by Dave Meltzer
7.WWF/WCW - Encouraging fans to throw things/hit the ring - 12
8.ECW - Not firing New Jack - 7
9. WWF - Goldust/Marlena break-up angle - 6
10. WCW - Advertising Hall on PPV when knew he wouldn’t be there - 5
Previous Winners
1981 - LeBelle Promotions usage of The Monster saying he was built in a laboratory, 1982 - Bob Backlund as WWF champion, 1983 - WWF pretending Eddie Gilbert had re-broken his neck after original neck injury in a car accident, 1984 - Blackjack Mulligan faking heart attack by Championship Wrestling from Florida, 1985 - Usage of Mike Von Erich’s near fatal illness to sell Cotton Bowl tickets, 1986 - Equating an angle of Chris Adams’ blindness with the death of Gino Hernandez by World Class, 1987 - World Class’ handling of Mike Von Erich’s death, 1988 - Fritz Von Erich fake brush with death by World Class, 1989 - Jose Gonzalez babyface push by WWC, 1990 - Atsushi Onita stabbing angle with Jose Gonzalez, 1991 - WWF exploiting Persian Gulf War for WrestleMania angle, 1992 - Erik Watts push, 1993 - Cactus Jack amnesia angle, 1994 - WCW retiring Ric Flair, 1995 - WCW Gene Okerlund 900 line come-ons and lies, 1996 - WWF tease and usage of New Razor and Diesel
READERS PERSONAL FAVORITE WRESTLER
1. Chris Benoit - 80
2. Ric Flair - 67
3. Steve Austin - 60
4. Shawn Michaels - 39
5. Manami Toyota - 36
6. Shinjiro Otani - 31
7. Jushin Liger - 26
8. Super Delfin - 25
9.Rey Misterio Jr. - 25
10. Bret Hart - 20
Honorable Mention
Eddie Guerrero 13, Mankind 13, Kenta Kobashi 13, Undertaker 12, Takako Inoue 12, Mitsuharu Misawa 11, Koji Kanemoto 11, Toshiaki Kawada 10, Brian Pillman 10, Volk Han 10
Previous Winners
1984 - Ric Flair, 1985 - Ric Flair, 1986 - Ric Flair, 1987 - Ric Flair, 1988 - Ric Flair, 1989 - Ric Flair, 1990 - Ric Flair, 1991 - Ric Flair, 1992 - Ric Flair, 1993 - Ric Flair, 1994 - Sabu, 1995 - Manami Toyota, 1996 - Ric Flair
READERS LEAST FAVORITE WRESTLER
1. Hulk Hogan - 148
2. Shawn Michaels - 66
3. Kevin Nash - 46
4. Lex Luger - 40
5. Hunter Hearst Helmsley - 27
6. Taz - 24
7. Goldust - 18
8. Shane Douglas - 14
9. Glacier - 9
10.Bret Hart - 9
Honorable Mention
Steve McMichael 8, Sycho Sid 8
Previous Winners
1984 - Ivan Putski, 1985 - Hulk Hogan, 1986 - Hulk Hogan, 1987 - Dusty Rhodes, 1988 - Dusty Rhodes, 1989 - Ultimate Warrior, 1990 - Ultimate Warrior, 1991 - Hulk Hogan, 1992 - Erik Watts, 1993 - Sid Vicious, 1994 - Hulk Hogan, 1995 - Hulk Hogan, 1996 - Hulk Hogan
WORST WRESTLER
1. Hulk Hogan - 93
2. Steve McMichael - 61
3. Lex Luger - 55
4. Interrogator - 52
5. Ahmed Johnson - 36
6. Roddy Piper - 33
7. Sandman- 32
8. Jim Duggan - 17
9. Sycho Sid - 16
10. Jimmy Valiant - 14
Honorable Mention
Rusher Kimura 13, Giant Baba 12, Brian Lee 11, Vincent 9
Previous Winners
1984 - Ivan Putski, 1985 - Uncle Elmer (Stan Frazier), 1986 - Mike Von Erich, 1987 - Junkyard Dog, 1988 - Ultimate Warrior, 1989 - Andre the Giant, 1990 - Junkyard Dog, 1991 - Andre the Giant, 1992 - Andre the Giant, 1993 - The Equalizer (Dave Sullivan), 1994 - Dave Sullivan, 1995 - Renegade, 1996 - Loch Ness
WORST TAG TEAM
1. Godwinns - 198
2. Legion of Doom - 36
3. Meng & Barbarian - 35
4. Recon & Sniper - 26
5. Kevin Nash & Scott Hall - 25
6. Billy Gunn & Jesse Jammes - 23
7.Blackjacks - 23
