50-41. 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. MJF spent some time off TV, but returned and became AEW World Champion after defeating Jon Moxley at Full Gear 2022. Paul 'Triple H' Levesque bounced back from a near-fatal heart issue in 2021 to effectively become the most powerful man in wrestling. Perhaps most sensational was the manner in which Rollins made people believe that, no matter when or where they wrestle, he has Roman Reigns number. Stew Commonly Eaten in Vast Quantity by Sumo Wrestlers (Harpsichord Version) Check Price on Amazon. The biggest obstacle in her way is just how big a star Rossy Ogawa and Bushiroad think she can be. mixed martial arts, Belgrade, wrestling, Serbia | 956 views, 24 likes, 3 loves, 3 comments, 13 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from IMMAF - International Mixed Martial Arts Federation: Which submission. The professional arm-wrestler has very strong muscles and a powerful arm that is enough to make the opponent down in competitions. Im still holding out hope that someone from Death Triangle gets the series-ending win. In addition to that sublime set of matches, his promos and evolved character work brought him to a whole new level of greatness. by Andy H Murray. . 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. Kevin Palko 6. Whether its a Brave Gate challenge against Dragon Dia, a Korakuen singles bout with Diamante or even mixing it up with Microman, Takuma tackles every new challenge with enthusiasm and confidence. This dude ruled the world of WWE, having had a successful career in different sports such as martial arts, football, and professional wrestling. Who Is The Best Wrestler In The World In 2022? Session expired. (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. She is a throwback to a rougher Joshi style that we last got in the 1990s on any big stage. Vikingo transforms moves that people have already seen countless timeslike the 450and bestows a new, never-before-seen twist on them. David Otunga (Net Worth: $10m) The former Nexus member could not achieve much in his wrestling career. The Briscoes; Dynamite vs. Dax Harwood; Dynamite vs. Will Ospreay. Name. Rubie's Daddy's Li'l Girl Inflatable Adult Costume, As Shown, One Size. 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! 30. 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. Their match against Aussie Open at New Japans Royal Quest II was outrageously good. If you prefer some of the more established stars from prior generations, there is ECW icon Bubba Dudleywho did a marvelous job rebranding himself as Bully Rayback in Impact Wrestling, cutting his distinct brand of promos and further elevating Josh Alexander. Newark, NJ. 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. 248 Super J-Cast The Return of Fantasticamania. Outside of MJF, though, there was a lot to love about Punks year. 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. The genesis of perfection. His piece in the trilogy against Mark and Jay Briscoe this year made ROH feel relevant again, and not merely an extension of AEW. (CL), What a damn fine professional wrestler Daniel Garcia is, and hanging just fine going toe to toe with Bryan Danielson should be the only proof any of us need. AEW Full Gear. 10. Their June 26th steel cage match, much like Nakanos hair vs hair match with Giulia in 2021, put Nakanos skills on full display. Of course, that all depends on how you value and rate the past year in wrestling. 56 Ricochet 2. 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. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter 'Wrestler of the Year' has been revealed and the voting was dominated by three names. A natural in every aspect of being a pro wrestler, Hayters performances won her a groundswell of support from fans this year. Fresh booking has led to a much more interesting promotion and Hashimoto as their top star has helped that along by delivering high-level main events. The 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 . 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. 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. He did everything in the ring youd want for the promotions champion. Vikingos skills remained a cut above everyone else even in a time of amazing highflyers; it never felt safe to blink during his matches. But it is also the right one. 11 / 20. He takes a beating, he fights back, and on his best nights, hes able to win big matches. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. He became a white-hot rookie in Japan before being shipped off to Mexico and seamlessly transitioning to the lucha scene. 