The past few weeks in the wrestling world have been filled with controversies, suspensions, injuries, and potential exits. These latest developments would have critical long-term implications for sports fans, analysts, online followers, and those who wager on the event on sites like FanDuel.com. Several fighters from WWE and AEW have made an impact during the year 2022, even at the halfway point.
Vince McMahon voluntarily stepped down as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of WWE in June until the investigations concerning his alleged executive misconduct ended. However, the wrestling world isn’t expecting any crucial changes to the game despite the CEO’s resignation.
The wrestling world would have the chance to see emerging pieces and stories rather than maintaining the norms. The people who made pro-wrestling famous to fans around the world are the wrestlers. This article highlights five of the best wrestlers in the world right now.
- Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is probably the best and most stylish wrestler in the world halfway into 2022. He doesn’t only thrill his fans with his style but also remains ruthless inside the ring. A former professional gridiron football player and the WWE athlete is the longest-reigning WWE Universal Champion in his second reign.
No doubt, the undisputed WWE champion has been fantastic. He currently feels big, crucial, and like a movie persona even when all that doesn’t translate into more ticket sales or boosted ratings when they announce his name. However, Joe Anoa’i is more than just his presentation. It takes an extraordinary wrestler to transcend the outdated weekly format as much as Reigns does. His ring exploits have seen him defeat big names in the sports like Brock Lesnar, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, John Cena, and Edge.
- Edge
Edge (Adam Joseph Copeland) is a Canadian professional wrestler and movie personality whose wrestling heroics undoubtedly sit him among the best wrestlers in the world today. He had his debut wrestling match in 1992 and has continued to participate in wrestling till 2022 (aside from some retirement years). He’ll be returning halfway into 2022 (If rumours and video clips are to be believed)
Edge joined the WWE to perform on the Raw brand, winning the WWF Intercontinental Championship in 1999 for the first time before lifting the World Tag Team Championship seven times.
The Hall of Fame inducted Edge into its roll call in 2011. Afterward, the veteran wrestler retired after suffering several neck injuries from his time in the ring. He returned in 2020 to participate in the Royal Rumble match, going ahead to lift the Royal Rumble last year.
- Seith Rollins
Seith Rollins has been a professional wrestler since 2005 and performs for WWE’s Raw brand. Outside his exceptional 2016, Rollins may have never had a more entertaining run in the sport every week. Rollins also has his unique style with his weekly suits.
Since the 2021 WrestleMania, Rollins has had only four different opponents in single pay-per-view matches and has six single matches rated at least four stars out of five.
During the 2021 Royal Rumble, Rollins joined at the number 29 spot but didn’t face elimination till he reached the final third. He has won titles like the ROH World Championship, FIP World Heavyweight Championship, ROH World Tag Team Championship, and the PWG World Tag Team Championship. Rollins has had an outstanding year, halfway into 2022.
- Becky Lynch
Here’s another professional wrestler who features behind the movie cameras. Becky Lynch is an Irish professional and one of the most prolific female wrestlers in the world in 2022. Lynch is the current Raw Women’s Champion in her second reign and is also one of the best-paid female wrestlers.
Last year, she took only a few seconds to oust SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair and win her title. The 2021 victory over Belair made Lynch a four-time SmackDown Women’s Champion. She began her pro wrestling career in 2013 and signed to the WWE under the brand name NXT in the same year.
Becky Lynch made her WWE’s main roster debut in 2015, where she has been to date. Also known as Rebecca Quin, she is married to Seith Rollins, who also features in this list of the best wrestlers halfway into 2022.
- Randy Orton
There’s no doubt that Randy Orton is one of the most iconic characters in the history of world wrestling and the best professional wrestler of all time. Randy Orton hails from a biological family of professional wrestlers and has shown he didn’t become a wrestler to settle for average or less-than-average performances.
Orton made his debut in 2000 and has had an outstanding career ever since. In his second reign, Orton is the current joint Raw Tag Team Champion, alongside Riddle. When he was 24, he became the youngest WWE champion in history. Randy Orton has lifted the WWE Championship ten times and the WWE’s World Heavyweight Championship four times.
Certainly among the most recognizable faces in the sport, and is tied alongside Triple H for the second most of all-time World Championship trophies. Randy Orton is also a two-time Royal Rumble match winner (2009 and 2017). Going by his form so far in 2022, there is a belief that Orton could still have a few more titles to win in the sport.
Conclusion
The five wrestlers listed above are among the biggest names in the wrestling world today. Despite the number of injured athletes currently out of play, these elite wrestlers and many others remain active, with some doing a fantastic job of elevating the sport all year long.
2022 still has more Championships and trophies up for wins, and maybe, some of these star wrestlers – from Reigns to Orton – would continue their heroics and keep the fans thrilled by clinching more titles.