We’re bringing you our very own top 100 wrestlers of 2008 here at iFight365.com and seeing in Christmas with a massive double edition of our countdown as we close in on the top 10.

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
- Click here to read who we voted in places 41-50
- Click here to read who we voted in places 31-40

11. Awesome Kong

Dan Short: What can be said that hasn’t already been said about Kong? She’s talented as hell and has the presence to draw fans to see who can take her on. At times, she is the foundation for a great program and had some excellent battles with Gail Kim. She also manages to pull out decent efforts from her opponents. And she knows better than any other how to play her role just right.

Martin Smith: One of the top five women’s wrestlers around at the minute. I’d actually throw her up there with some of the best of all time. The problem is she is stuck in a place now where she is becoming stale - and quite boring. At least with Gail Kim she had a feud that was working really well. Today in TNA, it’s all become a little bit poor. Wrestling-wise, she’s fantastic. It might very well be time to turn Cheerleader Melissa into a face and pair her against Kong. Either that or it’s going to be a long year next year for this great talent.

Mark Bright: A great heel champion for TNA’s Knockouts division, a consistent ratings draw, but with no Gail Kim to play off, and a lack of personality as compared to the Beautiful People will she have the opportunities to do the same in 2009? I’m worried about that to be honest, but a great year and she plays monster heel champion far better than Takeshi Morishima who had two opportunities in two different companies to play that role.

Michael Campbell: Awesome is the only appropriate word for Kong. Every good baby face needs a heel equivalent, and Kong has proved to be more than up to the task. Was the main reason people sat up and paid attention to TNA’s knockouts division, and had a classic series with Gail Kim. Since Kim left she’s suffered horrible booking (I know she’s a heel but Kong should be facing stronger opposition than basic divas turned wrestlers, selling for them, and relying on interference to win), but is the one holding what remains together. TNA should make a play for Sarah Stock (if possible) and bring her in as a legit contender to face Kong.

Phil Lowe: Interesting to see how she does in 2009. She’s had a great 2008 but since the feud with Gail Kim ended and Kim left for WWE, her value has dropped. If TNA are to remain serious about their Knockouts division, a raid on SHIMMER could be needed. As good as the likes of Angelina Love and Velvet Sky are as characters, they’re a few levels below Gail Kim and Kong needs to be facing that same kind of quality if she’s going to have the same kind of success next year.

James Mustoe: I never would have thought we’d see a women like Awesome Kong have this sort of impact (pun intended) on the US scene but the stars have aligned and the phenomena that is Awesome Kong has had another banner year in TNA. A highlight of the Knockout Division, Kong’s monster heel matches, especially with Gail Kim, are one of the best things about TNA, and her domination of the division is one of the stories of 2008.

12. Dave Batista

James Mustoe: One of those who profited most from the masterpiece that was the Jericho-Michaels-Flair saga; Batista has had another impressive year. Contesting only one dud of a PPV match (his WrestleMania match against Umanga), Batista has been otherwise really consistent in delivering the goods in big matches. Also having that intangible charisma factor which no amount of training can develop, look for more from Big Dave next year, hopefully with a bit more of a longer title run this time!

Martin Smith: Very boring character today and a guy that needs a heel turn desperately. I’d actually like to see him back on Smackdown. To be fair to the big man, he’s not been booked well. However, you can’t help feel he’s got about three years left maximum before he’s retired.

Phil Lowe: Has had some good matches, but I still always feel that the quality of those matches are determined by his opponent and his motivation rather than being somebody who can just go in there and deliver consistently. See WrestleMania and his poor outing against Umaga as an example of how bad he can be when he’s not in the mood.

Michael Campbell: An unusual year for Dave, as he’s swung in-and-out of favour, occasionally looking better than ever, before countering it by looking an unmotivated mess. He did a fine job in the run-up to WrestleMania, but once it became apparent he was facing Umaga, he phoned it in. Match at Mania was dullsville. Involved in some superb material with Shawn Michaels in the Spring, although his storyline with CM Punk hurt both guys. Match at Summerslam saw him really deliver, but it was a wasted opportunity. Hasn’t been likable sense, and has suffered from too many failed title shots, and Neanderthal booking that saw him win and lose the world title within a couple weeks. His feud with Orton has alienated much of his fan base, who prefer to cheer for young Randall. Needs a heel turn in 2009.

Dan Short: You’ll hear me say guys had an interesting year a lot, simply because it’s hard to know for sure if the year was a good one or a bad one. Batista is one of those guys. Most of his matches were decent at best, yet his presence in the right program is one that generates a great deal of buzz and draws quite well. He just isn’t technically sound to go any further than he already has.

Mark Bright: Another really good year for big Dave. OK so an uninspiring performance on the biggest stage of all at WrestleMania against Umaga sets him back, but he has star quality, and delivered good matches with a wide variety of opponents - the highlight probably being his excellent stretcher match with Shawn Michaels. Good big man who plays his role well and as long as he’s in a focused storyline and he’s motivated he is a major asset for the WWE.

13. Naomichi Marufuji

James Mustoe: My limited viewings of Marufuji couldn’t allow me to rank him any higher than I did here. From what I have seen of him, Marufuji is an excellent flashy heavyweight worker who excels in the matches that I’ve seen from him. Highlights include the match with GO Shiozaki at ROH Death Before Dishonor and a stand out role in the NOAH show in England’s main event. Definitely a rising star in NOAH and should make a good opponent for Sasake although I don’t see them putting the GHC belt on him again in 2009…

Mark Bright: The thing I’ve liked about Marufuji in the last few years is his ability to carry himself like a star, which he didn’t really have during his failure of a GHC Heavyweight Title run in Pro Wrestling NOAH back in 2006, where the company panicked over his lack of drawing power and took the belt off him too soon. He delivers in the ring almost every time, and his cross-promotion work in All Japan and Ring Of Honor was good for him as it provided him with fresh matchups.

Dan Short: Marufuji is indeed destined to become the next major ace in line for NOAH. He’s proven time and again to put forth some great performances and draws a great deal of attention with almost any opponent he gets put into a program with. The current run with the All Japan Junior Heavyweight Championship has really launched him into another level for him to succeed in. Taking on the likes of Shouji Kondo and Kaz Hayashi, along with the epic one-hour draw with KENTA has elevated his game ten-fold.

