This year, the winner and the runner-up for this award share something in common that you wouldn't think when it comes to this award. The two men began the year feuding with one another. They both also fought against John Cena in the main event of a pay-per-view event. The power of the people and their reactions in those two matches led me to determine who was the most hated wrestler of 2012.
Runner-up: CM Punk
CM Punk began the year as a fan favorite but his feelings of being disrespected by the company led to him lashing out against the WWE Universe. Quite honestly, he had a right to feel disrespected. Even though he has held the most important title in the company for the entire year, he didn't fight in the final match of a pay-per-view event until September. Since turning heel, Punk has aligned himself with Paul Heyman and denies having any involvement with the aid he has received from Brad Maddox and the Shield in retaining the WWE Championship.
Winner: John Laurinaitis
The people did not like the man that brought them People Power. John Laurinaitis began the year as the Interim General Manager of RAW and did everything in his power to get the WWE Championship away from CM Punk. At WrestleMania XXVIII, with the aid of Eve, he gained control of SmackDown. He wielded People Power on both shows for several months until eventually getting fired after John Cena beat Big Show in a Cage Match at No Way Out.
Prior Most Hated Wrestler of the Year Award Winners
- '11: May I have your attention please
- '10: The winner of this award had an awesome year
- '09: This man was hated for claiming to be the best in the world at what he does
- '08: Excuse me, the two most hated words of the year
- '07: Wrestling fans don't like an opportunist
- '06: This wrestler had a strange fixation about his tushy
Photo of CM Punk: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Imagess
Comments