1FF's Top 50 Wrestlers

[Oaf]

Oaf, not the only Englishman..... Check my list again mate

Hm, having googled the person, yeah, you're right. I've gotta say, I'm not too familiar with that guy... though I think I probably ought to check him out.

A two way tie up next with 10 points each... all featuring people who were pretty big in Japan:

Joint 26th:

Kota Ibushi

Another CWC guy... who pretty much won me over in that one match against Cedric Alexander. Fucking hell, what a match that was. After that I can't wait to see what's in this guys future.

The Club

Naaaaaaah. I really do try to see what's special about these guys to have such hype, but I'm still failing to see it. They're yet to have one match/promo/segment that really wows me and makes me see why they're rated so highly. They were good as a back up to AJ Styles, but they're bang average on their own in my view. But regardless, they've managed to make it to joint 26th here.

 

[iesty wfc]

Your standards really weren't high for this list were they.

The list was in wrestlers you liked at the time of writing the list. I don't think TM61 have been less than average since. Joinging NXT and should go on to better things

Maybe I was pushing it with dillenger

 

[iesty wfc]

Sabre Jr won't be on Raw, WWE haven't signed him as yet.

I think he's been pish in the CWC to be honest. He's someone who I don't think it's hard to appreciate (I mean clearly it's very fucking difficult to wrestle as fluidly and technically sound as he does) but his matches just haven't been good - and I don't think you can just put that down to style as I thoroughly enjoyed Jack Gallagher's stint in the tournament.

(also he's definitely not the only Englishman on this list)

Jack gallaghers match against Towaza was great. Loved his cradle he put him in in the middle of the ring

 

[RavenBish]

Top 15 current wrestlers in the world though? one half of TM61 essentially just does clotheslines and punches

 

[iesty wfc]

Top 15 current wrestlers in the world though? one half of TM61 essentially just does clotheslines and punches

Yeah maybe I'm just impressed with Thorne. He does a lot of high flying stuff for a bigger man

 

[iesty wfc]

By the way sounds like you will LOVE one of my other picks

 

[Baz]

If Reigns wins, we riot.

 

[RavenBish]

errrrrm can I put TJ Perkins in my top 15?

 

[Oaf]

After a few days break...

On 11 points, each making a single list in 5th place, are...

Joint 24th:

Ethan Carter III:

ECIII is a name I hear a lot but I've never actually seen a single second of anything he's done. I like to imagine, with a name like his, his gimmick is that he's some kind of son of a rich tycoon who's done nothing to get any of his success or wealth in life but lives a life of privilege and luxury and thinks he's better than everybody else. Like he's the son of Donald Trump or something. Is this anywhere near the mark? Please tell me that's how it is. Ethan Carter III... that just fucking works.

Finn Balor:

Similar to what I said about The Club above, Balor is still yet to entirely convince me. Don't get me wrong, I do like the guy and yes, his entrance is a fucking phenomenon, but in the ring he's never really wowed me like some others, or certainly not as much as his hype would have me believe. The only thing I can compare it to really is the whole deal with Edge... yeah, Edge is fine, but was he really worthy of those many title reigns? And Balor... yeah, he's solid, but was he really worthy of being the first ever universal champion just a month into his WWE run? I don't know. And now with his injury, I guess it'll take even longer for Finn to win me over.

 

[Stevencc]

After a few days break...

On 11 points, each making a single list in 5th place, are...

Joint 24th:

Ethan Carter III:

ECIII is a name I hear a lot but I've never actually seen a single second of anything he's done. I like to imagine, with a name like his, his gimmick is that he's some kind of son of a rich tycoon who's done nothing to get any of his success or wealth in life but lives a life of privilege and luxury and thinks he's better than everybody else. Like he's the son of Donald Trump or something. Is this anywhere near the mark? Please tell me that's how it is. Ethan Carter III... that just fucking works.

Finn Balor:

Similar to what I said about The Club above, Balor is still yet to entirely convince me. Don't get me wrong, I do like the guy and yes, his entrance is a fucking phenomenon, but in the ring he's never really wowed me like some others, or certainly not as much as his hype would have me believe. The only thing I can compare it to really is the whole deal with Edge... yeah, Edge is fine, but was he really worthy of those many title reigns? And Balor... yeah, he's solid, but was he really worthy of being the first ever universal champion just a month into his WWE run? I don't know. And now with his injury, I guess it'll take even longer for Finn to win me over.

