The Official PWI 500 List for 2006

[BorneAgain 0]

1 John Cena

2 Kurt Angle

3 Edge

4 Samoa Joe

5 Mistico

6 Rey Mysterio Jr.

7 Brock Lesnar

8 Kenta Kobashi

9 Shawn Michaels

10 Jeff Jarrett

11 Taiyo Kea

12 Christian Cage

13 AJ Styles

14 Satoshi Kojima

15 Christopher Daniels

16 Bryan Danielson

17 Perro Aguayo Jr.

18 Rob Van Dam

19 King Booker

20 Jun Akiyama

21 Triple H

22 Ultimo Guerrero

23 Batista

24 Ric Flair

25 Kensuke Sasaki

26 Sting

27 Carlito

28 Dr. Wagner Jr.

29 Chris Benoit

30 Randy Orton

31 Tiger Mask IV

32 El Hijo Del Santo

33 Hiroyoshi Tenzan

34 Atlantis

35 CM Punk

36 KENTA

37 Shelton Benjamin

38 Abyss

39 Rey Bucanero

40 Jushin Liger

41 Mark Henry

42 Rhino

43 Hiroshi Tanahashi

44 Big Show

45 Dos Caras Jr

46 Chris Harris

47 Nigel McGuinness

48 Averno

49 Katsuhiko Nakajima

50 Kane

51 Bobby Lashley

52 Keiji Muto

53 James Storm

54 Mephisto

55 Kaz Hayashi

56 CIMA

57 Naomichi Marufuji

58 Black Warrior

59 Undertaker

60 Takeshi Rikio

61 Austin Aries

62 Hector Garza

63 Roderick Strong

64 John Bradshaw Layfield

65 Tarzan Boy

66 Masa Chono

67 Colt Cabana

68 Genichiro Tenryu

69 Doug Williams

70 Shocker

71 Milano Collection A.T.

72 Johnny Nitro

73 Brother Devon

74 Tokyo Magnum

75 L.A. Park

76 Brother Ray

77 Minoru Suzuki

78 Olimpico

79 Ikuto Jidaka

80 Brent Albright

81 Minoru Fujita

82 Negro Casas

83 Toshiaki Kawada

84 Mr. Aguila

85 Takeshi Morishima

86 Petey Williams

87 Paul London

88 Mitsuharu Misawa

89 Halloween

90 Matt Hardy

91 Akira Taue

92 Sabu

93 Damian 666

94 Monty Brown

95 Ultimo Dragon

96 Maximo

97 Takashi Sugiura

98 Umaga

99 Adam Pearce

100 Masato Tanaka

101 Matt Sydal

102 Kip James

103 Texano Jr.

104 Genki Horiguchi

105 B.G. James

106 Dragon Kid

107 Chris Sabin

108 Shinjiro Otani

109 Cibernetico

110 Minoru Tanaka

111 Finlay

112 Yuji Nagata

113 Jack Evans

114 Universo 2000

115 Akebono

116 Elix Skipper

117 Yoshihiro Tajiri

118 Seth Skyfire

119 Super Crazy

120 Yoshinobu Kanemaru

121 Gedo

122 D-Lo Brown

123 William Regal

124 La Parka

125 Taka Michinoku

126 Kenny Doane

127 Chris Hero

128 Vampiro

129 Razor Ramon H.G.

130 Shinsuki Nakamura

131 Giant Bernard

132 Ron Killings

133 La Mascara

134 Nicky Nemeth

135 Chet The Jet

136 Chase Stevens

137 Oriental

138 Charlie Haas

139 Juventud Guerrera

140 Mike Knox

141 Mikey Mondo

142 Senshi/Low-Ki

143 Andy Douglas

144 The Great Khali

145 Davey Richards

146 Koji Kanemoto

147 Johnny Jeter

148 Brian Kendrick

149 Sangre Azteca

150 The Sandman

151 Scott Steiner

152 Zorro

153 Gregory Helms

154 Manabu Nakanishi

155 Nunzio

156 Felino

157 Dr. X

158 Viscera

159 Homicide

160 Jado

161 Elijah Burke

162 Psicosis

163 C.W. Anderson

164 Eugene

165 Bobby Roode

166 Matt Striker

167 Aaron Stevens

168 Robbie McAllister

169 Konnan

170 Jay Lethal

171 Justin Credible

172 Eric Young

173 Nitro

174 Mike Mizanin

175 Tommy Dreamer

176 Rory McAllister

177 Jody Fleisch

178 Tony Mamaluke

179 Sonjay Dutt

180 Heavy Metal

181 Black Tiger IV/Rocky Romero

182 Orlando Jordan

183 Val Venis

184 Al Snow

185 Kikutaro

186 Charly Manson

187 Chavo Guerrero Jr.

188 Taiji Ishimori

189 Misterioso II

190 Kenzo Suzuki

