Peter Luongo: Matt Hardy: If you were to tell me that Matt Hardy of all people would be one of the best wrestlers of the year then I probably would have laughed at you but he has turned his Broken gimmick into one of the hottest things in wrestling today. The gimmick is without a doubt ridiculous but much like The Undertaker, Hardy got his gimmick over. I mean he also got his wife, his one year old kid, a hispanic landscaper and a DRONE over with the crowd. That is something that isn’t easy to do at all. The Final Deletion was so great that it gave TNA a 23% viewer increase.
Followed by Delete or Decay and Total Nonstop Deletion, this gave people a good reason to watch TNA. Matt Hardy’s broken brilliance will only get stronger and hopefully he comes back to MeekMahan’s company. Anabelle P: Matt Hardy because only in 2016, which has been a hell of a year would “Broken” Matt Hardy thrive like this. Seriously, he’s done a great job at getting over such an insane gimmick. Colin Dunn: I agree with Justin F. that the Miz has definitely had the year of his career but nobody has had a better rejuvenation then Broken Matt Hardy.
If I asked someone five years ago who the better Hardy would be no one in a million years would have said Matt. Matt Hardy has completely reimagined his career and has become one of the biggest things in Wrestling. 2017 will definitely be interesting because Broken Matt has much more to come. Patrick: Matt Hardy: Yup. Even though he’s been around for a long time, this year was his breakout year. I agree with Peter on this point. Justin F – The Miz – What can I say about The Miz. He has been on fire this year ever since he went to Smackdown. Him alongside with Maryse make the perfect duo to watch.
The Miz generates the right type of heat that gets him over, as well as getting the opponent that he’s working with over too. He is definitely one the top heels in the company today. Comeback of the Year: Peter Luongo: Seth Rollins: Rollins’ comeback at Extreme Rules was one of the most exciting moments of the year. The man had basically destroyed his knee just months previously and to see him back at full strength was amazing. He captured the WWE World title and also turned face so I would think Rollins had a pretty good comeback this year. Colin Dunn: Chris Jericho, in my opinion, has had the best go of his career in WWE here in 2016.
He has been the most entertaining thing in WWE here in 2016 and you’d be a stupid idiot not to vote for him. Justin F: Matt Hardy Chris Jericho would’ve easily been my pick due to always reinventing himself everytime he returns to the company, getting his “list” over on the main roster, and screaming “STUPID IDIOT” for whomever he interacts with, but honestly I have to give this to Matt Hardy. Despite my feelings towards TNA, Matt Hardy has truly reinvented himself into being this insane and wacky character that might turn people, but he makes it work in the end.
Like Peter said, his loony persona created The Final Deletion, which garnered an increase in viewership for TNA. His persona has brought interest into his character and you hear the “DELETE” chants not only in TNA, but in WWE arenas as well. Anabelle P: Matt Hardy because it’s “Broken” Matt Hardy’s year. TNA has been a doozy in 2016 however, they let Hardy do what he wants and it’s been gold. For the last few years, we knew Matt Hardy was in TNA but the takeover in 2016 has been STRONG.
Patrick: Chris Jericho: HE MADE A LIST GET OVER WITH A CROWD AND MADE “STUPID IDIOT! A TOP CATCH PHRASE! Anyone that can do that had a great year, and Y2J is known for reinventing himself. After a lackluster return a couple years ago, this was one of his best returns to date. Only thing that comes close is Broken Matt Hardy. Match of the Year: Peter Luongo: Nakamura vs Zayn: When Shinsuke Nakamura signed with WWE, we knew MOTY candidates were coming. He had already put on a classic against AJ Styles at Wrestle Kingdom 10 which many fans thought couldn’t be outdone but at NXT Takeover: Dallas we were proven wrong.
It was also the perfect way for Sami Zayn to leave NXT. This match was hard hitting, close and amazing, all the formulas for a Match of the Year. Colin Dunn: DIY vs The Revival at NXT Take Over Toronto. This match was one of if not the single greatest match I’ve seen. The build up to this match was flawless and the tension everyone had was insane. This match was a house of fire straight off the bat and with DIY finally winning the NXT Tag Team Championships from The Revival it made for great TV. Patrick: AJ Styles vs. John Cena: The matches between these two were great.
