2018's Best Of The Year - Games

HEY, this is all opinions maaan, I don't listen, watch, play, experience, everything that happens in a year. SO CUT ME SOME SLACK.

I spent ALL of 2018 preparing for this series of lists. I printed out a bunch of blank lists for each medium I was experiencing, stuck it on the back of the door, noting it down and rating it all. Needless to say, I LOVE LISTS.

VIDJA GAMES ARE COOL AND I LOVE THEM. So many games, so little time. This year I'd say I was the most engaged with playing current and newly released video games as I have ever been, at least as much as my wallet would allow. I also started trying to pick my way through my games collection that I haven't even touched as well. It has been pretty eventful. I think this year has been slightly weaker than 2017 and I think 2019 will be weaker still as we are fast approaching the launch of the next console generation. But I still have 5 games here I really enjoy and wanna talk a little about.

What's that? This isn't a new game? This is a remaster? Pffft. It's on PS4 isn't it!? I have also never ever played the original Spyro games on the PS1 and this is my exposure to those games, and man, these are really fun. Also playing this remaster is showing me where the origins of one of my favourite games came from, Jak and Daxter, Insomniac made the original Spyro games and you can see the level design thinking almost paralleling the original Jak game. Needless to say, I am really enjoying this game, plus the graphics look absolutely incredible and they really did a great job at remastering this. I also am really hoping for Activision to start making new Crash and Spyro games in the vain of the originals. There is an open market for it and every remaster they've done so far has been stellar.

Guess what? I'm kinda cheating again. I have technically, not even touched Hitman 2 content, the reason being is also the same reason this is one of the best games of the year. Hitman 2 included all of the original game in this one within the new engine and the new mechanics being implemented. Disclaimer, you only get that if you buy the pack for the game, which is the same price of the original game, you also get that pack if you own a digital or physical version of the game. Look it all up, it is a bit weird. Anyway, I had vouchers for CEX and I goyt the original Hitman game on physical with my vouchers just so I could get the maps for Hitman 2. This game is fucking great, the level design is essential o the game being successful or not and they have done an impeccable job. It feels less of a stealth game than it does a puzzle game, working around all the working parts, and adding all the extra challenges around each level, as well as restrictions, and the ability for players to just making their own contracts in each map, gives this game the biggest replay value and just masses and masses of content to delve into, you can really get lost in there. A lot of fun, watch some videos, see if you'll be into it cause the game lends itself to amazing video content too.

I'm literal trash and fighting games, it is a curse, I love watching fighting games and everything about fighting games is super cool to me, but I am BAD at fighting games. Super Smash Bros however, seems to be a different story. I have never owned a Smash game before and this fucking game had the audacity to make me feel competent at a fighting game and care about characters that are from games I've never played. I've just had a blast with this game, I feel like it is one of the most fun purely gameplay experiences I've ever had. Also Joker from Persona 5 is coming real soon, that makes it amazing by default.

WOWOWOW! Tight, great feeling combat? Open world design connecting more linear based areas? Simple but in-depth mechanics and skill trees? All coupled with a high difficulty curve if you want it and a extremely compelling story with interesting characters? You get all of that from this one incredible game. God Of War is one of the games that will be talked about as a MUST HAVE for this entire console generation, It feels so unique in art design as well, the game is truly incredible in every sense. I will say for all of you who may have been deterred from playing this, you do not have to play all those older original God Of War's, this may be connected but you will get by just fine not knowing anything, that was the position I was in and I was fully engaged. Also this is a complete reinvention in gameplay and direction, so if you hated the gameplay of those original games, do not worry! If you can give this game a try, it'll be known as one of the best.

I think, as a unique or creative game coming from 2018, God Of War beats Spider-Man. But If you're asking me what my favourite game of the year is, 1000 times, it will be Spider-Man. Spider-Man definitely feels like it is the 'Greatest Hits' of Batman Arkham games, but in a world full of shit, all I really want is an escape from the world, a feel good time, a great feeling game and a engaging story, and Spider-Man gives me all of that while being about one of the best superheroes of all time. I have complete rose tinted glasses for this game already, but I feel so thankful for Insomniac for creating a game that makes me feel like the most relate-able superhero to ever be created. Peter Parker is the epitome of a wholesome character and being able to be him is a joy. I keep hearing the DLC isn't great, but you know what, if it is an excuse to go back into Manhattan and feel like Spider-Man I will take it.

