We’re now into the top half of our countdown as we bring you our very own top 100 wrestlers of 2008.

The concept was simple. Six of our very best writers sat down and discussed names to be put on a preliminary list for the Top 100 Wrestlers of the Year. That preliminary list totalled to around 145 names, stretching from wrestlers in the WWE to TNA to PWG. Those six writers then drew up their own personal Top 100 and from here, the scores of each wrestler were tallied based on their placement in each writers list. It was as simple as that.

If you’ve missed earlier pieces, you can find them below:

- Click here to read who we voted in places 91-100
- Click here to read who we voted in places 81-90
- Click here to read who we voted in places 71-80
- Click here to read who we voted in places 61-70
- Click here to read who we voted in places 51-60

41. Beth Phoenix

Martin Smith: I think she has the potential to be one of the best women’s wrestlers in the world right now. The only problem I have with her is that there aren’t enough women wrestlers in the WWE for her to face beyond the three or four she has faced already. A feud with Gail Kim would be interesting and the pairing with Marella was a great decision.

Phil Lowe: I was high on her before she was paired with Santino but together they’ve been one of the most enjoyable acts on Raw. I’m disappointed that a Beth vs. Gail Kim feud appears to be unlikely, at least for the short-term, as she’d really benefit from a fresh, talented babyface on Monday nights.

Michael Campbell: Not only has Beth been the most visible, dependable female athlete on the WWE’s books, she’s also been part of one of Raw’s most entertaining acts, alongside Santino Marella. Like all the women in the WWE though, it’s hard to see her having a long-shelf live, because they book these ladies in such a horrendous, short-sighted manner.

James Mustoe: A change from the identikit bimbo brigade in the WWE, and has been booked consistently (and strongly) as Women’s Champion for most of the year. She has also displayed comic presence as the straight-women to Santino Marella’s tomfoolery.

Mark Bright: Her double-act with Santino is the comedy hit of the year, and her matches remain strong, as does her booking. Just a shame it’s rumoured that Gail Kim will be working Smackdown, as a Beth/Gail feud seems like the way to go.

Dan Short: In terms of the women in the WWE, Beth is probably the more active wrestling-wise – much having to do with the awesome idea of pairing her with Santino Marella, which has been fabulous. Of course, there’s always been the problem with WWE never really committing with the women’s division and thus she lacks enough competition.

42. Ric Flair

Dan Short: What can be said that hasn’t already been said about Ric Flair? His career in his final week was nothing short of magical. It can truly be said that this was the kind of finale a wrestler with such history and respect like him could ever want, leaving at WrestleMania in a wonderful match with Shawn Michaels. It’s been a pleasure, Nature Boy.

Mark Bright: His final week of his active career, from the Old Yeller promo which is one of the best of the year, to being the star of the 8-man tag match main event where he beat then-WWE Champion Randy Orton cleanly, followed by the Hall of Fame ceremony, followed by the great WrestleMania match with Shawn Michaels followed by the Raw retirement ceremony, was a fantastic week unlikely to be matched by anyone else’s retirement ever. He had some good matches and some great promos in that final run, too.

James Mustoe: Entered the voting period just as he was starting his final storyline in the WWE. This career ending masterpiece, culminating in the absolute highlight of WrestleMania XXIV, the incredibly emotional match against Shawn Michaels, was the absolute right way to send Flair out with a bang in the WWE. Shame that his real last appearance was as a telephone holder in the McMahon Millions abomination…

Martin Smith: A great send off for one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Hard to believe this guy was going as long as he was. An emotional match with Shawn Michaels and a great send off on Raw – a segment that will live long in the memory.

Phil Lowe: Deserving of his place in the list despite his in-ring career coming to an end – at least for the time being. WrestleMania, the Hall of Fame and Flair’s farewell on Raw were all superbly done and fitting to a man who is, quite simply, the man.

Michael Campbell: I didn’t vote for Flair simply because he retired in the first quarter of the year. The two or three weeks leading up to his retirement were extremely exciting however, and his last match was one of WrestleMania’s all time greats.

43. Roderick Strong

Mark Bright: I like Roddy a lot, but he spent most of the voting period as a cocky heel in the No Remorse Corps and was totally ill-fitting for that role (and feuding with Erik Stevens, who is shit). Potentially, he’s a lot better than his performances in the timeframe indicated, and now that he’s back as a babyface in ROH I can see him being much higher up the list next year.

