Added!!

----Derrick KIng/Johnny Dotson vs "Too Kool 2" [Tim Grind/Flex]from Autozone Park aired on Saturday's show and I believe that was the first time it had ever aired?? I have added it to the possible Memphis Wrestling TV matches.

RRO AWARDS RACE: Match of the Year Candidates!!

----This is the final two categories!! You have until Saturday January 3rd to dominate. SUPER SUNDAY - January 4th - the nominees will be posted and you can start voting. Voting will end 10 Days later on 1.14.09. Winners will be announced on SUPER SUNDAY II - January 18, 2009. Yearbook 2008 should be available around the first week of February.

----Please pick three bouts from each category. Memphis Wrestling did not give us a lot of picks, but I have listed all of them. Best Arena bouts are any bout that I attended that scored a [***] or better. I have put BOLD in my picks for top three!!

----There has also not been a lot of people that help nominate in the last categories we listed last week. I feel a lot of people do feel these awards are as important as Wrestler and such, but please send in your nominees for ALL CATEGORIES!! You got until this Saturday!!

BEST ARENA BOUTS
-Slim Pickens vs Flash Flanagan [***] LAW 2.08.08
-Slim Pickens vs Dell Tucker [***] TLCW Ripley, TN 2.09.08
-Alex Krisis vs Flash Flanagan [***] TLCW Ripley, TN 2.09.08
-Kid Nikels vs Eric Wayne [****1/4] West Memphis, AR 2.10.08
-Mark Justice vs Crazy Train [***1/2] Dyersburg, TN 2.16.08
-Jerry Lawler/Eric Wayne with Ken Wayne vs “Bodies of Steel” [Max/John] with Hollywood Jimmy Blaylock [***] Bruce, MS 3.08.08
-TLCW Tag Team Title Match: “Black Label Society” [AJ Bradley/Robbie Douglas] with Jimmy Tidwell vs “Hot Topic” [Derrick King/Stan Lee] with Randy Hales. [****] Ripley, TN 4.06.08
- Chuck Fears retained the ASWF Title by beating Blalok The Blazor, Reno Diamond and Casino Kid in a Fatal Four Way. [***] Tuckerman, AR 4.19.08
-Devon Day beat Steven Rampage [***] Trenton, TN 5.10.08
-“Sons of the South” [Josh Matthews/Chris Styles] beat Sarge O’Reilly/Lil Bit with Tony Watts for the NBW Tag Team Titles. Dyersburg, TN [***] 5.17.08.
-NBW vs XOW For Ownership of The Company: Jeremy Moore/Kilo/Big Red beat Chris Masters/Motley Cruz/Mark Justice. Dyerburg, TN [***1/2] 5.17.08
- Gauntlet Match for Cruiserweight Title: Winner Rockin Randy [***] Ripley, TN 5.24.08
-Barbwire Match: “Hot Topic” [Derrick King/Stan Lee]/Dustin Starr beat “Black Label Society” [AJ Bradley/Robbie Douglas]/Tatt2 [***3/4] Ripley, TN 5.24.08
-SOBs” [Justice/Kilo] with Jimmy Tidwell vs Jeremy Moore/Derrick King [***1/2]Dyersburg, TN 8.10.08.
-James Arnez vs Justin Smart [***] Kennett, MO 8.24.08
-Eric Wayne vs Tatt2 [***] West Memphis, AR 10.10.08
- Motley Cruz vs Psycho for the WWCW Title. [***] Kennett, MO 10.11.08
- Motley Cruz/Justin Smart/Indian Quixote vs “Asylum” [Psycho/Arnez] & Rob Justice. [***] WWCW Kennett, MO 10.11.08
-Derrick King vs Tatt2 [***] NEW West Memphis, AR 10.17.08
-Greg King Jr vs Matt Justyce [***1/2] NEW West Memphis, AR 10.17.08
-Kid Nikels vs Eric Wayne [***] NEW West Memphis, AR 10.17.08
- Fans Bring Weapons: Motley Cruz vs Danny B Goode [**1/2] NBW Dyersburg, TN 10.18.08
- NBW Tag Team Titles: SOBs [Mark Justice/Kilo] vs BLS [Void/Robbie Douglas] [***] NBW Dyersburg, TN 10.18.08
-Greg King Jr vs Dustin Ring [***] NEW West Memphis, AR 10.24.08
-Derrick King/Eric Wayne vs Kid Nikels/Greg Anthony [***1/2] NEW West Memphis, AR 10.24.08
-Stan Lee vs Greg King JR [***1/4] NEW West Memphis, AR 11.07.08
-Eric Wayne vs Dustin Ring [***1/2] NEW West Memphis, AR 11.07.08
-Kid Nikels vs Derrick King [***] NEW West Memphis, AR 11.07.08
-Kid Nikels vs Byron Willcott [***] NEW West Memphis, AR 12.19.08
-Chris Rocker vs Bishop [***] DCW Dyersburg, TN 12.27.08
-Ricky Morton/Justin Smart vs “Pain & Justice” [Motley Cruz/Mark Justice] [***] DCW Dyersburg, TN 12.27.08
-Derrick King vs Dustin Starr [***1/2] DCW Dyersburg, TN 12.27.08

