HeadCheese

Mei Suruga I think she might be a better a better contender for a GWE list down the line or someone to put in the lower 90s. With she brings a sense of fun enthusiasm and creativity constantly. She is ball of charisma. I think since started she has gotten wrestling and made it her on (she debuted in 2018 and I think she's had a special charm to her work since 2019). In the 7 years of her career so far she has been put in so many roles and done well (great excited rookie, underdog, generational class rival, trainer, and ace of a promotion) Another part of her charm is despite having most of her matches in the Ichigaya Chocolate Square (no ring dentist office sized venue) she to well in so many places. Her time in CMLL to during the Womans Grand Prix in Arena Mexico stands out. I think something that kind of holds her back is she sometimes try to go to forced epic or had difficulties playing the overdog in a match. I think this year she has become better at that. I think its really impressive and performances how many great matches she has had so far. The Mei Saint Michel where teams up with Sakisama (Saki Akai) in NEO Biishiki-gun run is also very, very fun. Mei Suruga vs. Kaori Yoneyama (Gatoh Move, 8/17/19) Black Menso-re & Pink Menso-re vs. Hikaru Sato & Natsu Sumire (AJPW, 2/26/20) Mei Suruga vs. Ryo Mizunami - Falls Count Anywhere (Gatoh Move ChocoPro, 10/4/20) Maki Itoh & Miyu Yamashita vs. NEO Biishiki-gun (Mei Saint-Michel & Sakisama) (TJPW Positive Chain, 2/11/21) Magical Sugar Rabbits (Mizuki & Yuka Sakazaki) vs. NEO Biishiki-gun (Mei Saint-Michel & Sakisama) (TJPW Wrestle Princess 2, 10/9/21) AZM vs. Mei Suruga (STARDOM Cinderella Tournament 2022 Final, 4/29/22) Mei Suruga vs. Yuna Mizumori (Gatoh Move 10th Anniversary, 9/15/22) Team Mexico (Dalys, Faby, La Amapola, La Jarochita, Lluvia, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit & Reyna Isis) vs. Team World (Alex Gracia, Avispa Dorada, Hikari Shimizu, Ivelisse, Lady Frost, Mei Suruga, Stephanie Vaquer & Tae Honma) (CMLL International Women's Grand Prix, 10/28/22) Emi Sakura vs. Mei Suruga (Gatoh Move For The Future, 8/31/24) Emi Sakura & Masahiro Takanashi vs. BestBros (Baliyan Akki & Mei Suruga) (ChocoPro #422, 1/13/25) Chie Koishikawa vs. Mei Suruga (ChocoPro, 3/30/25)

Red Bastien rules! There's something charming about him even when just seeing a photo of him. He's in one of my all time comfort matches in Billy Robinson and Red Bastien vs. Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens!

Doing this project inspired to watch more Jackie Sato. She is very good but, not top 100 level for me unless in near the bottom 10 historical stand outs, wrestlers with little tape, and personal favorites section. I can be her making my list after deep diving her contemporaries in against her. I hope she gets votes. I'm glad I got to watch more of her, excited to learn more about her. Her match 3/15/80 match vs. Monster Ripper was so good it inspired me to go on a Monster Ripper match binge. Jackie Sato vs. Maki Ueda is so great that if we had more of it I would post about as GME contender. Also Beauty Pair is such a great song.

My intro to Slim J is the AEW and ROH run, I really liked The Trustbusters. Theres something that connected to me about Slim J particularly. Hoping to check out more of his work, one of my friends are really excited about and inspired me to check out his earlier work. I could see him making my list in the 80-90s range even higher if lands. I just watched him have a great dog collar match vs. John Skylar at Viral Pro Wrestling. Hoping look deeper into his career. Heres a video essay of from my friends about Slim J and his match vs. Adam Priest.

