GWE 2026 Reaction Thread

[SirSam]

18 minutes ago, Makai Club #1 said:

Jay White is a modern guy that I could've voted for but with being in AEW and injury prone, I tend forget about him. Not everything he does clicks. A lot of the counter work can be contrived and clunky but when it clicks, it clicks. White is a wrestler who is reactive in a world where everyone is active. And that's always something I respect. 

He has had a few too many overly long main events that missed their peak for me to vote for him but I agree that on form he is one of the most exciting counter wrestlers to watch.

[Garbage]

Given some of the names that dropped already I'm kind of stunned somebody like Smothers or Nishimura made it this far, some kind of campaigning for them over the past five years must have worked. If I vote in 2036 Nishimura will probably slide off so I'm happy I gave him a spot this time even if it was just at #89. At least he finished above Cole and Gargano. 

[El-P]

24 minutes ago, SirSam said:

I'd say while I respect what Athena has done with the spots she has got, she has never quite reached the level of work that Mercedes/Sasha put in for her Mania match with Bianca Belair, which to me is her finest hour.

She worked so hard to make Belair look unstoppable, I'll never forget the crack of Bianca's hair or the welts it brought up. Legacy wise it is a match that made Bianca a stadium level star and a lot of that was Sasha's very self-less work putting her over.

I wouldn't say it was her finest hour, she had much better matches since leaving WWE, but it was a defining, amazing carry-job performance. The last time I ever watch a Mania main event too. The one thing I remember the most actually is her sitting outside leaning on the barricade (or the ring, In dunno) after the match was over with *that* face where you could read the joy and pride of "Yup. I did it". She just loves this shit and it shows.

[El-P]

Oh, I missed Cash Wheeler. It's a bit ironic he got so close to Dennis Condrey. As in, both one half of one of the greatest tag team ever. A sign that being seen mostly a tag team wrestler is still a stigma (but shouldn't be).

The one thing that actually hurts Cash Wheeler is that he's tagging with Dax Harwood. That's it. He's a great pro-wrestler.

Also, I don't remember who it was exactly, but when they changed their names after escaping WWE, and the name Cash Wheeler was revealed, someone made a joke that still makes me laugh to this day, which was something like "It sounds like the name of someone who knows where the meth is hidden". Incredible.

[DMJ]

- I had Yoshinari Ogawa at #77 but was surprised to see he was #24 for someone else. If this was a ranking of my favorite wrestlers to watch, he'd probably be in my top 50. 

- IIRC I was the one who nominated Charlotte so I'm surprised I wasn't even close to the high voter on her either (I had her at #70). Charlotte is divisive and arguably even a "problematic" nominee because she's not always been super professional or safe (that TLC tag match w/ Becky against the Kabuki Warriors was unforgettable in a bad way), but for Big Fight Feel and often making you wonder if you're about to see a trainwreck or a great match, she's amazing. For someone who has so often been criticized as being "hand-picked" or "forced," she's maybe the least polished, least manufactured, least phony personality they have. Her desperation for fan approval, peer approval, even critical approval...its been on her face since NXT, which is also why none of the first couple babyface runs really worked. People like confidence. She's better as a heel because, as a heel, she played the cocky, arrogant athlete with obvious insecurities. Its classic Disney. The Evil Queen in Snow White with all the power in the world, all the riches, but none of the inner beauty or peace. And, real or fake, she was great in that role. I think this tag run has been solid - and well-received - because, eventually, thanks to that Players Tribune article and also (hopefully) just a general softening of the crowd in understanding how absolutely shitty the company she works for is and how many fans are absolutely awful, entitled pieces of shit towards all wrestlers but women wrestlers especially. Oh, and then there was her being Ric's kid, her brother dying, and the multiple failed marriages/relationships. At a certain point, the Evil Queen becomes a pretty sympathetic character and I think some fans actually just want her to not end up living at the bottom of a vodka or pill bottle when this is all over. But, in the words of Taz, I digress...she made my list because she has a resume of matches I really like. 

[Matt D]

8 hours ago, El McKell said:

I’m thinking with how where Taichi ended up, the fact that we still haven’t seen Hirooki Goto yet, that we have seen Rhea Ripley & that Sheamus did worse than 2016….top 100 is going to be 2010s NJPW heavy

Weirdly, I think this trend may reverse itself in 2036 because of TV Ashii's draconian policies. Not being able to share clips on social media will blunt newer fans from getting into NJPW, be it the 1980s or the 2010s.

[El Dragon]

I do love Jay White, a massive personal favorite, and just wish he could stay healthy a bit longer to really kind of "finish" his case. He didn't make my top 100, but I do absolutely adore him, and can't wait for him to get healthy. 

Ogawa is another one of mine, that rat fuck placed at 63 for me. He's such a shit head, I say affectionately. We need more Ogawa's in the world.

[BackToBionic]

Athena is a huge favorite of mine so I'm pleased not only with her relatively high placement, but also that I wasn't even close to being the top voter. I had her at 41 which I thought could be a high vote. At this point I don't think I'll be a high voter on anyone (besides number one of course) which is fine with me. I think in 2016 I was highest on quite a few people.

I have Mercedes higher than Athena but only just. I'm assuming Mercedes will be the highest ranked American woman unless I'm forgetting someone. I can think of only a few left and I'd imagine she beats them all.

[Tetsujin]

Bianca Belair finishing over Rhea Ripley is pretty neat. She is the better wrestler after all.

Jay White is a treasure, but he hasn't reach his full potential yet and I believe he never will, considering he's not one of TK's biggest names and his recent injuries. But he's one of those wrestler who should be helping redefine what a great wrestling match can look like on US tv and PPV. If I were the AEW booker I would have him as my top heel alongside Mox to help put García over as the next big thing.

