FSM 50 2023: The 50 Best Wrestlers in the World (2024)

The “PS 50” produced every year by Power Slam Magazine was the trendsetter for what became Fighting Spirit Magazine’s FSM 50. For five years now, Voices of Wrestling has kept the annual tradition alive with the same spirit and intention as its predecessors.

The goal of the list is to be as well-informed and wide-ranging as possible. One of the beauties of the list in previous years was being able to highlight names that a reader may not be aware of. For me, that was a gateway into Japanese wrestling 20 years ago. The first time I saw the names KENTA, CIMA, and Naomichi Marufuji was in the PS 50, and I was encouraged by the list to seek them out. We hope to not only provide a credible ranking but also to expose readers to some new wrestling. Discovering new wrestling was always one of the most enjoyable parts of my fandom when I was younger, and too often nowadays, people are closed off in that regard like it’s some kind of bad thing.

2023 was a year which saw a major shift in the dynamics of US wrestling, with AEW’s most frustrating tendencies at times causing an adversarial relationship with fans, and WWE entering a new phase in its history as it moves into the TKO/Endeavour era. Despite these changes, which have resulted in WWE being the more popular promotion among a large segment of fans, the output in terms of both companies in-ring has remained consistent. WWE’s matches have again failed to inspire with any meaningful volume, whilst AEW delivered a mighty list of highlight bouts despite numerous creative and behind the scenes issues.

The independent scene worldwide remains at its lowest quality levels since the 90s, and there are very few signs of that changing any time soon. Many deep-rooted issues stand in the way of progress, but a few wrestlers were able to rise above the environment and produce good years for themselves.

The biggest positive for me as a fan this year was the bounce back of two of wrestling’s most historically significant promotions. After some rough years, CMLL and All Japan were maybe the two most rewarding products to follow in 2023. Both leagues used a formula of simple booking built around a core group of stars (with plenty of youth on both sides), and gave their guys plenty of opportunity to have great matches. With the talent on both rosters, that’s exactly what happened, and you’ll see the effects of it throughout our list.

We hope you enjoy this breakdown of all 50 wrestlers (and some honorable mentions) with some short blurbs about each of their years. I know it’s tempting to skip straight to the list, but there are some sneaky match recommendations and other pearls of wisdom you’ll miss out on, so do so at your peril!

Thanks for reading!

–Alan4L (Coordinator)

The FSM 50 2023 Voters

Adam Summers. Bringing nearly 20 years of wrestling writing and podcasting experience to the table. Co-host of the Adam & Mike Big Audio Nightmare and Wrestling@Random podcasts. Writer/Editor of the Three Count Fall newsletter.

Alan4L. Host of ProWres Paradise at PWTorch VIP, and columnist for the PWTorch newsletter. Wrestling fan since 1991 and these days focusing mainly on AEW and Japan.

Case Lowe. Co-host of Open The Voice Gate, lucharesu historian with a wide-ranging wrestling knowledge that defies his years.

Fred Morlan. Co-host of The Good, the Bad, and the Hungee. Statistically minded analyst who does his best to keep up on wrestling around the world.

Gerard Di Trolio. Co-host of The Emerald Flowshow specializing in NOAH and All Japan. Knows the Japanese scene inside out.

Ian Hamilton. Writer and podcaster for BackBodyDrop.com and an expert in European wrestling to complement a well-rounded knowledge of worldwide wrestling.

Joe Gagne. Wrestling podcast OG and trivia master! Joe keeps his tabs on everything and often provides a balanced voice to our rankings.

Joe Lanza. The King Of Banter. The Most Compelling Voice In Wrestling Media. A Reasoned And Well Explained Man. The Leader Of The Hardcore Wrestling Intelligentsia. Internationally Acclaimed Broadcast Journalist As Heard On BBC Radio. Also heard and read on FlagshipPatreon.com.

Rich Kraetsch. Co-host of the long-running Flagship Podcast on Voices of Wrestling, editor of VoicesofWrestling.com and one-half of FlagshipPatreon.com. Rich keeps an eye on the full world of wrestling with an emphasis on America and Japan.

Sarah Flann. A former wrestling podcaster and online debater turned wrestling enjoyer away from the silliness. Sarah will watch any wrestling but mainly follows AEW, NJPW, DDT and Joshi.

Scott Edwards. One of the most passionate up-and-coming wrestling writers around. Scott represents VOW, Fightful and Fightgamemedia where he hosts the Five Star Joshi Show.

Finally, a special thanks to thecubsfan of luchablog.com, who is always too shy to vote, but as has become tradition does his run-in to provide blurbs for some of the lucha entries.

The 2023 FSM 50
The 50 Best Wrestlers in the World

50. Yuji Nagata (NJPW / AJPW)

In an era where several wrestlers have defied the hands of time, Yuji Nagata can proudly proclaim that as much as anyone else he is the “Anti-Aging Hero”. Nagata celebrated his 55th birthday in 2023 and he did it as Triple Crown champion, becoming the only man in history to hold the top belts in NJPW, AJPW, NOAH and Zero1. His five month reign was far from a gold watch award. He exceeded expectations in every single match whether it be against a broken down Shuji Ishikawa or a rookie in Yuma Anzai. But his book-ends with Kento Miyahara and Yuma Aoyagi were unsurprisingly the highlights – two phenomenal bouts that showed Nagata still has it. (A4L)

49. Bryan Keith (US Indies)

The best-unsigned talent on the indies (for now, at least) continued to impress in 2023 with standout performances and big arena aura. It becomes instantly apparent to those in attendance that this guy is a rung above many others on your average indie show. That’s not a slight at indie locker rooms as much as an endorsem*nt of Keith’s talent and charisma. He’s just got IT. Highlights of Keith’s year included one of the better matches of PWG’s 2023 against Mike Bailey, and a second great but somewhat unheralded match against Bailey in New Texas Pro. Keith topped his year off with what could be his launch into a full-time spot with AEW/ROH at ROH Final Battle 2023, where he was arguably the star of a six-way elimination match that also featured Komander and Kyle Fletcher. It’s only a matter of time before Keith is signed to a major company and on TV every week. (RK)

