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2009 PWINSIDER.COM YEAR END AWARDS - VOTING NOW OPEN IN ALL 29 CATEGORIES

2009 is in the books, but we're taking one last look back on the year that was with the annual PWInsider.com Year End Awards.  

If you are an Elite member, you can vote by clicking here.

If you are a free site reader, you can vote by clicking here.

Voting is currently open in all categories! 

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

AJ Styles
Bryan Danielson
Chris Jericho
Christian
CM Punk
Davey Richards
Edge
Jeff Hardy
John Cena
John Morrison
Kota Ibushi
Kurt Angle
Melina
Nigel McGuinness/Desmond Wolfe
Randy Orton
Takashi Sugiura
Triple H

MATCH OF THE YEAR

AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels - Turning Point - November 15th
American Wolves vs. Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black - Tag Title Classic - April 18th
Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio - The Bash - June 28th
Davey Richards vs. KENTA - Supercard of Honor IV - April 3rd
Davey Richards vs. Shingo - Untouchable Gate - September 6th
Edge vs. Jeff Hardy - Extreme Rules - June 7th
Edge vs. John Cena - Backlash - April 26th 
Evan Bourne vs. John Morrison - ECW - April 14th
John Cena vs. Chris Jericho - Tribute to the Troops - December 19th
Kenta vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima - Pro Wrestling Noah - April 20th
Kota Ibushi vs. Yoshihiko - DDT - October 25th
Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe - Final Resolution - December 20th
Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe - Turning Point - November 15th
Nick Jackson vs. El Generico vs. Kota Ibushi vs. Jigsaw - Chikara King Of Trios - March 28th
Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson - Glory By Honor VIII: The Final Countdown - September 26th
Nigel McGuinness vs. Tyler Black vs. Jimmy Jacobs vs. Jerry Lynn - Eliminating The Competition - February 27th 
Roderick Strong and Bryan Danielson vs. American Wolves - ROH On HDNet - November 12th
Sara Del Rey vs. Ayako Hamada - SHIMMER Vol. 28 - November 8th
The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels - Wrestlemania 25 - April 5th
Triple H vs. Randy Orton - Wrestlemania 25 - April 5th

TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR

Beautiful People
Beer Money Inc.
JeriShow
Briscoe Brothers
British Invasion
Carlito and Primo Colon
DX
John Morrison and The Miz
Kenny King and Rhett Titus
Motor City Machine Guns
American Wolves
Bella Twins
Hart Dynasty
Young Bucks
Team 3D

FEUD OF THE YEAR

Batista vs. Rey Mysterio
Chavo Guerrero vs. Hornswoggle
Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio
Christian vs. William Regal
CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy
DX vs. Chris Jericho and Big Show
John Cena vs. Randy Orton
Kevin Steen and El Generico vs. American Wolves
Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton 
Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe
Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett
Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy
New Japan vs. Pro Wrestling NOAH
Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
The Miz vs. John Morrison
Triple H vs. Randy Orton

PROMOTION OF THE YEAR

Dragon Gate USA
Chikara
DDT
New England Championship Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
Ring of Honor
Shimmer
TNA
WWE

ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR

Dave Prazak
Jim Ross
Josh Mathews
Michael Cole
Mike Tenay
Mike Hodgewood
Todd Grisham

COLOR COMMENTATOR OF THE YEAR

Byron Saxton
Jerry Lawler
Lenny Leonard
Matt Striker
Taz
Ultramantis Black
Don West

TV SERIES OF THE YEAR

TNA Impact
ECW
Friday Night Smackdown
Raw
Ring Of Honor on HD Net
WWE Superstars
WWE Legends Of Wrestling

BEST INTERVIEWS OF THE YEAR

Abraham Washington
Chavo Guerrero
Chris Jericho
CM Punk
Desmond Wolfe
Don West
Eddie Kingston
Edge
Gail Kim
Hulk Hogan
Kurt Angle
Mick Foley
Raven
R-Truth
Samoa Joe
Santina Marella
Scott Steiner
Shawn Michaels

MOST IMPROVED WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

Alicia Fox
Austin Aries
Brutus Magnus
Chris Hero
Christian
CM Punk
D'Angelo Dinero
Davey Richards
DH Smith
Dolph Ziggler
Drew McIntyre
Eddie Edwards
Eve Torres
Go Shiozaki
Goldust
Jack Swagger
John Morrison
Kofi Kingston
Mark Henry
Matt Morgan
Melina
Mike Knox
Miz
Nicole Mathews
Randy Orton
Rhett Titus
Sheamus
Ted DiBiase
Vance Archer
Zack Ryder

NEWS STORY OF THE YEAR

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff join TNA.
Ric Flair-NWA Title belt controversy.
Bret Hart agrees to return to WWE.
Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness leave Ring Of Honor.
Jeff Hardy gets arrested two weeks after leaving WWE.
PPV buys continue to decline.
Ring of Honor gets HDNet TV deal.
Shane McMahon leaves WWE.
TNA announces they will go head-to-head with WWE on January 4th.
WWE goes TV-PG as Linda McMahon runs for Senate.
WWE goes to Iraq to entertain the troops.
WWE sets live attendance gate record at Wrestlemania, $6.9 million.

