Dot Net Awards: 2011 Best Broadcaster

Dot Net readers voted on a variety of 2011 awards throughout January and early February. The following are the results of our poll for Best Broadcaster. Thanks to everyone who took part in the voting. You can check out the other 2011 winners and winners from past years in the Awards section.

(1) Jim Ross: 51 percent
(2) Booker T: 9 percent
(3) Jerry Lawler: 8 percent
(4) William Regal: 8 percent
(5) Michael Cole 7 percent
Others: 8 percent

Will Pruett's Thoughts: I did everything I could not to pick Ross. He was part-time at best and often undermined even when he was used. He also was brought in to call all of the meaningful portions of WrestleMania and shined in the big match environment. Ross is simply the best in history and if he calls even half of a match in a year, it is hard not to vote for him. Jeremy Borash deserves some recognition for his work on Xplosion and Destination X. If he replaced Mike Tenay, I believe the entire TNA product would suddenly feel better.

Ryan Kester's Thoughts: Without a doubt, the best pro wrestling broadcaster is Jim Ross. His talent level is to a point that he pretty much wins the award by default. William Regal comes in a close second in my book. He does a solid job calling the action on NXT and he routinely offers a great insight or a bit of dry humor without overshadowing what's going on in the ring. His talents are wasted on NXT.

Jake Barnett's Thoughts: The readers chose Jim Ross in this poll, and I can't blame them. I don't think it's really fair to choose him, due to just how little he appeared as a broadcaster in WWE in 2011, but with that he said he's still the most dynamic and talented broadcaster in the wrestling business. For me 2011 is notable for just how bad the announcing has gotten. Cole and Booker T continue to be distractions from rather than additions to WWE broadcasts, and Taz and Tenay continue to feel like two guys who have absolutely no chemistry together. From my perspective I spent most of the year just wishing JR would come back, and I guess that's why even though his role was limited, fans are still looking at Jim Ross as the guy who deserves his chair back on Monday Night Raw.

Chris Shore's Thoughts: I would like to think that someone comes close to JR. Hell, I'd settle for being able to pretend that someone is close to JR. Calling matches is no easy feat. I do it for a couple of local groups and there is a learning curve. But there is no reason for wrestling announcing to be in the depths of despair like it is now. JR is the winner, hands down.

Jason Powell's Thoughts: One can only assume that Ross would have won last year had I not limited the nominees to full-time broadcasters. He's the best in the business and the masses know it even if Vince McMahon doesn't want to admit it. I'm not sure why Booker T got any love from the readers. He's improved, but he was downright awful for most of the year. Kevin Kelly gets honorary mention. I've enjoyed his call on Ring of Honor shows. It's nice to hear a passionate announcer play it straight and call the action. I'm sure he would have placed higher if he had more exposure.