PWI 500

The PWI 500 — 1997

The complete Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 for 1997 — all five hundred places, as published. Dean Malenko took the number one spot.

PWI 500, 1997 — all 500 places
Rank	Wrestler	GOAT	Evidence
1	Dean Malenko	60.45	Provisional
2	Mitsuharu Misawa	66.62	Provisional
3	Steve Austin	99.14	Calibrated
4	Diamond Dallas Page	59.87	Provisional
5	Lex Luger	79.14	Provisional
6	The Undertaker	99.38	Calibrated
7	Shinya Hashimoto	56.16	Provisional
8	Big Show	60.36	Provisional
9	Jushin Liger	63.16	Provisional
10	Chris Benoit	72.30	Provisional
11	Taz	54.12	Provisional
12	Ultimo Dragon	56.57	Provisional
13	Kevin Nash	79.85	Provisional
14	Toshiaki Kawada	58.43	Provisional
15	Kenta Kobashi	67.08	Provisional
16	Owen Hart	58.36	Provisional
17	Jeff Jarrett	64.80	Provisional
18	Shawn Michaels	99.86	Calibrated
19	Randy Savage	99.29	Calibrated
20	Bret Hart	98.48	Calibrated
21	Syxx	49.64	Provisional
22	Davey Boy Smith	54.80	Provisional
23	The Great Sasuke	54.76	Provisional
24	Eddie Guerrero	98.64	Calibrated
25	Scott Hall	56.56	Provisional
26	Chris Jericho	97.96	Calibrated
27	Rick Steiner	58.59	Provisional
28	Masahiro Chono	52.33	Provisional
29	Rey Misterio, Jr.	55.61	Provisional
30	Scott Steiner	80.36	Provisional
31	Triple H	98.94	Calibrated
32	Rob Van Dam	97.64	Calibrated
33	Akira Taue	52.85	Provisional
34	Sabu	58.98	Provisional
35	Ric Flair	99.79	Calibrated
36	Kensuke Sasaki	58.55	Provisional
37	Keiji Mutoh	62.34	Provisional
38	Ken Shamrock	55.27	Provisional
39	Raven	57.27	Provisional
40	Juventud Guerrera	54.14	Provisional
41	Dustin Rhodes	63.63	Provisional
42	Shane Douglas	54.65	Provisional
43	Nobuhiko Takada	51.48	Provisional
44	Volk Han	48.57	Provisional
45	Faarooq	51.92	Provisional
46	Big Van Vader	59.15	Provisional
47	Negro Casas	54.49	Provisional
48	Tommy Dreamer	78.01	Provisional
49	Jerry Lawler	78.48	Provisional
50	Sid Justice	54.24	Provisional
51	Mankind	58.61	Provisional
52	Psicosis	52.24	Provisional
53	Ahmed Johnson	53.00	Provisional
54	Roddy Piper	53.97	Provisional
55	Hulk Hogan	99.28	Calibrated
56	Steele	48.13	Provisional
57	Steve Austin	99.14	Calibrated
58	Riki Choshu	51.84	Provisional
59	Brian Christopher	52.83	Provisional
60	Terry Funk	99.08	Calibrated
61	La Parka	52.47	Provisional
62	Stan Hansen	55.88	Provisional
63	Scott Norton	51.86	Provisional
64	Savio Vega	51.84	Provisional
65	El Hijo del Santo	59.35	Provisional
66	Stevie Richards	51.81	Provisional
67	Perro Aguayo	50.65	Provisional
68	Genichiro Tenryu	54.81	Provisional
69	The Sandman	51.92	Provisional
70	Felino	51.95	Provisional
71	Chris Candido	53.00	Provisional
72	Kiyoshi Tamura	47.81	Provisional
73	John Kronus	50.29	Provisional
74	Satanico	49.57	Provisional
75	Gary Albright	50.74	Provisional
76	Pitbull #2	49.56	Provisional
77	Johnny Ace	51.28	Provisional
78	Super Calo	49.49	Provisional
79	Jun Akiyama	58.13	Provisional
80	Steven Regal	51.77	Provisional
81	Tatsumi Fujinami	54.14	Provisional
