ASK 500 DIFFERENT people to compile their own detailed rankings of the best wrestlers in the world, and expect to get 500 very different lists.
True, most any ranking that isn’t based entirely on mathematics will be subjective—it’s what separates the all-stars and MVPs from the league leaders in home runs or touchdown passes. To be sure, each of these categories is a reliable marker of excellence. Each one is worthy of celebration.
However, these categories are not exactly the same. In Major League Baseball, the league MVP is a question up for debate, while the home run leader is not. The pitcher with the most strikeouts is a matter of proper recordkeeping, while the Cy Young Award winner is voted upon by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
The difference between a player who tangibly led a league in a certain category and the one designated “the best” above all others often comes down to a gut feeling on the parts of those making the determination.
To use another sport as an example: The committee of voters for the NBA’s annual MVP award is asked to consider individual statistics alongside a player’s impact on his team and the league as a whole. Math and numbers are involved, but the criteria are ultimately evaluated by actual human beings with subjective whims and values. No AI MVPs in the NBA … not yet, at least.
Then, you have the arts and entertainment honors, such as the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards (congrats to Viola Davis, who completed the EGOT quartet just this year). These awards are almost entirely subjective, with each collective of industry peers casting votes for the performances they feel are the very best.
Although there are conventions for what makes an artistic endeavor “good,” there are certainly no mathematical calculations to determine which song is honored for “Best Traditional R&B Performance,” nor whether the folks at Pixar will bring home yet another Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. (Spoiler alert: They probably will!)
Pro wrestling is both sport and entertainment. And, as such, Pro Wrestling Illustrated has long sought to cover the industry as inherently both. We are invested in match outcomes and the stats behind world championship reigns, just as we are the quality of the stories being told and in-ring athleticism. Each “500” list involves a great deal of statistical comparisons. But it also includes quite a bit of hand-wringing over the finer details of high-profile storylines and how any given wrestler is “positioned” alongside their peers during the evaluation period.
Longtime readers and casual observers alike will inevitably debate the list and spend hours engaging with it—in many cases, focusing heavily on what they think ought to have been done differently—with their own feelings and interpretations of wrestlers’ performances coming to the fore.
You might agree with this year’s number one; you may feel that number two or number six deserved it far more. Perhaps you believe that the best wrestler in the world was the one we placed at #33. And how could we be so short-sighted? Who is paying us to make this list, anyway?
Maybe you understand how much work goes into making the “500” a reality, and you’re actually quite happy with the top 10 or 20, even if you would personally change the order a little bit. (This is one of our favorite pieces of feedback to receive.)
Regardless of your feelings about this year’s list—the high/low placements, the perceived snubs, or the inflexible Activity minimums that we impose—we want to ensure that our reasons for ranking these 500 wrestlers are relatively apparent. That’s partly what the individual bios are for. The other part, of course, is detailing the criteria for this year’s list (see sidebar).
THE CRITERIA
Since 1991, the “PWI 500” has evaluated and enumerated the world’s top professional wrestlers. Today, it stands as the most hotly debated list in the industry. Many wrestlers cite inclusion on the “500” as a bucket list goal, waiting with excitement to see where they rank each year. The oldest in our triumvirate of annual rankings—now including our Women’s and Tag Team lists—the “500” is an expansion of our weekly and monthly Heavyweight Top 10.
EVALUATION PERIOD:
July 1, 2022–July 31, 2023
PRIMARY CRITERIA:
• IN-RING ACHIEVEMENT—Win-loss records, championships, tournaments won.
• INFLUENCE—Visibility and prestige within a promotion and/or the industry.
• TECHNICAL ABILITY—Quality of moves, matches, and ring psychology.
• COMPETITION—Success against the most varied and highest quality opponents.
• ACTIVITY—Minimum 10 singles (non-tag) matches total; or, barring this, six such matches in separate months..
RANKING COMMITTEE:
Al Castle, Brian R. Solomon, Harry Burkett, Righteous Reg, Kristen Ashly, Candace Cordelia, Jason McVeigh, and Kevin McElvaney.
ADDITIONAL BIOS WRITTEN BY:
Brady Hicks, Jake Joyce, and David Fitzgerald Jr.
SPECIAL THANKS:
When ranking international wrestlers, consideration was given to previous insight from members of our Weekly/Monthly Ratings committee, including Pat Laprade, Marek Indyka, and STRIGGA.
