Professional wrestling sparks many different types of conversations, whether it be what is the best match, the best promotion, best wrestler, favorite match, and so much more. One great discussion point, a point that can’t really be argued, is someone’s favorite wrestlers. At the end of the day, it’s always great to hear why some people like this wrestler or that wrestler, but the conversation of favorite wrestlers also lends everyone to their own individual opinions. That includes myself. So with that in mind, here are the top-ten rankings of my favorite wrestlers, both male and female.
Male:
1. Carmelo Hayes (WWE NXT)
Carmelo Hayes is part of the future of WWE, and that is for good reason. The truth is when Melo shoots, Melo Don’t Miss. His recent heel turn has been a big success, setting up the main event for NXT Stand and Deliver during WrestleMania weekend where Melo faces his old running mate, Trick Williams. This match against Trick is Melo’s last box to check in NXT, with a main roster call up likely to happen after WrestleMania. To top it all off, Melo is from Framingham, Massachusetts (though he is billed from Boston).
2. Dijak (WWE NXT)
It’s another Massachusetts representative with Dijak, who is billed from Worcester, MA. The king of Twitter ratios, Dijak has been producing banger match after banger match. His character, screen presentation, and ratios on Twitter create a fun package of a wrestler who is very enjoyable to root for or hate. Dijak is set to take part in a triple threat match for the NXT North American title at NXT Stand and Deliver, a match that should be another banger regardless of the result for Dijak
3. Je’Von Evans (WWE NXT)
Je’Von Evans, fka Jay Malachi, is a new signee for WWE. He has only been with the company for a matter of months, but the work he put in outside of WWE in DPW has made fans highlight him as a wrestler who is up next in NXT. With Evans already being trusted for matches with Carmelo Hayes at a NXT house show and gaining victories on NXT Level Up, Evans is ready to explode onto the scene once he finally hits NXT TV. And let’s not forget that Evans is only 20 years old. He is a star in the making in the ring who is in the perfect system to grow outside of the ring.
4. Kazuchika Okada (AEW)
“The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada long reigned over New Japan Pro Wrestling in the 2010s and into the 2020s. His recent move stateside to AEW marks a very exciting and interesting time in Okada’s career. In his time with NJPW, Okada held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship (later the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship after its unification with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship) for a record 2,043 days (1,790 before the unification), an all-time record. He also held the title seven times (five times before unification). It was a bit surprising to see NJPW’s golden child leave, but he has already won the AEW Continental Championship and formed a new version of The Elite with The Young Bucks while Kenny Omega, the Bucks’ former ally and one of Okada’s former rivals, misses time due to diverticulitis.
5. Wes Lee (WWE NXT)
Wes Lee is one of the more interesting wrestlers in NXT because, although it felt like every match he had as NXT North American champion delivered, he never felt like a massive star in comparison to the upper echelon of NXT stars like Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, or Ilja Dragunov. That’s not to knock Wes Lee, as his character is enjoyable and he feels like a guy who is there to prove the doubters wrong. Wes Lee’s NXT North American title reign was a success. He held the title for 269 days, a new single-reign record and just three days shy of the record for most combined days as NXT North American champ. Lee ended up suffering an injury and has not been in a match since November 2023. He is likely to miss about a year of action.
6. Cody Rhodes (WWE)
Cody Rhodes has endured a long road to get to the top of WWE. That road is not yet complete, but it feels like he is closer than ever to being able to “finish the story” and win the WWE title for his family and father, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. Cody’s evolution from leaving the WWE after a rough run as Stardust to becoming “The American Nightmare” in AEW to his return at WrestleMania 38 feels almost as if things have been meant to go this way from the start, culminating with him eventually winning the one title his dad couldn’t win, the WWE title. While he has sought to finish his story, Cody has positioned himself as the face of WWE and as a wrestler fans and viewers of all different backgrounds and ages can get behind.
7. Will Ospreay (AEW)
Arguably the best wrestler in the world when it comes to in-ring ability, Will Ospreay has rightfully earned the nickname “The Aerial Assassin” due to the insane amount of things he can do in the ring and the amazing matches he puts on. He has immediately been put into the spotlight following his recent move from NJPW to AEW, and has a match with Bryan Danielspm at AEW Dynasty on April 21. He is in his prime with gas in the tank at just 30 years old, and it will be exciting to see what he does in his first run stateside for AEW.
