B/R Wrestling Awards 2023: Ranking WWE's 10 Best Men's and Women's Wrestlers

Few years have been more important for WWE than 2023. Following the merger of WWE and Zuffa into one sports entertainment brand TKO, Triple H permanently took over creative duties .

TV ratings are consistently high. WWE is breaking attendance and gate records continuously. Everyone wants to see what WWE will look like under new management.

While WWE is not a perfect product week to week, the product is hotter than it has been in years, especially because of the talent on the roster.

Many Superstars have stepped up to raise their game. While Roman Reigns remains a top name, stars like Gunther, Seth "Freakin" Rollins, Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn have risen to challenge him.

Rhea Ripley stands atop a division including Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Iyo Sky and Asuka that is growing deeper each year.

The following are the top 10 men and women that helped this rise in WWE based on their impact on the business, championship legacies and overall performance.

Men's Nos. 10-6

10. "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio

Judgment Day dominated Monday Night Raw on multiple levels, but two men stood out from the pack. One was Dirty Dom. He was the only male member of the stable to win a single title, capturing the North American Championship twice.

He showed his continued growth in the best matches of his career to date against Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee. The future looks very bright for The Ex-Con.

9. Kevin Owens

The Prizefighter has been one of the most reliable stars in WWE over 2023, though his best work was in tag team action with Sami Zayn. KO and Zayn's tag title run was the best of any team in WWE.

His best friend has overshadowed him in moments, but KO still delivered in big singles moments, including his challenge of Roman Reigns in January and a great late-year SmackDown run.

8. LA Knight

The Million Dollar Megastar went from manager to world title contender in short order. His feud with Bray Wyatt to start the year caught the attention of many, even in defeat, and he carried that momentum through sheer charismatic performance.

While Knight's run has not paid off in gold yet, no one has been a bigger success story in 2023. He is the next big star and will find lasting success in 2024.

7. Damian Priest

The Archer of Infamy has become the top man in Judgment Day. After an unforgettable battle with Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico, he capture the Money in the Bank briefcase, looming over the World Heavyweight Championship ever since.

He has won tag team gold twice in the year, but his cash-in has lingered to 2024, not allowing him to fully break out from the group. He and Dirty Dom would need to escape Rhea Ripley's shadow to truly reach the top of the ranks.

6. Jey Uso

While Jey has teased a singles run before, he finally felt like his own star in 2023. No one could have predicted the absolutely monumental fan movement that he has brought to Monday Night Raw, away from his brother Jimmy.

However, he still has not won the singles gold that signifies he is a true top act. He held tag team gold twice in 2023, but maybe 2024 will allow him to solidify his solo run.

Women's Nos. 10-6

10. Chelsea Green

The Hot Mess was the centerpiece of the women's tag team division in 2023. While the division is heavily understaffed, Green has committed to her role and made the most of her limited spotlight following her 2023 return to WWE.

She may not be taken seriously as a solo act long term but can remain a reliable persona on the roster for years to come.

9. Lyra Valkyria

The current NXT women's champion has risen up the ranks throughout 2023. Becky Lynch came to NXT and put her over in a way that should stick for years to come.

The Valkyrie should remain the face of the gold brand in 2024, though it may not be long before she is called up. She is one of three women in NXT that have almost outgrown the brand.

8. Charlotte Flair

The Queen has not been her most dominant self in 2023, but she was integral in solidifying Rhea RIpley at WrestleMania 39. It was a brutal battle that ranks amongst the top matches of the entire year.

She is one of just two women to hold the SmackDown Women's Championship in 2023, and if she had not taken an extended hiatus after her WrestleMania loss, she likely would have ranked higher.

7. Bayley

The Role Model has often been overlooked amongst her peers. Many wrote her off as a top star coming into 2023, but Bayley has absolutely delivered throughout the year as the voice of Damage CTRL, the stars of the SmackDown women's division.

She has especially impressed in the second half of the year, telling an engaging story of her own group slipping through her fingers. It could lead to a career year in 2024.

6. Tiffany Stratton

The Center of the Universe was a revelation in 2023. By the time she won the NXT Women's Championship, it felt like she needed to win. Her feud with The Man solidified her stardom and ability in the ring.

She should be winning gold on the main roster in 2024. Until she does, she stands with Valkyria and Roxanne Perez as the top women to watch in NXT.

Men's No. 5: Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn was the hottest star in WWE around the start of the year. Everyone was behind The Honorary Uce as he challenged The Bloodline on his own.

While that Bloodline story has evolved, Zayn has not lost his steadfast commitment to fighting the bullies of WWE.

