10 Best Wrestlers Of 2019 (So Far)

9. Bayley

Best In The World Johnny Gargano
WWE

From the depths of despair in 2018 to the pinnacle of the profession a year later, Bayley's journey to blue brand supremacy has been as challenging as the rest of her main roster career, but 2019 reflects the best consistent period she's had in the company since her 2016 call-up.

Contesting the most underrated match of Ronda Rousey's remarkable run, 'The Hugger' then moved into the tag team ranks with Sasha Banks to help establish new doubles straps the pair had clearly campaigned hard for.

Rewarded with what appeared to be a passion project run across all brands, the pair were perplexingly put out to pasture by The IIconics in a WrestleMania 35 four-way that had ramifications still being felt months later.

Infuriated by the wanton destruction of all they'd worked for, 'The Boss' pied her bosses entirely, freeing Bayley up for a singles stint on SmackDown that has thus far totally transformed her career. Finding the edge her brilliantly-drawn NXT persona occasionally deployed, she claimed the Money In The Bank contract and SmackDown Women's Championship on the same night, earning thunderous reactions in the process.

Booking is everything with Bayley - 2019's thus far been a welcome reminder that the wrestling is evidently the easy bit.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett