Top 10 best WWE Superstars of 2023
The beloved WWE superstars made a huge impact on the product and garnered the most beneficiaries, company has seen in years.
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(Clockwise from Top) Seth Rollins, Rhea Ripley, Roman Reigns and Iyo Sky (via WWE)
WWE and their superstars experienced a boom in 2023 and broke records everywhere they went. The fans were drawn to the product and thus increased the hype around professional wrestling. This period showed a resemblance to the Attitude Era, where WWF was extremely beneficial and was the hottest thing in business.
As much as the credit goes to the WWE superstars, a creative entity named Triple H is equally responsible for it. Ever since The Game has taken over the position of Creative Head, the company has soared high into the skies. As a part of this giant leap, 2023 was the first whole year to experience the grandeur.
The long-awaited return of CM Punk was brought to life in November 2023. While wrestlers-turned-actors Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and John Cena blessed the squared circle with their invaluable appearances. As one could see, these stars have moulded the base for WWE’s success, and the Top 10 figures who represented the company are as follows:
10. LA Knight
The fastest-rising star in WWE’s history was none other than LA Knight. The Megastar had a break-out year which made him one of the most beloved babyfaces. Knight’s popularity rose to its prominence due to his charismatic presence and the flawless hold over his microphone. His major feat this year was the SummerSlam Slim Jim Battle Royal victory along with a title shot at Roman Reigns‘ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Crown Jewel.
Knight began his year in a feud with Bray Wyatt, which culminated at Royal Rumble 2023. The Defiant One had sporadic appearances, but his stock went high in mid-year. Ever since Money in the Bank 2023, he has gained the fandom he deserves due to the passionate WWE Universe, appreciating his craft.
9. Becky Lynch
The Man Becky Lynch came out as one of the most successful female stars of the year. From extraordinary performances to weekly show-ups, Lynch unleashed herself in 2023. Becky started as a part of the tag team division alongside Trish Stratus and Lita. She managed to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Lita on an episode of Raw, but later her singles run was quite remarkable too.
Becky became a Grand Slam Champion after winning the NXT Women’s Championship. A few matches on the developmental brand brought eyeballs to that show with her storyline progressions. Later she went inside the WarGames structure for the second consecutive time in his career.
8. Jey Uso
The Main Event Jey Uso‘s rise to fame has been planned over the past few years and was inculcated in 2023. One half of the eponymous twins, Jey, started out the year alongside his brother, Jimmy Uso. The team even headlined WrestleMania 39 Night 1, although in a losing effort.
But his work was noticed, as he got heavily involved in The Bloodline storyline. The drama in his storytelling grasped the viewers, along with his celebrated accomplishment to pin Roman Reigns in over three years. He was even more renowned much later as a singles performer on Raw due to The Usos’ breakup. If not for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, Jey did manage to win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship with Cody Rhodes.
7. Roman Reigns
The most note-worthy figure of 2023 was The Tribal Chief Roman Reigns. Coming from a humongous 2022, this year experienced a dip due to his fewer appearances and even lesser title defenses. The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship did not change hands even this year to continue Roman’s reign.
The Head of the Table was offered a new design with a single belt for his championship. This commemorated his 1000-day reign with the title and solidified a legacy worth remembering. The Bloodline drama played a major role in spicing up the thing with Reigns this year. the betrayal of Jimmy Uso followed by The Usos’ breakup was tragic for Roman. But he ended the year on a quite decent note alongside Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman and Jimmy.
6. Sami Zayn
The most over superstar in the first half of the year was The Honorary Uce Sami Zayn. The Bloodline storyline took a deep turn and brought interest with Zayn’s addition to the mix. Moreover, his breakup was most celebrated by the WWE Universe as he was suffering under the wrath of their dominance.
The Underdog’s victory at WrestleMania 39 Night 1 was a sight to behold in its main event. The Canadian duo of Sami and Kevin Owens brought down tears to many wrestling fans all over the world. Ever since then, Sami has delivered at every instance, until the point he suffered injuries from his hard work. The end of the year did not see him consistently feature with WWE due to his break for a certain while.
5. Iyo Sky
Mrs. Money in the Bank 2023 Iyo Sky was one of the most looked-upon stars of 2023. Sky, being an essential part of Damage CTRL, gave her absolute best in the matches to establish herself as a top talent. Her hard work was rewarded with a Money in the Bank contract, which was transformed into a WWE Women’s Championship cash-in victory at SummerSlam.
The latter half of the year saw her title defenses with her heel faction’s assistance. But her happiness peaked when a Japanese reunion happened in Damage CTRL due to Asuka and Kairi Sane‘s entry. Sky has been appreciated throughout the year for her in-ring skills and an energetic aura of her own.
4. Rhea Ripley
The most lethal WWE superstar this year was The Eradicator Rhea Ripley. The face of the women’s roster has gained massive stardom due to her character work and sheer talent. Ripley displayed her gory aura and won the Women’s Royal Rumble match to capture the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 39. The title was soon turned into World Women’s Championship reciprocating with the World Heavyweight Championship design.
The undeclared leader of The Judgment Day ruled over the Monday Night Raw throughout the year. With her beloved “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, Rhea travelled places and won the hearts of the WWE Universe. The dominance she brought to the scenario was much needed for the women’s roster.
3. Cody Rhodes
The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes had a blast this year being the workhorse of WWE. Cody returned to the company after a long hiatus in mid-2022. The comeback of Cody was marked with his Royal Rumble victory and a chance to finish his story at WrestleMania 39 against Roman Reigns.
But the upset at Mania took a steep turn and began his trilogy with Brock Lesnar. The constant give and take with The Judgment Day solidified his dominance on Monday Night Raw. With a grand total of 100+ matches this year, Rhodes tops the list for being the workhorse with a 95% win ratio.
2. Seth Rollins
The Visionary Seth “Freakin” Rollins got back onto his tracks this year with his World Heavyweight Championship win. The inaugural title-holder capitalized on his nature and readily defended it like a true champion. Even his bouts before the title win were remarkable with the United States Championship in the mix.
A banger match at WrestleMania 39 against Logan Paul, Elimination Chamber bout and Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 performance were his highlights. But ever since his title reign, Rollins has given the best in all matches ranging from Finn Balor to Drew McIntyre. This year was none other than a treat for Seth.
1. Gunther
Last but not least, the record-breaking and arguably greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, Gunther. Entering the year with a mid-card title on his waist, he was set to conquer the wrestling world with his sheer dominance. The 454-day record of the longest IC title reign was broken by Gunther in 2023.
The Imperium Leader never loses his aura and lights up the room with his performance. Gunther became an inspiration to many in his approach towards his passion for wrestling. Nevertheless, the chest chops by Gunther reverberated over the year and took down his opponent to bow down to The Ring General.
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Parth Agnihotri
(597 Articles Published)