Honourable Mentions: Red Dead Redemption 2 (as of writing I have not finished the game, I am in Chapter 4 I believe? I HAVE A LOT OF OPINIONS. enough that I will definitely want to at least write something about this game when I finish it), Bayonetta for Switch (I really enjoyed my time with Bayonetta, but that game is fucking hard and I am no good with memerising combos, so it isn't a game that is made for me but I enjoyed my time nontheless), Overcooked 2 (me and a rotating cast of friends and family has made me fall in love with this game, feels like the best chaotic fun that I need to just kill time and hang out with the people I love), A Way Out (A really fun co-op experience with some really cool ideas, the story has a lot to be desired but the gameplay around it is pretty good!), Detroit: Become Human (with a game that looks so visually stunning and that seems so well put together, why are we still getting stories from David Cage. Detroit has a laughable plot and maybe if that's why you wanna try it go ahead, but I think this is now probably one to many games that has been squandered by David Cage's stupid writing. In a world with Until Dawn and Life Is Strange, why are Quantum Dream's talent being squandered by one idioit?), Life Is Strange 2 (I haven't had a chance to even by the game yet, but I want to at least mention it here because I love this series and I played Captain Spirit when it came out and loved that to pieces too.), Astro Bot Rescue Mission (Holy Shit, this is the best PSVR experience I've had so far, granted I don't own a PSVR and I only got to play an hour of a the best levels from a friend who owns the game, but this is a HUGE step forward to selling people on VR, I want to play this whole damn thing, it's just so creative and it feels so fresh, and it looks beautiful)

2018's Best Of The Year - TV

HEY, this is all opinions maaan, I don't listen, watch, play, experience, everything that happens in a year. SO CUT ME SOME SLACK.

I spent ALL of 2018 preparing for this series of lists. I printed out a bunch of blank lists for each medium I was experiencing, stuck it on the back of the door, noting it down and rating it all. Needless to say, I LOVE LISTS.

I didn't do this one last year, I guess I never really thought I watched a lot of TV, and it turns out I watch a lot of TV, and I don't watch a lot of TV. Television is still in another golden age right now, I thought it was around during Breaking Bad, Game Of Thrones, Dexter etc etc, were making the rounds but it feels like it continues to grow and bloom every year. As such there is TOO MUCH to try and check out and actually finish, as a superhero fan there is already too many comic book shows for me to check out (which I'm actually gonna try and attempt that CW stuff this year, wish me luck), add that too the ever growing animated genres around and the drama TV and it feels like I've barely even scratched the surface. But I was still surprised how much TV I actually did watch, a lot more than I thought. So here is my list of my favourite TV of the year. Honestly some of middle could be interchanged but fuck it, this is the list now.

I enjoyed the majority of Luke Cage season 1, and I am a big fan of the Marvel Netflix shows in general. So this series was a really great watch. Felt like the whole season had a much more focus, and it had a great character study of Luke Cage, with the ending of the season being extremely compelling. I guess it is sad, then, that we probably won't see the continuation of this. As of right now all of Marvel Netflix seems to be doomed, Iron Fist, Daredevil and this show have all been cancelled, and The Punisher and Jessica Jones feels like they will suffer the same fate after their next seasons are finished and released. All of this seems to be because of the yet to be released Disney Plus and the planned MCU TV to come out of there, let's hope this isn't the end of these characters, but more specifically these portrayals.

I won't lie to you, this is actually the first season of It's Always Sunny where I felt that it was a bit weak in places. This has quickly become, over the past 2-3 years, one of my favourite shows of all time. But this time around I felt they may have cut a bit too close to the wound. The show was always in poor taste, in the best way, but this season saw them tackle of lot of polarising politics and social issues that have cropped up since Trump's presidency, and sure in America it is more divided and more prominent, but for me, I don't wanna think about it, or make fun of it, I want to have escape from everything about the world that makes me depressed. But look, these are just a couple of episodes, and most of this series leans on the goofy and ridiculous just the way I like it, and everything I love about the show is still here. Plus we have a shocking closer to this season with a interpretive dance made by Mac, who wants to express how he feels as a gay man. A HUGE departure from It's Always Sunny's usual antics and it is beautiful and poignant in a way that is very surprising.With all that considered, that's why it sits here.

