2022 Georgia Wrestling MVPs By Promotion

From Dusty Finnish: -- You have to be a significant part. If you have the best match at a show all year but it’s your only match there you’r...

From Dusty Finnish:

-- You have to be a significant part. If you have the best match at a show all year but it’s your only match there you’re not considered sorry. 

-- Some guys are going to win more than one if they're that good. Doesn’t mean they’re necessarily better than any one else. 

-- Not every promotion gets an MVP. Either because I hadn’t watched enough or there isn’t enough notoriety to deserve one. If I hadn’t seen you I’m not going to lie. 

-- I don’t give it to bookers/owners as you control how much exposure you get. 

-- Areas of measurement 
1 match quality, 2 match quantity, 3 accomplishments in promotion, 4 marketability, and 5 identity. 

-- MVP score is rated in each category 1-10 and multiplied by 2. To see who’s most important to their respective roster. NA is an automatic 2.5 multiplier. 

-- Accomplishments main titles are worth more but holding multiple titles is also valuable. Celebrity wins or endorsements are highly valuable. 

Action 

AC Mack 

This one hurts cause I honestly truly wanted to give it to Adam Priest and I’ll leave my argument for him below but damn if he’s not the guy wrestling in AC Mack’s sizable shadow. Mack is one of those guys where if you translate his body of work to other places he would easily be MVP there as well. I believe the IWTV championship is the spiritual successor to the NWA championship when it was defended in a loose confederation of territories. Mack established Action as his home base and took off to the moon. Not to mention his emotional championship win that was the catalyst to his entire run. Action has an army of talented wrestlers easily one of the most talented rosters in the state and all of that begins with AC Mack. Mack is inarguably the best independent wrestler in the world today and he will soon join trainer AR Fox in AEW or old rival Austin Theory in WWE. 

Alternative Pro Wrestling 

Rob Adonis 

What’s old is new once again. APW Has a lot of unknowns on their roster but the individual who rules the roost is Georgia wrestling veteran Rob Adonis. Adonis had fairly stiff competition from current Southern States Champion Stevie Ray Frost but Frost fell just a bit short of the MVP.Adonis has come back and is in as good of form as any especially when wrestling in APW. Adonis seems rejuvenated and his role as the focal point of the ugly duckling roster that is APW is tremendous at this stage in his career. APW has a lot of unlikely heroes and villains on its cards with some names sounding foreign to most Georgia wrestling fans. I feel if people gave this show a chance it would become a guilty pleasure of theirs as Adonis, Frost, Vain, Stryknyn, Crocker, Boulevard, and Savage create a motley crew that you just can't look away from. 

Anarchy 

Nick Halen 

This came down to the seasoned vet in Mr. Halen and the undeniable upstart in Hunter James. Without a doubt one of my two hardest races to decide. Halen being demolished by Joe Black had to be one of the gutsiest decisions any promoter made all year but it paid off greatly. Halen is a Shawn Michaelsesque figure who has consistently elevated others around him. His match with Axel Kytel was the main catalyst for the young man to enter the GWH Most Improved conversation. All of these MVPs make their respective shows better but very few make the people they work with better. I hate to use a HBK comparison again but Halen has had a comeback that most wrestlers could only dream of. In this stage of his career it has been so entertaining to experience and he still has so much left to offer. What ultimately gave Halen the edge was the Last Man Standing match against Joe Black unfortunately Hunter has no such match to his résumé to compare. 

BattleSlam 

Shoot Taylor  

BattleSlam has been a welcomed addition to the Georgia wrestling pantheon. How many guys have a win over an actual rap star on their resume? Shoot Taylor has quietly built a name for himself and is the capital of our state’s capital. Georgia wrestling is better when Atlanta is strong and Shoot is a part of that resurgence. His recent test has put him on a collision course with reigning champion Baron Black. Shoot has a lot of positives that would have promoters salivating. He has a great look, undeniable intensity, and in ring skills for days. He’s the prototype for a great professional wrestler. I believe Shoot will be a major player not just for BattleSlam but all of Georgia wrestling in 2023. 

