Grimmas

Henry/HeadCheese it's me: Stronger than Superman! Often credited was one of the first highflyers (doing ranas and dropkicks in the 50s). His firing up is so root-forable. Interesting how much he used his barefoot big boot as a taunt. Match Recs vs. Bonito Gardini - Missing 2 minutes (Ray Fabiani Sports, 2/3/50) https://youtu.be/OqtOxbtGzfY?si=6y4GLiIxr94B1r0u vs. Killer Kowalski (NWA Chicago,3/5/54) https://youtu.be/g99KvprPGxc?si=ap4T0ZzrdpVYJZmv w/ Verne Gagne & Wilbur Snyder vs. Dick The Bruiser & The Lisowski Brothers (Reggie Lisowski & Stan Lisowski) (NWA Chicago, 9/14/56) https://youtu.be/XQWnB2RWtNE?si=0dvtkuiptCrxcQzc vs. Lou Thesz (NWA Upstate, 5/10/63) https://youtu.be/injUYnOYENI?si=SVcDXVnKEdAP9BaC

SayamaFan7 (#ZEALforGWE2036): A gravure idol who got into pro wrestling because she saw AJPW on TV, was thrust into the main event scene in Stardom with practically no in-ring experience and completely thrived, becoming the inaugural holder of the Wonder of Stardom and Goddesses of Stardom championships, as well as the first wrestler to win the Tokyo Sports "Joshi Puroresu Grand Prize" two years in a row (2011 & 2012). She had a background in ballet and taekwondo, showcased in her great agility and some of the most vicious kick variations of any wrestler I've seen. Most commonly an endearing, fiery underdog but against lesser opponents she had quite the mean streak. While Yuzupon had a short career, I think she was responsible for some of the best matches in Stardom during the time she was around. Recommended matches: Yuzuki Aikawa & Natsuki Taiyo vs Nanae Takahashi & Iris (Stardom 01/23/2011) Yuzuki Aikawa vs Yumiko Hotta (Yuzupon Produce 02/06/2011) Yuzuki Aikawa vs Arisa Hoshiki (Stardom 12/23/2011) Yuzuki Aikawa vs Nanae Takahashi (Stardom 12/24/2012) Yuzuki Aikawa vs Meiko Satomura (Stardom 03/17/2013

Henry/HeadCheese it's me: The Wildcat! Really like his tag work in TNA with AMW. Has a likable charm. Really good in bloody matches. vs. Jeff Jarrett (NWA-TNA, 3/17/04) w/ James Storm vs. Christopher Daniels and Elix Skipper - Steel Cage (TNA, 6/25/03) https://youtu.be/jIWlVOhJfj8?si=hPhVRQmuw1KOpRKx w/ James Storm vs. Christopher Daniels and Elix Skipper - Six Sides Of Steel (TNA, 12/5/04) https://youtu.be/PsyWFJ2wHKQ?si=y8e2p35sSROATGby vs. James Storm (TNA Impact, 6/7/07) https://youtu.be/1EbvjfkybWo?si=p8IpIB4-YYjVSdgH vs. James Storm - Texas Death Match (TNA, 5/13/07) https://youtu.be/oBFM8xj79jI?si=1qeu3z1gypEiwbuG

Henry/HeadCheese it's me: Dude is a vampire!! One of the wrestlers that got me into 50s wrestling. He strikes a really interesting balance of being a cowardly heel but, also viscous in control. I really like sliding and crawling. So much biting. There's not much of him on accessible footage but, we have his Rikidozan matches which are really great and probably. Match Recs w/ Warren Bockwinkel vs. Joe Pazandak & Mr. Moto (NWA Los Angeles, 3/23/53 https://youtu.be/1w16LwH2zYI?si=MRctSXKd1593XXcl vs. Baron Michele Leone (NWA Los Angeles, 4/13/53) https://youtu.be/0awYyaexR60?si=cpdTq04-hJ-YO-OH vs. Rikidozan (WWA, 3/28/62) https://youtu.be/WEi8tN1ApKY?si=kUIZpLZUMuvnWtoy vs. Rikidozan (WWA, 7/25/62) https://youtu.be/WEi8tN1ApKY?si=2dbdvW9Qd4w8kwKE Other Fred Blassie we have on tape https://youtu.be/j8jUbX2wSR4?si=haJChBQeo9pg-2aa https://youtu.be/0awYyaexR60?si=xM_QYjK0YluvjQ3J https://youtu.be/n84kOyDDBIs?si=Y8bVBa_o770dT9sf https://youtu.be/XT_mql2qbRU?si=6fAQmv2v9rBzqlsy https://youtu.be/REag1WFtmrQ?si=LcDchPXBGJNgaTrX https://youtu.be/5ad-yv5OqM4?si=-H2QUveToCCMaSVX https://archive.org/details/jwa-1962.04.23-rikidozan-vs-freddie-blassie https://archive.org/search?query=freddie+blassie+vs https://youtu.be/6KqNbzCWe-g?si=H9TmTFyev3ntGpJ1 https://youtu.be/_jjLEk4fOFU?si=6SUTqoxw3ozNyM5m

