15 Wrestlers To Get To Know Me Better
By now, many of you already know how much I love to “borrow” column ideas from things I see on social media. They make a topic easier to write about, and they help to get readers involved with their own takes and feedback. This week’s column is no different.
I have no idea where it started, but I’ve been seeing a bunch of tweets about “15 Wrestlers To Get To Know Me Better,” where people are listing the 15 wrestlers they would choose from their fandom to share with people that want to know them better, or who want to start watching wrestling themselves and are looking for where to begin.
Oh, you want to know why I love this particular style of wrestling so much? It’s because of so-and-so.
You want to know why I always declare my love for plucky babyfaces? It’s because of so-and-so.
That type of deal.
I’ve seen people use their list to name their 15 favorite wrestlers of all-time, their 15 current favorite wrestlers, and every possible mix in between. I’m aiming for a good mix. I’ll be approaching it just as the title suggests… if someone finds out I’m a wrestling fan, and is trying to learn about why I’m a fan, who I like, what I like, and what entertains me, these are the names I’d give them so they can look them up and do whatever research they need to do.
The names will be listed in no particular order. Let’s have some fun.
Bryan Danielson: If you’ve been a long-time reader of my work, you’ve seen these words on your screen before, but I truly believe that Danielson is the greatest in-ring performer in the history of the pro wrestling business. Many people felt that way simply based off of his pre-WWE work, but I think that work on the sport’s biggest stage, as well as the work he has put in with AEW since leaving WWE, have only solidified his rights to that claim. He can wrestle any style, against any opponent, and make it look absolutely incredible in the process. If I’m trying to introduce wrestling to someone, or if I’m trying to let them know about my own tastes in this great sport, wouldn’t it make sense for me to discuss who I think is the best to ever do it?
Hulk Hogan: The list of wrestlers who can be realistically called the greatest face of all-time is relatively short. The list of wrestlers who can be realistically called the greatest heel of all-time is relatively short. The list of wrestlers who can be realistically called the greatest face AND the greatest heel of all-time might not even reach double digits, but you know who is on that last list? Hulk Hogan. Not only would it be impossible to discuss my wrestling fandom without talking about Hulk, but it would be impossible to discuss wrestling, period, without talking about Hulk.
Kazuchika Okada: While Bryan Danielson is my pick for the best in-ring performer in wrestling history, I think an argument can be made that Okada is the smoothest in-ring performer in wrestling history. Over the last 12 or so years, he has been part of many, many, many matches that I would consider as some of the best I’ve ever seen. All the while, he made everything look easy. Every match of his plays out like a living, breathing, moving piece of art. He’s the type of wrestler that I have enjoyed introducing people to over the years.
Sid Vicious: He’s the ultimate “guilty pleasure” wrestler of mine. Sid was never the best of workers or the best of promos, but his presence was off the charts, capturing your attention from the moment you laid eyes on him. I know that only a small percentage of you will understand this, but for years, I’ve always said that Sid Vicious was pro wrestling’s Project Pat, while Project Pat was hip-hop’s Sid Vicious. Neither is the most technically sound in their field, but they made hit after hit, and are still getting respect years and years after they began their careers.
John Cena: WWE is the biggest wrestling promotion that has ever existed. John Cena has had the most successful career in WWE history. While the likes of Hulk Hogan were the epitome of my wrestling fandom as a child, Cena is the prime example of my wrestling fandom as an adult. I’ve been singing his praises for over two decades now, and there’s no “getting to know me better” as a fan without his name coming up.
Ric Flair: It’s a story I’ve told a million times before. Ric Flair is the very first pro wrestler I ever laid eyes on. I was flipping through the channels on television when I was a teeny, tiny kid, and I landed on TBS, seeing this platinum blonde man essentially yelling at “me” through my screen. The child me had no idea what he was watching, but right away, he knew he was a fan. I’ve been a pro wrestling superfan ever since. Hulk Hogan is who made me fall in love with wrestling, but Ric Flair is who introduced me to wrestling in the first place. Flair’s amazing career and the bevy of all-time classic matches he was having… well, that was merely the icing on the cake.