When thinking about Sawa, my brain goes is this the most me-core wrestler wrestles an action packed sprinting style with serious wrestling, does fun comedy, and avant garde wrestling. I think it's cool he still part time wrestles and the wrestler he inspires alot in Fuminori Abe is one of the best in the world. He currently also does music with ポポチョリス/POPOCHOLISU. Hes a lock for my and is pretty high. I still haven't seen all of his career so he might go even higher too. Match Recs Fujita Hayato & Munenori Sawa vs. Kota Ibushi & Masaaki Mochizuki (Indy Summit 2006 Countdown Pro-Wrestling, 12/31/06) Fugo Fugo Yumeji & Sanshu Tsubakichi vs. Keita Yano & Munenori Sawa (EXIT, 8/24/08) Fugo Fugo Yumeji vs. Munenori Sawa (Uploaded 3/18/09) Munenori Sawa vs. Sanshiro Takagi (DDT King Of DDT, 6/28/09) Munenori Sawa vs. True Great King Kaiser (Remote Controlled Robot) (Uploaded 11/28/09) Bryan Danielson vs. Munenori Sawa (EVOLVE 5, 9/11/10) Daisuke Ikeda and Manabu Suruga vs. Munenori Sawa and Yuki Ishikawa (Fu-Ten BATI-BATI 44, 11/18/11) Manabu Suruga vs. Munenori Sawa (Battlarts Once Upon A Time Battlarts ~Remember That Time~, 11/5/11) Ippanjin Munenori Sawa & Sanshiro Takagi vs. MAO & Mike Bailey vs. Fuminori Abe & Isami Kodaka vs. Chinsuke Nakamura & Michael Nakazawa vs. Smile Squash (Soma Takao & Yuko Miyamoto) (DDT Judgement, 3/25/18) Fuminori Abe & Ippanjin Munenori Sawa vs. Masaaki Mochizuki & YAMATO (DragonGate, 7/8/23) Astronauts (Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura) vs. Hikaru Sato and Ippanjin Munenori Sawa (DDT Sanshiro Takagi 30th Anniversary Project ""M&A Pro Wrestling ~MatchMake & Agent~"", 4/29/25) If anybody is looking for mote Munenori Sawa matches recommend searching ( 澤 宗紀 or ランジェリー武藤 / Lingerie Muto). There's also a goof amount of Battlarts on IWTV (2007-2011).

I haven't watched either match the Cody or Randy matches yet. I don't hold it much against him or change the way I'll think of him overall might hurt him in comparing other wrestlers to him though that were better after their peak. I think John Cena needs more reps and not having promos that are clicking (but, that seems to be a WWE environment thing). John Cena is still going to be top 50-60 on my lists for context he is top 30 out the 77 wrestlers I'm confident ranking right now. I can see this run helping a CM Punk, Sami Zayn, Rey Mysterio, or Gunther to see what they can help bring out of a John Cena from a segment and in-ring perspective.

Thank you! That helps and I didn't think about that way

Someone who will probably make my list in the 90s (will probably put, alot of emotional attachment wrestlers there). One of Jeff Hardy's strongest aspects is emotional connection. There's something about him that just connects. One of my favorite wrestlers as a kid, in middle school I was assigned to write a paper on any celebrity for a project a project. I have a friend who is mostly WWE tv wrestling watching fan and the main wrestler that sticks with them is Jeff Hardy if I remember correctly. He brings so much energy and enthusiasm with him. To add to Jimmy's point, he such a great seller but, also really good at bumping too. I haven't watcbed it in a long while but, proabably also has Triple H's best singles non-gimmick match at No Mercy 2008 too. He of course is known for the wild risks he would take but, he's even fun to watch outside of that.

Watched Janos Vadkerti vs Roland Daumal and Modesto Aledo vs. Teddy Boy. Liked Janos Vadkerti vs Roland Daumal. I think it was good. Modesto Aledo vs. Teddy Boy is proabably my favorite French Catch I have seen so far, really like how Teddy Boy got progressively angrier. It still has the problem that I feel when I have watched French Catch where once the wrestlers get up oftentimes it feels like their health bar is reset and the matches don't have build up to finishes I'm used to. Something I am wondering is with French Catch should I go in with unique expectations. For example watching someone can enjoy a Shawn Micheals and Young Bucks match but, its important to keep in mind with Shawn Micheals a superkick is the biggest move ever but, with the Young Bucks its a move to wear down down their opponents to lead to bigger moves and they'll do like 8 in a match. Doesn't make either less great but, it's a thing to keep in mind.

