO ME WAS THE LACK OF VOTES THE ROCK RECEIVED AS IN THE FINAL VOTING, BOTH HHH AND Y2J WERE AHEAD OF HIM.
BEST MALE MIDCARD WRESTLER OF 2001
RUNNER UP: EDGE
AND THE WINNER IS:
ROB VAN DAM
THE VOTING FOR THIS CATEGORY WAS VERY ONE SIDED IN FAVOR OF RVD WHICH MAKES ME CONFIDENT HE WON'T BE IN A MIDCARD CATEGORY FOR 2002. EDGE'S POPULARITY IN VOTES SURPRISED ME AS MANY ON THE INTERNET HAVE FALLEN UNDER THE OPINION THAT CHRISTIAN HAS BEEN THE MORE SUCCESSFUL OF THE TEAM SINCE THE BREAK UP. THE VOTING FOR THIS CATEGORY MAKES ME WONDER WHEN RVD WILL HAVE A EAR LONG REIGN AS THE WWF IC CHAMP AND BRING SOME PRESTIGE BACK TO IT.
BEST MALE LIGHTWEIGHT 2001
RUNNER UP: SPIKE DUDLEY
AND THE WINNER IS:
TAJIRI
WOW! TAJIRI LITERALLY GOT ABOUT 99% OF THE VOTES, SO TO CALL SPIKE A RUNNER UP IS A BIT OF A FARCE. THIS GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT THE DIVISION IS STILL POPULAR WHEN HEADED UP BY THE RIGHT PEOPLE. TAJIRI GOES OUT THERE NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AND PERFORMS TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY AND IS SHOWS.
BEST TAG TEAM OF 2001
RUNNER UP: THE HARDY BOYZ
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
THE DUDLEY BOYS
IT SEEMS ONLY FITTING THAT THE ONLY TEAM TO HOLD THE WWF, WCW, AND ECE TAG BELTS WOULD BE THE TEAM OF 2001. THE ADDITION OF STACEY KEIBLER CERTAINLY ADDS SOMETHING NEW AND DYNAMIC TO THE GROUP. THE HARDYS CONTINUE TO BE POPULAR AND I CAN ONLY HOPE AS A FAN THAT THE WWF STRAIGHTENS OUT THE ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING AT THE MOMENT. AS AN INTERESTING SIDENOTE, COMING IN THIRD WAS THE COMBO OF Y2J AND CHRIS BENOIT, PROVING YOU CAN MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TEAM OUT OF TWO SINGLES WRESTLERS...GUNN AND PALUMBO HAVE SOME HOPE.
DIVA OF 2001
RUNNER UP: LITA
AND THE WINNER IS: TRISH STRATUS
EVERYONE WANTED SOME STRATUSFACTION THIS YEAR AND THEY GOT IT. WHEN SHE WASN'T ABLE TO WRESTLE SHE DID A GOOD JOB CO-HOSTING EXCESS AND WHEN SHE GOT BACK INTO THE RING SHE RE-ENERGIZED THE WOMENS DIVISION. LITA'S POPULARITY CONTINUES EVEN WITH A LIMITED ROLE AS OF LATE AND NOT MUCH ACTION. STACEY KEIBLER GARNERED A LOT OF VOTES MAKING HER THE CREAM OF THE CROP FROM WCW.
OVERALL PERSONALITY OF 2001
RUNNER UP: THE ROCK
AND THE WINNER IS:
STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, HIS CHARACTER HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT THIS YEAR AND HE HAS BEEN ASKED TO CARRY THE BALL AS A HEEL AND FACE...SOMETIMES SIMULTANEOUSLY...WELL, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT HE HAS DONE IT FLAWLESSLY...OR AS CLOSE TO IT AS THE INTERNET WILL LET HIM GET. ROCK'S CHARACTER GOT TO COME BACK FROM HIATUS WHICH ALWAYS ADDS NEW LIFE AND OVERALL HE HAD A SOLID YEAR CULMINATING WITH A GOOD FEUD AGAINST Y2J.
COMMENTATOR OF 2001
RUNNER UP: JERRY LAWLER
AND THE WINNER IS:
JIM ROSS
THIS WAS A NO BRAINER. ROSS CARRIES ANY ANNOUNCE TEAM HE IS A PART OF AND DOES IT SEEMLESSLY AND SEEMINGLY EFFORTLESSLY. HE IS WONDERFUL FOR THE WWF AND HAVING HIM BACK WITH THE KING IS AN OBVIOUS ADVANTAGE.
BEST WRESTLER BROUGHT FROM WCW OR ECW
RUNNER UP: BOOKER T.
