10 Best Wrestlers Of 2021

3. Shingo Takagi

While NJPW's current problems stretch beyond pandemic-related restrictions, said restrictions are still unquestionably one of the biggest factors behind the company's diminished show quality.

Clap crowds are no fun. They're an unfortunate necessity and reality in this era, and have likely helped stave off COVID's creep at Japanese live events, but while the safety concerns make them easy to accept, they still hurt the shows. Events aren't as enjoyable when the audience's noise levels can't meet the effort put forth in the ring, with the environment particularly detrimental to New Japan's house style, which isn't as stiff as, say, NOAH's.

Shingo Takagi is the one NJPW wrestler who appears to be immune to this.

The reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has had an outstanding year despite his environment's obvious limitations. It helps that he's such a robust, dynamic performer and hits harder than almost anyone else on his roster, but this shouldn't be used to reduce The Dragon's 2021 accomplishments, and nor should the lack of impressive individual bodies of work elsewhere on that roster.

Starting the year with a bang opposite Jeff Cobb, Takagi has demonstrated his range with details-first showings against Hiroshi Tanahashi, bombastic displays in the Will Ospreay series, a war of attrition with fellow hammer-thrower Tomohiro Ishii, and a struggle of brawn vs. technique against Zack Sabre Jr. He carries himself like he owns every building he walks into and has a charisma that fills even these sparsely-populated, noiseless spaces. Hopefully, what he has done this year will warrant continued focus in 2021, as nobody is currently doing more to keep NJPW watchable.