100. Thomas Shire (17 ballots, 686 points)
Last Year’s Rank: 370
High Vote: Sam D (19)

Recommended Matches

• 1 Called Manders & Thomas Shire vs. Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomrua (wXw, 3/6)
• w/ Hector Invictus & Nick Schreier vs. Aigle Blanc, Daisuke Sekimoto & Michael Oku (wXw, 3/8)
• vs. Gary Jay (SLA, 3/28)
• vs. Kenny Alfonso (SLA, 4/25)
• Mad Dog Connelly vs. Thomas Shire (DPW, 5/18)
• 1 Called Manders & Thomas Shire vs. Judas Icarus & Travis Williams (WCPW, 6/1)
• vs. Alpha Zo (WCPW, 6/27)
• 1 Called Manders & Thomas Shire vs. Anthony Henry & JD Drake (7/13)
• 1 Called Manders vs. Thomas Shire (GCW, 8/3)
• 1 Called Manders & Thomas Shire vs. Beastman & Mad Dog Connelly (JCW, 10/26)

“The best member of Cowboy Way, 1 Called Manders you have been surpassed. Shire put in great work for promotions such as WXW, GCW and DPW with his masterpiece being the relaxed rules match he had with Mad Dog Connelly. What is a relaxed rules match? I don’t know but I was relaxed and it ruled.” ~ Padraig

“It is surreal that Shire has made the VP100. He’s been a favorite of mine for years. The big ass grappler who can put a boot in your face. I think the matches with Mad Dog and Manders are the things folks gravitated towards, good matches all of them. The one that sticks out for me though is the one against Kenny Alfanso from St. Louis Anarchy. You got to see him fully in his element, not having to introduce himself to a new audience. That is when the layers to Shire get to be on display.” ~ Sam D.

99. HARASHIMA (15 ballots, 693 points)
Last Year’s Rank: 37
High Vote: Stevan S. (17)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Miya Yotsuba vs. Chie Koshikawa & Hagane Shinnou (ChocoPro, 2/2)
• w/ Miya Yotsuba vs. Baliyan Akki & Mei Suruga (ChocoPro, 2/2)
• w/ Takeshi Masada vs. Daichi Sato & Jun Akiyama (DDT, 3/30)
• w/ Danshoku Dino vs. Minoru Suzuki & Yuki Ueno (DDT, 4/6)
• w/ Chris Brookes vs. Calvin Tankman & LaBron Kozone (DPW, 4/24)
• w/ Ken Ohka, MAO, Sanshiro Takagi, Shuji Ishikawa & Toru Iwashi vs. Akito, Antonio Honda, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Super Sasadango Machine, Toru Yano & YOH (NJPW, 6/9)
• w/ Kengo Mashimo vs. Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asashi (Oishi & Asashi Produce, 7/7)
• vs. Kazusada Higuchi (DDT, 7/13)
• w/ Togi Makabe & Yasu Urano vs. AKito, Shinya Aoki & Shuji Ishikawa (DDT, 7/27)
• w/ Shinya Aoki vs. Yuki Iino & Yukio Naya (DDT, 8/31)

“The Ace of DDT is no longer at the top of the card. Now mostly tagging without whoever, whenever having good but not necessarily noteworthy matches. But when he had one big moment in his title match against Higuchi he shined, having one of the best matches of the year.” ~ Padraig

“One of the top wrestlers in DDT for almost 20 years is still and haver of one the nicest smiles is still amazing. According to Cagematch, at the age of 50 (turned 51 in July), he wrestled in the most promotions he has wrestled for since 2008 and doesn’t feel like he is close to stopping.

HARASHIMA is one of the best wrestlers ever and he is still going. He had one of my favorite squash matches of the year vs. Chris Brookes, a great KO-D match against Kazusada Higuchi, was part of my favorite avant-garde match of the year w/ Pokotan vs. MAO and Yoshihiko. HARASHIMA always seems like someone who is going to bring a great effort, no matter the setting and is just so good.” ~ Henry/HeadCheese

“The ageless wonder. No longer featured as much as you’d hope, but always delivers on his day. So incredibly good at playing to his opponents strengths. “ ~ Stevan

