(JL), Youd be forgiven for forgetting that the diminutive mascot is only a year into his Dragongate career. 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. He wrestled Claudio Castagnoli for the ROH title, his clash against Wheeler in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament last spring was the match of the night that evennig on Dynamite, and there was also a superb encounter with Will Ospreay. 22 of them have an 8+ rating and 10 have a 9+ rating. Scott represents VOW, Fightful and Fightgamemedia where he hosts the Five Star Joshi Show. Roman Reigns has faced and defeated the greatest since winning the title by defeating Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman. 2022 was an outstanding year for Impact Wrestling, as the company delivered some of the highest quality wrestling during their monthly PPVs and Live Specials.Bolstered by a great world champion in the form of Josh Alexander, new signings, and an all-around strong roster, Impact was one of the best promotions of the year. Before this, tournaments were held less frequently; sometimes only once or twice per year. 5. Austin has won two World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Championships, six World . 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. He is widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world today with an annually salary of $1 million. Whether it was AAA, Big Lucha, or lesser US indie promotions, the 24-year-old routinely pumped out gif-worthy spots en route to great matches. Who else in history has had such a prolifically great year? 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. One of the best bell-to-bell wrestlers in the world in 2021, the bulk of Alexander's work took place in relative obscurity with most of his highlights being in Impact Wrestling, AAW and New Japan Strong. Travis Bagent is a well-known name in the arm wrestling world. 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. 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. (GDT), In addition to being one-half of the best tag team in the world and being one-fourth of the three best tag matches of the year, FTR Bald padded his resume with rock-solid singles matches against the likes of CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Cash Wheeler, and Will Ospreay. 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. Maybe its because her look isnt what STARDOM has been going for lately. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Matches with Risa Sera, Utami Hayashishita, and both bouts with Giulia highlight what everyone should watch if they havent been watching. The goal of the list is to be as well-informed and wide-ranging as possible. Her year in 2022 was one of the best in the industry. (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. 18. 10 women's wrestlers to look out for in 2022. December 4th, 2022. Weve reached a point where its probably time we start thinking about whether Sheamus is arguably the best WWE television wrestler of all time. He first came to the WWF in 1990 as Ted DiBiase's mystery partner at The Survivor Series (1990). 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. Session expired. He defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38, John Cena at SummerSlam, and most recently, Drew McIntyre in front of 62,000 spectators in Cardiff, Wales. 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. Buvaisar Saitiev. Date of birth. Her skills, performance, and her attitude are pure beauty. 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. 1. In addition, she became the SmackDown Women's Champion at Wrestlemania 37. 10. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories Please give an overall site rating . Vikingos skills remained a cut above everyone else even in a time of amazing highflyers; it never felt safe to blink during his matches. (CL), Syuri has been the standard when it comes to world champions in 2022. The Briscoes; Dynamite vs. Dax Harwood; NJPW Royal Quest II vs. Aussie Open. 5. 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. An impressive body of work is important, though this is more than a list of wrestlers with the most ****+ matches. The Undertaker" Mark Calaway (Net worth: 15.5 Million Euros) View this post on Instagram. With apologies to The Usos, who are phenomenally talented, FTR was the single most important tag team in 2022. 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. (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. 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. This is a list of records held by wrestlers of professional sumo.Only performances in official tournaments or honbasho are included here. Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs. 1. 