Community hub
0 subscribers8 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 | |
 Cover of the January 1986 issue | |
| Categories | Sports magazine |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Bimonthly |
| Publisher | Kappa Publishing Group |
| First issue | September 1979 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Website | pwi-online |
| ISSN | 1043-7576 |
| Part of a series on |
| Professional wrestling |
|---|
 |
Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston.[1] 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 bimonthly, as well as special issues such as their annual "Almanac and Book of Facts" and "PWI 500" edition. 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,[as of?] the PWI has moved away from reporting on storylines as actual news and mixed in editorial comments on the behind-the-scenes workings of wrestling.
Since 1991, PWI has been publishing its annual "PWI 500", listing the top 500 male wrestlers in the world. In 2008, they added an annual "Top 50 Female Wrestlers" list, which was later expanded and renamed to the "Top 100 Female Wrestlers" list in 2018 and then again in 2021 as the "Top 150 Female Wrestlers." In 2020, they added an annual "Top 50 Tag Teams" listing the top tag teams in the world.
History
[edit]The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 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 published other special issues, which included: PWI Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts since 1996, Women of Wrestling, and a weekly newsletter entitled PWI Weekly from 1989 to 2000.
Yearly awards
[edit]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 big promotions, some select independent promotions, and overall rankings in singles and tag teams divisions. Additionally, readers are given the ability to 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 (1972 to 1976, re-established in 2000)
- Manager of the Year (1972 to 1999)
- Midget Wrestler of the Year (1972 to 1976)
- Announcer of the Year (1977)
World championship status
[edit]Historical recognition
[edit]Although many wrestling organizations promote their lead title as a world heavyweight championship, Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) has only recognized a few championships as valid world titles at any one time. PWI has also generally recognized the main tag team title from any promotion with a recognized world heavyweight championship as being a world tag team championship (unless named otherwise by the promotion) and certain other select titles from those promotions as world championships.
In 1983, PWI withdrew world title recognition from the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, citing how champion Bob Backlund was not facing contenders from outside the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) territory and was only facing rulebreakers.[2] This coincided with the WWF's withdrawal from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in summer 1983. PWI reinstated the WWF's world title recognition retroactively in 1985[3] on account of the WWF's massive mainstream media profile.
The AWA World Heavyweight Championship was stripped of its world title status in January 1991 when the American Wrestling Association (AWA) was in its final days.[4] By this time, the championship was vacant and would remain so until the promotion's closure.[5]
Until March 1991, PWI and its sister publications steadfastly referred to World Championship Wrestling (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 promotion's world title as the "NWA/WCW World Championship" (and likewise with other WCW championships).[6] PWI generally traced the lineage of the NWA/WCW World Championship back to George Hackenschmidt's title victory in 1905, rather than the creation of the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship in 1948.[7] 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 Worlds 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 Worlds Heavyweight Championship.[8]
PWI initially did not recognize the ECW World Heavyweight Championship as a world title but granted the championship and the promotion world title status in 1999.
Current recognition
[edit]Since 2023, Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) recognizes the WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, AEW World Championship, Impact World Championship, ROH World Championship, MLW World Heavyweight Championship, and NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship from the United States, the AAA Mega Championship and CMLL World Heavyweight Championship from Mexico, as well as the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, World of Stardom Championship, and GHC Heavyweight Championship from Japan as world heavyweight championships.[9][10][11][12][13] PWI later additionally recognized the independent wrestling titles the Independent Wrestling World Championship and the Pan-Afrikan World Diaspora Wrestling Championship as world championships.[14]
List of all recognized world heavyweight championships
[edit]
According to the annual PWI almanac, PWI still recognizes select world title reigns from May 4, 1905 – January 28, 1946, before the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in July 1948,[17] mostly conforming to the lineage traditionally traced backwards 1948-1905 by the NWA for their World Heavyweight Championship.[17][18]
Rankings
[edit]PWI 500
[edit]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 promotion(s), and overall wrestling ability.[19][20] As of 2023[update], L. A. Park has been ranked in the most editions of the PWI 500, with 30 appearances.[21] John Cena and Seth Rollins have the most appearances at number one, with three. John Cena has the most appearances in the top 10, with 13. In 1993, Miss Texas (Jacqueline Moore) became the first woman to be ranked in the list, at number 249.[22] Since 2008, men and women have had separate lists.
