Inspirational Wrestler of the Year
YEAR
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
WINNER
Lord Alfred Hayes
Johnny Valentine
Dick Murdoch
Mike McCord
Bruno Sammartino
Bob Backlund
Blackjack Mulligan
Chief Jay Strongbow
The Junkyard Dog
Bob Backlund
Roddy Piper
Hulk Hogan
Sergeant Slaughter
Mike Von Erich
Chris Adams
Nikita Koloff
Jerry Lawler
Eric Embry
Sting
The Patriot
Ron Simmons
Cactus Jack
Bret Hart
Barry Horowitz
Jake Roberts
Terry Funk
Bill Goldberg
Hulk Hogan
Booker T
Kurt Angle
Eddie Guerrero
Zach Gowen
Eddie Guerrero
Chris Candido
Matt Cappotelli
Jeff Jarrett
Ric Flair
Ricky Steamboat
Shawn Michaels
Rosita
Jerry Lawler
Darren Young
Daniel Bryan
Bayley
Bayley
Christopher Daniels
Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns
Shad Gaspard
Edge
Jon Moxley
Mark Briscoe
Cody Rhodes
FIRST RUNNER UP
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Wahoo McDaniel
Don Muraco
Bruno Sammartino
Ric Flair
Ricky Steamboat
Ted DiBiase
Jimmy Snuka
Roddy Piper
Kerry Von Erich
Paul Orndorff
Magnum TA
The Dynamite Kid
Kerry Von Erich
Nikita Koloff
Hulk Hogan
Jerry Lawler
The Undertaker
Lex Luger
Terry Funk
Sabu
Jushin Liger
Steve Austin
Steve Austin
Bret Hart
Mick Foley
Chris Jericho
Hulk Hogan
Kurt Angle
Chris Benoit
Matt Hardy
Rey Mysterio
CM Punk
CM Punk
Tommy Dreamer
Kurt Angle
Gregory Iron
Austin Aries
Dallas Page
Eric Young
John Cena
Cody Rhodes
John Cena
Cody Rhodes
Kofi Kingston
Thunder Rosa
Bianca Belair
Liv Morgan
Cody Rhodes
Bryan Danielson
SECOND RUNNER UP
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Bob Roop
Bruno Sammartino
Mr. Wrestling II
Mr. Wrestling II
Verne Gagne
Tito Santana
Mil Mascaras
Buzz Sawyer
Kevin Von Erich
Jim Duggan
Kerry Von Erich
Chris Adams
Animal
Billy Jack Haynes
Jerry Lawler
Sid Justice
Ricky Steamboat
The 1-2-3 Kid
The Guardian Angel
Antonio Inoki
Ahmed Johnson
Perry Saturn
Mankind
X-Pac
Crash Holly
Shane McMahon
Shawn Michaels
AJ Styles
Eugene
Steve Williams
Hardcore Holly
John Cena
John Cena
Sting
John Cena
Rob Fury
Shawn Daivari
Daniel Bryan
Chris Melendez
Kevin Owens
Seth Rollins
Shane McMahon
Tommy Dreamer
PCO
The Speaking Out Movement
Big E
Joe Doering
Richard Holliday
Sami Zayn
THIRD RUNNER UP
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Bob Armstrong
Terry Funk
Jim Brunzell
Dusty Rhodes
Mr. Florida
Mr. Wrestling II
Jimmy Valiant
Buddy Rose
Bob Backlund
Kevin Von Erich
Steve Williams
Billy Graham
Jake Roberts
Ric Flair
Nikolai Volkoff
Bill Dundee
Eric Embry
Brutus Beefcake
Dave Sullivan
Dan Severn
Rey Mysterio Jr.
Roddy Piper
Shane Douglas
Jim Duggan
Chyna
Spike Dudley
Chris Benoit
Rey Mysterio
William Regal
Rey Mysterio
CM Punk
Sting
Jeff Hardy
John Cena
Rob Van Dam
CM Punk
John Cena
John Cena
Ashley Sixx
Sami Zayn
Dean Ambrose
Mia Yim
LuFisto
Becky Lynch
Drake Maverick
Mickie James
Josh Alexander
Mickie James
Jeff Jarrett