2024 was a whirlwind for professional wrestling. The industry was shaken to it's core. Vince McMahon and other former WWE executives underwent federal investigation for sexual abuse amongst other things. Rossy Ogawa was removed from Stardom after contract tampering, which he then proceeded to all but confirm that by founding MARIGOLD, a new Joshi promotion. These two pieces of information came in January and February. Oh and wrestling legend Hiroshi Tanahashi is now the president of NJPW a few months later. Despite this chaos, the talent in these companies were firing on all cylinders. Cody Rhodes finished his story a year late, Bryan Danielson's full time career has come to an end, Nigel McGuiness returned to in ring competition. I've spent the year chronicling as much of the wrestling world as I could get my hands on. "Wrestling in" has been a difficult journey for me as a writer and as a fan. Regardless, I'm incredibly proud of the project and I'm hoping to continue this into 2025. Lets celebrate the best of wrestling in 2024.
Match of the Year 2024 AEW ALL IN LONDON
Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title
Up to this point Swerve was on a legacy defining run in 2024. Swerve had fantastic matches against Adam Page, Konosuke Takeshita, Samoa Joe and Will Ospreay. Bryan Danielson had several match of the year contenders by March against Okada, Zack Sabre Jr. and Eddie Kingston. A huge year for both of these men. It does not surprise me that when my wrestler of the year of 2022 collides with my wrestler of the year for 2023. Bryan Danielson announced leading up to this match that he was putting his career on the line.
Moments from this match are burned into my memory. Swerve literally brushing off Danielson's knee strike. The desperation in Danielson's bloodied face as he reached out to his wife and children ringside. What made this match so special was that the result was truly up in the air as a viewer. Swerve was on a monster run and was white hot. Danielson is a living legend, but was never shy about the fact that he did not want to be a world champion in AEW, and that he was planning on retiring from full time wrestling this year. I think I went into the match thinking it was Swerve walking out as champion, and a crying Danielson left in the ring to get his flowers. We were instead gifted the beautiful moment of Danielson, and his family celebrating together in front of over 46 thousand people. If you have somehow managed to avoid watching this match, what are you doing? GO WATCH IT
Runner ups:
NJPW New Beginning in Osaka (2/11) Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
AEW Double or Nothing (5/27) Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale
Marigold Summer Destiny (7/13) Iyo Sky vs. Utami Hayashishita
AEW ALL IN (8/25) Mariah May vs. Toni Storm
WWE Bad Blood (10/5) CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
Faction of the Year 2024
DEATH RIDERS
Jon Moxley, Marina Shafir, PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, & Wheeler Yuta
This is also my Tag Team of the Year, The Death Riders have been unstoppable. Following the collapse of Blackpool Combat Club and the removal of Danielson. Death Riders have taken control of AEW. The mythos of BCC was to elevate the roster by encouraging them to be stronger and leading by example. To Moxley this was a form of Diplomacy, that led to the AEW being over run with egomaniacs. Danielson kept him and the others soft. Moxley and the Death Riders took AEW by the throat and have left every challenger to their reign in a puddle of blood. After vanquishing Bryan Danielson, Death Riders proceeded to choke him out with a plastic bag over his head. As the year came to an end, they poured cleaning fluids onto Orange Cassidy's bloodied face on more than one occasion. Claudio, PAC, and Yuta have been the trios champions since August, when they won a ladder match at All In. Yuta's confliction over demolishing Danielson and eventual falling in line was a great sub story in this whole narrative. The X-factor of this group has been Marina Shafir, She was the first to stand beside Mox, She has been integral to some of their victories. Shafir has shown that she stands alongside the other members, especially after choking out Jay White on multiple occasions, with her unfortunately named "Mothers Milk" choke hold. Mox has seemingly depleted AEW of it's resources. I'm not sure who or how they will be defeated at this rate.
