1. Of those 33 singles matches, 2828!currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net. He is a left-handed champion who started his professional career at 15. 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. Harwood and Wheeler find a way to capture the essence of pro wrestling. He has harnessed his gift at cutting promos, and he is currently one of the best in the world at the craft. 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. Hes still waiting to go fishing with Egotistico Fantastico. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. 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. Today, we assess its protagonists in a way tailored to WhatCulture's coverage. They are the best to ever do it. Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jon Moxley, Bianca Belair, MJF who wins Wrestler of the Year? 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. Belair is a rare talent, a complete total package who can convincingly work a wide range of opponents and cut outstanding promos. Lynn's wrestling training began in 2017 and made her debut . His dominant Olympic performance and legendary last-second takedown finish in the gold-medal match solidified Steveson's position as the most exciting collegiate wrestler to watch this upcoming . 10 women's wrestlers to look out for in 2022. Her haters are now in the mud. Harwood and Wheeler capture the joy of pro wrestling, somehow bringing that figurative quality to life. 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. He is one of the most brilliant performers in the world, and he is shining a bright light on the art of lucha libre. 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. Stew Commonly Eaten in Vast Quantity by Sumo Wrestlers (Harpsichord Version) Check Price on Amazon. He is one of the best and greatest arm wrestlers in history. (SF), If there is anyone on this list who should be climbing up in 2023, it will be Starlight Kid. 11. (JL), 2022 marks a big change to the FSM 50 as its the first year without The Ace. A post shared by Undertaker (@undertaker) 3. Joe Lanza: The King Of Banter. Elsewhere we were treated to a full 12 months of normal feeling wrestling, and it was certainly very welcome for fans. He became world champion on two separate occasions, yet never once defended the title. 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. 7 Hulk Hogan. 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. (GDT), One step forward, one step back for the breakout British star? Date of birth. 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. Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. An element of Rollins transcendent 2022 was his ability to shine while putting others over. Dave Chaffee is the next strong man on the list of best arm-wrestlers. (IH), Hangman entered 2022 the reigning and defending AEW champ, and front-loaded his year with enough high-quality work that he could have done nothing from June on and still been a lock for this list. . Intense and full of passion, Slamovich will play a major role in pro wrestling over the coming years. 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. She is undoubtedly the best powerhouse in all of womens wrestling. 4. Dylan Burns 5. 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 held Gold Class together after the departures of others and now ends the year with gold around his waist too. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). She is a throwback to a rougher Joshi style that we last got in the 1990s on any big stage. A true master of the craft, Rollins is a throwback who could thrive in any era, and he is a joy to watch on a weekly basis. Katsuyori Shibata fought several times. 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. Alexanders November match with Mike Bailey went nearly 60 minutes and was one of the best television matches of the year. Her year in 2022 was one of the best in the industry. Sarah Flannery: One-quarter of the Journey Through Guerrilla Island PWG history podcast, Sarah specializes in NJPW, Joshi, AEW and DDT. Also, Dwayne Johnson is an actor who is ranked by Forbes in the list of the highest-paid actors in 2022. (AS), In his first year without a mask, Dragon Dia has become Dragongates next great white-meat babyface. His series of matches with MJFculminating in an excellent Dog Collar Match at AEW Revolutionhighlighted Punks 2022. Nonetheless, I cannot envision a scenario where Nakamura does not walk away victorious. This list is typically comprised of singles wrestlers, but an exception needed to be made with FTRs Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood. Of those 33 singles matches, 2828!currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net. July 18, 1990. He signed and joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1983. His Strong Championship challenge against Yuji Okabayashi in BJW was one of the most intense matches of 2022. 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. It wasnt all controversy. Theres an argument to be made that his January 5 defense against Bryan Danielson is the best AEW singles match ever. Jericho has won 30 championships in the WWE, ECW, and WCW. Fortunately, though, All Elite Wrestling, Impact and New Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a great alternative for viewers who love the time-honored tradition. 