Pro Wrestling Illustrated Pro Wrestling Illustrated ( " PWI " ) is a professional wrestling magazine . " PWI " is currently based in Blue Bell , Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group . History . " Pro Wrestling Illustrated " was started in 1979 . The magazine is known for not breaking kayfabe . Some magazines will break kayfabe and tell the behind - the - scenes reality of pro wrestling ; " PWI " has never done that , traditionally treating all " storyline " events as real . However , in more recent years , the magazine has taken an editorial approach halfway between kayfabe and " shoot " writing , for the first time using terms such as " storyline " and differentiating between " onscreen " feuds and real - life controversies . " PWI " also does not follow only the " big " promotions , as they also cover some independent promotions . The magazine features stories about wrestlers and wrestling groups / teams . " PWI " also has monthly rankings for the big promotions , some select independents , and an overall rankings in singles and tag teams . " PWI " declared it would recognize three World Titles when it started publication : NWA , AWA and WWF . When Jim Crockett Promotions , which controlled the NWA Title , became WCW in 1991 , WCW earned World Title Status , and the NWA ' s world title status was dropped . ECW finally earned World Title recognition status in 1999 , not long before ECW itself went out of business . The NWA title was restored to a World Title in July 2006 based on TNA ' s success . They also granted World Title status to two of WWE ' s World titles , referred as the " RAW World Championship " and the " SmackDown ! World Championship " . Despite the fact that ECW has been revived as a WWE brand , PWI has yet to recognize the world title status of the resurrected " ECW Championship " . Bill Apter , who can be seen at most high - profile wrestling events taking photos , was the senior editor of " PWI " for years . Stuart M . Saks is the current longtime publisher for " PWI " . Hunter S . Thompson - influenced Matt Brock has been " PWI " ' s most popular columnist . Brock , however , is actually a fictitious writer . Through the years , many different " PWI " editors have written stories as Brock . Likewise , columnist Liz Hunter is fictitious , as are oft - quoted WWF / WWE " inside source " Thomas Pilliard and " wrestling psychologist " Dr . Sidney M . Basil . While " PWI " writers do conduct certain legitimate interviews with figures within the wrestling business , the majority of " in - character " quotes are penned by the magazine ' s staff . The rule of thumb : If a quotation is about real - life events ( i . e . , the people behind the characters ) , it was uttered by the quoted source . If the quote pertains to any angle or someone ' s in - ring persona , the response is typically " invented " by the feature ' s writer . " PWI " is now headquartered in Blue Bell , Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing . " PWI " ' s biggest competition is no longer from other wrestling magazines , but from the Internet . Results are reported faster online than the magazine can report , but " PWI " still has enough sales to stay alive . " PWI " Awards . " PWI " ' s family of magazines has given out annual awards since 1972 . Unlike the PWI 500 which is voted on by the PWI Staff , the fans ostensibly vote for the winners of the year - end awards . A ballot is printed in the special year - end issue . A special " PWI " Awards magazine is put out annually , which shows not only the winners , but the first three runners - up with the number of votes . The wrestlers receive plaques for each " PWI " Award that they win . The awards that " PWI " has given out are as follows : Discontinued awards are as follows : The " " PWI " Awards " issue also serves as a " year - in - review " issue , with a listing of the top events , matches , angles , feuds and other news ( both kayfabe and legit ) of the preceding year , usually from January to the publishing deadline for the year - end issue ( typically , early December ) . A listing of wrestlers who had passed away during the past year is also included , as well as a list of top superstars who had announced ( legit ) retirements . In addition to the voted awards in the established categories , readers are also invited to create their own " categories " and award them to a wrestler or other individual fitting that category , and make their predictions as to what they think will happen ( or would like to see happen ) during the upcoming year . Starting in 1981 , the " PWI Editor ' s Award , " a legit award given to a wrestler , personality , promoter or other individual connected with the business for lifetime achievements in the industry , was created . The first recipient was Bruno Sammartino , who had announced his ( first ) retirement that year ; later honorees were typically longtime wrestlers who had recently retired or top superstars who had passed away during the past year . The award was renamed in memory of " PWI " founder and longtime publisher Stanley Weston in 2003 . Special " PWI " Editions . Besides the special year - end edition and the special " PWI " Awards Edition , " PWI " also publishes other special issues . They have published the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts since 1996 . It includes all of the " PWI " 500 rankings over the years , title histories , PPV histories , wrestler stats , top stories of the year , PWI Award Winners and a What ' s In / What ' s Out list . " PWI " also publishes a Women of Wrestling magazine that has short bios of the divas of pro wrestling and includes lots of pictures . From 1989 through 2000 , " PWI " published a weekly newsletter entitled PWI Weekly . It had results from the previous week that included all wrestling shows , title changes , injury updates , wrestlers leaving / entering promotions , and obituaries . It was cancelled due to monetary and time constraints on the part of its writers . PWI 500 Top Singles Popular Wrestler of This year . Most International Vista Wrestling Wrestling " I " has published its list of the top 500 wrestlers each year since 1991 , in an annual special edition magazine called the PWI 500 . Here are the number one ranked wrestlers for each year :