AND THE WINNER IS:
ROB VAN DAM
FOR THE SECOND TIME, RVD KILLED ALL OTHER COMPETITORS. OF ALL THE VOTES, BOOKER GOT 6 AND RVD GOT THE REST. THE WWF CANNOT DENY HIS POPULARITY ANY LONGER.
MOST IMPROVED OF 2001
RUNNER UP: THE BIG SHOW
AND THE WINNER IS: TEST
TEST FINALLY GOT THE OPPORTUNITY AND THAT WAS ALL HE NEEDED. HE ISN'T QUITE THERE YET, BUT WITH SOME MORE HIGH PROFILE FEUDS AND SOME GOOD STROYLINES AND CREATIVE WORK, HE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE BREAKOUT STAR OF 2002. THE BIG SHOW HAS WORKED HARD TO REGAIN RESPECTABILITY AND IF YOU ASK ME, HE DESSERVES IT. HE WORKS HARD, HE TRIES HARDER, AND HE GETS A GOOD RESPONSE WHENVER HE GOES OUT THERE. A FEUD WITH THE UNDERTAKER SHOULD HELP HIM...ASSSUMING HE COMES OUT ON TOP.
MOST MISSED WRESTLER OF 2001
RUNNER UP: CHRIS BENOIT
AND THE WINNER IS: HHH
BIG SURPRISE HERE! HHH'S INJRY WAS DEVISTATING FOR THE WWF AND HIS RETURN MONDAY NIGHT AT MSG SHOULD BE SPECTACULAR. BENOIT GOT HURT AT A BAD TIME FOR HIM AS HE WAS FINALLY STARTING TO SHOW TRUE MAIN EVENT POTENTIAL. THESE RESULTS PROVE THAT HE WILL BE RECEPTED WELL UPON HIS RETURN.
THE BEST ANGLE OF 2001
RUNNER UP: ECW JOINS THE INVASION
AND THE WINNER IS: SHANE BUYS WCW FROM VINCE
WELL, IT WASN'T REALLY A FULL OUT, BUT MORE OF A SINGLE INCREDIBLE MOMENT. WHEN SHANE STEPPED OUT ON THE FINAL NITRO AND TOLD THE WORLD HE OWNED IT, THE WORLD OF WRESTLING CHANGED FOREVER. SURE, THE WWF DIDN'T WORK THE ANGLE TO ITS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL, BUT IT WAS STILL HUGE. NO ONE WILL EVER FORGET A MCMAHON IN PANAMA CITY TAKING THE STAGE AFTER WHAT MAY BE STING'S FINAL MATCH. JERICHO'S UNIFICATION GOT A LOT OF VOTES AS WELL WHICH SHOWS THAT PEOPLE APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT WELL.
WORST ANGLE OF 2001
RUNNER UP: THE WCW INVASION
AND THE WINNER IS:
SATURN AND MOPPY
THE RESULTS OF THIS ONE SURPRISED ME AS I DIDN'T THINK MANY WOULD VOTE FOR SATURN AND MOPPY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS WAS PURELY A COMEDIC ANGLE IN THE MIDCARD LEVEL. THE INVASION ANGLE GOT VOTES BECAUSE IT WAS DISAPPOINTING...BUT LETS FACE FACTS, THE WWF HAS HAD SOME GOLDEN MOMENTS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED...UNFORTUNATELY, MIKE AWESOME AND HUGH MORRUS AREN'T SOME OF THEM.
BEST ATHLETIC FEUD OF 2001
RUNNER UP: KURT ANGLE AND CHRIS BENOIT
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN AND KURT ANGLE
THE WWF REALLY TRIED TO GO BACK TO OLD SCHOOL WRESTLING THIS YEAR AND THESE FEUDS HAD JUST THAT. THE REASON HOWEVER THAT THEY WORKED SO WELL WAS BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAD A GREAT STORYLING SURROUNDING THEM. ANGLE WAS IN BOTH PAIRS WHICH IS A HUGE COMPLIMENT TO THE YOUNG SUPERSTAR.
BEST TECHNICAL WRESTLER OF 2001
RUNNER UP: KURT ANGLE
AND THE WINNER IS:
CHRIS BENOIT
THIS ONE WAS A TOSS UP RIGHT UP UNTIL THE VERY END. BENOIT'S POPULARITY IS MORE ABOUT RESPECT IN MY OPINION AND THE RESPECT COMES FROM HIS PURE ABILITY. HE IS A NATURAL.
