15 Best WWE Wrestlers Of 2023, Ranked ·

05 Jun 2024, 00:00

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With 2023 coming to a close, it offers the perfect opportunity to look at the top 15 wrestlers of the year in WWE. Of course, there have been many others who have impressed who haven't made this list, such as Chad Gable, Shinsuke Nakamura, Drew McIntyre, Bianca Belair, and more, but this just goes to show the overall high quality of WWE this last year. This will look at the win/loss records for those top stars, in addition to exploring their best match and accomplishment over the last twelve months too. WWE has created some big stars in 2023 who will likely continue momentum into 2024.

2023 has been quite a noteworthy year for WWE, with an ongoing sale of the company and some big PPVs overseas which have all delivered in a major way. There have been quite a few standout names this year, all of whom are battling to be considered the best wrestler of the year.

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WWE had a strong year when it came to its Premium Live Events. Which one tops the list as the best show of 2023?

Some of these are here due to great booking, brilliant in-ring work and simply due to their strong connection to the audience. The long list of candidates on here shows how strong a year it has been for the Triple H-led WWE main roster.

UPDATE: 2023/12/13 17:43 EST BY ANDREW KELLY

With 2023 coming to a close, it offers the perfect opportunity to look at the top 15 wrestlers of the year in WWE. Of course, there have been many others who have impressed who haven't made this list, such as Chad Gable, Shinsuke Nakamura, Drew McIntyre, Bianca Belair, and more, but this just goes to show the overall high quality of WWE this last year. This will look at the win/loss records for those top stars, in addition to exploring their best match and accomplishment over the last twelve months too. WWE has created some big stars in 2023 who will likely continue momentum into 2024.

15 LA Knight Broke Out In 2024

LA Knight Was Super Popular But Could've Achieved More

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
22-14	Money In The Bank Ladder Match (Money in the Bank 2023)	Main Eventing Crown Jewel

LA Knight had a tough start to 2023, being involved in a terrible Mountain Dew Pitch Black match and going on to get hardly featured. However, in the lead up to Money in the Bank he was getting more mic time and began being presented like a star. He may still not have done much to find some title success, but his character and microphone work has been stellar.

A feud with The Miz was far better than it had any right to be, and he went on to challenge Roman Reigns for the top prize in WWE, showing just how far he climbed in the year.

14 Kevin Owens Gave Consistent, High Quality Matches & Promos

Kevin Owens Played A Vital Role In The Bloodline Storyline

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
19-12-1	Vs. The Usos (WrestleMania 39)	Main Eventing WrestleMania

Kevin Owens’ momentum may have dropped off a little as the months have gone on, but he is still one of the better wrestlers of the year. Things kicked off in the Undisputed WWE Universal Title scene, main eventing the Royal Rumble with Roman Reigns and involving himself in the brilliant Bloodline storyline.

He main evented night one of WrestleMania 39, and whilst his Undisputed Tag Title reign with Sami Zayn was a little underwhelming, matches against Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa and The Judgment Day were absolutely fantastic.

13 Asuka Helped Carry The SmackDown Women's Division

Asuka's 2023 Return Lit A Fire Underneath Her

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
15-7-3	Women's WarGames (Survivor Series 2023)	WWE Women's Championship

Asuka returned to WWE at the Royal Rumble, bringing a new gimmick and new momentum. She won at Elimination Chamber in a dominant fashion, and has been competing for titles on PPVs ever since. Her feud with Bianca Belair was good, and their matches at WrestleMania, Night of Champions, and triple threat including Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam all impressed in their own way.

Asuka’s reign as world champion was solid, and despite her being in WWE for several years, she has remained over and fresh, especially with a new presentation.

12 Dominik Mysterio Was One Of WWE's Best Heels In 2023

No One Got Heat Like Dominik Mysterio

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
23-19-2	Men's WarGames (Survivor Series 2023)	NXT North American Championship

Dominik Mysterio gets some criticism for his in-ring work, and to be fair he is a great way off many of the polished and experienced names on the roster. However, he has more than made up for it with his character work this year.