Phil Lowe: I haven’t watched a huge amount of him in 2008 but he’s been solid on the few occasions I’ve watched him this year. A promising 2009 waits both in Japan and overseas.

Martin Smith: A good talent and one of the best wrestlers in the world right now. He suffers from not having that national exposure in America, but he will no doubt continue to have another great year in 2009. I would like to see the guy used better in ROH and I wouldn’t mind seeing him do something with TNA.

Michael Campbell: Probably the finest performer in Japan right now. Marufuji has proven over and over again that he’s the go-to guy, no matter what situation you put him in. Took part in some super tag bouts, especially in the first half of the year. Was the MVP of NOAH’s main event in Coventry. The working relationship with AJPW has also paid off for the Junior Heavyweight, as he lifted their equivalent of the Light heavyweight strap. His only slip-ups this year are the odd time ROH has booked him in meaningless exhibition matches that have detracted from the rest of the card, but he’s absolutely one of the most complete performers in the world right now.

14. Triple H

Phil Lowe: Gets a bad rep because of his position in the company. A lot of it is undeserved as well. That said, I thought the night after dropping the title to Edge it was a dumbass move having him appear in a DX commercial to plug their merchandise, not selling the title loss or looking upset about it at all. Anyway, I really hope he turns heel in the New Year. He’s had a good year and is usually good to watch in the ring, but turning heel and getting involved in new programs with a couple of younger babyfaces would be a smart thing to do.

Martin Smith: Remains one of the most consistent draws in wrestling. I think he could do with a proper feud again as I kind of thought his year was wasted with feuds that really didn’t mean anything. His stuff with Jeff Hardy has been interesting, but it will never match anything both men have done previously. I’d be interested to see how a Triple H/CM Punk programme would go next year. Oh, and please WWE, turn this guy heel. I can’t stand the guy as a face - and most fans loathe the guy on the Internet anyways. Making those guys cheer him isn’t good stuff.

Michael Campbell: Triple H is always underrated by the online community, because well, smart-fans will be smart fans. But the fact is, he’s still one of the most believable, dependable, and experienced stars on the WWE roster. He was a key player in the Royal Rumble, elevated Jeff Hardy at No Way Out, and was a title contender at Mania. Plus, he held the WWE title from April to November, taking in decent bouts with Randy Orton, a rushed feud with Edge, a storyline with the Great Khali that like-it-or-not, captured the imagination of the WWE’s fans (and resulted in a far better tie than expected at Summerslam), a well-booked Scramble match at Unforgiven, and a continuous run against Jeff Hardy. Yes, his outings with Kozlov have been snooze fests, but in fairness, EVERYONE’s matches with that dude have been… Hopefully 2009 sees Hunter turn heel, feud with Jeff, put him over, and elevate a couple of other talents, before starting to wind down a little.

Dan Short: I’m not quite going to say that he’s return to the overrated period where he had a lock on the title like he did in 2002-2003, because clearly he is one of the few guys this year who was believable as champion. I just found most of his matches outside of those with Jeff Hardy really boring. He still has the skills; it’s that they’ve been many times over with better opponents.

James Mustoe: Has enjoyed a solid if unspectacular 2008, especially in the latter part, with the Jeff Hardy feud in particular proving a winner for both men. Showed flashes of his 2000-level performances with his crazy carry job of the Great Khali at Summerslam and other PPV matches were all in the upper level of WWE matches of the year quality wise. Crucially stayed injury free, and while he does have any internet haters, the level of in-ring work that he’s put out this year should silent many of the critics. Has an occasionally annoying character but that doesn’t really matter as long as he still delivers in the squared circle in 2009.

Mark Bright: Another solid year for HHH, and in a way it’s a shame that the Jeff Hardy matches came after the end of the voting period as they are some of his best work in years, particularly the No Mercy match. The thing about Hunter in the ring is that you know what you’re getting, in fact before the match happens you could probably call it move for move in some cases, yet he’s so good at what he does and has had a non-stop push for the last 11 years that it still gets a reaction every time, and when he does step it up and it’s on him to deliver top quality matches he can get it done, as evidenced by his match with John Cena at Night Of Champions. In the voting period, his highlight was probably the fact that as a babyface in 2008 with all everyone knows about his backstage power, he could still get over as an underdog fighting against the odds in his quest for the WWE Title win, and to be honest I’d have had Orton retain at Backlash and stretch out HHH’s chase a bit longer.

15. Takeshi Morishima

Dan Short: Morishima got an impressive run as the GHC World Heavyweight Champion, solidifying his being NOAH’s prime heavyweight. The problem has been that the matches this year haven’t quite been the same as last year’s run with the ROH World Championship. It just seemed to be decent at best, resulting in his run with the GHC title to be rather short and sweet.

Michael Campbell: Personally, I ranked Morishima slightly lower than anyone else, because NOAH lost faith in him and pulled the GHC title off him following a shockingly short reign. He’ll be back up there of course, but right now their priorities are eschewed. Other negatives have included a handful of lazy performances, and an injury that really hindered his appearances in the UK. But he did climb the massive mountain of becoming the top guy in NOAH, which while Misawa still has breath in his body, is an outstanding feat. Exciting big-man will finish the year on a high note with his long awaited return to ROH, and Fight Without Honor against Bryan Danielson.

James Mustoe: Was given the ball to run with by NOAH in 2008 and succeeded for the most part as GHC Champion. Wasn’t as prolific in the US as in 2007, but still managed to deliver in an awesome fatal four way match at ROH’s Final Battle at the beginning of the voting period and is scheduled to come back soon. Unfortunately failed to impress the WWE in a couple of dark match tryouts in the Summer, but this guy’s bread and butter should be in NOAH, where the talented super heavy weight should be a player for years to come.

Martin Smith: There’s just something about Morishima that leaves me in awe. He’s a great talent and a guy that always seems to be capable of pulling off something special. Hopefully I’ll see more of him next year.

