2022 Limitless Wrestling award winners announced
By Josh Nason
2022 is now officially in the books as the Limitless Wrestling award winners have been announced — voted on by the fans, as always.
The people have spoken, so let’s hear what they had to say:
Wrestler of the Year: Alec Price
The second longest-reigning Limitless Wrestling World Champion of all-time took this one home, putting on highlight-filled matches against Ace Romero, Bryan Keith, Lince Dorado, B3CCA, Beef, Rip Byson and others. While his reign ended in September, we won’t forget what happened from January to then.
Other nominees: Ace Romero, Anthony Greene, B3CCA, Beef, Rip Byson
Tag Team of the Year: MSP
Aiden Aggro & DangerKid did their thing in both traditional and trios tag action throughout the year. The two shook off an early year dip with consecutive losses to take out the Shook Crew. Their biggest win of the year in LW, however, came in a revenge match against Dirty Dango and Davey Boy Smith Jr. following Dango turning on the popular duo.. Aggro and DK ended the year on a win streak and are looking to keep it going in 2023.
Other nominees: ARTE (Ava, Aaron Rourke, Ricky Smokes); Mane Event (Ringleader Midas & Jay Lyon); Shook Crew (Bobby Orlando & Bryce Donovan), and The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake).
Breakout Star: Dezmond Cole
“Da Big Boofa” had an awesome rookie year in LW, wrestling in eight matches and going on a run to end out the year. Taking his lumps with defeats in his debut and then in the opening round of the Vacationland Cup, Cole rebounded with a win in a four-way, followed by the quickest victory in LW history over Channing Thomas, and then arguably the biggest win in his career to date with his victory over Bryan Keith in December.
Other nominees: Aaron Rourke, Andy Brown, BRG, Mac Daniels
Match of the Year: “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. JONAH (March’s The Thrill of It)
Impact Wrestling roster members at the time, both men were making their LW debuts in this match and did so in memorable fashion. It was their second-ever singles match and first in four years. They didn’t disappoint and with JONAH now back in WWE, who knows if we’ll ever see the trilogy. If so, we hope it’s in a Limitless ring. Watch the match for yourself.
Other nominees: Alec Price vs. JD Drake (January’s Limitless show in Worcester); Anthony Greene vs. Channing Thomas (April’s Hard Not To Act Reckless); LW World Champion Alec Price vs. Beef (July’s Crunch Time); Channing Thomas vs. Mac Daniels vs. BRG (August’s VLC 2022); B3CCA vs. Kylie Rae (December’s Dirty Laundry)
Show of the Year: August’s Vacationland Cup
It should be no surprise that the yearly tournament to crown the next top contender for the LW World title earned the top spot. This year’s version featured the run of Ace Romero who earned the victory in a hard fought four-way final that saw Romero and past title challenger Rip Byson battle it out. This year’s show also saw Prestigious implode with a sensational three-way between Channing Thomas, Mac Daniels and BRG in addition to an impromptu LW title defense with Alec Price defeating B3CCA.
Other nominees: 2 Hot To Handle (February); The Thrill Of It (March); Actin' Up (May); Chasing Forever (September); Dirty Laundry (December)
Moment of the Year: Jon Alba’s speech about mental health (Vacationland Cup, August)
If I had told you in January that Alba would be cheered eight months later, you might have called me crazy. Yet, it happened and for good reason.
Following the aforementioned implosion of Prestigious, Alba took the mic and delivered an impassioned speech that was his goodbye to LW, indie wrestling, and the fans as he talked openly about his mental health and the struggles he has had — some that saw him miss a show in May.
A nominee for IWTV Moment of the Year as well, it was a moment no one will forget…especially when Mac Daniels then laid out Alba at the end of it following a handshake and embrace. Watch now.
Other nominees: Scotty 2 Hotty's long-awaited return to Maine (2 Hot to Handle); Prestigious kicks out Channing Thomas (Hard Not to Act Reckless); Dirty Dango betrays MSP (Crunch Time); Ace Romero wins the LW World title (Chasing Forever); Dezmond Cole shocks Channing Thomas in the quickest win in Limitless history (Fresh Blood)
Most Hated: Mac Daniels
Honestly, could there be anyone but the Let’s Wrestle Champion? He barely defended the title and was gleeful in not doing so. He tried to hold up a charity show for a title defense unless his partner turned rival BRG was banned for a month. He then eluded BRG to the point of having Andy Brown wrestle for him to ensure BRG didn’t get a title shot. If there ever was a grinch of Limitless/Let’s Wrestle, it’s Daniels.
Other nominees: Andy Brown, AVA, Charles Mason, Dirty Dango
Joey Gleitz Workhorse Award: Eric Greenleaf
Voted on by people behind the scenes in Limitless, this person is a driving force behind Limitless shows and without them, things wouldn’t run as smooth. Eric isn’t only a referee, but is a key part of the team and this award recognizes him as such.
There you have it: the 2022 Limitless Wrestling award winners. Find out who will begin their path to the 2023 awards at Hard to Handle, live from Yarmouth, Maine, on Saturday, January 21st. Be there live in person or stream live on IWTV.