Predicting The 10 Best Wrestlers In The World Five Years From Now

10. Shota Umino

Shooter!

Shota Umino is so good that 'Shota Umino is going to be an exceptional main event talent one day' is a Hot Take.

He has already shown prodigious instincts for wrestling as a Young Lion, which is a huge indication of his potential. The Young Lion by design is only permitted to use a set number of moves, in order to reinforce the fundamentals of pacing, footwork, and projection, and they are also mandated to wear black, under the mentality that only the quality is visible. And Shota's quality is.

Instantly targeted by fans for his fire and ability to pull them into his matches, of course NJPW recognised this, too, by making the unusual and telling decision to pair him with Ace Hiroshi Tanahashi in this year's New Japan Cup. In yet another exceptional year for the art, this was, lowkey, perhaps the most impressive match.

Using virtually none of the resources that inform the drama of a big league contest, Tanahashi and Umino crafted a lesson in meaning, building towards a simple roll-up spot, from nothing, that in storylines would have meant everything to Shota's career.

His other high-profile pairing, his delightful association with Jon Moxley, coaxed the deadpan star potential within.