The WWE may have their Slammy Awards, but here at Smark Out Moment we like to take an even closer look at what happened throughout the year and award not just the best, but also point out the worst, and that applies to both what World Wrestling Entertainment had to offer.
I present to you the eleventh annual Smark Out Moment Awards, aka The Smarkies!
Make sure you let us know in the comments what your choices are for the best and the worst of each award in all of the WWE divisions (Technical Skills, Writing, Programming, On-Air Personalities, and Wrestlers)!
Normally, a few changes are made. This year, I eliminated the Celebrity Appearance award as that just wasn't all that interesting or important. I also made some of my running lists public for everyone else to track throughout the year, rather than keeping those notes to myself. This was later into 2020, but in 2021, the roster list and such will be available from the very start of the year. We also did a shortened version of this for the AEW roster for the first time. Everything else stayed the same as it was in 2019.
Without further ado, let's start reviewing this year in WWE!
[TECHNICAL SKILLS AWARDS]
ENTRANCE
Explanation: This award should take into account everything including pyro, lighting, music, what the superstars do during their entrances, and so on. Your choices can be a singular entrance in particular (such as their upgraded WrestleMania one) or someone's standard entrance that happens every time he/she comes to the ring.
[BEST]: The Undertaker (Super ShowDown)
- Honorable Mentions: Edge (Royal Rumble), Karrion Kross, Shotzi Blackheart on her tank and Breezango's parodies
[WORST]: Becky Lynch (WrestleMania) or everyone in the Money in the Bank match
CLOTHING / ATTIRE
Explanation: Who has the best and worst outfits, whether it's just what they wear during their entrance or if it's their normal ring gear?
[BEST]: Aleister Black (WrestleMania)
- Honorable Mentions: Edge (Royal Rumble and WrestleMania), Seth Rollins (WrestleMania), Mandy Rose (WrestleMania), Johnny Gargano (TakeOver: In Your House) and The New Day (Survivor Series)
[WORST]: Dominik Mysterio (SmackDown 12/4 turtle neck)
SIGNATURE MANEUVER
Explanation: What is your favorite and least favorite regularly seen wrestling move was that had been featured multiple times as something on a superstar's repertoire. Typically, these are finishers (such as the Attitude Adjustment) but it could also be a signature setup (such as the Five Knuckle Shuffle) or something along those lines.
[BEST]: Keith Lee's Big Bang Catastrophe
[WORST]: Finn Balor's 1916 DDT
SPOT / BOTCH
Explanation: What was the most entertaining spot and what was the biggest disaster of a botch that happened this year?
[BEST/COOLEST SPOT]: Lince Dorado's flip from the top of the Elimination Chamber
[WORST/BIGGEST BOTCH]: Austin Theory fails to catch Montez Ford (Raw 3/30)
RECOGNITION
Explanation: Perception is everything, so which superstar deserved more credit this year than they received and which superstar was unworthy of all the praise he or she received?
[MOST UNDERRATED]: Damian Priest
- Honorable Mention: Dominik Dijakovic / T-Bar
[MOST OVERRATED]: The Riott Squad
IMPROVEMENT IN A SUPERSTAR
Explanation: Which superstar improved their work and saw the biggest upgrade and who saw the biggest downgrade in terms of a regression of their performance, spot on the roster, quality of value and so forth?
[BIGGEST UPGRADE]: Raquel Gonzalez
- Honorable Mentions: Bobby Lashley, Damian Priest, Jey Uso and Pat McAfee
[BIGGEST DOWNGRADE]: Velveteen Dream
- Runner-Up: Rhea Ripley
RING WORK
Explanation: Which two superstars were the best and the worst when performing in the ring?
[BEST]: Adam Cole
- Honorable Mentions: AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Kyle O'Reilly, Johnny Gargano, Shayna Baszler
[WORST]: Nia Jax
- Honorable Mentions: Santana Garrett and Tamina
MIC WORK
Explanation: Who had the best and worst promo skills, charisma, and performing as an entertaining character with all of the verbal aspects of WWE.
