10 Best Wrestlers Of 2018
4. Zack Sabre Jr
An off-hand reference by Dave Meltzer to a Spanish summer squabble in Spain between Zack Sabre Jr and Madrid local A-Kid sent thousands rushing to find footage online, so assured now is the Brit's reputation as a very special talent indeed.
The gritty contest delivering in such emphatic fashion wasn't even a surprise - 'ZSJ's been pulling as many good matches out of his a*se as he has limbs out of sockets in 2018, and already looks established as part of the New Japan Pro Wrestling upper-midcard heading into another big year for the expanding outfit.
Pushed hard and living up to the booking early in the year, Zack's New Japan Cup victory came with wins over Tetsuya Naito, Kota Ibushi, SANADA and Hiroshi Tanahashi. It was the toughest route to glory from the entire bracket, and he stopped them all with his peerless submission game. Those wins earned him a shot against then-infallible IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis, and he nearly bent the 'Rainmaker' to breaking point.
Okada's mastery as unstoppable defending champion notwithstanding, Zack ripped and tore at the titleholder's aching limbs with such scientific skill that he captured the typical nervous energy through submission attempts rather than near-falls. He'd get his win just months later too, cleanly going over Okada at Altrincham's Strong Style Evolved supershow ahead of a G1 Climax in which he excelled despite a talent-rich B Block.
Though his style commands rigorous attention, his body won't absorb similar suffering. At just 31, Zack might only just be getting started.