The Vince Russo Award - Worst Wrestling Show of 2011

This award is given to the worst wrestling television show of the year. Named after notorious ex-WWE, WCW and current TNA booker Vince Russo, famed for producing consistently nonsensical and terrible wrestling programmes.

Last Year's Awards:

Winner - WWE Superstars

1st Runner Up - WWE ECW

2nd Runner Up - WWE NXT

WINNER - WWE NXT REDEMPTION

Vince McMahon is either senile or a sadistic liar. There can be no other explanation as to why he described NXT as the "next evolution in television history". For NXT has been to the evolution of television history what the arrival of settlers on the island of Mauritius was to the evolution of the dodo. The concept had already begun to wear thin by the second season in 2010 and the "challenges" for the participants grew sillier, as did the participants themselves. Then there was the staggering joke that was Season 3, and many speculated that NXT would be cancelled after it was pulled from television. However, WWE continued to broadcast the show online as an "exclusive feature" on their website and even began a Season 4. However, this year they crossed all standards of decency. Instead of putting the show to sleep quietly and humanely, they began Season 5 and had the horrible gall to title it "NXT Redemption". The show would feature unsuccessful participants from previous seasons, and the ultimate prize would be ....a spot in Season 6. "No. No. No." was the collective moan heard around the world. Why a company would pay money to feature performers nobody is interested in on a show nobody watches to compete for a spot in a show that nobody will continue to watch is a problem that is sure to mystify business analysts for centuries. As if that wasn't enough, WWE seems to have forgotten that this show is still running, as we have had a mind-boggling 41 episodes of Season 5 at the time of writing. The last contestant was eliminated 24 episodes ago. Take into account that each of the previous 4 seasons had not more than 15 episodes. WWE NXT is purgatory. It is hell on earth. I am growing increasingly convinced that the only thing that can put an end to the misery of those who have to endure this show is the end of the world itself, and I really hope the Mayans were right.

1st RUNNER UP - TNA IMPACT / IMPACT WRESTLING

The tagline for TNA Impact read "Cross the Line". And that is exactly what the company has done - cross the line into full-fledged lunacy. They had astonishing angles such as the one in which Winter exercised mind control on Angelina Love. Fine. They pushed Eric Bischoff's son Garrett and a security guard named Gunner into main event positions. Okay. Soon after WWE dropped the "World Wrestling Entertainment" expansion since they didn't want to be associated with wrestling, TNA promptly changed the name of their show to 'Impact Wrestling', complete with the tagline 'Wrestling Matters'. They of course then went on to systematically reduce the amount of wrestling they featured on television. Aggravating, but let's say that's okay too. But when they choose to headline their biggest pay-per-view of the year with a match between the 58-year-old Hulk Hogan (who less than a year earlier had been on crutches after a back surgery) and the 52-year-old Sting (repackaged as The Joker, complete with clown makeup and maniacal laugh) and promote it as the greatest match of all time, I realized it was time to eliminate TNA from my life for the sake of my mental health. Total Nonsense Action.

2nd RUNNER UP - WWE SUPERSTARS

I wrote last year that WWE Superstars holds no interest for the average wrestling fan, since it only features matches between midcard talent with no storylines. I still stand by the assessment that WWE should spice up this show by changing it into a tournament or league format, where wrestlers compete to earn shots at the second-tier US and Intercontinental Championships. WWE could also try featuring exclusive interviews with main event wrestlers talking about their feuds. That being said, the Superstars of 2011 was an improvement over last year, with WWE using the show to test out some angles, such as a new character for Yoshi Tatsu and managers for Tyson Kidd. There were also some very good matches, particularly one between Daniel Bryan and Drew McIntyre. However, those who gave this show a miss didn't miss much.