2019 saw one of the biggest changes ever in the history of modern wrestling. Whether you like their product or not, it cannot be denied that with the introduction of AEW, a promotion that right off the bat had the same production values as you would see from any veteran promotion, the landscape and business of pro wrestling has changed forever. It has given fans more choice and talent more bargaining power and opportunity. And that is a good thing for everyone. Many superstars stepped up their game in 2019 while others put their careers in reverse.

Taking a look back at the best and worst of 2019 the SLAM! Wrestling brain trust has teamed up to weigh in on a year of change. Agree? Disagree? Let us know.

2018 Honours: Overall Awards

Best Male Wrestler of the Year

Adam Cole really brought it in 2019. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
 John Powell  Will Ospreay: There were so many deserving winners this year.  2018 was his year. No other wrestler worked as hard, delivered the performances and the matches that Ospreay did on a consistent basis. He also inspired many fans by openly discussing his anxiety issues. Kota Ibushi, Cody Rhodes, Jon Moxley, Jay White, Adam Cole, Kazuchika Okada, Chris Jericho, Johnny Gargano, Bray Wyatt, Daniel Bryan.
 Bob Kapur  Chris Jericho. While a few stars in various promotions had good years, none of them had all of the things that Jericho had in 2019: high-quality matches, meaningful and interesting feuds, stellar promos, and strong booking that actually befitted a company’s world champion  Daniel Bryan
 Nolan Howell  Chris Jericho. Jericho has had a revival this year and has made the most of his advantage of being one of the few who works both AEW and NJPW.  N/A
 Justin Powell  Adam Cole  Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley, Kazuchika Okada, Kota Ibushi, Chris Jericho, Johnny Gargano, Bray Wyatt, Daniel Bryan, Bray Wyatt, Seth Rollins.

 

Best Female Wrestler of the Year

Shayna Baszler. Photo Courtesy: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
 John Powell Shayna Baszler: She made an impact on the main roster and will continue to do so in 2020. In fact, she could be the biggest addition to the main roster in 2020.  Lacey Evans, Kelly Klein, Candice LeRae, Io Shirai, Mia Yim, Taya Valkyrie, Tessa Blanchard, Riho and Becky Lynch.
 Bob Kapur  Tessa Blanchard. As I type this, Tessa Blanchard is one night away from competing in an intergender match for the Impact World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of a pay-per-view. And what may seem contrived if it had been done in WWE, feels completely logical and natural here. Her feud with Gail Kim earlier in the year was stellar – their match at Rebellion was near-perfect. And if she won the title, it would be well-deserved. Honourable mentions: Becky Lynch, Shayna Bayzler   Becky Lynch, Shayna Bayzler.
 Nolan Howell  Shayna Baszler
 Justin Powell  Shayna Baszler  Io Shari, Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, Tessa Blanchard, Charlotte Flair.

 

Best Canadian Wrestler of the Year (Male)

Chris Jericho. Photo: AEW.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
 John Powell Chris Jericho: Once again Y2J steps up his game, carrying AEW into its first year.  El Phantasmo, Kenny Omega, Kyle O’Reilly, Michael Elgin, PCO, Kevin Owens.
 Bob Kapur Chris Jericho, for the reasons outlined above. Kevin Owens
 Nolan Howell Chris Jericho. As stated above, Jericho has created another memorable era for his career and reaches for potential greatest of all-time consideration.
 Justin Powell Chris Jericho Kevin Owens, El Phantasmo, Kenny Omega, PCO, Kyle O’Reilly.

