20 Absolute Best Wrestlers In The World Right Now

3. Kazuchika Okada

Kazuchika Okada
NJPW

Injury-stricken and very much slotting into the Take It Easy In Smaller Matches phase of his career he may be, but Kazuchika Okada seems hell-bent on putting his struggling home promotion on his back and carrying it through this, its 50th anniversary year.

His 2022 upturn has been tangible. One of the greatest of all time he may be, but Okada has rarely been NJPW's most compelling wrestler since the pandemic commenced, his slow-burning, crowd-reliant style suffering in vast buildings full of fans forbidden from chanting and cheering. Now, he has clicked back into gear. Restoring his aura at Wrestle Kingdom 16, where he defeated Will Ospreay and Shingo Takagi on consecutive nights, he once again feels like the biggest of big deals - and the IWGP World Heavyweight Title just feels right around his waist during this important year.

Okada's latest match with Tetsuya Naito stands as his most impressive in recent months. As story-rich as ever, it was a tighter, more technical battle than the New Japan house style has typically churned out during the pandemic, and entirely more appropriate for the setting. Focusing more on the intricate moments of battle without sacrificing emotion hopefully provided the blueprint from which Okada will operate for the rest of this anniversary period.

If he does, he might be the clubhouse favourite for Wrestler of the Year.

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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.