Michael Campbell: Thank God Strong has gone back to being a baby face. Slogged away as a heel for the first half of the year, a role I feel he’s not great at (spitting on people does not make you a good heel, especially when you then engage the audience in exciting chop-fests), but it did allow for some great matches against Erik Stevens (their Fight without Honor may be my MOTY), and Nigel (though no-one bought him winning the ROH title for a second…). He needs to add a new dimension to his character though, or he’ll be left behind by the new regime.

James Mustoe: A resurgent year for Strong, who really became lost in the shuffle as leader of the No Remorse Corps in ROH in 2007. Contested a great match with Nigel McGuinness on PPV, but the real story here is the hate filled feud with Erick Stevens, which has been a real highlight of the wrestling world as a whole this year.

Martin Smith: I’ve always said he reminds me of a young Dean Malenko. In ROH, he’s a great addition to the roster. However, I can’t help but feel TNA dropped the ball with the guy. I’m surprised McMahon hasn’t come calling either. However, a great year for Strong and a worker I expect to climb even higher next year.

Dan Short: I’ve heard how folks were not happy with his so-called heel run in ROH before turning at the end of his feud with Erick Stevens. Over in Southern California, he fits fine in his tweener status. Roddy helped pick up the pace for PWG when they needed it and even claimed the PWG Tag Team Championship with Jack Evans. If nothing else, he’s reliable.

Phil Lowe: Decent worker. I don’t see him ever making it to the WWE (if that’s his goal) but he’s solid and will always be able to earn a living on the indy circuit. Depending on where ROH’s direction heads in 2009, he has the potential to make it higher up the list next year.

44. Rey Mysterio

Phil Lowe: Injuries have again made it a bad year for Rey but when he’s been fit he’s had his moments. If you forget the feud with Kane, that is. Did we ever find out why Kane kidnapped him exactly?

Mark Bright: I was the highest voter for Rey, and think he’s the best pure babyface underdog worker possibly ever, but during the voting period, aside from mini-feuds with Finlay and Edge that arguably didn’t reach their fullest potential, he was injured. Being put together with Kane on his comeback didn’t help matters either. The best thing he’s probably done lately is his makeshift team with Evan Bourne which was unfortunately cut short by Bourne’s injury.

James Mustoe: Suffered a long period of absence in the middle of the year but the quality of his work on either side of his lay-off more tan justifies his position here. Competed in back to back PPV thrillers with Edge at the Royal Rumble and No Way Out (including a brave showing with a torn bicep), and was then immediately thrown back into the main event scene on his move to RAW. Worked a program with Kane in which both men did their best to overcome a ludicrous storyline, and has more recently been in involved in some world class work with Evan Bourne.

Michael Campbell: I think some people have forgotten the roll Rey was on at the beginning of the year prior to getting injured. His feud with Edge had its moments, but it was an early highlight for a topsy-turvy year though. He had one of the worst feuds of his career, with Kane, contesting a Mask match that no one gave a stuff about, and has drifted about, generally looking directionless. Hopefully he’s reunited with Evan Bourne upon the former ROH star’s return.

Dan Short: It’s been tough times for Rey-Rey this year. He worked through a bicep injury to complete his feud with Edge at the start of the year before sitting most of it out to recover. Then he was put in a rather awful feud with Kane, though the sight of him teaming with Evan Bourne gives hope that they will partner regularly next year. That will be awesome.

Martin Smith: No longer entertaining. Mysterio has been ruined over the past three years by bad booking, poor matches and just a lack of good opponents to face. A feud with Kane isn’t the way forward for Mysterio. It makes him look awful. It will be an interesting year next year for Rey and unfortunately, I can see him going down the same route as this year.

45. Shingo Takagi

Mark Bright: I love this guy. Just an excellent mid-sized heavyweight who can mix in power, speed, athleticism and play several different roles in a match. Probably the guy from Dragon Gate that WWE would be most interested in if they wanted a Japanese heel, as long as someone (if there’s any justice Larry Sweeney) could be brought in to do the talking for him.

Martin Smith: Not heard a huge deal of Takagi, but he’s certainly gained some attention while touring in the USA and has a solid reputation in Japan.

Dan Short: Shingo has come a long way as the first Dragon Gate trueblood. He has indeed realized a lot of the promise seen in him and now wears the Open the Dream Gate Championship. His past tours in the United States have garnered him some more international attention and people recognize him almost as much as CIMA when associating names with Dragon Gate. He appears to be ready to take the vacant ace spot alongside CIMA and Masaaki Mochizuki.

Phil Lowe: I wonder where Shingo will head in 2009. I can see him getting more work in the States and there has to be some interest from TNA and WWE. Very talented.