191 Trevor Murdoch

192 Volador Jr.

193 Ares

194 Tatsuhito Takaiwa

195 Scorpio

196 Jinsei Shinzaki

197 Rob Conway

198 Ryo Saito

199 El Terrible

200 Osamu Nishimura

201 Nick Mitchell

202 Balls Mahoney

203 Blue Panther

204 Ken Kennedy

205 Bull Buchanan

206 Don Fuji

207 Joey Mercury

208 Dick Togo

209 Hooligan

210 Mikami

211 Claudio Castagnoli

212 Lizmark Jr.

213 Super Dragon

214 Silver King

215 Jonny Storm

216 Gene Snitsky

217 Kohei Suwama

218 B.J. Whitmer

219 Chris Masters

220 Mr. Niebla

221 Brother Runt

222 Kohei Sato

223 Vito

224 El Canek

225 Shark Boy

226 Electro Shock

227 Sal Rinauro

228 Kid Kash

229 Brazo De Plata

230 Ricky Marvin

231 Jamie Noble

232 Takao Omori

233 Raven

234 Roadkill

235 Lance Cade

236 Antifaz Del Norte

237 Kudo

238 El Dandy

239 El Samurai

240 Mascara Sagrada

241 Masao Inoue

242 Gordon XXX

243 Hirooki Goto

244 Virus

245 Mohammed Yone

246 Jimmy Yang

247 Paul Birchall

248 Alex Shelley

249 Tamon Honda

250 Super Delfin

251 Stevie Richards

252 Sho Funaki

253 Test

254 Naruki Doi

255 Ricky Reyes

256 El Sagrado

257 Takuma Sano

258 Tatanka

259 The Boogieman

260 Masaaki Mochizuki

261 Jimmy Jacobs

262 David Young

263 Romeo Roselli

264 Steve Corino

265 Arik Cannon

266 Mick Foley

267 Yutaka Yoshie

268 Danny Doring

269 Arkangel De La Muerte

270 Masato Yoshino

271 Kevin Nash

272 NOSAWA

273 Chad Collyer

274 Tiger Mask I

275 Harry Smith

276 Lance Hoyt

277 Mazada

278 A-1

279 Ace Steel

280 Hombre Sin Nombre

281 Scotty 2 Hotty

282 Yoshinara Ogawa

283 Chris Cage

284 Machete

285 Johnny Parisi

286 Ryouji Sai

287 Tank Toland

288 Joey Ryan

289 Mike Quackenbush

290 Chad Toland

291 Ruckus

292 Great Sasuke

293 Shad Gaspar

294 El Generico

295 Delirious

296 Matt Bentley

297 Akira

298 Simon Diamond

299 Necro Butcher

300 El Angel

301 Jake Gymini

302 Sterling James Keenan

303 Tony Kozina

304 M-Dogg 20

305 Arch Kincaid

306 Miyawaki

307 Alebrije

308 Jesse Gymini

309 Kevin Matthews

310 Derrick Neikirk

311 Antonio Thomas

312 Sylvan Grenier

313 Eddie Colon

314 Tyson Dux

315 Octagon

316 Cody Hawk

317 Hallowicked

318 Toru Owashi

319 Jimmy Rave

320 Tony Santareli

321 Milanito Collection A.T.

322 Simon Dean

323 Mike Taylor

324 Scott Lost

325 Intocable

326 Shinjitsu Nohashi

327 Mark Briscoe

328 Chris Bosh

329 Shane Storm

330 Jay Briscoe

331 Alan Stone

332 Johnny Devine

333 Lash LeRoux

334 Excalibur

335 Ryan Reeves

336 Larry Sweeney

337 Fuerza Guerrera

338 Suwa

339 Dice Domino

340 B-Boy

341 Fergal Devitt

342 Kevin Steen

343 Shannon Moore

344 Human Tornado

345 Zumbido

346 Julio Deniro

347 Puma/TJ Perkins

348 Prince Nana

349 Ray Gordy

350 Jigsaw

351 Mr. Mexico

352 Shuji Kondo

353 Cassidy Riley

354 Bradley Jay

355 Tigre Blanco

356 Katsushi Takemura

357 Icarus

358 Mac Daddy Johnson

359 Emil Sitochi

360 Tony Rivera

361 Naofumi Yamamoto

362 Gran Akuma

363 Tigre Metalico

364 Scorpio Sky

365 Spud

366 Gran Hamada

367 Niles Young

368 Antonio Banks

369 Kennichiro Arai

370 Steve Douglas

371 Joker

372 Men’s Teioh

373 Quicksilver

374 Josh Daniels

375 Eddie Kingston

376 Blue Demon Jr.

377 Jack Crist

378 Mikey Batts

379 Sonny Siaki

380 Amigo Suzuki

381 Rene Dupree

