Grimmas

From HowtobeaMark: I don't think I have ever seen a bad performance from Ilja. His selling is often great, his offence looks fantastic and his presentation is very serious which has become a breathe of fresh air in modern American wrestling. Almost without exception, if every current wrestler was a bit more like Ilja they would improve their work. He always brings passion to his matches which always makes his matches feel important. vs Walter vs John Klinger (10th March 2018) vs Walter (29th October 2020) vs Walter (22nd August 2021) vs Bron Breakker vs JD McDonagh (22nd October 2022) vs Dijak (28th May 2023) vs Carmelo Hayes (30th July 2023) vs Carmelo Hayes (30th September 2023)

From El McKell: He's better at presenting himself as a monster than really any other big man going today. He made his AEW dark squashes entertaining, he's good at making his opponents look good, and it's funny as hell that way back in 2005 he was super over in the Impact Zone because he went out drinking with the fans. vs AJ Styles 2014/08/03 vs Will Ospreay 2019/07/06 vs Adam Page 2022/02/10 vs Warlow 2022/04/27

From El McKell: Someone with a sneaky good long career, pretty good in early PWG, Evolve, peak early 2010s PWG, probably the 2nd best guy in the cruiserweight classic (which for my money is one of the best things WWE ever produced), quite a few sporadic really good Impact matches, and then a really good Best of the Super Juniors this year. vs Kyle O'Reilly 2013/08/09 vs Kota Ibushi Cruiserweight Classic vs Gran Metalik Cruiserweight Classic vs Josh Alexander Iron Man 2021/06/03 vs Hiromu Takahashi 2023/05/19

From El McKell: Shocked nobody has nominated him yet and someone's gotta want to vote for him. Got himself super over in Lucha Underground with his personality and aura. Always carries himself like he's a star even when he's mired in mediocre booking. Not as spectacular as his brother, but still pretty adept at doing cool shit. In his best bloody/violent stuff he comes across really dangerous. vs Kairi Hojo, Mayu Iwatani & Io Shiari Lucha Underground - Season 3 Episode 13 vs Kenny Omega All In 2019 w/Fenix vs Young Bucks All Out 2021 vs Villano IV Mas vs Mask in 2022

From El McKell: A tiny man, a technical wizard, more fun for me to watch than any of the old French heavyweights. I like that he can be this kind of base or whatever in the matches against Le Petit Prince where he grounds his opponent but he also gets to show one of the most athletic wrestlers in his place and time in other matches. Michel Saulnier vs Jo Marconville (1959/12/11) Michel Saulnier vs Jean Rabut (1965/06/20) Michel Saulnier vs Le Petit Prince (1967/09/30) & (1969/04/10)

From fxnj: One of the best joshi workers of the overlooked late 2000s-early 2010s period. Very diverse worker who could do solid matwork sections, work an uncomfortably violent brawl, and also be a trailblazer for intergender deathmatch wrestling. vs. Abdullah Kobayashi 7/30/2006 vs. Meiko Satomura 12/3/2006 and 3/11/2015 vs. Kana 8/16/2008 and 3/4/2014 w/ Command Bolshoi vs. Arisa Nakajima & Kana 3/2/2014

From Microstatistics: To me, the most impressive wrestler from all of the French footage. Great as the technically gifted stooging heel who could big bump AND violently rough up opponents. w/Inca Peruano vs. Gilbert Cesca/Ben Chemoil, 3/12/1965 vs. Walter Borders, 8/29/1967 vs. Jon Guil Don, 4/18/1976

