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The PWI Wrestler of the Year Award, given yearly since 1972 by professional wrestling magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated, recognizes the best professional wrestler of the year as voted by readers of the magazine. Ric Flair has been voted wrestler of the year a record 6 times.


Award winners and runners-up[]

Year Winner First runner-up Second runner-up Third runner-up
1972 Pedro Morales . . .
1973 Jack Brisco . . .
1974 Bruno Sammartino . . .
1975 Mr. Wrestling II . . .
1976 Terry Funk Bruno Sammartino Nick Bockwinkel Paul Jones
1977 Dusty Rhodes Billy Graham Bob Backlund Harley Race
1978 Dusty Rhodes Bob Backlund Ricky Steamboat Harley Race
1979 Harley Race Dusty Rhodes Jimmy Snuka Bob Backlund
1980 Bob Backlund Harley Race Verne Gagne The Iron Sheik
1981 Ric Flair Bob Backlund Tommy Rich Dusty Rhodes
1982 Bob Backlund Ric Flair Hulk Hogan Jimmy Snuka
1983 Harley Race Nick Bockwinkel André the Giant Bob Backlund
1984 Ric Flair Hulk Hogan Kerry Von Erich Rick Martel
1985 Ric Flair Hulk Hogan Rick Martel Sgt. Slaughter
1986 Ric Flair Hulk Hogan Randy Savage Nikita Koloff
1987 Hulk Hogan Ric Flair Randy Savage Steve Williams
1988 Randy Savage Jerry Lawler Lex Luger Ric Flair
1989 Ric Flair Hulk Hogan Lex Luger Ricky Steamboat
1990 Sting Ultimate Warrior Hulk Hogan Lex Luger
1991 Hulk Hogan Lex Luger Bret Hart Sting
1992 Ric Flair Ron Simmons Rick Rude Bret Hart
1993 Vader Bret Hart Shawn Michaels Yokozuna
1994 Hulk Hogan Bret Hart Razor Ramon Ric Flair
1995 Diesel Shawn Michaels Sting Hulk Hogan
1996 The Giant Shawn Michaels Ric Flair Ahmed Johnson
1997 Lex Luger Steve Austin The Undertaker Diamond Dallas Page
1998 Steve Austin Goldberg Diamond Dallas Page The Rock
1999 Steve Austin The Rock Sting Tazz
2000 The Rock Triple H Booker T Kurt Angle
2001 Steve Austin Kurt Angle The Rock Rob Van Dam
2002 Brock Lesnar Rob Van Dam Triple H The Undertaker
2003 Kurt Angle Brock Lesnar Triple H A.J. Styles
2004 Chris Benoit Randy Orton Eddie Guerrero A.J. Styles
2005 Batista John Cena A.J. Styles Samoa Joe
2006 John Cena Samoa Joe Rey Mysterio Edge
2007 John Cena Kurt Angle Batista Randy Orton
2008 Triple H Kurt Angle Randy Orton Samoa Joe
2009 Randy Orton John Cena Chris Jericho Kurt Angle
2010 Randy Orton Rob Van Dam John Cena Sheamus
2011 CM Punk John Cena Davey Richards Bobby Roode
2012 CM Punk Sheamus Austin Aries John Cena
2013 Daniel Bryan John Cena Bully Ray Randy Orton
2014 Brock Lesnar Daniel Bryan A.J. Styles John Cena
2015 Seth Rollins Jay Lethal Roman Reigns John Cena
2016 A.J. Styles Roman Reigns Kevin Owens Dean Ambrose
2017 A.J. Styles Kazuchika Okada Kenny Omega Cody
2018 A.J. Styles Kenny Omega Cody Seth Rollins
2019 Adam Cole Chris Jericho Seth Rollins Kofi Kingston
2020 Jon Moxley Bayley Chris Jericho Sasha Banks
2021 Kenny Omega Roman Reigns Bianca Belair Big E
2022 Roman Reigns Jon Moxley Bianca Belair Cody Rhodes
2023 Seth Rollins Gunther Will Ospreay MJF

Year by Year Top 500[]

See also[]

External links and references[]

Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Current PWI Adwards
Wrestler of the Year Tag Team of the YearMatch of the YearFeud of the YearMost Popular Wrestler of the YearMost Hated Wrestler of the YearMost Improved Wrestler of the YearMost Inspirational Wrestler of the YearRookie of the YearStanley Weston AwardComeback of the YearWoman of the Year
Discontinued Awards
Manager of the YearMidget Wrestler of the YearAnnouncer of the Year
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