List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards
This is a list of both active and inactive Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards which are voted on by Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) readers every year from 1972 onwards, expanding to more categories in later years.
Unlike other wrestling magazines and websites, PWI is largely a magazine written within the fictional realm of professional wrestling and the awards recognize this.
Active awards
Wrestler of the Year
Ric Flair is a six-time winner of the category
The PWI Wrestler of the Year award recognizes the best professional wrestler of the year. Ric Flair has won the award a record six times, and remains the only wrestler with more than three wins; he also established the record for most consecutive wins with three from 1984 to 1986, with AJ Styles later tying that record in 2016-2018. Since 2020, female wrestlers have been included in the following category.
Woman of the Year
Trish Stratus is a four-time winner of the category
The PWI Woman of the Year award recognized the best female professional wrestling personality of the year. Originally known as Girl Wrestler of the Year, it was rendered defunct in 1976 and its history would be subsumed into the current award when women have again bestowed their category in 2000. It was again abandoned in 2020, and several female wrestlers were nominated for Wrestler of the Year but the award was again reinstated in 2021. Trish Stratus has won this award a record four times. AJ Lee is the only wrestler to win the award three times consecutively. Mickie James is the only wrestler to have won the award competing for two different organizations.
Tag Team of the Year
The PWI Tag Team of the Year award recognizes the best tag team of the year. The Road Warriors (Animal & Hawk) have won a record four times. The New Day is the only trio to win the award. The Golden Role Models are the only women’s tag team to win this award.
Year
|
Winner
|
Runner-up
|
Second runner-up
|
Third runner-up
|
1972
|
Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1973
|
Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1974
|
Jimmy Valiant & Johnny Valiant
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1975
|
Gene Anderson & Ole Anderson
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1976
|
The Executioners (#1 & #2)
|
Gene Anderson & Ole Anderson
|
Chief Jay Strongbow & Billy White Wolf
|
Jimmy Valiant & Johnny Valiant
|
1977
|
Gene Anderson & Ole Anderson (2)
|
Professor Tanaka & Mr. Fuji
|
Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell
|
Ric Flair & Greg Valentine
|
1978
|
Ricky Steamboat & Paul Jones
|
The Yukon Lumberjacks (Yukon Eric & Yukon Pierre)
|
Mike Graham & Steve Keirn
|
Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell
|
1979
|
Ivan Putski & Tito Santana
|
Jerry & Johnny Valiant
|
Paul Jones & Baron von Raschke
|
The Spoiler & Mark Lewin
|
1980
|
Jimmy Snuka & Ray Stevens
|
Mr. Wrestling & Mr. Wrestling II
|
The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika)
|
Verne Gagne & Mad Dog Vachon
|
1981
|
The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy)
|
Rick Martel & Tony Garea
|
Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito
|
Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell
|
1982
|
The High Flyers Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell
|
Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito
|
The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts)
|
Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen
|
1983
|
The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal)
|
Kerry, Kevin & David Von Erich
|
The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts)
|
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
|
1984
|
The Road Warriors (2) (Hawk & Animal)
|
Kerry, Kevin & Mike Von Erich
|
The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane & Steve Keirn)
|
The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
|
1985
|
The Road Warriors (3) (Hawk & Animal)
|
Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams
|
Ivan & Nikita Koloff
|
The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid)
|
1986
|
The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
|
The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal)
|
The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid)
|
The Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty)
|
1987
|
The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane)
|
The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart)
|
The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal)
|
The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
|
1988
|
The Road Warriors (4) (Hawk & Animal)
|
The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane)
|
Demolition (Ax & Smash)
|
The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard)
|
1989
|
The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard)
|
Demolition (Ax & Smash)
|
The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal)
|
The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin)
|
1990
|
The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner)
|
Demolition (Ax & Smash)
|
Doom (Ron Simmons & Butch Reed)
|
The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal)
|
1991
|
The Enforcers (Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko)
|
The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal)
|
The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner)
|
Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller
|
1992
|
The Miracle Violence Connection (Terry Gordy & Steve Williams)
|
The Natural Disasters (Earthquake & Typhoon)
|
The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner)
|
Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes
|
1993
|
The Steiner Brothers (2) (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner)
|
The Hollywood Blonds (Steve Austin & Brian Pillman)
|
Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase & Irwin R. Schyster)
|
The Heavenly Bodies (Tom Prichard & Stan Lane)
|
1994
|
The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobs & Jerry Sags)
|
The Headshrinkers (Samu & Fatu)
|
The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge & Rocco Rock)
