Kenny Omega is Big in Japan

Everybody who comes to Cageside Seats has an opinion about what’s going on in pro wrestling – Wrestler Rankings are where YOU let us know YOURS.

Cast a vote in the comments. Give us the four performers you think entertained or impressed the most in the last week, and feel free to talk about why. And/or vote for your top performer in our poll.

We also have the outcome of last week’s voting, the results of which make up our annual competition for the Cageside Cup, given to our Performer of the Year.

This week, we’re voting on nationally televised and internet streaming pro wrestling shows that took place Jan. 8-14 — Raw, Dark: Elevation, Dark, NXT, Dynamite, Fusion, Powerrr, Impact, SmackDown, Rampage, Level Up, NJPW Strong, Impact’s Hard to Kill PPV, and anything else I’m forgetting.

But first, here’s the outcome of last week’s voting, and how those results changed our annual competition for the Cageside Cup.

Everything about this guy just seems like a bigger deal when he’s in Japan, you know?

• The events of Jan. 4, 2023 in the Tokyo Dome account for 60% of our latest Top 10. In addition to the new IWGP United States champ, there’s his 6.25 Star dance partner, the new IWGP World Heavyweight king, the reigning IWGP Women’s champ & her next challenger, and the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight titleholder.
• A new TNT champ was crowned in his hometown, and is the highest charting non-NJPW wrestler in these Rankings.
• WWE sent a former IWGP Intercontinental & World champ to work with The Great Muta. He sucked up some mist, picked up a win, and finished sixth.
• The other WWE representation came from the young man who kept WWE’s U.S. belt, and a guy who got to enjoy some popcorn with the Tribal Chief.

CThe CCWR: 2022 – 23, Week 40

1. Kenny Omega
2. Kazuchika Okada
3. Darby Allin
4. Mercedes Moné
5. Will Ospreay
6. Shinsuke Nakamura
7. Hiromu Takahashi
8. KAIRI
9. (tie) Austin Theory
9. (tie) Sami Zayn

Points in our weekly Rankings determine the ongoing annual one — which will determine who wins the Cageside Cup next April. Full details on rules and scoring HERE.

Where the Aerial Assassin and the All-Atlantic champ bumped the Tribal Chief and Absolute out of the Top 10…

The Cageside Cup Performer of the Year Standings – through the Week ending Jan. 7

1. Sami Zayn – 132
2. Jon Moxley – 122
3. MJF – 83
4. Wardlow – 56
5. CM Punk – 54
6. Gunther – 48
7. Dax Harwood – 41.5
8. Claudio Castagnoli – 38
9. Will Ospreay – 35
10. Orange Cassidy – 32.5

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Ready to do it again? You can always check the “how to” here if you need it, or ask a question in the comments. But don’t be afraid to dive in! You give us clicks and comments, we’ll take it from there.