48. Athena (ROH)

In what was a weak year in terms of match quality for North American women wrestlers, Athena became the standard bearer while being hidden away on Ring of Honor. Facing a variety of opponents who didn’t exactly have histories of high level matches, Athena delivered a number of 4+ star matches. Her matches against Willow Nightingale featured fantastic performances by both women. Athena also pulled out great matches against Mercedes Martinez, Kiera Hogan, and Leyla Hirsch. (FM)

47. Tetsuya Naito (NJPW)

This might be a controversial placement for Naito, only a few slots away from missing the FSM 50 altogether. By most accounts, Naito had a very good but not great year. His matches against Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada on back-to-back nights to round out the G1 Climax were highlights, bookended by an emotional and memorable match with Keiji Mutoh in February. In between, though, Naito felt skippable and unspectacular and didn’t deliver the consistent, high-end performances we’ve come to expect from him. Few, if any, are better at stepping up in the biggest moments than Naito. He’s one of this generation’s most incredible big-match performers. The problem though, is that few wrestlers are better at conveying disinterest or a lackadaisical approach to the mundane rank and file like Naito. And unfortunately, 2023 featured more of the latter than the former. (RK)

46. Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH / NJPW)

It’s your choice as to which aspect of Kiyomiya’s year was booked worse, between being Keiji Muto’s Mini-Me or being Ryohei Oiwa’s assigned veteran. What can’t be denied is that he is still one of the best and most promising wrestlers in the world. In addition to being on the opposite side of the ring of the rarely seen “Angry Kazuchika Okada,” he had great matches with Kenoh on New Year’s Day and in the G1 Climax opposite Shota Umino and SANADA. Hopefully he spends 2024 in a company that actually wants him to get over. (FM)

45. Yuki Ueno (DDT)

Finally out of the shade of his school mate Konosuke Takesh*ta, Ueno really had a career defining year and he is still developing into an even greater talent. His deep run in the King of DDT tournament allowed him to really put his name alongside the top names in the company – wrestling the likes of Naruki Doi and Kazusada Higuchi, and being able to stand out against this calibur of opponent, shows how much he has improved. His title win against Chris Brookes at Ultimate Party in November was a standout moment of the year. (SF)

44. MIRAI (STARDOM)

MIRAI may be underappreciated by some, but a second time on this list is no mistake. In her second year with STARDOM, she managed to rise up the ranks by winning a second Cinderella Tournament, the tag belts, and the Wonder of Stardom Championship. She proved that her 2022 wasn’t a fluke, topping it in every way in 2023. MIRAI still has some doubters, but she’s a top star worthy of everyone’s attention. (SE)

43. Shun Skywalker (DG)

Dragongate is better when Shun Skywalker is involved in the top mix. That’s all there is to it. Following brilliant years in 2021 and 2022, Skywalker further staked his claim as one of the single most talented men in the industry with his peak performances in 2023. As a dominant heel, Skywalker can seamlessly transition from working a fiery rookie to a scrappy midcarder to an opposing main eventer. There are no holes in his game at this point. (CL)

42. Konosuke Takesh*ta (AEW)

Stinky booking be damned, Takesh*ta did not let that get in the way of delivering in 2023. In what was an absolutely crazy schedule, he was able to deliver great stuff for both AEW and DDT over the course of the year – his Kenny Omega, MJF and Yuki Ueno matches are notable. His excellent PWG BOLA final against Speedball Mike Bailey was a cherry on top, but one would hope to see him higher on the list next year as his talent is far too great to be wasted as just another guy in a stable back at his full time home in AEW. (SF)

41. El Desperado (NJPW)

Being prominent as a junior wrestler in NJPW isn’t always easy when you’re not IWGP Jr. Champion. El Desperado managed to be the exception.. Whether it was in trios action as part of STRONG STYLE or being a singles competitor in a crazy Deathmatch against Jon Moxley, Desperado did anything and everything to be a star worth talking about in 2023. A very strong BOSJ run certainly helped his case, along with competing in other promotions. A great run for one of the best juniors in wrestling. (SE)

40. Hiromu Takahashi (NJPW)

Takahashi continued to be the face of the NJPW juniors division in 2023, and in a surprise to no one, delivered in the much hyped BOSJ tournament against the likes of Speedball Mike Bailey and Lio Rush. What truly defined the year for Takahashi was his work outside of his company’s walls, which really added flavor to the resume, particularly his comedy work with Kazuki Hirata in DDT, which showcased his comedic chops. Something under the radar to seek out is his Michinoku Pro match against Fujita Hayato – a year defining bout for both men. (SF)

39. Yuji Okabayashi (BJW)

It’s Yuji Okabayashi…the man only needs 6 months to have a classic year. Those who know, know – the Big Japan strong man is one of the greatest wrestlers of his generation. He proved it yet again in his final run (for now) as a pro wrestler. Before he stepped away on June 30th, Okapi racked up a bruising classic against Yuya Aoki, and multiple singles and tag bouts which weren’t far off that pace. Squeezing in two ****½ matches with Yasufumi Nakanoue and Takuho Kato as a parting gift to his fans, he definitely left on a high note! (A4L)

38. Templario (CMLL)

Templario took on all comers in his role as the CMLL’s supreme athletic rudo in 2023. He and Soberano renewed their rivalry with another classic match, while he also brought greatness out of Arena Mexico’s newest star (Panterita del Ring Jr.) and its biggest star (Mistico). Winning the 2023 Aniversario was his most significant achievement; not by just winning the mask of Dragon Rojo Jr., but also getting an overachieving main event out of him. Templario is CMLL’s go-to rudo for an exciting one on one match. (cubsfan)

37. Darby Allin (AEW)

Darby continues to be one of the most dynamic performers in professional wrestling. You know how Bret Hart would take those chest first bumps in the corner and made it look like the realest thing to ever happen in wrestling? Darby achieves that, only while being launched about ten feet in the air in ways that are assuredly much less safe. His February Dynamite match against Samoa Joe is the best example of this from 2023, with the All out match against Luchasaurus earning consideration as well. (FM)

36. Gunther (WWE)

It’s incredibly rare that a wrestler can go to WWE and not have to dramatically change their style to fit what WWE wants. Well, Gunther is now one of those rare exceptions. If you saw a match from WWE that you put into the conversation of “match of the year” or even just “must-see,” Gunther likely played a key part in that. Add in that he also held the Intercontinental Championship for all of 2023 to become the greatest champion in that title’s history to really put a bow on it. (SE)

35. Takuya Nomura (BJW / AJPW)

Started his year with significant interest from All Japan as a potential new signing and was certainly justifying their interest with his performances with and against Kento Miyahara. As is often the case with Japanese wrestlers, he stayed loyal to his home promotion and remained a Big Japan guy. BJW’s roster would look significantly weaker without the ferocious striker, and he was a part of most of their highlight matches of 2023. His first foray into wXw proved a hit with fans as everyone expected. (A4L)

34. Rocky Romero (NJPW / CMLL)

“Solid hand” Rocky Romero transformed into “essential player” Rocky Romero for CMLL this year. A top heel in one of the hottest promotions of 2023, Romero agonized the top técnicos in CMLL, notably Volador Jr and Mascara Dorada. No one had penciled in Romero as a guy to have numerous MOTYC’s at the start of the year, but by the end of 2023, it was clear that Romero had helped elevate what was already the best promotion in the world. (CL)

33. Chris Brookes (DDT)

Highlighted by a four-month run with DDT’s KO-D Openweight title after winning King of DDT earlier in the year, Chris Brookes’ 2023 consistently delivered. His Baka Gaijin + Friends shows continue to provide a curious look into the question “what if those Schadenfreude shows went to Japan?” His Openweight title run ended at v3, following successful defenses against Saki Akai and Shigehiro Irie, while his D-Ou Grand Prix 2023 run was cut short after needing surgery to remove a malignant tumor. (IH)

32. Manabu Soya (NOAH)

I don’t think many people had “Breakout Year For Manabu Soya” on their 2023 predictions sheet, but that’s exactly what we saw from the 39 year old veteran. Inspired performances against former tag partner SANADA in January and El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. in February were a sign that Soya had a fire in his belly and even better was to come. With Kenoh, he raided All Japan’s tag titles and dropped them to Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi in a heated bout in front of a partisan Korakuen crowd. He was the surprising MVP of NOAH’s annual N1 tourney, with some bruising battles all through the tournament. (A4L)

31. Axel Tischer (wXw)

Truth be told, the Axeman may well have gotten an honorable mention (at minimum) last year had his late 2022 output for wXw made it online. 2023 there was no doubt for inclusion, as it was a year where everything seemed to just click for Tischer. His year could have tail spinned with an injury in April following a loss to Shigehiro Irie in the finals of wXw’s 16 Carat Gold and a best-of-five series against rising young star Peter Tihanyi, but he came back strong, and now finds himself in the middle of a hot feud with WWE German commentator Sebastian Hackl, who is making his wXw comeback after over a decade away. (IH)

30. Luke Jacobs (Rev Pro UK / PROGRESS / wXw)

THAT match with Tomohiro Ishii got the headlines, but 2023 was a year of growth for Luke Jacobs, who exclusively focused on singles action in the absence of his injured tag team partner, Ethan Allen. Moving away from the cruiserweight division in Rev Pro allowed Jacobs to stretch his legs, with a breakout match against Will Ospreay in Birmingham being the sign of things to come. Big matches against Shigehiro Irie and Axel Tischer in wXw continued his momentum, while a semi-final exit at PROGRESS’ Super Strong Style 16 was shrugged off with Jacobs qualifying for 2024’s wXw 16 Carat Gold tournament. After breakthrough performances in losses against many top stars in 2023, 2024 should be the year where the big performances are backed up with signature wins. (IH)

29. Maika (STARDOM)

If you told anyone at the beginning of 2023 that Maika would end the year as World of Stardom Champion, maybe half would believe you — and that’s pushing it. Nonetheless, Maika had a career year inside the ring that capped it off with doing just that. Winning the Goddess of Stardom Tag League was a big accomplishment that felt like nothing compared to wrestling Himeka in her retirement match, being a key part of the Generational Struggle series, making it to the finals of the 5STAR Grand Prix, and closing out the year as the new champion to lead STARDOM into the future. (SE)

28. Big Boss Shimizu (DG)

Lovable loser Big Boss Shimizu had a career year. In an angle in which he noticed that the top tier talent in Dragongate were all younger than him, Shimizu dedicated himself to six months of running through the new guard of the promotion in a series of great matches, peaked by putting forth a MOTYC contender in his hometown against Madoka Kikuta in a failed effort to win the Dream Gate belt. Shimizu altered his legacy for the better with his output in 2023. (CL)

27. El Hijo de Vikingo (AAA / AEW)

In an industry that features high flying like it never has before, Vikingo still stands out as the most daring guy in the air. He will occasionally overreach what he’s able to do, but as he’s improved, this is far rarer than it was a couple of years ago. In 2023, he put on a number of performances where everything worked. His match against Kenny Omega on Dynamite was the theoretical perfect Vikingo experience, but he had plenty of other great matches, including most of the 2023 AAA matches that are worth anyone’s time. (FM)

26. Yuma Anzai (AJPW)

In his first full year of wrestling, All Japan’s super rookie did not disappoint. Back in March, somehow, All Japan’s management convinced CIMA to allow Anzai to pin him in an All Japan vs. GLEAT eight-man tag. Anzai followed up with a solid Champion Carnival. But once he got the chance to challenge for the Triple Crown in June, his year elevated from very good to great. He had a great run in NOAH’s N1 with notable matches against Go Shiozaki and Katsuhiko Nakajima. He got the chance to be the opponent for Kento Miyahara in the latter’s fifteenth anniversary match in September, a match that received nearly universal acclaim and featured a performance few wrestlers with only a year of experience could have given. From there, he would go on to form a tag team with Ryuki Honda, and that pairing would have a great run, with three outstanding 30-minute draws against Kento Miyahara and Yuma Aoyagi and two strong matches against The Saito Brothers. 2024 will no doubt be another year where Anzai racks up significant accomplishments for a wrestler less than two years into his career. (GDT)

