Bryan Rose’s Observer Awards picks, part one | Column
It’s that time of the year again.
The Observer Awards deadline expires in just a matter of days and thus, it’s time to think about this years winners. Over the next three weeks, I’ll be sharing my own thoughts on these awards, specifically ones that I have the most interest in. So sorry MMA fans, I have no opinion on what’s going on in MMA, at least in terms of awards talk.
I’m breaking up my picks into three articles that will be released over the next month. The big awards I will hold out for the last column, and the other two will focus on Category B awards. Keep in mind as you read these that these are my own personal choices, so if you get mad at who I pick please direct all flame bait to my X account, where you will be promptly ignored or muted unless you’re nice.
So without further adieu, let’s look at the first half of Category B, which just happens to include a lot of the bad awards. Uh oh.
Best Pro Wrestling Documentary: The Scream Queen: Daffney (Dark Side of the Ring)
Vice’s long-running docuseries returned earlier this year and one of the more striking episodes focused on former WCW and TNA star Daffney, who passed away in 2021 following mental health struggles. While the documentary did go over her career, the episode primarily dealt with her personal issues, how her career had an affect on her well-being, and how she bonded with other women who were struggling with the same issues. It’s a sad and personal story, but also one that showed how many lives she touched. Definitely the highlight of season seven.
Worst Gimmick: House of Torture
I am so over this gimmick. This group drives every NJPW show they’re on into the ground. If I wanted to see low-level WWE heat, I would watch WWE where somehow it’s not only better, but actually gets heat. Some people may like this ironically but my interest in NJPW has waned, and they are a part of the reason why.
Best Gimmick: Toni Storm
She’s had this gimmick for a few years now, but I think Storm has done a fantastic job translating her shtick into something really great. Her interviews, which feel both fresh and funny, have made her one of AEW’s top stars. Her association with Mina Shirakawa has given her new material to work with over the last few months and they have great chemistry, giving them a big boost as a tag team heading into the new year.
Promoter of the Year: Salvador Lutheroth III
The major surprise of 2025 was the explosive growth of CMLL, who had record sellouts week after week. There’s no question that the company feels hotter than ever, and some of that has to be attributed to Salvador Lutheroth III, the current promoter of the company.
Best Booker: CMLL booking committee
From what I understand, who actually books CMLL is a bit complicated, so I’ll just go with generalities here. The promotion has had some fantastic matches this year with the featured trio the Sky Team of Mistico, Neon, and Mascara Dorada. AEW’s relationship with CMLL have also seen some of their top luchadores wrestling as well, with Bandido, Hologram, The Beast Mortos, and others wowing the Arena Mexico crowds, who are usually super hot for everything.
Out of all the promotions, I kind of like CMLL’s shows the best right now. The pace is brisk, the sellout crowds are hot, and the top matches that sound good on paper almost always deliver. You can’t ask for much more than that and right now, CMLL is delivering.
Worst Promotion: TNA
TNA’s trump card at this point of their existance is their deal with WWE. There’s really no arguing that, and that has helped them with their crowds this year, especially at Slammiversary. But the weekly storytelling his hideously bland, with nothing sticking out.
In fact, the only time anyone seems to talk about TNA is when they do something very, well, TNA. For example, Mike Santana finally won the TNA Championship at Bound for Glory only to lose it in his first title defense. When you are the distant number three promotion in the United States, why do something where the goal is to make people upset and mad? You can’t afford to do that to the few fans who actually tune in every week to watch your program.
It’s not that TNA is consistently terrible. But the standard for pro wrestling is so much higher these days, and TNA putting out middling to bad content each week just doesn’t cut it, even if WWE is your new best friend.
Worst Feud of the Year: Whatever is going on between Max Caster and Anthony Bowens
After splitting them up and realizing they’re probably better off together, AEW made the move to reunite the former members of Acclaimed. I think most people welcomed the idea, but the execution has been very, very bad. For whatever reason, in storyline, Tony Khan is convinced these two, who constantly bicker and argue together, equal ratings and thus have to be a tag team that doesn’t get along or else they won’t be booked.
I think I get the idea of what AEW is going for here. We are supposed to be entertained by these two bickering every week until, eventually, they reunite and everyone is happy. Problem is, people probably would have been much happier if they just did that in the first place. And this is one of those AEW storylines that seem to drag on for weeks at end with no real conclusion in sight. Will they get the reaction they want when they finally pull the trigger? Who knows. But this hasn’t made for good television and somehow, AEW might walk away with this award for the third year in a row.
Worst Match of the Year: John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes (WWE WrestleMania 41)
This category is usually a struggle because it’s rare these days to find a match that is just downright bad at a national level. But the choice was easy this year thanks to this high-profile DUD.