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. Dylan - "There can not be a Top Joshi . Abdulrashid Sadulaev. Intense and full of passion, Slamovich will play a major role in pro wrestling over the coming years. Fenix continues to be one of the most underrated great wrestlers in the world. Those are two completely different matches, but Moxley is versatile and he can highlight opponents in a number of ways. That star power placed him on this list. Putting Roman Reigns fourth on this list, especially ahead of Will Ospreay, was the single hardest decision in the top 10. Even after his spectacular year, he remains one of wrestlings best-kept secrets. Most of his matches were excellent, even though he bled too much. who wins Wrestler of the Year? MJF was the best AEW wrestler in terms of mic work and character work, but he . Those two matches? Open the Voice Gate: Looking Ahead to Champion Gate, Rey De Parejas & More! (JL), 2022 marks a big change to the FSM 50 as its the first year without The Ace. Together, they make magic. 4. (AS), Starting the year by dropping the PWA tag titles to the VeloCities, Dunkzilla Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher went nomadic, wrestling all over the globe. 80-71. He should win the Triple Crown in 2023. An AEW Executive Vice President jumped ship to WWE. 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. In every emergency, Jon Moxley was there, and he delivered. (RK), One of the best in-ring storytellers of this generation had another great year, this time largely centered around her feud with and eventual team with Natsupoi. But without looking too far ahead, it will be fun to see Cena back in a WWE ring. 23. 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. Her haters are now in the mud. It wasnt all controversy. He is a left-handed champion who started his professional career at 15. Chris Jericho is a Canadian-American professional wrestler and musician who is best known for his appearances in WWE between 1999 and 2018. His Strong Championship challenge against Yuji Okabayashi in BJW was one of the most intense matches of 2022. Dylan Burns 5. He always wrestles like Jon Moxley SHOULD wrestle, and thats a rare enough attribute these days. Stick around, however, for a list of honourable mentions that should plug any major gaps and cover notable omissions. After a memorable year in and out of the ring, who stands among the best? 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. Born on March 24, 1965. His work as both Brave Gate and Twin Gate Champion this year was superb. 2022 was good for Giulia, but 2023 will be special for the Donna del Mondo leader. 10. Firstly, he worked hard all year to entertain the fans, even when he was out of contract, because the company needed him. (CL). Considering hes one of the heartbeats of the promotion its easy to do so. (AC), Both Hashimoto and her home promotion of Sendai Girls have had a sneaky good 2022. 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. . Top 25 Best Bollywood Films of 2022 a list of 25 titles 25 Best Dancers of Indian Cinema a list of 25 people . The WWE is currently the largest wrestling organization, the market share of competing models is so small that one can speak of an economic monopoly. To put Ospreays year into proper context, our #2 finisher, Kazuchika Okada, had two matches finish with a 9+ rating on Cagematch.net. Whether you watched Harwood on screen or bought a ticket to see him in person, he added value every time he took the stage. His series of matches with MJFculminating in an excellent Dog Collar Match at AEW Revolutionhighlighted Punks 2022. His All-Atlantic title win in a Dynamite main event was a really cool moment in AEWs year. A Reasoned And Well Explained Man. WWE. To say that Bailey has made up for lost time would be an understatement. (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? Richest WWE Wrestlers in The World 2022. 60-51. Today, we assess its protagonists in a way tailored to WhatCulture's coverage. 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. Form is critical on this list. 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. 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. (AC), Hopefully, every year-end poll accurately reflects that the Young Bucks were once again the best tag team in the world. 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 . In 2022, there were no more questions. Michael Hitt 7. But it took a lot of toil, tears, and blood for her to reach this point, where she is seizing peoples attention on a weekly basis as AEW womens champion. Matches with Risa Sera, Utami Hayashishita, and both bouts with Giulia highlight what everyone should watch if they havent been watching. (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. Sasha Banks. A natural pro wrestler who has taken what could have been a career-killer gimmick and made it special. (AC). 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. His new high-flying style has been helped by a new look and increased charisma. 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. 2023 is shaping up to be his biggest year since 2019. Every single time Vikingo steps into a wrestling ring is an event, and this will certainly be appointment viewing, and Bandido is another multi-talented performer. Former professional wrestler Vince has made a name for himself in a variety of different fields. Being honest, he has every right to be in there, and weve done him dirty, no question. Hogan is the most versatile wrestling star worldwide and one of the most successful wrestlers in the 1980s. Once Kenny Omega returned to the picture, The Elite reestablished themselves as, for lack of a better term, an elite trio. 