[BEST]: Pat McAfee
- Honorable Mentions: Adam Cole, Cameron Grimes, Montez Ford
[WORST]: Angie Mysterio
- Honorable Mentions: Aalyah, Finn Balor, Kay Lee Ray, Tamina
MATCH OF THE YEAR
Explanation: Matches can be from any show, including Raw, SmackDown, NXT, Main Event, 205 Live, pay-per-views and special events.
[BEST]: My list is as follows...
- 2020 Men's Royal Rumble Match — Royal Rumble 2020
- Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic — NXT TakeOver: Portland
- NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The BroserWeights (Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne) vs. The Undisputed ERA (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) — NXT TakeOver: Portland
- Adam Cole vs. Tommaso Ciampa — NXT TakeOver: Portland
- SmackDown Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber Match — Elimination Chamber 2020
- "The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever": Edge vs. Randy Orton — Backlash 2020
- Intercontinental Championship Tournament Final: AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan — SmackDown 6/12
- NXT UK Championship Match: WALTER (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov — NXT UK 10/29
- NXT Women's Championship Match: Io Shirai (c) vs. Rhea Ripley — NXT 11/18
[WORST]: Money in the Bank ladder match
- Raw Women's Championship Match: Asuka vs. Nia Jax — Backlash 2020
- Eye for an Eye Match: Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio — The Horror Show at Extreme Rules 2020
[WRITING AWARDS]
CATCHPHRASE or SLOGAN
Explanation: This includes any kind of regularly mentioned slogan, taunt, catch phrase, signature sign-off or any verbal sayings of those sorts.
[BEST]: "If you're not in The Way, stay out of our way." or "We're in The Hurt Business and business is booming."
[WORST]: "This may be the greatest wrestling match ever."
GIMMICK
Explanation: Which superstars portrayed the best and the worst characters this year?
[BEST]: Tribal Chief Roman Reigns
- Runner-Up: Legend Killer Randy Orton
[WORST]: Liv Morgan keeps trying to "find herself"
- Honorable Mentions: Erick Rowan carries a spider, Lana goes through tables, Natalya throws temper tantrums
HEEL or FACE TURN
Explanation: The Best/Worst Heel or Face Turn award asks which character turn (whether it was from heel to face or face to heel doesn't matter) was the most effective and interesting and which one was stupid and a mistake.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: all heel and face turns are on this list
[BEST]: Randy Orton turns heel on Edge
- Honorable Mentions: Santos Escobar when he created Legado del Fantasma, Roman Reigns return
[WORST]: Mojo Rawley for WrestleMania only
- Runner-Up: Lacey Evans turns heel on Naomi after karaoke competition.
TITLE REIGN
Explanation: Who had the most meaningful time with a championship to their name, where the matches were good, the feuds were interesting, and you were enjoying their reign, as well as who failed to meet those expectations and perhaps had a boring, uneventful, bad run with a belt.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: all of the title reigns on this list
[BEST]: Drew McIntyre
[WORST]: Goldberg (Universal)
- Honorable Mentions: Rhea Ripley (NXT) and Rob Gronkowski (24/7)
CAMEO APPEARANCE
Explanation: This award revolves around the old school wrestlers who aren't a regular part of the roster and made a temporary return for a brief one-off appearance. This excludes people who became a regular part of the fold. Which was your favorite to see make an appearance and which one were you less than thrilled about?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Molly Holly (Royal Rumble), Kelly Kelly (Royal Rumble, Raw 1/27), Santina Marella (Royal Rumble), Brother Love (Money in the Bank), Doink the Clown (Money in the Bank), John Laurinaitis (Money in the Bank), Todd Pettengill (NXT TakeOver: In Your House), Christian (Raw 6/15 unsanctioned match), Heath Slater (Raw 7/6), Ric Flair (multiple episodes), Shawn Michaels (8/17 Raw), Big Show and Christian and HBK and Ric Flair (Clash of Champions and Raw 9/28), JBL and Ron Simmons and Teddy Long in Law & Otis court (SmackDown 10/23), Afa and Sika (Hell in a Cell), Michael PS Hayes (Halloween Havoc), Gobbledy Gooker (Survivor Series), Slammy Award presenters (Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, Todd Pettengill, Trish Stratus, Ric Flair)
[BEST]: Todd Pettengill (NXT TakeOver: In Your House)
- Honorable Mentions: Santina Marella (Royal Rumble) and Christian (Unsanctioned Match)
[WORST]: Doink the Clown or John Laurinaitis (Money in the Bank)
MOST SHOCKING MOMENT
Explanation: What was the absolute biggest surprise you had this entire year that you didn't see coming?
