Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI), the respected grappling periodical, has anointed WWE’s Seth Rollins as the premier wrestler in the business for 2023 – marking the second occasion that Rollins has clinched this prestigious title, with his initial top-spot honour coming back in 2019. Fans and experts alike will recall, the assessment period ran from July 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023, effectively encapsulating a full year of thrilling action inside the squared circle.
The evaluation framework used by PWI crucially considers several parameters including win-loss records, technical prowess, industry influence, the level of competition faced, diversity in opponents, and overall activity. Among the elite promotions, WWE showcased its extensive talent pool, leading the roster count in the PWI Top 10 with four wrestlers. All Elite Wrestling (AEW) was a close competitor with three inclusions, while New Japan Pro Wrestling, Lucha Libre AAA, and Impact Wrestling completed the tally with one wrestler each.
This year’s crème de la crème in professional wrestling, as per PWI’s rankings, are as follows:
1. Seth Rollins
2. Roman Reigns
3. Jon Moxley
4. Gunther
5. El Hijo del Vikingo
6. MJF
7. Kazuchika Okada
8. Orange Cassidy
9. Josh Alexander
10. Cody Rhodes
Following this illustrious announcement by PWI, social media channels were abuzz with reactions. A particularly emotive tweet was shared by the newly crowned king, Seth Rollins, commemorating the event with a nostalgia-inducing image of The Shield, his on-screen brethren. This was largely seen as a tribute to his fellow Shield members – Reigns and Moxley – who have also savored the sweet taste of PWI glory in the past, creating a unique trifecta of brotherhood and professional excellence.