Note: As in the past, we do not include the death of a wrestler as part of what is a trivial competition, out of respect to those that have passed away.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR (if you never saw him or her before, then they're new to you!)

Tyson Kidd
Brutus Magnus
Davey Richards
Desmond Wolfe
Drew McIntyre
Hamada
Jesse Neal
Kazuchika Okada
Kenny Omega
Lacey Von Erich
Nick Jackson
Sheamus
The Young Bucks
Vance Archer
Yoshi Tatsu

CHARACTER OF THE YEAR

Abraham Washington
Abyss
Austin Aries
Chris Jericho
Chris Masters
Christopher Daniels
CM Punk
Cody Deaner
Colt Cabana
Daffney
Delirious
Desmond Wolfe
Don West
Genba Hirayanagi
Hornswoggle
Jesse Ventura
Jimmy Jacobs
John Cena
John Morrison
Kofi Kingston
Luke Gallows
Miz
Pope D'Angelo Dinero
Raven
Rhett Titus
Samoa Joe
Santino Marella
Sheamus
Sucide
Tiffany
Tony Atlas
Undertaker
Zack Ryder

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR

AJ Styles
Amazing Red
Batista
Big Show
Bobby Lashley
Chris Jericho
Chris Masters
Christian
Christopher Daniels
CM Punk
Colt Cabana
Daffney
Drew McIntyre
Goldust
Hulk Hogan
Hurricane Helms
Jeff Jarrett
Jerry Lynn
Jim Cornette
John Cena
Johnny Saint
Kenta Kobashi
Lacey
Mark Henry
Mick Foley
Rey Mysterio
Ric Flair
Ricky Steamboat
Samoa Joe
Scott Steiner
Shawn Michaels
Tara
Tommy Dreamer
Undertaker
Vance Archer

BABYFACE OF THE YEAR

AJ Styles
Bobby Dempsey
Christian
Triple H
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Jeff Hardy
John Cena
John Morrison
Kelly Kelly
Kofi Kingston
Rey Mysterio
Santino Marella
Shawn Michaels
Sting
Triple H
Tyler Black
Undertaker
Bryan Danielson
Hornswoggle

HEEL OF THE YEAR

CM Punk
Alicia Fox
Austin Aries
Chris Jericho
Edge
Jack Swagger
Kurt Angle
Matt Hardy
Nigel McGuinness/Desmond Wolfe
Randy Orton
Rhett Titus
Shunsuke Nakamura
Miz
Edge

BRAWLER OF THE YEAR

Abyss
Awesome Kong
Batista
Big Show
Daffney
Desmond Wolfe
Eddie Kingston
Finlay
Hernandez
James Storm
Jeff Hardy
John Cena
Kevin Steen
Mark Henry
Mick Foley
Mike Knox
Necro Butcher
Paul Burchill
Rhino
Samoa Joe
Scott Steiner
Sheamus
Ted DiBiase
Togi Makabe
Tommy Dreamer
Triple H
Undertaker

TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR

Bryan Danielson
AJ Styles
CM Punk
Chris Jericho
Christian
Davey Richard
Nigel McGuinness/Desmond Wolfe
Doug Williams
Kevin Steen
Kurt Angle
Shawn Michaels

FLYER OF THE YEAR

AJ Styles
Amazing Red
Bryan Danielson
Christopher Daniels
Dragon Kid
El Generico
Evan Bourne
Hamada
Helios
Jay Briscoe
Jeff Hardy
John Morrison
Kenta
Kofi Kingston
Kota Ibushi
Matt Sydal
Naruki Doi
Pac
Rey Mysterio
Suicide
Tyson Kidd
Young Bucks

HOTTIE OF THE YEAR (Female)

Alicia Fox
Awesome Kong
Beth Phoenix
Brie Bella
Candice Michelle
Christy Hemme
Daffney
Daizee Haze
Eve Torres
Hamada
Jillian Hall
Katie Lee Burchill
Kelly Kelly
Lacey Von Erich
Layla
Madison Rayne
Maria
Maryse
Melina
Mickie James
Natalya
Rosa Mendes
Tara
Tiffany
Traci Brooks
Trish Stratus
Velvet Sky

HOTTIE OF THE YEAR (Male)

AJ Styles
Big Dick Johnson
BxB Hulk
Carlito
Chris Masters
CM Punk
Cute Kip
Drew McIntyre
Edge
Evan Bourne
Festus
Great Khali
Hornswoggle
Jeff Hardy
John Cena
John Morrison
Kamala
Matt Striker
Mick Foley
Randy Orton
Raven
Santino Marella
Suicide
The Miz
Triple H
Vince McMahon

COUPLE OF THE YEAR

Abraham Washington and Tony Atlas
Bellas and the Raw guest hosts
Big Show and Chris Jericho
Booker T and Sharmell
Chris Masters and Eve
Cody Deaner and ODB
Daizee Haze and Delirious
Dolph Ziggler and Maria
Dr. Stevie and Daffney
Edge and Vickie Guerrero
Lacey and Austin Aries
Paul and Katie Lee Burchill
Zack Ryder and Rosa Mendes
Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix
Abyss and Lauren

BOOK OF THE YEAR

Wrestling in the Canadian West - Vance Nevada
Dear Andy Kaufman, I Hate Your Guts!
Gorgeous George: The Outrageous Bad-Boy Wrestler Who Created American Pop Culture by John Capouya 
Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling by Bret Hart (Paperback)
Hulk Hogan: My Life Outside The Ring by Hulk Hogan
My Life in Wrestling by Gary Hart
Rey Mysterio: Behind the Mask by Rey Mysterio 
Sputnik, Masked Men and Midgets: The Early Days of Memphis Wrestling by Ron Hall and Sherman Willmott
Ten Pounds of Gold - A Close Look at the NWA World Heavyweight championship by Dave Millican
The Midnight Express and Jim Cornette 25th Anniversary Scrapbook by Jim Cornette with Tim Ash
The Unauthorized History Of DX
WWE Encyclopedia

MOVE OF THE YEAR

AJ Styles' springboard 450 splash
AJ Styles' Styles Clash
Amazing Red's Code Red
Amazing Red's Red Alert
Big Show's KO Punch
Bryan Danielson's Cattle Mutilation
BxB Hulk's BxB Smash
Chris Jericho's Walls Of Jericho
Claudio Castignoli's no hands Airplane Spin
CM Punk's Go To Sleep
Desmond Wolfe's Lariat
Desmond Wolfe's London Dungeon
Desmond Wolfe's Tower Of London
Drew McIntyre's Kobashi DDT
Evan Bourne's Air Boure
Hart Dynasty's Hart Attack
Hornswoggle's Tadpole Splash
Jack Evans' corkscrew 630 senton
Jeff Hardy's Swanton Bomb
John Cena's Attitude Adjustment
John Morrison's Starship Pain
Kevin Steen's Package Piledriver
Kofi Kingston's Trouble In Paradise
Matt Hardy's Twist of Fate
Mike Knox's crossbody block
MVP's Drive By
Naruki Doi's Muscular Bomb
Prince Devitt’s Topé Con Hilo
Randy Orton's elevated DDT
Randy Orton's punt kick 
Randy Orton's RKO
Rey Mysterio's 619
Scott Steiner's top rope Frankensteiner
Shawn Michaels' Sweet Chin Music
Tyler Black's God's Last Gift
Undertaker's Hell's Gate
Undertaker's Tombstone Piledriver
Young Bucks' More Bang For Your Buck

CHANT OF THE YEAR

"Don't Come Back!" - Austin Aries-Tyler Black match (after brawling through the curtain), ROH Final Battle 2009 
"Don't Go 60" - ROH Final Battle 2009
"Jeff Hardy" during Matt promos
"Let's go Cena!" "Cena sucks!"
"Masterlock, Masterlock"
"Please Retire" to Triple H at Backlash
"Randy Savage" at Vince McMahon during the Hall of Fame
"Santino" after Santina won Miss Wrestlemania
"Screw Hulk Hogan" - Turning Point 2009.
"Thank you Tommy" - Tommy Dreamer farewell
"This is awesome" - Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker
"This is awesome" - Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe
"This is wrestling!" - TNA
"We Want Blood!" - During Christian getting his cut wiped at TLC.
"We Want Hogan" "No We Don't!" - TNA
"You've still got it!" - Ricky Steamboat
“You can’t wrestle” - To Lacey Von Erich at the Turning Point PPV
"Twinkies!" - ROH Glory by Honor VIII - Petey Williams vs Austin Aries
"You're gonna get your f****** head kicked in!" -Bryan Danielson
"You Deserve It" - after AJ Styles won the TNA title.

