Pro Wrestling Illustrated senior writer Dan Murphy was Jim Ross’ guest on this week’s Ross Report podcast. During the discussion, Murphy revealed the Top 10 wrestlers on this year’s annual PWI 500 list, which covers the period of June 2016-17.
The top spot on this year’s PWI 500 went to IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, the ‘ace’ of New Japan Pro Wrestling. Eight of the Top 10 spots were awarded to WWE Superstars this year, with IWGP United States Champion Kenny Omega cracking the top 5 as the other NJPW star in the Top 10.
- Kazuchika Okada
- AJ Styles
- Kevin Owens
- Roman Reigns
- Kenny Omega
- Shinsuke Nakamura
- Dean Ambrose
- Samoa Joe
- Bobby Roode
- The Miz
In topping this year’s list, Kazuchika Okada becomes the first-ever Japanese wrestler to rank #1 in the PWI 500 and the first wrestler to not be from WWE, WCW or TNA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly_ToWK1BuQ
Here’s the Top 50:
- Kazuchida Okada
- AJ Styles
- Kevin Owens
- Roman Reigns
- Kenny Omega
- Nakamura
- Dean Ambrose
- Samoa Joe
- Bobby Roode.
- The Miz
- Neville
- Naito
- Randy Orton
- Adam Cole
- Bray Wyatt
- Seth Rollins
- Christopher Daniels
- Bobby Lashley
- John Cena
- Kushida
- Will Osprey
- Chris Jericho
- Shibata
- Johnny Mundo
- Brock Lesnar
- Zack Sabre Jr
- Eddie Edwards
- Finn Balor
- Pete Dunne
- Jinder Mahal
- Marty Scrull
- Dolph Ziggler
- Cody Rhodes
- Braun Strouman
- TJ Perkins
- EC3
- Alberto El Patron
- Kyle O Reilly
- Hiroshi Tanahashi
- Nick Jackson
- Sami Zayn
- Matt Jackson
- Mark Haskins
- Rusev
- Matt Hardy
- Ricochet
- Yamato
- Hiromu Takahashi
- Baron Corbin
- Tyler Bate