Favorite Wrestlers
Excessively detailed list of my favorite wrestlers.
- Introduction
- Methodology
- Tier 1: Core
- Tier 2: Secondary
- Tier 3: Access Barrier
- Tier 4: Radar
- Tier 5: Peripheral
- Wrestling-Related Works
- Changelog
Introduction
I judge wrestlers for this list based entirely on their in-ring performance.
There are wrestlers I like for non-ring aspects (such as, and primarily, Brody King), but they are not on this list, because that does not motivate me to track down their matches.
There are also wrestlers who I’ve enjoyed watching that don’t make this list because I do not actively seek out their matches.
Note on promotion badges: Wrestlers in Tier 1 and Tier 2 have badges displaying which promotions they are currently signed to (displayed first) and additional promotions that they make regular appearances on. Tier 3 onward only has badges for the promotion a wrestler is signed to.
Methodology
I do not have a rigorous quantification method for how I rank wrestlers. This is mostly vibes-based. However, I do have several dimensions that I am conscious of when evaluating wrestlers, each with differing levels of relative importance:
- Aura 🔴 most important
- The undefinable essence of a person, including my general impression of how they move and command themself.
- Strength 🟠 medium importance
- Physical power. Useful for basing and holds.
- Agility 🟢 high importance
- Speed and ability to maneuver deftly.
- Flight 🟢 high importance
- Aerial ability.
- Endurance ⚫️ marginal
- Fighting spirit.
- Strategy 🔵 low importance
- An intelligence measure applying to technique and use of technique, most visible in holds and hold escapes.
- Aesthetic 🟢 high importance
- External presentation, such as costumes and makeup.
- Charisma 🟠 medium importance
- Ability to command a crowd and express internal landscape, including selling.
Tier 1: Core
I am actively tracking down archived matches and will plan around watching their new matches live.
Bandido
the one who sparked it all
- Favorite Elements
- hair, aura, mask, entrance costumes, gimmick, representation of his heritage, theme music (“Los Más Buscados”), bright sunshine personality, enthusiasm, smile (yes you can tell even with the mask on), voice, giving back to community
- Favorite Match
-
- Bandido vs. Jon Moxley (review)
- AEW/CMLL/NJPW/Stardom Forbidden Door 2026 • June 28, 2026
- Favorite Move
- throwing someone down so hard that he pops several feet into the air
Titán
MY DEMON!!!
- Favorite Elements
- mask designs, scar, aura, intensity, screaming, the red and yellow contacts, the way he yells —¡¡¡ME ENCANTA LA COMIDA!!!— as the first thing he always says about Japan
- Favorite Match
-
- Titán vs. Robbie X (review)
- Best of the Super Junior (BOSJ) 33, Day 7 • May 24, 2026
- Favorite Move
- when he grabs the ropes and hauls himself up onto the turnbuckles by flipping up in one go, but also, llave inmortal finisher
Komander
my BABBY!!!
- Favorite Elements
- mask, entrance costumes (especially the fact that the Virgen de Guadalupe is always on his back), theme music (“Master And…” ft. True God & R8ed R), aerial ability, soft chill personality
- Favorite Match
-
- Komander vs. El Hijo del Vikingo (review)
- ROH Supercard of Honor 2023 • March 31, 2023
- Favorite Move
- springboard tijeras to poisonrana
Tier 2: Secondary
I am tracking down their matches, but at a more moderate pace than for core favorites. I will also usually stay tuned for live matches they’re in.
Templario
- Favorite Elements
- tattoos, theme music (“Guerrero Templario” by Rapthor Boys, remixed), entrance costumes, gimmick, calm aura, kind eyes, base skills, giving back to community
- Favorite Match
-
-
Serious answer:
Templario vs. Bandido (review) - CMLL Fin de Semana Internacional, Day 3 • January 18, 2026
-
Silly answer:
Templario vs. Hechicero vs. Soberano Jr. (review) - NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2026, Day 3 • February 22, 2026
-
Serious answer:
- Favorite Move
- doing a b-boy windmill to get back onto his feet
Kevin Knight
- Favorite Elements
- having legs made out of vibranium springs (look at his jumping avalanche hurricanrana), theme music ( “Final Approach” ft. Sayitainttone), cockiness, voice
- Favorite Match
-
- Kevin Knight vs. Titán (review)
- Best of the Super Junior 31, Day 7 • May 21, 2024
- Favorite Move
- UFO splash
Hechicero
- Favorite Elements
- castigando a todos
- Favorite Match
-
- Hechicero vs. Bandido (review)
- ROH Death Before Dishonor 2025 • August 29, 2025
- Favorite Move
- taking the straps down and letting the titties out to show it’s serious now
Xelhua
- Favorite Elements
- old-school aztec-inspired mask, power, precision, contorting people into obscene holds
- Favorite Match
-
- Xelhua vs. Lee Moriarty (review)
- ROH Death Before Dishonor 2025 • August 29, 2025
- Favorite Move
- cualquiera llave tbh
Yota Tsuji 辻 陽太
- Favorite Elements
- smiling like a gorilla does before it attacks you, power, hair, constantly wearing red and gold
- Favorite Match
-
- Yota Tsuji vs. Boltin Oleg (review)
- NJPW G1 Climax 36, Day 12 • August 6, 2026
- Favorite Move
- smacking the shit out of someone
Yutani
- Favorite Elements
- big heel energy, thigh band
- Favorite Match
-
- Yutani vs. Templario (review)
- CMLL Martes Populares • May 12, 2026
- Favorite Move
- sticking out his tongue to rile up the crowd
Tier 3: Access Barrier
I have a strong interest in these wrestlers, but I don’t have access to their promotions or won’t watch their promotions (i.e., WWE and unfortunately therefore also AAA). I am still tracking down matches from promotions I do have access to.
