2008 Pro Wrestling Awards: 2008 Face of The Year

"It's tough being a good guy in a town full of bad people."---Sin City

Being a heel is easy...if you got the stones for it. But being a face in their world is downright dangerous. Luckily, we got some guys with enough stones to stand up to them. And that's why they're up for this award.

Here are the nominees.

#1) Triple H, RAW/SmackDown

---Last man eliminated @ Royal Rumble

---Won Elimination Chamber @ No Way Out

---Won WWE Championship @ Backlash

The King of Kings has been a busy man this year. After helping RAW in the Draft Battle Royal, he found out he was going back to SmackDown with Edge. What followed could only be considered as anarchy unleashed. Thanks to Triple H's antics, La Familia began to crumble. Despite falling up short at Wrestlemania, he did win the WWE Title at Backlash. Up until Survivor Series, he has been the man on SmackDown. But is he the Face of 2008?

#2) Jeff Hardy, RAW/SmackDown

---Defeated The Undertaker in an Extreme Rules Match

---Has Been #1 Contender for WWE Championship for three straight pay per views

No one has worked harder with so little than Jeff Hardy. Plain and simple. Hardy has had to realize the success of his brother on ECW, and he has done everything in his power to make good on his promise to be WWE Champion by the end of Armageddon. But the biggest thing that has made Hardy the Ironman of the WWE this year is the fact that while Triple H, John Cena, Edge, Randy Orton & The Undertaker have been having times off, he has worked harder and tougher than ever. In my view, he is the face of '08. But is he yours?

#3) Batista, SmackDown/RAW

---Won World Heavyweight Championship @ Cyber Sunday

---Won SD vs. RAW Challenge @ Wrestlemania

---28th Man Eliminated in Royal Rumble

The Animal has been getting screwed this year by the heels. First came the war with Edge while he was still on SmackDown. But after the draft, he was sent to RAW, and La Familia was relieved at Night of Champions when Edge retained. Then he went to RAW and got his bell rung by an irate Animal. After that, CM Punk came down and cashed in his MITB Briefcase to bring the World Heavyweight Championship to RAW. Batista had possession of the gold, but Chris Jericho has done enough to keep him from having it once again. At Armageddon, a victory over Randy Orton may not only put him in the running for the title but also earn him 2008 Face of the Year.

#4) Christian Cage, TNA

---Involved in a majority of the World Championship bouts in TNA this year alone.

The Instant Classic has not played up to par in TNA this year. But Cage has had his reasons. Despite all that, he has been the face for TNA when they needed one. From his wars with Kurt Angle to the constant battles with all members of The Main Event Mafia. Lately, Cage has been MIA, which brings people to believing that his days in TNA are done and that he will be heading to WWE real soon. But for all the bumps he's sustained this year, did he earn the Face of 2008 Award?

#5) Samoa Joe, TNA

---Won TNA World Championship @ Lockdown

---Lost TNA World Championship @ Bound IV Glory

The Samoan Submission Machine has been a flat out Machine this year. He achieved his dream of becoming the TNA World Champion by defeating Kurt Angle at Lockdown earlier this year. He held the gold for several months before getting screwed out of it by Kevin Nash and Sting. Since then, he has been a part of the TNA Frontline in a battle for TNA supremacy. But it's clear that Samoa Joe wants only one thing: The TNA Title back.

#6) Undertaker, SmackDown

---Won World Heavyweight Championship @ Wrestlemania

---Introduced the Hell's Gate Submission Hold

---Defeated Big Show in Casket Match @ Survivor Series

The Deadman has been the center of Vickie's Vericose Vein in the middle of her forehead. It was Undertaker that put Vickie in the wheelchair last November...and earlier this season. The Deadman has reason to be a little upset. He was screwed out of the World Title not once, not twice, but three times. He was "banished" from the WWE for several months. And when he returned, he had to deal with the Big Show. In the midst of this, he didn't even get nominated for Superstar of The Year. In my opinion, The Undertaker has earned the right to be considered for Face of the Year because he has done just as much work as Triple H, Batista, The Hardyz or John Cena.

#7) Matt Hardy, SmackDown/ECW

---Won WWE United States Championship @ Backlash

---Won ECW Championship @ Unforgiven

Matt Hardy has been a busy individual this year as well. He got over one hump when he defeated former tag team partner MVP at Backlash to become US Champion. After losing it at Night of Champions, Hardy was awarded for his efforts with a chance to become the ECW Champion. He successfully pulled off the upset at Unforgiven when he won the Championship Scramble. The following month, he defeated Mark Henry and then Evan Bourne at Cyber Sunday. Despite all that workout, Hardy has continued to be a fighting champion. And he looks to prove that when he faces Vladimir Kozlov this Sunday. But has the elder Hardy done enough to surpass his brother for Face of the Year?

#8) AJ Styles, TNA

The Phenomenal One has been conflicted since last Fall. He was involved with a rivalry involving Kurt Angle and his wife, Karen. He started the year still stuck in the same position, but not being able to overcome the hump and jump into the main event discussion. Then along comes the chance to prove his worth. A series of battles with Angle at the end of the summer allowed Styles to step up and be in the main event conversations. Add in Sting and Joe, and you got yourself a great storyline to finish off 2008. He has been called the Prince of Phenomenal...but is he the Prince of 2008?

#9) Finswoggle, ECW

Plain and simple, any man who will put his own livelihood on the line to protect his child deserves a nomination for something. But when you put these two together, it's just downright enjoyable. Finlay has always been a loner who loves to fight. His son has always been the little guy who is thanked in Awards acceptance speeches. Following Wrestlemania, the two became a duo and the funny moments began to fly out like obscenities at a sporting event. But even with all that, the team of Finlay and Hornswoggle have made themselves noticed in their new home, ECW. But have they done enough to grab the honors of Face(s) of 2008?

#10) John Cena, RAW

---Won 2008 Royal Rumble as 30th Entrant

---Won World Heavyweight Championship @ Survivor Series

---Completed Summerslam Bout with Batista with a broken neck

When the year started, we didn't hear the familiar music or see the face of the Commander. But at this year's Royal Rumble, we saw the return of John Cena as the 30th Entrant in the Royal Rumble Match. From there, he participated in back to back to back WWE Championship Matches. But it was at Summerslam that he started to earn the respect of the fans of RAW. He suffered a broken neck during his match with Batista, completed the match and even fought the next night against both members of Priceless. When Cena returned at Survivor Series, it was in front of a sellout crown at the Boston Garden in his hometown. There, he won his first World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Chris Jericho. Cena has returned from two career threatening injuries in a span of one year. But is that enough to earn him Face of the Year? Or should I put him under Heel of the Year?