20 Absolute Best Wrestlers In The World Right Now
Simply Phenomenal.
Professional wrestling's global talent pool is impossibly vast.
The bar has never been so high, and with world-class performers present everywhere from the grimiest European indie promotions all the way up to WWE's glitzy, glossy heights, keeping up with everything has become a monstrous task. Harder still is picking these wrestlers apart and determining who's truly worthy of 'Best In The World' status, but we're going to give it a go regardless.
Everyone has a different opinion on what determines wrestler's quality, so we're going to keep it simple, with each one judged on the full breadth of their performance skills. In-ring chops, character portrayal, and microphone ability are all factors, as are intangibles like presence, aura, and charisma. Anything outwith the wrestler's control, like push and creative direction, is not.
Notable omissions are inevitable. There are literally thousands of great wrestlers out there, and dozens of hard cuts were made. There's no place for the likes of Sasha Banks, Finn Balor, and Cesaro as a result, which doesn't mean they aren't exceptional, but that they're not quite working to a top 20 standard at the moment.
Let the arguing commence...
20. Ember Moon
2017 wasn't a vintage year for women's wrestling in WWE. The so-called "Revolution" slowed to a crawl on the main roster, with trendsetters Becky Lynch, Bayley, and Sasha Banks all marginalised. SmackDown devolved into a faceless mess of crowded multi-person feuds, preventing anyone from standing out, and only Alexa Bliss emerged as a genuine Raw highlight.
Fortunately, NXT's women were able to completely outshine their main roster counterparts throughout the year, and while Asuka's epic title run occupied much of the focus, a new ace emerged beneath her.
Ember Moon is a tremendous worker. She's as skilled as anyone in the company, displays great fire from bell-to-bell, and has perhaps the most dazzling finisher in WWE today. Sure, her character work isn't of the same level, but it's impossible to complain about the matches - particularly those with Asuka.
Their TakeOver: Orlando bout was great, but they took it to a different level in Brooklyn. They told the compelling story of Asuka being made to resort to increasingly vicious, devious tactics to put the challenger away, and while Ember lost, she eventually took the Women's Title in 'The Empress Of Tomorrow's' absence, and will anchor the division throughout 2018.