2020 Women's 100
WITH WOMEN PLAYING a bigger role in this year’s PWI “500” list, we were asked by quite a few readers whether we would continue on with this year’s “Women’s 100” list. The answer was a resounding and unhesitating “YES!”
There are several reasons for this. The first is that the “500” list currently only includes women who compete in intergender matches. Not because they are the only wrestlers “good” enough to make the list, but simply because we have historically viewed the “500” as a definitive ranking of the global field of wrestlers who vie for heavyweight titles.
Another reason is that, at the highest level, pro wrestling remains largely segregated by gender, with WWE, AEW, Japan, and Mexico largely booking men and women to compete for their own respective prizes. And, for women, those titles are far fewer in number. For example, WWE’s male wrestlers can compete for the United States and Intercontinental titles, which benefits them in a big way in the “500” issue. The “Women’s 100” not only recognizes women’s championships, but weighs their historical importance—giving them (in most cases) special consideration over other titles in determining a wrestler’s ranking.
Finally, our annual ranking of women’s wrestlers has become increasingly popular over the years—offering more photos and longer entries than the “500,” as well as an annual bird’s-eye view of women’s wrestling that no other print publication provides. There are many readers who enjoy this issue as much—or even more—than its predecessor. And so, in the spirit of highlighting these athletes, the “Women’s 100” lives on.
Last year’s “Women’s 100” was remarkably difficult to compile, with quite a few worthy stars not quite making the cut. The same was certainly true this year, even with the pandemic limiting activity for most of the world’s grapplers.
Speaking of which, the evaluation period for this list is October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020, though we have given special consideration to the momentum athletes had prior to the COVID-19 shutdown.
Like the PWI “500,” the “Women’s 100” is ranked based on the following criteria:
• CHAMPIONSHIPS WON
• QUALITY OF OPPOSITION
• TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY
• WIN-LOSS RECORDS
• OVERALL ACTIVITY
• MOMENTUM/PROMOTIONAL “PUSH”
(Note: The parenthetical information alongside each name represents the wrestler’s height, weight, years pro, and last year’s ranking, if applicable.)
The “Women’s 100” was compiled in an after-hours meeting by a special committee assembled for this task: Al Castle, Andrea Hangst, Kristen Ashly, Pat Laprade, and Kevin McElvaney. The entries themselves were researched and written by Castle, Ashly, and Laprade, along with Contributing Writer Jason McVeigh.
Without further ado … we hope you enjoy this year’s edition of the PWI “Women’s 100.”
1. BAYLEY
(5’6”, 119, 12, 6)
WWE’s “Role Model” exerted her dominance over two different brands, both as the longest-reigning Smackdown Women’s champion in history and as one-half of the Women’s tag team champions … Having won the Smackdown title in October of 2019, has already doubled the length of the previous record-holder … Has defended the belt against most everyone in the division, including Asuka, Tamina, Nikki Cross, and Naomi, and against five separate challengers in a WrestleMania elimination match … As tense as it was, partnership with Sasha Banks brought out the best in Bayley, and led to her becoming “Bayley Dos Straps” when the duo beat Cross and Alexa Bliss for the tag title.
2. BECKY LYNCH
(5’6”, 137, 18, 1)
WWE may have lost the biggest star on its roster when “The Man” announced in May that she was taking a hiatus to become “The Mom” … Left as the undefeated Raw Women’s champion, having won the belt more than a year earlier … Got past some of her toughest challengers to date early this year by beating Asuka at the Royal Rumble and Shayna Baszler at WrestleMania … In between, somehow found the time to learn how to drive a 16-wheeler … Oozes the kind of innate star power that even some of the sport’s biggest names aspire to, but never achieve.
3. ASUKA
(5’3”, 135, 17, 11)
After focusing on her Kabuki Warriors tag team for much of 2018, Asuka returned to being a force in the singles division in 2020 … Wore the tag team championship for most of the first half of the evaluation period with Kairi Sane … Won the Money in the Bank ladder match for what she thought was a women’s title opportunity, but was actually for the Raw Women’s title, vacated by Becky Lynch … Lost the title to Sasha Banks in July, but won it back at SummerSlam—an event at which she also challenged Bayley for the Smackdown title … Delivers the most impassioned promos in WWE, regardless of language.
4. CHARLOTTE FLAIR
(5’11”, 143, 8, 2)
Before taking an extended absence in June, WWE’s “Queen” padded her remarkable résumé with more records, accomplishments, and gold belts … Early in the evaluation period, beat Bayley for her record-setting fifth Smackdown title … Eliminated four women en route to winning the 2020 Women’s Royal Rumble match … Opted to challenge for the NXT championship at WrestleMania and beat Rhea Ripley to win the title, six years after she last wore it … Abbreviated return to NXT also saw her beat Mia Yim and Bianca Belair … Adapted better than most WWE wrestlers to performing in front of an empty arena.
5. SASHA BANKS
(5’5”, 114, 10, 14)
After taking four months off in 2019 to reassess her career, the “Boss” of WWE’s women’s division has looked as good as she has in years, and along the way picked up two championships … Beat Asuka by countout in July to win her fifth Raw Women’s championship, but lost it back to Asuka in her first title defense a month later … Her tag team championship partner, Bayley, factored into most of Banks’ key wins and losses … Following months of tension, the Golden Role Models finally imploded in September, signaling an inevitable sequel to their 2015 Match of the Year.
6. HIKARU SHIDA
(5’4”, 126, 12, 62)
Hard-hitting Japanese star climbed through the ranks of AEW’s fledgling women’s division until becoming its third champion in May … Beat Nyla Rose for the title at Double or Nothing in a no-countout, no-disqualification match to win the title … Won a four-way match involving Kris Statlander, Penelope Ford, and Riho in March … Wrestled seven times in two nights on a pair of shows she promoted in Japan dubbed
