February 21, 2022 Observer Newsletter: 2021 Awards issue, Cody and Brandi Rhodes leave AEW

The following are the results of the 42nd annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter readership awards, along with a listing of the previous winners in the various categories. On a worldwide basis, these are the most covered mainstream international pro wrestling awards. The awards are based on the time frame from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021. Readers are encouraged to send in their comments on the results.

“CATEGORY A” AWARDS – WINNERS

DETERMINED BY POINTS ON A 5-3-2 BASIS.

FIRST PLACE VOTES IN PARENTHESIS

LOU THESZ/RIC FLAIR AWARD

(WRESTLER OF THE YEAR)

1. KENNY OMEGA (629) 3,755

2. Roman Reigns (90) 1,636

3. Shingo Takagi (46) 1,604

4. Bryan Danielson (127) 1,411

5. Utami Hayashishita (134) 1,310

6. C.M. Punk (24) 566

7. Syuri (21) 254

8. Adam Page (11) 199

9. Katsuhiko Nakajima (4) 113

10. Jon Moxley (1) 72

HONORABLE MENTION: Will Ospreay 62

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; 2003 – Kenta Kobashi; 2004 – Kenta Kobashi; 2005 – Kenta Kobashi; 2006 – Mistico; 2007 – John Cena; 2008 – Chris Jericho; 2009 – Chris Jericho; 2010 – John Cena; 2011 – Hiroshi Tanahashi; 2012 – Hiroshi Tanahashi; 2013 – Hiroshi Tanahashi; 2014 – Shinsuke Nakamura; 2015 – A.J. Styles; 2016 – A.J. Styles; 2017 – Kazuchika Okada; 2018 – Kenny Omega; 2019 – Chris Jericho; 2020 – Jon Moxley

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