Local champion nominated Wrestler of the Year

Superior Wrestling Alliance (SWA) heavyweight champion Bull Wheeler has been nominated "Wrestler of the Year" for the Michigan Independent Wrestling Central's (MICW) 2006 awards.

Wheeler, who won the award last year, is a strong contender for a repeat.

Each year the MICW hosts the awards to recognize the best in Michigan's independent wrestling scene.

Fans participate in both the nomination and final selection process by emailing their choices.

In addition to Bull Wheeler's nomination as "Wrestler of the Year", local wrestling fans are organizing a write-in campaign to have local rulebreaker Brad Hexum (pictured) selected "Breakout Star of the Year" and SooToday.com reporter Mark D. Mouth selected "Wrestling Photo-journalist of the Year" - a move that would add a new category to the awards.

Fans of local independent professional wrestling are encouraged to email their votes - including write-in candidates and categories - by clicking here.

A slightly abridged version of the MICW news release follows:

***************************** 2006 MIWC Year-End Awards, full details

The 2006 Michigan Independent Wrestling Central Year-End Awards have begun.

Here are the categories and candidates you can vote for:

Promotion of the Year

To qualify, a promotion must have held at least 4 shows in the state of Michigan in 2006.

Choose up to three

- Blue Water Championship Wrestling - Championship International Wrestling - Hybrid Pro Wrestling - Insane Wrestling Federation - Independent Wrestling Revolution - Legends Wrestling Association - Metro Pro Wrestling - Outlaw Pro Wrestling - Price of Glory Wrestling - Ultimate Championship Wrestling - Universyl Wrestling Enterprizes - Pro Wrestling WORLD-1 - X-treme Intense Championship Wrestling

Wrestler of the Year

Choose up to two

- "Too Tough" Tommy Titus - "The Symbol of Excellence" Conrad Kennedy III - "Amazing" N8 Mattson - Jimmy Jacobs - Bull Wheeler - "Explicit" Xavier Justice - "The Old Timer" Jeff King - Josh Abercrombie - Rastakhan - "The Dangerous One" The DBA - "The Natural" Johnny Dynamo - "Electric" Eric Freedom - Nathan Grimley - Other (please specify)

Tag Team of the Year

Choose up to three

- The Creme Team (Chip Daley & "Untouchable" Steve Amani) - The Soul Shooters (Drew "Tha Don" Johnson & "Poison" Apollo Starr) - The Bump N' Uglies (Josh Movado & Bubba Mackenzie) - The Fun Lovin' Criminals (Truth Martini & Jaimy Coxx) - The Family/Scarboni Brothers (Sonny & Vinnie Scarboni, with Johnny Scarboni) - Pretty Badd Ass ("Badd Ass" Steven Blade & "Prettyboy - Redneck" Levi Blue, with Laura Phoenix) - The Clash (Ernie Ballz & Brian Bender) - Popular Electronics (The Gameboy & "The Hype" Jimmy Shalwin) - Jeff Brooks & Jason Harris - Gutter & Izzy High - The Wyld Stallyns ("The Natural" Johnny Dynamo & Jack Thriller) - Other (please specify)

Breakout Star of the Year

Choose up to two

- CJ Otis - "The Old Timer" Jeff King - "The Symbol of Excellence" Conrad Kennedy III - "The Natural" Johnny Dynamo - Noah Lott - Josh Abercrombie - The Necro Butcher - Sebastian Rose - "Supreme Commander" JT Zorin - Xavier Justice - Other (please specify)

[Local fans are encouraged to vote for Sault Ste. Marie's Brad Hexum under "other" for Breakout Star of the Year.]

You can send in your votes (be aware that you can vote for more than 1 candidate in each category and also include a "write-in" vote in most categories) to [email protected].

One vote per person.

If you vote with multiple e-mail addresses your votes will be disqualified.

Votes are due by Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at 11:59PM EST and results will be announced on Friday, January 5th.

Don't be afraid to vote: your votes and decisions will not be shared with anyone.

Promotions: feel free to encourage your fans (and even talent) on your website, message board, MySpace, etc. to place their vote!

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