It’s that time once again! 2010 is nearly a wrap and it’s time to look back at the year gone by in our third annual Year-End Awards. Who will be crowned Diva of the Year? Knockout of the Year?
Each year these awards go through some changes and this year is no different. This year’s Year-End Awards are bigger than ever with far more categories and nominations than in the previous two years. Since we began taking suggestions earlier this month for nominations, the awards have gone through some changes which you will see as you browse below.
However, before jumping straight into the nominations and voting, please read our guidance notes below to help you.
Guidance Notes
Earlier this month we decided to include ROH in our awards for the first time along with WWE and TNA, however since then we have also decided to include the independents. Diva Dirt is always committed to providing independent coverage where possible and we wanted to reflect that in our Year-End Awards this year. There is a certain negotiation that has to occur for us to include independent wrestlers, promotions and matches, however. So rather unusually for these awards, I’ve decided to explain our choices beforehand. First of all, there are three independent categories, while the others relate to the ‘big three’. While we could have certainly included more of these independent categories, we have to take into account that the majority of our readers don’t watch independent products and are generally WWE and TNA viewers. Having said that, we wanted to honor the independents to an extent too because it is true that the girls on TV get all of the shine. They already have great high-paying jobs and are on national TV every week. We have the opportunity here to spotlight the independents as well, who don’t necessarily get that coverage. So like I said, there is some negotiation here and we think we have done the best we can this year. Depending on how things go, we will hopefully expand these awards again next year.
Most of the awards are pretty straight forward as with previous years (though there are a lot more nominations than ever before!) but in order for these awards to work, we need to make certain allowances. While the main categories are pretty much pick-and-choose from the nominees listed, the independent categories are less structured. Because the independents don’t have the same reach as WWE or TNA, the criteria for these awards is slightly different. The criteria for Independent Wrestler of the Year and Independent Promotion of the Year is not only based on merit for those who have access to the performers’ matches or the promotion’s DVDs/live events, but also based on reach and exposure. What has the wrestler or promotion done to get their name out there? How much exposure does it have online to fans worldwide? In wrestling media like Diva Dirt or in magazines? This is as much important on the independent level as being a great wrestler or promotion.
We have selected five independent female wrestlers for this award based on the above criteria but that does not by any means mean you have to vote for them. This category is very much fluid and there is a write-in option. Our nominations in this category, while we feel are merited, are also a guideline for that large majority of readers who are less informed of the independents.
As for Independent Match of the Year, this award is open to all as a write-in category but there is a catch. The matches must be available for public consumption either on DVD, pay per view, online etc.
You will also find under each nomination a description of the criteria for that category. That criteria should be used in helping you inform your vote.
Of course, we have now also launched the Diva Dirt Legacy Award, which will be a physical award that will be awarded to one female each year as determined by Diva Dirt’s editors. This year, we are honoring Trish Stratus. Click here for the press release.
Remember: these awards are supposed to be fun and are not serious. Each year we get people who take them far too seriously and seem to really get worked up over the nominations and eventual winners. We include our readers in the entire process of these awards from suggestions for nominations and the actual voting. Again though, this is just for fun and it’s something we do for you (it’s actually a lot of hassle to put this together and it’d be a lot easier if we didn’t do it). Have fun with it and don’t take it too seriously.
And the nominations are…
Top Awards
Diva of the Year
To the Diva who has had the best year in terms of matches & storylines.
Alicia Fox
Beth Phoenix
Brie Bella
Eve Torres
Gail Kim
Kaitlyn
Kelly Kelly
Layla
Maryse
Melina
Michelle McCool
Natalya
Nikki Bella
Rosa Mendes
Tamina
Knockout of the Year
To the Knockout who has had the best year in terms of matches & storylines.
Angelina Love
Chelsea
Christy Hemme
Cookie
Daffney
Madison Rayne
Mickie James
Sarita
SoCal Val
Tara
Velvet Sky
Winter
Independent Wrestler of the Year
To the independent female wrestler who has accrued the most notability in 2010. Criteria includes: notable matches, title wins, media coverage, exposure to fans, use of social media/Internet.
Alissa Flash/Cheerleader Melissa
Britani Knight
Mercedes Martinez
Mia Yim
Sara Del Rey
Write-in option available
Match of the Year
To the match that best combined good craftsmanship in the ring, exciting moments and crowd participation.
Awesome Kong & Hamada vs Sarita & Taylor Wilde (January 4th, Impact)
Daffney vs Tara (First Blood Match; March 29th, Impact)
Michelle McCool vs Mickie James (April 16th, SmackDown)
Beth Phoenix vs Michelle McCool (Extreme Makeover Match; April 25th, WWE Extreme Rules)
Gail Kim vs Jillian (June 3rd, WWE Superstars)
Daizee Haze vs Sara Del Rey (November 22nd, ROH on HDNet)
AJ vs Naomi (November 23rd, NXT)
Mickie James vs Tara (November 7th, TNA Turning Point)
Mickie James vs Tara (Cage Match, December 9th, 2010, Impact)
Beth Phoenix & Natalya vs Lay-Cool (Divas Tag Team Tables Match; December 19th, WWE TLC)
Independent Match of the Year
To the match that best exhibited the craftsmanship of the sport and engaged audiences. Must be available for release on DVD and/or online. No matches that are not distributed. May include non-televised and non-pay per view Ring of Honor matches.
