EnviousStupid

I'm sure I'll disagree with the list plenty in the next couple months, but for now, I'm happy.

Criminally underrecognized. Very straightforward cage match to tell the story of Orton earning Flair's respect through blood and brutality, kept relatively short as a PPV main event from 2004. Flair's offensive is full of dirty tricks and work everyone has likely seen from the man's overwhelming experience in cage matches; a point made early on by commentary. It's exactly the kind of cheap shots mixed with hard chops and rapid punches to the open wound that he should rely on in the twilight of his wrestling career. Orton endures and gets arguably just as brutal going after the cut, while still coming across as the face of the match. He's not a natural in working face or being over like Cena and Batista are and further become, but the idea of Orton just "not working as a good guy" around the time can't help feeling disconnected from what I watch of him around the time. They were cheering off the big kickout and finish here, as well as the show of respect after the match. Great match from the Raw brand in a year jampacked with them

See this guy? Yeah it's me, and fuck that guy. Darby's on the list! No one better at regularly committing to the receiving end of attempted murder. Idk how long that can last in this business, but his candle has been burning brightly for long enough now.

I'd also like to hear the argument, as even with aspects of wrestling I'd think Brisco is better at, I don't think it's something so cut and dry between the two.

Easily. To be fair though, matwork wasn't a prominent part of the Pillars' wrestling style through the 90s, and Akiyama hadn't suffered as much wear and tear compared to the core four. The amateur wrestling background shines more from him post-Exodus and, like you said, he still shows an aptness for grappling late in his career.

He's flirting with my top 25. Just has so much great work across the board, still probably being among the best in AEW/ROH/CMLL/wherever the hell he decides to work. Biggest thing I'd criticise him for is how rigid and awkward he can sometimes come across as in moments of his matches, but the broad strokes are consistently strong and he honestly has an abundance of stellar moments that always leave me impressed. The man is 45 years old and still performing at a high level, still showing remarkable athletic ability.

Might be flirting with my top 50. His shtick still being effective in modern WWE is something I can't say about other active GWE nominees signed there. Plenty of great tag work alongside the top-tier singles matches before leaving the indie scene. One of those guys that I feel would have a strong batting average for random match theory: he has ways of reigning more indulgent wrestlers in on their most grating tendencies, even in matches that go way longer than should be justified. A special big worker in an era deprived of them.

I feel confident calling him the best I've ever seen with too limited amount of footage to consider on my list. But I'd implore everyone not familiar with him to seek out all his available matches. vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (December 9th 1975) vs. Dory Funk Jr. (December 15th 1975) vs. The Destroyer (December 17th 1975) vs. Giant Baba (December 18th 1975) w/ Billy Robinson vs. Akihisa Takachiho & Mighty Inoue (December 2nd 1977) w/ Billy Robinson vs. The Funks (December 6th 1977) w/ Billy Robinson vs. Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik (December 14th 1977)

Maki Ito An unconventional pick, but someone who I feel deserves a lot more credit than she gets in the ways she defines her character, plays off other wrestlers, and has the ability to elevate any multi-person match she's part of purely because of those aforementioned traits. Someone who has already exceeded expectations given their background, and who has found popularity in every promotion she's worked for. It's fair to say she's limited in terms of what she can do in-ring, but her strengths are clearly found across a multitude of match-types and opponents, to a degree that arguably none of her contemporaries have matched. Give the cutest in the world her flowers. She continues to charm in an era of wrestling that could do with more joy. Recommended Matches: w/ Riho & Shoko Nakajima vs. Miyu Yamashita, Mizuki & Yuka Sakazaki (TJPW, 1st December 2018) vs. Aja Kong (TJPW, 3rd May 2019) vs. Hikari Noa (TJPW, 4th January 2020) w/ Mizuki vs. Shoko Nakajima & Yuka Sakazaki (TJPW, 21st September 2020) vs. Miyu Yamashita (TJPW, 4th January 2021) w/ Chris Brookes & Super Delfin vs. Keigo Nakamura, MAO & Mirai Maiumi (DDT, 14th February 2021) vs. Rika Tatsumi (TJPW, 17th April 2021) w/ Miyu Yamashita vs. Mei Saint-Michel & Sakisama (TJPW, 17th June 2021) vs. Mizuki (TJPW, 14th August 2021) w/ Chris Brookes & Minoru Suzuki vs. Kazusada Higuchi, Saki Akai & Yukio Sakaguchi (DDT, 26th December 2021) w/ Miyu Yamashita & Yuki Kamifuku vs. Mizuki, Shoko Nakajima & Yuka Sakazaki (TJPW, 8th January 2022) w/ Miyu Yamashita vs. Hikaru Shida & Moka Miyamoto (TJPW, 3rd May 2022) vs. Alex Windsor (TJPW, 9th July 2022) vs. Hikari Noa vs. Mizuki vs. Rika Tatsumi vs. Suzume vs. Yuki Kamifuku (TJPW, 4th January 2023) w/ Miyu Yamashita vs. Mizuki & Yuka Sakazaki (TJPW, 31st March 2023) vs. Rina Yamashita (GCW, 17th June 2023) w/ Aramis & Evil Uno vs. Latigo, Masha Slamovich & Peter Avalon (PWG, 13th August 2023) vs. Jun Kasai (GCW, 9th April 2025) vs. Kikyo Furusawa (STARDOM, 6th March 2026)

She's making my list. One of the most adorable personalities in pro wrestling that always shines through across the vast majority of her work, alongside the ridiculous looking bumps she'll take. No idea how she hasn't needed to slow down or take a step back yet in terms of how physical her matches get.

I am quite content with just commenting that points made in this thread today are really dumb. Not an Adam Priest voter either but go off Mr. Clown

This is the dumbest discourse I've seen on any wrestler nominated here.

Terry Funk Yoshiaki Fujiwara El Hijo del Santo Jumbo Tsuruta Genichiro Tenryu Rey Mysterio Kenta Kobashi Ric Flair Bryan Danielson Jun Akiyama Others who might break in are Hiroshi Tanahashi, AJ Styles, Shinya Hashimoto, Bull Nakano, CM Punk, Nick Bockwinkel, Sangre Chicana and Antonio Inoki.

His last 5 years have been quite good, even with a couple periods of him seemingly miscast. I'd give him till the next decade before considering him seriously for the project though.

Easily ranks among the best wrestlers in the world since the turn of the century. What he lacks in the "strong style" department he more than makes up for in his selling, character work, match layout, charisma, and various other intangibles across a very substantial body of work. Go Ace!