Thank you! Will check it out! Hoping I will like it!

Trying to get into French Catch (I have watched Billy Catanzaro vs. Gilbert Cesca and a few Piet Prince matches). I enjoy the character work and moves but, I don't know how I feel about the selling. I feel like sometimes the moves happen and they don't have any impact and the matches just kind of end. Interesting in wanting to see more and I want to like it but, it's not clicked with me yet. Interested to hear pepoles thoughts on this, things to keep in mind. For context I have 1950s matches before (Rikkidozan vs. Freddie Blassie). I also like lucha and some world of sport. I think the pool match that is Billy Catanzaro & Pierre Bernaert vs Mr Montreal & Vassilios Mantopoulos is my favorite of the matches I have seen because wrestling on a pool is cool, the throughline of Billy Catanzaro accidentally being avoiding the water and knocking his opponents into the water was great, I think the selling quirks that irked me less were less prevalent because it was tag match.

To me with Kenny Omega feels besides his character work doesn't portray himself as the best except when in 2017-2018 he kind jokingly have his opponent perfomances outside of NJPW. One of Will Ospreay strongest attributes during his great periods to now is his crowd connection and giving off the character together with you pepole I can win this match instead of I'm going to win because I'm the best

I'm not sure if I would have him that high but, he's an amazing tag team wrestler in the younger brother underdog role and the older brother rooting role but, also powerful. I think he can also be great and lending credibility too. I have to watch both back but, I think I might like Kenta Kobashi and Homicide vs. Low Ki and Samoa Joe more than Joe vs. Kobashi. The BURNING vs. Kensuke Office gauntlet tag from 2008 is so good.

Kobashi (the Pillars in general) is a wrestler I am hoping to watch more off. I think Kobashi is great and probabibly be in my top 2 or 3 if I asked to rank him earlier. I think Kobashi can do great at the epic, emotionally heavy epics but, I also want to him in fun, undercard matches too. I really like Kobashi vs. Abdullah The Butcher fo example. Kobashi is sure one for sure to go on my list though.

I really like Kenny Omega, I think part of his charm is hes a goofy. I think Omega's career gets unfairly looked at only from the time from when he the G1 semifinals to current. He has some fun PWG and DDT stuff (still hoping he'll bring back the Hadouken). Hoping to check the AJPW champion run. I'm also part of that problem exciting to watch and talk more about it. I think he's such a great Tokyo Dome wrestler too, I some wrestling gets feels less impact full in big arenas but, Kenny just fits there. He had great matches with wrestlers I'm unsure about in the Dome. He's been really since he has came back. Having one of my favorite matches of the year so far with Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita (Here's the match with Japanese commentary from AEW Japan YouTube channel). I also got to watch him live in maybe one of the best face performances of his career live vs. Konosuke Takeshita at Revolution. I can see Omega currently making my 50-80 range with a great he'll go even higher.

Interested to watch more of him but, be he feels he'll make my list. He will seems likely to make my list. His wrestling arc seems interesting too a karate guy. Liked Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto vs. Jerry Blayman & Mitsuhiro Matsunaga in a barbed wire match. Over the next ten years he becomes less karate more bitter and more deathmatchy. He turns to he tries to return the favor becoming the deathmatch wrestler to try to take mma inspired wrestlers out of their depths in Battlarrts. He has one a match that will proabably make my GWE vs. Alexander Otsuka (recommend watching the full show version for promos and more conrext). He is also in the great and one of the greatest visual matches ever in the fire car match that is Jun Kasai & Mitsuhiro Matsunaga vs. Nick Gage & Zandig. If still haven't watched the Stop The Matsunaga story yet and he more. If he delivers like he has so far he'll make my list.

