DOI 2005 Year End Awards: The TNA/ROH Edition

 

All selections and categories were selected by the DOI.

All write-ups and summaries were written by John “Johnny 5” Lynch.

 

As discussed recently on the DOI, ROH and TNA are beyond the indy level.  Both promotions are rightfully the second and third largest wrestling companies in the United States.  For this reason, the companies and their rosters will be excluded from the standard DOI Year End Awards.  Instead they will receive their own separate section.  For the purpose of this piece, TNA and ROH will be combined just as every other indy is on the standard DOI Year End Awards.  Only work performed in either TNA or ROH will be considered.  In many cases, TNA and ROH wrestlers compete all over the country.  The only time that outside work will be considered is in the case of a potential tie.  Wrestlers who compete in both ROH and TNA may end up being ranked higher due to them working more frequently and possibly having more high profile matches.  Please bear in mind that many factors are considered when picking both the winners and runner-ups.  Additionally, we can only make our choices based on what we’ve seen.  Each category will have one winner and five runner-ups.  Naturally all selections are debatable and there were many close calls.  Just because something was left out, doesn’t mean that it wasn’t highly considered.

 

Wrestler of the Year

 

Winner: AJ Styles

 

Simply put, AJ Styles has been one of the backbones of TNA from the company’s first event.  Three and a half years later, nothing has changed.  The same can be said for his time in ROH up until the TNA/ROH fall-out in early 2004.  It’s hard to ever not enjoy a match involving AJ Styles.  Over the years, he has proven that he can work any style and get a solid match out of anybody.  AJ Styles always delivers and the fans know it.  In February, AJ Styles returned to ROH for one match.  By June, AJ finally returned to ROH almost full-time.  Just looking at his matches in ROH and TNA, it’s clear to see that 2005 was possibly AJ’s biggest year yet.  AJ’s only weakness is with his promos.  They have certainly improved over the years, but there is still room for more.

 

In ROH, he was immediately thrust into a feud with Jimmy Rave that the fans had been waiting for since AJ first left ROH.  That feud lasted all year long.  This series included several solid matches including a match that just missed being listed as a runner-up for match of the year, Glory By Honor’s Battle of the Finishers.  AJ also had very good matches with Roderick Strong, Austin Aries, CIMA and Petey Williams.  Towards the end of the year, AJ found himself teaming with Generation Next facing a common enemy in the Embassy. 

 

In his home promotion of TNA, AJ had a top year that began with him winning the X-Division Championship in an Ultimate X Match that also included Petey Williams and Chris Sabin.  His TNA year came to a close with the DOI’s pick for TNA/ROH Match of the Year in which Samoa Joe captured the X-Division Championship.  In between those two matches, AJ took on the entire TNA roster and continuously stole the show.  His ongoing feud with the Fallen Angel produced two iron man matches that were both as good as they were different.  In May, AJ defeated Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Championship.  When AJ eventually returned to the X-Division, he had killer matches with Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels and Petey Williams.

 

Runner-Up:

1. Christopher Daniels

 

The Fallen Angel just missed the top spot by a hair.  Christopher Daniels is one of the best wrestlers and best performers out there, period.  He is TNA’s other backbone.  Like AJ Styles, Daniels just doesn’t have bad matches.  He is always a focal point in TNA and ROH.  Daniels also has a ring presence that you just don’t see as often as we should anymore.  The Fallen Angel is also one of the best talkers in all of wrestling.

 

2. Samoa Joe

 

Samoa Joe has owned ROH since his debut.  When he hits the ring, it’s clear that the champ really is here, even when he isn’t officially the champion.  Joe had always been a dominant force in ROH, but 2005 saw him storm into TNA and tear up a whole new world.   Joe was pretty close to getting the top spot.  Perhaps next year when he has been in TNA for a longer time we’ll see him take this award.

 

3. Homicide

 

Homicide is one of those guys who goes out there and quietly steals every show he’s on.  He’s not always in the main event and he’s not always in an important match.  Heck, he barely even wins any of his matches, but by the end of the night, everyone is always thinking about his match.  ROH has their top heel in him, but he never seems to get his due.  The fans respect him and are always anticipating what he’ll do next.  Homicide also doesn’t get enough credit for being one of the most believable wrestlers out there.  On the New Year’s Eve Impact, he made his TNA debut.  It will be interesting to see where that goes.

 

4. CM Punk

 

Punk didn’t compete in TNA this year and he was only in ROH until the middle of August, but he had a year to remember.  The first half of the year saw him lead his Second City Saints into a bloody war with the Embassy.  He was one of ROH’s most popular stars.  Then news broke that he was off to the WWE.  Punk was granted a title match on his way out which led to his greatest run in ROH outside of the Raven feud.

 

5. "American Dragon” Bryan Danielson

 

American Dragon is the current reigning and defending ROH World Champion.  While right now he is on top of his world, 2005 was a bumpy ride for him.  Things started off strong when Dragon won a brutal series of matches with Homicide.  The night after winning that series, Dragon lost a title match with Austin Aries and subsequently quit wrestling.  In September, Dragon returned and defeated James Gibson for the ROH World Title.  Dragon is considered one of the best technical wrestlers in the world.

