Who is PWI's Best Wrestler of 2013?

Pro Wrestling Illustrated has released its annual year-end awards, and earning four awards, including Wrestler of the Year, is WWE star Daniel Bryan. Bryan won Wrestler of the Year, Most Popular Wrestler of the Year, Match of the Year (SummerSlam, vs. John Cena), and Feud of the Year (vs. The Authority). The annual PWI Year-End issue can be ordered in both print and digital formats at pwi-online.com.

Very Positve Review of the December 25th Edition of WWE NXT

Pwinsider.com (Mike Johnson) reviews the December 25th edition of WWE NXT:

WWE NXT: WHAT WORKED, WHAT WORKED, WHAT WORKED - A MOST PERFECT EPISODE

Due to the holiday last week and family responsibilities, I am catching up today on TV thoughts.

The 12/25 edition of WWE NXT may have been the most perfect one hour of pro wrestling television in 2013. Usually I cover TV episodes by looking at what works, what doesn't and what we learned, but the reality is that with this episode - we learned that good wrestling TV is still out there and that WWE NXT's production team needs a big pat on the back.

The episode, which was hosted by Renee Young doing her usual expert job as the girl next door that loves pro wrestling, was something of a review of the last year of NXT. As much as I wrote that the 200th episode was a good "jumping on point" for new viewers, this episode was even better.

Over the course of one hour, the show reviewed names that had moved from NXT to the main roster, the current/next generation of NXT talents that are being featured, reviewed all three NXT championships, showcased champion Bo Dallas and more.

The show also celebrated what was deemed, quite deservedly, the NXT Match of the Year, a Best of Three Falls bout between Sami Zayn and Antonio Cesaro. The highlight package presented the bout as something akin to a Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat classic and when it was done, you were left feeling like you had witnessed history on NXT TV. Given how many executives' heads were turned by that match, it may even end up being a pretty important bout historically, so I may not be too far off either.

The show was then topped off with an excellent match between William Regal vs. Antonio Cesaro. As much as I've compared NXT to Jim Crockett Promotions' old TV at times, this episode reminded me of the original ECW at its finest - it was short, fast interviews, packages and highlight reels held together by a good announcer - but then we had the main event with William Regal pretty much in the old Terry Funk in ECW role - the grizzled veteran who may not be the best dog in the fight anymore, but you are going to have to work to beat him....and that's what Antonio Cesaro had to do.

The promos setting up the bout were awesome with Regal pretty much saying that he's done everything in his career but be the World champion, and that it was his own fault. He said that if he has to go out, he wants it to be at the hands of someone like Cesaro. One almost suspected that Regal was predicting this was his retirement bout. Cesaro then did a promo thanking Regal for helping him get a job with WWE, but warning him that didn't matter once they got into the ring.

When they did, it was pure joy for diehard wrestling fans. They did all the European wrestling matwork, they teased submissions, they sold injuries to the extremities at the match wore on and they built drama. In the end, Cesaro, even though he was a villain, sold his own dismay and disturbance at knowing he had Regal not just beaten but destroyed, and that moment where he showed a glimmer of remorse as Regal pulled himself up, still trying to channel his inner fighting spirit - before Cesaro pulled him into the Neutralizer....well, it was one of the best moments in pro wrestling all year.

Because it was truly showcasing the art and emotion of a great pro wrestling match.

Kudos to everyone involved in the making of this episode. Go out of your way to see it, NOW.

Video: Triple H and Bruno Sammartino in "The Garden Transformed" documentary

Viewership Up for WWE's Tribute to the Troops Special

Saturday's WWE Tribute to the Troops special on NBC averaged 2.31 million viewers, up from last year's 1.31 million viewers. The show finished second in its timeslot.

WWE Tribute To The Troops Results

Big E Langston and Mark Henry defeated Ryback and Curtis Axel in the dark match.

* Daniel Bryan defeated Erick Rowan when Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt interfered. Vickie Guerrero re-started the match, leading to Bryan and CM Punk defeating Rowan and Harper by DQ when Wyatt interfered again. John Cena came out for the save. Vickie makes it a 6 man match. Cena's team wins when he hits the Attitude Adjustment on Harper.

* Cena gives a speech to the Troops. Cena chants and "yes!" chants filled the hanger.

* Darren Young and Titus O'Neil defeated 3MB.

* The Usos and Rey Mysterio defeated The Shield.

* Brie Bella won a Divas battle royal by eliminating AJ Lee.

UFC Launches UFC Fight Pass Digital Network

James Storm Comments On Chris Harris Not Making It In WWE

"I believe Chris brought it onto himself. I talked to him while he was there. Anytime you go up there, they're going to test you, to see if you have an attitude or whatever. And I just heard he failed miserably. He had an attitude while he was up there and you can't do that. You just go up there and you do what they ask of you the best you can, and sooner or later, they'll find a spot for you and do something with you. Just because he had a good run here, he expected to go up there and have a run, and that's not so."

AJ Styles Returning to Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor announced that AJ Styles will be at their show at the Tennessee State Grounds on January 4th. This marks Styles return to the company since Death Before Dishonor IV where he beat Davey Richards. AJ is scheduled to face Roderick Strong, that will air on ROH Tv on the weekend of February 1st.

Marc Mero Talks About Working With Triple H

Triple H was and is a talented wrestler, he was like a student of the game, you know. I really enjoyed working with him. We wrestled each other hundreds of times, because obviously we would tour for quite a while on the road and we would wrestle each other every night, and not only that, we wrestled in WCW several times. I believe his first belt he ever won was when he beat me for the Intercontinental title. You’ve seen what he has done in his career and the amazing heights he has risen to…but he was really good to work with, very similar to “Stone Cold” in their work ethic…they can make guys that weren’t as talented, I wasn’t as talented as a Triple H or a Stone Cold, and they made our matches look fantastic…my hat is off to that guy…”

USA Network Tops Again And Thanks WWE

CableFax.com had a story this week about how the USA Network will be the top ranked cable network during Prime Time (Total Viewers). They pointed out WWE's involvement with Raw bringing in about 4 millions viewers every Monday Night for 3 hours.

"Obviously Raw's numbers are in USA's numbers. If Raw comes off USA, they drop down to 4 or 5," WWE chief strategy officer and CFO George Barrios predicted during a presentation at a UBS investor conference last week.

Being the #1 network, USA can charge much more for their adverts and WWE are well aware of that while they are negotiating a new TV deal in the first quarter of next year, with the announcement as to who will have Monday Night Raw & other WWE Programming coming in March. The original article is here.

Heavy Muscle Radio Interview with Triple H

WWE Superstar Triple H calls in as the guest of the week. The man they call "The Game" explains why the WWE is so involved in entertaining the military troops during the holidays. He also discusses the new WWE training facility down in Orlando where rising talent is being cultivated. Also, Kai vs Phil; who Triple H thinks is best! Click here.

Rumor Mill - Triple H - WrestleMania 30 Plans

WWE plans to end the long running "Authority" story line at WrestleMania 30, and right now the plan is to have Triple H face CM Punk in a match at the big PPV.

However, lately WWE has been discussing a possible Triple H vs Roman Reigns match as a potential "backup" plan to the CM Punk bout, as WWE has been teasing a Reigns babyface turn in recent weeks.