Classic City Wrestling 

Dominic Stuckey 

One thing to watch next year is the Battle of Athens. Athens is a serious contender for best wrestling city in the state. CCW lacks a championship so titles are out the door for judgment purposes. Justin Legend gets consideration but I’ll probably never reward owners/bookers. Before I name the recipient CCW’s 3 strengths are its tag division, women’s division, and capacity to sell alcohol. Their show at the 40 Watt is one of the best shows all year and one thing stood out that night. Irving West vs Dominic Stuckey. They wrestled while a band played loud music and you could still audibly hear the cheers, the boos, and the pulse of the crowd. Dominic’s capacity to be hated at such a degree was not something I would have ever expected out of him. He has grown both in size and as a performer since his initial WrestleMerica days. His persona is the perfect back bone for the new CCW and CCW is a great place for him to spread his wings. He’s a wrestler who’s been around but never on top and at CCW he can be the top guy where in other places like Action and Southern Honor he would be another drop in the ocean. He, like most of the MVPs, can have a compelling match with just about anyone and every promotion needs that central figure. 

Coastal Empire Wrestling 

Matt Odom 

Matt Odom isn’t underrated, he's just hidden away. In my efforts to learn more about and experience more Georgia wrestling. Odom had big shoes to fill following Bryce Cannon’s title run but he has done a more than admirable job carrying the torch. The Pretty Boy is more than just a pretty face as he has gotten his hands dirty in a number of wars throughout the course of the year. Aside from his aforementioned battles with Bryce he also has a Dog Collar match to his credit against William Blackwell. Coastal has one of the thinner rosters in Georgia which makes Odom’s work that much more impressive. 

Dad's Wrestling Association 

Chip Skyler  

From the backyard to the big time. This is the other Nightmare Factory dominated show. I believe DWA will be the next GIPWesque feel good rising from obscurity in Georgia wrestling. There’s a few bright prospects on the roster such as Jack Ledger, Alexys, and other Nightmare Factory alumni. The shiniest of all the new stars is Chip Skyler. He seems to be hell bent on getting over or literally die trying. At the Iceberg benefit show he had $100 stapled to his forehead before being put through a makeshift table and landing on concrete. Did I mention this was all in a battle royal? Most hardcore icons in Georgia wrestling are a bit older but maybe DWA has a guy who can carry that torch for a new generation. 

Deep South 

Najasism 

I don’t rate matches on a 5 star scale but if I did Naja would own two in Deep South alone. His matches against Skrilla and Zack Mosley were master classes and his performance/presentation almost matches his work for PCW. Between PCW, Deep South, and Southern Honor I believe it’s fair to say Naja is Mr. Friday Night. I don’t think it’s a bold prediction to say he’ll be wearing gold here before the year is over. Really the only question is who can keep pace with him for a full 365 days? Deep South’s roster is thinner than most and they employ a lot of unproven players but that isn’t in itself a bad thing. (Georgia has multiple testing sites for unestablished talent) PCW gets the best of Naja’s character work and story development. Deep South gets his best in ring work and considering he’s one of the best wrestlers in the state that’s a good trade for both. 

District Championship Wrestling 

Top Team

When I wake up my wife doesn’t ask me what I want for breakfast. She asked Exotic Youth or Top Team? My friends didn’t ask who I thought was going to win the World Series. They asked Exotic Youth or Top Team? I have really struggled with this MVP. District in my opinion lacks direction and in some ways it just feels like they’re booking what SSP already has. Ultimately it came down to Top Team, Exotic Youth, and Angelica Risk. Top Team came out on top. They’re consistent quality at such a young age is remarkable. Every promotion in Georgia is built around either All Star Special, Happy Madness, or Exotic Youth. District could add the fourth and final face to Georgia tag team’s current Mount Rushmore with the Top Team. District has one of the most homogeneous rosters in wrestling with very little influence outside of Nightmare Factory trainees. I believe that’s actually a strength of there’s as many of their competitors should be familiar with one another. I must be totally honest Exotic Youth scored the exact same as Top Team as truthfully no one scored extremely high for District. Top Team’s recent win is what gave them the edge. 

