10 Best Wrestlers Of 2019 (So Far)

4. Shingo Takagi

Best In The World Johnny Gargano
njpw1972.com

NJPW have handled Shingo Takagi marvellously since the former Dragon Gate standout debuted King of Pro Wrestling 2018.

Arriving as Los Ingobernables de Japon's Mr. X, 'The Dragon' was immediately presented as an overpowered Junior Heavyweight brute bludgeoning New Japan's lighter weight class with bruising power and concussive Pumping Bomber lariats. His 2019 started with a big win as he and BUSHI became Junior Heavyweight Tag Champions. Roppongi 3K took those straps two months later, but Takagi was the highlight in every two-on-two he competed in and didn't eat a single pinfall or submission along the way, establishing him as the clear Best of the Super Juniors XXVI tournament favourite.

BOSJ was where Shingo's year came alive. Besting rival SHO in a bitter night one grudge match, a staggeringly prolific streak took Takagi to the finals via standout matches with Dragon Lee, Taiji Ishimori, Marty Scurll, and more. Finally, after years of Dragon Gate excellence, the gym class bully was having his way with Japan's biggest promotion, and no puny junior could stand his way.

A superfluous tourney finale with Will Ospreay followed. Shingo lost, but it mattered not: he had already emerged as a future Tokyo Dome headliner.

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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.

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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