Best Flyer

Award Description:

To be given to the wrestler who did the most and the best high-flying
maneuvers throughout the year. In 1994, this award was split into two: North
American and Non-North American.  In 1998, it was recombined.

Previous Winners:

  1991: Jushin Liger
  1992: Jushin Liger
  1993: 1-2-3 Kid (Lightning Kid)
  1994: (NA)     1-2-3 Kid
  1994: (non-NA) Jushin Liger
  1995: (NA)     Sabu
  1995: (non-NA) Jushin Liger
  1996: (NA)     Rey Mysterio, Jr.
  1996: (non-NA) Jushin Liger
  1997: (NA)     Rey Mysterio, Jr.
  1997: (non-NA) Taka Michinoku
  1998: (Billy) Kidman

**1999**: Jeff Hardy

344 first place votes
336 second place votes
328 third place votes

107 68 35  809   Jeff Hardy
 37 27 34  334   Super Crazy
 37 27 32  330   Blitzkrieg
 29 26 18  259   Rob Van Dam
 17 23 33  220   Kidman
 15 32 19  209   Matt Hardy
 16 26 22  202   Rey Mysterio Jr.
 16 14 18  158   Juventud Guerrera
 13 14  9  125   Sabu
  8 13 11  101   Psychosis
  5  9 11   74   Papi Chulo
  4  9 11   69   Edge
  3  6 16   65   Shane McMahon
  4  5 11   57   Eddie Guerrero
  2  7 10   51   Taka Michinoku
  7  3  3   50   Dragon Kid
  3  1  2   22   Chris Benoit
  0  5  3   21   Kane
  2  2  1   18   Chapparita Asari
  1  3  2   18   Christian
  2  1  1   15   Great Sasuke
  1  2  2   15   Kaz Hayashi
  0  3  2   13   Jerry Lynn
  2  0  0   10   Jushin Liger
  1  0  2    9   Test
  0  2  1    8   Tokyo Magnum
  0  2  1    8   Owen Hart
  0  0  4    8   X-Pac
  1  0  0    5   Reckless Youth
  1  0  0    5   Pantera
  1  0  0    5   Mankind
  1  0  0    5   Jody Fleisch/Doc Chan
  1  0  0    5   Jody Flash (British indie worker)
  1  0  0    5   Eiji Ezaki
  0  1  1    5   Chris Jericho
  0  1  0    3   Virus
  0  1  0    3   Tzuki
  0  1  0    3   Mike Quackenbush
  0  0  1    2   Yoshihiro Tajiri
  0  0  1    2   Mr. Niebla
  0  0  1    2   Mike Awesome
  0  0  1    2   Manami Toyota
  0  0  1    2   Ludxor
  0  0  1    2   Dino Bambino
  0  0  1    2   Bam Bam Bigelow
  0  0  1    2   Antifaz del Norte
  0  0  1    2   A.J. Styles

REJECTED 
  5  1  4        Hardy Boyz
  0  0  1        Edge & Christian

CHRIS BIRD: Super Crazy is refining the art of flying by taking hangtime
to new psychotic levels. Jeff Hardy is refining the art of flying by
taking bumpery to new psychotic levels. Blitzkrieg is refining the art of
flying by taking midair acrobatics to new psychotic levels. Observant
types may notice a trend in those who are good flyers.

EDC: Silver King is a JTTS, which is a shame, becuase he should be more
over than any Luchador in the US. Kanyon always looks great in defeat, and
Norman Smiley is poised to become an Ultra-Star next year after getting
the Wiggle over with the crowds.

CYBERAL33: Pantera is the most graceful wrestler ever. His no hands over
the top rope somersault headbutt is spectacular! Papi Chulo has been
incredibly innovative this year and I love his space flying tiger drop
where the opponent moves and he lands on his feet! Yikes! Third would be
Jeff Hardy, just for his ability to not give a damn about his body...I
mean was that fall off the ladder REALLY neccessary?

K. CANZANELLA: No one has the flying ability of Aguila/Papi Chulo. Though
he isn't going anywhere in EMLL or in WWF, the matches he does get the
chance to work he manages to drop your jaw more than anyone with things
like his Tornillio Mortal or that un-be-liveable over the corner tope con
hilo. Tzuki is a mini but busts out big-junior-luchadore spots like asai
moonsaults and corkscrew dives to the floor. Mr. Niebla gets terrific air
under all his dives, and has some cool ones like Moonsaults to the floor
and vertical topes.

MR. JF: No one has really stood out except for Jeff "Fucking Psycho" Hardy
and to a certain extent Papi Chulo. The latter can't do much more than
fly, but he belongs in this category. Kane is mostly here to get enough
votes to annoy Kunze and his ilk.

NATHAN LONEY: Super Crazy is just that: totally fucking insane.  He flies
around like no one I've seen and he made the biggest impression on me.

JOEL BOUTIERE:  On Shane McMahon being Best Flyer:  this based on the fact
that the guy probably hasn't had much formal wrestling training, and still
manages to pull off some "holy shit!" moves, justifies my vote any day of
the week.

SVEN MASCARENHAS: As strange as it is, I could only find room to rank Jeff
Hardy in third. Juvy hasn't lost a step, and was better in the first half
of the year than the second. Blitz, on the other hand, was incredible all
year long. Pity that he rarely shows up on-screen these days.

MATTHEW CLEARY: ASARI's high flying antics in Neo Ladies puts her as my
favorite flyer.

OCTAVIAN:  No one even gets CLOSE to flying around the ring as much as
Blitzkrieg does.

DON BECKER: Dragon Kid does a standing front flip into a rana.  How cool
is that?!  Jeff Hardy also rates here, suicidal SOB that he is.  
Blitzkrieg gets the third nod.

