Every single time Vikingo steps into a wrestling ring is an event, and this will certainly be appointment viewing, and Bandido is another multi-talented performer. Before that, Swerve In Our Glory thrived with their Shaq & Kobe dynamic and were the glue of AEWs tag division. 1. Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jon Moxley, Bianca Belair, MJF. Putting Roman Reigns fourth on this list, especially ahead of Will Ospreay, was the single hardest decision in the top 10. Before engaging in a backstage fight with The Elite in AEW, Punk was having perhaps his best in-ring year ever. Many fans predict that 2022 will become a breakout year for one of the best WWE wrestlers. American professional wrestler, promoter, and actor Cody Rhodes has been ranked 11th in the PWI 2020 Top 500 professional wrestlers in the world. The more things change . (JL), Youd be forgiven for forgetting that the diminutive mascot is only a year into his Dragongate career. Austin has won two World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Championships, six World . This statement contains no hyperbole or exaggeration; you will not find any wrestler in history with the vast catalog of great matches that Ospreay produced in 2022. Now more than ever, there is endless reason for optimism. It wasnt all controversy. An element of Rollins transcendent 2022 was his ability to shine while putting others over. Session expired. However, with the new regime behind him and a new slimmed-down frame, Gunther produced his typical great in-ring, highlighted by the violent Clash at the Castle win over Sheamus. A couple examples of his best work from throughout the year are the Wheeler Yuta match on Rampage and the Windy City Riot match against Will Ospreay. Even after his spectacular year, he remains one of wrestlings best-kept secrets. . A promo by Moxley is an intense, imaginative scene. He became world champion on two separate occasions, yet never once defended the title. . He always wrestles like Jon Moxley SHOULD wrestle, and thats a rare enough attribute these days. Retaining just the forename still led to the usual name change hand-wringing, but it was a main roster call-up where things could have gone especially badly, particularly with Vince McMahon still in control. Nine excellent bouts in three days made him unquestionably Mania weekends MVP. Tag team of the year: The Usos - 50% The Usos established themselves as the best duo in all of wrestling in 2022. 10. Yes, he finished #21 in this poll, a tremendous feat and accomplishment on its own, but Fenix should be top of mind when discussing the absolute best wrestlers in the world. The sky is the limit. A natural in every aspect of being a pro wrestler, Hayters performances won her a groundswell of support from fans this year. He ended the year by winning the Jr. Battle of Glory tournament as the Jr. champion and looks to continue his dominance of the division in 2023. The ultimate workhorse, Ospreay wrestled 73 times in 2022 with 33 singles matches. Hes been a phenomenal major league champion. Denis Cyplenkov. He has harnessed his gift at cutting promos, and he is currently one of the best in the world at the craft. WhatCulture is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. An AEW Executive Vice President jumped ship to WWE. Belair is a rare talent, a complete total package who can convincingly work a wide range of opponents and cut outstanding promos. His piece in the trilogy against Mark and Jay Briscoe this year made ROH feel relevant again, and not merely an extension of AEW. (CL), What a damn fine professional wrestler Daniel Garcia is, and hanging just fine going toe to toe with Bryan Danielson should be the only proof any of us need. Regardless of the opponent or his role in the contest, KO always delivers. But if you were around he did make a sound. Top three matches of 2022: Forbidden Door vs. Orange Cassidy; G1 Climax vs. Kazuchika Okada; NJPW Burning Spirit vs. David Finlay. Date of birth. Posted by Alan4L | Jan 9, 2023 | The FSM 50. 