This is what used to be the Trenchie Awards. I didn’t do one last year because of depression, and I thought no one cared. Well, someone cared, and they know who they are.
TV: I actually didn’t watch any series regularly last year outside of wrestling. So, no winner for 2022.
Movies: I only saw one movie from 2022, but it probably would have won if I had seen any other movies. Of course, I’m talking about The Batman. I thought it was the most grounded Batman movie ever, which made for an intense watch.
Music: I only bought one album that was released in 2022, and it was Back from the Dead by Halestorm. However, I didn’t think it was a great album until they released the Deluxe Edition. That pushed a decent album into being a good album.
2021 had a great album that needs mentioning, though, and that’s Initiation by Sumo Cyco. Again, you should buy the Deluxe Edition as that pushed a great album into being an almost perfect album.
Comics: I still read comics from the big two, but over the past year, I’ve been getting into more indie comics. So, my main recommendation for the comic of 2022 is Do A Powerbomb! from Image Comics. If you love the craziness of pro-wrestling and comic books, you’ll love this. The collected edition comes out this March.
Honorable mention goes to Sacrament from AWA Comics. It’s essentially The Exorcist in Space. Also, Republic of the Skull by Europe Comics. This was a great book that put a new twist to the usual pirate tale.
Podcasts: I normally don’t listen to podcasts from broadcasters, but when I heard the plot of Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra, I had to listen. Essentially, it’s a history podcast that details an insurrectionist plot against the U.S. Government from the 1940s. History doesn’t repeat, but it often rhymes.
As far as independent podcasts go, my favorite from 2022 was the political podcast We’re Not Wrong. It’s hosted by one of my favorite podcasters, Justin Robert Young, and is a humorous but insightful look at the week’s political stories.
YouTube: For a 54-year-old man, I watch an inordinate amount of YouTube. However, the one channel I can’t seem to live without is DankPods. When YouTube was pushing this channel on me, I thought it was going to be one of those ‘It’s ya boy’ type channels. Boy, was I wrong. This Australian yelling man is not only entertaining, but he got me into my new headphone hobby.
I also want to give a shout-out to a YouTuber who deserves a bigger audience, and that’s Finding Subtext. It’s run by a young filmmaker who’s not only dealing with his own identity, but tackling social issues as well.
Wrestling: The best wrestling match of 2022 was FTR vs. The Briscoes from Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor PPV. This was the first match in their series and in my opinion the best one. I’m not really a fan of either team, but this may have been the best tag team match ever.
Games: Thanks to Sony loosening their grip on PlayStation exclusives, PC users got to play Spider-Man: Remastered. Once I figured out the controls, this was one of the most fun games I ever played. I had to break my habit of trying to play the game like the Arkham games.
Politics: The two stories that grabbed my attention the most this year were the 2022 midterm elections and the January 6th Commission. The midterm gave us the glorious defeat of the so-called Red Wave, which was still too close for comfort. I mean, who the hell voted for Herschel Walker in Georgia? That man has two brain cells, and they’re fighting for third place. Meanwhile, the J6 hearings gave us a new look at the insanity of the Trump Administration trying to hold on to power to the detriment of the country and the Constitution. However, it remains to be seen if the Commission will actually have any teeth when it comes to recommending criminal prosecution.
See you next year if the Good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise.
The Trench Reynolds Report 