Today (Aug. 29) Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine dropped their annual list of the 500 best wrestlers in the business. Affectionately known as the PWI 500, the writers and editors of Pro Wrestling Illustrated attempt to rank the best pro wrestlers from a completely kayfabe perspective.
For 2019, current WWE Universal champion Seth Rollins was slotted in the number one spot. Rollins also took home the award in 2015.
Usually one to ignore the pro wrestling media as a whole, WWE did take some pride in The Beastslayer taking home the top spot. From a WWE.com story:
“Universal Champion Seth Rollins joined a very elite club when it was revealed today that he topped the 2019 “Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500” – the publication’s annual ranking of the top 500 sports-entertainers of the year.
The 29th edition of the “PWI 500” sees Rollins in the No. 1 spot, as selected by the staff of “Pro Wrestling Illustrated.” The selection process is based on achievements during the evaluation period of July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. WWE Superstars earned the top four spots on the list, with Rollins being followed by Daniel Bryan, United States Champion AJ Styles, and WWE Champion Kofi Kingston.”
There it is, the “top 500 sports-entertainers of the year”.
#UniversalChampion @WWERollins has been revealed as No. 1 in the 29th annual “Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500.” #PWI500https://t.co/TEAJNn2OuX
— WWE (@WWE) August 29, 2019
Last year Kenny Omega earned top billing.
Rollins joins Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, and John Cena as the only WWE wrestlers to top the PWI 500 twice.
The 2019 PWI 500 Top Ten
- Seth Rollins
- Daniel Bryan
- A.J. Styles
- Kofi Kingston
- Kazuchika Okada
- Johnny Gargano
- Roman Reigns
- Kenny Omega
- Hiroshi Tanahashi
- Will Ospreay
A digital or print copy of the full issue can be purchased here. Agree with Seth Rollins earning the top spot?