82	Dan Severn	52.15	Provisional
83	El Samurai	50.97	Provisional
84	Booker T	95.05	Calibrated
85	Atlantis	53.67	Provisional
86	Dr. Wagner Jr.	58.31	Provisional
87	El Canek	49.68	Provisional
88	Koji Kanemoto	54.63	Provisional
89	Marcus Bagwell	50.19	Provisional
90	Silver King	52.39	Provisional
91	Shinjiro Otani	52.60	Provisional
92	Kazuo Yamazaki	47.46	Provisional
93	Stevie Ray	51.08	Provisional
94	Hector Garza	54.54	Provisional
95	Meng	49.95	Provisional
96	Hiroyoshi Tenzan	56.66	Provisional
97	Abdullah The Butcher	51.71	Provisional
98	Latin Lover	51.23	Provisional
99	The Patriot	50.87	Provisional
100	Konnan	77.87	Provisional
101	New Jack	51.02	Provisional
102	Kevin Sullivan	50.79	Provisional
103	The Rock	98.95	Calibrated
104	Headbanger Mosh	49.03	Provisional
105	Junji Hirata	48.60	Provisional
106	Marc Mero	50.38	Provisional
107	J. C. Ice	47.99	Provisional
108	Mascara Ano Dos Mil	47.99	Provisional
109	Cibernetico	53.02	Provisional
110	Headbanger Thrasher	49.62	Provisional
111	Satoshi Kojima	57.74	Provisional
112	Road Warrior Hawk	52.83	Provisional
113	Disco Inferno	50.18	Provisional
114	Tracy Smothers	53.09	Provisional
115	Brian Lee	51.83	Provisional
116	Johnny Smith	50.78	Provisional
117	Rayo de Jalisco, Sr.	47.08	Provisional
118	Wolfie D.	50.25	Provisional
119	Prince Iaukea	48.81	Provisional
120	Devon Storm	51.18	Provisional
121	Buh Buh Ray Dudley	51.31	Provisional
122	Perry Saturn	51.86	Provisional
123	Salvatore Sincere	46.97	Provisional
124	Doug Gilbert	51.17	Provisional
125	Ace Darling	50.27	Provisional
126	Bam Bam Bigelow	53.62	Provisional
127	Alex Wright	50.46	Provisional
128	Wrath	46.86	Provisional
129	Bart Gunn	50.22	Provisional
130	The Barbarian	50.95	Provisional
131	Henry O. Godwinn	49.05	Provisional
132	Lance Storm	55.25	Provisional
133	Flash Funk	46.77	Provisional
134	Bob Holly	51.11	Provisional
135	Road Warrior Animal	52.71	Provisional
136	Pierroth	46.75	Provisional
137	Crush	50.94	Provisional
138	Doug Furnas	51.06	Provisional
139	Chavo Guerrero Jr.	51.11	Provisional
140	Leif Cassidy	48.32	Provisional
141	Lizmark, Jr.	48.78	Provisional
142	Phil LaFon	46.64	Provisional
143	Phineas I. Godwinn	47.92	Provisional
144	D-Lo Brown	52.05	Provisional
145	Villano IV	48.91	Provisional
146	Glacier	47.87	Provisional
147	Blackjack Windham	46.54	Provisional
148	Rockabilly	46.54	Provisional
149	Ricky Morton	77.38	Provisional
150	Scotty Riggs	48.56	Provisional
151	Brian Knobbs	51.53	Provisional
152	Reckless Youth	50.89	Provisional
153	Jesse James	48.59	Provisional
154	Marty Jannetty	53.80	Provisional
155	Hugh Morrus	51.12	Provisional
156	Kama Mustafa	46.43	Provisional
157	Johnny Grunge	49.88	Provisional
158	Jerry Sags	51.14	Provisional
159	Jim Neidhart	51.44	Provisional
160	P. J. Walker	47.12	Provisional
161	Scott Taylor	47.94	Provisional
162	Pitbull #1	49.46	Provisional
163	Heavy Metal	51.57	Provisional
164	Yuji Nagata	57.40	Provisional
165	Louie Spicolli	48.37	Provisional
166	Rocco Rock	49.95	Provisional
