Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards 2015
The thick January 25 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter contains the winners of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards 2015. It is the 36th edition of these awards, which are given annually through reader voting, and represent the most recognized accolade worldwide.
The votes were made during December (the period from December 2014 to November 2015). This year, the winner of the Lou Thesz/Ric Flair award (equivalent to wrestler of the year) was AJ Styles, who is about to start a new phase in his professional career.
- A.J. STYLES (2,507 votes, 299 first place).
- Hiroshi Tanahashi (1,674).
- Kazuchika Okada (1,532).
- Shinsuke Nakamura (1,481).
- John Cena (976).
- Brock Lesnar (668).
- Seth Rollins (580).
- Sasha Banks (519).
- Sombra (228).
- Jay Lethal (214).
- Honorable mention: Finn Balor (64).
Dave Meltzer notes that Styles is the first American to win the award since John Cena in 2010:
"Ironically, he had to go to Japan to do it. There he won the IWGP Championship by defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi on February 11 in Osaka, losing it to Kazuchika Okada on July 5 in the biggest New Japan event in Osaka in over a decade, in a packed Jo Hall.
"Styles was also one of the main figures in ROH and headlined several English promotions. Throughout the year, he had incredible matches with people like Tanahashi, Okada, Kota Ibushi, Katsuyori Shibata and Will Osprey, headlining many of the biggest events of the year that were not in WWE.
"New Japan dominated the voting with the top four wrestlers, including the winners of the past four years: Tanahashi (2011-2013) and Nakamura (2014)."
About John Cena, the highest-ranking American after Styles, he comments:
"Cena, as the biggest WWE star, has been consistent with good matches in a similar role to Nakamura, elevating the United States title after WrestleMania with weekly challenges on Raw. His program with Kevin Owens, although it should have ended differently, put Owens on the map as a genuine star.
"But there is a gap between his best matches and those of the Japanese, and he was demoted from being the focal point of the company in favor of Roman Reigns as the rising star. But globally, he remains the greatest full-time star in professional wrestling, and one of the best at delivering great matches inside the ring."
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 - Triple H.
- 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.
In addition to that award, Styles received, for the second consecutive year, the recognition for the standout Wrestler of the Year:
- A.J. STYLES (2,631).
- Shinsuke Nakamura (1,254).
- Hiroshi Tanahashi (1,146).
- Kazuchika Okada (870).
- Roderick Strong (712).
- Seth Rollins (640).
- Kota Ibushi (425).
- Chris Hero (364).
- Tomohiro Ishii (343).
- Cesaro (324).
Honorable mentions: Zack Sabre Jr. 216, Jay Lethal 210, Finn Balor 204, John Cena 178, Yuji Okabayashi 170, Volador Jr. 159, Kevin Owens 151, Brock Lesnar 89, Ricochet/Prince Puma 82, Dragon Lee 82, Kushida 80, Shingo Takagi 73, Sombra 65, Tomoaki Honma 64.