February 21, 2022 Observer Newsletter: 2021 Awards issue, Cody and Brandi Rhodes leave AEW
The following are the results of the 42nd annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter readership awards, along with a listing of the previous winners in the various categories. On a worldwide basis, these are the most covered mainstream international pro wrestling awards. The awards are based on the time frame from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021. Readers are encouraged to send in their comments on the results.
“CATEGORY A” AWARDS – WINNERS
DETERMINED BY POINTS ON A 5-3-2 BASIS.
FIRST PLACE VOTES IN PARENTHESIS
LOU THESZ/RIC FLAIR AWARD
(WRESTLER OF THE YEAR)
1. KENNY OMEGA (629) 3,755
2. Roman Reigns (90) 1,636
3. Shingo Takagi (46) 1,604
4. Bryan Danielson (127) 1,411
5. Utami Hayashishita (134) 1,310
6. C.M. Punk (24) 566
7. Syuri (21) 254
8. Adam Page (11) 199
9. Katsuhiko Nakajima (4) 113
10. Jon Moxley (1) 72
HONORABLE MENTION: Will Ospreay 62
PREVIOUS WINNERS: 1980 – Harley Race; 1981 – Harley Race; 1982 – Ric Flair; 1983 – Ric Flair; 1984 – Ric Flair; 1985 – Ric Flair; 1986 – Ric Flair; 1987 – Riki Choshu; 1988 – Akira Maeda; 1989 – Ric Flair; 1990 – Ric Flair; 1991 – Jumbo Tsuruta; 1992 – Ric Flair; 1993 – Vader; 1994 – Toshiaki Kawada; 1995 – Mitsuharu Misawa; 1996 – Kenta Kobashi; 1997 – Mitsuharu Misawa; 1998 – Steve Austin; 1999 – Mitsuharu Misawa; 2000 – HHH; 2001 – Keiji Muto; 2002 – Kurt Angle; 2003 – Kenta Kobashi; 2004 – Kenta Kobashi; 2005 – Kenta Kobashi; 2006 – Mistico; 2007 – John Cena; 2008 – Chris Jericho; 2009 – Chris Jericho; 2010 – John Cena; 2011 – Hiroshi Tanahashi; 2012 – Hiroshi Tanahashi; 2013 – Hiroshi Tanahashi; 2014 – Shinsuke Nakamura; 2015 – A.J. Styles; 2016 – A.J. Styles; 2017 – Kazuchika Okada; 2018 – Kenny Omega; 2019 – Chris Jericho; 2020 – Jon Moxley
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.