Here are 25 international wrestling stars to watch this weekend. 7 Hulk Hogan. 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. With one noteworthy exception, Will Ospreay wrestled the best matches of the year. (GDT), The excitement heading into 2023 will be all about how Giulia can top her second half of 2022. That fits perfectly with his character, which marinated to perfection in 2022, culminating in his full heel turn on partner Keith Lee. (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. Being honest, he has every right to be in there, and weve done him dirty, no question. 2022 was yet another excellent year from one of pro wrestlings best. Joe Lanza: The King Of Banter. Its up for debate but one thing that isnt is that Kamitani belongs on this list and your watchlist heading into 2023. 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. Pro wrestling is a unique blend of sport and entertainment, one where your opponent is necessary in order for you to shine. Fortunately, though, All Elite Wrestling, Impact and New Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a great alternative for viewers who love the time-honored tradition. There is something for everyone in pro wrestling, and with 2022 as an indication, it is a great time to be a fan. 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. Every aspect of performance was considered, from promos and matches to believability and presence. 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. The biggest obstacle in her way is just how big a star Rossy Ogawa and Bushiroad think she can be. The PS 50 produced every year by Power Slam Magazine was the trendsetter for what became Fighting Spirit Magazines FSM 50. Sasha Banks. Elsewhere we were treated to a full 12 months of normal feeling wrestling, and it was certainly very welcome for fans. That was an industry-defining change, and the aftershocks have only just begun. But it is also the right one. 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. For better and worse, this past year was unforgettable. Best known as "The Undertaker" from World Wrestling Entertainment. 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. 11 / 20. WhatCulture is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The man weighs around 300 pounds and he is here to stay. Harwood and Wheeler find a way to capture the essence of pro wrestling. 12. Alexander is one of the best wrestlers in the world; people just need to pay attention. Jon Moxley was the best AEW wrestler of 2022 for several reasons. Rollins adds different wrinkles and subtle nuances to his matches, ones that extend far beyond wearing his old Shield gear or Dusty Rhodes-inspired polka dotsbut even those dont feel hokey, they feel inspired. 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 . It wasnt all controversy. 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. 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 . Unfortunately, 2022 is yet another year that feels the effect of the pandemic. Tootie Lynn. 8. Of those 33 singles matches, 2828!currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net. Last weeks Jamie Hayter-Hikaru Shida bout was hard-hitting, violent, and an incredible display of the craft. She stands out amongst various wrestlers while performing. Roman Reigns Tops the PWI 500 List for 2022, Top 20 Wrestlers Revealed. Adam Summers: Bringing nearly 20 years of wrestling writing and podcasting experience to the table. The one spot reserved exclusively for . Nobody has ever given as much consistent effort in their matches as Ospreay did in 2022. They include some of the world's best men's and women's wrestlers, organized alphabetically by country with notable accomplishments . 30. Since 1958 six honbasho have been held every year, giving wrestlers from the modern era more opportunities to accumulate championships and wins. 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. Thanks to her beauty, she had chance to make her modeling debut at New York Fashion Week with Naomi. Josh Alexander should be a lot higher on this list. 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. 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. 80-71. 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. The first half of her reign was so strong that it had people asking if her run was better than Syuris. Derailed by the pandemic, pro wrestling as a whole fully reconnected with live audiences in 2022. In Conclusion. The 2018 World Wrestling Championship will be held in Budapest, Hungary from October 22 - 28. 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. To paraphrase Voltaire, if Jon Moxley did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him. An element of Rollins transcendent 2022 was his ability to shine while putting others over. 2023 is shaping up to be his biggest year since 2019. 2022 was good for Giulia, but 2023 will be special for the Donna del Mondo leader. Stew Commonly Eaten in Vast Quantity by Sumo Wrestlers (Harpsichord Version) Check Price on Amazon. July 18, 1990. For the first time in over a year, John Cena makes his in-ring return for WWE this Friday on SmackDown. Pro Wrestling Illustrated - November 2022 Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2022 Top 25 Best Bollywood Films of 2022 a list of 25 titles 25 Best Dancers of Indian Cinema a list of 25 people . 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. His professional career is enriched with some of the best professional titles. Lee South. 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. (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. There is a certain mystique about Vikingo. Bianca had a good wrestling year in 2021, and it is believed that she will continue with good performances in 2022. That star power placed him on this list. Nine excellent bouts in three days made him unquestionably Mania weekends MVP. They have had many storied feuds in those two decades, and this year with FTR, they added yet another legacy rivalry to what should ultimately be a career worthy of Hall Of Fame consideration. But without looking too far ahead, it will be fun to see Cena back in a WWE ring. Last weeks Dynamite featured a scintillating Jamie Hayter-Hikaru Shida main event, the caliber of match that instantly raised the stature of the AEW womens championship. His work as both Brave Gate and Twin Gate Champion this year was superb. From a battle in the rain against Johnny Mundo, to a five-way in Tijuana, to a state-of-the-art TripleMania match with Fenix, to a battle (nearly) to the death against his closest ally Laredo Kid, Vikingo came through big whenever he had the chance. He made a loud and resounding sound in 2022. Best AEW Women's Match of 2022: Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter, Full Gear. Her past year reminded me of Bret Harts initial run with the WWF championship in 1992-93. All told, an impressive resume in the United States alone before even mentioning his match-of-the-year contender in his home promotion DDT against Kazusada Higuchi. (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. The Most Compelling Voice In Wrestling Media. Kevin Owens. 