90. Cash Wheeler (24 ballot, 953 points)
Average Rank: 50.88
Last Year’s Rank: 42
High Vote: Andrew L. (11)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Dax Harwood vs. Dante Martin & Darius Martin (AEW, 4/3)
• w/ Dax Harwood vs. Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson (AEW, 4/21)
• w/ Bryan Danielson & Dax Harwood vs. Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett & Satnam Singh (AEW, 5/26)
• w/ Darby Allin, Dax Harwood & Mark Briscoe vs. Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong & The Beast Mortos (AEW, 8/1)
• w/ Dax Harwood & Orange Cassidy vs. Roderick Strong, Rush & The Beast Mortos (AEW, 8/7)
• w/ Dax Harwood vs. Anthony Bowens & Max Caster (AEW, 8/17)
• w/ Dax Harwood vs. Matt Taven & Mike Bennett (AEW, 8/31)
• w/ Dax Harwood vs. Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku (DPW, 10/13)
• w/ Dax Harwood vs. Big Bill & Bryan Keith (AEW, 10/16)
• w/ Dax Harwood vs. Dralistico & Rush (AEW, 10/26)

“Everything I said about Dax could fit here for Cash. The one difference is that Cash Wheeler beat a gun charge last year, which is why he’s higher (or lower) than Dax. That’s something to celebrate (or admonish). “ ~ Orchid

“This is the first year in a while that Cash has been ranked lower than Dax. You’re all wrong. Cash is the guy. He’s the glue of the FTR tags. One day Tony is gonna give him a Mark Briscoe style TV title run to show that he’s on that level and you’ll see. You’ll all see.” ~ Chris Gibbons

89. Masha Slamovich (28 ballots, 955 points) – LOWEST 28 BALLOT WRESTLER
Average Rank: 57.96
Last Year’s Rank: 79
High Vote: Alvaro Merino (11)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Miyu Yamashita (TJPW, 1/4)
• vs. Max the Impaler (TJPW, 1/6)
• vs. Matt Makowski (GCW, 2/10)
• vs. Syuri (GCW, 4/4)
• vs. Shayna Baszler (GCW, 4/4)
• vs. Shoko Nakajima (DPW, 7/6)
• vs. Galeno Del Mal (GCW, 8/24)
• vs. Jordynne Grace (TNA, 10/26)
• vs. Zara Zakher (GCW, 10/31)
• vs. Mance Warner (GCW, 12/28)

“ I had Masha at 99 off the strength of her JCup performance (which was….just pretty good) and her Wrestlemania Weekend time limit draw against Syuri, which went too long and was a pretty bad match in context. But it did stick out as being the only Collective matchup that weekend that didn’t make me want to tear my eyes out and/or reconsider my hobbies. If she deserved better than this blurb, it’ll hopefully be written by someone who watched her wrestle more than 5 times last year.” ~ Orchid

88. Jay White (24 ballots, 960 points)
Average Rank: 48.5
Last Year’s Rank: 38
High Vote: Andrew L. (14)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn vs. Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage & Toa Liona (AEW, 1/17)
• vs. Darby Allin (AEW, 3/13)
• vs. Matt Sydal (AEW, 4/10)
• vs. Dante Martin (AEW, 5/1)
• vs. Rocky Romero (AEW, 5/26)
• vs. Adam Page (AEW, 7/6)
• vs. Adam Page (AEW, 10/12)
• vs. Shane Taylor (AEW, 10/26)
• w/ Juice Robinson vs. Adam Page & Christian Cage (AEW, 11/13)
• vs. Adam Page (AEW, 11/23)

“Jay White had a down year compared to his past few, and it wasn’t helped by booking (see: the baffling infamous Billy Gunn match), but when he’s given the opportunity, he shines like very few in AEW. The Hangman and series and especially that Darby match were special. He’s a guy who gets his character and can work his place on the card well. It would be wise to use him better in the next year.” ~ Chris Gibbons

