20 Absolute Best Wrestlers In The World Right Now

5. Kota Ibushi

Kota Ibushi G1 Climax
NJPW

There isn't a mineral on this earth purer than Kota Ibushi's pro-wrestling heart, though this may have been shattered at Wrestle Kingdom 14, with the 'Golden Star' entering a dead-eyed fugue state against both Kazuchika Okada and Jay White.

'The Rainmaker' unleashed the killer in Ibushi. Raining stiff, thudding blows on the IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Ibushi looked more like he was trying to kill the man rather than pin him and take his title. Something similar happened while wrestling White, and his failure to defeat both men looks like it's about to set Ibushi off on a full year of straight-up murdering the competition.

Being the pure-spirited 'Golden Star' couldn't bring him the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Concussing everyone might.

A phenomenal competitor of prodigious speed, strength, agility, and impact he may be, but boiling Ibushi down to physical parts undersells him. It's his soul that burns brightest. Ibushi is an incandescent bolt of light through every arena he performs in, and watching him work this new, darker character when he and Hiroshi Tanahashi inevitably fail to become IWGP Tag Team Champions promises to be just as exhilarating as the past year was.

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.