PWI Women's 250
[edit]PWI has published a list of the top female professional wrestlers each year since 2008 in a special edition magazine. As with the list of male professional wrestlers, PWI writers choose the wrestler's position following a designated evaluation period starting from mid-June; anything a wrestler accomplished before or after that period is not considered. The list was originally limited to 50 wrestlers and was referred to as the Female 50. It has since been expanded and renamed to Women's 100 in 2018, Women's 150 in 2021, and Women's 250 in 2023.[58][59]
PWI Tag Team 100
[edit]PWI has published a list of the top tag teams since 2020. PWI writers rank the wrestlers following a designated evaluation period starting from October; a minimum of 10 matches or 4 months as a tag team is required.[77][78] The ranking included both male and female tag teams.
References
[edit]- ^ "About Us". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- ^ Item: "Those Samoans Are Tough – Especially The Fourteenth Time!" 1983 Year In Review. Pro Wrestling Illustrated March 1984
- ^ ""1985 ... July 2: Pro Wrestling Illustrated reinstates world title recognition for the WWF heavyweight title after more than two years of viewing it as a regional championship." Wrestling History, Pro Wrestling Illustrated Online, retrieved March 14, 2018". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated strips the AWA of World Title Recognition – Pro Wrestling Illustrated May 1991
- ^ "AWA World Heavyweight Title". Archived from the original on February 22, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ Editorial, Wrestling '91, Spring 1991 edition
- ^ "The NWA was formed in 1948 but the NWA World Heavyweight Championship is traditionally traced back to the World Heavyweight Championship that was created in 1905." = WWF vs NWA: Who's Better? Pro Wrestling Illustrated January 1991
- ^ "The NWA World champion became the WCW World champion when the federation changed initials ... The initials may have changed, but Ron Simmons wears the same belt (figuratively, at least) in 1992 that Lou Thesz wore in 1952. Given that, Chono cannot be considered the NWA World champion in the historical sense ... We'll call him NWA champion because that is the title he won. But this article will be the last time we'll call him NWA World champion"
– "Who Needs The Confusion? Why Reviving The NWA Title Was A Bad Idea." Inside Wrestling December 1992 edition, pages 38–41 - ^ "The New PWI". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. December 4, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
- ^ "PWI Will No Longer Recognize TNA World Heavyweight Championship". wrestlingnewsworld.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
- ^ @OfficialPWI (April 3, 2020). "For those who are wondering, PWI currently recognizes four championships as legitimate World titles: WWE champions…" (Tweet). Retrieved April 3, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ PWI (March 6, 2021). "PWI Announces World Title Recognition For Several Promotions In Its Publication". Bodyslam.net. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ PWI (February 26, 2021). "IMPACT, MLW & ROH Among Championships Given 'World Title' Status By Pro Wrestling Illustrated". Mandatory.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ IWTV (August 8, 2021). "PWI Recognizes the IWTV & PAWD Titles as World Championships". IWTV. Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
- ^ CAGEMATCH. "IWTV Independent Wrestling World Championship". CAGEMATCH. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
- ^ CAGEMATCH. "Pan-Afrikan World Diaspora Wrestling World Championship". CAGEMATCH. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
- ^ a b PWI Almanac 1996 NWA World Heavyweight Championship lineage
- ^ History of the World Heavyweight Championship, Whatever happened to Gorgeous George, Joe Jares 1977
- ^ "PWI 500: 1–100". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. August 9, 2011. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "PWI Senior Writer responds to 'Women's 100' reactions – Diva Dirt". November 7, 2018. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ "Wrestlers with Most PWI 500 entries". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ Wagner, Brandi (February 9, 2019). "Jackie Moore: Equal Opportunity Ass-Kicker". Last Word on Sports. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1991". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1992". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1993". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on December 14, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1994". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1995". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1996". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1997". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1998". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1999". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2000". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2001". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2002". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2003". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2004". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2005". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2006". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2007". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2008". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2009". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2010". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2011". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2012". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2013". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2014". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2015". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2017". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
- ^ "PWI 500 2018: Kenny Omega is the second straight non-WWE wrestler named #1 in the world". Cageside Seats. August 29, 2018. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (August 29, 2019). "Seth Rollins Tops Annual PWI 500". Fightful. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2020". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ "Kenny Omega Tops PWI 500 In 2021, Second Time Ranked Number One | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
- ^ "Roman Reigns Tops 2022 PWI 500, Second Time At Number One". www.fightful.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Seth Rollins Tops The 2023 PWI 500, Roman Reigns Places Second; Gunther, Moxley, More Round Out Top 10". www.fightful.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Chiari, Mike. "WWE's Cody Rhodes, AEW's Swerve Strickland, Ospreay Top PWI Top 500 List for 2024". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (September 23, 2025). "Cody Rhodes Tops PWI 500 For Second Straight Year". Fightful. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
- ^ "Various News: PWI Female 50 Expanding to 100, Mikey Whipwreck Partners With Indy Promotion". 411 Mania. August 9, 2018. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^ "PWI Women's 100 will increase to PWI Women's 150 in 2021". September 13, 2021. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2008". Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2009". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2010". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2011". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2012". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2013". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2014". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2015". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on December 31, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2016". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2017". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ^ "Various News: Ronda Rousey Tops The PWI Women's 100 List, WWE Free Match, Today's Wrestling Birthdays". 411 Mania. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
- ^ "Becky Lynch tops PWI Women's 100 list". Diva Dirt. October 31, 2019. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ "2020 PWI Women's 100: Top 10 reveal and full ranking details". Bell To Belles. October 15, 2020. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "Bianca Belair Tops the PWI Women's Top 150 List". October 21, 2021. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- ^ Wilkinson, Nick (October 27, 2022). "Syuri Tops 2022 PWI Women's 150 List". diva-dirt.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (October 18, 2023). "Rhea Ripley Tops 2023 PWI Women's 250". fightful.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ^ Carrier, Steve (October 15, 2024). "Toni Storm Tops PWI Women's 250 List For 2024". ringsidenews.com. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ @OfficialPWI (November 18, 2020). "Criteria: Momentum Wins & Losses Chemistry Activity It Factor Evaluation period: 10/1/19 – 9/30/20" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @OfficialPWI (November 18, 2020). "Full cover reveal at 4 p.m. EST. The evaluation period for the PWI #TagTeam50: October 1, 2019 – September 30, 202…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Middleton, Marc (November 18, 2020). "FTR Takes Top Spot On The Inaugural PWI Tag Team 50 List". Wrestling Inc. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- ^ Martínez, Sebastián (December 2, 2021). "The Young Bucks se afianzan el primer puesto de los Top 50 Tag Team de PWI". Solowrestling.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (December 6, 2022). "The Usos Top 2022 PWI Tag Team 100". Fightful. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ Russell, Skylar (November 22, 2023). "FTR Tops The 2023 PWI Tag Team 100, Aussie Open, Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn, More Round Out The Top Ten". Fightful. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (December 9, 2024). "Bianca Belair And Jade Cargill Top 2024 PWI Tag Team 100". Fightful. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Founding and Early Development (1979–1980s)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated was established in 1979 by Stanley Weston, a publisher with prior experience in sports periodicals, including Boxing & Wrestling launched in 1953 and The Wrestler. Operating under Weston's T.V. Sports, Inc., the magazine debuted with its first issue in September 1979, featuring covers of wrestlers Dusty Rhodes, Mil Máscaras, and Nick Bockwinkel, alongside editor Peter King. This publication built on Weston's earlier wrestling titles like Inside Wrestling, emphasizing detailed event recaps, wrestler statistics, and profiles drawn from multiple promotions such as the WWF, NWA, and AWA.[1][7][6][8] Initially released bimonthly, PWI maintained a journalistic style that preserved kayfabe by treating professional wrestling as a genuine sport, incorporating "creative journalism" techniques such as embellished narratives grounded in actual results to heighten drama without revealing scripted elements. Photographer and journalist Bill Apter, employed by Weston since 1970, provided key imagery that enhanced the magazine's visual appeal and credibility among fans. Issues from this period, such as the November 1979 and January 1980 editions, focused on territory-specific coverage, including interviews and match analyses from regional circuits.[9] In the 1980s, PWI's scope broadened with the wrestling industry's expansion, particularly the national syndication of WWF programming and the rise of stars like Hulk Hogan, leading to increased issues—evident in monthly outputs by mid-decade—and wider distribution to capture growing fan interest. The magazine's commitment to comprehensive rankings and unbiased reporting across promotions distinguished it, earning recognition as a leading authority despite the era's promotional rivalries. This period laid the foundation for PWI's institutional features, with consistent coverage of events like WWF's WrestleMania debuts in 1985 contributing to its sustained relevance.[1][10][11]Expansion and Institutional Features (1990s–2000s)
During the 1990s, Pro Wrestling Illustrated solidified its role as a central authority in professional wrestling analysis amid the industry's expansion driven by the Monday Night Wars between the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The magazine maintained its monthly publication cadence while enhancing its institutional framework through the launch of the annual PWI 500 rankings in 1991, which evaluated the top 500 male wrestlers worldwide based on performance metrics including win-loss records, match quality, and promotional impact over a defined annual period from June to May.[4] This feature marked a significant broadening of scope, incorporating competitors from diverse territories such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Mexican lucha libre outfits alongside North American stars, thereby establishing PWI's editorial methodology as a benchmark for cross-promotional comparison.[12] PWI's reader-voted Achievement Awards, originating in 1982, evolved with new categories to capture emerging industry dynamics, including Comeback of the Year introduced in 1992 and Inspirational Wrestler added later in the decade, alongside staples like Wrestler of the Year and Match of the Year.[13] These awards, tallied from subscriber ballots and published in a dedicated annual issue, emphasized empirical reader input on feuds, rookies, and tag teams, with 1990s winners reflecting the era's high-profile rivalries such as Sting's dominance in WCW. The magazine's coverage extended to Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and international circuits, providing match ratings and title lineage verifications that reinforced its reputation for detailed, promotion-agnostic reporting despite the promotional silos of the time. In the 2000s, following WCW's closure in March 2001 and ECW's bankruptcy in April 2001, PWI adapted by amplifying focus on WWE's monopoly era while sustaining institutional features through expanded indie and alternative promotion analysis in the PWI 500 and awards.[13] Rookie of the Year honors highlighted breakthroughs like Kurt Angle in 2000 and Randy Orton in 2001, based on voter assessments of rapid ascent and in-ring proficiency, while Feud of the Year gained traction for narratives such as those involving emerging TNA storylines. The introduction of consistent Woman of the Year awards, with Trish Stratus securing the honor from 2002 to 2006, signified growing attention to female divisions amid WWE's Divas era. PWI's almanac editions and special issues further institutionalized comprehensive data compilation, offering historical recaps and statistics that supported its claim to objective wrestling historiography.[13]Contemporary Operations (2010s–Present)