Samoa Joe: This is another story I’ve told before in my columns. Back in 2005, it was the forums of this very site, back in its days as LordsOfPain.net, that introduced me to Ring Of Honor. RoH had just brought Japanese legend Kenta Kobashi to the United States for a match with Samoa Joe, and the internet was buzzing over it. Joe was a name that I had heard time and time again, and Kobashi was someone I had actually seen wrestle before, growing up in Hawaii with television stations that were dedicated to Japanese programming 24 hours a day. I was given directions on how to order the DVD for the “Joe vs Kobashi” show, and that was my introduction to the company. The list of names that I became a fan of due to Ring Of Honor is really long, and it all starts with that one match. Joe became the first RoH wrestler I became a fan of, and I really went down the rabbit hole with searching for as much of his work as I possibly could. I love that he’s still putting out work that entertains me today, 20 years later.
Stephanie Vaquer: If Stephanie looked the way she does, but couldn’t wrestle to save her own life, she’d still find a way to be on our television screens regularly. She is one of the most beautiful women to ever come along in this great sport. If Stephanie was as ugly as sin, but wrestled the way she does, she’d still find a way to be on our television screens regularly. She is one of the best, and most versatile, in-ring performers that women’s wrestling has seen in a long, long time. The fact that she looks the way she does, and wrestles the way she does, makes her an absolute star and someone that you can’t take your eyes off of for any reason. She defines “aura” in the modern wrestling scene.
Oba Femi: Names like Hogan and Flair are pro wrestling’s past, while names like Vaquer are pro wrestling’s present. In Oba Femi, though, you have pro wrestling’s future, and that future is as bright as the sun. He has been able to check every box during his brief time in NXT, rising through the ranks at an almost unheard of pace. I’m always excited about the future of sport, from my insane dedication to things like the NFL Draft to damn near “scouting” independent wrestling for people we’ll be seeing more of in the years to come, so it only makes sense that I’d bring Oba up if you’re looking to learn more about me and my fandom.
Konosuke Takeshita: If you take everything I said about Kazuchika Okada earlier, you could also use it to describe Takeshita. From a young age, he had people calling him one of the best wrestlers in the world, and he has only gotten better since debuting in AEW. Part of that is because of how versatile he is in the ring, with influences from the wrestling scenes in Japan, Europe, Mexico, and the United States. Once again… pure art in its most brilliant form.
Eddie Guerrero: God, I miss this man. I can’t believe he passed away 20 years ago. If Kazuchika Okada isn’t the smoothest in-ring performer in wrestling history, then Eddie probably gets the nod. He was able to do so much in the ring, and every single bit of it looked great, with no wasted motion. You’d think he was a second-generation wrestler that had been doing it from the moment he could move or something.
Iyo Sky: I’ve seen a ton of people call her the best wrestler in the world today, regardless of gender, and it’s hard to argue with those people. All Iyo does is go out there and have entertaining matches, week in and week out, against anyone they put her in the ring with. She has been able to connect with live crowds, which is often difficult to do without her being able to cut promos in a country’s native tongue, but that’s how good, and how likable, she is.
Will Ospreay: In all my years of being a wrestling fan, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a run like Will Ospreay has had over the last few years. Literally every match I’ve seen of his in that time frame has been great. No matter the promotion, no matter the match type, no matter the opponent(s), no matter what’s on the line… he delivers every time. I just said that Bryan Danielson is the best in-ring performer of all-time, and I can’t say that he ever had a run like that. Ospreay has pushed himself so far, and so hard, that he is now off to have neck surgery, with no timetable for his return.
Rey Mysterio: Perhaps the ultimate “underdog” story in pro wrestling, Rey has created a Hall Of Fame career for himself, succeeding when he has almost NEVER been the largest competitor in any match he’s been in. There has never been a Luchador who was better in the ring than Rey, who was able to transcend Lucha Libre itself and become a mainstream star. No matter what “era” of his you’re watching, there’s going to be nothing but quality involved. He’s been going strong for over well over three decades, and continues to entertain the masses as he approaches his 51st birthday.
