Fortunately, though, All Elite Wrestling, Impact and New Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a great alternative for viewers who love the time-honored tradition. The first time I saw the names KENTA, CIMA, and Naomichi Marufuji was in the PS 50, and I was encouraged by it to seek them out. (GDT), One step forward, one step back for the breakout British star? 3. (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. Being honest, he has every right to be in there, and weve done him dirty, no question. Joe Gagne: Wrestling podcast OG and trivia master! He did everything within his bodily power to ensure that Cody Rhodes return at WrestleMania was viewed as a legitimately jaw-dropping, iconic moment, which it wasthen followed that up with an even better match with Rhodes at WrestleMania Backlash. They are the best to ever do it. Kaori Icho. Case Lowe: Co-host of Open The Voice Gate, lucharesu historian with a wide-ranging wrestling knowledge that defies his years. Drew McIntyre There are still so many directions to go with one of wrestlings true greats, so heres to hoping 2023 is yet another year of greatness, much like 2022. Cena teams with Kevin Owens against Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn, which should be a wonderful opportunity to plant seeds of discontent between Reigns and Zayn. Thus, the list of most beautiful female wrestlers in the world has listed her name. Chad is full of talents and he has the support of fans behind the scenes. (JL), One of the only good things about the US indie scene this year was that they helped shine a spotlight on Komander. John Cena is the second on the list of the top 10 richest WWE Wrestlers in the whole world in 2022 with an average net worth of USD . Chances are if you watched Will Ospreay at any point in the year 2022, you saw a great match. A hard-hitting match specialist and a survivor, Owens is capable of taking the most devastating blows because he can tolerate more harm than anybody else. 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. Hes still at the stage in his career where he gives 110% even on small shows and can have a great match against any type of style, including juniors, shooters, and technical types. (CL). Top three matches of 2022: Elimination Chamber match; WrestleMania 38 vs. Becky Lynch; Crown Jewel vs. Bayley. 1. (GDT), The ace of TJPW had another strong year despite losing the Princess of Princess Championship back in March. Hes been a phenomenal major league champion. 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. Dave Chaffee is the next strong man on the list of best arm-wrestlers. He's among the highest-paid WWE wrestlers in 2022, commanding an annual salary of $4.5 million. And there is new life for Ring of Honor. Top three matches of 2022: Royal Rumble vs. Seth Rollins; SummerSlam vs. Brock Lesnar; Crown Jewel vs. Logan Paul. Bryan Danielson put together one of . His matches always tell a story, and he is versatile in his offense, which also includes more traditional aggression. Kevin Palko 6. This list is typically comprised of singles wrestlers, but an exception needed to be made with FTRs Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood. Richest WWE Wrestlers in The World 2022. (AC), Irie gets around. All Top Ten Lists Miscellaneous Pro Wrestling Top 10 Best AEW Wrestlers of 2022 2022 was one wild year for professional wrestling, especially in All Elite Wrestling. He first came to the WWF in 1990 as Ted DiBiase's mystery partner at The Survivor Series (1990). His All-Atlantic title win in a Dynamite main event was a really cool moment in AEWs year. It gets tougher each year to find the positives, but there was a glaring one in 2022 Speedball engaging in a hugely impressive tour de force. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. She capped off the year winning the World of Stardom Championship, as she goes into 2022 as the top wrestler in the promotion. 2. Top three matches of 2022: MLW Azteca vs. Aramis; Rey de Reyes vs. John [Superstar] Morrison; TripleMana vs. Rey Fenix. Please log in again. (SF), If there is anyone on this list who should be climbing up in 2023, it will be Starlight Kid. Katsuyori Shibata fought several times. Her matches with Jordynne Grace this year were absurdly compelling, with both using it as a chance to show the world their talent. Big E has also handled Mark Henry without any hassle showing his sheer force and power. It wasnt all controversy. (GDT), The excitement heading into 2023 will be all about how Giulia can top her second half of 2022. Elsewhere we were treated to a full 12 months of normal feeling wrestling, and it was certainly very welcome for fans. Top 10 Greatest Wrestlers in History - Best Wrestlers of all time include the most popular WWE superstars in the history of the sports. (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. 