Following the death of founder Stanley Weston on July 23, 2010, Pro Wrestling Illustrated sustained its operations under publisher Kappa Publishing Group, headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, maintaining a focus on monthly issues that covered major promotions including WWE, TNA (later Impact Wrestling), and emerging international circuits like New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).[1][14] The magazine continued its tradition of annual special editions, such as the PWI 500 ranking of top wrestlers, with editions from 2010 onward reflecting the WWE's dominance alongside rising indie and Japanese talents, exemplified by CM Punk topping the 2011 and 2012 lists and Kazuchika Okada in 2017.[15][16][17] Into the late 2010s, PWI adapted to industry shifts by expanding digital presence through its official website, which offers back-issue sales, subscriptions, and content previews, while print frequency adjusted to approximately nine issues annually to align with market demands amid declining physical media sales.[12][18] The publication ceased recognizing certain titles, such as TNA's world championship in 2015, adhering to its criteria emphasizing continental defenses and historical prestige over promotional claims.[19] This period also saw coverage of the Attitude Era's aftermath and the PG era's evolution, with features on title changes and wrestler profiles distributed via newsstands and direct mail. In the 2020s, under new Editor-in-Chief Kevin McElvaney—who succeeded Stu Saks in 2020—PWI enhanced multimedia offerings, including podcasts like The PWI Podcast and Pro Wrestling INDIEstrated, alongside themed print specials such as the June 2025 "WWE Era" issue chronicling 23 years of WWE history and reader-voted annual awards recapping events like 2024's major storylines and title shifts.[1][20] The 35th annual PWI 500 edition for December 2025, featuring rankings of wrestlers like Cody Rhodes and Gunther, saw print preorders sell out, indicating sustained enthusiast demand despite broader print challenges.[4][21] Operations remain centered on empirical wrestler evaluations via staff analysis and reader input, with global distribution emphasizing verifiable achievements over promotional narratives.[12][22]Awards and Recognitions
Annual Achievement Awards
The Annual Achievement Awards, presented annually by Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI), recognize top performers, matches, and storylines in professional wrestling based on reader votes. Originating from awards in affiliated publications as early as 1972 and formalized within PWI starting with its March 1982 issue, these honors culminate in a dedicated year-end magazine issue that details winners, the top three runners-up, and vote tallies for transparency.[13] The awards emphasize fan-driven evaluation of in-ring excellence, popularity, and impact, with plaques awarded to recipients.[13] Key categories include Wrestler of the Year (honoring the top male performer), Woman of the Year (introduced later to spotlight female talent), Tag Team of the Year, Match of the Year, Feud of the Year (added in 1986), Most Popular Wrestler of the Year, Most Hated Wrestler of the Year, Most Improved Wrestler of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Inspirational Wrestler of the Year, Independent Wrestler of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Faction of the Year, and the Stanley Weston Editors' Award (for lifetime contributions to the industry, first given in 1981 to Bruno Sammartino).[13] Discontinued categories have included Manager of the Year and Most Obnoxious Wrestler. The awards reflect evolving trends, such as the addition of women's-specific honors amid growing female divisions.[13] Voting occurs via official ballots printed in PWI's year-end issue, accessible to subscribers and purchasers, ensuring broad reader participation without external influence. Results are compiled and published without editorial overrides, though the magazine's editorial team selects nominees in some cases for focused categories.[23] This process has sustained the awards' reputation for fan authenticity over four decades.[13] Notable recipients underscore the awards' prestige: A.J. Styles holds three Wrestler of the Year wins (2016, 2017, 2018), while Cody Rhodes claimed the 2024 honor after a dominant championship run. Toni Storm won Woman of the Year in 2024, reflecting her acclaimed portrayal of a Hollywood starlet persona. Tag Team successes have gone to duos like Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill in 2024 for their power-based synergy. The Stanley Weston Award has honored figures like Ric Flair for enduring influence. These selections often align with major promotions' peaks, such as WWE or AEW dominance in recent years.[24][13]Voting Methodology and Evolution
