PWI 500

The PWI 500 — 1996

The complete Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 for 1996 — all five hundred places, as published. Shawn Michaels took the number one spot.

PWI 500, 1996 — all 500 places
Rank	Wrestler	GOAT	Evidence
1	Shawn Michaels	99.86	Calibrated
2	Big Show	60.36	Provisional
3	Sting	98.80	Calibrated
4	Kenta Kobashi	67.08	Provisional
5	Ahmed Johnson	53.00	Provisional
6	Kevin Nash	79.85	Provisional
7	Rey Misterio, Jr.	55.61	Provisional
8	Hulk Hogan	99.28	Calibrated
9	Sabu	58.98	Provisional
10	Ric Flair	99.79	Calibrated
11	Dustin Rhodes	63.63	Provisional
12	Shinya Hashimoto	56.16	Provisional
13	Dean Malenko	60.45	Provisional
14	Big Van Vader	59.15	Provisional
15	Scott Steiner	80.36	Provisional
16	Bret Hart	98.48	Calibrated
17	Lex Luger	79.14	Provisional
18	Chris Benoit	72.30	Provisional
19	The Undertaker	99.38	Calibrated
20	Shane Douglas	54.65	Provisional
21	Randy Savage	99.29	Calibrated
22	Steve Austin	99.14	Calibrated
23	The Great Sasuke	54.76	Provisional
24	Davey Boy Smith	54.80	Provisional
25	Konnan	77.87	Provisional
26	Jeff Jarrett	64.80	Provisional
27	Arn Anderson	79.69	Provisional
28	Mitsuharu Misawa	66.62	Provisional
29	Eddie Guerrero	98.64	Calibrated
30	Rick Steiner	58.59	Provisional
31	Jerry Lawler	78.48	Provisional
32	The Great Muta	78.10	Provisional
33	Owen Hart	58.36	Provisional
34	Scott Hall	56.56	Provisional
35	2 Cold Scorpio	52.99	Provisional
36	Nobuhiko Takada	51.48	Provisional
37	Raven	57.27	Provisional
38	Jushin Liger	63.16	Provisional
39	Psicosis	52.24	Provisional
40	Sid Justice	54.24	Provisional
41	Ultimo Dragon	56.57	Provisional
42	Chris Jericho	97.96	Calibrated
43	Marc Mero	50.38	Provisional
44	Tommy Dreamer	78.01	Provisional
45	Mankind	58.61	Provisional
46	Taz	54.12	Provisional
47	Dan Severn	52.15	Provisional
48	Koji Kanemoto	54.63	Provisional
49	Savio Vega	51.84	Provisional
50	Yokozuna	59.97	Provisional
51	Rob Van Dam	97.64	Calibrated
52	Antonio Inoki	54.75	Provisional
53	Mabel	51.13	Provisional
54	Diamond Dallas Page	59.87	Provisional
55	Faarooq	51.92	Provisional
56	Lord Steven Regal	50.11	Provisional
57	Akira Taue	52.85	Provisional
58	Perro Aguayo	50.65	Provisional
59	Masa Chono	52.07	Provisional
60	Juventud Guerrera	54.14	Provisional
61	Hiroyoshi Tenzan	56.66	Provisional
62	Toshiaki Kawada	58.43	Provisional
63	El Hijo del Santo	59.35	Provisional
64	Brian Christopher	52.83	Provisional
65	The Sandman	51.92	Provisional
66	Stan Hansen	55.88	Provisional
67	Stevie Ray	51.08	Provisional
68	Steve Austin	99.14	Calibrated
69	Skip	48.13	Provisional
70	Kensuke Sasaki	58.55	Provisional
71	Bam Bam Bigelow	53.62	Provisional
72	Tony Anthony	53.41	Provisional
73	La Parka	52.47	Provisional
74	Doug Gilbert	51.17	Provisional
75	El Samurai	50.97	Provisional
76	Tatsumi Fujinami	54.14	Provisional
77	Pitbull #2	49.56	Provisional
78	Negro Casas	54.49	Provisional
79	Triple H	98.94	Calibrated
80	Pitbull #1	49.46	Provisional
81	Perry Saturn	51.86	Provisional
82	Kevin Sullivan	50.79	Provisional
83	Tracy Smothers	53.09	Provisional
84	Brian Lee	51.83	Provisional
85	Giant Baba	52.69	Provisional