Memphis Wrestling Original Matches
7.26.08 Autozone Park, Memphis, TN
-Joey Mercury vs Barbarian
-Kid Kash/Kevin White vs Pat Tanaka/Koko Ware
-Jerry Lawler vs Test
Derrick KIng/Johnny Dotson vs "Too Kool 2" [Tim Grind/Flex]

8.30.08 @ Delta Fair
-Mucho Dinero vs Pokerface w/ Rashard Devon

-Too Cool II vs"Total Protection" Mr. Hughes and Sam Shaw

-Derrick King and Johnny Dotson w/ Rashard Devon vs, “Los Loco” Ramon/Rudy Switchblade

-Koko B. Ware and Eugene vs Kid Kash and "New Nature Boy" Kevin White w/ Mr. White and Su Yung

-"Grandmaster Sexay" Brian Christopher vs "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters via dq

-Jerry "The King" Lawler vs Buff "The Stuff" Bagwell

11.08.08 Nashville, TN [this was Bert Prentice show, but the matches did happen this year and featured Memphis guys]
-Moondogs vs Doug Gilbert/Brian Christopher
-Sid Vicious vs Jerry Lawler

I Forgots and Some Fun Facts!!

----Devon Day was put on a ballot for Most Underrated earlier this morning. A very good pick. A real good worker that some of you guys have never seen and he has worked in this area for a long time.

----Gimmick of the Year is very similar to last year when the Posse was on 95% of the ballots. Posse is still getting some nominations this year, but "The Baron" Malkanvain has been on probably 98% of them this year. Is this foreshadowing him winning his first ever RRO Award??

----For those that have not voted for MVP yet, Danny B Goode should also be considered there and maybe in Most Underrated.

----Four of the Top 10 Wrestlers last year have dropped out of the ratings this year and two of them have been in both the 2006 and 2007 Top 10. Top 10 2008 obviously will feature four new entries with one returning from 2006. RRO Top 10 will only be featured in Yearbook 2008!!

----Rookie of the Year is the tightest nomination race this year. One nomination separates four guys. It will probably not be decided upon until the last day.

----Only one wrestler in either the MVP/Wrestler category won the award last year and is leading nominations this year?? Is it DK or Stan Lee??

----The Tag of The Year nominating is being dominated by BLS, but the other 2 positions are being battle out with four different teams and only one was in the Top Five of the Top 10 last year.

RRO AWARDS RACE CONTINUES!!!

----Ok, we got 6 more categories for this week. The only two categories we got left to nominate are TV Match of the Year and Arena Report Match of the Year. I will be waiting to see if they air any new stuff on the final show of Memphis this week. I also plan to attend the DCW show this coming Saturday night, so I might have a match to add to Arena Report. Those matches that are eligible will be posted on Sunday!! Everyone has until 12.30.08 to send in nominees. Nominees will be announced and posted at 12:00 AM on 1.01.09 and you will have 10 days to vote for the winners!! Post your picks on the Kayfabe Message Board or e-mail them to me!! I also have up to the minute awards news right here on this blog!!

----Horizon – Who deserves a contract in the WWE, TNA or ROH?? Last two years this award has been won by Dustin Starr. Even though he has not wrestled as much this year, the stuff he has done outside the business has also proved this guy has a mind to be with the big time. Could he get nominated and win three years in a row?? My picks would also include some of these guys: Brian Thompson [announcer], Cameron Valentine, Byron Willcott [who has a contract, but still eligible here], Eric Wayne, Kid Nikels and the usual of guys like Flash Flanagan, Derrick King and Rodney Mack.

----Most Improved: Who has improved as a worker from last year?? Idol Bane is the leader here in my book as he was almost off the radar last year and is probably going to end up in the Top 10 this year. Cody Melton, Albino Rhino, Pappy and Slim Pickens are my other picks.

----Most Underrated: Who is the most underrated by workers and fans?? A lot of names here including last year’s winner Kilo. AJ Bradley is my top pick along with Chris O’Neal and the following: Cameron Valentine, Mark Justice, Izzy Rotten, Dell Tucker, Psycho, Seth Knight, Christian Jacobs and Rik Burton [for his booking].

----Best Wrestling Web Site: What site do you go to more often?? Everyone is eligible, except www.rronews.com. Dustin Starr’s “World of Wrestling Blog and www.wrestlingnewscenter.com easily lead the pack. Last year’s winner Mid-Southern Message Board should also be considered. I should also mention NBW [who has a real good looking site], WWCW [ditto] and TIWF.

----Columnist of the Year: Sal Corrente is the most constant on this site. Dustin Starr should also be considered for updating his stuff every day. Brian Thompson has good columns. “Axeman” Randall Lewis also gets a mention because he probably is the hardest working guy in wrestling kayfandom.

----Best Female Performer – NEW AWARD – This is the only new category for the year, but I have added it because of the influence of MLW and the level of ladies in this area. My three picks would be in no particular order – Tasha Simone, Su Yung and Lil Bit.

RRO AWARDS RACE CONTINUES!!!

----RRO AWARDS RACE 2008 continues with 5 more categories!! If you are a member of the KAYFABE MESSSAGE BOARD, then you may click over and put all your nominations there. Or you may e-mail your picks, if you do not want to post them “in the open” on the board. Stay tuned here for all the up to the minute news on the RRO 2008 Awards!!

----Here are the five most important awards. They are always the hardest to pick and they usually have a lot more people voting for them. I have changed the “Best Damn” to MVP this year. The decision to change this is primarily due to the fact that the Yearbook and Awards are being seen by more people this year. I went with “Damn” to seem “edgy”, but as the years have gone by – I feel it might be a better fit as MVP. The meaning of these awards will not change.

----I also want to make note that the first four awards here is what RRO will use to post the Top 10 Singles/Tag Teams in Yearbook 2008. The six nominees get the first 6 places in the Top 10 followed by others that got the most nominees. If you do not nominate in all the awards, could you please take the time to nominate in these categories. Also, please do not nominate YOURSELF. Anyone that does that – your vote does not count!!

----Wrestler –This award has to do with drawing power, influence, visibility and just overall a good wrestler. You don’t have to be the best worker in the area, but it does help. This is probably the hardest category this year, because not one person sticks out above everyone else. Two-Time Winner Derrick King has to be considered maybe as just default, but he has been on a few big cards and is very influential in this area. Kevin White has gone forward to try to keep the tradition of Memphis Wrestling alive. When Corey Maclin shut down Memphis Wrestling and Bill Dundee joined the circus, White continued to try to give fans good quality wrestling. The guy that might seem like a “dark horse” to some people and some people might consider it BS – Austin Lane. Take a moment to think. What one guy was probably seen by more people this year than anyone?? Week after week ASWF had great crowds and Lane was seen on the big stage in front of some good crowds. Those are my three picks – Lane, White and DK.

----MVP Performer – This award is based on pure workrate. The winner last year Stan Lee is also in the running this year. He had a stellar performance at the UWL PPV and just an overall great performer. The guy that probably gets my nod over Lee would be Greg Anthony. Anthony always gives 110% every time he goes out. His matches with Flash Flanagan this year have been bragged about from everyone that watched them. Third place is just a bunch of names that put on good bouts and could fall into one of the top places also – Austin Lane, Chris Rocker, Motley Cruz, Flash, DK, Eric Wayne, Reno Diamond and Alan Steele are some that come to mind.

