Best Promotional Move                   

Award Description:

To be given to the best move made by a promotion this past year. This could
include giving somebody a push, demoting someone, firing someone hiring
someone, or anything of a promotional nature. 

Previous Winners:

  1991: WWF signs Ric Flair 
  1992: WCW signs Jake Roberts 
  1993: WWF works with SMW & USWA 
  1994: WWF pushes Bret Hart as champion again 
  1995: WCW signs Sabu, Chris Benoit, Eddy Guerrero & Dean Malenko away
  1996: WCW signs Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Ted DiBiase & Syxx
  1997: ECW uses "working agreement" with WWF
  1998: WWF books Vince McMahon into top storyline role
  1999: WWF signs Chris Jericho

**2000**: WWF signs Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn

515 first place votes
495 second place votes
472 third place votes

283 71 34 1696   WWF signs Radicalz
 33 51 35  388   WWF elevates Angle, Jericho, Benoit and Rikishi to main event status
 26 30 38  296   WCW ceases to acknowledge Hulk Hogan on television
 21 48 22  293   WWF slowly pushes Kurt Angle to WWF Championship over entire year
 15 45 41  292   WWF increases workrate
 18 24 20  202   WWF extends Triple H's championship reign past WrestleMania
  8 24 30  172   WCW gives world championship to Booker T.
 15 16 11  145   WWF forges agreement with Viacom
  2 23 28  135   WCW signs Lance Storm
  7 13 23  120   WWF uses farm leagues (i.e. OVW, MCW, UPW) to develop young talent
 10 10 18  116   ECW gives world championship to Tazz
 14  7  6  103   All Japan works with New Japan
  3 13 23  100   WWF sends Mark Henry, Big Show down to OVW
  2 10 15   71   WWF gives Steven Regal a second chance - and a quick push
  6  6  7   62   WWF heavily promotes WWF New York restaurant
  5  8  6   61   WCW puts Johnny Ace and Terry Taylor in charge of booking for two weeks
  3  6 12   57   WCW releases Scott Hall
  3  8  6   51   WWF allows ECW to stay on TNN
  1  4 10   37   WWF gives women's championship to Lita
  0  6  8   34   WCW signs Mike Awesome
  3  2  6   33   WWFE announces formation of XFL
  2  4  3   28   WCW gives Jim Duggan TV title, airs weekly defenses on Saturday Night
  4  0  1   22   Chyna in Playboy
  1  4  2   21   Crush Girls Reunion in GAEA
  0  3  6   21   WWF signs Raven
  3  1  1   20   Smackdown your Vote
  2  1  1   15   WCW takes Vince Russo off TV
  1  3  0   14   WWF signs Christopher Daniels
  0  2  4   14   WWF makes angle out of banning of Al Snow's action figure
  2  1  0   13   WCW cuts many wrestlers
  1  0  4   13   WWF does not buy WCW
  1  1  2   12   WCW brings back Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff
  0  4  0   12   Steve Austin returns
  2  0  0   10   WCW places Stevie Ray in the commentary position
  1  1  1   10   WWF attempts to purchase WCW
  0  2  2   10   Big Show wrestles as various characters
  1  0  2    9   Rock, others appear on Saturday Night Live
  0  1  3    9   WWF takes McMahons off television for a while
  0  2  1    8   WWF sues the PTC
  0  2  1    8   WWF keeps Mick Foley on television as commissioner
  0  2  1    8   Triple H remains heel
  0  2  1    8   Rock gets part in "Mummy 2"
  1  0  1    7   WWF goes public
  1  0  1    7   WCW put up for sale
  0  1  2    7   WWF signs Tazz
  0  1  2    7   WWF puts Tazz on colour commentary
  0  2  0    6   WWF tapes Heat at WWF New York
  1  0  0    5   WWF not buying the WCW
  1  0  0    5   WCW releases Bret Hart, who then retires
  1  0  0    5   WCW moves Thunder to Wednesdays
  1  0  0    5   Tenryu returns to AJPW
  1  0  0    5   FMW signs Onryo
  1  0  0    5   ECW loses its TV deal
  1  0  0    5   Crazy Max v. M2K fued (Toryumon)
  1  0  0    5   CZW, BJW feud
  0  1  1    5   Undertaker returns
  0  1  1    5   Rock appears at Republican National Convention
  0  1  1    5   Axxess fanfest at WrestleMania
  0  0  2    4   WCW releases Juventud Guerrera
  0  1  0    3   WWF signs Mona
  0  1  0    3   WWF signs Kurt Angle
  0  1  0    3   WWF puts on good PPV's
  0  1  0    3   WWF promotes Kid Rock appearance
  0  1  0    3   WWF produces cookbook
  0  1  0    3   WWF marketing of Mankind's autobiography
  0  1  0    3   WWF makes Albert wear a shirt
  0  1  0    3   WWF gives tag team titles to Dudley Boyz
  0  1  0    3   WWF books Mick Foley in WrestleMania main event
  0  1  0    3   WCW releases Lex Luger (well, they didn't)
  0  1  0    3   WCW puts Lex Luger back on TV
  0  1  0    3   WCW not resigning Randy Savage
  0  1  0    3   WCW goes New Blood
  0  1  0    3   WCW brings back Insane Clown Posse
  0  1  0    3   WCW brings Jimmy Snuka out of "retirement" to help out Chris Benoit
  0  1  0    3   Tazz going to WWF
  0  1  0    3   Super Crazy appears in AAA
  0  1  0    3   Steve Austin injured
  0  1  0    3   Steve Austin appears on Nash Bridges
  0  1  0    3   NOAH Breaks from All Japan
  0  1  0    3   Hashimoto returns
  0  1  0    3   ECW loses its TNN deal
  0  0  1    3   Edge appears in "Highlander: Endgame"
  0  1  0    3   AJPW books Toryumon wrestlers
  0  0  1    2   WWF uses Stephanie McMahon liberally on television
  0  0  1    2   WWF signs Lita
  0  0  1    2   WWF settles Hart case out of court
  0  0  1    2   WWF not rushing Austin back into the ring
  0  0  1    2   WWF hires Trish Stratus
  0  0  1    2   WWF abandons hotel plans
  0  0  1    2   WCW releases Chris Benoit, Shane Douglas, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn
  0  0  1    2   WCW pushes young guys
  0  0  1    2   WCW pretapes Thunder after Nitro
  0  0  1    2   WCW limits Vince Russo's powers somewhat
  0  0  1    2   WCW gives the book to Kevin Sullivan
  0  0  1    2   WCW fires Eric Bischoff
  0  0  1    2   WCW cuts Nitro to two hours
  0  0  1    2   Pete Rose appears in third consecutive WrestleMania
  0  0  1    2   NOAH uses Jun Akiyama as the top guy
  0  0  1    2   Jakks Pacific releases WWF Realscan figures

