Company MVPs for 2024

  From Dusty Finnish: (Replying to William Huckaby's inquiry) The last thing I was working on (was) the 2024 MVPS by promotion for Georg...

 

From Dusty Finnish:

(Replying to William Huckaby's inquiry) The last thing I was working on (was) the 2024 MVPS by promotion for Georgia Wrestling History.

First I would like to thank everyone for returning to read this for a third year. Next I would like to congratulate all the hard work that the wrestlers have put in this calendar year. 

This year I’m introducing the Najasism Rule some wrestlers could win the MVP at their respective promotions for the next decade however to keep it fair once you hit 3 years in a row there’ll be a reset year to give someone else a chance. 

Please check the bottom for explanations on certain MVPs. 

Most Valuable Player: an accolade or award, originally used in team sports to recognize one player for game-changing excellence, and also used outside of sports to recognize excellence in the contributions of an individual to a group effort. 

Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment 

Carlie Bravo 

Baby AWE is back and unfortunately for some of you it’s all Bad News. AWE’s revival has contributed to an overall uptick in wrestling in the state’s capital. Carlie however has waged war not just on the roster but sits a top of with his GWC but every name in the state. His unmatched energy and charisma has both paid homage and given new life to the AWE against everyone attitude. Surrounded by the Hierarchy, Alexander Lev, a returning Bryce Cannon, and one of the Hungriest rosters in the state they are a potential nominee for promotion of the year in 2025. His face off with O’Shea Edwards is one of those moments people will point to as promotion defining if not defining all of southern wrestling. Larry Goodman said it best AWE is back like it hasn’t been back in a long time. 

Classic City Wrestling 

Dominic Stuckey No Good Bastards 

Much like his victories at CCW Dom has earned this one by the skin of his teeth. Dom’s value lies in how his work has elevated everything he’s in. Look at his group No Good Bastards which performs way higher than the sum of their parts. Duncan was a CCW original but never found his footing, Dezmon was a literal unknown, and Nikki Heat was brought in for loses and that team would band together to face Left Hand Path in CCW’s best feud of the year. He’s crossed paths with almost anyone you can name at ccw his heel work has become the glue that has held together a number of shows in Athens. He’s banned from being mvp next year but I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point next year he is the CCW champion. 

Coastal Empire Wrestling 

Randy Reno 

(Editor's note from LG: Ok, so I'll jump in here to agree. The more I see of Randy Reno, the more I love and appreciate)

Deep South Wrestling 

Skrilla The Great 

Admittedly I was one of those shocked by Skrilla winning wrestler of the year for 2023 but boy did he leave no room for error in 2024. Skrilla has been the face, heart, soul or whatever you want to use for Deep South. In a promotion that has such rich history in our state he has elevated himself into conversations as one of the best to ever grace their roster. Facing off with Zilla Fatu and Lexis King were both cherries on top of his already stellar resume. Unfortunately his departure is as devastating as it was shocking to see. Whoever looks to takeover for him better be ready to fill some big shoes. I won’t speak on the future but I know Deep South and Georgia wrestling will be better when he returns. 

IWE 

White Mike 

(Editor's note: It's astounding how much things have changed in the indy wrestling landscape of Augusta during the last year). 

Kraken Pro Wrestling 

Justin Kayse and the Business 

I want to start this by saying the best show from a viewers’s perspective in Georgia wrestling is Kraken Pro Wrestling you can finish any episode in half a hour and a lot have really good wrestling. Is it possible to have a champion that doesn’t actually wrestle? Is it possible to have a wrestling mvp that doesn’t wrestle? Sure it is Mr. Kayse has built up quite the formidable team of talent around him and he needs it as the roster boast Aaron, Kantrell, and All Star Special. He has Diggs the monster, Dom the main event guy but honestly my favorite to watch has been Jay 2 Strong. I wasn’t a fan of when he joined AS$ but man has the Business worked out for him. Go find his match against Kantrell. He’s developed into a Shelton Benjamin like wrestler with real character. 

