Pro Wrestling Illustrated


Pro Wrestling Illustrated is an American internationally sold professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979. PWI is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The magazine is the longest published English language wrestling magazine still in production. PWI publishes monthly issues and annual special issues such as their "Almanac and Book of Facts". The magazine recognizes various world championships as legitimate, similar to The Ring in boxing.
PWI is often referred to as an "Apter Mag", named after its long time photographer Bill Apter, a term used for wrestling magazines that keep kayfabe. In recent years, the PWI has moved away from reporting on storylines as actual news and mixed in editorial comments on the behind the scenes workings.
Each year since 1991, PWI publishes every year their "Top 500 Wrestlers" in the world list. In 2008, they added a yearly "Top 50 Female wrestlers" list which was expanded and renamed to "Top 100 Female Wrestlers" in 2018.

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 multiple 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, Sports Review Wrestling. 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.

Historical recognition

Although many wrestling organisations promote their lead title as a World Heavyweight Championship, PWI has only recognized a few top versions as valid World titles at any one time. With regard to the NWA World Heavyweight championship, PWI has generally recognized the lineage retrospectively traced by the NWA from its 1948 formation back to Georg Hackenschmidt in 1905. PWI has also recognized any tag team title corresponding to a recognized World title as a World Tag Team Championship.
Until March 1991, Pro Wrestling Illustrated and its sister publications steadfastly referred to WCW as "the NWA" despite WCW having increasingly phased out the latter name in the preceding months. In Spring 1991, the family of magazines adopted a new policy of referring to the current promotion and its champions as WCW and the promotion's pre-1991 past as the NWA. The magazine also announced it would refer to the overall history of the World title as the "NWA/WCW World Championship".
Subsequently, after Ric Flair left WCW and was stripped of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in July 1991, PWI and its sister publications nonetheless continued to recognize the WCW title as held by Lex Luger, Sting, Vader and Ron Simmons as the rightful continuation of the historic NWA World Heavyweight Championship. When Masa Chono won an NWA World title tournament in Japan in August 1992, PWI and its sister publications only recognized Chono's title as the "NWA Championship" and rejected it as a World title or as a continuation of the historic NWA World title.
In 1983, Pro Wrestling Illustrated withdrew world title recognition from the WWF, citing how champion Bob Backlund was not facing contenders from outside the WWF territory and furthermore was only facing rulebreakers. This coincided with the WWF's withdrawal from the NWA in summer 1983. PWI reinstated world title recognition in 1985 on account of the WWF's massive mainstream media profile.
The AWA was stripped of world title recognition in January 1991 when the promotion was in its final months. By this time, the AWA World Heavyweight Championship was vacant and would remain so until the promotion's closure in August that year. ECW was finally granted world title status in 1999 only for the promotion to close two years later.

Current retrospective recognition

As of April 3, 2020, PWI recognizes both the WWE Championship and WWE Universal Championship, as well as the AEW World Championship and IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
ChampionshipsDates
NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipJuly 14, 1948 – January 11, 1991;
May 8, 2006 – May 13, 2007
AWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 16, 1960 – December 12, 1990
WWWF/WWF/WWE ChampionshipApril 25, 1963 – present
WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipJanuary 11, 1991 – December 9, 2001
ECW World Heavyweight ChampionshipJuly 6, 1999 – April 11, 2001
World Heavyweight Championship September 2, 2002 – December 15, 2013
TNA World Heavyweight ChampionshipMay 13, 2007 – August 1, 2015
WWE Universal ChampionshipAugust 21, 2016 – present
AEW World ChampionshipApril 3, 2020 – present
IWGP Heavyweight ChampionshipApril 3, 2020 – present

According to the latest PWI almanac, PWI also recognizes select world title reigns from May 4, 1905 – January 28, 1946, prior to the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance in July 1948.