382 Abismo Negro

383 David Crist

384 Jack Bull

385 Skayde

386 Eric Perez

387 Maxime Boyer

388 Chessman

389 Freakin’ Deacon

390 Turbo

391 Danny Gimondo

392 Sabian

393 Shane Matthews

394 Pantera

395 Shigeo Okumura

396 Deuce Shade

397 Jagged

398 Matt Styker

399 Derek Frazier

400 Ryuji Ito

401 Vries Kastelein

402 Sexxxy Eddie

403 Yoshiaki Yago

404 Danny Daniels

405 Nick Gage

406 Scorpio Jr.

407 Travis Tomko

408 Tasutoshi Goto

409 Tracey Smothers

410 Matt Morgan

411 Norman Smiley

412 Frankie Kazarian

413 Billy Maverick

414 Andre Lyonz

415 Justice Pain

416 Trent Acid

417 Extreme Tiger

418 Adam Flash

419 John McChesney

420 Bryan Logan

421 Teddy Hart

422 Conrad Kennedy III

423 Ric Converse

424 Dos Caras

425 Bolen

426 Riki Choshu

427 Equinox

428 Chaz

429 Tengkwa

430 Nick Berk

431 Rodney Mack

432 Darren Burridge

433 Black Thunder

434 Crossbones

435 Francisco Ciatso

436 Josh Abercrombie

437 Joey Knight

438 Freak Nasty

439 Darin Corbin

440 Xavier

441 Crazy Boy

442 Kahagas

443 Ryan Cruz

444 Troy Lords

445 Andrew Dalton

446 Eric Everlast

447 Jon Moxley

448 Andy Boy Simmonz

449 Lance Steel

450 Chasyn Rance

451 Shirley Doe

452 Bruiser

453 Robin Knightwing

454 Frank Parker

455 Nate Mattson

456 Mike Kruel

457 Quinn Magnum

458 Sinn

459 Mickey Gambino

460 Jarrelle Clark

461 The Stro

462 Marshall Gambino

463 Pepper Parks

464 Cheech

465 Stronko

466 Jason Static

467 Preston Quinn

468 Glenn Spectre

469 Tony Givens

470 Darin Childs

471 Beau James

472 Don Paysan

473 Roughhouse O’Reilly

474 Dennis Gregory

475 Brian Ash

476 Cloudy

477 Billy Bart

478 G.Q. Gallo

479 Vito Thomaselli

480 Shawn Cook

481 Mikal Adryan

482 Don Basher

483 Sal Thomaselli

484 Boomer Payne

485 Johnny Graham

486 Matt Riviera

487 Larry Huntley

488 Seth Shai

489 Kevin Knight

490 Horrowshow

491 Masacara Purpura

492 Brian Christopher

493 Wataru Inoue

494 Kamikaze Kid

495 Robert Anthony

496 Shawn Christopher

497 Phil Davis

498 Eddie Edwards

499 Sean Davis

500 Mike Paige

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

Milano is at 321 and 71. The fuck?

[BorneAgain 0]

Milano is at 321 and 71. The fuck?

Its likely an error from the original source, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla website. I'd have to see the issue to correct it.

[Youth N Asia 0]

The PWI 500 is the laziest list ever put together. Seems like every year tag teams are listed within 10 of each other. They randomly place someone sonewhere then remember to add the guy they're teaming with

 

479 Vito Thomaselli

483 Sal Thomaselli

 

228 Kid Kash

231 Jamie Noble

 

73 Brother Devon

76 Brother Ray

 

61 Austin Aries

63 Roderick Strong

 

46 Chris Harris

53 James Storm

 

And this year they weren't as bad about it as they've been in the past.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

Why the fuck is Lesnar in the top 10?

[JHawk 0]

August-July, right? So Cena, kayfabe-wise, is a viable number one despite sucking.

 

Angle number 2?

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Milano is at 321 and 71. The fuck?

I think they've mixed up Milano Collection A.T with Milanito Collection A.T, who is a smaller version of Milano.