[MOST]: Becky Lynch announces she's pregnant
- Honorable Mentions: Santina Marella returns at Royal Rumble, Edge returns at Royal Rumble
SMARK OUT MOMENTS
Explanation: What did you consider to be the overall best and worst things to have happened this year? What was the coolest thing to make you happy as a fan and which moment was so horrible that it made you the most disappointed with WWE?
[BEST]: Edge returns at Royal Rumble
- Honorable Mentions: Becky Lynch announces she's pregnant, Drake Maverick signs NXT contract
[WORST]: Black Wednesday
- Honorable Mentions: The "unique" way WWE announced Braun Strowman would replace Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, Rhea Ripley loses to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, Eye for an Eye match ending, SmackDown 7/10 karaoke showdown
STORYLINE
Explanation: What were the most interesting, well-executed storylines of the year and which feuds were the least interesting, terrible ones to watch?
[BEST]: Legend Killer Randy Orton
[WORST]: Love story with Lana, Bobby Lashley, Rusev and Liv Morgan
- Honorable Mentions: Erick Rowan's fake spider, Mysterio family drama
[PROGRAMMING AWARDS]
IN-RING SHOWS
Explanation: Out of WWE's in-ring wrestling content, which programs were your favorite and least favorite?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: 205 Live, Main Event, NXT, NXT UK, Raw, SmackDown
[BEST]: NXT
[WORST]: Main Event
TALK or RECAP SHOWS
Explanation: Out of WWE's interview or just chatter-based content, which programs were your favorite and least favorite?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Afterburn, After the Bell, Ask the WWE PC, Bottom Line, Break It Down, Broken Skull Sessions, The Bump, Chasing Glory, Experience, If it's on the Internet, Notsam Wrestling, Photo Shoot, Playback, Pop Question, Raw Talk, Swerve City, Table for 3, Talking Smack, The New Day: Feel the Power, This Week in WWE, Uncool, Virtual Roundtable, What the Hell's on your Cell?, What's NeXT?, WWE Ahora, WWE Backstage, WWE Now, WWE Sunday Dhamaal, WWE Vintage, WWE Wal3ooha
[BEST]: The New Day: Feel the Power
[WORST]: All the recap material as they're all the same
DOCUMENTARY SHOWS
Explanation: Out of WWE's documentary-based content, which programs were your favorite and least favorite?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Chronicle, Day Of, Making WWE, Miz and Mrs, PC Diaries, Ruthless Aggression, Then & Now, Timeline, Total Bellas, Total Divas, Undertaker: The Last Ride, Untold, Where Are They Now?, WWE 24, WWE 365
[BEST]: WWE 24: Edge: The Second Mountain
[WORST]: Miz and Mrs, Total Bellas and Total Divas
ODDBALL SHOWS
Explanation: Out of WWE's other, miscellaneous and offbeat content, which programs were your favorite and least favorite?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Astrology, Dream Match Mania, Fight Like a Girl, List This, Ride Along, The R-Truth Game Show, Spelling Bee, Superstar Home Baking, UpUpDownDown, What's Your Hobbie with Robbie, WWE Fandom, WWE Playlist
[BEST]: The R-Truth Game Show
[WORST]: Astrology
NEW PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Explanation: Out of the brand new shows that premiered this year, which were the best and worst?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Astrology, Break It Down, Dream Match Mania, Fight Like a Girl, If it's on the Internet, The R-Truth Game Show, Ruthless Aggression, Spelling Bee, Superstar Home Baking/Cooking, Timeline, Virtual Roundtable, What the Hell's on your Cell?, What's NeXT, What's Your Hobbie with Robbie