Jay & Mark Briscoe: Yeah, this means I have 16 wrestlers listed, and not 15. Big whoop. Wanna fight about it? If I’m being honest, this spot could’ve gone to The Usos quite easily, as there are so many parallels between the two teams. In the end, I went with the Briscoes, as I became a huge fan of theirs years before I ever got to witness an Usos match. Jay and Mark were SPECIAL in the ring, folks. Their in-ring chemistry is the type of connection that only siblings can have, but even that got taken to another level with their work. It’s like they could read each other’s minds in the ring. They were one of the first Ring Of Honor acts that I latched on to when I started watching back in 2005, and it still makes me sad that I don’t get to see them wrestle together today.
Your turn. You don’t have to do an entire list of 15, but who are some wrestlers in your fandom that you would name to help people get to know you better? Who are some wrestlers that you would introduce to people that are new to wrestling? As always, feel free to hit me up in the comments section below, on Bluesky (@aaronhyden.bsky.social), or on Twitter (@HustleTheSavage), and let me know what’s on your mind.
Now, let’s switch things over to my Weekly Power Rankings before I close it out with the list of songs I was listening to as I put this column together.
Weekly Power Rankings
Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Darby Allin vs Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Gabe Kidd & The Young Bucks: A car crash, train wreck, and a dumpster fire combined, but in an entertaining way. The match was exactly what it needed to be, and it was exactly what it was expected to be.
“Hangman” Adam Page vs MJF: I think this would’ve ended up in the top spot if it wasn’t for the final stretch, getting ridiculously overbooked and venturing into silliness. Hangman and MJF were doing a great job before all that happened.
Brody King & Bandido vs FTR: Put a shot at the AEW Tag Team Titles on the line, and watch these two teams try to go the extra mile to get the victory. A simple concept.
Oba Femi vs Je’Von Evans: A really fun “big man vs little man” match, with Je’Von doing a great job of not backing down against a much larger opponent. I have no doubt that he’ll reach the top of the NXT mountain one day, but for now, Oba is simply too good.
Mercedes Moné vs Persephone vs Alex Windsor vs Bozilla: At last year’s Forbidden Door event, Mercedes faced Stephanie Vaquer, who was largely unknown to North American wrestling fans. Mercedes won, but Stephanie made such an impression that WWE may or may not have committed some shady acts to sign her. This year, Mercedes faced three opponents, one of which was Bozilla, who is largely unknown to North American wrestling fans. Mercedes won, but Bozilla made such an impression that people are already wondering if WWE (or AEW) are going to commit some shady acts to sign her. She was amazing, and she’s going to be a star for someone.
Naomi & Big Jim: There were all sorts of rumors flying around that Naomi was pregnant, and sure enough, she is. Congratulations to her and Big Jim Uso on the great news. I loved seeing Naomi’s promo after the announcement, as she was getting emotional, but still trying to find the line between thanking the fans for supporting her and still staying in her heel character.
John Cena: When he’s “on,” John Cena is one of the best promo men in wrestling history. He was certainly “on” in his promo on Logan Paul, and he cut what may have been the best promo he’s had in years, and certainly since he announced his retirement tour. I really enjoyed the passion that he showcased, as it was real.
Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin vs FTR vs Brody King & Bandido: We have no idea what the original plan was for Brodido, and how long they were supposed to last as a team, but if I had to guess, I’d say the plan was only for a temporary pairing. If that’s the case, kudos to Tony Khan for noticing the crowd reactions for Brody and Bandido, and for perhaps changing plans. I still want to see Brody pushed as a top-tier singles wrestler in AEW, but having Brodido as the new AEW Tag Team Champions will do for now.
Zack Sabre Jr. vs Nigel McGuinness: If you’re a fan of technical, scientific wrestling, then this was for you. It was a clinic, and a great showcase of a style that doesn’t really get a lot of play with North American wrestling promotions. Yes, I’m aware this show didn’t take place in North America, but you get the point that I’m trying to make.
