Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

Dave Meltzer well known wrestling journalist created Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards.

 Current awards 

 "Class A" awards 

 Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year) 
 Year Wrestler Promotion(s)1980Harley RaceNational Wrestling Alliance19811982Ric Flair19831984 1985Jim Crockett Promotions19861987Riki ChoshuAll Japan Pro Wrestling1988Akira MaedaUniversal Wrestling Federation1989Ric FlairWorld Championship Wrestling19901991Jumbo TsurutaAll Japan Pro Wrestling1992Ric FlairWorld Wrestling Federation1993Big Van VaderWorld Championship Wrestling1994Toshiaki KawadaAll Japan Pro Wrestling1995Mitsuharu Misawa1996Kenta Kobashi1997Mitsuharu Misawa1998Stone Cold Steve AustinWorld Wrestling Federation1999Mitsuharu MisawaAll Japan Pro Wrestling2000Triple HWorld Wrestling Federation2001Keiji MutohNew Japan Pro-WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestling2002Kurt AngleWorld Wrestling Federation/Entertainment2003Kenta KobashiPro Wrestling Noah200420052006MísticoConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre2007John CenaWorld Wrestling Entertainment2008Chris Jericho20092010John Cena2011Hiroshi TanahashiNew Japan Pro-Wrestling201220132014Shinsuke Nakamura2015A.J. StylesNew Japan Pro-WrestlingRing of Honor2016New Japan Pro-WrestlingWWE2017Kazuchika OkadaNew Japan Pro-Wrestling2018Kenny OmegaNew Japan Pro-WrestlingRing of Honor 2019 Chris Jericho New Japan Pro-WrestlingAll Elite Wrestling 2020 Jon Moxley 2021 Kenny Omega All Elite WrestlingImpact Wrestling 2022 Jon Moxley All Elite Wrestling 2023 Will Ospreay New Japan Pro-Wrestling

 Mixed Martial Arts Most Valuable 
 Year Fighter Promotion(s)2007Randy Couture Ultimate Fighting Championship2008Brock Lesnar200920102011Georges St-Pierre2012Anderson Silva2013Georges St-Pierre2014Ronda Rousey20152016Conor McGregor2017Georges St-Pierre2018Conor McGregor2019Jorge Masvidal2020Khabib Nurmagomedov2021Kamaru Usman 2022 Israel Adesanya 2023 Jon Jones

 Most Outstanding Wrestler 
 Year Wrestler Promotion1986Ric FlairJim Crockett Promotions19871988Tatsumi FujinamiNew Japan Pro-Wrestling1989Ric FlairWorld Championship Wrestling1990Jushin Thunder LigerNew Japan Pro-Wrestling1991New Japan Pro-WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling19921993Kenta KobashiAll Japan Pro Wrestling19941995Manami ToyotaAll Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling1996Rey Misterio Jr.Extreme Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling1997Mitsuharu MisawaAll Japan Pro Wrestling1998Koji KanemotoNew Japan Pro-Wrestling1999Mitsuharu MisawaAll Japan Pro Wrestling2000Chris BenoitWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Wrestling Federation2001Kurt AngleWorld Wrestling Federation/Entertainment200220032004Chris Benoit2005Samoa JoeRing of HonorTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling2006Bryan Danielson/Daniel BryanRing of Honor200720082009Ring of HonorDragon Gate USA2010World Wrestling EntertainmentEvolveDragon Gate USAChikara2011Davey RichardsRing of HonorPro Wrestling Guerrilla2012Hiroshi TanahashiNew Japan Pro-Wrestling20132014A.J. StylesNew Japan Pro-WrestlingRing of Honor20152016New Japan Pro-WrestlingWWE2017Kazuchika Okada New Japan Pro-Wrestling 2018 Kenny Omega 2019 Will Ospreay 2020 Kenny Omega All Elite WrestlingLucha Libre AAA Worldwide 2021 Shingo Takagi New Japan Pro-Wrestling 2022 Will Ospreay

 Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year 
 Year Fighter Promotion(s)1997Maurice SmithUltimate Fighting Championship1998Frank Shamrock19992000Kazushi SakurabaPride Fighting Championships2001Wanderlei Silva2002Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira2003Randy CoutureUltimate Fighting Championship2004Wanderlei SilvaPride Fighting Championships2005Fedor Emelianenko2006Mirko Filipović2007Quinton Jackson Ultimate Fighting Championship2008Georges St-Pierre200920102011Jon Jones2012Anderson Silva2013Cain Velasquez2014Ronda Rousey2015Conor McGregor20162017Demetrious Johnson 2018 Daniel Cormier 2019 Khabib Nurmagomedov 2020 2021 Kamaru Usman 2022 Alexander Volkanovski 2023 Islam Makhachev

 Best Box Office Draw 
Before 2021, this was a single award. Starting in 2021, separate awards for MMA and pro wrestling were introduced.

 Year Performer Promotion(s)1997Hulk HoganWorld Championship Wrestling1998Stone Cold Steve AustinWorld Wrestling Federation19992000The Rock2001Kazushi SakurabaPride Fighting Championships2002Bob SappK-1Pride Fighting ChampionshipsNew Japan Pro-Wrestling20032004Kenta KobashiPro Wrestling Noah20052006MísticoConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre2007John CenaWorld Wrestling Entertainment2008Brock LesnarUltimate Fighting Championship200920102011The RockWWE20122013Georges St-PierreUltimate Fighting Championship2014Ronda Rousey20152016 Conor McGregor2017 2018 2019 Chris Jericho All Elite WrestlingNew Japan Pro-Wrestling 2020 Conor McGregor Ultimate Fighting Championship 2021 MMA: Conor McGregor Ultimate Fighting Championship Pro wrestling: CM Punk All Elite Wrestling 2022 MMA: Israel Adesanya Ultimate Fighting Championship Pro wrestling: Roman Reigns WWE 2023 MMA: Jon Jones Ultimate Fighting Championship Pro wrestling: Roman Reigns WWE

Category:Sports lists
Category:Professional wrestling