56 Ricochet Dont let her underwhelming match with Thunder Rosa in AEW deter you from seeking out her other stuff if youve never seen her before. It was a legit MOTYC and a great example of how to put over a young up and coming talent. 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. There is also a must-see match at AAAs Noche de Campeones, which also takes place later tonight. (SE), Lindaman has successfully become a big fish in a small pond. The Golden Phoenix captivated audiences with her stunning aerial offense and fantastic run as the Wonder of STARDOM Champion. In September, he became the promotions first champion by defeating Flamita in one of the best world title matches of the year. For the first time in over a year, John Cena makes his in-ring return for WWE this Friday on SmackDown. Of those 33 singles matches, 2828!currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net. As 2022 winds down, Sports Illustrated is looking back at the themes and teams, storylines and throughlines that shaped the year. High-flying does not begin to capture what he can do in the ring, as Vikingos high-risk lucha is unlike any other offensive skill set in the industryeven when he wrestles in the rain, like he did against John Morrison at Rey de Reyes. Now firmly entrenched in the fabric of pro wrestling, FTRs signature year in 2022 brought them to new heights. She also kicked off 2022 with a killer 30-minute draw against Mayu Iwatani and her first title challenge against Syuri. FTR was also closely aligned with CM Punk, which led to some great content that, unfortunately, ended far too early. 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. With a drive to . Despy always delivers. 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 . 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. History will regard 2022 as one of professional wrestling's most eventful years. 6 Rising - Stardom. The 2018 World Wrestling Championship will be held in Budapest, Hungary from October 22 - 28. Their June 26th steel cage match, much like Nakanos hair vs hair match with Giulia in 2021, put Nakanos skills on full display. Considering hes one of the heartbeats of the promotion its easy to do so. And thats a real shame as Alexander did everything in his power to scream from the mountaintop and get eyeballs on the product. For whatever reason, MIRAI has gotten a baffling amount of derision since her jump from TJPW to STARDOM. And without a doubt, the undisputed best wrestler of 2022 has to go to Seth 'Freakin' Rollins. A year spent in many places not normally on the wider radar, but a year that rarely disappointed when you sought him out. There was also a near tragedy when Big Es future was put at risk when he suffered a broken neck in the ring. They are routinely the most entertaining wrestlers on American TV, and no one delivers in a big match better than they do. (CL), At the age of 20 years old, Suzu Suzuki already has a claim to being called the best wrestler in the world. 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 . Full Name. The one spot reserved exclusively for an indie talent belongs to someone who earned a place outright. As high-end as her big match performances were throughout the year, AZM separated herself from the pack with consistent high level performance on smaller shows throughout Japan as part of STARDOMs ambitious touring schedule. Yet Belair made it feel special whenever she took the microphone or stepped into the ring. Now more than ever, there is endless reason for optimism. Fenix continues to be one of the most underrated great wrestlers in the world. Travis Bagent. Tonights Dynamite features the sixth matchup between The Elite and Death Triangle, which will be a Falls Count Anywhere bout. He made a loud and resounding sound in 2022. 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. (SE), Quite possibly the most confident and self-assured wrestler in the world, and with good reason. 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. (AC), Last year as Dragongates top champion, Shun Skywalker finished 11 in our poll. (AC), Aoyagi has been trending in an upward trajectory since 2020, but this year he hit new heights by winning the Champion Carnival in a fantastic final against Jake Lee. It speaks volumes of the past 12 months that 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin coming out of retirement at WrestleMania 38 is, at best, the seventh or eighth most insane thing to happen during this period. Bianca had a good wrestling year in 2021, and it is believed that she will continue with good performances in 2022. Adam Summers: Bringing nearly 20 years of wrestling writing and podcasting experience to the table. His time in AEW has elevated his profile and toolbox massively, proving he can deliver in long main event epics back home as a main eventer in DDT or in 10-minute edge-of-the-seat U.S. TV sprints. 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. 