[BEST]: Ruthless Aggression / The R-Truth Game Show
[WORST]: WWE Astrology
PAY-PER-VIEW or SPECIAL EVENT
Explanation: What were your favorite and least favorite pay-per-views or special events from the year?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II, Worlds Collide: NXT vs. NXT UK, Royal Rumble, NXT TakeOver: Portland, Super ShowDown, Elimination Chamber, WrestleMania 36, Money in the Bank, NXT TakeOver: In Your House, Backlash, The Horror Show at Extreme Rules, TakeOver 30, SummerSlam, Payback, Clash of Champions, NXT TakeOver 31, Hell in a Cell, Survivor Series, TakeOver: WarGames, Tribute to the Troops, TLC
[BEST]: Royal Rumble or Survivor Series
- Honorable Mentions: NXT TakeOver: Portland, NXT TakeOver 30
[WORST]: Extreme Rules
- Honorable Mentions: WrestleMania, Money in the Bank, Backlash
[ON-AIR PERSONALITY AWARDS]
MANAGER or VALET
Explanation: This includes anybody who regularly accompanies someone down to the ring in some capacity, but is not their tag team partner in the ring.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: All managers and valets on the roster are indicated on this list
[BEST]: MVP
[WORST]: Lana
AUTHORITY FIGURE
Explanation: This includes anybody who was in a position of power over the roster including commissioners, general managers, the chairman and so forth.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: All authority figures are indicated on this list
[BEST]: Adam Pearce
[WORST]: Johnny Saint
OTHER/EXTRA CHARACTER
Explanation: This includes all extraneous, ancillary, supporting and oddball characters who don't fit into any other classification.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: All extraneous characters are indicated amongst the superstars on this list
[BEST]: Pat McAfee (TakeOver XXX)
[WORST]: Erick Rowan's spider
- Runner-Up: Dumpster monster from Backlash
RING ANNOUNCER
Explanation: This includes all in-ring announcers who would introduce wrestlers during their entrances.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Alicia Taylor, Andy Shepherd, Francesca Brown, Greg Hamilton, Josiah Williams, Kayla Braxton, Mike Rome, Sarah Schreiber
[BEST]: Greg Hamilton / The Fink
[WORST]: Francesca Brown
BROADCAST CORRESPONDENT
Explanation: This includes all backstage interviewers, panelists and correspondents.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Alicia Taylor, Alyse Ashton,
Booker T, Byron Saxton, Cathy Kelley, Charly Caruso, Christian, CM Punk,
Dan Vollmayer, David Otunga, Dennis Arnell (NXT), Evan T. Mack, Gaelyn
Mendonca (WWE Now India), Jerry Lawler, Jimena Sánchez (WWE Saturday
Night), John Bradshaw Layfield, Jonathan Coachman, Jonny Loquasto, Josiah Williams, Kat Marino
(Kathy Campanelli), Kayla Braxton, Kelly Kelly (host of Where are They
Now), Madonna Tixeira (WWE Sunday Dhamaal), Matt Camp, McKenzie
Mitchell, Mike Rome, Moein Al Bastaki (WWE Wal3ooha), Nathalie Mamo (WWE
Wal3ooha), Nina Wu (WWE Now China), Paige, Pat McAfee, Peter Rosenberg,
Quetzalli Bulnes, Radzi Chinyanganya, Renee Young, Ryan Pappolla, Salil
Acharya (WWE Sunday Dhamaal), Sam Roberts, Sarah Schreiber, Scott
Stanford, Verónica Rodríguez (WWE Saturday Night)
[BEST]: Charly Caruso
- Runner-Up: McKenzie Mitchell
[WORST]: Kelly Kelly for "Where Are They Now?"
