WWE: Official Winners of the First-Ever Tunney Awards

Earlier this month, nominees were announced for the first-ever Tunney Awards, celebrating the best in WWE from 2011. Without further ado, here are your winners:

The "Stone Cold Steve Austin" Award (for Most Popular Wrestler of the Year):

CM Punk

The moment that CM Punk cut his now-infamous "shoot" promo in June, he became the most popular Superstar in WWE and he has never looked back. Beloved for his "speak my mind," "take no prisoners" attitude, Punk has turned that fan adulation into two WWE Championship reigns in 2011.

The "Gorgeous George" Award (for Most Hated Wrestler of the Year):

John Cena (via write-in)

Considering that Cena was not on the original list of nominees for this award, the result is shocking. But when you think about it, with all of the "Cena sucks" chants and jeers directed at him, it makes sense that so many readers would have written him in. Cena remains one of the most polarizing figures in all of sports and something tells me he will remain that way in 2012.

 

The "Trish Stratus" Award (for Most Valuable Diva):

Beth Phoenix

Beth Phoenix dominated voting, largely due to the disdain for Kelly Kelly by most internet wrestling fans. While I understand that Kelly is not the most talented of in-ring performers, I believe she was the Most Valuable Diva.

Let us not forget that Beth Phoenix was not relevant until late-summer, when she first challenged Kelly for the Divas Championship at SummerSlam. Kelly, meanwhile, was the key piece of the Divas division from May until the end of the year.

The "Brooklyn Brawler" Award (for the Most Valuable Jobber):

Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre hit a rough patch in 2011, often jobbing on web show Superstars to lesser talented individuals. Returning home to SmackDown, it appears McIntyre may find himself out of the dog house and climbing back up the ladder towards the penthouse.

The "Tito Santana" Award (for the Most Valuable Mid-Carder):

Dolph Ziggler

Dolph Ziggler proved to be one of the best in-ring performers in the entire sport in 2011. The entire mid-card scene on Raw revolved around him and he made the United States Championship far more significant than it had been in years. Plus, he was an integral part of getting Zack Ryder taken seriously inside the ring.

The "Road Warriors" Award (for the Most Valuable Tag Team):

Air Boom

By default has never been more appropriate in terms of describing an award win. Air Boom won this award because there was no other serious tag team, outside of the Usos, that made any real impact whatsoever in 2011.

The "This is Awesome" Award (for Match of the Year):

John Cena vs. CM Punk- WWE Championship Match, Money in the Bank

The unanimous Match of the Year, CM Punk and John Cena performed a work of art inside an arena jam-packed with wrestling die-hards and CM Punk supporters. The atmosphere was electric and, as a result, the match exceeded "great" and took its place in the rarified air of "all-time classic."

The "Shawn Michaels" Award (for Consistent In-Ring Excellence):

CM Punk

2011 was the year of CM Punk. As great as Randy Orton was, CM Punk's run from July until the close of the year was one that wrestling historians will look back upon and study.

A hated heel, coasting through the mid-card while working with the top babyfaces early in the year, Punk took the proverbial "gold ring" and saw his career reach new heights. Two WWE Championships and huge merchandise sales later and you have a Superstar fans have accepted as the "Best in the World."