60. Gabe Kidd (35 ballots, 1376 points)
Average Rank: 44.94
Last Year’s Rank: 112
High Vote: Jacob Shearin (5)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Eddie Kingston (NJPW, 1/13)
• vs. HENARE (NJPW, 2/4)
• vs. Eddie Kingston (NJPW, 5/11)
• vs. Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH, 6/16)
• vs. Ultimo Guerrero (NJPW/CMLL, 7/13)
• vs. EVIL (NJPW, 7/20)
• vs. Great-O-Khan (NJPW, 7/21)
• vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW, 8/8)
• vs. Lio Rush (NJPW, 8/30)
• vs. Kosei Fujita (NJPW, 11/8)

“Gabe Kidd rocks. I don’t get particularly happy when he wins, and I don’t particularly get upset when he loses. He’s not a particularly adept striker, nor are his suplexes and throws anything to write home about. He does through a pretty mean lariat, but that doesn’t make up for his smooth-brained approach to calling a match or picking his spots or generally doing anything a person who is cognizant of the fact that they are a performance artist should do. But the thing about Gabe Kidd is that he has the self-awareness of someone who doesn’t understand that the world sees through the facade of their tough guy act, even though his job is “prefessional play fighter.” Gabe Kidd exactly like that kid who drew pensises on the Nathan For You promotional promo, blindly unaware that he is not the brunt of the joke but the putt of it, which is exactly why I hope we wins the IWGP Championsgip one day. Gabe Kidd is hilarious. I love Gabe Kidd.” ~ Orchid

“One of the best small-room performers in pro wrestling, Gabe Kidd in his half-samurai/half-lad trying to shag yer bird at the pub mate method showed signs of falling into the NEVER openweight style head drop and strike exchange scene. However his moments of madness work when it counts, and his pure dedication to the toukon burning spirit is more than admirable, and deserving of a list mention. “ ~ L.C. Moe

59. Yurika Oka (28 ballots, 1403 points)
Average Rank: 43.75
Last Year’s Rank: NR
High Vote: Cole, Henry/Cheese (13)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Mio Momono vs. Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu (Sendai Girls, 2/11)
• vs. Aja Kong (Sendai Girls, 3/8)
• vs. Sareee (Sendai Girls, 4/14)
• w/ Mio Momono vs. Chihiro Hashimoto & Manami (Sendai Girls, 5/10)
• w/ Mio Momono vs. Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu (Sendai Girls, 5/18)
• w/ Mio Momono vs. Manami & Ryo Mizunami (Sendai Girls, 6/9)
• w/ Mio Momono vs. DASH Chisako & Meiko Satomura (Sendai Girls, 10/14)
• w/ Mio Momono vs. Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu (Marvelous, 10/27)
• w/ Sareee vs. Mika Iwata & Miyuki Takase (Sendai Girls, 11/9)
• w/ Mio Momono vs. Lena Kross & VENY (Sendai Girls, 12/8)

“While her partner may have peaked higher, Oka flourished into a wonderful tag worker. She regularly dictates the pace of matches and is great when fighting from underneath. “ – Stevan S.

“Watching a wrestler grow is a tremendous joy, and no wrestler seemed to grow in 2024 like Yurika Oka. Her tag team with Mio Momono really created a space where she could become better and better. It would be easy to write her off as just being the second member of that team, but by the end of the year she was a highlight all on her own.” ~ Conor S.

“Maybe the surprise of the year, Oka went from a wrestler that wasn’t on my radar in 2023 to one of the most exciting for me in 2024. She does get a boost from teaming with one of the clear best in the world contenders, but she brings her own spark to the team in a way that screams future great of the joshi scene.” ~ Stephen W.

“While most of her case involves her tag team with Mio Momono, Oka is more than just along for the ride. Being only a few years into her career makes her a great underdog against any more experienced opponent which happens to be most people she goes up against, be it in singles or tags. She’s had qiute a few great showings already, and she’s in a great position to get even better considering she’s in the best joshi promotion at the moment.” ~ Greed

58. Neon (32 ballots, 1417 points)
Average Rank: 47.38
Last Year’s Rank: 424
High Vote: Nathan A. (8)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Futuro vs. Magnus & Rugido (CMLL, 1/19)
• w/ Mascara Dorada vs. Brillante Jr. & Mistico (CMLL, 2/2)
• vs. Rugido (CMLL, 4/16)
• w/ Star Black & Valiente vs. Akuma, Soberano Jr. & Zandokan Jr. (CMLL, 5/10)
• w/ Brillante Jr. & Max Star vs. Guerrero Maya Jr., Stigma & Xelhua (CMLL, 6/10)
• w/ Star Jr. & Templario vs. Angel de Oro, Niebla Roja & Soberano Jr. (CMLL, 9/13)
• w/ Mascara Dorada & Volador Jr. vs. Barbaro Cavernario, Rocky Romero & Zandokan Jr. (CMLL, 9/17)
• w/ Mascara Dorada & Star Jr. vs. Averno, Euforia & Mephisto (CMLL, 9/27)
• w/ Star Jr. & Titan vs. Hijo del Villano III, Valiente & Villano III Jr. (CMLL, 11/29)
• vs. Averno (CMLL, 12/10)

