This is my favorite issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. If you haven’t seen it yet, then run, don’t walk, to the store and pick up a copy. You will not be disappointed. This issue, cover dated March 2009, reviews the year in wrestling for 2008. It is an interactive magazine as well because the readers send in their official “unofficial” awards as well and some of them are quite comical. Along with the regular features they have, PWI hands out their awards for such categories as: Wrestler of the Year, Tag Team of the Year, Inspirational Wrestler of the Year and Comeback of the Year among others.

The magazine has a section where they take photographs they have and put funny as well as serious captions under them. One of them this year that was particularly funny is a photo of Booker T. He is sitting in a chair with his head down and has his fingers on the bridge of his nose as if he is thinking about something and the caption reads: “A confused Booker T takes a moment to try and remember which cockamamie accent he is supposed to use this week.” Other sections include: 2008 The Year in Review, The year’s best photos, all of the pay-per-views for 2008 and the results and a section that lists all of the titles that have changed hands during 2008. There is also a section that lists all of the wrestlers who have passed away during the year.

Some of this year’s achievement awards include:

Wrestler of the Year: Triple H

Comeback of the Year: Chris Jericho

Tag Team of the Year: Beer Money

Match of the Year: Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair

Feud of the Year: Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho

One thing to note is that this is the very first time that Triple H had won the honor of being voted Wrestler of the Year in his illustrious sixteen years in the sport.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Year End Special is definitely a must have for any person who reads or collects magazines and if you buy it for no other reason, buy it to read the ever acerbic Brandi Mankiewicz and her “Off the Top Rope” column where she rips the fans who write in to her. That is always great fun to read. Pro Wrestling Illustrated is published monthly and gives in depth analysis of the goings on in the wrestling world and is a must read for any wrestling fan.