Henry/HeadCheese it's me: Really interesting and engaging shoot style wrestler with a unique charisma that clicks with me. Still wresting in his 60s too! Match Recs Black Hole & Fumio Akiyama vs. Hopper King & Koichiro Kimura (NNP, 6/21/95) https://youtu.be/PF6lXl5zt90?si=uyGbuSE2oidTIgwR Super Rider vs. Uchu Power X (Pro Wrestling Crusaders, 5/9/96) Takashi Sasaki & Tanomusaku Toba vs. Kamen Shooter Super Rider & Tomohiro Ishii (DDT, 4/19/00) https://youtu.be/0Vz_diGF-Sc?si=Z7gafr5D9h0Xl7MW Genichiro Tenryu & Masao Orihara vs. First Tiger Mask & "Kamen Shooter" Super Rider (RJPW, 3/13/08) Super Rider & Wild Pony vs. Junichi Hanawa & KURO-OBI (H-Production, 8/11/24) https://youtu.be/nJNVb2lyPZI?si=HAk6AQOsC1XRUYtg

Henry/HeadCheese it's me: The most I have seen I've related to a wrestler is proabably seeing ACH. Really fun high flyer, quirky and cool in a charming surfer Sting kind of way. Match Recs vs. Mr. Touchdown Mark Angelosetti (CHIKARA, 8/18/12) vs. Kyle O'Reilly (PWG, 8/31/13) vs. Lee Moriarty (GCW For The Culture, 10/9/20) vs. Mike Bailey (West Coast Pro Wrestling, 8/21/22)

Orphan: Envisioned as the future of Osaka Pro, Daisuke Harada ultimately became the ace of Noah's junior division. Despite a roster lacking in quality at times Harada was able to carry subpar opponents to greatness, and it is no coincidence that his retirement following a serious neck injury in 2022 marked a slump for the division. Match recs Daisuke Harada vs. Minoru Tanaka (Noah, 22.12.2017) https://youtu.be/pblh99VAx9M?si=TpeDHSgv5RTUaMhG Daisuke Harada vs Dick Togo (Noah, 30.01.2020) https://youtu.be/i6KEe2WhpcU?si=RcLnG0L1L65qblqa Daisuke Harada vs Hajime Ohara (Noah, 21.01.2017) https://youtu.be/c3KvDH_UQTk?si=tiMuKjUApa5tYA-q Daisuke Harada vs Atsushi Kotoge (Noah, 24.01.2015) https://youtu.be/DlVkzk823HE?si=2r3PkDtjphCSUy1K

Henry/HeadCheese it's me: Really engaging and likable technical wrestler. Father of Alex Wright. Consistently very good from what I've seen. Match recs Brian Maxine vs. Steve Wright (World of Sport, 12/2/72) https://youtu.be/3VOn44x3Oso?si=fzKMzVe1UftsRTu_ Steve Wright vs. Tiger Mask (NJPW, 4/1/82) Giant Haystacks vs. Steve Wright (10/24/85) https://youtu.be/Unzlh09nKr0?si=AJxhSjLRUxvtamhS Fit Finlay and Hiro Yamamoto (Hiroyoshi Tenzan) vs. Steve Wright and Alex Wright (CWA, 1993) https://youtu.be/8ALv1CHWAIY?si=NwQVWk-Ems4ryi1i