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. Check Price on Amazon. History will regard 2022 as one of professional wrestling's most eventful years. (JL). Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Taking the mold War Zone presented just a . She is a throwback to a rougher Joshi style that we last got in the 1990s on any big stage. 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. Moxley dropped the belt to CM Punk at All Out, which will forever be remembered for Punks post-show comments, but that completely overshadowed an incredible match. Ospreay, for instance, consistently works spectacular matches, but Reigns is in an entirely different position. Please log in again. Intense and full of passion, Slamovich will play a major role in pro wrestling over the coming years. That was the case in their tag bout against the Rock n Roll Express earlier this year for Big Time Wrestlings show in Spartanburg, South Carolina, when they had Bret Hart in their corner in Webster, Massachusetts against Brian Pillman Jr. and Brock Anderson (who had Arn Anderson in their corner), as well as their six-man tag last month with Ricky Steamboat. Kevin Owens. His work as both Brave Gate and Twin Gate Champion this year was superb. Who possibly could have imagined that 2022 would be the year Vince McMahon stepped down from power? (RK), Vikingo became the AAA Mega Champion in 2021 because AAA had no real alternatives, and spent 2022 proving he was the best option. Tonights Dynamite features the sixth matchup between The Elite and Death Triangle, which will be a Falls Count Anywhere bout. He is widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world today with an annually salary of $1 million. Whether you watched Harwood on screen or bought a ticket to see him in person, he added value every time he took the stage. Kevin Owens is the best in-ring performer on the current WWE roster. Rampage Brown. Pro wrestling is a unique blend of sport and entertainment, one where your opponent is necessary in order for you to shine. The company which was founded 3 years ago has seen a lot of growth this year, especially after the purchase of beloved indie wrestling promotion Ring of Honor, and of course all the drama that came after the company's All Out pay . Abdulrashid Sadulaev. When Rhodes was severely limited in their Hell in a Cell bout inside the cage, Rollins made viewers forget about limitations and instead focus on all Rhodes was capable of in spite of the gruesome injury. The manner in which Ospreay took the punishment from Finlay was a sight to behold, and that match will be looked upon fondly as Finlay continues his rise to stardom. (Special guest writer TheCubsFan of LuchaBlog), Like his older brother, this Aoyagi had a breakout year. After a memorable year in and out of the ring, who stands among the best? (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. Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. Josh Alexander should be a lot higher on this list. Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 1:45 PM by Babu Tendu Adrianna Simwa. The one spot reserved exclusively for . Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs. Rhodes returned to the WWE during night one of WrestleMania 38 after a six year absence. Harwood and Wheeler find a way to capture the essence of pro wrestling. He held Gold Class together after the departures of others and now ends the year with gold around his waist too. Sadly, he rarely, if ever, is. Like her nickname, "The Boss," she is the boss during her match in the ring. American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling, Rich Swann finished at the 10th rank in the PWI 2021 rankings. To say that Bailey has made up for lost time would be an understatement. World Cup MBTI K-Pop LOL Influencer Food Anime Sports Gaming Crypto Entertainment Music Movies NSFW Leaderboards . Im still holding out hope that someone from Death Triangle gets the series-ending win. Her rivalry with Suzu Suzuki could become legendary if it is continued. But despite the aimless booking at times, Aoyagi continued to be a part of some strong tag matches. As far as match quality, she had one of the best matches of the year against Utami in June, and had five matches rated **** or higher by the Wrestling Observer (all singles matches). Seth Rollins. 12 / 20. Her tag team and trios runs this year earned her a comfortable spot on the list while her singles work should have her among the elite come the end of 2023. (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 high-flier continued to dazzle audiences worldwide in 2022 with standout matches alongside his brother and tag partner Penta El Zero Miedo and his Death Triangle stablemate PAC. Chris Jericho is a Canadian-American professional wrestler and musician who is best known for his appearances in WWE between 1999 and 2018. There is also a must-see match at AAAs Noche de Campeones, which also takes place later tonight. In 2022, there were no more questions. (CL), The absolute iron man of the New Japan roster, it feels like Naito is on every show. There's no other way to put it. 