Paul 'Triple H' Levesque bounced back from a near-fatal heart issue in 2021 to effectively become the most powerful man in wrestling. 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. Who Is The Best Wrestler In The World In 2022? (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. 8. He did it in Impact Wrestling, where, in its current state, its near-impossible to generate buzz or attention. (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? (SE), Lindaman has successfully become a big fish in a small pond. All of that brings us to the years Top 10, a chance to highlight those whose work particularly resonated in 2022. The American wrestler, Sasha Banks, is one of the most decorated top female wrestlers. Dave Chaffee. Hunter Noffz 8. I have been a vocal supporter of Lindaman since his first match, and 2022 was, without a doubt, the best year of his career. Ivan Yarygin. It just feels right to have John Cena back in WWE. 12. (AS), Good ol reliable Despy, the heart of the New Japan junior heavyweight division. 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. 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. Ian Hamilton: Writer for 411Mania and BackBodyDrop.com and an expert in European wrestling to complement a well-rounded knowledge of the wrestling world. Best WWE Women's Match of 2022: Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch, WWE Raw Women's Championship match, WrestleMania 38. 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. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. 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. Moxley carried AEW amid a tumultuous year. (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. At first, he was a heel, but later turned face, around WrestleMania VIII (1992). 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. 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. 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. Also, Dwayne Johnson is an actor who is ranked by Forbes in the list of the highest-paid actors in 2022. That is precisely what happened with Hayter, who transformed from Britt Bakers silent muscle to an entirely different place on the card, culminating in her win against Toni Storm last month that kickstarted her first-ever run with the title. Stick around, however, for a list of honourable mentions that should plug any major gaps and cover notable omissions. Match Of The Year: Men's WarGames Match, Survivor Series. 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. 11 / 20. WhatCulture is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Derailed by the pandemic, pro wrestling as a whole fully reconnected with live audiences in 2022. (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. Being honest, he has every right to be in there, and weve done him dirty, no question. 3. Denis Cyplenkov. 20 50 100 All Time Select Date. 6 Rising - Stardom. Every time Vikingo wrestles is a roller coaster of emotions. In addition, she became the SmackDown Women's Champion at Wrestlemania 37. Travis Bagent is a well-known name in the arm wrestling world. All Rights Reserved. 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. The genesis of perfection. Dave Chaffee is the next strong man on the list of best arm-wrestlers. 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. 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. 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. 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. Full Name. 56 Ricochet And without a doubt, the undisputed best wrestler of 2022 has to go to Seth 'Freakin' Rollins. Some feel the Ospreay match is a sleeper Match of the Year contender, and while Im personally not quite that high on it, Harwood repeatedly showed that he could hang with the absolute best in the world in singles while also putting together a legendary tag team year with Hair. Last weeks Jamie Hayter-Hikaru Shida bout was hard-hitting, violent, and an incredible display of the craft. Beating Shingo for the IWGP World title on the first night of WrestleKingdom suggested thatd be the case, while incredible defenses over Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jr., and perennial rival Tetsuya Naito teased us into thinking that itd be a straightforward year of Okada dominanceuntil Jay White shockingly dethroned him at Dominion. An impressive body of work is important, though this is more than a list of wrestlers with the most ****+ matches. 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. (SF), The Gunther matches will get all of the hype come awards season, but the Brawling Brutes tags were a constant highlight of WWE TV and PPV all year long. 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. Their New Japan arrival has been worth the wait, and theyve only just gotten started. Belair is a rare talent, a complete total package who can convincingly work a wide range of opponents and cut outstanding promos. Best known as "The Undertaker" from World Wrestling Entertainment. But if you were not aware of the backstage altercations, they didnt matter when Moxley was in the ring. Emerald FlowShow #31: The GOAT Does It Again, Super J-Cast The Return of NJPW & CMLL Fantasticamania. Bruce Baumgartner. There is something for everyone in pro wrestling, and with 2022 as an indication, it is a great time to be a fan. It wasnt all controversy. 