|
Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
|
1995
|
Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray)
|
The Smoking Gunns (Billy & Bart Gunn)
|
Owen Hart & Yokozuna
|
The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner)
|
1996
|
Harlem Heat (2) (Booker T & Stevie Ray)
|
The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus)
|
The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner)
|
The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustapha Saed)
|
1997
|
The Outsiders (Scott Hall & Kevin Nash)
|
The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner)
|
The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal)
|
Lex Luger & The Giant
|
1998
|
The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg & Billy Gunn)
|
Rob Van Dam & Sabu
|
Mankind & Kane
|
The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker & Kane)
|
1999
|
Kane & X-Pac
|
The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy)
|
Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray)
|
The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley)
|
2000
|
The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy)
|
Edge & Christian
|
The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley)
|
KroniK (Brian Adams & Bryan Clark)
|
2001
|
The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley)
|
The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker & Kane)
|
The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy)
|
The Acolytes (Bradshaw & Faarooq)
|
2002
|
Billy & Chuck
|
Booker T & Goldust
|
3-Minute Warning (Rosey & Jamal)
|
Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit
|
2003
|
The World's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin)
|
America's Most Wanted (James Storm & Chris Harris)
|
The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley)
|
Los Guerreros (Eddie Guerrero & Chavo Guerrero)
|
2004
|
America's Most Wanted (James Storm & Chris Harris)
|
La Résistance (Sylvain Grenier & Robert Conway)
|
The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley)
|
Charlie Haas & Rico
|
2005
|
MNM (Joey Mercury & Johnny Nitro)
|
The Naturals (Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens)
|
Road Warrior Animal & Heidenreich
|
America's Most Wanted (James Storm & Chris Harris)
|
2006
|
A.J. Styles & Christopher Daniels
|
Paul London & Brian Kendrick
|
D-Generation X (Triple H & Shawn Michaels)
|
Big Show & Kane
|
2007
|
Paul London & Brian Kendrick
|
Team 3D (Brother Ray & Brother Devon)
|
The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe)
|
Deuce 'n Domino
|
2008
|
Beer Money, Inc. (James Storm & Robert Roode)
|
John Morrison & The Miz
|
Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase
|
The Latin American Xchange (Homicide & Hernandez)
|
2009
|
Team 3D (2) (Brother Ray & Brother Devon)
|
Beer Money, Inc. (James Storm & Robert Roode)
|
Chris Jericho & Big Show
|
D-Generation X (Triple H & Shawn Michaels)
|
2010
|
The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)
|
The Hart Dynasty (Tyson Kidd & David Hart Smith)
|
The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli)
|
Beer Money, Inc. (James Storm & Robert Roode)
|
2011
|
Beer Money, Inc. (2) (James Storm & Robert Roode)
|
Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin)
|
Air Boom (Evan Bourne & Kofi Kingston)
|
Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli)
|
2012
|
Kofi Kingston & R-Truth
|
Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian)
|
Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan & Kane)
|
Samoa Joe & Magnus
|
2013
|
The Shield (Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns)
|
Cody Rhodes & Goldust
|
Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan & Kane)
|
reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly)
|
2014
|
The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso)
|
reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly)
|
The Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards)
|
Gold and Stardust (Goldust & Stardust)
|
2015
|
The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E & Xavier Woods)
|
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
|
The Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards)
|
reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly)
|
2016
|
The New Day (2) (Kofi Kingston, Big E & Xavier Woods)
|
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
|
Enzo and Cass (Enzo Amore & Big Cass)
|
The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder)
|
2017
|
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
|
The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus)
|
The Shield (Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose)
|
The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso)
|
2018
|
The Young Bucks (2) (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
|
The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E & Xavier Woods)
|
The Undisputed Era (Kyle O'Reilly & Roderick Strong)
|
LAX (Santana & Ortiz)
|
2019
|
The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly)
|
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
|
The Lucha Bros. (Pentagon, Jr. & Rey Fenix)
|
The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
|
2020
|
Golden Role Models (Bayley & Sasha Banks)
|
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
|
Kenny Omega & Adam Page
|
The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins)
|
2021
|
The Young Bucks (3) (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
|
Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fénix)
|
The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso)
|
The New Day (Kofi Kingston & King Woods)
|
2022
|
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
|
The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso)
|
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster)
|
The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)
|
2023
|
FTR (2) (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
|
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
|
Better Than You Bay Bay (Adam Cole & MJF)
|
The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso)
|
Faction of the Year
The PWI Faction of the Year award recognized the best faction of the year. This award made its debut in 2021.