''PWI 500''

PWI has published the list of the top 500 professional wrestlers each year since 1991 in an annual special edition magazine, the PWI 500. PWI writers choose the position of the wrestler following a designated evaluation period starting from mid-June; anything a wrestler accomplished before or after that period is not considered. They follow a criterion that includes win-loss record, championships won, quality of competition, major feuds, prominence within a wrestler's individual promotion and overall wrestling ability. As of 2018, only Jushin Thunder Liger has appeared in every edition of the PWI 500. In 1993, Miss Texas was the first woman to be ranked in the list at No. 249. Since 2008 men and women have their separate lists.
In July 2020, PWI announced they would include more women in the PWI 500.
Year12345678910
1991Hulk HoganLex LugerRic FlairRandy SavageStingScott SteinerRicky SteamboatSteve WilliamsArn AndersonRick Steiner
1992StingRandy SavageRic FlairRick RudeBret HartRicky SteamboatJerry LawlerScott SteinerThe Ultimate WarriorStunning Steve Austin
1993Bret HartBig Van VaderShawn MichaelsStingYokozunaRic FlairLex LugerRick RudeMr. PerfectScott Steiner
1994Bret HartHulk HoganRic FlairBig Van VaderShawn MichaelsStunning Steve AustinRazor RamonStingRicky SteamboatOwen Hart
1995DieselShawn MichaelsStingBret HartSabuHulk HoganBig Van VaderRandy SavageRazor RamonMitsuharu Misawa
1996Shawn MichaelsThe GiantStingKenta KobashiAhmed JohnsonKevin NashRey Misterio, Jr.Hulk HoganSabuRic Flair
1997Dean MalenkoMitsuharu MisawaStone Cold Steve AustinDiamond Dallas PageLex LugerThe UndertakerShinya HashimotoThe GiantJushin Thunder LigerChris Benoit
1998Stone Cold Steve AustinGoldbergMitsuharu MisawaDiamond Dallas PageThe UndertakerKenta KobashiBooker TKen ShamrockJushin Thunder LigerChris Jericho
1999Stone Cold Steve AustinRob Van DamMitsuharu MisawaRey Misterio, Jr.The RockDiamond Dallas PageKeiji MutohThe UndertakerGoldbergTaz
2000Triple HThe RockChris BenoitKenta KobashiJeff JarrettJustin CredibleMike AwesomeJushin Thunder LigerChris JerichoKensuke Sasaki
2001Kurt AngleStone Cold Steve AustinChris BenoitKeiji MutohBooker TTriple HScott SteinerMitsuharu MisawaChris JerichoRhyno
2002Rob Van DamThe UndertakerKeiji MutohChris JerichoEddie GuerreroKurt AngleEdgeYuji NagataThe RockTriple H
2003Brock LesnarTriple HKurt AngleKeiji MutohChris JerichoBig ShowBooker TKenta KobashiEddie GuerreroRob Van Dam
2004Chris BenoitEddie GuerreroTriple HKenta KobashiRandy OrtonToshiaki KawadaJohn CenaA.J. StylesShawn MichaelsChris Jericho
2005BatistaJohn CenaSatoshi KojimaTriple HJohn Bradshaw LayfieldKurt AngleA.J. StylesEdgeShelton BenjaminHiroyoshi Tenzan
2006John CenaKurt AngleEdgeSamoa JoeMísticoRey MysterioBrock LesnarKenta KobashiShawn MichaelsJeff Jarrett
2007John CenaEdgeMísticoKurt AngleThe UndertakerShawn MichaelsChristian CagePerro Aguayo, Jr.Bobby LashleyTakeshi Morishima
2008Randy OrtonKurt AngleTriple HSamoa JoeEdgeThe UndertakerShawn MichaelsNigel McGuinnessJohn CenaShinsuke Nakamura
2009Triple HChris JerichoJohn CenaEdgeRandy OrtonNigel McGuinnessHiroshi TanahashiCM PunkStingÚltimo Guerrero
2010A.J. StylesJohn CenaCM PunkRandy OrtonChris JerichoBatistaShinsuke NakamuraThe UndertakerKurt AngleSheamus
2011The MizRandy OrtonJohn CenaKaneTakashi SugiuraAlberto Del RioMr. AndersonRey MysterioEddie EdwardsCM Punk
2012CM PunkBobby RoodeJohn CenaDaniel BryanSheamusJun AkiyamaDavey RichardsKurt AngleMark HenryAlberto Del Rio
2013John CenaCM PunkHiroshi TanahashiBully RayKazuchika OkadaSheamusJeff HardyAlberto Del RioDolph ZigglerKevin Steen
2014Daniel BryanRandy OrtonJohn CenaA.J. StylesKazuchika OkadaBray WyattRoman ReignsMagnusAdam ColeBully Ray
2015Seth RollinsJohn CenaA.J. StylesRoman ReignsShinsuke NakamuraRandy OrtonJay BriscoeRusevAlberto El PatrónKevin Owens
2016Roman ReignsKazuchika OkadaFinn BálorA.J. StylesJay LethalKevin OwensShinsuke NakamuraSeth RollinsDean AmbroseJohn Cena
2017Kazuchika OkadaA.J. StylesKevin OwensRoman ReignsKenny OmegaShinsuke NakamuraSamoa JoeDean AmbroseBobby RoodeThe Miz
2018Kenny OmegaA.J. StylesKazuchika OkadaBrock LesnarSeth RollinsBraun StrowmanRoman ReignsCody RhodesTetsuya NaitoThe Miz
2019Seth RollinsDaniel BryanA.J. StylesKofi KingstonKazuchika OkadaJohnny GarganoRoman ReignsKenny OmegaHiroshi TanahashiWill Ospreay

