AEW
The pro wrestling news cycle has been as relentless as ever in 2022, with Vince McMahon’s allegations of misconduct, Cody Rhodes’ jump, the return of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and more understandably dominating the conversation.
But away from the headlines, 2022 continued the rich form of the second half of 2021. While Japanese wrestling remains hampered by what increasingly feel like archaic restrictions, the sheer volume of accessible high-level professional wrestling on both sides of the Pacific (and beyond) is almost overwhelming, making articles like this a challenge to compile.
As always, form is vital. Wrestlers who could rank among the best on the planet in terms of skill and reputation were overlooked without consistently producing decent 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 resumes for 2022 were too sparse.
But as important as the body of work is, there are more than ****= matches on this list. Every aspect of the presentation was addressed, from promos and matches to credibility, 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 considered, as was their importance to (and ability to position themselves in) the zeitgeist.
For notable omissions, check the list of honorable mentions towards the end.
Let’s go…
Posted on: July 12, 2022
Add Comment