5 Times current WWE Superstars have been called the world's best wrestler

WWE has long been considered the place where the best professional wrestlers are. However, there have been numerous times in wrestling history where that hasn't necessarily been the case.

For a good chunk of the 1990s, All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) was considered to have the best in-ring performers. Ring of Honor (ROH) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) could make an argument for the case as well.

WWE might be the most popular, but not many of the current top Superstars are considered among the world's best wrestlers from an in-ring perspective.

Here are five current Superstars who were called the world's best wrestler at some point.

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#5. AJ Styles - Labeled as "the best in-ring performer of this generation" by WWE

Not every Superstar gets labeled as the best in-ring performer by WWE. For years before the PG era, Shawn Michaels constantly set the standard, deservingly getting called the best in-ring performer of his generation.

It wasn't just his WrestleMania performances that consistently mesmerized fans. Even in his return run from 2002 to 2010, Shawn Michaels delivered in several unforgettable matches.

AJ Styles didn't join WWE at such a young age. While Shawn Michaels was almost 31 years old when he won his first WWE Championship at WrestleMania 12, AJ Styles won it at the age of 39. However, it only took Styles a little over seven months from his WWE debut to become a World Champion.

One of the first Superstars in WWE to benefit from the 2016 Brand Split, AJ Styles would go on to become the face of SmackDown from September 2016 until April 2019 - when he was drafted to RAW.

It didn't take long for WWE to see AJ Styles' true in-ring ability. While he was already considered one of the world's best wrestlers during his TNA/IMPACT Wrestling tenure, it was his two-year stint with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) that cemented him as a must-see international superstar.

The timing couldn't have been better, and AJ Styles continued to prove his in-ring prowess despite worries that WWE would try to "tone down" his style. It only took him over two months before he had his first pay-per-view main event, where he challenged Roman Reigns for the WWE Title (unsuccessfully on two occasions).

AJ Styles has been declared as "The best in-ring performer of this generation" several times by WWE. And if it's something repeated so often, then there's a chance that Vince McMahon feels that way too.

#4. Randy Orton - A WWE legend who will be appreciated in time?

Randy Orton might seem like an unlikely addition to the list. For years, he has been criticized for his "safe" in-ring style and not going out of his way to be as athletic as several of WWE's current stars.

However, Randy Orton made a good case for why he has no need to do so, and his two-decade tenure with WWE tells the story. The Miz has also been on the receiving end of such criticism but on a lesser scale. That's perhaps due to The Miz being a heel and the fact that Randy Orton has competed at a much higher level for longer.

After winning the WWE Championship on RAW in February 2021, Bobby Lashley told FOX Sports that Randy Orton is "probably the greatest wrestler in the history of wrestling."

While most may not agree with the WWE Champion's assessment of Randy Orton, there's a lot that can be learned from The Viper's exclusive interview with Sportskeeda's Riju Dasgupta.

Orton talked about how he will be able to continue for another decade by telling stories in the ring and putting more emphasis on facial expressions and the "ad-lib" moments in a match. It speaks volumes of his in-ring IQ.

#3. Sasha Banks - the best in-ring female performer in WWE history?

Sasha Banks has had some of the best women's matches in WWE history.

There's little doubt about where Sasha Banks ranks among the greatest women in WWE history. While time will tell the true impact that she has had, her overall popularity has remained consistent. Her in-ring performances have led people to believe that she is one of the greatest female performers in WWE history.

While Sasha Banks may not have as many WWE Women's Championships as Charlotte Flair, she is already a Grand Slam Women's Champion who has achieved nearly everything there is to in WWE.

Sports Illustrated named Sasha Banks as the number one wrestler in the world in 2020 - beating the likes of Drew McIntyre, Jon Moxley, Tetsuya Naito, Kenny Omega, and Bayley.

Despite criticism of how WWE has handled Sasha Banks' past title reigns, her 2020-2021 run as SmackDown Women's Champion seems to be a way to make up for that. Her reign as SmackDown Women's Champion surpassed her previous four reigns with the RAW Women's Title combined.

#2. Seth Rollins - One of WWE's most pivotal modern-day stars

Seth Rollins' most significant year in WWE was arguably 2015. While WWE programming that year was considered bland as a whole, Seth Rollins was regarded as the "saving grace" of the company.

Becoming the first man to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania, Seth Rollins held the WWE Championship for a respectable seven months between late March and early November 2015.

Having arguably carried the company on his back, Seth Rollins was considered the best wrestler in the world in 2015. He was even given the honor of being Pro Wrestling Illustrated's number one wrestler in the world.

While 2015 ended for him with a massive injury, his comeback was successful the following year. 2019 was another vital year for him as he won the Royal Rumble and the Universal Championship twice from Brock Lesnar.

In 2019, Seth Rollins topped PWI's "Top 500 wrestlers in the world." While many would argue that he wasn't the best in 2019, there was little debate about that status in 2015 - where Rollins was constantly the focal point of WWE TV.

#1. Daniel Bryan - Among WWE's greatest overachievers?

It's not unfair to say that Daniel Bryan was an overachiever in WWE. It was one thing to come in from the independent scene with momentum on his side and proceeding to prove his value.

But it's another thing to have a forced retirement, return to fight, and successfully do so two years later only to prove that he was still among the world's best.

Daniel Bryan has admitted that his in-ring career could be winding down sooner rather than later, and what a career it is to look back on.

From his 2010 run in WWE alone, Daniel Bryan has an incredible body of work. He was widely regarded as the best wrestler in the world for years, especially between his 2013-14 run that culminated in a successful WrestleMania main event.

After his match against Daniel Bryan on SmackDown last year, Sami Zayn broke character on Twitter and declared that the former World Champion is the best in-ring performer of his generation.

When looking at his in-ring prowess and overall ability, few Superstars are at Daniel Bryan's level. The fact that he reportedly has creative control only proves how much WWE values him.

Edited by Zaid Khan