This is a list of both active and inactive Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) awards. The awards are voted on by readers of the magazine every year from 1972 onwards, expanding to more categories in later years. Unlike the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, PWI is largely a magazine written within the fictional realm of professional wrestling and the awards recognize this.
Contents
- Wrestler of the Year
- Tag Team of the Year
- Match of the Year
- Feud of the Year
- Most Popular Wrestler of the Year
- Most Hated Wrestler of the Year
- Comeback of the Year
- Most Improved Wrestler of the Year
- Inspirational Wrestler of the Year
- Rookie of the Year
- Woman of the Year
- Stanley Weston Award Lifetime Achievement
- Defunct awards
- Midget Wrestler of the Year
- Manager of the Year
- Announcer of the Year
- References
Wrestler of the Year
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.
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 and Hawk) have won a record four times. The New Day are the only trio to win the award.
Match of the Year
The PWI Match of the Year award recognizes the best match of the year. Shawn Michaels has won the award a record 11 times; Michaels had a 4-year win streak from 1993 to 1996 and then had a 7-year win streak from 2004 to 2010. Bayley and Sasha Banks are the only two women to win the award.
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 are 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. Four Horsemen, The Authority, The Nexus and Aces & Eights are the only stables to win the award. Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair's feud is the first time a sole women's feud has won 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.
Most Hated Wrestler of the Year
The PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year award 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 has won this award three times.
Most Improved Wrestler of the Year
The PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year award recognizes the most improved professional wrestler of the year. Candice Michelle is the only woman to win this award.
Inspirational Wrestler of the Year
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, Jerry Lawler, Bayley and Eddie Guerrero are the only people to have won the award more than once, with all four winning twice. Generally, the award is meant to go to a wrestler who overcomes great odds to achieve success in the ring, although it has also been awarded to wrestlers who overcome real-life hardships and struggles.
Rookie of the Year
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. Charlotte Flair, Madusa Miceli and Nia Jax are the only women to win the award. As it is a rookie award, wrestlers can qualify only once.
Woman of the Year
The PWI Woman of the Year award recognizes the best female professional wrestling personality of the year. Originally known as the PWI Girl Wrestler of the Year, it was rendered defunct in 1976 and its history would be subsumed into the current award when women were again bestowed their own category in 2000. 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.
Stanley Weston Award (Lifetime Achievement)
The PWI Stanley Weston Award recognizes lifetime achievement by a professional wrestling personality. It has been given yearly since 1981, and was originally known as the PWI Editor's Award. 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.
† indicates a posthumous award.
Defunct awards
Announcer Of The Year, and Midget Wrestler Of The Year both became defunct after only a few years.
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
The PWI Manager of the Year award recognized the best manager of the year. Bobby Heenan won a record four times. Lou Albano, James J. Dillon, and Jim Cornette each won three times.
Announcer of the Year
The PWI Announcer of the Year award recognized the best announcer of the year. This award was only given in 1977, it then became defunct.