8. Public Enemy - 21
9. High Voltage - 17
10. Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley - 15
Honorable Mention
Glacier & Ernest Miller 12, Head Bangers 10
Previous Winners
1984 - The Crusher & Baron Von Raschke, 1985 - Uncle Elmer (Stan Frazier) & Cousin Junior (Lanny Kean), 1986 - Junkyard Dog & George Steele, 1987 - Jimmy Valiant & Bugsy McGraw, 1988 - Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov, 1989 - Warlord & Barbarian, 1990 - Giant Baba & Andre the Giant, 1991 - Giant Baba & Andre the Giant, 1992 - Bushwhackers, 1993 - Colossal Kongs, 1994 - Bushwhackers, 1995 - Dick Slater & Bunkhouse Buck, 1996 - Godwinns
WORST TELEVISION SHOW
1. USWA - 124
2. WCW Pro - 78
3. WWF Live Wire - 67
4. WCW Monday Nitro - 55
5. WWF Shotgun Saturday Night - 44
6. WWF Raw is War - 39
7. WWF Superstars - 32
8. WCW Saturday Night - 31
9. WCW Main Event - 18
10. WCW World Wide - 13
=10.AAA - 13
Previous Winners
1984 - WWF All-Star Wrestling, 1985 - Championship Wrestling from Florida, 1986 - California Championship Wrestling, 1987 - World Class Championship Wrestling, 1988 - AWA on ESPN, 1989 - ICW Wrestling, 1990 - AWA on ESPN, 1991 - Herb Abrams UWF, 1992 - GWF on ESPN, 1993 - GWF on ESPN, 1994 - WCW Saturday Night, 1995 - WCW Saturday Night, 1996 - AWF Warriors of Wrestling
WORST MANAGER
1. Sonny Onoo - 175
2. Debra McMichael - 43
3. Sable - 42
4. James Vandenburg - 39
5. Jackyl - 38
6. Teddy Long - 30
7. Uncle Cletus - 24
8. Iron Sheik - 17
9. Jacquelyn - 16
10. Jimmy Hart - 10
Honorable Mention
Ted DiBiase 9, Hillbilly Jim 8
Previous Winners
1984 - Mr. Fuji, 1985 - Mr. Fuji, 1986 - Paul Jones, 1987 - Mr. Fuji, 1988 - Mr. Fuji, 1989 - Mr. Fuji, 1990 - Mr. Fuji, 1991 - Mr. Fuji,1992 - Mr. Fuji, 1993 - Mr. Fuji, 1994 - Mr. Fuji, 1995 - Mr. Fuji, 1996 - Sonny Onoo
WORST MATCH OF THE YEAR
1. Hulk Hogan vs. Roddy Piper (10/26) - 182
2. Sabu vs. Sandman (11/30) - 158
3. Reggie White vs. Steve McMichael (5/18) - 71
4. Shane Douglas vs. Pit Bull #2 (4/13) - 28
5. Hulk Hogan vs. The Giant (1/25) - 22
6.World War III Battle Royal (11/23) - 22
7. DOA vs. Truth Commission (11/9) - 20
8. Faarooq vs. Crush vs. Savio Vega (9/7) - 15
9. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (11/9) - 13
10. Steve McMichael vs. Alex Wright (10/26) - 8
Honorable Mention
Hulk Hogan vs. Lex Luger (8/9) 7, Disco Inferno vs. Jacquelyn (10/26) 7
Previous Winners
1984 - Fabulous Moolah vs. Wendi Richter (7/23), 1985 - Fred Blassie vs. Lou Albano, 1986 - Roddy Piper vs. Mr. T (4/2), 1987 - Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (3/29), 1988 - Hiroshi Wajima vs. Tom Magee (4/21), 1989 - Andre the Giant vs. Ultimate Warrior (10/31), 1990 - Sid Vicious vs. Night Stalker (11/20), 1991 - P.N. News & Bobby Eaton vs. Terry Taylor & Steve Austin (7/14), 1992 - Rick Rude vs. Masahiro Chono (10/25), 1993 - Four Doinks (Bushwhackers & Men on a Mission) vs. Bam Ban Bigelow & Head Shrinkers & Bastion Booger (11/24), 1994 - Jerry Lawler & Queasy & Cheesy & Sleazy vs. Doink the Clown & Dink & Wink & Pink (11/23), 1995 - Sting vs. Tony Palmore (1/4), 1996 - Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson & Meng & Barbarian & Kevin Sullivan & Ze Gangsta & Ultimate Solution & Lex Luger (3/24)