25. Eddie Kingston (ROH / AEW / NJPW)

If Jon Moxley is the heart of AEW, Kingston is the soul of the company. He’s the closest thing we have to late 90s, WWF babyface Mick Foley – a big brawler with the crowd fully invested in him. Kingston’s Continental Classic run helped buoy his year, especially the last week of the calendar where he had great matches against Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley. His solid G1 run, including highlight matches against Tomohiro Ishii and Shingo Takagi, and his feud with Claudio Castagnoli for the Ring of Honor World Championship contributed to showing off strong work through the entire year. (FM)

24. Claudio Castagnoli (AEW / ROH)

It’s tough being the third guy in a stable, but Claudio Castagnoli snuck his way into having a great year. In addition to the BCC multiman tags and his great feud with Eddie Kingston around the Ring of Honor World Championship, you could argue that Claudio had the best run of anyone in the loaded Continental Classic, where he had highlight matches against Andrade El Idolo, Bryan Danielson and Brody King. He’s found himself a nice niche in AEW, where he is able to creatively use his unique style and immense strength to have great matches. (FM)

23. Suzu Suzuki (STARDOM)

The signing of Suzu Suzuki in STARDOM was a guaranteed success the moment it happened. And, well, that’s what we saw in 2023 when she joined the promotion full-time. What she was able to accomplish in her first year with the company was nothing short of incredible. She won the first Triangle Derby before going on to win the most prestigious women’s wrestling tournament in the world — the 5STAR GP. Suzuki ended her year by adding an appearance in the finals of the Goddess Tag League and then main eventing the major year end show Dream Queendom for the World of Stardom Championship. It was a banner year for the 21-year-old, who is sure to do greater things moving forward. (SE)

22. Tomohiro Ishii (NJPW)

While Tomohiro Ishii is further away from the main event title scene than at any point in the past decade, he may have been more valuable than ever to NJPW in 2023. The ultimate Swiss army knife, Ishii was able to deliver at an extremely high level in whatever scenarios New Japan put him in, whether as the top star on foreign shows, a G1 match quality workhorse, the gatekeeper for outsiders, or the measuring stick for rising stars. Ishii’s ability to have great matches with nearly anyone and lose nothing in losses makes him extremely useful to New Japan in partnerships with AEW, RevPro, Pro Wrestling NOAH and others. While his NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Title matches were the highlight of his 2023, the work he put in with the likes of Luke Jacobs, Callum Newman, and Henare hints at where his true value will lie in 2024 and beyond—getting the next batch of New Japan’s top stars (Yuya Uemura, Ren Narita, Yota Tsuji, Shota Umino, Gabe Kidd, and others) to be money-drawing main event stars. (AS)

21. Kenoh (NOAH)

There is arguably no wrestler who was more important to his home promotion in 2023 than Kenoh was to Pro Wrestling NOAH. In a rather dry company constantly looking for the quick fix rather than investing in their future, Kenoh is the wrestler that NOAH fans are most emotionally invested in—and with good reason. He puts in the work—in-ring, on his YouTube channel, and in backstage comments—to generate interest in a way that NOAH itself too rarely puts in the time or effort to do. Kenoh thrived in 2023 as a persistent antagonist, top babyface, and promotion-hopping NOAH representative. Standout performances included his Jan 1st GHC Title loss to Kaito Kiyomiya, tag team title runs in All Japan Pro Wrestling and Dragon Gate alongside his then-stablemates in the now defunct KONGO group, and a pair of great matches in September/October against an otherwise disappointing-in-2023 Jake Lee. (AS)

20. Soberano Jr (CMLL)

Soberano Jr. was already one of CMLL’s most exciting young wrestlers, and pushed himself to grow further in 2023. He had his usual array of great matches with opponents like Templario and Titan, but Soberano’s dalliances with a rudo personality were where he showed true advancement. His September match against Mistico stood out in a year of lots of great Mistico matches, and the debut of his new rudo act in November was an instant success. “The Light of Lucha Libre” might have an even bigger 2024 if his new NJPW contract gives him new chances to grow even further. (cubsfan)

19. Swerve Strickland (AEW)

This was the best year of Swerve Strickland’s career and he’s now established himself as a future world championship player in AEW. Strickland fully developed his charisma and presence as a top star. He also developed the ability to combine his athleticism with a willingness to do crazy brawling, as shown in his career-defining Texas Death match against Hangman Adam Page. His Continental Classic matches against Rush, Jon Moxley, Jay White, and Mark Briscoe were all great. Swerve’s early 2023 feud with Darby Allin was also great stuff, producing multiple highlight matches. (FM)

18. Hangman Page (AEW)

Hangman’s absences in 2023 became a meme, but he deserves credit for what he did do in 2023 when he was actually around. The Texas Death specialist started the year with a great feud with Jon Moxley and ended the year with an even better one against Swerve Strickland. The Strickland Texas Death Match will go down as one of the most violent matches broadcast by a major American wrestling company. Page also reunited with The Elite, leading to some very enjoyable trios matches along the way, and had strong singles matches against Jay White and Wheeler Yuta. (FM)

17. Mistico (CMLL)

Mistico wrestles in a way that brings me unbridled joy. He restores my childhood innocence when he’s in the ring in Arena Mexico; I cheer for him to win, I get angry when he loses, and I come back again the next week to do it all over again. The undoubted best babyface of 2023, the CMLL mainstay churned out great matches like clockwork. He crushed it in singles matches, he killed it in trios matches, and he was a standout performer in 2023’s incredible Cibernetico. Mistico proved that even at 41-years-old, he still has one-of-a-kind magic. (CL)