Nothing went right here. For starters, Cena was clearly hurting on this night and spent the first half of the match doing everything in his power to avoid taking an actual flat back bump. It featured some of the most lifeless, tepid wrestling you’ll ever see. Then we got to the finish, where Travis Scott came out and proceeded to do absolutely nothing. Then there was the insipid Lifetime movie moment where Cody struggled to use the WWE title on a man who violently turned against him months prior. Cena promptly low blowed Rhodes, smacked him with the title, then pinned him to break WWE’s record of 17 World title wins.
There may be matches this year that, on a technical level, are worse than this match. But I was stunned seeing THE MAIN EVENT OF WRESTLEMANIA bomb this badly. Nothing about it worked. Every single thing they came up with failed miserably. Thankfully, Cena’s matches got better by the end of the year but I can’t forget this monstrosity of a match anytime soon.
Worst Television Show: TNA Impact
See Worst Promotion. Nothing TNA is producing right now is lighting the world on fire on a creative level and while Impact may not be a terrible show most weeks, is anyone really talking about it?
Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic: WWE brings back Brock Lesnar despite being named in Janel Grant lawsuit
Brock Lesnar eventually resurfacing in WWE wasn’t a surprise, at least to me. I just didn’t think it was going to happen before the Janel Grant lawsuit was settled.
By choosing to have Lesnar return at SummerSlam, WWE sent a strong message to those concerned about Grant’s sex trafficking allegations: we’re going to do what we need to do, and if you don’t like it, too bad. There are many questions about Lesnar, who was named multiple times in the lawsuit where it was alleged that Vince McMahon offered Grant to Lesnar as an incentive to re-sign with WWE. But for whatever reason, WWE decided to weather the storm and bring him back, ending SummerSlam weekend on a very sour note for some.
In one of the scummier, cowardly moves of the year, WWE made the move to announce the end of their post-show press conferences right after Lesnar made his return, ensuring that no one (read: Triple H) had to go on record and explain why they brought back someone named multiple times in a sex trafficking lawsuit. It was inevitable, as WWE had scaled back the Q&A portion of their press conferences and had largely stopped inviting anyone who might actually ask a question beyond “what’s your Waffle House order,” but choosing that weekend to eliminate it once and for all was quite pathetic.
Best Wrestling Maneuver: Sol Ruca’s Sol Santcher
It’s a cool move! Ruca, who I think is a very bright star, has done a great job getting her flipping cutter finish over and will probably become one of the more iconic moves in the next decade if everything goes her way.
Worst Major Wrestling Show: TNA Bound for Glory
This wasn’t a terrible show mind you, but for being their biggest show of the year, TNA Bound for Glory’s booking left a lot to be desired.
A lot of the undercard just wasn’t that good, far below what TNA’s WrestleMania should be. A tremendous match between Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater was ruined by some of the worst booking possible and one of the worst finishes of the year. The dreaded heel winning a title shot whenever he wants trope came roaring back with not one, but two winners in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet in another completely hideous finish. The show picked up towards the main event, which ended with Mike Satnana winning the TNA title. But that didn’t save the show from feeling like one of the weaker cards of the year.
Best Major Wrestling Show: AEW Double or Nothing
Looking at my star ratings tracker for the year, I gave 5 matches 4 stars or higher at Double or Nothing, more than any other card this year, so I think that makes it the winner! AEW’s strongest suit in 2025 were their pay-per-view events and this particular one was awesome. Will Ospreay vs. Hangman Page was a classic wrestling match and the Anarchy in the Arena bout was great, chaotic fun as always.
Worst Television Announcer: Booker T
Some people (Bryan Alvarez) are fans of Booker T’s shtick on NXT. And to his credit, in select cases, he does get things a bit more over, like Trick Williams’ theme song. Problem is, Booker T then has to call matches, and it is there where often just completely out to lunch. Sometimes I think he doesn’t even remember names, let alone storylines he’s supposed to get over. He doesn’t have good chemistry with Vic Joseph, who would probably be my second choice in this category, and is so loud and shrill I just tune him out. I’ve never understood why he’s been in this role for so many years in WWE as I think he detracts more than he adds.
Jim Ross Award (Best Television Announcer): Walker Stewart
I always like how well prepared Stewart is, and I think out of any other potential choices in this category I think he’s done the strongest job of getting people, matches, and angles over this year in NJPW. He has clearly studied the company’s history and it’s good to have someone very knowledgeable about NJPW at your side like Chris Charlton. The duo are easily the best commentary team in the business right now.
Time to cut off part one here. Next time we’ll look at more Category B awards, including the MVP awards, most underrated, most overrated (uh oh), and more.
Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade. He officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017.