Randy kills the legends
By THE LILSBOYS
WRESTLING fans from all over the globe have spent the last month voting in Sun Online's prestigious Golden Robe Awards.
And now we're pleased to announce the winners of the biggest mainstream wrestling poll around.
Over the next five pages we'll be revealing your favourite wrestlers, feuds and moments of 2004 - all complete with our detailed analysis of what happened in the grap game during the last 12 months.
Many of the results will surprise you.
That's because this wasn't a poll of experts or insiders - but a massive survey of what wrestling fans really think.
Randy Orton lived up to his Legend Killer nickname by beating the likes of Chris Benoit, Undertaker and Triple H in the poll to walk off with our best wrestler gong.
And there were shocks and upsets in the other categories too.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wrestler of the year
1) Randy Orton - 20.2 per cent of your votes
2) Chris Benoit - 19.7 per cent
3) John Cena - 12 per cent
4) The Undertaker - 10 per cent
5) Triple H - nine per cent
2003 winner: Shawn Michaels
2002 winner: Kurt Angle
2001 winner: Steve Austin
LilsBoys commentary
HIS father and grandfather may have been legends in the wrestling business, but 2004 was the year Randy Orton surpassed even their finest achievements.
The third generation superstar won a world heavyweight championship - something 'Cowboy' Bob Orton and Bob Orton Sr never could - and became the youngest man in WWF/E history to achieve that feat.
Not only that, but with more than one fifth of the votes Randy ends a great 12 months gripping a prestigious Golden Robe Award as your favourite wrestler of 2004.
The year started with the arrogant Legend Killer being handpicked for a feud with returning icon Mick Foley.
Then part of Evolution and intercontinental champion Randy had a great run in January's Royal Rumble, entering second and lasting more than half an hour before being taken over the top by Foley.
They'd meet again in a strong handicap match at WrestleMania - also featuring Ric Flair, Batista and The Rock - and one of the best and most vicious bouts of the year at Backlash.
Randy pinned Mick both times, and really earned his stripes at Backlash where he took an unbelievable amount of punishment including a bump off the ramp going through tables and props.
But Orton's greatest triumph was yet to come. After his seven-month reign as intercontinental champion was ended by Edge in the match of the night at Vengeance, he won a battle royal to challenge for the world title.
Champion Chris Benoit passed the torch to Randy in their excellent outing at SummerSlam, before Evolution turned on the 24-year-old star and Triple H 'stole' the belt at Unforgiven.
Orton spent the rest of 2004 as a main event good guy - downing Ric Flair at Taboo Tuesday and being the last man standing in an entertaining elimination bout with Hunter's team at the Survivor Series.
But all that said, Randy was still a surprise choice for this award.
Of the 12 experts we asked to name their wrestler of the year, half plumped for runner-up Chris Benoit with only one - our own Richard LilsBoy - picking Randy.
Benoit had a fantastic 12 months full of outstanding matches, winning the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania's main event along the way.
But this was a public vote and you voted for Orton, albeit by the slightest margin of one half of one per cent.
John Cena finished third, getting exactly the same share of the vote as last year, and is once again your favourite Smackdown superstar.
Cena is followed by long-term WWE icons The Undertaker and Triple H, whose returns-to-form kept critics' darling Eddie Guerrero out of the top spots.
Meanwhile last year's victor Shawn Michaels polled only six per cent, the same as women's champion Trish Stratus, with 2002's award winner Kurt Angle managing a measly two per cent this time around.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best entrant to
the WWE
1) Eugene - 48 per cent of your votes
2) Carlito Caribbean Cool - 17 per cent
3) Christy Hemme - 11 per cent
4) Gene Snitsky - eight per cent
5) Heidenreich - five per cent
2003 winner: Bill Goldberg
2002 winner: Brock Lesnar
2001 winner: Rob Van Dam
LilsBoys commentary
THE April day Nick Dinsmore debuted in the WWE many people were disgusted.
He wasn't the same Nick who'd previously been OVW champion - he was now Eugene, the 'mentally handicapped nephew' of Raw general manager Eric Bischoff.
We immediately described the new character as tasteless and fans and pressure groups bombarded the WWE with irate emails.
Nobody, outside a select few on the writing staff, could understand why the federation would want to pretend a wrestler had severe learning difficulties for entertainment purposes.
But then something very strange happened - Eugene caught on, becoming one of the WWE's most loved characters and romping home with almost half of your votes in our award for the company's best newcomer.
Vince McMahon lived up to the promise he made just after the character's debut that: "We intend to portray the character of Eugene as a hero."
British star William Regal was at first made the reluctant manager of Eugene but, just like us, he quickly learned to love him.