 

Match of the Year

 

Winner: TNA’s Turning Point X-Division Championship Match, AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe

 

The TNA monthly PPV’s have been getting better and better as time goes on.  Turning Point was a strong effort by TNA.  This was the match that made the show.  There is no question about it.  When Samoa Joe entered TNA, there was little questioning if he’d be in the X-Division title scene by the end of the year.  Instead of just being in the scene, Joe won the belt and became the scene.  Samoa Joe and AJ Styles first met back at August’s Sacrifice in the finals of the Super X Cup Tournament.  Joe was victorious then and the fans eagerly anticipated a rematch.  A few months later and they got their wish.  This time around, Samoa Joe was still undefeated and AJ was now the X-Division Champion.  When the bell rang, nobody knew which way it would go.  Would TNA have Joe lose, ending his dominant streak? Or would the TNA veteran go down at the hands of the Samoan Submission Machine?  When all was said and done, both wrestlers looked like they were just in a war.  AJ and Joe were bruised all over and looked like hell.  On top of that, AJ was bloodied up and had his upper lip hanging off his face.  This was one of the best matches in TNA history.  Everybody should look at this match as an example of what happens when everything is done properly.  Following the match, Joe went to further injure Styles, but Joe’s prior victim, Christopher Daniels came out for the save cementing Joe as the X-Division’s monster who could care less what anybody else thought.  When looking back at Turning Point, this was all everyone wanted to talk about.  Everyone is eagerly awaiting another match in this series where AJ Styles has yet to get a victory.  ROH would be smart to have this TNA feud spill over into their promotion.

 

Runner-Up:

1. TNA’s Unbreakable X-Division Championship Match, AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels

 

If AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe was possibly the best match in TNA’s history, then this may very well be the second greatest match in TNA history.  It’s amazing how much Samoa Joe has impacted the X-Division and TNA in general.  This was the match in which AJ Styles reclaimed the championship from the man who defeated him earlier in the year.  This match is also groundbreaking in that TNA had so much faith in these three to deliver that they were given the main event slot on the show.

 

2. ROH’s Final Battle 2005 Low Ki vs. KENTA

 

While KENTA may be unfamiliar to most American fans, his international reputation had everyone talking when this match was first announced for Final Battle.  Heading into this match, expectations were high. Fortunately, Low Ki and KENTA delivered on every level and even exceeded all expectations.  Everyone in the building was standing and watching every move in awe.  This was a match that had no back story, no angles, just great wrestling.  Sometimes great wrestling is all you need.

 

3. ROH’s Manhattan Mayhem World Title Match, Austin Aries vs. Alex Shelley

 

Austin Aries’ ROH World Title reign has been viewed with mixed criticism from the moment he defeated Samoa Joe for the title.  People have debated on whether he has the right person to be the top guy in ROH.  No matter you feel, it can’t be argued that Aries always has great matches.  The same can be said for his former stable mate, Alex Shelley.  This match was several months in the making and while it may have come too late storyline-wise, it was still an eagerly anticipated match for ROH’s NYC debut event.  Aries and Shelley lived up to all expectations and produced what may have been the best match of Aries’ title reign.  These two went out there and wrestled hard and countered every move that the other one applied.  The crowd was split down the middle and it could have gone down either way at anytime, the way a credible title match should be.

 

4. ROH’s Manhattan Mayhem Dog Collar Match, Jimmy Rave vs. CM Punk

 

The Second City Saints and the Embassy had a feud that lasted for several months in the first half of 2005.  At the forefront of that feud were CM Punk and Jimmy Rave.  After several matches, the feud got to the point where a regular match wasn’t enough.  ROH knew that the NYC fans liked bloody brawls so that’s what NYC was given.  By the end of the match, CM Punk was literally covered in blood and there was blood all around ringside, including on fans in the first few rows.  In the end, Jimmy Rave was able to win with help from the rest of the Embassy.

 

5. ROH’s Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi

 

ROH once again gave their audience an international dream match.  Two of the hardest-hitting, stiffest wrestlers out there were given a chance to go at it and see who was the toughest.  The Japanese press and fans from all over and flocked to NYC to witness this fight.  ROH produced one of those matches that may never be possible again and fans are going to be watching for a long time to come.

 

Manager/Valet of the Year

 

Winner: Prince Nana

 

Prince Nana is the mouthpiece and the brains of the Embassy.  In 2005, the Embassy has included Jimmy Rave, Oman Tortuga, Diablo Santiago, Fast Eddie Vegas, Killer Kruel, Puma, Excess 69, Abyss, Petey Williams, Alex Shelley, Jade Chung and several Weapons of MASK Destruction.  Nana’s ringside antics and ringside speeches add to the entertainment value of every person he manages.  In the days where classic-style managers are rare, people like Prince Nana remind everyone the benefit of this position. Nana has even involved himself as a participant in a few Embassy tag matches including the Steel Cage Warfare.

 

Runner-Up:

1. Julius Smokes/J-Train

 

While Prince Nana is the crafty, calculating manager, J-Train is anything but that.  Smokes is probably one of the most chaotic and disruptive managers in recent time, but that’s what makes him so great.  He terrorizes everyone at ringside and isn’t afraid to mix it up with his guy’s opponents.  Smokes manages the Rottweilers in ROH.  Their core group consists of Homicide, Low Ki, Rocky Romero and Ricky Reyes.