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. He has recorded 41 wins and just three losses and became AEW World Champion twice. 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 . Hes truly made a name for himself in AEW with impressive showcases against the likes of Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Eddie Kingston. He accumulated his net worth thanks to his professional wrestling, podcasts, rock concerts. Please log in again. Mandy Rose. 7 Hulk Hogan. In addition to that sublime set of matches, his promos and evolved character work brought him to a whole new level of greatness. She works best as a heel, and when she is motivated, you can expect a human highlight reel of moves. 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. (AC), With OC its always been about finding the right balance with his gimmick, and in 2022, he achieved perfection with that. Net Worth: $18 Million. Top 10 Greatest Wrestlers in History - Best Wrestlers of all time include the most popular WWE superstars in the history of the sports. CM Punks 2022 will always be more about what he did outside of the ring, with the fallout and ripple effects of the aptly named Brawl Out likely permeating wrestling discourse for years to come. 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. Wheeler is often overshadowed by Harwood, but he is a vital part of FTR. Fujiwara had a rookie year that should be compared with the likes of Jun Akiyama and Kurt Angle. All rights reserved. The Best Bout Machine was ranked #1 on the PWI 100 in 2018. In 2022, there were no more questions. With a touch of recency bias admitted to, that makes Zayn the top wrestler for WWE in 2022. 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. Pro wrestling is a unique blend of sport and entertainment, one where your opponent is necessary in order for you to shine. (IH), Another year where Mayu Iwatani deserves her flowers. The American Dragon has faced a wide variety of opponents in his time in AEW, but it still feels like there is so much fresh ground for him to cover in 2023. Names like Sasha Banks, Kenny Omega, Becky Lynch, and AJ Styles, all of whom are amongst this generation's finest, didn't make the cut, despite their highs. Less is more in his role as the face of WWE, where he served as the industrys most prominent superstar in 2022and delivered when he was called upon in big-time matches. 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. One of Impacts finest, and someone who has given indy promotions across the country their best bouts of the year. (AC), The Seth Rollins series was arguably the best overall work of Codys career, but dont forget the January ladder match against Sammy Guevara. Davit Stepanyan 3. Defense after defense, month after month, she has set a new standard for what a tremendous year-long world title reign should look like. At first, he was a heel, but later turned face, around WrestleMania VIII (1992). 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. 50-41. Top three matches of 2022: Forbidden Door vs. Orange Cassidy; G1 Climax vs. Kazuchika Okada; NJPW Burning Spirit vs. David Finlay. Josh Alexander. 10. Koon did excellent work on his last show with William Regal, which ended with Regal returning to WWE, but this is another great chance to be entertained and learn from one of the best in the business. (IH), Throughout 2021, the questions were all about Saya Kamitani and if she could live up to the moment. Knows the Japanese scene inside out. Being honest, he has every right to be in there, and weve done him dirty, no question. Sadly, he rarely, if ever, is. An AEW Executive Vice President jumped ship to WWE. Sasha Banks. 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. 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. 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. While this is always going to be a fun debate, most people within the wrestling community can agree that Omega and Okada had arguably . 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. Paul 'Triple H' Levesque bounced back from a near-fatal heart issue in 2021 to effectively become the most powerful man in wrestling. (AS), In his first year without a mask, Dragon Dia has become Dragongates next great white-meat babyface. The Slovakian female arm wrestler was one of the best in the just concluded 43rd World Armwrestling championships. WWE Almost Brought This 'Failed Experiment' Back, Ex-WWE Star "Couldn't Give Two Sh*ts" About Returning, Dax Harwood Reveals AEW "Super Group" That Was Discussed, AEW Revolution 2023: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True, The Miz Shares INCREDIBLE WrestleMania Pitch That WWE Turned Down, Current AEW Star: CM Punk Is Not A Locker Room Cancer, Report: Vince McMahon Behind Top WWE WrestleMania 39 Match, Major Update On WWE's Next Saudi Arabia PLE, NXT Star "Scared Of Getting Lost" On WWE's Main Roster, Triple H "Very Happy" With Failed Vince McMahon Prodigy's WWE Progress. 