“By the end of 2024, Neon might not yet have had the stand-out singles performance, that could justify a position near the very top of this list, but more crucially to CMLL and perhaps more impressively given the alternatives, he was able to solidify himself as the third person in the lead trio of technicos.

That would be achievement enough, but by bringing a level of innovation and Sabu-like recklessness to proceedings that out-do even Mascara Dorado, Neon was able to make it feel like a genuine team of superstars, rather than him just taking a spot as Mistico’s other friend. “ ~ Nick Yeoman

“Sam is wrong.” ~ Dan Rice

57. Yuki Ueno (32 ballots, 1425 points)
Average Rank: 44.34
Last Year’s Rank: 124
High Vote: NMC (3)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Yukio Naya (DDT, 1/28)
• vs. Danshoku Dieno (DDT, 2/14)
• vs. HARASHIMA (DDT, 3/17)
• vs. Mike Bailey (DDT, 4/4)
• w/ MAO vs. Chris Brookes & Zack Sabre Jr. (DDT, 4/7)
• vs. Akito (DDT, 4/26)
• w/ Fuminori Abe vs. HARASHIMA & Keigo Nakamura (DDT, 6/16)
• vs. MAO (DDT, 7/21)
• vs. Shinya Aoki (DDT, 8/25)
• vs. Takeshi Masada (DDT, 12/28)

“there are some people out there (TIM!) who think Yuki is one of the best babyfaces on the planet. They might be right—his match against HARASHIMA the god was fun, and the Mao match at Cinderella…..well, happened. But I enjoy Yuki the most when he’s playing the role of “the one guy who is actually trying”, like he did in that completely silly but still kinda charming match against Chris Brookes & Zack Sabre Jr at April Fool 2024. I am, at heart, a fag, and Yuki is probably the most yaori-coded wrestler in DDT, an even more otterfic version of Kota Ibushi. Which is great! I bet he has soft hands. Or at least moisturizes.” ~ Orchid

“Ueno ended 2023 by finally becoming the top champion in DDT, and much of 2024 was him attempting to prove that he belonged. He took the struggle and selling that marked the best of his previous work and applied it to being an ace champion that made for some great matches.The HARASHIMA and Aoki matches are obvious highlights, but he even was able to have an excellent title match with Yukio Naya and a super dramatic title match with Danshoku Dino. He was good at lead in tags, and showcase matches for celebrities. His reign lost some steam in the middle of the year, but even when the focus moved away from him Ueno was reliable up until the end of 2024.” ~ Conor S.

“Ueno was not particularly impressive this year but he was in a lot of right places at the right time. Being in build-up tags and title matches against HARASHIMA and Aoki as well as being part of trios matches with Kaisei Takechi in Korakuen was all Ueno really needed to be considered for this list.” ~ Greed

56. Hikaru Sato (31 ballots, 1495 points)
Average Rank: 44.81
Last Year’s Rank: 160
High Vote: Cameron Hootsoot (9)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Dan Tamura (AJPW, 1/2)
• w/ Hideki Suzuki vs. Keita Yano & Kengo (Tenryu Project, 3/16)
• vs. Fuminori Abe (Hikaru Sato Produce, 3/28)
• vs. Takanori Ito (GLEAT, 4/17)
• vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW, 6/10)
• w/ Keita Yano vs. Kengo & Yuya Susumu (Tenryu Project, 6/15)
• vs. Hideki Suzuki (Bloodsport Bushido, 6/22)
• vs. Keita Yano (Tenryu Project, 7/17)
• vs. Mizuki Watase (Tenryu Project, 8/22)
• vs. Kosei Fujita (Hard Hit, 9/26)

“Shows up everywhere, and more often than not, does good work everywhere. “ ~ Stevan S.

“A classic example of a case built around sheer quantity of good matches, rather than a few exceptional ones. Sato only really hit the heights in his match with fellow “nice little  match” factory, Fuminori Abe, but regardless of if he was facing New Japan talent or more cult wrestlers, working Korakuaen or a smaller venue with only a hard cam set-up, it’s a fair bet than on any given night in 2024 ,Sato was putting on a good match” ~ Nick Yeoman

“A shoot fighter of mediocre proportions and all around weird (in a good way) guy, the protegé of Minoru Suzuki is a joy on the Japanese indies. He’s been feasting on the momentum the Japanese scene has seen from forces like The Astronauts. From shoot style, to weird worked kickboxing fights, to showing up in a thong, Sato is down to clown.” ~ Squill

55. Lee Moriarty (39 ballots, 1505 points)
Average Rank: 53.67
Last Year’s Rank: 259
High Vote: NMC (5)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Shane Taylor vs. Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean (ROH, 1/6)
• vs. Katsuyori Shibata (AEW, 4/13)
• w/ Shane Taylor vs. Katsuyori Shibata & Orange Cassidy (AEW, 4/21)
• w/ Shane Taylor vs. Daniel Garcia & Katsuyori Shibata (AEW, 4/27)
• vs. Will Ospreay (AEW, 5/11)
• vs. Wheeler Yuta (ROH, 7/26)
• vs. Angelico (ROH, 8/11)
• w/ Johnny TV & The Beast Mortos vs. Hologram, Kyle O’Reilly & Orange Cassidy (AEW, 8/31)
• vs. Matt Taven (ROH, 12/7)
• vs. Nigel McGuinness (ROH, 12/20)

“Lee Moriarty is the best anyone has ever been at getting decent matches , while working within the ROH pure wrestling format (I would contest that Nigel McGuiness, worked around , rather than with the limitations).

Impressive stuff, considering the amount of extremely talented people, that have looked completely stifled by the rules of that belt, over it’s history.” ~ Nick Yeoman

“I don’t get how you can watch Lee Moriarty swagger out with that tiger mask, puff out that big ass jacket, struggle his way through sick ass grappling, and go home to paint luchadors in pools, and not think that he is the coolest guy in the world. Taigastyle joins Garcia in being underutilized, under appreciated, and sneakily one of the most exciting guys on the roster. What Moriarty lacks in all time classics last year, he makes up for in “better-than-they-should-be” hits. From his Pure title win over Yuta at Death Before Dishonor, to his various tags with Shane Taylor on Collision (the STP vs Danny & Shibata match as a standout), Taigastyle maximizes his minutes, and seems to have such a deep grasp on using tension and struggle to garner full investment. And then there’s Final Battle. Nigel could not have asked for a better dance partner in this one. This wasn’t a celebratory welcome back kind of match, this was a real Pure Title clinic. Lee played the balance of sneaky Pure Rules heel and respectful kid wrestling his influence spot on. It’s only fitting that while Lee was reigniting Nigel’s vision of what the Pure Title can be, he has a career match with the man himself. Moriarty just gets it. More than most wrestlers in the world.” ~ Andy/Shrimp

“a wrestler that probably slipped through the cracks if you weren’t paying attention, Lee Moriarty had a damn good year, the crown jewel of which being his great Death Before Dishonor match against Wheeler Yuta. Odds are if you saw Moriarty on an AEW card, he was likely to show you something worthwhile, between his trademark technical wrestling style and finding a mean streak as a heel alongside his partner Shane Taylor.” ~ Stephen W. 

“One of the bigger surprises upon going back through AEW/ROH was seeing just how awesome Moriarty was this year. He was given great opponents most of his AEW appearances but he more than held his own in those matches, and when he was given the ROH Pure Title, it only gave him more chances to show his stuff with a rulset and style that matches him nicely and lets him get creative with his already fun heelwork. He even has a good face perfroamce this year in an indie match with Darius Carter as a nice bonus to top his 2024 off along with the Nigel match and Yuta at Death Before Dishonor” ~ Greed

54. Mayu Iwatani (27 ballots, 1530 points)
Average Rank: 34.78
Last Year’s Rank: 83
High Vote: Tim Hunter (2)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Syuri (Stardom, 1/4)
• vs. Mina Shirakawa (NJPW, 2/23)
• vs. Sareee (Stardom, 4/27)
• vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto (Ice Ribbon, 6/23)
• vs. Tam Nakano (Stardom, 8/10)
• vs. AZM (Stardom, 8/18)
• vs. Natsupoi (Stardom, 8/28)
• w/ Sareee vs. Chihiro Hashimoto & VENY (Sareee-ism, 9/2)
• vs. Toni Storrm (Stardom, 10/5)
• vs. Momo Watanabe (NJPW, 11/17)

“The Ace of stardom defining match this year is not in stardom but in the fantastic tag on the Saree-ism show. But Mayu puts in other good performances against Momo Watanabe and Sareee herself on a stardom show. In a company still plagued by Tam lore, Mayu still rules.” ~ Padraig

“In a very down year for STARDOM, Mayu contributed some of the few things worth tuning in for, between the IWGP reign and her efforts in the 5Star. “ ~ Stevan S.