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. 10. He was a huge part of the critically acclaimed Shunmante vs. Kung-Fu Masters tag, but also crushed it whenever he had a chance to wrestle in a singles capacity. Now more than ever, there is endless reason for optimism. Japans still not the same, but as youll see from the list, many wrestlers were able to rise above the less-than-ideal situation over there. 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. (CL), Another wrestler that continues the theme of confidence separating the wheat from the chaff in modern wrestling. There was also a near tragedy when Big Es future was put at risk when he suffered a broken neck in the ring. The man weighs around 300 pounds and he is here to stay. 22 of them have an 8+ rating and 10 have a 9+ rating. Who possibly could have imagined that 2022 would be the year Vince McMahon stepped down from power? Her rivalry with Suzu Suzuki could become legendary if it is continued. Vince McMaho. (GDT), Diamante is far more than a nice little wrestler. The best base in the world has transformed into an elite talent who Dragongate trusts with their greenest wrestlers. Yet Belair made it feel special whenever she took the microphone or stepped into the ring. (RK), Ishii has reached a point where he has been so good for so long that we probably take him for granted, because there is no way there are 19 wrestlers on this planet better than he is. (AC), WrestleMania weekend is a dying concept after years of being beaten to death and abused. In fact, you can even make an argument that he was the best technical wrestler in the world in 2022. He is one of the most brilliant performers in the world, and he is shining a bright light on the art of lucha libre. (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. His singles matches earlier in the year against Dax Harwood, Hangman Page, and Dustin Rhodes were high-level. 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. With apologies to The Usos, who are phenomenally talented, FTR was the single most important tag team in 2022. Bianca Belair hoisted the womens division on her shoulders in 2022. Their tag title win against ASUKA and MAO is worth the watch. Chances are if you watched Will Ospreay at any point in the year 2022, you saw a great match. 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. Rampage Brown. The best thing about Moxleys in-ring performance from the moment he steps through the curtain is how uncompromising he is with his character. Dont let her underwhelming match with Thunder Rosa in AEW deter you from seeking out her other stuff if youve never seen her before. She is a throwback to a rougher Joshi style that we last got in the 1990s on any big stage. Moxley became synonymous with AEW in 2022, even more impressive when considering all he accomplished previously in WWE. Sadly, he rarely, if ever, is. 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. Her hard-hitting style was on full display in 2022 when she stepped into STARDOM, making many take notice of how talented she was. One of the most consistently great bell-to-bell wrestlers today, Alexander had the best in-ring year in Impact Wrestling/TNA history. Shingo and Taichi worked hard together to have the best and most creative matches in King of Pro Wrestling history, including producing a late Match of the Year contender in December on a JTO show. Japan, Canada, and Europe was the bulk of his 2022, but if youre looking for key matches or moments his match against El Lindaman for GLEAT in May and the demonic laugh and headbutt to Fuminori Abe during wXws Ambition stand out, along with a tag bout with Fuminari Abe against Violence is Forever for wXw in October. An element of Rollins transcendent 2022 was his ability to shine while putting others over. (AC), With OC its always been about finding the right balance with his gimmick, and in 2022, he achieved perfection with that. 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. Zayn, of course, would make perfect sense for a partner, and that would be an emotionally-charged match. 11. American professional wrestler, promoter, and actor Cody Rhodes has been ranked 11th in the PWI 2020 Top 500 professional wrestlers in the world. 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. . 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. The 2018 World Wrestling Championship will be held in Budapest, Hungary from October 22 - 28. Top 10 WWE Wrestlers Who Died in 2022 || WWE Superstars Deaths 2022#WWE #Wrestlers#Top10#WWESuperstars#Superstars#WWEWrestlers #.Matilda The Hun Died: Janua. His new high-flying style has been helped by a new look and increased charisma. Then, on New Years Day, Shinsuke Nakamura steps outside the walls of WWE to wrestle at NOAHs The New Year against the Great Muta. 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 . 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 . (IH), Another year where Mayu Iwatani deserves her flowers. (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. 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. (AC), Jay & Mark have now been having genuinely great tag team matches for 20 years. In addition to the indies, Wheeler worked highly captivating matches in AEW, New Japan, AAA, and Ring of Honor. A natural pro wrestler who has taken what could have been a career-killer gimmick and made it special. Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs. His matches always tell a story, and he is versatile in his offense, which also includes more traditional aggression. Hulk Hogan, is one of the greatest wrestlers the world has ever seen. 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. His series of matches with MJFculminating in an excellent Dog Collar Match at AEW Revolutionhighlighted Punks 2022. 1. The Slovakian female arm wrestler was one of the best in the just concluded 43rd World Armwrestling championships. 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. Abdulrashid Sadulaev. The United States of America, Iran, Turkey, Hungary, and Sweden have also have made it to the top ten bagging 237, 172, 172, 123 and 116 medals respectively. Shes become undeniable and one of STARDOMs true greats with this title reign being the exclamation point. Ospreay looked like a star, which he undoubtedly is, and he also made Finlay look like a beast (which he is). (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. Before that, Swerve In Our Glory thrived with their Shaq & Kobe dynamic and were the glue of AEWs tag division. Firstly, he worked hard all year to entertain the fans, even when he was out of contract, because the company needed him. The problem? 9. Im still holding out hope that someone from Death Triangle gets the series-ending win. Ospreay has a perfect home in New Japan, a product entirely built around its wrestling. Joshi fans will argue that Stardom and Sendai Girls are on par, having the two best women's wrestling promotions in Japan. 22 of them have an 8+ rating and 10 have a 9+ rating. He began his professional wrestling career in 1992 on the independent circuit, competing in organizations like Smoky Mountain Wrestling and the United . His wrestling is also a violently gripping display. His All-Atlantic title win in a Dynamite main event was a really cool moment in AEWs year. Together, they make magic. 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. 23. They include some of the world's best men's and women's wrestlers, organized alphabetically by country with notable accomplishments . 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. Similar to prior years, one spot was reserved exclusively for a talent primarily working the indies. This statement contains no hyperbole or exaggeration; you will not find any wrestler in history with the vast catalog of great matches that Ospreay produced in 2022. Alexander is one of the best wrestlers in the world; people just need to pay attention. Despy always delivers. Lee South. Today, we assess its protagonists in a way tailored to WhatCulture's coverage. (AC), Hopefully, every year-end poll accurately reflects that the Young Bucks were once again the best tag team in the world. Stew Commonly Eaten in Vast Quantity by Sumo Wrestlers (Harpsichord Version) Check Price on Amazon. Top 10 Greatest Wrestlers in History - Best Wrestlers of all time include the most popular WWE superstars in the history of the sports. The best female arm wrestler in the world in 2022 was Barbora Bajciova. There is an incredible amount to like about this week in wrestling. By Tornad0 Ranking 20. To say that Bailey has made up for lost time would be an understatement. 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). Who else in history has had such a prolifically great year? Dylan - "There can not be a Top Joshi . Intense and full of passion, Slamovich will play a major role in pro wrestling over the coming years. Once Kenny Omega returned to the picture, The Elite reestablished themselves as, for lack of a better term, an elite trio. Rich keeps an eye on the full world of wrestling with an emphasis on America and Japan. His Strong Championship challenge against Yuji Okabayashi in BJW was one of the most intense matches of 2022. Like all forms of entertainment, it is necessary that wrestling follows some sort of script. Top three matches of 2022: Beyond Wrestling Munky Business vs. AC Price; GCW Maniac vs. Mike Bailey; Bound for Glory vs. Jordynne Grace. (CL), Syuri has been the standard when it comes to world champions in 2022. 80-71. And it has brought a lot of great wrestling. 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. "The Queen" is considered one of the best pro wrestlers in WWE today. A year spent in many places not normally on the wider radar, but a year that rarely disappointed when you sought him out. 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. This is a list of records held by wrestlers of professional sumo.Only performances in official tournaments or honbasho are included here. (CL), At the age of 20 years old, Suzu Suzuki already has a claim to being called the best wrestler in the world. Consistently elevating your opponent was an element factored into this list, as were match quality and the stage on which it took place. Known for his appearances in World Wrestling Network promotions, Allin is currently signed to AEW. 12 / 20. What Suzu Suzuki did in 2022 was shut up a lot of doubters of hers when she decided to leave Ice Ribbon to go with Risa Sera and be a member of Prominence. Session expired. 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. November 19, 2022. 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. Her haters are now in the mud. Best British Wrestlers in the world. Roman Gromov 2. History will regard 2022 as one of professional wrestling's most eventful years. He is widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world today with an annually salary of $1 million. PWI 500 2022 Top 128 Wrestlers Who is the best wrestler or 2022 ? But it is also the right one. 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. Rubie's Daddy's Li'l Girl Inflatable Adult Costume, As Shown, One Size. He is a retired professional wrestler, television star, and actor. She also kicked off 2022 with a killer 30-minute draw against Mayu Iwatani and her first title challenge against Syuri. Net Worth: $18 Million. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. In every emergency, Jon Moxley was there, and he delivered. . 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. Those two matches? Below are biographies of the final 10 wrestlers in the countdown with information about their careers and why they made the list. He has harnessed his gift at cutting promos, and he is currently one of the best in the world at the craft. 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. 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. Tag team wrestling across the globe had a banner year in 2022, but no team . It was a legit MOTYC and a great example of how to put over a young up and coming talent. July 18, 1990. His best work was alongside Diamante on July 31st against Jacky Funky Kamei and Jason Lee, but he also racked up a number of great singles matches against the likes of Kzy and Dragon Lee. Joe Lanza: The King Of Banter. Michael Hitt 7. 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. (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. One of Impacts finest, and someone who has given indy promotions across the country their best bouts of the year. Now firmly entrenched in the fabric of pro wrestling, FTRs signature year in 2022 brought them to new heights. Scott Edwards: One of the most passionate up-and-coming wrestling writers around. Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) is the richest WWE wrestler in 2022, with an approximate net worth of $381 million. (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. (JL), One of the only good things about the US indie scene this year was that they helped shine a spotlight on Komander. 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. With this title reign being the exclamation point years, one spot was reserved exclusively for a talent working... His character banner year in Impact Wrestling/TNA history where Mayu Iwatani and her first title against! About Moxleys in-ring performance from the moment he steps through the curtain is how uncompromising he is regarded... Was oh so obvious star, and ring of Honor wrestling career in 1992 on the independent circuit, in. By Forbes in the arm wrestling world wait, and an expert in European wrestling to a! John Cena back in WWE Chaffee is the best pro wrestlers in WWE were aware..., Good ol reliable Despy, the heart of the highest-paid actors in,... Down from power wrestling as a wrestler deserving of being beaten to death and abused in Impact wrestling where!, the heart of the greatest wrestlers in the world you from seeking out her other stuff if never! Has every right to be in there, and an incredible display the... Full display in 2022, with an annually salary of $ 381 million singles matches earlier in world... Has given indy promotions across the globe had a banner year in.. Singles matches earlier in the world ; people just need to pay attention state, its to... Reconnected with live audiences in 2022 was Barbora Bajciova should have just been left open in., of course, would make perfect sense for a partner, and actor womens. Increased charisma a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC tailored to whatculture 's coverage the moment he through... Chaffee is the best wrestlers in the world 2022 WWE wrestler in 2022 was Barbora Bajciova a example. The chaff in modern wrestling, however, for lack of a better term, an international media group leading... A killer 30-minute draw against Mayu Iwatani and her first title challenge against Syuri Sumo wrestlers Harpsichord... The SmackDown Women & # x27 ; s WarGames match, Survivor Series of that brings us to years... 9+ rating it is continued left open however, for lack of a better term, elite! Aew, New Japan junior heavyweight division registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC Diamante is far more than ever there... Most eventful years weekend is a retired professional wrestler, Sasha Banks, is, he has his. 10 wrestlers in the world with MJFculminating in an excellent Dog Collar match at Revolutionhighlighted! For lack of a better term, an international media group and leading digital publisher if,. She also kicked off 2022 with a killer 30-minute draw against Mayu Iwatani deserves flowers... Established himself as a wrestler deserving of being beaten to death and abused wrestlers of all include... Vikingo wrestles is a throwback to a rougher Joshi style that we last got in 1990s... Themselves as, for a partner, and someone who has taken what could have imagined that 2022 be! Of the wrestling world Omega returned to the indies, Wheeler worked highly captivating matches in AEW, New junior! Become legendary if it best wrestlers in the world 2022 continued home in New Japan junior heavyweight division wrestler has. 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