REJECTED - didn't occur between 11/02/99 and 11/01/00

  3  2  5        ECW signs Scott Hall
  2  1  0        WWF signs Chris Jericho
  0  2  0        WWF releases Mick Foley's book
  1  0  0        Jesse Ventura special ref at SummerSlam
  0  1  1        WWF signs Kurt Angle
  0  0  2        WCW signs Jeff Jarrett
  0  0  1        "Tie" votes

HIRO: The signing of the R4dicalz was THE move of the year. This also
relates to the third best move which was WWF shifting back more into
workrate thus keeping the balnce between sports entertainment and
wrestling in check. Elevating several deserving superstars into the main
event was nicely done, with one of them even emerging as World Champion
while the teasing the other two with short reigns. Hopefully this trend
will continue.

CHRIS BIRD: There's been a lot of activity this year behind the scenes,
but no move was quite as wise as the WWF doing the plainly obvious right
thing and hiring Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn, Eddie Guerrero and Dean
Malenko the moment WCW was stupid enough to let them go. The Radicalz
immediately topped out the WWF's midcard and uppercard depth - the last
thing the WWF needed to really maintain their dominance. Two other
signings were also both brilliant acquisitions, these by WCW: Lance Storm
and Mike Awesome. Of all the athlete not in the big two, Storm and Awesome
were rightly pegged as the best prime-time ready prospects, and WCW
signing them gave the company some brief hard-needed credibility. Of
course, that credibility evaporated the moment Storm and Awesome were
booked for shit, but that's another category...

