Table of contents for December 2017 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated

THERE IS A Japanese proverb that states: “The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.” Maybe PWI was the oak all these years, denying the appointment of a wrestler who rarely appears in North America the coveted honor of being number-one in the “PWI 500.” But the undeniable skills of a 29-year-old from Tokyo have forced us to bend like bamboo. In the 26 years prior to the selection of Kazuchika Okada as number one in 2017, the prevailing judgment was that giving the top spot to a wrestler who primarily competed against fellow Japanese wrestlers was the equivalent of saying that all-time leading Japanese home run hitter Sadaharu Oh was as good as Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron. Silly, huh? Well, not if you take the…

TAP HERE FOR VIDEO FOR THE FIRST time in the 27-year history of the “PWI 500,” the top position goes to a wrestler who is not based in a major American promotion. “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada has been selected as the best wrestler of the past 12 months and earns the number-one spot. There were several factors that went into the selection of Okada as number one. For one thing, Okada has held the IWGP championship throughout the entire evaluation period. He is unquestionably the top dog in the second-largest wrestling promotion in the world and has faced elite level competition all year. And his Wrestle Kingdom title defense against Kenny Omega (and the subsequent rematch at Dominion) have been lauded as not only potential Match of the Year candidates,…

WITH THE BENEFIT of hindsight, it’s easy to tell when you’ve screwed up. Since the very first “PWI 500” ran back in 1991, the editorial team of this magazine has met once a year to decide on who should receive the coveted top spot. Sometimes the decision is a no-brainer (Shawn Michaels in 1996, Steve Austin in 1998 and 1999, Daniel Bryan in 2014). And sometimes the numberone isn’t quite as clear-cut, especially in retrospect. I think it’s pretty safe to say that we’ll look back on this year’s selection of Kazuchika Okada as one we got right. But, looking back, some of Okada’s countrymen should have topped the 500 rather than the individuals we picked. Let’s address 1997 right off the bat. Dean Malenko is probably the most controversial…

THE “PWI 500” has made a profound impact on our sport over the past quarter-century. I would argue that it has even surpassed our annual “Achievement Awards,” which date back to 1972. The ambitiousness of the task, the vastness of the scope, and what it says about our business are what make the “500” so unique. Think about it: Earning the number-500 spot means as much to Dan Richards as making number one means to Kazuchika Okada. And you can bet everyone in the Raw and Smackdown locker rooms will notice that AJ Styles is the top-ranked WWE wrestler, that Kevin Owens has edged out Roman Reigns to make number three, and that NXT champion Bobby Roode has made the top 10. My point is the “500” is just as…

THERE WAS A time when the person listed number 500 in the “PWI 500” could be considered the loser. Yes, when we first started to compile this listing in 1991, it was a struggle to find 500 names, and the man at bottom of the list was the object of derision. All these years later, we could easily compile a “PWI 1,000.” (Easy, Dan Murphy, we’re speaking hypothetically.) Next issue, when we once again have space for “Arena Reports,” check out the names on the independent reports. Take note of how many wrestlers didn’t even make this year’s cut. Appalachian Mountain Wrestling’s Dan Richards shouldn’t be looked upon as last; he should be considered 500th best—a position envied by all those who fell below him. Of course, number-one is the…

Top 10 and Tag Team ratings are based on won-lost records for the past month, quality of opposition, and inherent skill of each wrestler or tag team. These ratings are compiled by a committee consisting of Stu Saks, Dan Murphy, Kris Zellner, Louie Dee, Harry Burkett and STRIGGA (cagematch.net, purolove.com). The numbers in parentheses indicate a wrestler’s position in that category last issue. Agate-sized ratings are supplied to PWI by promoters and can be e-mailed to us at pwiresults@yahoo.com (please put the word “ratings” in the subject line). TOP 10 1 KAZUCHIKA OKADA 240, Tokyo, Japan (1) IWGP heavyweight champion 2 BROCK LESNAR 286, Minneapolis, MN (–) WWE Universal champion 3 JINDER MAHAL 238, Punjab, India (2) WWE heavyweight champion 4 AJ STYLES 218, Gainesville, GA (–) WWE U.S. champion 5 BRAUN STROWMAN…

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE I never thought the punk who debuted on Smackdown in 2002 would win 16 world titles, become the face of WWE’s global brand, visit more Make-A-Wish patients than anyone in history, and transform into a mainstream celebrity. John Cena's credo of loyalty and respect—and a little bit of hustle—is a major reason for his success. The Rock has served as a role model in this respect. MONTREAL: AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE? Where else would Kevin Owens rescue his hated nemesis, Sami Zayn? Where else would Pat Patterson battle an Indian faction in the ring? The August 5 event reminds me of Jacques Rougeau’s shocking non-title win over then-WCW World champion Hulk Hogan at the Montreal Forum in 1996. The fans are so intense and the…

457 Idris Abraham 77 Abyss 144 ACH 308 Chris Adonis 220 Akam 250 Jun Akiyama 37 Alberto El Patron 206 Cedric Alexander 417 Josh Alexander 237 Mustafa Ali 189 Andrade Almas 7 Dean Ambrose 110 Enzo Amore 73 Karl Anderson 167 Mark Andrews 295 Matt Angel 303 Angel de Oro 199 Angelico 287 Greg Anthony 248 Atsushi Aoki 322 Yuma Aoyagi 354 Lance Archer 397 Tristan Archer 60 Austin Aries 299 Shotaro Ashino 345 Asylum 252 Atlantis 459 Ace Austin 442 Peter Avalon 300 Curtis Axel 373 Azrieal 446 Badd Blood 249 Mike Bailey 28 Finn Balor 440 Brent Banks 135 Travis Banks 91 Trent Barreta 50 Tyler Bate 472 Tyler Bateman 318 Beer City Bruiser 479 Anthony Bennett 360 Kevin Bennett 154 Mike Bennett 59 Big E 369 Big…