98. Kevin Ku (17 ballots, 705 points)
Last Year’s Rank: 35
High Vote: MC (16)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Dominic Garrini vs. Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA (DPW, 1/26)
• w/ Dominic Garrini vs. Brick Savage & Dmitri Alexandrov (New Texas, 2/23)
• w/ Dominic Garrini vs. Duke Davis & Ganon Jones Jr. (Enjoy, 3/8)
• w/ Dominic Garrini vs. James Drake & Zack Gibson (DPW, 4/18)
• w/ Dominic Garrini vs. Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (DPW, 4/24)
• w/ Dominic Garrini & Erick Stevens vs. Calvin Tankman, LaBron Kozone & Manny Lo (DPW, 8/8)
• w/ Dominic Garrini vs. Moros & Nemesis (PPL, 9/13)
• w/ Dominic Garrini vs. Bam Sullivan & Matt Tremont (JCW, 10/6)
• w/ Dominic Garrini vs. Dustin Waller & Kylon King vs. James Drake & Zack Gibson (DPW, 10/19)
• vs. Calvin Tankman (DPW, 12/12)

“It should probably shock no one if Dominic Garini ends up placing a bit higher than his tag team partner does this year–Garini had a few more stand-out performances, especially as a single competitor. But even still, Violence is Forever remain stalwarts on the indie scene in large part because of what they’re able to get out of their opponents, as best evidenced by their mini-feud with Grizzled Young Veterans in DPW last winter. Here’s hoping that the promotion’s shuttering doesn’t have a major impact on Ku’s work for 2026.” ~ Orchid

97. KUSHIDA (18 ballots, 746 points)
Last Year’s Rank: 240
High Vote: Mr. Bushiroad (29)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Konosuke Takeshita (NJPW, 1/11)
• vs. Ultimo Guerrero (CMLL, 4/25)
• vs. Mistico (CMLL, 5/2)
• vs. Hiromu Takahashi (NJPW, 5/10)
• vs. Kosei Fujita (NJPW, 5/17)
• vs. Master Wato (NJPW, 5/24)
• vs. Austin Aries (MLW, 9/13)
• w/ Yuki Yoshioka vs. Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagle (NJPW, 10/26)
• w/ Yuki Yoshioka vs. Dick Togo & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (NJPW, 10/29)
• w/ Yuki Yoshioka vs. El Desperado & Kuukai (NJPW, 11/1)

“ KUSHIDA quietly put together one of the most varied years of anyone on this list. He kicked things off with arguably the best match of Best of the Super Juniors against Kosei Fujita, then had a great Arena México main event with Místico. His run in MLW—against Neón, Diego Hill, and Austin Aries—was strong enough to secure the lofty mantle as the promotion’s best in-ring worker, while his team with Yuki Yoshioka was a highlight of Junior Tag League. Not bad for someone most fans hadn’t really thought about for the last five years.” ~ Nick Yeoman

“The best pure wrestler in MLW. There is more competition than you would think for that honor. The Mistico match is maybe their best of the year. I’m also told he wrestled in NJPW again. Good for KUSHIDA.” ~ Sam D.

“I truly believe that when he retires, it will be impossible to deny KUSHIDA’s legacy as one of the greatest Japanese Jr. heavyweights in history. Perhaps it’s circumstantial, a consequence of the trajectory of his career, or his own humbleness, but KUSHIDA quietly curates a catalogue of consistency with each passing year. Despite this, he’s forgotten by the turn of the next. It’s like we ignore that this man is a disciple of Kazushi Sakuraba, and while he lacks Sakuraba’s MMA legacy, he manages, with some level of legitimacy to his name, to integrate that skillset into a Jr. heavyweight style without too often being whisked away into overwrought nonsense. 

Many will point to his match with Kosei Fujita from BOSJ as a unique example of this, a shooto-inspired grindfest, barefooted and tough-as-nails through every minute. And they’d be correct! But KUSHIDA is more than just his peaks. He’ll bring the same work ethic into his tag team with Kevin Knight, as he will make the most out of the corpse of Austin Aries in MLW, or a spring excursion to Mexico against Ultimo Guerrero. It becomes second nature to take greatness for granted when it hides in plain sight.” ~ Sol

