List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

{{Short description|none}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:List of ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' awards}} {{Use American English|date=January 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} This is a list of both active and inactive '''''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' awards''' created by [[professional wrestling]] and [[mixed martial arts]] (MMA) journalist [[Dave Meltzer]]. The first fourteen awards were created in 1980 as an informal poll between Meltzer and his friends and others he corresponded with on the subject of professional wrestling at the time. After starting the ''[[Wrestling Observer]]'' in 1982, the awards took on a greater life, with an increasing number of awards given out every year.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Jan. 19, 1998 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 18th Annual Newsletter Awards Issue|last = Meltzer|first = Dave|date = January 19, 1998|journal = Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}</ref>

The awards were created to recognize the individual achievements of a select few wrestlers who exemplified a specified criterion. The awards are given every year in various categories such as [[#Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year)|Wrestler of the Year]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meltzer |first1=Dave |title=February 21, 2022 Observer Newsletter: 2021 Awards issue, Cody and Brandi Rhodes leave AEW |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/newsletters/wrestling-observer-newsletter/february-21-observer-newsletter-2021-awards-issue-cod-and-brandi-rhodes-leave-aew |website=Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online |date=February 18, 2022 |publisher=www.f4wonline.com |access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> [[#Most Outstanding Wrestler|Most Outstanding Wrestler]], [[#Tag Team of the Year|Tag Team of the Year]], [[#Most Improved|Most Improved]], [[#Match of the Year|Pro Wrestling Match of the Year]], etc.; there are also a handful of awards to recognize the dubious distinctions in the business during that year such as [[#Most Overrated|Most Overrated]] and [[#Worst Match of the Year|Worst Match]]. There are currently forty-five categories that are actively assessed every year and twenty that are no longer active. The awards are voted for by the newsletter's paying readership, primarily wrestling fans, although it is claimed that some industry workers also vote.

The awards are organized into two categories. For "Category A" awards, voters indicate their top three choices. First choices are awarded five points, second places three points, and third places two points. The choice with the most points overall wins. For "Category B" awards, voters simply indicate their top choice. For the "Category B" [[#Shad Gaspard/Jon Huber Memorial Award|Shad Gaspard/Jon Huber Memorial Award]], the recipients are chosen by a committee headed by Meltzer.

Over the years, various MMA promotions or individual mixed martial artists were deemed eligible to win some awards when it seemed as though they were more deserving to win than the conventional wrestler or wrestling promotion. This led to, in 1997, the creation of [[#Most Outstanding Fighter|Shootfighter of the Year]] and [[#MMA Match of the Year|Shoot Match of the Year]] to recognize MMA achievement specifically. Still, some primarily professional wrestling-focused awards remained intact for MMA promotions/fighters to win, due to the similar business aspect between both sports (i.e. [[#Best Box Office Draw|Best Box Office Draw]] and [[#Promotion of the Year|Promotion of the Year]]). In the December 3, 2007 edition of the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'', it was announced that from that year onwards, mixed martial artists are no longer eligible for the Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award, thus reserving it for professional wrestlers only. Shootfighter of the Year was renamed to Most Outstanding Fighter and Shoot Match of the Year was renamed to MMA Match of the Year to match a new award called [[#MMA Most Valuable Fighter|Mixed Martial Arts Most Valuable]], which is similar to the Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award except it is for mixed martial artists.

== Current awards ==

=== "Category A" awards ===

==== {{anchor|Wrestler of the Year}}Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year) ==== [[File:Místico, 2016 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Místico]] is the most recent winner of the award in 2025, his second after winning in 2006.]] [[File:Ric Flair 2016.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Ric Flair]] is a nine-time winner and co-namesake of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/1982wrestlingobserveryearbook |title=1982 Wrestling Observer Yearbook |date=1982 |language=English}}</ref> |[[Harley Race]] |rowspan=5|[[National Wrestling Alliance]] |- |1981<ref name=":0" /> | rowspan="6" |[[Ric Flair]] |- |1982 |- |1983 |- |1984 |- |1985 |rowspan=2|[[Jim Crockett Promotions]] |- |1986 |- |1987 |[[Riki Choshu]] |[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] |- |1988 |[[Akira Maeda]] |[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1989 |rowspan=2|Ric Flair |rowspan=2|[[World Championship Wrestling]] |- |1990 |- |1991 |[[Jumbo Tsuruta]] |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1992 |Ric Flair |[[World Wrestling Federation]] |- |1993 |[[Big Van Vader]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1994 |[[Toshiaki Kawada]] |rowspan=4|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1995 |[[Mitsuharu Misawa]] |- |1996 |[[Kenta Kobashi]] |- |1997 |Mitsuharu Misawa |- |1998 |[[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1999 |Mitsuharu Misawa |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |2000 |[[Triple H]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |2001 |[[Keiji Muto]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2002 |[[Kurt Angle]] |[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |- |2003 |rowspan=3|Kenta Kobashi |rowspan=3|[[Pro Wrestling Noah]] |- |2004 |- |2005 |- |2006 |[[Místico]] |{{lang|es|[[Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre]]|italic=no}} |- |2007 |[[John Cena]] |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2008 |rowspan=2|[[Chris Jericho]] |- |2009 |- |2010 |John Cena |- |2011 |rowspan=3|[[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] |rowspan=4|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2012 |- |2013 |- |2014 |[[Shinsuke Nakamura]] |- |2015 |rowspan=2|[[AJ Styles]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling [[Ring of Honor]] |- |2016 |WWE |- |2017 |[[Kazuchika Okada]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2018 |[[Kenny Omega]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling Ring of Honor |- |2019 |Chris Jericho |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling [[All Elite Wrestling]] |- |2020 |[[Jon Moxley]] |- |2021 |Kenny Omega |All Elite Wrestling [[Impact Wrestling]] |- |2022 |Jon Moxley |All Elite Wrestling |- |2023 |[[Will Ospreay]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2024 |[[Cody Rhodes]] |WWE |- |2025 |Místico |Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre |}

==== {{anchor|MMA Most Valuable Fighter}}Mixed Martial Arts Most Valuable ==== {{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = Georges St-Pierre.jpg | image2 = Brock Lesnar At SummerSlam 2023 (cropped).jpg | footer = [[Georges St-Pierre]] and [[Brock Lesnar]] are three-time winners of the category. }} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Fighter ! Promotion(s) |- |2007 |[[Randy Couture]] | rowspan="19" |[[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] |- |2008 |rowspan=3|[[Brock Lesnar]] |- |2009 |- |2010 |- |2011 |[[Georges St-Pierre]] |- |2012 |[[Anderson Silva]] |- |2013 |Georges St-Pierre |- |2014 |rowspan=2|[[Ronda Rousey]] |- |2015 |- |2016 |[[Conor McGregor]] |- |2017 |Georges St-Pierre |- |2018 |Conor McGregor |- |2019 |[[Jorge Masvidal]] |- |2020 |[[Khabib Nurmagomedov]] |- |2021 |[[Kamaru Usman]] |- |2022 |[[Israel Adesanya]] |- |2023 |[[Jon Jones]] |- |2024 |[[Alex Pereira]] |- |2025 |[[Islam Makhachev]] |}

==== Most Outstanding Wrestler ==== [[File:Daniel Bryan October 2016 (crop).jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Bryan Danielson|Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan]] is a record five-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion |- |1986 |rowspan=2|Ric Flair |rowspan=2|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1987 |- |1988 |[[Tatsumi Fujinami]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1989 |Ric Flair |World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |rowspan=3|[[Jushin Thunder Liger]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1991 |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Championship Wrestling |- |1992 |- |1993 |rowspan=2|Kenta Kobashi |rowspan=2|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1994 |- |1995 |[[Manami Toyota]] |[[All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling]] |- |1996 |[[Rey Misterio Jr.]] |[[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] World Championship Wrestling |- |1997 |Mitsuharu Misawa |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1998 |[[Koji Kanemoto]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1999 |Mitsuharu Misawa |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |2000 |[[Chris Benoit]] |World Championship Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |2001 |rowspan=3|Kurt Angle |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2002 |- |2003 |- |2004 |Chris Benoit |- |2005 |[[Samoa Joe]] |Ring of Honor [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] |- |2006 |rowspan=5|[[Bryan Danielson|Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan]] |rowspan=3|Ring of Honor |- |2007 |- |2008 |- |2009 |[[Dragon Gate USA]] Ring of Honor |- |2010 |[[Chikara (professional wrestling)|Chikara]] Dragon Gate USA [[Evolve (professional wrestling)|Evolve]] World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2011 |[[Davey Richards]] |[[Pro Wrestling Guerrilla]] Ring of Honor |- |2012 |rowspan=2|Hiroshi Tanahashi |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2013 |- |2014 |rowspan=3|AJ Styles |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling Ring of Honor |- |2015 |- |2016 |WWE |- |2017 |Kazuchika Okada |rowspan=3|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2018 |Kenny Omega |- |2019 |[[Will Ospreay]] |- |2020 |Kenny Omega |All Elite Wrestling [[Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide]] |- |2021 |[[Shingo Takagi]] | rowspan="3" |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2022 | rowspan="3" |Will Ospreay |- |2023 |- |2024 |New Japan Pro-Wrestling All Elite Wrestling |- |2025 |[[Konosuke Takeshita]] |All Elite Wrestling New Japan Pro Wrestling [[DDT Pro-Wrestling]] |}

==== {{anchor|Most Outstanding Fighter|Shootfighter of the Year}}Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year ==== {{small|Note: Was known as "Shootfighter of the Year" until 2008.}} [[File:Georges St-Pierre crop.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Georges St-Pierre]] is a three-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Fighter ! Promotion(s) |- |1997 |[[Maurice Smith (kickboxer)|Maurice Smith]] |rowspan=3|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |1998 |rowspan=2|[[Frank Shamrock]] |- |1999 |- |2000 |[[Kazushi Sakuraba]] |rowspan=3|[[Pride Fighting Championships]] |- |2001 |[[Wanderlei Silva]] |- |2002 |[[Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira]] |- |2003 |Randy Couture |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2004 |Wanderlei Silva |rowspan=3|Pride Fighting Championships |- |2005 |[[Fedor Emelianenko]] |- |2006 |[[Mirko Filipović]] |- |2007 |[[Rampage Jackson|Quinton Jackson]] | rowspan="19" |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2008 |rowspan=3|Georges St-Pierre |- |2009 |- |2010 |- |2011 |[[Jon Jones]] |- |2012 |Anderson Silva |- |2013 |[[Cain Velasquez]] |- |2014 |Ronda Rousey |- |2015 |rowspan=2|Conor McGregor |- |2016 |- |2017 |[[Demetrious Johnson (fighter)|Demetrious Johnson]] |- |2018 |[[Daniel Cormier]] |- |2019 |rowspan=2|[[Israel Adesanya]] |- |2020 |- |2021 |[[Kamaru Usman]] |- |2022 |[[Alexander Volkanovski]] |- |2023 |[[Islam Makhachev]] |- |2024 |Alex Pereira |- |2025 |Islam Makhachev |}

==== Tag Team of the Year ==== {{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = WMC AEWBUCKS-CHAMP.jpg | image2 = | footer = [[The Young Bucks]] are the record nine-time winners of the category. }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Tag Team ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |[[The Fabulous Freebirds]] ([[Terry Gordy]] and [[Buddy Roberts]]) |[[Mid-South Wrestling]] [[Georgia Championship Wrestling]] |- |1981 |[[Jimmy Snuka]] and [[Terry Gordy]] |All Japan Pro Wrestling National Wrestling Alliance |- |1982 |[[Stan Hansen]] and [[Ole Anderson]] |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1983 |[[Ricky Steamboat]] and [[Jay Youngblood]] |Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1984 |[[The Road Warriors]] ([[Road Warrior Hawk|Hawk]] and [[Road Warrior Animal|Animal]]) |[[American Wrestling Association]] National Wrestling Alliance |- |1985 |[[The British Bulldogs]] ([[Dynamite Kid]] and [[Davey Boy Smith]]) |World Wrestling Federation All Japan Pro Wrestling [[Stampede Wrestling]] |- |1986 |[[The Midnight Express (professional wrestling)#Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton|The Midnight Express]] ([[Dennis Condrey]] and [[Bobby Eaton]]) |[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1987 |rowspan=2|[[The Midnight Express (professional wrestling)#Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane|The Midnight Express]] (Bobby Eaton and [[Stan Lane]]) |Universal Wrestling Federation Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1988 |Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1989 |[[The Rockers]] ([[Shawn Michaels]] and [[Marty Jannetty]]) |World Wrestling Federation |- |1990 |[[The Steiner Brothers]] ([[Rick Steiner]] and [[Scott Steiner]]) |World Championship Wrestling |- |1991 |Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1992 |[[The Miracle Violence Connection]] (Terry Gordy and [["Dr. Death" Steve Williams|Steve Williams]]) |All Japan Pro Wrestling World Championship Wrestling |- |1993 |[[The Hollywood Blonds#Steve Austin and Brian Pillman|The Hollywood Blonds]] (Steve Austin and [[Brian Pillman]]) |World Championship Wrestling |- |1994 |La Pareja del Terror ([[Eddy Guerrero]] and [[Art Barr]]) |[[Asistencia Asesoría y Administración]] |- |1995 |Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi |rowspan=3|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1996 |rowspan=2|Mitsuharu Misawa and [[Jun Akiyama]] |- |1997 |- |1998 |[[Shinjiro Otani]] and [[Tatsuhito Takaiwa]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1999 |Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |2000 |[[Edge and Christian]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |2001 |[[Tencozy]] ([[Satoshi Kojima]] and [[Hiroyoshi Tenzan]]) |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2002 |[[Los Guerreros]] (Eddie Guerrero and [[Chavo Guerrero]]) |World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2003 |rowspan=2|[[Kenta (wrestler)|Kenta]] and [[Naomichi Marufuji]] |rowspan=2|Pro Wrestling Noah |- |2004 |- |2005 |[[America's Most Wanted (professional wrestling)|America's Most Wanted]] ([[Chris Harris (wrestler)|Chris Harris]] and [[James Storm]]) |rowspan=2|Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2006 |[[The Latin American Xchange|The Latin American Exchange]] ([[Homicide (wrestler)|Homicide]] and [[Hernandez (wrestler)|Hernandez]]) |- |2007 |[[The Briscoe Brothers]] ([[Jay Briscoe]] and [[Mark Briscoe]]) |Ring of Honor |- |2008 |[[John Morrison and The Miz]] |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2009 |[[The American Wolves]] ([[Davey Richards]] and [[Eddie Edwards (wrestler)|Eddie Edwards]]) |rowspan=2|Ring of Honor |- |2010 |[[The Kings of Wrestling]] ([[Chris Hero]] and [[Claudio Castagnoli]]) |- |2011 |[[Bad Intentions (professional wrestling)|Bad Intentions]] ([[Giant Bernard]] and [[Karl Anderson]]) |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2012 |[[Bad Influence (professional wrestling)|Bad Influence]] ([[Christopher Daniels]] and [[Frankie Kazarian|Kazarian]]) |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2013 |[[The Shield (professional wrestling)|The Shield]] ([[Seth Rollins]] and [[Roman Reigns]]) |WWE |- |2014 |rowspan=5|[[The Young Bucks]] (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) |rowspan=5|New Japan Pro-Wrestling Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Ring of Honor |- |2015 |- |2016 |- |2017 |- |2018 |- |2019 |[[Lucha Brothers]] ([[Pentagón Jr.]] and [[Fénix (wrestler)|Rey Fénix]]) |All Elite Wrestling Impact Wrestling Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2020 | rowspan="2" |The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) | rowspan="2" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2021 |- |2022 | rowspan="2" | [[FTR (professional wrestling)|FTR]] ([[Cash Wheeler]] and [[Dax Harwood]]) | rowspan="2" |All Elite Wrestling Ring of Honor |- |2023 |- |2024 | rowspan="2" |The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) | rowspan="2" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2025 |}

==== Best on Interviews ==== [[File:Jim Cornette ROH.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Jim Cornette]] is a record five-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Performer ! Promotion(s) |- |rowspan=2|1981 |[[Lou Albano]] |World Wrestling Federation |- | rowspan="3" |[[Roddy Piper]] | rowspan="3" |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1982 |- |1983 |- |1984 |[[Jimmy Hart]] |[[Continental Wrestling Association]] |- |1985 |rowspan=4|[[Jim Cornette]] |Mid-South Wrestling [[World Class Championship Wrestling]] |- |1986 |rowspan=3|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1987 |- |1988 |- |1989 |[[Terry Funk]] |rowspan=3|World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |[[Arn Anderson]] |- |1991 |rowspan=2|Ric Flair |- |1992 |World Wrestling Federation |- |1993 |Jim Cornette |[[Smoky Mountain Wrestling]] |- |1994 |Ric Flair |World Championship Wrestling |- |1995 |[[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] |Extreme Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |rowspan=3|Stone Cold Steve Austin |rowspan=8|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |1997 |- |1998 |- |1999 |rowspan=2|[[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] |- |2000 |- |2001 |Stone Cold Steve Austin |- |2002 |Kurt Angle |- |2003 |Chris Jericho |- |2004 |Mick Foley |World Wrestling Entertainment [[Hustle (professional wrestling)|Hustle]] Ring of Honor |- |2005 |Eddie Guerrero |rowspan=5|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2006 |Mick Foley |- |2007 |John Cena |- |2008 |rowspan=2|Chris Jericho |- |2009 |- |2010 |[[Chael Sonnen]] |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2011 |rowspan=2|[[CM Punk]] |rowspan=4|WWE |- |2012 |- |2013 |rowspan=2|[[Paul Heyman]] |- |2014 |- |2015 |rowspan=3|Conor McGregor |rowspan=3|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2016 |- |2017 |- |2018 |Daniel Bryan |WWE |- |2019 |Chris Jericho |All Elite Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2020 |[[Eddie Kingston]] | rowspan="4" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2021 | rowspan="2"|[[Maxwell Jacob Friedman|MJF]] |- |2022 |- |2023 |Eddie Kingston |- |2024 |[[Drew McIntyre]] |WWE |- |2025 |[["Hangman" Adam Page]] |All Elite Wrestling |}