86	Booker T	95.05	Calibrated
87	Zip	47.79	Provisional
88	John Kronus	50.29	Provisional
89	Riki Choshu	51.84	Provisional
90	Leif Cassidy	48.32	Provisional
91	Road Warrior Hawk	52.83	Provisional
92	Abdullah The Butcher	51.71	Provisional
93	Big Bubba Rogers	48.97	Provisional
94	Jerry Estrada	50.73	Provisional
95	Tommy Rich	49.97	Provisional
96	Jun Akiyama	58.13	Provisional
97	Stevie Richards	51.81	Provisional
98	Jamie Dundee	49.52	Provisional
99	Sgt. Craig Pittman	49.13	Provisional
100	Scott Norton	51.86	Provisional
101	Alex Wright	50.46	Provisional
102	Gary Albright	50.74	Provisional
103	Wolfie D.	50.25	Provisional
104	Carlos Colon	49.97	Provisional
105	Jesse James Armstrong	47.23	Provisional
106	Henry O. Godwinn	49.05	Provisional
107	Jose Estrada Jr.	47.21	Provisional
108	Fatu	50.68	Provisional
109	Akira Nogami	50.95	Provisional
110	The Ultimate Warrior	56.79	Provisional
111	Takayuki Iizuka	49.86	Provisional
112	Junji Hirata	48.60	Provisional
113	Koji Kitao	47.10	Provisional
114	Brian Knobbs	51.53	Provisional
115	Genichiro Tenryu	54.81	Provisional
116	Disco Inferno	50.18	Provisional
117	Johnny Gunn	48.81	Provisional
118	Wing Kanemura	48.37	Provisional
119	Rocco Rock	49.95	Provisional
120	Earl Robert Eaton	48.71	Provisional
121	Jerry Sags	51.14	Provisional
122	Marty Jannetty	53.80	Provisional
123	Johnny Grunge	49.88	Provisional
124	Marcus Bagwell	50.19	Provisional
125	Ricky Santana	49.93	Provisional
126	Ricky Morton	77.38	Provisional
127	David Taylor	47.66	Provisional
128	The Barbarian	50.95	Provisional
129	New Jack	51.02	Provisional
130	Hiro Hase	51.75	Provisional
131	Terry Gordy	51.18	Provisional
132	Axl Rotten	50.34	Provisional
133	Bart Gunn	50.22	Provisional
134	Scotty Riggs	48.56	Provisional
135	Bob Holly	51.11	Provisional
136	John Tenta	46.75	Provisional
137	Ron Harris	50.40	Provisional
138	Phineas I. Godwinn	47.92	Provisional
139	Rick Martel	52.58	Provisional
140	Meng	49.95	Provisional
141	Kurasawa	47.44	Provisional
142	Tatanka	51.31	Provisional
143	Terry Funk	99.08	Calibrated
144	Mustafa Saed	48.49	Provisional
145	Doug Furnas	51.06	Provisional
146	Mikey Whipwreck	49.52	Provisional
147	Jim Duggan	51.69	Provisional
148	Bart Sawyer	49.70	Provisional
149	Buh Buh Ray Dudley	51.31	Provisional
150	Justin Bradshaw	46.47	Provisional
151	Dan Kroffat	49.61	Provisional
152	Johnny Smith	50.78	Provisional
153	Johnny Ace	51.28	Provisional
154	Koko B Ware	49.50	Provisional
155	Aldo Montoya	47.68	Provisional
156	Hugh Morrus	51.12	Provisional
157	Isaac Yankem, DDS	46.36	Provisional
158	Adam Bomb	50.28	Provisional
159	El Bronco	48.78	Provisional
160	Brad Armstrong	51.17	Provisional
161	Jake Roberts	94.62	Calibrated
162	The Booty Man	46.32	Provisional
163	Tommy Cairo	49.60	Provisional
164	Don Harris	50.19	Provisional
165	King Kong Bundy	49.91	Provisional
166	Steve Armstrong	49.66	Provisional
167	Flex Kavana	46.22	Provisional
168	Bill Dundee	50.94	Provisional
169	Devon Storm	51.18	Provisional
170	Mil Mascaras	49.32	Provisional
171	Jim Neidhart	51.44	Provisional
172	Robert Gibson	51.17	Provisional
173	Greg Valentine	53.22	Provisional