Not far off at all Oaf - he is supposed to be Dixie Carter's spoiled nephew, or he was when he first joined TNA anyway.

He's a lot cooler now though.

 

[Oaf]

Not far off at all Oaf - he is supposed to be Dixie Carter's spoiled nephew, or he was when he first joined TNA anyway.

He's a lot cooler now though.

Was he really?! Fuck yeah! That's awesome.

The next guy also has 11 points, but managed to get onto two lists. And he is GLORIOUS.

23rd: Bobby Roode

Not since Fandango has somebodies entrance music got them so over before. A lot of people already knew how good Roode was, but in a single entrance and then promo on his NXT debut, Bobby Roode managed to win people over who hadn't even seen him before and get over as fuck. At Takeover Brooklyn his entrance was fucking magical. The only problem is, at his age, WWE need to hurry up and call him up to the main roster as he can't have too long left in him.

 

[Oaf]

Next is a guy who also made it to 11 points, but is our first wrestler to have appeared on three lists...

22nd:

Chris Jericho

I've always been a fan of Jericho (well, when he's a heel at least), but honest to god, I think that right now basically since Wrestlemania is probably the very best Jericho has ever been for me. He's been fucking brilliant and it's absolute gold every single time he's on TV. His whole gimmick is just amazing. The expensive scarfs, his whole demeanor during his entrance and look of disgust for the fans, it's brilliant. And anybody who disagrees is just a stupid idiot and is going to get... IT.

DRINK IT IN MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN.

 

[RavenBish]

Was he really?! Fuck yeah! That's awesome.

The next guy also has 11 points, but managed to get onto two lists. And he is GLORIOUS.

23rd: Bobby Roode

Not since Fandango has somebodies entrance music got them so over before. A lot of people already knew how good Roode was, but in a single entrance and then promo on his NXT debut, Bobby Roode managed to win people over who hadn't even seen him before and get over as fuck. At Takeover Brooklyn his entrance was fucking magical. The only problem is, at his age, WWE need to hurry up and call him up to the main roster as he can't have too long left in him.

the other problem is y'know, he's dull as fuck in the ring.

 

[Oaf]

the other problem is y'know, he's dull as fuck in the ring.

Is he? To be honest, I've never really seen too much of his in ring stuff. In fact, most of what I have seen was probably that Beer Money vs Motor City Machine Gun series of matches and those were incredible.

Next up are two entries that got 12 points, each appearing 4th on a single list:

Joint 20th:

Triple H

What more can you really say about The Game? He's obviously not as big a deal now as he used to be, usually having just one match a year, but he's still about as good as anybody ever has been with a microphone. An all time great villain in the industry and can still go in the ring when needed.

American Alpha

The second highest ranked Tag Team on this list, despite having a fucking AWFUL tagline (Ready. Willing. Gable. Is. Shit.) are absolutely amazing. Two supremely talented individuals who blend together to make absolute magic every time they step into the ring. WWE's tag division has got a heck of a lot better in recent years, but even still, these two are taking it to a new level in terms of in ring skills. Can't wait to see what's in the future for these two as a team... and even beyond that, as singles wrestlers. Two potential future world champions, in my view.

 

[Oaf]

This next one is fucking baffling. On the same number of points, but somehow making two lists, is...

19th:

Baron Corbin

If I made a check list for everything I think it takes to be good at being a pro wrestler, I'm sure that Baron Corbin wouldn't actually manage to get a single box ticked. He offers nothing. NOTHING. Bland as fuck on the mic, the same, vacant facial expression, just another generic tall guy. And his in ring work? Oh my lord. It's like watching somebody play a WWE 2K video game where the A button is broken, so they can't grapple. He does like two actual moves per match (his spinning side slam thing and his finisher, both of which are actually pretty cool) but other than that? A variation of kicks, punches, stomps and headlocks. In this modern era, when the in ring product is so good, he is so out of place.