Write-in.
Brand of the Year
To the brand that most demonstrated good matches and storylines for its female competitors.
Raw
SmackDown
NXT (Season 3)
TNA
ROH
Independent Promotion of the Year
To the promotion that best exhibited strong female wrestling in terms of matches, storylines as well as showing growth in terms of fanbase and notability using the Internet/social media such as Diva Dirt. Promotions must have already existing distribution i.e. television, pay per view, DVD, online.
NCW Femmes Fatales
Pro-Wrestling: EVE
SHIMMER Women Athletes
Women Superstars Uncensored
Wrestlicious
Write-in option available
News Story of the Year
To the news story that most resounded amongst fans and captured the zeitgeist of the year.
Awesome Kong has altercation with Bubba the Love Sponge
Luna Vachon passes away
Mickie James released from WWE
Tiffany arrested and suspended
WWE unifies the Divas and Women’s Championships, retires Women’s Championship
One to Watch in 2011
To the female who has yet to hit their stride and/or accomplish a major accolade, however exhibits the potential to do so in the coming year.
AJ
Kaitlyn
Naomi
Nikki Bella
Sarita
Winter
‘Best of’ Awards
Best Feud
To the feud that best elicited good matches, strong promos and excitement amongst fans.
Angelina Love & Velvet Sky vs Madison Rayne
Beth Phoenix vs Lay-Cool
Lay-Cool vs Mickie James
Lay-Cool vs Natalya
Mickie James vs Tara
Best Angle
To the angle that most entertained fans.
87-year-old Mae Young competes in a match and defeats Lay-Cool (November 15th)
JWoww from Jersey Shore catfights with Cookie (October 14th)
Knockouts brawl opens TNA Impact (October 28th)
Lay-Cool as ‘BFF champs’
Maryse lays out Eve Torres with Divas Title & takes pictures (May 3rd)
Lay-Cool host ‘Piggie James going away party’ (January 22nd)
Winter is devoted to Angelina Love
Best Champion
To the woman/women whose championship reign generated strong fan response, interesting storylines & entertaining matches.
Alicia Fox (Divas Champion)
Angelina Love (Knockouts Champion)
Beth Phoenix (Women’s Champion)
Eve Torres (Divas Champion)
Lay-Cool (Co-Divas Champions)
Lay-Cool (Co-Women’s Champions)
Madison Rayne (Knockouts Champion)
Maryse (Divas Champion)
Melina (Divas Champion)
Mickie James (Women’s Champion)
Natalya (Divas Champion)
Tara (Knockouts Champion)
The Beautiful People (Knockouts Tag Team Champions)
Best Newcomer
To the female who most impressed and entertained upon her debut on television; to an already existing female talent who impressed upon her debut in a wrestling capacity; to an already recognizable female talent portraying a new character.
AJ
Cookie
Aksana
Kaitlyn
Naomi
Tiffany
Winter
Best Finisher
To the move that was most often displayed in 2010 eliciting a good reaction and excitement when applied.
Axe kick (Alicia Fox)
Eat Defeat (Gail Kim)
Faith Breaker (Michelle McCool)
Glam Slam (Beth Phoenix)
Octopus submission (AJ)
Rayne Drop (Madison Rayne)
Sharpshooter (Natalya)
Widow’s Peak (Tara)
Best Babyface
To the female that most demonstrated in 2010 support from the crowd.
Angelina Love
Beth Phoenix
Kaitlyn
Kelly Kelly
Mickie James
Natalya
Best Heel
To the female(s) that best elicited in 2010 a strong negative crowd reaction.
Cookie
Lay-Cool
Madison Rayne
Sara Del Rey
Sarita
Tara
Vickie Guerrero
Best Gimmick
To the female wrestler whose character proved most compelling and entertaining.
Aksana
Cookie
Daffney
Lay-Cool
Madison Rayne
Serena
Vickie Guerrero
Winter
Personal Achievement Awards
Most Improved Wrestler
To the female who best showed strides compared to previous years.
Alicia Fox
Eve Torres
Kelly Kelly
Layla
Madison Rayne
Nikki Bella
Most Skilled Wrestler
To the female who showed good ring generalship with less-experienced workers and had consistently strong matches year-round.
Gail Kim
Michelle McCool
Natalya
Sara Del Rey
Sarita
Tara
Most Underrated Talent
To the female who showed consistency as a character and in the ring however received little acclaim in 2010.
Daffney
Gail Kim
Jillian
Hamada
Sarita
Taylor Wilde
Tiffany
Velvet Sky
Miscellaneous Awards
Most Stylish
To the female who proved most fashionable in and out of the ring in 2010.
Alicia Fox
Gail Kim
Kelly Kelly
Layla
Maryse
Michelle McCool
Best Use of Social Media
To to the female who best used Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, WWE Universe, YouTube etc. to connect with their fanbase and entertain.
AJ (Twitter)
Allison Danger (Podcast)
Melina (Twitter, YouTube, WWE Universe)
Sassy Stephie (YouTube)
Shelly Martinez (BlogTalkRadio, Twitter)
Tara (MySpace, Twitter)
Best Diva Dirt Interview
To the female who provided the most engaging interview in the past 12 months.
Angel Orsini
Awesome Kong
Lilian Garcia
Maria Kanellis
Taryn Terrell (Tiffany)
Traci Brooks
Trish Stratus
