Dot Net Awards: 2008 Best Pro Wrestler

Dot Net readers voted on a variety of 2008 awards throughout January. This is the final category. The following are the poll results of the Best Pro Wrestler category.

(1) Chris Jericho: 29 percent
(2) Shawn Michaels: 19 percent
(3) Jeff Hardy: 9 percent
(4) Randy Orton: 8 percent
(5) Edge: 5 percent
Others: 13 additional nominees split 30 percent of the vote.

Rich Twilling's thoughts: While I would love to look in the direction of Nigel McGuinness or Bryan Danielson, this award most definitely goes to Shawn Michaels. Michaels was absolutely amazing this year in (and out of) the ring. His WrestleMania match with Ric Flair was one for the ages. He elevated everyone he was in the ring with and deserves this award going away. Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, and Edge were not far behind.

Jason Powell's thoughts: I had a conversation with someone who works in the industry earlier today. This person, whose opinion I respect greatly, noted that John Cena has had his best matches with Shawn Michaels. I made the point that just about every wrestler has had his best matches with Michaels, and the person I spoke with did not disagree. Michaels was the most consistent in-ring performer in 2008 and it wasn't even close. He had memorable matches with every major performer he stepped in the ring with. He had the difficult task of giving Ric Flair the type of sendoff he deserved, and he stepped up and delivered a masterful performance in true Mr. WrestleMania style.

I don't want to come off like a Jericho hater because that's definitely not the case, but he doesn't get my second place vote either. Rather, it goes to Edge, who also had a great year and never disappointed on pay-per-view. Third place goes to Jericho. Fourth place goes to Kurt Angle, who had standout matches with Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles, Abyss, Jeff Jarrett, Yuji Nagata, and others. My fifth place vote goes to Bryan Danielson, who puts on a clinic whenever he gets in the ring. Honorable mention goes to WWE legends Undertaker and Triple H.