174	Miguel Perez Jr.	50.03	Provisional
175	Octagon	52.71	Provisional
176	Scott Armstrong	48.99	Provisional
177	V. K. Wallstreet	46.04	Provisional
178	Ian Rotten	49.20	Provisional
179	Scott Putski	51.08	Provisional
180	Brickhouse Brown	48.59	Provisional
181	Duke Droese	48.97	Provisional
182	Mike Enos	47.74	Provisional
183	El Canek	49.68	Provisional
184	Pat Tanaka	48.71	Provisional
185	Jimmy Snuka	52.84	Provisional
186	The Patriot	50.87	Provisional
187	Dick Slater	50.44	Provisional
188	Tito Santana	77.63	Provisional
189	Bobby Fulton	48.75	Provisional
190	Bunkhouse Buck	48.81	Provisional
191	Kama	49.29	Provisional
192	Osamu Nishimura	51.25	Provisional
193	Ray Odyssey	49.31	Provisional
194	Billy Gunn	77.85	Provisional
195	Chris Evans	46.73	Provisional
196	Wayne Bloom	46.52	Provisional
197	Jim Powers	48.68	Provisional
198	Hakushi	49.27	Provisional
199	Kamala 2	46.94	Provisional
200	Mr. Hughes	50.74	Provisional
201	Heavy Metal	51.57	Provisional
202	Typhoon	50.78	Provisional
203	The 1-2-3 Kid	52.14	Provisional
204	Blue Panther	52.50	Provisional
205	T. Rantula	50.13	Provisional
206	Gran Hamada	51.21	Provisional
207	Scott D'Amore	49.29	Provisional
208	Ace Darling	50.27	Provisional
209	Dory Funk, Jr.	49.91	Provisional
210	J. T. Smith	48.54	Provisional
211	D-Lo Brown	52.05	Provisional
212	Lizmark	47.31	Provisional
213	Mo	48.60	Provisional
214	Virgil	50.23	Provisional
215	Italian Stallion	48.44	Provisional
216	Bruiser Bedlam	49.17	Provisional
217	Dances With Dudley	45.41	Provisional
218	Vic Steamboat	50.18	Provisional
219	Kamala	50.30	Provisional
220	Louie Spicolli	48.37	Provisional
221	Bastion Booger	48.05	Provisional
222	Cheetah Master	49.31	Provisional
223	Super Calo	49.49	Provisional
224	Road Warrior Animal	52.71	Provisional
225	Tony Atlas	50.96	Provisional
226	Eddie Golden	48.02	Provisional
227	Lance Diamond	48.81	Provisional
228	Headbanger Mosh	49.03	Provisional
229	Lord Zoltan	48.45	Provisional
230	The Blacktop Bully	45.21	Provisional
231	Glen Osbourne	50.88	Provisional
232	Samu	50.88	Provisional
233	Frank Finnegan	46.18	Provisional
234	Jim McPherson	47.30	Provisional
235	Headbanger Thrasher	49.62	Provisional
236	Ken Shamrock	55.27	Provisional
237	Ice Train	46.69	Provisional
238	Reggie B. Fine	45.88	Provisional
239	Vance Nevada	49.01	Provisional
240	Maxx Payne	49.17	Provisional
241	The Demon Hellstorm	46.38	Provisional
242	Flaming Youth	47.61	Provisional
243	Terry Austin	47.43	Provisional
244	Bushwhacker Butch	49.63	Provisional
245	Tony Falk	48.24	Provisional
246	Johnny Graham	48.35	Provisional
247	Mickey Doyle	47.19	Provisional
248	Marc Ash	48.48	Provisional
249	Chris Adams	51.11	Provisional
250	Bushwhacker Luke	48.86	Provisional
251	George South	47.64	Provisional
252	Cien Caras	48.14	Provisional
253	Mark Schrader	46.99	Provisional
254	Robbie Royce	46.61	Provisional
255	Knuckles Nelson	46.99	Provisional
256	The Blue Meanie	49.95	Provisional
257	Lou Marconi	48.44	Provisional
258	Headhunter A	46.58	Provisional
259	Abbudah Singh	46.39	Provisional
260	Dusty Wolfe	48.71	Provisional
261	Bobby Blaze	49.33	Provisional