 

Best Canadian Wrestler of the Year (female)

Taya Valkyrie. Photo: Impact Wrestling.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
 John Powell Taya Valkyrie: 2019 was a banner year for the B.C native who elevated the Knockout division in Impact Wrestling. Natalya Neidhart
 Bob Kapur Taya Valkyrie. It’s taken me a while to become a fan of Taya’s work, but she turned the corner for me this year. Her cocky attitude, and her reliance on John E Bravo – a despicable stooge if there ever was one – to help her protect her title, have made her a true old-school villain that you love to hate. Angelina Love, Natalya.
 Nolan Howell Taya Valkyrie. Valkyrie has been the steady hand as the belt holder for Impact Wrestling and has really added a nasty character to her already-full tool belt in the ring.
 Justin Powell Taya Valkyrie Natalya Neidhart

 

Best Tag Team of the Year – Male

The Undisputed Era. Photo Courtesy: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
 John Powell Undisputed Era: Even without the belts the Undisputed Era proved why they are the best when it comes to tag team wrestling. Although there are several teams who also had a fantastic 2019, The Undisputed Era continued to set the bar for tag team wrestling. Viking Raiders, The Revival, The Street Profits, Guerrillas Of Destiny, Lucha Brothers, Young Bucks, The New Day, SCU, FinJuice, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo, The Grizzled Young Veterans and Flash Morgan Webster and Mark Andrews, LAX.
 Bob Kapur Lucha Bros. Their matches with LAX in Impact at the beginning of the year were fantastically fun, and they’ve continued impressing after jumping ship to AEW. LAX, the Revival.
 Nolan Howell Lucha Bros. Given their singles accomplishments to begin the year and their runs in both AAA and AEW as a team, Pentagon and Fenix are one of the best things going in tag wrestling.
 Justin Powell The Young Bucks Undisputed Era, Lucha Brothers, The Revival, The New Day, Guerrillas of Destiny, Street Profits, The Viking Raiders.

 

Best Tag Team of the Year – Female

The Kabuki Warriors. Photo Courtesy: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell The Kabuki Warriors: I was a bit bitter when they were put together as they were excelling as individuals but the team has really come into their own in such a short period of time. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, Fire and Desire.
Bob Kapur  N/A  N/A
Nolan Howell  N/A  N/A
Justin Powell  The Kabuki Warriors. Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss.

 

Best Announcer of the Year

Mauro Ranallo. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
 John Powell Mauro Ranallo: There is nobody who exudes as much passion for wrestling than Ranallo. His commentary brings every match to life, no matter the importance of the bout or the wrestlers involved. He may not be on the flagship shows but I consider him the true voice of the WWE. Kevin Kelly, Michael Cole, Nigel McGuinness, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone.
 Bob Kapur Michael Cole. This is a tough choice. I love hearing Jim Ross call wrestling, but somehow I’m just not feeling him in AEW. That may change, but until it does, the stability and dependability of Cole narrowly gets the edge. Jim Ross, Don Callis.
 Nolan Howell Kevin Kelly. Kelly has made New Japan so accessible to English-speaking fans and fostered a great team around him.
 Justin Powell Mauro Ranallo Nigel McGuinness, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross, Kevin Kelly.

 

Best Faction – Stable of the Year

Los Ingobernables de Japon. Photo: NJPW.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
 John Powell The Undisputed Era: They took all the gold and flaunted their power all throughout the year and nobody has been able to take them down. The Inner Circle, Los Ingobernables de Japon, Villain Enterprises, Gallus, Imperium, Bullet Club.
 Bob Kapur oVe. I’ve been a fan of Sami and the Crists for a long time, and they still continue to entertain.  Undisputed Era.
 Nolan Howell The Undisputed Era. All of them feel like big-time players in NXT and each of them brings something unique to the table when they wrestle. Cole is one of the better promos in the WWE, while Strong and the team of Fish & O’Reilly are some of the best workers the company has to offer.
 Justin Powell Undisputed Era Los Ingobernables De Japon, Bullet Club, Imperium, Villain Enterprises.

 

Best Non-Wrestler of the Year

Aubrey Edwards. Photo Courtesy: AEW.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Aubrey Edwards: Ever since joining AEW she has set a new standard for what an official should be, should bring to a match. She has elevated the role and like Ranallo, you can see the enthusiasm, the love of what she does in every match she officiates. It is rare that someone raises the bar so high but Edwards has. Paul Heyman, William Regal, Gedo and Jado, Sami Zayn.
Bob Kapur Paul Heyman. For my money, Paul Heyman could cut only one promo in a year, and he’d be hard to beat.
Nolan Howell Winner: Drake Maverick. Between chasing R-Truth for the WWE 24/7 Championship, managing The Authors of Pain, and being the general manager for 205 Live, Maverick brings laughs and great character work to whatever he does. No one plays the punching bag better in an increasingly juvenile WWE.
Justin Powell Sami Zayn Paul Heyman, Gedo and Jado, Firefly Funhouse Puppets (Ramblin Rabbit, Abby the Witch, Huskus the Pig-Boy, Mercy the Vulture).