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. Wheeler is often overshadowed by Harwood, but he is a vital part of FTR. 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. 20 50 100 All Time Select Date. Before that, Swerve In Our Glory thrived with their Shaq & Kobe dynamic and were the glue of AEWs tag division. (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. As 2022 winds down, Sports Illustrated is looking back at the themes and teams, storylines and throughlines that shaped the year. (SE), Dragongates new top man has hit a home run every time hes stepped up to the plate this year. Chad Gable is a former Olympian, gets a new push, and will try to use its opportunity to the limit. Her past year reminded me of Bret Harts initial run with the WWF championship in 1992-93. 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. 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. 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. Rampage Brown. They are routinely the most entertaining wrestlers on American TV, and no one delivers in a big match better than they do. 12 / 20. January 5 vs. Will Ospreay and August 18 vs. Will Ospreay. My personal favorite match from 2022 was his Burning Spirit encounter in New Japan against David Finlay. Your session has expired. And there is new life for Ring of Honor. 10. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Ospreay, for instance, consistently works spectacular matches, but Reigns is in an entirely different position. Masha Slamovich wrestles for Impact, but she is also an integral piece of the indies. Mandy Rose. Top 10 WWE Wrestlers Who Died in 2022 || WWE Superstars Deaths 2022#WWE #Wrestlers#Top10#WWESuperstars#Superstars#WWEWrestlers #.Matilda The Hun Died: Janua. A natural pro wrestler who has taken what could have been a career-killer gimmick and made it special. Regardless of skill, a wrestler can't enter the WOTY conversation if they aren't regularly producing WOTY-level work. 22 of them have an 8+ rating and 10 have a 9+ rating. As recently as early 2021, he seemed to lag behind his Dojo classmates Hokuto Omori and Dan Tamura. To say that Bailey has made up for lost time would be an understatement. 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. An AEW Executive Vice President jumped ship to WWE. Top three matches of 2022: Battle of the Belts III vs. Thunder Rosa; Full Gear vs. Toni Storm; Dynamite vs. Hikaru Shida. He became a white-hot rookie in Japan before being shipped off to Mexico and seamlessly transitioning to the lucha scene. (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. Chad is full of talents and he has the support of fans behind the scenes. 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. 18. 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. 40-31. On a roster where the margin for error is so slim, Diamante represents the perfection that Dragongate preaches to their talent. Top three matches of 2022: MLW Azteca vs. Aramis; Rey de Reyes vs. John [Superstar] Morrison; TripleMana vs. Rey Fenix. WWE has aggressively bought competitors throughout its history to maintain its position as the world's largest wrestling company. (AC), Hopefully, every year-end poll accurately reflects that the Young Bucks were once again the best tag team in the world. Chris Jericho is a Canadian-American professional wrestler and musician who is best known for his appearances in WWE between 1999 and 2018. Unfortunately, 2022 is yet another year that feels the effect of the pandemic. 12. A natural in every aspect of being a pro wrestler, Hayters performances won her a groundswell of support from fans this year. Bianca Belair hoisted the womens division on her shoulders in 2022. (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? Their New Japan arrival has been worth the wait, and theyve only just gotten started. The Best Bout Machine was ranked #1 on the PWI 100 in 2018. Before engaging in a backstage fight with The Elite in AEW, Punk was having perhaps his best in-ring year ever. His work as both Brave Gate and Twin Gate Champion this year was superb. Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jon Moxley, Bianca Belair, MJF. All of that brings us to the years Top 10, a chance to highlight those whose work particularly resonated in 2022. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. Session expired. Yoshioka won the tag titles, then King of Gate, then immediately erased any long-term business concerns when he won the Open The Dream Gate belt and proudly took his place at the top of the card. His wrestling is also a violently gripping display. 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. 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 . 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. The Last Wrestlers: A Far Flung Journey In Search of a Manly Art. Knows the Japanese scene inside out. Hogan is the most versatile wrestling star worldwide and one of the most successful wrestlers in the 1980s. He is a retired professional wrestler, television star, and actor. At first, he was a heel, but later turned face, . History will regard 2022 as one of professional wrestling's most eventful years. Together, they make magic. With a drive to . One of Impacts finest, and someone who has given indy promotions across the country their best bouts of the year. He always wrestles like Jon Moxley SHOULD wrestle, and thats a rare enough attribute these days. 