Since I’m now four weeks into this journey, I thought I’d check in with some early awards for Global.

MVP

Lightning Kid

Kid was the most integral part of their best episodes. The Patriot is close because they did an excellent job of booking and presenting both tournament winners. However, Kid’s work brought some really good matches, including a tournament final with Lynn that’s still remembered almost 35 years to the day. If Kid had stuck around, it would have been interesting to see if Eddie Gilbert put him in the world title division. He had the height, and when you see how Eddie later booked someone like Terry Garvin, it makes you wonder. 

The Bobby Eaton Award for the Best Utility Player 

Billy Black

Black was probably the best in-ring performer of the entire TV title tournament, and he had a strong promo that made me wish I could hear more. As a fan of their work in All Japan, I’m looking forward to rewatching Black and Joel Deaton in the tag tournament. I know they don’t last long, but give me more Bad Boy while I can get it. 

The El Gigante/Giant Gonzales Award for Shittiest Performer 

Rasta the Voodoo Man

The gimmick sucked, his performance was awful, and, for the cherry on top, his gear looked like middle schoolers crafted it. I don’t believe he’s there much longer, but Jesus, what an all-time Wrestlecrap gimmick. He was out for one Handsome Stranger match, then caused him to lose to Kid in the tournament with voodoo, so it looked like they were building something between those two. That program would have been fucking awful all the way around. 

The WCW Award for Most Embarrassing Production Moment 

Patriot promo

During the TV tournament finals, they played a Patriot pre-taped promo, which came back from a commercial while he was supposed to be in the ring being attacked by Landel. Even if it was intentional, it was something in their production that really took me out of the moment. It’s not like you believe it’s live in the afternoon on a weekday, but it was distracting during what was supposed to be Global TV’s biggest moment to that point.

The Brad Armstrong Award for Most Underutilized Wrestler 

Terry Garvin

Garvin got job match tourney wins over Zebra Kid and Kenny the Stinger, but lost to John Tatum and Makhan Singh. He was one of the most over guys as a babyface in the building with the crowd, and would really prove later what a good babyface he was. I think it’s fair to say Bill Eadie didn’t see a lot in him, but to Eddie Gilbert’s credit, once he gets the book, Garvin is slotted much differently.

The Erik Watts Award for Most Overpushed

Rasta the Voodoo Man 

You can argue Rasta the Voodoo Man just for being on the show at all, but being one of the few heavyweights regularly on TV during the light heavyweight tournament made zero fucking sense. Why was he getting so much damn TV time? Why was he one of the few to have a direct feud setup so early, as it appears they were going in the direction of him vs. Handsome Stranger? I would have preferred the insufferable tournament recaps to be longer. Did I mention I hated Rasta the VooDoo Man?