PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year

The PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Award, given yearly since 1972 by professional wrestling magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated, recognizes the most inspirational professional wrestler of the year as voted by readers of the magazine. Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan and Eddie Guerrero won this award twice.
==Award winners and runners-up==
Year	Winner 	First runner-up 	Second runner-up 	Third runner-up
1972	Lord Alfred Hayes 	. 	. 	.
1973	Johnny Valentine 	. 	. 	.
1974	Dick Murdoch 	. 	. 	.
1975	Mike McCord 	. 	. 	.
1976	Bruno Sammartino 	Wahoo McDaniel 	Bob Roop 	Bob Armstrong
1977	Bob Backlund 	Don Muraco 	Bruno Sammartino 	Terry Funk
1978	Blackjack Mulligan 	Bruno Sammartino	Mr. Wrestling II 	Jim Brunzell
1979	Chief Jay Strongbow	Ric Flair 	Mr. Wrestling II 	Dusty Rhodes
1980	The Junkyard Dog 	Ricky Steamboat 	Verne Gagne 	Mr. Florida (Paul Jones)
1981	Bob Backlund 	Ted DiBiase 	Tito Santana 	Mr. Wrestling II
1982	Roddy Piper 	Jimmy Snuka 	Mil Máscaras 	Jimmy Valiant
1983	Hulk Hogan 	Roddy Piper 	Buzz Sawyer 	Buddy Rose
1984	Sgt. Slaughter 	Kerry Von Erich 	Kevin Von Erich 	Bob Backlund
1985	Mike Von Erich 	Paul Orndorff 	Jim Duggan 	Kevin Von Erich
1986	Chris Adams 	Magnum T.A. 	Kerry Von Erich 	Steve Williams
1987	Nikita Koloff 	Dynamite Kid 	Chris Adams 	"Superstar" Billy Graham
1988	Jerry Lawler 	Kerry Von Erich 	Road Warrior Animal 	Jake Roberts
1989	Eric Embry 	Nikita Koloff 	Billy Jack Haynes 	Ric Flair
1990	Sting 	Hulk Hogan 	Jerry Lawler 	Nikolai Volkoff
1991	The Patriot 	Jerry Lawler 	Sid Justice 	Bill Dundee
1992	Ron Simmons 	The Undertaker 	Ricky Steamboat 	Eric Embry
1993	Cactus Jack 	Lex Luger 	The 1-2-3 Kid 	Brutus Beefcake
1994	Bret Hart 	Terry Funk 	The Guardian Angel 	Dave Sullivan
1995	Barry Horowitz 	Sabu 	Antonio Inoki 	Dan Severn
1996	Jake Roberts 	Jushin Liger 	Ahmed Johnson 	Rey Misterio, Jr.
1997	Terry Funk 	Steve Austin 	Perry Saturn 	Roddy Piper
1998	Goldberg 	Steve Austin 	Mankind 	Shane Douglas
1999	Hulk Hogan 	Bret Hart 	X-Pac 	Jim Duggan
2000	Booker T 	Mick Foley 	Crash Holly 	Chyna
2001	Kurt Angle 	Chris Jericho 	Shane McMahon 	Spike Dudley
2002	Eddie Guerrero 	Hulk Hogan 	Shawn Michaels 	Chris Benoit
2003	Zach Gowen 	Kurt Angle 	A.J. Styles 	Rey Mysterio
2004	Eddie Guerrero 	Chris Benoit 	Eugene 	William Regal
2005	Chris Candido 	Matt Hardy 	Steve Williams 	Rey Mysterio
2006	Matt Cappotelli 	Rey Mysterio 	Hardcore Holly 	CM Punk
2007	Jeff Jarrett 	CM Punk 	John Cena 	Sting
2008	Ric Flair 	CM Punk 	John Cena 	Jeff Hardy
2009	Ricky Steamboat 	Tommy Dreamer 	Sting 	John Cena
2010	Shawn Michaels 	Kurt Angle 	John Cena 	Rob Van Dam
2011	Rosita 	Gregory Iron 	Rob Fury 	CM Punk
2012	Jerry Lawler 	Austin Aries 	Shawn Daivari 	John Cena
2013	Darren Young 	Dallas Page 	Daniel Bryan 	John Cena
2014	Daniel Bryan 	Eric Young 	Chris Melendez 	Bo Dallas
2015	Bayley 	John Cena 	Kevin Owens 	Sami Zayn
2016	Bayley 	Cody Rhodes 	Seth Rollins 	Dean Ambrose
2017	Christopher Daniels	John Cena 	Shane McMahon 	Mia Yim
2018	Roman Reigns 	Cody Rhodes 	Tommy Dreamer 	LuFisto
2019	Roman Reigns 	Kofi Kingston 	PCO 	Becky Lynch
2020	Shad Gaspard 	Thunder Rosa 	Speaking Out movement	Drake Maverick
2021	Edge 	Bianca Belair 	Big E 	Mickie James
2022	Jon Moxley 	 	 	
==See also==
*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
*WWE
Category:Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Category:Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards
Category:PWI Top Lists