Pro Wrestling Awards @ObserverAwards

CAPT. LOU ALBANO Wrestling Observer's 1981 Manager of the Year Albano was a constant presence on WWF television, managing The Moondogs and the duo of Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito.

HIGH CHIEF PETER MAIVIA Wrestling Observer's "Most Washed Up" of 1980 43-year old Peter Maivia was a staple of NWA Hollywood, holding the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title.

ADRIAN ADONIS Wrestling Observer's "Most Improved" of 1981 Joining forces with San Diego-billed Jesse "the Body" Ventura, this tough-talking New Yorker developed his persona as one half of The East-West Connection in the AWA & WWF.

BRAD RHEINGANS Wrestling Observer's 1981 Rookie of the Year Rheingans, a favorite to win the gold in the 1980 Olympics, boycotted by the United States, entered professional wrestling in 1980, training under Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson before making his debut in the AWA.

BOB BACKLUND vs KEN PATERA Wrestling Observer's 1980 Match of the Year (tie) After their January match went to a DQ and a pull-apart brawl ensued, Backlund and Patera battled in a Texas Death Match at Madison Square Garden.

BRUNO SAMMARTINO vs LARRY ZBYSZKO Wrestling Observer's 1980 Match of the Year (tie) Larry Zbyszko faced his former mentor Bruno Sammartino in a brutal Steel Cage Match at Showdown at Shea in Queens, New York in front of ravenous fans beneath a "WE WANT BLOOD, BRUNO" banner.

HUSSEIN ARAB Wrestling Observer's "Most Underrated" of 1980 Former Team USA wrestling coach Hussein Arab feuded with Jay Strongbow & Bruno Sammartino in the WWF, then adopted the "Iron Sheik" gimmick in Mid-Atlantic and Maple Leaf Wrestling, playing off the Iran hostage crisis.

MR. WRESTLING II Wrestling Observer's "Most Overrated" of 1980 The 46-year old challenged Harley Race for the NWA Title on multiple occasions, and held the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title & NWA Georgia Tag Team Title with Mr. Wrestling I.

BARON MIKEL SCICLUNA Wrestling Observer's "Most Washed Up" of 1980 The 51-year old Maltese "royalty" was a prelim wrestler in the WWF, known for the use of foreign objects.

BARRY WINDHAM Wrestling Observer's 1980 Rookie of the Year Trained by his father Blackjack Mulligan and Harley Race, Windham debuted on November 27, 1979 against J.J. Dillon at 19 years old. In 1980, he had wins over Dick Slater, Masa Saito, Don Muraco & Nikolai Volkoff.

THE FABULOUS FREEBIRDS Wrestling Observer's 1980 Tag Team of the Year This gang ran roughshod over the Mid-South & Georgia in 1980, earning gold with victories over Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley, Ted DiBiase & Paul Orndorff, Robert Fuller & Stan Frazier, and Mr. Wrestling I & II.

BRUISER BRODY Wrestling Observer's Best Brawler of 1980 Brody gained victories over Toru Tanaka & Mark Lewin for the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship, a Texas Death Match victory over Bobo Brazil, and memorable fights with Giant Baba, Harley Race & The Von Erichs.

The 1980 @OfficialPWI Awards: Best Wrestler: Bob Backlund Best Team: Jimmy Snuka & Ray Stevens Best Match: Bruno Sammartino vs Larry Zbyszko The 1980 @WONF4W Awards: Best Wrestler: Harley Race Best Team: Fabulous Freebirds Best Match: Bob Backlund vs Ken Patera @davemeltzerWON

BOB BACKLUND Wrestling Observer's Best Technical Wrestler of 1980 Backlund had a successful year in 1980 as WWF Champion, with memorable matches with Antonio Inoki, Stan Hansen, Ken Patera, Sgt. Slaughter, Hulk Hogan, Dusty Rhodes & The Wild Samoans.

LARRY ZBYSZKO Wrestling Observer's Best Heel & Most Improved in 1980 In 1980, Zbyszko's frustration with living in Bruno Sammartino's shadow led to a career-defining heel turn on his mentor, culminating with a historic match at Shea Stadium in New York City.

DUSTY RHODES Wrestling Observer's 1980 Babyface of the Year Dusty Rhodes had fan support throughout the territories, with victories over Ole Anderson, The Sheik, Dick Murdoch, Don Muraco, Tatsumi Fujinami, Hulk Hogan, Terry Funk, Riki Choshu, Dick Slater & Nikolai Volkoff.

HARLEY RACE Wrestling Observer's 1980 Wrestler of the Year Race held the NWA World Championship throughout 1980, with victories over Ric Flair, Bruiser Brody, Mr. Wrestling II, Tony Atlas & David Von Erich. He won the title for a 7th time, after a week-long Giant Baba reign.