16. Shingo Takagi (NJPW)

Now 41 years old, “The Dragon” picked his spots in 2023 but when it was time to shine he made sure to remind us that he is in fact The Greatest Wrestler Ever (guess who’s writing this blurb). Shingo took the KOPW from joke status to a title which produced some of New Japan’s best bouts of the year – with his Ultimate Triad match against Henare and “Takagi Style Triad” with Taichi being as gripping as they were physical. His January & February encounters with Nakajima and Okada both met the lofty expectations that one would have seeing those names on paper. After a rock solid G1 (highlighted by another cracker with Henare), Takagi rocked the Copper Box, treating European fans to “Shingo Takagi’s Pro Wrestling” against his great rival Tomohiro Ishii. (A4L)

15. Giulia (STARDOM)

Little did we know that the big free agency conversation would shift from MJF to Will Ospreay and now to Giulia in the year of 2024, but here we are. After starting off the year as the World of Stardom Champion, the now former Donna del Mondo quickly began to become a household name when she defeated Willow Nightingale to win the NJPW STRONG Women’s Title. And by doing so, she’d get to show her star power in America for the first time, wrestling the likes of Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw, and HYAN. She’d also manage to defend against Risa Sera, AZM, and Yuu before closing out her year strong in an excellent match against Megan Bayne. All of this great work set her up to be the talk of 2024. (SE)

14. Madoka Kikuta (DG)

Madoka Kikuta’s year will be remembered by fans differently based on how closely you watched Dragongate. After his Dream Gate anointing in May, Kikuta produced a number of good-but-not-great Dream Gate matches on the company’s big shows. On the company’s touring shows, however, Kikuta was an in-ring powerhouse who put forth dozens of high-level matches. 2023 felt like a dress rehearsal for Kikuta’s eventual high-level dominance. He has all of the talent in the world and had a few of his higher-profile matches turned out better, Kikuta would be cracking the Top 10. (CL)

13. Katsuhiko Nakajima (NOAH / AJPW)

When 2023 started, I did not have a Nakajima resurgence on my Bingo card. He had clearly been deemphasized in NOAH after his last GHC title reign failed to draw, and he suffered an embarrassing (intentional sabotage?) defeat at the hands of Kazuyuki Fujita. He started off the year with a great match against Shingo Takagi at Wrestle Kingdom in Yokohama Arena. But when it was announced that he and Kento Miyahara would be facing off against each other in a six-man tag at the Keiji Muto retirement show in February, things really began to pick up. Along the way he managed to have one of Jake Lee’s better GHC title matches and good matches teaming with Go Shiozaki during the brief AXIZ reunion. Then came the first match with Kento Miyahara, which will threaten the top of most credible MOTY polls. Once Nakajima jumped from NOAH to All Japan, he immediately produced another MOTYC with Yuma Aoyagi, followed by great matches in the Real World Tag League teaming with Hokuto Omori, and capped off the year with another incredible match against Miyahara. With the Triple Crown and a new Inoki tribute gimmick (or is it really just an elaborate troll job?), Nakajima is the hottest he’s ever been going into 2024, in what could very well end up being one of the best world title reigns in years. (GDT)

12. Orange Cassidy (AEW)

If there was an award for workhorse wrestler of the year, it would have to be given to Orange Cassidy. His first run as International Champion, one of the best overall title reigns in all of wrestling in many years, was one the high points of AEW in 2023, as Cassidy delivered consistent good to great performances on a weekly basis before dropping the title to Jon Moxley in a standout match. He of course regained it weeks later and continued where he left off – with his bout against Claudio Castagnoli one of the standouts of the second run. OC kept many engaged with weekly AEW TV thanks to his title matches, making his title THE title of AEW by elevating it beyond what anyone expected. (SF)

11. Titan (CMLL / NJPW)

The perfect lab creation of everything great about lucha libre and Japanese style wrestling. The hybrid hero celebrated his first full year as an LIJ member with the most impactful BOSJ run by a luchador since Dr. Wagner Jr. in 1998. Making the final after incredible matches all tour long, he tore the house down against Master Wato in a career best bout for both men. Back home in Arena Mexico he was the bastion of consistency for CMLL, always delivering at a high level in trios and mano a mano bouts. On September 29th he went to war with Mascara Dorada in a firework laden contest which was the lucha MOTY for many. (A4L)

10. Zack Sabre Jr (NJPW)

In a year characterized by being the inaugural NJPW World TV champion, Zack Sabre Jr. racked up sixteen successful defenses – the most for any New Japan title in history – with title defenses against the likes of Tomohiro Ishii, Tom Lawlor, Jeff Cobb, Mike Bailey, Action Andretti and Metalik as the belt appeared in New Japan, AEW and ROH. Alongside that, Sabre picked up some other hardware, winning an almighty sword in PWA’s Colosseum tournament in Australia in October. Headlining Royal Quest 3 against Will Ospreay was the highest profile European match for Sabre this year, but a pair of matches against Jordan Breaks – especially the one for Premier Promotions in late December – proved to be cult classics. ZSJ’s 2023 highlight, however, may have also been his career highlight – the much anticipated WrestleDream technical classic with Bryan Danielson, which was everything we all hoped for. (IH)

9. Kenny Omega (AEW)

Omega came tearing out of the blocks in 2023, turning the years all the way back to..the twenty teens by putting on an amazing performance in the Tokyo Dome against WIll Ospreay in what has to be one of the front runners for 2023’s MOTY. Omega’s year was very much quality over quantity, with fewer singles outings in comparison to his previous active years, but any big singles match Omega did have, be it against Ospreay, MJF, Konosuke Takesh*ta, or El Hijo del Vikingo, he delivered big. Here’s hoping we can see him back full strength in the ring sometime in 2024. (SF)

