PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year

The PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Award, given yearly since 1972 by professional wrestling magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated, recognizes the most inspirational professional wrestler of the year as voted by readers of the magazine. Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan and Eddie Guerrero won this award twice.

Award winners and runners-up

Year	Winner	First runner-up	Second runner-up	Third runner-up
1972	Lord Alfred Hayes	.	.	.
1973	Johnny Valentine	.	.	.
1974	Dick Murdoch	.	.	.
1975	Mike McCord	.	.	.
1976	Bruno Sammartino	Wahoo McDaniel	Bob Roop	Bob Armstrong
1977	Bob Backlund	Don Muraco	Bruno Sammartino	Terry Funk
1978	Blackjack Mulligan	Bruno Sammartino	Mr. Wrestling II	Jim Brunzell
1979	Chief Jay Strongbow	Ric Flair	Mr. Wrestling II	Dusty Rhodes
1980	The Junkyard Dog	Ricky Steamboat	Verne Gagne	Mr. Florida (Paul Jones)
1981	Bob Backlund	Ted DiBiase	Tito Santana	Mr. Wrestling II
1982	Roddy Piper	Jimmy Snuka	Mil Máscaras	Jimmy Valiant
1983	Hulk Hogan	Roddy Piper	Buzz Sawyer	Buddy Rose
1984	Sgt. Slaughter	Kerry Von Erich	Kevin Von Erich	Bob Backlund
1985	Mike Von Erich	Paul Orndorff	Jim Duggan	Kevin Von Erich
1986	Chris Adams	Magnum T.A.	Kerry Von Erich	Steve Williams
1987	Nikita Koloff	Dynamite Kid	Chris Adams	"Superstar" Billy Graham
1988	Jerry Lawler	Kerry Von Erich	Road Warrior Animal	Jake Roberts
1989	Eric Embry	Nikita Koloff	Billy Jack Haynes	Ric Flair
1990	Sting	Hulk Hogan	Jerry Lawler	Nikolai Volkoff
1991	The Patriot	Jerry Lawler	Sid Justice	Bill Dundee
1992	Ron Simmons	The Undertaker	Ricky Steamboat	Eric Embry
1993	Cactus Jack	Lex Luger	The 1-2-3 Kid	Brutus Beefcake
1994	Bret Hart	Terry Funk	The Guardian Angel	Dave Sullivan
1995	Barry Horowitz	Sabu	Antonio Inoki	Dan Severn
1996	Jake Roberts	Jushin Liger	Ahmed Johnson	Rey Misterio, Jr.
1997	Terry Funk	Steve Austin	Perry Saturn	Roddy Piper
1998	Goldberg	Steve Austin	Mankind	Shane Douglas
1999	Hulk Hogan	Bret Hart	X-Pac	Jim Duggan
2000	Booker T	Mick Foley	Crash Holly	Chyna
2001	Kurt Angle	Chris Jericho	Shane McMahon	Spike Dudley
2002	Eddie Guerrero	Hulk Hogan	Shawn Michaels	Chris Benoit
2003	Zach Gowen	Kurt Angle	A.J. Styles	Rey Mysterio
2004	Eddie Guerrero	Chris Benoit	Eugene	William Regal
2005	Chris Candido	Matt Hardy	Steve Williams	Rey Mysterio
2006	Matt Cappotelli	Rey Mysterio	Hardcore Holly	CM Punk
2007	Jeff Jarrett	CM Punk	John Cena	Sting
2008	Ric Flair	CM Punk	John Cena	Jeff Hardy
2009	Ricky Steamboat	Tommy Dreamer	Sting	John Cena
2010	Shawn Michaels	Kurt Angle	John Cena	Rob Van Dam
2011	Rosita	Gregory Iron	Rob Fury	CM Punk
2012	Jerry Lawler	Austin Aries	Shawn Daivari	John Cena
2013	Darren Young	Dallas Page	Daniel Bryan
2014	Daniel Bryan	Eric Young	Chris Melendez	Bo Dallas
2015	Bayley	John Cena	Kevin Owens	Sami Zayn
2016		Cody Rhodes	Seth Rollins	Dean Ambrose
2017	Christopher Daniels	John Cena	Shane McMahon	Mia Yim
2018	Roman Reigns	Cody Rhodes	Tommy Dreamer	LuFisto
2019	Roman Reigns	Kofi Kingston	PCO	Becky Lynch
2020	Shad Gaspard	Thunder Rosa	Speaking Out movement	Drake Maverick
2021	Edge	Bianca Belair	Big E	Mickie James
2022	Jon Moxley

See also

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
• WWE