50 Best Wrestlers Of The 2020s (So Far)
31. Eddie Kingston
After years of grinding away to the adoration of millions of indie wrestling fans, Eddie Kingston has become one of the most universally beloved and respected wrestlers of the decade. And it was in not compromising a lick that he managed to forge such a strong relationship with a brand new audience.
In an industry often built on polish and fraudulent personas, Kingston stood out for being unapologetically real from the moment he debuted on AEW television just weeks removed from almost selling his boots to pay rent.
In the time since (and what a miss he's been since going down injured in early-2024) Kingston has delivered some of the decade’s most emotionally charged performances. His match with Jon Moxley at Full Gear 2020 was a grisly and unforgettable war that showcased Kingston’s ability to make every strike in the match and word in the build-up feel like life or death. The contest - despite what some felt it might have scanned as - was so much more than a belated "attaboy" for the 'Mad King'. His feud with CM Punk and their payoff match at Full Gear 2021 lasted less than a month in total but the fire burned so brightly from end-to-gripping-end that many consider it the best complete storyline the company has every produced.
Fans see themselves in his struggles, triumphs, and imperfections. In an era without monoculture, he is a much-needed solidifying and galvanising force of nature.