 

2. Coach Scott D’Amore

 

TNA’s top manager is the coach of Team Canada,  The group currently consists of Petey Williams, Eric Young, Bobby Roode and A-1.  D’Amore is always scheming and trying to carry out shady business deals.  He’s also always one second away from interfering in a match with his hockey stick flag.

 

3. Father Jim Mitchell

 

Jim Mitchell is a veteran manager who has made TNA his home the last few years.  While in the past he has managed several individuals at once, this time around Mitchell only has one man, Abyss.  Mitchell has given Abyss the one thing that was missing, a mouthpiece.   He consistently delivers unique, twisted promos and they are something to look forward to each week.

 

4. Traci Brooks

 

Currently, Traci only manages one person, Matt Bentley.  She excels at being his ringside cheerleader but don’t mistake Traci for your typical valet.  She is always involved in the match and can quickly get the crowd going.  On top of that, she gives everyone the “bounce.”

 

5. Lacey

 

When 2005 began, Lacey managed the remaining members of Special K and turned them into Lacey’s Angels.  The group started off strong, but gradually went nowhere and faded from ROH.  She then recruited former ROH Tag Team Champions, BJ Whitmer and Jimmy Jacobs as her new Angels.  The trio didn’t do much as the year ended, but 2006 can be a fresh start for everyone. 

 

Event of the Year

 

Winner: ROH’s Manhattan Mayhem

 

Anybody who wasn’t there live or didn’t catch the home release has really missed out on what was probably the best ROH event to date and what many felt was the first event to truly capture the ECW-feel since ECW folded.  This event was very important to the future of ROH as it was their NYC debut.  On the evening of May 7, 2005, the New Yorker Hotel was overcrowded and eager to be taken for a ride.  From start to finish, there wasn’t anything to be disappointed about.  Sure, there were other events that featured better matches, but this was the best overall show.  All of the elements were in place and the energy had to be felt to be believed.  The opening tag match saw Lacey’s Angels defeat their former stable mates, Azrieal and Dixie.  That was followed by a wrestling match between Colt Cabana and Nigel McGuiness where both men stuck to the mat and did no flashy moves.  Continuing the great mat wrestling, James Gibson defeated Black Tiger/Rocky Romero.  After that Roderick Strong and Jack Evans attempted to win the ROH Tag Titles from BJ Whitmer and Jimmy Jacobs.  The crowd was practically begging for a title change and used that anticipation to make the match seem bigger than it probably was.  The audience was furious when Whitmer/Jacobs retained.  The next match saw Samoa Joe defeat Jay Lethal for the ROH Pure Title in what was probably the best ROH Pure Title match ever.  Then CM Punk and Jimmy Rave attempted to destroy each other while connected by a chained dog collar.  This match saw blood spilled and also saw Jimmy Rave’s doubters finally give him his due.  The show ended with an unannounced tag match that saw Low Ki and Homicide defeat Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal in a match that wasn’t about length as it was about dominance.  When the Rottweilers came out, the crowd went nuts.  ROH’s top villains were being celebrated as heroes.  On top of that, the Rottweilers embraced it.  This tag war came to an end after Jay Lethal received a Copkilla/Double Stomp combo.  ROH’s NYC debut was one that had everyone talking even months later. Every promotion, including ROH, should stop and look at this event, and try and figure out what went right. 

 

Runner-Up:

1. TNA’s Bound For Glory

 

Many fans called this event the Wrestlemania of the indies.  In many respects, they were correct.  Two years after the original Bound For Glory was cancelled, TNA was finally ready.  A lot was riding on this show and the expectations were high.  TNA ended up delivering on all fronts and even succeeded in winning over many new fans.  Bound For Glory was without a doubt one of the top PPV’s of the year, anywhere.  Every match was on point from the opening X-Division four-way to the tag title match to the iron man match.  Even the Ultimate X match was excellent despite the botched ending.  There was also the international dream match of Samoa Joe vs. Jushin Liger.  On top of that there was the Monster’s Ball match which saw all four men practically kill each other.  Kevin Nash’s illness caused the whole event to shift around, but in the end it was probably better than it would have been.  After winning the Monster’s Ball match, Rhino went on to win a Number One Contenders Gauntlet that featured nine others.  Immediately following that match, Rhino went on to face Jeff Jarrett and became the new NWA World Champion.  This is one of the rare PPV’s of the modern era where you can sit and watch from start to finish and actually enjoy it all.

 

2. ROH’s Escape From New York

 

This was ROH’s third NYC event and the second at the New Yorker Hotel.  Once again the building was overcrowded, but once again that created an energy-filled environment.  This was set in the middle of CM Punk’s hot ROH World Title run and the show was built around that.  In between were some great matches that led many to wonder if this show was better than Manhattan Mayhem.  One of the matches of the night was Mike Kruel vs. Matt Striker.  It’s a shame that ROH left this one off the home release.  Additionally, there was possibly the second best Pure Title match ever between Samoa Joe and Austin Aries.  Homicide defeated Jay Lethal in another match in their series, but once again Homicide was the hometown hero.  The main event saw CM Punk successfully retain against Roderick Strong in a rematch from their last NYCE encounter.

