Diva Dirt presents its second annual Writers’ Choice Awards, the awards that celebrate the year in women’s wrestling, as decided by the editors and contributors of Diva Dirt. The Diva Dirt team has watched hundreds of episode of wrestling television this year, as well as hundreds of live events on DVD, additionally, we’ve followed a countless number of wrestlers over the year, and reviewed tons of matches. Now, as we come to the end of 2012, we have picked the best of the best to be awarded our Writers’ Choice blue ribbons.
Diva of the Year: AJ Lee
If you would have asked AJ Lee towards the end of 2011 what she was up to, she would have likely said just appearing wherever she could and soaking up every second possible like all of the other hard working females on the roster. Little did we, or she, for that matter, know just how much everything was about to change when ringing in the new year… all due to the sound of one simple word: “Yes!”
AJ’s seemingly unbelievable rise from “rags to riches” started off with a bang toward the start of 2012 — literally! She had just gotten into a relationship with then World Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Bryan; however, during a match he had against arch rival, the Big Show on an episode of SmackDown, she was mauled over by the colossal seven foot giant and taken out on a stretcher. Upon her return following an injured neck, Bryan began to verbally abuse her. Though, as the old Tammy Wynette song goes, AJ stood by her man through thick and thin, continuing to believe he had her best interests at heart.
Come WrestleMania, she accompanied Bryan to ringside for his opening title defense against Sheamus. Unfortunately, he did not leave with a victory as he lost the title in a mere eighteen seconds. The fact of the matter though, is that the once tiny teenager who sat in the nosebleeds for the history making event just eight years prior was now walking down the ramp and taking in the sights, giving 78,363 fans in attendance, as well as the millions watching at home a glimpse of what would go on to start her whirlwind of a year.
After Daniel’s loss at WrestleMania, he turned the blame to AJ for distracting him with a kiss, and ultimately broke things off between the two. This sent the pint sized Diva into a semi-psychotic state, as she then went on to take her frustrations out on anyone that set foot in her path. (Sorry Kaitlyn…) Not only that, but she played on-again/off-again mind games with Daniel Bryan, Kane, as well as WWE Champion, CM Punk over the course of a few summer months that left the WWE universe wondering just where her allegiance actually lie… if with any at all! It was quite the memorable reign of unpredictability, filled with proposals, skips, slaps, and one special episode of Raw that ended with her tossing CM Punk (and essentially Daniel Bryan) through a table after planting her trademark “kiss of death” on the lips of the WWE Champion.
During the 1000th episode of Raw, AJ and Daniel Bryan were set to be wed until Mr. McMahon came out and announced that Lee had already accepted a proposal from him to become the new general manager of Raw instead of joining Bryan in holy matrimony. The position (which included some mad power suits) only lasted a couple of months, but nonetheless, she was, and is, still able to garner a large fan response in such a short amount of time. Now entangled in a scandal involving John Cena, Vickie Guerrero, and Dolph Ziggler, as well as stepping back into the ring, one has to wonder just what 2013 holds for the resident geek goddess. That will remain a mystery for now, but one thing that is for certain?
2012 was truly the year of AJ Lee.
More awards:
– Most Improved: Brooke Tessmacher
– Best Tag Team or Group: Midwest Militia
– Best Babyface: AJ Lee
– Best Heel: Jessicka Havok
– Promotion of the Year: SHINE Wrestling
– Best Feud: Brooke Tessmacher vs Tara
– Best Breakthrough: AJ Lee
– Match of the Year: Gail Kim vs Tara (Against All Odds)
– Independent Star of the Year: Jazz
– Knockout of the Year: Gail Kim
Stay tuned for more Writers’ Choice Awards throughout December.