So yeah. That's what I think. Now two of you please try to explain how you've managed to put this guy on your list. I genuinely want to know what people see in him, as I can see absolutely no redeeming qualities in him what so ever.

 

[RavenBish]

He started wrasslin at the back end of 2012, he's pretty good all things considered. Certainly wouldn't be near my top 15, but he's not a bad wrestler at all. I mean, is he really any different in ring than someone like Big Cass?

 

[ZianfrancoGoal]

i don't watch wrestling but i joined just to vote for corbin

 

[Stevencc]

Give that man a medal^

 

[iesty wfc]

He started wrasslin at the back end of 2012, he's pretty good all things considered. Certainly wouldn't be near my top 15, but he's not a bad wrestler at all. I mean, is he really any different in ring than someone like Big Cass?

This was the one I was hoping you would love

This time last year when he was squashing people in nxt I thought he was complete gash. He has improved a hell of a lot more in the last year due to a couple of good fueds in nxt, rightfully earning himself a call up

I must admit I haven't seen a great deal of any of the recent call ups since the draft so I don't really know how he is being portrayed. He was a big part of the Network doc breaking ground which I also think won me over a bit

His finisher is great though. Has he hit it on big show yet?

 

[Oaf]

His finisher is great though. Has he hit it on big show yet?

Thankfully, Big Show has been nowhere near our televisions as of late. If we're lucky it seems that the best we can hope for in that regard is that this remains the case until WM, where we have to put up with Show vs Shaq, then that's him done if rumours are to be believed. One last crapfest to sit through before we have to sit through no more. That'll do.

Also on 12 points and our second person to make it onto three lists is the 2nd highest rated woman in this thing...

18th:

IT'S... BAYLEY!

I legit think that Bayley could become the biggest woman in the history of WWE. People talk about that X factor, that ability to not just connect with a crowd, but do it in a special way... only a handful of people have had that in it's most extreme form, for me. We're talking the Hulk Hogans, Steve Austins, John Cena's, the top dogs who just connect and create a magic atmosphere. And, for me, Bayley is the first woman I've ever seen who seems to generate that sort of feeling when she's in the ring. If used right and pushed right, I think she can become absolutely huge. And I think they're doing a good enough job with her so far so... fingers crossed.

And one of the most exciting things is, she can go in the ring as well. Check out her matches with Sasha Banks: Outstanding stuff. Bayleys future is fucking HUGE if WWE capitalise on it.

 

[Oaf]

On 15 points making two lists is a guy that we don't see much of... but when we do see him, it's pretty much the most intense fucking part of the year:

17th:

The Undertaker

The Undertaker feels like he's going to live forever. He's getting old as hell, but somehow in recent years he's started actually looking better and better, actually taking part in more than just his one customary WM appearance last year and everything. Surely he can't have too much left in him (but then again, we probably said the same 5 or so years ago) but it says a lot about how much impact he has when he does show up that he made two peoples lists.

 

[Oaf]

On the same number of points, but making 3 lists is...

16th: Dean Ambrose

There's no doubt that this guys popularity seems to have plummeted the longer he's been with WWE, from what I've seen. When The Shield first broke up, he seemed like such an exciting prospect and everybody seemed to go nuts for him. But after a while, people seem to have started to think that his whole gimmick is more annoying than entertaining now, and I see a lot of criticism of his in ring work... and it's got the the stage now where, on the last episode of Smackdown (not seen last nights actually, but on the week before), I swear that the crowd were actually cheering for John Cena and boo'ing Ambrose. They seem to have a bit of problem to fix here with the guy.

Personally, while I actually thought he was the most enjoyable thing in WWE during the spell just after The Shield broke up he's not quite that anymore. I still like him and I don't really agree with most of the criticism, but I've gotta be honest... outside of matches with Seth Rollins, the guy doesn't really tend to have fantastic matches most of the time.

 

[Oaf]

Jumping from 15 points up to 18, and both making two lists, are two very highly rated talents yet to be signed up by WWE.

Joint 14th:

Kenny Omega

Kazuchika Okada

Gonna need you guys to tell me why these two are so great. In fact, fuck it, I don't think I do need that actually. Omega looks like something from a bad 80's action movie and Okada looks ripped straight out of an anime with that sword. That's great in my books.

