From Scott Hensley: For the 4th year in a row, I’ve compiled my top 100 professional wrestlers in the Mid to North Georgia region. ...
From Scott Hensley:
For the 4th year in a row, I’ve compiled my top 100 professional wrestlers in the Mid to North Georgia region.
2018 was an interesting year for the area filled with graduations to bigger opportunities, lots of debuts, many veterans and newcomers stepping in to fill holes left from retiring and leaving stars, and an emotional goodbye to SFCW owner Charles Anschutz.
My criteria this year was wrestlers who wrestled approximately 10 matches or more in the state of Georgia in 2018 with categories for judgment being Total overness, wrestling ability, entertainment ability, potential, hustle, and peer respect.
As always, please feel free to disagree. This list only represents my opinion and I’m just as human as anyone else so there’s things I don’t know, things I have different opinions on, and some things may just flat out be mistakes.
If you want to be considered for my list then this year(I can always update it) or next year - then please message me. If you don’t know who I am then I likely don’t know who you are. If I know who you are then I probably thought you didn’t work enough matches in the state, I think the people included are better by the criteria or I’ve made a mistake.
I chose not to include people like Kyle Matthews or Gunner Miller due to inactivity. I have “graduated” Anthony Henry(who DID have 10+ matches in Georgia), Austin Theory, Odinson, and Fred Yehi from the list.
Lots of new names on the list, which is exciting. I hope people can feel rewarded with recognition and challenged to move up as many have done over the years!
Some of the numbers are neat to see. I’ve never charted it out or referenced previous years before. You’ll see some numbers actually correlate to something and others clearly demonstrate that the guy probably got some sort of random ranking from me because I know he contributes but I’m not super familiar with them.
If a guy has stayed at the same place for years and years and isn’t doing anything new or interesting, then his ranking likely stayed the same or fell from last year to this year.
Key:
Ranking, Name, (2015 rank, 2016 rank, 2017 rank - spots moved up since last year)
1. Corey Hollis (4, 4, 6, +5) - Hollis adds more than any other guy according to my criteria. He’s as hatable as they come and will never be seen laughing it up with fans. He’s a true heel. Maybe THE true heel of Georgia wrestling.
2. Slim J (7, 10, 9, +7) - North Carolina and PWX got a taste of what Georgia has been able to see for years. Slim ages like fine wine and just keeps getting better. He has tremendous mat wrestling ability and defies gravity and maybe biology with his high flying and contortions.
3. AC Mack (NA, 51, 31, +28) - “HUSH!” Mack has seized the top spot more than any other wrestler in Georgia in 2018. He’s quietly added size and has a presence that can’t be forgotten. He’s a guy that I hope can graduate from this list by 2020.
4. Billy Buck (13, 29, 17, +13) - I never dreamed I could boo Billy Buck but with Team TAG, he’s become an obnoxious and confident veteran that continues to have emotion inducing matches. He’s one of many veterans that stepped up when many others stepped out.
5. Ike Cross (NA, NA, 36, +31) - Talk about a guy who has stepped up. The sky is the limit for Cross who combines ridiculous athleticism with power and a contagious charisma.
6. Logan Creed (53, 37, 33, +27) - Creed is yet another veteran guy that has proven he’s a main event guy to every promotion within the state and he’s a guy that just keeps putting in the work and getting results.
7. Joey Lynch (61, 22, 10, +3) - Lynch started 2018 with a rough injury but has pressed on to become a singles and tag team attraction. Lynch won the 2018 Scenic City Invitational and has continued to travel the country.
8. Sal Rinuaro ( 6, 7, 8, +0) - Sal is one of the last vets standing from the 1990’s who is active on a weekly basis in Georgia wrestling. The fact that he didn’t move up isn’t a knock on him - it’s a testament to his continued commitment to perform at the high level he does.
9. Kevin Blue ( 45, 46, 15, +6) - Another guy that has continued to improve year after year. As part of Team TAG, he elicits emotion and has built momentum in Georgia.
10. Joe Black (NA, 23, 47, +37) - Big jump for a super talented guy that has been given the ball at AWE.
11. Chip Day (5, 9, 7, -4) - Chip will tell you that 2018 was not his year. He’s still one of the best workers in the state though. He consistently has hard hitting, fast paced and exciting matches.
12. Tyson Dean (21, 36, 19, +7) - Dean remains a solid force in the scene and has grown even more important to it as a trainer at the Good Brothers Dojo.
13. Shane Marx (8, 14, 14, +1) - One of the staples of PCW continues to ALWAYS be one of the top guys on any event. He can make you love him or hate him… or maybe even love to hate him.
14. Simon Sermon (19, 20, 30, +16) - How many active Georgia wrestlers can say they worked for Dusty Rhodes? Sermon will tell you he “just points at his butt”… BUT anyone that has seen him can tell you he does so much more than that.
15. QT Marshall (NA, NA, 21, +6) - Another veteran who will always get a huge reaction out of any crowd. He’s the kind of guy who makes every opponent better and as the trainer of the One Fall Power Factory he has a lot of knowledge to pass on, as well as relationships with ROH and WWE.
16. O’Shay Edwards (NA, NA, 67, +51) - He’s still pretty new to wrestling despite not being a super young guy. He’s a powerhouse of a man who has cemented his spot as a top contender. He’s jumped up the list due to his hard work inside and outside of the ring over the past year.
