Thanks to all who came out on IRC to watch me play awards show! I had a lot of fun with it and I hope it at least amused you.

Here's the list as written up by me earlier today with some comments from the live IRC chat tossed in to boot. The raw numbers will follow in the next few days.

***

HONORABLE MENTION:
Steve "The Fury" Kowalski who was LITERALLY one vote away from induction this year. The very prototype for an ass-kicking brawler in our game, the Fury should enjoy a bottle of Mooselips in the Hall at some point in time.

NOT-QUITE-SO CLOSE BUT STILL WORTH A MENTION:
"Dreamlover" Trey Porter was a few votes shy but had an excellent showing which really gives me hope that someday in the near future, the first e-w legend that I ever encountered and had the honor of working with will get his rightful spot in the Hall.

*****

Our first inductee for the 2011 Hall is one that many have felt deserved a spot for quite a while now. He's a character that many have petitioned very strongly for and one that there have been some very compelling arguments made for. A former World Champion among other titles and a character that could be considered the franchise player of the promotion he's most associated with. Here's a few comments on him...

"One of the highlights in UWF, proving that cruisers could be heavyweight champions too."

"UWF franchise player, a small wrestler back when big brawlers were the rage, and Serge Annis' natural nemesis."

"Mr. UWF. YGW was the cornerstone of the promotion for many years... and as important as UWF has been to the hobby, that should count for something."

Your first inductee into the 2011 Induction Class...

YOUTH GONE WILD!

*****

One of my favorite promotions of all time is the Longhorn Wrestling Council - ran so epicly by Ryan Powell. It's a promotion I feel such affection for, I've named two things in the AWA in tribute to it. That's why I am so happy to announce the second inductee into the 2011 Class. He may have appeared in other promotions as well but when you hear his name... you think LWC.

Here's some comments...

"As dominant as anyone has ever been, and the people he dominated are all in the hall. And I bet, if you were to ask them, they would tell you: he was just as good, or better, than us."

"The religious violent face has been done before- but Bishop owned the archtype like no other. He clearly deserves induction."

The second man to enter the 2011 Class... BISHOP!

*****

Let's take a break from the main ballot for a moment. As you all know, we have two sub-committees who help us with this voting every year. I want to take a second to thank the members of both panels for their contributions - on the Veteran's Committee, Scott Bissett, Joe Petrow, and Trace Porter and on the Women's Panel, Mike Beeby, Bob Morris, and Dante Franklin. They have all been a pleasure to work with over the past two votes and have really done those particular areas of voting justice.

Now, let's see what one of these groups has come up with this year...

First, the Woman... Mike, Bob, and Dante had some discussion and after some debate, ultimately came to an agreement on the 2011 addition to the class from the Women's Committee...

In the words of Dante Franklin...

"In 1998, Jessica Starbird was the name on the lips of everyone in the women's e-wrestling scene and viewed as the game's premiere female wrestler. She had an impressive two reigns as IEWA women's world champion, competing against the likes of Rekka Sakura, Pizzazz, and Sarah Victory, and was voted RSPWF's Top Female wrestler by her peers in both the women's 100 and RSPWF awards. She also boasted reigns as IEWA women's television champion and Intercontinental champion, as well as winning IEWA's best female wrestler award in 98."

It is with great pleasure that we add JESSICA STARBIRD to the 2011 Class of the Hall of Fame.

*****

Now, how about the Veteran's...

The Veteran's Committee has a difficult job because the only guidance I've ever given them is to consider characters who made their name prior to 1997. With this Committee, we're looking to pay tribute to the characters who, quite frankly, some of us just weren't around for or that material representing their work has been lost over time.

That's exactly what the Committee has done this year with their induction.

In the late 90s, promotions like the IIWF, the EMWC, SCRA, UWF, LWC, and many others were the talk of the game. But as we all know, we didn't start this game.

In the words of Joe Petrow...

"My strongest pitch for Chris Taylor is that he goes back to the earliest days of our circle, as he was in at the very beginning of the RSPWF in 1994, arguably the birth of our circle. In addition to his multiple world titles there, he was the cornerstone of NCW for many years, and though I haven't seen his stuff from FoPEW, I've heard that he was near the top there as well.

His description from the 1996 RSPWF Top 100, where he placed in the top 10:

""Hot Stuff" Chris Taylor - Taylor has been another one of the sport's mainstays over the past year, and has battled the best in the game. If titles are any indication, he's won most of the time. Taylor has claimed World Titles in RSPCW, FoPEW, and NCW. One of the best, and a likely Hall of Fame inductee in the future."

While I don't doubt that the others have had hall of fame worthy careers, Chris Taylor is the epitome of an e-wrestler who's time was too far ahead of most current players memories to be considered for the Hall by normal means. This is our chance to honor the guy who paved the way for many of us, who won't get his due any other way."

The 2011 selection by the Veteran's Committee...

"HOT STUFF" CHRIS TAYLOR!

