As 2016 draws to a close, we invite all New Japan Purocast listeners to participate in the second-annual “New Japan Purocast End of Year Awards”!

The rules for voting are simple. Pick 3 nominees from each category. Each nominee will receive a number of points depending upon their order. For example, if you pick Kenny Omega, Tetsuya Naito and Kazuchika Okada (in that order) for “Wrestler of the Year”, Omega will receive 5 points, Naito will receive 3 points, and Okada will receive 1 point.

Send your picks to newjapanpurocast@gmail.com no later than Thursday, December 15, Midnight ET.

The points for each nominee will be added up with the winners being announced on a future episode! Write-ins for each category are welcome.

Here are the nominees:

Match of the Year

  • 1.) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada – Wrestle Kingdom 10 – 1/4/16
  • 2.) AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – Wrestle Kingdom 10 – 1/4/16
  • 3.) Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tomohiro Ishii – Wrestle Kingdom 10 – 1/4/16
  • 4.) Dragon Lee vs. Kamaitachi – Fantastica Mania – 1/24/16
  • 5.) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kenny Omega – New Beginning in Niigata – 2/14/16
  • 6.) Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii – New Japan Cup – 3/4/16
  • 7.) Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii – Wrestling Dontaku – 5/3/16
  • 8.) KUSHIDA vs. Kyle O’Reilly – Best of the Super Jr. XXIII – 5/21/16
  • 9.) Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay – Best of the Super Jr. XXIII – 5/27/16
  • 10.) Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Will Ospreay – Best of the Super Jr. XXIII – 6/7/16
  • 11.) Kenny Omega vs. Michael Elgin – Dominion – 6/19/16
  • 12.) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA – G1 Climax 26 – 7/18/16
  • 13.) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii – G1 Climax 26 – 8/3/16
  • 14.) Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii – G1 Climax 26 – 8/6/16
  • 15.) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada – G1 Climax 26 – 8/12/16
  • 16.) Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Michael Elgin – G1 Climax 26 – 8/13/16
  • 17.) Kenny Omega vs. Tetsuya Naito – G1 Climax 26 – 8/13/16
  • 18.) Hirooki Goto vs. Kenny Omega – G1 Climax 26 – 8/14/16
  • 19.) Hirooki Goto vs. Kenny Omega – King of Pro-Wrestling – 10/10/16
  • 20.) Kazuchika Okada vs. Naomichi Marufuji – King of Pro-Wrestling – 10/10/16

Wrestler of the Year

  • 1.) Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • 2.) Kazuchika Okada
  • 3.) Kenny Omega
  • 4.) Tetsuya Naito
  • 5.) Tomohiro Ishii

Jr. of the Year

  • 1.) Bushi
  • 2.) KUSHIDA
  • 3.) Ricochet
  • 4.) Ryusuke Taguchi
  • 5.) Will Ospreay

Tag Team of the Year

  • 1.) The Briscoes
  • 2.) Guerrillas of Destiny
  • 3.) Ricochet and Matt Sydal
  • 4.) Roppongi Vice
  • 5.) Young Bucks

Show of the Year

Most Improved Wrestler

  • 1.) David Finlay
  • 2.) EVIL
  • 3.) Juice Robinson
  • 4.) SANADA
  • 5.) YOSHI-HASHI

Biggest Disappointment of the Year

  • 1.) The Super-J Cup
  • 2.) The Tag Team Division
  • 3.) The exodus of top New Japan stars to North America
  • 4.) Will Ospreay debuting hot and falling into a rut
  • 5.) The continued Westernization of the New Japan product

Unsung Hero

  • 1.) Hirooki Goto
  • 2.) Michael Elgin
  • 3.) Rocky Romero
  • 4.) Ryusuke Taguchi
  • 5.) Yuji Nagata

Listener’s Favorite Wrestler

  • Write in ONE candidate.

Listener’s Least Favorite Wrestler

  • Write in ONE candidate.

Remember to send your picks to newjapanpurocast@gmail.com no later than Thursday, December 15, Midnight ET.