Toru Yano

[Grimmas]

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)

[Ma Stump Puller]

I think people really overlook his pre-comedy stuff, Yano wasn't a solid wrestler but he was better than most at being a dangerous spoiler-heel who could chain enough bullshit together to catch anyone unawares, and his more bloody showings involving his work with the WEW belt are pretty fucking cool. In another world the guy would've been scrapping with Carlos Colon in some dingy stadium. Can't see a world where he gets top 100 though

 

[Boss Rock]

He definitely won't make my list but I love Yano. Tremendous comedy wrestler even if his schtick generally works better in shorter matches. But he's also a solid mat-based wrestler given his collegiate background and his more "serious" matches with guys like Tanahashi are pretty good.