Top 10 wrestling moments of 2019

#2 Cody's pre-Full Gear promo

Cody's promo on the go-home Dynamite before Full Gear received critical acclaim

One of the major critiques of wrestling in recent years has been the way in which WWE micromanages everything and over-scripted promos can be.

Since AEW have entered the market, they have represented a refreshing change of pace in this regard. Whilst the creative freedom the company gives its performers hasn't always equaled success, one man taking his chance is a man at the pinnacle of the promotion, and one of its founders, Cody.

Critics of 'The American Nightmare' look back at his WWE run and how he came across as nothing more than a solid midcarder. But since the inception of AEW, he has taken his game to the next level, especially when he has a mic in hand.

Cody has transitioned into one of wrestling's finest promos, much like his father was in his heyday. The creme-da-la-creme of Cody's work so far was easily his promo on the final episode of Dynamite before the Full Gear pay-per-view event.

Hyping his match with Chris Jericho, his words managed to turn a match with a decent yet unspectacular build into an anticipated clash with a big-bout feel. He took the crowd on an incredible journey over a short space of time, selling how much being AEW Champion meant to him and his family.

Not only that, but he installed a belief into the audience that the title match outcome was obvious, which made the finish at Full Gear more surprising.

I'll be the first to say I've never been the biggest Cody fan. But if he continues to produce gold on the mic, I could be singing his praises much more this time next year.