Henry/HeadCheese it's me: MAO when he clicks (mostly when he is F-ed up wrestling). he is one of the most interesting and creative wrestlers out there. Super fun, despite of only being in wrestling for 11 years is one my favorite wrestlers of the 2015 to 2025 decade and has been in so many of my favorite matches of the year. Match Recs T2Hide (Kazuki Hirata, Sanshiro Takagi & Toru Owashi) vs. New Wrestling Aidoru (Makoto Oishi, MAO & Shunma Katsumata) (DDT, 1/28/18) MAO vs. Sanshiro Takagi - Weapons Rumble (DDT, 8/21/18) Jun Kasai vs. MAO (DDT, 11/25/18) https://youtu.be/GHPiPFNBpQ0?si=SAepJ9E8PIbz2bDY MAO vs. Masato Tanaka (DDT, 2/23/20) Shunma Katsumata vs. MAO - Kid's Room Sauna Count Edition (DDT, 2/28/21) 37KAMIINA/ShunMAO (Shunma Katsumata and MAO) vs. Chris Brookes and Yoshihiko (DDT, 3/30/23) Hikaru Machida vs. MAO (DDT, 2/25/24) Takagi Sanshirobo vs. Tyrannosaurus Inoue (Baka Gaijin + Friends, 4/24/24) https://www.youtube.com/live/HY1J6ydtiJk?si=7FnKWAx8UKhreRuE&t=180 MAO and Yoshihiko vs. HARASHIMA and Pokotan (DDT, 3/12/25) Mecha MAO vs. Minoru Suzuki vs. Takagi Sanshirobo (Baka Gaijin + Friends, 12/2/25) http://youtu.be/1dhjQ4TzqNM?si=MuYNzYc4nx26mrob&t=2968

Kadooboo: Probably my favorite "comedy" guy who can actually wrestler. he puts on one of the best babyface performances Ive ever seen in this match Dick Togo, MEN's Teioh, Shiryu & TAKA Michinoku vs. Gran Hamada, Gran Naniwa, Masato Yakushiji & The Great Sasuke - Battlarts, 1/21/97 Also recommending Gorgon Cross (Jerry Lynn) vs. Gran Naniwa - M-Pro, 8/25/95

SayamaFan7 (#ZEALforGWE2036): Yuiga is an interesting case; a joshi wrestler trained by Masanobu Kurisu, who is mostly acclaimed for testing herself in matches against male competitors. A scrappy brawler who loves to throw stiff forearms & headbutts, commonly followed by a German or Fisherman's Suplex. Also a very competent grappler when the situation calls for it. She has a background in Judo and incorporates it very well in a pro-style environment. Deserves credit for running her own promotion since 2006, where she's both booked and wrestled some great matches. Recommended matches: Yuiga vs Tatsuhito Takaiwa (Batos Café 07/03/2016) https://youtu.be/KAmHNDJweDc?si=bLHIvrX2tNBtjlc_ Yuiga vs Nobuhiro Tsurumaki (Kazushi Gumi Toshin 11/23/2018) https://youtu.be/jjF8sIt3vzw?si=W3IM6zDJnMd4Bs_y Yuiga vs Rikiya Fudo (Kazushi Gumi Toshin 06/22/2019) https://youtu.be/DJA5w1R0qmU?si=cWSSzSV_v7v2KtDr Yuiga vs Shigehiro Irie (Batos Café 06/26/2022) https://youtu.be/ISIU1rc_CM4?si=3GB9c1usOLlAAvQo

Rana: Mimi Hagiwara is a terribly underrated worker and one of the highlights of joshi before the Crush Gals boom. She has a relatively short career but shines brightly during it, serving as potentially the first wrestler in the idol archetype that would help define joshi wrestling over the following decades. Mimi is stellar in the face-in-peril role, being one of the best sellers of her era, you can't help but root for her against the likes of Devil Masami or Yumi Ikeshita. She deserves a deeper look. vs Rimi Yokota (AJW - 8/1980) w/ Jackie Sato and Rimi Yokota vs Yumi Ikeshita, Mami Kumano, and Leilani Kai (AJW - 1/4/1981) vs Yumi Ikeshita (AJW - 2/25/1981) vs Nancy Kumi (AJW - 8/1981) w/ Yukari Ohmori vs Sherri Martel and Judy Martin (AJW - 1/26/1982) vs Devil Masami (AJW - 3/7/1982) w/ Yukari Ohmori vs Devil Masami and Tarantula (AJW - 8/10/1982) w/ Jaguar Yokota vs Devil Masami and Tarantula (AJW - 1/4/1983)

