10 Best Wrestlers Of 2019

6. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Will Ospreay
NJPW

Hiroshi Tanahashi has effectively one bicep now, but because he is such a master of psychology, he has made a feature of a bug; he uses it to further his latter-day role as a weakened lion who lacks the physical prowess of the subsequent generation, but can still beat them on his best day. In short, Tanahashi can lose, and lose, and still elevate. A legitimate contender for the greatest pro wrestler of all time, he has modified his act to usher in his successor.

His classic, all-timer opposite Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom was on a level of depth and psychology those successors haven't yet reached: a spellbinding clash of philosophies, he unleashed a poison 'rana and crashed himself through a table to put Omega's over where his mentality won out. His work with Jay White, beautiful and gripping atonement for last year's misfire, put White over as a genuinely loathed, fiercely intelligent heel. Along similar lines, he sacrificed that bicep to the technical savagery of Zack Sabre, Jr. to further reinforce the Brit as an established upper card presence and threat to the IWGP Heavyweight Title picture.

His G1 wasn't his best, and yet he still managed to put KENTA over as a lethal and more detestable disciple of Katsuyori Shibata in a grand hero versus villain battle.

He is a true Ace, years after losing that status.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!