20 Absolute Best Wrestlers In The World Right Now

6. WALTER

Tetsuya Naito
Twitter, @ThisIs_Progress

The beauty of WALTER's work is its simplicity. The burly Austrian doesn't necessarily do anything you haven't seen before, but his execution is flawless. He's a man who understands the importance of great fundamentals, and his mastery of the little things has created a wrestler incapable of having a bad match, and one that's as good as anyone in the world on his best day.

He's only 30 years old, but WALTER wrestles like a man who's been doing this for decades. His nickname, 'Der Ringgeneral,' is entirely appropriate, as he commands the squared circle with presence and authority, bullying anyone who can't stay on his level. Technically, he's about as good as it gets. His strikes are stiff, his submissions snug, and his suplexes sublime, putting him on a similar level to Keith Lee as a three-dimensional big man, only without the flips.

Having opened countless new eyes to his skills in 2017, WALTER looks set to break out this year, and has finally become a regular fixture among major American indies. Look for his global reputation to go through the roof in 2018, with thousands of newcomers realising what European fans have known for years - that WALTER is a phenomenal performer.

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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.