An embarrassed Bischoff wanted Regal to make sure his nephew failed in his quest to become a professional wrestler, but William turned himself into a good guy by siding with his new charge and helping him live out his dreams.
Cue a series of hilarious skits involving Eugene in training with Regal, trading banter with The Rock and picking up victories over Rob Conway, Kane and The Coach.
By this point Eugene was so popular he entered the main event mix, getting involved in the Vengeance and Raw Iron Man world title matches between Chris Benoit and Triple H.
Hunter - Eugene's "favourite wrestler" and supposed friend - soon showed his true colours, turning on the newcomer and beating him at SummerSlam and in a steel cage on Raw.
However Eugene's popularity continued to grow as he fell back into the mid-card ranks, with fans eating up the way he mimicked legendary stars like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and Junkyard Dog.
His highlights in the last quarter of 2004 included a run as Raw tag team champion with William Regal and getting to shave Uncle Eric's head after beating him at Taboo Tuesday.
Eugene's nearest rival for this award - although 30 per cent behind isn't very near at all - was Carlito Caribbean Cool.
Despite having very few matches in 2004, Carlito won the US championship from John Cena on his October 7 debut and has remained an engaging presence on Smackdown since injuring his leg one month later.
Sexy Diva Search winner and rumoured Playboy cover girl Christy Hemme finished third, with monsters Gene Snitsky and Heidenreich trailing despite high-profile feuds with Kane and The Undertaker.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Favourite feud
of 2004
1) Triple H v Shawn Michaels v Chris Benoit - 26 per cent of your votes
2) Triple H v Randy Orton - 21 per cent
3) Randy Orton v Mick Foley - 14 per cent
4) Trish Stratus v Lita - 11 per cent
5) Eddie Guerrero v Kurt Angle - nine per cent
2003 winner: Kurt Angle v Brock Lesnar
2002 winner: Triple H v Shawn Michaels
2001 winner: Steve Austin v Kurt Angle
LilsBoys commentary
WHEN our award winning feud between Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit kicked off the day after the Royal Rumble nobody was sure what direction it was heading in.
Going into the Rumble, Benoit was a Smackdown superstar while Hunter and Shawn were engaged in an epic programme of their own for the world title.
HHH and HBK clashed at the PPV in a disappointing drawn last man standing bout, but it was Benoit who stole the show by lasting more than a hour from No1 to win the Rumble.
The next night on Raw, Triple H and Michaels were still arguing about who the better man was when Smackdown's Chris interrupted their dispute.
The Rabid Wolverine declared that he had switched brands to win Raw's championship at WrestleMania XX, and he didn't care who he took it from.
At this point it seemed the Mania main event would be between Hunter and Benoit, but when they went to sign up for the match Shawn came out, superkicked Chris and put his name on the document instead.
We're still convinced Michael's actions would not stand up in a court of law. But, hey, this is wrestling and Raw 'sheriff' Steve Austin announced all three would meet at WrestleMania.
And we're glad that he did.
Their triple threat match at WrestleMania XX was our favourite of the year and certainly among the best Mania matches of all time.
There was fantastic wrestling, shrewd psychology, blood, table smashing and the emotional culmination of Benoit's 18-year climb to the pinnacle of the wrestling business.
And even after making Triple H tap out to The Crippler Crossface, the feud continued with Benoit having to defend the title against the same men at the next month's Backlash PPV.
This show was held in Benoit's birthplace of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the main event was yet another scorcher.
It was Michaels who submitted this time, to the Sharpshooter, in a nice reversal of the way Shawn, match referee Earl Hebner and the WWE screwed Canadian hero Bret Hart at the 1997 Survivor Series in Montreal.
After Backlash the feud broke up with various one-on-one matches between the men - but nothing that reached the dizzy heights of their triple threat encounters.
Triple H will also be celebrating after nabbing the runner-up spot in this category - for his programme with Randy Orton.
He may be criticised for always being in the main event spot but with 47 per cent of your votes going to his two major angles, it's clear Hunter can hold his own at the top.
Orton's conflict with Mick Foley - a combination of superb promos and great matches - took third place with the long-running angles between Trish Stratus and Lita and Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero close behind.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most memorable moment
1) The Undertaker returning at WrestleMania XX - 20 per cent of your votes
2) Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero embracing at WrestleMania XX - 17 per cent
3) Chris Benoit winning the Royal Rumble after entering first - 12 per cent
4=) Raw and Smackdown being held in the UK for the first time - 11 per cent
4=) The Rock meeting Eugene - 11 per cent
2003 winner: The ring collapsing as Brock Lesnar superplexes Big Show
2002 winner: Hulkamania returning after Hogan v Rock at WrestleMania
2001 winner: The reformation of ECW
LilsBoys commentary
AS wrestling journalists there are certain questions we always get asked. And before this year's WrestleMania "when's The Undertaker going back to his original gimmick?" was second only to perennial favourite "when's The Ultimate Warrior coming back?"
