Just Plain FilthyThe 2022 INDY MOVEMENT Top 50
Updated: Dec 28, 2022
Since 2020 we spend our entire year watching independent wrestling studying it taking notes and creating a database. At the very end of the year we break down who we think are the top 50 independent wrestlers of that year. Our criteria for what we look for is as follows: Win/ Loss record, Championships, Match Quality and Buzz. So everyone might not agree with our choices or placement of certain talents but as much as it is a numbers game is also very much opinion based. I guess it's good that there's so many of these lists all over the place.
Let's get into it!
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50 Funny Bone
(17 W / 20 L) Funny Bone
2022 was the best year Funny Bone has had in quite some time. Brutal matches, great feuds, singles or Tag bouts Funny Bone deff made a dent this year. Currently the POW! Champion as well as the Assault Wrestling Alliance Merciless champion. Notable matches against wrestlers such as Kidd Bandit, Vinnie Massaro and Warhorse
49 Otis Cogar
Previously unlisted
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Vinnie Massaro, Matt Tremont, Sawyer Wreck
48 Ace Romero
Currently the Limitless World champion and part of Chaotic Wrestling Tag Team Champions (The Unit)
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Alec Price, Ninja Mack and Mike Bailey
47 Dezmond Cole
Currently the VPW New York State champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Bryan Keith, Channing Thomas and Charles Mason
46 Hyan
Currently the New Texas Pro Women's champion and Reality Of Wrestling Women's champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Mysterious Q, Sumie Sakai and Vertvixen
45 MV Young
(17 W / 14 L) MV Young
This past year MV Young has went had to head with some of the toughest opponents the indie scene has to offer as well as competed in a few more promotions and came outbon top. MV Young is currently the Enjoy Wrestling champion. Noteable matches against wrestlers such as Isaiah Broner, JD Drake and Grim
44 Delta
Currently the Melbourne City Wrestling Women's champion & half of both Riot City and FWA Tag Team champions
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Jessica Troy, Gore and Tarlee
43 Mick Moretti
Currently the Battle City Heavyweight champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Adam Brooks, Slex and Taka Michinoku
42 Shane Mercer
Previously ranked number 41 (oooh 1 spot)
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Neil Cutter, Calvin Tankman and Toru Sugiura
41 Alex Kane
Winner of Fighting Spirit Heavyweight Grand Prix
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Bryan Keith, Darius Carter and Jackson Stone
40 Victor Analog
(24 W / 25 L) Victor Analog
2022 has definitely been Victors best year in wrestling. He competed for a handful more promotions, win a few title and deff came into his own as far as character goes. Victor is currently the PWA Regional Heavyweight champion and Zero1 Junior Heavyweight champion. Notable matches against wrestlers such as Spencer Powers, Davey Vega and Sage Philips
39 Dark Sheik
Previously unlisted
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Taya Valkyrie, Allie Katch and Lufisto
38 Laura Di Matteo
Previously unlisted
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Rhia O’Reilly, Alex Windsor and Skye Smitson
37 Josh Bishop
AIW Absolute champion, C4 Undeground champion and BLP Midwest champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Erick Stevens, Delirious and Dominic Garrini
36 Charles Mason
Currently the House Of Glory Crown Jewel champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Lince Dorado, Ken Broadway and 1 Called Manders
35 B3CCA
( 22 W / 24 L) B3CCA was previously ranked number 10. B3cca has had one hell of a year recreating herself going from fan favorite, to tagging with Alec Price to becoming an international popstar. She is now one of the bigger names in the north east wrestling scene. Notable matches against wrestlers such as Alec Price, Lufisto and Masha Slamovich
34 Sawyer Wreck
Currently the Mayhem On Mills champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Mad Man Pondo, Matt Tremont, Joey Janela
33 Rip Byson
Previously unlisted
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Brandon Williams, Slade and Rickey Shane Page
32 Ninja Mack
Previously unlisted
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Dante Leon, Kevin Blackwood and Joey Janela
31 Tony Deppen
Previously unlisted
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Jordan Oliver, Titus Alexander and Minoru Suzuki
30 Jaden Newman
(39 W /17 L) While Jaden Newman hasn't held many titles this year, his match quality and the opponents he has faced this year is enough to land him in the middle of the list. Over the summer Jaden Newman had one hell of a feud with Alec Price and defeated Ashton Starr, Myron Reed, Billie Starkz, Adam Priest and Kevin Ku to win the 2022 Scenic City Invitational Tournament.
