20 Absolute Best Wrestlers In The World Right Now
19. Takashi Sugiura
The oldest wrestler on our list at 48, Pro Wrestling NOAH's Takashi Sugiura has been at it since 2000, but has never delivered an in-ring year as impressive as his 2018.
Post-Kazuchika Okada, Sugiura was the best 'World Champion' figure in wrestling. A 280-day GHC Heavyweight Title reign began with a surprise win over Kenoh, the former junior heavyweight the promotion seemed to be building their new-look main event scene around. Sugiura would go on to defend it against such NOAH luminaires as Naomichi Marufuji, Katsuhiko Nakajima, and Go Shiozaki, before eventually passing it over to former protege Kaito Kiyomiya in December. The Shiozaki and Marufuji bouts were particularly impressive. Both encapsulated everything that's special about Sugiura's blunt-force approach, and with their myriad of dangerously stiff strikes, toughness, and fighting spirit, they were closer to true Strong Style than anything put forth by NJPW in 2018.
Proof that pro-wrestling need not be complicated to be compelling, Sugiura might not work on one of wrestling's biggest stages, but his high-level output is must-watch material for anyone who likes their wrestlers to beat the absolute sh*t out of each other. He's a violent delight of a performer.
2018 ranking: n/a.