He is a heat magnet, getting the largest boos out of perhaps anyone on the entire roster. His feud with his father Rey Mysterio was brilliant, and their WrestleMania match was a blast. Things have been a little slow after that, but he is still one of the best chicken poo heels on the roster. Mysterio's heat has gotten bigger ever since his NXT North American Title reign too.

11 Rey Mysterio's Age Didn't Get In The Way Of A Great Year

Rey Mysterio Is Still Performing To A High Level

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
12-15	Vs. Dominik Mysterio (WrestleMania 39)	United States Championship

Even though there was some belief that Rey Mysterio may hang up the boots this year, he has gotten a new surge of life which has made him look 10 years younger. Mysterio’s feud with his son Dominik got fans on his side in a huge way, and his formation of the new LWO has been fun.

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His involvement in the Bad Bunny feud was good, and he has looked very sharp inside the ropes in 2023. He has helped elevate the likes of The Judgment Day and Santos Escobar too. Mysterio would get his hands on championship gold once again, winning the United States Title.

10 Becky Lynch Found Her Form Eventually In 2023

It Took Some Time, But Becky Lynch Regained Her Status As A Top WWE Star

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
18-9-1	Vs. Trish Stratus (Payback 2023)	NXT Women's Championship

Becky Lynch’s involvement in the women’s division this year has been hugely important, with her helping to keep the division afloat in non-title feuds - something which has been a rarity in recent years.

Feuds with Bayley and Trish Stratus have been pivotal to keeping the undercard of the women’s division relevant, and she has (especially in the Stratus feud) found her edge once again as a babyface. A win of the NXT Women's World Title had gotten gold back around her waist too before she lost it to Lyra Valkyria.

9 Brock Lesnar Was Full Of Life In The First Half Of 2023

Brock Lesnar Is Still A World Class Performer

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
2-4	Vs. Cody Rhodes (SummerSlam 2023)	Defeating Cody Rhodes

Despite being considered a part-timer, Brock Lesnar has certainly put in a shift compared to his usual schedule in 2023. This year, Lesnar has competed at six PPVs which is more than previous years, putting in some great performances too.

His match against Bobby Lashley was short but fun, he helped to make Omos look great at WrestleMania, and he has put his all into a feud with Cody Rhodes when he may have otherwise put in less effort to some of his storylines and matches in the past. Despite an ever-rising age, Lesnar looks in tip-top condition.

8 Rhea Ripley Is The Face Of The Women's Division

Even With A Poorly Booked Reign, Rhea Ripley Shone

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
19-3-1	Vs. Charlotte Flair (WrestleMania 39)	Winning Royal Rumble (From Number 1)

Rhea Ripley has been the star of The Judgment Day faction since it began, and her dominance in 2023 has been a great sight to behold. She started things off by winning the Royal Rumble from the number one position before going on to defeat Charlotte Flair in a match of the year contender at WrestleMania 39.

Her reign as Women's World Champion has been incredibly dominant thus far, with decisive wins over the RAW women's division, all the while putting in a great shift from a character perspective.

7 Sami Zayn's Year May Have Dipped, But It Was Still Great

Sami Zayn Was Incredibly Popular In 2023

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
20-19-1	Vs. The Usos (WrestleMania 39)	Main Eventing WrestleMania

There have not been too many better than Sami Zayn in 2023, even with an underwhelming latter half of the year. He entered the year as the most over star on the roster, and him turning on Roman Reigns kicked the year off with an all-time great moment.

He has main-evented Elimination Chamber (in his hometown of Montreal, Canada), WrestleMania and Night of Champions in big-time title matches, and even became one of the few to score a victory over Roman Reigns (albeit in a tag team match). The latter half of the year wasn't as impressive, but he was so good early on that he is still one of the best of 2023.

6 The Bloodline Carried WWE Through The First Half Of 2023

The Bloodline Storyline Was Tremendous For Most Of The Year

Roman Reigns has continued to break records as world champion
Jey Uso has broken out as a top singles star
Solo Sikoa destroyed John Cena

It is only fair to include all members of The Bloodline in one entry, as without one another they wouldn’t have had such a huge year. The Usos and Roman Reigns both main-evented individual nights of WrestleMania, and they also broke records with title reigns too.