El Hijo del Vikingo
when will my vikingo return from retirement
Penta El Zero Miedo
pls retvrn
Rey Fénix
we can forgive you, pls retvrn
Starlight Kid
pls I can’t afford another subscription
Tier 4: Radar
I have an interest in these wrestlers, but I am not really actively tracking down matches; I’m mostly just watching whatever I stumble on or paying attention when they happen to be on a show I’m watching.
Andrade El Ídolo
The Beast Mortos
Claudio Castagnoli
Máscara Dorada II
Maya World
“Speedball”
Mike Bailey
Mina Shirakawa
Persephone
Queen Aminata
Viva Van
we stan a local legend
Tier 5: Peripheral
I am curious about these wrestlers, but have not yet started looking into them in earnest. Once I do start watching their matches, they will either be bumped into a higher tier or removed from this list based on how much I like them.
Athena
Boltin Oleg
ボルチン・オレッグ
Candela
Drilla Moloney
El Clon
also interested in his work as Arez
Fuego
Garra Negra
Gringo Loco
independent
Hyan
Hyo
豹
IYO SKY
イヨ・スカイ
Janai Kai
independent
Kazuchika Okada
オカダ・カズチカ
Kenta Kobashi
小橋 建太
retired
La Catalina
Lee Moriarty
Mansoor
Mason Madden
Mia Friday
independent
Mustafa Ali
Nick Wayne
Rohan Raja
Soberano Jr.
Stephanie Vaquer
Swerve Strickland
VENY
independent
Willow Nightingale
Yuka Sakazaki
坂崎 ユカ
Wrestling-Related Works
Other media that features wrestlers that I want to track down, but where I might not necessarily want to track down matches involving the wrestlers in it.
- Singhs in the Ring (2025)
- Vietslam: Slamming the Cultural Gap: Triumph, Tradition and Breaking Barriers (2026) (should be available on Tubi)
Changelog
View updates
- 2026-08-18
-
- Nah, moved Komander back to core. I love him too much. Made a match tracker for him too.
- 2026-08-17
-
- Updated review links to internal match log.
- 2026-08-14
-
- Updated Titán favorite match to vs. Robbie X because the Francesco Akira one doesn’t hold up as much on a rewatch whereas the Robbie X one just gets better.
- 2026-08-13
-
- Adjusted spacing on changelog for better legibility.
- Added shrine buttons for Bandido and Titán.
- Moved Komander and Templario down to top of secondary tier because clearly I am not so obsessed with them that I would make match tracker pages for them.
- 2026-08-12
-
- Made Stardom logo responsive to dark/light mode.
- Added NJPW badge for Kevin Knight to reflect dual contract.
- Fixed promotion badges for Mina Shirakawa, Queen Aminata, and Viva Van to reflect signings.
- Moved Maya World and Persephone down to radar tier. Have not been as impressed with more recent matches.
- Updated Yutani favorite match because I forgot I watched one with him versus Templario. Yutani vs. Capitán Suicida was my first Yutani match though, and a first match is still special.
- Moved Beast Mortos down to radar because realistically he occupies the same niche as Claudio Castagnoli for me, i.e., I like seeing how their base skills support flyers.
- Moved Máscara Dorada down to radar because I haven’t been actively tracking down his matches, but enjoy matches that he’s in.
- Clarified secondary tier description.
- Bumped Kevin Knight to top of secondary tier because I’m really enjoying his BOSJ matches.
- Updated Komander theme to include featured artists.
- Updated Templario theme song link because I found a Youtube clip that has most of it!
- 2026-08-11
-
- Updated badges for Tier 1 and Tier 2 and included explanatory note in introduction on badging.
- Updated Titán photo to one with even more aura. I do love the yelling photo for capturing his intensity though, so I might change it back eventually.
- Updated Titán favorite elements to include contacts and how much he loves Japanese food.
- Updated Templario favorite move terminology to proper breakdance terminology (windmill).
- Added Hyo after seeing a backstage interview for BOSJ33. What do you mean he’s wearing a collar and has lil arm bands and garter belts and is carrying around a lil leopard plushie and kissed a dude who allegedly matches his freak. Oh my God. I guess I need to watch more of BOSJ33.
- 2026-08-10
-
- Bumped Titán up to second in core ranking after watching his Best of the Super Juniors 33 matches. Good lord, NJPW mics up the ring well and he’s a screamer. Really adds to his aura and intensity.
- Updated Titán favorite match from Titán vs. Ricochet (January 16, 2026) to Titán vs. Francesco Akira (June 3, 2026). Titán vs. Ricochet still has a special spot for me because the camera angle and Titán’s gorgeous red and green mask really underscored the “holy shit, that’s my demon” revelation, but Titán vs. Francesco Akira has the same hold and is the better match.
- Removed Wheeler Yuta from peripheral list—watched a couple matches; he’s fine but I just don’t really enjoy his aura or the shapes of his moves.
- Removed Bishop Kaun from peripheral list—I primarily enjoy singles matches, but Bishop Kaun usually does tags and trios, and I don’t particularly enjoy watching Ricochet enough to track down Bishop Kaun.
- Moved Mansoor & Mason down to peripheral, as my primary enjoyment for MxM is their non-ring work and I haven’t actually gone out of my way to track down their matches yet.
- 2026-08-09
-
- Added introduction and methodology sections.
- 2026-08-08
-
- Page created.