Time for the yearly awards. Happy New Year!
WWE'S BEST OF 2008
Top Story: Ric Flair retiring. It happened in Orlando and at WrestleMania XXIV. It also involved arguably the greatest wrestler of all-time. It also had an unforgettable finish.
Top Match: Ladder matches and Undertaker matches are always strong. But for historical significance alone, you have to go with Flair-Shawn Michaels from WrestleMania XXIV.
Top Wrestler: All the "experts" are picking Chris Jericho. And for the fact that he wrestled more than guys like Edge, John Cena and Jeff Hardy, I guess I have to bestow the honor toward him. Definitely deserving, just not as strong as in past years.
Top Feud: Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels. Angles, angles, angles. And, of course, great wrestling.
MVP: No, not the wrestler. Shawn Michaels. He retired Ric Flair, had the top feud and is in a bizarre angle with JBL.
Top Women's Wrestler: Beth Phoenix. The women's champion simply got it done.
Top Tag Team: The Miz and John Morrison. The Miz has improved leaps and bounds in one year, and Morrison has righted himself with ring excellence. They also had numerous angles.
Top Duo: Edge and Vickie Guerrero. Hated but very effective.
Top Rookie: Kofi Kingston. He developed a fan base and won a few titles.
Top Face: Jeff Hardy. The fans love this guy, so much so that WWE gave him a title run.
Top Heel: JBL. No one seems to like him, and that's a credit to JBL. Guys like Chris Jericho and Randy Orton have their fans.
Top Show: Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling. Something new and something different. I loved this show.
Top Pay-Per-View: WrestleMania XXIV. I was there, remember?
Top Surprise: As I've said in the past with this day of the Internet, John Cena's return at the Royal Rumble.
Top Gimmick: Santino Marella's Honk-A-Meter. It was funny.
Top Entertainer(s): The Miz and John Morrison. These guys are simply funny.
One more strike and you're out award: Jeff Hardy. He's lucky WWE gave him the strap this past month. But he could have won it back before WrestleMania XXIV.
The Are You Serious Award: MVP, for a losing streak no one really understands.
Inspiration: Something off the WWE beat. Check out The Sacramento Bee's story on the Tonga Kid. His six-week old twin daughters were born prematurely when his wife almost died. The story can be found at sacbee.com/topstories/story/1496331.html
RIP: Playboy Gary Hart (66; died March 16); Killer Kowalski (81; died Aug 30); S.D. Jones (63; Oct. 26); Mike "Mad Dog" Bell (37; died Dec. 14). For others, visit garywill.com/wrestling/decwres.htm
Top Non-WWE Wrestler: Go with Kurt Angle of TNA Wrestling. He staved off injuries and was one of their main-event players.
WEEKLY HEADLINES AND MY REACTS
Maryse's theme song, Pourquoi?, reportedly has startling and shocking lyrics. REACT: If that French to English translation online is accurate, those are pretty questionable lyrics in WWE's now "PG" world.
Former WWE Diva Chyna passes out at her 38th birthday party, reportedly after mixing an entire bottle of prescription pills and vodka. REACT: Here's hoping Chyna gets into rehab immediately after her release from the hospital.
IGN updates Hulk Hogan's hairline, giving him more hair, in the upcoming WWE Legends of WrestleMania video game. REACT: Did they run this by Hogan, or was this someone else's decision?
DH Smith and TJ Wilson are reportedly on the outs again with WWE. REACT: Call-ups change weekly, but this is no big deal, as they are a tag team.
Newly crowned Divas champion Maryse reportedly blows out her knee at a house show Sunday. REACT: Maryse as a champion was intriguing. Unfortunately, we'll never know where WWE was going with this.
WWE teasing quitting angle with MVP at recent house show. REACT: This is stupid if there's not a massive payoff.
Kofi Kingston vs. Kane matches at house shows hinting at Kofi being Kelly Kelly's boyfriend? REACT: This would help Kofi's career, which has tanked lately.
Scott Steiner told the Miami Herald he dislikes (and that's pleasant wording) Triple H and Ric Flair. Steiner also said HHH can't stand Flair now. REACT: Steiner has always been a head case. This seals him never working for WWE again, one would think.
WWE souring on Kizarny. REACT: Already? That's not a good sign.