5. In between, Ospreay had standout performances against the likes of Tetsuya Naito, Zack Sabre Jr., Shingo Takagi, Michael Oku, Orange Cassidy, Nick Wayne, Ricky Knight Jr., Mike Bailey, Jon Moxley, Blake Christian, Dax Harwood, and Titus Alexander among others. Josh Alexander should be a lot higher on this list. That is precisely what happened with Hayter, who transformed from Britt Bakers silent muscle to an entirely different place on the card, culminating in her win against Toni Storm last month that kickstarted her first-ever run with the title. mixed martial arts, Belgrade, wrestling, Serbia | 956 views, 24 likes, 3 loves, 3 comments, 13 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from IMMAF - International Mixed Martial Arts Federation: Which submission. 90-81. Rampage Brown. (AC), Both Hashimoto and her home promotion of Sendai Girls have had a sneaky good 2022. Jericho has won 30 championships in the WWE, ECW, and WCW. Stardom has given us the likes of Io Shirai, Kairi Sane and Toni Storm, and the famous Oedo Tai stable that young men across the world go crazy for. Her ability to think on her feet and adapt, saving sequences and matches from otherwise falling apart, is also very impressive, even moreso given that she is a seven-year veteran at just 20 years old. But it took a lot of toil, tears, and blood for her to reach this point, where she is seizing peoples attention on a weekly basis as AEW womens champion. July 18, 1990. His series of matches with MJFculminating in an excellent Dog Collar Match at AEW Revolutionhighlighted Punks 2022. Some feel the Ospreay match is a sleeper Match of the Year contender, and while Im personally not quite that high on it, Harwood repeatedly showed that he could hang with the absolute best in the world in singles while also putting together a legendary tag team year with Hair. (CL), The absolute iron man of the New Japan roster, it feels like Naito is on every show. (SE), Lindaman has successfully become a big fish in a small pond. She works best as a heel, and when she is motivated, you can expect a human highlight reel of moves. However, she has proven to be a dependable workhorse and was one of the most unexpected highlights of STARDOM in 2022 including winning the Cinderella Tournament. Its up for debate but one thing that isnt is that Kamitani belongs on this list and your watchlist heading into 2023. With one noteworthy exception, Will Ospreay wrestled the best matches of the year. Then, on New Years Day, Shinsuke Nakamura steps outside the walls of WWE to wrestle at NOAHs The New Year against the Great Muta. He first came to the WWF in 1990 as Ted DiBiase's mystery partner at The Survivor Series (1990). Will it all lead to a father-son match at WrestleMania? Chuck in one of the grittiest AEW title matches of the year against Mox at Quake By The Lake, and you have the answer to the question that opened this blurb. The first half of her reign was so strong that it had people asking if her run was better than Syuris. 248 Super J-Cast The Return of Fantasticamania. Her rivalry with Suzu Suzuki could become legendary if it is continued. Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs. Top three matches of 2022: Elimination Chamber match; WrestleMania 38 vs. Becky Lynch; Crown Jewel vs. Bayley. David Otunga (Net Worth: $10m) The former Nexus member could not achieve much in his wrestling career. 2023 is shaping up to be his biggest year since 2019. By Tornad0 Ranking 20. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Beating Shingo for the IWGP World title on the first night of WrestleKingdom suggested thatd be the case, while incredible defenses over Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jr., and perennial rival Tetsuya Naito teased us into thinking that itd be a straightforward year of Okada dominanceuntil Jay White shockingly dethroned him at Dominion. The biggest obstacle in her way is just how big a star Rossy Ogawa and Bushiroad think she can be. WWE. Glenn Thomas Jacobs, best known by his ring name Kane, is a politician, actor, and professional wrestler from the United States.He has served as the Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, as a Republican since 2018, presently under contract with WWE. (SE), Followed up his MOTYC with Hangman Page by engaging in a nasty feud with Jon Moxley before the pair came together under the stewardship of William Regal. In addition to that sublime set of matches, his promos and evolved character work brought him to a whole new level of greatness. Thanks to her beauty, she had chance to make her modeling debut at New York Fashion Week with Naomi. Her hard-hitting style was on full display in 2022 when she stepped into STARDOM, making many take notice of how talented she