87. Dustin Rhodes (26 ballots, 975 points)
Average Rank: 48.27
Last Year’s Rank: 196
High Vote: TyPls (6)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Adam Copeland, Orange Cassidy & Preston Vance vs. Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage, Lance Archer & Toa Liona (AEW, 1/10)
• vs. Christian Cage (AEW, 1/17)
• vs. The Butcher (AEW, 3/27)
• vs. Samoa Joe (AEW, 4/10)
• w/ Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich vs. Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno & Stu Grayson (ROH, 7/26)
• w/ Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich vs. Matt Taven, Mike Bennett & Roderick Strong (AEW, 7/27)
• w/ Sammy Guevara vs. Matt Taven & Mike Bennett (AEW, 8/17)
• w/ Katsuyori Shibata, Marshall Von Erich, Ross Von Erich & Sammy Guevara vs. Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett & Toa Liona (AEW, 8/25)
• w/ Sammy Guevara vs. Matt Taven & Mike Bennett (AEW, 9/21)
• w/ Sammy Guevara vs. Dutch & Vincent (ROH, 12/20)

“Father Time can’t seem to locate this man. Another year, another smattering of some of my favorite performances of the year. The Joe match is out of this world good, Dustin gets a total gusher and is the most sympathetic babyface in the world. Pair this with his run with the Von Erichs in Texas where he has an Actually Great match against the Undisputed Kingdom and I think Dustin has an undisputable case as one of the top wrestlers of 2024.” ~ Sam DiMascio

“When Dustin and the Von Erichs walked into Dallas, threw the Claw on the Kingdom, celebrated with Kevin and Shibata and held those ROH Trios belts high, I felt god in that e-sports arena. “ ~ Andy/Shrimp

“Is there anyone in the world who does less with more than Dustin Rhodes? Doesn’t matter the amount of TV time. Doesn’t matter his opponents. Doesn’t matter his tag partners. Put him with the Von Erich boys. Have him rehabilitate Sammy Guevara as a TV wrestler. Dustin will make it happen. He can get anything over at this point, and he’s got decades to prove it. Still a special talent all these years in.” ~ Chris Gibbons

“He’s still on that one last ride kicking ass. The two singles against Joe and Christian were his highest-profile outings, but his title win with the Von Erichs was incredibly fun and the Collision bunkhouse brawl against the Kingdom was so sick. God bless Dustin and I hope the ride continues past this year too.” ~ Greed

“It’s nearly four decades into his career, and he’s still can’t-miss. One of the only reasons to track down modern day Ring of Honor.” ~ Dan Rice

86. Volador Jr. (21 ballots, 980 points)
Average Rank: 47.19
Last Year’s Rank: 59
High Vote: Nick Yeoman (20)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Mistico (CMLL, 1/9)
• w/ Mascara Dorada vs. Rocky Romero & Soberano Jr. (NJPW, 1/13)
• w/ Hechicero & Mascara Dorada vs. Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley (AEW, 2/7)
• vs. Rocky Romero (CMLL/NJPW, 2/18)
• w/ Blue Panther, Mistico & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley & Matt Sydal (CMLL, 3/29)
• w/ Atlantis Jr. & Mistico vs. Averno, Rocky Romero & Templario (CMLL, 4/5)
• vs. Mistico (CMLL, 6/18)
• w/ Rocky Romero vs. DOUKI & Mistico (NJPW/CMLL, 7/13)
• w/ Atlantis Jr. & Mascara Dorada vs. Gran Guerrero, Stuka Jr. & Ultimo Guerrero (CMLL, 9/6)
• vs. Templario (CMLL, 9/27)

“Some people think Volador Jr is bad because his body has broken down. And while his body has broken down he still rules, Los Depredadores have been able to produce some great matches this year in CMLL and i think Volador Jr. should take a lot of the credit for that” ~ Padraig

“CMLL’s system of mainly trios matches and the fact that everyone on the roster gets to work with some of the most talented wrestlers alive, at least a few times a year, means that even the most pedestrian of talents can rack up an impressive amount of good matches. At points in his career this would be a fair accusation to level against Volador Jr. , but those paying attention know that 2024 marked the second year of the Voladoraissance!