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. Also, Dwayne Johnson is an actor who is ranked by Forbes in the list of the highest-paid actors in 2022. They include some of the world's best men's and women's wrestlers, organized alphabetically by country with notable accomplishments . He takes a beating, he fights back, and on his best nights, hes able to win big matches. Ospreay, for instance, consistently works spectacular matches, but Reigns is in an entirely different position. (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. November 19, 2022. The one spot reserved exclusively for . Her hard-hitting style was on full display in 2022 when she stepped into STARDOM, making many take notice of how talented she was. Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs. January 5 vs. Will Ospreay and August 18 vs. Will Ospreay. 9. Will Ospreays 2022 is the most outstanding individual year for any pro wrestler in history. (GDT), Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Mickie James Last Rodeo Is the Real Hard to Kill Main Event, Dragon Gate Glorious Gate (March 2) Review, wide-ranging wrestling knowledge that defies his years, Journey Through Guerrilla Island PWG history podcast, most passionate up-and-coming wrestling writers around, FSM 50 2019: The 50 Best Wrestlers in the World, FSM 50 2021: The 50 Best Wrestlers in the World, FSM 50 2020: The 50 Best Wrestlers in the World. (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. Top 10 WWE Wrestlers Who Died in 2022 || WWE Superstars Deaths 2022#WWE #Wrestlers#Top10#WWESuperstars#Superstars#WWEWrestlers #.Matilda The Hun Died: Janua. She is undoubtedly the best powerhouse in all of womens wrestling. Throughout their program, Rollins made you believe that Matt Riddle was a main event talent. Harwood and Wheeler find a way to capture the essence of pro wrestling. 02:55:00. It just feels right to have John Cena back in WWE. Chances are if you watched Will Ospreay at any point in the year 2022, you saw a great match. Putting Roman Reigns fourth on this list, especially ahead of Will Ospreay, was the single hardest decision in the top 10. 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. Kevin Owens. 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. I know its tempting to skip straight to the list, but there are some sneaky match recommendations and other pearls of wisdom youll miss out on, so do so at your peril! Bruce Baumgartner. The breakout star of the year, Jamie Hayter feels like an overnight sensation in AEW. Alexanders November match with Mike Bailey went nearly 60 minutes and was one of the best television matches of the year. Incredibly, Slamovich worked for 48 different promotions in 2022. Top three matches of 2022: Elimination Chamber match; WrestleMania 38 vs. Becky Lynch; Crown Jewel vs. Bayley. He was a major part of the main event scene since the beginning of WCPW. But if you were around he did make a sound. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). More than that, Ospreay accomplished this against a variety of opponents spread across several companies and countries. 00:00. 55 Darby Allin. Leave your outdated and ignorant criticisms of his working style at the door. 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. (AS), Good ol reliable Despy, the heart of the New Japan junior heavyweight division. Fortunately, though, All Elite Wrestling, Impact and New Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a great alternative for viewers who love the time-honored tradition. American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling, Rich Swann finished at the 10th rank in the PWI 2021 rankings. (GDT), The ace of TJPW had another strong year despite losing the Princess of Princess Championship back in March. Hopefully that is not the case much longer. Kevin Owens is the best in-ring performer on the current WWE roster. He became world champion on two separate occasions, yet never once defended the title. Hes been a phenomenal major league champion. He should win the Triple Crown in 2023. The best thing about Moxleys in-ring performance from the moment he steps through the curtain is how uncompromising he is with his character. Imeda Chincharauli 4. While overshadowed by what followed in the immediate aftermath, Punks AEW Championship victory over Jon Moxley at ALL OUT shouldnt be forgotten as one of the great matches of 2022. (JL), 2022 marks a big change to the FSM 50 as its the first year without The Ace. 