==== Promotion of the Year ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Promotion |- |1983 |Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1984 |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1985 |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1986 |Mid-South Wrestling/Universal Wrestling Federation |- |1987 |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1988 |- |1989 |[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1990 |rowspan=2|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1991 |- |1992 |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1993 |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1994 |Asistencia Asesoría y Administración |- |1995 |rowspan=4|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1996 |- |1997 |- |1998 |- |1999 |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |2000 |- |2001 |rowspan=3|Pride Fighting Championships |- |2002 |- |2003 |- |2004 |rowspan=2|Pro Wrestling Noah |- |2005 |- |2006 |rowspan=6|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2007 |- |2008 |- |2009 |- |2010 |- |2011 |- |2012 |rowspan=8|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2013 |- |2014 |- |2015 |- |2016 |- |2017 |- |2018 |- |2019 |- |2020 | rowspan="3" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2021 |- |2022 |- |2023 | rowspan="2" |WWE |- |2024 |- |2025 |Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre |}

==== {{anchor|Best Weekly Television Show}}Best Weekly TV Show ==== [[File:The_Ultimate_Fighter_logo.svg|right|thumb|''[[The Ultimate Fighter]]'' is the only non-wrestling TV show to win the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Program !Promotion |- |1983 |rowspan=2|''World Pro-Wrestling'' |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1984 |- |1985 |''Mid-South Wrestling'' |Mid-South Wrestling |- |1986 |''[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Universal Wrestling Federation]]'' |Universal Wrestling Federation |- |1987 |''90 Minute Memphis Live Wrestling'' |Continental Wrestling Association |- |1988 | ''World Pro-Wrestling'' |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1989 |rowspan=5|''All Japan Pro Wrestling'' |rowspan=5|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1990 |- |1991 |- |1992 |- |1993 |- |1994 |rowspan=3|''[[ECW Hardcore TV|Hardcore TV]]'' |rowspan=3|Extreme Championship Wrestling |- |1995 |- |1996 |- |1997 |''World Pro-Wrestling'' |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1998 |rowspan=3|''[[WWE Raw|Raw is War]]'' |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1999 |- |2000 |- |2001 |''World Pro-Wrestling'' |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2002 |''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'' |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2003 |''Power Hours'' |Pro Wrestling Noah |- |2004 |''Monday Night Raw'' |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2005 |rowspan=4|''[[The Ultimate Fighter]]'' |rowspan=4|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2006 |- |2007 |- |2008 |- |2009 | ''Friday Night SmackDown'' |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2010 |''[[Ring of Honor Wrestling]]'' |Ring of Honor |- |2011 |''Friday Night SmackDown'' |WWE |- |2012 |''[[Impact! (TV series)|Impact Wrestling]]'' |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2013 |rowspan=3|''[[WWE NXT|NXT]]'' |rowspan=3|WWE |- |2014 |- |2015 |- |2016 |rowspan=2|''New Japan Pro-Wrestling on [[AXS TV|AXS]]'' |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2017 |- |2018 |''NXT'' |WWE |- |2019 | rowspan="7" |''[[AEW Dynamite|Dynamite]]'' | rowspan="7" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2020 |- |2021 |- |2022 |- |2023 |- |2024 |- |2025 |}

==== {{anchor|Match of the Year|Worked Match of the Year}}Pro Wrestling Match of the Year ==== {{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = 2015-03-26 17-28-48 ILCE-6000 DSC01727 (17121089828) (cropped).jpg | image2 = Ken Patera 1972.jpg | footer = Bob Backlund and Ken Patera were the inaugural winners of the category, for their 1980 [[Last Man Standing match|Texas Death Match]] in WWF. }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" !Year !Match !Promotion !Show and venue |- |1980 |[[Bob Backlund]] vs. [[Ken Patera]] {{small|[[Last Man Standing match|Texas Death Match]]}} | rowspan="2" |World Wrestling Federation |[[WWF on MSG Network]] New York, New York May 19 |- |1981 |[[Pat Patterson (wrestler)|Pat Patterson]] vs. [[Sgt. Slaughter]] {{small|[[Professional Wrestling Death match|Alley Fight]]}} |WWF on MSG Network New York, New York May 4 |- |1982 |[[Satoru Sayama|Tiger Mask]] vs. Dynamite Kid |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |Summer Fight Series II Night 19 Tokyo, Japan August 5 |- |1983 |Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood vs. Sgt. Slaughter and [[Don Kernodle]] {{small|[[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|Steel Cage match]]}} |Jim Crockett Promotions |The Final Conflict Greensboro, North Carolina March 12 |- |1984 |The Freebirds vs. [[The Von Erichs]] {{small|[[Professional wrestling match types#No Disqualification match/No Holds Barred match|Anything Goes match]]}} |World Class Championship Wrestling |[[WCCW Star Wars (1984)#Independence Day Star Wars|Independence Day Star Wars]] Fort Worth, Texas July 4 |- |1985 |[[Mitsuharu Misawa|Tiger Mask II]] vs. [[Kuniaki Kobayashi]] |All Japan Pro Wrestling |AJPW Special Wars in Budokan Tokyo, Japan June 21 |- |1986 |Ric Flair vs. [[Barry Windham]] |Championship Wrestling from Florida |[[NWA Battle of the Belts II|Battle of the Belts II]] Orlando, Florida February 14 |- |1987 |Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs. [[Randy "Macho Man" Savage]] |World Wrestling Federation |[[WrestleMania III]] Pontiac, Michigan March 29 |- |1988 |[[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] vs. Ric Flair |Jim Crockett Promotions |[[Clash of the Champions I]] Greensboro, North Carolina March 27 |- |1989 |Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair {{small|[[Professional wrestling match types#Series variations|Two out of three falls match]]}} |World Championship Wrestling |[[Clash of the Champions VI]] New Orleans, Louisiana April 2 |- |1990 |Jushin Thunder Liger vs. [[Naoki Sano]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |New Spring Gold Series Osaka, Japan January 31 |- |1991 |[[Hiroshi Hase]] and [[Kensuke Sasaki]] vs. Steiner Brothers |New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Championship Wrestling |[[WCW/New Japan Supershow I|Starrcade in Tokyo Dome]] Tokyo, Japan March 21 |- |1992 |Kenta Kobashi and [[Tsuyoshi Kikuchi]] vs. [[Doug Furnas]] and [[Philip Lafond|Dan Kroffat]] |All Japan Pro Wrestling |Super Power Series Night 8 Sendai, Japan May 25 |- |1993 |Manami Toyota and [[Toshiyo Yamada]] vs. [[Dynamite Kansai]] and [[Mayumi Ozaki]] |All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling |Dream Slam II Osaka, Japan April 11 |- |1994 |[[Scott Hall|Razor Ramon]] vs. Shawn Michaels {{small|[[Ladder match]]}} |World Wrestling Federation |[[WrestleMania X]] New York, New York March 20 |- |1995 |Manami Toyota vs. [[Kyoko Inoue]] |All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling |G*Top 2nd Tokyo, Japan May 7 |- |1996 |Mitsuharu Misawa and Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams and [[John Laurinaitis|Johnny Ace]] |All Japan Pro Wrestling |Super Power Series Night 15 Tokyo, Japan June 7 |- |1997 |[[Bret Hart]] vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin {{small|[[Professional wrestling match types#Submission match|Submission match]]}} |World Wrestling Federation |[[WrestleMania 13]] Rosemont, Illinois March 23 |- |1998 | rowspan="2" |Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa | rowspan="2" |All Japan Pro Wrestling |October Giant Series Night 18 Tokyo, Japan October 31 |- |1999 |Super Power Series Night 14 Tokyo, Japan June 11 |- |2000 |[[Atlantis (wrestler)|Atlantis]] vs. [[Villano III]] |{{lang|es|Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|italic=no}} |[[Juicio Final (2000)|Juicio Final]] Mexico City, Mexico March 17 |- |2001 |Keiji Muto vs. [[Genichiro Tenryu]] |All Japan Pro Wrestling |Super Power in Budokan Tokyo, Japan June 8 |- |2002 |Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit vs. Edge and Rey Mysterio |World Wrestling Entertainment |[[No Mercy (2002)|No Mercy]] North Little Rock, Arkansas October 20 |- |2003 |Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa | rowspan="2" |Pro Wrestling Noah |Navigate for Evolution Night 9 Tokyo, Japan March 1 |- |2004 |Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama |[[Departure (2004)|Departure]] Tokyo, Japan July 10 |- |2005 |Kenta Kobashi vs. Samoa Joe | rowspan="3" |Ring of Honor |Joe vs. Kobashi Manhattan, New York October 1 |- |2006 |[[Dragon Kid]], [[Ryo Saito (wrestler)|Ryo Saito]] and [[Genki Horiguchi]] vs. [[Nobuhiko Oshima|Cima]], [[Masato Yoshino]] and [[Naruki Doi]] |[[ROH Supercard of Honor|Supercard of Honor]] Chicago Ridge, Illinois March 31 |- |2007 |[[Takeshi Morishima]] vs. Bryan Danielson |Manhattan Mayhem II Manhattan, New York August 25 |- |2008 |Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels {{small|Ladder match}} | rowspan="4" |World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE |[[No Mercy (2008)|No Mercy]] Portland, Oregon October 5 |- |2009 | rowspan="2" |[[The Undertaker]] vs. Shawn Michaels |[[WrestleMania XXV]] Houston, Texas April 5 |- |2010 |[[WrestleMania XXVI]] Glendale, Arizona March 28 |- |2011 |CM Punk vs. John Cena |[[Money in the Bank (2011)|Money in the Bank]] Rosemont, Illinois July 17 |- |2012 |Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. [[Minoru Suzuki]] | rowspan="8" |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |[[King of Pro-Wrestling (2012)|King of Pro-Wrestling]] Tokyo, Japan October 8 |- |2013 |Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada |[[Invasion Attack 2013|Invasion Attack]] Tokyo, Japan April 7 |- |2014 |AJ Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki |[[G1 Climax#2014|G1 Climax 24 Night 7]] Tokyo, Japan August 1 |- |2015 |Shinsuke Nakamura vs. [[Kota Ibushi]] |[[Wrestle Kingdom 9]] Tokyo, Japan January 4 |- |2016 |Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi |[[Wrestle Kingdom 10]] Tokyo, Japan January 4 |- |2017 |Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega |[[Wrestle Kingdom 11]] Tokyo, Japan January 4 |- |2018 |Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada {{small|Two out of three falls match}} |[[Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall]] Osaka, Japan June 9 |- |2019 |Will Ospreay vs. [[Shingo Takagi]] |[[Best of the Super Juniors#2019|Best of the Super Juniors 26 Final]] Tokyo, Japan June 5 |- |2020 |Kenny Omega and [["Hangman" Adam Page]] vs. The Young Bucks | rowspan="2" |All Elite Wrestling |[[Revolution (2020)|Revolution]] [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]] February 29 |- |2021 |The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers {{small|[[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|Steel Cage match]]}} |[[All Out (2021)|All Out]] [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]] September 5 |- |2022 |Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay | rowspan="2" |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |[[G1 Climax 32#Night 20|G1 Climax 32 Final]] Tokyo, Japan August 18 |- |2023 |Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay |[[Wrestle Kingdom 17]] Tokyo, Japan January 4 |- |2024 |Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay |All Elite Wrestling |[[Dynasty (2024)|Dynasty]] [[St. Louis, Missouri]] April 21 |- |2025 |Kenny Omega vs. [[Gabe Kidd]] |All Elite Wrestling Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre New Japan Pro-Wrestling Ring of Honor [[World Wonder Ring Stardom]] |[[Wrestle Dynasty]] [[Tokyo|Tokyo, Japan]] January 5 |}

==== {{anchor|Fight of the Year|Shoot Match of the Year}}MMA Match of the Year ==== {{small|Note: Was previously known as the "Shoot Match of the Year" and is sometimes referred to as "Fight of the Year".}} [[File:Robbie_Lawler.png|thumb|upright|right|[[Robbie Lawler]] is a three-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Fight ! Promotion ! Show and venue |- |1997 |Maurice Smith vs. [[Mark Coleman]] |rowspan=3|Ultimate Fighting Championship |[[UFC 14]] Birmingham, Alabama July 27 |- |1998 |[[Jerry Bohlander]] vs. [[Kevin Jackson]] |[[UFC 16]] New Orleans, Louisiana March 13 |- |1999 |Frank Shamrock vs. [[Tito Ortiz]] |[[UFC 22]] Lake Charles, Louisiana September 24 |- |2000 |Kazushi Sakuraba vs. [[Royce Gracie]] |Pride Fighting Championships |[[Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals|Grand Prix 2000 Finals]] Tokyo Dome May 1 |- |2001 |Randy Couture vs. [[Pedro Rizzo]] |Ultimate Fighting Championship |[[UFC 31]] Atlantic City, New Jersey May 4 |- |2002 |[[Don Frye]] vs. Yoshihiro Takayama |rowspan=3|Pride Fighting Championships |[[2002 in Pride FC#Pride 21: Demolition|Pride 21]] Saitama, Japan June 23 |- |2003 |Wanderlei Silva vs. [[Hidehiko Yoshida]] |[[Pride Final Conflict 2003|Final Conflict]] Tokyo, Japan November 9 |- |2004 |[[Wanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson]] |[[Pride 28]] Saitama, Japan October 31 |- |2005 |[[Forrest Griffin]] vs. [[Stephan Bonnar]] |rowspan=5|Ultimate Fighting Championship |[[The Ultimate Fighter 1#The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale|The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale]] Las Vegas, Nevada April 9 |- |2006 |[[Diego Sanchez]] vs. [[Karo Parisyan]] |[[UFC Fight Night 6|Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Parisyan]] Las Vegas, Nevada August 17 |- |2007 |Randy Couture vs. [[Tim Sylvia]] |[[UFC 68]] Columbus, Ohio March 3 |- |2008 |Forrest Griffin vs. Quinton Jackson |[[UFC 86]] Las Vegas, Nevada July 5 |- |2009 |Diego Sanchez vs. [[Clay Guida]] |[[The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom#The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale|The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale]] Las Vegas, Nevada June 20 |- |2010 |[[Leonard Garcia]] vs. [[The Korean Zombie|Chan Sung Jung]] |[[World Extreme Cagefighting]] |[[WEC 48]] Sacramento, California April 24 |- |2011 |[[Dan Henderson]] vs. [[Shogun Rua]] | rowspan="15" |Ultimate Fighting Championship |[[UFC 139]] San Jose, California November 19 |- |2012 |Chan Sung Jung vs. [[Dustin Poirier]] |[[2012 in UFC#UFC on Fuel TV: The Korean Zombie vs. Poirier|UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier]] Fairfax, Virginia May 15 |- |2013 |[[Gilbert Melendez]] vs. [[Diego Sanchez]] |[[UFC 166]] Houston, Texas October 19 |- |2014 |[[Johny Hendricks]] vs. [[Robbie Lawler]] |[[UFC 171]] Dallas, Texas March 15 |- |2015 |Robbie Lawler vs. [[Rory MacDonald (fighter)|Rory MacDonald]] |[[UFC 189]] Las Vegas, Nevada July 11 |- |2016 |Robbie Lawler vs. [[Carlos Condit]] |[[UFC 195]] Las Vegas, Nevada January 2 |- |2017 |[[Cub Swanson]] vs. [[Choi Doo-ho|Doo Ho Choi]] |[[UFC 206]] Toronto, Ontario December 10, 2016 |- |2018 |Dustin Poirier vs. [[Justin Gaethje]] |[[UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje]] Glendale, Arizona April 14 |- |2019 |Israel Adesanya vs. [[Kelvin Gastelum]] |[[UFC 236]] Atlanta, Georgia April 13 |- |2020 |[[Zhang Weili]] vs. [[Joanna Jędrzejczyk]] |[[UFC 248]] Las Vegas, Nevada March 7 |- |2021 |Justin Gaethje vs. [[Michael Chandler]] |[[UFC 268]] New York City, New York November 6 |- |2022 |[[Jiří Procházka]] vs. [[Glover Teixeira]] |[[UFC 275]] Kallang, Singapore June 11 |- |2023 |[[Alexander Volkanovski]] vs. Islam Makhachev |[[UFC 284]] Perth, Australia February 12 |- |2024 |[[Max Holloway]] vs. [[Justin Gaethje]] |[[UFC 300]] Las Vegas, Nevada April 13 |- |2025 |[[Brandon Royval]] vs. [[Joshua Van]] |[[UFC 317]] Las Vegas, Nevada June 28 |}

