PWI 40th Anniversary
In 1979, the owner of our company, Stanley Weston, was approached by a prominent national magazine distributor, asking him if he’d consider signing a contract to allow them to service his line of wrestling and boxing magazines. Mr. Weston was impressed by the company’s presentation, but being a fiercely loyal man, he was not about to sever relations with the distributor he’d been with for many years. Still, he was a businessman, and he saw some benefit to having two distributors battling for his affections. Mr. Weston already had plenty of magazines in his stable, but he decided to add a couple more, specifically for this new distributor. Thus the birth of KO boxing magazine (now defunct) and a wrestling title that continues to thrive to this day.
Join us as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
Unlike past milestones, we’re turning our attention away from ourselves and on those whose careers made it possible for PWI to become the magazine of record for two generations of fans. Appropriately, we selected the 40 wrestlers (or tag teams) that received the bulk of our coverage over the past 40 years. This is by no means a listing of the top 40 wrestlers during the PWI years. That listing would have been significantly different. These are the stars who we deemed the most worthy of coverage for a variety of reasons. Some were just plain great wrestlers. Others possessed a certain charisma or look that connected them to our readers in their own unique ways.
A couple of quick notes: The order of names is based on their first appearance on a cover of PWI. In the category “Top PWI 500 Finish,” an “N/A” designation means that the wrestler primarily wrestled prior to our first “500” in 1991. The compilation of names was the result of polling by PWI’s current staff of writers and editors, all of whom, like most of you, came of age reading Pro Wrestling Illustrated. This is a celebration of this great sport, its fans, and a magazine that has outlasted a crowded field to remain a vital part of our industry.
DUSTY RHODES
History Will Remember Him For … His all-around career as a wrestler, booker, and mentor
Unforgettable PWI Feature: Has Dusty Rhodes Turned His Back On The American Dream? (December 1983)
Highest Honor: The praise offered by his WWE Performance Center students following his death
Greatest Match: July 26, 1986, vs. Ric Flair
Most Memorable Rivalry: vs. Ric Flair
PWI Ratings Top 10 Finishes: 36
PWI Ratings Top 10 Tag Team Finishes: 9
Top PWI 500 Finish: 193 (2001)
Hall of Fame: Wrestling Observer (1996), WWE (2007), Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum (2010), George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Hall of Fame (2017)
PWI Awards: 9
Contributing Writer Brian Solomon on Rhodes: The proverbial son of a plumber from Austin, Texas, the “American Dream” was perhaps the most charismatic fan favorite to ever set foot in the ring, captivating fans with his irresistible promos, and proving that color, personality, and a tireless work ethic could transform even someone with a far-from-perfect physique into a superstar. A main-event attraction anywhere he traveled, he cemented his legacy by translating his magnetic fan appeal into three reigns as NWA World champion, and his epic wars with Ric Flair for the title are the stuff of wrestling folklore—the sport’s equivalent of Ali-Frazier.
ANDRE THE GIANT
History Will Remember Him For … Traveling the world over, giving fans a chance to see the largest wrestler of his era
Unforgettable PWI Feature: Andre The Giant: Wrestling’s Unhappiest Man (May 1988)
Highest Honor: Being the first—and only—wrestler inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2003
Greatest Match: January 17, 1975, Los Angeles Battle Royal
Most Memorable Rivalry: vs. Hulk Hogan
PWI Ratings Top 10 Finishes: 11
PWI Ratings Top 10 Tag Team Finishes: 3
Top PWI 500 Finish: 116 (1991)
Hall of Fame: Wrestling Observer (1996), Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum (2002), WWE (2003)
PWI Awards: 6
Contributing Writer Brian Solomon on Andre: There have been many giants of the ring, and then there’s the Giant—the 7’5” phenom from the French Alps who made himself into the biggest pop culture figure and crossover star the business had seen since Gorgeous George. Andre toured the globe as the “Eighth Wonder Of The World,” his immense star power too much to be contained in any one place for long. Although the acromegaly that helped make him a star had also significantly slowed him down by the late-’80s, his historic feud with Hulk Hogan, including their momentous clash at WrestleMania 3, enshrined his place among the immortals.
BOB BACKLUND
History Will Remember Him For … His six-year reign as WWF World champion, the second longest in company history
Unforgettable PWI Feature: Bob Backlund: The Savage Bloodlust Of The All-American Boy (August 1981)
Highest Honor: Regaining the WWE title 15 years after the beginning of his first reign Greatest Match: February 20, 1978, vs. Superstar Graham
Most Memorable Rivalry: vs. Superfly Snuka
PWI Ratings Top 10 Finishes: 7
PWI Ratings Top 10 Tag Team Finishes: 1