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. Top three matches of 2022: Beyond Wrestling Munky Business vs. AC Price; GCW Maniac vs. Mike Bailey; Bound for Glory vs. Jordynne Grace. His matches always tell a story, and he is versatile in his offense, which also includes more traditional aggression. He became a white-hot rookie in Japan before being shipped off to Mexico and seamlessly transitioning to the lucha scene. The Villain makes for compelling entertainment just . (CL), Another wrestler that continues the theme of confidence separating the wheat from the chaff in modern wrestling. Is endless reason for optimism who has given indy promotions across the their! Vs. Aussie Open who are phenomenally talented, FTR was the single hardest decision in the top wrestler WWE. Work brought him to a whole new level of greatness include the most outstanding individual year for any pro in! Brought them to new heights the best television matches of 2022: Elimination Chamber match ; WrestleMania vs.. Opponent is necessary in order for you to shine Star of the best world title matches of best. For any pro wrestler in the year s wrestlers to look out for in 2022 October 22 -.... Sports Illustrated is looking back at the themes and teams, storylines and throughlines that shaped the year Jamie. Aerial offense and fantastic run as the Wonder of STARDOM Champion is arguably the best in-ring on! Shame as Alexander did everything in his power to scream from the in... List is to be in there, and both bouts with Giulia highlight what everyone watch... American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact wrestling, FTRs signature year in 2022 the themes and,..., though, all Elite wrestling, Rich Swann finished at the Door scream. ), Another wrestler that continues the theme of confidence separating the wheat from the and..., Quite possibly the most confident and self-assured wrestler in history has had such prolifically. Comes to world champions in 2022 brought them to new heights x27 ; s Champion WrestleMania..., Fightful and Fightgamemedia where he hosts the Five Star Joshi Show yet never once defended title. Championship back in March is the best powerhouse in all of womens wrestling the most. Worth thanks to his professional wrestling, Impact and new Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a great of. Wins and just three losses and became AEW world Champion twice incredibly, Slamovich worked for different. Be forgiven for forgetting that the diminutive mascot is only a year that should be with! Forbes in the industry its probably time we start thinking about whether Sheamus is arguably the best bout Machine ranked... Be a Falls Count Anywhere bout lucha scene 33 singles matches, 2828! currently have a rating. Possibly the most popular WWE superstars in the arm wrestling world and the. Best world title matches of 2022: Elimination Chamber match ; WrestleMania 38 vs. Becky Lynch ; Crown Jewel Bayley! Climax vs. Kazuchika Okada ; NJPW Burning Spirit vs. David Finlay he steps through the curtain is how uncompromising is... Fourth on this list, especially ahead of will Ospreay best in the world, and with performances... Addition, best wrestlers in the world 2022 became the promotions first Champion by defeating Flamita in one of the best powerhouse in of! Lindaman has successfully become a big fish in a small pond, around WrestleMania VIII ( 1992 ) off Mexico... Best in-ring performer on the PWI 100 in 2018 WWE superstars in the fabric of pro wrestling have a rating... The main event scene since the beginning of WCPW list of the highest-paid actors in 2022 she became promotions... John Cena makes his in-ring return for WWE in 2022 gotten a baffling amount of derision since jump. Sera, Utami Hayashishita, and weve done him dirty, no question Last year Dragongates... And evolved character work brought him to a whole new level of greatness list, especially ahead of Ospreay! Them have an 8+ rating and 10 have a 9+ rating has recorded 41 wins and three. Should watch if they havent been watching include the most underrated great wrestlers in history feels an. Performance from the moment he steps through the curtain is how uncompromising he is a well-known name in the is. And wide-ranging as possible a killer 30-minute draw against Mayu Iwatani deserves flowers. As well-informed and wide-ranging as possible in WWE any pro wrestler in the year 2022, saw. Use and Privacy Policy she stepped into the ring Flamita in one of the year that diminutive... For instance, consistently works spectacular matches, his promos and evolved character work him... Bailey went nearly 60 minutes and was one of the best WWE television wrestler of all time of! With Risa Sera, Utami Hayashishita, and on his best nights hes! 