=== "Category B" awards === [[File:AJ Styles RR24 (1).jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[AJ Styles]] was the inaugural United States/Canada MVP.]] ==== {{anchor|US/Canada MVP}}United States/Canada MVP ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |2018 |[[AJ Styles]] |[[WWE]] |- |2019 |[[Chris Jericho]] |rowspan=2|[[All Elite Wrestling]] [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] |- |2020 |[[Jon Moxley]] |- |2021 |[[Kenny Omega]] |All Elite Wrestling |- |2022 |[[Jon Moxley]] |All Elite Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2023 | rowspan="2" |[[Cody Rhodes]] | rowspan="2" |WWE |- |2024 |- |2025 |[[Jon Moxley]] |[[All Elite Wrestling]] |}

==== {{anchor|Japan MVP}}Koichi Yoshizawa Award (Japan MVP) ==== [[File:Tetsuya naito 2018.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Tetsuya Naito]] is one of seven [[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] wrestlers to be named Japan MVP.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |2018 |[[Kenny Omega]] | rowspan="7" |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2019 |[[Kazuchika Okada]] |- |2020 |[[Tetsuya Naito]] |- |2021 |[[Shingo Takagi]] |- |2022 |[[Kazuchika Okada]] |- |2023 |Will Ospreay |- |2024 |[[Zack Sabre Jr.]] |- |2025 |[[Saya Kamitani]] |World Wonder Ring Stardom |}

==== {{anchor|Mexico MVP}}Mexico MVP ==== [[File:LA Park at LuchaTO Jan 2016.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[L. A. Park]] was the inaugural Mexico MVP.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |2018 |[[L.A. Park]] |{{lang|es|Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|italic=no}} Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2019 |rowspan=2|[[Fénix (wrestler)|Rey Fénix]] |All Elite Wrestling [[Impact Wrestling]] Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2020 |All Elite Wrestling Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2021 |rowspan=2 |[[El Hijo del Vikingo]] |rowspan=2 |Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2022 |- |2023 | rowspan="3" |[[Místico]] | rowspan="3" |{{lang|es|Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|italic=no}} |- |2024 |- |2025 |}

==== {{anchor|Europe MVP}}Europe MVP ==== [[File:Gunther August 2024 (headshot).jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Gunther (wrestler)|Walter]], better known as Gunther, was the inaugural Europe MVP, and overall is a record three-time winner.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |2018 |rowspan=3|[[Gunther (wrestler)|Walter]] |[[Over the Top Wrestling]] [[Progress Wrestling]] [[Westside Xtreme Wrestling]] |- |2019 | rowspan="2" |[[WWE]] |- |2020 |- |2021 | rowspan="3" |[[Will Ospreay]] | rowspan="3" |[[Revolution Pro Wrestling]] [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] |- |2022 |- |2023 |- |2024 | rowspan="2" |[[Michael Oku]] | rowspan="2" |Revolution Pro Wrestling |- |2025 |}

==== {{anchor|Non-Heavyweight MVP}} Danny Hodge Memorial Award (Non-Heavyweight MVP) ==== [[File:Danny Hodge crushing an apple.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Danny Hodge]] was the namesake for the award, a multi-time amateur and professional champion.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |2018 |rowspan=2|[[Will Ospreay]] |rowspan=2|[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] [[Progress Wrestling]] [[Revolution Pro Wrestling]] [[Ring of Honor]] |- |2019 |- |2020 |[[Hiromu Takahashi]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2021 |[[Darby Allin]] |[[All Elite Wrestling]] |- |2022 | rowspan="2" |[[El Hijo del Vikingo]] | rowspan="2" |[[Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide]] |- |2023 |- |2024 |Darby Allin |All Elite Wrestling |- |2025 |Místico |Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre |}

==== {{anchor|Women Wrestling MVP}}Women's Wrestling MVP ==== [[File:Becky Lynch Galaxycon.jpg|thumb|[[Becky Lynch]] was the inaugural winner of the award, and is a record two-time winner.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |2018 |rowspan=2|[[Becky Lynch]] |rowspan=3|[[WWE]] |- |2019 |- |2020 |[[Bayley (wrestler)|Bayley]] |- |2021 |[[Utami Hayashishita]] |rowspan=2|[[World Wonder Ring Stardom]] |- |2022 |[[Syuri]] |- |2023 |[[Rhea Ripley]] |WWE |- |2024 |[[Sareee]] |Freelance |- |2025 |[[Saya Kamitani]] |[[World Wonder Ring Stardom]] |}

==== {{anchor|Women MMA MVP}}Women's MMA MVP ==== [[File:Ceremonial weigh ins - Amanda Nunes vs Julianna Peña UFC 269 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Amanda Nunes]] is a record three-time winner.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |2018 |rowspan=3|[[Amanda Nunes]] | rowspan="8" |[[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] |- |2019 |- |2020 |- |2021 |[[Rose Namajunas]] |- |2022 |[[Zhang Weili]] |- |2023 |[[Alexa Grasso]] |- |2024 |Zhang Weili |- |2025 |[[Valentina Shevchenko]] |}

==== Best Box Office Draw ==== [[File:Conor McGregor, UFC 189 World Tour London (2).jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Conor McGregor]] is a record five-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Performer ! Promotion(s) |- |1997 |[[Hulk Hogan|Hollywood Hogan]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1998 |rowspan=2|Stone Cold Steve Austin |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1999 |- |2000 |The Rock |- |2001 |Kazushi Sakuraba |Pride Fighting Championships |- |2002 |rowspan=2|[[Bob Sapp]] |rowspan=2|[[K-1]] Pride Fighting Championships New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2003 |- |2004 |rowspan=2|Kenta Kobashi |rowspan=2|Pro Wrestling Noah |- |2005 |- |2006 |Místico |Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre |- |2007 |John Cena |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2008 |rowspan=3|Brock Lesnar |rowspan=3|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2009 |- |2010 |- |2011 |rowspan=2|The Rock |rowspan=2|WWE |- |2012 |- |2013 |Georges St-Pierre |rowspan=6|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2014 |rowspan=2|Ronda Rousey |- |2015 |- |2016 |rowspan=3|Conor McGregor |- |2017 |- |2018 |- |2019 |Chris Jericho |All Elite Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2020 |Conor McGregor |rowspan=2|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |rowspan=2|2021 |'''MMA:''' Conor McGregor |- |'''Pro Wrestling:''' CM Punk |All Elite Wrestling |- |rowspan=2|2022 |'''MMA:''' Israel Adesanya |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |'''Pro Wrestling:''' Roman Reigns |WWE |- | rowspan="2" |2023 |'''MMA:''' Jon Jones |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |'''Pro Wrestling:''' Roman Reigns |WWE |- | rowspan="2" |2024 |'''MMA:''' Alex Pereira |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |'''Pro Wrestling''': [[Cody Rhodes]] |WWE |- | rowspan="2" |2025 |'''MMA:''' [[Merab Dvalishvili]] |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |'''Pro Wrestling''': [[John Cena]] |WWE |}

==== Feud of the Year ==== {{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = 10.9.10JerryLawlerByLuigiNovi.jpg | footer = [[Jerry Lawler]] was the first wrestler to win the category three different times. }} {{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = Adam Page, July 2022 2 (headshot).jpg | image2 = Jon Moxley Oct 2021.jpg | footer = "Hangman" Adam Page & Jon Moxley are the most recent winners of the award. }} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Feud ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |[[Bruno Sammartino]] vs. [[Larry Zbyszko]] |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1981 |[[André the Giant]] vs. [[Killer Khan]] |- |1982 |[[Ted DiBiase]] vs. [[Junkyard Dog]] |Mid-South Wrestling |- |1983 |rowspan=2|[[The Freebirds]] vs. [[Von Erich family|The Von Erichs]] |World Class Championship Wrestling |- |1984 |World Class Championship Wrestling National Wrestling Alliance |- |1985 |[[Ted DiBiase]] vs. [[Jim Duggan]] |Mid-South Wrestling |- |1986 |[[Hulk Hogan]] vs. [[Paul Orndorff]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1987 |[[Austin Idol]] & [[Tommy Rich]] vs. [[Jerry Lawler]] |Continental Wrestling Association |- |1988 |[[The Fantastics]] vs. [[The Midnight Express (professional wrestling)|The Midnight Express]] |Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1989 |[[Ric Flair]] vs. [[Terry Funk]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |[[Mitsuharu Misawa]] vs. [[Jumbo Tsuruta]] |rowspan=2|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1991 |Mitsuharu Misawa and company vs. Jumbo Tsuruta and company |- |1992 |[[Jeff Jarrett]] & [[Jerry Lawler]] vs. [[The Moondogs (professional wrestling)|The Moondogs]] |[[United States Wrestling Association]] |- |1993 |[[Bret Hart]] vs. [[Jerry Lawler]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1994 |[[Los Gringos Locos]] vs. [[Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide|Asistencia Asesoría y Administración]] |Asistencia Asesoría y Administración |- |1995 |[[Eddie Guerrero]] vs. [[Dean Malenko]] |Extreme Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |[[New World Order (professional wrestling)|New World Order]] vs. [[List of World Championship Wrestling tournaments|World Championship Wrestling]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1997 |[[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] vs. [[The Hart Foundation]] |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation |- |1998 |rowspan=2|[[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] vs. [[Vince McMahon]] |- |1999 |- |2000 |[[Mick Foley]] vs. [[Triple H]] |- |2001 |[[Kazushi Sakuraba]] vs. [[Wanderlei Silva]] |Pride Fighting Championships |- |2002 |[[Tito Ortiz]] vs. [[Ken Shamrock]] |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2003 |[[Kurt Angle]] vs. [[Brock Lesnar]] |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2004 |[[Chris Benoit]] vs. [[Shawn Michaels]] vs. [[Triple H]] |- |2005 |[[Dave Bautista|Batista]] vs. [[Triple H]] |- |2006 |[[Tito Ortiz]] vs. [[Ken Shamrock]] |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2007 |[[Dave Bautista|Batista]] vs. [[The Undertaker]] |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2008 |[[Chris Jericho]] vs. [[Shawn Michaels]] |- |2009 |[[Jeff Hardy]] vs. [[CM Punk]] |- |2010 |[[El Generico]] vs. [[Kevin Steen]] |Ring of Honor |- |2011 |[[John Cena]] vs. [[CM Punk]] |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2012 |rowspan=2|[[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] vs. [[Kazuchika Okada]] |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2013 |- |2014 |[[Jon Jones]] vs. [[Daniel Cormier]] |rowspan=3|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2015 |[[José Aldo]] vs. [[Conor McGregor]] |- |2016 |[[Conor McGregor]] vs. [[Nate Diaz]] |- |2017 |[[Kazuchika Okada]] vs. [[Kenny Omega]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2018 |[[Johnny Gargano]] vs. [[Tommaso Ciampa]] |rowspan=2|WWE |- |2019 |[[Adam Cole]] vs. [[Johnny Gargano]] |- |2020 |[[Jon Moxley]] vs. [[Eddie Kingston]] | rowspan="2" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2021 |[[Kenny Omega]] vs. [["Hangman" Adam Page]] |- |2022 |[[FTR (professional wrestling)|FTR]] vs. [[The Briscoes]] |Ring of Honor |- |2023 |[[Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn]] vs. [[The Bloodline (professional wrestling)|The Bloodline]] | rowspan="2" |WWE |- |2024 |[[CM Punk]] vs. [[Drew McIntyre]] |- |2025 |[["Hangman" Adam Page]] vs. [[Jon Moxley]] |All Elite Wrestling |}

==== Most Improved ==== {{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = Brock Lesnar At SummerSlam 2023 (cropped).jpg | image2 = The Miz Dec 2017.jpg | footer = Brock Lesnar and The Miz are record two-time winners of the category. }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |Larry Zbyszko |World Wrestling Federation |- |1981 |[[Adrian Adonis]] |American Wrestling Association |- |1982 |Jim Duggan |Mid-South Wrestling |- |1983 |[[Curt Hennig]] |American Wrestling Association [[Pacific Northwest Wrestling]] World Wrestling Federation |- |1984 |[[George Takano|The Cobra]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling Stampede Wrestling |- |1985 |Steve Williams | rowspan="2" |Mid-South Wrestling |- |1986 |Rick Steiner |- |1987 |[[Big Bubba Rogers]] |[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1988 |Sting |Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1989 |[[Lex Luger]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |Kenta Kobashi |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1991 |[[Dustin Rhodes]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1992 |[[El Samurai]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1993 |[[Tracy Smothers]] |Smoky Mountain Wrestling |- |1994 |[[Kevin Nash|Diesel]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1995 |[[Johnny B. Badd]] | rowspan="2" |World Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |[[Diamond Dallas Page]] |- |1997 |Tatsuhito Takaiwa |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1998 |The Rock |World Wrestling Federation |- |1999 |Vader |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |2000 |Kurt Angle |World Wrestling Federation |- |2001 |Keiji Muto |New Japan Pro-Wrestling All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |2002 | rowspan="2" |Brock Lesnar | rowspan="3" |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2003 |- |2004 |[[Randy Orton]] |- |2005 |[[Roderick Strong]] |Ring of Honor |- |2006 |Takeshi Morishima |Pro Wrestling Noah |- |2007 |[[Montel Vontavious Porter]] | rowspan="5" |World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE |- |2008 | rowspan="2" |[[The Miz]] |- |2009 |- |2010 |[[Sheamus]] |- |2011 |[[Dolph Ziggler]] |- |2012 |Kazuchika Okada |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2013 |Roman Reigns | rowspan="3" |WWE |- |2014 |[[Rusev (wrestler)|Rusev]] |- |2015 |[[Bayley (wrestler)|Bayley]] |- |2016 |[[Matthew Riddle|Matt Riddle]] |Evolve Pro Wrestling Guerrilla |- |2017 |[[Braun Strowman]] |WWE |- |2018 |[[Adam Page (wrestler)|Adam Page]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling Ring of Honor |- |2019 |[[Lance Archer]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2020 |[[Britt Baker]] | rowspan="6" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2021 |[[Tay Melo|Tay Conti]] |- |2022 |[[The Acclaimed]] |- |2023 |[[Julia Hart (wrestler)|Julia Hart]] |- |2024 |[[Kyle Fletcher]] |- |2025 |[[Harley Cameron]] |}

==== Most Charismatic ==== [[File:Dwayne Johnson 2, 2013.jpg|thumb|upright|right|The Rock is a seven-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Performer ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |Ric Flair |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1981 |[[Michael Hayes (wrestler)|Michael Hayes]] |World Class Championship Wrestling |- |rowspan=2|1982 |Ric Flair |rowspan=4|National Wrestling Alliance |- |[[Dusty Rhodes]] |- |1983 |rowspan=2|Ric Flair |- |1984 |- |1985 |rowspan=3|Hulk Hogan |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1986 |- |1987 |- |1988 |Sting |World Championship Wrestling |- |1989 |rowspan=3|Hulk Hogan |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1990 |- |1991 |- |1992 |Sting |World Championship Wrestling |- |1993 |Ric Flair |World Wrestling Federation World Championship Wrestling |- |1994 |[[Atsushi Onita]] |[[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling]] |- |1995 |rowspan=2|Shawn Michaels |rowspan=8|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |1996 |- |1997 |rowspan=2|Stone Cold Steve Austin |- |1998 |- |1999 |rowspan=4|The Rock |- |2000 |- |2001 |- |2002 |- |2003 |Bob Sapp |New Japan Pro-Wrestling K-1 |- |2004 |rowspan=2|Eddie Guerrero |rowspan=9|World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE |- |2005 |- |2006 |rowspan=5|John Cena |- |2007 |- |2008 |- |2009 |- |2010 |- |2011 |rowspan=2|The Rock |- |2012 |- |2013 |Hiroshi Tanahashi |rowspan=3|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2014 |rowspan=2|Shinsuke Nakamura |- |2015 |- |2016 |Conor McGregor |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2017 |rowspan=2|[[Tetsuya Naito]] |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2018 |- |2019 |Chris Jericho |All Elite Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2020 |[[Maxwell Jacob Friedman|MJF]] | rowspan="4" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2021 |[[CM Punk]] |- |2022 | rowspan="2" |MJF |- |2023 |- |2024 |The Rock | rowspan="2" |WWE |- |2025 |John Cena |}

==== {{anchor|Best Technical Wrestler}}Bryan Danielson Award (Best Technical Wrestler) ==== [[File:Daniel Bryan April 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Bryan Danielson|Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan]] is a 12-time winner and namesake of this category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |Bob Backlund |World Wrestling Federation |- |1981 |Ted DiBiase |Mid-South Wrestling |- |1982 |rowspan=2|Tiger Mask |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |1983 |- |rowspan=2|1984 |Dynamite Kid |Stampede Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |[[Masa Saito]] |American Wrestling Association New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1985 |rowspan=2|Tatsumi Fujinami |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |1986 |- |1987 |[[Nobuhiko Takada]] |rowspan=4|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1988 |Tatsumi Fujinami |- |1989 |rowspan=4|Jushin Liger/Jushin Thunder Liger |- |1990 |- |1991 |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Championship Wrestling |- |1992 |- |1993 |Hiroshi Hase |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1994 |rowspan=2|Chris Benoit |Extreme Championship Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1995 |Extreme Championship Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |rowspan=2|Dean Malenko |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Championship Wrestling |- |1997 |- |1998 |[[Kiyoshi Tamura]] |[[Fighting Network Rings]] |- |1999 |Shinjiro Otani |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2000 |Chris Benoit |World Championship Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |2001 |[[Minoru Tanaka (wrestler)|Minoru Tanaka]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2002 |Kurt Angle |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2003 |rowspan=2|Chris Benoit |- |2004 |- |2005 |rowspan=9|Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan |rowspan=4|Ring of Honor |- |2006 |- |2007 |- |2008 |- |2009 |Dragon Gate USA Ring of Honor |- |2010 |Chikara Dragon Gate USA Evolve World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2011 |rowspan=3|WWE |- |2012 |- |2013 |- |2014 |rowspan=7|[[Zack Sabre Jr.]] |rowspan=2|Progress Wrestling Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Pro Wrestling Noah Westside Xtreme Wrestling |- |2015 |- |2016 |Progress Wrestling Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Revolution Pro Wrestling Westside Xtreme Wrestling |- |2017 |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling Progress Wrestling Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Revolution Pro Wrestling |- |2018 |- |2019 |New Japan Pro-Wrestling Revolution Pro Wrestling |- |2020 |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2021 | rowspan="3" |Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson |WWE All Elite Wrestling |- |2022 | rowspan="2" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2023 |- |2024 | rowspan="2" |Zack Sabre Jr. | rowspan="2" |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2025 |}