From CFØS. on discord: Incredible Amaresu guys working mainly XGF and nkw and sometimes WALLABEE, doing hardcore/backyard matches but is still able to put some incredible matches with no rules. There is some big GME level in that list. Recs : Great Zako vs. Mr. Money - nkw - 20/02/2010 Crazy Zako vs. JJJJ = Shiofutei Tsurube - Nukuigusa Pro - 22/12/2012 Masked Holiday (Keita Yano) vs. Great Zako - UEW - 21/10/2018 Great Zako vs. Mr. Money - nkw - 19/05/2019 Minoru Kido vs. Great Zako - nkw - 01/01/2021 Great Zako, Mr. Money, KISHIDA & Asuka the World vs. Sasaki Complete Jr., Chocott Shitainer, Dick Zlater & Shinichiro Tominaga - CWP/nkw/AZW - 06/06/2021 Great Zako vs. Survival Tobita - XGF - 29/08/2021 Great Zako vs. Sasaki Complete Jr. - nkw - 25/09/2021 Great Zako vs. Sasaki Complete Jr. - CWP - 24/10/2021 Great Zako vs. Dick Zlater - AZW - 05/03/2022 Great Zako vs. San Francisco Xavier - XGF - 08/10/2022 Crazy Zako vs. Monster Halloween - XGF - 04/01/2023 Crazy Zako vs. Hooligan aka Sakai - XGF - 27/05/2023 Crazy Zako, Heroic Del Pachira & Mr. Money vs. KISHIDA, OSAMU & Asuka The World vs. Futokute Katai No Hoshino Kankuro, Ben-P & Necra Butcher - CWP/nkw/AZW - 11/06/2023

Although this started off a little slow, with Muto trying to keep grounded, it sure ended up delivering. After Norton got control, the match was a classic. The offense by Norton was just vicious! The hope spots were so well planned out, and the cut-offs by Norton were perfect. The crowd was rabid for Muto. He got in some nice nearfalls as the match built to the finish, with some that had me bite. The finish was so well done, with Norton just having enough of Muto, who wouldn't go away, so he goes to the top. Must watch match. Rating: 9.25/10

I've watched a lot more and Norton is so fucking under rated. He may be the best smart working big gaijin ever. His timing of cut offs is unreal. His power offense is a thing of beauty, no moves that don't make sense for his size. He's like wrestling a big tree that hits back and it's awesome. His matches with Muta at the 97 GI Climax and from February 3, 1995 are both top 100 matches of all time too.

Here too: https://forums.prowrestlingonly.com/topic/54421-command-bolshoi-send-in-the-clown/

Going in, Taue is someone I am considering for #1

This is my next year to focus on! I don't know if I can get behind Misawa, but we'll see!

UPDATED and sorry for the delay!

Control21 said: “The Real Baki the Grappler,” Naoyuki Taira was a talented shootboxer that eventually tried his hand at pro-wrestling, and was quite good at it. Taira spent most of his time in BattlArts, but also appeared in RINGS for a handful of shoot matches. Taira distinguished himself with flair and style and often appeared quite competent in terms of building match structure. Perhaps he falls in a Kohsaka-esque category of wrestlers who were just really good with a small body of work. vs Alexander Otsuka (5/11/2000) vs Carl Malenko (7/20/2000) w/Kazunari Murakami vs Yuki Ishikawa & Carl Malenko (9/7/2000)

Control21 said: Making his debut in Kiyoshi Tamura’s U-Style, Hiroyuki Ito was a talented grappler and shoot-style underdog. He was quite decent and had several worthwhile matches with Kiyoshi Tamura, Kyosuske Sasaki, and Ryuki Ueyama. After U-Style’s closure, Ito would go on to further ply his trade in NJPW, Futen, Battlarts, and Big Mouth Loud. His output remained consistent and is probably worth a closer look. vs Kiyoshi Tamura (8/18/2004) vs Manabu Hara (4/24/2005) vs Yuki Ishikawa (4/19/2006) vs Ryuki Ueyama 10/6/2003)