8. Fuminori Abe (Japanese Freelance)

With an argument to be viewed as the best junior wrestler in the world, Fuminori Abe did nothing but shine in any and all opportunities in th 2023. It’s the match to revive BattleArts against tag partner Takuya Nomura at their produce show that earned the most conversation, and rightfully so. But if you watched Abe’s entire year, you’d know that he quite possibly was one half of the Tag Team Of The Year alongside Nomura as Astronauts. BJW isn’t on everyone’s radar, but considering the magic that Abe continues to create there, it’s a promotion well worth going out of your way to watch for the Astronauts alone. With 223 matches under his belt in 2023, the full-time Buddhist Monk was quite possibly also the busiest wrestler on earth. (SE)

7. Mike Bailey (Impact / NJPW)

If 2022 was a warm-up for Mike Bailey as he got back in on the US indie scene, 2023 was the year where he started to earn some higher-profile rewards, even if he didn’t win any titles. Save for the Pandemonium Pro title which he held for a matter of minutes, Speedball’s carry-on luggage has been a little light this year. However, a maiden Best of the Super Junior tournament saw him reach the semi-finals – a much deserved breakout run – also leading to an unsuccessful shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title. Taking on a variety of opponents from across the spectrum, from Swerve Strickland to Maki Itoh (those two opposites inside of 48 hours), to Michael Oku, to Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shigehiro Irie over WrestleMania weekend, and you’ve got a diverse year that may have flown under your radar. (IH)

6. Kazuchika Okada (NJPW)

It’s funny. Most would probably consider 2023 a “down” year for Kazuchika Okada. He wasn’t a prominent main event fixture for NJPW, he wasn’t fighting for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title, and wasn’t in his customary spot in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom. He wasn’t a forgotten bystander, but he also wasn’t in the top mix. Yet when all is said and done, here he is, in the Top 10 of the FSM 50, just one spot out of the Top 5, and rightfully so. Even in a “down” year, Okada still dazzled with standout matches against Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Zack Sabre Jr., Will Ospreay, Bryan Danielson, and more. His early-year performances as the grumpy NJPW veteran facing off with plucky youngsters like Kaito Kiyomiya ultimately never progressed as much as we would’ve liked story-wise, but resulted in phenomenal matches, proving Okada can do more than just Wrestle Kingdom epics. If this is what the downslope of Okada’s career will look like, we’re in for a treat over the next decade. (RK)

5. Yuma Aoyagi (AJPW)

He always had it in him. It was just a matter of time before All Japan pulled the trigger on Aoyagi as Triple Crown champion and he did not disappoint. Business went up, most noticeably in Korakuen Hall and he delivered in big matches against the likes of Satoshi Kojima, Ryuki Honda, and Katsuhiko Nakajima. His tag team with Kento Miyahara also played a major role in All Japan’s great year and it deserves recognition. In big interpromotional matches like at the Keiji Muto retirement show and All Together Again, Aoyagi showed he is one of the most charismatic wrestlers in Japan. He can be a valiant babyface or prick heel depending on the circ*mstances. In short, he can do it all, both in-ring and with his character work. We can begin to see an All Japan where Kento Miyahara is no longer the undisputed ace and top guy, and Aoyagi is the man leading that charge. It will be essential to the long term viability of the company to keep Aoyagi happy and book him strong in 2024. Aoyagi is also making history here, as there has never been two All Japan wrestlers in the top 10 of the FSM 50 in the same year (and not since 1996 if you include the PS 50). A fitting accomplishment considering the great year AJPW had. (GDT)

4. Jon Moxley (AEW)

Jon Moxley continues to be the heart of AEW, bringing the violence to all of his work. Whether it be the Texas Death match at Revolution against Adam Page, his role in six man tags such as the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship match at Dominion or the Jay Briscoe tribute match at Fight Without Honor, or establishing Orange Cassidy as a legitimate main event threat in All Out’s main event, Moxley brings an intensity to that ring every time out that’s rare in modern wrestling. His role in putting over Eddie Kingston at World’s End was perfect for the story they told. Moxley also seemed to be having the time of his life in Japan when he locked horns with the likes of Jun Kasai, El Desperado, and Great O-Khan in wild matches. (FM)

3. Kento Miyahara (AJPW)

While Miyahara has been on top of All Japan since 2016, in 2023 he helped to lead it to a resurgence after some weak years battered the company during the pandemic, and Miyhara didn’t even have to dominate the Triple Crown to make it happen. His tag team title run with Yuma Aoyagi helped to carry the promotion, and the team was Tag Team of the Year worthy between the bells. He had many lauded matches against the likes of Yuji Nagata, Yuma Aoyagi, and of course two incredible matches against Katsuhiko Nakajima that helped to raise the aura of both men to new heights and draw more eyeballs to the Royal Road. With some potential dark clouds (in the form of WWE sticking their nose into the promotion) swirling around All Japan recently, it will be Miyahara who ultimately determines the future of the company and if it can continue its momentum throughout 2024. And as we head towards a decade of Miyahara on top of All Japan, we should start to talk about where he ranks all-time in terms of in-ring performance. (GDT)

2. Bryan Danielson (AEW)

The greatness of Bryan Danielson is proven in that he didn’t need to be healthy for all 12 months to make it to number two on this list. Dealing with a broken forearm and broken orbital bone, “The American Dragon” made sure to make up for lost time with countless all-time classics including what many believe to be the greatest Ironman match ever against MJF, a brutally beautiful strap match against Ricky Starks that came about on short notice due to CM Punk being fired, and the start of what would be a great feud with Kazuchika Okada. He closed out his 2023 with one of the best tournament runs ever in the Continental Classic, solidifying his spot at number two on this year’s list. (SE)

1. Will Ospreay (NJPW / AEW)

The last time we saw a year like Will Ospreay’s 2023 was the halcyon days of the territories, with Ric Flair barnstorming across the country as the NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion. At that time, it was typical for a champion like Flair to come to your territory and have the biggest and best match of the year against your area’s top star. With the collapse of the territory system in the mid-80s, this type of roving superstar was seemingly a thing of the past, a relic of a long-gone era. In 2023, Ospreay proved that it can still be done; it just takes a once-in-a-lifetime talent that thrives on stepping through the ropes and performing to the best of his abilities no matter the size or scope of the show. Like Flair and the traveling territory champions of yesterday, Ospreay wrestled worldwide in 2023, having the best match in at least seven different companies across four countries and three continents.