 

Best Major Promotion of the Year

Photo Courtesy: NJPW.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell  NJPW: Even with some of their major draws heading off to start or join AEW, they have forged ahead presenting some of the best events of the year as well as matches that stand heads and shoulders above anyone else.  AEW, WWE.
Bob Kapur WWE
Nolan Howell NJPW. As the American scene looks set for another wrestling war, NJPW keeps churning out the usual greatness while dipping their toe in North American waters and becoming the promotion everyone wants to partner with.
Justin Powell NJPW

 

Best Indie Promotion of the Year

Photo Courtesy: Smash Wrestling.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Smash Wrestling
Bob Kapur As with last year, I’m limiting myself to shows in the Toronto area. Greektown Wrestling continues to bring in a number of ECW originals, and that’s my jam (as the kids say), so get the edge. SMASH Wrestling
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell N/A

 

Best Wrestling Event – PPV of the year

Kenny Omega battles Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Photo: NJPW.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell AEW Double Or Nothing: The show that shook the foundation and delivered three matches which could easily be Match of the Year candidates. The roster may not be household names just yet, however, they gave it they’re all in every single match. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13, WrestleMania, Survivor Series, SummerSlam, NXT TakeOver: New York, NXT TakeOver: WarGames, NXT TakeOver: Toronto, NJPW Dominion 6.9, AEW All Out.
Bob Kapur WWE Survivor Series. The pushing of NXT as an equal brand, able to compete with the big boys, led to one of the most fun PPVs in a long time. Impact Wrestling Slammiversary
Nolan Howell Triplemanía XXVII. With one of the most passionate crowds you can draw, Triplemania had a big debut for Cain Velasquez, a big international draw between The Lucha Bros & Laredo Kid vs. The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega, and the match of the year featuring the blood feud of Dr. Wagner Jr. and Blue Demon Jr. Everything else was just gravy.
Justin Powell NXT Takeover: New York AEW Double or Nothing, AEW Full Gear, NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13, WrestleMania 35.

 

Best Weekly TV Show of the Year

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell AEW Dynamite and NXT (Tie). With Raw and Smackdown taking such a tumble, they are the only two shows I really look forward and cannot miss every week no matter what the ratings are.
Bob Kapur WWE RAW
Nolan Howell NWA Power. This was a breath of fresh air for TV wrestling with the classic studio style and match variety, though it may be a short run after the dismissal of Jim Cornette for a racist joke and some of the company rallying around him.
Justin Powell  NXT. AEW Dynamite

 

Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (Male)

Lance Archer. Photo Courtesy: NJPW.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Bray Wyatt and Dean Ambrose (Tie). While both are veterans of the industry they both have seen their careers rise from mediocrity and the proverbial ashes in 2019. I am still not totally sold on the Firefly Funhouse segments but Wyatt has gone from being in a total rut and forgotten by most fans to one of the hottest characters today. Ambrose has also had a major back to basics turnaround making him the most sought after talents out there. Lance Archer, Buddy Murphy, Mustafa Ali, Angel Garza, Dominik Dijakovic, Keith Lee, Darby Allin, Jimmy Havoc, Jungle Boy, MJF, Toa Henare, El Phantasmo, Robbie Eagles.
Bob Kapur N/A
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell Bray Wyatt Jon Moxley, Buddy Murphy, Lance Archer, Robbie Eagles, Mustafa Ali, Jordan Devlin.

 

Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (Female):

Rhea Ripley. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Rhea Ripley: Everyone knew she had the talent and the charisma. In 2019, Ripley put together her total package and took it to the next level before, during and after Survivor Series. Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, Io Shirai, Candice LeRae, Bea Priestley, Shanna, Bianca Belair.
Bob Kapur Taya Valkyrie
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell Rhea Ripley Bianca Belair, Lacey Evans.

