Pro Wrestling Illustrated set to release the first ever Top 50 Female Wrestlers Magazine

Each year, Pro Wrestling Illustrated releases the “PWI 500,” the most prestigious rank for a wrestler to be on each year. Now finally, after all these years, with the launch of TNA’s Women’s Division in 2007, and Shimmer strong as ever, we get the PWI Top 50 female wrestlers. Awesome Kong, Beth Phoenix, Michellle McCool, Angelina and Velvet Sky graces the cover, of them, Awesome Kong and Beth should make the Top 5. It will be interesting to see which Indy Workers makes the list.

In the past, we’ve seen numerous female wrestlers break into the PWI 500. TNA’s Jacqueline Moore was the first woman to be ranked on the PWI 500 at #483 in 1993, Luna Vachon ranked #306 in 1995 and Chyna ranked #235 in 1999 and #106 in 2000. All three women are legends in their own right.

The magazine on on Sale on September 23rd.

Perhaps the best article I’ve read in some time was Luna Vachon’s recent feature for Slam Wrestling–A visit to Luna’s ‘little land of lunacy’. Luna Vachon for many Women’s Wrestling fans is an icon. Despite being discouraged to get into the business, she clawed her way to the top, creating a cult following for herself . She is the daughter of Butcher Vachon and the niece of “Mad Dog” Vachon and Vivian Vachon and without any doubts, she built upon their legacy.

Vivian Vachon (1951-August 25, 1991)

Luna’s aunt Vivian Vachon was a Women’s Wrestling pioneer, dominating the 1970’s. She won the American Wrestling Association’s (AWA) Women’s Champion defeating Bette Boucher. She also held the GPW Women’s Championship and California Women’s Championship. Luna Vachon had a tough act to follow. Her aunt Vivian Vachon was killed by a drunk driver August 25, 1991 and didn’t get to see Luna’s rise to superstardom. Although Luna had success in Florida Championship Wrestling, and Powerful Women of Wrestling (holding the POWW Tag Team titles twice) in the 1980’s, she went on to have nationwide success in the WWF, WCW, and ECW in the 90’s.

The Slam Wrestling feature takes us back in time of the greatness that is Luna Vachon. Luna touches on being bi-polar and “medically diagnosed as being maniac depressive”, Bret, Owen, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, Sable, Natalya “Nattie” Neidhart and Chris Benoit and much more.

Click Here to read the Slam Wrestling Interview