10 Academy Awards (For Pro Westling)
3. Best Original Screenplay - The Demise Of The Bullet Club
At the climax of The New Beginning In Sapporo, the heavily-teased Bullet Club split finally materialised: the tensions between leader and aspiring leader Kenny Omega and Cody boiled over after Omega transgressed upon the tradition of a new challenger. Omega desperately invoked a nonexistent rematch clause at the expense of his own stablemate Hangman Page, having lost the United States Title to Jay White. This infuriated Cody - or provided him with an excuse - and he dropped Omega with the Cross Rhodes after Omega flung Matt Jackson, injured back and all, onto the canvas. A classic and layered wrestling plot with an ingenious twist - we knew Omega and Kota Ibushi would cross stars once more, but not as partners - this was furious and emotional. And it was only the beginning.
A superb angle in itself, the dissolution of the faction is a platform for a franchise spanning several money-spinning sequels. The Golden Lovers Vs. The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega Vs. Cody are already booked - but there is so much gold to mine.
Honourable Nominee Mention: The classic blood feud between Omega and Chris Jericho was brilliant, back-to-basics stuff, successful enough to drive tens of thousands of New Japan World subscriptions and bestow upon the Alpha his first-ever Wrestling Observer ***** match. A rare, critically-acclaimed box office smash.