Fuzion 

Ryan Phoenix 

I admittedly have never been to a Fuzion show in person. However I’ve watched a lot of their content through social media outlets. Ryan is akin to Matt Odom and Sean Legacy in that he is a solid wrestler but cursed to be on Georgia’s eastern half. Fuzion is a fairly new promotion but they’re bolstered by the employment of power players such as JB Enterprise and Stryknyn. Phoenix has managed to carve out his own niche as champion and despite not having the same name recognition as larger players on the Georgia scene he is a beloved champion. 

Georgia Independent Pro Wrestling 

Renegade Enforcer 

I really wanted to give it to Ehren Black he is a central figure backstage and in the ring. I wanted to give it to Nathaniel Vanderbilt, he's carrying D Munny. The truth is it's Renegade Enforcer. He has amazing athleticism and is not only a truly badass big man (check his video of knocking out a dude on Facebook) but he sells his butt off. I don’t say this lightly but he’s the closest thing to prime Iceberg Slim Georgia has ever seen. GIPW is similar to SVW there’s a lot you have to endure to get to the good stuff but when it’s good it’s great and RE is a big part of that. Sure his championship reign was out of the blue but similar to Mark Henry in 2011 his reign was refreshing and legitimate. He was the champion you want. He can work with the high flyers from A4 and the bigs such as the aforementioned Ehren Black. Renegade has come a long way in Georgia wrestling and is finally reaping the rewards of all of his efforts.  

Intense Wrestling Entertainment 

Joe Black 

No one person is as intense as Joe Black. Joe deserves the honor for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost he has helped establish Tyrek as an actual pusher and not just a punching bag and a cheap laugh. Managers in Georgia wrestling are extremely iffy but this pairing is perfect. Secondly Joe reminded all of us fans that no matter how tough we think we are wrestlers can and should kick our asses if they’re provoked. Finally Joe Black is Joe Black the God of Georgia wrestling. 

LARIATO 

Lazer 

Remember when Lazer went viral for all the wrong reasons? Lazer has made a comeback to wrestling after surviving a fall that would have crippled a normal man. Lazer has carried the load for Lariato for as long as I can remember. Most promotions in Georgia probably wouldn’t survive with their main man being the Hurricane but Lariato isn’t like most. There’s no rhyme or reason nor consistent scheduling or bookings but it’s always an entertaining way to spend a Saturday. Lazer lacks the technical prowess of most show’s opening acts. He doesn’t have the name recognition of any other company’s mvp. But dammit if he’s not one of if not the most child friendly and humblest stars in the state. Not many guys are willing to literally sacrifice life and limb to entertain a few hundred people but Lazer is definitely one of those guys. 

Main Event Wrestling 

Dominic Stuckey 

Spi-ral is one of Georgia's most talented wrestlers and it’s a shame he isn’t out more. However he just couldn’t edge out Dominic Stuckey for this MVP. I will give Spi-ral the edge in quality and quantity but at they’re two biggest shows the crowd proved that Dom is the man. (Dominic is the only guy on this list that makes it as both an unredeemable heel and a loveable hero.) Dominic and MEW enjoy a happy and unique union as they both share a home town which is definitely something that contributes to his popularity. This in addition to MEW being less than 20 minutes away from his old stomping grounds of Barnesville they’re benefiting from the work that WrestleMerica had put in. Stuckey has been solid in the ring for a few years but now he’s getting endorsements from Impact stars under his belt the sky's the limit in 2023. MEW is looking to be an immediate player in Georgia wrestling with high class production, star power, and a litany of talented men and women. I believe Carlie Bravo and Dominic Stuckey will be at the forefront of this blossoming team. 

National Championship Wrestling 

Big Andy 

If you don’t know Big Andy you’re honestly missing out. I’m happy to see he will be one half of a NCW championship match taking place on an Anarchy show. Andy is truly a mountain of a man and dwarfs almost all that get in the ring with him. NCW is another of the “trainee shows” in Georgia and it may be the case of a big fish in a small pond but dammit if I don’t enjoy seeing him swallow guppies whole. Andy will likely be expanding his reach to other promotions outside of his 605 affiliation. With him being pound for pound the largest mvp it’s only a matter of time before he casts his mammoth shadow over all of Georgia. 