17. Cyrus the Destroyer (56, 39, 16, -1) - He had a strong year that included main events and debuts outside of his home promotion of GPW. He had a fun big man match with PCO at the 2018 Scenic City Invitational. He’s derailed with an injury for now but just wait until he comes back.
18. Alan Angels (NA, NA, 94, +76) - No one worked harder to establish himself in this area in 2018. He’s added an upper body, shines with personality wherever he goes, and has work that’s fun to watch.
19.Josey Quinn (NA, NA, 22, +3) - He continues to transform his body and has branched out more this year with a win at the Great Southern 8.
20. Elijah Evans (Debut) - He’s debuting on the list after being a staple of the Carolinas. He’s become a force with The Syndicate at PWX but he’s also an extremely valuable hand at the Georgia events that he’s been working including One Fall and Georgia Premier Wrestling.
21. Geter (54, 35, 32, +12) - He’s a huge athletic guy who continues to build on an impressive body of work with a variety of different opponents. Wherever he goes, he matters.
22. Seth Delay (16, NA, NA) - Welcome back to an absolute treasure of the Georgia scene. Delay is a relatively young veteran guy that is always fun to watch and one of the last remaining active remnants of NWA Wildside. He and Rinuaro are extremely valuable assets to promotions that are building newer and younger talent - and need veterans who can work with those guys.
23. Cody Vance (Debut) - a debut for this up and comer from the One Fall Power Factory. He’s got a great look and is gaining the experience to go with it. He’s already a top guy at several promotions but has a lot of potential to keep getting opportunities inside and outside of the area.
24. Mikael Judas (9, 40, 35, +16) - Another stable veteran force still in amazing shape and still plugging away. He’s worked for major promotions and will be found at the top of almost any card he’s on.
25. Stryknyn (34, 30, 39, +14) - He’s become a guy that fans absolutely believe in at APW and SFCW.
26. Jacob Ashworth (57, 89, 45, +19)
27. Adrian Hawkins (NA, NA, 20, -7)
28. Bobby Moore ( 38, 34, 50, +22)
29. Michael Stevens (41, 32, 53, +24)
30. Bill the Butcher (74, 75, 29, -1)
31. Sean Legacy (Debut)
32. Rick Michaels (Debut)
33. Matt Sells (Debut)
34. Zac Edwards (42, 33, 54, +20)
35. Ray Fury (87, 76, NA, NA)
36. Blacklist Uno (36, 56, 44, +8)
37. Marcus Kross (Debut)
38. Matt Lynch (70, 47, 48, +10)
39. Jaxson Cassel (Debut)
40. Adrian Armour (62, 42, 43, +3)
41. Chris Spectra (NA, NA, 97, +56)
42. Se7en (NA, NA, 68, +26)
43. Dani Jordyn (Debut) - ***First Female I’ve Ever Included!***
44. Owen Knight (46, 50, 57, +13)
45. Kevin Ryan (Debut)
46. Ashton Starr (NA, NA, 49, +3)
47. Xander Ramon (Debut)
48. CB Suave (47, 62, 46, -2)
49. Shaggy (49, 71, 52, +3)
50. Cletus (48, 49, 51, +1)
51. Griff Garrison (Debut)
52. James Bandy (Debut)
53. Fry Daddy (75, 53, 82, +19)
54. Brian Kane (58, 54, 55, -1)
55. Ace Haven (63, 65, 56, +1)
56. Slade Porter (Debut)
57. David Ali (Debut)
58. Lee Johnson (Debut)
59. Damien Bennett (NA, 83, 88, +29)
60. Brad Cash (99, 93, 69, +9)
61. Talon Williams (84, 59, 61, +0)
62. Chip Hazard (72, 52, 60, -2)
63. Joey Sparkz (NA, NA, 74, +11)
64. Bobby Hayes (33, 27, 66, +2)
65. Bobby Flaco (Debut)
66. Shane Noles (NA, NA, 70, +4)
67. Dark Mon (NA, 104, NA, NA)
68. Prince Apollo (NA, 72, NA, NA)
69. Matt Gilbert (NA, 90, 100, +31)
70. Jordan Kingsley (Debut)
71. Johnny Nixx (NA, NA, 103, +32)
72. Chris Crunkk (86, 78, 75, +3)
73. Torque (85, 48, 58, -15)
74. Tetchi Makuji(NA, NA, 64, -10)
75. Austin Jordan (Debut)
76. Kenji Brea (94, 106, 76, 0)
77. Sunny Daze (Debut)
78. Pain (82, NA, 81, +3)
79. Dax Anthony (NA, NA, 83, +4)
80. Drew Blood (NA, NA, 71, -9)
81. Gil Quest (NA, NA, 95, +14)
82. Ray Ray (76, 61, 77, -5)
83. Aiden Wright (NA, NA, 93, +10)
84. Dominique Stuckey (Debut)
85. Romeo (Debut)
86. Chris Nelms (NA, 85, 102, +16)
87. Tyler Rivera (Debut)
88. Josh Wolverton (Debut)
89. Brian Blaze (81, 91, 96, +7)
90. Bobby Popham (NA, 79, 80, -10)
91. Tommy Maserati (NA, NA, 99, +8)
92. Ryan Rembrandt (Debut)
93. Lamar Phillips (69, 69, 98, +5)
94. Vary Morales (Debut)
95. Brandon Whatley (Debut)
96. Scott Mayson (Debut)
97. Erik Havok (Debut)
98. Dynamic Dexter (Debut)
99. Stevie Ray Frost (Debut)
100. “Chop Top” Hoss Michaels (Debut)