Match of the Year
Shawn Michaels is an eleven-time winner of the category
The PWI Match of the Year award recognizes the best match of the year. Shawn Michaels has won the award a record eleven times; he had a four-year win streak from 1993 to 1996 and then a seven-year win streak from 2004 to 2010.
Year
|
Date
|
Match
|
Event
|
Location
|
Notes
|
1972
|
January 14
|
Bruno Sammartino wins battle royal
|
Battle Royal in Los Angeles
|
Los Angeles, CA
|
Battle Royal
|
1973
|
May 24
|
Dory Funk Jr. vs. Harley Race
|
|
Kansas City, MO
|
For the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
|
1974
|
April 19
|
Jack Brisco vs. Dory Funk Jr.
|
|
St. Louis, MO
|
For the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
|
1975
|
March 17
|
Bruno Sammartino vs. Spiros Arion
|
|
New York, NY
|
For the WWWF Heavyweight Championship
|
1976
|
April 26
|
Bruno Sammartino vs. Stan Hansen
|
|
New York, NY
|
For the WWWF Heavyweight Championship
|
1977
|
April 30
|
Bruno Sammartino vs. "Superstar" Billy Graham
|
|
Baltimore, MD
|
For the WWWF Heavyweight Championship
|
1978
|
February 20
|
"Superstar" Billy Graham vs. Bob Backlund
|
|
New York, NY
|
For the WWWF Heavyweight Championship
|
1979
|
August 21
|
Harley Race vs. Dusty Rhodes
|
|
Tampa, FL
|
For the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
|
1980
|
August 9
|
Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko
|
Showdown at Shea
|
Flushing, NY
|
Steel Cage Match
|
1981
|
August 24
|
André the Giant vs. Killer Khan
|
|
New York, NY
|
Texas Death Match
|
1982
|
June 28
|
Bob Backlund vs. Jimmy Snuka
|
|
New York, NY
|
Steel Cage Match for the WWF Heavyweight Championship
|
1983
|
June 10
|
Ric Flair vs. Harley Race
|
|
St. Louis, MO
|
For the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
|
1984
|
May 6
|
Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich
|
David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
|
Irving, TX
|
For the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
|
1985
|
March 31
|
Hulk Hogan & Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff
|
WrestleMania
|
New York, NY
|
|
1986
|
July 26
|
Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes
|
The Great American Bash
|
Greensboro, NC
|
Steel Cage Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
|
1987
|
March 29
|
Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat
|
WrestleMania III
|
Pontiac, MI
|
For the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship
|
1988
|
February 5
|
Hulk Hogan vs. André the Giant
|
The Main Event I
|
Indianapolis, IN
|
For the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
|
1989
|
May 7
|
Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair
|
WrestleWar
|
Nashville, TN
|
For the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
|
1990
|
April 1
|
Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior
|
WrestleMania VI
|
Toronto, Ontario
|
For the WWF Championship and WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship
|
1991
|
May 19
|
The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner) vs. Sting & Lex Luger
|
SuperBrawl
|
St. Petersburg, FL
|
For the WCW World Tag Team Championship
|
1992
|
August 29
|
Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith
|
SummerSlam
|
London, England
|
For the WWF Intercontinental Championship
|
1993
|
July 19
|
Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty
|
Raw
|
New York, NY
|
For the WWF Intercontinental Championship
|
1994
|
March 20
|
Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels
|
WrestleMania X
|
New York, NY
|
Ladder match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
|
1995
|
April 2
|
Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels
|
WrestleMania XI
|
Hartford, CT
|
For the WWF Championship
|
1996
|
March 31
|
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
|
WrestleMania XII
|
Anaheim, CA
|
60-minute Ironman Match for the WWF Championship
|
1997
|
March 23
|
Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
|
WrestleMania 13
|
Rosemont, IL
|
No Disqualification Submission Match with Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee
|
1998
|
June 28
|
The Undertaker vs. Mankind