New Generation Pro Wrestling 

Tyreke the Pusha 

This promotion was on the borderline of not making the list. It is very infrequent and employs a number of awful wrestlers, luckily this MVP doesn’t go to a wrestler. The Ultimate Pusha Tyreke Robinson. He talks people into the room and his punchable face and detestable personality makes him an easy person to simply sit, watch and hate. NGPW suffers from a few issues an inconsistent schedule, a perplexing main event picture (Chris Nelms seriously), and a lack of solid talent only ones that come to mind are Exotic Youth, Hunter James, Skrilla the Great, and Dominic Stuckey but with the exception of Hunter none are featured prominently in the main event. I fully expect a 5 on 5 blowoff match between ECWE and NGPW next year featuring the 5 heels and 2 faces above, maybe add Rico Gonzalez to the mix and let Tyreke push the hell out of that match. I guarantee you that it would be a game changer. His verbiage will do all the work; those guys just have to stand and wrestle. 

Old School Wrestling 

Stunt Marshall  

Who else but Stunt? Seriously, I think my grandmother’s history teacher is on this roster. Despite lacking a good supporting cast Stunt Marshall has continued to make fans fall in hate with him for another calendar year. Stunt has been an entertaining presence for years but his recent run in OSW is the fruit of all those years of hard work. He has a great unique and immediately recognizable look that has gotten over greatly with the middle Georgia traditionalist crowd. Marshall probably carries a heavier load than just about any MVP. We all know of the talent in Canton and Cornelia while Towers, Stuckey, Top Team, and Renegade have rosters equally talented as themselves. Stunt stands alone atop the OSW mountain and he doesn’t deliver against big name star show in and show out then its curtains for OSW. 

Platinum Championship Wrestling 

Najasism 

It’s Najasism. Naja is as talented as his name is hard to say. Why Naja? No one should ask that question but I’ll answer. Brian Blaze was a solid champion, not great, not terrible, perfectly serviceable but his greatest moment was dropping the belt to Naja. PCW has a few other faces Skrilla, ERC, and Dominic Stuckey are over but ultimately peanuts in comparison to Naja. He’s the heart and soul. He is to PCW in the ring as Matt Hankins is behind the scenes. I would be mistaken not to mention Duncan Mitchell, ButchHer, Brian Blaze, Bryce Cannon, or ERC who have all had strong years but with the exception of Bryce and Brian none have been champions. Duncan has a significant win on the year at Swamp Rulez but it came in a match that left eyes dry with boredom. Bryce’s biggest win is over Luka so not incredibly impressive at least not enough to knock Naja off. ButchHer and Brian have both been high value commodities for years but in the year 2022 it was all Naja. If you haven’t seen Naja wrestle you’re missing out. If you haven’t seen him at PCW you’re really missing out. 

Southern Fried Championship Wrestling 

Hunter James

Carlie Bravo’s half year or so in SFCW almost earned him this spot. Then there are the always reliable members of the roster such as Billy Buck, JB Enterprise, and Jacob Ashworth. Happy Madness had been a hot commodity all year long but only one man has been extremely loved and extremely hated for SFCW this year. Hunter James has now had two runs this year with the tag titles with two vastly different partners. James is a fast rising star in Georgia wrestling dare I even say one of the 25 or so best wrestlers in the state and the only man to make all 3 of my all Georgia teams. The future is Hunter James whether we like it or not. Hunter reminds me a lot of Shoot. The rotation of young, good looking, and believable heels has definitely expanded in the last few years. Hunter is a modern day Shane Douglas he’s a franchise unto himself. 

Southern Honor 

Krule with Brooklyn Creed 

This was the hardest MVP to give out. It was a 4 horse race between All Star Special, Joe Black, Gunner Miller, and Krule. AS$ has been the beacon of light carrying the tag division for most of the calendar year having some notable outings but SH’s tag division still has some work to do especially after the split of Technical Excellence. Joe Black is one of the most over wrestlers in Georgia history but is ending the year as a member of Dishonor when he’s a more than capable leader. Gunner Miller being champion was inevitable and he’s had great showings leading up to the big moment but it just wasn’t enough to knock off Krule. Krule will end the year with SH’s MVP, a spot on the North Georgia 1st team, and a collection of championships that would make Omega blush. SH has perfected its presentation of the atrocity. He can be chaotic while Brooklyn can be in charge. They finish an unholy trinity of mind matching violence alongside Tank and Reverend and Jeff G. Bailey and Iceberg. 

