Throughout the weekend ahead of our live Great American Bash coverage on Sunday night, we’re posting our half-year awards, looking at the best and the worst of WWE in the first half of 2008.

Earlier today we posted our award for the Worst in-ring performer in the WWE, and you can find more to follow throughout the weekend here at WWEPreview.com.

Our second award is for the Least improved wrestler of the year so far:

Phil Lowe: John Cena. A few names entered my head here (Carlito, Mr. Kennedy, Chavo Guerrero for starters), but Cena has gone from company poster boy to a wrestler who wouldn’t look out of place in the midcard. In fact I’d says an ongoing feud with JBL and involving himself with Cryme Tyme actually makes him look like a midcarder.

I do like Cena. He’s had awesome matches with Umaga, Edge and Shawn Michaels. But 2008 has not been Cena’s year. Writing “poopy” on a limo doesn’t help things either.

Mark Bright: John Cena. I’m actually a Cena fan, but from a character perspective he’s been severely weakened by bad writing that’s put their franchise player into situations where he looks terrible. And in the ring while his match with Orton at No Way Out was decent, and his Night of Champions match with Triple H was fine, he doesn’t seem inspired like he was in the 18 months or so before his pec tear.

Unless he can clear the ring-rust I can see myself voting for Rey Mysterio in this category come the year’s end, he did not look good in his match with Santino on Raw and with Punk getting a World Title push it seems like Rey is defined down as a midcarder right now.

Michael Campbell: Chavo Guerrero. A tough category, because you could factor in guys who are merely stale (John Cena, even though he improved immensely last year), guys who’s pushes have limited them (Mr Kennedy, who still retains his potential), and guys who have been jobbed too frequently to develop as contenders (Umaga). But I though I’d give it to someone that genuinely does not interest or excite me.

Despite the ECW World title (which he never should have won- Chavo is perceived as a lowly mid-carder, and did more harm to the belt than Bobby Lashley or John Morrison ever could have done), a push, some serious television time for matches, and an association with the best heel in the company, Edge, Chavo is still stale. Staler than The Bushwhackers underwear. Staler than Shawn Michaels leather chaps. Staler than Stephanie McMahon’s… erm anyways.

Basically, despite all this, he’s still Chavo. Most of his storylines revolve around his dead uncle’s reputation and impact, and most of his matches are the same as they were six years ago. He was given a prime opportunity yet emerged in the same fashioned he arrived. In other words, he hasn’t improved.

Martin Smith: John Cena. Given his position on the card, you would think Cena would, at least, learn some new offence - but he doesn’t. In fact, Cena hasn’t improved in years.

One thing that truly pissed me off with Cena this year was his part in Flair’s farewell party. The Four Horsemen must’ve looked at Cena and thought “what the hell has he got to do with this?” I know I certainly did. The former champion could probably learn a few things from “The Nature Boy” and how Cena wishes he could get a crowd reaction like that.

Steve McLaren: Shelton Benjamin. He seems to have digressed not progressed. He is simply boring in the ring and whenever the crowd seem to chant for the other guy he is in there with, he’ll slap on a rest hold and kill the heat for the match. At least he can jump - real high!

James Mustoe: JBL. While Chris Jericho has got better following his return to the ring, JBL certainly hasn’t. Nagging injuries have meant that the superlative promo-master has let himself down badly in the ring on most occasions. He should’ve stuck to commentary, as his back injury has stopped the once dynamic brawler from performing to his potential.

RESULTS:

John Cena (3)
Chavo Guerrero (1)
Shelton Benjamin (1)
JBL (1)