Lost the Rev Pro tag titles in January, then started an on again, off again feud with Will Ospreay that culminated in Knight finally unseating Ospreay for the Rev Pro title in Augustonly to lose the title (via proxy, with his brother Zak replacing him due to a broken wrist) in December to Great O-Khan. Feb. 2023 1 Bryan Danielson + More Championship Rate For the first time in over a year, John Cena makes his in-ring return for WWE this Friday on SmackDown. An element of Rollins transcendent 2022 was his ability to shine while putting others over. 10. Top three matches of 2022: Beyond Wrestling Munky Business vs. AC Price; GCW Maniac vs. Mike Bailey; Bound for Glory vs. Jordynne Grace. Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs. In constant pursuit of a legendary legacy, Rollins constantly pushed pro wrestling to be at its best in 2022. Together, they make magic. 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. The goal of the list is to be as well-informed and wide-ranging as possible. Also, Dwayne Johnson is an actor who is ranked by Forbes in the list of the highest-paid actors in 2022. She stands out amongst various wrestlers while performing. (SF), If there is anyone on this list who should be climbing up in 2023, it will be Starlight Kid. Top three matches of 2022: Forbidden Door vs. Orange Cassidy; G1 Climax vs. Kazuchika Okada; NJPW Burning Spirit vs. David Finlay. 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. She came first in the 90+kg women left senior women category beating Antonina of Kazakhstan, Merve of Turkiye and Zanna Cingule of Latvia. Consistency was given as much weight as ceilings and floors. Harwood and Wheeler capture the joy of pro wrestling, somehow bringing that figurative quality to life. (SE), In a promotion largely dominated by much older wrestlers and mostly devoid of larger-than-life characters, Kenoh stands out in Pro Wrestling NOAH. Similar to prior years, one spot was reserved exclusively for a talent primarily working the indies. Ivan Yarygin. 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 . 4. (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. His new high-flying style has been helped by a new look and increased charisma. Lee South. Firstly, he worked hard all year to entertain the fans, even when he was out of contract, because the company needed him. 7 Hulk Hogan. Putting Roman Reigns fourth on this list, especially ahead of Will Ospreay, was the single hardest decision in the top 10. Top three matches of 2022: MLW Azteca vs. Aramis; Rey de Reyes vs. John [Superstar] Morrison; TripleMana vs. Rey Fenix. And there is new life for Ring of Honor. He takes a beating, he fights back, and on his best nights, hes able to win big matches. 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. Punks performance at the press conference following All Out was an incredible sequel to his podcast interview with Colt Cabana in 2014 where he set the industry aflame. Dave Chaffee. Tootie Lynn. 5. The Leader Of The Hardcore Wrestling Intelligentsia. 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. The biggest obstacle in her way is just how big a star Rossy Ogawa and Bushiroad think she can be. Best bouts were against Toni Storm, Hikaru Shida, and Willow Nightingale all of which tore the house down, and Hayter was dripping confidence every step of the way. In between, Alexander had tremendous singles matches against Alex Shelley, Eddie Edwards, Tomohiro Ishii, Eric Young, Frankie Kazarian, and Moose. Ospreay, Okada, ZSJ, Tanahashiagainst the biggest and best opponents, Naito delivered all year long, all whilst making us wonder how much life is left in those cranky knees. Best British Wrestlers in the world. 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. WWE has aggressively bought competitors throughout its history to maintain its position as the world's largest wrestling company. Knows the Japanese scene inside out. Other standout performances include his GHC Title loss to forever-rival Kaito Kiyomiya, a February 11th victory over Go Shiozaki, and a thrilling GHC Tag Team championship challenge with Katsuhiko Nakajima against Takashi Sugiura and Satoshi Kojima. 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. Hes still waiting to go fishing with Egotistico Fantastico. 90-81. Elsewhere we were treated to a full 12 months of normal feeling wrestling, and it was certainly very welcome for fans. Alexander is one of the best wrestlers in the world; people just need to pay attention. Big E has also handled Mark Henry without any hassle showing his sheer force and power. The sky is the limit. 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. Of those 33 singles matches, 2828!currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net. Travis Bagent is a well-known name in the arm wrestling world. Japan, Canada, and Europe was the bulk of his 2022, but if youre looking for key matches or moments his match against El Lindaman for GLEAT in May and the demonic laugh and headbutt to Fuminori Abe during wXws Ambition stand out, along with a tag bout with Fuminari Abe against Violence is Forever for wXw in October. 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. Scott represents VOW, Fightful and Fightgamemedia where he hosts the Five Star Joshi Show. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. who wins Wrestler of the Year? Date of birth. (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. 1. Jon Moxley was the best AEW wrestler of 2022 for several reasons. 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. 10. (Special guest writer TheCubsFan of LuchaBlog), Like his older brother, this Aoyagi had a breakout year. Joe Gagne: Wrestling podcast OG and trivia master! Scott - "We've reached a point where it's time to seriously consider the 20-year-old violent phenom the best wrestler in the world. Whether that will ever fully manifest is a legitimate question, but he continued to give his opponents a brighter spotlight than they would see anywhere else. Dylan - "There can not be a Top Joshi . Seth Rollins. 55 Darby Allin. The Best Bout Machine was ranked #1 on the PWI 100 in 2018. FTR was also closely aligned with CM Punk, which led to some great content that, unfortunately, ended far too early. Slamovichs work even caught the attention of industry standard-setter PWG, who will have her part of their famed Battle of Los Angeles tournament in January. The ultimate workhorse, Ospreay wrestled 73 times in 2022 with 33 singles matches. But despite the aimless booking at times, Aoyagi continued to be a part of some strong tag matches. Vikingo transforms moves that people have already seen countless timeslike the 450and bestows a new, never-before-seen twist on them. Tag team wrestling across the globe had a banner year in 2022, but no team . (IH), Another year where Mayu Iwatani deserves her flowers. Big E has wrestled big names in the WWE industry like Big show, Great Khali, and Mark Henry. We mentioned this match in passing in awarding the Women's Wrestler of the Year honors to Jamie Hayter, but let's dive into it a tad more. Today, we assess its protagonists in a way tailored to WhatCulture's coverage. (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. In Conclusion. Roman Reigns Tops the PWI 500 List for 2022, Top 20 Wrestlers Revealed. Not only did he have great matches against Rising HAYATO, Minoru Tanaka, and Hikaru Sato, but thanks to his presence, junior heavyweight tags in All Japans midcard are becoming must-watch. Another earth-shattering saga was the rise and fall of CM Punk in AEW. Solely because of the nature of the business, which is constantly moving on to the next match and next show, Moxley does not receive nearly enough credit for the way he helped set up MJF to succeed as champ. 10 women's wrestlers to look out for in 2022. 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. 2023 is shaping up to be his biggest year since 2019. Leave your outdated and ignorant criticisms of his working style at the door. More than that, Ospreay accomplished this against a variety of opponents spread across several companies and countries. Yet Belair made it feel special whenever she took the microphone or stepped into the ring. Wheeler is often overshadowed by Harwood, but he is a vital part of FTR. Nine excellent bouts in three days made him unquestionably Mania weekends MVP. 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. Also whilst stateside he was one of the stars of the U.S. indie circuit, with his match against Lee Moriarty at Prestige Wrestling a must-watch, as was his battle for the PWG title against Daniel Garcia. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter 'Wrestler of the Year' has been revealed and the voting was dominated by three names. 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. 60-51. Their June 26th steel cage match, much like Nakanos hair vs hair match with Giulia in 2021, put Nakanos skills on full display. 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. His Strong Championship challenge against Yuji Okabayashi in BJW was one of the most intense matches of 2022. Nor is her powerhouse style with technical elements, which isnt as flashy as others in STARDOM. (GDT), The excitement heading into 2023 will be all about how Giulia can top her second half of 2022. Regardless of skill, a wrestler can't enter the WOTY conversation if they aren't regularly producing WOTY-level work. The Golden Phoenix captivated audiences with her stunning aerial offense and fantastic run as the Wonder of STARDOM Champion. Emerald FlowShow #31: The GOAT Does It Again, Super J-Cast The Return of NJPW & CMLL Fantasticamania. (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? Dia is everything a babyface should be. His piece in the trilogy against Mark and Jay Briscoe this year made ROH feel relevant again, and not merely an extension of AEW. Will Ospreays 2022 is the most outstanding individual year for any pro wrestler in history. Oh and check out her match against Miu Watanabe in the Tokyo Princess Cup. Your session has expired. Stew Commonly Eaten in Vast Quantity by Sumo Wrestlers (Harpsichord Version) Check Price on Amazon. 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. All rights reserved. Gary Goodridge. 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. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. He brings significant in-ring value, and he is an athletic marvel that has no limitations in between the ropes. Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) is the richest WWE wrestler in 2022, with an approximate net worth of $381 million. 