10 Most Improved Wrestlers Of 2018
Becky Lynch has gone to the next level, but was hers 2018's biggest leap forward?
Honourable mentions are always many on lists like this, so vast is the modern pro-wrestling talent pool.
Carmella's union with R-Truth has transformed her from a tedious, outdated heel to a genuinely fun midcard act, with her in-ring game significantly sharper than at the start of the calendar as well. An incredible indie run has destroyed all memories of Jordan Devlin's dodgy UK Championship Tournament in 2017, justifying his 'Irish Ace' nickname. Juice Robinson continues to grow as a big-match performer in NJPW. Randy Orton went from half-arsed babyface to SmackDown sociopath, Drew McIntyre is performing up to his impending monster push, Elias' crowd control mastery is still growing, and the list goes on.
Found within are the men and women whose 2018 performances almost make their 2017 efforts look embarrassing. Granted, most have benefitted from stronger booking, but that doesn't detract from their progression. Skill, graft, and smarts have helped them take their respective games to the next level. They've spent the past 12 months snapping at the heels of those above them, and in some cases, taken their spots, setting them up for even more great leaps forward as we head into 2019...
10. Tessa Blanchard
Long considered one of the most impressive women's wrestlers not under WWE contract, Tessa Blanchard's Impact Wrestling excellence continues proving Vince McMahon and Triple H wrong for passing on her.
Blanchard has found her niche. A scowling, domineering heel, she has evolved into one of game's most effective villainesses. Tessa is brash, cocky, and headstrong, and her personality compliments and imperious ring style increasingly based around power and control. Matches with the likes of Taya Valkyrie and Su Yung have yielded excellence, and were once Blanchard's image was of a troublesome backstage presence coasting on lineage, 2018 has seen her evolved into a potential headliner who's fast catching up on even WWE's top performers.
The scariest part? Blanchard is 23 years old. Four-and-a-half years is the extent of her experience, yet she commands the ring like a veteran. Imagine how good she'll be when she is a veteran herself.
A fresh Impact deal signed in July keeps her tethered to the promotion until 2020. It's a shame she isn't already plying her trade in a bigger spotlight, but their relationship has been mutually beneficial, and Blanchard's vanguard role will continue in 2019.