WORST FEUD OF THE YEAR
1. DOA vs. Boricuas vs. NOD - 99
2. Legion of Doom vs. Godwinns - 63
3. Hulk Hogan vs. Roddy Piper - 62
4. WCW vs. NWO - 43
5. Glacier & Miller vs. Wrath & Mortis - 27
6. Ahmed Johnson vs. Nation of Domination - 22
7.Disco Inferno vs. Jacquelyn - 22
8. Jeff Jarrett vs. Steve McMichael - 21
9. Shawn Michaels vs.
Bret Hart - 12
10. NWO vs. Ray Traylor - 11
Previous Winners
1984 - Andre the Giant vs. John Studd, 1985 - Sgt. Slaughter vs. Boris Zhukov, 1986 - Machines (Andre the Giant & Bill Eadie) vs. King Kong Bundy & John Studd, 1987 - George Steele vs. Danny Davis, 1988 - Midnight Rider (Dusty Rhodes) vs. Tully Blanchard, 1989 - Andre the Giant vs. Ultimate Warrior, 1990 - Ric Flair vs. Junkyard Dog, 1991 - Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter, 1992 - Ultimate Warrior vs. Papa Shango, 1993 - Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzalez, 1994 - Jerry Lawler vs. Doink the Clown, 1995 - Hulk Hogan vs. Dungeon of Doom, 1996 - Big Bubba vs. John Tenta
WORST ON INTERVIEWS
1. Ahmed Johnson - 211
2. Alex Wright - 39
3. Lex Luger - 38
4. Roddy Piper - 28
5. Hunter Hearst Helmsley - 26
6. Road Warriors - 21
7. Shawn Michaels - 18
8. Ken Shamrock - 14
9. Jacquelyn - 13
10. Scott Steiner - 11
=10.Raven - 11
Honorable Mention
Marc Mero 9, The Giant 8, Steve McMichael 8
Previous Winners
1984 - Jimmy Snuka, 1985 - Thunderbolt Patterson, 1986 - Mike Von Erich, 1987 - Bugsy McGraw, 1988 - Steve Williams, 1989 - Ultimate Warrior, 1990 - Ultimate Warrior, 1991 - Ultimate Warrior, 1992 - Ultimate Warrior, 1993 - Mr. Fuji, 1994 - Dave Sullivan, 1995 - Hulk Hogan, 1996 - Ahmed Johnson
WORST PROMOTION
1. United States Wrestling Association - 251
2. World Wrestling Federation - 89
3. AAA - 68
4. World Championship Wrestling - 52
5.Big Japan Pro Wrestling - 52
6. Extreme Championship Wrestling - 31
7. Music City Wrestling - 30
8. World Wrestling Council - 24
9. Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling - 12
10. Catch Wrestling Association - 11
Honorable Mention
National Wrestling Alliance 9, Louisville IWA 9
Previous Winners
1986 - AWA, 1987 - World Class, 1988 - AWA, 1989 - AWA, 1990 - AWA, 1991 - Herb Abrams UWF, 1992 - GWF, 1993 - WCW, 1994 - WCW, 1995 - WCW, 1996 - AWF
BEST BOOKER
1. Paul Heyman - 252
2. Riki Choshu - 88
3. Terry Taylor - 77
4. Shohei Baba - 59
5. Jushin Liger - 58
6. Vince McMah - 39
7. Great Sasuke - 26
8. Eric Bischoff - 22
9. Kevin Sullivan - 18
10. Konnan- 9
Previous Winners
1986 - Dusty Rhodes, 1987 - Vince McMahon, 1988 - Eddie Gilbert, 1989 - Shohei Baba, 1990 - Shohei Baba, 1991 - Shohei Baba, 1992 - Riki Choshu, 1993 - Jim Cornette, 1994 - Paul Heyman, 1995 - Paul Heyman, 1996 - Paul Heyman