Michael Campbell: What I absolutely love about Shingo is his awesome range of crazy expressions- like a male version of Shimmer’s Rain, his face often screams: Dementia! Talented and versatile, he’s had a really big year. One of the few Japanese guys I’d like to see try their look in McMahon-land, though it’s unlikely that’s on the horizon.

James Mustoe: Another Japanese wrestler who I’ve only seen a very limited amount of work from in 2008. Still, this ROH work has been good, and I’m sure I would have ranked him higher if I’d seen more of his stuff…

46. John Morrison

Martin Smith: An interesting worker. To be perfectly honest, I hate him as a tag team wrestler. I think he is a wasted talent in the absolutely dire tag division. He’s solid enough to be a singles star and I think he would be a nice part of the Smackdown midcard. Another great year for Morrison, but it’ll be interesting to see if him and Miz are together this time next year.

Phil Lowe: Morrison and The Miz have been great. The comparisons to Shawn Michaels are justified and when they two eventually split its hard to see Morrison not getting a good singles push.

Michael Campbell: Morrison has produced some fine stuff since our voting ended (it was bound to happen to a few people), and probably could have placed higher. Supremely talented, charismatic guy, very much suited to the WWE style. His teaming with the Miz has been excellent, but when the time is right, a singles career should bring great things.

Dan Short: Morrison is an interesting character to me. Not so much the gimmick, but the wrestler himself. He and Miz have been doing great stuff and he’s certainly a talented individual. Yet something tells me to play on the side of caution with him. His potential is indeed limitless. But I get this feeling that if he drops the ball it won’t be pretty.

James Mustoe: I would have ranked him higher, actually, if his standard throughout the year had been as good as his recent work with The Miz. Definitely a star of the future who is getting closer to being the total package in terms of ring work, charisma, and mic skills. Of all people, probably deserves the ‘next Shawn Michaels’ label more than former candidates Jeff Hardy and Chris Jericho (more on him later….).

Mark Bright: The next HBK, but most of the better evidence of that has come after the voting period was over. Still, incredibly athletic, a great bumper, with tremendous offense, a great look, good mic skills, he has everything the WWE want from a cocky arrogant “cool heel” – and yes just because DX are now old and tired and Jericho, Edge and Orton have done such a great job as serious heels doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for cool heels anymore. He and Miz are the best and most entertaining tag team in the world.

47. William Regal

Dan Short: Talk about a tale of ups and downs. He’s in the middle ground as Raw General Manager. Then he wins the King of the Ring tournament and is on his way toward a big push. Then he gets busted for sixty days. Comes back, kick starts an interest feud with Jamie Noble, and claims the Intercontinental Championship. Very interesting year.

Mark Bright: Great heel character, excellent promos, good matches. I’ve really liked the extra viciousness he’s shown this year. What looks like a forthcoming feud with CM Punk will be a good thing for both men I think.

James Mustoe: I really would have loved to have ranked my favourite wrestler higher this year, but unfortunately 2008 has had more lowlights than highspots for the 2008 King of the Ring. What with the bungled main event push and related wellness violation, Regal’s use has been more frustrating than virtually any other WWE wrestler, although his seeming re-push as IC Champ does seem to bode well for the future, hopefully he can stick to it this time!

Phil Lowe: Great on the mic, good in the ring. I hope he stays in WWE’s good books and doesn’t screw things up for himself as he’s still got a heck of a lot to offer.

Michael Campbell: Should have been a glorious year for “king” Regal, but he shot himself in the foot. Still, since his return he has shown a great deal of vigour. However, it’s a shame that he was given the IC title (there was no need to add a title to his role), especially at the expense of Santino’s fun reign. As much as I like Regal, his opponents are always temporarily derailed when they face him.

Martin Smith: Interesting year for Regal. I can’t help but feel his days as a top tier performer are well and truly gone. That said, he is still a great addition to the roster and his run as Intercontinental Champion will be interesting.

48. The Brian Kendrick

Martin Smith: I’m surprised he got pushed in his new gimmick. Of all the people to give it to, it didn’t shout out at me that it would be the former “Spanky”. To be fair, he’s done really well in the gimmick and it would not surprise me if he won a title next year sometime. My only fear is one mistake by Kendrick and this push could be quickly derailed to the Indies.

Mark Bright: As Paul London got fired, The Brian Kendrick got awesome. OK so it’s a low-rent rip-off version of 1993 Shawn Michaels combined with 1993 Brian Pillman, but hey if you’re going to rip off two guys and get me to think you rule those are two fucking good choices.