 

Most Improved Wrestlers of the Year (Tag Team – Male)

The Street Profits. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell The Street Profits: From NXT to the main roster, the transition has been seamless and flawless for the team who has injected so much excitement into a stale main roster division. FinJuice, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo, The Grizzled Young Veterans, Flash Morgan Webster and Mark Andrews, Private Party.
Bob Kapur N/A
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell Street Profits Grizzled Young Veterans, Private Party.

 

Most Improved Wrestlers of the Year (Tag Team – Female)

Asuka of the Kabuki Warriors takes on Becky Lynch. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell The Kabuki Warriors Fire and Desire
Bob Kapur N/A
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell The Kabuki Warriors

 

Match of the Year – Male

The Rhodes brothers duke it out at AEW Double or Nothing. Photo: AEW.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell: Cody versus Dustin Rhodes – AEW Double Or Nothing. You cannot manufacture the emotion that this match had. It brought back memories of how powerful those Bret versus Owen Hart matches were. This match was something very rare and very special indeed for so many reasons and you know Dusty was smiling down from bell to bell. Kazuchika Okada versus Will Ospreay (NJPW G1 Climax 2019), Will Ospreay versus Shingo Takagi (NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors XXVI), Johnny Gargano versus Adam Cole (NXT TakeOver: New York), Pentagon Jr., Rey Fenix versus The Young Bucks (Escalera De La Muerte – AEW All Out), Walter versus Tyler Bate (NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff), Adam Cole versus Johnny Gargano (NXT TakeOver XXV), Hiroshi Tanahashi versus Kenny Omega (Wrestle Kingdom 13).
Bob Kapur  Kofi Kingston versus Daniel Bryan – WrestleMania. WWE doesn’t always deliver what the fans want, but the outpouring of support for Kingston led to one of the most joyful moments of the year when he finally captured the big one.
Nolan Howell Lucha de Apuestas, mask vs. hair match, Blue Demon Jr. (mask) vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. (hair), Triplemanía XXVII. In front of an absolutely roaring crowd, Demon and Wagner put on a storytelling masterclass to define one of the most fierce rivalries in modern Lucha. It even had a hammer!
Justin Powell Jon Moxley versus Kenny Omega (AEW Full Gear) Cody versus Dustin Rhodes (AEW Double or Nothing), Adam Cole versus Johnny Gargano (NXT Takeover: New York), Shingo Takagi versus Will Osperay (NJPW Best of The Super Juniors XXVI – Day 15), Walter versus Tyler Bate (NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff).

 

Match of the Year (Female)

The NXT women go for broke in WarGames. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Rhea Ripley versus Io Shirai, Bianca BelAir, Kay Lee Ray, Shayna Baszler (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2019). Everyone involved put everything that into this match making it one of the most brutal women’s wrestling matches you will ever see. Asuka versus Becky Lynch (Royal Rumble), Charlotte versus Becky Lynch versus Ronda Rousey (WWE RAW and SmackDown Women’s Championship – WrestleMania 35), Io Shirai versus Candice LeRae (NXT TakeOver: Toronto).
Bob Kapur Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Money in the Bank). I rated this match a perfect 10 out of 10 in my review, and I stand by that rating.
Nolan Howell Tessa Blanchard vs. oVe. You can fill this in for men’s, women’s, tag, stable, and whatever else. Blanchard chasing down Sami Callihan and being thwarted by his goons in oVe has been some of the best storytelling in Impact for years and years.
Justin Powell Team Rhea (Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRea, Tegan Nox, and Dakota Kai) versus Team Shayna (Shayna Baszler, Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, and Kay Lee Ray) (War Games Match – NXT Takeover: War Games). Candice LeRea versus Io Shirai (NXT Takeover: Toronto), Io Shirai versus Shayna Baszler (NXT Takeover: XXV), Rhea Ripley versus Shayna Baszler (NXT December 18th), Becky Lynch versus Sasha Banks (Hell in a Cell Match – WWE Hell in a Cell).

