Weekly Pro Wrestling Rankings October 27
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.
1. Roman Reigns
Really, after the event of this week, who else could it be? WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, real name Joe Anoi'a revealed to the world this week that he has been living with leukemia since the age of 22 and that it has returned. It was one of the most shocking and emotionally numbing moments in the history of professional wrestling. Reigns has relinquished the championship and has gone home to attend to his health and his family, leaving a void that cannot be filled. While the wrestling world will scramble to carry on, the lone important story this week is Reigns' health and everyone at FITE sends our best wishes and hopes to the extended Anoa'i family. We look forward to your return to these rankings, Roman.
2. Nick Aldis
The National Wrestling Alliance celebrated its past and took a broad leap into the future at NWA70 live on FITE, but no moment was as shocking as the referee's hand coming down to count three when Nick Aldis stunned Cody and regained the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship. Their battle had been a fight for the ages, one that had left a path of destruction strewn across the Nashville Fairgrounds Arena. It was a throwback best of three falls encounter that saw great wrestling, vicious brawling and an all-out war of attrition, but in the end, Aldis stunned the city of Nashville into silence. He walked out Champion, which appeared to be the last thing anyone expected. History made, the NWA and Aldis now journey into the future together.
3. Becky Lynch
With WWE's first-ever all women's event Evolution set for this coming weekend, Lynch has been the centerpiece of the promotional and media campaign for the event in New York City. Her Last Woman Standing math against Charlotte Flair looks to be the heart and soul of the event, the match that will feature the most excitement and will likely receive the most time during the broadcast. For a talent who was often overlooked and sidelined creatively, Lynch has embraced her role as the best villain, not just in for the Smackdown women's division, but in all of WWE and Evolution may prove to be her crowning achievement.
4. Cody
Leave it to the son of Dusty Rhodes to know how to keep the attention on himself. After losing the NWA Championship on FITE, Cody made it clear on his social media that he was looking to the future. He made it clear he was finished with Ring of Honor, that Bullet Club was in his past and even touted that he might not even return to the NWA again when the clock strikes midnight on January 1st. In doing so, Cody has ignited the speculation on not just his future, but the future of his entire Bullet Club brethren. Where is Cody going? That mystery won't be solved tomorrow but the discussion and wonder surrounding Cody's future will keep fans guessing. That's the name of the game in professional wrestling. Cody's father would be proud.
5. Braun Strowman
The show, sadly, must go on. With the announcement that Roman Reigns was taking a leave of absence from World Wrestling Entertainment to deal with his health issues, the Universal Championship was declared vacant. That immediately put Braun Strowman into the position of now facing Brock Lesnar to crown the new champion at Crown Jewel. Strowman has been at the cusp of becoming the centerpiece of Monday Night Raw and this week, has never been closer. Unless something truly unforeseen happens. Strowman will soon be sitting atop the FITE Rankings, as champion.
6. Drew Mcinytyre
Over the last several weeks, the former ICW, EVOLVE and WWE NXT Champion has risen to the top 1% of the Monday Night Raw roster. Drew McIntyre has performed like a demon possessed, bringing a level of intensity and work ethic unseen in some time as he tore through the Raw roster. Over the last several weeks, McIntyre has been presented as not just a top villain, but as one trying to hunt Braun Strowman down, battling the "Monster Among Men" as an equal. With Strowman about to ascend to the top of WWE, he'll need an antagonist the audience believes can take him down. Drew has risen into that role and his story will continue to unfold in the weeks ahead.
7. Johnny Impact
This past week on Impact Wrestling, Johnny Impact set the tone for his championship reign with an excellent defense against Rey Fenix. It was a moment where Impact, as a promotion, felt progressive. The action, the story, the performances weren't something mired in the past but in the future. Impact has performed all over the world under a myriad of guises, but this past week, it all came together with Impact defining not just the championship but the promotion itself.
8. Ronda Rousey
All signs point to the WWE Evolution PPV closing out with WWE Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey defending against Nikki Bella. It will be a major defining moment for Rousey, who has headlined UFC PPV events in the past, being permanently entrenched in the WWE time capsule as the main eventer of the first all-women's WWE event. Add in that the personal nature of the storyline between Rousey and Bella and you have a special moment waiting to happen.
9. Willie Mack
Willie Mack may be the longest and hardest working overnight success in modern day professional wrestling. While it may seem that he's burst on the scene out of nowhere, the reality is that Mack has been primed for success for some time. In recent weeks, he debuted for Impact Wrestling at Bound for Glory on FITE and at the NWA 70, he captured the resurrected NWA National Championship. Mack is quickly becoming one of the definitive talents we'll see on FITE and beyond in the months ahead.
10. Toni Storm
The British star has shined brightly, but never as radiant as this past week when she defeated Japanese legend Meiko Satomura in the semi-finals of the Mae Young Classic. For the 22-year old Storm, it was the moment where her dreams of success truly became reality. Now signed to WWE's NXT UK brand, Storm steps into the finals of the tournament at WWE Evolution. Whether she wins or not, she has become entrenched as one of the best female performers in the world.
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.