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| Their funny is always money Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
The nomination roll-out continues!
Social Media Award - For the excellence of using social media and the Internet to advertise, interact with fans, or otherwise entertain.
Prior Winners:
2011 – Zack Ryder
2012 – Wrestling Is
And the nominees are:
Beyond Wrestling - For a company that burst out of the scene as a major independent promotion, built on DVD revenue, they still present an awful lot of content for free. No surprise, they're still among the fastest growing wrestling promotions in America. Also, their Twitter account keeps fans engaged and talking not just by shilling and advertising, but by spurring discussion.
Chuck Taylor - I would say innovating a micropromotion over nothing but Instagram video counts as using the Internet to entertain, right? Not only does he present actual matches, but nearly all of them are creative as hell in their execution.
Colt Cabana - The Art of Wrestling podcast is still rolling in its third year, and Cabana's direction and interview skills are the ultimate reason. He keeps getting a wide variety of guests, from WWE dudes to international stars that domestic audiences may not know, and his live podcasts are always a treat.
Kevin Steen - In addition to being the best wrestler to follow on Twitter, Steen's YouTube show has a goofy and warm kitsch value that has added to the extended wrestling universe out of the ring.
Steve Austin - Austin has been a great addition to the wrestling media in the last year. A lot of his impact comes with the unprecedented access he gets as the biggest draw of all-time, but he's used his time with the gets he's had on his show and made for some fascinating podcasts.
Comedian of the Year - For the wrestler/act that has done their best to make people laugh and master the art of wrestling comedy.
Prior Winners:
2009 – Santino Marella
2010 – Santino Marella
2011 – Colt Cabana
2012 – 3.0
And the nominees are:
3MB - Comedy heels never get the shine in WWE, but that state has been standard operating procedure forever and a day. Unlike other acts meant only to lose, 3MB, no matter the situation, seems like they put everything into their act, which is money.
Fandango - Fandango took a Dancing with the Stars gimmick and rolled with it. Sure, it was supposed to come off seriously, but he never lost himself too much in the gimmick. Everything he did was dipped in self-awareness, and when he was segued into comic relief, he shined.
Los Ice Creams - They had me at "ME GUSTA RANDY ORTON!" at National Pro Wrestling Day, but any card they were on held a guarantee of at least one segment of non-stop comedic brilliance. They are the Chikaraverse's avatars.
Santino Marella - After a rough year last year, Marella bounced back with some of the funniest and best-timed segments and matches of the year. When he's really tuned in, he brings an air of levity to WWE programming that's unmatched.
The Submission Squad - They've been embroiled mostly in serious stories in their home promotion of ACW, but in AIW and especially in the Chikaraverse, they've been able to show their funny bone. I still can't get over how absurdly brilliant Gary Jay in a barn owl costume is.
Announcer of the Year - For the announcer who best was able to convey the action in the ring with clarity, charm, and bemusement
Prior Winners:
2009 – Matt Striker
2010 – Bryce Remsburg
2011 – Excalibur
2012 – Bryce Remsburg
And the nominees are:
Bryce Remsburg - Remsburg should just be called Ol' Reliable at this point. No matter what match he's calling, he's going to put it over all while adding in his requisite amount of homespun charm and just enough off-task humor to add flavor.
Denver Colorado - A lot of times, he's in the booth by himself, which is hard enough without having too much dead air. He's super enthusiastic about the matches, and he's never at a loss for filling in the audience about Beyond Wrestling's web of narrative.
Excalibur - Excalibur is another shoo-in to make the nominee list every year, but because he's a master at balancing shtick with calling the action. He has impeccable chemistry with any number of broadcast partners, and he's proven able to go by himself as well.
Renee Young - Her understated announce style is such a great balance to the bombast in the typical WWE booth, even in NXT. Where she shone best was in backstage interviews, where she not only held her own asking the questions, but nailed the facial expressions and reactions to the answers and other things happening, like bailing out when her Spider Sense for the Wyatt Family kicked in.
William Regal -Regal is the ultimate proof that loud and obnoxious isn't the only thing that works in a WWE broadcast booth. As the anchor of the NXT color commentary chair, he not only adds to every match he calls, but he brings his wit and wisdom through anecdotes and chestnuts.