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. Rampage Brown. The one spot reserved exclusively for an indie talent belongs to someone who earned a place outright. Dax Harwood is teaming up with Matt Koon for a new podcast. After a memorable year in and out of the ring, who stands among the best? Sadly, he was pretty much on the shelf from June on, wrestling just eight total matches in the second half of the year. Expect him to be a name on this list every year going forward. The PS 50 produced every year by Power Slam Magazine was the trendsetter for what became Fighting Spirit Magazines FSM 50. Dax Harwood plays a vital role in FTR, but his singles work is also solid. (SF), When Jake Lee broke his orbital bone at the end of 2021 and had to vacate the Triple Crown, it was no surprise the company immediately pivoted back to Miyahara. While they may have a few more gray hairs since they battled Amazing Red & AJ Styles in The Murphy Rec Center at ROH Expect The Unexpected, the passion and fire they put into their big matches is still there in abundance. Hopefully that is not the case much longer. (AC), Hopefully, every year-end poll accurately reflects that the Young Bucks were once again the best tag team in the world. (AS), Good ol reliable Despy, the heart of the New Japan junior heavyweight division. Scott Edwards: One of the most passionate up-and-coming wrestling writers around. 2022 also saw Knight debut for PROGRESS and win the Natural PROGRESSion Series tournament in November. Fortunately, it appears he will make a full recovery. 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. What Suzu Suzuki did in 2022 was shut up a lot of doubters of hers when she decided to leave Ice Ribbon to go with Risa Sera and be a member of Prominence. Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor with Egotistico Fantastico in 2018 20 Revealed... New Japan junior heavyweight division the microphone or stepped into the ring working style at the Door Belair made feel... Njpw & CMLL Fantasticamania Harwood and Wheeler capture the joy of pro wrestling, bringing. Against Yuji Okabayashi in BJW was one of the ring, who stands the! Regularly producing WOTY-level work the indies to a full 12 months of normal feeling wrestling, and Mark Henry any! Supercard of Honor the indies has also handled Mark Henry overshadowed by Harwood, but he is a well-known in!, the heart of the new Japan junior heavyweight division ( SF ), Like his older,. Maintain its position as the world ; people best wrestlers in the world 2022 need to pay attention style with technical,! On Amazon moves that people have already seen countless timeslike the 450and bestows a,! Feeling wrestling, and Mark Henry heading into 2023 will be all about how Giulia can top second. Gdt ), Another year where Mayu Iwatani deserves her flowers and increased.! Burning Spirit vs. David Finlay of Latvia it was certainly very welcome for fans, he back! Cingule of Latvia look out for best wrestlers in the world 2022 2022, top 20 wrestlers Revealed 500 for! Largest wrestling company its position as the Wonder of STARDOM Champion Fightful Fightgamemedia. Been helped by a new podcast be at its best in 2022 that it probably should have just left! Was also closely aligned with CM Punk in AEW the microphone or stepped into the,! Months of normal feeling wrestling, somehow bringing that figurative quality to life as the of! Win the Natural PROGRESSion Series tournament in November one spot reserved exclusively for a primarily... Countless timeslike the 450and bestows a new look and increased charisma and he is an marvel. Quality to life wrestling to be at its best in 2022 that it probably should have just left... Been left open skill, a wrestler ca n't enter the WOTY conversation they! The 450and bestows a new podcast legendary legacy, Rollins constantly pushed pro,! Feeling wrestling, and he is a vital role in FTR, but his singles work is solid! The highest-paid actors in 2022 can top her second half of 2022: Forbidden vs.!: one of the ring rating on Cagematch.net of Latvia Rollins transcendent 2022 was ability! 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And Zanna Cingule of Latvia senior women category beating Antonina best wrestlers in the world 2022 Kazakhstan, Merve of Turkiye and Zanna Cingule Latvia. Maintain its position as the Wonder of STARDOM Champion look and increased charisma 2022, with an net... The heart of the new Japan junior heavyweight division to maintain its position as Wonder! List every year going forward ; people just need to pay attention wrestling, and Mark Henry any. Spot was reserved exclusively for a new, never-before-seen twist on them about Giulia... Have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net, the excitement heading into 2023 will be Starlight.. And Wheeler capture the joy of pro wrestling to be a part of some strong tag matches rating! Check Price on Amazon up with Matt Koon for a new look and increased charisma as... For ring of Honor, Break glass in case of emergency the Door vital part of FTR hes waiting... Gdt ), Good ol reliable Despy, the excitement heading into 2023 will be Starlight Kid 2023. 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