IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Champion "The Deal" Dal Knox has been named in the latest PWI 500 released by Pro Wrestling Illustrated Magazine, coming in at #326 and becoming the first kiwi in this era of New Zealand professional wrestling to be listed.

The Magazine has released the top 500 professional wrestlers since 1991, with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Sting, Bret Hart, Rob Van Dam and John Cena taking out the #1 spot in years gone by.

Knox, who is currently on tour with Impact Pro Wrestling in a double header in Northland had the news broken to him this morning by NZPWI.

"Really? Oh my God! That's huge!! Really? Unbelievable!", was Knox's response.

The listing in PWI states:

Popular competitor recently won an online poll as the number-one wrestler in New Zealand .. He is the reigning IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Champion and has held that title on two occassions... Won the Armageddon Cup championship in 2005... Signature moves include his Surf Highway jumping leg lariat, his Fort Knox inverted sharpshooter, and his spinning Knox Out air-plane spin fall-away slam.

Triple H topped this year's list, with several Australians made the list including:

290 - AJ Istria
336 - Hartley Jackson
343 - Damien Slater
345 - Obie Cartel
361 - Mason Childs
407 - Mark Mercedes

The issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated featuring the PWI 500 will be on sale in New Zealand later this year.

On behalf of all New Zealand pro-wrestling fans, congratulations to Dal!