Seth Rollins Reacts To The Shield’s Top Three Are In PWI 500 List: Watch
Pro Wrestling Illustrated is a magazine that’s been around for a long time and talks about professional wrestling. It’s like the Wrestling Observer in some ways, as it also gives out awards and ranks wrestlers every year.
They’ve just released their list of the top 500 wrestlers for 2023, and no surprises here, Seth Rollins is at the top. Pro Wrestling Illustrated has a history of making these yearly lists, and they just revealed the one for 2023.
But there’s a difference with Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s rankings compared to the Wrestling Observer. PWI’s rankings are more focused on what happens in the wrestling storylines.
Today, PWI released its top 500 list for the year, which includes wrestlers from all over the world. This list doesn’t just look at the big wrestling companies; it also includes wrestlers from places like IMPACT (Josh Alexander, #9), MLW (Alexander Hammerstone, #18), NOAH (Kaito Kiyomiya, #29), Dragon Gate (Shun Skywalker, #33), DDT (Kazusada Higuchi, #55), NWA (Tyrus, #58), and AJPW (Kento Miyahara, #68).
Seth Rollins, the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion, is at the very top of this list, which is a big deal in his career. He started the year with a big feud against Logan Paul at Wrestlemania, and in May, he became the world champion for the fourth time at Night of Champions.
The PWI Top 500 ranks wrestlers from all over the world, not just in WWE. They judge wrestlers based on how well they perform in the ring, their character work, and how much they’ve impacted the wrestling business over the past year. From that point of view, Seth Rollins easily earned the top spot.
Seth Rollins also posted a photo on social media of the famous Shield fist, a nod to his past.
Here are the top 10 wrestlers from the PWI 500 list:
1. Seth Rollins: The WWE World Heavyweight Champion who has been a big part of Raw in 2023.
2. Roman Reigns: The top attraction in wrestling today and the WWE Universal Champion.
3. Jon Moxley: He might not be a champion, but he’s been working hard in AEW.
4. Gunther: He’s an up-and-coming main-eventer and the longest-reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion.
5. Hijo Del Vikingo: Known for his high-flying and acrobatic style, he’s in the 5th spot.
6. MJF (Maxwell Jacob Friedman): He’s the reigning world champion in AEW, sitting in the 6th position.
7. Kazuchika Okada: He’s in the 7th spot for his work in NJPW and AEW.
8. Orange Cassidy: The international champion of AEW.
9. Josh Alexander: The only wrestler from Impact Wrestling on the list, he’s in the 9th position.
10. Cody Rhodes: He’s seen as the next big star in WWE and is in the 10th spot. He came back strong after a long feud with Seth Rollins in 2022.
What do you think about The Shield members topping the list this year? Do you have a favorite moment involving The Shield? Share your thoughts in the comments!