Folks, it’s that time of year again when Pro Wrestling Illustrated unveils its highly-anticipated list of the top 500 wrestlers—and this year, the top 10 is shaking the wrestling world more than a steel cage match! The 2024 PWI 500 is out, and the man wearing the crown at #1 is none other than the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes. That’s right, folks, the son of a son of a plumber finally reigns supreme after a stellar year in the spotlight. This is Rhodes’ first time topping the list, and it’s been a long time coming after he hit a career-best 6th place in 2022. He’s finally finished the story.
But wait, there’s more! AEW comes in hot at #2 with Swerve Strickland—yes, you read that right. The former AEW World Champion had a banner year, earning him a well-deserved silver medal after an impressive rise in the ranks. He’s leapfrogged over some big names, folks, and become one of AEW’s top guys. And in third place? It’s the aerial wizard himself, Will Ospreay, jumping to his highest placement yet after finishing 7th in 2021. Ospreay’s New Japan and global performances have been nothing short of legendary.
Now, let’s talk about the rest of this elite top 10:
- Seth Rollins, last year’s PWI 500 #1, comes in at fourth after a year as WWE’s go-to guy on Raw. The man’s been everywhere, folks.
- Tetsuya Naito, representing New Japan Pro-Wrestling, lands at fifth, giving NJPW a serious presence on the list.
- Damian Priest has had a monster year, folks, and it shows. He’s earned his highest placement ever at sixth, becoming a major force in WWE.
- MJF? He slips one spot down to seventh from last year’s sixth, but hey, when you’re the “Salt of the Earth,” any placement in the top 10 is still golden.
- Jon Moxley, a former #1 in 2020 and last year’s third place finisher, drops to eighth. A tough year for the Death Rider, but still a force to be reckoned with.
- GUNTHER, the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion, takes ninth, falling from fourth last year. Still, folks, that dominance can’t be denied.
- Closing out the top 10, we’ve got a blast from the past in Mistico—the CMLL sensation hits the top 10 for the first time since 2007. Talk about a comeback!
With WWE, AEW, NJPW, and CMLL all making strong showings, this year’s PWI 500 top 10 reflects a global dominance of talent, and trust me, it’s one for the history books.