29 Dante Leon
Previously unlisted
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Ninja Mack, Christian Carter, Alex Zayne
28 Casey Katal
Previously unlisted
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Brandon Kirk, Reed Bentley and Joel Bateman
27 Mysterious Q
Currently the Reality Of Wrestling champion & RCW Champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Gino's Medina, Davey Richards and Billie Starkz
26 Anthony Greene
Currently the Stand Alone Wrestling Skywalker champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Go Shiozaki, Stallion Roger's and Myron Reed
25 Aaron Mercer
( 19 W/ 14 L) Aaron Mercer has been a gem and a staple of the Texas independent scene for the last few years wrestling for companies such as Red River, IHWF, MPX, New Texas Pro and current holding championships in both Wrestlerave and Heart Of Texas. Mercer has had great matches against the likes of Mysterious Q, T Ray and Shota.
24 Dimitri Alexandrov
Currently the Wrestlerave Deathmatch champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Kidd Bandit, Aaron Mercer, Sawyer Wreck
23 Alex Shelley
Currently the Prestige Wrestling champion & PWR Remix champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Masha Slamovich, Trey Miguel and YAMATO
22 Effy
Previously ranked 18 last year
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Jon Moxley, John Wayne Murdoch and Bryan Keith
21 Vito Fratelli
Currently NTLL Heavyweight champion & WWZ Heavyweight champion and Lucha Pro champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as TJ Perkins, Lil Cholo and Che Cabrera
20 Kidd Bandit
(22 W / 35 L) With just under a year and a half of In ring experience is crazy to see how over and how ubiquitous Kidd Bandit has become. If you are a top indie they have worked for you this year. While the wins and losses column don't stack up to most of the people on the impact theyit definitely has. Bandit is currently the Pandemonium Pro TV champion and has had great matches against the likes of Funny Bone, Malakai Black and Adam Brooks.
19 Brandon Kirk
Currently the H2O Danny Havoc Hardcore champion & ICW American Deathmatch champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Casey Katal, Danny Demanto and Matt Tremont
18 Jordan Oliver
Previously ranked 26 last year
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Matt Cardona, Manders, YAMATO
17 Vinnie Massaro
Currently the PWR Openweight champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Funny Bone, MV Young and Bryan Keith
16 Jake Something
Currently the AAW Heavyweight champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Masha Slamovich, Gnarly Garvin and Mat Fitchett
15 Viva Van
( 27 W / 18 L) It is hard not to say that 2022 has been the year of Viva Van career, because it absolutely has been. Great bouts, All the belts and staking her claim as one of the top ladies on the indies. Currently she is holder of the Big Time Wrestling Women's championship, PCW Ultra Women's champion and the FSW Women's championship. Ranked #50 in the PWI Women's 150 and great matches against Dark Sheik, Sumie Sakai and Sandra Moone.
14 Jacob Fatu
Currently HOG Heavyweight champion and PCW Ultra Heavyweight & Tag Team champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Nick Aldis, Hammerstone and Homicide
13 Atticus Cogar
Currently the No Peace Underground champion and Circle 6 champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Zachary Wentz, Vincent and John Wayne Murdoch
12 AC Mack
Currently the OWA Heavyweight champion and IWE Mayhem champion.
