January 19, 2004 Observer Newsletter: 2003 year-end awards
LOU THESZ/RIC FLAIR AWARD
(WRESTLER OF THE YEAR)
1. KENTA KOBASHI (531) 3,388
2. Kurt Angle (196) 1,770
3. Randy Couture (92) 949
4. Brock Lesnar (69) 908
5. Wanderlei Silva (33) 501
6. Yuji Nagata (3) 360
7. Yoshihiro Takayama (14) 301
8. Eddy Guerrero (10) 205
9. Bob Sapp (13) 190
10. Mirko Cro Cop (21) 188
Honorable Mention: Chris Benoit 148, Chris Jericho 143, Jun Akiyama 133, Shawn Michaels 107, Hiroyoshi Tenzan 75, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 71
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
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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.