Dan Short: I like Kendrick, but I have to say that he got real lucky that they gave him a chance at this gimmick. Because without it, he’d probably end up like his buddy Paul London getting the pink slip. It may not be an original gimmick, but it’s certainly helping Brian get over with the fans and being entertaining enough for management to believe in him.

Phil Lowe: Paul who? As talented as London was, I’m sure the former Spanky is delighted that WWE chose to split the team up and push him as a singles wrestler. I don’t think his size is a problem in the post-Benoit WWE world (sorry, Universe) and if he continues to deliver in the ring I can see him slowly but surely moving up the card next year.

James Mustoe: I really wouldn’t have thought, this time last year that the former Spanky could have come so far in the WWE. From a barely visible jobber-to-the-stars team with Paul London to an entertaining highlight of Smackdown’s upper-midcard, Kendrick really has come a long way, utilising unforeseen heel charisma in a retooling of his old Zero-One/Hustle gimmick for the mass market WWE audience.

Michael Campbell: Interesting year for Kendrick. His singles gimmick has been pretty good, despite being un-original, and he’s gotten over. Shame it came at the expense of a tag team that never got a look in with management.

49. Umaga

Martin Smith: I think the WWE messed up big time with Umaga. A fantastic start to the year, but it kind of stopped as the year went on. He needs a solid feud on his return.

Dan Short: A seemingly awkward year for Umaga. After what looked like the start of something grand with a great steel cage match with Jeff Hardy, he just seemed to have dropped off. When he’s a monster threat, he’s great. But other than that is where the problem lies. Getting a torn PCL in August doesn’t help things either, although it might allow him to regroup.

Phil Lowe: I hope WWE change their view on Umaga when he eventually returns from injury, which I believe to be not too far away. Its a shame that WWE only pushed him when they needed a monster heel to build up to eventually put somebody over. Umaga vs. Undertaker definitely appeals and provided he’s booked right, Umaga can be a huge, huge heel in 2009.

James Mustoe: Hasn’t really done anything of note in this past year, which is a real shame as the talented Samoan has shown that he can be a money player if given the chance. Unfortunately this year though, ‘The Samoan Bulldozer’s’ complete lack of character development since 2005 caught up with him, and this combined with a nasty injury suffered in August, has left relatively low on the this list compared to what he could do in my opinion. If he remains healthy, he could have a better 2009, and pending feud with Undertaker could be a good one…

Michael Campbell: Umaga’s one of the most versatile big guys around, and continues to impress in a gimmick that would have sunk many performers. Was saddled with an un-motivated Batista at WrestleMania, and has been absent for far too much of the past year. But a feud with the Undertaker should get him back on track.

Mark Bright: I don’t know what to say here. Whenever he’s put in a position to look like a killer he’s awesome. His cage match with Jeff Hardy in January was one of my favourites of the year, and when he’s booked in a threatening manner and protected he can be a major asset to the WWE.

50. Davey Richards

Michael Campbell: For my money, one of the most underrated guys on this list and one of the most effective heels working in the US right now. Even during his run with the No Remorse Corps heel faction; he exuded a wonderful, natural heel aura that Roderick Strong could not match as their supposed leader. Long-term booking has seen him suffer by flip-flopping around between tag action, and mid-card feuds that go nowhere. Should have a great 2009 if he gets some fresh opponents.

Mark Bright: After a couple of years of looking at Davey Richards and wondering what the hell it are other people see in him, I really liked him this year. HE seems to have added a more psychopathic, vicious killer edge to his ring work, which with his prick bully heel character actually fits him instead of coming across like “look at me and how hard I can kick and chop people because OMG stiffness.” I’m a big fan, and hope ROH really get into his Roderick Strong feud as it could be the making of both men.

Phil Lowe: I’ve never been overly keen on him but he’s unquestionably talented and has had a decent year in ROH.

Martin Smith: Haven’t seen much of Richards this year, but he has a gimmick that can strike gold when it needs to.

Dan Short: Like Mark said, Davey seems to found his niche as a prick bully character. It allows him to stand out amongst a growing field of strong-style wrestlers and it expands upon his performance side. I haven’t seen him much in Southern California because of his increased tours in NOAH, but when he does drop by he can light it up like few can.

James Mustoe: Someone who’s really come along this year, rarely being in a bad match and having good and markedly different runs in ROH, FIP, and PWG. His gold winning ROH team with Rocky Romero was a particular highlight.