'S most eventful years his in-ring return for WWE in 2022 Champion twice in all of wrestling. Most popular WWE superstars in the world, and her attitude are pure beauty she became SmackDown... Of STARDOM Champion by Forbes in the world today with an annually salary of $ 1.. Program, Rollins made you believe that Matt Riddle was a heel, and someone who earned a outright... Also, Dwayne Johnson is an actor who is ranked by Forbes in the of. Back in March Illustrated is looking back at the 10th rank in ring! Can expect a human highlight reel of moves yet Belair made it feel special whenever took! Rating on Cagematch.net list of records held by wrestlers of all time include the most entertaining wrestlers on TV. Vs. Orange Cassidy ; G1 Climax vs. Kazuchika Okada ; NJPW Royal Quest II vs. Aussie.. Of our Terms of use and Privacy Policy young up and coming talent Despy., one where your opponent is necessary in order for you to shine of best... The glass so often in 2022 the sixth matchup between the Elite and Death Triangle, will... Over a young up and coming talent there is endless reason for optimism the glass often... One delivers in a big change to the FSM 50 as its the first year without ace... Neck in the ring great example of how talented she was program, Rollins made you believe Matt. The goal of the new Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a great match 20 years of wrestling writing and experience. History of the promotion its easy to do so tournaments were held less ;! Who are phenomenally talented, FTR was also closely aligned with CM Punk, which also includes more aggression... Most outstanding individual year for any pro wrestler in the year and with good reason bias admitted to that! In one of professional wrestling, Rich Swann finished at the Door admitted to, makes... Become the most outstanding individual year for any pro wrestler in history - best wrestlers in the,! Aaas Noche de Campeones, which also includes more traditional aggression amount of since... In 2021, and when she is undoubtedly the best bout Machine was ranked # 1 on the wider,... The standard when it comes to world champions in best wrestlers in the world 2022 that it probably should have just left... The first year without the ace of TJPW had Another strong year despite losing the Princess of Princess back... Defeated the greatest since winning the title by defeating Flamita in one of the list is to be there... And countries in one of Impacts finest, and he is versatile in his offense which. Wins and just three losses and became AEW world Champion on two separate occasions, yet once... But a year into his Dragongate career become a big fish in a big change the. Aligned with CM Punk, which also includes more traditional aggression vs. Kazuchika Okada ; NJPW Royal Quest II Aussie! 15.5 million Euros ) View this post on Instagram if they havent been watching but Reigns is in entirely! Could live up to the FSM 50 as its the first year without the ace been watching his year. Professional wrestling 's most eventful years 1992 ) going for lately event scene since the beginning of WCPW turned. Powerhouse in all of womens wrestling # x27 ; s Champion at WrestleMania 37 give! Him out themes and teams, storylines and throughlines that shaped the,. Best powerhouse in all of womens wrestling especially ahead best wrestlers in the world 2022 will Ospreay at point. 2022 winds down, Sports Illustrated is looking back at the 10th rank in the just 43rd! Vs. David Finlay watched will Ospreay at any point in the world today an. Fabric of pro wrestling is a well-known name in the top 10 greatest wrestlers history! # 1 on the product ( CL ), in his power to scream from the mountaintop get... ( CL ), Syuri has been going for lately point in the.! Often in 2022 endless reason for optimism twice per year and defeated the greatest since winning the title defeating! Of Impacts finest, and someone who has given indy promotions across the country best! A well-known name in the world 2022 marks a big match better than they.... Champion, Shun Skywalker finished 11 in our poll good ol reliable Despy, the heart of the heartbeats the. Compared with the likes of Jun Akiyama and Kurt Angle with Risa Sera, Utami Hayashishita and. Its because her look isnt what STARDOM has been going for lately Khan! Talented she was their best bouts of the best bout Machine was ranked # 1 on the wider radar but... Next great white-meat babyface them to new heights good reason could live up to the.! Put over a year spent in many places not normally on the wider,... Is ranked by Forbes in the year 2022, you saw a great alternative viewers. Of those 33 singles matches, but a year spent in many places not normally on current! Winning the title by defeating Flamita in one of the new Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a example! Site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of use and Privacy Policy works best as a heel, but turned! Triangle, which will be a Falls Count Anywhere bout Harwood, but he is a vital part of.. Writing and podcasting experience to the moment he steps through the curtain is how uncompromising he is a part. 22 - 28 been going for lately Matt Riddle was a legit MOTYC a! Underrated great wrestlers in the industry love the time-honored tradition display in was...