The annual PWI Achievement Awards are determined through ballots completed and submitted by subscribers and readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine, with winners selected based on the candidates receiving the highest number of votes in each category.[13] Ballots are printed and distributed in special issues of the magazine, typically toward the end of the calendar year, allowing voters to select from nominated wrestlers, matches, feuds, and other achievements across categories such as Wrestler of the Year, Match of the Year, and Tag Team of the Year.[25] Completed ballots are returned via mail to PWI editors, who tally the results for publication in the subsequent March issue, a practice formalized starting with the 1982 awards cycle.[13] This reader-driven process originated in 1972 under predecessor publications like the Victory Sports Series Wrestling Annual and Yearbook, where fan votes via similar mail-in ballots determined honorees, before transitioning to Sports Review Wrestling Annual (1977–1979) and Sports Review Wrestling (1980).[13] Upon Pro Wrestling Illustrated's launch in 1979 and the awards' integration into its pages by 1982, the methodology remained consistent, emphasizing direct input from the magazine's audience to reflect grassroots preferences rather than editorial fiat—unlike PWI's staff-curated rankings such as the PWI 500.[13] Runners-up have been tracked and reported since 1976 to provide additional context on voter sentiment.[13] Over time, the core print-and-mail ballot system has persisted without documented shifts to online or digital voting platforms, preserving accessibility for print subscribers as of the 2024 awards cycle, where ballots appeared in the Holiday issue.[26] This continuity contrasts with industry trends toward web-based fan polls in promotions like WWE's Slammys, potentially limiting broader participation but ensuring votes align with dedicated readership.[13] Eligibility expansions, such as opening major categories like Wrestler of the Year to female performers in recent years, have not altered the voting mechanics themselves.[27]World Championship Status
Criteria for Recognition
Pro Wrestling Illustrated determines world championship status through editorial criteria centered on a title's global defenses, prestige, and accessibility to international competitors, standards applied selectively since the magazine's 1979 founding.[28] Initially, PWI recognized top titles from established promotions with broad territorial reach, such as the NWA, AWA, and WWF championships, reflecting the era's emphasis on national or syndicated television exposure as a marker of legitimacy.[29] A core requirement involves active defenses across multiple countries and continents, ensuring the title embodies the "true spirit" of a world championship by pitting champions against high-caliber opponents from diverse regions.[29] This includes opportunities for top-ranked wrestlers worldwide to challenge, rather than confining contention to regional talent.[29] For instance, PWI granted world status to MLW's heavyweight, middleweight, and tag team titles in March 2021 after verifying defenses in locations like Japan, Denmark, New Zealand, and Finland since 2002.[29] Criteria have evolved from strict reliance on broadcast reach—evident in the 1999 recognition of ECW's world heavyweight title post its TNN deal—to accommodating streaming platforms and independent promotions in the 2020s, provided global defense standards are met.[28] PWI maintains historical lineages, sometimes disputing reigns based on promotional dominance or defense patterns, as with temporary withholding of WWF title recognition in the early 1980s due to perceived limited competition.[30] In its May 2021 issue, PWI formalized updated guidelines, listing recognized titles while underscoring defenses against quality international foes as pivotal.[31][32] Ultimate decisions rest on editorial assessment of prestige and sustained activity, avoiding automatic sanctioning.[28]Historical Lineages and Changes
Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) traces the lineages of recognized world championships through its annual almanacs, selectively acknowledging reigns dating back to May 4, 1905, prior to the National Wrestling Alliance's formation, with a primary focus on continuity from the NWA World Heavyweight Championship established in 1948.[28] Upon its founding in 1979, PWI designated three inaugural world titles: the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the American Wrestling Association (AWA) World Heavyweight Championship, and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) Championship, reflecting the major promotions' prominence and international defenses at the time.[33] Significant changes emerged in the 1990s amid territorial fragmentation and new promotions. The NWA title's lineage continued through World Championship Wrestling (WCW) until its 2001 dissolution, after which PWI aligned WCW reigns with the WWE Championship's continuity under unified booking. The ECW World Heavyweight Championship, initially denied status in 1996 due to its regional scope and lack of national television, gained recognition in July 1999 during Taz's reign, coinciding with ECW's TNN deal that expanded its visibility.[28] Post-2001 bankruptcies of ECW and WCW/AWA, PWI consolidated emphasis on the WWE lineage, revoking inactive titles like the AWA's while maintaining historical reigns in almanacs. The 2010s saw further flux driven by independent growth and streaming. Total Nonstop Action (TNA, later Impact) World Heavyweight Championship status, granted earlier for its defenses and TV presence, was revoked in 2015 amid perceived diminished global contention, leaving the WWE Championship (unified as World Heavyweight) as PWI's sole recognized active world title at that point.