NOTE: This list prioritizes success in singles competition and in vying for heavyweight singles accolades (and, to a lesser extent, those in other weight classes).
01 SETH ROLLINS
YEARS PRO: 18
2022 RANK: 17
HOMETOWN: DAVENPORT, IOWA
PATH TO NUMBER 1
88 IN 2008
17 IN 2009
19 IN 2010
53 IN 2011
46 IN 2012
35 IN 2013
12 IN 2014
1 IN 2015
8 IN 2016
16 IN 2017
5 IN 2018
1 IN 2019
8 IN 2020
48 IN 2021
17 IN 2022
TOP FIVE MOMENTS DURING EVALUATION PERIOD:
1. Advanced to the finals of the tournament to crown a new WWE World heavyweight champion, then defeated AJ Styles at Night of Champions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 27 to win the title.
2. Defeated Finn Balor to retain his championship at Money in the Bank in London, England, on July 1, 2023, finishing off his challenger with his signature stomp.
3. Beat Logan Paul in an action-packed contest on night one of WrestleMania in Los Angeles, California, on April 1.
4. Won the U.S. championship for the second time by beating Bobby Lashley at Monday Night Raw in Brooklyn, New York, on October 10.
5. Retained his World heavyweight title against former NXT champ Bron Breakker at the NXT Gold Rush special on June 20.
WHY HE’S NUMBER 1
The first man to hold WWE’s newest world title becomes only the second man (behind John Cena) to rank number one in the “PWI 500” three times … Now, that’s freakin’ special … Long considered a workhorse, Rollins got the opportunity to prove his worth when his former Shield partner Roman Reigns took on a light schedule and WWE was in need of an active world champion … “The Visionary” hit the ground running, defending his title as many times in his first two months as champion as Reigns had over the previous year … Although Rollins hasn’t appeared in the top 10 of this list since 2020, that was more an indication of the fact that he was cast as a cowardly villain who rarely won his matches … Now, with the fans very much on his side—as evidenced by those lengthy entrances—Rollins’ in-ring success has, once again, caught up with his ability … As is often the case when a wrestler gets this popular, the biggest threat to Rollins’ wrestling career may be Hollywood, as he’s already been cast in the next Captain America movie.
02 ROMAN REIGNS
YEARS PRO: 13
2022 RANK: 1
NICKNAME: “THE TRIBAL CHIEF”
PATH TO NUMBER 2
371 IN 2011
351 IN 2012
39 IN 2013
7 IN 2014
4 IN 2015
1 IN 2016
4 IN 2017
7 IN 2018
7 IN 2019
14 IN 2020
2 IN 2021
1 IN 2022
WHY HE’S NUMBER 2
During the evaluation period, Roman Reigns headlined six stadium shows, retained his world title at six premium live events, extended his current world title run beyond 1,000 days, and became the longest-reigning WWE World champion in nearly four decades … One thing Reigns did not do is wrestle very often, making it difficult to justify his occupying the top spot … While he couldn’t make his case for his third number-one ranking this year, Reigns continues making his case as an all-time WWE great, as evidenced by the soaring TV ratings and box office sales whenever he is in the building … As the head of the Bloodline table, has masterfully anchored one of the most compelling (and successful) storylines in wrestling history, earning fans’ disdain and respect in near-equal measure for his unrivaled confidence and in-ring dominance … Though he’s all but cleaned out his division, tough challenges still await, including from an increasingly suspicious Solo Sikoa and a revenge-minded Cody Rhodes.
TOP FIVE MOMENTS DURING EVALUATION PERIOD:
1. For the third consecutive year, successfully defended a world championship in the main event of WrestleMania, when he pinned Cody Rhodes at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 2.
2. With the help of his newest Bloodline recruit, Solo Sikoa, defeated Drew McIntyre before 62,000 fans in a world title match in Cardiff, Wales, at Clash at the Castle on September 3, 2022.
3. Survived a Last Man Standing match against Brock Lesnar to retain his Undisputed Universal championship at SummerSlam in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 30, 2022.
4. Beat Kevin Owens in an emotionally charged world title match at the Royal Rumble in San Antonio, Texas, on January 28.
5. Upended hometown favorite Sami Zayn to retain his title at the Elimination Chamber in Montreal, Quebec, on February 18.