Social Media Award - For the excellence of using social media and the Internet to advertise, interact with fans, or otherwise entertain.
Prior Winners:
2011 – Zack Ryder
2012 – Wrestling Is
And the nominees are:
Beyond Wrestling - For a company that burst out of the scene as a major independent promotion, built on DVD revenue, they still present an awful lot of content for free. No surprise, they're still among the fastest growing wrestling promotions in America. Also, their Twitter account keeps fans engaged and talking not just by shilling and advertising, but by spurring discussion.
Chuck Taylor - I would say innovating a micropromotion over nothing but Instagram video counts as using the Internet to entertain, right? Not only does he present actual matches, but nearly all of them are creative as hell in their execution.
Colt Cabana - The Art of Wrestling podcast is still rolling in its third year, and Cabana's direction and interview skills are the ultimate reason. He keeps getting a wide variety of guests, from WWE dudes to international stars that domestic audiences may not know, and his live podcasts are always a treat.
Kevin Steen - In addition to being the best wrestler to follow on Twitter, Steen's YouTube show has a goofy and warm kitsch value that has added to the extended wrestling universe out of the ring.
Steve Austin - Austin has been a great addition to the wrestling media in the last year. A lot of his impact comes with the unprecedented access he gets as the biggest draw of all-time, but he's used his time with the gets he's had on his show and made for some fascinating podcasts.
Comedian of the Year - For the wrestler/act that has done their best to make people laugh and master the art of wrestling comedy.
Prior Winners:
2009 – Santino Marella
2010 – Santino Marella
2011 – Colt Cabana
2012 – 3.0
And the nominees are:
3MB - Comedy heels never get the shine in WWE, but that state has been standard operating procedure forever and a day. Unlike other acts meant only to lose, 3MB, no matter the situation, seems like they put everything into their act, which is money.
Fandango - Fandango took a Dancing with the Stars gimmick and rolled with it. Sure, it was supposed to come off seriously, but he never lost himself too much in the gimmick. Everything he did was dipped in self-awareness, and when he was segued into comic relief, he shined.
Los Ice Creams - They had me at "ME GUSTA RANDY ORTON!" at National Pro Wrestling Day, but any card they were on held a guarantee of at least one segment of non-stop comedic brilliance. They are the Chikaraverse's avatars.
Santino Marella - After a rough year last year, Marella bounced back with some of the funniest and best-timed segments and matches of the year. When he's really tuned in, he brings an air of levity to WWE programming that's unmatched.
The Submission Squad - They've been embroiled mostly in serious stories in their home promotion of ACW, but in AIW and especially in the Chikaraverse, they've been able to show their funny bone. I still can't get over how absurdly brilliant Gary Jay in a barn owl costume is.
Announcer of the Year - For the announcer who best was able to convey the action in the ring with clarity, charm, and bemusement
Prior Winners:
2009 – Matt Striker
2010 – Bryce Remsburg
2011 – Excalibur
2012 – Bryce Remsburg
And the nominees are:
Bryce Remsburg - Remsburg should just be called Ol' Reliable at this point. No matter what match he's calling, he's going to put it over all while adding in his requisite amount of homespun charm and just enough off-task humor to add flavor.
Denver Colorado - A lot of times, he's in the booth by himself, which is hard enough without having too much dead air. He's super enthusiastic about the matches, and he's never at a loss for filling in the audience about Beyond Wrestling's web of narrative.
Excalibur - Excalibur is another shoo-in to make the nominee list every year, but because he's a master at balancing shtick with calling the action. He has impeccable chemistry with any number of broadcast partners, and he's proven able to go by himself as well.
Renee Young - Her understated announce style is such a great balance to the bombast in the typical WWE booth, even in NXT. Where she shone best was in backstage interviews, where she not only held her own asking the questions, but nailed the facial expressions and reactions to the answers and other things happening, like bailing out when her Spider Sense for the Wyatt Family kicked in.
William Regal -Regal is the ultimate proof that loud and obnoxious isn't the only thing that works in a WWE broadcast booth. As the anchor of the NXT color commentary chair, he not only adds to every match he calls, but he brings his wit and wisdom through anecdotes and chestnuts.