 

Match of the Year (Tag Team)

The Lucha Brothers. Photo: AEW.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Pentagon Jr., Rey Fenix versus The Young Bucks (Escalera De La Muerte – AEW All Out). A mat classic with four of the very best ever to hold a tag rope. Crazy, brilliant and outrageous all at the same time. El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori versus Will Ospreay, Robbie Eagles (NJPW Destruction), The Young Bucks versus Pentagon Jr., Rey Fenix (AEW Double Or Nothing), Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster versus The Grizzled Young Veterans versus Gallus (NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff),  The Street Profits versus The Undisputed Era versus Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan versus The Forgotten Ones (Fatal 4-Way Tag Ladder Match – NXT TakeOver XXV).
Bob Kapur N/A
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell The Young Bucks versus Lucha Bros (Escalera De La Muerta – AEW All Out) The Young Bucks versus Lucha Bros (AEW Double or Nothing), Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster versus Grizzled Young Veterans versus Mark Coffey and Wolfgang (Three-Way Tag – NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff), he Street Profits versus Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly versus Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan versus Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake (Ladder Match – NXT Takeover: XXV), War Raiders versus Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly (NXT Takeover: Phoenix).

 

Feud of the Year (Male)

Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan in one of their many bouts. Photo Courtesy: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell NXT versus Everybody. Nothing excited wrestling fans more than the lead-up to Survivor Series and all three WWE brands beating the ever-loving crap out of each other. It is a shame that it all had to end and not sure why it had to. Jon Moxley versus Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley versus Juice Robinson, The Inner Circle versus The Elite, Jushin Thunder Liger versus Minoru Suzuki, The Undisputed Era versus all of NXT, Johnny Gargano versus Adam Cole, Kevin Owens versus Shane McMahon, Jay White versus Tetsuya Naito.
Bob Kapur Brock Lesnar vs. Rey Mysterio. I pick this for two reasons: one, Brock’s beatdown of Dominic was awesome; two: because, for a short while, it looked like Brock could actually lose the title to Rey – and that very (very) short moment was one of the most interesting things that involved Brock in a year.
Nolan Howell Tessa Blanchard vs. oVe. You can fill this in for men’s, women’s, tag, stable, and whatever else. Blanchard chasing down Sami Callihan and being thwarted by his goons in oVe has been some of the best storytelling in Impact for years and years.
Justin Powell Kofi Kingston vs Daniel Bryan. Adam Cole vs Johnny Gargano, Kenny Omega vs Jon Moxley, Cody vs Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens vs Shane McMahon, Sami Callihan vs Tessa Blanchard, Seth Rollins vs The Internet.

 

Feud of the Year (Female)

Shayna Baszler. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell NXT versus Everybody Becky Lynch versus Charlotte Flair, Shayna Baszler versus the entire NXT women’s division, Kairi Sane versus Shayna Baszler.
Bob Kapur Gail Kim vs. Tessa Blanchard.
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell Shayna Baszler vs The NXT women’s division.

 

Feud of the Year (Tag Team – Male)

The phenomenal Lucha Brothers. Photo: AEW.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Pentagon Jr., Rey Fenix versus The Young Bucks El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori versus FinJuice
Bob Kapur LAX vs. the Lucha Bros.
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell The Young Bucks vs Lucha Brothers The New Day vs The Revival

 

Feud of the Year (Tag Team – Female)

The Kabuki Warriors didn’t back down from The Queen or The Man. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell The Kabuki Warriors versus Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch
Bob Kapur N/A
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell The Kabuki Warriors vs Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch.

 

2018 Dishonours

 

Worst Match of the Year (Male)

The Undertaker versus Goldberg, a botchfest flop. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell The Undertaker versus Goldberg (WWE / Super Showdown 2019) Seth Rollins versus The Fiend (Hell In A Cell), Brock Lesnar versus Cain Velasquez (WWE / Crown Jewel 2019), Tyson Fury versus Braun Strowman (WWE / Crown Jewel 2019).
Bob Kapur Undertaker vs. Goldberg, Super Showdown. What a disaster. Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez, Crown Jewel.
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell The Fiend Bray Wyatt vs Seth Rollins (WWE Hell in a Cell). Goldberg vs The Undertaker (WWE Super Showdown), Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez (WWE Crown Jewel), Tyson Fury vs Braun Strowman (WWE Crown Jewel, Lars Sullivan vs The Lucha House Party (WWE Super Showdown).