Phil Lowe: I don’t think he raised as many eyebrows in the U.S this year as he did in 2007 (and that was before his WWE tryout), but he’s had another decent year in Japan. Will he get another shot with the WWE in 2009? Probably not.

Mark Bright: He’s overrated in a lot of circles in my eyes. He’s very good in the ring when he can do crazy brawling, but as a monster heel he has no idea how to play that role, bumping all over the ring for jobbers he outweighs by 150lbs and sometimes that can look a bit ridiculous. In ROH his best stuff has come opposite Bryan Danielson which should come as a surprise to nobody, and in NOAH, much like with Marufuji it looked like they’d gone with him as GHC Heavyweight Champion in a changing of the guard moment only to job the belt after only a handful of defences, then he failed to impress WWE officials during a try-out there. And having watched a lot of Terry Gordy this year particularly for the DVDVR Mid-South set, the comparisons really don’t add up, Morishima doesn’t ever have a prayer of being that good.

16. Jeff Hardy

Mark Bright: Fantastic year for Hardy. OK so his World Title win came outside of the voting period, but the month or so leading up to his Royal Rumble match with Randy Orton is the most over any wrestler has been at any point in the time period, he had good matches with several of the WWE’s main event set from Edge to HHH to Orton to Michaels to Jericho as well as being able to improve his promos while still being “Jeff Hardy” promos that don’t sound like what any other main eventer would say. The Raw cage match with Umaga was a particular highlight, and if not for his Wellness Suspension he’d have probably finished higher.

Phil Lowe: He’s overcome the odds, reached the top and had great matches along the way. I don’t think he’ll drop the ball while he’s on top as champion, although if it did happen, unfortunate as that would be, it wouldn’t be a massive surprise to people. The title win lifted him from a WWE star with a large fan base to a WWE icon. If he doesn’t screw up, there’s no reason that he can’t stay at the top of the ladder for the next few years.

Dan Short: There is no question that Jeff Hardy has overcome a lot and should therefore be rewarded for it. He has had some of the more exciting matches in the WWE this year and has indeed become a main event calibre player. The main concern is obviously whether or not he will continue to be the superstar many want to see him become. We’ll see how 2009 plays out for him.

Martin Smith: If this guy stays out of trouble, he will be a WWE legend. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds. The belt should’ve been thrown on him three months ago but his push was killed. Giving it him now, although special, doesn’t have the same impact it could’ve had. Personally, I can’t help but think he’s walking in a very thin tightrope - kind of like Rob Van Dam a few years back. My fear is, if Hardy slips up, that he will end up near the bottom of the card. Here’s hoping he keeps his head in the game.

James Mustoe: A lot of peaks and valleys for the younger Hardy brother in 2008, highlighted by a sustained main event push that was only disrupted by his lengthy wellness related suspension at the beginning of the year. Has matured from the high-spot worker to a decent all rounder who remains probably the most over face in the WWE regardless of what he is done or how he is treated by the bookers. Has consistently delivered throughout the year in matches on television and on PPV; in fact 2008 has really been a breakout year for Jeff. I was starting to wonder if he’d ever win the big one and be marked with the choker label, but current events have proven otherwise. Let’s hope that he isn’t just a transitional champ in 2009 though.

Michael Campbell: I voted Jeff Hardy in at 12, and the highest placing for him was 6. That would be about right, considering the events of the past week. Unfortunately the voting period occurred before he won the World title. It’s been an outstanding year for this dude, even despite his suspension. He’s had an abundance of superb outings against Orton, Helmsley, Taker, MVP, Kendrick, and whoever else has been put in front of him. I’ve always liked Hardy, and backed the need to push him to the top, not because I’m the biggest fan, not because of his promos, and not because of his in-ring skills, but because he connects with fans in a way that very, very few ever do. That’s the most important thing in pro wrestling. Hopefully they don’t fumble the ball with this guy.

17. John Cena

Dan Short: I personally didn’t think John had that great of a year as he did last year. Whereas last year he really pushed himself into proving his being in top position, he just seemed to be about for the sake of being a main eventer. Combined with the injury he suffered after the summer, he just didn’t come off as major player in my eyes. Still, he remains a major draw regardless.

Phil Lowe: Had a very good year considering the amount of time he spent sidelined, starting with a win at the Rumble that was great to watch live. Surprises like that, even in this day and age with the internet, are always welcome additions in wrestling. When he’s healthy, he can certainly hold his own in the ring and is actually underrated I think. Promo-wise, while he can talk, he’s hampered when he’s going down the “poopy” road. 2009 will be interesting as there’s always the temptation to turn him heel, but Randy Orton has upped his game and turning Cena makes no sense right now. But slowly but surely, Orton is getting cheered. Twelve months from now, Cena being the heel and Orton being the babyface wouldn’t be a shocker, even though right now the thought of Orton as the good guy does nothing for me.

Martin Smith: Not a good year I didn’t think. I just can’t understand why they don’t turn him heel. As ridiculous as this sounds, Cena has all the attributes to be like The Rock in 1998. A cocky, no-good, bastard who mocks the fans because “I gave everything I had and you still booed me. Well f*ck you!” A heel turn is essential. Boring gimmick, poor worker and an average entertainer.

Mark Bright: His 2007 would’ve been hard to top, but he had a good go. Still gets the biggest reactions of anyone in wrestling today, and can deliver good (sometimes great) matches, good (sometimes great) promos, is the biggest star in the company, and the best choice to headline their PPVs and biggest TV show. There will always be a certain type of fan picking apart his in-ring performances because of the lack of moves or some other asinine remark, but then the “not a very good wrestler” criticism was also levelled at The Rock and - astonishingly - Steve Austin during their time on top of the WWF. If he can stay injury free you’d have to place him as a major candidate and possibly the favourite to finish #1 on this list next year simply based on the fact that he’ll get the opportunity to deliver, as he should.

James Mustoe: The king of rehab had a rollercoaster of a ride through the voting period, coming back way sooner than expected to win the Royal Rumble, and competing in exciting efforts at No Way Out, WrestleMania and Backlash. Sole highlight of a mostly boring feud with JBL was the car-crash like match from Great American Bash, and the Batista match at Summerslam was very respectable given Cena had no feeling or strength in one of his arms at the time. Injured again at the time of the voting period closing but his current position indicates what we can expect from him in 2009, and seeing as he’s like marmite to most on the internet, it certainly should be an interesting year for the leader of the Chain Gang.

