Best Women’s Wrestler: “Timeless” Toni Storm
Honorable Mentions: Rhea Ripley, Bayley, Athena, Maika, and Willow Nightingale
After losing her AEW Women’s World Championship to Hikaru Shida at “Dynamite 200” in August of 2023, the former WWE superstar reinvented herself as “Timeless” Toni Storm — a caricature of a golden age Hollywood starlet.
Storm entered 2024 as the Women’s World Champion and has successfully retained it after four title defenses; defeating Deonna Purrazzo, Thunder Rosa, Serena Deeb, and Mina Shirakawa. While defeating those four alone is an impressive feat, it’s Storm’s eccentric characterization that has separated her from the field. Storm’s use of grayscale, affiliation with her “butler” Luther, and mentorship of her “understudy” Mariah May has been as fascinating as it has been unique.
Best Men’s Wrestler: Cody Rhodes
Honorable Mentions: Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, Jon Moxley, and Damian Priest
It’s no secret that Cody Rhodes is the hottest name, in the largest wrestling company in the world. He currently holds the WWE Universal Championship, representing the most widely viewed wrestling program on television, Friday Night “SmackDown.”
In the first half of 2024, the “American Nightmare” appeared in seven of WWE’s eight PLE main events, won the “Men’s Royal Rumble;” feuded with the Rock; and ended Roman Reigns’ historic championship reign at “Night 2 of WrestleMania XL.” Rhodes wrestled a staggering 49 times between January and June, 18 of which were title defenses. His performance in the “Royal Rumble,” match against Roman Reigns at “Night 2 of WrestleMania XL,” and at “Backlash” against AJ Styles were all phenomenal (no pun intended) — assembling an unassailable body of work for wrestling’s biggest draw.
Best Tag Team: The Bang Bang Gang
Honorable Mentions: The Young Bucks, The Undisputed Kingdom, ABC, Awesome Truth, and Judgement Day
I must admit, Jay White, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn are one of my favorite acts in all of professional wrestling. Is it wrong to choose a six-man tag team as the tag team of the year? It’s hard not too, when traditional tag team wrestling has been so lackluster in 2024.
The Bang Bang Gang won the ROH Six-Man Tag Team Championship on January 17, defeating Prince Nana’s Mogul Embassy on an episode of “Dynamite.” After that, the “Collision Cowboys” formed an alliance with the AEW World Trios Champions, the Acclaimed & Daddy Ass — that became known as the “Bang Bang Scissor Gang.” However, their tenuous alliance predictably ended on the special “Big Business” edition of “Dynamite,” culminating in a match at AEW’s “Dynasty” Pay-Per-View. With both titles on the line, the Bang Bang Gang defeated the Acclaimed & Daddy Ass; becoming the Unified World Trios Champions.
After unifying both titles, the Bang Bang Gang defended their championship against Death Triangle and Top Flight & Action Andretti — successfully retaining their Unified World Trios Championship until the end of June.
Best Feud: Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay (AEW Dynasty)
Honorable Mentions: Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns (WrestleMania XL), Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland (AEW / NJPW: Forbidden Door), Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW: New Beginning in Osaka), Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada (NJPW WrestleKingdom 18), and Will Ospreay vs. Josh Alexander (TNA Impact #1017)
“Restore the feeling? Bruv, I am the feeling!”
In 2023, Will Ospreay assembled one of the most impressive catalogs in recent memory: full of stellar bouts against KENTA, Tetsuya Naito, David Finlay, Kazuchika Okada, Mike Bailey, Josh Alexander, Chris Jericho, and Kenny Omega.
Ospreay carried all of that momentum into 2024, signing with AEW in February and making his in-ring debut at “AEW Revolution” against Konosuke Takeshita. A few days later, Ospreay wrestled his former United Empire stablemate, Kyle Fletcher, in the main event of “Dynamite.” After Ospreay defeated Fletcher, Bryan Danielson made his way to the ring — locking eyes with the “Aerial Assassin” the show ended. A few days later on Saturday Night “Collision,” Ospreay approached Danielson after his match with Shane Taylor. Danielson used the opportunity to challenge Ospreay to a match at “Dynasty” — which Ospreay eagerly accepted.
Oftentimes in wrestling, less is more. There’s beauty in simplicity and the premise of this match was simple; pitting the greatest wrestler today versus the greatest wrestler of all time. Can the “American Dragon’s” technical expertise and ring generalship neutralize the “Aerial Assassin’s” extraordinary offensive repertoire? Can Ospreay prove himself as AEW’s brightest rising star by defeating the standard bearer in AEW?
Their match was a masterclass. Danielson and Ospreay’s contrasting styles clashed perfectly. The bout was well paced and full of tremendous counters, despite their lack of shared experience in the ring. Danielson methodically attacked Ospreay’s upper body, slowly diminishing the phenom’s mobility. However, Ospreay endured Danielson’s offense, ending the match with a lethal combination: delivering one Hidden Blade to counter Danielson’s Busaiku Knee, followed by the Tiger Driver ‘91, and then one more Hidden Blade to punctuate the affair.
We all know that Danielson’s days as a full-time wrestler are numbered. I just hope these two get to share the ring (at least) one more time.
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