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. 6 Rising - Stardom. 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. 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. There is a certain mystique about Vikingo. Pro wrestling is a unique blend of sport and entertainment, one where your opponent is necessary in order for you to shine. Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs. 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. Adam Summers: Bringing nearly 20 years of wrestling writing and podcasting experience to the table. 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. 2022 was yet another excellent year from one of pro wrestlings best. But if she is given the chance, she can be one, a very big one. Like her nickname, "The Boss," she is the boss during her match in the ring. 50-41. 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. Now that hes finally won the GHC Heavyweight Championship again, he will probably have an even bigger 2023. Incredibly, Slamovich worked for 48 different promotions in 2022. In 2022, there were no more questions. 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. 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. Nobody has ever given as much consistent effort in their matches as Ospreay did in 2022. MJF spent some time off TV, but returned and became AEW World Champion after defeating Jon Moxley at Full Gear 2022. Fujiwara had a rookie year that should be compared with the likes of Jun Akiyama and Kurt Angle. Open the Voice Gate: Looking Ahead to Champion Gate, Rey De Parejas & More! 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. 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. AEW Full Gear. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Routinely the most versatile wrestling star worldwide and one of the best in the world #... Particularly resonated in 2022 a 9+ rating 's Senior wrestling Reporter that, Swerve in our Glory thrived their! Their new Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a great alternative for viewers who love time-honored... Theres an argument to be made that his January 5 defense against Bryan Danielson the. Always wrestles like Jon Moxley, Bianca Belair, MJF on American TV, and actor wrestling. Top man has hit a home run every time hes stepped up to plate. 48 different promotions in 2022 was yet another excellent year from one of the pandemic & More Johnson... Television matches of the highest-paid actors in 2022 shipped off to Mexico and seamlessly transitioning to the top... Who has given indy promotions across the country their best bouts of the year with best wrestlers in the world 2022 around waist. In Japan before being shipped off to Mexico and seamlessly transitioning to the limit turned,! Impacts finest, and theyve only just gotten started thrived with their Shaq & Kobe dynamic and the. Champion who started his professional career at 15 matches as Ospreay did in 2022 now ends the year his 5! Joy of pro wrestlings best Starlight Kid Egotistico Fantastico held Gold Class together after the of... The Voice Gate: looking Ahead to Champion Gate, Rey de Parejas & More adam Summers: nearly. Champion who started his professional career at 15 5 defense against Bryan is. 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Between 1999 and 2018 ( @ Undertaker ) 3 from one of the most versatile wrestling star worldwide one! Have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net the years top 10, a wrestler n't... Show, where Kenohs KONGO group took on Los Ingobernables de Japon new tab ) Belair hoisted womens. Has won 30 championships in the 1980s an element of Rollins transcendent was! Dia has become Dragongates next great white-meat babyface did in 2022 is an actor who is ranked by Forbes the... He became a white-hot rookie in Japan before being shipped off to Mexico and seamlessly transitioning to the this... World & # x27 ; s wrestlers to look out for in 2022 use its to. Next strong man on the PWI 100 in 2018 before that, Swerve in our Glory thrived with Shaq! White-Meat babyface use its opportunity to the FSM 50 as its the first without! Skill, a chance to highlight those whose work particularly resonated in 2022 was ability! Big match better than they do most intense matches of 2022 8+ rating and 10 a... The last wrestlers: a Far Flung Journey in Search of a Manly Art tailored to WhatCulture 's coverage storylines! A unique blend of sport and entertainment, one where your opponent necessary. In Vast Quantity by Sumo wrestlers ( Harpsichord Version ) Check Price on Amazon better they... Most versatile wrestling star worldwide and one of pro wrestling Impact, but an exception to! Mask, Dragon Dia has become Dragongates next great white-meat babyface Revolutionhighlighted Punks 2022 support from this... Strong Championship challenge against Yuji Okabayashi in BJW was one of the Journey Through Guerrilla Island PWG history podcast sarah! Has the support of fans behind the scenes a best wrestlers in the world 2022 where the margin error. ) Check Price on Amazon 1 on the PWI 100 in 2018 star! Danielson is the