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<> WRESTLER OF THE YEAR - Eddie Guerrero
     RUNNER UP - Batista
     2005 will be remembered as the year of "Latino Heat" as he started out as the most lovable stealin', lyin', and cheatin' wrestler of all-time and ended the year as a legendary immortal who will never be forgotten and will always be loved. Guerrero started the year as a fan favorite who assisted his best friend, Rey Mysterio, in a feud against then-Tag Team Champions, The Basham Brothers. At No Way Out, Mysterio and Guerrero won the Tag Team Championship and would go on to WrestleMania 21 to compete against each other in a friendly competition. However, when Guerrero was not able to get the victory, his Latino temper got the best of him and it was during a championship match against newcomers MNM (Mercy, Nitro, Melina) on an episode of SmackDown! where Guerrero would turn and break up the popular tag team before losing the championship. During the summer, Guerrero and Mysterio would battle and in the end would battle over Mysterio's son, Dominick. Guerrero told the world of Mysterio's secret that he was not the biological father of Dominick but Guerrero was. Guerrero even hacked into Mysterio's official website.

The feud would come to a boiling point at SummerSlam when the two met in a Ladder Match for custody of Dominick in one of the best matches of the year. Mysterio would move on to win the match and custody battle when Guerrero's own wife, Vickie, pushed him off the ladder. Several weeks later the two would end their feud inside of a steel cage where Guerrero finally won a match versus Mysterio. Going into the fall of 2005, Guerrero interrupted an interview with World Heavyweight Champion, Batista and informed the champion and the world that he had changed his life and turned over a new leaf. Batista was cautious regarding Guerrero going into their match at No Mercy and came out on top. It appeared that despite losing once again, Guerrero did indeed turn over a new leaf. Guerrero and Batista continued their friendship going into the Survivor Series but it was on a cold Sunday morning on November 13, 2005 when the wrestling world lost one of its truest angels. Eddie Guerrero passed away in his hotel room due to heart disease from early steroid, drug, and alcohol abuse in his life.

That week's RAW and SmackDown! were both tribute shows to Eddie Guerrero. The wrestling talent was given the option to either take the nights off or just talk in a pre-taped video, or actually compete. It was totally up to the athletes and other talent themselves. On RAW, fans were treated to seeing an Interpromotional Divas Battle Royal that saw Melina eliminate Trish Stratus to win...Rey Mysterio pinned Shawn Michaels...The Big Show & Kane defeated MNM...Kurt Angle defeated Shelton Benjamin via submission...Eugene pinned Simon Dean...Ric Flair defeated William Regal via submission...John Cena defeated Randy Orton via disqualification. During the night, fans heard sentimental comments from: John Cena, Lillian Garcia, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Batista, Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit and Chavo Guerrero. Over on SmackDown! just a few days later fans saw: Eddie's newphew, Chavo Guerrero, Jr. pinned JBL...Matt Hardy defeated Carlito...RoadWarrior Animal & Heidenreich defeated Lance Cade & Murdoch...Juventud Guerrera eliminated Paul London to win a Cruiserweight Battle Royal...Chris Benoit defeated Triple H. During the night, fans heard heartfelt comments from: JBL, Big Show, Booker T and Sharmell, Mr. McMahon and Shane McMahon.

Just a few weeks ago, Simon and Schuster released Eddie Guerrero's autobiography which now has a one page "In Memory" written by Vince McMahon. All of the proceeds of the book will go to Eddie's family.

The storyline of Guerrero transforming his life from bad to great is how his life really ended up. After years of drug and alcohol abuse, Guerero celebrated his fourth year of sobriety just days before he passed away. Eddie Guerrero left such an impact on the wrestling world that when fans see his friends or his moves performed in the ring, they instantly chant "EDDIE! EDDIE! EDDIE!" Choosing Eddie Guerrero as the Wrestler of the Year 2005 was an obvious choice.

Thank you for the memories, Eddie! VIVA LA RAZA!

<> DIVA OF THE YEAR - Trish Stratus
     RUNNER UP - Melina
     Trish Stratus walks away as Diva of the Year for the second year in a row. This year, she was completely unstoppable as she held the championship longer than anyone since the days of The Fabulous Moolah. Stratus started 2005 as a heel and looking to win the championship back from Lita, who at that time was married to Kane and a fan favorite. At New Year's Revolution, Stratus won the championship and became a first-ever six-time WWE Women's Champion. At WrestleMania 21, she defeated the 2004 Diva Search Contest Winner, Christy Hemme in a match that had Lita in Hemme's corner. Stratus was determined to get Lita out of her life and she persuaded Viscera to take out Kane so she could take out Lita. When plans failed for the twosome, Big Vis splashed the Women's Champion, forcing her to take several months off. She returned in the fall of 2005 as a fan favorite, coming to the aid of the 2005 Diva Search Contest Winner, Ashley to combat the threesome of Torrie Wilson, Candice Michelle, and Victoria. On one occassion, Trish and Ashley were being triple-teamed when all of a sudden, a fan entered the ring and saved them. Backstage, she introduced herself as Mickey James, RAW's newest Diva. Trish recognized the name since it is her biggest fan and since that night, whereever Trish is, you see Mickey. A few weeks before Survivor Series, Trish was kidnapped by MNM and then was subsequently challenged by Melina. The two Divas battled at the fall classic and it was Stratus who came out on top. As the year ended, Mickey started to act a little weirder and even won a Number One Contender's Match to face her hero at New Year's Revolution.

<> PAY-PER-VIEW OF THE YEAR - TNA LockDown
     RUNNER UP - WWE WrestleMania 21
     Usually WrestleMania, being the biggest event of the year, is the automatic winner of the PAY-PER-VIEW OF THE YEAR Award. However, in 2005, Total Nonstop Action (TNA) produced the most innovative pay-per-view of all-time when it presented LockDown - an all Steel Cage Match pay-per-view. Every match on the card was contained inside the Six Sides of Steel Cage and produced absolute carnage. Now that the days of ECW are gone, LockDown definitely gave fans some hardcore action. The event took place on April 24, 2005 in Orlando, Florida and the results were: Sonny Siaki & Apolo defeated Chris Candido & Lance Hoyt in a Six Sides of Steel Cage Match...Dustin Rhodes defeated Bobby Rhoode in a Six Sides of Steel Cage and 2/3 Falls Prince of Darkness Match...Shocker defeated Chris Sabin, Matt Bentley and Sonjay Dutt in a Six Sides of Steel Cage & Xscape Match...Jeff Hardy defeated Raven in a Six Sides of Steel Cage & Tables Match...NWA World Tag Team Champions, "AMW" America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris & James Storm) defeated Team Canada (Petey Williams & Eric Young) in a Six Sides of Steel Cage & Strap Match...TNA X Division Champion, Christopher Daniels defeated Elix Skipper in a Six Sides of Steel Cage Match...Diamond Dallas Page, Sean Waltman, and BG James defeated Jeff Jarrett, Monty Brown, and Kip James in a Six Sides of Steel Cage & Lethal LockDown Match...AJ Styles defeated Abyss in a Six Sides of Steel Cage & Number One Contender's Match.