53. Meiko Satomura (34 ballots, 1549 points)
Average Rank: 48.09
Last Year’s Rank: NR
High Vote: Jose R. (19)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Takumi Iroha vs. Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu (Fortune Dream, 6/12)
• vs. Bayley (WWE, 7/27)
• w/ Manami vs. Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu (Sendai Girls, 9/28)
• w/ Shoko Nakajima vs. Miu Watanabe & Miyu Yamashita (TJPW, 10/6)
• vs. Takumi Iroha (Marvelous, 10/27)
• vs. Saori Anou (Sendai Girls, 11/9)
• w/ Manami vs. Aja Kong & Sareee (Sendai Girls, 11/17)
• vs. Mika Iwata (Sendai Girls, 11/30)
• vs. DASH Chisako (Sendai GIrls, 12/8)
• w/ Mika Iwata vs. Chihiro Hashimoto & DASH Chisako (Tenryu Project, 12/15)

“Not a surprise that Meiko is still so great, but I was impressed at how often she was the best part of the matches she was in. Her run in the back half of the year was an absolute joy to watch. “ ~ Stevan S.

“would have been a best in the world contender had she been allowed to wrestle more than like 6 months. It is not fair that we’re losing her so soon, which makes it all the more important to cherish these final moments with an all-time great.” ~ Stephen W. 

52. LaBron Kozone (39 ballots, 1558 points)
Average Rank: 54.64
Last Year’s Rank: NR
High Vote: Timothy Robert Buechner (14)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku vs. Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs & Tom Lawlor (DPW, 3/10)
• w/ Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku vs. Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs & Tom Lawlor (DPW, 4/14)
• vs. Bojack (DPW, 5/19)
• vs. Adam Priest (DPW, 6/16)
• vs. Diego Hill vs. Ichiban (DPW, 7/6)
• vs. Jake Something vs. Luke Jacobs vs. Mike Bailey (DPW, 9/15)
• vs. Timothy Thatcher (DPW, 9/15)
• vs. Mike Bailey (DPW, 10/13)
• vs. Jackson Drake (DPW, 11/17)
• vs. Adam Priest (DPW, 12/8)

“Ball game is the coolest name for a move. LaBron had a standout year in DPW. without bouts against timothy thatcher and two against Adam Priest. The 2nd one in which he won the National title was the best DPW match of the year” ~ Padraig

“After wrestling exclusively in the southeastern United States for over a decade, 2024 was the year that Kozone finally branched out of his home area. Trips to the West Coast via Prestige Wrestling and trips to the Northeast and Midwest with DEADLOCK Pro saw him receive his flowers on a national scale. However, much like previous years, his best work came in the Carolinas. His experience and adaptability helped him put on some of the best matches of the year for the fledgling ASÉ Wrestling and for the aforementioned DPW. With an ongoing National title run in DPW, Kozone’s star is only going to continue to rise in the coming years, and all of that is thanks to his performance in 2024.” ~ M0ndo

51. Athena (42 ballots, 1574 points)
Average Rank: 47.17
Last Year’s Rank: 11
High Vote: Daniel L. (4)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Nyla Rose (ROH, 2/14)
• vs. Hikaru Shida (ROH, 4/5)
• vs. Red Velvet (AEW, 4/13)
• vs. Nicole Matthews (ROH, 5/11)
• vs. Masha Slamovich (Prestige, 7/12)
• vs. Queen Aminata (ROH, 7/26)
• vs. Amira (WCPW/DPW/Prestige, 9/29)
• vs. Gisele Shaw (MLP, 10/20)
• vs. Abadon (ROH, 10/26)
• vs. Billie Starkz (ROH, 12/20)

“A less eventful year, but one where she used the barren ROH show as a sandbox. More fun matches than outright great, but her creativity shouldn’t be overlooked.” ~ Stevan S.

“Athena may not have had the same density of great work last year as she had in 2023, but there is still more than enough there to showcase what makes her ROH reign so great. Obviously she delivers in her peaks. The Aminata match from Death Before Dishonor and the Starkz match from Final Battle are easy inclusions, but what makes Athena so special takes places in matches like the Nyla Rose ⅔ falls table match, or the Abadon halloween horror bout. The way she is able to inject anything with this level of care and commitment is truly next-level, and making something special  out of what should be random decent matches is something everyone else can learn from. Getting a fuckin good match out of Abadon on a gimmicky halloween Honor Club show? No one invests you like Athena does.” ~ Andy/Shrimp