10 Best In-Ring Workers In WWE Right Now
The Kings are aptly named.
WWE's episodic television remains a wildly inconsistent beast. Monday's episode of RAW featured an absolutely brutal and gripping angle in which Braun Strowman annihilated Roman Reigns while also giving us such eye-rolling scripted lines as "If you wanna come shut my mouth and make me leave, I'm standin' right here!"
One thing that is a constant is match quality.
In an era in which WWE has finally embraced smaller and more compact athletes, the excellent and varied roster reflects the sea change. Competition for the very best in-ring talent has arguably never been more fierce.
The nature of such a subjective endeavour means that this list is far from definitive - but to root it in logic and an attempt at some impartiality, body of work compiled within WWE is an overarching factor. As phenomenal as Cesaro is, with the exception of a minor classic opposite John Cena in 2015, he hasn't yet been permitted to fully live up to his endless potential.
Conversely, Randy Orton is not included. As gifted as he is, as great and believable as some of his matches have been, his big match record is as schizophrenic as the character he portrays. His recent form has been both mundane and bizarre - an almost fitting paradox for a man who is at once great and disappointing.
Orton is not the only omission likely to raise eyebrows - but one man's Big Match John is another's sloppy STF...
10. The Revival
The Revival team of Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder have reconciled old schools and new as well as any act on the modern wrestling landscape.
Heels cannot be heels (largely) anymore because those perceived as great workers are automatically respected by the more savvy portion of the audience. Those perceived as unable to present good matches are the real heels, but the heat generated, of the channel-changing variety, is ineffective. The Revival - an honourable mention for the aforementioned list - have simultaneously commanded the respect of the discerning set and antagonised them by perfecting the blind tag chicanery of the heel tandems of yore.
Their inventively underhanded tactics, particularly in matches opposite American Alpha and #DIY, were fused seamlessly with the level of athleticism expected from modern talents.
The Revival's matches are invariably received as the thrillers they are - but the real magic within them exists in the moment. Their evident and respected talent is rightly hailed in the aftermath, but in those moments, the heat was off the charts. Fans allowed themselves to suspend their disbelief and connect with the plight of their wronged babyface opponents, albeit fleetingly.
Such emotional responses are largely a thing of the past. The Revival name is completely apt.