167	El Dandy	48.66	Provisional
168	Axl Rotten	50.34	Provisional
169	Miguel Perez Jr.	50.03	Provisional
170	Cheetah Master	49.31	Provisional
171	Octagon	52.71	Provisional
172	Dick Togo	50.67	Provisional
173	Blackjack Bradshaw	46.12	Provisional
174	Mortis	46.12	Provisional
175	Diesel II	46.11	Provisional
176	Lance Diamond	48.81	Provisional
177	D-Von Dudley	77.80	Provisional
178	Jake Roberts	94.62	Calibrated
179	David Taylor	47.66	Provisional
180	Super Delfin	51.79	Provisional
181	Ian Rotten	49.20	Provisional
182	Glen Osbourne	50.88	Provisional
183	Scott Putski	51.08	Provisional
184	Jacques Rougeau	46.72	Provisional
185	Mustafa Saed	48.49	Provisional
186	Takayuki Iizuka	49.86	Provisional
187	Dutch Mantel	50.25	Provisional
188	Big Bubba Rogers	48.97	Provisional
189	Wing Kanemura	48.37	Provisional
190	Flash Flanagan	50.34	Provisional
191	Blue Panther	52.50	Provisional
192	Fuerza Guerrera	50.58	Provisional
193	Carl Oulette	47.12	Provisional
194	Masato Tanaka	54.67	Provisional
195	King Kong Bundy	49.91	Provisional
196	Hayabusa	50.70	Provisional
197	Antonio Inoki	54.75	Provisional
198	Dory Funk, Jr.	49.91	Provisional
199	Jinsei Shinzaki	51.28	Provisional
200	Tito Santana	77.63	Provisional
201	Mikey Whipwreck	49.52	Provisional
202	Billy Kidman	53.02	Provisional
203	Mike Samples	49.73	Provisional
204	Tommy Rich	49.97	Provisional
205	Gran Hamada	51.21	Provisional
206	Julio Sanchez	48.71	Provisional
207	Giant Baba	52.69	Provisional
208	Mike Enos	47.74	Provisional
209	Vincent	47.71	Provisional
210	Michael Wallstreet	48.27	Provisional
211	Bunkhouse Buck	48.81	Provisional
212	Carlos Colon	49.97	Provisional
213	Balls Mahoney	51.10	Provisional
214	Jim Powers	48.68	Provisional
215	Bobby Eaton	52.10	Provisional
216	Vic Steamboat	50.18	Provisional
217	Tony Anthony	53.41	Provisional
218	Billy Travis	48.80	Provisional
219	Tatsuhito Takaiwa	51.19	Provisional
220	Damien	46.82	Provisional
221	Marc Mero	50.38	Provisional
222	Men's Teioh	48.48	Provisional
223	Chris Chavis	47.24	Provisional
224	Tommy Cairo	49.60	Provisional
225	Villano IV	48.91	Provisional
226	Shiryu	45.29	Provisional
227	Lord Zoltan	48.45	Provisional
228	Halloween	50.27	Provisional
229	T. Rantula	50.13	Provisional
230	TAKA Michinoku	53.82	Provisional
231	Buddy Landell	50.30	Provisional
232	Little Guido	47.12	Provisional
233	Lou Marconi	48.44	Provisional
234	The Blue Meanie	49.95	Provisional
235	Eddie Golden	48.02	Provisional
236	Scott D'Amore	49.29	Provisional
237	Tony Atlas	50.96	Provisional
238	La Fierra	45.08	Provisional
239	Rage	47.71	Provisional
240	Ice Train	46.69	Provisional
241	Italian Stallion	48.44	Provisional
242	Bill Dundee	50.94	Provisional
243	Ray Odyssey	49.31	Provisional
244	Super Nova	46.31	Provisional
245	Joe E. Legend	50.23	Provisional
246	Kaos	47.10	Provisional
247	The Colorado Kid	48.13	Provisional
248	George South	47.64	Provisional
249	Inferno Kid	47.03	Provisional
250	Perro Aguayo, Jr.	56.31	Provisional
