MarketList of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
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List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

This is a list of both active and inactive Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards created by professional wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist Dave Meltzer. The first fourteen awards were created in 1980 as an informal poll between Meltzer and his friends and others he corresponded with on the subject of professional wrestling at the time. After starting the Wrestling Observer in 1982, the awards took on a greater life, with an increasing number of awards given out every year.

Current awards
"Category A" awards Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year) is the most recent winner of the award in 2025, his second after winning in 2006. is a nine-time winner and co-namesake of the category. Mixed Martial Arts Most Valuable Most Outstanding Wrestler is a record five-time winner of the category. Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year is a three-time winner of the category. Tag Team of the Year Best on Interviews is a record five-time winner of the category. Promotion of the Year Best Weekly TV Show '' is the only non-wrestling TV show to win the category. Pro Wrestling Match of the Year MMA Match of the Year is a three-time winner of the category. "Category B" awards was the inaugural United States/Canada MVP. United States/Canada MVP Koichi Yoshizawa Award (Japan MVP) is one of seven New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestlers to be named Japan MVP. Mexico MVP was the inaugural Mexico MVP. Europe MVP , better known as Gunther, was the inaugural Europe MVP, and overall is a record three-time winner. Danny Hodge Memorial Award (Non-Heavyweight MVP) was the namesake for the award, a multi-time amateur and professional champion. Women's Wrestling MVP was the inaugural winner of the award, and is a record two-time winner. Women's MMA MVP is a record three-time winner. Best Box Office Draw is a record five-time winner of the category. Feud of the Year Most Improved Most Charismatic Bryan Danielson Award (Best Technical Wrestler) is a 12-time winner and namesake of this category. Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler) is the inaugural recipient, seven-time winner and namesake of the category. is 10-time winner of the category in a 10 year streak from 1991 to 2000. Best Flying Wrestler (aka Rey Misterio Jr.) is a six-time winner of the category. Most Overrated Most Underrated Rookie of the Year was the inaugural winner of the award in 1980. Best Non-Wrestler is an eleven-time winner of the category. Jim Ross Award (Best Television Announcer) , namesake of this category, is a 14-time winner of the category. Worst Television Announcer Best Major Wrestling Show , the first of two editions of WrestleMania to win this award. Worst Major Wrestling Show Best Wrestling Maneuver Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic Worst Television Show Worst Match of the Year won the award for a record three straight years. Worst Feud of the Year Worst Promotion of the Year , is an 11-time winner of the category, having won every year from 2007 to 2017. Best Booker Promoter of the Year Best Gimmick is a five-time winner of the category. Worst Gimmick is a three-time winner of the category under three different gimmicks (Goldust, The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust and Black Reign). Best Pro Wrestling Book Best Pro Wrestling Documentary Shad Gaspard/Jon Huber Memorial Award == Defunct awards ==
Defunct awards
Class A awards Most Impressive Wrestler is a three-time winner of the category. Most Washed Up Wrestler Strongest Wrestler Best Three-Man Team Most Unimproved Most Obnoxious is a six-time winner of the category. Best Babyface Best Heel Biggest Shock of the Year has been named in two Biggest Shock of the Year. Hardest Worker Manager of the Year Class B awards Best Color Commentator is a four-time winner of the category. Readers' Favorite Wrestler Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler Worst Wrestler is a three-time winner of the category. Worst Tag Team Worst Manager is an eleven-time winner of the category. Worst on Interviews is a five-time winner of the category. Most Embarrassing Wrestler Worst Non-Wrestling Personality is a three-time winner of the category. ==Wrestling Observer Decade Awards==
Wrestling Observer Decade Awards
, best wrestler of the 2000s , best wrestler of the 2010s 1990s • Fighter of the Decade: Frank Shamrock 2000s • Best Wrestler: Kurt Angle • Most Outstanding Wrestler: Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan • Best Box Office Draw: Místico • Best Tag Team: Rey Bucanero and Último Guerrero • Best Interviews: Chris Jericho • Most Charismatic: John Cena • MMA Most Valuable: Randy Couture 2010s • Best Wrestler: Hiroshi Tanahashi • Most Outstanding Wrestler: Kazuchika Okada • Best Box Office Draw: Brock Lesnar • Best Tag Team: The Young Bucks • Best Interviews: Paul Heyman • Most Charismatic: Hiroshi Tanahashi • Best Technical Wrestler: Zack Sabre Jr. • Best Brawler: Tomohiro Ishii • Best Flyer: Ricochet • Best Promotion: New Japan Pro-Wrestling • Best Matches: Kazuchika Okada • Best Non-Wrestler: Paul Heyman • Best Television Announcer: Kevin Kelly ==See also==
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