All Elite Wrestling's Kenny Omega has topped the Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 list for the second time. Omega's crowning puts him over a number of WWE's big stars and an impressive Indy roster.
Omega is an infamous competitor in the pro wrestling industry and has had a heavily decorated career. Omega currently holds two world championships in the AEW World Championship and AAA World Title.
As Pro Wrestling Illustrated's top singles wrestler of 2021, Omega has claimed the top spot once before in 2018. Over the course of his career, Omega has also received other PWI accolades including Match of Year, Feud of the Decade, and earned the No. 2 ranking on PWI's top 50 tag teams with Adam Page in 2020. Known for his extensive accomplishments in Japan and his performances across some of the biggest wrestling stages in the world, Omega has earned his top spot.
Aside from Omega, the top ten list includes Roman Reigns, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, Kota Ibushi, Jon Moxley, Will Ospreay, Finn Balor, Shingo Takagi, and Rich Swann. The PWI ranking evaluates the athlete's performances from July 1, 2020, to the end of June of 2021. Within that time, PWI examines the wrestlers in five major categories. The first examines what they have achieved, ranging from their overall win/loss record, championships, and any tournaments they have participated in and won. The other categories include their overall influence in their respective company, technical precision of matches and maneuvers, level of competition, and how active they are.
Within the allotted time, Omega has held championships for three major wrestling promotions. Omega held both the IMPACT World Championship and TNA World Title, which he lost to Christan Cage in late August. The loss didn't wound Omega, as he continues to dominate the wrestling industry with his two current championships reigns. Omega has held the AEW World Championship for almost 300 days, making him the longest-reigning champion in the company's short history. He also holds the AAA Championship, which he maintained in five successful title defenses in an impressive near 700-day reign.
As impressive as Omega is, the announcement of him taking the No. 1 spot has upset some fans who believe WWE's Roman Reigns should have come out on top. Reigns is currently in his second reign as the WWE Universal Champion, which he has had for over a year. Omega's ranking on top of Reigns isn't a surprise considering the number of matches Omega has had in comparison to Reigns. Both are dominant figures in their respective promotions, but Omega's performance in the past year has earned him the top spot. With Omega appearing to begin feuding with Bryan Danielson soon, he doesn't seem to be letting go of his place on top just yet.
Source: Pro Wrestling Illustrated