Cream Of The Crop: Top 25 Wrestlers in the Asian Pacific (First Quarter 2019)

Shawn takes a closer look at the top talents in the Asian Pacific and ranks the Cream Of The Crop–oh yeah!

Male Wrestling in the Asian Pacific is dramatically different than what is seen in women’s scene.  There are freelance wrestlers among the men, however these wrestlers are usually developing talent which stick to a single promotion.  Promotions throughout the Asian Pacific participate in each others events which provide variety in talent.  Very few Japanese wrestlers outside of Dragon Gate participate in the Asian scene.

While women enjoy the benefit of veterans touring throughout Asia on a regular basis, men do not.  Some promotions began self teaching based on old WWE VHS tapes.  As a result, grades are lower on average for the men.  Readers may believe that I have some kind of man crush on Oriental Wrestling Entertainment (OWE).  However, OWE recruited 98% of their talent from Shaolin Kung Fu schools while other promotions are self taught or have limited exposure to outside talent for training.

I will separate Dragon Gate from the rest of Asia.  With the experience and talent exposure these wrestlers have, it would be unfair to judge them on the same scale.  This includes the Stronghearts, most of whom are experienced Japanese wrestlers.

The following are the most likely wrestlers American fans will see within the next three to five years.

1. Andrew ‘The Statement’ Tang: (GMPW) (56/100) One of the most influential wrestlers in Asia.  He started a Korean promotion and now is a co-owner of Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling with Ema Sakura. He continues to actively wrestle and frequently tours Asia and Japan.  Good technical and in ring performances and his students are quickly rising up the ranks.  He may wrestle for American promotions, but like Ho Ho Lun will probably never sign contracts with those promotions due to his role in Asia.
2. Achilles Ben: (OWE) (53/100): WOW.. Just WOW, how else can you describe a person that just shows up to your gym and has IT oozing all over?  He has a great body physique that teenage girls will drool over.  He has the charisma to convince a sloth to move at normal speed. Did I mention he is trained in Shaolin and mixes wrestling moves too?
3. Ho Ho Lun; (HKWF) (52/100): Another very influential person in Asia.  His vision of professional wrestling started a majority of the dream. He has helped multiple promotions get started as well as train and actively wrestles.  Very technical in ring and as a booker, he gets top notch shows regardless of venue.
4. T-Cool Tang Huaqi: (OWE) (52/100): If OWE ever fails, they could always make a boy band.  Another good looking kid that teen girls will place posters of on their walls.  T-Cool actually does some cool Kung Fu in a fashion that looks like high speed on video.  Witnesses have assured me, these moves are normal speed and they can put The Flash to shame. He also mixes wrestling moves well.  If you have a daughter, stock up on paper towels to wipe off the drool.
5. Baliyan Akki (MKW) (52/100): Many fans of wrestling in Asia may be shocked, but this Indian born bad boy is technically sound in ring.  He mixes high flying with a sound ground game.  He isn’t a boy band member, but he’ll attract the girls too.  I haven’t seen any promos done with him, but his in ring is worthy of praise.
6. Gao Jingjia: (OWE) (51/100): Did I mention OWE’s potential to start a boy band? Here is yet another one.  This one was quickly gaining the attention of top level wrestlers in NJPW with his ability to mix top level acrobatics, Kung Fu, and wrestling.  He was performing moves that have never been seen in professional wrestling. He was injured in 2018 which slowed him down, but the fact CIMA took so much time working with him during rehab is a testament of what the future brings.
7. ‘Wild Wolf’ Fan Hewei (OWE) (51/100): Amazing acrobatics and aerial moves. Fan Hewei has also gained a broader use of the ground game.  When it comes to ‘selling bumps’ and ring psychology (rare now days), he is the man.
8. Zombie Dragon (MKW) (51/100): ZD is an African American wrestler from Georgia, however he has embraced Asia.  He is the best character in Asia, probably in the world today.  He is the 2018 Independent wrestling’s top character winner.  Imagine the darkness of Kevin Sullivan, mixed with the foreign mist of Kendo Nagasaki, and touched up with a modern day high flyer.  He is exciting and intimidating at the same time.  He has built a reputation throughout Asia.  I would absolutely love the day he returns to the United States.
9. Caveman Ugg (PWA Champ) (50/100): This bone carrying heavyweight is one of the adorable menaces in Asia.  He has a violence to him similar to that found in the U.S. and yet he mixes it well with a comedian level of naivety.  He is fun like George the Animal Steele, carrying a giant bone and tasting the turnbuckles.  Every comment begins and ends with UGH and nothing in between.  Extremely fun to watch and has a great power game.
10. ‘Little Monk’ Zhao Yilong (OWE) (48): This is another WOW character.  He is VERY SMALL for a wrestler, but has a great Buddhist monk character.  He also has a powerful neck to perform flips without his hands. Zhao also has a head arsenal with battering ram power that will entertain fans for a long time.  This isn’t all he has though, he also has high flying, acrobatic, and Kung Fu moves that keep fans attention.  His lovable character will by the idol of kids globally.
11. Matty Wahlberg (PWA Aus) (47/100)
12. Robbie Eagles (PWA Aus)(47/100)
13. Jackson Noisy (HKWF) (47/100)
14. ‘Dashing Swordsman’ Duan Yingnan (OWE) (47/100)
15. Shaukat (MyPW/AWGC Lt Champ) (46/100)
16. ‘Master Class’ Michael Su (MKW) (46)
17. Aiden Rex (SPW) (46/100)
18. The Commando (OWE) (46/100)
19. General Guan Zhao (OWE) (46/100)
20. Michael Morleone (NHPW Champ) (46/100)
21. Mick Moretti (PWA Tag Team) (46/100)
22. VooDoo (HKWF) (45/100)
23. Big Sam (MKW/ Champ) (45/100)
24. Dr. Gore (PWRC) (44/100)
25. Joker (NTW) (42/100)
26. Bad King Kazuya (NTW) (41/100)
27. A-Yong-Go (NTW) (41/100)

Top Americans wrestling in China

These are in no grading order. Each has a role to play in their promotion’s development as pro wrestlers and teaching the American style of wrestling.  They all have outstanding character concepts, but their primary purpose is training and exposing Chinese talent to American style wrestling.

1. Jack Manley (Whirlwind Gentlemen)  (OWE)
2. Remy Marcel  (Whirlwind Gentlemen) (OWE)
3. Clutch Kucera (Bonus Boys/Real Money Brothers) (OWE)
4. Sugar Brown (Bonus Boys/Real Money Brothers) (OWE)
5. Jakob Austin Young (JAY Cafe) (OWE)
6. Hyperstreak (MKW)
7. Uncle Money (MKW)

Categories graded; Using the STEPF EN MIC scale.

Storytelling (1-12), Toughness (1-12), Experience (1-12), Promo (1-12), Fan Involvement (1-12),  Endurance (1-12), Mentorship (0-4), In Ring (1-12), and Character Creative (1-12)

The Rating scale;

• Score of 90  +/- 5 pts: World Legends in the sport
• Score of 80  +/- 5 pts: Always Main Event/World Renown
• Score of 70  +/- 5 pts: Upper Midcard/Main Event
• Score of 60 +/-  5 pts: Midcard to Upper Midcard; Some flaws
• Score of 50 +/-  5 pts: Early to Mid card now; Developing
  Score of 40 +/- 5pts: Fast Rising stars/older veterans begin decline.
• Score of 30 +/-  5 pts: Average Development/Veterans getting old.
• Score of 20 +/- 5 pts: Needs major development/past time to retire.