 

3. TNA’s Genesis

 

This PPV continued the hot streak of monthly TNA PPV’s.  Genesis also featured the debut of Christian Cage, who had just walked out of the WWE.  Cage cut a memorable promo about why he did what he did.  The best wrestling match on the show was the first ever Elimination X match.  This saw eight of the top X-Division stars go at it in a classic Survivor Series match.  The war between Sabu and Abyss continued in a brutal no disqualification match.  AJ Styles successfully defended the X-Division Title against long-time rival, Petey Williams.  The main event saw one of TNA’s better brawls and featured Rhino/Team 3-D vs. Jarrett/AMW.

 

4. ROH’s Death Before Dishonor III

 

Heading into ROH’s annual biggest event of the summer, it may not have seemed like anything above average, but by the end of the night, the fans were left wanting more.  This event once again had all of the elements in place, great matches and a hot crowd.  Arguably, ROH’s events from May through August were possibly the best string of shows in company history.  Of course, nobody realized that at the time.  This was the event where AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels returned.  Even more importantly, this was the night that CM Punk defeated Austin Aries for the ROH World Title on what was billed as his last night in the company.  Following the match, Punk turned on the fans and gave one of his most memorable promos ever.  This night kick-started a chain of events that lasted all summer.

 

5. TNA’s Turning Point

 

TNA closed out the year with one last PPV that delivered.  This show had a great variety of matches, truly something for everyone.  Notable matches include the Barbed Wire Massacre between Sabu and Abyss, the X-Division tag match, the TNA in-ring debut of Christian Cage, the tag team table match and even the predictable but wild brawl between Rhino and Jarrett.  On top of all of that was the DOI’s pick for Match of the Year, the X-Division Title match between Samoa Joe and AJ Styles.

 

Feud of the Year

 

Winner: AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Samoa Joe

 

The year began with AJ Styles regaining the X-Division Championship in an Ultimate X Match which included Chris Sabin and Petey Williams.  Styles held on to that belt until March when Christopher Daniels defeated him.  Daniels then went on to have the longest reign ever as X-Division Champion.  In the midst of Daniels title run, a new competitor emerged, Samoa Joe.  The second half of the year saw TNA really begin to put faith in the X-Division as matches involving AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe were heavily focused on.  TNA featured a Super X Cup Tournament where the winner would receive an X-Division Title match at Unbreakable.  Samoa Joe won the tournament and earned the shot.  In the weeks leading up to unbreakable, issues between Daniels and Styles escalated and eventually led to Joe getting involved as well.  Originally scheduled to just be Christopher Daniels vs. Samoa Joe, the match was altered to include AJ Styles.  TNA then gave all three men the opportunity to headline the PPV.  The X-Division Title match was placed after the NWA World Title match.  All three men stole the show and ended up having one of the best matches of the year anywhere.  At Genesis, Daniels and Joe were on the same team in the Elimination X match.  Daniels went for the pin and got the win for his team.  Joe was furious at Daniels since he wanted to be the one to get the win.  This caused Joe to snap and assault Daniels to the point that he was taken off to the hospital and forced to miss one month of TNA.  Joe wiped his towel in Daniels’ blood and began to carry it around as a trophy.  During this time, AJ Styles openly spoke out against Joe’s actions and claimed that Joe violated the honor of the X-Division.  This led to the now-classic Turning Point match where Joe defeated Styles for the gold.  After the match, Joe was about to give Styles the same treatment as he gave Daniels, but the Fallen Angel made the save.  These three men have been intertwined all year, but it’s not even close to being over.  Daniels and Styles now find themselves as unlikely allies against a common foe.  As 2006 begins, it will be interesting to see how this war escalates.

 

Runner-Up:

1. CM Punk vs. ROH

 

By the spring, rumors began to circulate that CM Punk was heading to the WWE soon.  Nobody knew exactly when but it became clear that his time in ROH was wrapping up.  ROH granted Punk a title match at this year’s Death Before Dishonor.  It was seen as a thank-you for all that he had done for ROH.  It was also expected to be his last night in the company.  To the shock of almost everyone, Punk defeated Austin Aries for the World Title that night.  Following the match, Punk told everyone how much ROH and the belt meant to him.  Then Punk began to tell the old parable about the snake who was taken in for the winter and then killed his host once he had the chance.  The moral of the tale was to never trust a snake.  Punk then equated himself to that snake and told everyone that he had suckered them in for a ride this last year waiting for this very moment.  It was an awesome speech to hear and it kicked off some of ROH’s best shows to date.  During his title run, nobody knew when Punk was going to be defeated and/or lose the belt.  Each show saw him successfully defend against top talent such as Roderick Strong, James Gibson, Jay Lethal and Christopher Daniels.  Each show saw Punk become cockier and cockier.  He even “signed” his WWE contract in an ROH ring on the ROH Title.  Instead of coming out in his typical ring gear and to AFI, he was now wearing a suit and coming out to Living Color’s Cult of Personality.  It began to look like Punk wasn’t going anywhere for a while.  Eventually Punk lost to James Gibson in an elimination match that also featured Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels.  The next night, Punk competed against his former tag partner, Colt Cabana, in a classic two out of three falls match to end his ROH tenure.