262	Demolition Ax	48.72	Provisional
263	Austin Steele	46.82	Provisional
264	Diamond Timothy Flowers	46.60	Provisional
265	Tommy Rogers	48.25	Provisional
266	Headhunter B	46.41	Provisional
267	Jeff Gaylord	50.07	Provisional
268	Firefighter Adrian	46.79	Provisional
269	Doink the Clown (Ray Apollo)	48.81	Provisional
270	Yoshi Kwan	46.21	Provisional
271	Rock Stevens	46.71	Provisional
272	Frank Stalletto	47.82	Provisional
273	Stan Lee	46.30	Provisional
274	The Colorado Kid	48.13	Provisional
275	Junkyard Dog	49.61	Provisional
276	Horace Boulder	47.23	Provisional
277	Rockin' Rico	46.20	Provisional
278	King Kahlua	47.21	Provisional
279	The Pink Assassin	45.20	Provisional
280	Bob Armstrong	45.37	Provisional
281	Ashley Hudson	44.40	Provisional
282	Vampire Warrior	48.03	Provisional
283	The Renegade	47.12	Provisional
284	Ray Gonzalez	51.69	Provisional
285	Action Jackson	46.70	Provisional
286	Killer Kyle	47.94	Provisional
287	Dream Killer	46.09	Provisional
288	La Ley	48.44	Provisional
289	Scotty McKeever	47.19	Provisional
290	Jimmy Del Ray	50.28	Provisional
291	Rod Price	50.99	Provisional
292	Moondog Spike	48.96	Provisional
293	Tiger Mask IV	54.77	Provisional
294	Barry Horowitz	49.82	Provisional
295	D-Von Dudley	77.80	Provisional
296	Steve Lombardi	47.51	Provisional
297	Mike Samples	49.73	Provisional
298	Iceman	46.72	Provisional
299	911	47.12	Provisional
300	Steve McMichael	47.06	Provisional
301	Bob Backlund	57.95	Provisional
302	El Mascarado	45.80	Provisional
303	Silver King	52.39	Provisional
304	The Hater	48.87	Provisional
305	Vampiro Canadiense	47.84	Provisional
306	Wahoo McDaniel	50.07	Provisional
307	Moondog Spot	49.80	Provisional
308	Frank Blues	44.76	Provisional
309	T. C. Reynolds	45.30	Provisional
310	Big Dick Dudley	47.83	Provisional
311	Rex King	48.58	Provisional
312	Bob Orton Jr.	49.40	Provisional
313	Jimmy Cicero	49.84	Provisional
314	Timber The Lumberjack	45.27	Provisional
315	Paul Zine	43.88	Provisional
316	Hack Meyers	46.02	Provisional
317	Jesse Barr	49.80	Provisional
318	Phil Belanger	44.60	Provisional
319	Charlie Norris	50.26	Provisional
320	Super Nova	46.31	Provisional
321	Masked Maniac	45.92	Provisional
322	Gorgeous George III	47.83	Provisional
323	Geza Kalman Jr.	44.56	Provisional
324	Irish Bobby Clancy	46.33	Provisional
325	James Stone	43.76	Provisional
326	Justin St. John	45.06	Provisional
327	Yar	44.48	Provisional
328	Rick Deezel	46.74	Provisional
329	Russian Assassin #2	45.89	Provisional
330	Nikolai Volkoff	49.44	Provisional
331	Benson Lee	43.66	Provisional
332	Bam Bam Coalson	44.97	Provisional
333	Johnny Lightning	44.96	Provisional
334	Wolf	44.36	Provisional
335	Tim Horner	50.35	Provisional
336	David Renegade	44.36	Provisional
337	Rick Conners	46.51	Provisional
338	Dave Keller	43.56	Provisional
339	New One Man Gang	44.28	Provisional
340	Thunder Morgan	44.28	Provisional
341	Keith Hart	45.27	Provisional
342	Bruiser Mastino	43.47	Provisional
343	Tony Rumble	47.23	Provisional
344	Black Bear	44.19	Provisional
345	Kid Collins	44.77	Provisional
346	Spellbinder	46.08	Provisional