Control21 said: One of the more talented junior heavyweights in wrestling since the mid-2000s. Ishimori has made a name for himself in NOAH and NJPW. He has combined his considerable athleticism with technical skills and a knack for inserting a ton of energy and excitement into his matches. While other wrestlers like KUSHIDA and Hiromu Takahashi may overshadow him, he still has quite a resume and continues to deliver worthwhile matches. His consistency and output warrant at least a conversation. Recommended matches – vs Hiromu Takahashi (6/4/2018) vs Hiromu Takahashi (6/21/2022) w/KENTA vs Kota Ibushi & Naomichi Marufuji (7/15/2007) w/Naomichi Marufuji vs Kotaro Suzuki & Atsushi Aoki (6/13/2012) vs Dragon Lee (5/3/2019)

Control21 said: The archetype of the burly strongman from the Soviet bloc. Zangiev would become one of the most recognizable and impactful foreigners from the late 1980s for Puroresu. Even influencing video games such as Street Fighter. Zangiev would make his debut in 1989 for NJPW after Antonio Inoki visited the Soviet Union and negotiated access to two Russian amateur wrestlers (Salman Hashimikov was the other). Zangiev was perhaps the more charismatic of the two and was capable of having good matches. Seemingly a natural, Zangiev became one of the most formidable outsiders in 1989. Zangiev would later work on several UWFi shows. Recommended matches – vs Shinya Hashimoto (4/24/1989) vs Nobuhiko Takada (10/8/1994) w/Vladimir Berkovich vs Naoki Sano & Yoji Anjo (8/18/1994) w/Salman Hashimikov vs Kazuo Yamazaki & Yoji Anjo (6/10/1994)

Control21 said: Karl Gotch’s unheralded student and “son.” Kido was a proficient technician and became a staple in NJPW from its conception all the way into the 1980s and 1990s. Kido was also a key piece in the early years of the UWF revolution, participating in its first iteration. Later in the 2000s, Kido would make a stop in Big Mouth Loud and had a hand in training Shinsuke Nakamura in the NJPW dojo. A very underrated wrestler and one that probably merits his own thread based on a very consistent body of work. Recommended matches - vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara (9/6/1985) w/Akira Maeda vs Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami (8/5/1986) w/Keith Haward vs Akira Maeda & Pete Roberts (12/5/1984) w/Akira Maeda vs Antonio Inoki & Yoshiaki Fujiwara (12/10/1986) vs Tatsumi Fujinami (2/6/1991)

Control21 said: Ueyama was one of the last UWFi dojo trainees along with Daijiro Matsui. Both would become JMMA-focused guys but Ueyama had some runs in the squared circle as well. After the end of UWFi, Ueyama would try his luck in KINGDOM, RINGS (although most of these matches were probably shoots), U-Style, DDT, HEAT-UP, and even a match in AJPW! As you would expect from someone who was trained in the UWFi dojo, Ueyama was technically proficient and capable of working a sound match. Another guy who I think deserves some examination here. vs Seichi Ikemoto (10/9/2004) vs Hiroyuki Ito (2/15/2003) w/Seichi Ikemoto vs Kiyoshi Tamura & Takaku Fuke (12/7/2004) vs Ryuji Hijikata (4/12/2003) vs Daisuke Nakamura (3/19/2015) w/Kiyoshi Tamura vs Hidehisa Matsuda & Yuki Kotake (6/29/2007)

Control21 said: Sakata was a RINGS dojo product and spent most of his career in shoot-style before working Zero-1 and HUSTLE in the 2000s. He wasn’t the flashiest of wrestlers but was a solid hand for the RINGS undercard for several years before becoming a similar roster member for more diverse promotions. He went from facing the likes of Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Nikolai Zouev, and Kiyoshi Tamura to going face-to-face with CW Anderson, Jun Kasai, Tenryu, and Super Crazy. Certainly a colorful career worth examining. Recommended matches – vs Hiromitsu Kanehara (6/20/1998) vs Kiyoshi Tamura (7/20/1998) vs Masayuki Naruse (12/13/1997) vs Naohiro Hoshikawa (12/15/2002) vs Genichiro Tenryu (3/12/2006)

