I bring to you, the first ever Fight Game Blog Awards. Since our website is unique in that we cover boxing, pro wrestling, and MMA, we have three different categories for awards.
In addition to our FGB brothers, Stevie J from Angry Marks is also giving his picks.
Pro Wrestling
Wrestler Of The Year Big D – Edge Alan – Shingo Takagi
Was given the ball in Dragon Gate due to top star CIMA being on the sidelines, and the company had it’s best business year ever. He was also outstanding in the ring and is full of charisma.
Duan – Jeff Hardy
This may not be a popular choice, but Jeff has really delivered main event quality matches this year, and he has now finally been given the chance to carry a world title. His ascension has helped freshen up a tired WWE main event scene, and the title change was executed perfectly.
Stevie J – Chris Jericho GG – Chris Jericho
I might’ve given up on WWE this summer if it weren’t for Chris Jericho. He and Shawn Michaels were the sole reason I bought any B shows this year.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was watching Saturday Night’s Main Event where the big angle for this Wrestlemania started. The main event was scheduled for Hulk Hogan vs. The Magnificent Muraco and instead of Muraco’s regular manager Mr. Fuji by his side, Bobby Heenan was in his corner. They said that Fuji had the flu, which was an angle alert. However, I was only nine so I didn’t know about angle alerts. During the match, Hogan went after Heenan and King Kong Bundy came in to attack Hogan and “pearl harbor” him as Vince McMahon would say. It was a sneak attack that left Hogan laying in the ring, taking big splash after big splash. As a young Hulkamaniac, I was devastated. I had just been turned on to wrestling the year before by my best friend at the time, and I bit hook, line, and sinker. There I was, up at midnight, watching my hero take the beating of his life. Bundy was played up huge. He was a mountain of a man. He actually resembled the letter “O” with his short but fat torso and lack of neck. He used to be called a condominium with legs. As Hogan lay lifeless in the ring, I was upset at this guy with the bald head and wrinkled forehead. But I was smart enough to know my guy was going to get revenge. The storyline was that Hogan was in the hospital suffering from rib injuries and you could write the Hulkster to wish him well. I wasn’t that gullible, but I know other young kids were. They even had Mean Gene Okerlund talk to the doctor and they showed x-rays of Hogan to sell the angle. They would meet again in the main event of Wrestlemania 2 and in a steel cage.
UFC 92 might not have been the greatest show UFC has put on this year, but it definitely set up 2009 nearly perfect. All of us at Fight Game Blog gave the show a thumbs up.
Let’s get to the feedback.
Big D
Show overall rating: Thumbs Up
Best Fight: Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans
Worst Fight: Matt Hamill vs. Reese Andy
It was a show that featured a handful of shocking finishes and twists that few MMA experts, much less fans, expected. Frank Mir became the first man to STOP Antonio Rodrigo Minotauro Noguiera (something even Fedor Emelianenko couldn’t do) and captured the Interim Heavyweight Title in dominating fashion. Rampage, FOUR YEARS LATER, finally got his redemption over PRIDE rival Wanderlei Silva with a nasty 1st round left hook KO. Revenge was sweet for the Memphis native. Then the main event featured the first undefeated champion in modern UFC history being crowned, as Rashad Evans won the Light Heavyweight Title from Forrest Griffin in a third round TKO. Overall, it was an odd, but fun show, and one that won’t be forgotten.
Alan
Show overall rating: Thumbs Up
Best Fight: Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans
Worst Fight: Antoni Hardonk vs. Mike Wessel
Felt like a real eventful show. The main event was a HELL of a fight.
The biggest thing I took out of this and I know Duan feels the same, is that maaaan did Nog and Wand ever seem done. Both of them (especially Nog) need to think about hanging it up.
The FGB Crew put together a UFC 92 preview on Wednesday. We’ll have live play by play when the show starts.
1. Cheick Kongo vs. Mostapha Al-Turk
Lots of clinching against the cage early on. Al-Turk kneed Kongo low and about a minute later, Kongo gave it back to him. Kongo caught him with a punch that might’ve been an eye poke. Al-Turk went down and Kongo unleashed elbows and punches to the face before the stoppage. It was a pretty late stoppage. Al-Turk wasn’t getting up and was just taking punishment.
Winner: Cheick Kongo by way of 1st round TKO
2. Wanderlei Silva vs. Rampage Jackson
There was a lot of boxing going on early though Silva was able to get the same leg kicks that helped Forrest Griffin beat Rampage. Silva came in and Rampage knocked him out cold with a left hook. Silva was out cold but Rampage followed up with two shots while the ref was trying to pull him off.
Forrest Griffin (205) vs. Rashad Evans (203)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (246) vs. Frank Mir (251)
Quinton Jackson (206) vs. Wanderlei Silva (203)
Mustafa Al-Turk (237) vs. Cheick Kongo (233)
C.B. Dollaway (186) vs. Mike Massenzio (184)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Dean Lister (186) vs. Yushin Okami (185)
Antoni Hardonk (246) vs. Mike Wessel (260)
Reese Andy (206) vs. Matt Hamill (205)
Brad Blackburn (170) vs. Ryo Chonan (171)
Patrick Barry (233) vs. Dan Evensen (242)
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