|
King of the Ring
|
Pittsburgh, PA
|
Hell in a Cell match
|
1999
|
January 24
|
The Rock vs. Mankind
|
Royal Rumble
|
Anaheim, CA
|
"I Quit" Match for the WWF Championship
|
2000
|
April 2
|
The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. Edge and Christian
|
WrestleMania 2000
|
Anaheim, CA
|
Triangle Ladder Match for the WWF Tag Team Championship
|
2001
|
April 1
|
The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. Edge and Christian
|
WrestleMania X-Seven
|
Houston, TX
|
TLC Match for the WWF Tag Team Championship
|
2002
|
March 17
|
The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan
|
WrestleMania X8
|
Toronto, Ontario
|
|
2003
|
September 16
|
Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar
|
SmackDown!
|
Raleigh, NC
|
60-minute Ironman Match for the WWE Championship
|
2004
|
March 14
|
Triple H vs. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels
|
WrestleMania XX
|
New York, NY
|
Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
|
2005
|
April 3
|
Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle
|
WrestleMania 21
|
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
2006
|
April 2
|
Shawn Michaels vs. Vince McMahon
|
WrestleMania 22
|
Rosemont, IL
|
No Holds Barred Match
|
2007
|
April 23
|
John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels
|
Raw
|
London, England
|
|
2008
|
March 30
|
Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair
|
WrestleMania XXIV
|
Orlando, FL
|
Career Threatening Match
|
2009
|
April 5
|
The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
|
WrestleMania 25
|
Houston, TX
|
|
2010
|
March 28
|
The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
|
WrestleMania XXVI
|
Phoenix, AZ
|
Streak vs. Career Match
|
2011
|
July 17
|
John Cena vs. CM Punk
|
Money in the Bank
|
Rosemont, IL
|
For the WWE Championship
|
2012
|
April 1
|
The Undertaker vs. Triple H
|
WrestleMania XXVIII
|
Miami Gardens, FL
|
Hell in a Cell Match with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee
|
2013
|
August 18
|
John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan
|
SummerSlam
|
Los Angeles, CA
|
For the WWE Championship with Triple H as the special guest referee
|
2014
|
June 1
|
John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
|
Payback
|
Rosemont, IL
|
Last Man Standing Match
|
2015
|
October 7
|
Bayley vs. Sasha Banks
|
NXT TakeOver: Respect
|
Winter Park, FL
|
30-minute Ironwoman Match for the NXT Women's Championship
|
2016
|
August 21
|
John Cena vs. A.J. Styles
|
SummerSlam
|
Brooklyn, NY
|
|
2017
|
January 4
|
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega
|
Wrestle Kingdom 11
|
Tokyo, Japan
|
For the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
|
2018
|
June 9
|
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega
|
Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall
|
Osaka, Japan
|
No Time Limit Two Out of Three Falls Match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
|
2019
|
May 25
|
Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes
|
Double or Nothing
|
Paradise, NV
|
|
2020
|
February 29
|
Kenny Omega & Adam Page vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
|
Revolution
|
Chicago, IL
|
For the AEW World Tag Team Championship
|
2021
|
March 17
|
Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa
|
St. Patrick's Day Slam
|
Jacksonville, FL
|
Unsanctioned Lights Out Match
|
2022
|
June 5
|
Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins
|
Hell in a Cell
|
Rosemont, IL
|
Hell in a Cell Match
|
2023
|
April 1
|
Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair
|
WrestleMania 39
|
Inglewood, CA
|
For the WWE SmackDown Women's Champion
|
Feud of the Year
The PWI Feud of the Year award recognizes the best rivalry of the year, normally between two wrestlers but also between groups as well. Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger is tied with Vince McMahon vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, each winning twice. Ric Flair, Vince McMahon, and Triple H have won this award four times individually. The Four Horsemen, The Authority, The Nexus, and Aces & Eights are the only stables to win the award.