Volador finds himself in prime slots due to his versatility. The king of the frenemy relationship , in 2024 Volador was the only man on the roster equally capable being one of Mistico’s high flying friends and also one of his most ruthless rivals.

A  new feud with the Blackpool Combat Club also made use of this duality .He was sympathetic when being smashed into the barriers by the invading forces, but also equally as effective as the main aggressor, in the match on AEW turf. “ ~ Nick Yeoman

85. Dax Harwood (23 ballots, 981 points)
Average Rank: 49.65
Last Year’s Rank: 43
High Vote: Kadaveri (12)

Recommended Matches

• See Cash’s above we don’t respect Dax’s solo matches here.

“there is something to be said about a man who wrestlers in a diaper. While most people would probably call 2024 a down year for Phil’s Favorite Tops, I, for one, was incredibly impressed with FTR’s run of matches on Collision over the summer, where the regularly put on Mid South-style main events that were at minimum intriguing and were occasionally fascinating. Dax’s best showing was in DPW against Violence is Forever–in front of a hometown crowd that was still reeling from the damage down by Hurricane Helene, Dax smartly chose to work heel & put in a classic performance that re-energized VIF. A worker through and through, but I hope we still get the Workhorsemen match they’ve been angling for at some point.” ~ Orchid

84. Xelhua (21 ballots, 996 points) – HIGHEST 21 BALLOT WRESTLER
Average Rank: 37.29
Last Year’s Rank: NR
High Vote: Andrew S. (6)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Legendario (CMLL, 4/6)
• vs. Judas el Traidor (Lucha Memes, 5/19)
• w/ Kaoma & Kastigador Jr. vs. Blue Panther, Hechicero & Templario (Indy, 6/13)
• vs. Magnetico (Lucha Memes, 6/30)
• vs. Hechicero (Lucha Memes, 7/28)
• vs. Guerrero Maya Jr. (CMLL, 10/12)
• vs. Barbaro Cavernario vs. Barboza vs. Difunto (CMLL, 11/1)
• w/ Magnetico vs. Avisman & Negro Navarro (Lucha Memes, 11/3)
• vs. Guerrero Maya Jr. (CMLL, 11/26)
• vs. Avisman (Lucha Memes, 12/25)

“Probably wrestling’s biggest surprise in 2024, Xelhua went from a relative unknown as a rookie to lucha libre’s top prospects and fastest rising names in his second year. A master of llave at such a young age, Xelhua spent most of 2024 rising through the ranks of CMLL, becoming a regular name in Arena Mexico by the end of the year. He also spent time in Lucha Memes, matching up with some of lucha’s best technicians of past and present. 2024 will be the first year of many that we see Xelhua appear on the VP100.” ~ M0ndo

“I can’t think of the last time I was this fired up about a young wrestler. Xelhua just has it. He’s got the technical ability, and has proven it on the mat against the likes of Hechicero, Judas el Traidor, Avisman and Guerrero Maya Jr. If he’s working a lightning match or trios on a throwaway CMLL card or having an extended singles against a llaves master in Lucha Memes, Xelhua brings the goods. There’s still time to get in on the ground floor, because Xelhua has everything ahead of him.” ~ Chris Gibbons

“Xelhua has been an incredible discovery for me the past year. A lot of luchadors that get that ‘up next’ hype tend to be those with impressive dives but it’s nice for a llave-oriented guy to get that type of spotlight this time. He’s really impressive and any matchup of note Xelhua gets is a match to keep an eye on for when it makes tape.” ~ Greed

“What makes this guy so unbelievably exciting is that while CMLL has been able to produce mechanically sound technicians for decades upon decades without fail, this dude is the rare young wrestling talent (only 21!!!) that feels like he has the awareness and organic instincts that the greats of this sport have. He works with the cerebral, fine touch of somebody two decades more experienced. Seeing him go wit-for-wit with some of the greatest Mexican technicians of the 21st century was just astonishing, beautiful stuff. This dude could be the best in the world tomorrow, he is that good.” ~ Flae