Michael Campbell: A stop-start year for Cena, due to injury. Even with his World title run since Survivor Series, I think this is too high a spot for him. He was out between Summerslam and SS, and prior to the Royal Rumble. In the period between WrestleMania and Summerslam, he spent much of his time slogging in the mid-card, in a horrible feud with JBL, and a nauseating alliance with Cryme Tyme. Meanwhile, the WWE botched what should have been the Main Event of WrestleMania, by promoting Batista versus Cena at Summerslam, at two weeks’ notice, an appalling decision. Since returning, has looked sluggish, but delivered against Chris Jericho in two successive PPV bouts. Elsewhere, his aforementioned encounter with Big Dave was excellent, as was his Mania triple threat featuring Orton and Hunter (where Cena endured a comically horrible big-band entrance that intensified negative fan reaction to him); in addition to his electrifying return in the Royal Rumble. Still needs to win over the male fans though who are watching UFC month in-and-out, rather than the WWE.

18. Austin Aries

James Mustoe: Has really been on top form in 2008 with highlights being his extended (second best of the year) feud with Jimmy Jacobs and the Age of the Fall, as well as his entertaining tag team with Brian Danielson. Right up there with McGuinness and Danielson as far as top notch consistent quality in ROH, as his two classics with the Champion showed at the beginning of the year. Also showed that he could brawl with best in his AOTF series. Hopefully will do more of the same in 2009, and a Japan appearance would also be nice.

Dan Short: Aries has become one of the go-to guys on the ROH roster since returning to the promotion. His war with Jimmy Jacobs was one of the big highlights of the year for the promotion and has been very consistent in ensuring all players involved are vital components. His appearances elsewhere, like in PWG, help add some sense of importance to whatever card he participates on.

Martin Smith: Awesome talent. TNA really messed up big time with Aries. His ROH stuff has been brilliant and his work-rate has been off the scale. A fantastic part on the Indy scene but it really makes you wonder why TNA couldn’t do anything with the guy. I hope he stays clear of the current big two and continue to make a name in ROH. He is so important in their future.

Michael Campbell: A year that really solidified Aries’ importance to ROH and saw him prove to be a guy who will always be a focal point regardless of whether he holds a belt. His feud with Jacobs has been captivating and taken up much of his time, incorporating the finest storyline of his career…has had match of the year candidates with Nigel McGuinness, Eric Stevens, and Bryan Danielson. United with Kota Ibushi for a superb outing against the Briscoes at Tag Wars 2008 and also enjoyed an ongoing partnership with American Dragon. Wasn’t the best year for Aries when it came to beards though. He’s had some stiff competition there especially as he‘s been sporting the Pharaoh look.

Phil Lowe: Solid wrestler, but not somebody I’d go out of my way to watch. The feud with Jimmy Jacobs, however, was really good.

Mark Bright: I like Aries, he’s good in the ring, most of his matches are strong, but I always feel like his major feuds are carried by his opponents. He has spent the majority of the year in a blood feud with Jimmy Jacobs that to be honest Jacobs has outperformed him in, but then Jacobs might be the best promo man around in terms of projecting his character. The matches in that feud have mainly been hardcore brawls, which were interesting to watch because it showed another side to Aries that hadn’t been seen before, with the main event of Vendetta II standing out as the best match by far. His series of matches with Bryan Danielson were excellent and his main event of the Rising Above PPV against Nigel McGuiness was tremendous and arguably the 2007 match of the year (I personally would have it third behind Cena/Umaga and Cena/Michaels).

19. Randy Orton

Dan Short: I don’t know why, but I just haven’t been all that high on Orton. I will say that he was great during the first half of the year before going out with injury. Since then, he’s just hasn’t really done all that much to spark my interest. I understand pairing him up with the rest of the second/third generation athletes and it does work in a way. I just don’t find it all that appeal is all.

Martin Smith: Another solid year for Orton and a gem in the WWE at present. Will no doubt continue to flourish next year as well. A good match against Jeff Hardy and an interesting victory at WrestleMania. Of course, his year almost became stop-start over the second half of 2008, but he will no doubt be an important part of the WWE’s heavyweight division for years to come.

Mark Bright: This is fucking criminal him being this low. A brilliant heel character, strong and confident promo guy with charisma and the ability to project himself as a star, and the ability to have excellent matches with a wide variety of opponents. The job he did in helping to get Jeff Hardy over to the point where people were begging for him to win the WWE Title is something that I don’t think he gets enough credit for. In days when finishers are killed by having everyone kick out of them or are an excuse to do something overly complicated and spectacular, Orton has the two best finishing moves in all of wrestling today in the punt kick and the RKO, both of which are simple, effective and have been protected by booking so much that they’re over. His WWE Title run was where he grew to the level of a star that WWE always expected of him, and honestly I voted him at #5 even though he missed half the year, and if he hadn’t got injured I could very well have voted him #1. His performance in the shockingly under-appreciated match with John Cena at No Way Out was Orton at his best, the time where the light bulb went off in my head and I realised just how great he was.

Michael Campbell: Orton should have been ranked higher, but missed a fair portion of the year due to injury. Prior to that, it was the best run of his career. He beat a much-fancied Jeff Hardy at the Rumble, and successfully made it to WrestleMania, where he stunningly walked out with the title, despite being a heel. The shock on the faces of the fans in attendance in Florida was… Priceless (ahhh jeez I didn’t mean it…). Dropped the title to Hunter in a spectacular bout at Backlash, although rematches were less interesting. Since returning, has been focused on his faction Legacy. Has been connecting more and more with the male audience of 18-34, is over enough, and deserves a main event spot at Mania. Will eventually be a monster baby face.

James Mustoe: Another consistent top player in the WWE, despite his lengthy injury lay off, Randy Orton has been a legitimate heel in the main event who has managed to retain his heat despite his injured status for most of the middle portion of the year. Orton had a decent run as heel champ until Backlash that included the notable feat of retaining his title at WrestleMania and a great feud with Jeff Hardy at the Royal Rumble. Ongoing storyline with Cody Rhodes and co. could prove to be an interesting way into 2009.