==== {{anchor|Best Brawler}}Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler) ==== [[File:Bruiser Brody - Big Time Wrestling Dallas - 28 June 1977.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Bruiser Brody]] is the inaugural recipient, seven-time winner and namesake of the category.]] [[File:Mick Foley at Destiny Wrestling.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mick Foley]] is 10-time winner of the category in a 10 year streak from 1991 to 2000.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |rowspan=5|[[Bruiser Brody]] |rowspan=5|All Japan Pro Wrestling [[World Wrestling Council]]/Capitol Sports Promotions National Wrestling Association |- |1981 |- |1982 |- |1983 |- |1984 |- |1985 |Stan Hansen |All Japan Pro Wrestling National Wrestling Alliance |- |1986 |Terry Gordy |All Japan Pro Wrestling [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1987 |rowspan=2|Bruiser Brody |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Council World Class Championship Wrestling |- |1988 |- |1989 |Terry Funk |World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |Stan Hansen |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1991 | rowspan="10" |Cactus Jack/Dude Love/Mankind/Mick Foley |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1992 |- |1993 |World Championship Wrestling Extreme Championship Wrestling |- |1994 |rowspan=2|Extreme Championship Wrestling [[International Wrestling Association of Japan]] |- |1995 |- |1996 |rowspan=6|World Wrestling Federation |- |1997 |- |1998 |- |1999 |- |2000 |- |2001 |Stone Cold Steve Austin |- |2002 |[[Yoshihiro Takayama]] |Pro Wrestling Noah |- |2003 |Brock Lesnar |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2004 |Chris Benoit |- |2005 |rowspan=2|Samoa Joe |rowspan=2|Ring of Honor Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2006 |- |2007 |Takeshi Morishima |Ring of Honor Pro Wrestling Noah |- |2008 |rowspan=2|[[Necro Butcher]] |rowspan=2|Ring of Honor [[Combat Zone Wrestling]] |- |2009 |- |2010 |rowspan=3|Kevin Steen |Ring of Honor Pro Wrestling Guerrilla |- |2011 |Pro Wrestling Guerrilla |- |2012 |Ring of Honor Pro Wrestling Guerrilla |- |2013 |[[Katsuyori Shibata]] |rowspan=7|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2014 |rowspan=6|[[Tomohiro Ishii]] |- |2015 |- |2016 |- |2017 |- |2018 |- |2019 |- |2020 | rowspan="4" |Jon Moxley | rowspan="4" |All Elite Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2021 |- |2022 |- |2023 |- |2024 |[["Hangman" Adam Page]] | rowspan="2" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2025 |Jon Moxley |}

==== Best Flying Wrestler ==== [[File:ReyWHC.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Rey Mysterio]] (aka Rey Misterio Jr.) is a six-time winner of the category.]]  {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1981 |Jimmy Snuka |World Wrestling Federation |- |1982 |rowspan=2|Tiger Mask |rowspan=3|New Japan Pro-Wrestling National Wrestling Alliance World Wrestling Federation |- |1983 |- |1984 |Dynamite Kid |- |1985 |rowspan=2|Tiger Mask II |rowspan=2|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1986 |- |1987 |rowspan=2|[[Owen Hart]] |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling Stampede Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |1988 |- |1989 |rowspan=5|[[Jushin Liger|Jushin Liger/Jushin Thunder Liger]] |rowspan=3|New Japan Pro-Wrestling [[All Star Wrestling]] [[Orig Williams|BWF]] |- |1990 |- |1991 |- |1992 |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Championship Wrestling |- |1993 |- |1994 |[[The Great Sasuke]] |[[Michinoku Pro Wrestling]] New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1995 |rowspan=3|[[Rey Mysterio|Rey Misterio Jr.]] |Asistencia Asesoría y Administración Extreme Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |Extreme Championship Wrestling World Championship Wrestling |- |1997 |World Championship Wrestling |- |1998 |rowspan=2|[[Juventud Guerrera]] |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling [[Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide|AAA]] |- |1999 |- |2000 |[[Jeff Hardy]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |2001 |Dragon Kid |[[Dragon Gate (wrestling)|Toryumon Japan]] |- |2002 |rowspan=3|[[Rey Mysterio]] |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2003 |- |2004 |- |2005 |[[AJ Styles]] |Ring of Honor Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2006 |rowspan=2|Místico |rowspan=2|{{lang|es|Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|italic=no}} |- |2007 |- |2008 |[[Evan Bourne]] |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2009 |rowspan=2|Kota Ibushi |rowspan=2|[[DDT Pro-Wrestling]] |- |2010 |- |2011 |[[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]] |[[Dragon Gate (wrestling)|Dragon Gate]] Pro Wrestling Guerrilla |- |2012 |rowspan=2|Kota Ibushi |DDT Pro-Wrestling |- |2013 |DDT Pro-Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2014 |rowspan=2|Ricochet |rowspan=2|Dragon Gate [[Lucha Underground]] Pro Wrestling Guerrilla |- |2015 |- |2016 |rowspan=4|Will Ospreay |rowspan=3|Progress Wrestling Revolution Pro Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling Ring of Honor |- |2017 |- |2018 |- |2019 |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2020 | rowspan="2" |Rey Fénix |All Elite Wrestling Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2021 |All Elite Wrestling |- |2022 | rowspan="2" | El Hijo del Vikingo | rowspan="2" |Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2023 |- |2024 |Will Ospreay |New Japan Pro-Wrestling All Elite Wrestling |- |2025 |[[Máscara Dorada II|Máscara Dorada]] |Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre |}

==== Most Overrated ==== [[File:Hulk Hogan.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Hulk Hogan is a seven-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |[[Mr. Wrestling II]] |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1981 |rowspan=2|[[Pedro Morales]] |rowspan=6|World Wrestling Federation |- |1982 |- |1983 |Bob Backlund |- |1984 |[[Big John Studd]] |- |1985 |rowspan=2|Hulk Hogan |- |1986 |- |1987 |rowspan=2|Dusty Rhodes |rowspan=2|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1988 |- |1989 |rowspan=3|[[The Ultimate Warrior]] |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1990 |- |1991 |- |1992 |[[Erik Watts]] |rowspan=9|World Championship Wrestling |- |1993 |[[Sid Eudy|Sid Vicious]] |- |1994 |rowspan=5|Hulk/Hollywood Hogan |- |1995 |- |1996 |- |1997 |- |1998 |- |1999 |rowspan=2|[[Kevin Nash]] |- |2000 |- |2001 |The Undertaker |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2002 |rowspan=3|Triple H |- |2003 |- |2004 |- |2005 |Jeff Jarrett |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2006 |Batista |rowspan=5|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2007 |[[The Great Khali]] |- |2008 |[[Vladimir Kozlov]] |- |2009 |Triple H |- |2010 |[[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]] |- |2011 |[[Crimson (wrestler)|Crimson]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2012 |[[Ryback]] | rowspan="9" |WWE |- |2013 |[[Randy Orton]] |- |2014 |rowspan=2|Kane |- |2015 |- |2016 |Roman Reigns |- |2017 |[[Jinder Mahal]] |- |2018 |rowspan=2|[[Baron Corbin|Baron Corbin/King Corbin]] |- |2019 |- |2020 |[[Bray Wyatt]] |- |2021 |[[Evil (wrestler)|Evil]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2022 |Ronda Rousey |WWE |- |2023 |[[Sanada (wrestler)|Sanada]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2024 |[[Nia Jax]] | rowspan="2" |WWE |- |2025 |[[Jey Uso]] |}

==== Most Underrated ==== {{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = Bobeaton.jpg | image2 = Cesaro in September 2016.jpg | footer = [[Bobby Eaton]] and Cesaro, the latter now known as [[Claudio Castagnoli]], are four-time winners each of the category consecutively. }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |[[The Iron Sheik|Hossein Arab]] |National Wrestling Alliance World Wrestling Federation |- |1981 |[[Buzz Sawyer]] |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1982 |Adrian Adonis |American Wrestling Association |- |1983 |Dynamite Kid |New Japan Pro-Wrestling Stampede Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |1984 |[[B. Brian Blair]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |rowspan=2|Bobby Eaton |rowspan=3|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1986 |- |1987 |[[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]] |- |1988 |Tiger Mask II |rowspan=2|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1989 |Dan Kroffat |- |1990 |Bobby Eaton |rowspan=5|World Championship Wrestling |- |1991 |rowspan=2|[[Terry Taylor]] |- |1992 |- |1993 |Bobby Eaton |- |1994 |Brian Pillman |- |1995 |[[Chris Candido|Skip]] |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1996 |[[Leif Cassidy]] |- |1997 |[[Flash Funk]] |- |1998 |Chris Benoit |World Championship Wrestling |- |1999 |rowspan=2|Chris Jericho |World Championship Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |2000 |World Wrestling Federation |- |2001 |[[Lance Storm]] |World Wrestling Federation World Championship Wrestling |- |2002 |[[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]] | rowspan="20" |World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE |- |2003 |[[Último Dragón]] |- |2004 |[[Paul London]] |- |2005 |rowspan=3|[[Shelton Benjamin]] |- |2006 |- |2007 |- |2008 |Montel Vontavious Porter |- |2009 |Evan Bourne |- |2010 |[[Low Ki|Kaval]] |- |2011 |Dolph Ziggler |- |2012 |[[Tyson Kidd]] |- |2013 |rowspan=4|[[Claudio Castagnoli|(Antonio) Cesaro]] |- |2014 |- |2015 |- |2016 |- |2017 |Rusev |- |2018 |[[Finn Bálor]] |- |2019 |[[Chad Gable|Shorty G]] |- |2020 | rowspan="2" |[[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]] |- |2021 |- |2022 | [[Konosuke Takeshita]] |All Elite Wrestling DDT Pro Wrestling |- |2023 |Chad Gable |WWE |- |2024 |Konosuke Takeshita |All Elite Wrestling DDT Pro Wrestling |- |2025 |[[The Beast Mortos]] |All Elite Wrestling Ring of Honor |}

====Rookie of the Year==== [[File:Barry Windham 1986.jpeg|thumb|upright|right|[[Barry Windham]] was the inaugural winner of the award in 1980.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |Barry Windham |rowspan=5|National Wrestling Alliance |- |rowspan=2|1981 |Brad Armstrong |- |[[Brad Rheingans]] |- |1982 |Steve Williams |- |1983 |The Road Warriors |- |rowspan=2|1984 |[[Tom Zenk]] |AWA |- |[[Jushin Liger|Keiichi Yamada]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1985 |[[Jack Victory]] |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1986 |[[Bam Bam Bigelow]] |Continental Wrestling Association |- |1987 |Brian Pillman |rowspan=2|Stampede Wrestling |- |1988 |[[Gary Albright]] |- |1989 |Dustin Rhodes |World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |Steve Austin |United States Wrestling Association |- |1991 |Johnny B. Badd |World Championship Wrestling |- |1992 |Rey Misterio Jr. |Asistencia Asesoría y Administración |- |1993 |Jun Akiyama |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1994 |[[Mikey Whipwreck]] |Extreme Championship Wrestling |- |1995 |[[Perro Aguayo Jr.]] |{{lang|es|Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|italic=no}} |- |1996 |[[Big Show|The Giant]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1997 |[[Mr. Águila]] |{{lang|es|Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|italic=no}} |- |1998 |[[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]] |rowspan=3|World Championship Wrestling |- |1999 |[[Jay Ross|Blitzkrieg]] |- |2000 |[[Sean O'Haire]] |- |2001 |El Hombre Sin Nombre |{{lang|es|Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|italic=no}} |- |2002 |Bob Sapp |K-1 |- |2003 |[[Chris Sabin]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Ring of Honor [[Pro Wrestling Zero1|Pro Wrestling Zero-One Max]] |- |2004 |[[Petey Williams]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2005 |Shingo Takagi |Dragon Gate |- |2006 |[[Atsushi Aoki]] |Pro Wrestling Noah |- |2007 |[[Erick Stevens]] |Ring of Honor |- |2008 |[[Kai (wrestler)|Kai]] |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |2009 |[[Frightmare (wrestler)|Frightmare]] |Chikara |- |2010 |Adam Cole |Ring of Honor Combat Zone Wrestling |- |2011 |[[Daichi Hashimoto]] |Pro Wrestling Zero1 |- |2012 |[[Dinastía]] |Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2013 |[[Yohei Komatsu]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2014 |[[Dragon Lee (wrestler)|Dragon Lee]] |{{lang|es|Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|italic=no}} |- |2015 |[[Chad Gable]] |WWE |- |2016 |Matt Riddle |Evolve Pro Wrestling Guerrilla |- |2017 |[[Katsuya Kitamura]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2018 |Ronda Rousey |WWE |- |2019 |[[Jungle Boy (wrestler)|Jungle Boy]] |All Elite Wrestling |- |2020 |[[Pat McAfee]] |WWE |- |2021 |[[Jade Cargill]] |All Elite Wrestling |- |2022 |[[Bron Breakker]] |WWE |- |2023 |[[Yuma Anzai]] |[[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] |- |2024 |[[Je'Von Evans]] |WWE |- |2025 |[[Seri Yamaoka]] |[[Dream Star Fighting Marigold]] |}

==== Best Non-Wrestler ==== [[File:Paul Heyman is the happiest man in the world.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Paul Heyman]] is an eleven-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Performer ! Promotion(s) |- |1999 |rowspan=2|Vince McMahon |rowspan=7|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2000 |- |2001 |rowspan=2|Paul Heyman |- |2002 |- |2003 |Stone Cold Steve Austin |- |2004 |Paul Heyman |- |2005 |[[Eric Bischoff]] |- |2006 |Jim Cornette |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Ring of Honor |- |2007 |rowspan=2|[[Larry Sweeney]] |rowspan=2|Ring of Honor |- |2008 |- |2009 |rowspan=2|[[Vickie Guerrero]] |rowspan=6|World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE |- |2010 |- |2011 |[[Ricardo Rodriguez (wrestler)|Ricardo Rodriguez]] |- |2012 |rowspan=3|Paul Heyman |- |2013 |- |2014 |- |2015 |rowspan=2|[[Dario Cueto]] |rowspan=2|Lucha Underground |- |2016 |- |2017 |Daniel Bryan |rowspan=3|WWE |- |2018 |rowspan=2|Paul Heyman |- |2019 |- |2020 |[[Taz (wrestler)|Taz]] |All Elite Wrestling |- |2021 |rowspan=2|Paul Heyman |rowspan=2|WWE |- |2022 |- |2023 |[[Don Callis]] |All Elite Wrestling |- |2024 |Paul Heyman |WWE |- |2025 |Don Callis |All Elite Wrestling |}

====Jim Ross Award (Best Television Announcer) ==== [[File:Jim Ross No Mercy 2007 b.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Jim Ross]], namesake of this category, is a 14-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Announcer ! Promotion(s) |- |1981 |rowspan=3|[[Gordon Solie]] |rowspan=3|National Wrestling Alliance |- |1982 |- |1983 |- |1984 |rowspan=4|[[Lance Russell]] |rowspan=4|Continental Wrestling Association |- |1985 |- |1986 |- |1987 |- |1988 |rowspan=6|[[Jim Ross]] |rowspan=5|World Championship Wrestling |- |1989 |- |1990 |- |1991 |- |1992 |- |1993 |World Championship Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |1994 |rowspan=3|[[Joey Styles]] |rowspan=3|Extreme Championship Wrestling |- |1995 |- |1996 |- |1997 |[[Mike Tenay]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1998 |rowspan=4|Jim Ross |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation |- |1999 |- |2000 |- |2001 |- |2002 |rowspan=4|Mike Tenay |rowspan=4|Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2003 |- |2004 |- |2005 |- |2006 |rowspan=2|Jim Ross |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2007 |- |2008 |[[Matt Striker]] |- |2009 |Jim Ross |- |2010 |rowspan=2|[[Joe Rogan]] |rowspan=2|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2011 |- |2012 |Jim Ross |rowspan=3|WWE |- |2013 |rowspan=2|[[William Regal]] |- |2014 |- |2015 |rowspan=3|[[Mauro Ranallo]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2016 |New Japan Pro-Wrestling WWE |- |2017 |WWE [[Bellator MMA]] |- |2018 |rowspan=2|[[Kevin Kelly (announcer)|Kevin Kelly]] |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2019 |- |2020 | rowspan="2" |[[Excalibur (wrestler)|Excalibur]] | rowspan="2" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2021 |- |2022 |Kevin Kelly |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2023 |Excalibur |All Elite Wrestling |- |2024 |[[Nigel McGuinness]] |All Elite Wrestling Ring of Honor |- |2025 |[[Bryan Danielson]] |All Elite Wrestling |}