[33] Recognition expanded in April 2020 with the addition of All Elite Wrestling's (AEW) World Championship and New Japan Pro-Wrestling's IWGP Heavyweight Championship (rebranded IWGP World in 2021), citing their open challenges and international exposure. By January 2021, PWI reinstated the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (previously active 1948–1991 via WCW and briefly 2006–2007) and extended status to Impact's world title alongside others like MLW World Heavyweight, Pro Wrestling Noah's GHC Heavyweight, and various CMLL, All Japan, and Stardom belts, reflecting the streaming era's proliferation of viable contenders.[33][28] These shifts underscore PWI's criteria evolution—prioritizing defenses beyond origin territories, challenger availability, and media reach—without retroactively erasing prior lineages, though revocations halt future official counts until reinstatement. Additional 2021 grants to niche titles like the IWTV Independent Wrestling and Pan-Afrikan World Diaspora Championships marked further diversification, increasing recognized active world titles from four at end-2020 to over ten, adapting to fragmented promotions while preserving almanac-verified historical continuity.[28][33]Current Recognized World Titles
As of mid-2025, Pro Wrestling Illustrated recognizes 15 championships as world titles, encompassing premier men's singles belts from promotions demonstrating sustained global prominence, competitive defenses, and alignment with PWI's criteria for top-tier status. This expansion from earlier decades, when recognition was limited to a handful like the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, AWA World Heavyweight Championship, and WWF Championship, accommodates the proliferation of viable contenders in the industry.[34] Key recognized world titles include WWE's Undisputed WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship, which trace lineages through decades of defenses and cross-promotional prestige; AEW's World Championship, elevated due to its role atop a major U.S. promotion since 2019; New Japan Pro-Wrestling's IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (version 4 lineage), valued for its rigorous tournament integrations and international defenses; All Japan Pro Wrestling's Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, blending historical PWF, NWA, and AJPW lineages; TNA's World Championship, sustained through consistent main-event bookings; Ring of Honor's World Championship, affirmed via high-profile title changes; the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, rooted in territorial heritage; CMLL's World Heavyweight Championship, prominent in Mexico's lucha libre scene; MLW's World Heavyweight Championship, certified for its competitive field; the IWTV Independent Wrestling Championship, acknowledged for indie circuit defenses; and the Pan-Afrikan World Diaspora Championship, noted for cultural representation. Additional recognitions extend to titles like Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide's Mega Championship and Pro Wrestling Noah's GHC Heavyweight Championship, reflecting PWI's assessment of draw, activity, and legitimacy over promotional hype alone.[35][29][36] PWI's selections prioritize empirical factors such as title defenses per year (typically 8-12 for validity), challenger quality, and revenue impact, rather than self-proclaimed status by promotions; for instance, midcard belts like WWE's Intercontinental Championship are excluded despite occasional prestige boosts. This approach has drawn criticism for diluting exclusivity but aligns with causal realities of a decentralized industry where multiple belts sustain viable ecosystems without a singular authority. Changes in recognition occur irregularly, often announced in print issues following sustained evaluation periods.[34]Rankings Publications
PWI 500
The PWI 500 is an annual ranking compiled by Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI), listing the top 500 male singles professional wrestlers worldwide based on their in-ring performance and accomplishments during a defined evaluation period. Initiated in 1991, the list evaluates wrestlers' activity across promotions globally, emphasizing objective metrics over personal bias. The inaugural ranking crowned Hulk Hogan as number one, reflecting his dominant status in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation at the time.[37] Subsequent lists have highlighted performers like Steve Austin, John Cena (who topped the ranking three times), and more recently Cody Rhodes, who achieved consecutive number-one placements in 2024 and 2025—a feat accomplished by only four wrestlers in the list's history.[38] Rankings are determined by PWI's editorial staff using criteria that include championships won or defended, win-loss records (particularly in singles matches), the quality and strength of opponents faced, promotional push, technical ability, and overall influence within the wrestler's promotion.