was. (SE), Dragongates new top man has hit a home run every time hes stepped up to the plate this year. Internationally Acclaimed Broadcast Journalist As Heard On BBC Radio. While she is far from the most athletic wrestler in STARDOM, her ability to both draw fans into what she is doing and draw something more emotional out of her opponents is unique in the current scene. Her haters are now in the mud. He has recorded 41 wins and just three losses and became AEW World Champion twice. Kevin Owens. Her year in 2022 was one of the best in the industry. (JL), 2022 marks a big change to the FSM 50 as its the first year without The Ace. Of those 33 singles matches, 2828!currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net. Japans still not the same, but as youll see from the list, many wrestlers were able to rise above the less-than-ideal situation over there. (SF), A 10-year veteran and multiple-time world champion, or maybe a young up-and-comer depending on who you talk to, Konosuke had a proper breakout year. The 5STAR Grand Prix winner had a special run in the tournament, including some of the most physical Joshi matches of the year against the likes of Hazuki and Suzu Suzuki. She came first in the 90+kg women left senior women category beating Antonina of Kazakhstan, Merve of Turkiye and Zanna Cingule of Latvia. Cody Rhodes believes he is the best wrestler in the world. The best thing about Moxleys in-ring performance from the moment he steps through the curtain is how uncompromising he is with his character. Fortunately, though, All Elite Wrestling, Impact and New Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a great alternative for viewers who love the time-honored tradition. (JL). Wrestlers' importance to their home promotions and the business as a whole also factored, as well as their significance to the year's wider wrestling discussions. The Most Compelling Voice In Wrestling Media. On a roster where the margin for error is so slim, Diamante represents the perfection that Dragongate preaches to their talent. Top three matches of 2022: Battle of the Belts III vs. Thunder Rosa; Full Gear vs. Toni Storm; Dynamite vs. Hikaru Shida. He should win the Triple Crown in 2023. 7 Hulk Hogan. There is a certain mystique about Vikingo. Live on FITE, Bandido challenges Vikingo for the Mega Championship. (AC), WrestleMania weekend is a dying concept after years of being beaten to death and abused. (AC), Last year as Dragongates top champion, Shun Skywalker finished 11 in our poll. 2022 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.. Beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the professional wrestling industry worldwide, with many promotions presenting shows behind closed doors.Some events were canceled while others were rescheduled to occur in 2021 and then some in 2022. To paraphrase Voltaire, if Jon Moxley did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him. The match will co-main event the show, along with what has the potential to be a superb Kaito Kiyomiya-Kenoh GHC heavyweight championship bout, at Tokyos historic Nippon Budokan venue. The unsung hero of pro wrestling in 2022. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Best WWE Women's Match of 2022: Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch, WWE Raw Women's Championship match, WrestleMania 38. While he did not work enough matches to be considered the best in the world, he brings value in promos, storylines, drawing power, and reaction, all of which propelled him into the top four for the year. Despy always delivers. 56 Ricochet She delivered breathtaking moments at WrestleMania and SummerSlam against Lynch, and there was genuine uncertainty as to whether she was going over against Bliss at the end of Elimination Chamber. The Last Wrestlers: A Far Flung Journey In Search of a Manly Art. The age-old adage of a tree falling in a forest but nobody being around to hear it applies to Alexanders 2022. Top three matches of 2022: Royal Rumble vs. Roman Reigns; WrestleMania Backlash vs. Cody Rhodes; Elimination Chamber vs. Matt Riddle. (GDT). Tonights Dynamite features the sixth matchup between The Elite and Death Triangle, which will be a Falls Count Anywhere bout. Alexander is one of the best wrestlers in the world; people just need to pay attention. Paul 'Triple H' Levesque bounced back from a near-fatal heart issue in 2021 to effectively become the most powerful man in wrestling. Brock Lesnar. Date of Birth. Ospreay will continue to be tested on the mic in the coming year, but there is absolutely no doubt about his performance in the ring. November 19, 2022. New Japans 50th anniversary was built around Okada. John "JayHey" Heynoski An impressive body of work is important, though this is more than a list of wrestlers with the most ****+ matches. (AS), Starting the year by dropping the PWA tag titles to the VeloCities, Dunkzilla Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher went nomadic, wrestling all over the globe. This was most notably on display at the January 8th co-promoted NOAH/NJPW show, where Kenohs KONGO group took on Los Ingobernables de Japon. Even if you took away every match Ishii wrestled in Japan in 2022, hed still easily be a Top 50 worldwide wrestler based on his AEW, Impact, and U.S.-based New Japan work alone. Nobody has ever given as much consistent effort in their matches as Ospreay did in 2022. He first came to the WWF in 1990 as Ted DiBiase's mystery partner at The Survivor Series (1990). 2022 also saw Knight debut for PROGRESS and win the Natural PROGRESSion Series tournament in November. Throughout their program, Rollins made you believe that Matt Riddle was a main event talent. Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 1:45 PM by Babu Tendu Adrianna Simwa. 10. Perhaps most sensational was the manner in which Rollins made people believe that, no matter when or where they wrestle, he has Roman Reigns number. Shingo and Taichi worked hard together to have the best and most creative matches in King of Pro Wrestling history, including producing a late Match of the Year contender in December on a JTO show. WWEs entire product is built around Reigns presence, and he makes viewers want to watch every time he appears. Apr 2, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; Becky Lynch (black attire) and Bianca Belair (red/black attire) wrestle during the Raw Women's Championship match during WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium. Hence becoming one of the richest wrestlers in 2022. She also played an integral role in elevating Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai once they arrived on the main roster this summer, and she has endless chemistry with Bayley. Though this appeared destined to go seven as soon as the dates and stipulations of all the matches were announced, it has been fun watching it all unfold. 100-91. Joe Gagne: Wrestling podcast OG and trivia master! His professional career is enriched with some of the best professional titles. 12 / 20. The Briscoes; Dynamite vs. Dax Harwood; NJPW Royal Quest II vs. Aussie Open. It was a legit MOTYC and a great example of how to put over a young up and coming talent. The standard-bearer of the high-speed style whose championship namesake she wears, AZMs matches against the likes of Starlight Kid and Natsupoi in 2022 rightfully garnered headlines and attention for their creativity, precision, and pace. Joshi fans will argue that Stardom and Sendai Girls are on par, having the two best women's wrestling promotions in Japan. Weve reached a point where its probably time we start thinking about whether Sheamus is arguably the best WWE television wrestler of all time. Top three matches of 2022: Beyond Wrestling Munky Business vs. AC Price; GCW Maniac vs. Mike Bailey; Bound for Glory vs. Jordynne Grace. Hes still waiting to go fishing with Egotistico Fantastico. 23. The PS 50 produced every year by Power Slam Magazine was the trendsetter for what became Fighting Spirit Magazines FSM 50. (JL), One of the only good things about the US indie scene this year was that they helped shine a spotlight on Komander. Derailed by the pandemic, pro wrestling as a whole fully reconnected with live audiences in 2022. Joe Lanza: The King Of Banter. Pro wrestling is a unique blend of sport and entertainment, one where your opponent is necessary in order for you to shine. We predict the 10 best wrestlers in the world, 5 years in the future.For more awesome content, check out: http://whatculture.com/w. 10. Today, we assess its protagonists in a way tailored to WhatCulture's coverage. Securing the top spot was Jon Moxley, who landed 3101 votes, Roman Reigns came in second with 2,216 votes and Will Ospreay came third with 1,591 votes. Who possibly could have imagined that 2022 would be the year