I votes for KOR, and that's two on my list out. His NXT run cemented what was already a pretty strong résumé for one of the very best wrestlers of the 10s, but his AEW run is adding even more, when you could consider him already done at some point. 

Larry Z dropping this early saddens me. One of the guys I'm watching more of at the moment, in order to feel myself comfortable with putting him on my list next time, and what an awesome heel. The Bruno rivalry is fucking amazing.

[club]

Tenzan finishing so high is a mad one. Once we were into the 400s I just assumed he got zero votes.

[El-P]

Dax Harwood into Sid into Rikidozan

Whaaaaaat in the actual fuck ?

(lol, Booker T)

[El-P]

16 minutes ago, Tetsujin said:

Jay White is a treasure, but he hasn't reach his full potential yet and I believe he never will, considering he's not one of TK's biggest names and his recent injuries. But he's one of those wrestler who should be helping redefine what a great wrestling match can look like on US tv and PPV. If I were the AEW booker I would have him as my top heel alongside Mox to help put García over as the next big thing.

He's only 33. No idea how the injuries are gonna do him bad, but hey, at some point, it seemed like Bandido's potential had been ruined forever with the never-ending wrist injury/surgery and look at him now. I feel like he was always a slow-burn project. Which fits his style. I'm confident about his future. He sure could be a top heel there. 

[El-P]

And so like I said before, Dax is hurting Cash's perception. Because Dax Harwood is such an awesome wrestler. He laps most of his influences (sorry Arn, Tully... Bobby and Bret, you're not quite "lapped", but...). And he's a great promo to boot. The only thing he ever sucked at was podcasting.

Sandman at #7 greatest wrestler ever. 😂 And you know what ? I love it. His retirement match against the Invisible Man was awesome too. I was, am and always will be a Hak fan. Still the best entrance ever (I'm taking about the Woman era too, the perfect un-fit).

[Ma Stump Puller]

Very happy that Keita Yano finished #252. Going from a guy that 99% of people would've went "who?" in 2016 to having over 30 ballots cast and in the top 200 a decade later is quite something. 

 

[El Dragon]

Dax going before both Bucks makes me quite sad, if not surprised. FTR are a top 2 tag team all time for me, and both being off before 250 feels wrong.

[Ricky Jackson]

I admire the consistency of Booker T's rankings in 06, 16 and 26

[El-P]

41 minutes ago, El Dragon said:

Dax going before both Bucks makes me quite sad, if not surprised. FTR are a top 2 tag team all time for me, and both being off before 250 feels wrong.

Yes to the second sentence. Nope to the first. Because Young Bucks are the Top 1 tag team of all time. 😎

[SirSam]

I have a few tag teams ahead of FTR but both Cash and Dax made my list. From the current generation the Bucks and Briscoes.

[Monch Wrestling]

On 5/14/2026 at 6:57 PM, HowtobeaMark said:

How high are we going to get Toni Storm?

My first post here.

I think she's gonna be part of the next drop.

Would be funny if the wrestler with the "Timeless" moniker who's channeling a golden age Hollywood starlet ends up being the youngest highest ranked person, but Sareee is younger than her and i think she will be ranked above Toni.

[SirSam]

2 minutes ago, Monch Wrestling said:

My first post here.

I think she's gonna be part of the next drop.

Would be funny if the wrestler with the "Timeless" moniker who's channeling a golden age Hollywood starlet ends up being the youngest highest ranked person, but Sareee is younger than her and i think she will be ranked above Toni.

I think that will make her the highest rated Australian with Rea Ripley, Kyle Fletcher and Buddy Matthews having already dropped and Robbie Eagles getting votes (one at least from me) but not nominated prior.

I don't think I'm forgetting anyone unless I missed a covert Nathan Jones push.

[Boss Rock]

11 hours ago, Matt D said:

At this point, my biggest investment in results is that Jackie Sato (miraculously still alive given her 2016 rating) somehow beats Edge. 

I'm very sorry.

[Microstatistics]

#295

"Classy" Freddie Blassie

Definitely someone I overlooked. The #1 vote is compelling.

#259

Koji Kanemoto

Polarizing figure to an extent, but I think he is pretty great. #92 for me. 

#252

Keita Yano

Finished much higher than I would have expected, in a good way. Didn't know about him until last year but has been impressive thus far.

[Boss Rock]

1 minute ago, Microstatistics said:

Koji Kanemoto

Polarizing figure to an extent, but I think he is pretty great. #92 for me. 

Same, he was my 61.

[Boss Rock]

2 hours ago, El-P said:

Yes to the second sentence. Nope to the first. Because Young Bucks are the Top 1 tag team of all time. 😎

I don't think it happens (top 150 I think), but not ruling out a top 100 finish for either. Or at least Nick.

[gungan]

Belair: never understood her appeal tbh. She's like the vast majority of performance centre projects in that her work has a soulless rote feel to it. Mercedes worked a miracle at 37 afaic.

Dax: it feels weird that there's a fair bit of distance between his and Cash's rankings. I know that Dax has the better singles output, but I've consistently found myself more impressed by Cash as a tag worker. Anyway, I love them both and they barely missed making my list.

Keita Yano: I remember hating his Battlarts stuff, but I've slowly come around on him. Barely missed my list, nice to see he made a solid chunk of lists.

Batista: I remember loving him (especially his 2010 heel run and his inexplicable ability to get good matches out of HHH), but I need to revisit his work to see how it holds up. 

Sandman: I had him at 97. He was a magnetic performer who got pro-wrestling at a primal level. He was an awesome bumper and seller, had underrated offence (I love his elbow drop), was great at pulling at WTF moments because he was a stealthily good athlete, and his WCW run was fantastic. Austin vs. Sandman in 1998 is my dream feud.