Phil Lowe: I hate writing about Orton. I always feel like I’ve nothing good to say about the guy and that others rate him too highly. It’s like writing about Mr. Kennedy to an extent. To his credit, Orton has actually improved a hell of a lot in 2008. His promos are usually very good. But I’m still not a fan of his in-ring work. He’s getting better, but for some reason, I’m still not sold on him as a wrestler.

20. Gail Kim

James Mustoe: Top TNA Knockout Star did the unexpected in walking away from their thriving women’s division and supposedly taking a contract with WWE. Gutsy worker had previously been an all round highlight in TNA, and crucially delivered top ratings in all of her segments, even when up against shows loaded with supposedly ‘main event level’ stars. Should be the highlight bar none of the WWE Divas crew when she eventually shows up on TV….

Dan Short: I got to meet Gail this year and she’s a wonderful woman to talk to. She also really enjoyed the kind of success she was having in helping shape the Knockouts division in TNA before Scott D’Amore was canned. She’s ranked highly simply because she can put forth some of the best matches, but then she hasn’t been seen since leaving TNA and signing with WWE.

Michael Campbell: Gail Kim earns her high ranking because she was the star attraction in the Knockouts division, when it was the highest-rated aspect of their dodgy Impact presentation. More than any other female worker around, she screams star-power, and this should only be amplified when she returns to Stamford. Her heated wars with Amazing Kong are maybe the best Women’s bouts to ever take place on American television, and she also elevated everyone else she worked with. Fantastic talent.

Phil Lowe: I can’t wait to see her in a WWE ring again in 2009. But my early thoughts are that she should have been put on Raw rather than Smackdown, which at time of writing is where she’s scheduled to be heading. Her feud in TNA with Kong, as earlier noted, was fantastic and she’s extremely talented in the ring. TNA made a huge, huge mistake not offering her a better deal and keeping her.

Martin Smith: It’ll be interesting to see how she does in McMahon land. I very much doubt she’ll even get close to this ranking next year, which is a shame as she is a very talented worker. Her feud with Awesome Kong was fantastic. Personally, I think she should have stayed in TNA.

Mark Bright: She’s the biggest draw in the history of the current #2 promotion in North America. And that company let her go with an insulting lowball contract offer that would’ve put her in a pay bracket far below no-charisma never drawn a dime bland midcard for life guys like Christopher Daniels and washed up useless-never-drawn-a dime-unless-in-there-with-The-Hardy-Boys fat losers like Team 3D. That tells you everything you need to know about TNA.

21. Jimmy Jacobs

Mark Bright: Probably the best character actor in wrestling today, I’m a huge fan of a guy that can take these long-term storylines and almost transform his personality to fit them while still not seeming inconsistent with his past actions. In the ring he and Tyler Black had a long and heat-filled (actual heat where the heels were hated not duelling chants this is awesome heat) run as ROH Tag Team Champions with several excellent matches and Jacobs’ rivalry with Austin Aries showed that for crazy hardcore brawling you don’t have to be a big man like Necro Butcher to do crazy shit. His cult-leader promos are fantastic, and I see only good things coming for him in the future. If WWE ever sign him his size would work against him I think, but as a cult-leader manager/guidance figure he could fit in and do some great things.

Dan Short: I’ll say this for Jimmy Jacobs. He plays his heel role wonderfully. He pushes himself just right to make people believe in how utterly evil he is. Follow that up with great matches against the likes of Austin Aries, The Briscoe Brothers, The Young Bucks, and any team put together involving El Generico, and he indeed had a very good year with high hopes for what 2009 will become.

Phil Lowe: I love his character. He’s a great heel, in fact one of the best in the business today. 2009 should be a cracker for him.

James Mustoe: Has had a career year in 2008, including title reigns and quality main event matches against the very top guys in ROH. Beat Brian Danielson in a fair old upset earlier in the voting period and had a great match against McGuinness in Japan ROH’s second Eastern tour. Jacobs belies his size and rather whiny character to be great brawler who should right up there in ROH for 2009.

Martin Smith: ROH need to keep hold of this guy desperately. A great feud with Austin Aries was the highlight of his year and you would expect to see much more of the same in 2009.

Michael Campbell: One of ROH’s most dependable performers. He’s maybe the best guy they have on the mic, and in 2008, his character took some amazing twists and turns. He was abandoned by Lacey, in the brilliant storyline with Austin Aries, that has yielded some amazing matches, and the stunning moment, when on realising she had ditched him, the fans threw streamers while he knelt in the ring crying. Both versatile, and believable, he can be a really subtle performer, and is one of the few guys ROH have who gets genuine heat, night in, night out. His eventual feud with Tyler Black will be the one to watch in 2009.

22. KENTA

Michael Campbell: KENTA was back on track this year. This guy seems to be in an odd spot, where fans love him, but once he’s pushed past a certain level, they just don’t buy him anymore. I haven’t seen his hour-long effort with Marufuji yet, but needless to say, I cannot wait to catch that one. One of the select few Junior Heavyweights whose still could be streamlined to fit the WWE…

Martin Smith: Interesting worker. Not seen enough to be honest, but he’s still as solid as ever when it comes to entertaining the fans.

Dan Short: What’s really helped KENTA this year from having another rather average year was the war with Kensuke Office and the awesome challenge against Naomichi Marufuji. Those series of matches have pushed him back on track to where he was years ago. Reclaiming the GHC World Junior Heavyweight Championship could become a step in the right direction, but we’ll have to see.

Phil Lowe: Not seen much of him this year but I’ve never been huge on him like some are. He’s consistent in the ring and no doubt he’ll be working both in Japan and in Ring of Honor again next year.

Mark Bright: I’ve never been his biggest fan I have to say. In ROH he had terrible overrated matches outside of when he faced Bryan Danielson, and most of his Japan work seems to be of the same ilk from what I’ve seen. Undoubtedly he’s a good athlete, and when he’s a full-fledged heel he does some really fun dickhead stuff that fits him completely but then as a babyface he does those same spots and it’s like he has no clue how to actually put together a match and tell a story, he just has a bunch of moves that he does. I know it’s outside the voting period but KENTA can be summed up by his match at ROH Final Battle 2005 with Low Ki. An absolutely terrible match, one of my least favourite of all time, which a bunch of people put over as a ***** classic for reasons I have never understood.