347	Scotty Summers	45.50	Provisional
348	Uncle Zebekiah	43.37	Provisional
349	Bo Dascious	45.17	Provisional
350	Golem The Giant	45.68	Provisional
351	Guido Falcone	45.40	Provisional
352	Lenny Lane	47.64	Provisional
353	Tim Blaze	44.56	Provisional
354	Major DeBeers	47.87	Provisional
355	Carolina Dreamer	44.06	Provisional
356	David Jericho	44.78	Provisional
357	Mark Mest	46.22	Provisional
358	Knight Rider	43.98	Provisional
359	Jimmy Deo	47.92	Provisional
360	Primo Carnera III	45.60	Provisional
361	Jerry Grey	45.50	Provisional
362	Gino Caruso	44.57	Provisional
363	Reckless Youth	50.89	Provisional
364	Jeff Lindberg	43.16	Provisional
365	Jackie Fulton	47.65	Provisional
366	Metal Maniac	46.09	Provisional
367	Madd Maxxine	45.20	Provisional
368	Max Crimson	44.87	Provisional
369	Tony DeVito	47.22	Provisional
370	Johnny Paradise	45.40	Provisional
371	Turbo Eric Freedom	44.80	Provisional
372	Manny Fernandez	50.27	Provisional
373	Otis Apollo	46.39	Provisional
374	Corporal Punishment	47.00	Provisional
375	Mr. Excellent	45.21	Provisional
376	Troy Mest	45.64	Provisional
377	Brick Bronski	45.07	Provisional
378	Death Row #3620	44.80	Provisional
379	Don Carson	45.02	Provisional
380	Danie Brits	45.57	Provisional
381	Movie Star Mike	42.87	Provisional
382	The Iron Sheik	52.91	Provisional
383	Madman Pondo	47.42	Provisional
384	Johnny Swinger	50.13	Provisional
385	Killer Kanareck	45.20	Provisional
386	Jimmy Torture	43.56	Provisional
387	Charlie Parker	42.77	Provisional
388	Johnny Handsome	45.99	Provisional
389	Chameleon	42.77	Provisional
390	Morgus the Maniac	48.89	Provisional
391	Jimmy Sharpe	45.50	Provisional
392	Sunny	42.69	Provisional
393	Vinnie Biondo	44.00	Provisional
394	Julio Sanchez	48.71	Provisional
395	Lightning Rodz	43.46	Provisional
396	J. B. Trask	43.40	Provisional
397	Steve Stakk	42.60	Provisional
398	Chef D. Z. Gillespie	43.76	Provisional
399	Adam Flash	48.35	Provisional
400	Brian Danzig	45.59	Provisional
401	Quinn Nash	43.89	Provisional
402	T. Rex	42.57	Provisional
403	Boogie Woogie Brown	45.62	Provisional
404	Diamond Dan	42.50	Provisional
405	Hombre De Oro	42.49	Provisional
406	Giant Warrior	46.30	Provisional
407	Nightbreed	43.26	Provisional
408	Lumberin Jack	42.47	Provisional
409	Dark Starr	43.30	Provisional
410	Syl Dancer	42.40	Provisional
411	Romeo Catino	42.40	Provisional
412	J. T. Lightning	45.42	Provisional
413	Quicksilver	44.36	Provisional
414	Jack Hammer	46.93	Provisional
415	Black Knight	43.10	Provisional
416	Mad Max Anthony	45.47	Provisional
417	Mike Legacy	43.09	Provisional
418	Horace The Psychopath	43.67	Provisional
419	Bruiser Bennett	46.53	Provisional
420	Johnny Walker	42.27	Provisional
421	Mad Dog O'Malley	43.06	Provisional
422	Calavera Cortez	43.00	Provisional
423	Smokey Mountain Massacre	42.21	Provisional
424	The Rebel	42.20	Provisional
425	Can Man	42.19	Provisional
426	Boris Dragoff	46.49	Provisional
427	Ron McClarity	42.17	Provisional
428	The Bounty Hunter	42.90	Provisional
429	Ricco Rodriguez	42.90	Provisional
430	Prince Peter Maivia	42.11	Provisional
431	Dallas James	43.26	Provisional
432	The Gargoyle	42.87	Provisional
