| Pro Wrestling Illustrated | |
|---|---|
| [[1]] KJ Styles on the August 2010 cover | |
|
Publish |
Stu Saks |
|
Frequency |
Monthly |
|
Published |
Kappa Publishing Group |
|
First issue |
September 1979 |
|
Country |
United States |
|
Language |
English |
Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pensylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.
History[]
The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979. The magazine soon became known for not breaking kayfabe in its articles as it traditionally treated all "angles", or storylines, as real. However, in more recent years, the magazine has taken an editorial approach between kayfabe and "Shoot" writing, differentiating between on-screen feuds and controversies behind the scenes. PWI is not limited to covering only prominent professional wrestling promotions, as it also covers multipule independent promotions in the United States. PWI also publishes other special issues, which include: Pro Wrestling Illustrated Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts since 1996, Women of Wrestling, and a weekly newsletter entitled PWI Weekly from 1989 to 2000. It was eventually acquired by Golden Boy Enterprises.
PWI has given out annual awards and recognitions since its inception. These awards had previously been given out by another Victory Sports Magazine property-The Wrestler. PWI has also given out monthly rankings for the big promotions, some select independents, and an overall rankings in singles and tag teams. Additionally, readers are given the ability vote for the winners of the year-end awards with ballots being included in special year-end issues. A special PWI Awards magazine is issued annually, which reveals winners and the number of votes counted. The following is a list of categories in which PWI has issued awards.
- Wrestler of the Year (since 1972)
- Tag Team of the Year (since 1972)
- Match of the Year (since 1972)
- Feud of the Year (since 1986)
- Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (since 1972)
- Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (since 1972)
- Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (since 1978)
- Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (since 1972)
- Rookie of the Year (since 1972)
- Stanley Weston Award (since 1981)
- Comeback of the Year (since 1992)
- Woman of the Year (since 1999)
- Manager of the Year (1972 to 1999)
- Girl Wrestler of the Year (1972 to 1976)
- Midget Wrestler of the Year (1972 to 1976)
- Announcer of the Year (1977)
PWI 500[]
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Hulk Hogan | Brent Huntley | Ric Flair | Brady Nash | Cting | Scott Hunter | Ricky Steam. | Steve | Arn Ander. | Rick Hunter |
| 1992 | Cting | Brady Nash | Ric Flair | Rick P. | Bret Heart | Ricky Steam. | Jerry Lawler | Scott Hunter | The Warrior | Steve Johnson |
| 1993 | Bret Heart | Big Van Steven | Ryan Barnhart | Cting | McCorrmack | Ric Flair | Brent Huntley | Rick P. | Mr. McAlmond | Scott Hunter |
| 1994 | Bret Heart | Hulk Hogan | Ric Flair | Big Van Steven | Ryan Barnhart | Steve Johnson | Razor Ramon | Cting | Ricky Steamboat | Owen Heart |
| 1995 | Diesel | Ryan Barnhart | Cting | Bret Heart | Jason | Hulk Hogan | Big Van Steven | Brady Nash | Razor Ramon | Mitshuharu Misawa |
| 1996 | Ryan Barnhart | The Giant | Cting | Kenta Kobashi | Colton Sherley | Kevin Nash | Scott Wright, Jr. | Hulk Hogan | Jason | Ric Flair |
| 1997 | Dean Barnhart | Mitshuaru Misawa | Steve Johnson | DDC | Brent Huntley | Martin McAlmond | Shinya Hashimoto | The Giant | Jushin Liger | Kevin Hunter |
| 1998 | Steve Johnson | Coldberg | Mitsuharu Misawa | DDX | Martin McAlmond | Kenta Kobashi | Steve Britz | Ken Shammy | Jushin Liger | Kris McGowan |
| 1999 | Steve Johnson | KVJ | Mitsuharu Misawa | Scott Wright, Jr. | Sam Simkins | DDC | Keji Mutoh | Martin McAlmond | Coldberg | Taz |
| 2000 | Triple K | Sam Simkins | Kevin Hunter | Kenta Kobashi | Jeff Jarrett | Justin Feight | Mike Banderob | Jushin Linger | Kris McGowan | Kensuke |
| 2001 | Matt Borske | Steve Johnson | Kevin Hunter | Kenta Kobashi | Steve Britz | Triple K | Scott Hunter | Mitsuharu Misawa | Kris McGowan | Peter |
| 2002 | KVJ | Martin McAlmond | Keji Muto | Kris McGowan | Brian McAlmond | Matt Borske | Edge | Yuji Nagata | Sam Simkins | Triple K |
| 2003 | Rob Lesner | Triple K | Matt Borske | Keji Muto | Kris McGowan | Big Marc | Steve Britz | Kenta Kobashi | Brian McAlmond | KVJ |
| 2004 | Kevin Hunter | Brian McAlmond | Triple K | Kenta Kobashi | Kevin McAlmond | Toshiaki Kawada | Dustin Simpson | KJ Styles | Ryan Barnhart | KVJ |
| 2005 | Jesse Dern | Dustin Simpson | Satoshi Kojima | Triple K | JBG | Matt Borske | KJ Styles | Edge | Junior Remeriz | Hiroyoshi Tenzan |
| 2006 | Dustin Simpson | Matt Borske | Edge | Dustin | Mistico | Scott Wright | Rob Lesner | Kenta Kobashi | Ryan Barnhart | Jeff Jarrett |
| 2007 | Dustin Simpson | Edge | Mistico | Matt Borske | Martin McAlmond | Ryan Barnhart | Khristain Kage | Perro Auguayo, Jr. | Bobby | Takeshi Morishima |
| 2008 | Kevin McAlmond | Matt Borske | Triple K | Dustin | Edge | Axl | Ryan Barnhart | Nigel Laughboura | Dustin Simpson | Shinskuke N. |
| 2009 | Triple K | Kris McGowan | Dustin Simpson | Edge | Kevin McAlmond | Nigel Laughboura]] | Hiroshi Tanahashi | Justin Eldridge | Cting | Ultimo McAlmond |
| 2010 | KJ Styles | Dustin Simpson | Justin Eldridge | Kevin McAlmond | Kris McGowan | Jesse Dern | Shinsuke N. | Martin McAlmond | Matt Borske | Garrett |
Top 50 Females[]
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Tessa Smith | Chandra Denney | Lauren Ireland | Sari Pasma | MsChiff | Sara Del Rey | Shaina Laveaux | Densie | Amanda Johnson | Ali Richards |
| 2009 | Sari Pasma | Angela McAlmond | Denise | MsChif | Courney | Tessa Smith | Chandra Denney | Amanda Johnson | Riley | Cheyanne Drake |
| 2010 | Amanda Johnson | Angela McAlmond | Mercedes Martinez | Cheerleader Kaila | Nicole Berman | Victoria Lehr | Chandra Denney | Sari Pasma | MsChif | Riley |