20 Absolute Best Wrestlers In The World Right Now

9. Chris Jericho

Note to every other veteran in the game: this is how you age gracefully.

A master of constant reinvention, Chris Jericho has found one of his most compelling forms as 'Le Champion.' He has always played a scumbag heel exceptionally well, but this deluded, ageing rockstar gimmick is electric. In kayfabe, 'The Alpha' still thinks he's 25 years old despite his declining athleticism and physique, which plays into his wrestling style as well. Now primarily a brawler, Jericho's regular flashes of his older forms (the Lionsaults, countering a Hiroshi Tanahashi leap into a Codebreaker) are never anything other than perfectly-timed, keeping him tethered to his more visually-dazzling past through this essential evolution.

There's an argument that Jericho is too entertaining to be a heel champion. It has merit, though the man's innate ability to turn cheers into jeers through his work is as good as ever. Regardless, even if the positive reactions become strong enough to necessitate a face turn, there's a readymade feud with MJF waiting for the former 'Y2J.' Given AEW's under-the-radar efforts in presenting the duo's parallels every single week on Dynamite, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see that before 2020 ends.