I don't really know what to say about Patrick Melrose, other than I really enjoyed it, and going in not knowing what this was about was a real blessing. Benedict Cumberbatch pulls out another great performance, I know he's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you are interested in this is anyway, at least watch 2 episodes. The first episode is not the be all and end all of this miniseries, I saw some people drop out after the first episode thinking it was one thing, when in actuality it is something else. If you continue with this show you will be treated. And that is all I want to say about this show, take a look if you're interested.

I won't lie to you, this is a young adult superhero show, that means there is a certain level of, I guess the best word is, dramatics, but it is in a coming-of-age story, and I think it gets away with a lot of that, but if you don't like that sort of thing I would skip this. But all of you out there who don't have any issues with that, this show is a great time. We have a lot of different issues being tackled but not so much to lose focus away from the powers and the special connection the two lead characters have. Acting is superb, chemistry is brilliant and story is wonderful. This show stuck with me for the majority of the year as I kept looking back on it with fond memories.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is also up there with one of my favourite shows of all time. It is the ultimate feel good comedy show, full with interesting and hilarious characters that you feel connected to on a level like you would with best friends. This show pulls you into it's world so easily and you feel like you are a part of the family. This was another stellar season for the NINE-NINE, with a ending cliff hanger that was almost taken away from us when the show was cancelled prematurely early 2018. I and everyone else on twitter had a fit and now we get a Season 6 and an answer to that cliffhanger. It seems that the next season looks to be this shows last, which I am ok with as long as we get full closure and a beautiful ending to a show that has been magical from the begging.

We're back at the Marvel Netflix again, and Jessica Jones is still EXCELLENT. First season was amazing in every single way and although I think this season is slightly weaker, it's still a great TV show in every sense, Krysten Ritter still pours every emotion and depth into Jessica, she should be in more stuff. I'm just getting upset that this show will be gone soon too. Let's move on.

There has been a small reoccurring theme in this post that happened to me throughout the year with my relationship with TV. I used it as escapism from the current political climate we live in, Queer Eye is the show that not only gave me that, but allowed me to live in hope when I thought there was none. Who knew that something so simple as five dudes making others feel good about themselves could tug on such a heart string. This is just a great time from start to finish and we were blessed by Netflix for giving us two seasons of the show within one year. Can't wait for some more to just moreish-ly binge.

My last few years have been an exploration and falling in love with the media of film and cinema, as such I have spent more hours reading, listening, exploring and watching reviews and information about movies almost as much maybe more than actually watching any movies. By doing that I come across and become fans of people who talk about movies, and one of my top go-to reviewers is Mark Kermode. This year he released a new show on the BBC all about Movie genres, their tropes, the story common occurrences, and it all adds up to a really interesting case study of each movie genre covered in each episode as well as lovely dose of movie recommendations. I loved my time with this show and I can't wait for some more.

Imagine a show, where a bunch of comedians you know, some you don't just do weird fucking tasks as a competition, all being judged by everyone's former teacher turned comedian Greg Davies? Sounds pretty funny right? Now imagine your least favourite comedian, who you just don't find them that funny, they go on the show and you CRY with laughter, that is the magic of Taskmaster. Taskmaster manages to make comedians and just personalities you barely know or don't know or just dislike become some of the funniest people in the world and it has been doing this for 4 years. I have been a big fan of this show since Series 2 in 2016, but this year really hit a peak for the show. Series 6 of the show might be my favourite so far. The cast were all lovable in their own ways and it made me really invest in the stupidest cheesy dad comedy that Tim Vine does that I was never a fan of before. Greg Davies and Alex Horne are also the perfect pairing and I thank them both for making the show what it is, without them I imagine it wouldn't be the same.

If anyone knows me even slightly then this is no fucking surprise to you in anyway. Daredevil has been a perfect show from begging to end for me. This season of the show is the best season of the show yet and if this does become the end of the show as we know it, at least we got the perfect closing we could ever have. The rapport between Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock and Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk feels like it is the emotional core and gut punch that the comics created so well in between their pages. I've said it a million times, but Daredevil is THE BEST superhero adaption I have ever seen and I don't think anything will touch it for a long time. If you have any kind of affinity for superheroes, please, please, do yourself the favour, watch Daredevil, forget everything else connected to it, (stuff happens in Defenders in between Season 2 and 3 but Netflix have a great recap video on the Daredevil page, just watch that I guess) this show itself is a perfect hero show.

