Post by Peep's Naitch on Sept 1, 2018 22:08:18 GMT -5
Pro Wrestling Illustrated, the Bible of professional wrestling has released this year's ranking of its best 500 wrestlers. And being tops on the list is current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega.
Being ranked fifth last year, Omega has earned his spot after having what some people have called the match trilogy of the decade with Kazuchika Okada, also winning the IWGP US Championship, having a great feud with WWE superstar Chris Jericho and finally winning the IWGP Championship, while being the backbone of New Japan, marks a strong yearly output of great workrate and memorable matches.
AJ Styles had a great year as the flagship of the WWE, winning the WWE Championship 2 times as well as having the US Championship in some very good matches with Shinsuke Nakamura, John Cena and Samoa Joe, all while carrying the company on his back.
Kazuchika Okada, last year's number 1, had a great year. But his impact was not as good as last year's transcendent effort. Although he had great matches, he didn't sustain his excellence consistent with being number 1,although it was close.
Brock Lesnar spent most of the year as WWE Universal Champion, with big feuds with Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe among the programs. The problem was, his limited work schedule had him wrestling on tv or ppv once every 3 months. So his work rate was very small compared to everyone else in the top 10.
Seth Rollins was once again the cog that made Raw go last year. A memorable run with the Intercontinental championship, as well as his timing and skill in the ring with Dolph Ziggler and other shows that he can be number 1 next year.
The 2018 PWI 500 Top Ten
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1) Kenny Omega
2) A.J. Styles
3) Kazuchika Okada
4) Brock Lesnar
5) Seth Rollins
And the rest of the top 10:
6) Braun Strowman
7) Roman Reigns
8) Cody Rhodes
9) Tetsuya Naito
10)The Miz
The PWI 500 rankings are judged on matches and workrate from the period of July 31, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The ranking is voted on by the editors and writers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
Credit:
www.cagesideseats.com/2018/8/29/17796130/pwi-500-2018-kenny-omega-top-wrestler-second-straight-non-wwe-wrestler-named-number-one