James Mustoe: One of the top stars in not just NOAH but the whole of the Japanese scene, KENTA has had a typically consistently brilliant year in 2008, capped off with his GHC Junior Title win over Brian Danielson. One of the sharpest workers out there, KENTA is always a joy to watch and hopefully we’ll see more of him in ROH in 2009.

23. Matt Hardy

Michael Campbell: A good year for Matt, the bastard brother of Jeff, whom Vince McMahon clearly thinks is a total douche. Enjoyed a tremendous pop when he returned at Mania, and won the US title from MVP a month later. Was very consistent in the ring, and won the ECW title (which I refuse to acknowledge as a World title, it’s a piece of junk). If he’s to remain on the ECW brand, he’s going to need a couple more compadres of his level though. On his part, he needs to work on his awful promos though.

Martin Smith: I thought Hardy has a solid year. One thing however, that really annoys me with Hardy, is his lack of personality and gimmick. Wait, we’re meant to be cheering this guy? Why exactly? As a face, he is very, very average. He works really well as a heel, but McMahon insists on having this guy as a face and it doesn’t play to Matt’s strengths at all. Unless he gets a decent gimmick and some mic skills, he’ll always be known as Jeff Hardy’s brother.

Dan Short: Promos aside, this has been probably one of Matt’s better years as a singles performer. It kind of helps that he’s now the top babyface on ECW, but he really needs competition who are on the same level of talent and ability as he is in order to really shine. Even still, he’s one of the most consistent performers and could easily be one of the more reliable wrestlers over time.

Phil Lowe: He’s had a decent year since returning in the Spring. His return at WrestleMania got a huge pop but the conclusion of his feud with MVP just wasn’t as “must see” as it was before he got injured. To his credit, he’s helped make Mark Henry look like a talented, monster heel. 2009 will be more of the same for Matt, who could actually benefit from a slight repackaging as he’s been wearing the same attire since the Mattitude days.

James Mustoe: 2008 has been a real breakout year for both Hardy’s with the bothers currently holding World Titles. Matt sat out until WrestleMania and then concluded his series with MVP in matches that were not as heated as anticipated but still were good efforts. Summer series with Henry produced some of Henry’s best matches and the consistent Hardy has continued to deliver in the ring as ECW Champion into the latter part of the year, including choice efforts with Evan Bourne, and a great match with Finlay.

Mark Bright: Matt Hardy is now the WWE’s go-to guy when they want somebody to go out there and have a really good match on free TV, hence being given the ECW Title recently after spending the year having long matches in the middle of the show on Smackdown. Always far more popular than the push he’s receiving, even when he’s being booked well and receiving a big push, to the point where his run in on MVP during the Money In The Bank match at WrestleMania got one of the biggest pops of the night. To quote Louis Walsh, he’s like Fed-Ex he always delivers in his matches and is in a role where he can shine in a show built around him even if it is only ECW.

24. Mitsuhara Misawa

James Mustoe: NOAH veteran is another Japanese veteran who continues to defy the odds with high level performances in big match scenarios. Virtually a physical wreck, Misawa can still perform where it counts, and continues to delight long-time fans with these main event performances that really shouldn’t be happening considering his condition. Highlights were mostly at the beginning of the voting period, including his great little match with KENTA at Glory by Honor Night 2, his role in the Kobashi return match, and his losing effort to Morishima in March.

Dan Short: Every now and then, the old man himself with help put together a memorable performance. This year has been rather so-so for him and he’s only shined when he’s been placed into a rather impossible corner to get out of. He’s not the Misawa of old and he really needs to step back from being in the ring as much as he was under the circumstances. It may even be time to call it a day.

Martin Smith: Hard to believe the guy is still going strong. Needs to step back next year and let more talent shine.

Mark Bright: What I really love about Misawa is that he’s a broken down old man who actually wrestles like a broken down old man. Far too many wrestling legends of the past get stuck into trying to keep up with the young guys and killing their bodies even more, or try to wrestle exactly the same as they did years ago in their prime. In many ways it’s sad to see him now, but what you can’t question is his star-power and also the fact that a win over him means way more than a win over anyone else in NOAH would with the exception of Kobashi, and therefore he was the perfect choice to put over Morishima for the belt, even if they wasted it by not using Morishima to his fullest potential. I think he’s still good for a couple of top drawer matches a year, but beyond that NOAH are being very smart by having him in tags and six-man matches where others can bear the brunt of the workload.

Phil Lowe: Coming to the end of his career but likely still has a few years left in him if his workload is kept to a bare minimum and he’s booked as a star attraction.

Michael Campbell: If anyone’s approaching those nostalgia-tinted, twilight years, it’s Mitsuhara Misawa. He can no longer go at his past speed before, and really needs to become a fully-fledged part-timer. When Kobashi is able to put over the youngsters, Misawa should step into that part-timer role, because at the moment, he only pulls out a decent performance every few months. That said, he still delivers the odd, classic moment.

25. Evan Bourne

Mark Bright: What an impressive first year in the WWE for this young man. I remember seeing him in ROH as Matt Sydal and thinking he was OK but nothing special, and in Dragon Gate he really was just another guy, yet WWE is somehow, and this seems such a strange thing to say for a 185lb highflier, the perfect place to showcase his great talent. The shooting star press he uses is breathtakingly beautiful, more so than any finisher in wrestling right now, and his team with Rey Mysterio has great potential to be a veteran/protégé team that both takes Bourne to the next level. Besides that, I’m really hoping he can get back from injury in time for WrestleMania because that Money In The Bank match seems tailor-made for him.

Dan Short: That million-dollar-winning-smile of his wasn’t the only that that won the fans of WWE. It’s actually quite shocking to see Evan be allowed to perform some of his moves like the Shooting Star, and it’s a good thing as really given him that big push. Partnering up with Rey Mysterio and a very good match with Matt Hardy at Cyber Sunday helped before suffering the injury shortly afterward.