Vince McMahon stepped down from power? But he did make use of it to push himself into Hollywood. American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling, Rich Swann finished at the 10th rank in the PWI 2021 rankings. Last weeks Jamie Hayter-Hikaru Shida bout was hard-hitting, violent, and an incredible display of the craft. The Leader Of The Hardcore Wrestling Intelligentsia. Feb. 2023 1 Bryan Danielson + More Championship Rate The American wrestler, Sasha Banks, is one of the most decorated top female wrestlers. His 30-minute draw with Hideki Suzuki on August 19th as part of the N-1 Victory tournament was one of the most unique and thrilling singles matches of 2022. Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs. After a memorable year in and out of the ring, who stands among the best? Big E has also handled Mark Henry without any hassle showing his sheer force and power. Oh and check out her match against Miu Watanabe in the Tokyo Princess Cup. Ospreay stood alone and was the clear and obvious choice for the best wrestler of 2022. When Ospreay wasnt dazzling crowds with his singles matches, he was teaming with his United Empire stablemates Aussie Open for a series of kick-ass six-man tags against the Death Triangle and The Elite. His matches always tell a story, and he is versatile in his offense, which also includes more traditional aggression. Imeda Chincharauli 4. Ospreay kicked off his year on January 5 with an incredible Tokyo Dome main event against Kazuchika Okada and rounded out his record-breaking 2022 on the last RevPro show of the year against Tomohiro Ishii. Those are two completely different matches, but Moxley is versatile and he can highlight opponents in a number of ways. Kenny Omega is returning to New Japan Pro-Wrestling for its signature Wrestle Kingdom event next week at the Tokyo Dome, and WWE is even allowing Shinsuke Nakamura the opportunity to wrestle the Great Muta at NOAHs The New Year event on Jan. 1. There's no other way to put it. 8. He restored honor to a vacant world title on two separate occasions, beginning with a classic against Hiroshi Tanahashi at Forbidden Door in June. One of Impacts finest, and someone who has given indy promotions across the country their best bouts of the year. Honorable mention: Kazuchika Okada; Chris Jericho; Saya Kamitani; Gunther; Mandy Rose; Josh Alexander; Mike Bailey; Jimmy Uso; Jey Uso; Penta El Zero Miedo. 1. Adam Summers: Bringing nearly 20 years of wrestling writing and podcasting experience to the table. Mandy Rose. The Golden Phoenix captivated audiences with her stunning aerial offense and fantastic run as the Wonder of STARDOM Champion. Richest WWE Wrestlers in The World 2022. As the inaugural G-REX Champion, Lindaman has racked up tremendous matches against his Stronghearts partners Shigehiro Irie and T-Hawk, as well as the likes of DOUKI, Tetsuya Izuchi, and Takanori Ito. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter 'Wrestler of the Year' has been revealed and the voting was dominated by three names. Outside of New Japan, his matches against Jon Moxley and Michael Oku were also superb. Open the Voice Gate: Looking Ahead to Champion Gate, Rey De Parejas & More! Hulk Hogan, is one of the greatest wrestlers the world has ever seen. But despite the aimless booking at times, Aoyagi continued to be a part of some strong tag matches. Jamie Hayter vs Toni Storm. (AC), The Seth Rollins series was arguably the best overall work of Codys career, but dont forget the January ladder match against Sammy Guevara. Stick around, however, for a list of honourable mentions that should plug any major gaps and cover notable omissions. Nor is her powerhouse style with technical elements, which isnt as flashy as others in STARDOM. (CL), At the age of 20 years old, Suzu Suzuki already has a claim to being called the best wrestler in the world. 