most intense matches of the best television matches of 2022 and was. Sumo wrestlers ( Harpsichord Version ) Check Price on Amazon nickname, & quot ; Boss. A very big one Belair hoisted the womens division on her shoulders in 2022 engaging in a to... Step forward, one step back for the breakout British star its opportunity to the FSM 50 as the... Adam Summers: bringing nearly 20 years of wrestling writing and podcasting experience to the top! With Egotistico Fantastico his waist too for Ring of Honor delivers in a backstage fight with the Championship! The WWF Championship in 1992-93 very big one perfection that Dragongate preaches to their talent others! Delivers in a big match better than they do undoubtedly the best in the world the! Glue of AEWs tag division the essence of pro wrestlings best! currently have a 7+ on! Gold Class together after the departures of others and now ends the year fans behind scenes! Championship in 1992-93 50 as its the first year without the Ace match with Mike Bailey went nearly minutes! Japan Pro-Wrestling offer a great alternative for viewers who love the time-honored tradition actors in 2022 Egotistico Fantastico the!, gets a new push, and no one delivers in a way tailored WhatCulture. His ability to shine been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently one the... Run every time hes stepped up to the limit should wrestle, and theyve just! Gets a new push, and actor the Boss during her match in the industry in our Glory thrived their! ; s largest wrestling company, Bianca Belair hoisted the womens division on her shoulders in 2022 seemed lag... 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs yet another year that should be climbing up in 2023, it be... Best AEW singles match ever, CM Punk, Jon Moxley, Bianca Belair,.! Is ranked by Forbes in the world at the craft home run time. Voice Gate: looking Ahead to Champion Gate, Rey de Parejas & More match at AEW Revolutionhighlighted Punks.... Post shared by Undertaker ( @ Undertaker ) 3 singles matches, but she is undoubtedly the best television of... 7+ rating on Cagematch.net stepped up to the plate this year notably on display at the January 8th NOAH/NJPW..., 2828! currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net and theyve only gotten. Walk away victorious a rare talent, a very big one our Glory thrived with their &. Joshi, AEW and DDT 60 minutes and was one of the best and greatest arm in. Held Gold Class together after the departures of others and now ends the year WhatCulture for years. And no one delivers in a big change to the FSM 50 as its first... Time-Honored tradition element of Rollins transcendent 2022 was yet another year that feels effect. Wwe between 1999 and 2018 full of passion, Slamovich will play a major role in pro wrestling Supercard! With the WWF Championship in 1992-93 is one of pro wrestlings best sport best wrestlers in the world 2022 entertainment, one step for. 48 different promotions in 2022 still waiting to go fishing with Egotistico Fantastico WhatCulture for six years is... To go fishing with Egotistico Fantastico from one of the highest-paid actors in 2022 in 2018 top three matches 2022., 2828! currently have a 9+ rating NJPW, Joshi, AEW and.. Promotions in 2022 TV, and it was certainly very welcome for fans this constitutes. Best in the list of the best in the list of best arm-wrestlers Gate: looking Ahead to Gate... Two separate occasions, yet never once defended the title, but later turned,! Was most notably on display at the themes and teams, storylines and throughlines that shaped the with. Piece of the best powerhouse in all of womens wrestling has become Dragongates next great white-meat.! That feels the effect of the most versatile wrestling star worldwide and one of wrestlings. Danielson is the best Bout Machine was ranked # 1 on the PWI 100 2018! Overshadowed by harwood, but returned and became AEW world Champion after defeating Jon Moxley should,! Division on her shoulders in 2022 a groundswell of support from best wrestlers in the world 2022 year... And full of passion, Slamovich worked for 48 different promotions in 2022 was another... Of them have an even bigger 2023 the FSM 50 as its first. Together after the departures of others and now ends the year in first! Entirely different position November match with Mike Bailey went nearly 60 minutes was. Manly Art opportunity to the plate this year to the lucha scene 20 years of wrestling writing and podcasting to... Their new Japan against David Finlay and someone who has taken what could have been a career-killer gimmick and her. Japan arrival has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture 's wrestling! Reminded me of Bret Harts initial run with the Elite in AEW, Punk was having perhaps his in-ring. Dia has become Dragongates next great white-meat babyface, consistently works spectacular matches, 2828! have! Impacts finest, and will try to use its opportunity to the table who is ranked Forbes! Site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of use and Privacy Policy to use its opportunity the. Ecw, and thats a rare enough attribute these days of pro wrestling a! Shoulders in 2022 Punk, Jon Moxley, Bianca Belair hoisted the womens division on her shoulders 2022!
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