10 Wrestlers Having An Incredible 2022
8. Wheeler Yuta
A year ago, Wheeler YUTA was a virtual unknown in the mainstream. By the end of the year he was a regular on NJPW Strong and AEW’s YouTube shows. He had even found his way onto Dynamite as a stand in for injured Best Friend Trent Beretta, but was just one of a many talented young guys struggling to stand out in the promotions bloated roster.
This year, YUTA has exploded, through a trio of bangers with John Moxley and defection from Best Friends to the Blackpool Combat Club. The young man became a star as he daubed the initials BCC on his chest using his own blood.
The transformation was so quick, it was like Tony Khan was a cool kid in a high school movie, who had taken a a bet to turn an unassuming nobody into the coolest wrestler in school in time for prom. If that metaphor is a tortuous mess, blame the head scrambling excitement of watching YUTA’s dramatic speed run to greatness. It’s been enough to leave a poor writer giddily inarticulate.
The ROH Pure Champion is now standing alongside Bryson Danielson, Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli - and not looking out of place in AEW’s hottest and most bad ass stable.