WORST TECHNICAL WRESTLER OF 2001
RUNNER UP: UNDERTAKER
AND THE WINNER IS:
THE BIG SHOW
IT'S ALWAYS THE BIG GUYS THAT CAN'T WRESTLE...WELL, THAT'S OK, BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T NEED TO. BIG SHOW WILL NOT BE A SUPERSTAR FOR THE SAME REASONS CHRIS BENOIT WOULD...IT IS THAT SIMPLE. ALSO, THE WWF DOESN'T WANT GUYS LIKE BIG SHOW TAKING HIGH RISK MOVES. THE BLAME GOES BOTH WAYS.
BEST PPV MATCH OF 2001
RUNNER UP: TLC II AND AUSTIN VS. HHH 2 OF 3 FALLS
AND THE WINNER IS:
SHANE MCMAHON VS. KURT ANGLE: STREET FIGHT AT KOR
I WAS SHOCKED THAT THIS MATCH WON BEST MATCH OF THE YEAR. GRANTED, IT WAS SPECTACULAR, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD CHOICES TO PICK FROM. SHANE IS A BONAFIED SUCCESS IN THE RING AND IF THE WWF KEEPS HIM IN THE FRONT OFFICE FOR 2002 I THINK IT WILL BE A MISTAKE.
BEST PPV OF 2001
RUNNER UP: ROYAL RUMBLE
AND THE WINNER IS:
WRESTLEMANIA X-7
NOT A BIG SHOCK HERE AS MANIA ALWAYS PROVES TO BE THE EVENT OF THE YEAR. THIS YEARS WAS SPECTACULAR AS IT FEATURED SOME WONDERFUL MATCHES WITH HIGH STAKES IN MOST ALL OF THEM.
MCMAHON OF 2001
RUNNER UP: VINCE (STEPHANIE WAS CLOSE BEHIND)
AND THE WINNER IS:
SHANE MCMAHON
THE GUY CAN WRESTLE, HE CAN TALK, AND HE CAN PURCHASE BILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES FROM UNDER HIS FATHERS NOSE...WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR IN A MCMAHON? THE WWF NEEDS HIM INVOLVED IN TV...AND THEY MAY LEARN THAT THE HARD WAY.
WRESTLER YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO SEE IN THE WWF
RUNNER UP: KEVIN NASH
AND THE WINNER IS:
GOLDBERG
STILL, AFTER ALL THESE MONTHS GOLDBG OMES OUT ON TOP. IT IS TOO BAD I DON'T SEE HIM RETURNING AT ANY POINT TO WORK FOR VINCE. NASH STILL HAS A LOYAL FAN BASE AND I WOULD EXPECT FANS TO GET THIS WISH GRANTED...MAYBE EVEN AS SOON AS THIS MONDAY. STEINER, STING, AND JARRETT ALL GOT A GOOD AMOUNT OF VOTES. SURPRISINGLY, SCOTT HALL WAS NOT AMONGST THE TOP VOTE GETTERS IN THIS CATEGORY.
LVP: LEAST VALUABLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
RUNNER UP: X-PAC
AND THE WINNER IS:
CHYNA
BOY, DOES SHE DESSERVE THIS. SHE GOT GREEDY AND DISLOYAL ALL IN THE SAME MONTH AND NOW SHE IS JUST JOANIE LAURER....AND JOANIE CAN NEVER SELL THE AMOUNT OF PLAYBOYS THAT CHYNA COULD.
AND NOW, THE BIG ONE...
THE MVP OF 2001 IN THE WWF IS...
STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN
NO SHOCK HERE AS AUSTIN WON PRETTY MUCH ALL THE AWARDS HE WAS UP FOR. I THINK THE FANS HAVE SHOWN THAT GOOD OLE STONE COLD STILL HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF WHATEVER THE WWF IS DOING. THE DIRECTION OF THE WWF MIGHT BE YOUNGER GUYS LIKE Y2J AND ANGLE...BUT AUSTIN WILL ALWAYS BE #1 IN THE FANS EYES.
OVERALL RE-CAP: 2001 SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE YEAR OF 316. AUSTIN: 316. WHAT? Y2J DIDN'T WIN ANYTHING BUT DO NOT PULL THE PLUG ON HIM JUST YET...THE WWF DIDN'T PUSH HIM UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR AND HE WAS HIGH IN VOTES IN ALL HIS CATEGORIES. IT LOOKS AS IF VIEWERS SEE EDGE, TEST, AND RVD AS THE POSSIBLE FUTURE FOR THE WWF AND CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE RETURN OF THE GAME, HHH, THIS MONDAY NIGHT ON RAW.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE VOTING, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO OBVIOUSLY PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO IT. IT IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED. I WILL BE BACK SOON WITH AN ALL NEW LOOK FOR MY 2002 COLUMN. UNTIL THEN...KEEP READING...AND KEEP WRITING...
-BRANDON GROSS
party Up 2002™
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THE 2001 GROSS AWARDS!!!
(Party*AZZ)