Most Popular Wrestler of the Year
The PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year award recognizes the best face or heroic professional wrestler of the year. Sting and John Cena have won this award a record four times. Rob Van Dam is the only wrestler to win the award as a heel (villain). In 2019, Becky Lynch became the first woman to win the award.
Most Hated Wrestler of the Year
Triple H is a five-time winner of the category
The PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year award typically recognizes the most effective heel (villainous) professional wrestler of the year. Triple H has won this award a record five times, with his fourth win as part of The Authority. In 2010, the award was given to a stable, The Nexus for the first time. Roman Reigns is the only wrestler to win this award while presented as a face (heroic character).
Comeback of the Year
The PWI Comeback of the Year award, given yearly since 1992, recognizes the most impressive comeback by a professional wrestler during the year. Sting and Jeff Hardy have won this award a record three times each (Hardy's third win is shared with his brother Matt as part of the Hardy Boyz).
Most Improved Wrestler of the Year
The PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year award recognizes the most improved professional wrestler of the year.
Indie Wrestler of the Year
The PWI Indie Wrestler of the Year award recognizes the best wrestler who competes on the independent circuit.
Inspirational Wrestler of the Year
Lord Alfred Hayes was the first recipient
The PWI Inspirational Wrestler of the Year award recognizes the most inspirational professional wrestler of the year. The award has been given yearly since 1972, and in this time, Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan, Eddie Guerrero, Jerry Lawler, Bayley, and Roman Reigns are the only people to have won the award more than once, with all six winning twice. Generally, the award is originally meant to go to a wrestler who overcomes great odds to achieve success in the ring, however, it has also been awarded to wrestlers who overcome real-life hardships and struggles.
Rookie of the Year
Mike Graham was the first recipient
The PWI Rookie of the Year award recognizes the best professional wrestler of the year who, in that year, had their first year in the business. Since it is a rookie award, wrestlers can qualify only once.
Stanley Weston Award (Lifetime Achievement)
Bruno Sammartino was the first recipient
The PWI Stanley Weston Award recognizes lifetime achievement by a professional wrestling personality. It has been given yearly since 1981, originally known as the PWI Editor's Award, and it's considered the magazine highest honor. Beginning with the March 2003 year-end edition, the award was renamed in memory of PWI founder and longtime publisher Stanley Weston, who died in 2002. In 2020, PWI announced it would begin naming two winners per year.
Decade awards
2000s
Shawn Michaels was voted Inspirational Wrestler, Feud and Match of the Decade (2000s)
2010s
AJ Styles was voted Wrestler of the 2010s
Defunct awards
Midget Wrestler of the Year
The PWI Midget Wrestler of the Year award recognized the best midget wrestler of the year. This award became defunct in 1976.
Manager of the Year
Bobby Heenan (left) is a four-time winner of the category
The PWI Manager of the Year award recognized the best manager of the year. Bobby Heenan won a record four times. Lou Albano, J. J. Dillon, and Jim Cornette each won three times.
Announcer of the Year
Gordon Solie is the only winner of the category
The PWI Announcer of the Year award recognized the best announcer of the year. This award was only given in 1977.
See also
Notes
- ^ Team 3D previously won the award as The Dudley Boyz.
- ^ a b The Nexus consisted of Wade Barrett, Darren Young, Skip Sheffield, Michael Tarver, Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater, David Otunga, Husky Harris & Michael McGillicutty.
- ^ a b The Authority consisted of Triple H, Stephanie McMahon & Kane.
References
General
Specific
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