WWE SHOCKER: Who Are the Top 5 Wrestlers in the WWE Right Now?

By Nick “Red” Conley

Seeking universal agreement on who the top five wrestlers in the WWE are is an impossible task, as every fan has their favorites and will base their decision off different criteria. The choices are purely subjective based on various factors. So my top five wrestlers are mostly based on microphone ability, talent in the ring, and ability to entice the crowd, both in a positive and negative way.

So here we go…..

Number 5: Kevin Owens

I struggled with this decision because Kevin Owens is relatively new to the WWE. Yes, he has showcased his talent week after week in NXT, but his introduction to the WWE is recent. However, WWE Creative must have believed he would achieve success immediately, especially since he was introduced and thrown into a feud with John Cena, the WWE’s golden boy. Owens looks like a veteran when it comes to wrestling, both in the ring and on the microphone. As soon as he appeared on Monday Night Raw weeks back, he captivated the audience even though many casual fans had no idea who he was. His ability to capture the crowd with his arrogance and complete disregard for the “gentlemen rules” in the WWE so early is impressive to say the least. Given John Cena’s controversial stature among fans in the WWE, many quickly gravitated toward Owens simply because he was challenging Cena and everything he stood for as a wrestler. I could tell you that is one of the reasons I initially took interest in Owens.

In addition to his microphone work, there is no debate over Kevin Owens talent. The guy is absolutely amazing in the ring, and for someone who is a little porky to say the least, he moves like Bray Wyatt and has a variety of wrestling moves at his disposal. He not only beat John Cena at his first pay-per-view, but he almost beat him a second consecutive time (I think he should have won, but that is just me). Clearly WWE Creative has big plans for Owens in the WWE by having him beat Cena. When Cena tried to shake his hand to congratulate him, he refused to act like the good guy and attacked Cena. Evidence of further disregard is last Monday Night Raw when Owens power bombed Machine Gun Kelly onto a table. Owens is really becoming the ultimate villain in the WWE, but one you cannot help but like. So all in all, Owens may have just recently made his debut, but he did so with a bang and there is no denying that this guy has talent.

Number 4: John Cena

I will be the first to admit that I am not a John Cena fan. I am outright tired of his same old gimmick and WWE Creative’s unrelenting favoritism toward Cena. Cena has been the top guy for the WWE for years, and it was not until last year when the WWE universe almost outright revolted over Creative’s refusal to allow someone else to be the company’s top guy. Creative has finally listened, to an extent, and has removed Cena temporarily from the main event picture vying for the World Heavyweight Championship belt. Rather, Cena has been fighting in the upper mid card, against guys like Rusev and now Owens.

Regardless of my dislike and the strong dislike of Cena among numerous fans, there is no doubt that he remains one of the WWE’s top superstars. Cena continues to attract a large following, generates an explosive response every time he enters the ring, and remains one of the best on the microphone. Just because WWE Creative creates a bad storyline and urges Cena to make the same corny statements over and over again, it is hard to solely blame Cena for that. He does really well with what he has. I will say that I have never been impressed with Cena in the ring, as he seems to only have a select few moves and does not throw his body around as recklessly as say Seth Rollins, Dolph Ziggler, or Dean Ambrose. Cena makes up for this with his microphone work and ability to connect to fans, particularly young fans. Plus, outside the ring, Cena is involved with various charities and continues to be the face of the WWE, like it or not. For the foreseeable future, Cena will continue to be a main feature in the WWE and booked strong.

Number 3: Bray Wyatt

So much can be said about Bray Wyatt. Few characters in the history of wrestling resemble that of Bray Wyatt. There is no denying that Wyatt is at the top or close to it when it comes to microphone work. Wyatt’s promotional videos are sometimes confusing, but incredibly unique, thought-provoking, and delivered superbly. In addition to his ability to play his character on the microphone, Wyatt is absolutely extraordinary in the ring. Like Kevin Owens, Bray Wyatt is a large individual, but that certainly does not stop him. He is quick, athletic, uniquely flexible, and has a variety of wrestling moves at his disposal. Wyatt also combines his wrestling style with creepy, eerie mind games against his opponents while in the ring. This is really what makes Wyatt unique and entertaining to watch, as you really never know what is going to happen next.