SHAWN MULLIN: Jeff Hardy is going to kill himself! :)

MAX CHITTISTER: Blitzkrieg and Edge actually HIT people. Agin, no Hardy
wins my vote until they make contact and stop telegraphing their
choreography.

JBELL55146: Jeff Hardy<1st> did more suicidal moves in the Ladder Match
alone then most guys have done all year! Juvy<2nd> and Blitzkrieg<3rd> are
being misused WAY to much by WCW

PAUL SHOCK: The first time I saw Blitzkrieg wrestle, I was blown out of my
mind.  This guy is incredible.  The Hardys are next, with Jeff "Michaels"
Hardy picked over Matt "Jannetty" Hardy.

BLOB: Super Crazy is one insane luchador. The Crazy Special seals him for
the top spot. Blitzkrieg's Stardust Press wins the second spot. Rey Jr's
crazy spots that are used WAY too often get him the 3rd and final spot.

ADNAN VIRK: Again...they're pretty much tied.

BRUNO PULVER: Just for a record: a)I dont hate WWF, I hate Austin. b)Yes,
I am a WcW mark. c)Yes I am at a same time BigPoppaPump and Benoit mark.
Go figure! d)I have nothing against sports entertainment, but to have a 45
minute talkathlon in a beginning of every Raw is just overkilling.

GEORGE CARTER: Juvy has finally overshadowed Rey this year. Maybe it is
because Rey has been fighting more heavyweight than cruiserweights but
nevertheless Juvy had a good year and I have a feeling that he may have a
even better one.  Blitzkrieg, with some work, could easily win this award
next year.

JOHN C.:Tough call but I picked Kidman, Super Crazy and Jeff Hardy
although there are a bunch of guys I could have picked from. The one with
the most potential has to be Jeff Hardy as this was pretty much his first
full year in the WWF but I expect big things out of him this year.

RICHARD BEAUBIEN: Best flyer goes to Juvi, who I hope will enjpy this
award as his carrer is being flushed down the toliet by the Powers that
be!! All Hail Russo!!!!!!  The other two on this list should also start
looking for work, as I expect this category to be gone by next year.
Unless Shane McMahon steps up his insane bump taking...  ALL HAIL RUSSO!!!

ELLIOT SPARKS: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? If so, why is it running up
the wall of the arena and backflipping onto its opponent? Well, it's not a
bird or a plane; it's flyer of the year, Jody Flash. The British indie kid
is absolutely nuts, and even more importantly he's got the grace and
accuracy of a legend. Innovative moves like the springboard 360 tornado
DDT (which I couldn't possibly describe) and the wall-walk moonsault are
nothing short of amazing. Also amazing are Dragon Kid and Blitzkrieg, but
hey! They aren't British, so it's votes two and three for you, fellahs.

JOE GENTILE:  Blitzkrieg is awesome. Too bad he wears a mask, which means
instant doom in WCW.

CHANCE50JR: I put Test third...so sue me.  I pop every time he does the
elbow drop off the top rope.

DONALD SEMACK:  I'm going to enjoy all of Matt & Jeff's spot's now because
they probably end up like the Dynamite Kid.

JAMES GOWDEY: Is there any competition? Sabu is the best flyer I've EVER
seen. Better than those luchas in WCW! Better than Jeff Hardy! Even better
than the Big Show! This guy flat out rocks.

SEAN FLYNN: Ladder Match, enough said.

MARK SMITH: Jeff Hardy came VERY close to snagging my vote for the
Wrestler of the Year.  He's the only reason I watch Monday night TV
anymore.

BEN MILLER:  Van Dam's highspots are amazing, but Jeff Hardy is close.

KEVIN WONG: Blitzkrieg takes RVDs acrobatic arsenal to a new level.  The
fact that he does the Skytwister Press doesn't hurt either.  Jeff Hardy,
well, he's insane.  And speaking of insane, that's Sabu.  Considering all
he does is aerial highspots, he can't NOT be on here.

B. SZPAKOWICZ: 1. Jeff Hardy, who's positively psychotic at times. 2.
Kidman, who would probably win this if he actually, you know, bothered to
try. 3. Rob Van Dam, who is ridiculously amateurish and not very
well-rounded, but who still does some damn impressive flying spots.

MARK HALLING: It's sad, but Rey Mysterio doesn't fly anymore. Similar to
X-Pac, with age he's doing less of the crazy dives.

RICK SCAIA:  Nearly all of Sabu's offense revolves around flinging his
body off of ropes, chairs, tables, and the like.  For high risk offense,
Sabu was not only an innovator, he's still the industry premiere human
highlight reel. Jeff Hardy's grace and agility make him a solid runner up.  
Also in ECW, Super Crazy impresses me as perhaps the best luchadore in the
US since WCW's contingent began backing off the high risk moves.

JEREMY SORIA: What they lack in catchphrases, they make up for in athletic
ability - plus the ability to gracefully leap from the ring to the
opponent down on the mat.

JUSTIN JONES: Achtung Blitzkrieg!

JASON BALDWIN: Mysterio barely edges out the Hardys, though Matt & Jeff
probably gave me more mark-out "Holy Shit!" moments than any others I've
seen in the last year.

OTTO "HACK-MAN" HEUER: Best Flyer?  Kidman (even though he's screwed up a
few SSPes this past year) , Jeff Hardy (who needs to work on psychology,
but is a great flyer nonetheless) , and Kaz Hayashi (who has made me
cringe with some of the sick bumps he's taken over the top rope to the
outside (often landing on his back) for the hundreds of people watching
WCWSN) .