Pro Wrestling Rankings September 16 - Chris Jericho added another accolade to his long career
... Although the belt was recovered, the amount of media blitz and Jericho's new "Little bit of Bubbly" catch phrase brought untold amounts of attention and news to AEW ....
Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho added yet another accolade to his long career when he captured the AEW World Championship, defeating Hangman Adam Page in the main event of AEW's All Out, available now for international FITE viewers. Little did Jericho realize that an unfortunate twist of fate, losing the AEW title belt just 24 hours later, would bring international media attention to himself and AEW. Although the belt was recovered, the amount of media blitz and Jericho's new "Little bit of Bubbly" catch phrase brought untold amounts of attention and news to AEW…and making news is the name of the game, baby. Thus, Jericho reigns supreme atop the FITE Rankings this week as AEW heads towards its debut on TNT on October 2nd in Washington DC.
CM Punk
It's been five years since CM Punk has competed into a professional wrestling ring, but with one sit-down discussion at Starrcast, he's one of the most talked about performers in the world. During FITE's Best in the World broadcast, Punk regaled a sold-out house in Chicago with stories from his wrestling career and may have even left the door open for a potential return to the ring one day. Whether that happens or not, Punk reminded everyone that he's one of the few personalities left who can change the fate of pro wrestling and enrapture everyone who watches it. That is enough to bring Punk back to the FITE Rankings, as the world witnesses a true window into the mind of the Best in the World.
Seth Rollins
Heavy lies the crown. WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins steps into the Clash of Champions PPV not only having to face the unstoppable Braun Strowman, but also having to survive alongside Strowman on the same show as the pair defend the Raw Tag Team Championship. With so many variables at play, Rollins enters one of the strongest tests of his title run to date. He'll have to compete at top form twice in the same night, co-exist with his most dangerous challenger and emerge victorious. This is an impossible map to navigate, even for the Architect.
Steve Austin
For a brief moment in time, the Attitude Era reigned supreme once again in World Wrestling Entertainment. This past week's edition of Monday Night Raw was bookmarked with Stone Cold Steve Austin once again raising hell and bashing beers. In a reflective moment, Austin told the New York City crowd how important returning to Madison Square Garden was to him and presided over the Seth Rollins vs. Braun Strowman contract signing. When AJ Styles and the O.C. decided to stick their noses into the situation, Austin dished out Stone Cold Stunners and showed the entire wrestling world what true star power looked like. Radiating like so few stars ever have, Austin turned back time, made fans happy and inspired others to step up to his level.
Cain Velasquez
The MMA Hall of Famer turned heads when he made his lucha libre debut at AAA's Triplemania, shocking everyone with how easily he stepped into professional wrestling. This Sunday, live on FITE, AAA will Invade New York at the Hulu Theater with Velasquez making his second-ever professional wrestling appearance. With the eyes of the world on him, Velasquez steps into an ultimate fight in trios action, teaming with Psycho Clown and Impact Wrestling Champion Brian Cage against Texano Jr., Taurus and Scorpion King. From the Octagon to the streets of NYC, this is what making news is all about – and AAA bringing its first event in NYC in 25 years is certainly newsworthy.
The Young Bucks / Lucha Brothers
Nick and Matt Jackson's feud against Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix may never truly be settled, but the two teams will be intertwined together after their cringe-worthy ladder match at All Elite Wrestling's All Out PPV. It was a match that spurred debate over its brutality and all out ridiculousness from a physical standpoint, one that will forever life in infamy. As FITE viewers internationally witnessed, the clash was a moment in time that was so brutal and so beautiful at the same time that even the combatants themselves admitted they went too far during post-match interviews. It is only fair that the two teams are tied together, as they will likely continue to battle until the end of their careers. The ladder match will forever exist as the moment where their rivalry ascended into legend, something that FITE viewers can re-live now.
Josh Barnett
The former New Japan and UFC star has cultivated an extremely unique and brutal new brand in Game Changer Wrestling's Bloodsport brand. With a physical, gritty version of professional wrestling combat not seen since the glory days of Japan's UWFi, FITE will be the exclusive broadcaster of the next volume of these ultimate battles, live from Atlantic City New Jersey. With Barnett as the window into this unique, underground version of professional wrestling, an old school form of combat rises again like a phoenix, a fresh, futuristic combat sports hybrid that you'll only see live on FITE.
Bayley
The WWE Smackdown Women's Champion has been a constant in the ebb and flow of professional wrestling, a hero who always stood for the greater good, looking to inspire with her victories. That is, until she shocked the world by attacking Becky Lynch and aligning herself once again with her longtime ally Sasha Banks. While the Bayley Buddies remain and Bayley still proclaims to be a "Hugger", the reality remains that her unblemished record in the eyes of the audience has been dented, perhaps beyond repair. An excellent tag match on Monday Night Raw now leads Bayley into battle against Charlotte Flair at Clash of Champions. From there, the door is wide open as to what the next twist in Bayley's road to greatness.
Cody
The second generation star has defeated Shawn Spears and now stands poised to become the AEW World Champion. After being at the center of the most emotional performances in AEW history, Cody will now challenge Chris Jericho at AEW's Full Gear in Baltimore. Before he can step onto that battlefield, Cody will also make history yet again, competing in the first-ever match on AEW on TNT, grappling against the very adept Sammy Guevara. For someone as focused and driven as Cody, the pressure is on, but he likely wouldn't have it any other way. One can't conquer the world without overcoming the greatest of obstacles. All roads lead to Cody's biggest singles bout in years, something that can only push him further up the FITE rankings.
By: Mike Johnson
Every week here at FITE, we feature the Top Ten ranked personalities in the world of professional wrestling. Unlike other combat sports, pro wrestling cannot be measured in just wins and losses, especially when the drama and excitement of the genre is specifically based around not just the physical performance, but the excitement level created by its combatants. Thus, our top ten measures the most newsworthy performers in the business, who's momentum drives not just their own career paths but the promotions they compete for.
Mike Johnson is the lead reporter for PWInsider.com and has been writing about professional wrestling since 1996. He can be found on Twitter @MikePWInsider and MikeJohnsonWrites.com.