Introducing the Cageside Seats Year-End Awards

We're coming up on the end of 2012, which was actually a pretty damn good year in pro wrestling looking back on it. It also represents my first full year in charge here at Cageside Seats and I've had a great time working here and doing what I can to help cultivate what I think is the best community around.

You Cagesiders are lovely.

Not only lovely but smart, which is why I trust your judgement to vote on five year-end awards. We're making this a tradition and it starts next week. Or at least the voting does, as each category gets its own day from Monday through Friday. And don't worry, we won't be doing the "Vote - XXX" deal like in the Tournaments.

The poll option is back and as simple as one click.

Here, we'll introduce the five categories, as well as the nominees that are penciled in right now. I would like to say that if you feel there is a deserving candidate for a particular category that you don't see here, shout it loud and proud in the comments and maybe we'll add it in if it gets enough support. There are plenty of open spots available for two of the categories, too, so make your voice heard.

It should be noted that these awards are only inclusive of TNA and WWE, as those are the promotions we cover here at Cageside. It's not all we cover but we're not going to pretend to be experts in Japanese wrestling.

Without further ado, the five categories and their nominees (so far):

Wrestler of the Year

John Cena
CM Punk
Daniel Bryan
Bobby Roode
Austin Aries
Ryback
Big Show
Jeff Hardy
Sheamus

Match of the Year

CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho, WrestleMania 28
Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan, Extreme Rules
Triple H vs. Undertaker, WrestleMania 28
CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan, Over the Limit
Daniel Bryan vs. Santino Marella vs. Wade Barrett vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show vs. Great Khali, Elimination Chamber
Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena, Extreme Rules
Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe, Slammiversary
Austin Aries vs. Bobby Roode, Destination X
AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels, Destination X
AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle, Hardcore Justice
The Shield vs. Ryback & Team Hell No, TLC
Sheamus vs. Big Show, Hell in a Cell

Event of the Year

WWE Royal Rumble
WWE Money in the Bank
WWE WrestleMania 28
WWE Extreme Rules
WWE TLC
WWE Night of Champions
TNA Destination X
TNA Lockdown
TNA Hardcore Justice
TNA Slammiversary
TNA Bound for Glory

Feud of the Year

AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels
CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
James Storm vs. Bobby Roode
Austin Aries vs. Jeff Hardy
CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan
John Cena vs. John Laurinaitis
AJ Lee vs. The Men In Her Life

Segment of the Year

Ric Flair returns to Raw at Slammy Awards
Daniel Bryan and Kane take anger management class
Paul Heyman fakes a heart attack
CM Punk and John Cena go back-and-forth with Bret Hart as mediator
Bobby Roode and James Storm build their match at Lockdown on Impact
John Cena and Brock Lesnar have a pull apart brawl
The Rock holds a concert in Cleveland
Daniel Bryan and Kane hug it out

Remember, we'll add nominees before the voting begins if you make a suggestion and get enough support for it in the comments. We're democratic that way.

Have at it, Cagesiders.

UPDATE

We're adding one more category based on demand.

Breakout Wrestler of the Year

Damien Sandow
Antonio Cesaro
Daniel Bryan
Austin Aries
Bully Ray
Ryback
Dolph Ziggler

UPDATE PART DEUX

Another brilliant suggestion leads to the addition of the seventh and final category (I promise this time).

Prop of the Year

David Otunga's coffee mug
Big Show's chair
John Laurinaitis' People Power scooter
Cody Rhodes' mustache
Daniel Bryan's beard
AJ Lee's thighs
Dolph Ziggler's ass cape
Little Jimmy
Titus O'Neil's whistle
Christopher Daniels' appletini
Chris Jericho's light up jacket
Antonio Cesaro's satchel