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MWA's Top 10 for 2009

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 By: mikeiles

Maximum Wrestling Alliance is ready for a new year and it all begins this Friday, January 8th with a Lumberjack Match pitting MWA Heavyweight Champion Michael Barry defending the title against Jeff Starchild. But before we kick off 2010, let's look back at 2009.

First our Top 10:

10. Bernard Funk: He held the MWA Tag Team Titles with his nephew Tim Rockwell for 6 months and 6 days. He was embroiled in a feud with The Old School Express throughout the entire title reign. He ended his career by announcing his retirement on November 6th and will be missed.

9. Justin Lee: Still wildly popular, but needs to find his way back into contention. He feuded with Lars Manderson before the MAX-Division was created then won that title and reigned for 2 months and 2 days. He also tagged with Canadian Red Devil as Compound Varsity and defeated then-Tag Team Champions Texas, Inc. by Countout. Could be a force in MWA in either division if he sets his mind to it.

8. The Canadian Red Devil: He is still one of the most popular wrestlers on the roster. He received a MWA Heavyweight Title shot on August 7th and a MAX-Division Title shot on November 6th. But unfortunately for the masked man from Medicine Hat, he came up short in both of those title matches. It is obvious that he can adapt to any style of wrestling and could be a major contender in 2010.

7. The Jet Setters: Dustin Heritage & Jack Legacy are card carrying members of Excellence Personified. Their recent actions and Legacy's smart alec attitude seems to get them in trouble with Director of Operations Mike Iles. They have had tag team title matches taken away due to their actions and Legacy's smart mouth. If they can stay focused, The Jet Setters can cause problems for The Old School Express.

6. El Super Colibri: He became the first ever MAX-Division Champion on June 5, 2009 and held the title for 2 months and 2 days. When he lost the title, he was injured and missed considerable ring time. He is now back and eying Shane Morbid, the current MAX-Division title holder.

5. Tim Rockwell: He started off the year as MWA Heavyweight Champion, but lost the title at the first show of 2009 which ended a 4 months and 4 days reign. But when MWA began a Tag Team Division, he and his uncle Bernard Funk reigned supreme as Texas, Inc. They became the first ever MWA Tag Team Champions and held the belts for 6 months and 6 days. He turned on "Uncle Bernie" in November and continues to roll on. With his manager Stevie Caballero at his side, and Caballero's stable of wrestlers, Rockwell could easily claim the top spot in 2010.

4. Blake Albright: He won the MWA Heavyweight Title at MWA's first show of 2009 and held the title for 6 months and 1 day. He defeated Michael Barry 3 times during his title reign before dropping the title to Barry. He missed some time while he was injured, but now seems to be entering a feud with Boris Saarikoski.

3. The Old School Express: Jake Boulder & Jason Jones hunted Texas, Inc. for months. They were robbed time and time again by outside interference or just plain old dirty politics. They finally won the MWA Tag Team Titles on October 9th and they hope 2010 continues a long title reign.

2. Shane Morbid: He began the year hated by the fans as a member of The Gentlemen Thugs, along with Cast-Iron Cothern. He ended the year hated by the fans and the current MAX-Division Champion. But in the middle there he was beloved by the fans and drove his former partner Cothern out of MWA and out of Oklahoma, then followed that up with a feud with El Famoso who is also no longer a member of the MWA roster. His MAX-Division Title reign will reach 3 months the day after the next show, if he retains the title on January 8th.

1. Michael Barry: The current Heavyweight Champion and leader of Excellence Personified. His MWA Heavyweight Title reign will surpass 6 months on January 10th, that is if he can get past Jeff Starchild in the Lumberjack Match on January 8th. He has EP watching his back and The Jet Setters seem to be doing a good job of that. Lars Manderson on the other hand, not so much. Barry trained Manderson for wrestling and time and time again, Manderson has disappointed him. With EP watching his back, Barry could be in for a long title reign.

Now my awards:
Wrestler of the Year: Michael Barry
Tag Team of the Year: Texas, Inc.
Most Popular: The Old School Express
Most Hated: Texas, Inc.
Match of the Year: Old School Butt Whoopin Match on October 9th
Most Shocking Moment: Tim Rockwell turns on Bernard Funk
Newcomer of the Year: Jeff Starchild
Most Improved: El Super Colibri

I would also like to congratulate Director of Operations Mike Iles for winning Commissioner of the Year in the Oklafan.com Year End Awards.

Also, Oklafan released their annual Top 50 Wrestling in Oklahoma and several MWA wresters were on the list. You can view the entire list on their site: www.Oklafan.com/news/2915/article.html.

Be sure to be in attendance at the Spavinaw School Gymnasium on Friday, January 8th for MWA's first show of 2010. The Lumberjack Match is going to be HUGE!!!

MWA...we are MAXIMUM entertainment!!!

Tags: MWA, Michael Barry, Jeff Starchild, Bernard Funk, Tim Rockwell, Old School Express, Justin Lee, Lars Manderson, Canadian Red Devil, Compound Varsity, Texas, Inc., Jet Setters, Dustin Heritage, Jack Legacy, Mike Iles, El Super Colibri, Shane Morbid, Stevie