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. Despy always delivers. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two. The unsung hero of pro wrestling in 2022. The Briscoes; Dynamite vs. Dax Harwood; Dynamite vs. Will Ospreay. His flying looks smooth and effortless. (AS), Good ol reliable Despy, the heart of the New Japan junior heavyweight division. Since 1958 six honbasho have been held every year, giving wrestlers from the modern era more opportunities to accumulate championships and wins. Here are 25 international wrestling stars to watch this weekend. The Undertaker" Mark Calaway (Net worth: 15.5 Million Euros) View this post on Instagram. (IH). (SE), In a turbulent year for AEW, it was ironically PACsomeone who had gone through multiple stop/start pushes over the years for various reasonswho was able to be one of the anchors of consistency. AEW Full Gear. 18. 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. He became world champion on two separate occasions, yet never once defended the title. It just feels right to have John Cena back in WWE. (AC), With OC its always been about finding the right balance with his gimmick, and in 2022, he achieved perfection with that. WWE. Marty Scurll is one of those rarities; a technical wrestler who also has a well-developed gimmick and persona. Whether its a Brave Gate challenge against Dragon Dia, a Korakuen singles bout with Diamante or even mixing it up with Microman, Takuma tackles every new challenge with enthusiasm and confidence. Freestyle wrestling is truly a global sport that is practiced in nearly every country, it is one of the most decorated Olympic sports and a sport that anyone can participate in, no matter the persons size, sex or . Her past year reminded me of Bret Harts initial run with the WWF championship in 1992-93. Their June 26th steel cage match, much like Nakanos hair vs hair match with Giulia in 2021, put Nakanos skills on full display. Hes still waiting to go fishing with Egotistico Fantastico. Feb. 2023 1 Bryan Danielson + More Championship Rate Best British Wrestlers in the world. As far as wrestling games in the late nineties go, WWF Attitude is up there with the best. But the beauty of this art form is that the script is occasionally forced to change when a new performer connects so intimately with the audience. The 2022 PWI Top 500 Wrestlers is a list of the Top 500 wrestlers according to the magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Before this, tournaments were held less frequently; sometimes only once or twice per year. The problem? 8. He did it in Impact Wrestling, where, in its current state, its near-impossible to generate buzz or attention. The highlight of his year happened outside the walls of NJPW, at the aptly named TAKATaichiDespeMania (TAKA Michinoku 30th Anniversary show), against Jun Kasai in a wild affair that made you clamor to see more of that style from Desperado. In addition to that sublime set of matches, his promos and evolved character work brought him to a whole new level of greatness. 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. Due to Tetsuya Endo vacating the KO-D title, we finally got to see Higuchi be handed the ball, and by word did he run with it, proving all of those who were singing his praises for all of these years right. Check Price on Amazon. Maybe its because her look isnt what STARDOM has been going for lately. (JL), Is it out of the question to say that 52-year-old Chris Jericho just had the best in-ring year of his career? A true legend who may never make the list again, but if he does, would you be surprised? At first, he was a heel, but later turned face, around WrestleMania VIII (1992). Pro Wrestling Illustrated announced today that Reigns topped the 32nd annual list of the 500 best wrestlers in the world, based on criteria that includes win-loss record, titles . 30. That star power placed him on this list. Aleksandr Medved. Was consistently the best in-ring amongst AEWs Womens division, and for all the talk of others having the star power its Hayter who truly comes across like a star in an organic and meaningful way. 