251	Frank Stalletto	47.82	Provisional
252	Typhoon	50.78	Provisional
253	Ron Harris	50.40	Provisional
254	Sexton Hardcastle	44.81	Provisional
255	Cien Caras	48.14	Provisional
256	Greg Valentine	53.22	Provisional
257	Mr. Hughes	50.74	Provisional
258	Don Harris	50.19	Provisional
259	Vance Nevada	49.01	Provisional
260	Spellbinder	46.08	Provisional
261	Sgt. Craig Pittman	49.13	Provisional
262	Robert Gibson	51.17	Provisional
263	Dos Caras	46.00	Provisional
264	Terry Golden	46.00	Provisional
265	Steven Dunn	48.16	Provisional
266	Jimmy Snuka	52.84	Provisional
267	Johnny Graham	48.35	Provisional
268	Christian Cage	95.07	Calibrated
269	Kenny Arden	45.37	Provisional
270	Paul Diamond	47.33	Provisional
271	Vampiro Canadiense	47.84	Provisional
272	Don Montoya	48.57	Provisional
273	Ric Titan	44.57	Provisional
274	Tiger Mask IV	54.77	Provisional
275	Demolition Ax	48.72	Provisional
276	Gran Naniwa	49.17	Provisional
277	Spike Dudley	52.89	Provisional
278	Yuji Yasuraoka	46.43	Provisional
279	Big Dick Dudley	47.83	Provisional
280	Yoshihiro Tajiri	53.48	Provisional
281	Chris Chetti	48.13	Provisional
282	Madman Pondo	47.42	Provisional
283	Twiggy Ramirez	46.68	Provisional
284	Masato Yakushiji	47.65	Provisional
285	Reggie B. Fine	45.88	Provisional
286	Headhunter A	46.58	Provisional
287	Jerry Estrada	50.73	Provisional
288	Brad Armstrong	51.17	Provisional
289	Keith Arden	44.29	Provisional
290	Adrian Hall	45.97	Provisional
291	Justin St. John	45.06	Provisional
292	Bobby Duncum, Jr.	47.00	Provisional
293	Melvin Penrod, Jr.	45.27	Provisional
294	Mascarita Sagrada	48.97	Provisional
295	The Renegade	47.12	Provisional
296	Headhunter B	46.41	Provisional
297	Jimmy Cicero	49.84	Provisional
298	Scufflin' Hillbilly	44.17	Provisional
299	J. T. Smith	48.54	Provisional
300	Mabel	51.13	Provisional
301	Gorgeous George III	47.83	Provisional
302	Knuckles Nelson	46.99	Provisional
303	Dusty Wolfe	48.71	Provisional
304	Rock Stevens	46.71	Provisional
305	Mark Schrader	46.99	Provisional
306	David Jericho	44.78	Provisional
307	Iceman	46.72	Provisional
308	Beau James	47.82	Provisional
309	Rick Justice	46.89	Provisional
310	Johnny Swinger	50.13	Provisional
311	The Sultan	43.97	Provisional
312	Otis Apollo	46.39	Provisional
313	Major DeBeers	47.87	Provisional
314	Irish Bobby Clancy	46.33	Provisional
315	Marc Ash	48.48	Provisional
316	Jim Duggan	51.69	Provisional
317	Billy Briggs	43.87	Provisional
318	Timber The Lumberjack	45.27	Provisional
319	Primo Carnera III	45.60	Provisional
320	Bobby Blaze	49.33	Provisional
321	Tim Blaze	44.56	Provisional
322	Tony DeVito	47.22	Provisional
323	Ben Jordan	43.77	Provisional
324	Major Havoc	46.72	Provisional
325	Flaming Youth	47.61	Provisional
326	Roger Anderson	47.10	Provisional
327	Corporal Punishment	47.00	Provisional
328	Rob McBride	46.72	Provisional
329	Ox Harley	44.99	Provisional
330	Mikki Free	43.67	Provisional
331	Rick Deezel	46.74	Provisional
332	Johnny Paradise	45.40	Provisional
333	Ricky Rockett	43.59	Provisional
