10 Most Improved Wrestlers Of 2018

4. Buddy Murphy

NXT TakeOver Chicago 2 Tommaso Ciampa
WWE.com

205 Live's brass ring-grabbing Cruiserweight Champion is in the form of his life. A highlight every time he steps between the ropes on weekly TV, Super Show-Down and Survivor Series let Buddy Murphy showcase his awesome talents on a bigger stage. Hardcore fans have been in the know for a while, but now, everyone knows he's one of WWE's hardest working wrestlers, and, on his day, a first-class big-match performer.

While many still consider life on WWE's most neglected brand a death sentence, Murphy has thrived. The company had done precisely nothing with him since his NXT partnership with Wesley Blake dissolved. Now, he's the leading man on his own show, and we must commend him for the graft that brought him this opportunity. Matches against the likes of Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander show that not only is he one of 2018's most improved wrestlers, but a performer who still isn't close to hitting his full potential as a character or in-ring bruiser, building excitement for a heavyweight run later down the line.

Not bad for a guy who looked a surefire candidate for release 12 months ago.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.