Don Callis reacts to winning WON Best Non-Wrestler: ‘Insulting’
Don Callis says he’s insulted that he was voted Best Non-Wrestler in the 2025 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards, because he still considers himself a wrestler.
Callis was a guest on Wrestling Observer Live on Friday, the same day the results were announced. It marked the second time Callis has won the award, having also done so in 2023.
“That’s insulting because I still consider myself a wrestler, as evidenced by anyone who has seen me throw a punch or a chop,” Callis said.
“If you look at the other slugs that are on that list, not one of them could ever hit a Northern Lights Suplex, do the Ox Baker top-rope knee drop like Don ‘By God’ Callis did back in the day.”
“While the rest of the people on that list are for sure non wrestlers, I am more of just an overall supernova in this industry. I’ve done whatever I’ve wanted in various sectors of it. Maybe we can rename the award the Don Callis Award.”
Paul Heyman has won Best Non-Wrestler in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards 10 times, including in 2024. He finished second in the voting to Callis this year.
Callis said:
“That’s a great showing for Paul, for sure. I’m happy for him that that he was able to accumulate a third of the votes that I was. Paul did a lot for me in my early career and I always have a soft spot for Paul.”
Callis also responded to Don Callis Family member Konosuke Takeshita being voted Most Outstanding Wrestler in this year’s awards.
“The first member of the Don Callis family was Takeshita and he was handpicked by me. A lot of people said who is this kid? Why is Don Callis so interested? Why does Don Callis go to a PWG show and miss something in Tokyo so he can scout him? Because I have an eye for talent.”
“Everything Takeshita has accomplished, IWGP champion, Most Outstanding Wrestler, is because of me and his association with the family.”
The full episode of Wrestling Observer Live is available here for subscribers. The 2025 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards issue is available here.
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.