Tomohiro Ishii vs Konosuke Takeshita: Even though Ishii hasn’t won a singles match in AEW since 1974, the fans still love what he brings to the table. Not a single soul thought he was going to win this match, but that didn’t stop the crowd from loving every minute of this hard-hitting battle.
Je’Von Evans vs Trick Williams: When Je’Von Evans is wrestling, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see at least one or two spots that make you question if gravity has left him alone. He does things in a ring that shouldn’t be physically possible for a human being to do, and he makes them look easy.
Jey Uso vs Bron Breakker: It’s a night and day difference to the type of “hardcore” that AEW delivers, but the “hardcore” style in WWE can still deliver some entertaining matches. This is one of those times. A hot crowd got to see a really hard-hitting bout, and even though there wasn’t blood and guts like some fans would enjoy, I still dug everything they did.
Kazuchika Okada vs Swerve Strickland: A really fun match, but I can’t help but feel that Swerve’s knee injury prevented this from reaching “great” status. Actually, I don’t think it was the injury itself, but I do wonder if the match was put together to be more of a vehicle to get Swerve the knee surgery he needs than anything else. I’d love to see these two run it back once Swerve is healthy, because I have no doubt that they could have a Match Of The Year type of bout.
Iyo Sky vs Raquel Rodriguez: Iyo has a match. Iyo has a good performance. Lather, rinse, repeat. I can’t forget Raquel, though, because she did really well here, too. She might not have the connection with live crowds that the company would like, but she has shown repeatedly that she is more than capable of having good matches with a lot of different people.
Kyle Fletcher vs Hiromu Takahashi: Fletcher is someone that seems primed to be a main event player for AEW in 2026, and maybe even sooner than that. Takahashi might be the best Junior Heavyweight of the last decade or so. Lots to like with this one, even though the outcome was never in question.
Jordynne Grace vs Blake Monroe: They had a good match, but I’d still like them to go their separate ways now. I haven’t really enjoyed their feud, perhaps because it was rushed and Blake’s heel turn was easy to spot. Blake should be going after a title now, and Jordynne should be searching for her first win in a big NXT match since 1985.
The Street Profits vs JC Mateo & Tonga Loa: A fun tag match on Smackdown? Gee, that never happens. In all seriousness, the tag scene on Smackdown is insanely deep, and seems to be getting deeper all the time.
Yoshiki Inamura vs Josh Briggs: Like I said about Jey vs Bron, the WWE style of “hardcore” matches isn’t going to provide the violence that other companies feature, but they can still be entertaining, hard-hitting battles. These two beat the hell out of each other.
Hank & Tank vs Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin: Hank and Tank have done a really good job over the last few months as their profile grew, but I’m looking forward to what DarkState can do as the new NXT Tag Team Champions. The “Freebird Rule” will be extra fun with four members in the group, meaning that every DarkState title defense could potentially be something different each time.
Penta vs Xavier Woods: In a normal week, this match would’ve been a lot higher in my Power Rankings. This wasn’t a normal week, though, as it was packed with multiple pay-per-view events. Now, we wait to see if Xavier Woods’ neck injury is legit, or if it’s part of the storyline that he and Kofi Kingston are involved in at the moment.
This Week’s Playlist: “my mind is a mountain” by Deftones… “ecdysis” by Deftones… “Different Species” by Offset & Gunna… “Bodies” by Offset & JID… “Run It Up” by Offset & Key Glock… “Apologies” by Three Days Grace… “Kill Me Fast” by Three Days Grace… “bad luck” by We Came As Romans… “Goodbye, Sunshine (Endless Summer)” by Coheed and Cambria & Nick Hexum… “Shapeshift” by Dayseeker… “Keep Your Hands High” by Tracey Lee & Notorious BIG… “Big Ship” by One Groove… “Molokai Slide” by Ehukai… “If I” by Ryan Hiraoka… “Let’s Hook It Up” by B.E.T… “Hook It Up 2” by B.E.T. & Fiji… “Know That” by Next G… “Take This Raft” by Inoa’ole… “Things” by Kiff… “The Hills (Remix)” by The Weeknd & Eminem
