The Greatest Wrestlers of 2022

In route to putting together my top 100 list of the Greatest Wrestlers Ever, I am going through each year and putting together a list for that particular year. Previously, on the podcast “Maybe Not Taue”, I put together a list for 1985, 1990, 1997, & 2021. You can listen to those here. 1983, 1993, 2004, 2010, & 2015 are on the blog.

2022

This last year was another great year of wrestling. WWE had a lot of great stuff again, AEW is still strong, and joshi is really on track. It was really difficult to narrow this list down. The honourable mention list could had been 25 names itself.

Process

I have a master list of everyone I have considered for each of these top 25 lists and how many matches they worked on each year. I see who worked in 2022 and start watching the footage. I take suggestions and look at other lists to see who needs to be explored.

After watching a ton of footage I start to make a list and cut anyone who either I can’t find 3 matches of their worth recommending or I don’t care to find that many. From there it’s a matter of finding an order that I feel comfortable with based on the quality of output, versatility, and whatever qualities make a great wrestler.

The List

All of the below stats are from cagematch. Yes, they are not perfect.

The recommended matches are not a definitive list, it’s a list of matches I have watched for this process, plus matches on my spreadsheet from before. I will not go beyound 5 matches.

The matches listed are all 7/10 or higher; if they are bolded, they are 8/10 or higher.

Honourable Mentions

• Athena
• Becky Lynch
• Atlantis, Jr.
• Deonna Purrazzo
• Hazuki
• Mercedes Martinez
• Unagi Sayaka

#25
KAIRI

Previous Ranking: 2015 (#2)
Years Unranked: none
Matches: 9
Places Worked: Stardom & NJPW
Title Held: IWGP Women’s Championship
Tournament: IWGP Women’s Title Tournament (winner)

Last year CM Punk returned and worked very few matches and ended up #25 on my list, and this year it is KAIRI’s turn. Yes, she only worked 9 matches, but every single one of those matches made my spreadhseed as a recommended match a percentage unmatched by anyone else.. She brings a presence to matches that few wrestlers alive do, plus she’s one of my all-time favourites.

Recommended Matches:

• with Mayu Iwatani vs Tam Nakano & Unagi Sayaka, Stardom, March 26
• vs Starlight Kid, Stardom, March 27
• vs Saya Kamitani, Stardom, November 19
• vs Mayu Iwatani, NJPW/Stardom, November 20 (#4 MOTY)
• vs Utami Hayashimta, Stardom, December 29
• plus more

#24
Mei Suruga

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2021
Matches: 116
Places Worked: Gatoh Move, CMLL, TJPW, Oz Academy, AEW, M-Pro, SPW, DPW, SEAdLINNNG, HEAT UP, Stardom, & Beyond
Title Held: Gatoh Move Asia Dream Tag Team Championship with Baliyan Akki

One of the best babyface wrestlers around today and the most fun. Aside from working all over Japan, she had fun stuff in Mexico and the USA.

Recommended Matches:

• vs AZM, Stardom, April 29
• with Haruka Umesaki vs Chie Koishikawa & Kaori Yoneyama, Gatoh Move, May 4
• vs Yuna Mizumori, Gatoh Move, September 15
• vs Emi Sakura, DPW, October 15

#23
Reyna Isis

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2015 & 2021
Matches: 66
Place Worked: CMLL
Tournaments: CMLL Universal De Amazonas 2022 & CMLL Copa Bicentenario Femenil with Avispa Dorada

I don’t think I’d seen Reyna Isis prior to her mask match this year, but that performance blew me away so much I watched a lot more. She mixes some of the dives of lucha you would expect, with a more brutal bruising style that is a joy to watch. She is limited by the booking of luachadoras, but makes every opportunity count!

Recommended Matches:

• with La Vaquerita vs Marcela & Metalica, CMLL, March 18
• vs La Jarochita, CMLL, May 6
• vs La Jarochita, “Mask vs Mask”, CMLL, September 16