Southern States Pro 

Trey Havoc 

SSP’s gimmick is giving guys who never had a fair shake a chance. To keep with that mentality I eliminated guys who were established stars prior to its existence. That left me with a difficult choice. Duncan Mitchell or Trey Havoc. SSP has pushed DM hard. Going back to the very first show we’re he defeated Chip Day however there has been one bigger star making performance in this company’s short history. 400lbs of Geter on Trey Havoc’s back trying to break him in half with the walls of Jericho. Was it Bret Austin at mania? No but it could be the start of something. Trey has come from lower on the ladder than Duncan yet he has worked to elevate himself to a similar position in the pecking order with significantly less support. There’s a potential rivalry brewing there: the next big face vs the next big bad. Trey is a stud and will be a significant cog in the Georgia wrestling wheel for years to come. 

Southern Violence and Wrestling 

Austin Towers  

It’s crazy to think Irving West, one of the smallest guys in any locker room, has been champion for a year and he still had no chance in hell of stealing the MVP. One of the biggest stars in Georgia wrestling is also one of the biggest MVPs in Austin Towers. Most companies are inconsistent with his booking or are down right using him wrong. Towers has been SVW and Hoss champion all year and rightfully so. He’s had a number of memorable matches and feuds with the likes of Charlie Anarchy, Ehren Black, and Axel Foley. He has a giant sized prescience and without him and Left Hand Path the company would fold, who else would there be to watch the Gotch’s? Is Towers perfect? No he’s not as crisp or experienced as other Georgian giants but from the moment Long Live the Chief starts playing all of Athens is under his shadow. 

WrestleMerica 

Fry Daddy 

Ryan North almost became the first manager to make the list however he does a lot without ever really doing much. The MVP is clearly unequivocally and undisputedly Fry Daddy. WrestleMerica is one of the most recognizable franchises in Georgia and will be getting a “Love Letter” soon. Unfortunately the promotion has stagnated from the over exposure of out of prime wrestlers like Tyson Dean or guys who never really had a prime like Pain or the departure of heir apparent Dominic Stuckey. WrestleMerica has seen a tough year but no matter what Superman still saves the day. Who’s the guy with the S on his chest? It’s Fry. He isn’t keeping the ship afloat; he's underwater carrying it on his back. Even after all these years he’s as over as ever in Forsyth/Barnesville. There are few guys in Georgia as loved by their home promotion as Fry is and will continue to be. 

WWA4 

Kurt Kanyon 

Kurt Kanyon. This one was as impossible to choose as any other MVP. There’s so many great new wrestlers that populate A4 I could’ve named any of their 10 best wrestlers as mvp. As much as guys like Rico Gonzalez, Larry Lazard, Jay Loucas, and Terry Yaki have elevated their game this year it belongs to the OG. Kurt is often overlooked in Georgia wrestling but this is a guy who would routinely go toe to toe with Austin Theory, AC Mack, David Ali, and Ashton Starr. Kanyon is the epitome of don’t judge a book by its cover. He is deceptively athletic and has a mind for creating new forms of carnage. 

Viral Pro Wrestling 

Sean Legacy  

I hinted on it a bit in my all Georgia team’s but Legacy is only held back by location. Sean is a fluid wrestler with impressive combinations and aerial excellence. He’s probably the most effortless flyer on this list while simultaneously being one of the strongest. Legacy in a nutshell is a body builder with a beautiful backflip. Every wrestler has value but Sean is valuable and an instant adrenaline shot into the arm of every show he’s booked on. His latest series of matches, specifically his December outing against Owen Knight are just extra cherries on the Sunday. Legacy is destined for bigger and better things in the future. The fact that his fans and VPW get to witness him up close now is special. 

Ultimate Wrestling Federation 

Nick Halen

  

I’m admittedly late to the UWF scene but everything I said about Halen’s previous entry still remains true. Nick has amassed a body of work that is often overlooked by most fans here in the state of Georgia and luckily the best is yet to come. He’ll be squaring off with former ROH star Jimmy Jacob’s which should give him a leg up on next year’s MVP list in the first weekend of 2023. UWF is also home to one of my favorite gems in Georgia wrestling, former champion Stevie Ray Frost. My fellow GWH writer RobBrod said it best “After a comeback year of 2021, 2022 Halen’s star is shining brighter than ever and for good reason: He’s that damn good.” 

