The pro wrestling news cycle has been as relentless as ever in 2022, with allegations of misconduct by Vince McMahon, Cody Rhodes jumping ship, the return of ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and, understandably, dominating the discussion. But away from the headlines, 2022 continued the rich form of the second half of 2021. While Japanese wrestling is still hampered by increasingly archaic restrictions, the sheer volume of accessible, high-level professional wrestling on both sides of the Pacific ( and beyond) is almost overwhelming, making it a challenge to compile articles like this one. As always, form is vital. Wrestlers who could rank among the best on the planet in terms of skill and reputation were not considered without consistently producing worthy work. That’s why you won’t see the likes of Sasha Banks and Shingo Takagi here. Clearly, such names are among the best of their generation, but their 2022 resumes were very thin. But as important as the body of work is, there’s more to this list than ****= matches. Every aspect of the performance was considered, from promos and matches to fidelity, aura and presence. Consistency is important and floors are as vital as ceilings. A wrestler’s importance to their home promotions and the business as a whole was also examined, as well as their relevance to (and ability to place within) the zeitgeist. For notable omissions, check the list of honorable mentions towards the end. Let’s go… Posted on: July 12, 2022