#22
Masha Slamovich

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2021
Matches: 126
Places Worked: GCW, Impact, wXw, West Coast Pro, Beyond, H2O, ETU, ICW, AAW, Lucha Memes, CFU, Prestige, Limitless, HOG, REVOLVER, ACTION, BLP, PWG, Scenic City, BCP, FIGHT LIFE, VxS, NPU, NFC, HTW, WrestleCade, AIW, DWW, NFC, Garden State PW, NCW, Remarkable, Outlaw Wrestling, TERMINUS, WWR+, VIBE, IGB, GFW, MPW, BIP, SPW, New Texas Pro, VWR, Timebomb Pro, Journey Pro, TRP, & Catalyst Wrestling
Titles Held: TTW Championship, ETU Key to the East Championship, & CFU Undisputed Championship
Tournaments: Scenic City Invitational, West Coast Cup, Key to the East Title Tournament (winner), Lucha Memes Battle of Coacalco (winner), Femme Fatales (finals), AAW Jim Lynam Memorial Tournament, NFW Title Tournament, & HTW Christmas Trios with Jordan Bale & Ray Lyn

Putting together her stats almost made me want to add stats anymore, look at all the places she worked! She was in great demand in 2022, and that is because she gets something about pro-wrestling a lot of people don’t get. You should stand out!

Recommended Matches:

• vs Mike Bailey, GCW, May 21
• vs Miyu Yamashita, Prestige, May 28
• vs Deonna Purrazzo, Impact, August 26
• vs Jordynne Grace, Impact, October 7

#21
The Usos
Jimmy & Jey

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2010, 2015, & 2021
Matches: 140 each
Place Worked: WWE
Title Held: WWE Raw Tag Team Championship & WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
Tournament:

The Bloodline storyline is tremendous and The Usos are a huge part of that. They held the tag team titles all year and had amazing defenses when called upon.

Recommended Matches:

• vs The Street Profits, WWE, July 2 (#6 MOTY)
• vs The New Day, WWE, November 11
• with The Bloodline vs Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Butch, Ridge Holland, & Sheamus, “War Games”, WWE, November 26 (#8 MOTY)

#20
Miu Watanabe

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2021
Matches: 62
Places Worked: TJPW, DDT, & NOAH
Title Held: TJPW International Princess Championship
Tournaments: TJPW Futari No Princess Max Heart Tournament with Rika Tatsumi (winner) & TJPW Tokyo Princess Cup (finals)

My friend suggested I check out Mia Watanabe as I was finishing off my list and I was immediately impressed. I underdog babyface who does variations on giant swings is so far up my alley! The run she had in the Princess Cup was tremendous.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Shoko Nakajima, TJPW, July 31
• vs Miyu Yamashita, TJPW, August 13
• vs Yuka Sakazaki, TJPW, August 14
• vs Suzume, TJPW, September 17

#19
MIRAI

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2021
Matches: 114
Places Worked: Stardom, NJPW, & JTO
Tournament: Stardom Cinderella Tournament (winner) & Stardom 5Star Grand Prix

She started the year debuting in Stardom looking like the lesser between her and Thekla, but immediately found her groove. Her passionate power style makes her feel like a future Stardom star.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Syuri, Stardom, January 29
• vs Koguma, Stardom, April 29
• vs Saya Kamitani, Stardom, May 28
• vs Mayu Iwatani, Stardom, July 30
• with Maika vs Aoi & Tomoka Inaba, JTO, September 12
• plus more

#18
Natsupoi

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2021
Matches: 93
Places Worked: Stardom & NJPW
Titles Held: Artist of Stardom Championship with Himeka and Maika & Goddesses of Stardom with Tam Nakano
Tournaments: Stardom Cinderella Tournament (semi-final) & Stardom 5Star Grand Prix

After spending half the year in a great team with Maika and Himeka, she trainsitioned to the feud with Tam Nakano and eventually joining Tam in Cosmic Angels, where they formed an amazing tag team. Her agility may be unmatched in wrestling and I can’t get enough of her throwing German suplexes.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Saya Kamitani, Stardom, February 23
• vs AZM vs Koguma, Stardom, March 27
• with Himeka & Maika vs Momo Watanabe, Saki Kashima, & Starlight Kid, Stardom, May 28
• vs Tam Nakano, “Cage”, Stardom, June 26
• with Tam Nakano vs Nanae Takahashi & Yuu, Stardom, December 29
• plus more

#17
Maki Itoh

Previous Ranking: 2021 (#8)
Years Unranked: none
Matches: 62
Places Worked: TJPW, GCW, AEW, Prestige, DDT, NOAH, & NEW
Title Held: TJPW International Princess Championship
Tournaments: TJPW Futari No Princess Max Heart Tournament with Miyu Yamashita & Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament

I do really love Maki Itoh and it was really cool to see her work in America so much, but I do feel it hampered her chances to show how awesome a wrestler she is. She did get to show off how great her character was though!

