20 Absolute Best Wrestlers In The World Right Now

11. Meiko Satomura

Daniel Bryan Best In The World
WWE.com

Io Shirai and Toni Storm both shone in the 2018 Mae Young Classic, but neither stood out like Meiko Satomura - the multi-talented "final boss" of the Japanese joshi scene, who was immediately presented as a tournament favourite.

Storm would knock Satomura off in the semi-finals, but a tournament-best clash with Mercedes Martinez, coupled with a dominant shellacking of Killer Kelly, brought Meiko's talents to the global stage. Nobody who knew her work before WWE was surprised. A dominant, imposing ring general, Satomura has long been considered the best female wrestler in the world on merit, and while she isn't the highest-ranking female on this list, she is the most impressive female grappler not currently plying her trade in WWE.

Her Sendai Girls promotion is joshi's most consistent. She competes there regularly, but also for organisations as diverse as DDT and the UK's Fight Club Pro, and recently dropped into Tokyo Joshi Pro to teach rising star Reika Saiki a bruising lesson in respect. Age has blunted none of the 39-year-old's spirit, power, or athleticism, and only WALTER commands a ring with such respect, regardless of gender.

2018 ranking: n/a.

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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.