Honourable Mentions: Disenchantment - Season 1 (a nice little surprise of a comedy show, not funny every time all the time but characters are likeable and when it is funny it is very funny), Iron Fist - Season 2 (as of writing I still haven't finished it, I will but other stuff took my time and I wanted to watch Daredevil more than anything else so I skipped straight past this), Maniac - Season 1 (I'm so annoyed I didn't finish this yet, I'm absolutely certain this would be on my list but I just haven't got around to it), The Great British Bake Off - Series 9, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here - Series 18 (these shows are on every year and I watch them every year, even though they are fantastic they don't really hold a candle to the rest of this list), Sharp Objects - Miniseries (I'm bummed I haven't got round to this one, Amy Adams is great in almost everything so this is on the top of the list to watch), Doctor Who - Series 11 (I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS about this series of Doctor Who, maybe it will be ready for a different post later, in short, the characters are great, Jodie Whittaker is great, some episodes are pretty good, most episodes are a bit shit :( ).

2018's Best Of The Year - Albums

HEY, this is all opinions maaan, I don't listen, watch, play, experience, everything that happens in a year. SO CUT ME SOME SLACK.

I spent ALL of 2018 preparing for this series of lists. I printed out a bunch of blank lists for each medium I was experiencing, stuck it on the back of the door,  noting it down and rating it all. Needless to say, I LOVE LISTS.

This has been a pretty dire year for me and music, I spent the majority of this year just disinterested in listening to anything, including bands I love and enjoy. As I used the podcast worked as my driving force while working away, this past 2-3 months of the year has been dedicated to listening to as much as I can that I missed. Because of all this it seems I didn't listen to many differing genres, mainly my Hip-Hop love from last year only went to only two albums, and my need from last year to get more great Rock albums has now reared it's head this year. To the point where my TOP 5, is all Rock skewed. Anyway, I'm really happy with my top 5 even though they aren't very varied.

As a self-proclaimed metal fan, it would come as a shock to you that I hadn't listened to much of the influential metal band from my home country. But it is true, I knew only two big hits from Priest before listening to this album. This is my first Priest album, and it is fucking awesome. These past few years has felt like metal and rock music has slowly been dying off, there hasn't been that one big band with that one amazing album in a long time. But here is the gate keepers to the genre putting out one of the best metal albums of the past few years like they were still in their prime. The most notable parts of this album is the refreshing mix of metal styles throughout the album, we go from thrashy, powerful, high octane metal in songs like Firepower, Lightning Strike and Traitor's Gate, to some soulful power metal ballads like Never The Heroes and Rising From Ruins, but then you also have chugging grungy heavy cuts like Evil Never Dies and Spectre. I haven't even mentioned some of the catchy later half of the album like No Surrender and Lone Wolf. Rob Halford puts out a performance that is outstanding for someone who's been doing this for so long, especially when his peers have voices that are slowly deteriorating at the same age. But lets not give the most popular member all of the credit, some of these guitar riffs are absolutely superb, Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, the guitarists of Priest, come up with just some amazing guitar sections that stay with you. Basically what I'm saying to you is that this LP has it all when it comes to Metal of the past 5 to 10 years, it almost feels like this is apex, the pinnacle of this style of metal we've had for a while, and it's time for someone else to come in and take mainstream metal music in a new refreshing direction.

Although Slaves is the, what's the best phrase, cheesiest band on this list, at least when it comes to lyrics, I still love their sound, and after a pretty poor second album this record gets back on track to how the Are You Satisfied? felt. Sure this thing isn't better than their debut, but it is the follow-up that I wanted initially. This album just hits a lot of right notes for me, catchy punk with a mainstream appeal. If it's the strong abrasive but simple tracks like Cut and Run and Bugs, or if it's just the catchy but swelling cuts like Chokehold and Photo Opportunity, the songs on this albums just hit every note perfectly for me. I really love Isaac story telling here too, again, the lyrics of Slaves may come off a bit kitsch, but I really enjoy it for the music they are trying to make. I think a major helper in this though is the tight track count, with only 9 tracks with a total run time of roughly half an hour, it's really hard to go wrong. Unlike their previous record which had 16 tracks that felt messy in comparison. It feels like the two lads really put their heads together and knuckled down to give the fans the most concise pleasing album and it works really well.