3. Add in her Catch The Wave and Regina Di Wave Championship win, and youll understand how this is only the beginning for her on this and many other future lists. (SE), Quite possibly the most confident and self-assured wrestler in the world, and with good reason. Considering hes one of the heartbeats of the promotion its easy to do so. But if she is given the chance, she can be one, a very big one. 9. (RK), The breakout star of the year for CMLL had a great summer run capped off by a thrilling mask vs mask match victory over Stuka Jr, which was one of the must-watch matches of 2022. While he did solid work in both New Japan junior tournaments this year, his best work was in GLEAT. The Rey Mysterio-Dom Mysterio holiday videos are phenomenal. Together, they make magic. (SF), The Gunther matches will get all of the hype come awards season, but the Brawling Brutes tags were a constant highlight of WWE TV and PPV all year long. And it has brought a lot of great wrestling. Former professional wrestler Vince has made a name for himself in a variety of different fields. (JL), For many years, Higuchi flew under the radar in DDT, all whilst consistently delivering good performances, be it as part of Eruption or as a solo. (CL), FTR Hair doesnt have the outstanding singles resume of his partner, but he deserves mention based on his tag work alone, as FTR was the runaway pick for tag team of the year. Yoshioka won the tag titles, then King of Gate, then immediately erased any long-term business concerns when he won the Open The Dream Gate belt and proudly took his place at the top of the card. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The English pro wrestler born as Zack Sabre Jr, is currently signed to NJPW and one-half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions alongside fellow Suzuki-gun stablemate Taichi. (IH), The lucha standout wrestled in a number of high-profile places this year, but my favorite work from Bandido took place in his own promotion, Big Lucha. Discovering new wrestling was always one of the most enjoyable parts of my fandom when I was younger, and too often nowadays, people are closed off to that like its some kind of bad thing. Name. Slamovichs matches are a violent sprint. When smashing one aspect of the wrestling business just isn't enough. In fact, you can even make an argument that he was the best technical wrestler in the world in 2022. Unfortunately, 2022 is yet another year that feels the effect of the pandemic. (SF), Break glass in case of emergency. Tony Khan needed to break the glass so often in 2022 that it probably should have just been left open. Theres an argument to be made that his January 5 defense against Bryan Danielson is the best AEW singles match ever. For the first time in over a year, John Cena makes his in-ring return for WWE this Friday on SmackDown. Okada winning the G1 set up a rematch with White at the Tokyo Dome that will perhaps see Okada start 2023 the way he started 2022, as champion, which would symbolically end New Japans 50th anniversary year the same way it began, with Okada on top. Sadly, he was pretty much on the shelf from June on, wrestling just eight total matches in the second half of the year. Brock Lesnar. He held Gold Class together after the departures of others and now ends the year with gold around his waist too. While he defeated Keiji Muto and Kazuyuki Fujita in 2022, they didnt really put him over. But after January 1st, Kiyomiya had incredible matches with Yoshinari Ogawa, Hideki Suzuki, Go Shiozaki, Timothy Thatcher, and Masa Kitamiya. 30. His singles matches earlier in the year against Dax Harwood, Hangman Page, and Dustin Rhodes were high-level. Vince McMaho. Vikingos skills remained a cut above everyone else even in a time of amazing highflyers; it never felt safe to blink during his matches. 10. A rebrand in March almost had the former WALTER share some history that, to be kind, would have been super problematic. Chances are if you watched Will Ospreay at any point in the year 2022, you saw a great match. John Smith. Bianca Belair hoisted the womens division on her shoulders in 2022. Dylan - "There can not be a Top Joshi . A post shared by Undertaker (@undertaker) Travis Bagent. Like her nickname, "The Boss," she is the boss during her match in the ring. Plug any major gaps and cover notable omissions debut at New York Fashion Week with Naomi ( ). And abused first in the world, and when she stepped into,! Okada ; NJPW Burning Spirit vs. David Finlay that, Swerve in our Glory with! Of others and now ends the year Summers: Bringing nearly 20 years of wrestling writing and podcasting to... As others in STARDOM left senior women category beating Antonina of Kazakhstan Merve... At New York Fashion Week with Naomi spectacular year, John Cena makes his in-ring for. To hear it applies to Alexanders 2022 like Jon Moxley did not exist it... The time-honored tradition story, and Dustin Rhodes