8. Finn Balor (WWE)
Finn Balor has one of the most fun careers to look back on, starting with his time in NJPW, founding the legendary Bullet Club, moving to NXT, being champion there, and then his main roster run in WWE. Even though he’s hit his fair share of bumps in the road, he is in a good spot in The Judgement Day as one-half of the undisputed tag champs heading into WrestleMania. Balor is one of those guys in WWE that, whether he’s a face or a heel, it feels easy for me to want him to do well. With rumors of WWE signing Tama Tonga from NJPW, they could do a bit of an OG Bullet Club group with Balor, Tama Tonga, and the Good Brothers (Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows). That might not happen, but I would love it if it did.
9. Swerve Strickland (AEW)
Whose house? Swerve’s house. Swerve Strickland might just be the biggest star in AEW right now, including being in line for a title shot against Samoa Joe at AEW Dynasty. Although Swerve isn’t the greatest in ring talent, he can very well hold his own. He has his character down to a tee and has made himself one of the most popular stars in AEW. Having a great theme song doesn’t hurt either.
10. Montez Ford (WWE)
Montez Ford has long been exciting in the tag division with Angelo Dawkins, his partner in the Street Profits. Ford is excellent in the ring and a great athlete, but he is also fun and seems to have great characteristics that will help him when WWE eventually chooses to pull the trigger on him as a singles competitor. Ford is almost the complete package, with the in-ring ability and charisma to be a star. Add in the fact that he has excelled in matches like the 2023 Elimination Chamber, and he has already shown that he can steal the show when the spotlight is on him.
Honorable Mentions: Bron Breakker (WWE NXT/WWE), Gunther (WWE), Ilja Dragunov (WWE NXT), Karrion Kross (WWE), Kenny Omega (AEW), Pete Dunne (WWE), Sami Zayn (WWE), Tony D’Angelo (WWE NXT), Trick Williams (WWE NXT), Tyler Bate (WWE)
Women:
1. Iyo Sky (WWE)
The Genius of the Sky is a nickname rightfully held by WWE Women’s Champion Iyo Sky, who is one of the best in-ring performers when she has the opportunity to really go (such as her match at Backlash with Bianca Belair). Fortunately, WWE is catering more towards international wrestlers and allowing them to cut promos in their native languages. Iyo and her Damage CTRL stable, which also includes Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane and Asuka, just has vibes. All of them are awesome, and Iyo is at the front of it. Another thing of note is that Iyo is just the Women’s World title away from having the grand slam of titles, which would make her the first wrestler (man or woman) to be a Grand Slam champion in both a major American and a major Japanese company (WWE and Stardom).
2. Kairi Sane (WWE)
Sticking with Damage CTRL and Stardom alumni, Kairi Sane is a wrestler with accomplishments all over the world. She has won titles in Japan and in WWE, winning singles titles in Stardom, NJPW, and NXT as well as tag gold on WWE’s main roster, where she and Asuka notched the longest ever women’s tag title reign as the Kabuki Warriors. Kairi also won the first Mae Young Classic and became the first IWGP Women’s Champion. The Pirate Princess made her return to WWE in November of 2023, helping old friend Iyo Sky retain at Crown Jewel and joining her in Damage CTRL, where she won the tag titles with Asuka once again. Kairi is very good in the ring, putting together many good matches in and outside of WWE, many of which she has won with her insane elbow finisher.
3. Giulia (Free Agent, Previously Stardom)
Sticking with Stardom representation, Giulia was one of Stardom’s top stars during her time with the company prior to becoming a free agent April 1. Most expectations and rumors have her going to WWE, where you can be sure that she would bring a ton of excitement should she sign. Giulia has a ton of charisma to match her stellar in-ring ability, and she has won multiple titles in Stardom as well as the Strong Women’s Championship in NJPW. Giulia has also won three consecutive Best Match of the Year awards in Stardom, from 2021-23, for her matches against Tam Nakano, Syuri, and Megan Bayne. She also won Stardom’s MVP award in 2020.
4. Roxanne Perez (WWE NXT)
Even though she is just 22 years old, Roxanne Perez has made some significant noise in the wrestling world. She became the inaugural ROH Women’s World Champion at just 19 years old and made her NXT debut at just 20 years old. The sky is the limit for Perez, who has now transitioned from the happy-to-be-there babyface to a heel almost along the lines of AJ Lee’s old character, in that she will do anything to win but does it in a way to where you almost want her to win.
