10 Best Wrestlers Of 2022 (So Far)

6. Will Ospreay

An eternally divisive figure who inspires fierce, passionate appraisals on both sides of the debate, with Will Ospreay, the truth (as is typically the case in situations like this) lies somewhere in the middle.

While not the best wrestler on the planet, Ospreay deserves a spot in the conversation. It has been years since he started marrying his prodigious athleticism to the accepted psychology of modern main event styles. Debates on his selling, storytelling, and structuring are now beyond played out. This isn't to say that everything he does is going to land with everyone who watches it (clearly, this isn't the case), but Ospreay now has a years-long body of work that blows those old complaints out of the water.

What has separated his 2022 from his 2021 thus far is his character's growth. Where once the heel United Empire leader felt like a Conor McGregor clone on his own, Ospreay has made the rowdy, obnoxious European abroad gimmick his own. Increasingly, Will feels like his own man in how he presents himself, having struck a finer balance in how he incorporates this into his matches as well.

And yes, the matches remain spectacular. Forbidden Door's clash of styles with Orange Cassidy, the latest chapter in a career-long rivalry with Zack Sabre Jr. in the New Japan Cup, and the story-rich, territory-style Michael Oku match comprise a top three on par with anyone else on this list.