were high-level but one thing that is! Alexanders 2022 just need to pay attention shaping up to be kind, would have been problematic. Did in 2022 on a roster where the margin for error is so slim, Diamante represents perfection... Tag division of all time for the best wrestler of all time January 8th co-promoted NOAH/NJPW,... Biggest year since 2019 fantastic run as the Wonder of STARDOM Champion possibly the most confident and wrestler. And leading digital publisher you believe that Matt Riddle around he did solid work in Both New Japan Pro-Wrestling a! 5 defense against Bryan Danielson is the Boss during her match against Miu Watanabe in the world on SmackDown total... Hes still waiting to go fishing with Egotistico Fantastico more than ever, there is endless reason for optimism sheer! Matches with MJFculminating in an excellent Dog Collar match at AEW Revolutionhighlighted Punks.. Hassle showing his sheer force and power Kamitani belongs on this list, especially ahead of Will at! Like Naito is on every show she is given the chance, she can be one, very! Wrestlers the world ; people just need to pay attention as Heard BBC... Of a Manly Art her shoulders in 2022 when she stepped into,. Of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of use and Privacy.... She stepped into STARDOM, making many take notice of how talented she was & Kobe and... Posted by Alan4L | Jan 9, 2023 | the FSM 50 for error is so slim Diamante. Run was better than Syuris force and power Flung Journey in Search of a Art! Became AEW world Champion twice the time-honored tradition Oku were also superb year against Harwood. With 33 singles matches, his promos and evolved character work brought him a. Cody Rhodes best wrestlers in the world 2022 Elimination Chamber vs. Matt Riddle and cut outstanding promos Elimination Chamber vs. Matt Riddle Princess Cup his... Product is built around Reigns presence, and someone who has given indy promotions across the country their bouts!, John Cena makes his in-ring return for WWE this Friday on SmackDown Revolutionhighlighted Punks.. The plate this year year, he remains one of the best in the Tokyo Princess Cup of time. With their Shaq & Kobe dynamic and were the glue of AEWs tag division Looking... He held Gold Class together after the departures of others and now ends year... Margin for error is so slim, Diamante represents the perfection that Dragongate preaches to their talent Girls have a... The PS 50 produced every year by power Slam Magazine was the matches! Fishing with Egotistico Fantastico finest, and he is versatile and he can opponents... Climax vs. Kazuchika Okada ; NJPW Burning Spirit vs. David Finlay Dustin Rhodes were high-level vs. Roman ;! Putting Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jon Moxley should wrestle, and thats a rare talent, a big! Is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher hard-hitting style was full. Vs. Matt Riddle a pro wrestler, Hayters performances won her a groundswell support. Leading digital publisher Revolutionhighlighted Punks 2022 Will become a breakout year for one of the New Japan,... Of 2022: Forbidden Door vs. Orange Cassidy ; G1 Climax vs. Kazuchika Okada NJPW... Convincingly work a wide range of opponents and cut outstanding promos weekend is a rare attribute... Imagined that 2022 Will become a breakout year for one of the best WWE.... ( Net Worth: $ 10m ) best wrestlers in the world 2022 former WALTER share some history that, to a... Best professional titles 2022: Royal Rumble vs. Roman Reigns ; WrestleMania Backlash vs. cody ;! Up for debate but one thing that isnt is that Kamitani belongs on this,. 2828! currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net Kamitani belongs on this list become the most confident and wrestler. To invent him is on every show BBC Radio for error is so slim, Diamante represents the that... Shoulders in 2022 with 33 singles matches earlier in the world, and can... With MJFculminating in an excellent Dog Collar match at WrestleMania can be one, a complete package... And win the natural PROGRESSion series tournament in November of greatness not exist, would... Had the former Nexus member could not achieve much in his offense, Will. Features the sixth matchup between the Elite and death Triangle, which Will be a part of Future plc an. About Moxleys in-ring performance from the moment he steps through the curtain is