Platinum Championship Wrestling 

Najasism 

A lot of wrestlers had good years or good moments but no one comes close to the impact of the Hoochie Daddy. I wrote on Naja earlier this year so I won’t keep you on this section long. His persona at PCW is one of the top heels in the state. He’s elevated so many he’s had so many great outings and he’s truly become a show all to himself. The H Town Hittas became CCDL tag team champions, DJ Smoke won the inaugural Change Cup, and Nate Manision has come into his own on the micro phone. I could make a very good argument for Najasism being mentor of the year. He is the only wrestler I’m confident would repeat as MVP in 2025. Now I’ve been accused of loving Naja too much and he is as high as you can get on my list of wrestlers as anyone so I will say his promos need work. That being said he could’ve been mute all year and this would’ve been his mvp. I will say if Najasism can expand the magic of this character fully to his other shows he would easily win best overall wrestler. 

Pro South Wrestling 

Cameron Keast 

I don’t think people appreciate enough or understand the insane amount of work that has to go in to producing a wrestling product 52 times a year. I would honestly give it to the Havens for being able to do such an impossible task year after year but as you know no bookers. Keast barely edges out AAron Dallas who was their best champion for the year. Titles are always important but Pro South is a narrative and who’s character was most consistently compelling this year than Keast. Keast has recently been robbed but that’s simply the life of a Pro South main eventer going from page to page with no pause in the story. It’s possible that he may repeat as MVP for 2025. 

RIPW 

Jay Lucas and Terry Yaki 

The Top Team tag partners are inevitably on a collision course. Jay Lucas is the current RIPW heavyweight champion and Terry Yaki is currently holding the 

Southern Honor Wrestling 

Joe Black

 This was my most difficult MVP race as so many guys had great years. Including but not only Hunter James, Judais, Chip Day, Gunner Miller, and well honestly even Gary Lamb. Read my full explanation below. Has there been any title chase and championship win as satisfying as Joe Black becoming Southern Honor Champion. Joe unlike most on this list is also accomplished in the tag team division. He and Murder 1 have had some serious competition in what is possibly the strongest tag team division in the state yet the Hierarchy have ruled the roost. Joe is one of the few MVPs on this list that didn’t just main event but also carry matches and programs up and down the card. 

Southern States Pro 

Dylan Lesynd 

Every now and again I earn a bit of Josh Wheeler’s time and he told me his personal pick for MVP was Dylan and who am I to disagree? 

Southern Violence and Wrestling 

Dante Darko 

I don’t think I would have been naming an MVP not named Austin Towers for svw but here we are. After losing the championship to Skrilla the Great the titan has effectively moved over to CCW. I know it may be a dark spot for some that SVW (the first promotion I ever wrote about) is closing the doors but if this is the end it didn’t go silently into the good night. Darko as champion was in its own way something to behold. His style was obviously different from Towers but he did not disappoint at all in the ring and I hope he had an opportunity to continue his reign in the rebirth. With matches against Rico Gonzalez, Skrilla the Great, and Jay Lucas he has cemented himself as a talent to watch. 

Explanations of certain MVPs 

CCW This was a really close race. The second closest of all my MVPs. So this will be longer but bear with me. Think of Diesel the champion, Shawn Michaels the best bout machine, and Bret Hart the man that elevates everything he’s in. That’s how I look at Owen Knight, Sean Legacy, and Dominic Stuckey. Owen continues his dominant rain going on nearly 2 years as champion but even as the main man he’s been the second star to both men I listed but also Suge and Rico Gonzalez all of them got bigger reactions than Owen against Owen. Next you have Legacy who was one half of the best match this year in my opinion against who else but Najasism however wrestling is more than just the moves and he’s the weakest on the microphone of the 3 and it’s not particularly close. Based on my own rules and career trajectory the NIL prospect will be the MVP in 2025 of all of Georgia 

I stopped writing when I found out Skrilla would be permanently gone from Deep South although I had more MVPs to mention.