Notes/Remarks/Acknowledgments 

I had to rate a lot of wrestlers to make this list as accurate as possible. I like to think after reading my reasoning others will come to similar conclusions. If you want to know how you rated in specific promotions feel free to comment or message me directly. Georgia wrestling is as strong as ever and unfortunately we don’t always recognize every corner of our state. This is an olive branch to slightly amend that injustice. Some wrestlers weren’t selected as mvp and had higher scores than wrestlers in other companies. I have specific thoughts about some wrestlers who didn’t win. They will be left below. Sorry SWA, WGW, and CWFG I did not have ample time to review to give fair and honest MVPs. 

Adam Priest Action 

Excuse me, have you seen Adam Priest? I’ll address the elephant in the room. He reminds us all of a wrestler whose name won’t be mentioned because of his deeds. Adam has everything that made that wrestler a star in Japan, WCW, and WWE. He’s a technical genius and has hit that sweet spot with his selling that can make the crowd both laugh and cringe. There may not be a more proficient technician on this list and there’s a lot of good wrestlers on this list. Adam is one of few I think every company should push to add regardless of who their current MVP is. I bet he could work a 5 star exhibition with them. 

Rico Gonzalez WWA4 

Rico nearly won the MVP this year alongside a handful of other hopefuls. There’s a new better generation running A4 and Rico seems to be leading the charge. He will have 52 weeks next year to carve his name into this list. 

All Star Special Southern Honor 

Huckaby and Hanson are the act that pays for itself. They’ll be on a crusade in northern Georgia to regain their tag team titles. Simply put there one of the 4 best tag teams in Georgia, A little hint they’re not 2, 3, or 4. 

Sal Rinauro WrestleMerica 

If Sal gets pushed as hard as Pain he would easily win every wrestling award possible. We all know his abilities, he just needs time and the platform. WrestleMerica is in a new era and no time like the present. 

Exotic Youth Georgia Independent Pro Wrestling 

There's absolutely no reason why the trio of Mosley, Cannon, and Pepperbottom should not have all the gold to close out 20223. They are still the most talented wrestlers on the roster. Renegade closed the gap but when at their best they’re still lapping the competition. 

Jazzy Yang Classic City Wrestling 

I think in 2023 Jazzy will be the first woman to be the main figure on their respective show. She’s amassing a streak at CCW similar to the likes of Goldberg but the caveat this time is she can actually wrestle. She’s had solid outings against Nathaniel Vanderbilt, Rose Gold, and the Renegade Twins. If she continues to improve an argument could be made that CCW can skip a women’s title and put the heavyweight championship on her. One final note this is one of the most underrated rosters in the state, seriously the aforementioned Stuckey, Matt Sells, Jazzy Yang, Vanderbilt and Rose, Najasism, Owen Knight, Terry Yaki, Jay Lucas, and Larry Lazard all potential MVPs. 

Duncan Mitchell Southern States Pro 

Duncan has beaten Chip day as much as the rest of Georgia wrestling with his experience level combined. If that’s not a rocket strapped to your back I don’t know what is. Duncan possesses the two L’s that make a W for face wrestlers. Likeability and legitimacy. His mouthpiece alone makes him more badass than most people in wrestling boots. 

Spi-Ral MEW 

Spi-Ral is truly a sight to see. He has great size, a great look, and an awesome move set. I hate that he is a MEW exclusive nowadays because he could make a lot of noise in a lot of places. Spi-Ral is cool whereas Stuckey is charismatic. If he had a bit more charm he would run away with this mvp. Everything in between the ropes is award worthy but it’s the people outside that determines who gets those awards. 

Carlie Bravo Everywhere

This isn’t an overstatement, hyperbole, or exaggeration. If you’re a 2022 MVP you are likely to lose your spot to Carlie if you’re on the same show together next year. He’s just that good. Don’t believe the hype he is the hype. 

ALL PHOTOS ARE PROPERTY SOLELY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS 

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