WWE: Best in-ring performer (WWE/NXT)?

[M.C.G. 31]

Inspired by the discussion in the Raw thread on Reigns/Ambrose in-ring work, but instead, HFWF's opinion on who the best WWE/NXT in-ring worker is at the moment.

Click to read more...

 

[Serac]

I love Seth
But have to give it to AJ for now

 

[tp71]

Went with Shinsuke. It's him or AJ imo. I also don't think Sami or Owens is too far off this group.

 

[Virtanen18]

Sami Zayn is the absolute best.

 

[Morozov]

The Phenomenal One.

 

[The Gongshow]

They don't want none

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Sami Zayn is the absolute best.

This.

 

[Paris in Flames]

As of right now and based on the year he's had? AJ.

I think Seth will get on his level soon enough though.

AJ/Rollins/Nakamura/Cesaro should be on everybody's top 5 list though.

 

[ColePens]

I honestly cannot choose between Rollins and AJ Styles. I would say those two fight night after night for best in-ring performer.


edit: Are we just going off 2016? It hasn't been a tremendous wrestling year, IMO. I thought AJ got more out of Reigns than he did Jericho. If AJ goes on a run of guys like Cena, Rollins, etc... he will easily take it. Rollins has been injured most of the year so unfortunately he wouldn't have enough on his record. It'd be very tough just going off 2016.

 

[bruins309]

This is AJ Styles' year. I would be shocked if anyone else even challenges for Wrestler of the Year simply because he had a head start over the other guys on this list by a few months.

- Cesaro: If I have one gripe about Cesaro in-ring, and this is very minor: he always kind of screws up the selling of ranas. Like when he goes down, it looks a bit delayed compared with others.

- Seth Rollins: Obviously he's excellent but I am curious to see how he works going forward post-injury. One thing that holds him back: fact that he's a heel. Turn him babyface and the offensive arsenal opens up.

- Sami Zayn: The evolutionary Ricky Steamboat

- Nakamura: probably #1 for in-ring presence among this group, but I am docking him points for his lack of selling of his leg in the Balor match.

- Kevin Owens deserves honorable mention here for his character work during matches and the fact that he's pretty much down to do ANYTHING during a match. Kill yourself on ladders? Sure, why not? (Though I always cringe)

 

[quoipourquoi]

Asuka is up there.

 

[Serac]

Asuka is up there.

I love Asuka
But she still seems a little raw in the ring, for a lack of better words
Just not as consistently fluid as a Bayley or Sasha yet
Definitely my favourite woman in NXT though

 

[quoipourquoi]

I love Asuka
But she still seems a little raw in the ring, for a lack of better words
Just not as consistently fluid as a Bayley or Sasha yet
Definitely my favourite woman in NXT though

She's not as good at wrestling down to her opponent's abilities or to the limitations of weekly TV as Nakamura (which is why I was surprised she had as much success as she's had), but her string of matches in Shimmer from 2011-2014(15?) was unbelievable. Her match against Hamada at Shimmer Volume 50 was probably top-5 in the promotion's history - and some say the very best.


Also for Becky Lynch to step away from wrestling at her peak 10 years ago and still have it is astounding. I think her and John Cena are right underneath the usual suspects. Cena in big matches is everything.

 

[AfroThunder396]

AJ/Rollins/Nakamura are the pretty clear top-3. HM to Zayn and Cesaro.

 

[Deen]

I hear that Ibushi guy is alright.

 

[quoipourquoi]

I hear that Ibushi guy is alright.

Is he signed with them or just competing in the tournament? Because I would totally change my answer.

 

[Kimi]

Is he signed with them or just competing in the tournament? Because I would totally change my answer.

Yes, no, maybe. I don't know.

Keller is reporting that he's signed, Ibushi has said he still wants to work in Japan. Those two things are not usually compatible, unless he's signed a part time NXT deal (like Rhyno or Gargano) or something. But Ibushi said that before the reports of him signing happened.

But if he is signed to a full time deal. I'm almost 100% sure that Omega will be in WWE next year. WWE causally signing the entirety of NJPW, easy business xD.

 

[93gilmour93]

Styles,Rollins and Nakamura are the three best right now but had to give the edge to A.J.

 

[TNT87]

AJ is my pick.

 

[Falco Lombardi]

Rollins or Nakamura.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Counting matches this year? Has to be AJ. He had the best body of work. Just an amazing year that should hopefully lead to a title run before the year is over.

Nakamura would come in second. Seth comes next but he lost points for being hurt.

 

[M.C.G. 31]

Not this year. Just in general.

 

[Morozov]

TFW people thought AJ wouldn't come in and be the best wrestler in the company and then he did exactly that.

Praise be to the Phenomenonal One.

 

[The Lunatic Fridge]

I'd put Rollins a bit over Nakamura and i'd put AJ by a landslide above both. But a guy like rollins has plenty of time to change that.

Orton and Cesaro are great. Cesaro has potential to be better. Orton has just had too many major injuries to do what guys like styles do.

 

[izzy]

I don't watch wrestling often anymore, but AJ has for a long time been ahead of anyone the WWE has had other than Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle. Those three just are good in every aspect while most others are just specialists in one or two aspects (high flying, selling, strength, craziness, speed, blah blah blah) No surprise people realize what they were missing.

I actually think Jericho was right with those 3 but I don't think people would agree with him being that high on a list.