An individual does NOT have to be a member of the Cauliflower Alley Club at the time of their nomination. However, they can’t be nominated unless the person nominating them contacts the individual and can assure their availability to appear at the CAC reunion that upcoming year. Other nomination criteria are listed under the individual awards below.

Nominations are accepted from all members in good standing of the Cauliflower Alley Club.

A brief biography detailing the nominee’s qualifications for the award for which he or she is nominated. The nominee’s contact information (given name, address, phone number, e-mail address). Confirmation that the nominee has been contacted and has agreed to attend the next reunion if they are elected.

Nominations should be made to Brian Blair at brianblair@brianblair.com

All honorees are subject to ratification by the Executive Board. The nominees receiving the highest number of votes for their nominated award will be selected as the next year’s honorees.

The next year’s honorees will be announced on this website around December 1 of each year.

Named after our legendary founder, this is one of the most distinguished honors presented by the Cauliflower Alley Club. The recipient must be a towering figure—immediately recognizable not only within the wrestling world but also to audiences far beyond it. This award celebrates individuals who have transcended the squared circle, achieving notable success in multiple fields and bringing widespread recognition and respect to professional wrestling through their crossover achievements. Whether in sports, entertainment, philanthropy, or public life, recipients of the Iron Mike Mazurki Award have become true ambassadors of the industry—icons whose influence extends well past the ring.

This prestigious honor bears the name of one of the most revered technicians in the history of professional wrestling—and fittingly, it is reserved for individuals whose careers echo that same mastery, integrity, and impact. The recipient must possess a strong foundation in amateur wrestling and have carved out a professional career that is not only widely respected but also universally admired. Just as Lou Thesz was a pioneer in the art of grappling, honorees must also showcase remarkable proficiency in the discipline of submission wrestling, either during or beyond their active competition years.

But this award goes beyond what happens between the ropes. The Lou Thesz Award recognizes those who have continued to elevate the industry through excellence in other pivotal areas—whether in training future stars, promoting events, calling the action, managing talent, refereeing, booking, or any role that shapes the presentation and evolution of the business. This is more than an award—it’s a legacy torch passed to those who have honored the sport through technical brilliance, multi-dimensional contributions, and an unwavering commitment to the craft.

This prestigious honor is reserved for individuals whose contributions to the professional wrestling industry have been nothing short of transformative. The recipient must have demonstrated a respected and sustained in-ring career, while also making significant contributions outside the ropes that have helped shape, evolve, and elevate the business as a whole. Whether through mentorship, innovation, community engagement, or trailblazing efforts behind the scenes, this award recognizes a lifetime of dedication that has left an enduring mark on the sport. From performance to promotion, from locker room leadership to industry influence, the Art Abrams Award celebrates those who have given their heart and soul to the wrestling world—and changed it for the better.

The Cauliflower Alley Club Men’s Wrestling Award is one of the most prestigious honors in professional wrestling, celebrating those who have reached the highest levels of success in the industry. Reserved for individuals who have competed at an elite level for a minimum of five years, this award recognizes those whose impact has shaped the legacy of the sport.

It is a tribute to the dedication, influence, and excellence of those who have elevated professional wrestling, leaving a lasting mark on the business and inspiring future generations.

The Cauliflower Alley Club Women’s Wrestling Award is one of the most prestigious honors in professional wrestling, celebrating those who have achieved excellence and left a significant mark on the women’s division. Reserved for individuals who have competed at an elite level for a minimum of five years, this award recognizes the pioneers, trailblazers, and champions whose influence has shaped the evolution of women’s wrestling.

It is a tribute to the dedication, strength, and legacy of those who have elevated the role of women in professional wrestling—empowering future generations and helping redefine what it means to be a competitor in the sport.

This award recognizes a CAC member in good standing who, through his or her efforts or resources, has endeavored to improve their community and the lives of others, thus elevating the perception of the professional wrestling industry and its participants. The nominee must be a CAC member in good standing at the time of nomination and have attended at least one reunion in the last five years. A brief biography of the nominee and a brief description of their activities for which they have been nominated, each no more than one paragraph, must be submitted with the nomination. The recipient of this award will be announced on the Tuesday night festivities.

The nominee will be someone who has never worked in any major capacity in the pro wrestling industry or been under contract to a major wrestling promotion, but should have demonstrated by deed and word, over time, a commitment to the people and the welfare of the industry. The nominee must have attended at least three prior Cauliflower Alley Club reunions. The recipient of this award will be announced on the Tuesday night festivities.

The President’s Award is an honor given to an individual who is held in the very highest regard by his or her peers, and for outwardly conveying the spirit of the Cauliflower Alley Club in both their charitable contributions (time and/or money) and community service. Hand-selected by the CAC president under his or her own accord, and approved by a majority of the CAC executive board, the President’s Award shall be given to an individual who has not only been considered a main event performer and/or a top box office draw in their field, but who has surpassed the notoriety of their industry and has achieved mainstream prominence.

Here is the official criteria to be a recipient of the Karl Lauer Independent Promoters Award:

Must be or have been a promoter of wrestling events. The nominee must be highly recognized and respected by the talent they employed or booked. He or she may have promoted in the territory days or to date (current). They must be willing to travel to our CAC reunion to accept the nomination at their own expense, as all honorees, volunteers and members of the CAC do, unless they are sponsored by another organization or person. The award nominee must be, or have been a promoter of wrestling events for a minimum of 6 events per year, for at least 3 years. If the award is given “posthumously,” a relative or close friend must attend the reunion and be willing to accept the award on the nominees behalf.