 

Worst Match of the Year (Female)

Ruby versus Rhonda was not a riot. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Bayley versus Charlotte (Clash Of Champions) Asuka vs Mandy Rose (WWE Fastlane), Bayley and Sasha Banks versus Nia Jax and Tamina (WWE Fastlane).
Bob Kapur Kabuki Warriors vs. Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch. This match was just too sloppy to be good.
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell Ronda Rousey vs Ruby Riott (WWE Elimination Chamber). Bayley vs Charlotte Flair (WWE Clash of Champions), Asuka vs Mandy Rose (WWE Fastlane), The Boss ‘N’ Hug Connection (Bayley and Sasha Banks) vs Nia Jax and Tamina (WWE Fastlane).

 

Worst Feud of the Year (Male)

The wedding we wish we could all forget. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Rusev versus Bobby Lashley Kofi Kingston versus Dolph Ziggler, Seth Rollins versus The Fiend, Seth Rollins versus Baron Corbin.
Bob Kapur  N/A
Nolan Howell Rusev vs. Lashley & Lana. Almost so bad it has been funny, that joke ended up wearing thin again as this feud has taken the main slot of Raw and making it look every bit the newly-minted B-show it is for WWE. An exceptional waste of all involved’s talent, but that’s 2019 WWE in a nutshell.
Justin Powell Rusev vs Bobby Lashley

 

Worst Feud of the Year (Female)

Naomi taught Rose not to mess with her man. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Mandy Rose versus Naomi Natalya versus Lacey Evans, Emo Bayley versus Anyone,
Bob Kapur N/A
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell Naomi vs Mandy Rose

 

Worst Feud of the Year (Tag Team)

A 2019 low point for the Revival and the Usos. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell The Usos versus The Revival Heavy Machinery versus Anyone
Bob Kapur N/A
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell Bobby Roode and Chad Gable vs Anyone

 

Worst Announcer of the Year

Renee Young. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Renee Young Corey Graves
Bob Kapur Renee Young. She’s a great host/announcer – one of the best in the industry. But as a commentator, Renee added nothing to the mix.
Nolan Howell Jim Ross. I get the nostalgia factor, but with Tony Schiavone there, Ross has managed to look way past his prime and unable to adapt to the modern product compared to his contemporaries.
Justin Byron Saxton

 

Worst Wrestling Event – PPV of the year

Super ShowDown was anything but super. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell WWE Super ShowDown WWE Clash Of Champions, WWE Hell In A Cell, WWE Tables, Ladders & Chairs, WWE Crown Jewel.
Bob Kapur WWE Super ShowDown
Nolan Howell ROH Final Battle 2019. A combination of talent leaving soon after the show and the corners ROH has painted themselves into booking-wise, this event encapsulated the almost unprecedented bottoming out ROH has had since early 2019.
Justin Powell WWE Super Showdown WWE Crown Jewel.

 

Worst Male Wrestler of the Year

Freshly squeezed? Not a chance. Photo: AEW.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Orange Cassidy: He could be a decent wrestler. We will never know because his monotonous gimmick gets in the way. It was funny the first time and now it has worn itself thin in a hurry. Michael Nakazawa, EC3, Mojo Rawley, No Way Jose.
Bob Kapur Orange Cassidy.
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell No Way Jose Mojo Rawley.

 

Worst Female Wrestler of the Year

Bayley changed personas and became even more boring. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Emo Bayley. Her heel turn has been totally unconvincing and her lifeless, stiff, monotonous promos are so cringe-worthy. Sasha Banks.
Bob Kapur Bayley
Nolan Howell N/A
Justin Powell Aliya Vanessa Borne.

 

Worst Tag Team of the Year – Male

Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder started 2020 in a bad way. Photo: WWE.