The first album of the year I listened to and said 'early contender for my favourite album' and it stayed here all year to now sit as my third favourite of the year. The Voidz is an new band I've been introduced to and I'm very happy I was. This was the first album I listened to and realised 'yeah, this is where rock is going'. The surreal and bizarre sounds of the initial listen is intriguing, but over time you get really tied into the unconventional nature of the music and you find the catchy songs within. After each listen through of the album it felt like it just made more and more sense. I love the Art Rock direction, this isn't something I have ever really listened to and it honestly opened my mind to future LPs I listened to later on in the year. Julian Casablancas is the spear head to this whole album, with vocals that screech is the best way, shifting is pitch up and down, but then also having textured rock moments and softer more sombre parts. Also using different voice effects throughout the album allows for his sections to combine really fluidly with the amazing and off-the-wall guitar and keyboard. To all you Strokes fans out there, I'm sure you already know about all this anyway, but I'd say you'd be super into this, you definitely feel the same vibe, albeit with the art rock edge. This whole album is just well put together, all the songs manage to take you through a journey with it's different layers and vibes throughout. I think anybody who believes they are a rock fan, should listen to this, it feels like a turning point along with a couple other examples (foreshadowing).

Is there a more perfectly titled album than this, Joy as an Act of Resistance. It is what it says on the fucking tin. IDLES have come back just one year after their debut record and blown everyone out of the water. The band feel as aggressive as ever with this absolute brutal tracklist all about loving each other and yourself in front of adversity. The ever present 'FUCK TORIES' message is still here, but contained in well written lyrics and tension building, ear blistering guitars. Last years effort Brutalism had me saying 'some tracks can drag and blend into each other', which didn't bother me so much just because I loved their sound and Joe's vocals so much, now this is completely gone, the songwriting has come leaps and bounds, and almost every track on this album is in the same category as my favourite songs from the previous album. And although I straight up don't like some of the cuts on here, the rest I do love, really hit me in the right way at this point in my life, it feels like an album that understands what I'm feeling and thinking about this country I'm living in, and this current political climate, that's why it is one of my favourite albums of my lifetime, even with its faults. Great is a song that feels like it's talking about the environment I've grown up around, while Samaritans talks about masculinity, a topic I have recently made a very strong opinion on, and this happens throughout the whole record. I feel like this is the anthem of RIGHT NOW for me personally.

The debut record for the new project led by two members from The Drones, I have never listened to any Drones music, so I don't know how this differs from that work, but for me Tropical Fuck Storm, similarly to what I said about The Voidz, feels like the cusp of what Rock music is about to be, and also like IDLES, in some of its lyrics encapsulates what I'm feeling and thinking currently in 2018. TFS feels like the rock epiphany that has been accumulating all this time and it explodes in this cacophony of heavy, gritty guitars combined with the eccentric vocals of Gareth Liddiard and the clean harmonies of Fiona and Erica, who also play bass and guitar respectively. The experimentation of this whole album is what I've been looking for so long and I feel like it was just given to me on a beautifully disgusting platter to enjoy over and over again.

Honourable Mentions: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts (this shit fuckin rules, I need to listen to more kanye), Brockhampton - iridescence (the boy band went through a lot of shit this year, and unfortunately I wasn't ecstatic about this record), Jack White - Boarding House Reach (My favourite Jack White solo record so far, but still a little messy for my liking, still some great experimental stuff tho), Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want (this is here cause I've only listened to it once as of writing and I plan on listening to it a couple more times! Seems p good man), Marc Rebillet (in general, he did release an album and an EP, but the man also makes YouTube videos, and most of his music is improv anyway, he's just so damn catchy and funny, he's great).

2017's Best Of The Year - Wrestling (The Fluffies)

Yknow, I'm a big wrestling nerd, and when I wanna do wrestling awards I wanna make it as goofy as wrestling can be, so let me introduce you to the first ever 'Fluffies' (You get it right!?). This'll be similar to my WWE Season Awards, except I'm involving all the wrestling I saw this year. Sadly I'm no Meltzer, so I haven't seen everything, I've just watched what I could.



Male Wrestler Of The Year - Kazuchika Okada

I think there is absolutely no doubt that Kazuchika Okada has one of the best, if not thee best, year in pro wrestling, every major championship match he had this year was a Match Of The Year contender, along with the greatest wrestling trilogy with Kenny Omega and being the longest reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. This couldn't go to anyone else this year.


Honourable Mentions:

Kenny Omega

Well, maybe it could've gone to this man. Omega has had an incredible 2017, not only the trilogy but he has just as many stand out matches as Okada, as well as winning the IWGP US Championship and being the main reason New Japan has started getting a lot of western fans attention.

