Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s fourth annual “PWI Female 50″ has been revealed. Current Shimmer Champion Madison Eagles (Profile) became the first Independent Wrestler to be ranked in the top spot.

Here is the full Rank (1 to 50):

1. Madison Eagles
2. Mercedes Martinez
3. Mickie James
4. Natalya
5. Madison Rayne
6. Cheerleader Melissa
7. Beth Phoenix
8. Tara
9. MsChif
10. Sara Del Rey
11. Eve Torres
12. Angelina Love
13. Layla
14. Sarita
15. Kelly Kelly
16. Serena Deeb
17. Velvet Sky
18. Ayako Hamada
19. LuFisto
20. Winter
21. Brie Bella
22. Angel Orsini
23. Melina
24. Daizee Haze
25. Nikki Roxx
26. Gail Kim
27. Jazz
28. Maryse
29. Christina Von Eerie
30. Portia Perez
31. Rosita
32. ODB
33. Nicole Matthews
34. Rachel Summerlyn
35. Jessicka Havok
36. Brittany Force
37. Kellie Skater
38. Tina San Antonio
39. Melanie Cruise
40. Cherry Bomb
41. Sassy Stephie
42. Tasha Simone
43. Alicia Fox
44. Amber O’Neal
45. Allison Danger
46. Kacee Carlisle
47. Brittany Savage
48. A.J.
49. Melissa Coates
50. Jessica James

Thoughts: How many times does Pro Wrestling Illustrated get to publish a questionable top ten before the list is meaningless? A lot of things are forgivable in these types of rankings; however, the #1 spot and Top 10 is the bulk of its credibility.

Questions such as…

Based on the July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 time frame of the list, Why was Beth Phoenix even in the Top 10?… She was barely used in the WWE during that time frame. Beth Phoenix returned from injury in November 2010 at Survivor Series. She then went on to team up with Natalya to face Lay-Cool at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs. After that, she was on the back-burner.

As great of a talent that Madison Eagles is, did she really deserve to beat Mercedes Martinez for the top spot?…

“So we made a bold decision. We looked to the indies. Two possible candidates were SHIMMER champion Madison Eagles and WSU champion Mercedes Martinez. It was a difficult choice to make,”

“Fortunately for us, Martinez and Eagles faced off in March for Eagles’ SHIMMER title. Eagles managed to win a terrific match, which proved to be the deciding factor in our decision.”

So basically Martinez’s countless WSU title defenses against the likes of Awesome Kong, Serena, Jazz, Mickie James, Angel Orsini, Rain, Alicia and others, was not worth more than a match between the two (By the way, where was Alicia in the rank?). If the decision came down to both of them, it should have been who has had a better Championship reign, in which Mercedes would have been ranked #1. Congratulations to Madison anyway—who is without doubt—an outstanding athlete.

Why was Cheerleader Melissa and MsChif in the Top 10?… once again, outstanding wrestlers… Cheerleader Melissa should be Knockouts Champion under her Alissa Flash gimmick; however, how these women shoot above others automatically each year is a mystery. Mickie James, Tara, Madison Rayne and Natalya on the other hand, all deserve their Top 10 spots.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated has a lot of merit in the wrestling industry. Since only a handful of women have made it on the PWI 500, a female list was a needed move for the publication. What the rank represents can not be praised enough. Certainly most of the females on the list will be honored that the made the rank.