Recommended Matches:

• with Miyu Yamashita vs Hikaru Shida & Moka Miyamoto, TJPW, May 3
• vs Mia Yim, Prestige, May 28
• vs Miyu Yamashita, Prestige, May 29

#16
Momo Watanabe

Previous Ranking: 2021 (#6)
Years Unranked: 2015
Matches: 105
Places Worked: Stardom & NJPW
Titles Held: Goddesses of Stardom with Starlight Kid & Artist of Stardom with Saki Kashima and Starlight Kid
Tournaments: Stardom Cinderella Tournament, Stardom 5Star Grand Prix, & IWGP Women’s Title Tournament

I feel like Momo Watanabe could challenge for number 1 if she was given a proper singles push. She made the most of being in the upper midcard and mostly in teams this year.

Recommended Matches:

• vs AZM, Stardom, January
• vs Syuri, Stardom, July 9
• vs Suzu Suzuki, Stardom, September 18
• vs Hazuki, Stardom, October 1
• vs Mayu Iwatani, Stardom, October 22
• plus more

#15
Sami Zayn

Previous Ranking: 2010 (#9)
Years Unranked: 2004, 2015, & 2021
Matches: 78
Place Worked: WWE
Title Held: WWE Intercontinental Championship
Tournaments: WWE Royal Rumble & WWE SmackDown World Cup

Sami Zayn has done the best character work of his career in 2022 with joining The Bloodline. The people dying for him to turn on them makes every match he has interesting. Outside of that great run, he pulled the miracle of having an awesome match at WrestleMania with Johnny Knoxville.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Johnny Knoxville, “Anything Goes”, WWE, April 3
• with The Bloodline vs Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Butch, Ridge Holland, & Sheamus, “War Games”, WWE, November 26 (#8 MOTY)
• vs Sheamus, WWE, December 2

#14
Suzu Suzuki

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2021
Matches: 90
Places Worked: WAVE, Stardom, Prominence, JTO, DDT, RJPW, Ice Ribbon, Sendai Girls, MBPW, & GLEAT
Titles Held: Regina Di WAVE Championship & Artist of Stardom Championship with Hiragi Kurumi and Risa Sera
Tournaments: DDT King of Street Wrestling & Stardom 5Star Grand Prix

The real break out star of 2022 for me, Suzu Suzki did it all. From death matches to high drama affairs. Suzu is a future mega star in joshi.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Risa Sera, “Corner Free Weapon Valkyrie Death Match”, Prominence, May 29
• vs Mayu Iwatani, Stardom, September 12
• vs Momo Watanabe, Stardom, September 18
• vs Giulia, Stardom, October 1
• vs Tomoka Inaba, JTO, December 19
• plus more

#13
Utami Hayashishita

Previous Ranking: 2021 (#2)
Years Unranked: none
Matches: 105
Places Worked: Stardom & NJPW
Tournaments: Stardom Cinderella Tournament, Stardom 5Star Grand Prix, IWGP Women’s Title Tournament (semi-final)

Although Utami was pushed down the crowd this year after her previous years of carrying the company, she still managed to have a great year when put into big matches.

Recommended Matches:

• with AZM & Saya Kamitani vs Hazuki, Koguma, & Mayu Iwatani, “Cage”, Stardom, June 26
• vs Syuri, Stardom, July 31
• vs Mayu Iwatani, Stardom, October 23
• vs Syuri, Stardom, November 19
• vs KAIRI, Stardom, December 29
• plus more

#12
Jon Moxley

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2004, 2010, 2015, & 2021
Matches: 63
Places Worked: AEW, GCW, NJPW, WR, DEFY, & NEW
Titles Held: AEW World Championship (twice) & GCW World Championship
Tournament: AEW Grand Slam Tournament of Champions (winner)

I’m not as high on Moxley as others are, as he works a lot of styles I don’t enjoy, but he did have a standout year that can’t be denied.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Wheeler YUTA, AEW, April 6
• vs Daniel Garcia, AEW, June 1
• vs Mike Bailey, WR, June 11
• vs Rush, AEW, July 27
• vs CM Punk, AEW, September 4

#11
AZM

Previous Ranking: 2021 (#24)
Years Unranked: 2015
Matches: 95
Places Worked: Stardom & NJPW
Title Held: High Speed Championship
Tournament: Stardom Cinderella Tournament & Stardom 5Star Grand Prix