COMMENTATOR
Explanation: This includes all members of the commentary teams on all brands, including the foreign commentators.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Aiden English, Andy Shepherd, Beth Phoenix, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, Jerry Lawler, John Bradshaw Layfield (WrestleMania and Tribute to the Troops), Jon Quasto, Mauro Ranallo, Michael Cole, Nigel McGuinness, Samoa Joe, Tom Phillips, Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett + international roll of foreign commentary teams
[BEST]: Wade Barrett
- Honorable Mentions: Mauro Ranallo, Michael Cole, Samoa Joe
[WORST]: Beth Phoenix
[WRESTLER AWARDS]
NEWCOMER
Explanation: The Best/Worst Newcomer award applies to anybody who either made their debut somewhere on the main roster or NXT, or were repackaged into a completely different gimmick with a different name.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: All newcomers to the roster are indicated amongst the superstars on this list
[BEST]: Karrion Kross (or Pat McAfee if he counts)
[WORST]: August Grey?
- Note: No newcomers were bad this year. Most were completely inconsequential.
MAIN ROSTER CALL-UP
Explanation: Which of the superstars who moved up from NXT or developmental to the main roster have done the best and the worst with their promotion?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: All call-ups to the main roster are indicated amongst the superstars on this list
[BEST]: Keith Lee / Shayna Baszler
[WORST]: Chelsea Green
TAG TEAM or STABLE
Explanation: Which tag team or stable did you like and hate the most?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: All tag teams can be found on this list
[BEST]: The Hurt Business
- Honorable Mentions: BroserWeights, Street Profits, Undisputed ERA
[WORST]: RETRIBUTION
HEEL
Explanation: Who was the most hated villain and which superstar failed the most to get the crowd to boo them?
[BEST]: Randy Orton or Roman Reigns
[WORST]: Slapjack
BABYFACE
Explanation: Who was the best fan-favorite hero and which superstar wasn't able to pull off being a babyface?
[BEST]: Drew McIntyre
- Honorable Mentions: Drake Maverick, Keith Lee
[WORST]: Tamina / Mojo Rawley
- Honorable Mentions: Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross
FEMALE SUPERSTAR
Explanation: Which female wrestlers were the cream of the crop and the bottom of the barrel?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: All superstars who were in WWE this year can be found on this list
[BEST]: Sasha Banks
- Runner-Up: Asuka
[WORST]: Nia Jax
- Honorable Mentions: Chelsea Green, Lana, Tamina
MALE SUPERSTAR
Explanation: Which male wrestlers were the cream of the crop and the bottom of the barrel?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: All superstars who were in WWE this year can be found on this list
[BEST]: Drew McIntyre
- Honorable Mentions: Adam Cole, Keith Lee, Randy Orton
[WORST]: Mojo Rawley
- Honorable Mentions: Eric Young, Goldberg, Lars Sullivan
SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR
Explanation: Judging as a co-ed award out of both the men and women wrestlers who were in the company at some point, who was the absolute best and worst in the company this year?
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: All superstars who were in WWE this year can be found on this list
[BEST]: Drew McIntyre
- Runner-Up: Keith Lee
[WORST]: Nia Jax
- Honorable Mentions: Chelsea Green, Lana, Mojo Rawley, Tamina
[SMACK TALK AWARDS]
The results from your votes will be calculated based on the poll.
SEGMENT
YOUR VOTES ARE REVEALED ON THE PODCAST
[MY FAVORITES]: Fannounce Table, Mailbag, Mount Rushmore, Play the Game, Time Machine Dream Team
[MY LEAST FAVORITES]: TV Ratings
CO-HOST OF THE YEAR
POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Anthony Mango, Callum Wiggins, Robert DeFelice, Stephen Wago
[YOUR VOTE]: Your vote for winner is revealed on the poll and on the podcast.
[MY PICKS]: I always abstain from voting in this category.
YEAR-IN-REVIEW OF STATISTICS
I'll be giving a breakdown of some of the advancements that have happened over the past year with the Smark Out Moment brand.
LET US KNOW YOUR CHOICES IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
0 comments: