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. He accumulated his net worth thanks to his professional wrestling, podcasts, rock concerts. 60-51. 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. The Last Wrestlers: A Far Flung Journey In Search of a Manly Art. Vince McMaho. Cody Rhodes believes he is the best wrestler in the world. Dave Chaffee. Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) is the richest WWE wrestler in 2022, with an approximate net worth of $381 million. 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. He should win the Triple Crown in 2023. Kaori Icho. Amanda Rose Saccomanno. As 2022 winds down, Sports Illustrated is looking back at the themes and teams, storylines and throughlines that shaped the year. (AC), Irie gets around. Session expired. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. But without looking too far ahead, it will be fun to see Cena back in a WWE ring. 30. His matches always tell a story, and he is versatile in his offense, which also includes more traditional aggression. Kevin Owens. To put Ospreays year into proper context, our #2 finisher, Kazuchika Okada, had two matches finish with a 9+ rating on Cagematch.net. When smashing one aspect of the wrestling business just isn't enough. He has recorded 41 wins and just three losses and became AEW World Champion twice. WWEs entire product is built around Reigns presence, and he makes viewers want to watch every time he appears. 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. The Slovakian female arm wrestler was one of the best in the just concluded 43rd World Armwrestling championships. AEW Full Gear. Jericho has won 30 championships in the WWE, ECW, and WCW. They are the best to ever do it. who wins Wrestler of the Year? 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. 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. And without a doubt, the undisputed best wrestler of 2022 has to go to Seth 'Freakin' Rollins. Lynn's wrestling training began in 2017 and made her debut . (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. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Their New Japan arrival has been worth the wait, and theyve only just gotten started. Like her nickname, "The Boss," she is the boss during her match in the ring. 2022 also saw Knight debut for PROGRESS and win the Natural PROGRESSion Series tournament in November. Tag team wrestling across the globe had a banner year in 2022, but no team . Your session has expired. Maybe its because her look isnt what STARDOM has been going for lately. Rampage Brown. Top three matches of 2022: MLW Azteca vs. Aramis; Rey de Reyes vs. John [Superstar] Morrison; TripleMana vs. Rey Fenix. 2. The Briscoes; Dynamite vs. Dax Harwood; Dynamite vs. Will Ospreay. While he did solid work in both New Japan junior tournaments this year, his best work was in GLEAT. 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. To paraphrase Voltaire, if Jon Moxley did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him. Open The Voice Gate - Looking ahead to Champion Gate, Rey de Parejas and More! 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 one spot reserved exclusively for . Ospreay looked like a star, which he undoubtedly is, and he also made Finlay look like a beast (which he is). During MIyaharas reign, AJPW immediately saw an increase in business and produced many more great singles matches versus the two previous years, during which the company seemed hesitant to put the Triple Crown back on him while Jake Lee got his chance to run with the ball. All rights reserved. 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. . 100-91. 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. This list is typically comprised of singles wrestlers, but an exception needed to be made with FTRs Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood. Roman Gromov 2. Now firmly entrenched in the fabric of pro wrestling, FTRs signature year in 2022 brought them to new heights. Hes been a phenomenal major league champion. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter 'Wrestler of the Year' has been revealed and the voting was dominated by three names. 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. Net Worth: $1.6 Billion. (AC), Jay & Mark have now been having genuinely great tag team matches for 20 years. 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. The breakout star of the year, Jamie Hayter feels like an overnight sensation in AEW. Another earth-shattering saga was the rise and fall of CM Punk in AEW. Instead of a litany of matches against the industrys top stars, Hart wrestled a very different roster from what he initially expected. Rich keeps an eye on the full world of wrestling with an emphasis on America and Japan. Best known as "The Undertaker" from World Wrestling Entertainment. 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. (AS), Good ol reliable Despy, the heart of the New Japan junior heavyweight division. Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs. Nine excellent bouts in three days made him unquestionably Mania weekends MVP. He signed and joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1983. 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 smoothest high-flier in history, Fenixs effortless gliding and maneuvering through the air makes the otherwise impossible look routine. Consistently elevating your opponent was an element factored into this list, as were match quality and the stage on which it took place. Ian Hamilton: Writer for 411Mania and BackBodyDrop.com and an expert in European wrestling to complement a well-rounded knowledge of the wrestling world. Whether you watched Harwood on screen or bought a ticket to see him in person, he added value every time he took the stage. No world champion was able to touch her greatness this year. Hence becoming one of the richest wrestlers in 2022. 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. Also, Dwayne Johnson is an actor who is ranked by Forbes in the list of the highest-paid actors in 2022. Marty Scurll is one of those rarities; a technical wrestler who also has a well-developed gimmick and persona. Dave Chaffee is the next strong man on the list of best arm-wrestlers. Before engaging in a backstage fight with The Elite in AEW, Punk was having perhaps his best in-ring year ever. Co-host of the Adam & Mike Big Audio Nightmare and [emailprotected] podcasts. She capped off the year winning the World of Stardom Championship, as she goes into 2022 as the top wrestler in the promotion. While they may have a few more gray hairs since they battled Amazing Red & AJ Styles in The Murphy Rec Center at ROH Expect The Unexpected, the passion and fire they put into their big matches is still there in abundance. Josh Alexander. There was also a near tragedy when Big Es future was put at risk when he suffered a broken neck in the ring. Her tag team and trios runs this year earned her a comfortable spot on the list while her singles work should have her among the elite come the end of 2023. Chad is full of talents and he has the support of fans behind the scenes. Best British Wrestlers in the world. Drew McIntyre 2022 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.. Beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the professional wrestling industry worldwide, with many promotions presenting shows behind closed doors.Some events were canceled while others were rescheduled to occur in 2021 and then some in 2022. (AC), Last year as Dragongates top champion, Shun Skywalker finished 11 in our poll. 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. Writer/Editor of the Three Count Fall newsletter. 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. She is a throwback to a rougher Joshi style that we last got in the 1990s on any big stage. 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. An impressive body of work is important, though this is more than a list of wrestlers with the most ****+ matches. Rubie's Daddy's Li'l Girl Inflatable Adult Costume, As Shown, One Size. Joshi fans will argue that Stardom and Sendai Girls are on par, having the two best women's wrestling promotions in Japan. Outside of AEWs walls, running the BOLA bracket in impressive fashion before winning the PWG title from Bandido, and then delivering great defenses against the likes of Konosuke Takeshita, shows this is just the start for Daniel Garcia, and Ive no doubt well see him jump up many places on this list in 2023. January 5 vs. Will Ospreay and August 18 vs. Will Ospreay. Born on March 24, 1965. A year spent in many places not normally on the wider radar, but a year that rarely disappointed when you sought him out. 5. Internationally Acclaimed Broadcast Journalist As Heard On BBC Radio. Of those 33 singles matches, 2828!currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net. As the leader of Cosmic Angels, every member of that groupmost notably Natsupoi and Mina Shirakawahas improved dramatically with Nakano at the helm. (JL), Youd be forgiven for forgetting that the diminutive mascot is only a year into his Dragongate career. 5. Expect him to be a name on this list every year going forward. Regardless of skill, a wrestler can't enter the WOTY conversation if they aren't regularly producing WOTY-level work. (AC), WrestleMania weekend is a dying concept after years of being beaten to death and abused. Who possibly could have imagined that 2022 would be the year Vince McMahon stepped down from power? Many fans predict that 2022 will become a breakout year for one of the best WWE wrestlers. 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. This dude ruled the world of WWE, having had a successful career in different sports such as martial arts, football, and professional wrestling. Of those 33 singles matches, 2828!currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net. Top three matches of 2022: Battle of the Belts III vs. Thunder Rosa; Full Gear vs. Toni Storm; Dynamite vs. Hikaru Shida. Champion Gate, Rey de Parejas and more is ranked by Forbes in the ring but no.. 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