 

2. CM Punk vs. Jimmy Rave

 

The Embassy decided to use the Second City Saints as stepping stools to the top of ROH.  The majority of the feud took place in matches between Punk and Rave.  Rave actually managed to get the best of Punk for the bulk of this war.  Rave even went as far as to try to use a cheese grater to scrape the straight edge tattoo off of Punk’s stomach.  The two stand-out matches of this feud are the dog collar match at Manhattan Mayhem and the steel cage match at Nowhere To Run where Punk finally got his revenge.

 

3. Samoa Joe/Jay Lethal vs. Rottweilers

 

Stemming from the end of 2004, Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal spent the majority of 2005 facing different members of the Rottweilers, specifically Homicide and Low Ki.  For most of the year, Joe and Lethal were on the losing end of this war.  Many matches got so out of control that there were several unpopular disqualifications.  At this year’s Glory By Honor, Jay Lethal was finally able to defeat Low Ki.  Ironically, Joe and Lethal are now feuding amongst themselves.

 

4. Team Jarrett vs. The WWE Guys

 

In TNA, it seems that at least once a year, Jeff Jarrett begins to think there is a conspiracy against him.  This causes him to get a group together that is there to protect themselves and the gold.  This year, JJ claimed that all the outside talent was going to be coming in to take the spots of the TNA guys who have been around for a long time.  Jarrett managed to assemble a crew consisting of himself, AMW, Team Canada, Abyss and Monty Brown.  Their managers are Gail Kim, Scott D’Amore and Jim Mitchell.  They currently have the NWA World Title and the NWA Tag Titles in their possession.  The group has been feuding with Christian Cage, Rhino and Team 3-D.

 

5. Generation Next vs. Embassy

 

Two of ROH’s most dominant stables went at it for most of the second half of 2005.  Many singles and tag matches took place, featuring different combinations of both groups.  After being evenly contested, it all came to a finish at Steel Cage Warfare where Generation Next defeated the Embassy.

 

 

Tag Team of the Year

 

Winner: America’s Most Wanted

 

AMW have been in TNA since the beginning.  They are the most dominant team in TNA history having held the titles seven times.  While as solid as they come, many fans began to claim that AMW was getting stale.  So in September they did something about it and made their full-fledged heel turn.  All summer long they had gotten more aggressive, so this was a natural and logical progression.  They immediately sided with Jeff Jarrett and helped secure the World Title for him.  Soon after, they reclaimed the Tag Team Titles.  AMW, with their newfound attitude, is like a different team.  James Storm has become a bottle smashing alcoholic and Chris Harris has taken a liking to handcuffing their opponents.  Without a doubt AMW is fresh again.  Some may even say that this is the most personality they have ever shown.  The TNA live audience once cheered enthusiastically for AMW, but now they chant “Kill the Cowboys” each week.

 

Runner-Up:

1. The Naturals

 

The Naturals held the NWA Tag Titles from the end of April to the end of October with the exception of a one night loss at the NWA Legends Convention.  When the year began, they were still finding their groove.  Chris Candido had taken them under his wing, but unfortunately Candido died shortly after.  The Naturals then had Jimmy Hart manage them for some time.  Now the Naturals are on their own, looking to reclaim their tag titles from AMW.  They won the gold from AMW and eventually lost it back to them.  This year’s tag wars cemented The Naturals as a tag team force.

 

2. Roderick Strong & Jack Evans

 

Strong and Evans are a unique tag team.  They are the unofficial tag team of Generation Next, or at least it seemed that way for a long time.  When Jack Evans took some time off, Roderick went the singles route and the two have yet to recapture their tag glory from 2004 and half of 2005.  Evans and Strong are the team that the fans have always wanted to get the tag titles, but for some reason were never given that opportunity.  There are few tag teams out there that work as well together as these two.  It seems like every match they pull out some new double team maneuvers that can’t even be described.  Perhaps in the new year, we will see them team up again, but with Strong currently holding the titles with Aries, that just doesn’t seem very likely.

 

3. BJ Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs

 

With the exception of a few weeks in July, Whitmer and Jacobs held the ROH gold from April until October.  This was an unexpected, makeshift team thrown together to fill the void of Dan Maff.  It took a long time for the fans to really get behind the team, but they were eventually won over.  After losing the gold, Lacey recruited them as her new Angels, but they haven’t had much opportunity to tag recently.

 

4. Team 3-D

 

The Dudley Boyz had gotten stale towards the latter half of their WWE run, far before they were pulled from television.  When negotiations fell through with the WWE, TNA snatched them up immediately to further enhance their tag division.  The Dudleys were forcefully reinvented as Team 3-D and they have been on a roll ever since.  Team 3-D is fresh again and every match seems like a first-timer.  It doesn’t seem like it will be long before they add the NWA Tag Team Championship to their resume.

 

5. Carnage Crew

 

The Carnage Crew is probably one of the most underrated tag teams of the last few years.  They give it their all every match, but never seem to get their due.  ROH rewarded them with a brief tag title run in July, but they vanished shortly after that.  Maybe next year the first class white trash will return.

 

Most Popular Wrestler of the Year

 

Winner: AJ Styles

 

From the opening note of his music, the fans jump up.  They know that the next match will be something special.  They also know that AJ will go above and beyond the call of duty for them.  For additional reasons on why AJ was selected, see the various other categories that he was selected in.

 

Runner-Up:

1. Samoa Joe

 

From the moment the Godzilla music hits, the audience is already chanting his name and tapping to the beat of his song.  Whether the champion or not, Joe’s popularity never dwindles.  Joe has consistently been ROH’s most popular wrestler since he debuted.  Now he has a second home in TNA, where his popularity has soared, despite not behaving as fan-favorites traditionally do.

 

2. Christopher Daniels

 

The Fallen Angel is the standard bearer of wrestling quality.  Nobody is more fluid in the ring than Daniels.  He generally plays the part of the villain but the fans respect him so much that you’ll rarely hear him jeered.

 

3. CM Punk

 

Punk spent the last few years building himself up from an under carder to World Champion.  No matter how he behaved, the fans appreciated all that he did.  In 2005, he was involved in top storylines until his last ROH match.  Punk has moved on, but he left a long legacy behind.

 

4. Rhino

 

Rhino is having his best year since the fall of ECW.  After ECW’s One Night Stand, Rhino debuted in TNA and the crowd was behind him instantly, despite being initially partnered with Jeff Jarrett.  In the short time since he’s been in TNA, Rhino has already been in several high profile matches and even won the NWA World Title.

 

5. Austin Aries

 

Aries is a man who does most of his talking in the ring.  He never has an off match and the fans have come to expect that from him.  His consistent performances and his competitive ROH World Title run have cemented him as a fan favorite.  Aries has recently joined TNA on a full-time basis and has won those fans over.

 

Most Hated Wrestler of the Year

 

Winner: Jeff Jarrett

 

Is there any question?  Are there any disagreements?  I think not.  Explanations as to why Jarrett was chosen are not even necessary.  Jarrett is probably the most hated wrestler in years, but he loves it.  The thing with Jarrett is that his heel heat has genuine outright hatred mixed in to it.  The fans call him Triple J and chant “Fuck Jeff Jarrett” wherever he goes.

 

Runner-Up:

1. Jimmy Rave

 

What other wrestler get greeted with toilet paper during his ring entrance?  Rave’s abilities may be respected, but he’s generally just outright hated.  Other villains of the squared-circle should take notes.

 

2. Low Ki

 

Ki can either be the most popular guy out there or the most hated.  Lately, he seems to enjoy being hated and he does a great job of making sure the fans continue to do so.  Everything from his move set, to his mannerisms, to his standard fuck-you salute upon entering the ring provokes hatred.  Though no matter what, Ki is still one of the best out there.

 

3. Homicide

 

Just like Low Ki, Homicide can go either way.  Sometimes the fans love him and other times they love to hate him.  Either way, nobody can question his heart, intensity and ability.

 

4. CM Punk

 

Up until the moment he won the World Title, Punk was one of the most, if not the most, popular wrestler in ROH.  Then he turned on the fans and basically told them that he played them all for suckers.   From that point on, Punk was despised. 

 

5. Prince Nana

 

Prince Nana is not even a full-time wrestler, but he earned this nomination.  Every time Nana opens his mouth or sets foot in the ring, the crowd is all over him.  His physical and verbal abuse of Jade Chung didn’t help his situation either.

 

Most Improved Wrestler of the Year

 

Winner: Jimmy Rave

 

People can dislike his attitude all they want, but Rave’s abilities can not be questioned.  Over the last few years, Rave has been criticized for not showing any emotion, not possessing any charisma and not having a deep move set.  None of those are valid today and 2005 showed that.  Rave has really come into his own under the guidance of Prince Nana and his matches are always something to look forward to.

 

Runner-Up:

1. Alex Shelley

 

Alex Shelley didn’t need any improvement but it happened anyway.  Shelley can wrestle any style against any opponent and make it look good.  He can also shift seamlessly between fan favorite, dastardly villain and conniving weasel.   Alex Shelley learns something from every match and will continue to improve.  Shelley should make a greater impact in both TNA and ROH in the coming year.

 

2. Roderick Strong

 

From toning down the usage of his backbreakers to greatly improving his physique, Roderick had a hell of a year.  He had amazing tag matches with his Generation Next partners, especially Jack Evans, and had great singles matches with guys like CM Punk.  Roderick is currently one half of the ROH Tag Team Champions and is also beginning to find his groove in TNA.

 

3. Austin Aries

 

Aries spent the first half of 2005 as the ROH World Champion.  He also showed that even champions can improve.  Aries is a fairly well-rounded wrestler who has used his matches in 2005 to elevate himself.  He is one half of the ROH Tag Team Champions with Roderick Strong and is quickly becoming one of the more popular wrestlers in TNA.

 

4. Monty Brown

 

Monty Brown has always been one of the most charismatic wrestlers on the TNA roster.  This year saw him drastically improve on all fronts.  Brown has improved his wrestling skills and became more than just a one-move wrestler.  He has an awesome presence in the ring and cuts electric promos backstage.  A little more fine tuning could see TNA have their first totally homegrown breakout talent.

