iShowSpeed Wins Streamer of the Year at the 2025 Streamer Awards

Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr. has officially been crowned Streamer of the Year at the 2025 Streamer Awards, held on December 6 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.

iShowSpeed Wins Streamer of the Year at the 2025 Streamer Awards

The annual event, hosted by QTCinderella and broadcast live on Twitch and YouTube, celebrated the best in streaming across 35 categories, ranging from gaming to IRL adventures.

At just 20 years old, Speed has become one of the most recognizable names in digital entertainment. Known for his explosive personality and unpredictable antics, he edged out a stacked lineup of nominees, including Kai Cenat, ExtraEmily, Jasontheween, and Plaqueboymax, to secure the night’s top honor.

Cenat didn’t leave empty-handed, though, as he won Best Just Chatting Streamer and two other awards for his Mafiathon 3, while other nominees continued to shine in their respective categories.

Speed’s acceptance speech was as energetic as fans expected. He thanked his supporters with trademark flair, reflecting on his journey from starting at age 15 to becoming one of the biggest names in streaming today.

"Thank y'all so much. You know I started this five years ago when I was 15 and now I'm 20 now. And I fell in love with this when I was at a very young age. And I just love it. Really loved streaming, you know, and I'm gonna keep it going. Still got a lot of gas in the tank. Next year is gonna be a hell of a crazy year as well. And it's gonna be more crazy... Hey shut up man. Now look, I love y'all so much. Appreciate everybody, you already know it's Speed here, here go the backflip y'all."

(He then performs the backflip as promised, to cheers from the audience.)

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Darren Jason Watkins Jr. began streaming in 2016 as a young gamer. His career truly took off in 2021 when he shifted toward high-energy, reaction-heavy content that resonated with millions. By 2022, his YouTube channel had surpassed 10 million subscribers, fueled by viral moments like barking at opponents and dramatic meltdowns that quickly became memes.

Despite bans from Twitch for edgy behavior, Speed thrived on YouTube, where he now commands over 46 million subscribers, alongside massive followings on Instagram and TikTok.

The year 2025 has been particularly defining for Speed. In February, he was co-captaining a team in Qatar’s Match for Hope 2025. By March, he played in the Sidemen Charity Match at Wembley Stadium, scoring his first goal in the series. That same month, he toured China and Mongolia, where state media praised him for fostering goodwill through his lively interactions with fans.

Summer brought his Europe Tour Part 2, a 14-country journey that marked his return to Twitch after a four-year ban. Streaming simultaneously on Twitch and YouTube, Speed visited Spain, France, Poland, Turkey, and Greece, drawing over 300,000 concurrent viewers.

Back in the U.S., he embarked on the “Speed Does America” tour, covering 25 states in 35 days with events ranging from motorcycle rallies in Texas to rodeos in Wyoming.

His athletic pursuits have also caught mainstream attention. WWE legend John Cena praised Speed’s raw talent during his latest appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, calling him a potential "20-time champion" – but warned against ditching streaming for full-time wrestling or track, citing the grind's toll.

Undeterred, Speed dove deeper into WWE, training at the Performance Center with pros like Randy Orton, nailing promos, and even wrestling a short match against Anthony Luke. His cameos – from a Prime bottle stunt at WrestleMania to a surprise 2025 Royal Rumble entry – have blurred lines between streamer and superstar.

Looking ahead, Speed shows no signs of slowing down. Rumors suggest a month-long Africa tour during AFCON 2026 and possible ventures into the Middle East.