STUPIDEST THING IN WRESTLING THIS YEAR

New Raw wrestlers (Swagger, Bourne, MVP) being used wrong.
Piggy James storyline is based on legitimate feelings from WWE management.
2009 Slammy Awards.
Raw's Got Talent.
John Cena vs. Randy Orton feud goes on… and on…
Chavo Guerrero vs. Hornswoggle feud.
Cody Deaner becomes TNA Knockouts Champion.
DX goes to Little People's Court / DX-Hornswoggle feud.
Raw Guest Hosts.
Mark Henry goes from dominant ECW star to Raw midcarder.
Michael Cole.
Randy Orton RKO's Dusty Rhodes and Cody does nothing about it / Legacy not standing up to Orton.
Santino wins Miss Wrestlemania.
Triple H vs. Randy Orton as the main event of Wrestlemania instead of Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels.
Zach Ryder's dream sequences on ECW.
Jeremy Piven and Ken Joeng's night hosting Raw.
Convoluted stipulation matches in TNA.
Donald Trump "buys" Raw.
Jeff Hardy getting busted.
John Cena's promos.
Knife wielding Samoa Joe.
A whole Raw with a Lakers vs. Nuggets theme.
The Abraham Washington Show.
Hernandez cashing in his Feast or Fired TNA title shot in a 4-way and getting taken out by Eric Young.
Dixie Carter's speech airing on Impact.

DVD OF THE YEAR

$1.99 Chikara Sampler
Allied Powers: The World's Greatest Tag Teams
Batista: I Walk Alone
Chikara King of Trios 2009
Dragon Gate USA - Open The Historic Gate
Edge: A Decade Of Decadence
Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series
Jeff Hardy: My Life, My Rules
Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain
Macho Madness: The Ultimate Randy Savage Collection
PWG Threemendous II
Ring Of Honor Eliminating The Competition
Ring Of Honor Glory By Honor VIII
Shimmer Vol. 25
Shimmer Vol. 26
Starrcade: The Essential Collection
The Best Of Saturday Night's Main Event
The Best Of Smackdown: 10th Anniversary
The Rise And Fall Of WCW
The Terry Funk Roast
TNA Bound For Glory
WWE History Of The World Heavyweight Championship
WWE Legends Of Wrestling Collection
WWE TLC: Tables Ladders And Chairs
WWE WrestleMania 25

ANGLE/STORYLINE OF THE YEAR

Chris Jericho and Big Show form a business relationship.
Chris Jericho feuds with Legends (Steamboat, Piper, Flair).
Chris Jericho, posing as a masked fan, attacks Rey Mysterio.
CM Punk cashes in Money in the Bank on Jeff Hardy.
CM Punk's "Straight Edge" vs. Jeff Hardy's "Live For The Moment" ends with Punk retiring Hardy.
Desmond Wolfe debuts, targets Kurt Angle.
Donald Trump "buys" Raw. 
Hornswoggle sues DX.
Kevin Steen turning on El Generico at ROH Final Battle 2009.
Kofi Kingston brawls with Randy Orton at Madison Square Garden.
Main Event Mafia vs. TNA.
Randy Orton DDTs and kisses Stephanie McMahon in front of Triple H.
Ring Of Honor introduces the Pick 6 concept.
Samoa Joe plays mindgames with AJ Styles and Daniels. 
Shawn Michaels tries to break The Undertaker's Wrestlemania streak.
Sugiura and Shoizaki’s rise to dominance in NOAH.
The formation of BDK in Chikara.
The Miz calls out John Cena.
Tommy Dreamer's bid to win ECW Championship.

SHOW OF THE YEAR

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom III - January 4th
WWE Royal Rumble - January 20th
WWE No Way Out - February 15th
ROH Eliminating The Competition - February 27th
WWE Smackdown 500th Episode - March 20th
WWE Wrestlemania - April 5th
PWG One Hundred April 12th
TNA Lockdown - April 19th
WWE Backlash - April 26th
Shimmer Vol. 25 - May 3rd
WWE Extreme Rules - June 7th
WWE The Bash - June 28th
DGUSA Open The Historic Gate - July 25th (aired September 4th)
WWE Summerslam - August 23rd
PWG Guerre Sans Frontieres - September 4th
DGUSA Open The Untouchable Gate - September 6th (aired November 6th)
ROH Glory By Honor VIII: The Final Countdown - September 26th
TNA Bound For Glory - October 18th
WWE Bragging Rights - October 25th
TNA Turning Point - November 15th
WWE Raw from MSG - November 16th
WWE Survivor Series - November 22nd
WWE Tribute To The Troops - December 19th
TNA Final Resolution - December 20th

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