==== Worst Television Announcer ====

{{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = Gorilla Monsoon - Wrestling Program WWWF n.74 1977 (cropped).jpg | image2 = Michael Cole 2016.jpg | footer = [[Gorilla Monsoon]] and [[Michael Cole (wrestling)|Michael Cole]] are six-time winners of the category. }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Announcer ! Promotion(s) |- |1984 |[[Angelo Mosca]] |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |[[Gorilla Monsoon]] |- |1986 |rowspan=3|[[David Crockett (wrestling)|David Crockett]] |rowspan=3|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1987 |- |1988 |- |1989 |[[Ed Whalen (broadcaster)|Ed Whalen]] |Stampede Wrestling |- |1990 |[[Herb Abrams]] |[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1991 |rowspan=5|Gorilla Monsoon |rowspan=5|World Wrestling Federation |- |1992 |- |1993 |- |1994 |- |1995 |- |1996 |[[Steve McMichael]] |rowspan=5|World Championship Wrestling |- |1997 |Dusty Rhodes |- |1998 |[[Lee Marshall (announcer)|Lee Marshall]] |- |1999 |rowspan=2|[[Tony Schiavone]] |- |2000 |- |2001 |[[Michael Cole (wrestling)|Michael Cole]] |rowspan=6|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2002 |Jerry Lawler |- |2003 |[[Jonathan Coachman]] |- |2004 |[[Todd Grisham]] |- |2005 |Jonathan Coachman |- |2006 |Todd Grisham |- |2007 |[[Don West (wrestling)|Don West]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2008 |[[Mike Adamle]] |rowspan=5|World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE |- |2009 |rowspan=4|Michael Cole |- |2010 |- |2011 |- |2012 |- |2013 |[[Taz (wrestler)|Taz]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2014 |rowspan=2|[[John Layfield|John "Bradshaw" Layfield]] | rowspan="12" |WWE |- |2015 |- |2016 |[[David Otunga]] |- |2017 |Booker T |- |2018 |Jonathan Coachman |- |2019 |[[Corey Graves]] |- |2020 |Michael Cole |- |2021 |rowspan=2|Corey Graves |- |2022 |- |2023 | rowspan="3" |Booker T |- |2024 |- |2025 |}

==== {{anchor|Best Major Show}}Best Major Wrestling Show ==== [[File:WMX-Seven2.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[WrestleMania X-Seven]], the first of two editions of WrestleMania to win this award.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Show ! Promotion |- |1989 |[[The Great American Bash (1989)|The Great American Bash]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |[[WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit|Wrestling Summit]] |World Wrestling Federation/New Japan Pro-Wrestling/All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1991 |[[WrestleWar (1991)|WrestleWar]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1992 |Wrestlemarinpiad |rowspan=2|All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling |- |1993 |Dream Slam I |- |1994 |[[Super J-Cup (1994)|Super J-Cup]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1995 |[[Weekly Pro Wrestling Tokyo Dome Show|Bridge of Dreams]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=47128|title=Bridge Of Dreams ~ Dome Spring Full Bloom|access-date=February 16, 2017|work=Cagematch}}</ref> |Weekly Pro Wrestling |- |1996 |[[Super J-Cup (1995)|Super J-Cup: 2nd Stage]] |[[WAR (wrestling promotion)|Wrestle Association R]] |- |1997 |[[In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1998 |[[Heat Wave (1998)|Heat Wave]] |rowspan=2|Extreme Championship Wrestling |- |1999 |[[Anarchy Rulz (1999)|Anarchy Rulz]] |- |2000 |[[Juicio Final (2000)|Juicio Final]] |{{lang|es|Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|italic=no}} |- |2001 |[[WrestleMania X-Seven]] |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2002 |[[SummerSlam (2002)|SummerSlam]] |- |2003 |[[Pride Final Conflict 2003|Final Conflict]] |Pride Fighting Championships |- |2004 |[[Departure (2004)|Departure]] |rowspan=2|Pro Wrestling Noah |- |2005 |[[Destiny (2005)|Destiny]] |- |2006 |[[Glory By Honor|Glory By Honor V: Night 2]] |rowspan=2|Ring of Honor |- |2007 |[[ROH Man Up|Man Up]] |- |2008 |[[WrestleMania XXIV]] |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2009 |[[DGUSA Enter The Dragon|Open the Historic Gate]] |Dragon Gate USA |- |2010 |[[UFC 116]] |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2011 |[[Money in the Bank (2011)|Money in the Bank]] |WWE |- |2012 |[[King of Pro-Wrestling (2012)|King of Pro-Wrestling]] |rowspan=7|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2013 |[[G1 Climax#2013|G1 Climax 23: Day 4]] |- |2014 |[[G1 Climax#2013|G1 Climax 24: Day 7]] |- |2015 |[[Wrestle Kingdom 9]] |- |2016 |[[Wrestle Kingdom 10]] |- |2017 |[[Wrestle Kingdom 11]] |- |2018 |[[Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall]] |- |2019 |[[Double or Nothing (2019)|Double or Nothing]] | rowspan="3" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2020 |[[Revolution (2020)|Revolution]] |- |2021 |[[All Out (2021)|All Out]] |- |2022 |[[Forbidden Door (2022)|Forbidden Door]] |All Elite Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2023 |[[AEW Revolution (2023)|Revolution]] | rowspan="3" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2024 |[[Revolution (2024)|Revolution]] |- |2025 |[[All In (2025)|All In]] |}

==== {{anchor|Worst Major Show}}Worst Major Wrestling Show ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Show ! Promotion |- |1989 |[[WrestleMania V]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1990 |[[Clash of the Champions XII]] |rowspan=4|World Championship Wrestling |- |1991 |[[The Great American Bash (1991)|The Great American Bash]] |- |1992 |[[Halloween Havoc (1992)|Halloween Havoc]] |- |1993 |[[Fall Brawl (1993)|Fall Brawl]] |- |1994 |[[UWF Blackjack Brawl|Blackjack Brawl]] |[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1995 |[[Uncensored (1995)|Uncensored]] |rowspan=4|World Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |[[Uncensored (1996)|Uncensored]] |- |1997 |[[Souled Out (1997)|nWo Souled Out]] |- |1998 |[[Fall Brawl (1998)|Fall Brawl]] |- |1999 |[[Heroes of Wrestling]] |Heroes of Wrestling |- |2000 |[[Halloween Havoc (2000)|Halloween Havoc]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |2001 |[[Women of Wrestling#WOW Unleashed|Unleashed]] |[[Women of Wrestling]] |- |2002 |[[King of the Ring (2002)|King of the Ring]] |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2003 |[[Backlash (2003)|Backlash]] |- |2004 |[[The Great American Bash (2004)|The Great American Bash]] |- |2005 |[[The Great American Bash (2005)|The Great American Bash]] |- |2006 |[[UFC 61]] |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2007 |[[December to Dismember (2006)|December to Dismember]] |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2008 |[[Survivor Series (2008)|Survivor Series]] |- |2009 |[[Victory Road (2009)|Victory Road]] |rowspan=3|Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2010 |[[Hardcore Justice (2010)|Hardcore Justice]] |- |2011 |[[Victory Road (2011)|Victory Road]] |- |2012 |[[2012 in UFC#UFC 149: Faber vs. Barão|UFC 149]] |Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2013 |[[Battleground (2013)|Battleground]] |rowspan=2|WWE |- |2014 |[[Battleground (2014)|Battleground]] |- |2015 |[[Triplemanía XXIII]] |Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2016 |[[WrestleMania 32]] | rowspan="8" |WWE |- |2017 |[[Battleground (2017)|Battleground]] |- |2018 |[[Crown Jewel (2018)|Crown Jewel]] |- |2019 |[[Super ShowDown (2019)|Super Showdown]] |- |2020 |[[Super ShowDown (2020)|Super Showdown]] |- |2021 |[[Survivor Series (2021)|Survivor Series]] |- |2022 |[[Royal Rumble (2022)|Royal Rumble]] |- |2023 |[[Crown Jewel (2023)|Crown Jewel]] |- |2024 |[[Triplemanía XXXII: Monterrey]] |Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2025 |[[Wrestlepalooza (2025)|Wrestlepalooza]] |WWE |}

==== Best Wrestling Maneuver ==== [[File:Jimmy_Superfly_Snuka_Paparazzo_Photography.jpg|right|thumb|Jimmy Snuka was the first winner of the award, winning in 1981]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" !Year !Wrestler !Maneuver !Promotion(s) |- |1981 |Jimmy Snuka |Superfly splash {{small|[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Splash|Diving splash]]}} |World Wrestling Federation |- |1982 |[[Scott Irwin|Super Destroyer]] |[[Superplex]] {{small|Suplex from ring ropes}} |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1983 |Jimmy Snuka |Superfly splash | rowspan="2" |World Wrestling Federation |- |1984 |British Bulldogs |[[Professional wrestling holds#Military press|Military press]] followed by a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Missile dropkick|missile dropkick]] |- |1985 |Tiger Mask II |''Topé con giro'' {{small|[[Suicide dive]] through the ropes into [[senton]]}} |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1986 |[[Chavo Guerrero Sr.|Chavo Guerrero]] |[[Moonsault|Moonsault block]] |[[World Wrestling Association]] |- |1987 | rowspan="2" |Keiichi Yamada | rowspan="2" |[[Shooting star press]] | rowspan="2" |Stampede Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling [[All Star Wrestling|All Star Promotions]] |- |1988 |- |1989 | rowspan="2" |Scott Steiner | rowspan="2" |[[Frankensteiner]] {{small|Headscissors takedown}} | rowspan="2" |World Championship Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1990 |- |1991 |[[Masao Orihara]] |Top-rope moonsault to the outside of the ring |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1992 |[[2 Cold Scorpio]] |[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#450° splash|450° splash]] | rowspan="2" |World Championship Wrestling |- |1993 |Vader |Moonsault |- |1994 |The Great Sasuke |Sasuke Special {{small|Cartwheel moonsault over the top rope}} |Michinoku Pro Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1995 |Rey Misterio Jr. |[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Somersault|Flip dive]] into a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving hurricanrana|frankensteiner]] on the floor |Extreme Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |Último Dragón |Running Liger bomb {{small|[[Powerbomb#Sit-Out Powerbomb|Running sitout powerbomb]]}} |World Championship Wrestling Wrestle Association R |- |1997 |Diamond Dallas Page |Diamond Cutter {{small|[[Cutter (professional wrestling)|Jumping cutter]]}} |World Championship Wrestling |- |1998 |Kenta Kobashi |Burning Hammer {{small|[[Professional wrestling throws#Inverted Death Valley driver|Inverted Death Valley driver]]}} |All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1999 | rowspan="2" |Dragon Kid | rowspan="2" |Dragonrana {{small|[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Dragonrana|Somersault into hurricanrana]]}} | rowspan="2" |Toryumon Japan |- |2000 |- |2001 |Keiji Muto/The Great Muta |Shining Wizard {{small|Knee strike onto kneeling opponent}} |New Japan Pro-Wrestling All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |2002 |Brock Lesnar |F-5 {{small|[[Facebuster#Fireman's carry facebuster|Fireman's carry facebuster]]}} |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2003 |AJ Styles |Styles Clash {{small|[[Facebuster#Belly-to-back inverted mat slam|Belly-to-back inverted mat slam]]}} |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Ring of Honor |- |2004 | rowspan="2" |Petey Williams | rowspan="2" |Canadian Destroyer {{small|[[Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Flip piledriver|Flip piledriver]]}} | rowspan="2" |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2005 |- |2006 | rowspan="2" |Kenta | rowspan="2" |[[Professional wrestling attacks#Go 2 Sleep|Go 2 Sleep]] {{small|[[Fireman's carry drop]] into knee strike}} | rowspan="2" |Pro Wrestling Noah Ring of Honor |- |2007 |- |2008 |Evan Bourne |Air Bourne {{small|Shooting star press}} |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2009 |The Young Bucks |More Bang for Your Buck {{small|Rolling fireman's carry slam, followed by 450° splash, followed by moonsault}} |Chikara Dragon Gate USA Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Ring of Honor Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2010 | rowspan="2" |Ricochet | rowspan="2" |[[Moonsault#Double rotation moonsault|Double rotation moonsault]] | rowspan="2" |Dragon Gate USA Pro Wrestling Guerrilla |- |2011 |- |2012 | rowspan="2" |Kazuchika Okada | rowspan="2" |Rainmaker {{small|[[Professional wrestling attacks#Short-arm lariat|Short-arm lariat]]}} | rowspan="2" |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2013 |- |2014 |The Young Bucks |Meltzer Driver {{small|Springboard somersault senton spike into kneeling belly-to-belly piledriver}} |New Japan Pro-Wrestling Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Ring of Honor |- |2015 |AJ Styles |Styles Clash |New Japan Pro-Wrestling Ring of Honor |- |2016 | rowspan="3" |Kenny Omega | rowspan="3" |One-Winged Angel {{small|[[Professional wrestling throws#Electric chair driver|One-handed electric chair driver]]}} | rowspan="4" |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2017 |- |2018 |- |2019 |Will Ospreay |Storm Breaker {{small|Double underhook Canadian [[backbreaker]] rack into a modified corkscrew [[neckbreaker]]}} |- |2020 |Kenny Omega |One Winged Angel |All Elite Wrestling Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |- |2021 |"Hangman" Adam Page |Buckshot Lariat {{small|[[Slingshot (wrestling)|Slingshot]] flipping lariat}} |All Elite Wrestling |- |2022 | rowspan="3" |Will Ospreay | rowspan="3" |Hidden Blade {{small|Running elbow strike to the back of a kneeling opponent's head}} | rowspan="3" |New Japan Pro-Wrestling All Elite Wrestling |- |2023 |- |2024 |- |2025 |"Hangman" Adam Page |Buckshot Lariat |All Elite Wrestling |}

==== Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic ====

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Promotional Tactic ! Promotion(s) |- |1981 |Monster character (Tony Hernandez) |LeBelle Promotions |- |1982 |[[Bob Backlund]] as WWF Champion | rowspan="2" |World Wrestling Federation |- |1983 |[[Eddie Gilbert (wrestler)|Eddie Gilbert]] re-breaking his neck in an [[Angle (professional wrestling)|angle]] after having done so legitimately |- |1984 |[[Blackjack Mulligan]] fake heart attack |[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]] |- |1985 |Usage of [[Mike Von Erich]]'s near-death to sell tickets | rowspan="4" |World Class Championship Wrestling |- |1986 |Comparing [[Chris Adams (wrestler)|Chris Adams]]' blindness angle with the death of [[Gino Hernandez]] |- |1987 |Exploitation of the death of Mike Von Erich |- |1988 |[[Fritz Von Erich]]'s fake heart attack |- |1989 |[[José González (wrestler)|José González]]'s [[Face (professional wrestling)|babyface]] [[Push (professional wrestling)|push]] one year after [[Bruiser Brody]] stabbing case |World Wrestling Council/Capitol Sports Promotions |- |1990 |Atsushi Onita stabbing José González, two years after Bruiser Brody stabbing case |Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling |- |1991 |Exploiting the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]] ([[Sgt. Slaughter]] Iraqi sympathizer angle) |World Wrestling Federation |- |1992 |Pushing [[Erik Watts]] | rowspan="4" |World Championship Wrestling |- |1993 |[[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] gets amnesia |- |1994 |Ric Flair retirement angle |- |1995 |[[Gene Okerlund]]'s 900 hotline announcement of the death of [[Jerry Blackwell]] |- |1996 |[[Fake Diesel]] and [[Rick Bognar|Razor Ramon]] | rowspan="2" |World Wrestling Federation |- |1997 |[[Melanie Pillman]] interview on ''Raw'' the day after Brian Pillman's death |- |1998 |Exploiting [[Scott Hall]]'s [[alcoholism]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1999 |[[Over the Edge (1999)|Over the Edge pay-per-view]] continuing after the death of Owen Hart |World Wrestling Federation |- |2000 |[[David Arquette]] wins the [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |2001 |[[Stephanie McMahon]] comparing [[Vince McMahon|her father's]] [[United States v. McMahon|indictment]] to [[September 11 attacks]] | rowspan="6" |World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2002 |Triple H accusing Kane of [[murder]] and [[necrophilia]] (Katie Vick) |- |2003 |[[McMahon family|McMahons]] all over the product |- |2004 |Kane and [[Lita (wrestler)|Lita]] pregnancy/wedding/miscarriage angle |- |2005 |Not editing out a terrorist angle ([[Muhammad Hassan (wrestler)|Muhammad Hassan]] attacking [[The Undertaker]]) for air on [[7 July 2005 London bombings|day of London bombings]] |- |2006 |Exploitation of the death of Eddie Guerrero |- |2007 |Signing of [[Adam "Pacman" Jones]] and having him "Make It Rain" on television, when his doing so in a strip club led to the paralysis of a wrestler |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2008 |Teasing a [[Jeff Hardy]] drug overdose to garner late interest in a [[Survivor Series (2008)|PPV show]] | rowspan="8" |World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE |- |2009 |[[Mickie James]]' "Piggy James" angle making fun of her weight |- |2010 |Stand Up For WWE campaign, launched in conjunction with [[Linda McMahon]]'s [[Linda McMahon 2010 United States Senate campaign|US Senate run]] |- |2011 |Promoting an anti-bullying campaign despite blatant mistreatment of Jim Ross |- |2012 |CM Punk and Paul Heyman exploiting Jerry Lawler's real-life heart attack, playing footage of him near death |- |2013 |Exploitation of the death of [[Paul Bearer|Bill Moody]] |- |2014 |Insulting fans who purchased PPVs |- |2015 |Using [[Reid Flair|Reid Fliehr]]'s death in an angle |- |2016 |[[Kimbo Slice]] vs. [[Dada 5000]] [[Bellator 149|fight]] |Bellator MMA |- |2017 |Promoting Jimmy Snuka as a hero in death not long after his trial over the death of Nancy Argentino | rowspan="9" |WWE |- |2018 | rowspan="2" |[[WWE in Saudi Arabia|Relationship with Saudi Arabia]] |- |2019 |- |2020 | rowspan="2" |Firing people during a [[COVID-19 pandemic|global pandemic]] while setting profit records |- |2021 |- |2022 |Vince McMahon appearing on television for a crowd pop after [[Vince McMahon sex trafficking scandal|sexual misconduct allegations]] came out |- |2023 |WWE enabling Vince McMahon and him being back in power, and [[TKO Group Holdings|TKO]] keeping him in a position of power |- |2024 |[[WWE in Saudi Arabia|Continued relationship with Saudi Arabia]] |- |2025 |WWE bringing back [[Brock Lesnar]] |}