Arik Royal Yay, yay! One of the best wrestlers of the 2010s and still really good when getting opportunity in the 2020s. Great confidence in his movements. Great at being the overdog but, also great at being vunderable. A good face from what I seen) and a great heel. He's so good at finding the strengths helping accentuating the strengths of his tag team partners and opponets. CWF Mid Atlantic was my go to promotion of the mid-late 2010s because alot in part because of Arik Royal. Match Recs vs. Trevor Lee (CWF Mid Atlantic Battlecade, 12/28/13) w/ Ray Kandrack vs. Andrew Everett & Jesse Adler (CWF MA, 3/12/16) vs. Nick Richards (CWF MA Weaver Cup Finals, 8/13/16) vs. Andrew Everett (CWF MA Battlecade, 12/30/16) vs. Trevor Lee (CWF MA, 9/7/17) vs. Chet Sterling (10/8/17) vs. Snooty Foxx, Brass Knuckles On A Poll (CWF MA, 9/30/17) vs. Snooty Foxx, Chappel Hill Street Fight (CWF Mid Atlantic, 3/10/18 vs. Daniel Makabe (SCI, 8/7/21) vs. Daniel Makabe (ACTION, 12/13/21) vs. Kevin Ku (ACTION, 3/4/22)

Minoru Suzuki rules, hoping to watch more of him. I think Minoru Suzuki is still great, had a very cool match with Matt Tremont and a great match against Yoshihiko during WrestleMania weekend a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed his 2021 world tour too. He is probably one of the best comedy straight man in comedy wrestling history (having matches with Mecha Mummy, the Sanshiro Takagi match, and other matches). The Kazuchika Okada match where they wrestled in the rain is an all time great match and spectacle. I watched him live vs. Nick Gage it was amazing. He is so good at bringing big fight feel to his matches. I think one of Minoru Suzuki's weaknesses as a wrestler and character is being very choosey when he looks vulnerable and present his opponents as on his level sometimes to a detriment of the credibility to his opponent and commentary team. He also sometimes leans to much into I'll let you hit, you'll let me hit you strike exchanges and his touring formula matches regardless of opponent (even though some of those work and help build up excitement sometimes). I get that he doesn't want to bump match but, it feels like he could do more even if its just face or stumbling selling more.

Thank you for trying! HARASHIMA feels like more of a consistently very good-great wrestler case consistency (based on what I have seen he has been at that level atleast since 2004 and is still great) and emotional attachment over time case. For context Konosuke Takeshita vs. HARASHIMA 2017 was only his Soup's second ever big DDT (Judgement and Peter Pan) show main event I think. I prefer also think DDT's Korakuen Hall main events are often better than their big show main events at having more direct great match and great showcase. If its Korakuen Hall main event or semi main event and has HARASHIMA theres a great chance it will be great or at least a very good HARASHIMA performance for the last 20 years almost. Four matches I think that help understand HARASHIMA with some context HARASHIMA, Shuji Ishikawa & Yuji Hino vs. Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Hama & Suwama from TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE HARASHIMA & Ken Ohka vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yohei Komatsu (YOH as a young lion) - 2015 After being punked out by Hiroshi Tanahashi at out Peter Pan by Hiroshi Tanahashi, he tries to get his revenge in this match. This match I shows some of HARASHIMA's strongest attributes as a wrestler feeling credible also vulnerable. Great at showcasing how good he is at the wrestling outside of his depth story but, also how great an over dog he is in the same match. https://www.wrestle-universe.com/en/videos/6u44eseMo3b3kdNLA9Awabi HARASHIMA vs. Yuki Ueno (DDT Judgement 2024 ~ 27th Anniversary 5 Hour Special ~ 3/17/2024) HARASHIMA has not held the champion in DDT for a while. Yuki Ueno is good but, in his first reign and have some problems having engaging match for me especially in main event championship matches. This is probably my favorite Ueno match of his reign. HARASHIMA vs. Shinya Aoki (DDT God Bless DDT 2024, 10/20/2024) Similar situation as the Ueno match, HARASHIMA is really engaging grappler but, great at showing he is out of his depth. Highly recommend watching Shinya Aoki matches if you don't connect to DDT already, watch more Shinya Aoki. He was one of the best wrestlers of last year and even higher this year. Simon/Handwerk Reviews (someone even more familiar with HARASHIMA and more well explained than me) gave out these match recommendations and ranked him #3 in his best wrestlers with a nice write up why out these match recommendations. "vs. Dick Togo, DDT (2/27/2011) vs. Shigehiro Irie, DDT (8/18/2013) vs. Isami Kodaka, DDT (10/26/2014) w/ Yasu Urano vs. Strong BJ, DDT (5/17/2015) vs. KUDO, DDT (5/31/2015) vs. Kazusada Higuchi, DDT (4/24/2016) vs. Shuji Ishikawa, DDT (12/4/2016) vs. Shigehiro Irie, DDT (12/25/2016) vs. Shinya Aoki, DDT (2/17/2019) vs. Konosuke Takeshita, DDT (11/3/2019)" https://handwerkreviews.wordpress.com/2023/11/17/2010s-the-decade-in-lists-part-three/

