To cap of my review of 2015 I’m going to take a look at the Slammy Award Winners and see where if different what choice I would have made. To avoid nonsense I’m just focusing on wrestling related awards.
Tag Team of the Year: WWE Winner: The Uso’s
Tag Team of the Year: Ciaran_1986 Winner: The New Day
Reason: If we really are to believe the universe choose the eventual winners of the Slammy Awards then the universe must be blind. From April onwards the New Day have been one of WWE’s most entertaining acts in and outside of the ring. From promos to matches the trio of Big E, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston have lit up the WWE like no other team before them. Their chant of “New Day Rocks” and Trombone playing have had the WWE universe on their feet, they have singlehandedly got themselves over with what was originally a very lame gimmick. Kudos to all three men for the success they have achieved in 2015.
Best John Cena U.S. Open Challenge: WWE Winner: Cesaro, Raw, July 6th
Best John Cena U.S. Open Challenge: Ciaran_1986 Winner: Kevin Owens Debut , Raw, May 18th
Reason: To start with my hat goes off to all the challengers who faced John Cena in 2015. However the unannounced debut of Kevin Owens on Raw in May was history making. The former ROH, PWG and NXT World Champion had finally arrived in WWE, and what a debut it was. The man who since making his NXT debut in December had set the wrestling world on fire was finally on Raw. In his verbal confrontation with Cena, Owens explained exactly why he had arrived and what he was going to do. In the closing moments of the segment he Powerbombed Cena and stood on the US title, #FightOwensFight was here to stay.
Rivalry of the Year: WWE Winner: The Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar
Rivalry of the Year: Ciaran_1986 Winner: John Cena vs Kevin Owens
Reason: How this feud wasn’t even a contender I’ll never know, John Cena and Kevin Owens gave us arguably three of the best matches of the year on PPV in 2015. From Elimination Chamber to Battleground both men put on wrestling clinics, they stole the show every night. When Owens won the inaugural match the audience and critics were gobsmacked, not one person truly thought it could or would happen. For two men who had never fought each other, and to put on three consecutive excellent matches, they have my respect.
Breakout Star of the Year: WWE Winner: Neville
Breakout Star of the Year: Ciaran_1986 Winner: Kevin Owens
Reason: Once more, (if we really are to believe the universe choose the eventual winners of the Slammy Awards then the universe must be blind) There is no doubt who this award should have gone to, for reasons already mentioned above Kevin Owens was the standout this year. With standout performances in both NXT & WWE, Owens has earned the right to be in the WWE, and he’s earned the respect. There is no other choice in this category. From his betrayal of Sami Zayn, to the triple threat main event on Smackdown last week Kevin Owens star is shinning brighter than ever.
Superstar of the Year: WWE Winner: Seth Rollins
Superstar of the Year: Ciaran_1986 Winner: Seth Rollins
Reason: There was no other choice, he showed his main event credentials a the Royal Rumble then at Wrestlemania 31 he cashed in his MITB briefcase on Brock Lesnar. For seven months we got to see why Triple H & co thought so highly of the first ever NXT Champion. From his defences against Dean Ambrose, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Kane and Sting, Seth made the best of bad situation and always came out on top. In August he also became the first wrestler in history to hold both the US and WWE World titles. In November the feud we’d all been waiting for against Roman Reigns was all set to kick off at the Survivor Series, Unfortunately that’s when Seth’s year came to a halt. On WWE’s tour of Europe he landed awkwardly and injured his ACL, MCL and meniscus. He vacated the title and went into surgery within days. His WWE title reign ended at 220 days.
Match of the Year: WWE Winner: Brock Lesnar vs The Undertaker, HIAC, 25/10/15
Match of the Year: Ciaran_1986 Winner: John Cena vs Kevin Owens, Elimination Chamber, 31/05/15
Reason: 2015 was jam packed with excellent matches, from NXT to WWE a countless number of matches could have been chosen. I’ve picked the above because as already stated both John Cena and Kevin Owens gave us three of the very best matches this year. Their original match at Elimination Chamber was special for so many reasons. The way Kevin debut and then went on to defeat Cena was so well booked and executed. The selfless display showed by John Cena to put Owens over in his first WWE PPV was also enlightening. The match was widely regarded as a step in the right direction for the WWE and the right way to book a debuting star. The Brock/Undertaker match was good, but in the neither competitor was elevated. With Kevin Owens beating John Cena, he immediately became a name in WWE.
As we approach 2016 Roman Reigns is now the WWE Champion after finally defeating Sheamus on Raw. With a new face of the company, the continued rise of NXT and the Network growing, business is looking up for WWE. In these times of change I feel 2016 may be another challenging year for the company, as it once more moves into another era I feel as fans we need to be patient and to see the bigger picture. Those of us who attend NXT shows know exactly the talent WWE have in reserve, so surely the future looks bright for WWE.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank @Tybo_SLTD for having faith in me, the @SLTDWrestling family for supporting each other and all the readers who took the time out of their busy lives to read my opinions. I thank you all. Have a great 2016.
@Ciaran_1986
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