433	J. B. Jammer	43.09	Provisional
434	Jimmie Lee	44.59	Provisional
435	Cremator	43.37	Provisional
436	Cat Burglar	42.79	Provisional
437	El Diablo	42.79	Provisional
438	Tony Pritchard	44.60	Provisional
439	Battle Monkey	41.97	Provisional
440	Sheriff Steele	43.89	Provisional
441	Cueball Carmichael	46.60	Provisional
442	Bull Man Downs	43.57	Provisional
443	Big Daddy Adams	43.17	Provisional
444	Notorious Norm	41.90	Provisional
445	Bruce Beaudine	41.89	Provisional
446	Thomas Rodman	43.58	Provisional
447	Alexander The Magnificent	43.29	Provisional
448	Rob McBride	46.72	Provisional
449	The General	43.16	Provisional
450	Major Havoc	46.72	Provisional
451	Rick Justice	46.89	Provisional
452	Woody Lee	43.80	Provisional
453	Dave Daulton	41.78	Provisional
454	Chris Windham	41.78	Provisional
455	J. B. Destiny	45.17	Provisional
456	Flash Flanagan	50.34	Provisional
457	Brimstone Shocker	43.88	Provisional
458	Superkey I	43.99	Provisional
459	Felix Hutton	41.68	Provisional
460	Canadian Bad Boy	42.47	Provisional
461	Eight Ball Jones	41.68	Provisional
462	Ronnie Vegas	45.84	Provisional
463	Sebastian Kane	45.71	Provisional
464	Don Bass	45.17	Provisional
465	Dynamite D.	41.58	Provisional
466	Jack Spade	42.97	Provisional
467	Steven Debbes	43.61	Provisional
468	Crusher Kline	43.99	Provisional
469	Bugsy Sluggiano	41.51	Provisional
470	Robert Roma	44.41	Provisional
471	Hollywood	41.50	Provisional
472	Sgt. Greg Lake	41.48	Provisional
473	Prince Of Polyester	41.48	Provisional
474	Jackie Anderson	43.17	Provisional
475	Kenny Jay	41.41	Provisional
476	Cruel Connection II	47.64	Provisional
477	Kevin Kirby	43.78	Provisional
478	Mike Collins	41.38	Provisional
479	Joel Travis	41.38	Provisional
480	Skull Ganz	45.61	Provisional
481	Jumpin' Jimmy	41.32	Provisional
482	Mike Quackenbush	51.44	Provisional
483	Chuck Colt	43.66	Provisional
484	Max Profit	41.30	Provisional
485	E. Z. Ryder	42.90	Provisional
486	J. D. Hogg	41.28	Provisional
487	Bobby Lee	41.28	Provisional
488	Shane Wild	41.22	Provisional
489	Terry Richards	41.21	Provisional
490	Johnny Reb	42.90	Provisional
491	Yogi Donovan	41.18	Provisional
492	J. R. Hogg	41.18	Provisional
493	O. Dog	41.18	Provisional
494	Jammer	42.78	Provisional
495	Superslayer	41.12	Provisional
496	Guy Incognito	41.11	Provisional
497	Death Dealer	41.10	Provisional
498	Don E. Allen	42.41	Provisional
499	Jake Steele	41.09	Provisional
500	Baby Huey	41.08	Provisional

The PWI 500 is used here as a record of who was visible in a given year, not as a vote on greatness — its density in recent decades is exactly the modern-era bias our own ranking corrects for. Why, in full.

The whole archive, 1991–2025 · The GOAT ranking

This page reproduces a published annual ranking as a matter of record. It is a free, unofficial fan reference — an unofficial fan tribute, made for fun. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to World Wrestling Entertainment, All Elite Wrestling, TNA Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, or any official rights holder of the promotions, championships and performers named.