20 Absolute Best Wrestlers In The World Right Now
10. Zack Sabre Jr.
You won't find a purer technical wrestler than Zack Sabre Jr. anywhere in the world.
His mat mastery is, quite frankly, astounding. Flowing seamlessly from one submission hold to another, he has updated the classic British World Of Sport style to please modern palettes, as is essential in a post-UFC world. The result is a highly believable virtuoso capable of tying anyone in knots, but quite comfortable shifting his gameplan to incorporate shoot style strikes as and when required.
The details are key with ZSJ. Not content to just slap on an armbar and wait it out, he, much like a mixed martial artists, is always working to improve his position. He'll start by seizing your arm, then take things a step further by twisting your elbow out of position, then grab a hand and start going for fingers. This is what helps separate him from every other grapple-happy wrestler in the world, an elevates his matches beyond mere technical exhibitions.
Always at his most compelling when working heel, Sabre ended 2017 as a top-level villain almost everywhere he worked. Expect him to continue treading a similar path in 2018.