 

5. Abyss

 

Abyss has slowly become one of the best big men of all time.  He is tall and heavy, but yet he can still keep up with the smaller guys.  Abyss has also shown he can work anything from a hardcore match to a solid wrestling match.  Once he was paired with James Mitchell, Abyss found the missing ingredient that had been holding him back.

 

Faction/Stable Wrestler of the Year

 

Winner: Rottweilers

 

Julius Smokes crew of Homicide, Low Ki, Rocky Romero and Ricky Reyes run ROH.  The group also has part-time members such as Grim Reefer and B-Boy.  While the faction may not have the gold, their street mentality has continuously allowed them to roll over everyone in ROH whenever they felt like it.  They are not afraid to say what they want and do what they want.  They disobey all the rules and play by their own.  Anytime any member of this group comes out, everyone stops and watches to see what’s going to happen next.

 

Runner-Up:

1. Team Jarrett

 

After several failed attempts at organizing a threatening faction, Jeff Jarrett has finally found the right people to join his cause.  Jarrett is joined by AMW, Team Canada, Abyss and Monty Brown.  Their managers are Gail Kim, Scott D’Amore and Jim Mitchell.  Within weeks of their alliance forming, Jarrett captured the NWA World Title and AMW won the NWA World Tag Tittles.  Since that point, they’ve all been getting one over on all of their opponents with few exceptions.  It will be interesting to watch this alliance as 2006 begins to see if it will truly be a new year or just more of the same.

 

2. Generation Next

 

Generation Next is possibly ROH’s most popular faction ever.  This year was a strong year for the individual members, but it wasn’t until their feud with the Embassy that the group began teaming up again regularly.  For the first half of the year, Generation Next only consisted of Roderick Strong, Austin Aries and Jack Evans.  Alex Shelley had been kicked out last December and was not replaced until this summer when Matt Sydal joined up.  Jack Evans only wrestled in ROH part-time at various points in the year, leaving Strong and Aries to carry the weight of the team.  By the end of the year, all four members were back and on the same page, leading to the end of their feud with the Embassy at Steel Cage Warfare.

 

3. The Embassy

 

Originally seen as a joke, the Embassy gradually became a serious threat in ROH.  At various points, their membership in 2005 consisted of Prince Nana, Jimmy Rave, Oman Tortuga, Diablo Santiago, Fast Eddie Vegas, Killer Kruel, Puma, Excess 69, Abyss, Petey Williams, Alex Shelley, Jade Chung and several Weapons of MASK Destruction.  The large membership also hurt the group as members appeared to come and go.  The tightest version of the group was when it was Prince Nana, Jimmy Rave, the Outcast Killaz, Killer Kruel and Jade Chung.

 

4. Team Canada

 

Often seen as comic relief, Team Canada has always been a force in TNA.  Aside from beginning the year with Petey Williams as the X-Division Champion, the group unfortunately didn’t acquire any other championships.  They had several tag title shots but fell short each time.  Petey Williams won two Ultimate X matches but in the end couldn’t win the gold back.  Team Canada is led by Coach Scott D’Amore and currently consists of Petey Williams, Bobby Roode, Eric Young and A-1.

 

5. 3 Live Krew/4 Live Krew

 

For most of the year, 3 Live Krew/4 Live Krew squabbled amongst themselves and debated over letting Kip James into the group.  After plenty of bickering, Kip was included and 3LK became 4LK.  Then Konnan snapped and attacked both Kip and BG James.  Ron Killings said he had enough of the drama and left them to work out their own mess.  Since then, Konnan has teamed up with Apolo and brought in Homicide as his new gang.

 

Story of the Year

 

Winner: TNA Debuts on Spike TV

 

When 2005, TNA had Impact airing weekly on Fox Sports, sort of.  Depending on what market you were in, the show was on at different times, if at all.  By June, Fox had stopped airing Impact and TNA stopped having tapings for a few weeks.  It almost looked like the company was done for again.  Then TNA continued on with their monthly PPV’s and started airing new Impact episodes on their website.  TNA hired new talents to help diversify their roster and eventually made several management/booking committee changes.  Before long, TNA was pumping out their best product to date.  The only problem was they still had no television, the key ingredient to succeeding on a national level.  By the fall, WWE had left Spike TV for the USA Network and TNA saw a golden opportunity.  On October 1, 2005, TNA debuted on Spike TV.  Since that point, TNA’s audience has clearly grown to new heights compared to the pre-Spike era.  The Impact rating was remained consistent week after week, proving that TNA found their audience.  The only downside is that outside of a few occasions, Spike has only allowed TNA one hour of new programming a week.  However, Spike does replay Impact every Monday night.  Spike TV have already shown more synergy than they ever did with the WWE and it looks like Spike will not be ECWing this promotion anytime soon.  TNA is nowhere near competing with the WWE but if spike gives them a two hour weekly slot, then they will be one step closer.  TNA has truly become the new alternative that they always claimed to be.