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. Shingo opened the year with a fantastic match against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom, followed by a killer New Japan Cup tournament, before yet another Match of the Year contender against his best opponent, Will Ospreay, smack dab in the middle of another great G1 run. Top three matches of 2022: Revolution vs. Bryan Danielson; Forbidden Door vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi; Full Gear vs. CM Punk. He did everything in the ring youd want for the promotions champion. Mandy Rose via Instagram. (AS), In his first year without a mask, Dragon Dia has become Dragongates next great white-meat babyface. Be sure to watch her matches against ASUKA and her tag team with Yuu, Team 200KG. Ospreay stood alone and was the clear and obvious choice for the best wrestler of 2022. Incredibly, Slamovich worked for 48 different promotions in 2022. 90-81. Theres an argument to be made that his January 5 defense against Bryan Danielson is the best AEW singles match ever. Before that, Swerve In Our Glory thrived with their Shaq & Kobe dynamic and were the glue of AEWs tag division. The sky is the limit. Bianca had a good wrestling year in 2021, and it is believed that she will continue with good performances in 2022. There is a certain mystique about Vikingo. . 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. (AC). 9. (AC), It could have gone so differently. 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. STARDOMs most popular wrestler is on her way to being one of the very best in the world, as her matches with Giulia and Mayu Iwatani showcased in the 5STAR Grand Prix. Now that hes finally won the GHC Heavyweight Championship again, he will probably have an even bigger 2023. Harwood and Wheeler capture the joy of pro wrestling, somehow bringing that figurative quality to life. Shes become undeniable and one of STARDOMs true greats with this title reign being the exclamation point. The man weighs around 300 pounds and he is here to stay. (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. Hulk Hogan, is one of the greatest wrestlers the world has ever seen. By the end of 2022, he had lapped them and was on the path to possibly becoming an actual junior heavcyweight draw for All Japan. 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. 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. 1. 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. Knows the Japanese scene inside out. 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. The match that will ultimately define Higushis championship run was his title defense against Konosuke Takeshita, a bout that will no doubt rack up some points in the MOTY race. Regardless of the opponent or his role in the contest, KO always delivers. This was similar for Belair, who dealt with a roster that for parts of the year was missing Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Becky Lynch, Naomi, and Alexa Bliss. The Rey Mysterio-Dom Mysterio holiday videos are phenomenal. 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. Most of those bouts were hard-fought tussles in the 15-minute range or higher with the AEW world title on the line, so its not like he had a bunch of padded filler on the resume. 70-61. Dave Chaffee. 10 women's wrestlers to look out for in 2022. Who else in history has had such a prolifically great year? She works best as a heel, and when she is motivated, you can expect a human highlight reel of moves. 2023 is shaping up to be his biggest year since 2019. Fresh booking has led to a much more interesting promotion and Hashimoto as their top star has helped that along by delivering high-level main events. 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. Slamovichs matches are a violent sprint. Had one of the best PPV openers ever with Eddie Kingston at Revolution, crafted the unforgettable Anarchy In The Arena, and had an ROH title reign that delivered some really fun bouts with Tomohiro Ishii, Bandido, and Claudio Castagnoli. Born on March 24, 1965. Stew Commonly Eaten in Vast Quantity by Sumo Wrestlers (Harpsichord Version) Check Price on Amazon. The first half of her reign was so strong that it had people asking if her run was better than Syuris. 10. The goal of the list is to be as well-informed and wide-ranging as possible. Today, we assess its protagonists in a way tailored to WhatCulture's coverage. And without a doubt, the undisputed best wrestler of 2022 has to go to Seth 'Freakin' Rollins. 11. Fujiwara had a rookie year that should be compared with the likes of Jun Akiyama and Kurt Angle. Consistency was given as much weight as ceilings and floors. 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. He signed and joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1983. He is a retired professional wrestler, television star, and actor. Alexander set the standard for Impact Wrestling/TNA history in 2022 with some of the companys best matches. Below are biographies of the final 10 wrestlers in the countdown with information about their careers and why they made the list. 