83. Stuka Jr. (19 ballots, 1000 points) – HIGHEST 19 BALLOT WRESTLER
Average Rank: 43.11
Last Year’s Rank: 64
High Vote: Sam DiMascio (25)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Difunto, Francesco Akira & Ultimo Guerrero vs. El Desperado, Mascara Dorada, Mistico & Stigma (NJPW/CMLL, 2/18)
• vs. Mascara Dorada (NJPW/CMLL, 2/19)
• vs. Titan (CMLL, 4/9)
• w/ Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Hijo del Villano III, Templario & Villano III Jr. (CMLL, 7/5)
• w/ Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Atlantis Jr., Mascara Dorada & Volador Jr. (CMLL, 9/6)
• w/ Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Atlantis Jr., Templario & Titan (CMLL, 9/20)
• w/ Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Mascara Dorada, Mistico & Neon (CMLL, 10/1)
• w/ Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Atlantis Jr., Neon & Templario (CMLL, 10/29)
• vs. Atlantis Jr. (CMLL, 11/2)
• vs. Flip Gordon (CMLL, 12/27)

“Talk about an asshole. I used to like Stuka Jr. when he was masked but unmasked Stuka Jr. is one of my favorite pieces of shit in wrestling. Willing to tear your mask off, kick you in the balls, and punch you straight in the mouth. He’s hard not to love.” ~ Sam DiMascio

“Often the glue in many of the Los Guerreros Laguneros matches I really enjoyed this year. “ ~ Stevan S.

82. Hirooki Goto (27 ballots, 1039 points)
Average Rank: 49.7
Last Year’s Rank: 184
High Vote: L.C. Moe (9)

Recommended Matches

• vs. SANADA (NJPW, 3/18)
• vs. Yota Tsuji (NJPW, 3/20)
• vs. Yuya Uemura (NJPW, 7/21)
• vs. Yota Tsuji (NJPW, 7/28)
• vs. Konosuke Takeshita (NJPW, 8/4)
• vs. David Finlay (NJPW, 8/7)
• vs. El Phantasmo (NJPW, 8/10)
• vs. David Finlay (NJPW, 10/14)
• w/ YOSHI-HASHI vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW, 11/27)

“Perhaps the greatest ambassador of Bushiroad Work Culture, Hirooki Goto reflected Japan at a time of economic crisis. However much like the mighty yen our brave sword wielding father bounced back, and drew great houses for all. We thank you, Mr. Goto, here is your gold watch. “ ~ L.C. Moe

81. David Finlay (28 ballots, 1057 points)
Average Rank: 45.86
Last Year’s Rank: 411
High Vote: Cam (5)

Recommended Matches

• vs. TJP (NJPW, 1/13)
• vs. Yota Tsuji (NJPW, 5/3)
• vs. Yuya Uemura (NJPW, 7/20)
• vs. Yota Tsuji (NJPW, 7/21)
• vs. Ren Narita (NJPW, 7/28)
• vs. Konosuke Takeshita (NJPW, 7/31)
• vs. Oleg Boltin (NJPW, 8/4)
• vs. Hirooki Goto (NJPW, 8/7)
• vs. Yota Tsuji (NJPW, 8/17)
• vs. Hirooki Goto (NJPW, 10/14)

“I was less than impressed with David Finlay’s initial promotion to Bullet Club leader in 2023. Beyond the overexposure-induced fatigue of the faction itself, he frustratingly failed to adjust his style to his new heel persona. Fast forward nearly two years later, and his transformation is striking. Maintaining the explosivity from his babyface days, the man with the greatest backslide pin in wrestling today has locked in with his character work and leaves little filler in most of his high-profile singles performances. A rare fourth-generation wrestler like Finlay will often be unfairly compared to his lineage, especially his father, in a way that undermines his talents. What better way for him to properly “rebel” than defying the expectation of legacy and cultivating his identity in the ring?” ~ SolPosting

“Turned the corner in his G1 run and hasn’t looked back since. I’m closer to taking the Finlay pill by the day. “ ~ Stevan S.