The landscape of WWE is not what it used to be when it was dubbed the land of the giants. Today, kayfabe is dead, the internet wrestling community has a voice, and it pushes for superstars who can actually work in the ring, over the ‘marketable’ stars that the company wants to push.
Case in point, the Roman Reigns story! 10 years ago, a good looking talent like that, who can go in the ring (despite what the detractors think), would be the top dog without question. Not so much in today’s era. WWE pushed him down the card, because of negative fan reaction.
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So let’s look back at this year and see which wrestlers have been IWC favourites, and whether or not they managed to make a mark.
#10 Kota Ibushi
Move aside, Heath Slater. Kota Ibushi is without question the hottest free agent in the sports entertainment world today. Ibushi entered the Cruiserweight Classic as the favourite to win the tournament but put over T.J. Perkins as he did not want to sign with WWE in the semi-finals.
Strangely enough, we heard that he will be teaming with Hideo Itami in the upcoming Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Make up your mind, dude!
#9- Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe has had a better year than most, having main evented every single NXT Takeover this year. Sure, we all want to see him on the main roster, but the former NXT Champion is carving a niche for himself as a destructive submission machine on NXT TV.
Who can forget his classic matches this year, against Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura!? Now, we want to see him square off against Lesnar!
#8 Bobby Roode
Bobby Roode was probably NXT’s biggest signing in 2016. This former TNA star faced Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas at NXT Takeover II: Brooklyn and his entrance was, well....simply ‘glorious’. He looks to take over Samoa Joe’s spot, once Joe is called up (as NXT’s top heel), but for now, we're curious to see how he’ll do in his ‘Glorious 10’ tag team.
His theme song has gone viral on the internet, and we just cannot stop humming the melody.
#7 Seth Rollins
Why’s Raw’s top babyface so low down this list? Because he missed the first part of the year (including Wrestlemania) with a knee injury. After his return at Extreme Rules, Rollins worked heel for some time, before turning into Raw’s top babyface.
Of course, he’s had a mixed year having injured Finn Balor and with a death in his wrestling academy. But still, Rollins remains an internet fan favourite, and despite Bret Hart’s protestations, a really good in-ring worker.
#6 Asuka
Kanako Urai, or Kana, or Asuka, as we know her better may just be the best female wrestler, in terms of in-ring work in the entire roster. The current NXT women’s champion has put on absolute classics against Bayley and Nia Jax. We see her holding on to the title for quite some time now, as a new batch of female contenders crop up.
But, be that as it may, Asuka is here to stay. And slay!
#5 Finn Balor
Finn Balor aka Prince Devitt aka The Demon King had a great year before Seth Rollins ruined it for him. If great matches on NXT television (including a great one with Shinsuke Nakamura), amazing Takeover matches, and a top 5 draft pick weren’t enough, Finn Balor became the quickest WWE Champion and first ever Universal Champion in just 27 days.
When he returns from injury, he’ll be all set to make up for lost time, and we can only guess how big his push will be!
#4 Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn has been in more ‘Match of the Contender’ bouts this year, than anyone else in our list. Be it the classic at Takeover Dallas or the ladder match at Wrestlemania, or his series of matches with Owens, each one of his matches has been nothing short of breathtaking.
Currently, like all good workers, he's languishing without a storyline on Raw. But we're sure this will change soon. Maybe Zayn can sign with Shayn, and put on a match of the Zayntury against A.J. Styles.
#3 Shinsuke Nakamura
If you watched NXT Takeover: Dallas on Wrestlemania weekend, we guarantee you that this man’s entrance still gives you chills. The King of Strong Style is undefeated in NXT, holds the NXT Championship, and is certain to be a big deal when he moves to the main roster.
And if that’s not enough, he has more swag than anyone in the business right now. Nakamura defines the term ‘internet darling’ to the max.
#2 Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens is hilarious. He’s a pretty good wrestler too. And he is the voice of the internet wrestling community, who have pushed for a champion who does not fit the traditional superstar mold.
Owens, the longest reigning Universal Champion, like he keeps reminding us, is a superstar like none other, He is the face of modern wrestling, and even this ugly looking belt looks great on the Prizefighter KO.
#1 A.J. Styles
Recently Jim Ross said that A.J. Styles is the best worker in the WWE since Shawn Michaels. And because he doesn't drink and is a complete family man, he is a total asset for the company. A.J. Styles personifies innovation inside the ring and could have a good match with a broomstick, if the need arose.
From his debut at the Royal Rumble to being crowned champion at Backlash, it's been a phenomenal road. Oh did we forget, A.J Styles beat John Cena clean in the middle of the ring, at Summerslam!? This is a bigger feat than a title win, in some ways. All hail the face that runs the place, ‘the Phenomenal One’ A.J. Styles