96. Templario (21 ballots, 747 points)
Last Year’s Rank: 41
High Vote: puroluchitas (11)

Recommended Matches

• w/ Mascara Dorada vs. Soberano Jr. & Zandokan Jr. (CMLL, 2/14)
• w/ Hechicero vs. Titan & Zandokan Jr. (CMLL, 4/15)
• vs. El Desperado (NJPW, 4/29)
• w/ Atlantis Jr. vs. Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood (AEW, 6/4)
• vs. Titan (CMLL, 6/13)
• w/ TJP vs. Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja (CMLL, 6/27)
• w/ Esfinge & Mascara Dorada vs. Averno, The Beast Mortos & Ultimo Guerrero (CMLL, 7/4)
• w/ TJP vs. El Hijo del Villano III & Villano III Jr. (CMLL, 8/22)
• w/ Angel de Oro, Atlantis Jr., Difunto, Mascara Dorada, Mistico, Neon, Titan, Volador Jr. & Zandokan Jr. vs. Action Andretti, The Beast Mortos, Donovan Dijak, Lio Rush, Michael Oku, Mike Bailey, Robbie X, Rocky Romero, Taiji Ishimori & TJP (CMLL, 8/29)
• vs. Villano III Jr. (CMLL, 9/26)

“The thing I like most about Templario is that he seems to be the only wrestler in CMLL who comes down to the ring with hip-hop playing. I don’t know why that stands out to me, but it does.” ~ Orchid

95. Swerve Strickland (20 ballots, 765 points)
Last Year’s Rank: 18
High Vote: Andrew Lacelle (3)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Ricochet (AEW, ⅖)
• w/ Brody King vs. Kazuchika Okada & Ricochet (AEW, 3/5)
• vs. Ricochet (AEW, 3/9)
• w/ Willow Nightingale vs. Jon Moxley & Marina Shafir (AEW, 4/2)
• w/ Mark Briscoe & Mike Bailey vs. Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson & Ricochet (AEW, 5/7)
• w/ Katsuyori Shibata, Kenny Omega, Powerhouse Hobbs, Samoa Joe & Willow Nightingale vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley, Marina Shafir, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson & Wheeler Yuta (AEW, 5/25)
• vs. Will Ospreay (AEW, 6/11)
• w/ Katsuyori Shibata, Powerhouse Hobbs, Samoa Joe & Will Ospreay vs. The Beast Mortos, Jon Moxley, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson & Wheeler Yuta (AEW, 6/18)
• w/ Will Ospreay vs.Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (AEW, 7/12)
• vs. Kazuchika Okada (AEW, 8/24)

“I am trying to approach my blurb assignments (which are self-imposed) with love in my heart this year and avoid using them as an opportunity to make veiled criticisms of performers whom I find largely abhorrent. Taking that into consideration, I think it’s really cool that Swerve Strickland started the Kenny Omega steroid regimen. I’m sure this will largely play out well for him.” ~ Orchid

94. Necro Butcher (14 ballots, 770 points)
Last Year’s Rank: 437
High Vote: TyPls (1)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Iceman (Bleeding Gums, 4/12)
• vs. JD Horror (CCW, 7/11)
• vs. Saxon Huxley (CXW, 8/16)
• vs. Hernandez (SVN, 9/5)
• vs. Judge Joe Dred (SVN, 10/4)
• vs. Buddy Badcock vs. Satu Jinn (IWA DS, 10/25)
• vs. Jay Blade (WA DS, 10/26)

“Still got the juice. Scumbag but still got the Juice. Still got all the reckless bumping and sick punches that only a combination of booze, CTE and a cornucopia of drugs can produce. Necros just getting into a second wind and God help us all.” ~ Padraig

“Necro Butcher in 2025 certainly wasn’t going to be a workrate god but the old lad still proves the Violent People Motto© true to this day that all you need for a good match is a lot of blood and punching someone in the head a bunch. Really dug his run as an extremely washed-up violence junkie doing wacky Terry Funk-isms with whoever and hope that continues for as long as possible.” ~ Stump H. Puller

“As Violent People’s principal far-left genderless freak, I’m loathe to admit that I still think Necro Butcher is one of the greatest wrestlers to ever step foot in tje squared circle. He miraculously still has one of the greatest in-ring IQs in the business and at this point could get something great out of a wet piece of toilet paper (Judge Joe Dred is close enough to this comparison)” ~ Marilyn