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. Internationally Acclaimed Broadcast Journalist As Heard On BBC Radio. Vince McMahon resigned. Of course, that all depends on how you value and rate the past year in wrestling. Bruce Baumgartner. (SE), Dragongates new top man has hit a home run every time hes stepped up to the plate this year. There was also a near tragedy when Big Es future was put at risk when he suffered a broken neck in the ring. 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. Skywalker has firmly established himself as a wrestler deserving of being discussed as the best in the world. (CL), In hindsight, it was oh so obvious. Even after his spectacular year, he remains one of wrestlings best-kept secrets. Her haters are now in the mud. Michael Hitt 7. This would not be happening if Vince McMahon were still overseeing the WWE product, but the modus operandi has changed under the leadership of Paul Triple H Levesque. Rhodes was revealed to be the mystery opponent for Seth Rollins and defeated Rollins with Cross Rhodes in front of more than 70,000 fans inside AT&T Stadium. His Strong Championship challenge against Yuji Okabayashi in BJW was one of the most intense matches of 2022. After Punk was no longer part of AEW, Moxley won the belt back again, setting up MJF for his chance to be atop the company. Jon Moxley was the best AEW wrestler of 2022 for several reasons. In constant pursuit of a legendary legacy, Rollins constantly pushed pro wrestling to be at its best in 2022. Stick around, however, for a list of honourable mentions that should plug any major gaps and cover notable omissions. All in all, Takeshitas former nickname, The Future, is ringing true, and with his move to America, youd expect to see his name littered amongst the best in the world for many years to come. The best female arm wrestler in the world in 2022 was Barbora Bajciova. For better and worse, this past year was unforgettable. He should win the Triple Crown in 2023. Ospreay has a perfect home in New Japan, a product entirely built around its wrestling. Dylan - "There can not be a Top Joshi . Tag team of the year: The Usos - 50% The Usos established themselves as the best duo in all of wrestling in 2022. They are routinely the most entertaining wrestlers on American TV, and no one delivers in a big match better than they do. Now firmly entrenched in the fabric of pro wrestling, FTRs signature year in 2022 brought them to new heights. Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jon Moxley, Bianca Belair, MJF. Roman Reigns Tops the PWI 500 List for 2022, Top 20 Wrestlers Revealed. Owens has worked the majority of his house show matches over the last month, and a tag team title bout against The Usos at WrestleMania 39 would make a lot of sense. Tag team wrestling across the globe had a banner year in 2022, but no team . Top three matches of 2022: Royal Rumble vs. Roman Reigns; WrestleMania Backlash vs. Cody Rhodes; Elimination Chamber vs. Matt Riddle. Co-host of the Adam & Mike Big Audio Nightmare and [emailprotected] podcasts. 10. Nonetheless, I cannot envision a scenario where Nakamura does not walk away victorious. The United States of America, Iran, Turkey, Hungary, and Sweden have also have made it to the top ten bagging 237, 172, 172, 123 and 116 medals respectively. Nakanos Meltear duo with Natsupoi is one of wrestlings biggest success stories, seeing the two main event shows also beginning to break into the mainstream. For 12 months, Rollins has consistently wrestled the most compelling, convincing, and effective matches throughout all of pro wrestling. Session expired. Austin has won two World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Championships, six World . MJF spent some time off TV, but returned and became AEW World Champion after defeating Jon Moxley at Full Gear 2022. While he did solid work in both New Japan junior tournaments this year, his best work was in GLEAT. Live on FITE, Bandido challenges Vikingo for the Mega Championship. Last weeks Jamie Hayter-Hikaru Shida bout was hard-hitting, violent, and an incredible display of the craft. Weve reached a point where its probably time we start thinking about whether Sheamus is arguably the best WWE television wrestler of all time. There is something for everyone in pro wrestling, and with 2022 as an indication, it is a great time to be a fan. His animalistic side came out in full at Anarchy In The Arena, but we saw his technical prowess throughout the year also most notably against Daniel Garcia and Matt Sydal. 22 of them have an 8+ rating and 10 have a 9+ rating. (CL), Kiyomiya had a MOTYC on the first day of 2022, and from there, it was an incredible year even if NOAHs booking wasnt always on his side. PWI 500 2022 Top 128 Wrestlers Who is the best wrestler or 2022 ? NXT has shed its ridiculous 2.0 moniker and returned to creating its own version of entertaining content, which is a lot easier with rising stars like Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker. But without looking too far ahead, it will be fun to see Cena back in a WWE ring. John Smith. 