Top 100 Wrestlers Of 2018: 100-81

In honor of the PWI 500, we’ve decided to present our own ranking of the greatest wrestlers over the past year.

(Full disclosure: Juan Bautista suggested compiling a list of 500 wrestlers by himself, but we can’t afford to lose any more writers to death.)

Our ranking differs from the PWI 500 because we use math. Well, at least we try to. Sam Gladen pitched the idea that we all submit our own list of the top 100 wrestlers of 2018, and each ranking represents points. For example, #1 = 100 points, #2 = 99 points, etc.

At the end, we’d calculate who had the most points and assign ranking from there.

So, without further ado, here are 100-81.

100. Dolph Ziggler (66 points)

Dolph Ziggler revitalized his career this year, making a surprise return at the Royal Rumble before jumping to Raw and bringing Drew McIntyre in as his partner. He also added another Intercontinental and Tag Team Title run to his impressive resume. – John Corrigan

99. Kushida (67 points)

After losing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in October of 2017, Kushida fought all year long to regain the gold. A freak accident provided him the opportunity he’d been waiting for, as he won a four-man tournament to win the title for the sixth time. – John Corrigan

98. Matt Sydal (69 points)

The artist formerly known as Evan Bourne reinvented himself this year, opening his third eye and embracing his true spiritual beliefs. This self-realization paved the way for Sydal to better understand his opponents as well as himself in the ring, allowing him to win the X-Division Championship. – John Corrigan

97. Nikki Cross (70 points)

She had a quiet 2018 overall with only a couple of championship matches, but she dominated the late summer and early fall by playing a crucial part in knowing who attacked Aleister Black. – Juan Bautista

96. Lio Rush (72 points)

Pound for pound one of the best young wrestlers in the world, Lio Rush is a firecracker just waiting to explode. I wish we saw more of him on 205 Live, but I love what he’s doing currently as the mouthpiece for Big Bobby Lashley. – Sam Gladen

95. Kassius Ohno (77 points)

I won’t lie, I was a little surprised to see Ohno on this list, as he’s really taken a backseat since returning to NXT as a player-coach to the rising stars. No longer is he seen as a rising star, though maybe this is all just a work to try and rejuvenate him as just that? I did see a picture of him on the basketball court looking a little leaner than usual. Of course, he was also wearing black, and as he’s shown, white is just not a very flattering color. – Jack Goodwillie

94. Marty the Moth (78 points)

“The Moth” is a guy who has been on my radar for a few years, but who I didn’t pay enough attention to until he won the Lucha Underground Title. Not only does he win convincingly – he loses convincingly. – Sam Gladen

93. Kay Lee Ray (79 points)

The Queen of Insanity. She left her mark on the SSE Hydro by beating Viper for the ICW Women’s Championship. She has no signs of slowing down. – Juan Bautista

92. WALTER (80 points)

The baddest chops on the planet and the current Defiant Internet Champion. – Juan Bautista

91. Sanada (81 points) / Taya Valkyrie (81 points)

A member of Los Ingobernables de Japon, Sanada ruled the tag team ranks of NJPW for most of the year, holding the IWGP Tag Team Championship with EVIL. They finished off strong, too, winning World Tag League for the second straight year. – John Corrigan

Taya Valkyrie had a nice year inside and outside the ring, marrying John Morrison over the summer, and then returning to Impact as the babyface foil to Tessa Blanchard. As of the this writing, Valkyrie has JUST won the Impact Knockouts Championship for the first time, and at 35, has really begun to hit her stride with the Sexy Star-AAA controversy firmly behind her. – Jack Goodwillie

90. John Cena (82 points)

It’s good that’s he stepping away. 2018 has allowed almost every critic to reflect and evaluate his run. – Juan Bautista

89. RUSH (83 points)

The leader of Los Ingobernables stirred up quite a storm in the wrestling world, receiving offers from promotions throughout the world. RUSH remained the biggest star in CMLL while debuting for MLW and Ring of Honor. – John Corrigan

88. Elias (84 points)

The Drifter has come a long way, winning over the WWE (Walk With Elias) Universe with his riveting songs and weekly roasts of whichever city he performs in. It was only a matter of time before he became a fan favorite, and so far he’s been backing it up in the ring in a series with Bobby Lashley. – John Corrigan

87. L.A. Park (85 points)

When I was in middle school, Park was one of my very favorite wrestlers and also my favorite character to play as in WCW vs. NWO Revenge. That he’s back wrestling and looking the way he does 20 years later feels so miraculous that I’m entertaining the possibility that Salina de la Renta does, in fact, practice witchcraft. His matches are train wrecks that you can’t look away from, which I mean as a compliment. – David Gibb

86. Cedric Alexander (86 points) / Moose (86 points)

He spent most of 2018 as Cruiserweight Champion and carried what best could be described as a fledgling division. – Juan Bautista

Before his heel turn, I campaigned for Moose to become the face of Impact. With his NFL background, catchy entrance theme, jaw dropping athleticism, Hollywood looks and natural charisma, Moose was tailor-made for the Hulk Hogan position of the rejuvenated company. Now I see Moose in a whole new light. He’s a fresh, fantastic villain who astutely tiptoes between comedy act and monster. His gaudy outfits, perpetual grin and newfound foul mouth have revitalized his character, while his stellar in-ring work remains intact, if not polished up now that he plays the heel role. Eli Drake often draws comparisons to The Rock, but Moose is beginning to more closely resemble The Great One. – John Corrigan

85. Hiromu Takahashi (87 points)

Takahashi was well on his way to making 2018 his year, having won the Best of the Super Juniors Tournament as well as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken neck during a title defense at the G1 Special in July and has yet to return to action. – John Corrigan

84. The Usos (88 points)

The hit makers, dream killers and wardens of the USO Penitentiary. The Usos were in WWE long before their run in black began, but they found their stride when allowed to walk the grey line between face and heel. – Sam Gladen

83. Chris Jericho (89 points)

Jericho’s latest rebirth as a wide-framed foreign psycho in New Japan was among the biggest and best surprises of 2018. With the success of his self-promoted cruise and rumors of his involvement in the full-time promotional game swirling, the former Y2J may have wrestling’s most sought-after cell phone number in the early months of 2019. – David Gibb

82. Asuka (90 points)

Asuka won the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble and after a rough patch in 2018, she has gained most her momentum by ending 2018 as SmackDown Women’s Champion. – Juan Bautista

81. Carmella (91 points)

A talented performer, Carmella effortlessly shifted from heel to face throughout the year, without changing anything aside from her hair. More of a character than a wrestler, the Princess of Staten Island really came into her own this year, cashing in on Charlotte to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship and having a brief stranglehold on the division. – John Corrigan