Back in the year 2000, Taker dropped his Dead Man persona to fit in with the WWE's move away from cartoon style characters to Steve Austin style Attitude.
But no matter how popular Undertaker was as a biker, fans around the globe yearned for the return of the legendary undead Phenom who debuted back at the 1990 Survivor Series.
And this year - they got their wish.
It all started, fittingly, at the 2003 Survivor Series in the Smackdown brand's buried alive main event between Undertaker and Vince McMahon.
Taker's on-screen brother, and Raw star, Kane interfered in the bout allowing Vince to pick up the victory.
Kane even made an appearance on the following Smackdown to deliver a eulogy for his 'dead' sibling.
But anyone who has followed Taker's career knew he'd be back and the first signs of a return came at the Royal Rumble where just the bong from his theme tune was enough to lead to Kane's elimination.
The Phenom continued to taunt his brother over the next two months - using music, fire, rain and even a moving ring.
In all this time though, Undertaker never appeared. The WWE were cleverly building anticipation, and purchases, for his eventual return at WrestleMania XX.
Then, on one of the biggest wrestling shows of all time, the lights went out and the fans went wild.
Coming out with flame-carrying druids, spooky special effects and classic manager Paul Bearer, Taker's old-school entrance, appearance and move-set did not disappoint.
And a fifth of you were so enamoured by the legend's return to the dark side, you voted it your most memorable moment of 2004.
Again our readers went against the experts, the majority of who backed the touching embrace between world champions and best friends Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero on the same show.
It was a truly special moment between two men who've had almost parallel careers and faced struggles both in and out of the wrestling ring.
Ironically it was probably Benoit's marathon Royal Rumble win that cost him this award - with 29 per cent of you splitting your votes between his Rumble and Mania victories.
And in a first for the Golden Robes, fourth place was an exact statistical tie - as you found The Rock's hilarious promo with Eugene and Raw and Smackdown coming to the UK equally unforgettable.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best independent wrestler
1) AJ Styles - 41 per cent of your votes
2) Raven - 21 per cent
3) Jeff Jarrett - 19 per cent
4) Samoa Joe - four per cent
5) Doug Williams - three per cent
2003 winner: Raven
This award was previously for the best British wrestler and went to William Regal in 2001 and 2002.
LilsBoys commentary
WHEN it comes to wrestlers outside of the WWE, AJ Styles was the man who really made people sit up and take notice in 2004.
Living up to his Phenomenal nickname, the NWA:TNA star won this gong by a landslide - and deservedly so.
AJ's year began with the federation's fans voting him their Mr TNA - a title he has now retained - and the star also impressing in Ring Of Honor.
He had a nice rivalry with Abyss in TNA, before reaching his highest peak by beating Jeff Jarrett in a cage on April 21 for a second NWA world heavyweight title.
Around the same time he had to give up working for ROH, because of a paedophilia scandal involving then-boss Rob Feinstein, but still impressed indy crowds in Philadelphia with his performances for 3PW.
Sadly AJ's world title reign only lasted one month - he dropped the belt to Ron Killings in May with Jeff Jarrett getting the gold back in June and keeping it ever since.
But then something strange happened to Styles.
Rather than hanging around being a perennial title challenger and bridesmaid to Jeff's bride - the high-flyer took what many thought would be a step backwards.
AJ returned to his roots in the X Division - TNA's innovative and fast-paced alternative to their more methodical main events - and won the title almost immediately.
He recently revealed: "It was my idea to return to the X Division. It's not every day you get to be in the ring and be challenged by world class talent in a style you like to work in."
And Styles made the most of it, holding onto the gold in good outings with Frankie Kazarian, Jeff Hardy and a six-way featuring Frankie, Chris Sabin, Amazing Red, Christopher Daniels and Michael Shane.
Meanwhile he and Daniels were still tearing up 3PW, with a great 35-minute match in July.
After losing an entertaining TNA Ultimate X match - leaving Michael Shane and Kazarian as co-champions - AJ stayed in the division having more great matches and winning his company a new legion of fans.
Last year's winner Raven held onto second place this time around despite having a lower-profile in NWA:TNA, meaning Jeff Jarrett - who has held the NWA championship for 10 of the last 12 months - had to settle for third spot.
What's most interesting about this award though, is how it was completely dominated by NWA:TNA's big three.
All the other indy wrestlers - including ROH standout Samoa Joe, FWA champion Alex Shane and TNA star Petey Williams - polled less than 20 per cent between them, with not one of them even attracting one 20th of your votes
credit:
http://www.thesun.co.uk