Singling out Samoa Joe might have been harsh. I think Samoa Joe has good WWE stuff (the Finn Balor, Brock Lesnar, and more) and AEW stuff is very good. I think Samoa Joe (or insert another wrestler that fits this descriptor) is a wrestler that had a great run but, had a bad/middling run not because of their bodies or age but, because of them seemingly being unmotivated. I don't think Jim Duggan (WCW C-Show wrestler run and Super Crazy tag run) and Samoa Joe (after 2022) are not more athletic or even taking more damage then they did in there bad runs before that but, they both seem more motivated in the face, present, and there's a spark. For context Samoa Joe is making my list and Jim Duggan has a good chance of making my list. Sorry for not explaining myself better, I was mostly asking because I'm not sure where to rank to wrestlers for examples like Akira Tozawa and Rey Fenix. I ranked both top 8 wrestlers in my best wrestlers of the 2010s list. In Tozawa's case he hasn't gotten much opportunity to build up a case and do much (he joined WWE in 2016). Being put, in a position to be middling for nearly half his career so far is alot. With Rey Fenix he feels like he has gained some annoying quirks (selling and sequence wise) that changed him from some the kind wrestler of wrestler I originally liked. Both are just examples. If I look at just at Fenix and Akira Tozawa's my peak enjoyment periods of Fenix and Tozawa they would have proabably my 100 but, those factors make it more questionable.

What are your takes on ranking wrestlers that have great runs but, I have large portions of their career where they are middling or bad? Does it effect your rankings. For context I'm not counting wrestlers that became bad or middling because of body being worn down, age, or something like that. Like I feel like with someone like if most wrestlers were to have Samoa Joe's 2001-2008 with some of Samoa Joe's years after that run they would feel like a slam dunk case but, I'm not sure how to rank him because of how middling the rest is (besides some sparks of his career) I feel.

Will Ospreay feels like an interesting case. I'm not sure if he'll make my list (if he does he like low 80s - 90s) I feel like he might have been one of my favorite wrestlers (at the time) from 2015 (the Matt Sydal match on RevPro) - 2019 (proabably right before the Shingo match). He made 20 in my Since the Darby match he had the continental classic he has been really, really good again (he's clicking with me on nearly every match since then) and is so far maybe the best match I have ever seen live (Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher - Steel Cage, Revolution) and contender for AEW wrestler of the year. I think in between those he had some good and even some great in between those 5 years but, I didn't really connect with him. To me Will's strongest attribute is getting fighting from underneath, having a sense of wonder in his matches, and vunderability as a heavyweight he kin of didn't emphasize often that from what I have from what I have seen. He felt too Superman. I think also went through too many checklist "great" wrestling. I don't think he was ever bad but, was fine. I'm not sure how to feel about him. He seems like if I made a list in a few years after 2026 he would make it. Something with this lists that important to remember that nobody has too be your lists. As someone who has made 3 top 100 wrestler of the year lists and top 100 wrestlers of the decade list (and had leaving off good wrestler guilt even at that microscope level). 100 is not really that much, so pick wrestlers you like.