James Mustoe: The former Matt Sydal came from nowhere to be the absolute breakout WWE star of the year in 2008. Incredibly managed to get over with both the fans and management as a cruiserweight in WWE, and despite his run being cut short by injury, still managed to have some of the best WWE TV matches on RAW and ECW as well as a great little match on Cyber Sunday against Matt Hardy. Definitely one to watch once he returns from his injury and gets past potential stumbling block Mike Knox.

Phil Lowe: When we found out that the former Matt Sydal was involved in preparing Floyd Mayweather for his WrestleMania match, I think it became apparent that WWE saw enough in him to bring him up to the main roster. But I don’t think anybody expected him to get the push he did in the latter half of the year. Providing WWE don’t go cold on him while he’s recovering, 2009 could be a great year for Bourne.

Michael Campbell: Bourne was unlucky to suffer the injury he did, when he did. A hot prospect, he immediately dazzled WWE fans with his crisp, multi-culturally inspired offence, and likeable baby face persona. The announcers put him over huge, and emphasised his awe-inspiring Shooting Star Press. It was clear the WWE liked this guy. On Raw, his partnership with Rey Mysterio briefly lit up our screens. They will likely reprise this role when he returns.

Martin Smith: He has the potential to do really good things in the WWE. He seems to have the right attitude and ability to go very far but it’s whether the WWE will use it to its maximum. I hope they don’t ruin this guy too early. If he is used correctly, he could be a solid midcard guy for the next five years. A fantastic worker and one that will hopefully shine next year.

26. Tyler Black

Dan Short: Universally regarded as the breakout star of the year thanks to an awesome challenge for the ROH World Championship against Nigel McGuinness. Since then, Tyler has been on a high with excellent performances in ROH as well as in PWG whether he is in a tag match with Jimmy Jacobs or going solo against the likes of Bryan Danielson, Roderick Strong, and even Samoa Joe.

Mark Bright: Black has had an excellent year, showing good promo skills in his Age Of The Fall promos, showing his versatility by somehow working as a heel tag team champion and an underdog World Title challenger in the same company at the same time and sometimes even on the same show and having it totally fit him, and having great matches. OK those great matches have come opposite Bryan Danielson and opposite Nigel McGuiness, but because of the frequency of the shows, those two have wrestled almost everybody on the ROH roster multiple times, and nobody matches up to them as well as Black does. He’s a future ROH champion if Adam Pearce has any sense, and I really hope he does, and his size may mean WWE are interested in him in the years to come.

Phil Lowe: A future champion in Ring of Honor for sure. He’s had a great year and has been one of the highlights for ROH in 2008. Another year like this year and I don’t think it will be too long before WWE come calling.

James Mustoe: The breakout star of the year for ROH, as this guy has come from nowhere to be a legitimate contender in the number 3 promotion. Having great matches every time, whether in singles against the likes of Danielson and McGuinness, or in the tag ranks, in his tidy combo with Jimmy Jacobs, Black has really impressed this year and I really would not rule out a Title reign in 2009.

Martin Smith: An awesome year for Black. A feud next year with Jimmy Jacobs is already guaranteed to push Black further and further into permanent headline status.

Michael Campbell: It’ll take a miracle of some sort to derail Tyler Black in 2009. He’s been fantastic at every juncture. Had, err, “Breakout” matches with Bryan Danielson, Nigel McGuinness, and Austin Aries. Wore ROH Tag title gold with Jimmy Jacobs, and enjoyed some superb bouts in the process. Has the “it” factor that ensures fans are desperate to see him turn around and slap his partner Jimmy Jacobs, and many feel that he’s destined to be the next World Champion. Whether he’s the next to wear that strap, I’m doubtful about, but his break-up with Jimmy should be superb viewing. The tease towards that has begun already.

27. Claudio Castagnoli

Michael Campbell: A stop-start 12 months for Claudio. He began on the cusp of being a main eventer, as a baby face, but when he got there, fans stopped being interested. As a heel, much of his act is too cute, or lost altogether. A reunion with Kings Of Wrestling partner Chris Hero would be welcome in 2009, as it’s never been explored to its full potential in Ring of Honor.

Dan Short: Claudio has had an interesting year. With ROH, things were going smoothly as a potential top babyface when all of a sudden he did a complete 180. Being a heel in ROH, I’m still quite unsure about. He went straight heel in PWG at the start of the year as part of the epic Hero-Tornado feud and he performed in his roll with excellence. A rather average year for Claudio, I must say.

Mark Bright: ROH built him up as a babyface World Title challenger by having the heel World Champion call him out for being a midcard comedy joke, then Claudio would go out there and have midcard comedy matches, and when he got serious it didn’t work because people expect the comedy spots from him and want the comedy spots from him. Hey, Santino is making a fine job of doing comedy spots in WWE but he isn’t also in the midst of a World Title challenger push. His best work in ROH came opposite Bryan Danielson, but again there was too much comedy for what the company, the wrestlers, the announcers and the fans saw as a serious feud.

Phil Lowe: A decent enough wrestler who is always entertaining, but I never see him as somebody who is going to become a main eventer in ROH or make it to the WWE (if that is one of his goals).

James Mustoe: Has delivered in almost every scenario he’s been placed in this year (the ROH Manhattan Centre debut being the odd one out, but only because the match was overhyped before it took place), Castagnoli has been one of the most entertaining figures in ROH, including his dubious heel turn. Still, I would hope they go further still with this character in 2009, or maybe WWE will come looking again?

Martin Smith: I thought the brakes locked on his career this year. He had a pretty solid 2007, but 2008 has kind of gone by without Castagnoli making any huge impact. It’ll be interesting to see how 2009 goes for the guy and hopefully he will have a much smoother and successful time in ROH than he did this year.

28. Kenta Kobashi

Dan Short: Not even cancer could keep down arguably one of the greatest wrestlers of the past couple of decades. Though he suffered a year-ending injury at the end of the summer, Kobashi took every opportunity given to him and lit it up like no other. His battles with Kensuke Office were nothing short of awesome, particularly the eight-man elimination survival gauntlet.

