An unforgettable year for pro wrestling and one that has provided a springboard for the sport to continue to flourish into 2023. Here, DAZN looks at the year's best performers as we hand out mutliple awards to those who provided the best moments of 2022.
Wrestler of the Year – Will Ospreay
Honourable mention – Roman Reigns, Jon Moxley, FTR, Seth Rollins
The British star was at his impressive best between the ropes in 2022, and after appearing multiple times for AEW during their Forbidden Door feud with NJPW, Will Ospreay received superb American exposure.
Appearing in classic matches against Orange Cassidy, Dax Harwood, and Death Triangle under Tony Khan’s supervision, Ospreay delivered impeccably.
Add this to stunning matches against Okada and Shingo Takagi in Japan, it’s easy to see why Ospreay is highly regarded and this year’s most standout performer.
Match of the Year – Will Ospreay vs. Orange Cassidy, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door
Honourable Mention – Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins, Gunther vs. Sheamus, Anarchy in the Arena, Briscoes vs. FTR, Roman Reigns vs. Logan Paul, Will Ospreay vs. Okada, Josh Alexander vs. Mike Bailey
A standout year for pro wrestling from bell to bell with numerous matches heavily considered for this award.
Orange Cassidy walked into Forbidden Door with fans still unsure why he’d been selected to go against Will Ospreay, but once the action got underway, the New Jersey man demonstrated incredible work to prove that he’s capable of going against anyone.
Following several superb matches, Ospreay and Cassidy were under no pressure to knock it out the park, but that’s exactly what happened as they went all out in front of a sold-out Chicago crowd at the United Center.
Fears that Cassidy's comedy character would struggle against a performer like Ospreay were quickly erased as the pair put on a flawless classic that went in so many directions before Ospreay took the win.
PPV of the Year – AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door
Honourable Mention – WWE Wrestlemania, AEW Full Gear
The excitement when Forbidden Door was first announced was quickly extinguished when a number of issues, mostly linked to injuries, threatened to hurt the appeal of the experimental PPV.
Despite losing several top stars including CM Punk and Bryan Danielson, those responsible for ensuring the show’s quality pulled together and delivered a memorable PPV that hit hard inside the ring.
Will Ospreay’s classic with Orange Cassidy stile the show, but the event was also remembered for multiple matches possessing high quality including Jon Moxley’s AEW world title win against Hiroshi Tanahashi, Claudio Castagnoli’s AEW debut over Zack Sabre Jr, and Pac’s super All Atlantic title win.
Storyline of the Year – The Bloodline’s dominance
Honorable Mention – CM Punk/MJF rivalry, MJF’s title win, Cody Rhodes’ WWE return, Steve Austin’s comeback
Keeping the storyline award reduced to items that were originally intended to happen on screen, it’s fitting that wrestling’s most dominant performer, Roman Reigns, is the worthy recipient.
Vince McMahon’s retirement and the fall out at All Out dominated headlines in the wrestling media, but it’s right that this award goes to a winner who performed the story the way it was intended to be told.
Reigns will go down as an all-timer and if his run with The Shield was a memorable period in wrestling, his Bloodline performances have only enhanced his profile and legacy.
A dominant and believable faction, Reigns has become wrestling’s MVP and with multiple plots still available in this story, it remains the most gripping tale in WWE.
Whoever ends Reigns’ incredible spell as champion, perhaps Cody Rhodes or The Rock, they’ll have major boots to fill following Reigns’ epic reign.