A huge year for AZM who ceased being a teenager and became the master of the “High Speed” division. Her innovative speedy with quick near falls style is a wonder to behold and had made great matches from that. The Momo Watanabe feud was a great start of the year too, to see her work an awsome grudge match.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Momo Watanabe, Stardom, January 8
• vs Starlight Kid, Stardom, February 23
• vs Koguma vs Natsupoi, Stardom, March 27
• vs Mei Suruga, Stardom, April 29
• vs Syuri, Stardom, July 30
• plus more

#10
Roman Reigns

Previous Rankings: 2015 (#4) & 2021 (#7)
Years Unranked: 2010
Matches: 52
Place Worked: WWE
Titles Held: WWE Universal Championship & WWE Championship

Roman Reigns is the most old-school ace of a wrestling company that exists today. The number of aired matches he had this year was low, but he delivered in them. His star presence in The Bloodline storyline is unmatched by anyone.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Brock Lesnar, WWE, April 3
• vs Brock Lesnar, “Last Man Standing”, WWE, July 30
• vs Drew McIntyre, WWE, September 3
• with The Bloodline vs Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Butch, Ridge Holland, & Sheamus, “War Games”, WWE, November 26 (#8 MOTY)

#9
Starlight Kid

Previous Ranking: 2021 (#11)
Years Unranked: none
Matches: 113
Places Worked: Stardom & NJPW
Titles Held: High Speed Championship, Goddesses of Stardom Championship with Momo Watanabe, & Artist of Stardom Championship with Momo Watanabe and Saki Kashima
Tournament: Stardom Cinderella Tournament & Stardom 5Star Grand Prix

Starlight Kid really fell into her role as a heel and a defacto leader of Oedi Tai in 2022. Her tag team with Momo Watanabe was amazing.

Recommended Matches:

• vs AZM, Stardom, February 23
• vs KAIRI, Stardom, March 27
• vs Saya Kamitani, Stardom, July 9
• vs Giulia, Stardom, August 27
• vs Mayu Iwatani, Stardom, October 1
• plus more

#8
Miyu Yamashita

Previous Ranking: 2021 (#14)
Years Unranked: 2015
Matches: 65
Places Worked: TJPW, Prestige, EVE, RCW, AEW, Garden State PW, DDT, NOAH, & DPW
Title Held: TJPW Princess of Princess Championship & EVE Championship
Tournaments: TJPW Futari No Princess Max Heart Tournament with Maki Itoh & TJPW Tokyo Princess Cup (semi-finals)

Her kicks still wow me no matter how often I see her work! Miya Yamashita adding a world tour to her awesome TJPW work helped move her into the top 10 for 2022.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Mizuki, TJPW, January 4
• with Maki Itoh vs Hikaru Shida & Moka Miyamoto, TJPW, May 3
• vs Masha Slamovich, Prestige, May 28
• vs Miu Watanabe, TJPW, August 13
• vs Alex Windsor, EVE, November 13
• plus more

#7
Tam Nakano

Previous Ranking: 2021 (#4)
Years Unranked: none
Matches: 107
Places Worked: Stardom & NJPW
Title Held: Goddesses of Stardom with Natsupoi
Tournament: Stardom Cinderella Touranment & Stardom 5Star Grand Prix (finals)

Another tremendous year for Tam Nakano, one of the wrestlers who puts the most thought into her matches and stories than anyone. I loved the feud and then team with Natsupoi and that was all tremendous stuff. The big matches all really delivered.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Saya Kamitani, Stardom, March 27
• vs Natsupoi, “Cage”, Stardom, June 26
• vs Syuri, Stardom, September 23
• vs Giulia, Stardom, October 1 (#5 MOTY)
• with Natsupoi vs Nanae Takahashi & Yuu, Stardom, December 29
• plus more

#6
Sheamus

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2004, 2010, 2015, & 2021
Matches: 83
Place Worked: WWE
Tournament: WWE Royal Rumble

A huge bounce-back year for Sheamus, probably because his friend is running creative and he is getting the babyface chances he excels so well in.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Gunther, WWE, September 3 (#7 MOTY)
• with Butch & Ridge Holland vs Giovanni Vinci, Gunther, & Ludwig Kaiser, “Good Ole Fashioned Donnybrook”, WWE, October 8
• vs Solo Sikoa, WWE, October 21
• with Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Butch, & Ridge Holland vs The Bloodline, “War Games”, WWE, November 26 (#8 MOTY)
• vs Sami Zayn, WWE, December 2