Mark Bright: The best wrestler in the world when it comes to having his bouts, even throwaway six-man tags, project a big-match aura where you believe you’re watching something earth-shatteringly special, and in many ways that’s what wrestling is all about really. Not to mention the fact that he delivers in his matches, even pushing himself way past his own physical limits, although that has came at a price as he has missed the majority of the year with injuries. Enjoy him while you can is the message I’d give with regards to the rest of Kobashi’s career, because I don’t think it’ll last all that long.

Martin Smith: Still manages to do the business after all these years. A great worker and a legendary figure, he will no doubt have another impressive few years ahead of him.

James Mustoe: The inspirational story of the year, Kobashi, while only being in a very limited number of matches, really did deliver the goods as one of the premier heavyweights in Japan. His comeback match last year is the only match other than Flair/Michaels which has given me goose bumps and that surely counts for something. I was also privileged to see Kobashi live again this year and Misawa and he more than held up their end in the European Navigation main event. Could potentially compete in a number of big matches next year, but barring a miracle, his history of tough, tough matches finally seems to be catching up with him.

Phil Lowe: One of the greatest wrestlers of the last 20 years or so, if not of all-time. How much longer will he be able to keep going in the ring? Not long, in my opinion. A true wrestling legend.

Michael Campbell: Unfortunate that Kobashi’s year was cut short due to injury (elbow surgery). But when he was available- he was outstanding. More so than anyone else in Japan, he’s beloved by the fans, and exudes an aura of superstardom. Every time he steps through the curtain, there’s an outpouring of genuine sentiment and it’s intoxicating.

29. El Generico

James Mustoe: Has reportedly had a very good year, but I haven’t seen all that much of his touted singles matches, in particular the two that he had with Nigel McGuinness and the match with Tyler Black. What I have seen of his singles stuff has been pretty damn good, in particular a match against Kota Ibushi in April and a time limit draw with Claudio Castagnoli in January. I’ve seen much more of his tag work, which is always top line and speaks for itself with regards to match quality.

Mark Bright: I can’t believe somebody with such a shit gimmick is someone I could get behind as an underdog babyface so much. He took a role that ROH tried in 2006 with Delirious as comedy midcarder getting World Title shots as an underdog and improved on it and made it better. The fact he was able to do that is impressive enough, but then when you add the excitement of his odd-couple tag team with Kevin Steen and their chase for the World Tag Team Titles it’s a top class year for Generico and a year where to be honest I probably voted him a bit lower at 39 than I should have.

Michael Campbell: A stand-out year for Generico, who’s increased his visibility world-wide, but also, most notably, was up there with Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness, as one of ROH’s most consistent performers. Proved he can do opening match comedy, mid-card highlight reels (check out his Outstanding match with Kota Ibushi at Return Engagement), and also step up as a believable main eventer (his challenge for Nigel’s ROH World title was also superb). That’s without mentioning him winning the ROH tag titles with Kevin Steen.

Martin Smith: An important part of the ROH locker room. I thought he had a very good year and he could be one of the most improved workers in 2008. His match with Kota Ibushi was great and his tag team with Kevin Steen was enjoyable. He is definitely one to watch next year.

Phil Lowe: I couldn’t stand him when he first starting appearance for ROH, but he’s really grown on me. I still think the gimmick is awful, but he has tons of ability. He’ll shine again in 2009 wherever he is booked.

Dan Short: Generico has generally been one of the absolute best performers in PWG, and he’s proven that this year. This time, he got to really shine in ROH in a big way. A high-calibre championship match with Nigel McGuinness, an awesome showing with Kota Ibushi, and always having some of the best tag team matches with Kevin Steen, Generico has catapulted himself into being a top contender in the promotion. Follow that up with regular visits to Dragon Gate, and this year has seen the most exposure for one of the finest athletes in wrestling. It doesn’t hurt that he has consistently been the most charismatic wrestler ever.

30. Christian Cage

Martin Smith: A disappointing year for Cage I thought. He’s drifted wildly over the last twelve months and in particular, since the Summer. His feuds at the beginning of the year involved some great matches, but the last sixth months of the year has been quite poor. Cage has the potential to be a star, he was just used in a very boring role for far too long in TNA. A return to the WWE would help him greatly and the much rumoured switch will no doubt start his 2009 off superbly.

Dan Short: Christian has been merely alright this year. This is what he was probably thinking too as of late. Despite some fun matches that have made him probably one of the better performers for TNA, the lack of importance about him really knocked him down a notch. It does leave many wondering if his prime has indeed past him by and he’s just floating in the waters.

Phil Lowe: All signs point to a WWE return and he certainly needs it. When he left WWE for TNA I truly thought he could make a difference in TNA. Although he was a good performer, things didn’t work out as I thought they could. 2008 has been a ‘meh’ year for Christian, through no fault of his own. A feud with Booker T was never going to be a winner. 2009 should be a good one for Christian, however.

James Mustoe: One of my favourite performers but I really couldn’t rank him much higher than this due to a largely uneventful 2008. His better matches this year were all months ago, especially if you go by the voting period include his memorable effort in a ladder match against Kaz at Genesis last year. Had a couple of great matches against great opponent Kurt Angle earlier this year but has since been mired in the upper midcard in TNA, and produced particularly mediocre matches with perennial dud Booker T. 2009 could be a lot better as a WWE return looms on the horizon. Possibilities are endless.

Michael Campbell: Very much a “so what” year for Christian. Sure, he entered some outstanding performances, and several of his matches were amongst TNA’s best of the year. But it already feels like he’s done all he can with those guys. Still has much to offer the business though. The speculation over a return (that looks certain now), to the WWE is the boost he needs, and he should do very well there.

Mark Bright: I have always liked Christian, but to me he’s one of those guys who is just “there.” He cuts decent promos but not good ones and certainly not great ones. His matches are very much go-through-the-motions stuff and even when in there with Kurt Angle, AJ Styles or Samoa Joe you never get too excited about his matches because you know it’ll be OK (his stuff is NEVER bad which is something you can’t say for even some of the best wrestlers around) but it’s extremely unlikely to be any more than that. Oh, and I wish he’d stop referring to himself as “The Champ” when the last time he held the TNA World Title was like a year and a half ago.