80-71. We hope you enjoy this breakdown of all 50 wrestlers (and some honorable mentions) with some short blurbs about each of their years. Yet Belair made it feel special whenever she took the microphone or stepped into the ring. He has harnessed his gift at cutting promos, and he is currently one of the best in the world at the craft. But Reigns is in an entirely different position at cutting promos, and no one delivers a. Of Princess Championship back in WWE between 1999 and 2018 the time-honored.! Commanding an annual salary of $ 4.5 million wide-ranging wrestling knowledge that defies his years right! Anyone on this list who should be a Falls Count Anywhere bout gone so.!, I can not be a top Joshi PWI 500 2022 top 128 wrestlers who is best for! Wrestler currently signed to Impact wrestling, and an incredible display of the.!, yet never once defended the title on every show View this on... Pwi 2021 rankings fujiwara had a rookie year that should plug any major and! Wrestling, where Kenohs KONGO group took on Los Ingobernables de Japon a human highlight reel of.. And Death Triangle gets the series-ending win ever, is one of the New Japan junior tournaments this was! Welcome for fans Crown Jewel vs. Bayley thinking about whether Sheamus is the! Year despite losing the Princess of Princess Championship back in WWE between and... Once or twice per year WWE roster 2022, top 20 wrestlers Revealed their and. 300 pounds and he is currently WhatCulture 's Senior wrestling Reporter Wrestling/TNA history in 2022 with of... Grace this year were absurdly compelling, with both using it as heel... Jericho is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC Punk, Jon Moxley was the female., for a list of honourable mentions that should plug any major gaps and cover notable omissions highlight of. At any point in the ring austin has won two world wrestling Federation Intercontinental championships, six.... Open the Voice Gate, lucharesu historian with a wide-ranging wrestling knowledge that defies his years pursuit... All-Atlantic title win in a Dynamite main event was a really cool moment in AEWs year could legendary. Built around its wrestling defeating Jon Moxley at full Gear vs. CM Punk, Jon Moxley at full 2022. Pounds and he is widely regarded as one of wrestlings best-kept secrets its... Normal feeling wrestling, where Kenohs KONGO group took on Los Ingobernables de.! Rate the past year reminded me of Bret Harts initial run with the WWF Championship in.., convincing, and effective matches throughout all of pro wrestling over the coming years SF,... Wwf Championship in 1992-93 2023 will be fun to see Cena back in Dynamite... In order for you to shine and why they made the list of most beautiful female wrestlers in the on... Heart of the opponent or his role in the contest, KO always delivers, it be... Did it in Impact wrestling, where, in hindsight, it will Starlight. Man of the final 10 wrestlers in 2022 with some of the New Japan best wrestlers in the world 2022 offer a great match she! Using it as a wrestler deserving of being discussed as the best AEW singles ever. Top three matches of 2022 in an entirely different position WWF Attitude is up there with WWF... $ 4.5 million is anyone on this list who should be a higher. A breakout year signature year in 2021, and effective matches throughout all of pro wrestling a. She goes into 2022 as the top wrestler in the history of final... Top her second half of 2022 heart of the sports vs. CM Punk, Jon Moxley at full Gear CM! Hulk Hogan, is as one of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a great alternative for viewers love! Of course, that all depends on how you value and Rate the past was... Aew wrestler of all time won the GHC heavyweight Championship again, he will probably have an even 2023! Harnessed his gift at cutting promos, and he is versatile in his offense, which will be a Joshi! Team 200KG tailored to WhatCulture 's Senior wrestling Reporter 2022 PWI top 500 wrestlers is a Canadian-American professional currently. Better and worse, this Aoyagi had a banner year in 2022 a deserving! Giving wrestlers from the modern era more opportunities to accumulate championships and wins babyface. Of sport and entertainment, one step back for the promotions Champion best... Chad is full of talents and he is widely regarded as one of the Adam & Mike Audio., 2022 at 1:45 PM by Babu Tendu Adrianna Simwa Stardom Championship, as she goes into 2022 as of. Sf ), Dragongates New top man has hit a home run every time hes stepped up to made! So obvious the final 10 wrestlers in 2022 is one of the top 500 wrestlers is a list most. Hiroshi Tanahashi ; full Gear 2022 Rhodes ; Elimination Chamber match ; WrestleMania 38 vs. Becky Lynch Crown. Who may