[pochorenella 0]

9 Shawn Michaels

 

Shawn was totally awesome in 2005 so I'm happy with this ranking, although I'm not sure about the time period used for criteria.

[Guest Flang]

Milano is at 321 and 71. The fuck?

Its likely an error from the original source, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla website. I'd have to see the issue to correct it.

 

Yep, it's Milanito Collection A.T. in 321.

[razazteca 0]

84 Mr. Aguila

I cannot believe Mr. Aguila is ranked this high! Just 2 weeks ago on the CMLL at Arena Coliseo on FSN-espanol show Mr. Aguila was sloppy as hell in a match where Mistico had to take what seemed like 2 minutes to call out the spots and Mr. Aguila still stood at the ropes not knowing when or where to bump. Mr. Aguila is by far the weakest member of Perros del Mal.

 

Damian 666 & Halloween > Mr. Aguila!!!!!

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The PWI 500 is a kayfabed list for the most part. It makes the assumption that wrestling is a real sport and ranks wrestlers based on in-ring accomplishments.

[Hasbeen1 0]

It's too top-heavy with foreign wrestlers, or those who wrestle primarily in other countries. Around 50 in the top 100, only around 10 in the bottom 100. They should do separate lists, in kayfabe rankings there's no way to compare especially the Japanese.

[razazteca 0]

I think its funny that Mistico is one spot above Rey Mysterio.

[Hasbeen1 0]

I looked at the American companies only, thought it was interesting the top 10 had 5 TNA and 5 WWE (all 3 brands). Top 50 was 27-17 WWE to TNA. It does point out there is some talent in TNA, now if the company as a whole could just get its act together.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

The rankings of CHIKARA wrestlers is absurd.

 

STING - #26. Hahahaha.

[GODSON 0]

I looked at the American companies only, thought it was interesting the top 10 had 5 TNA and 5 WWE (all 3 brands). Top 50 was 27-17 WWE to TNA. It does point out there is some talent in TNA, now if the company as a whole could just get its act together.

 

TNA only have 2 in the top 10.

 

Instead of getting mad, people should go out and buy the magazine. The PWI 500 is always a great issue and a must for every wrestling fan.

[Annabelle 0]

The PWI 500 is a kayfabed list for the most part. It makes the assumption that wrestling is a real sport and ranks wrestlers based on in-ring accomplishments.

 

but one year malenko was #1. which year was this?

[cabbageboy 0]

I'm still not sure why Malenko was #1 in 1997. He really didn't have much in terms of accomplishments that year aside from maybe a US title reign of little note.

 

That year has an odd 500. I mean UT was #6 in it behind DDP and Lex Luger. What the fuck did either of them do in 1997? Luger had a 1 week title reign but that's about all he did. DDP didn't win anything in terms of titles that year until Starrcade, which wouldn't be in the grading period. Meanwhile Bret Hart was only #20, though I guess he was inactive from June 1996 till Nov. 1996.

 

One that angered me was 1999, when Austin beat out RVD for #1 (RVD was #2). I mean what more did RVD have to do? He didn't lose a singles match during that entire June 98-June 99 period. Austin lost to Kane during that period, also UT a few times, Mankind, hell I think he even lost to Vince and Shane.

[Hasbeen1 0]

I looked at the American companies only, thought it was interesting the top 10 had 5 TNA and 5 WWE (all 3 brands). Top 50 was 27-17 WWE to TNA. It does point out there is some talent in TNA, now if the company as a whole could just get its act together.

 

TNA only have 2 in the top 10.

 

Instead of getting mad, people should go out and buy the magazine. The PWI 500 is always a great issue and a must for every wrestling fan.

 

Top 10 primarily or completely wrestling in the U.S.

1 John Cena

2 Kurt Angle

3 Edge

4 Samoa Joe

6 Rey Mysterio Jr.

9 Shawn Michaels

10 Jeff Jarrett

12 Christian Cage

13 AJ Styles

15 Christopher Daniels

[Hasbeen1 0]

I'm still not sure why Malenko was #1 in 1997. He really didn't have much in terms of accomplishments that year aside from maybe a US title reign of little note.

 

That year has an odd 500. I mean UT was #6 in it behind DDP and Lex Luger. What the fuck did either of them do in 1997? Luger had a 1 week title reign but that's about all he did. DDP didn't win anything in terms of titles that year until Starrcade, which wouldn't be in the grading period. Meanwhile Bret Hart was only #20, though I guess he was inactive from June 1996 till Nov. 1996.