Notable matches against wrestlers such as MV Young, Effy, Atticus Cogar
11 Masha Slamovich
Currently the CFU Undisputed champion and ETU Key to the East champion.
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Mike Bailey, Matt Tremont and Billie Starkz
10 Yuki Yoshioka
(121 W / 27 L) What a record in 2022. Yuki Yoshioka had one hell of a year in Dragongate. He's done great as a trios wrestler with partners Dragon Dia and Midoka Kikuta but has also had a very good series on singles match this year as well. Yuki held the Dragongate Tag team championships with Dragon Dia and even won the "King Of The Gate 2022" later becoming Open The Dreamgate champion. Noteable matches against wrestlers like Shun Skywalker, Kota Minoura and YAMATO.
9 Davey Vega
Currently AAW Heritage Champion and half of United Glory Tag champions and PWX tag champions
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Masha Slammovich, Mike Bailey and Davey Richards
8 Alec Price
Currently Empire State Wrestling Interstate champion and SUP Bonestorm champion.
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Ace Romero, Jaden Newman and Ortiz.
7 Yuka Sakazaki
Currently TJPW Princess of Princess champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as Miu Watanabe, Miyu Yamashita and Masha Slamovich
6 Billie Starkz
Currently Girl Fight champion and Black Label Pro champion
Notable matches against wrestlers such as B3CCA, Yuka Sakazaki and Maki Itoh
TIME FOR THE TOP FIVE !
5. Darius Carter
( 35 W / 12 L) This year has been great for Darius Carter Last year he ranked number 44 and this year hes at the 5th spot. Darius has essentially ran the NY/ NJ scene ask this year and as far as titles go nobody on the list has held more championships this year than Darius Carter. He has held the ACE Diamond, BCW, PIB Grand Prize and currently holds Catalyst Championship, PWM championship and has held the WOW championship multiple times. Notable matches against wrestlers as Tessa Blanchard, Ken Broadway and Travis Huckabee.
4. Calvin Tankman
(34 W / 29 L) Calvin Tankman was ranked number 23 last year and what jump this is.2022 was jam packed full of big matches for him as well as a few title wins. He's held the Midwest Territory championship, BLP Heavyweight championship and is your current FU Heavyweight champion, DPW National chamion and half of your MLW Tag Team champions. Notable matches against wrestlers like Kevin Ku, Alec Pricev and Bryan Keith
3. John Wayne Murdoch
(31 W - 34 L) John Wayne Murdoch was everywhere in 2022. JWM was ranked number 1 last year and still remained in the top 5ethis year on a list full of great talents. Last year he had 119 matches so it's hard to compete against but this year he traveled to England, Japan and all over the United States. JWM is currently Horror Slam Deathmatch champion and has also held ICW American Deathmatch champion, GCW Tag Team & Deathmatch championships. Notable matches against wrestlers like Justin Kyle, Alex Colon and Hoodfoot.
2. Bryan Keith
(40 W / 32 L) Bryan Keith has been all over the states this year having banger after banger. It moved him from number 11 last year to number 2 this year. Working with indie staples such as New Texas, Action, West Coast Pro, GCW and Limitless. Bryan is currently the New Texas Pro champion (over 500 days), VIP Heavyweight champion, Freelance champion and Timebomb Pro champion. Notable matches against wrestlers like Isaiah Broner, Shane Taylor and Mysterious Q.
1. Akira
( 56 W / 46 L) 2022 has definitely been the best year in Akira's career going from unlisted on last years list b to number 1 this year. He proved to the world he can go with the best of the best in not just Deathmatch wrestling as well as regular wrestling. Akira has wrestled in Canada, Australia,Germany and all over the United States. Akira has held PPW Heavy Hitters chsmpiondhip, FML TV championship and currently holds the NFW championship. Notable matches against wrestlers like John Wayne Murdoch, Colby Corino and Kevin Ku.
Thank you for reading this long article. Feel free to messages on social media and make sure to share this to show your friends if you found it enjoyable.
- TJ
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