*****

Again, much thanks to both the Veteran's and Women's Committees for their hard work this year.

But let's get back to the main ballot...

Our fifth character selected for induction this year is a character who I thought was an absolute lock last year and whose lack of induction is one of the most criminal moments in the history of this Hall.

Thankfully, this year, that oversight was corrected.

Let's see some comments...

"Alex Martinez was pushed by every fedhead who had him, in every fed he was in. In the RSPWF/JTF circle, out of the circle, by guys who hated each other and everything in between. 50 million Elvis fans can't be wrong, neither can every fedhead in this circle. HOF'er, of the highest order."

"Some people argue that Brody Thunder is the tops all time. Others feel it's Hardin. I think they're all wrong. AMart has done it in ever fed worth mentioning for the past 10 years, against the best that the hobby has to offer."

Speaking for myself, I have had the distinct honor and privilege with working with some of the best in the history of this game - names like Owens, Findlay, Bissett, Blair, Carmichael, Sonby, Sager, and so many others that I don't have time to mention.

At the end of the day, there are very few characters I would even put in the same ballpark as this induction.

When you talk about this character, it shouldn't be a matter of discussing if he's worthy of the Hall of Fame. It should be a discussion if he is THE BEST of all time.

It is my honor to induct ALEX MARTINEZ into the 2011 Hall of Fame class.

*****

When we first started doing this Hall of Fame, I mentioned how that when the discussion came about as to who was the greatest tag team in our game - my thoughts always danced around three different teams - The Fraternity Boys, the Epitome of Cool, and the Down Boys.

As someone who has said a lot of stuff over the years that has been... controversial... that might be one of the things that I caught the most grief over.

Apparently there was a fourth team out there that needed to be considered in that conversation. And in the time since then, I've had that argument made to me over and over again.

Comments?

"Simply the best tag team to ever grace the sport."

"The Outlaws, like Martinez, pass the true mark of greatness. Everywhere they went, whether it was UEW, RCW, AWA, IWF/WOW, UWF no matter who ran the fed, the Outlaws got pushed in short order because everyone, everyone, everyone could see how great they are. Excelled in the late 90s, excelled in the early 2000s, and arguably should have won the first Stampede Cup in AWA. Slam dunk, no questions asked. Induct 'em."

"completely dominant in UEW, and also always at the top of the card wherever they went. As far as I am concerned, the Outlaws are _the_ e-wrestling tag team."

Typically, you all know I hate being proven wrong. This is a time when I don't mind it... much.

The only tag team inducted into the 2011 Class of the Hall of Fame...

THE OUTLAWS!

*****

And lastly...

Since we began the voting for this Hall of Fame several years ago, there's been one name who has come up over and over and over again.

In 2008, on the first Gordy List discussion done for this character, someone remarked - "It's doubtful he'll make it into the HoF because so few of us got to see his work but he truly was THAT good."

Every year, the cause grew stronger with more and more coming out in support of this character that few of us had the honor of seeing but so many of us heard about in the years that followed.

Every year, they pulled more and more support to their cause by convincing us that he truly was THAT good.

I was one of the last peopled to be swayed to this vote because I simply had trouble voting for a character I had never seen. But ultimately, I decided that in order for this Hall to truly work - occasionally you're going to have to put your money where your mouth is and REALLY trust the opinions of those people whose opinions you say you trust.

In the end, this induction is a tribute to the passion of those who championed his cause and a message to the rest of us that no character is truly out of the realm of possibility.

At one point VERY close to the end of this voting process, this character had been listed on an absolutely UNPRECEDENTED ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the ballots. With a couple late ballots coming in, that did not happen but the character did land 87 percent of the vote - the highest total for this year.

Ladies and gentlemen... the final induction for the Class of 2011...

CHRIS TYLER!

*****

Thanks to one and all for one of the most fun periods of e-w discussion and debate that I can recall.

And congrats to our newest members of the Hall of Fame!

After all the years waiting to getting in, Chris Taylor is eternally condemned to be mistaken for Chris Tyler!

Kidding, kidding. Congratulations to all the new inductees!

Congratulations to the new Hall of Famers.

My connection zoned out, so didn't get to give props to Jer and Dave for two very dominant characters. I can't say I disagree with anyone who was elected at all... good year for the HOF.

I do wonder, though... if Tyler led the percentage process with 87%, who were the people who DIDN'T vote for Martinez and the Outlaws? Dare they admit who they are?

Really really glad that Bishop and Tyler made it this year, those guys were awesome and didn't get the major-fed recognition that a lot of guys in the Hall did. Really hoping that Kowalski and Porter make it next year.

Good show all, and good list of candidates voters. Congrats to all the nominees, and props to all involved.

I'll admit, I was torn for my active vote and gave the nod to Juan Vasquez this year. But I did have a vote for the Outlaws too.

Aw, Katie...even after I told everyone not to vote for Vasquez, too.

