Top 100 Wrestlers Of 2018: 80-61

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.

Find 100-81 here.

So, without further ado, here are 80-61.

80. Tama Tonga (92 points)

One half of the most imposing tag teams in NJPW and the leader of one of the most exciting factions in New Japan today. The BCOG’s Tama Tonga is legitimately scary and a hell of a worker. – Sam Gladen

79. Eddie Edwards (93 points)

A baseball bat to the face changed Eddie Edwards’ career. Whether it was a freak accident or intentional is still up for debate, but he (and Sami Callihan as well as Impact Wrestling) capitalized on the incident. Edwards descended into madness, gaining some much-needed personality and emerging as a beloved lunatic. – John Corrigan

78. Nick Aldis (94 points)

What needs to be said that can’t be gleamed from the gold around his waist. The NWA doesn’t put the title on just anyone and it certainly doesn’t happen twice. Nick Aldis is truly the national treasure. – Sam Gladen

77. Rey Mysterio (98 points)

Making a glorious return at the Royal Rumble, Rey Mysterio spent the year in and out of WWE with the highest-profile match being a 6-man tag at ALL IN. – Juan Bautista

76. Jake Hager (99 points)

When the former Jack Swagger left WWE a few years ago and began to pursue mixed martial arts, few pundits pegged him as a potential main event in Lucha Underground or a “stud” under the charge of Colonel Robert Parker in MLW. As someone with thousands of reps and valuable big-time TV experience, Hager seems destined to stay relevant during this new boom in wrestling television. – David Gibb

75. Tenille Dashwood (100 points)

WWE’s loss has been ROH’s gain. Easily the most recognizable woman in the company’s fledgling division, Tenille Dashwood surprisingly didn’t win the Women of Honor World Title this year. Certainly she will before all is said and done, and that’s despite battling an autoimmune disease, skin condition and shoulder injury. – John Corrigan

74. MJF (103 points)

The 22-year-old is the personification of entitled millennial, dressing like a preppy douchebag, espousing his misinformed opinions, shitting all over everybody on social media and somehow, always getting the girl. Whether he’s a sexist pig to Alicia Atout, a racist prick to luchadors in MLW or a cocky, disrespectful guest to Stone Cold Steve Austin, MJF is never at a loss for words. He’s also the CZW Champion and was the first MLW Middleweight Champion before being stripped of the belt due to injury. – John Corrigan

73. Brock Lesnar (104 points)

Eight matches. Seven wins. One highly controversial loss. Two reigns as the Universal Champion. A match of the year candidate with Daniel Bryan. I know what you’re thinking…why isn’t Brock #1 on this list? Miscarriage of justice! – John Corrigan

72. Mike Parrow (106 points)

The Beast of MLW is also the first openly gay man to compete for a major American promotion. We can all dream of someday seeing Parrow vs. Strowman in an Extreme Rules match. – Sam Gladen

71. Matt Taven (107 points)

Currently working for ROH, he is a former NWA World’s Historic Welter Weight Champion as well as a former ROH Television Champion, Tag Team Champion, one-third of the first Six-Man Tag Team Champions and an IWGP Tag Team Champion. He was the second man – after Rocky Romero – to claim titles from ROH, CMLL and NJPW. – Sam Gladen

70. Buddy Murphy (109 points)

The Australian native had a breakout year, becoming a staple of the revamped 205 Live and winning the Cruiserweight Championship in his homeland. – John Corrigan

69. Keith Lee (110 points)

I’ll admit that I’m fairly new to the Keith Lee hype train as I’ve only seen his NXT run, but what a run it has been. He is being set up as the second coming, only recently taking his first loss to a man that WWE is building as a foil to Braun Strowman, Lars Sullivan. – Sam Gladen

68. Alexa Bliss (111 points)

A high-profile, yet ultimately disappointing year for Little Miss Bliss. She lost the Women’s Championship twice – to Nia Jax at WrestleMania 34 and then to Ronda Rousey at SummerSlam. Then, just a few days before a dream match against Trish Stratus and Lita at WWE’s first all-women’s pay-per-view Evolution, Bliss was scratched from the card due to a concussion. The Goddess has yet to return to active competition. – John Corrigan

67. Flip Gordon (115 points)

Flip Gordon’s goal this year was to compete at ALL IN. He not only made the card, but also challenged for the ROH World Title. Even though he lost, he’s still a winner in my book. – John Corrigan

66. Juice Robinson (116 points)

Formerly CJ Parker in NXT, the 29-year-old Illinois native continued to reinvent himself in New Japan. At the G1 Special, he made history by becoming the first American to win the IWGP United States Championship. His future looks even brighter as Juice recently hinted that he’d become a more permanent fixture in Ring of Honor. – John Corrigan

65. Zack Sabre Jr. (117 points)

“A pimp cane?!” It’s been another year in the career of Zack Sabre Jr., filled with high-end indy main events. The real highlight came when he won the New Japan Cup, becoming the second gaijin to ever accomplish the feat. He later went on to wrestle Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, though it’s a very crowded field at the top of New Japan right now. Maybe he’ll assume Kenny Omega’s position if he leaves, but it’s key to remember that Sabre is still just 31, and as much as he’s already accomplished it may be small potatoes compared to what happens from here on out. – Jack Goodwillie

64. Jonathan Gresham (129 points)

2018 was the coming out party for Jonathan Gresham. He turned lots of heads in his match of the year candidate with Jay Lethal at Honor Reigns Supreme in February, followed up by several battles against Bully Ray and a standout bout with Zack Sabre Jr. at Final Battle. – John Corrigan

63. Mustafa Ali (131 points)

The heart and soul of 205 Live. Although he hasn’t gotten championship gold, he has magnificent matches and has had great matches on SmackDown. – Juan Bautista

62. Randy Orton (138 points)

You probably forget, but Randy Orton became a Grand Slam Champion in February by dethroning Bobby Roode for the U.S. Championship. Orton’s titles all seem to blend together after more than 15 years on WWE TV, but at least he tried to freshen up his act in the second half of the year, targeting beloved thrill seekers like Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio. – John Corrigan

61. Punishment Martinez (139 points)

This was probably the best year of Punishment Martinez’ life. The MMA-specialist won the ROH World Television Championship in June, honing his craft and more importantly, his reputation, so that he would be ready for McMahonland. And that’s exactly what happened in October when he joined NXT. – John Corrigan