93. Yuto-Ice (17 ballots, 777 points)
Last Year’s Rank: NR
High Vote: Maggie (8)

Recommended Matches

• w/ OSKAR vs. Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii (NJPW, 9/28)
• w/ OSKAR vs. Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura (NJPW, 10/4)
• vs. Yuya Uemura (NJPW, 10/6)
• w/ OSKAR vs. Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura (NJPW, 10/13)
• vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJPW, 11/8)
• w/ OSKAR vs. David Finlay & Hiromu Takahashi (NJPW, 11/22)
• w/ OSKAR vs. Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan (NJPW, 11/30)
• w/ OSKAR vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW, 12/3)
• w/ OSKAR vs. Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura (NJPW, 12/9)
• w/ OSKAR vs. Gabe Kidd & Yota Tsuji (NJPW, 12/12)

“Check it out now, The Knockout brothers. Is the gimmick occasionally cringe? Yes, but Yuto-ice is bringing real hating back to new japan. Someone who wrestles with a chip on their shoulder like the whole world is against them. This comes out best whenever he’s facing Uemura, the man who broke his arm. He wrestles with so much drive and spirit, you can’t look away. Yuto to me looks like the next top heel of New japan and i just cant wait” ~ Padraig

92. Virus (16 ballots, 811 points)
Last Year’s Rank: 91
High Vote: Sam D (2)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Magnetico (Lucha Memes, 2/9)
• w/ Dr. Polux Jr. & Hechicero vs. Blue Panther, Kaoma Jr. & Xelhua (Indy, 3/27)
• w/ Blue Panther, Hologram, Neon & Valiente vs. Averno, Dr. Cerebro, Euforia, Volador Jr. & Xelhua (ACTION/ROH, 5/24)
• w/ Felino & Stuka Jr. vs. Atlantis, Blue Panther & Pantera (CMLL, 5/30)
• vs. Energia (Lucha Memes, 6/29)
• vs. Xelhua (ROH, 7/26)
• w/ Blue Panther & Pantera vs. Dr. Cerebro, Hechicero & Xelhua (ACTION/ROH, 9/6)
• w/ Xelhua vs. Charles Lucero & Erick Ortiz (La Terraza Elma, 9/27)
• vs. Templario (CMLL, 10/4)
• vs. Belial (Lucha Memes, 11/1)

“Best CMLL wrestler of 2025. Continues to move up those all-time rankings. Always one of the top two wrestlers in any trio match he is in. Creates a floor like very few can. Has this trios match where he is opposite this bloke Kaoma Jr. and the sequences forced a smile onto my face.” ~ Sam D.

91. SLADE (18 ballots, 834 points)
Last Year’s Rank: NR
High Vote: pto (2)

Recommended Matches

• vs. Kaplan vs. Matt Tremont (ICW NHB, 3/1)
• vs. Bam Sullivan (GCW, 4/6)
• vs. Bear Bronson (GCW, 6/8)
• vs. Gabriel Skye (Beyond, 6/21)
• vs. Otis Cogar (ICW NHB, 718)
• w/ Bear Bronson vs. Dr. Redacted & Mr. Danger (GCW, 8/1)
• vs. Masashi Takeda (GCW, 8/23)
• w/ Charles Mason vs. Priscilla Kelly & Zachary Wentz (Blitzkrieg, 10/11)
• vs. Hoodfoot (ICW NHB, 12/6)
• vs. Bear Bronson (GCW, 12/13)

“If you can get past the understandable barrier of not wanting to watch GCW then you’ll find a great wrestler in SLADE. SLADE’s best quality is that he really makes ies feel like he’s hurting his opponent, now you could say this because he probably is hurting his opponent. Either way, great SLADE had a great year.” ~ Padraig

“Samoa Joe once said the punch is the best move, because everyone in the crowd knows what it feels like. SLADE applies this logic to Deathmatch wrestling. Sure, his matches often feature light tubes and everyday items rigged with pins, but mostly they showcase a guy who looks like the scariest inmate from the toughest prison, digging his fingers into someone’s skull and gouging their eyes with his thumbs. And yeah… it’s relatable: that would be a rough night.” ~ Nick Yeoman

“Aside from Sabu, who batted a thousand in 2025, the best wrestler of the year — according to me, the voter who matters — was SLADE, and it wasn’t especially close. All of the things that people love about Jon Moxley and Mad Dog Connelly, SLADE does better than either of them. His brawling feels even more aggressive and unpredictable than the likes of Rush, and his disregard for his own safety beats out Darby Allin’s. SLADE is the wrestler that always makes me sit up and lock in for a match. He’s the spirit of violence keeping the indies’ heart beating.” ~ pto