 

One that angered me was 1999, when Austin beat out RVD for #1 (RVD was #2). I mean what more did RVD have to do? He didn't lose a singles match during that entire June 98-June 99 period. Austin lost to Kane during that period, also UT a few times, Mankind, hell I think he even lost to Vince and Shane.

 

 

I think in some issues they tried to even out the top 10 to 25 or so with around the same number from WWF and WCW. I think they said things were equal with around 5 the year Malenko got it so they gave to the most skilled wrestler.

[pochorenella 0]

I'm still not sure why Malenko was #1 in 1997. He really didn't have much in terms of accomplishments that year aside from maybe a US title reign of little note.

 

That year has an odd 500. I mean UT was #6 in it behind DDP and Lex Luger. What the fuck did either of them do in 1997? Luger had a 1 week title reign but that's about all he did. DDP didn't win anything in terms of titles that year until Starrcade, which wouldn't be in the grading period. Meanwhile Bret Hart was only #20, though I guess he was inactive from June 1996 till Nov. 1996.

 

One that angered me was 1999, when Austin beat out RVD for #1 (RVD was #2). I mean what more did RVD have to do? He didn't lose a singles match during that entire June 98-June 99 period. Austin lost to Kane during that period, also UT a few times, Mankind, hell I think he even lost to Vince and Shane.

 

I think in some issues they tried to even out the top 10 to 25 or so with around the same number from WWF and WCW. I think they said things were equal with around 5 the year Malenko got it so they gave to the most skilled wrestler.

 

You are correct. I still have that PWI issue somewhere, and I remember they said they had to change their criteria just this once because they felt there was no absolute, clear-cut winner for that year, so instead they gave the nod to the wrestler they felt was the best and most skilled in the world. IIRC Misawa was ranked #2 that time beacuse they also said they felt it wasn't appropiate to give the top spot to a wrestler who didn't compete within the US.

[Black Lushus 0]

hasn't it already been established in the past that these PWI lists are rubbish?

[razazteca 0]

Milano is at 321 and 71. The fuck?

321 is the mascot/midget hense the "ito" at the end of the name.

[Hasbeen1 0]

hasn't it already been established in the past that these PWI lists are rubbish?

 

 

I wouldn't say rubbish. They do give some perspective on how a wrestler was pushed during a year, and give some updates on ones who may have left a particular area.

[GODSON 0]

In 1997 Malenko was rank number 1 but Luger actually won their wrestler of the year award.

[pochorenella 0]

In 1997 Malenko was rank number 1 but Luger actually won their wrestler of the year award.

 

Yes, that was terrible. Luger winning was no doubt fixed.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

In 1997 Malenko was rank number 1 but Luger actually won their wrestler of the year award.

 

Yes, that was terrible. Luger winning was no doubt fixed.

 

As opposed to their other awards, which are all legitimate, right?

[Jebus 0]

Looks like I'm gonna be the Luger defender here...how the hell did Luger do NOTHING in 1997? He was no doubt the top "active" face WCW had that year. Leading the troops vs. the nWo and a great win-loss record against them.

 

Definetely one of the most successful wrestlers of that year IMO...(lot of injuries that year though) until losing the title back to Hogan after which, yeah, he did nothing.

[cabbageboy 0]

Yeah but winning fucking WOTY in 1997? I mean come on, there was no one in WCW who should have won it. Hogan was mostly an inactive champion, and I guess Luger got a lame duck 1 week run but that's about it.

 

I can see that vote being legit in some ways, since WCW was much more popular in 1997 and thus would have more viewers and voters. Some of this stuff was utterly retarded though, like DDP/Macho winning Feud of the Year over Bret/Austin.

 

By the way, I think UT should have been Wrestler of the Year in 1997. He held the title from WM till SS that year, and after that was in the first HIAC. He tailed off in the later months of 97, but the previous stuff was possibly his peak as a worker and in terms of overness.

[pochorenella 0]

In 1997 Malenko was rank number 1 but Luger actually won their wrestler of the year award

Yes, that was terrible. Luger winning was no doubt fixed.

 

As opposed to their other awards, which are all legitimate, right?

 

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that, I was just stating my opinion. Ric Flair winning so many WOTY awards back in the 80's over Hulk Hogan was clearly a sign of fixed results IMO, because they were during the height of Hulkamania, so to speak. It could very well be PWI's clear bias over WCW. Hell, The Giant winning WOTY over Shawn Michaels back in 1996 had me angry like you wouldn't believe. But I could see where some results could've been legitimate.