10 Best Wrestlers Of 2022 (So Far)

9. Cody Rhodes

Injuries and contractual issues mean Cody Rhodes has barely been on television compared to some of the other wrestlers on this list. Nonetheless, when 'The American Nightmare' has been box office since 2021 ticked into 2022, inside the ring and out.

His resume is remarkable for somebody who has missed so much time. Most obvious is the Seth Rollins feud, which delivered an upturn in in-ring quality each time out, even with the duo facing each other three times in two months (typically a kiss of death in WWE). In a promotion that often specialises in popcorn over substance between the ropes, Rollins and Rhodes told layered, clever bell-to-bell stories, particularly in their trilogy's finale, showing the value of creative freedom in this heavily-agented world.

Beyond the obvious Rollins bouts is the Sammy Guevara ladder match. Hailed as one of the stipulation's best in years, it effectively sent Cody out of AEW on his shield, having worked his hide off to put his opponent over (even if it didn't pan out for Sammy in the end).

That so much of the wrestling world has revolved around Rhodes in 2022 strengthens his case further. If his sporadic output doesn't warrant inclusion alone, his relevance does. For a while, barely a day passed without his careful, strategic manipulation of the conversation ensuring that no matter how muddied his motivations became, Cody's name was always on our lips.