MICHAEL BANKER: I know that a lot of people had a problem with HHH keeping
the title at WM, but it was a very good move on the WWF's part because it
was boring and predictable when only the faces would leave with the title.  
It ruined the suspense of the match, since we already knew who was going
to win. This way, there will always be some doubt in our minds, and thus
the match will be much more exciting.

CHRIS OSTER: Best move in a decade was picking the Rads up when WCW
totally dropped the ball.  Don't shed a tear, though...WCW picks up second
for having the guts to put the big belt on Booker T, someone who actually,
you know, DESERVED IT.  The fat twins going to OVW takes third...here's
hoping they come back with something to prove.

SCOTT W.: The WWF signing the radicalz was great.  WCW needs to find
better crack to smoke.  The stuff they have now and then, really madae
them or still makes them make bad choices. That was #1 there.  Jericho,
Benoit, Rikishi, and Angle all being elevated is sweet.

CHANCE50JR: My third was WWF sends Big Show, Mark Henry down.  I think
this is a good move because we haven't seen some other dead weight in
awhile (Boss Man, Viscera)- it sends a message that they want quality
people who have to earn their spot.  I thought this was a great move by
the WWF.

MARCUS SPARKS: The signing of the Radicalz was the master stroke of the
year.  In one fell swoop, Vince McMahon doubled the working capabilities
of his entire roster. WCW was doing a good thing with the TV title and
Duggan on Saturday night, not to mention showing the young talent before
they got a break. Demoting two high-dollar talents like Mark Henry and The
Big Show sent a message to their locker room: if you don't perform, this
could be you.

JOHN C.: I think when the WWF signed the Radicals they improved the thing
that got away from them during the Russo era and that is their workrate.
By signing those four wrestlers it forced the other wrestlers on the
roster to work harder in the ring and as a result we got plenty of great
PPVs from top to bottom. It was the addition of the Radicals that helped
make that happen.  As much as I don't like him, I have to give Russo
credit for getting rid of Hogan. Finally, putting the world title on
Booker T. was a great move by WCW because he was the most deserving
champion the company has had in a long time.

STEPHEN TISZENKEL: I have to ask myself: If WCW is so bad right now, how
could their keeping Hogan off TV be the best promotional move? The answer:
I don't know. It just is.

JON WALTON: In signing the Radicalz the WWF effectively increased their in
ring talent by 1000% and stole at least three of the few remaining
marketable stars WCW had at the time.  Oh, and they also pissed all over
the WCW title lineage as well.  Now that's good.

COLIN MORTON: I'd have included "WCW -- Removing Russo from power," but
fate did that for them.

JAMES HOWARD: "WWF signs R4dicals" and "WWF increases workrate" are really
pretty much the same thing, aren't they? ^^

GEORGE JOHNSON: It's amazing how great the WWF's product became when the
Radicalz jumped ship.  Can you smell the workrate?

TERRY ANDERTON: 3rd - Because I'm stuck for ideas.

SCOTT ZUCKER: The WWF made the right move in signing Perry Saturn, Dean
Malenko, Eddy Guerrero, and Chris Benoit. Hopefully, Saturn and Malenko
will be able to make a large contribution to the fed in the future, but
this group as a whole made a great impact on the fed. Lance Storm really
caught my eye after he joined WCW. WCW built him up really well, except
they rushed his first World Title match and I think that killed his
momentum.

JEREMY SORIA: Three great decisions from the WWF caused some great stuff
to happen this year. Viacom/CBS's acquisition of the WWF cable shows has
definitely caused a great deal of things for the WWF. They'll definitely
get a lot more exposure without oversaturating its product everywhere. The
WWF was smart to free the New Japan Three and Perry Saturn from WCW. The
WWF has taken advantage of their talent, and I expect to see much more
great matches from them. Their acquisition, along with the continued great
ring work from Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, and now Steve Austin, will help
boost the workrate overall in the WWF.