''PWI Women's 100''

PWI has published a list of the top female professional wrestlers each year since 2008 in a special edition magazine, the Women's 100. Like the list of male professional wrestlers, PWI writers choose the position of the wrestler following a designated evaluation period starting from mid-June; anything a wrestler accomplished before or after that period is not considered. In 2018, after ten years of the list including 50 wrestlers, it was expanded to 100, and renamed from Female 50 to Women's 100.
Year12345678910
2008Awesome KongBeth PhoenixGail KimMickie JamesMsChifSara Del ReyRoxxi LaveauxMelinaMichelle McCoolCandice Michelle
2009Mickie JamesAngelina LoveMelinaMsChifTaraAwesome KongBeth PhoenixMichelle McCoolMaryseTaylor Wilde
2010Michelle McCoolAngelina LoveMercedes MartinezCheerleader MelissaEve TorresMadison RayneBeth PhoenixMickie JamesMsChifMaryse
2011Madison EaglesMercedes MartinezMickie JamesNatalyaMadison RayneCheerleader MelissaBeth PhoenixTaraMsChifSara Del Rey
2012Gail KimBeth PhoenixCheerleader MelissaSara Del ReyJessicka HavokLaylaMiss TessmacherSaraya KnightMercedes MartinezTara
2013Cheerleader MelissaMickie JamesSaraya KnightJessicka HavokKaitlynGail KimKacee CarlisleTaraAJ LeeMercedes Martinez
2014PaigeAJ LeeGail KimCheerleader MelissaLuFistoAngelina LoveIvelisse VelezCourtney RushNatalyaCharlotte
2015Nikki BellaPaigeSasha BanksSantana GarrettGail KimCharlotteNaomiCherry BombCourtney RushTaryn Terrell
2016CharlotteSasha BanksAsukaBecky LynchBayleyJadeNatalyaGail KimSexy StarSienna
2017AsukaCharlotte FlairAlexa BlissSasha BanksBayleyIo ShiraiNatalyaSiennaNaomiKairi Sane
2018Ronda RouseyAlexa BlissCharlotte FlairIo ShiraiAsukaShayna BaszlerCarmellaNia JaxMayu IwataniKairi Sane
2019Becky LynchCharlotte FlairRonda RouseyShayna BaszlerTessa BlanchardBayleyNatalyaIo ShiraiMercedes MartinezNicole Savoy