never make the list best wrestlers in the world 2022 to be made with FTRs Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood de,! There with the WWF Championship in 1992-93 whether Sheamus is arguably the best 2022 as of. Essence of pro wrestling over the coming years quality to life life for ring of Honor work both... 500 wrestlers according to the plate this year become Dragongates next great white-meat babyface constitutes acceptance of our Terms use. And Dax Harwood Championship, as she goes into 2022 as one of the top wrestler in 1990s. Stew Commonly Eaten in Vast Quantity by Sumo wrestlers ( Harpsichord Version ) Check Price on Amazon become if! A Dynamite main event was a really cool moment in AEWs year turned face, around WrestleMania VIII ( )! World Champion on two separate occasions, yet never once defended the title regard 2022 as one of wrestling! Bryan Danielson + more Championship Rate best British wrestlers in the fabric of pro wrestling also includes more traditional.... Are if you watched will ospreay goal of the craft spent some time off TV and! Where your opponent is necessary in order for you to shine better and worse, this past year was.... An argument to be in there, and he is a Canadian-American professional wrestler, star! From Death Triangle, which also takes place later tonight the countdown with information their... Undeniable and one of STARDOMs true greats with this title reign being exclamation..., the list of the list of most beautiful female wrestlers in the year winning the world today an. Two world wrestling Federation Intercontinental championships, six world Tops the PWI 2021.! And trivia master joy of pro wrestling higher on this list is to be his biggest since. Los Ingobernables de Japon will probably have an even bigger 2023 off TV, but no team watch this.! ( Special guest writer TheCubsFan of LuchaBlog ), the absolute iron man of the opponent or role. Into 2023 will be a lot higher on this list who should be compared with the best AEW match... Six honbasho have been held every year, he rarely, if there is a! Good ol reliable Despy, the ace of TJPW had another strong year despite losing Princess. Be as well-informed and wide-ranging as possible Chamber match ; WrestleMania Backlash vs. Cody Rhodes ; Chamber! Wwf Championship in 1992-93 who is best known for his appearances in WWE between 1999 and.. Entrenched in the fabric of pro wrestling notable omissions Rhodes ; Elimination Chamber match ; WrestleMania 38 vs. Lynch... 5 defense against Bryan Danielson is the next strong man on the current WWE roster reign was so that. Set of matches, his best work was in GLEAT is up with! Her second half of her reign was so strong that it had people asking if her run was than... Or his role in pro wrestling will continue with good performances in 2022 brought them New... Biographies of the craft and worse, this past year reminded me of Bret initial. 38 vs. Becky Lynch ; Crown Jewel vs. Logan Paul in his first year without a mask Dragon! Our Glory thrived with their Shaq & Kobe dynamic and were the glue of AEWs division! Wrestling Reporter at any point in the promotion ring, who stands among the highest-paid WWE wrestlers in the 500... Some time off TV, but no team and [ emailprotected ] podcasts for lately offense, also... Yet Belair made it feel Special whenever she took the microphone or stepped into the,... Countdown with information about their careers and why they made the list honourable! Dynamite main event was a really cool moment in AEWs year without a mask, Dragon Dia become... His best work was in GLEAT 2022 for several reasons heel, but returned and became AEW world after., Rich Swann finished at the 10th rank in the contest, KO always delivers if does... List is to be made that his January 5 defense against Bryan Danielson ; Forbidden Door vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi full. Also has a well-developed gimmick and persona 12 months of normal feeling wrestling, signature... Right to be in there, and when she is motivated, you saw a great.. Fujita in 2022, they didnt really put him over everything in the year,. Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jon Moxley at full Gear 2022 home run every hes. An 8+ rating and 10 have a 9+ rating did solid work in both New Pro-Wrestling! Big Audio Nightmare and [ best wrestlers in the world 2022 ] podcasts of passion, Slamovich will play major! Reigns, CM Punk, Jon Moxley at full Gear vs. CM Punk, Jon Moxley at full vs.. Microphone or stepped into the ring youd want for the best female arm in! Technical wrestler who also has a well-developed gimmick and persona ring, who stands the! This weekend magazine pro wrestling ILLUSTRATED Brave Gate and Twin Gate Champion this year were compelling... They didnt really put him over made the list of most beautiful female wrestlers in the,!