 

Runner-Up:

1. Samoa Joe Signs With TNA

 

Samoa Joe had always been on top of ROH, but never made his way to TNA.  By the middle of 2005, Joe’s wrestling future was not clear.  Would he go to Japan?  Would he go to the WWE?  Would he go to TNA?  Would he just simply walk away completely?  Well we all know what path Joe took and so far it certainly seems like it was the right one.  Joe debuted in TNA back in June and remained undefeated all year.  He also won the Super X Cup Tournament and defeated AJ Styles for the X-Division Championship in one of the best matches of the year.  Joe’s path of rage in TNA has seen everyone choked out.  It’s almost as if TNA revitalized Joe’s career and Joe revitalized TNA.  For anybody who follows TNA, it’s easy to see the impact that Samoa Joe has had on the company.  Bringing Joe in may have been the easiest and smartest move the promotion made all year.

 

2. Christian Cage Jumps Ship

 

There have been no talent jumps since the Monday Night Wars ended.  Why? Well, there was no place for anybody to go.  Now TNA has built itself up enough that wrestlers do have some choice.  Christian’s contract was up and he was fed up with everything in the WWE.  Within a week after his last WWE appearance, Christian Cage was live on PPV in a TNA ring.  Christian’s jump may very well pave the way for others to join him when their time is up.  TNA just needs to make sure that they only bring in wrestlers who can fit in and work the TNA style and not be a detriment.  Christian fits that bill because he can wrestle, talk and has his won following.  Next year could be the year that Captain Charisma is wearing the NWA World Title.

 

3. Rhino’s Comeback

 

For the last few years, Rhino was wasted by the WWE.  Everyone knew it and watched it happen week after week, but it didn’t matter.  The WWE just didn’t use him.  Then at Wrestlemania, a private matter became a public scene and Rhino ended up losing his job.  No matter what, the fans didn’t give up on him.  The same fans who watched him waste away in the WWE got to see the old Rhino that was not allowed out at ECW’s One Night Stand in a great fight with Sabu.  Once his WWE contract officially ended, Rhino found himself in a new home, TNA.  The fans went nuts for him instantly and Rhino seemed like he had a new lease on life.  He was immediately thrust into the top of the company and in October at Bound For Glory, he may have had the biggest night of his career when he had three matches, plowed through the entire TNA roster and won the NWA World Title.  Now TNA and Rhino are showing the WWE what the fans knew all along and what they yet again missed out on.

 

4. TNA/ROH Talent War is Resolved

 

ROH and TNA had gotten along fine for a long time.  There was a competitive rivalry, but until March 2004, there were no problems between the two.  Following the fallout of the ROH/RF split, TNA pulled all contracted wrestlers from all ROH events.  Around the same time that ROH mainstays like Samoa Joe, Alex Shelley and Austin Aries debuted for TNA, TNA allowed AJ styles and Christopher Daniels to return after a year and a half absence.  Finally, ROH fans had two of their top guys back and finally long-lingering storylines would be resolved.  The fans were happy and the “Fuck TNA” Chants faded away.  With TNA’s rumored increased schedule, it will be interesting to see if things change again, but for now fans will get the best of both worlds.

 

5. ROH Brings in More Top Japanese Talent

 

Since day one, ROH has always brought in top talent from all over the country and the world.  This year was no different as several Japanese stars from different promotions sent talent over to compete in ROH.  Many American fans fall into the trap of thinking that any Japanese wrestler is the greatest thing ever, so ROH had to be careful in securing top names to match the quality of the promotion’s usual matches.  This year saw Dragon Soldier B, Milano Collection AT, Shingo Takagi, CIMA, Kenta Kobashi, Marufuji and KENTA.  For the most part, matches involving these stars sold the show and the fans loved these special attractions.  It will be interesting to see if ROH continues to bring in outside talent next year.

 

Announcer/Commentator of the Year

 

Winner: Mike Tenay

 

Mike Tenay may very well be the best commentator today, anywhere.  He is one of the few people left who can call the moves and get all storyline points across.  He sounds natural when he’s at the desk and everything he says fits in and is appropriately timed.  Tenay’s knowledge of wrestling is also unmatched and that adds to everything he does.  Very often Mike Tenay is overlooked when great commentators are discussed, but in reality he is an asset to whatever booth he is calling the action from.

 

Runner-Up:

1. Lenny Leonard

 

Lenny Leonard may have saved the ROH commentary.  Since day one, ROH’s biggest flaw was in the fact that almost all of their commentators were flat-out terrible and/or had no clue what they were talking about.  Leonard is knowledgeable about the ROH product and it shows each time.

 

2. Don West

 

Don West has the natural ability to sell anybody on anything.  It doesn’t matter how bad the match is, West makes it seem exciting and important.  He has been with TNA for a long time now and his partnership with Mike Tenay will be long-remembered.

 

3. Dave Prazak

 

Much like Lenny Leonard, Prazak has helped save the ROH commentary.  Prazak is sharp, funny and knows what he’s talking about.  He speaks well and always articulates his points.

 

4. Jeremy Borash

 

Borash is most known for his TNA ring announcing, but he also commentates X-Plosion and the PPV pre-shows.  Borash isn’t on Tenay’s level, but he still does a solid job of getting things over.

 

5. Bobby Heenan

 

Bobby Heenan only commentated for one match in TNA, aside from some spots on Impact, but one match with Heenan is better than most other people for a year.  Bobby Heenan is still as funny as ever and it’s a shame that he’s not around more often.

Thanks for reading,

Johnny5@declarationofindependents.net

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