03 JON MOXLEY
YEARS PRO: 19
2022 RANK: 12
ENTRANCE MUSIC: “WILD THING” BY X
PATH TO NUMBER 3
447 IN 2006
371 IN 2007
471 IN 2009
103 IN 2010
102 IN 2011
254 IN 2012
26 IN 2013
18 IN 2014
13 IN 2015
9 IN 2016
8 IN 2017
106 IN 2018
20 IN 2019
1 IN 2020
6 IN 2021
12 IN 2022
TOP FIVE MOMENTS DURING EVALUATION PERIOD:
1. As the Interim AEW World champion, defeated World titleholder CM Punk to unify the championships and become undisputed AEW World champion for a second time on the August 24, 2022, edition of Dynamite from Cleveland, Ohio.
2. Won the AEW World title for an unprecedented third time when he beat Bryan Danielson in the final of a tournament to fill the vacant championship at the “Grand Slam” edition of Dynamite on September 21, 2022, in New York City.
3. Bested Kenny Omega in a brutal, steel cage grudge match on the May 10 Dynamite in Detroit, Michigan.
4. Retained his AEW World title against former champion “Hangman” Adam Page on the October 18, 2022, edition of Dynamite—from his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio—winning by referee’s decision.
5. Led his Blackpool Combat Club to victory in a four-on-four Anarchy in the Arena match against The Elite at AEW’s Double or Nothing event, May 28 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
WHY HE’S NUMBER 3
“Stable” might not be the first word that comes to mind when describing Jon Moxley; but the typically unhinged brawler brought a steady, reliable, and credible presence to AEW’s main event scene when it desperately needed it, following the chaos that ensued right after Moxley lost the World title to CM Punk at All Out … Mox’sloyalfanbasewas none too happy when he didn’t make the top 10 in last year’s “PWI 500,” but he was undeniable this year, coming off a record third AEW World title reign and successful runs in other promotions—including GCW, where he wore the top championship early in the evaluation period … Marriage, fatherhood, and sobriety have seemingly done nothing to tame the “Wild Thing,” whose bloodlust remains unmatched.
04 GUNTHER
YEARS PRO: 18
2022 RANK: 91
AFFILIATION: IMPERIUM
PATH TO NUMBER 4
315 IN 2016
77 IN 2018
14 IN 2019
25 IN 2020
28 IN 2021
91 IN 2022
WHY HE’S NUMBER 4
In wrestling, championships are only as prestigious as the person who wears them … And nobody has done more in recent history to make WWE’s Intercontinental title feel special than Gunther … As of press time, was already the second-longest reigning IC champion ever, on pace to eclipse the Honky Tonk Man’s record 454-day reign … Brutal wrestling style may lead some to question whether “The Ring General” was ever smartened up about the choreographed nature of the wrestling business … That intense physicality has made Gunther’s matches a top attraction on any WWE show on which he wrestles … Native Austrian has benefitted from working with fellow Europeans, like Sheamus and Drew McIntyre, who are willing to meet his ultra-stiff wrestling style … Deserves tremendous credit for absolutely transforming his once-burly physique … Seems a lock to one day challenge for a world title in WWE.
TOP FIVE MOMENTS DURING EVALUATION PERIOD:
1. Set a Royal Rumble endurance record, entering the match at number 1, eliminating five people, and lasting one hour and 11 minutes, before being the last person eliminated in the January 28 match.
2. Retained his Intercontinental championship in a show-stealing triple-threat bout with Sheamus and Drew McIntyre on night one of WrestleMania, April 1 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
3. At the September 3 Clash at the Castle event, beat Sheamus in an Intercontinental title bout that was chosen as first runner-up in the 2022 PWI Match of the Year voting.
4. Successfully defended his Intercontinental title against former champion Shinsuke Nakamura, defeating him with a powerbomb on the August 12, 2022, episode of Smackdown.
5. Beat Mustafa Ali in an I-C title defense at Night of Champions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 27.
05 EL HIJO DEL VIKINGO
YEARS PRO: 10
2022 RANK: 8
HOME PROMOTION: AAA
PATH TO NUMBER 5
300 IN 2020
42 IN 2021
8 IN 2022
TOP FIVE MOMENTS DURING EVALUATION PERIOD:
1. Retained his Mega championship by defeating former titleholder, Kenny Omega, in the main event of AAA’s Triplemania 31 show in Tijuana, Mexico, on July 15, 2023.
2. Beat another former Mega champion, Rey Fenix, to hold on to his belt at Triplemania 30 in Mexico City on October 15, 2022.
3. At another Triplemania event in Monterrey, Mexico, on April 16, won a four-way match involving Komander, Rich Swann, and Swerve Strickland to retain his Mega championship.