 

 
Slammer Winner Honourable Mentions
John Powell Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder. Heavy Machinery, The B Team, The Hybrid2.
Bob Kapur Heavy Machinery
Nolan Howell  N/A
Justin Powell Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins The B Team

 

2018 Honours: Federation Awards

AJ Styles. Photo: WWE.

JOHN POWELL

    • Best Impact Wrestler (Male): N/A.

 

    • Best Impact Wrestler (Female): N/A.

 

    • Best Impact Tag Team: N/A.

 

    • Best NJPW Wrestler: Will Ospreay.

 

    • Best NJPW Tag Team: Guerrillas of Destiny.

 

    • Best NXT Wrestler (Male): Adam Cole.

 

    • Best NXT Wrestler (Female): Shayna Baszler.

 

    • Best NXT Tag Team: The Undisputed Era.

 

    • Best ROH Wrestler: Jay Lethal.

 

    • Best ROH Tag Team: The Briscoes.

 

    • Best ROH Female: Kelly Klein.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Male): AJ Styles.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Female): Becky Lynch.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Tag Team Male): The Revival.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Tag Team Female): The Kabuki Warriors.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Male): Chris Jericho.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Female): Riho.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Tag Team): The Young Bucks.

 

JUSTIN POWELL

    • Best Impact Wrestler (Male): Sami Callihan.

 

    • Best Impact Wrestler (Female): Tessa Blanchard.

 

    • Best Impact Tag Team: LAX (Santana and Ortiz).

 

    • Best NJPW Wrestler: Will Osperey and Kazuchika Okada (Tie).

 

    • Best NJPW Tag Team: Guerrillas of Destiny.

 

    • Best NXT Wrestler (Male): Adam Cole.

 

    • Best NXT Wrestler (Female): Shayna Baszler.

 

    • Best NXT Tag Team: The Undisputed Era.

 

    • Best ROH Wrestler: Marty Scrull.

 

    • Best ROH Tag Team: The Briscoes.

 

    • Best ROH Female: Kelly Klein.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Male): AJ Styles.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Female): Charlotte Flair.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Tag Team Male): The Revival.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Tag Team Female): The Kabuki Warriors.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Male): Chris Jericho.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Female): Riho.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Tag Team): The Young Bucks.

 

BOB KAPUR

    • Best Impact Wrestler (Male): Sami Callihan.

 

    • Best Impact Wrestler (Female): Tessa Blanchard.

 

    • Best Impact Tag Team: LAX (Santana and Ortiz).

 

    • Best NJPW Wrestler: N/A.

 

    • Best NJPW Tag Team: N/A.

 

    • Best NXT Wrestler (Male): Tomassa Ciampa.

 

    • Best NXT Wrestler (Female): Shayna Baszler.

 

    • Best NXT Tag Team: The Undisputed Era.

 

    • Best ROH Wrestler: N/A.

 

    • Best ROH Tag Team: N/A.

 

    • Best ROH Female: N/A.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Male): Daniel Bryan.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Female): Becky Lynch.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Tag Team Male): The Revival.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Tag Team Female): The Kabuki Warriors.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Male): Chris Jericho.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Female): N/A.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Tag Team): Lucha Brothers.

 

NOLAN HOWELL

    • Best Impact Wrestler (Male): Sami Callihan.

 

    • Best Impact Wrestler (Female): Tessa Blanchard.

 

    • Best Impact Tag Team: The North.

 

    • Best NJPW Wrestler: Kazuchika Okada.

 

    • Best NJPW Tag Team: N/A.

 

    • Best NXT Wrestler (Male): Roderick Strong.

 

    • Best NXT Wrestler (Female): Shayna Baszler.

 

    • Best NXT Tag Team: The Undisputed Era.

 

    • Best ROH Wrestler: N/A.

 

    • Best ROH Tag Team: N/A.

 

    • Best ROH Female: N/A.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Male): N/A.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Female): N/A.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Tag Team Male): N/A.

 

    • Best WWE Wrestler (Tag Team Female): N/A.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Male): Chris Jericho.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Female): Riho.

 

    • Best AEW Wrestler (Tag Team): The Lucha Brothers.