1. In every emergency, Jon Moxley was there, and he delivered. Her rivalry with Suzu Suzuki could become legendary if it is continued. As recently as early 2021, he seemed to lag behind his Dojo classmates Hokuto Omori and Dan Tamura. 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. Zayn, of course, would make perfect sense for a partner, and that would be an emotionally-charged match. Best WWE Women's Match of 2022: Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch, WWE Raw Women's Championship match, WrestleMania 38. . To put Ospreays year into proper context, our #2 finisher, Kazuchika Okada, had two matches finish with a 9+ rating on Cagematch.net. Now more than ever, there is endless reason for optimism. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories Please give an overall site rating . 10. Ospreay has a perfect home in New Japan, a product entirely built around its wrestling. Davit Stepanyan 3. He is one of the most brilliant performers in the world, and he is shining a bright light on the art of lucha libre. No world champion was able to touch her greatness this year. 3. Gary Goodridge. (AC), The Seth Rollins series was arguably the best overall work of Codys career, but dont forget the January ladder match against Sammy Guevara. 5. 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. (SE), Dragongates new top man has hit a home run every time hes stepped up to the plate this year. 9. The breakout star of the year, Jamie Hayter feels like an overnight sensation in AEW. (CL), At the age of 20 years old, Suzu Suzuki already has a claim to being called the best wrestler in the world. Full Name. 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. (GDT). by Andy H Murray. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY . A natural pro wrestler who has taken what could have been a career-killer gimmick and made it special. Every time Vikingo wrestles is a roller coaster of emotions. 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. 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. (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. But if you were around he did make a sound. Michael Hitt 7. Despy always delivers. Mandy Rose via Instagram. 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. Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. They are the best to ever do it. January 5 vs. Will Ospreay and August 18 vs. Will Ospreay. Strickland is great, and he wrestles like a guy who knows it. . Dax Harwood is teaming up with Matt Koon for a new podcast. Since his release from WWE developmental in 2011, he has been a consistent name in the UK wrestling scene. Date of Birth. Consistency was given as much weight as ceilings and floors. He signed and joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1983. Randy Orton has won multiple championships, including the WWE Heavyweight Championship, World Championship, and the WWE United States Championship. He began his professional wrestling career in 1992 on the independent circuit, competing in organizations like Smoky Mountain Wrestling and the United . We hope to not only provide a credible ranking but also to expose readers to some new wrestling. Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) is the richest WWE wrestler in 2022, with an approximate net worth of $381 million. He first came to the WWF in 1990 as Ted DiBiase's mystery partner at The Survivor Series (1990). 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 Villain Marty Scurll. This dude ruled the world of WWE, having had a successful career in different sports such as martial arts, football, and professional wrestling. Before that, Swerve In Our Glory thrived with their Shaq & Kobe dynamic and were the glue of AEWs tag division. Form is critical on this list. Dia is everything a babyface should be. 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. American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling, Rich Swann finished at the 10th rank in the PWI 2021 rankings. He accumulated his net worth thanks to his professional wrestling, podcasts, rock concerts. Brock Lesnar. Ian Hamilton: Writer for 411Mania and BackBodyDrop.com and an expert in European wrestling to complement a well-rounded knowledge of the wrestling world. Ospreay looked like a star, which he undoubtedly is, and he also made Finlay look like a beast (which he is). Top three matches of 2022: Battle of the Belts III vs. Thunder Rosa; Full Gear vs. Toni Storm; Dynamite vs. Hikaru Shida. 9. 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. He has recorded 41 wins and just three losses and became AEW World Champion twice. She capped off the year winning the World of Stardom Championship, as she goes into 2022 as the top wrestler in the promotion. 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. In addition, she became the SmackDown Women's Champion at Wrestlemania 37. 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). (JL), Youd be forgiven for forgetting that the diminutive mascot is only a year into his Dragongate career. As far as wrestling games in the late nineties go, WWF Attitude is up there with the best. Kevin Owens is the best in-ring performer on the current WWE roster. 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. Vikingo transforms moves that people have already seen countless timeslike the 450and bestows a new, never-before-seen twist on them. 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. Best known as "The Undertaker" from World Wrestling Entertainment. 10. Dylan - "There can not be a Top Joshi . He is widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world today with an annually salary of $1 million. 5. 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. It is the 31st annual issue. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter 'Wrestler of the Year' has been revealed and the voting was dominated by three names. The goal of the list is to be as well-informed and wide-ranging as possible. MJF spent some time off TV, but returned and became AEW World Champion after defeating Jon Moxley at Full Gear 2022. She works best as a heel, and when she is motivated, you can expect a human highlight reel of moves. 56 Ricochet Harwood and Wheeler capture the joy of pro wrestling, somehow bringing that figurative quality to life. 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. (GDT), The ace of TJPW had another strong year despite losing the Princess of Princess Championship back in March. At first, he was a heel, but later turned face, . Even after his spectacular year, he remains one of wrestlings best-kept secrets. 10 women's wrestlers to look out for in 2022. Austin has won two World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Championships, six World . Seth has undergone a subtle career-run with his string of matches against Cody . A promo by Moxley is an intense, imaginative scene. 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. Top 10 Greatest Wrestlers in History - Best Wrestlers of all time include the most popular WWE superstars in the history of the sports. (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. who wins Wrestler of the Year? Sadly, he rarely, if ever, is. 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. Taking the mold War Zone presented just a . Vince McMaho. But if she is given the chance, she can be one, a very big one. 6 Rising - Stardom. (JL), Because Shingo spent the back half of the year defending the King of Pro Wrestling title, people may have forgotten just how good the rest of his year was. Her skills, performance, and her attitude are pure beauty. Those are two completely different matches, but Moxley is versatile and he can highlight opponents in a number of ways. Considering hes one of the heartbeats of the promotion its easy to do so. The best female arm wrestler in the world in 2022 was Barbora Bajciova. (AC), Irie gets around. The one knock against Aoyagi is that the company seemed to have nothing for him during the second half of the year. Abdulrashid Sadulaev. Theres an argument to be made that his January 5 defense against Bryan Danielson is the best AEW singles match ever. (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? 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. Chris Jericho is a Canadian-American professional wrestler and musician who is best known for his appearances in WWE between 1999 and 2018. 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. He is a left-handed champion who started his professional career at 15. Big E has wrestled big names in the WWE industry like Big show, Great Khali, and Mark Henry. His matches always tell a story, and he is versatile in his offense, which also includes more traditional aggression. 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. His defense of the junior title in the Tokyo Dome against fellow junior mainstay Hiromu Takahashi started the year on a good note. Throughout their program, Rollins made you believe that Matt Riddle was a main event talent. Paul 'Triple H' Levesque bounced back from a near-fatal heart issue in 2021 to effectively become the most powerful man in wrestling. But he did make use of it to push himself into Hollywood. Now a (deserving) Hall of Famer, Naitos big singles matches this year added to that resume. Sadly, he was pretty much on the shelf from June on, wrestling just eight total matches in the second half of the year. Top three matches of 2022: Revolution vs. Bryan Danielson; Forbidden Door vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi; Full Gear vs. CM Punk. 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. 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. He's among the highest-paid WWE wrestlers in 2022, commanding an annual salary of $4.5 million. For four years now, Voices of Wrestling has kept the annual tradition alive with the same spirit and intention as its predecessors. AEW Full Gear. 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. . (AC), Hopefully, every year-end poll accurately reflects that the Young Bucks were once again the best tag team in the world. 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. Hunter Noffz 8. Rubie's Daddy's Li'l Girl Inflatable Adult Costume, As Shown, One Size. (AC). Masha Slamovich. This year, without the title, Skywalker turned into a deranged psychopath who blended interesting character work with top-level matches better than anyone in the world. Writer/Editor of the Three Count Fall newsletter. The unsung hero of pro wrestling in 2022. Lynn's wrestling training began in 2017 and made her debut . This is a list of records held by wrestlers of professional sumo.Only performances in official tournaments or honbasho are included here. Also heard and read on FlagshipPatreon.com. My personal favorite match from 2022 was his Burning Spirit encounter in New Japan against David Finlay. (JL), One of the only good things about the US indie scene this year was that they helped shine a spotlight on Komander. Will Ospreays 2022 is the most outstanding individual year for any pro wrestler in history. Slamovichs matches are a violent sprint. His series with Wheeler Yuta for the ROH Pure Title were captivating watches, and being a key figure in the chaotic Anarchy in the Arena match ticks another box that warrants his inclusion on this list. Top three matches of 2022: Royal Rumble vs. Seth Rollins; SummerSlam vs. Brock Lesnar; Crown Jewel vs. Logan Paul. Tag team of the year: The Usos - 50% The Usos established themselves as the best duo in all of wrestling in 2022. Top three matches of 2022: MLW Azteca vs. Aramis; Rey de Reyes vs. John [Superstar] Morrison; TripleMana vs. Rey Fenix. American professional wrestler, promoter, and actor Cody Rhodes has been ranked 11th in the PWI 2020 Top 500 professional wrestlers in the world. While she did not work an abundance of matches this year, her overall impact secured this spot. All of that brings us to the years Top 10, a chance to highlight those whose work particularly resonated in 2022. On one of the few shows All Japan has had this year with cheering crowds, his fan reactions rivaled that of All Japan ace Kento Miyahara. Her matches with Jordynne Grace this year were absurdly compelling, with both using it as a chance to show the world their talent. The Villain makes for compelling entertainment just . That's why it is considered that it is high time to strike while the iron is hot. 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