334	Chris Stephenson	43.59	Provisional
335	Tony Rumble	47.23	Provisional
336	K. C. Thunder	47.85	Provisional
337	Terry Austin	47.43	Provisional
338	Golem The Giant	45.68	Provisional
339	Kevin Jones	43.50	Provisional
340	Ricky Regal	43.49	Provisional
341	Rick Link	44.26	Provisional
342	The Pink Assassin	45.20	Provisional
343	Killer Kanareck	45.20	Provisional
344	Rockin' Rico	46.20	Provisional
345	Chris Powers	44.78	Provisional
346	Frank Parker	48.46	Provisional
347	Armageddon	43.39	Provisional
348	Steve Corino	53.27	Provisional
349	Col. Payne	45.98	Provisional
350	Mike Quackenbush	51.44	Provisional
351	Chad Hart	43.36	Provisional
352	Monster Mayhem	45.77	Provisional
353	Boris Dragoff	46.49	Provisional
354	Brick Bronski	45.07	Provisional
355	Madd Maxxine	45.20	Provisional
356	Cueball Carmichael	46.60	Provisional
357	Crusher Kline	43.99	Provisional
358	Gino Caruso	44.57	Provisional
359	Ravishing Ronny	43.19	Provisional
360	Jeff Anderson	45.47	Provisional
361	Boogie Woogie Brown	45.62	Provisional
362	Steve Nealy	43.17	Provisional
363	Rick Martel	52.58	Provisional
364	Bushwhacker Luke	48.86	Provisional
365	Brimstone Shocker	43.88	Provisional
366	Bruce Hart	43.09	Provisional
367	Mr. Excellent	45.21	Provisional
368	Yar	44.48	Provisional
369	Bushwhacker Butch	49.63	Provisional
370	Bull Pain	48.44	Provisional
371	Brian Anthony	45.18	Provisional
372	Derek Domino	42.99	Provisional
373	Ernest Miller	48.81	Provisional
374	Johnny Handsome	45.99	Provisional
375	Chef D. Z. Gillespie	43.76	Provisional
376	Wolf	44.36	Provisional
377	Steve Flynn	43.69	Provisional
378	Metal Maniac	46.09	Provisional
379	J. B. Destiny	45.17	Provisional
380	Paul Lauria	42.88	Provisional
381	The War Machine #1	42.87	Provisional
382	Chris Michaels	47.51	Provisional
383	Professor Maxwell	42.87	Provisional
384	Thomas Rodman	43.58	Provisional
385	Brian Danzig	45.59	Provisional
386	John Rambo	49.82	Provisional
387	911	47.12	Provisional
388	American Kickboxer	42.77	Provisional
389	Chip Stetson	43.50	Provisional
390	Viper	45.28	Provisional
391	Countryboy Chris	42.70	Provisional
392	Sebastian Kane	45.71	Provisional
393	Mark Mest	46.22	Provisional
394	Terik The Great	44.88	Provisional
395	Mr. Ooh La La	47.46	Provisional
396	Brian Logan	43.90	Provisional
397	Bruiser Bennett	46.53	Provisional
398	Rhino Richards	45.80	Provisional
399	Devlin Blanchard	42.59	Provisional
400	Jihad Hussein	43.36	Provisional
401	C. W. Anderson	51.49	Provisional
402	Alexis Machine	43.30	Provisional
403	Lord Humongous	44.17	Provisional
404	Troy Mest	45.64	Provisional
405	D. C. Queen	43.86	Provisional
406	Aggressor Rage	42.49	Provisional
407	Pat Friday	42.47	Provisional
408	Don Basher	45.63	Provisional
409	Tyren	42.47	Provisional
410	Don Carson	45.02	Provisional
411	Maverick Chris	42.40	Provisional
412	Big Daddy Adams	43.17	Provisional
413	Sheriff Steele	43.89	Provisional
414	Freedom Fighter	42.37	Provisional
415	Aggressor Fury	42.37	Provisional
416	Brian Fury	45.17	Provisional