AJ Styles

In a year of WWE where has been lack luster to say the least, AJ Styles was a consistent in having the best matches in the company. Sadly it was hindered by being an undervalued US Champion and having a slightly disappointing series with Kevin Owens.



Female Wrestler Of The Year - Asuka

Asuka has had another stellar year in pro wrestling, starting in NXT with her bouts with Ruby Riot, Nikki Cross, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce and Ember Moon, then later moving to the main roster on Raw. Admittedly her main roster run so far has not as good as her NXT run, but that aside she is the greatest female wrestler today.


Honourable Mentions:

Kairi Sane

Although my lack in eastern women's wrestling is obvious, Kairi Sane since turning up in WWE has been phenomenal. Winning the Mae Young Classic, and being featured prominently on NXT afterwards she is one of the best pro wrestlers in the world and it is obvious to see.

Shayna Baszler

When Shayna Baszler had her first match in the Mae Young Classic, I was absolutely in shock. She was an incredible story teller and athlete. Even from a MMA background you can tell that the love for pro wrestling runs deep in Shayna's DNA.



Tag Team Of The Year - The Young Bucks

It has to go the other two thirds of The Elite, The Young Bucks. I think at this point in their careers it's hard to put anyone else on the top of this list. I think their successful series Being The Elite puts them up their alone, using modern platforms to change the way Pro Wrestling tells stories is truly groundbreaking for the industry, but not only that but they produce some of the best matches on the planet.


Honourable Mentions:

The Usos

In the past couple of years WWE's Tag division has been dominated by The New Day, but The Usos took a risk to try and become more prominent again and it worked far better than anyone could have ever imagined. The twins have had a gimmick change and a heel turn that has only allowed them to come out of their shell more, they've upped their game when it came to tag matches, allowing their new heel personas to allow them to update their movesets and use dirtier tactics. A great year uce.

DIY

Before their split, DIY was probably the greatest WWE orientated tag team, they were the constant factor to all the great NXT tag matches this year, matches with The Revival and Authors Of Pain really elevated the whole NXT brand where most of the NXT Title matches were getting predictable.



Male Breakout Year - Braun Strowman

This was a pretty hard category out of the three mentioned here, but I think I truly need to praise Braun Strowman. His initial debut was not good at all, but since then he has absolutely become my favourite part of every WWE program he is included in. So entertaining along with being able to play the best Big Man since early Undertaker. I hope he rockets from here.


Honourable Mentions:

Travis Banks

Travis Banks has been on my radar for a little while, but his most recent run in Progress (also I heard some stuff from Fight Club Pro?) has added a new entire level to him as a performer and really shone everything he is capable of.

EVIL

Although been amazing for a while, EVIL this year has become my guy to root for in NJPW, not only a goofy but really cool gimmick, just an insanely talented performer. All his G1 matches were must watch, the one with SANADA and Okada immediately come to mind, plus his matches in the New Japan Cup and winning the World Tag League. Don't forget his firt shot at IWGP World gold at Kings Of Pro Wrestling.



Female Breakout Year - Toni Storm

Toni Storm this year has shown to be one of the most charismatic and enjoyable wrestlers in the world, this year saw her get the best notoriety from WWE's Mae Young Classic, getting to the semi-finals. But Toni also went through every other women's division this year, in Stardom she won two tournaments and their World Of Stardom championship, along with still holding their SWA World Championship that she won in July 2016. In Progress she became the first Progress Women's Champion too, and has been defending the belt in great matches ever since.


Honourable Mentions:

Shayna Baszler

See female wrestler of the year honourable mentions

Peyton Royce

At the beginning this year Peyton was entertaining but not reached her full potential, throughout this year with her iconic partner by her side, Peyton Royce has shown herself to be one of the best women's wrestlers in the WWE, not just that, but a character that has fully shown her potential.



Tag Team Breakout Year - Authors Of Pain

You may feel like Authors of Pain were on top a long time ago, but although debuting in 2016, AOP didn't win the Tag belts till 2017, which means their whole dominant reign and great matches that connected with it happened this year. Authors Of Pain are the most surprising team, there were a lot of doubters to their ability in the ring but they have proven time and time again that they are


Honourable Mentions:

Benjamin & Gable

Although only forming recently after the WWE decided to push Jason Jordan as a singles competitor, Benjamin and Gable have completely taken everything in their stride, although at first they were a little rough around the edges and their baby face personas weren't garnering as much traction as they liked, they come out of the wood work as heels putting on spectacular matches.

