10 Wild Outside Bets To Win Wrestler Of The Year 2022

6. Eddie Kingston

Eddie Kingston
AEW

The past few months have ascended Eddie Kingston to top-five Wrestler of the Year status thanks to his incredible, roughneck showings against Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Miro, and more. He is in the form of his life on national television, having long stood as the most believable "performer" in American wrestling and now, with his popularity swelling, it's time for AEW to start building towards him finally winning the big one.

Kingston turned an arena of people against CM Punk a few weeks ago. His pops are always amongst the loudest in AEW - and it's easy to see why. Hard, rugged, and real, but also relatable, Kingston's real-life story is greater than anything a wrestler booker could ever conceive. That he's so willing to openly discuss mental health issues in public makes him even easier to support, even when his onscreen character isn't always the most altruistic.

Such is the genius of Kingston. He does what he has to do to survive, willing you to root for him through every struggle, which is what makes him among the best wrestlers in the world. On current form, in 2022... he might be the best.

A sustained push towards the top of the pile culminating in the most cathartic main-event triumph towards the end of the year may cement that.

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Channel Manager
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.