page_title: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
section_title: Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year)
hierarchical_section_title: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards / Current awards / "Category A" awards / Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year)
caption_attribution_description: English: Flair at the 2016 MagicCity Comic Con
context_page_description: This is a list of both active and inactive Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards created by professional wrestling 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.
  The awards were created to recognize the individual achievements of a select few wrestlers who exemplified in a specified criterion. The awards are given on a yearly basis in various categories such as Best Overall Wrestler, Most Outstanding Wrestler, Best Tag Team, Most Improved, 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 and Worst Worked Match. Currently, there are thirty-seven categories that are actively assessed every year and ten that are no longer active.
caption: Ric Flair is an eight-time winner and co-namesake of the category
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