==== Worst Television Show ====

{{Multiple image | align = right | image1 = | width1 = 200 | footer = ''[[NWA Power]]'' won the award in 2023. }} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Program !Promotion |- |1984 |''[[List of former WWE programming#All-Star Wrestling (1971–1986)|All-Star Wrestling]]'' |World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |''Championship Wrestling from Florida'' |Championship Wrestling from Florida |- |1986 |''California Championship Wrestling'' |California Championship Wrestling |- |1987 |''World Class Championship Wrestling'' |World Class Championship Wrestling |- |1988 |''[[AWA Championship Wrestling|Championship Wrestling]]'' |American Wrestling Association |- |1989 |''[[International World Class Championship Wrestling|ICW Wrestling]]'' |International Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |''Championship Wrestling'' |American Wrestling Association |- |1991 |''[[UWF Fury Hour|Fury Hour]]'' |[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1992 |rowspan=2|''[[Global Wrestling Federation]] on [[ESPN]]'' |rowspan=2|Global Wrestling Federation |- |1993 |- |1994 |rowspan=2|''[[WCW Saturday Night|Saturday Night]]'' |rowspan=2| World Championship Wrestling |- |1995 |- |1996 | ''[[American Wrestling Federation#Warriors of Wrestling|Warriors of Wrestling]]'' |[[American Wrestling Federation]] |- |1997 |''United States Wrestling Association'' |United States Wrestling Association |- |1998 |''[[WCW Monday Nitro|Monday Nitro]]'' |rowspan=3|World Championship Wrestling |- |1999 |rowspan=2|''[[WCW Thunder|Thunder]]'' |- |2000 |- |2001 |''[[List of former WWE television programming#Excess (2001–2002)|Excess]]'' |rowspan=6|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2002 |rowspan=2|''Monday Night Raw'' |- |2003 |- |2004 |rowspan=2|''Friday Night SmackDown!'' |- |2005 |- |2006 |''Monday Night Raw'' |- |2007 |rowspan=5|''[[Impact! (TV series)|Impact!/Impact Wrestling]]'' |rowspan=5|Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2008 |- |2009 |- |2010 |- |2011 |- |2012 |''Monday Night Raw'' |WWE |- |2013 |''Impact Wrestling'' |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2014 | rowspan="9" |''Monday Night Raw'' | rowspan="9" |WWE |- |2015 |- |2016 |- |2017 |- |2018 |- |2019 |- |2020 |- |2021 |- |2022 |- |2023 |''[[NWA Powerrr]]'' |[[National Wrestling Alliance]] |- |2024 |''[[AEW Rampage|Rampage]]'' |All Elite Wrestling |- |2025 |[[WWE NXT|''NXT'']] |WWE |}

===={{anchor|Worst Worked Match of the Year}}Worst Match of the Year==== {{small|Note: Named "Worst Worked Match of the Year" until 2018.}} [[File:Hulk Hogan.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Hulk Hogan]] won the award for a record three straight years.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Match ! Promotion ! Show and venue |- |1984 |[[Wendi Richter]] vs. [[The Fabulous Moolah]] |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation |[[The Brawl to End It All]] New York, New York July 23 |- |1985 |[[Freddie Blassie]] vs. Lou Albano {{small|Steel Cage match}} |[[House show|WWF House Show]] Uniondale, New York September 20 |- |1986 |[[Mr. T]] vs. Roddy Piper {{small|Boxing match}} |[[WrestleMania 2]] Uniondale, New York April 7 |- |1987 |Hulk Hogan vs. André the Giant |[[WrestleMania III]] Pontiac, Michigan March 29 |- |1988 |[[Wajima Hiroshi|Hiroshi Wajima]] vs. [[Tom Magee]] |All Japan Pro Wrestling |[[Champion Carnival]] Kawasaki, Japan April 21 |- |1989 |André the Giant vs. The Ultimate Warrior |World Wrestling Federation |[[Saturday Night's Main Event XXIV]] Topeka, Kansas October 31 |- |1990 |Sid Vicious vs. [[Bryan Clark|The Nightstalker]] |rowspan=3|World Championship Wrestling |[[Clash of the Champions XIII]] Jacksonville, Florida November 20 |- |1991 |Bobby Eaton and [[P. N. News]] vs. [[Terry Taylor|Terrance Taylor]] and Steve Austin {{small|[[Professional wrestling match types#Flag match|Capture the Flag]] scaffold match}} |[[The Great American Bash (1991)|The Great American Bash]] Baltimore, Maryland July 14 |- |1992 |[[Rick Rude]] vs. [[Masahiro Chono]] |[[Halloween Havoc (1992)|Halloween Havoc]] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 25 |- |1993 |[[The Bushwhackers]] and [[Men on a Mission]] vs. Bam Bam Bigelow, [[Mike Shaw|Bastion Booger]], and [[The Headshrinkers]] |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |[[Survivor Series (1993)|Survivor Series]] Boston, Massachusetts November 24 |- |1994 |The Royal Court vs. Clowns R' Us |[[Survivor Series (1994)|Survivor Series]] San Antonio, Texas November 23 |- |1995 |Sting vs. Tony Palmore |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |[[Battle 7]] Tokyo, Japan January 4 |- |1996 |Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, [[Tonga Fifita|Meng]], [[The Barbarian (wrestler)|The Barbarian]], Lex Luger, [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]], [[Tom Lister Jr.|Z-Gangsta]] and [[Robert Swenson|The Ultimate Solution]] {{small|[[Professional wrestling match types#Doomsday Cage match|Tower of Doom match]]}} |rowspan=3|World Championship Wrestling |[[Uncensored (1996)|Uncensored]] Tupelo, Mississippi March 24 |- |1997 |Hollywood Hogan vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper |[[SuperBrawl VII|SuperBrawl]] Daly City, California February 23 |- |1998 |Hollywood Hogan vs. [[The Ultimate Warrior|The Warrior]] |[[Halloween Havoc (1998)|Halloween Havoc]] Las Vegas, Nevada October 25 |- |1999 |[[Al Snow]] vs. [[Big Boss Man (wrestler)|The Big Boss Man]] {{small|Kennel from Hell match}} |rowspan=7|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |[[Unforgiven (1999)|Unforgiven]] Charlotte, North Carolina September 26 |- |2000 |Pat Patterson vs. [[Gerald Brisco]] {{small|[[Hardcore wrestling|Hardcore]] [[Professional wrestling match types#Evening Gown match|Evening Gown match]]}} |[[King of the Ring (2000)|King of the Ring]] Boston, Massachusetts June 25 |- |2001 |[[The Brothers of Destruction]] vs. [[KroniK]] |[[Unforgiven (2001)|Unforgiven]] Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania September 23 |- |2002 |[[John Layfield|Bradshaw]] and [[Trish Stratus]] vs. [[Christopher Nowinski]] and [[Jackie Gayda]] |[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 8 |- |2003 |Triple H vs. Scott Steiner |[[Royal Rumble (2003)|Royal Rumble]] Boston, Massachusetts January 19 |- |2004 |[[Tyson Tomko]] vs. [[Stevie Richards]] |[[Unforgiven (2004)|Unforgiven]] Portland, Oregon September 12 |- |2005 |Eric Bischoff vs. [[Theodore Long]] |[[Survivor Series (2005)|Survivor Series]] Detroit, Michigan November 27 |- |2006 |[[Fight for the Right Tournament#Stage 1|Reverse Battle Royal]] |rowspan=2|Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |[[Impact Wrestling (TV series)|Impact!]] Orlando, Florida October 26 |- |2007 |James Storm vs. Chris Harris {{small|[[Professional wrestling match types#Steel Cage match|Six Sides of Steel]] blindfold match}} |[[Lockdown (2007)|Lockdown]] St. Louis, Missouri April 15 |- |2008 |Edge vs. Triple H vs. Vladimir Kozlov |World Wrestling Entertainment |[[Survivor Series (2008)|Survivor Series]] Boston, Massachusetts November 23 |- |2009 |[[Jenna Morasca]] vs. [[Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman|Sharmell]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |[[Victory Road (2009)|Victory Road]] Orlando, Florida July 19 |- |2010 |[[Kaitlyn (wrestler)|Kaitlyn]] vs. [[Maxine (wrestler)|Maxine]] |World Wrestling Entertainment |''NXT'' Edmonton, Alberta, Canada October 19 |- |2011 |Sting vs. Jeff Hardy |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |[[Victory Road (2011)|Victory Road]] Orlando, Florida March 13 |- |2012 |John Cena vs. [[John Laurinaitis]] {{small|No Disqualification match}} |rowspan=3|WWE |[[Over the Limit (2012)|Over the Limit]] Raleigh, North Carolina May 20 |- |2013 |[[Brie Bella]], [[Nikki Bella]], [[Natalya Neidhart|Natalya]], [[Naomi (wrestler)|Naomi]], [[Cameron (wrestler)|Cameron]], [[Eva Marie]], and [[JoJo Offerman|JoJo]] vs. [[AJ Lee]], [[Tamina Snuka]], [[Kaitlyn (wrestler)|Kaitlyn]], [[Alicia Fox]], [[Aksana (wrestler)|Aksana]], [[Rosa Mendes]], and [[Summer Rae]] {{small|[[Survivor Series match]]}} |[[Survivor Series (2013)|Survivor Series]] Boston, Massachusetts November 24 |- |2014 |John Cena vs. [[Bray Wyatt]] {{small|Steel Cage match}} |[[Extreme Rules (2014)|Extreme Rules]] East Rutherford, New Jersey May 4 |- |2015 |[[Los Psycho Circus]] ([[Monster Clown]], [[Murder Clown]] and [[Psycho Clown]]) vs. Los Villanos ([[Villano III]], [[Villano IV]] and [[Villano V]]) |Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide |[[Triplemanía XXIII]] Mexico City, Mexico August 9 |- |2016 |[[Shelly Martinez]] vs. [[Rebel (wrestler)|Rebel]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |[[TNA One Night Only (2016)#Knockouts Knockdown 2016|One Night Only: Knockouts Knockdown]] Orlando, Florida March 17 |- |2017 |Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton | rowspan="9" |WWE |[[WrestleMania 33]] Orlando, Florida April 2 |- |2018 |[[D-Generation X]] vs. Brothers of Destruction |[[Crown Jewel (2018)|Crown Jewel]] Riyadh, Saudi Arabia November 2 |- |2019 |Seth Rollins vs. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt {{small|[[Hell in a Cell match]]}} |[[Hell in a Cell (2019)|Hell in a Cell]] Sacramento, California October 6 |- |2020 |[[Braun Strowman]] vs. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt {{small|Wyatt Swamp Fight}} |[[The Horror Show at Extreme Rules]] Orlando, Florida July 19 |- |2021 |The Miz vs. Damian Priest {{small|Zombie [[lumberjack match]]}} |[[WrestleMania Backlash (2021)|WrestleMania Backlash]] [[Tampa, Florida]] May 16 |- |2022 |Pat McAfee vs. Mr. McMahon | [[Wrestlemania 38|Wrestlemania 38 Night 2]] [[Arlington, Texas]] April 3 |- |2023 |Bray Wyatt vs. [[LA Knight]] {{small|[[Mountain Dew Pitch Black]] match}} |[[Royal Rumble (2023)|Royal Rumble]] [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]] January 28 |- |2024 |[[Jey Uso]] vs. [[Jimmy Uso]] |[[WrestleMania XL|WrestleMania XL Night 1]] [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] April 6 |- |2025 |[[John Cena]] vs. [[Cody Rhodes]] |[[WrestleMania 41|WrestleMania 41 Night 2]] [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] April 20 |}

==== Worst Feud of the Year ==== {{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = Adam Cole, June 2022 (cropped).jpg | image2 = MJF May 2019.jpg | footer = [[Adam Cole|Adam Cole/The Devil]] vs. [[MJF (wrestler)|MJF]] won the award twice. }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Feud ! Promotion |- |1984 |André the Giant vs. Big John Studd |World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |Sgt. Slaughter vs. [[Jim Barrell|Boris Zhukov]] |American Wrestling Association |- |1986 |The Machines vs. [[King Kong Bundy]] and John Studd |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1987 |[[George Steele]] vs. [[Dan Marsh|Danny Davis]] |- |1988 |[[Dusty Rhodes|The Midnight Rider]] vs. [[Tully Blanchard]] |Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1989 |André the Giant vs. The Ultimate Warrior |World Wrestling Federation |- |1990 |Ric Flair vs. The Junkyard Dog |World Championship Wrestling |- |1991 |Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation |- |1992 |The Ultimate Warrior vs. [[Papa Shango]] |- |1993 |The Undertaker vs. [[Giant González]] |- |1994 |Jerry Lawler vs. [[Doink the Clown]] |- |1995 |Hulk Hogan vs. [[The Dungeon of Doom]] |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |Big Bubba vs. [[John Tenta]] |- |1997 |[[Disciples of Apocalypse|The D.O.A.]] vs. [[Los Boricuas]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1998 |Hollywood Hogan vs. The Warrior |World Championship Wrestling |- |1999 |Big Boss Man vs. Big Show |World Wrestling Federation |- |2000 |Hulk Hogan vs. [[Billy Kidman]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |2001 |WWF vs. [[The Alliance (professional wrestling)|The Alliance]] {{small|[[The Invasion (professional wrestling)|The Invasion storyline]]}} | rowspan="22" |World Wrestling Federation/{{zwsp}}Entertainment/{{zwsp}}WWE |- |2002 |Triple H vs. Kane |- |2003 |Kane vs. Shane McMahon |- |2004 |Kane vs. [[Matt Hardy]] and Lita |- |2005 |McMahon Family vs. Jim Ross |- |2006 |McMahon Family vs. D-Generation X |- |2007 |Kane vs. [[Big Daddy V]] |- |2008 |Kane vs. Rey Mysterio |- |2009 |[[Hornswoggle]] vs. Chavo Guerrero |- |2010 |Edge vs. Kane |- |2011 |Triple H vs. Kevin Nash |- |2012 |John Cena vs. Kane |- |2013 |Big Show vs. [[The Authority (professional wrestling)|The Authority]] |- |2014 |Brie Bella vs. Nikki Bella |- |2015 |Team PCB vs. [[Team B.A.D.]] vs. [[Team Bella]] |- |2016 |[[Titus O'Neil]] vs. [[Darren Young]] |- |2017 |[[Bray Wyatt]] vs. Randy Orton |- |2018 |[[Sasha Banks]] vs. Bayley |- |2019 |Seth Rollins vs. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt |- |2020 |Braun Strowman vs. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt |- |2021 |Randy Orton vs. The Fiend & [[Alexa Bliss]] |- |2022 |The Miz vs. [[Dexter Lumis]] |- |2023 | rowspan="2" |[[MJF]] vs. [[Adam Cole|The Devil/Adam Cole]] | rowspan="3" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2024 |- |2025 |[[Anthony Bowens]] vs. [[Max Caster]] |}

==== Worst Promotion of the Year ==== [[File:TNA ring.jpg|thumb| Impact Wrestling, formerly and currently known as [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]], is an 11-time winner of the category, having won every year from 2007 to 2017.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Promotion |- |1986 |American Wrestling Association |- |1987 |World Class Championship Wrestling |- |1988 |rowspan=3|American Wrestling Association |- |1989 |- |1990 |- |1991 |[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1992 |Global Wrestling Federation |- |1993 |rowspan=3|World Championship Wrestling |- |1994 |- |1995 |- |1996 |American Wrestling Federation |- |1997 |United States Wrestling Association |- |1998 |rowspan=4|World Championship Wrestling |- |1999 |- |2000 |- |2001 |- |2002 |[[Xtreme Pro Wrestling]] |- |2003 |[[Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling]] |- |2004 |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2005 |- |2006 |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2007 |rowspan=11|Total Nonstop Action Wrestling/Impact Wrestling |- |2008 |- |2009 |- |2010 |- |2011 |- |2012 |- |2013 |- |2014 |- |2015 |- |2016 |- |2017 |- |2018 | rowspan="5" |WWE |- |2019 |- |2020 |- |2021 |- |2022 |- |2023 | rowspan="2" |National Wrestling Alliance |- |2024 |- |2025 |WWE |}