 

[Oaf]

From this point onward, there are no more draws in this thing. The rest of the 14 spots are taken up by a single entry.

Also getting 18 points, but doing so by appearing on 3 lists is the highest ranked woman in this entire thing.

13th:

If Bayley is that one woman in WWE with the personality skills to take her to a special place in the history books, for me, Sasha is the woman with the in ring skills to do the same. I don't remember seeing a woman more capable of pulling off great matches than Sasha. And she's over as hell as well, even though WWE chose to just... not use her... for some reason, for the longest time. But she's there now, doing stuff, which is great.

And on Sunday night we get to see all three woman who appeared on this list in a triple threat! Good times!

 

[iesty wfc]

i do like sasha banks (dont think i put any women on my list - oops!) but i do think that her style is going to mean we may only see a few years of her before she has to retire. she has already had 2 quite severe injuries as a result of suicide dives through the ropes and not quite landing properly

and i LOVE kenny omega. just look at this match he was able to pull off against a 9 yr old girl!

 

[Oaf]

The next entry got 21 points off of 3 lists and actually did a heck of a lot better in this thing than I thought he would...

12th: Roman Reigns

I feel like 12th is just about right for Reigns. Roman snuck onto the lower part of my own list and I wasn't actually sure that he'd pop up on any others. For all of the over pushing Reigns gets and all of the hatred aimed his way (I was in the crowds at WM 31 and 32, both WM's that he's main evented when Reigns hatred was at its peak, and I was booing as loud as anybody) the guy probably deserves a lot more credit than he ever gets. I always say, only John Cena can really match him for "this is awesome" chants during his matches, which isn't bad for a guy who supposedly "can't wrestle". He has a knack for making main events great and while we'd probably prefer to see WWE just take their foot off of the pedal a bit with him (which, to be fair, they have recently) I don't think that people can really say that he deserves quick as much stick as he gets.

 

[Oaf]

Next up is the highest ranking Tag Team, getting 23 points and making 3 lists. AAAAWWW 1FF, DON'T YOU DARE BE SOWAH! CLAP, FOR YOUR 11TH RANKED ENTRY, AND FEEEEEEEEL, DAH POWAAAAAH!

11th: It's a New Day, yes it is:

There's a good reason that The New Day are the highest ranked team on this entire thing and have held those tag team championships for such a long time... and that's because, up until recently, no other team has been anywhere near them in terms of entertainment value. It's hard to remember now how unpopular this team was when it first formed. They were HATED. 3 overly happy guys who WWE just expected us to get behind... but people just thought they were shite. So they turned them heel, and let their personalities out. And BANG. MAGIC. New Day was born for real and indeed, they got so popular as a heel team they got turned face again.

The magic is probably wearing off a little now and it may be getting slightly old, but I'd still rather see a New Day segment than most other tag teams in WWE today. Which is saying something, because the tag division is pretty fucking good right now.

 

[Relentless]

Just now saw this was a thing

I'm awaiting to see how high in the top 3 Heath Slater is

 

[Oaf]

Just now saw this was a thing

I'm awaiting to see how high in the top 3 Heath Slater is

I just assume that everybody assumed that everybody else would put him in their lists, so left him out because he'd be too obvious and a waste of a space. The only problem is, when we all do this, he doesn't actually get any votes.

But anyway, we now move onto... the TOP TEN!

On 28 points and making 3 lists is...

10th: Cesaro

If this were a list based purely on in ring skills, Cesaro would probably be even higher still. One of the most talented people in WWE right now (which is saying something, as I believe we currently have the most talented roster of all time) and every time he steps into the ring you just know you're going to get value for money. Got his final best of 7 match with Sheamus on Sunday, should hopefully lead to a world title feud in the near future, which is great because I think that's something we've all wanted to see for years now. It's about damn time they elevate the guy to where he belongs.

 

[Oaf]

Up on 32 points is the first wrestler to have been put onto 4 lists... that's more than half of the total lists All wrestlers from this point made at least 4...

9th: Will Ospreay

Another where I know the name, but not the guy. But christ, he must be pretty fucking good to have made it to 9th despite not being a part of WWE. The four who voted for him need to let us know why he's this damned good.