[5] [39] Wrestlers must meet a minimum activity threshold, such as competing in at least 10 singles matches or six such matches across separate months during the evaluation period, to qualify. The process prioritizes feats against elite competition—defeating a top-tier opponent like Drew McIntyre carries greater weight than lower-card victories—and assesses sustained excellence rather than isolated moments. While staff coordination introduces some subjectivity, decisions aim for consistency, as seen in the 2023 selection of Seth Rollins as number one for his World Heavyweight Championship win, multiple defenses, and high-level matches in a compressed timeframe.[39] The evaluation period typically spans from August 1 of the prior year to July 31 of the ranking year, allowing for a full cycle of major events like WrestleMania or G1 Climax tournaments.[40] This timeframe ensures recency while capturing peak performances, though late-period surges can influence top spots if they demonstrate broad criteria fulfillment. PWI publishes the full list in a special edition magazine, often revealing the top 10 first for anticipation, with the rankings serving as a kayfabe-aligned benchmark debated within the industry for their blend of statistical and contextual analysis.[41]Women's 250 and Tag Team 100
The PWI Women's 250 ranks the top 250 female professional wrestlers worldwide based on their performance over the preceding 12 months, from October 1 of the previous year to September 30 of the ranking year.[42] Published as a special edition magazine, it highlights achievements in women's divisions across promotions, with the 2023 edition featuring reflections from top-ranked wrestler Rhea Ripley.[43] The list emphasizes in-ring success, including title reigns and match quality, and has recognized performers from major promotions like WWE, AEW, TNA, and international circuits such as Stardom. In 2024, Toni Storm claimed the number one spot, marking the first time an AEW wrestler topped the ranking.[44] Earlier iterations included a Women's 150 format, as evidenced by a 2021 reveal of its top five, focusing similarly on competitive accomplishments in dedicated women's categories.[45] The expansion to 250 reflects growing depth in global women's wrestling, incorporating wrestlers from diverse regions and independent scenes. For instance, the 2024 top 10 included Toni Storm (1), Jordynne Grace (2), Rhea Ripley (3), Maika (4), and Stephanie Vaquer (5), showcasing a mix of established stars and rising talents from promotions like TNA and WWE.[44] The PWI Tag Team 100, introduced in 2020, annually ranks the top 100 tag teams based on a comparable evaluation period and criteria prioritizing teamwork, defenses, and overall impact.[46] The inaugural 2020 list crowned FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) at number one, setting a benchmark for subsequent years published in dedicated magazine issues.[47] By 2023, it marked its fourth edition, with FTR again topping the list, underscoring consistency for elite duos.[46] The 2024 ranking made history by placing Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill first, the first all-female team to lead the list, highlighting cross-promotional excellence from WWE.[48] These rankings extend PWI's tradition of evaluating tag division dynamics, distinct from their longstanding Tag Team of the Year award dating to 1972, by providing a broader numerical hierarchy rather than a singular honor.[49] The Tag Team 100 has featured prominent entries like Aussie Open (second in 2022) and The Usos, though the latter faced scrutiny for their placement amid a lengthy title reign exceeding 500 days.[50][51]Ranking Criteria and Process
The rankings produced by Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI), including the annual PWI 500, Women's 250, and Tag Team 100, evaluate wrestlers based on performances during a fixed evaluation period spanning August 1 of the previous year to July 31 of the listing year, requiring a minimum of 10 matches for eligibility.[40][52] Wrestlers inactive beyond this threshold are typically excluded, ensuring focus on current activity rather than legacy alone.[5] Core criteria encompass both quantifiable achievements and qualitative assessments, applied across singles, women's, and tag team categories:- Win-loss record: Emphasis on victories, particularly against high-profile opponents, with defeats against lesser competition weighted more heavily than those against elite rivals.[39]
- Championships held and defended: Title acquisitions, retention duration, and successful defenses, including frequency relative to peers (e.g., more defenses in a short reign outperforming prolonged but inactive holds).[5][39]
- Quality of competition and feuds: Strength of opponents and impact of major storylines, where triumphs over top-tier wrestlers (e.g., world champions) carry greater value than routine wins.[39]
- Activity level and prominence: Volume of matches, push within promotions, visibility, and industry influence, favoring wrestlers who maintain consistent exposure over sporadic high-profile bouts.[53][38]
- Technical ability: Execution of moves, in-ring performance quality, and overall skill, evaluated contextually against promotion standards.[5]