----Tag Team of The Year – Last year’s winner “The Posse” [Simon Reed/Lil Chris] has continued to work this year in one form or another, but not as much. The #1 team in the Ranking last year – “Too Kool 2” [Tim Grind/Flex] should not even be considered this year. The tag team award [based on drawing power, influence, visibility] is a throw up between two teams this year. “Asylum” [Pappy/Arnez/Psycho] and “Black Label Society” [AJ Bradley/Robbie Douglas/Void]. I would give the nod to “Asylum” for doing so many dates and maybe BLS because they have been in higher profile matches. AJ Bradley is also the best worker of the six, so it might get them the win. Others teams consider – “Parental Advisory” [Scott Porteau/Tony Dabbs], “SOBs” [Kilo/Mark Justice], “Pain Inc” [Izzy Rotten/Brett Michaels],“Sons of the South” [Chris Styles/Josh Matthews], “Missouri Bad Boys” [Mark Southern/Missouri Renegade], Anton LeVeigh/Brandon Barbwire and Lawman Williams/Tank Turner.

----MVP Tag Team of The Year – Who is the pure working team in this area?? This is going to be a hard one this year also with not as many people staying teams, so I will throw out a bunch of names here. “Hot Topic” [Derrick King/Stan Lee], Eric Wayne/Kid Nikels, “Naughty by Nature” [Pokerface/Rude] [2007 winner], “Black Label Society” [Void/AJ Bradley/Robbie Douglas], “Parental Advisory” [Scott Porteau/Tony Dabbs] and “SOBs” [Mark Justice/Kilo]. My top two here would be “Hot Topic” and “Parental Advisory”.

----Rookie of The Year – There is a very good rookie class this year. I have to mention that Kid Nikels and Eric Wayne were both eligible last year. They are not eligible this year. This award goes to someone that worked at least 26 dates in their first year of wrestling. Three guys that stand out here to me are Cody Melton, Robbie Douglas and Greg King Jr. Melton and Douglas both have worked in both 2007 and 2008. It might hurt Douglas because he has not worked as many dates as Melton. Melton is probably the front runner here, but anyone that has seen King in the later part of the year at NEW has been impressed. Matt Justyce and Mike Anthony should also be considered here.

BRUNO SAMMARTINO BOOK IS AVAILABLE!!

----www.rasslinriotonline.com presents Bruno Sammartino: An Autobiography of Wrestling's Living Legend book is available now!! CLICK HERE to read details about the book and order it!!

Some names I forgot..

----After looking over some other nominees sent in, I did miss a few people. Manager of the Year I should have mentioned Garry White. Also, on the Announcer of the Year, I should have probably added Terrance Ward. Ward does it week after week at ASWF and was very good the times I attended the shows.

RRO AWARDS RACE 2008 BEGINS NOW!!

----RRO AWARDS RACE 2008 begins NOW!!! I have listed the first 6 categories in this year’s race. If you are a member of the KAYFABE MESSSAGE BOARD, then you may click over and put all your nominations there. Or you may e-mail your picks, if you do not want to post them “in the open” on the board. Stay tuned here on the RRO AWARDS RACE blog for the up to the minute news on the race!!

----Promotion of The Year - TLCW is a 2-time winner here, but I would not consider them in the running this year. This is the promotion that mainly drew the best crowds and has the best matches. The two top groups this year look to be TIWF and ASWF. Both groups had good attendance. The quality of the matches may be better at ASWF along with the attendance being a bit better at TIWF. If I had to pick one promotion just for a great angle – one that made money and it was so over it would have to be the Missouri Bad Boy vs Turner/Lawman feud. It featured the big angle with the police coming in to arrest the Bad Boys. Coming in third I could see All Pro Productions or Southern Wrestling Superstars because they have had good crowds all year long. NBW has to be mention here just for the pure fact of running neck to neck with all the other promotions in the area – that can also be said about RWA.

----Booker of The Year – Who brought us the best storylines? My top picks would have to be TIWF Booking Committee [the police angle and constant crowd], ASWF Booking Committee [always trying something new] and Greg Anthony for LAW.

----Announcer of The Year: Who is the best at calling the matches?? I would have to go with Brian Thompson, Kimble Winstead and John Steele here. Richard Marx has to be mentioned also for some of his work in NBW and WCCW.