==== Best Booker ==== {{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = JimCornette2015Cropped.jpg | image2 = Paul Heyman WrestleMania 32 Axxess.jpg | footer = [[Jim Cornette]] (top) and [[Paul Heyman]] (bottom) are the only winners of the category who won the award for work in two separate promotions. }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Booker ! Promotion(s) |- |1986 |Dusty Rhodes |Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1987 |Vince McMahon |World Wrestling Federation |- |1988 |Eddie Gilbert |[[Continental Wrestling Federation]] |- |1989 |rowspan=3|[[Shohei Baba]] |rowspan=3|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1990 |- |1991 |- |1992 |Riki Choshu |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1993 |Jim Cornette |Smoky Mountain Wrestling |- |1994 |rowspan=4|Paul Heyman |rowspan=4|Extreme Championship Wrestling |- |1995 |- |1996 |- |1997 |- |1998 |rowspan=3|Vince McMahon |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1999 |- |2000 |- |2001 |Jim Cornette |[[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] |- |2002 |Paul Heyman |World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2003 |Jim Cornette |Ohio Valley Wrestling |- |2004 |rowspan=4|[[Gabe Sapolsky]] |rowspan=4|Ring of Honor [[Full Impact Pro]] |- |2005 |- |2006 |- |2007 |- |2008 |rowspan=3|Joe Silva |rowspan=3|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2009 |- |2010 |- |2011 |rowspan=4|[[Gedo (wrestler)|Gedo]] and [[Jado]] |rowspan=4|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2012 |- |2013 |- |2014 |- |2015 |[[Triple H|Paul Levesque]] and Ryan Ward |WWE (NXT) |- |2016 |rowspan=4|Gedo |rowspan=4|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2017 |- |2018 |- |2019 |- |2020 | rowspan="3" |[[Tony Khan]] | rowspan="3" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2021 |- |2022 |- |2023 | rowspan="2" |Paul Levesque | rowspan="2" |WWE |- |2024 |- |2025 |Tony Khan |All Elite Wrestling |}

==== Promoter of the Year ====

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Promoter ! Promotion(s) |- |1988 |[[Vince McMahon]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1989 |Akira Maeda |[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1990 |rowspan=5|Shohei Baba |rowspan=5|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1991 |- |1992 |- |1993 |- |1994 |- |1995 |rowspan=3|Riki Choshu |rowspan=3|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1996 |- |1997 |- |1998 |rowspan=3|[[Vince McMahon]] |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1999 |- |2000 |- |2001 |[[Antonio Inoki]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2002 |[[Kazuyoshi Ishii]] |K-1 |- |2003 |rowspan=2|[[Nobuyuki Sakakibara]] |rowspan=2|Pride Fighting Championships |- |2004 |- |2005 |rowspan=9|[[Dana White]] |rowspan=9|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2006 |- |2007 |- |2008 |- |2009 |- |2010 |- |2011 |- |2012 |- |2013 |- |2014 |[[Takaaki Kidani]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2015 |rowspan=2|[[Dana White]] |rowspan=2|Ultimate Fighting Championship |- |2016 |- |2017 |rowspan=2|[[Takaaki Kidani]] |rowspan=2|New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2018 |- |2019 | rowspan="4" |[[Tony Khan (sports executive)|Tony Khan]] | rowspan="4" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2020 |- |2021 |- |2022 |- |2023 | rowspan="2" |[[Nick Khan]] | rowspan="2" |WWE |- |2024 |- |2025 |Salvador Lutteroth III |Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre |}

==== Best Gimmick ==== [[File:Undertaker with Fire.jpg|thumb|upright|[[The Undertaker]] is a five-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1986 |[[Adrian Street]] |[[Continental Championship Wrestling]] |- |1987 |Ted DiBiase |World Wrestling Federation |- |1988 |Rick Steiner |Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1989 |Jushin Liger |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1990 |rowspan=5|The Undertaker |rowspan=5|World Wrestling Federation |- |1991 |- |1992 |- |1993 |- |1994 |- |1995 |[[Disco Inferno (wrestler)|Disco Inferno]] |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |[[The New World Order (professional wrestling)|nWo]] |- |1997 |rowspan=2|Stone Cold Steve Austin |rowspan=9|World Wrestling Federation/{{zwsp}}World Wrestling Entertainment |- |1998 |- |1999 |The Rock |- |2000 |Kurt Angle |- |2001 |[[Gregory Helms|The Hurricane]] |- |2002 |Matt Hardy |- |2003 |John Cena |- |2004 |John "Bradshaw" Layfield |- |2005 |[[Ken Anderson (wrestler)|Mr. Kennedy]] |- |2006 |[[The Latin American Xchange]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2007 |rowspan=2|[[Santino Marella]] |rowspan=5|World Wrestling Entertainment/{{zwsp}}WWE |- |2008 |- |2009 |CM Punk |- |2010 |[[Alberto Del Rio]] |- |2011 |CM Punk |- |2012 |[[Abyss (wrestler)|Joseph Park]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2013 |[[The Wyatt Family]] |rowspan=3|WWE |- |2014 |Rusev and [[Lana (wrestling)|Lana]] |- |2015 |[[The New Day (wrestling)|The New Day]] |- |2016 |"Broken" Matt Hardy |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2017 |[[Los Ingobernables de Japón]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2018 |[[Velveteen Dream]] |rowspan=2|WWE |- |2019 |"The Fiend" Bray Wyatt |- |2020 |[[Orange Cassidy]] |All Elite Wrestling |- |2021 |[[Roman Reigns]] |rowspan=2|WWE |- |2022 |[[Sami Zayn]] |- |2023 | rowspan="3" |[["Timeless" Toni Storm]] | rowspan="3" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2024 |- |2025 |}

==== Worst Gimmick ==== [[File:Dustin Rhodes Mar 2019.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Dustin Rhodes|Dustin Runnels]] is a three-time winner of the category under three different gimmicks (Goldust, The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust and Black Reign).]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1986 |rowspan=2|Adrian Adonis |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1987 |- |1988 |[[The Midnight Rider|Midnight Rider]] |Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1989 |[[The Rock n Roll Rebels|The Ding Dongs]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |[[The Gobbledy Gooker]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1991 |[[Kevin Nash|Oz]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1992 |Papa Shango |World Wrestling Federation |- |1993 |[[The Shockmaster]] |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1994 |[[Dave Sullivan (wrestler)|Dave Sullivan]] |- |1995 |[[Goldust]] |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation |- |1996 |[[Kane (wrestler)|Fake Diesel]] [[Rick Bognar|Fake Razor Ramon]] [[Road Dogg|The Real Double J]] |- |1997 |The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust |- |1998 |[[The Oddities (professional wrestling)|The Oddities]] |- |1999 |[[Vince Russo|The Powers That Be]] |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |2000 |[[Mike Awesome]] |- |2001 |[[Diamond Dallas Page]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |2002 |[[Shane Twins|The Johnsons]] |NWA: Total Nonstop Action |- |2003 |[[Rico Constantino]] |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2004 |[[Kevin Fertig|Mordecai]] |- |2005 |[[Jillian Hall]] |- |2006 |[[Vito LoGrasso|Vito]] |- |2007 |[[Dustin Rhodes|Black Reign]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2008 |[[The Great Khali]] |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2009 |[[Hornswoggle]] |- |2010 |[[Orlando Jordan]] |Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2011 |[[Michael Cole (wrestling)|Michael Cole]] |WWE |- |2012 |rowspan=2|[[Aces & Eights]] |rowspan=2|Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |- |2013 |- |2014 |[[Adam Rose (wrestler)|Adam Rose]] |rowspan=2|WWE |- |2015 |[[Cody Rhodes|Stardust]] |- |2016 |[[Captain New Japan|Bone Soldier]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |2017 |[[Bray Wyatt]]/Sister Abigail | rowspan="6" |WWE |- |2018 |[[Baron Corbin|Constable Corbin]] |- |2019 |[[Shorty G]] |- |2020 |"The Fiend" Bray Wyatt |- |2021 |[[Alexa Bliss]] |- |2022 |[[Maximum Male Models]] |- |2023 |[[Adam Cole|The Devil]] | rowspan="2" |All Elite Wrestling |- |2024 |[[The Learning Tree (professional wrestling)|The Learning Tree]] |- |2025 |Heel [[John Cena]] |WWE |}

==== Best Pro Wrestling Book ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Book ! Author(s) |- |2005 |''[[The Death of WCW]]'' |[[Bryan Alvarez]] and [[R.D. Reynolds]] |- |2006 |''Tangled Ropes'' |[["Superstar" Billy Graham]] and Keith Elliot Greenberg |- |2007 |''[[Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling]]'' |Bret Hart |- |2008 |''Gorgeous George: The Bad Boy Wrestler Who Created American Pop Culture'' |John Capouya |- |2009 |''Midnight Express 25th Anniversary Scrapbook'' |Jim Cornette |- |2010 |''Countdown to Lockdown'' |Mick Foley |- |2011 |''Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps'' |Chris Jericho |- |2012 |''Shooters: The Toughest Men in Professional Wrestling'' |Jonathan Snowden |- |2013 |''[[Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs: The Untold Story of How Montreal Shaped the World of Wrestling]]'' |[[Pat Laprade]] and [[Bertrand Hébert]] |- |2014 |''[[The Death of WCW|The Death of WCW – 10th Anniversary Edition]]'' |Bryan Alvarez and R.D. Reynolds |- |2015 |''Yes!: My Improbable Journey to the Main Event of WrestleMania'' |Daniel Bryan and Craig Tello |- |2016 |''Ali vs. Inoki'' |Josh Gross |- |2017 |''[[Crazy Like a Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later]]'' |Liam O'Rourke |- |2018 |''Eggshells: Pro Wrestling in the Tokyo Dome'' |Chris Charlton |- |2019 |''[[Bryan Alvarez#100 Things WWE Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die|100 Things a WWE Fan Should Know & Do Before They Die]]'' |Bryan Alvarez |- |2020 |''[[Killing the Business]]'' |[[The Young Bucks]] |- |2021 |''Mox'' |[[Jon Moxley]] |- |2022 |''Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling's Original Sheik'' |Brian Solomon |- |2023 |''The Last Real World Champion: The Legacy of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair'' |Tim Hornbaker |- |2024 |''Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl'' |[[Becky Lynch|Rebecca Quin]] |- |2025 |''The Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon'' |Brian Solomon |}

==== Best Pro Wrestling Documentary ==== {{small|Note: Was previously known as the "Best Pro Wrestling DVD" and "Best Wrestling DVD/Streaming Documentary" award.}} [[File:WWE official logo.svg|thumb|WWE has won the award a record 11 times.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Documentary ! Publisher(s) |- |2005 |''[[The Rise and Fall of ECW]]'' |rowspan=8|World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE |- |2006 |''[[Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be|Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be]]'' |- |2007 |''Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen'' |- |2008 |''"Nature Boy" Ric Flair: The Definitive Collection'' |- |2009 |''Macho Madness: The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection'' |- |2010 |''Breaking the Code: Behind the Walls of Chris Jericho'' |- |2011 |''Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart: WWE's Greatest Rivalries'' |- |2012 |''[[CM Punk: Best in the World]]'' |- |2013 |''Jim Crockett Promotions: The Good Old Days'' |EllBow Productions Highspots.com |- |2014 |''Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name Is Paul Heyman'' |rowspan=3|WWE |- |2015 |''Daniel Bryan: Just Say Yes! Yes! Yes!'' |- |2016 |''[[WWE 24]]: Seth Rollins (Redesign, Rebuild, Reclaim)'' |- |2017 |''[[30 for 30]]: Nature Boy'' |ESPN |- |2018 |''[[André the Giant (film)|André the Giant]]'' |[[HBO]] |- |2019 |''[[Dark Side of the Ring]]'' | rowspan="5" |[[Viceland]] |- |2020 |''Dark Side of the Ring: Owen Hart'' |- |2021 |''Dark Side of the Ring: Brian Pillman'' |- |2022 |''Tales From the Territories: Lawler/Kaufman'' |- |2023 |''Dark Side of the Ring: Chris and Tammy'' |- |2024 |[[Mr. McMahon (miniseries)|''Mr. McMahon'']] |[[Netflix]] |- |2025 |''Dark Side of the Ring: Daffney'' |Viceland |}

==== Shad Gaspard/Jon Huber Memorial Award ==== {{small|Note: This award is given to participants in professional wrestling and mixed martial arts who make contributions outside the ring for the betterment of society.}}

{{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = Shad Cryme Tyme.jpg | image2 = Brodie_Lee_at_Alpha_1_crop.jpg | footer = [[Shad Gaspard]] and [[Brodie Lee|Jon Huber]] are the co-namesakes of the category. }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Recipient(s) ! Contribution(s) |- |rowspan=6|2020<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=March 15, 2021 |title=AEW REVOLUTION, WRESTLEMANIA 37 TICKET DETAILS |url=https://members.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/march-15-2021-observer-newsletter-aew-revolution-wrestlemania-37 |journal=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref> |[[Shad Gaspard]] | Sacrificed himself to save his son's life after being swept out to sea |- |Ettore Ewen {{small|[[Big E (wrestler)|Big E]]}} | Contributed to [[racial justice]] during the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement and following the [[murder of George Floyd]] |- |Rami Sebei {{small|[[Sami Zayn]]}} | Runs Sami for Syria, a medical relief organization assisting ill and injured people during the [[Syrian civil war]] |- |[[Tracy Smothers]] | Assisted young [[independent wrestling|independent wrestlers]] |- |Margaret Stalvey |rowspan=2| Assisted the Huber family during [[Brodie Lee|Jon Huber]]'s illness and after his death |- |Megha Parekh |- |rowspan=2|2021<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=April 4, 2022 |title=TRIPLE H ANNOUNCES IN-RING RETIREMENT, WRESTLEMANIA WEEKEND |url=https://members.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/april-4-2022-observer-newsletter-triple-h-announces-ring-retirement |journal=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref> |[[Jon Moxley]] | Chose to step away from professional wrestling to enter into a rehabilitation program for alcoholism |- |Thaddeus Bullard {{small|[[Titus O'Neil]]}} | The child of a rape victim, O'Neil went on to help underprivileged children through his charitable work, especially in his hometown of [[Tampa, Florida]] |- |2022<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=March 6, 2023 |title=MJF VS. BRYAN DANIELSON PREVIEW, WRESTLEMANIA 39 UPDATES|url=https://members.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/march-6-2023-observer-newsletter-mjf-vs-bryan-danielson-preview |journal=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref> |[[Dustin Poirier]] | Through his [[Dustin Poirier#Charity|Good Fight Foundation]], Poirier provided assistance to underserved and vulnerable communities in South Louisiana |- |rowspan=3|2023<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=March 4, 2024 |title=LIFE AND CAREER OF OLE ANDERSON, WWE ELIMINATION CHAMBER|url=https://members.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/march-4-2024-observer-newsletter-life-and-career-ole-anderson-wwe |journal=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref> |[[Steve McMichael]] | McMichael, who has been battling [[ALS|amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]] since 2021, has provided inspiration to those battling illnesses due to his continued determination to attend the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony after being elected to the hall |- |[[Briscoe Brothers|Pugh family]] | The family showed class and resiliency after the death of [[Jay Briscoe|Jamin Pugh]] in a car accident; despite the driver of the other car being at fault for the accident, they publicly asked people to stop attacking them on social media and fundraised for the driver's family |- |Valerie Coleman |The widow of late [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame|''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' Hall of Fame]]r [["Superstar" Billy Graham]], Coleman is credited with saving Graham's life on multiple occasions |- | rowspan="2" |2024<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-21 |title=March 24, 2025 Observer Newsletter: John Cena’s first heel promo, WBD interested in UFC, David Finlay wins New Japan Cup |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/march-24-2025-observer-newsletter-john-cenas-first-heel-promo-wbd-interested-in-ufc-david-finlay-wins-new-japan-cup/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=F4W/WON |language=en-GB}}</ref> |[[Mark Coleman]] |Saved his parents from a house fire, at the risk of his own life |- |Daquan Johnson-Bey {{small|[[Chris Bey]]}} |Showed resilience after suffering a career-threatening neck injury in the ring |}

== Defunct awards ==

=== Class A awards ===

==== {{anchor|Most Impressive Wrestler}}Most Impressive Wrestler ==== [[File:Dynamite_Kid_British_Bulldogs.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Dynamite Kid]] is a three-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |Ken Patera |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1981 |[[Don Muraco]] |- |1982 |[[Satoru Sayama|Tiger Mask]] |New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Wrestling Federation Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre |- |1983 |rowspan=3|Dynamite Kid |Stampede Wrestling National Wrestling Alliance |- |1984 |Stampede Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1985 |World Wrestling Federation All Japan Pro Wrestling |}

==== {{anchor|Most Washed Up Wrestler}}Most Washed Up Wrestler ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |[[Baron Scicluna]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1981 |[[Peter Maivia]] |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1982 |[["Superstar" Billy Graham]] |World Wrestling Federation New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1983 |[[Chief Jay Strongbow]] |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1984 |Jimmy Snuka |- |1985 |Sgt. Slaughter |American Wrestling Association |}

==== Strongest Wrestler ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1981 |[[Tony Atlas]] |World Wrestling Federation National Wrestling Alliance |- |1982 |[[Ken Patera]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1983 |[[Hulk Hogan]] |American Wrestling Association New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1984 |[[Butch Reed]] |Mid-South Wrestling National Wrestling Alliance |- |1985 |rowspan=2|[[Road Warrior Animal]] |rowspan=2|American Wrestling Association National Wrestling Alliance All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1986 |- |1987 |rowspan=4|[[Steve Williams (wrestler) | Steve Williams]] |Jim Crockett Promotions [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1988 |rowspan=2|Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling |- |1989 |- |1990 |All Japan Pro Wrestling |}

