Slammy Awards: The Early Years

Did you know that the WWE Slammy Awards has been going on since 1986? The awards ceremony has been an on-again off-again special for the WWE which has been reoccuring annually since 2008. All in all there have been 12 different Slammy Award Shows since 86' and with that, we are likely to forget many of the winners or even some of the categories that were chosen for the show. Let's go over some of the forgotten early years of the Slammy Awards!

1986

In the 1986 inaugaral edition of the WWE (WWF at the time) Slammy Awards, typical awards were given out such as Best Commentator (Gene Okerlund), Best Producer (Cyndi Lauper, at the height of the WWF Rock n Roll connection), and Best Personality in 'Land of a Thousand Dances' (Roddy Piper)...Yes that's right. WWF had a music video of 'Land of a Thousand Dances' which may seem odd but infact this whole special was intertwined with music, even being shown on MTV.

In between award announcements, songs were performed such as Gene Okerlund - Tutti Frutti, Jimmy Hart - Eat Your Heart Out Rick Springfield, HillBilly Jim lip-synched "Don't go messing with a Country Boy". Junkyard won the award for Best Single Performer that night with "Grab Them Cakes". 

Of course this was essentially a WWF music awards show, but one of the awards that really stuck out was the "Most Ignominous" Award.

Most...Ignominous?

The word ignominous means "disgraceful, dishonorable, degrading", but you have to love WWE calling the award the Most Ignominous and giving it to hated Russian Nikolai Volkoff.

The 1987 edition of the Slammy Awards still had a alot of influence from music, but there were awards based on non musical performances such as Woman of the Year (Miss Elizbeth), Hulk Hogan Real American Award which was presented to Superstar Billy Graham, Jesse the Body Award handed out to Rick Rude, Best Ring Apparel given to Harley Race, and Best Personal Hygiene...Best Personal Hygiene?

Yes, this was an award and it was in fact given to Nikolai Volkoff, Boris Zhukov, and Slick. Best Head was given to Bam Bam Bigelow & Gene Okerlund....Best Head?!? This prestigious award was handed out by Brutus the Barber Beefcake awarding it to these bald-headed men on that basis, because they were bald.

This awards show only moment that is remembered and still brought up today is the "Stand Back" performance done by Vince McMahon..Yes, Mr. McMahon was in true form singing away with lyrics such as "Stand in my way, I promise you will lose". It has to be seen to be believed. 

The Slammy Awards didnt return the next year, or the year after that. Actually, it wasnt brought back until 1994 and the musical side of the Awards Show was long gone. Awards you would expect to be handed out were such as "Most Intimidating" (Undertaker), "Best PayPerView" (Wrestlemania 10), "The Best Manager" (Ted Dibiase), and MVP (Diesel). However, you have to love some of the more outlandish ones handed out at the rendition of the Slammy Awards:

Greediest - Tatanka (Tatanka had been a loveable fan favorite who sold out to the Million Dollar Corporation)

Worst Idea - Abe Knuckleball Schwartz on Strike (Abe was Steve Lombardi playing a Baseball Character, in full baseball-face makeup and outfit. During 1994, Major League Baseball was on strike so Abe Knuckleball Schwartz went on strike as well...)

Sweatiest - I.R.S

Biggest Rat - Owen Hart

Mouthiest - Jerry Lawler

Smelliest - Henry Godwinn/Duke the Dumpster Droese

Now, you can see where things have changed quite abit since 1987...they actually had to hand out a tie for Most Smelliest Wrestler...now THOSE are some classy awards to hand out. Not only that but we had awards such as Best Tag Team presented to Diesel & Shawn Michaels...who also won Worst Tag Team award. Just let that sink in..

Next time on Forgotten Wrestling: 1996 & 1997 editions of the Slammy Awards as well as the resurrection of the Slammies in 2008.