Kazusada Higuchi He's been pretty much at the good+ and above level since since I first saw him DDT DNA proabably 11 years ago. He carries great presence and confidence. Not sure if he'll make my list but, I think hes one of current DDT more consistent wrestlers especially in main events. Match Recs vs. HARASHIMA (DDT, 4/26/16) vs. Shuji Ishikawa (DDT, 9/25/16) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (DDT, 1/7/17) vs. HARASHIMA (DDT, 11/3/21) 37KAMIINA/ShunMAO (MAO and Shunma Katsumata) vs. Chihiro Hashimoto and Kazusada Higuchi (DDT Super Encounter! Episode 4, 2022) His DDT King Of DDT 2022 (7/3/22) and 2023 (5/21/23) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (DDT, 9/25/22) Eruption (Hideki Okatani, Saki Akai, and Yukio Sakaguchi) vs. Harimao (Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu, and Yuki Ishida) (DDT, 7/23/23) vs. Masahiro Takanashi (Baka Gaijin abd Friends 9, 10/31/23) vs. Shinya Aoki (DDT,5/6/25)

Kazuki Hirata TOKYO GO! A contender for best comedy wrestler I have ever seen. He's for sure best comedy/avant garde wrestler in DDT history. He constantly makes me smile. The Tokyo Go glasses gimmick is always so fun. He's so good at making other wrestlers look great whether that wrestler is animate or inanimate (Kazuki Hirata is best vs. Yoshihiko wrestler ever) or anyone. Toru Owashi and him have such a great dynamic. Fun when he gets serious too. He's amazing! I think he might make the 80-95 region of my list. Match Recs Kazuki Hirata, Sanshiro Takagi & Toru Owashi vs. Makoto Oishi, MAO & Shunma Katsumata (DDT, 1/28/13) Kazuki Hirata vs. Usaburo Kokeshi, Daruma Takasaki & Yutaka Yoshie (DDT, 5/12/19) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCu6Xe8SebA Jun Akiyama & Yoshihiko Vs HARASHIMA & Kazuki Hirata (DDT, 9/26/2021) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_ubHk83Yhw Kazuki Hirata vs. Yoshihiko (DDT, 10/12/21) https://youtu.be/lyPx8or6ams?si=iqL9RIDOiyWvO8H0 Konosuke Takeshita & Yuki Ueno Vs Shuji Kondo & Kazuki Hirata (DDT, 1/30/22) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTWYfaUVblQ MAO Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yoshihiko (DDT, 6/25/23) Kazuki Hirata vs. Hiromu Takahashi (DDT, 11/12/23) Hiromu Takahashi, Kazuki Hirata, and Keisuke Ishii vs. Kenshin Chikano, Soma Takao, and YO-HEY (DDT, 3/12/25) Any rumble Peter Pan Rumble he has been in

Maybe the most likable smile in wrestling history. He's great at a variety of things and still a joy to watch currently had great matches with Yuki Ueno and Shinya Aoki last year, hes also one of my favorite matches of 2025 so far in HARASHIMA and Pokotan vs. MAO and Yoshihiko. Feels earnest and shows alot of heart. I have mixed feelings about strike exchanges. I think HARASHIMA's strike exchanges feel like one of the most earnest in modern wrestling. He feels like given his status in he if he wanted to he could have the luxury to could coast or wrestles a formulaic style but, it feels like he earnestly, enthusiasticaly wants to meet where they are at to help them improve and give the crowd a good time. He's a fun tag and undercard guy especially in the DDT x BJW tag shuffles. One of my favorite HARASHIMA matches is HARASHIMA, Shuji Ishikawa & Yuji Hino vs. Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Hama & Suwama from TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE where he is the only junior heavyweight in that match but, brought it. He also has fun no ring stuff with ChocoPro and Baka Gajin & Friends too. Despite his kind and loving demeanor he also has excellent showings as the aggressor and hill to try to climb in a match too. Not sure where I would rank him but, he could make my top 20. One of my favorite aces ever. The Yuji Okabayashi match is great.