anto, de internet: Hyper Misao is an all spirit kind of wrestler, watching her usually feels like seeing someone that is focused mostly on pushing boundaries in aspects that may be overlooked by most other workers. Her matches with and against Shoko Nakajima are some of the better examples of the TJPW style and I'll probably keep watching whatever they do together forever. If wrestling is about smiling, Misao is the greatest of all time. vs. Jun Kasai (5/3/2018) vs. Miyu Yamashita (8/15/2020) vs. Shunma Katsumata (12/18/2021) vs. Shoko Nakajima (1/4/2024) vs. Shoko Nakajima (1/4/2023)

eugeneorlando: This is obviously very much not the sort of nomination where I'd be expecting a huge influx of high level votes, but if I get my shit together and make a list, he's my current favourite for position 100. Obviously in here for his capacity to bring comedy, he's been responsible for bringing an insanely varied amount of hilarious bullshit to matches for what's now the better part of 15 years - the tape, the DVDs, the powders, the corner pads, the scissors, on and on and on. Impressively, he's been pretty damn over the whole time doing it as well - and has even been able to tell some fun stories like trying to take a G1 seriously or being an absolute thorn in the side of Tanahashi and Suzuki. His ability to sell his bullshit through his movements and facial expressions are absolute top-tier, and for me, there's just this inherent joy to the goofiness he brings that's a great summary of why I love this silly little art-form so much. Vs Tanahashi (8/13/2011) Vs Tanahashi (7/5/2015) Vs Omega (7/25/2017) Vs Cabana (10/15/2017) Vs Ishii (7/15/2018)

Scarlet: My pick for the most underrated wrestler in america, Lockhart has a wrestling style that speaks of an experience decades past his years. His matches are beautifully paced and every one of them truly feels like its own story. He focuses on grappling and mat wrestling, and while he's not afraid to get flashy like his peers (see his match with Lee Moriarty), and can dance around opponents like ZSJ, he's far more grounded with what he does. And if need be, he's perfectly capable of slugging it out or hitting power moves. Plus, he's committed to bumping huge and always puts that extra spin on any big move he hits or takes. He runs his own independent promotion called Ase, an all-black wrestling promotion that consistently puts on great cards top to bottom littered with strong talent. I truly feel he's one of the best in the world and for my personal tastes I'm willing to rank him top 100. Darius Lockhart vs. Darius Carter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAbj3ebHJaY Darius Lockhart vs. Calvin Tankman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjktPYU2pGg Darius Lockhart vs. Lucky Ali: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQeW56DHguE Darius Lockhart vs. Lee Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy54HXXVfDU Darius Lockhart vs. Slim J: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KevcKyxiXjc

Brady_Wildcard: One of CMLLs best new wrestlers of the late 90s, he was put in a position to succeed and did for a bit! He created great matches and great moments throughout even with his style changing as his body started to go south on him. Becoming a great comedic rudo who was perfect to be a base and get the crowd going! Match Recs: Mr. Niebla vs Shocker 7/30/99 Mr. Niebla vs Abismo Negro AAA 2/15/08 Mr. Niebla, Felino, Negro Casas vs Mistico, Volador Jr, La Sombra 5/26/09 Mr. Niebla vs Caifan Lucha Memes 11/20/17

Bruno: If Heenan is the best bumping manager and Cornette is the best punching manager then Hart is the best at projecting what a feeble, wretched, pond-dwelling, opportunistic little runt he is with the jabby kicks and mosquito-sting cane shots. Hart v Lawler (6/29/81) Hart/Kaufman v Lawler (83) Hart v Kaufman (83)