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 . Big E has wrestled big names in the WWE industry like Big show, Great Khali, and Mark Henry. Of those 33 singles matches, 2828!currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net. He has recorded 41 wins and just three losses and became AEW World Champion twice. Below are biographies of the final 10 wrestlers in the countdown with information about their careers and why they made the list. In September, he became the promotions first champion by defeating Flamita in one of the best world title matches of the year. Tag team of the year: The Usos - 50% The Usos established themselves as the best duo in all of wrestling in 2022. 9. The match that will ultimately define Higushis championship run was his title defense against Konosuke Takeshita, a bout that will no doubt rack up some points in the MOTY race. 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. 9. Travis Bagent. Slamovichs matches are a violent sprint. Katsuyori Shibata fought several times. John Smith. The American wrestler, Sasha Banks, is one of the most decorated top female wrestlers. Joe keeps his tabs on everything and often provides a balanced voice to our rankings. 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. And without a doubt, the undisputed best wrestler of 2022 has to go to Seth 'Freakin' Rollins. 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. But if you were around he did make a sound. Before this, tournaments were held less frequently; sometimes only once or twice per year. Every time Vikingo wrestles is a roller coaster of emotions. With an expanded panel of knowledgeable voters this year, we hope to have covered every corner of the wrestling world well. Unfortunately, 2022 is yet another year that feels the effect of the pandemic. On top of returning to his top singles form, Miyahara was also a part of several high-level tags throughout the year, ending with winning the Real World Tag League with Takuya Nomura. He is a retired professional wrestler, television star, and actor. 10. Rhodes returned to the WWE during night one of WrestleMania 38 after a six year absence. Dax Harwood plays a vital role in FTR, but his singles work is also solid. David Daniel Otunga. 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. He got to shine on both the singles front as the first-ever All-Atlantic Champion, in addition to trios contests as part of Death Triangle. Now firmly entrenched in the fabric of pro wrestling, FTRs signature year in 2022 brought them to new heights. Pro wrestling is a unique blend of sport and entertainment, one where your opponent is necessary in order for you to shine. Match Of The Year: Men's WarGames Match, Survivor Series. (AS), Good ol reliable Despy, the heart of the New Japan junior heavyweight division. The Last Wrestlers: A Far Flung Journey In Search of a Manly Art. Top three matches of 2022: Battle of the Belts III vs. Thunder Rosa; Full Gear vs. Toni Storm; Dynamite vs. Hikaru Shida. It was a legit MOTYC and a great example of how to put over a young up and coming talent. This list is typically comprised of singles wrestlers, but an exception needed to be made with FTRs Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood. . Roman Reigns Tops the PWI 500 List for 2022, Top 20 Wrestlers Revealed. All rights reserved. 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. Vince McMaho. At first, he was a heel, but later turned face, around WrestleMania VIII (1992). 8. Now a (deserving) Hall of Famer, Naitos big singles matches this year added to that resume. 4. One of Impacts finest, and someone who has given indy promotions across the country their best bouts of the year. A year spent in many places not normally on the wider radar, but a year that rarely disappointed when you sought him out. Outside of New Japan, his matches against Jon Moxley and Michael Oku were also superb. (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. Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) is the richest WWE wrestler in 2022, with an approximate net worth of $381 million. 10. Imeda Chincharauli 4. Scott represents VOW, Fightful and Fightgamemedia where he hosts the Five Star Joshi Show. Joe Gagne: Wrestling podcast OG and trivia master! (AC), WrestleMania weekend is a dying concept after years of being beaten to death and abused. 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. 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. Gary Goodridge. 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. Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jon Moxley, Bianca Belair, MJF. In addition, she became the SmackDown Women's Champion at Wrestlemania 37. 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