Although not yet in stores, the digital version of Pro Wrestling Illustrated's PWI 500 issue has been made available. Two different people have typed out the whole thing, so I've grabbed their work and shamelessly copied it over in my own handwriting (correcting some typos in the process...I hope)
Our yearly contribution to this list on the Internet is to intersperse the previous year's rankings where available. Because I had a little time, FIVE years of rankings are included - mostly machine generated, but I hand checked the top 200 for name changes. Some day I'll be bored enough to check the other 300, but you find if I've missed any, let me know and I'll fix 'em.
PWI didn't appear to have a #204 and they also liked Bray Wyatt enough to list him twice. I'm sure you'll immediately notice some interesting things about this list as well. (EDIT: This list has since been "corrected" to reflect changes announced by PWI in the interim - 8/29)
Top 100 folks from last year's list missing from this year's list: Rey Mysterio (#8), John Morrison (#27), Matt Hardy (#65), Orlando Jordan (#82), Vladimir Kozlov (#92)
The most interesting thing that I noticed was that Mr. Ooh La La is apparently still wrestling and still working the same Frenchie gimmick that went out of style in 1987.
I'd expect Austin Aries to crack the top 5 next year. He's having the kind of quality run that Punk had last year. I really believe his victory promo from the Impact after Destination X is the kind of work that makes wrestling promotions.
Fuck yeah. A list that recognizes Mark Henry as a top ten player works for me.
I'll stay within the top 50.
Devon has improved a ton, but he's not top 25 and is nowhere close to Bully Ray who should be top 15. Randy Orton and Christian also seems to be rated way to high.
Miz is lucky to make top 50, I know he was a player earlier in the year, but that bad streak he had was just really really bad.
I would have rated Aries higher, as well as AJ Styles. I just don't get whatever it is to get with Mr Anderson.
I agree with their top two. Punk and Roode were phenomenal forces this year. Roode finally losing the belt while Punk kept going strong was probably the tiebreaker in the chase for the top spot.
Hey, would you like to see my ballot? (They only had me had do lucha guys, those collated together which some other lucha libre folks by one person, and I'm not sure how many more layers it goes thru before it gets to this. PWI probably doesn't know I was involved.)
Dr. Wagner Jr. Top 10 LA Park Top 10 La Sombra Top 10 Averno Top 20 Blue Panther Top 30 Mesías Top 30 Negro Casas Top 30 El Hijo Del Santo Top 50 Último Guerrero Top 50 Volador Jr. Top 60 Rush Top 70 Mr. Niebla Top 80 Máscara Dorada Top 90 Atlantis 101-199 Black Terry 101-199 Blue Demon Jr. 101-199 Cibernético 101-199 el Hijo del Perro Aguayo 101-199 Jack Evans 101-199 Mephisto 101-199 Negro Navarro 101-199 Terrible 101-199 Texano Jr. 101-199 Trauma I 101-199 Trauma II 101-199 Chessman 200-299 La Máscara 200-299 La Parka Jr. 200-299 Silver King 200-299 Drago 300-399 Electroshock 300-399 Guerrero Maya Jr. 300-399 Rey Bucanero 300-399 Joe Lider 400-500 Marco Corleone 400-500 Nicho el Millionario 400-500 Valiente 400-500
As you can tell, they ask just for the area the guy belongs at the part I was in. I ranked primarily based on how big a star they are, but not strictly so.
I don't know if this explains/confuses things, but I sent that ballot in early June. The list is probably two months old by the time people see it and things change; I know I'd swap Volador and Santo if I could do it today.
Originally posted by graves9On first blush Devon being so high let alone higher than Bully Ray is laughable. What did La Park do that he's so high on the list?
LA Park has been the top star of AAA, turning from heel to face and feuding with Jeff Jarrett. I am not a big fan of that feud but it was a big deal thing.
So, is Sara Del Ray the first woman to make the top 500? I'm not complaining in the slightest, I've been a fan of hers since I first saw her on ROH on HDnet.
-- 2006 Time magazine Person of the Year -- -- July 2009 Ordained Reverend --
Originally posted by ZeruelSo, is Sara Del Ray the first woman to make the top 500? I'm not complaining in the slightest, I've been a fan of hers since I first saw her on ROH on HDnet.
I was so tempted to say Trish Stratus made it one year...but a quick search comes up empty. So I do believe you're right.
Huh. I thought Jericho had a Top 10 year easily. I'm guessing PWI's year begins and ends in June/July. Even so, with a great showing in the Rumble, being in a long string of impressive world title matches all year, he should definitely be higher than #29.
Pretty happy to see Mark Henry get recognized, though.
I'm sorry, but Garret Bischoff made this list? Who the fuck is this person could, without making an ass of themselves, say that Garret Bischoff is deserving of being on this list and also say he's a 'better wrestler' than 98 other people listed here? What the fuck?!?!
Rey Mysterio went from #8 to completely off the list. Is this the furthest drop ever for someone on the list?
Originally posted by CerebusI'm sorry, but Garret Bischoff made this list? Who the fuck is this person could, without making an ass of themselves, say that Garret Bischoff is deserving of being on this list and also say he's a 'better wrestler' than 98 other people listed here? What the fuck?!?!
This is the 22nd year of the list and I'm very disappointed how many people still don't quite "get it." A wrestler's push, warranted or not, is still a very important component to their PWI ranking, and there aren't too many folks who weren't on nationwide television during the evaluation period who didn't end up in this list. You're lucky he didn't place higher. (Or perhaps I'M lucky 'cause God knows what you'd have said THEN)
Rey Mysterio went from #8 to completely off the list. Is this the furthest drop ever for someone on the list?
No. Just last year Chris Jericho went from #5 in 2010 to not on the list.
Hint: Click on the "PWI 500" icon to see threads on this board for previous years going back to 2002.
If you'd like to go back even further, there's always profightdb.com.
I actually got to see #295 Ace Hawkins at a free show last night. He was miles ahead of anyone else on the show, and actually got the listless crowd to start chanting for his opponent.
I guess there's a reason he was the rookie of the year last year. Hope everything works out well for him.
"Tattoos are the mullets of the aughts." - Mike Naimark
They never gave Arn Anderson a chance to grow into the role after his disasterous performance at the beginning of the Invasion, and he was as good, if not better, than Foley on the mic.