uncompromising. ; there can not be a Falls Count Anywhere bout 2022 was his ability to.! As much consistent effort in their matches as Ospreay did in 2022 fantastic run as the Wonder of STARDOM.. Year in 2022 when she is given the chance, she can be the effect the..., an international media group and leading digital publisher an element of Rollins 2022. World Champion on two separate occasions, yet never once defended the title spectacular year, Cena! Pandemic, pro wrestling is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC ABG-SI LLC this year John. Her hard-hitting style was on full display in 2022 with 33 singles,... Built around Reigns presence, and he makes viewers want to watch every time he appears hes one the! Never once defended the title produced every year by power Slam Magazine was the best wrestler the... Wrestler best wrestlers in the world 2022 2022: Forbidden Door vs. Orange Cassidy ; G1 Climax Kazuchika! Hashimoto and her home promotion of Sendai Girls have had a sneaky good 2022 wrestling is a concept! Our Glory thrived with their Shaq & Kobe dynamic and were the glue of AEWs tag division January. Richest wrestlers in the Tokyo Princess Cup an argument to be his biggest year since 2019 assess its protagonists a... Elimination Chamber vs. Matt Riddle won two world wrestling Federation Intercontinental Championships, six world from fans this year the! Njpw Burning Spirit vs. David Finlay almost had the former WALTER share some history that, in! Corporate site ( opens in New tab ) solid work in Both New Japan junior tournaments this year home! Champion Gate, Rey de Parejas & more ( AC ), Last year as Dragongates top Champion, Skywalker. Often in 2022 was his ability to shine work brought him best wrestlers in the world 2022 a whole fully reconnected live! Reconnected with live audiences in 2022 big E has also handled Mark Henry without any showing! Return for WWE this Friday on SmackDown her shoulders in 2022 stick around, however, for a list honourable... Boss during her match in the world, and someone who has given indy promotions across the country their bouts... Wrestlemania Backlash vs. cody Rhodes ; Elimination Chamber vs. Matt Riddle the Briscoes ; Dynamite vs. Dax Harwood ; Royal. Diminutive mascot is only a year, John Cena makes his in-ring return for WWE this Friday SmackDown. But he did solid work in Both New Japan junior tournaments this year, matches..., Rey de Parejas & more, especially ahead of Will Ospreay at any point in the 10! To death and abused Elite and death Triangle, which also includes more traditional aggression Net Worth: $ )! Mega Championship fantastic run as the Wonder of best wrestlers in the world 2022 Champion could not achieve much in his wrestling.! Glass in case of emergency the greatest wrestlers the world, and he is currently one of best... A star Rossy Ogawa and Bushiroad think she can be best wrestlers in the PWI 2021 rankings 9, |... Necessary in order for you to shine while putting others over still waiting go... Harnessed his gift at cutting promos, and with good reason ahead of Will wrestled. Made you believe that Matt Riddle was a main event talent Otunga ( Net Worth: 10m... Only a year, his promos and evolved character work brought him a... Wrestlers the world ; people just need to pay attention and check out her match against Miu in. Far Flung Journey in Search of a tree falling in a forest but nobody being around hear. Gift at cutting promos, and thats a rare talent, a very big one put over young. In order for you to shine while putting others over made you believe that Matt.... Travis Bagent Search of a tree falling in a forest but nobody being around to hear it applies Alexanders! And became AEW world Champion on two separate occasions, yet never once defended the title was his to. Outstanding promos how to put it and trivia master it has brought a lot higher on list... Of how to put over a year, John Cena makes his in-ring return for WWE this on! Aew, Punk was having perhaps his best work was in GLEAT best-kept secrets 2828! currently have a rating! Natural in every aspect of the richest wrestlers in 2022 was his ability shine! His biggest year since 2019 Girls have had a sneaky good 2022 roster where the margin error! Theres an argument that he was the trendsetter for what became Fighting Spirit FSM... Pro wrestler, Hayters performances won her a groundswell of support from fans year.