Runner Ups:
The Elite: Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Kazuchika Okada, & Jack Perry
The Judgment Day: Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan & Dominick Mysterio (AND ONLY THESE NAMES)
No Quarter Catch Crew (Charlie Dempsey, Tavon Heights, Myles Borne & Wren Sinclair)
Women's Wrestler of the Year 2024
Roxanne Perez
There is one word to summarize Roxanne Perez: Consistent. I don't think there was another woman who wrestled as consistently as Perez who didn't have at least one bad match. Perez became a two time NXT Women's Champion back in April of 2024 by defeating Lyra Valkyria. In modern NXT where a lot of the talent have only been wrestling for a few years at most, she has elevated the likes of Lola Vice, Jaida Parker, and Thea Hail. She has been a definitive staple in NXT throughout the entire year. When NXT premiered on the CW network, Giulia challenged for the World Title, and many thought this was it for her reign. Thankfully Cora Jade returned to aid her former rival. Jade and Perez have become a powerful duo for the last two months. Roxanne seems prepped for the main roster any day now, but I'm okay with her staying around in NXT a bit longer.
At only 23 years old she has cemented herself as one of the best NXT Women's champions in the history of the brand, She stand comfortably alongside the likes of legends such as Asuka, Charlotte Flair, Mercedes Moné, and Shayna Baszler. Perez' nickname of The Prodigy is no joke. Her star is possibly the brightest no matter what trajectory her career goes.
Runner Ups:
Mercedes Moné
Willow Nightingale
Toni Storm
Maika
Men's Wrestler of the Year 2024
Will Ospreay
A very close second for Wrestler of the Year, Will Ospreay has shined brighter than his peers this year. Ospreay officially joined AEW in February and flew to new heights. Ospreay's NJPW run reached its finale with a great triple threat match against Jon Moxley and David Finlay, a huge fight against Kazuchika Okada, and a brutal 5 on 5 cage match with the United Empire against Bullet Club War Dogs. Ospreay in AEW felt inevitable in the best way. At AEW Revolution, Konosuke Takeshita and Ospreay had another match of the year contender. A mind boggling, brain chemistry altering encounter with Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty. After becoming International Champion, Ospreay continued to have breath taking matches.
The American audience adores this man, and quite frankly its hard to blame them. Ospreay oozes passion for wrestling. Chanting along to his entrance theme, OSPREAY OSPREAY OSPREAY is lightning in a bottle. You could literally watch any match he's had this year and you wouldn't be disappointed. His encounters with Ricochet have been brilliant, His former protégé Kyle Flecther has been made a star, thanks to the feud between them. Ospreay even quelled the M(aga)JF story. What can't he do? I'm certain in 2025 more gold and more glory lies ahead for him.
Runner ups:
Swerve Strickland
Jon Moxley
Zack Sabre Jr.
Konosuke Takeshita
Wrestler of the Year 2024
Mariah May
2024 was the year of Glamour, all thanks to Mariah May. She debuted on the first dynamite of the year. She arrived enamored by the magnificent Toni Storm. By the time March had rolled around Mariah was attached at the hip with Storm. Mariah was Timeless' Under Study, learning everything she can from her. When it came time for the Owen Hart cup, Mariah was a clear winner in the making. She overcame Saraya, Hikaru Shida, and Willow Nightingale to make it to Wembley Stadium. When she finally won the tournament her celebration went sour very quickly as she struck her mentor down viciously. Leaving Toni in a pile of blood and tears. This moment will live on in AEW history forever. Every moment Mariah was on the screen in 2024 was must watch. Her story was filled with love and betrayal. Her year had so much kissing they were told to stop. This is what professional wrestling is about people!
Mariah went to Wembley Stadium and dethroned Toni Storm to become AEW Women's World Champion. During this fantastic match, She slapped her own mother across the face, and to celebrate she kissed Nigel McGuinness' head in pure joy. Directly causing his return to the ring later that night. Mariah has been a gift to AEW and television as a whole. Aside from her mentor, Mariah has had great matches with Willow Nightingale multiple times this year, She's even showed her extreme side by defeating Anna Jay and Thunder Rosa in brutal contests. She even defeated her ex girlfriend Mina Shirakawa. Mariah has single handily wiped the floor with the women's division. If she keeps up this run its very possible that this time next year, I will be saying the same thing about her again. Its been the year of Glamour. Long may she reign!
Runner ups:
Mariah May
Mariah May
Mariah May
No one else.
2024 was filled with triumphs and tragedies. I've spent the entirety of this year tracking every match I watch. It might be the most wrestling I've watched since I was 16. I'm so excited to continue chronicling 2025. "Wrestling in" has been a difficult project for me, but it has encouraged me to expand my artistic and writing capabilities in ways I never could've predicted. I've published more articles than I ever have before. It has helped me realize a growing passion of mine. Lets hope 2025 is even brighter than 2024.
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