Here is the official criteria to become a recipient of the Jim Ross Announcers Award:

Must be or have been, a wrestling commentator that is/was highly recognized and respected by his or her peers, as well as the audience they served. He or she may have worked in the territory days or to date (current). They must be willing to travel to our CAC reunion to accept the nomination at their own expense, as all honorees, volunteers and members of the CAC do, unless they are sponsored by another organization or person. If the award is given “posthumously,” a relative or close friend must attend the reunion and be willing to accept the award on the nominees behalf. The award nominee must have worked full-time in the professional wrestling industry for at least 3 years.

The nominees must have been well-recognized male or female professional wrestlers who spent significant time together (more than a year). The nominees must have held an organizational, regional or national tag team championship. If in the event the nominees did not hold such an aforesaid title, they must have at least been considered a “team” for two or more years. At least one of the two nominees must be living. At least one of the two nominees must be able to attend the banquet in order for the team to receive the award. If one of the nominees is deceased, a family member should take their place so the “team” is represented.

The nominee must be a member in good standing of the Cauliflower Alley Club before voting begins and cannot be nominated over two consecutive years. Who may submit nominations? Nominations are accepted from all members in good standing of the Cauliflower Alley Club. When are nominations due? Deadline for nominations for the Rising Star Award is October 1st. Nominations made after this deadline WILL NOT be on the ballot. What must be included with a nomination? If submitted electronically, a resume detailing the nominee’s wrestling career to date (primary trainer, any other training classes/camps attended, promotions worked for, titles held, major league tryouts) photographs and links to online videos of nominee working matches against a variety of opponents and at least one link to a video of nominee performing an interview or promo. If submitted in hard copy, copies of each of the above items must be submitted. Supplemental items supporting the candidate’s case for consideration may be submitted, such as letters of recommendation from trainers, promoters, CAC members or past CAC Rising Star honorees. Confirmation that the nominee has been contacted and has agreed to attend the next reunion if they are selected to be on the ballot. The nominator will provide all contact information of the nominee.Where should nominations be sent? Nominations should be emailed to Brian Blair at brianblair@brianblair.com. What happens next? The nominators of the selected nominees will be notified that their candidate has been placed on the ballot, and the nominees will have to submit written confirmation they will be attending.

The nominee: Must be a member in good standing of the Cauliflower Alley Club at the time of nomination. Must have attended at least one CAC reunion. Must be recognized as having conducted major research work in the eyes of the Historian committee. Must be dedicated to maintaining the history of professional wrestling as a whole rather than having focused on one geographic area, territory, wrestler or promotion. Must have had part, or all, of his historical work published in some form, by a third-party source. Must be willing to serve on the Historian committee for a period of not less than four (4) years. Who may submit nominations? Nominations are ONLY accepted from past recipients of the Historian Award. If you believe someone is a deserving candidate, please contact Brian Blair at brianblair@brianblair.com and he will forward your information to our Historian Committee, which is chaired by Greg Oliver. When are nominations due? Deadline for nominations is October 1. Nominations made after this deadline WILL NOT be on the ballot. What happens next? The nominee receiving the highest number of votes will be selected as the next year's honoree. In the event of a tie, the CAC president will cast the deciding vote between the two top candidates.

The Harley Race Posthumous Award honors the legacy of individuals who made a profound impact on professional wrestling. This prestigious award is presented to a well-recognized wrestler, manager, referee, promoter, booker, announcer, or industry affiliate whose contributions helped shape the sport.

To be eligible, a relative of the nominee must be a current member of the Cauliflower Alley Club, and either the nominee or their relative must have attended at least one prior CAC reunion. 

This award stands as a lasting tribute to those who dedicated their lives to professional wrestling and left an enduring mark on its history.

The nominee must be a retired or currently active professional wrestler, who has spent a major portion of his of her career competing internationally (that is, outside of the U.S. and Canada). As it is impossible for us to know every person who is a professional wrestler, in some cases, verification of ones career via pictures, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks or historian accounts may be required for placement on our ballot.

Named in honor of the legendary trainer Ron Hutchison, this award is presented to individuals who have made a profound impact on the professional wrestling industry through the art of training. The recipient has dedicated their time, knowledge, and passion to developing the next generation of talent—instilling not only the physical tools of the trade, but the discipline, respect, and heart it takes to succeed in this business.

From building foundations to sharpening ring skills, these trainers have left their fingerprints on the sport through the countless careers they've helped launch. Their influence is felt in every match wrestled by their students, and their legacy is carried forward by every performer who steps through the ropes with confidence, professionalism, and pride.

The Lucha Libre Award is an honor given to an individual who has had a prominent career in the lucha libre style of professional wrestling. Any and all Lucha Libre Award nominees must have been considered an outstanding performer of “Latino” heritage or has trained or performed in Mexico and elsewhere in the lucha libre style. Any and all nominees must have been well known to the lucha fan base wherever they have performed. This award is not restricted to those who worked solely in Mexico, nor is it limited to masked wrestlers, but any wrestler who worked the lucha libre style in any part of the world is eligible for nomination.

The Danny Hodge Award is an honor given to an individual who had a prominent career in two or more disciplines of the following disciplines: professional wrestling (being recognized by his or her peers as a hooker, shooter or being naturally tough), amateur wrestling, amateur or professional boxing, or any of the mixed martial arts/UFC styles including judo, Muay Thai, kickboxing, etc. Any and all nominees for the Danny Hodge Award must have held a championship in his or her field, or must have been recognized as a champion and/or considered a main event athlete or performer in his or her field.

Special awards include the Wrestling Family Award, Referee Award, Manager Award, Promoter Award, REEL Award, Exceptional Service to CAC, or other special category not covered by any other award. The nominee must be recognized within the wrestling world as having contributed to the industry in a significant fashion.