#5
Mayu Iwatani

Previous Rankings: 2015 (#12) & 2021 (#10)
Years Unranked: none
Matches: 106
Places Worked: Stardom & NJPW
Title Held: SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship
Tournaments: Stardom Cinderella Tournament, Stardom 5Star Grand Prix, & IWGP Women’s Title Tournament (finals)

The Icon of Stardom, Mayu Iwatani, proves that she can work anywhere on the card and be great.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Giulia, Stardom, January 29 (#3 MOTY)
• vs Syuri, Stardom, March 27
• vs Starlight Kid, Stardom, October 1
• vs Utami Hayashimta, Stardom, October 23
• vs KAIRI, NJPW/Stardom, November 20 (#4 MOTY)
• plus more

#4
Syuri

Previous Rankings: 2010 (#25) & 2021 (#1)
Years Unranked: 2015
Matches: 105
Places Worked: Stardom & NJPW
Titles Held: SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship, Goddesses of Stardom with Giulia, & World of Stardom Championship
Tournaments: Stardom Cinderella Tournament & Stardom 5Star Grand Prix

There is a lot going on for Syuri in 2022. She was the champion all year, she had some really great matches and really continued her amazing 2021. What drops her down a few slots from last year was a few really dead defences and how long God’s Eye took to really find their place.

Recommended Matches:

• vs MIRAI, Stardom, January 29
• vs Mayu Iwatani, Stardom, March 27
• vs ASUKA, Hana Kimura Memorial, May 4
• vs Utami Hayashimta, Stardom, November 19
• vs Giulia, Stardom, December 29 (#1 MOTY)
• plus more

#3
Bianca Belair

Previous Ranking: 2021 (#9)
Years Unranked: none
Matches: 106
Place Worked: WWE
Title Held: WWE Raw Women’s Championship
Tournament: WWE Royal Rumble

Bianca Belair has really developed into a great ace who steps up in big situations. Of course, she’s a tremendous athlete, but she’s now got down the charisma and ability to engage the crowd like few others.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Becky Lynch, WWE, April 2 (#2 MOTY)
• vs Becky Lynch, WWE, July 30
• with Alexa Bliss & Asuka vs Damage CTRL, WWE, September 3
• vs Io Sky, WWE, September 26
• vs Bayley, “Ladder Match”, WWE, October 8
• plus more

#2
Gunther
aka WALTER

Previous Ranking: none
Years Unranked: 2010, 2015, & 2021
Matches: 83
Places Worked: WWE
Title Held: WWE Intercontinental Championship

WALTER had an amazing year which really took off in the spring when he joined the main roster. Giving a great wrestler the IC Championship was a genius move and lead to so many great matches. The Sheamus feud was amazing, but what I loved was the random throw-away TV defences. His ability to be a dominant champion, but give enough hope to his opponent’s fans was tremendous.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Bron Breakker, NXT, April 5
• vs Sheamus, WWE, September 3 (#7 MOTY)
• with Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser vs Butch, Ridge Holland, & Sheamus, “Good Ole Fashioned Donnybrook”, WWE, October 8
• vs Rey Mysterio, WWE, November 4
• vs Ricochet, WWE, December 16

#1
Giulia

Previous Ranking: 2021 (#16)
Years Unranked: none
Matches: 106
Places Worked: Stardom & NJPW
Titles Held: Goddesses of Stardom with Syuri & World of Stardom
Tournament: Stardom Cinderella Tournament & Stardom 5Star Grand Prix (winner)

The whole year of Giulia felt like a lead-up to her winning the Red Belt from Syuri and that happened on the final show of the year and delivered the match of the year.

She may have some inconsistencies, but in the big matches, she always delivered. She took MIRAI and Thekla under her wing and made them stars, and then took Mai Sakura from being the worst on the Stardom roster and made her a very good and fun part of the undercard.

Giulia feels like the new CM Punk in terms of smarts, but maybe not physically able to pull everything off technically beautifully. The difference comes from Giulia seeming to use her passion for the business in a friendly more cooperative manner than Punk.

This could be her career year, but 2023 will be her year on top and I am excited to see where that goes.

Recommended Matches:

• vs Mayu Iwatani, Stardom, January 29 (#3 MOTY)
• vs Starlight Kid, Stardom, August 27
• vs Suzu Suzuki, Stardom, October 1
• vs Tam Nakano, Stardom, October 1 (#5 MOTY)
• vs Syuri, Stardom, December 29 (#1 MOTY)
• plus more

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