Control21 said: Dokon only had a brief run in U-Style, but he delivered in almost all of them. One of the most unique JMMA fighters also proved why he could have been one of the most unique wrestlers in the 2000s if he had continued his career. He’s a bit like Megumi Fujii in the sense that he deserves a nomination based on how unreal he was in a worked format. His matches against Tamura, Manabu Hara, and Kyosuke Sasaki are worth checking out. Recommended matches – vs Kiyoshi Tamura (4/6/2003) vs Manabu Hara (2/4/2004) vs Kyosuke Sasaki (6/29/2003) vs Kiyoshi Tamura (8/7/2004) vs Crafter M (12/7/2004)

Control21 said: One of the best junior heavyweights over the past decade. Hiromu Takahashi is a very gifted wrestler who knows how to work the modern NJPW formula, and by extension, most other modern styles as well. Hiromu Takahashi is also a master of conveying emotion and utilizing psychology in his matches to insert a vivid sense of tension and danger. He has developed memorable rivalries with the likes of KUSHIDA, Dragon Lee, El Desperado, and Taiji Ishimori. While he is still relatively early in his career, I think he has put together a very solid case for one of the best junior heavyweights of all time and could be a contender for some Top 100 lists. Recommended matches - Hiromu Takahashi vs Taiji Ishimori (6/4/2018) Hiromu Takahashi vs Will Ospreay (1/4/2020) Hiromu Takahashi vs Will Ospreay (2/10/2018) Hiromu Takahashi vs Will Ospreay (6/9/2018) Hiromu Takahashi vs KUSHIDA (6/11/2017) Hiromu Takahashi vs KUSHIDA (1/4/2017) Hiromu Takahashi vs Dragon Lee (2/11/2017) Hiromu Takahashi vs Ryu Lee (2/9/2020) Dragon Lee vs Kamaitachi (1/24/2016) Dragon Lee vs Kamaitachi (3/20/2015) Dragon Lee vs Kamaitachi (12/4/2015)

Control21 said: A very talented wrestler that has vastly improved his resume over the past four years or so. The "lost" NJPW young lion has become a very versatile wrestler proficient in technical wrestling, Lucha Libre, the modern NJPW "house style," and even deathmatches. He has become an important piece to the NJPW Junior Heavyweight division and is a fan favorite for many. In many ways, he mirrors Hiromu Takahashi to some degree. Desperado is able to convey emotion in his matches to a very palpable degree, a gift that not many wrestlers have. Certainly, someone that could contend for the lower half of a few Top 100 lists. Recommended matches - El Desperado vs Jun Kasai (9/12/2022) El Desperado vs Hiromu Takahashi (12/11/2020) El Desperado vs Francesco Akira (5/21/2023) El Desperado vs Kazuchika Okada (3/2/2022) El Desperado vs Kota Ibushi (3/4/2021) El Desperado vs Titan (5/26/2023) El Desperado vs Dragon Lee (6/3/2018) El Desperado vs Hiromu Takahashi (5/22/2018) El Desperado vs Kota Ibushi (2/11/2014) Kyosuke Mikami vs Hiromu Takahashi (8/24/2010)

NotJayTabb said: I mean, we've got both Nasty Boys listed, but not arguably the best tag team in WWF/E history. To survive over 13yrs in a company that is notoriously not a tag team territory, never breaking up, constantly staying fresh to the point that they're arguably the most over they've ever been, is an incredible achievement. Work superbly as a face team or a heel team, a ton of great matches, and there's still potential for either to have a solo run if needed. Jey has already had a well-received main event slot against Roman Reigns, he could well get there again. There are other nominees who are arguably mainly tag guys, but the Usos are better than most, if not all of them. MATCHES vs The Wyatt Family (Money In The Bank 2014) vs The New Day (Hell In A Cell 2017) vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (Wrestlemania 2023)