AJ and John have been known to put on great matches, and there matches they had this summer were some of the best. This was the match I have been waiting a long time for, and after finally getting it, I can say I more than enjoyed it! My only knock on these matches is that this didn’t take place a couple of years earlier. Anabelle P: Nakamura vs Zayn- This was essentially the passing of the torch between NXT vet (Zayn), and WWE’s hottest newcomer in Nakamura. Nakamura gave us strongstyle and Zayn gave us one last great OLE round.
This match took over the biggest weekend in sports entertainment. Justin F: AJ Styles vs John Cena Summerslam 2016 – It’s a dream match that finally came into fruition, “The Face That Runs the Place” John Cena battling against “The Phenomenal One” AJ Styles in a WWE ring. Their match at summerslam was the second encounter that put AJ Styles on the top of the food chain. It was nice for Cena to not put AJ Styles over not once, but twice on two PPV occasions. This match was back and forth, not knowing who was going to win.
But surprisingly, Styles manages to score the victory and is now claiming to be the new “Face That Runs the Place”. Eventually, the rematch between the two will happen next year. Bet on it. Women’s Wrestler of the Year: Peter Luongo: Charlotte: I wanted to give this to Sasha Banks but Charlotte just narrowly outdid her this year. She captured the Raw Women’s championship on three separate occasions, put on the best women’s WrestleMania match along with Banks and Becky Lynch, was in the first ever women’s Hell in a Cell and the match was also the first women’s match to main event a WWE PPV.
She is without a doubt living up to her father’s legacy and is proving to be one of the best women’s wrestlers ever. Colin Dunn: I hate saying it because it’s so stupid but it has to be Charlotte. She’s been a 4 time Women’s champion in the span of a year and has much as I hate saying it she has definitely been the best. Anabelle P: Charlotte has had peaks and valleys but her performance has been great when it needs to be like Wrestlemania. She’s getting more comfortable as heel and you can see her growing.
Not to mention her and Sasha had a historic year. Patrick: Sasha Banks: She won the women’s title three times on Raw. THREE TIMES. ON RAW. That never happens. She had great matches in the past, she is the best mic worker of the women’s division, and she is the most entertaining. Yes, Charlotte did have a great year, but Banks made Raw more fun to watch. Give me Banks over Charlotte. Justin F: Charlotte – One of the best heels in the WWE today, Charlotte gets my vote as Women’s Wrestler of the Year. I would of loved to give it to Sasha Banks.
Unfortunately it was Charlotte who had the better run as being the narcissistic woman that proclaims to be the “queen” of the women’s division. I’ve had a prediction that she was going to be a focal point in the Women’s division when she arrives to the main roster, and man I was right. As much I did not like the hot potato with the Women’s Championship between her feud with Sasha Banks, she proves that she can get the job done when the stakes are high on payper-view. Wrestler of the Year: Peter Luongo: AJ Styles: Don’t really have to say what has already been said already about AJ Style’s 2016 campaign.
He is the face that runs the place and will continue to be for as long as he is in WWE. Colin Dunn: It’s got to be AJ Styles. From his debut in the Rumble, to his feud with John Cena, to being WWE champion isn’t for everyone to do. Anabelle P: AJ Styles has been sensational all year. Literally since he debuted at the Royal Rumble to his last PPV match of the year at TLC. He’s done such a great job that we now have James Ellsworth on the roster. That’s how good he’s been. Patrick: AJ Styles: He has always been great.
It only took a matter of days for the WWE to prove how great he is. He is great on the mic, great in the ring, and is excellence personified. And his matches with John Cena have been great. Just watch him work, you’ll see we’re right. Justin F: AJ Styles My co-horts all agree, AJ Styles is the Wrestler of the Year. He has had a sensational year even before arriving to the company. His match with Nakamura at Wrestle Kingdom 10 was spectacular for a MOTY Candidate. and leaving the Bullet Club to let Kenny Omega take over in NJPW.