I think Bray Wyatt has the potential to be the number one superstar in the WWE, but he is unfortunately victim to poor bookings and incompetence among WWE Creative. Wyatt should be in the main event competing against the best of the best in the WWE, but WWE Creative has either kept him off air, utilized him as a fall guy against superstars like Roman Reigns or John Cena, and simply booked him against less than stellar opponents. Wyatt’s feud with Undertaker had potential, but Wyatt came out looking weak and no one expected Wyatt to win that match. Despite repeated flubs by WWE Creative, Wyatt still remains one of the top guys and that is primarily due to his personal talent. Some wrestlers are on top because Creative wants them on top. Not Bray Wyatt. He is on top solely because of Bray Wyatt. Again, there is no denying Wyatt’s talent and that he is a top wrestler, and maybe in a year or less he will be the top guy. Wyatt at the moment is entering a feud with Roman Reigns, so the outcome of this will be crucial to Wyatt’s progression as a top superstar or victim yet again to WWE Creative’s lack of imagination.

Number 2: Seth Rollins

At the moment, Seth Rollins is WWE Creative’s chosen top guy for the company. He is the World Heavyweight Champion, defeating Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar (kind of), Dean Ambrose, and others. Yes, he had some help for some of these, but he is still the champ. Individual talent wise, Rollins is one of the best. When he was on the Shield, I always thought he was more talented than Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns. On the microphone, Rollins is incredibly antagonistic, arrogant, and able to generate disdain on an almost universal scale. When Rollins’ music begins, the audience erupts in boos and anger. With the help of WWE Creative by pulling off one of the biggest surprises in years by having Rollins betray his Shield brethren, Rollins’ work since has kept the level of hatred at unprecedented levels. Rollins plays the weasel, high-maintenance diva like the best of them.

In addition to his microphone and backstage work, Rollins is one of the most talented wrestlers in the ring. He has an array of wrestling moves and executes them perfectly almost every night. Rollins also has the ability to make his opponents look like better wrestlers by his ability to carry a match if need be. What also makes Rollins unique is his willingness to put his body through absolute torment to make a match exceed expectations. Some of the most entertaining matches as of late have been Seth Rollins matches involving tables, ladders, and steel cages, as he is willing to go to the extremes. After these intense matches, Rollins is able to get right back up and usually shows up a day later on Monday Night Raw to fight again. Few can argue that Rollins gives 100 percent all the time and does a fantastic job doing it. WWE Creative made the right decision by rewarding him with the championship belt. The WWE Universe may not like Rollins, but you cannot deny he is riding high.

Number 1: Dean Ambrose

So my number one pick for the best wrestler in the WWE right now goes to none other than Dean Ambrose. Some may agree and others may disagree, but Dean Ambrose is a tremendous athlete. Similar to Bray Wyatt in that WWE Creative has not booked many victories for him over the last 6-8 months, Ambrose rose to the top by myself and solely as a result of his talent in the ring, on the microphone, and during backstage promos. Dean Ambrose has a tremendous fan following and certainly one of the top baby faces in the WWE right now. Following the breakup of the Shield, Ambrose morphed into this psychotic character, often dubbed as “the lunatic fringe,” but at the same time became a very likeable character. While Ambrose is still very much a lunatic, he adds a layer of humor in his feuds that resonate well with the fans. Ambrose’s delivery is really the primary reason fans not only stay interested, but thoroughly enjoy Ambrose’s character. Basically, Ambrose has become a cult favorite among fans, with some WWE analysts referring to him as the next Stone Cold Steven Austin.

I also think what sets Dean Ambrose apart is his willingness to lay everything on the line and put his body through extreme pain, similar to Seth Rollins in a way. However, I think Ambrose is willing to go that extra step. Some of the best matches in my opinion over the last year have been Seth Rollins versus Dean Ambrose. The two work well together and Ambrose is willing to receive any type of wrestling move, no matter how dangerous or painful it is. Similar to Rollins, he gets right back up and is ready to go.

Dean Ambrose’s future is bright in my opinion and he is the top guy in the company. The fans love him, he gives 100 percent all the time, and is only getting better on the microphone. He has the endorsement of the fans and other wrestlers alike. Plus, he is dating the beautiful Renee Young, so Ambrose has to be doing something right.

Honorable Mention: Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar

Now Roman Reigns could be the number 4 or 5 on the list, but Kevin Owens has really made waves in the WWE in his short time. Owens is only going to get better and his star power has nowhere to go but up. I think it is hard to argue that Reigns is more talented than Seth Rollins, John Cena, Bray Wyatt, or Dean Ambrose, especially when you are looking at the whole package. There is no doubt that Reigns is a star, but he has a ways to go to sell himself to the fans, particularly on the microphone. After all, he was the handpicked, chosen boy by WWE Creative to win the championship belt before the WWE Universe outright revolted. Brock Lesnar could be the top guy no doubt. However, whether it is because of the way his contract is structured or WWE Creative is unsure what to do with him, he is rarely on WWE programming. You cannot be the company’s top guy only participating in three matches a year.

So those are my picks for the top wrestlers in the WWE right now. What are your thoughts Ringside Report readers?

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