RICK SCAIA: The top two promotional moves of 2000 are kind of intertwined:  
the WWF's signing of the Radicalz in January and subsequent elevation of
them (and others) proved to be a very successful move.  The signing of the
Radicalz is #1 because it added a lot of depth to the WWF roster and made
it feasible for them to really pursue a more athletic, wrestling-oriented
direction after the run-away sports-entertainment-ization of the Russo
days. The elevation of Benoit, Guerrero, Kurt Angle, and others was
handled remarkably well and is #2 on this list; you cannot get by on the
Rock and Triple H alone, and the WWF is well on the way to creating
another set of top level stars that people care about.  The #3 promotional
move of the year was WCW's decision to abort the "GI Bro" experiment, let
Booker T wrestle as "Booker T," and elevate him to Champion status; Booker
was put in a good spot, and Booker has definitely made the most of it.

JEREMY DELINE: If 2000 is remembered for one thing...well if 2000 is
remembered for one thing, let it be something important. but if it's
remembered for 10 or 15, let one of them be the fact that Hulk Hogan was
banished from WCW. And there was much rejoicing.

NATHAN LONEY: The WWF elevating some new blood to main event status was a
great move.  Yeah, some of the same guys are still around, but at least
the WWF is trying.  Putting Kurt Angle on television was a great move,
too.  I knew he'd be great when I saw him in a dark match last August.  
And the WWF signed the Radicalz in a coup that helped shape the wrestling
world.

BILL LEHECKA:  What a coup.  The WWF getting the Radicalz now, without a
whimper from WCW, was the move of the year.  If WCW was smart, they should
have made it ultimately impossible for the WWF to not incur a sort of
penalty for acquiring all four of these guys at once.  However, WCW was
left empty handed, and the WWF got one viable main eventer (Benoit) and
one viable upper mid-carder (Guerrero).

BLAZEJ SZPAKOWICZ: It's so blatantly obvious that the WWF signing the
Radicalz was the best promotional move of the year, I think Hell will
freeze over before anything else wins this category. I figure getting a
hold of the single best wrestler in the world today, as well as two of his
top competitors (And also Perry Saturn) has to be considered a pretty
shrewd investment. And Benoit and Guerrero in particular are more over
than they *ever* were in WCW. The WWF putting Kurt Angle on TV is the only
real competition here, and it isn't really even close.

ERIC STRAGAND:  A guy I work with (and non wrestling fan), is still
talking about the Rock's appearance on SNL. A huge step for the WWF
finally breaking its "Hulk Hogan" stigma with the public. Big Show made
the entire show for me, however.

OCTAVIAN: Should 'WWF signs Radicalz' and 'WWF increases workrate' really
be seperate?

LAWRENCE BENEDETTO: When the R4dicalz showed up in the front row at RAW
that night, it was genius. and what a great feud it would have been vs. DX
if not for an ill-fated frog splash by Eddy.

TANVIR RAQUIB: The collective dreams of the smart mark community came true
- as four men decided "enough was enough" and decided instead of being
complacent, to make the gutsy move and walk out. Bill Busch never made
another worse decision.

JEFF "FRO" WAHLMAN: Farm leagues for the WWF insure the company's future.  
Signing great talents like Benoit and increasing workrate are smart moves
as well.

PHIL PRZYBYLO: WWF increasing workrate and picking up the Radicalz go hand
'n hand.  That's made all the difference in the WWF product: a touch of
old school when WRESTLING still mattered.  Also, the WWF utilizing a farm
system with Ohio Valley and whatnot has worked unbelievably well thus far.  
Farm leagues could be the key for prosperity.

ROB "R2K" EVANS: Best Promotional Move - No controversy here the WWF
signing of Benoit, Malenko, Guerrero, and Saturn will sweep this category.

JBELL55146: The WWF signing the Radz was the best move they made in a long
time. And to whomever said that Benoit couldn't get over in the WWF, you
were wrong. WCW FINALLY ridding themselves of Hogan was a great move, but
3 years to late. And the WWF elevating Beniot/Jericho/Angle to main event
status against the proven guys showed they are open to suggestion and are
open to elevating the young guns