Ranking Who Was Really The Man In Wrestling Every Year 1990-2020

4. 2017 - Kenny Omega

Austin Jericho
NJPW

Kenny Omega shattered the world of professional wrestling in 2017, following which everything related, in some way, to him. He actually changed the questions.

His seminal match with Kazuchika Okada on January 4 redefined the depth and exhilaration of professional wrestling storytelling and left the old standard in its wake. Seth Rollins could only combine the ripcord and the V-Trigger. He could not equal it. Nobody could; this was the match that set in motion the post-monopoly chapter of professional wrestling because there was no going back from it.

And still, Omega and Okada conspired to better it in June of that year.

Omega also proved himself a true draw, the first in the U.S. of real significance outside of WWE post-2001, as a devil's sky darkened the outlook for WWE's grip on the industry.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!