Their storyline has continued to be a major highlight on WWE programming, with it still feeling like a cut above any other story in professional wrestling today. All members have had a chance to shine in 2023. Despite Reigns having a part-time schedule, he oozes class and main-event stardom when he is on screen. The storyline might've petered out a bit, but it doesn't change the fact that 2023 has still be great for the faction.

5 Iyo Sky Rose To The Top Of The Women's Division

Iyo Sky Got Better And Better In 2023

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
11-17-1	Vs. Bianca Belair (Backlash 2023)	WWE Women's Championship

Damage CTRL were receiving a fair amount of criticism from fans due to their constant losses, but over 2023 the members have been getting better presentation, and Iyo Sky in particular has seen a surge in momentum. Sky had a big WrestleMania match involving Trish Stratus, Lita, & Becky Lynch, had a great title battle against Bianca Belair at Backlash, and won the Money in the Bank briefcase in a wonderful moment.

Her increased popularity and show-stealing performances all led to her cashing in the briefcase and winning the WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam 2023, later becoming the de facto Damage CTRL leader.

4 Damian Priest Won A Lot In 2023

Senor Money In The Bank And A Tag Team Champion

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
29-19	Vs. Bad Bunny (Backlash 2023)	Money In The Bank

The Judgment Day overall has had a great year, and as 2023 has progressed, Damian Priest has just been getting better and better. He would score the biggest victory of his career as he won the Money in the Bank ladder match, and would also become one half of the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions alongside Finn Balor. Perhaps even more than Money In The Bank however, Priest impressed the world with his main event at WWE Backlash against Bad Bunny which benefitted from an absolutely electric Puerto Rican crowd.

Priest looks primed for a world title reign at some point, and it will be deserved after having such a strong 2023.

3 Cody Rhodes Has Been On Fire All Year In 2023

Cody Rhodes Hasn't Let Setbacks Stop A Red Hot Run

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
24-5	Men's WarGames (Survivor Series)	Royal Rumble

Cody Rhodes has become one of the most over babyfaces in WWE for quite some time. His return and victory at the Royal Rumble event was great, and fans were rallying behind him in a big time WrestleMania main event against Roman Reigns.

Even a so-so feud with Lesnar hasn’t seen his popularity dwindle, with him still getting huge reactions from the fans and putting in great performances both on the mic and in the ring. He would even recieve a big rub as Lesnar shook his hand. Rhodes has continued to be red hot through a feud with Judgment Day too.

2 Seth Rollins Has Delivered Banger After Banger In WWE

The Best In-Ring Worker And Inaugral World Heavyweight Champion

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
27-5-1	Vs. Finn Balor (SummerSlam 2023)	World Heavyweight Champion

Seth Rollins has fired on all cylinders in 2023, being one of the best from a charisma and connection to the audience perspective, whilst also still proving himself to be one of the best in-ring performers on the planet.

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He was phenomenal inside the Elimination Chamber, his match against Logan Paul at WrestleMania was sports entertainment brilliance, and he became the first winner of the new World Heavyweight Championship too. He has put in a big shift as a workhorse champion, working hard to make the title mean something in feuds with Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Balor.

1 Gunther Is WWE's MVP Of 2023

A Record-Breaking IC Title Reign And World-Class Matches Put Gunther On Top

Televised 2023 WWE Win/Loss Record	Best Match Of 2023	Best Accomplishment
19-8	Vs. Drew McIntyre Vs. Sheamus (WrestleMania 39)	Longest Reigning IC Champion Ever

After a great 2022, Gunther’s first half of 2023 has carried on in the same manner. He truly feels like an unbeatable champion who is playing his role to perfection.

His record-breaking Intercontinental Championship reign has seen yet another match of the year candidate, this time as WrestleMania 39 against both Sheamus and Drew McIntyre, and he has carried on from that with some strong momentum and star power, not to mention his record-breaking longest-time ever spent in a 30-person Royal Rumble performance too. Gunther's reign has continued to impress and he feels like a major star after becoming the longest-reigning IC Champion of all time.

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15 Best WWE Wrestlers Of 2023, Ranked

2023 has been quite a noteworthy year for WWE, with an ongoing sale of the company and some big PPVs overseas which have all delivered in a major way. There have been quite a few standout names this year, all of whom are battling to be considered the best wrestler of the year.