4. Defeated Bandido at AAA’s 30th Anniversary show on December 28 in Acapulco, Mexico, pinning the former ROH World champion after hitting his signature inverted 450 splash off the top rope.
5. Upended Komander in another Mega title defense at Ring of Honor’s Supercard of Honor pay-per-view event in Los Angeles on March 31.
WHY HE’S NUMBER 5
Lucha libre’s most captivating performer in a generation finally brought his jaw-dropping show to the United States, and, in doing so, has helped convince legions of American fans that he is something truly special … Although AAA remains his main base of operations, the second-generation luchador has been able to showcase his unparalleled acrobatic skills on multiple AEW and ROH events, along the way getting the rub from top American stars … Even in defeat, had one of the biggest nights of his career when he took on Kenny Omega in their long-awaited dream match, which took place on the March 22 episode of Dynamite … Evened the score—and set up a rubber match—when he downed Omega in Mexico four months later … Inevitably, his flashy style has drawn criticism from some purists, who would like to see more psychology in Vikingo’s matches (and a sense that he’s in an actual fight) … Simplyput, Vikingoregularlypullsoffaerial maneuvers that appear impossible, changing direction mid-air and gamely soaring off, around, and through the ropes … Now competing internationally, his audience continues to grow.
06 MJF
YEARS PRO: 8
2022 RANKING: 16
AMATEUR CREDENTIALS: FOOTBALL STANDOUT AT PLAINVIEW-OLD BETHPAGE JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL
PATH TO NUMBER 6
384 IN 2017
352 IN 2018
135 IN 2019
22 IN 2020
26 IN 2021
16 IN 2022
WHY HE’S NUMBER 6
Do we really have to say nice things about this guy? … As much as it pains us to admit it, Maxwell Jacob Friedman proved over the last year that he really is better than most of the AEW roster, whether they know it or not … Has picked up key wins over several top contenders, including Ricky Starks, Ethan Page, Wheeler YUTA, and Konosuke Takeshita … But it was in his 65-minute performance against Bryan Danielson that MJF proved he could hang with the absolute best of them … As of press time, boasted the secondlongest AEW World title reign, behind only Kenny Omega’s 346-day reign spanning from 2020 to 2021 … Still, MJF has been far from the most active champion, wrestling just 17 matches during the evaluation period—fewer, even, than Roman Reigns … Brief moments of likability, including in his bromance with Adam Cole, have hinted at a proper babyface turn.
TOP FIVE MOMENTS DURING EVALUATION PERIOD:
1. Defeated Jon Moxley to capture the AEW World championship in the main event of Full Gear on November 19 in Newark, New Jersey.
2. Beat Bryan Danielson, four falls to three, in a 60-minute Iron Man match to retain his World title in the main event of AEW’s Revolution supercard, March 5 in San Francisco, California.
3. Won a four-way World title match involving the other three “pillars” of AEW—Sammy Guevara, “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry, and Darby Allin—on May 28, in the main event of Double or Nothing in Las Vegas, Nevada.
4. With the help of his Dynamite Diamond Ring, pinned Japanese legend Hiroshi Tanahashi at the AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door event on June 25 in Toronto, Canada.
5. Returned from hiatus to “win” an eight-man Casino ladder match at All Out on September 4, 2022, to earn a shot at the AEW World championship.
07 KAZUCHIKA OKADA
YEARS PRO: 19
2022 RANK: 2
AFFILIATION: CHAOS
PATH TO NUMBER 7
230 IN 2010
286 IN 2011
40 IN 2012
5 IN 2013
5 IN 2014
27 IN 2015
2 IN 2016
1 IN 2017
3 IN 2018
5 IN 2019
6 IN 2020
25 IN 2021
2 IN 2022
TOP FIVE MOMENTS DURING EVALUATION PERIOD:
Defeated Jay White in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 17 at the Tokyo Dome on January 4 to win New Japan’s top championship for a seventh time. Won his fourth G1 Climax tournament, going 5-1 in his block, then beating Will Ospreay in the tournament final on August 18, 2022, in Tokyo. Beat NOAH GHC champion Kaito Kiyomiya in a non-title, interpromotional grudge match at the Keiji Muto Last Love retirement show on February 21 in the Tokyo Retained his title against old foe Hiroshi Tanahashi at the NJPW Battle in the Valley event in San Jose, California, on February 18.