417	Dave Patera	42.30	Provisional
418	Billy Bart	45.01	Provisional
419	Maverick Buck	42.29	Provisional
420	Robert Roma	44.41	Provisional
421	Sweet Dreams	43.06	Provisional
422	Jimi V.	43.00	Provisional
423	Tower Of Doom	42.99	Provisional
424	Lord Cult	42.20	Provisional
425	Joey Matthews	50.13	Provisional
426	Jack Spade	42.97	Provisional
427	Cham Pain	46.72	Provisional
428	Johnny Reb	42.90	Provisional
429	Syl The Sadist	43.68	Provisional
430	Mike Myers	42.11	Provisional
431	The Iron Sheik	52.91	Provisional
432	Marc The Grizzly	44.87	Provisional
433	Al Savage	43.99	Provisional
434	Tiger Khan	45.60	Provisional
435	Surge	42.07	Provisional
436	Ronnie Vegas	45.84	Provisional
437	Gary Royal	44.07	Provisional
438	Chris Starr	41.99	Provisional
439	Christian York	50.70	Provisional
440	Professor Egon Ecton	43.97	Provisional
441	Morgus the Maniac	48.89	Provisional
442	J. T. Atlas	41.91	Provisional
443	Brian Bruise	41.91	Provisional
444	Wildcat Jamie Jackson	42.97	Provisional
445	Steve Southern	45.18	Provisional
446	Cruiser Lewis	43.30	Provisional
447	Venom	45.17	Provisional
448	Rikki Rhodes	41.87	Provisional
449	Kevin Kirby	43.78	Provisional
450	Harley Lewis	44.69	Provisional
451	Falcon Coperis	41.80	Provisional
452	Canadian Destroyer	41.78	Provisional
453	Dangerman	41.78	Provisional
454	Tex Monroe	41.78	Provisional
455	Johnny Dollar	41.71	Provisional
456	Blaze	41.71	Provisional
457	Rick Matrix	41.70	Provisional
458	Cody Gunn	41.69	Provisional
459	Shane Cortez	41.68	Provisional
460	Yvan P. St. Denis	41.68	Provisional
461	Pat Shamrock	41.68	Provisional
462	Rocky Jones	46.82	Provisional
463	Gator	41.60	Provisional
464	Breyer Wellington	41.60	Provisional
465	Bolo	41.58	Provisional
466	Cruiser Lewis	43.30	Provisional
467	Race Richards	41.58	Provisional
468	Major Agony	41.51	Provisional
469	Doug Flex	42.87	Provisional
470	Willie Clay, Sr.	41.50	Provisional
471	Rollin' Hard	43.57	Provisional
472	Steve Hart	41.48	Provisional
473	Original Renegade	41.48	Provisional
474	Wild Child	43.17	Provisional
475	Jack Stud	42.59	Provisional
476	Kodiak Bear	41.41	Provisional
477	The Hun	41.40	Provisional
478	Jimmy Kane	41.38	Provisional
479	Section 8	41.38	Provisional
480	Son Of Satan II	41.38	Provisional
481	DeathWish	41.32	Provisional
482	Navajo Kid	41.32	Provisional
483	Paul Atlas	43.47	Provisional
484	Supreme	46.29	Provisional
485	Tech 9	41.28	Provisional
486	Wichita Willie	45.07	Provisional
487	Son Of Satan I	41.28	Provisional
488	Superkey I	43.99	Provisional
489	Larry Destiny	44.82	Provisional
490	J. P. Hogg	43.69	Provisional
491	Jimmy D. Ranged	41.18	Provisional
492	Shane Shadows	44.91	Provisional
493	Big E. Sleaze	41.18	Provisional
494	Dr. Hurtz	41.12	Provisional
495	The Shadow	42.47	Provisional
496	Seminole Warrior	41.11	Provisional
497	Indiana Kidd, Jr.	44.92	Provisional
498	Wayne Woo	41.09	Provisional
499	Desperado	41.09	Provisional
500	Joe Rules	44.01	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.