IWF Awards: A Look at the Diamond of the Year Nominees.

[Tyler Jacobs]

Hey everyone, I’m Tyler Jacobs! Today the polls for IWF’s end of year awards were released to the masses. Amongst those awards is “Diamond of the Year” and right now we’re going to take a little look at those women who have made the final cut.

HELENA SAWYER

First off is Helena Sawyer, a woman most people thought was cut from the same cloth as Eternity. A tough competitor, she started off the year with almost taking the Shieldmaiden from the vice like grip of Eternity herself. From her battles with Kathleen Conway, to the Heiress to the Throne - where Helena proved any of her doubters, as if there were any, wrong - and went through two women in one night to win the tournament to become the 2017 Heiress to the Throne. Helena would go on to Extreme Endurance where she would fight Rowan MacDonnough for the Diamonds Championship, but unfortunately came up just short. It’s been a stand out year for Sawyer, and you have to wonder, what is next?

ETERNITY

Eternity is the most decorated superstar in the IWF when it comes to accolades. She came into 2017 as the Shieldmaiden Champion and defended the championship at every Open Fight Night, and every Pay Per View event, before ultimately losing the title after 182 days to Shea O’Hara. She had also won over the sway of Warren Kane, and brought out the darker side of him. However, she remained off screen since Night of the Immortals. Eternity is officially the only person to have won the Imperial Diamond award, the Gemini award, and the Imperial crest award. She is also the only person on the roster to have earned the Limitless and Immortality awards. Though she may be gone, she leaves a very big shadow.

SHEA O’HARA

Shea did not have the best start to the year, however after recovering from a broken arm, given to her by Eternity, she came back better than ever. As she earned her way to the Shieldmaiden championship she defeated her “shield sister” in Astrid Hall, as well as handing Rowan MacDonnough her first ever singles defeat. Shea would ride this wave to Night of the Immortals where toppled the amazing reign of Eternity and became the first ever two time Shieldmaiden. After a successful reign, and several defence under her belt, Shea lost the title, with a little help from Rowan MacDonnough. The two ended up fighting for the Diamonds Championship, where Rowan crushed Shea….but in the rematch? Something insane happened, and during the Extinction Event Shea and her comrades exorcised Rowan’s demon. The two met once more at Diamonds Are Forever where Shea dominated the way Rowan had dominated her previously, and the sad decision to release the demon back to Rowan was made. We have to think it isn’t over between these two.

PANDORA FREEMAN

Pandora has become a beacon of hope in IWF. Initially some didn’t take to her on the roster, notably Fiona McFly. The two had a worldwind feud that spun into the Iron Maiden qualifiers, what with McFly having issues with Pandora’s personal life, Pandora took advantage, doubled down, and came out the winner and the 2017 Iron Maiden. Pandora would ride her wave of momentum to Night of the Immortals, ever the hope bringer, always looking at things from another angle, she became a staple of the Diamonds division. This culminated in Pandora’s victory on the grandest stage, defeating Paige Garcia to become the Diamonds Champion. Pandora brought light but dark times spread across IWF and sadly she lost the championship to Rowan MacDonnough. Pandora is still true to herself though, and you have to wonder, just how far can she go?

ROWAN MACDONNOUGH

Rowan MacDonnough has had a stand out breakout year. Debuting in the Diamonds in the Rough tournament, she came up just short but things weren’t as simple as that. Rowan specifically went after Charity Crowne in her own version of vengeance, and once she was done there, she moved into the beginning of something that could end up being Feud of the Year. During a tag team match, with Charity as her “partner” Rowan passed out to Shea O’Hara’s submission move, giving Shea and Astrid the victory. However, it wasn’t good enough for Rowan, who continued to hound Shea, earning herself a Shieldmaiden shot. In what was a shock Rowan MacDonnough was pinned for the first time, but it didn’t hold her back. Xavier Cross recruited her to The Council, and as it looked like this faction was about to dominate, she turned on them and brought about the beginning of her own….The Pack. Rowan was the Diamonds Champion, having dethroned Pandora Freeman, and began to “recruit” members to The Pack, and crush her opponents in the ring. Recently Rowan lost the title in the most bizarre of circumstances during the Extinction Event, but now that Rowan is back to her old self, you have to wonder, is a second Diamonds Championship reign on the cards?

That’s all from me for now, check back next time where we will have a look at the nominees for Superstar of the Year!