10 Best Wrestlers Of 2022 (So Far)

The professional wrestling news cycle has been as relentless as ever in 2022, with Vince McMahon's misconduct allegations, Cody Rhodes jumping ship, the return of 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, and more understandably dominating the conversation.

But away from the headlines, 2022 has continued the rich form of 2021's latter half. While Japanese wrestling remains hindered by what increasingly feel like archaic restrictions, the sheer volume of accessible, high-level pro wrestling on both sides of the Pacific (and beyond) is almost overwhelming, making articles like this a challenge to compile.

As always, form is vital. Wrestlers that might rank amongst the best on the planet on skill and reputation were not considered without consistently producing worthy work. That's why you won't see the likes of Sasha Banks and Shingo Takagi here. Clearly, such names are amongst the best of their generation, but their 2022 resumes were too thin.

But as important as the body of work is, there's more to this list than ****= matches. Every aspect of performance was considered, from promos and matches to believability, aura, and presence. Consistency is important and floors are as vital as ceilings. A wrestler's significance to their home promotions and the business as a whole was also considered, as well as their relevance to (and ability to position themselves within) the zeitgeist.

For notable omissions, check the list of honourable mentions towards the end.

Let's go...