The Jim Ross Award - Best Announcer of 2010

This award honours the wrestling announcer who has best enhanced the viewing experience either through play-by-play or colour commentary. The award is named after possibly the greatest play-by-play wrestling announcer in history - Jim Ross.

WINNER - MICHAEL COLE

2010 was the year that Michael Cole unofficially took over from Jim Ross as the "Voice of the WWE". Cole has never been popular with fans, and last year WWE finally decided to make the most of the situation. Cole started making attacking, derogatory remarks about Daniel Bryan on NXT, berating him as "small-time" and a "darling of the Internet nerds". He also expressed adulation for The Miz. It was apparent that Cole as a heel had some appeal, because the caustic persona spilled over into RAW, and later into Smackdown. Cole's play-by-play has been solid but never spectacular, but the introduction of the abrasive heel element has transformed him from just another announcer to a wildly entertaining and viable character, to the extent that Cole even interfered in a WWE Title match on behalf of The Miz. Michael Cole has truly emerged in 2010 (cue the coming out jokes), and wins my vote for Best Announcer.

1st RUNNER UP - CM PUNK

How good does someone have to be to claim the runner-up spot having spent approximately two months in the announcer's chair? It seems CM Punk cannot go wrong anytime there's a microphone near his lips. Punk injured his hip, but WWE Creative had to keep him on television, due to which he was temporarily added to the Raw Announce Team. Punk's sarcastic and cutting commentary was peppered with sly references and inside jokes, and was a treat to hear. Vince McMahon was supposedly such a huge fan of Punk's edgy commentary that he toyed briefly with the idea of retiring him from the ring.

2nd RUNNER UP - MATT STRIKER

In his early days of announcing, Matt Striker was celebrated for his intelligent and eloquent commentary, besides his obvious passion and deep knowledge about the business. He still has all those things, but at times he's too eloquent, and shows off too much knowledge for some people's taste. I am personally a big fan of Striker as an announcer. It was however reported on the Internet that Cole and Lawler do not like working with him as he comes off as elitist. Cole even took off his headset to yell at Striker for talking too much during Survivor Series. Later that very night, Striker flubbed the call for the main event, happily exclaiming "Cena is free!", when Cena was in fact fired. There was a strong rumour that Josh Matthews would be replacing Striker at pay-per-views, but thankfully that didn't happen at TLC. I hope Striker manages to get on the right side of the right people in 2011, because he is a hell of an announcer, with potential to be the best.