----Gimmick Of The Year: This has nothing to do with ability. It is just all about the gimmick. “The Baron” Malkavain is the hands down winner this year. “Asylum” and “Posse” still mentioned here. No one else stands out to me.

----Manager of The Year: “Hollywood” Jimmy Blaylock has to be the tops in this area. He works more dates than anyone and is pretty much “on”. His angle with Ken Wayne earlier this year got him my vote. Rashard Devon and Su Yung are also in the top running here.

Referee of The Year: Two time winner Bill Rush is my pick here. William Gibson is also always real good. RRO’s Favorite ref: Miles Murphy is in the distant as #3, but is not bad. Kaleb at TLCW needs work, but could be considered.

2007 RRO AWARD WINNERS!!

----Please note that these are only the winners with no actual results. All the actual percentages on how much they won by and a full year in review will be available in YEARBOOK 2007. The book will be a REAL book with over 150 pages and photos. If you want one of the first copies to come off the presses, then I advise you to order yourself an advance copy of the book. I will in Rector, AR at LAW on February 1, 2008 hand delivering any of the ones ordered and also at TLCW in Ripley, TN on February 2, 2008. Unless you order ADVANCE order your copy today, there is no guarantee that you will have the book for $15, because I may have to sell them more at the arenas. It also might cost more when it is only available at the publisher’s web site. Advance ORDER today!! CLICK HERE!!

----Thanks to everyone for voting!! We had over 2000 votes, which I was impressed with. Remember everyone only got to vote once! Congrats to all the winners. Take a look at all of them below and then I am going to comment below.

----ATTENTION ALL WINNERS - CLICK HERE - These are the web site/myspace.com badges. There are 6 pages of them. Please click and save to your computer and post them to your sites!! If you do not know how to put these on myspace.com, then you can go to www.tinypic.com and get code for any pic!! Also if there are any web sites or if you want to post it on your myspace account, I would appreciate an ad for the book. Just use the book icon and point it towards this link - CLICK HERE!!

Wrestler – Derrick King
Best Damn Performer – Stan Lee
Tag Team of The Year – “The Posse” [Simon Reed/Lil Chris]
Best Damn Tag Team of The Year – “Naughty By Nature” [Pokerface/Rude] Horizon Star of The Year – Dustin Starr
Rookie of The Year – Ramsey Cahill
Promotion of The Year – TLCW
Booker of The Year – TLCW Committee
Announcer of The Year – Michael Ward
Gimmick Of The Year – “The Posse”
Manager of The Year – “Hollywood” Jimmy Blaylock
Referee of The Year – Bill Rush
Most Improved of The Year – “Rockin” Randy
Most Underrated – Kilo
Memphis Wrestling TV MOTY – Johnny Dotson vs Derrick King 9.08.07
Arena Report MOTY – Ripley Street Fight – Derrick King/Stan Lee vs The Posse 8.11.07
Site of The Year – Mid-Southern Message Board
Columnist of The Year – Gene Jackson

----Derrick King, as you can see, was the BIG winner this year. Wrestler of the Year along with Booker and Promotion credits along with winning both Best Match of The Year awards. Stan Lee scored with the Best Damn Performer along with Booker and Promotion credits. Lee also won as DK’s partner in the Arena Report MOTY. “The Posse”, Lee/DK’s opponents for the AR MOTY, won big as Tag Team of The Year and Gimmick of The Year. Best Damn Tag Team went to “Naughty By Nature”, which is just based on workrate. Two new awards this year – Most Underrated and Most Improved, had Kilo and “Rockin” Randy taking them respectively. Two time winners included DK for Wrestler, Posse for Gimmick, Bill Rush for ref, TLCW, TLCW Committee and Dustin Starr, who was nominated for six awards and winning only one, as Horizon Star. The two major upsets and this is not saying the winners deserved the awards, but they did surprise me – Site & Rookie – as Mid-Southern Message Board and Ramsey Cahill respectively won. First time winners, but nominated two years in a row, included Gene Jackson, “Hollywood” Jimmy Blaylock and Michael Ward for Columnist, Manager of The Year and Announcer of The Year.

VOTING IS OVER!!!

Voting is over. Please come back here Sunday [1.13.08] for announcement of all the winners!!!