==== Best Three-Man Team ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Team ! Promotion(s) |- |1983 |[[The Fabulous Freebirds]] (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) |World Class Championship Wrestling National Wrestling Alliance |}

==== Most Unimproved ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1984 |Jimmy Snuka |World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |Sgt. Slaughter |American Wrestling Association |- |1986 |[[Bob Orton Jr.|Bob Orton]] |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation |- |1987 |Butch Reed |- |1988 |Bam Bam Bigelow |- |1989 |Jim Duggan |- |1990 |Sting |World Championship Wrestling |- |1991 |Davey Boy Smith |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1992 |Randy Savage |- |1993 |Rick Rude |rowspan=3|World Championship Wrestling |- |1994 |rowspan=2|Hulk Hogan<ref name=1995awards>{{cite news|title=Jan 22 1996 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Results of the 1995 Observer Newsletter Awards, 1995 Record Book, tons more|work=The Wrestling Observer|date=January 22, 1996}}</ref> |- |1995 |}

==== Most Obnoxious ==== [[File:Vince McMahon 2.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Vince McMahon]] is a six-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Performer ! Promotion(s) |- |1981 |[[Gene LeBell]] |rowspan=2|National Wrestling Alliance |- |1982 |David Crockett |- |1983 |rowspan=4|Vince McMahon |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation |- |1984 |- |1985 |- |1986 |- |1987 |David Crockett |rowspan=2|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1988 |rowspan=2|Dusty Rhodes |- |1989 |World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |Vince McMahon |World Wrestling Federation |- |1991 |Herb Abrams |Universal Wrestling Federation |- |1992 |[[Bill Watts]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1993 |Vince McMahon |World Wrestling Federation |- |1994 |rowspan=2|Hulk Hogan |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1995 |}

==== Best Babyface ==== {{small|Note: "Best Babyface" and "Best Heel" were combined in 1997 to create "Best Box Office Draw"}} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |Dusty Rhodes |rowspan=2|National Wrestling Alliance |- |1981 |[[Tommy Rich]] |- |1982 |rowspan=10|Hulk Hogan |rowspan=2|American Wrestling Association New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1983 |- |1984 |rowspan=8|World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |- |1986 |- |1987 |- |1988 |- |1989 |- |1990 |- |1991 |- |1992 |Sting |World Championship Wrestling |- |1993 |rowspan=2|Atsushi Onita |rowspan=2|Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling |- |1994 |- |1995 |[[Perro Aguayo]] |Asistencia Asesoría y Administración |- |1996 |Shawn Michaels |World Wrestling Federation |}

==== Best Heel ==== {{Multiple image | direction = vertical | total_width = 175 | image1 = The Million Dollar Man - Ted DiBiase.jpg | image2 = MCCC_15_-_Roddy_Piper_(17472387653).jpg | footer = [[Ted DiBiase]] and [[Roddy Piper]] are two-time winners of the category. }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1980 |Larry Zbyszko |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |-asad |1981 |[[Don Muraco]] |- |1982 |Buzz Sawyer |Georgia Championship Wrestling |- |1983 |Michael Hayes |World Class Championship Wrestling |- |1984 |rowspan=2|Roddy Piper |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |- |1986 |Michael Hayes |World Class Championship Wrestling |- |1987 |rowspan=2|Ted DiBiase |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1988 |- |1989 |Terry Funk |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |Ric Flair |- |1991 |The Undertaker |World Wrestling Federation |- |1992 |Rick Rude |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1993 |Vader |- |1994 |Art Barr |Asistencia Asesoría y Administración |- |1995 |Masahiro Chono |New Japan Pro-Wrestling |- |1996 |Stone Cold Steve Austin |World Wrestling Federation |}

==== Biggest Shock of the Year ==== [[File:Harley_race.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Harley Race]] has been named in two Biggest Shock of the Year.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Event |- |1981 |Tommy Rich winning the [[NWA World Championship]] from Harley Race |- |1982 |[[Otto Wanz]] winning the [[AWA World Heavyweight Championship]] |- |1983 |Ric Flair losing the NWA Championship to Harley Race |- |1984 |The death of [[David Von Erich]] |- |1985 |WWF getting on network television |- |1986 |[[Magnum T. A.]]'s car accident |- |1987 |[[Jim Crockett Jr.]] purchasing the [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1988 |The murder of Bruiser Brody |- |1989 |Dusty Rhodes joining the WWF |}

==== Hardest Worker ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1982 |Ric Flair |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1983 |Dynamite Kid |Stampede Wrestling National Wrestling Alliance |- |1984 |rowspan=5|Ric Flair |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1985 |rowspan=4|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1986 |- |1987 |- |1988 |- |1989 |Terry Funk |World Championship Wrestling |}

==== Manager of the Year ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Manager ! Promotion(s) |- |1983 |Jimmy Hart |Continental Wrestling Association |- |1984 |rowspan=7|Jim Cornette |Mid-South Wrestling World Class Championship Wrestling |- |1985 |rowspan=4|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1986 |- |1987 |- |1988 |- |1989 |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |- |1991 |[[Sherri Martel]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1992 |rowspan=5|Jim Cornette |rowspan=3|Smoky Mountain Wrestling |- |1993 |- |1994 |- |1995 |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation Smoky Mountain Wrestling |- |1996 |}

=== Class B awards ===

==== Best Color Commentator ==== [[File:Esse Ventura 2000.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Jesse Ventura]] is a four-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Commentator ! Promotion(s) |- |1986 |Michael Hayes |[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] |- |1987 |rowspan=4|[[Jesse Ventura]] |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation |- |1988 |- |1989 |- |1990 |- |1991 |[[Paul E. Dangerously]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1992 |rowspan=3|[[Bobby Heenan]] |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1993 |- |1994 |rowspan=1|World Championship Wrestling |- |1995 |rowspan=2|Jerry Lawler |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1996 |}

==== Readers' Favorite Wrestler ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1984 |rowspan=10|Ric Flair |rowspan=5|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1985 |- |1986 |- |1987 |- |1988 |- |1989 |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1990 |- |1991 |World Championship Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |1992 |World Wrestling Federation |- |1993 |World Wrestling Federation World Championship Wrestling |- |1994 |[[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]] |Extreme Championship Wrestling Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling |- |1995 |Manami Toyota |All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling |- |1996 |Ric Flair |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1997 |Chris Benoit |- |1998 |Mick Foley |World Wrestling Federation |- |1999 |Chris Jericho |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |2000 |Chris Benoit |- |2001 |Keiji Muto |New Japan Pro-Wrestling All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |2002 |rowspan=2|Kurt Angle |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2003 |}

==== Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1984 |[[Ivan Putski]] |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |rowspan=2|Hulk Hogan |- |1986 |- |1987 |rowspan=2|Dusty Rhodes |rowspan=2|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1988 |- |1989 |rowspan=2|Ultimate Warrior |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1990 |- |1991 |Hulk Hogan |- |1992 |Erik Watts |rowspan=9|World Championship Wrestling |- |1993 |Sid Vicious |- |1994 |rowspan=6|Hulk Hogan |- |1995 |- |1996 |- |1997 |- |1998 |- |1999 |- |2000 |Kevin Nash |- |2001 |The Undertaker |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2002 |rowspan=2|Triple H |- |2003 |}

==== Worst Wrestler ==== [[File:André_the_Giant_in_the_late_'80s.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[André the Giant]] is a three-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1984 |Ivan Putski |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |[[Uncle Elmer]] |- |1986 |Mike Von Erich |World Class Championship Wrestling |- |1987 |Junkyard Dog |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1988 |Ultimate Warrior |- |1989 |André the Giant |- |1990 |Junkyard Dog |World Championship Wrestling |- |1991 |rowspan=2|André the Giant |rowspan=2|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1992 |- |1993 |[[Dave Sullivan (wrestler)|The Equalizer]] |rowspan=8|World Championship Wrestling |- |1994 |Dave Sullivan |- |1995 |[[The Renegade (wrestler)|The Renegade]] |- |1996 |[[Giant Haystacks|Loch Ness]] |- |1997 |Hulk Hogan |- |1998 |Warrior |- |1999 |rowspan=2|Kevin Nash |- |2000 |- |2001 |rowspan=2|Big Show |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2002 |- |2003 |[[Nathan Jones (wrestler)|Nathan Jones]] |}

==== Worst Tag Team ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Tag Team ! Promotion(s) |- |1984 |[[The Crusher (wrestler)|The Crusher]] and [[Baron von Raschke]] |American Wrestling Association |- |1985 |The Hillbillies ([[Uncle Elmer]] and [[Cousin Junior]]) |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1986 |[[George Steele]] and [[Junkyard Dog]] |- |1987 |[[Jimmy Valiant]] and [[Bugsy McGraw]] |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1988 |[[The Bolsheviks]] ([[Nikolai Volkoff]] and [[Boris Zhukov]]) |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1989 |[[The Powers of Pain]] ([[The Barbarian (wrestler)|The Barbarian]] and [[The Warlord (wrestler)|The Warlord]]) |- |1990 |rowspan=2|[[Giant Baba]] and [[André the Giant]] |rowspan=2|All Japan Pro Wrestling |- |1991 |- |1992 |[[The Bushwhackers]] ([[Luke Williams (wrestler)|Luke Williams]] and [[Butch Miller (wrestler)|Butch Miller]]) |World Wrestling Federation |- |1993 |The Colossal Kongs ([[Scott Thompson (wrestler)|King Kong]] and Awesome Kong) |World Championship Wrestling |- |1994 |[[The Bushwhackers]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1995 |[[Dick Slater]] and [[Bunkhouse Buck]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |rowspan=2|[[The Godwinns]] ([[Henry Godwinn]] and [[Phineas Godwinn]]) |rowspan=4|World Wrestling Federation |- |1997 |- |1998 |The Oddities ([[John Tenta|Golga]] and [[Robert Maillet|Kurrgan]]) |- |1999 |[[Corporate Ministry|The Corporate Ministry]] ([[Viscera (wrestler)|Viscera]] and [[Dennis Knight|Mideon]]) |- |2000 |rowspan=2|KroniK ([[Brian Adams (wrestler)|Brian Adams]] and [[Bryan Clark]]) |World Championship Wrestling |- |2001 |World Championship Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |2002 |[[3-Minute Warning]] ([[Rosey (wrestler)|Rosey]] and [[Umaga (wrestler)|Jamal]]) |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Entertainment |- |2003 |[[La Résistance (professional wrestling)|La Résistance]] ([[René Duprée]] and [[Sylvain Grenier]]) |}

==== Worst Manager ==== [[File:Mr Fuji (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Mr. Fuji]] is an eleven-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Manager ! Promotion(s) |- |1984 |rowspan=2|[[Mr. Fuji]] |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |- |1986 |[[Paul Jones (wrestler)|Paul Jones]] |Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1987 |rowspan=9|Mr. Fuji |rowspan=9|World Wrestling Federation |- |1988 |- |1989 |- |1990 |- |1991 |- |1992 |- |1993 |- |1994 |- |1995 |- |1996 |rowspan=4|[[Sonny Onoo]] |rowspan=4|World Championship Wrestling |- |1997 |- |1998 |- |1999 |}

==== Worst on Interviews ==== [[File:The_Ultimate_Warrior.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[The Ultimate Warrior]] is a five-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Performer ! Promotion(s) |- |1984 |Jimmy Snuka |World Wrestling Federation |- |1985 |[[Thunderbolt Patterson]] |National Wrestling Alliance |- |1986 |Mike Von Erich |World Class Championship Wrestling |- |1987 |Bugsy McGraw |rowspan=2|Jim Crockett Promotions |- |1988 |Steve Williams |- |1989 |rowspan=4|Ultimate Warrior |rowspan=5|World Wrestling Federation |- |1990 |- |1991 |- |1992 |- |1993 |Mr. Fuji |- |1994 |Dave Sullivan |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1995 |Hulk Hogan |- |1996 |rowspan=2|[[Ahmed Johnson]] |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation |- |1997 |- |1998 |Warrior |rowspan=3|World Championship Wrestling |- |1999 |Sid Vicious |- |2000 |[[Vince Russo]] |- |2001 |rowspan=3|Stephanie McMahon |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2002 |- |2003 |}

==== Most Embarrassing Wrestler ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Wrestler ! Promotion(s) |- |1986 |Adrian Adonis |rowspan=5|World Wrestling Federation |- |1987 |rowspan=2|George Steele |- |1988 |- |1989 |André the Giant |- |1990 |Dusty Rhodes |- |1991 |[[Van Hammer]] |World Championship Wrestling |- |1992 |Papa Shango |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation |- |1993 |Bastion Booger |- |1994 |Doink the Clown |- |1995 |rowspan=2|Hulk Hogan |rowspan=2|World Championship Wrestling |- |1996 |- |1997 |[[The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust]] |World Wrestling Federation |- |1998 |Warrior |rowspan=3|World Championship Wrestling |- |1999 |rowspan=2|Hulk Hogan |- |2000 |- |2001 |[[Buff Bagwell]] |World Championship Wrestling World Wrestling Federation |- |2002 |Big Show |rowspan=2|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2003 |Nathan Jones |}

==== Worst Non-Wrestling Personality ==== [[File:Sephanie_WWF_-_King_of_the_Ring_2000_cropped.jpg|thumb|75px|upright|right|[[Stephanie McMahon]] is a three-time winner of the category.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Year ! Personality ! Promotion |- |2000 |Vince Russo |World Championship Wrestling |- |2001 |rowspan=3|Stephanie McMahon |rowspan=3|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment |- |2002 |- |2003 |}

===1990s=== *Fighter of the Decade: [[Frank Shamrock]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/153976-the-frank-shamrock-interview-can-he-lead-strikeforce-into-mma-20|title=The Frank Shamrock Interview: Can He Lead Strikeforce into MMA 2.0?|work=[[Bleacher Report]]|date=April 10, 2009|accessdate=November 23, 2025|author=Oswald, Brian|quote=You were been named "Fighter of the Decade" for 1990's by the Wrestling Observer, "Best Full Contact Fighter", by Black Belt magazine (1998), and three time "Fighter of the Year" by Full Contact Fighter magazine. Do those accolades mean anything to you as a fighter?}}</ref>

===2000s=== *Best Wrestler: [[Kurt Angle]] *Most Outstanding Wrestler: [[Bryan Danielson|Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan]] *Best Box Office Draw: [[Místico]] *Best Tag Team: [[Rey Bucanero]] and [[Último Guerrero]] *Best Interviews: [[Chris Jericho]] *Most Charismatic: [[John Cena]] *MMA Most Valuable: [[Randy Couture]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://superluchas.com/2010/08/03/segun-el-wrestling-observer-quienes-son-los-mejores-los-mejores-de-la-decada/|title=Según el Wrestling Observer… ¿Quiénes son los mejores los mejores de la década?|last=Beltrán|first=William|date=August 3, 2010|access-date=October 30, 2015|work=Superluchas|language=es}}</ref>

===2010s=== *Best Wrestler: [[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] *Most Outstanding Wrestler: [[Kazuchika Okada]] *Best Box Office Draw: [[Brock Lesnar]] *Best Tag Team: [[The Young Bucks]] *Best Interviews: [[Paul Heyman]] *Most Charismatic: [[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] *Best Technical Wrestler: [[Zack Sabre Jr.]] *Best Brawler: [[Tomohiro Ishii]] *Best Flyer: [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]] *Best Promotion: [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] *Best Matches: [[Kazuchika Okada]] *Best Non-Wrestler: [[Paul Heyman]] *Best Television Announcer: [[Kevin Kelly (announcer)|Kevin Kelly]]

==See also== * [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] * [[List of professional wrestling awards]] * [[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards]] * [[Slammy Award]]

== References == {{reflist}}

==Sources== * {{cite journal|title=The 2011 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Issue|periodical=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|issn=1083-9593|publication-place=[[Campbell, California]]|issue=5|date=January 26, 2011|pages=1–40|quote=The following are the results of the 31st annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter readership awards, along with a listing of the previous winners in the various categories.}} * {{cite journal|title=Jan 30 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Gigantic year-end awards issue, best and worst in all categories plus UFC on FX 1, death of Savannah Jack, ratings, tons and tons of news|periodical=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|issn=1083-9593|pages=1–29|publication-place=[[Campbell, California]]|date=January 30, 2012}} * {{cite journal|title=The 2012 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Annual Awards Issue|periodical=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|issn=1083-9593|pages=1–52|publication-place=[[Campbell, California]]|date=January 23, 2013}} * {{cite journal|title=The 2013 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Annual Awards Issue|periodical=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|issn=1083-9593|pages=1–36|publication-place=[[Campbell, California]]|date=January 27, 2014}} * {{cite journal|title=2014 Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards|periodical=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|issn=1083-9593|pages=1–35|publication-place=[[Campbell, California]]|date=January 26, 2015}} * {{cite journal|title=January 25, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2015 Observer Awards Issue|periodical=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|issn=1083-9593|pages=1–49|publication-place=[[Campbell, California]]|date=January 25, 2016}}

[[Category:Awards established in 1980]] [[Category:Professional wrestling awards]] [[Category:Professional wrestling-related lists|Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards]] [[Category:Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]