Congrats to all the inductees.

And now my ballot next year will be cleared of several people, as everyone inducted was on my final ballot. Just three characters didn't make the cut.

Next year's debate and balloting should be quite interesting... particularly depending on who else gets on the ballot.

Congratulations to all the new Hall of Famers but the one I am the most SUPER DUPER NUCLEAR MARK OUT MANIA over is Chris Tyler! In 2009 I went through the RSPWF archives, I found at least 31 RP's, a few matches, I posted stuff in one thread here that I thought was the best of that stuff.. all to try and push that cause. So I am like.. Just so, so, so happy about that! Hats off to everyone!

Firstly, I'd like to congratulate all the inductees into this year's Hall of Fame. In particular Alex Martinez and the Outlaws. I would be hard pressed to think of anyone more deserving of recognition than Jeremy. Not only is he a great writer and role player, but he's probably one of the nicest guys I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

I know that Chris Tyler got in mostly on the tireless efforts and support of a very vocal minority. I'm talking about Pedro and all the other guys who did get a chance to work with or see Aaron's stuff. I think it's pretty cool that you guys enjoyed his work so much. Believe me, a lot of effort went into it.

I have no idea if Aaron would have ever returned to e-wrestling. He probably would have at some point. For how long, I can't say. I doubt he'd still be involved in it today, but then again, I sure as Hell never thought I'd be back into e-wrestling, so who knows? I do know that Aaron would be pretty proud and grateful that you guys thought so highly of his efforts.

It's kind of nice that in a medium ( I mean the online medium as a whole) that more and more seems devoted exclusively to trashing everyone and everything, that you guys have instead chosen to show respect and appreciation for someone. Who would've ever thought that e-wrestling would be one of the last bastions of online civility!

*Raises hand*

I think this shows how good the HOF process is and how seriously the voters take it, yet again we have a class of inductees who are hard to argue with. You've struck a really good balance between honouring the deserving, yet making the Hall hard to get into.

I'm particularly pleased for Gib Crosby... Youth Gone Wild and his feud with Serge Annis is what put the UWF on the map in the lean early months. His induction is well deserved.

A really good class and set of guys were voted in this year. In the end you can't be disappointed with this class. A big congrats to those who made it ...

Lots of congratulations to the list of inductees, every one of them deserves to be in the Hall. If I'm not mistaken this is the biggest number to go in at one time as well, so kudos to the committee and Mr. Blue for really making cases and taking the time to mull their decisions over carefully.

And on a personal note, that's 3 former UWF World Champions (yes, Bishop counts) to go in, and a set of former UWF World Tag Champs. :-D Well done everyone.


Edit: And I'll also out myself as one who didn't vote for Martinez, which has nothing to do with AM himself, just a desire not to vote for any active characters at all. I did go with the Outlaws, however, so you can't blame that one on me.

In 1997, I joined UEW. As I was making my way up the ladder, others started to come in.

The 1st was this guy who I thought stole my gimmick. Worse he seemed to be doing it better than I was too. He was piling up wins and I wasn't the only one who noticed. A few us plotted to come together to put him in his place. Only made him better and bigger than before.

I _REALLY_hated Chris Tyler.

And then one night I met Aaron on IRC. I stopped hating Chris Tyler that day and it allowed to watch and amazing run and a fun character. I still remember the 1st time he got to finally work with Merc on the same side. He made anything Tom or I ever thought about giving Merc to use pale in comparision.

Then next guy I noticed was actually two guys. Doc Holliday and Brent Maverick. UEW had some solid tag teams at the time but nothing like the Outlaws. The UEW tag team holders before the Outlaws were the Circle of Death. Poor John. Nobody could withstood the Outlaw onslaught.

The Outlaws destroyed all comers after that and never looked back. I've seen a lot of great tag teams but nobody like the Outlaws or the dozens of other characters Jer creates. Much as he hates it, the strat where he has a defense against ever UEW wrestler while sounding sick and wrong could have only done by Jer.

The final I actually met in DWO first. Colby and AE were teaming against some stiff and a hotshot rookie named Alex Martinez. We won but 4-8 weeks later there he was attacking Colby from behind and replacing AE in the New Alliance. He was the new uber monster and far better than Rob Magnum ever was (sorry Chris).

I really didn't get to know Dave until I get this email. I'm supposed to get a title shot against Styles. That's when Jay and Tom tell me AMart is going to prove the theory you can use a person to pierce a carhood.

Dave always points out AE won. I'd like to remind him which character left in a stretcher and whose won the American title 2 pages later.

As I've told Dave a zillion times, AE is AMart's personal punching bag anytime. If there was one regret in my UWF title run it was we didn't get an AE defense against AMart. It was supposed to come after Tummatti (I know I spelled it wrong) but real life stepped in.

I'm honored to have gotten to work with all three of these guys.

Congrats to Chris Tyler, the Outlaws, and Alex Martinez and the amazing people who run them.