5. Dakota Kai (WWE)
Back to the Stardom alumni and the amazing group that is Damage CTRL, Dakota Kai has a ton of history with her Damage CTRL running mates Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane, losing the Artist of Stardom Championship (six-woman tag belts) to Iyo, Kairi, and Mayu Iwatani. Dakota also was defeated by Kairi in the first Mae Young Classic. However, the first time the now-Damage CTRL trio of Dakota, Iyo, and Kairi worked together was at NXT Takeover: WarGames in 2018, when Iyo and Dakota attempted to help Kairi defeat Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship. Dakota has held WWE tag team gold with Iyo and, now being healthy after tearing her ACL in May of 2023, she is being placed in a great spot as the vocal leader of Damage CTRL after the group ousted Bayley, their former leader.
6. Tiffany Stratton (WWE)
Tiffy Time is the new sensation gracing SmackDown, but the rise to popularity has been insane for Tiffany Stratton. She went from debuting on NXT in December of 2021 to being one of the most popular women on SmackDown heading into WrestleMania in April of 2024. Stratton held the NXT Women’s Championship from May 28, 2023 all the way until September 12, 2023, where she lost it to Becky Lynch. Stratton has turned herself into a good in-ring worker with her gymnastics background, and her rich-girl character has translated very well to WWE’s main roster. Stratton has the entire package, it’s just about putting it all together and staying at the top, something I am confident she can do.
7. Asuka (WWE)
The active women’s wrestler in WWE with the biggest legacy might very well be Asuka. She has achieved so much during her time in Japan and stateside, and is a lock to be a future hall of famer. Forming Triple Tails with Mio Shirai and Io Shirai (later known as Iyo Sky), her independently produced events in Japan, and her run in WWE have all been spectacular, especially in NXT where she actually broke Goldberg’s undefeated streak. Asuka is a legend and is still in her prime, being a part of Damage CTRL and currently holding the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. All that’s left for her to achieve is to finally win a match at WrestleMania.
8. Thea Hail (WWE NXT)
If any wrestler could be described as a ball of fire, it might be Thea Hail. Her character sees her as an extremely energetic student under the tutelage of Andre Chase at Chase U, a group she joined shortly after her NXT debut in 2022. Hail has a bright future ahead of her at just 20 years old, as she continues to grow and be a part of the strong NXT women’s division. My choice of having Hail this high is also due to the fact that I was able to meet her prior to an NXT house show in a superstar Q&A, and she was nice and seemed like a great person. She is definitely one of my favorite women wrestlers in the world.
9. Katana Chance (WWE)
Katana Chance might be the only person on this list for a reason entirely outside of their wrestling careers. Some people like me know Katana Chance as Kacy Catanzaro, the first woman to ever complete a qualifying course on American Ninja Warrior back in season six of the show. Catanzaro is a legend in the show’s history. This is not to say she isn’t a good wrestler, because she has good matches in the WWE’s women’s tag team division. But many like myself will always first think of her from American Ninja Warrior rather than WWE.
10. Chelsea Green (WWE)
The woman with arguably the best character in WWE right now is Chelsea Green. Her character work amounts to what me and other Gen Z-ers would call a “Karen,” and it has become a big success. The sassy, higher pitched voice that ring announcer Samantha Irvin uses to pronounce her name adds even more to the character presentation. Add in the fact that Green’s character work carries over to her in-ring work, and she has found herself a very solid home in WWE. Some have her as a top option to win Money in the Bank in 2024.
Honorable Mentions: Bayley (WWE), Hikaru Shida (AEW), Mayu Iwatani (Stardom), Mercedes Mone (AEW), Mina Shirakawa (Stardom), Naomi (WWE), Rhea Ripley (WWE), Riho (AEW), Tam Nakano (Stardom), Zelina Vega (WWE)
What makes wrestling so great is that, throughout all the different companies, there are plenty of different things that appeal to many different types of people. That is great because it allows the fans to like different wrestlers who fit their own personal preferences that steer our conversations about why we like one person over another, or why we don’t like someone as much. There are so many great wrestlers in the world that were not mentioned here, but that doesn’t mean I dislike them. There are just others I like more.
That wraps up my top-ten favorite men and women wrestlers in the world as of right now. Things can always change, but I like where my list is.