PWI Top 500 for 2016

[AfroThunder396]

It's behind a paywall so I'll only post the top-10.

1. Roman Reigns
2. Kuzuchika Okada
3. Finn Balor
4. AJ Styles
5. Jay Lethal
6. Kevin Owens
7. Shinsuke Nakamura
8. Seth Rollins
9. Dean Ambrose
10. John Cena
(Drew Galloway is also listed as #10 for whatever reason)

Keep in mind it's from July 1 2015 to June 30 2016, so things like Omega winning G1, Shield Triple Threat at Battleground, and Cena/Styles at SS aren't factored in.

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[BonMorrison]

Reigns at #1 makes sense.

 

[Paris in Flames]

One of these is not like the others.....

 

[M.C.G. 31]

Kenny Omega and AJ Styles are so going to be the top-2 next year.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Kalisto is #25, rofl. Ahead of Tanahashi, Sabre Jr, Zayn, and Jay Briscoe.

 

[bruins309]

Only one more, but who is #500?

Bill Apter in his book talks about how guys would actually lobby to be #500 because it makes the person stand out.

 

[Cor]

Triple H screwed the best wrestler in the world out of the Universal Championship. He also screwed Seth Rollins!

 

[AfroThunder396]

Only one more, but who is #500?

Bill Apter in his book talks about how guys would actually lobby to be #500 because it makes the person stand out.

They have it sorted in alphabetical order which is mind-numbingly dumb.

500. Timmy Lou Retton

 

[bruins309]

They have it sorted in alphabetical order which is mind-numbingly dumb.

500. Timmy Lou Retton

Tye Dillenger stole his 10 gimmick from his sister Mary Lou.

(I'll show myself out)

 

[M.C.G. 31]

Even in terms of kayfabe (which is what this list is all about) I have a hard time figuring out who to put #1 aside from Reigns for that time period.

Three World titles (ridiculous, I know), Wrestlemania main event, defeating Ambrose, Lesnar, Styles, Rollins, HHH, Sheamus, pretty much the whole League of Nations (lol).

Next year will be a completely different story, though.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I'm actually kind of shocked Rollins was #8 after missing as much time as he did.

 

[PBandJ]

Reigns #1? LOL.

 

[Kimi]

Reigns #1? LOL.

Wanna make an argument why he shouldn't be?

 

[M.C.G. 31]

Reigns #1? LOL.

It's a kayfabe list. No one can really touch him in terms of kayfabe for anyone else to make a case at #1.

 

[Loosie]

It's a kayfabe list. No one can really touch him in terms of kayfabe for anyone else to make a case at #1.

That explains a lot. Never realized it was intended to be kayfabe.

 

[GKJ]

Nobody apparently told Roman Reigns that it's a kayfabe list

 

[Balls Mahoney]

Okada being #2 makes me happy. That guy is one of the most impressive talents I've seen from this generation.

Hard to dispute Reigns at #1 but it doesn't make me happy.

Good top ten, no real disputes with any of it.

 

[Balls Mahoney]

Wait how is Lesnar not in the top ten? And I think I could make a good argument for why he's #1. But not even top ten?

 

[AfroThunder396]

Lesnar is #19, one lower than "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin at #18 and I'm now aware that's a match I want to see.

 

[M.C.G. 31]

Wait how is Lesnar not in the top ten? And I think I could make a good argument for why he's #1. But not even top ten?

Because he's wrestled like 5 matches in the span.

Reigns - 3x World champ, defeated Ambrose, Lesnar, Wyatt, HHH, Styles, Sheamus, Rusev, Barrett and ADR among others in the time frame, WM main event, final 3 in the Rumble, consistently good matches.

Lesnar - maybe 5 matches in that span on TV, nothing particularly impressive aside from a good HIAC match with Taker.

That's it.

 

[reckoning]

Only one more, but who is #500?

Bill Apter in his book talks about how guys would actually lobby to be #500 because it makes the person stand out.

Duke "The Dumpster" Droese was #500 back when he was an indy wrestler, and there's always been rumours/urban legends about how that was the main reason WWF signed him. To prove that they could make a star out of whoever was #500 that year.

 

[Sheppy]

Lesnar is #19, one lower than "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin at #18 and I'm now aware that's a match I want to see.

Michael Elgin is one of my favorite professional wrestlers on the planet. That guy is spectacular!