Ohtani's Jacket said: He was a fantastic worker (one of the best to debut in the 80s) and an even better babyface. His selling was excellent and he excelled at playing the fired up babyface. Whether it was because of his perceived disability (deaf and non-verbal) I'm not sure, but he wouldn't take shit from anyone, which often led to some tremendously heated bouts. Alan Kilby vs King Ben (10/7/81) Alan Kilby vs Fit Finlay (3/23/83) Alan Kilby vs Terry Rudge (6/18/81)

k-punk: One of the best wrestlers in NJPW over the last decade. Has a crowd connection that few others in the promotion can match, and is better at structuring matches than most. His offence is very derivative of Kawada's but there are worse wrestlers to imitate. Recommended Matches Tomohiro Ishii vs. Taichi (NJPW, 11/8/2019) Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi (NJPW, 21/7/2023) Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Taichi (NJPW, 15/3/2025) Ryohei Oiwa vs. Taichi (NJPW, 3/8/2025)

k-punk: The longtime ace of 2AW/K-Dojo has been an excellent wrestler for 20+ years. Can wrestle multiple styles well, and his versatility has helped him stand out in promotions with vastly different house styles; from Fu-Ten to Miyahara's AJPW to BJW. Is capable of having great technical bouts and great matches based on striking exchanges. Would be an even stronger candidate if more of his matches made tape. Recommended Matches Kengo Mashimo & Madoka vs. HARASHIMA & Kota Ibushi (GPWA, 6/5/2007) Kengo Mashimo & Madoka vs. Mens Teioh & Shinobu (BJW, 23/5/2008) Kengo Mashimo vs. Makoto Hashi (Fu-Ten, 14/11/2010) Kento Miyahara vs. Kengo Mashimo (AJPW, 24/9/2018)

k-punk: A versatile wrestler who was arguably the standout performer in Big Japan for several years, and also excelled in early DDT. Equally adept in deathmatch and traditional settings. Recommended Matches Takashi Sasaki & Tanomusaku Toba vs. Super Rider & Tomohiro Ishii (DDT, 19/4/2000) Daisuke Sekimoto & Yoshihito Sasaki vs. Takashi Sasaki & Yuko Miyamoto (BJW, 2/1/2008) Takashi Sasaki vs. Yuko Miyamoto [Light Tubes Tower Death Match] (BJW, 4/12/2009) Daisuke Sekimoto & Yoshihito Sasaki vs. Takashi Sasaki & Yuko Miyamoto (BJW, 28/5/2010) Yoshihito Sasaki vs. Takashi Sasaki (BJW, 27/6/2010)

Updated and nominees closed! Voting form will be posted April 5th and voting is due May 5th. Thanks for everyone's contributions!

rhutton: This is my #100, and I think it's a great cheeky #100. Lulu Pencil was a freelance writer with no real athletic ability who wrestled exclusively in a converted dentist's office, mostly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the ChocoPro web show. But she also showcased how much of the art of wrestling is nonphysical: getting a gimmick over, variating on a theme, crafting a match, etc. Lulu was so good at these elements that she became the focus of the entire promotion for a time, making herself the ultimate underdog wrestler. Matches: vs. Chris Brookes - Choco Pro, July 22, 2021 w/Emi Sakura vs. Chris Brookes & Yuna Mizumori - Choco Pro, November 11, 2020 vs. Antonio Honda - Choco Pro, August 1, 2021

rhutton: Rika was more of a transitional main eventer for TJPW, but is still in her prime and carries herself like a big deal. I love her combination of the classic Fujinami dragon system moves, DDT-style comedy, and willingness to just murderize the opponent and/or herself. I just think she's neat! Matches: vs. Miyu Yamashita - TJPW, May 4, 2021 w/Miu Watanabe vs. Hyper Misao & Shoko Nakajima - TJPW, July 21, 2025 vs. Ryo Mizunami - TJPW August 10, 2024 w/Miu Watanabe vs. Billie Starkz & Janai Kai - GCW, April 6 2024

rhutton: Yuka is another pivotal wrestler to TJPW's early years and growth, being a multi-time Princess of Princess champion and a reliable big show headliner. Her immediately charming and comedic persona paired with a willingness to be intense and fearless in the ring helped to define the promotion. You don't see her as much since she's moved to the US *cough cough* but every time she shows up I'm still happy to see her. Matches: vs. Mizuki - TJPW, Nov 7, 2020 vs. Miyu Yamashita - TJPW, January 4, 2023 vs. Shoko Nakajima - TJPW, Oct 9, 2022 vs. Emi Sakura - AEW, Feb. 22, 2021