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
1. Riki Choshu - 311
2. Eric Bischoff - 132
3. Vince McMahon - 61
4. Paul Heyman - 57
5. Shohei Baba - 51
6. Steve Nelson - 9
7. Konnan - 7
8.Masami Ozaki - 7
9. Atsushi Onita - 6
10. Antonio Pena - 4
Previous Winners
1988 - Vince McMahon, 1989 - Akira Maeda, 1990 - Shohei Baba, 1991 - Shohei Baba, 1992 - Shohei Baba, 1993 - Shohei Baba, 1994 - Shohei Baba, 1995 - Riki Choshu, 1996 - Riki Choshu
SHOOTER OF THE YEAR
1. Maurice Smith - 346
2. Vitor Belfort - 48
3. Dan Severn - 47
4. Mark Kerr - 41
5. Don Frye - 33
6. Yuki Kondo - 32
7. Mark Coleman - 19
8. Randy Couture - 17
9. Frank Shamrock - 15
10. Tom Erikson - 12
Honorable Mention
Masakatsu Funaki 11, Bas Rutten 11, Kevin Jackson 9
SHOOT MATCH OF THE YEAR
1. Maurice Smith vs. Mark Coleman (7/27) - 357
2. Vitor Belfort vs. Randy Couture (10/17) - 43
3. Lisa Hunt vs. Donna Cauthen (4/12) - 35
4. Carlos Baretto vs. David Beneteau (10/17) - 26
5. Wallid Ismail vs. Yoshiki Takahashi (2/7) - 13
6. Rickson Gracie vs. Nobuhiko Takada (10/11) - 12
7. Kimo vs. Paul Varelans (12/7/96) - 11
8. Frank Shamrock vs. Tsuyoshi Kousaka (9/26) - 9
9. Don Frye vs. Tank Abbott (12/7/96) - 7
10.Frank Shamrock vs. John Lober (1/20) - 7
BEST GIMMICK
1. Stone Cold Steve Austin - 93
2. NWO - 69
3. Kane - 68
4. Dude Love - 35
5. Degeneration X - 32
6. Oz Academy - 31
7. Sting - 29
8. Raven’s Nest - 17
9. Al Snow’s Head - 13
10. Full Blooded Italians - 10
Honorable Mention:
Chyna 7
Previous Winners
1986 - Adrian Street, 1987 - Ted DiBiase Million Dollar Man, 1988 - Rick Steiner Varsity Club, 1989 - Jushin Liger, 1990 - Undertaker, 1991 - Undertaker, 1992 - Undertaker, 1993 - Undertaker, 1994 - Undertaker, 1995 - Disco Inferno, 1996 - NWO
WORST GIMMICK
1. New Goldust - 68
2. Truth Commission - 58
3. Glacier - 57
4. Degeneration X - 30
5. Rockabilly - 28
6. Dude Love - 25
7. NWO - 17
8. Sting - 12
9. Kane - 9
10.Flash Funk - 9
Previous Winners
1986 - Adorable Adrian Adonis, 1987 - Adorable Adrian Adonis, 1988 - Midnight Rider (Dusty Rhodes), 1989 - Ding Dongs, 1990 - Gobbledy Gooker, 1991 - Oz, 1992 - Papa Shango, 1993 - Shock Master, 1994 - Dave Sullivan, 1995 - Goldust, 1996 - New Razor, Diesel and Double J
MOST EMBARRASSING WRESTLER
1. New Goldust - 176
2. Hulk Hogan - 105
3. Shawn Michaels - 49
4. Glacier - 26
5. Godwinns - 21
6. Roddy Piper - 19
7. Sandman - 16
8. Jim Duggan - 15
9.New Jack - 15
10. Interrogator - 9
Previous Winners
1986 - Adrian Adonis, 1987 - George Steele, 1988 - George Steele, 1989 - Andre the Giant, 1990 - Dusty Rhodes, 1991 - Van Hammer, 1992 - Papa Shango, 1993 - Bastion Booger, 1994 - Doink the Clown, 1995 - Hulk Hogan, 1996 - Hulk Hogan