Ospreay began the year with a Match of the Year favorite against Kenny Omega at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom. I could spend the next 10,000 words talking about Ospreay’s year in NJPW alone, but I won’t belabor the point: he had a spectacular year with great matches against the likes of Taichi, Mark Davis, Kazuchika Okada, El Phantasmo, David Finlay, Yota Tsuji, and Zack Sabre Jr. We throw the term star-making performance around far too often, but Ospreay’s match against Shota Umino in November may have single-handedly revived Umino’s stunted rise and set him back on path towards NJPW superstardom. It was THAT good. To cap off his year in NJPW, Ospreay had what I believe is the best individual performance by a pro wrestler, maybe ever, when he faced off with Tetsuya Naito in the G1 Climax semi-finals. With Naito knocked loopy, Ospreay essentially had to wrestle by himself for the last few minutes of the match while leading a disoriented Naito through the closing stretch. Ospreay couldn’t let such a critical match fall apart, kept his composure, and even though he was the one losing, found a way to make the most of the horrible situation to put Naito over.

Outside of NJPW, Ospreay had an incredible match against Robbie X in 1PW, standout matches against Leon Slater and Luke Jabos in RevPro, went to France to wrestle for a company most of you reading this have never heard of, RIXE, and had a kickass match against Tristian Archer, and back in Japan for Pro Wrestling NOAH had Naomichi Marufuji’s best match in a decade. Ospreay returned to Impact Wrestling and had arguably the two best Impact matches of the year against Mike Bailey and Josh Alexander. Then, a second match-of-the-year contender against Kenny Omega at Forbidden Door and a 5-star match against Shingo Takagi back in RevPro, followed by the great Zack Sabre Jr. match at NJPW’s Royal Quest III. We can do this all day. Will Ospreay’s 2023 will never be matched. We all just witnessed one of the most extraordinary wrestling years ever. If you’re still stubbornly stuck in the mud regarding Ospreay, you’re missing out on witnessing all-time greatness. What a pity. (RK)

The FSM 50 2023
Honorable Mentions

Ilja Dragunov (NXT)

With just 22 matches under his belt in 2023, most of which weren’t in front of a camera, Dragunov’s year mostly hovered around NXT title matches, a title he eventually won in September after his second crack at Carmelo Hayes. Successful defenses against Dominik Mysterio and Baron Corbin averted meltdowns from a portion of the internet, before the year ended with a rather questionable angle as he was “knocked out” in a match at the hands of Ridge Holland. (IH)

Stuka Jr. (CMLL)

The Rudo Of The Year may also be the wrestler I loved most this year. A throwback to the spitting, snarling, grunting villains of the past but make no mistake, Stuka Jr. is also one of the most gifted performers in the world and can base for any of the “hot moves” of the day, keep up with guys half his age, and be spectacular when he wants to be. He wasn’t always the focus of CMLL’s year but when his number was called, he delivered. Look no further than his classic mano a mano with Mistico (A4L)

Naruki Doi (Japanese Freelance)

43-year-old Naruki Doi spent his first full year as a freelance wrestler killing it wherever he went. Whether it was adding credibility to All Japan’s junior division, bolstering his already stacked resume in Dragongate, or working odds-and-ends promotions when he had the time, Doi introduced his brilliance to an entirely new set of fans in 2023. (CL)

Mark Briscoe (ROH / AEW)

Well, 2023 was not the year any of us could’ve expected for Mark Briscoe given the terribly tragic start – losing his brother in January. Mark Briscoe battled through the grief and gave us the singles run of his life throughout the year, above and beyond any of our expectations. The match he delivered against Jay Lethal mere days after the tragic accident was nothing short of mindblowing. I’ve no doubt if it wasn’t for injuries during the year (and not so great booking) Mark would’ve made the top 50 due to his fantastic run during the Continental Classic. Briscoe ended the year as the key component of an epic six man match at ROH Final Battle 2023 – as Final Battle would not be complete without The Briscoes stealing the show. (SF)

Kyle Fletcher (NJPW / AEW)

A year of two halves, the first in Japan with United Empire and a hot Aussie Open run with partner Mark Davis, and the second in the States with AEW. Aussie Open’s brief run with the ROH tag titles came to a silly end at Wembley Stadium as part of a much-panned storyline, but Fletcher did finish the year with the ROH World TV title as injury to Mark Davis forced another impromptu singles run. (IH)

Jacky “Funky” Kamei (DG)

A brilliant wrestler who mixes the body control of Rey Mysetrio Jr with the consistency of his Dragongate brethren Susumu Mochizuki, expect this to be the last year that Kamei is stuck as an honorable mention. The Natural Vibes standout made a huge leap in 2023, and few wrestlers have a more exciting 2024 on the horizon. (CL)

Fujita “Jr” Hayato (Michinoku Pro)

This project would not be complete without highlighting the incredible story of a truly special man. It was not in the cards for Hayato to wrestle ever again given the ordeal he’s been through with cancer for a number of years. I’ve written about his story which goes back to his unique debut in 2004 in great detail, and would encourage people to read that, but I wasn’t expecting it to have such a compelling next chapter.