CCK

Almost completely unknown until recently where they had taken on British Strong Style in Progress, the team of CCK is so over in the UK that it's hard not to mention their rise to success over this past year.



Top 10 Matches Of The Year

There will be less writing here, just take these as the best matches to watch from the year if you missed out or you wanna rewatch it all again!

10. Aleister Black vs Velveteen Dream - NXT Takeover War Games

9. Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe vs Braun Strowman vs Brock Lesnar - Summerslam

8. Kenny Omega vs Tomohiro Ishii - G1 Special In USA (Day 2)

7. The Usos vs The New Day - Hell In A Cell

6. Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega III - G1 Climax (Day 18)

5. Tyler Bate vs Pete Dunne - NXT Takeover Chicago

4. Kazuchika Okada vs Katsuyori Shibata - Sakura Genesis

3. Kenny Omega vs Tesuya Naito - G1 Finals

2. Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega I - Wrestle Kingdom 11

1. Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega II - Dominion

Honourable Mentions:
As long, maybe even longer than the actual list. Please go check out all of these as well!

Travis Banks vs Pete Dunne - Progress Chapter 55, Johnny Gargano vs Andrade 'Cien' Almas - NXT Takeover Brooklyn, DIY vs The Revival vs Authors Of Pain - NXT Takeover Orlando, Kazuchika Okada vs EVIL - G1 Climax (Day 14), Kenny Omega vs Juice Robinson - Destruction in Kobe, AJ Styles vs John Cena - Royal Rumble, AJ Styles vs Shane McMahon - WrestleMania 33, AJ Styles vs Finn Balor - TLC, Triple H vs Seth Rollins - WrestleMania 33, Undisputed Era vs SAnitY vs Authors Of Pain & Roderick Strong - NXT Takeover War Games, The Young Bucks vs The Hardys - Supercard Of Honour XI.



Top 5 Feuds Of The Year

5. The Usos vs The New Day

The Usos and The New Day absolutely reinvigorated the WWE tag division this year with several of their great matches and amazing promos. This whole program has really brought The Usos out of their shells and allowed them to become even more popular faces than they were before. Meanwhile The New Day continue to be WWE greatest asset.

4. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs Shane McMahon

This is an on going story as of writing this but it's prominance from 2017 has to give it a space here. Unlike most I don't mind Shane McMahon wrestling matches as I find he's entertaing outside the ring and he is willing enough to try anything in a match to get a reaction, it also helps being paired with the best performers around today with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, who for the most part this really shows off. Sami Zayn's perfect baby face persona has vanished and now we've gotten a even better heel. This is also made even better when you add teh real life and on screen chemistry he has with best friend Kevin Owens, who has been the best consistent character in WWE since his debut.

3. Travis Banks vs Pete Dunne

Progress have been one for great storytelling and there is no exception here, realising the popularity of Pete Dunne and how amazing he is as a heel called for a underdog babyface to counteract, and they found it in the most unlikely place, great heel Travis Banks. The story is maybe a little by the numbers but it doesn't matter when the performers and the company they are in are so good.

2. Aleister Black vs Velveteen Dream

Aleister Black and Velveteen have created a very subtle and extremely curious feud that plays with sexuality but also character study that is hardly ever seen in professional wrestling, all based around the idea that Aleister Black won't say Velveteen's name. If you can grab the network to watch the progression of this in NXT I highly recommend you do.

1. Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega

I don't think this is very surprising to many. After having the best trilogy in wrestling history with each match jammed to the rim with beautiful story telling there is not much more you can say. You just have to watch the matches to understand.



Event Of The Year - Wrestle Kingdom 11

Just an amzing show from top to bottom, the last four matches of the show were all immediate match of the year contenders in all wrestling review companies. It couldn't be any better than this.



Promotion Of The Year - New Japan Pro Wrestling

Due to the Omega/Okada trilogy, the abundance in popularity of The Bullet Club, and the G1 Special in USA it has allowed New Japan to reach the western audience it was always lacking, especially in a year where WWE have been the dullest it has been in the past 3 years. New Japan's 2017 was a year of growth and showcase, their isn't anything better than that.


Thank you all for getting this far and reading my first annual Fluffies. Hopefully many more in the future. Don't forget if you like these kind of award posts that I'll have one for my annual WWE Season Awards the day after WrestleMania, looking at the ups and downs of their Mania to Mania season. Thanks!