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When you say Best/Worst Impression, do you mean a newcomer who either gave you good vibes or bad vibes? Or do you just mean who impressed you overall?
Biggest Jump: Chris Jericho
I was thinking about giving it to CM Punk, but he was sort of all over the place this year, and he technically entered 2008 as a World Champion. While winning Money in the Bank and cashing in was definitely upward momentum, just how much so is debatable.
Chris Jericho, on the other hand, started 2008 in a shitty program with JBL, which didn't even allow him to participate in the Royal Rumble Match. He basically had no shot to main event WrestleMania. Since then, he's completely changed his character to the most intense it has been, well, perhaps ever. He's had some fantastic matches, and won two World Titles probably based on work ethic alone, although some will argue they were only transitional. I don't see why they can't serve both purposes. And who would have thought Jericho would have taken "Superstar of the Year" from the beginning of 2008?
Biggest Decline: William Regal
This was a tricky one, but I've got to go to Regal, who, yes, did have a fantastic 2008 for the most part. Regal got to his highest of highs, and then dropped to a position he was in pretty much six years ago. Becoming RAW General Manager gave him an important role, sure, but he never really climbed up until he won the 2008 King of the Ring crown. It looked like the angle of King Regal's dominance was going to take him possibly as far as the WWE Championship, but then he got suspended. Regal has a new valet, the IC Title and is reminding people that he is King of the Ring, but he definitely went up and then down.
Best Gimmick: The Brian Kendrick
Yes, I am a mark for him, but I really do love the whole "alternative culture geek" thing The Brian Kendrick has got going for him. The leather jackets, the cocky attitude, the "adviser" in Ezekiel Jackson -- it just all adds up to this smug heel attitude you want to punch in the face but you know you can't. I really wish he would get his shit together so he can resume his push.
What I think really stands out about The Kendrick, is that his gimmick works even though he hasn't really been in a real feud yet (although that is now changing with his program with The Colons).
Worst Gimmick: Snitsky
I just couldn't think of anything else. For one, we still didn't get any elaboration on just why Snitsky did anything. It wasn't mysterious, it was irrelevant. Part of me is tempted to give the nod to Ryan Braddock, for just being brought in as a "guy," though.
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