Hayato returned to regular action with gusto in 2023 and looked as good as ever, with his peers across the scene lining up to face him in their home promotions and in his back yard of Michinoku Pro. The likes of Hiromu Takahashi and YAMATO had an extra pep in their step when they got to do battle with a man they hold in such high regard. “Jr” picked up some gold too, winning GLEAT’s UWF title and still holding it as of the end of the year. Sadly with the end of the year also came the news that Fujita’s cancer was back and he would require more surgery. In a show of defiance that is his calling card, he announced that he’ll be taking that title to his hospital room and if anyone wants it they can try to take it from him. The reaction he got for his surprise appearance two weeks ago at the Tokyo Dome shows the love that the Japanese wrestling fans have for this man. It’s so well deserved. (A4L)

The Saito Brothers (AJPW)

The Saitos always had potential. As twins standing nearly 6’4” and with a background in Sumo, they were a throwback to something you don’t see in Japan much these days. Debuting in their mid-30s, they were always going to get a push faster than most rookies. And despite considerable awkwardness early on, they have grown into a great team, also picking up some charisma along the way. They deserve an honorable mention for the progress they made this year as well as performances both in All Japan and in GLEAT where they have been the G-INFINITY tag team champions since this past June. If you only watch one Saito Brothers match from 2023, make sure you check out their match against Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi from October 9 in their hometown. After the progress they showed in 2023, expect them to deliver in 2024. (GDT)

Yuya Aoki (BJW)

Aoki’s crowning year signaled Big Japan’s modest resurgence in 2023. His MOTYC and BJW Strong Title win against Yuji Okabayashi capped off a very well received May 4 show and got the most hype Big Japan has had since before the pandemic. He’s had a very good reign since then. He managed to get a good match out of Ryota Hama and had great matches against Yasufumi Nakanoue and Hideyoshi Kamitani. If he continues to hold the BJW Strong Title throughout 2024 (and he definitely should), expect him to make a bigger splash on this list next year. (GDT)

The FSM 50 2023
Final Ranking

1. Will Ospreay
2. Bryan Danielson
3. Kento Miyahara
4. Jon Moxley
5. Yuma Aoyagi
6. Kazuchika Okada
7. Mike Bailey
8. Fuminori Abe
9. Kenny Omega
10. Zack Sabre Jr
11. Titan
12. Orange Cassidy
13. Katsuhiko Nakajima
14. Madoka Kikuta
15. Giulia
16. Shingo Takagi
17. Mistico
18. Hangman Page
19. Swerve Strickland
20. Soberano Jr
21. Kenoh
22. Tomohiro Ishii
23. Suzu Suzuki
24. Claudio Castagnoli
25. Eddie Kingston
26. Yuma Anzai
27. El Hijo de Vikingo
28. Big Boss Shimizu
29. Maika
30. Luke Jacobs
31. Axel Tischer
32. Manabu Soya
33. Chris Brookes
34. Rocky Romero
35. Takuya Nomura
36. Gunther
37. Darby Allin
38. Templario
39. Yuji Okabayashi
40. Hiromu Takahashi
41. El Desperado
42. Konosuke Takesh*ta
43. Shun Skywalker
44. MIRAI
45. Yuki Ueno
46. Kaito Kiyomiya
47. Tetsuya Naito
48. Athena
49. Bryan Keith
50. Yuji Nagata

Full list of names that received at least one vote in The FSM 50 2023

• Alex Shelley
• Alex Windsor
• Arisa Nakajima
• Athena
• Atsuki Aoyagi
• Ava Everett
• Axel Tischer
• AZM
• Big Boss Shimizu
• Bisahmon
• Bobby Gunns
• Brock Lesnar
• Brody King
• Bryan Danielson
• Bryan Keith
• Calvin Tankman
• Chihiro Hashimoto
• Chris Brookes
• Chris Sabin
• Christian Cage
• Claudio Castagnoli
• CM Punk
• Cody Rhodes
• Daisuke Sekimoto
• Dan Moloney
• Darby Allin
• DOUKI
• Eddie Kingston
• El Desperado
• El Hijo de Vikingo
• El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jr
• El Lindaman
• Francesco Akira
• FTR
• Fujita “Jr” Hayato
• Fuminori Abe
• Gabe Kidd
• Giulia
• Go Shiozaki
• Gringo Loco
• Gunther
• Hangman Page
• Hayato Tamura
• Hazuki
• Henare
• Hiromu Takahashi
• Icarus
• Ilja Dragunov
• Jacky “Funky” Kamei
• Jay White
• Jon Moxley
• Josh Alexander
• Kaito Kiyomiya
• Katsuhiko Nakajima
• Kazuchika Okada
• Kazusada Higuchi
• Kenny Omega
• Kenoh
• Kento Miyahara
• Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
• Komander
• Konosuke Takesh*ta
• Kyle Fletcher
• Kzy
• Laurance Roman
• Leon Slater
• Lio Rush
• Luis Mante
• Luke Jacobs
• Madoka Kikuta
• Maika
• Manabu Soya
• MAO
• Mark Briscoe
• Mark Davis
• Masaaki Mochizuki
• Mascara Dorada
• Masha Slamovich
• Mayu Iwatani
• Mei Seira
• Michael Oku
• Mike Bailey
• Mio Momono
• MIRAI
• Mistico
• Miyu Yamash*ta
• Mizuki
• MJF
• Mochizuki Jr
• Naruki Doi
• Natsupoi
• Orange Cassidy
• Pentagon Jr
• Peter Tihanyi
• Ricky Starks
• Rising HAYATO
• Robert Dreissker
• Rocky Romero
• Ryuki Honda
• Samoa Joe
• SANADA
• Saori Anou
• Sareee
• Satoshi Kojima
• Saya Kamitani
• Shigehiro Irie
• Shingo Takagi
• Shota Umino
• Shun Skywalker
• Soberano Jr
• Stuka Jr.
• Susumu Mochizuki
• Suzu Suzuki
• Swerve Strickland
• Syuri
• T-Hawk
• Taichi
• Takeshi Masada
• Takuya Nomura
• Tam Nakano
• Templario
• Tetsuya Naito
• The Young Bucks
• Titan
• TJ Perkins
• Tomohiro Ishii
• Volador Jr.
• Wheeler Yuta
• Will Ospreay
• YAMATO
• Yasushi Kanda
• Yota Tsuji
• Yuji Nagata
• Yuji Okabayashi
• Yuki Ueno
• Yuki Yoshioka
• Yuma Anzai
• Yuma Aoyagi
• Yuya Aoki
• Zack Sabre Jr

The FSM 50 All-Time Rankings
(2023-2014)