He and Kevin Owens were a phenomenal tag team together while helping solidify the rise of Judgment Day. They have also challenged Imperium, even when no one was ready to fight the dominant Gunther.

Even now, on a stacked Raw roster, Zayn feels like the constant. He is the most compelling protagonist on the roster and has sold himself as a world champion in the near-future.

If Zayn can carry his momentum forward, he could be the man at the top of this list in 2024. Even if it does not come to pass, he will continue to sell every feud as the most important in WWE.

Women's No. 5: Asuka

Asuka won her fourth women's championship in 2023, solidifying her as still one of the top names in the business.

She followed up by joining Damage CTRL, possibly taking over for Bayley in time. This stable remains the driving force of the SmackDown women's division.

The Empress of Tomorrow has proved she can reach a higher ceiling, but the industry is beginning to pass her by.

She is still one of the single best women's wrestlers in the world, including an impressive match on SmackDown with Iyo Sky.

However, she seems to be transitioning into a veteran role, one that may allow younger stars like Sky or the recently returned Kairi Sane to take her place.

Men's No. 4: Cody Rhodes

2023 was supposed to be the year of Cody Rhodes. He won the men's Royal Rumble, built an undefeated mystique, then challenged Roman Reigns in a match he should have won.

However, The American Nightmare failed at The Show of Shows, and The Tribal Chief carried the Undisputed Universal Championship through 2023.

This left Rhodes fighting to stay a top name, and he delivered. His feud with Brock Lesnar was dramatic and vital to solidifying him as a top guy. His feud with Judgment Day kept him relevant for months including a memorable main event inside WarGames.

He was one of the highest performing Superstars in the company and could have been a worthy world champion.

2024 should be the year of The American Nightmare. No one feels like a more natural top guy right now.

Women's No. 4: Iyo Sky

It took far too long for one of the best women's wrestlers in NXT history to find her footing on the main roster, but it happened in 2023 for Iyo Sky.

She won the women's Money in the Bank briefcase and cashed it in to win her first women's championship on the main roster.

The Genius of the Sky has yet to truly define herself as champion beyond Damage CTRL, but that is likely to come in 2024. She has put on a few memorable matches with Bianca Belair and Asuka.

Next year, she could be putting on an unforgettable feud with Bayley (and maybe even a returning Sasha Banks), which may be what solidifies her as a top name for good.

Even if she faces a rocky road in the future, there is no doubt that Sky will make the most of her spotlight every time.

Men's No. 3: Roman Reigns

No one is a bigger star in WWE than Roman Reigns. He has broken nearly every record as Undisputed universal champion. Only Hulk Hogan and Bruno Sammartino stand above him, and both held the top world title in a very different era.

With over 1,200 days as champion, it is unheard of for anyone to remain this dominant in the modern era. At this point, there may not be a fresh challenger left that can dethrone Reigns.

However, his 2023 was not all that impressive. He was off TV for a significant stretch of the year while only defended his gold five times at a televised event.

This keeps him from standing over a couple clear workhorse champions at the top of the business. However, there is no doubt that WWE is best defined by The Tribal Chief.

He is the face of the company and should remain so even if he finally loses the world title in 2024.

Women's No. 3: Bianca Belair

Bianca Belair has set the new record standard for the longest women's championship reign in WWE history. She was solidified as one of the faces of WWE.

Her in-ring work did not quite meet the level of her 2022, but she still delivered against Asuka and Iyo Sky when challenged.

The EST should have been at number one, but the truth is that the second half of the year was tough on her. She was out for several months after losing some of the crowd in a title reign that ran too long.

She is too talented to not rebound, but it may take a full heel turn to challenge for the top spot again.

There is no doubt that she is the present and future of the business. She will face a new challenge in 2024, proving her versatility.

Men's No. 2: Seth "Freakin" Rollins

Seth "Freakin" Rollins had a career year in 2023. Capturing the newly reinstated World Heavyweight Championship, he became the workhorse champion of Monday Night Raw.

His feuds with The Judgment Day and Shinsuke Nakamura were important parts of the red brand, though the true highlights of his 2023 were his title defenses against Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn and Jey Uso near the end of the year.

The Visionary finally reached his potential as a babyface champion, a role that he struggled to sell in past years. Even at the end of the year, the only thing anyone is talking about is Rollins' eventual match with CM Punk.

The future is very bright for Rollins with many years left of him as a top guy. With Triple H in charge, this may not even end up as The Visionary's best year of his career.

The only thing holding him back is that he has been overshadowed in moments by Judgment Day and Gunther.

Women's No. 2: Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch was the workhorse of the women's division and unafraid to work every brand in proving it. Her veteran run in NXT elevated both Tiffany Stratton and Lyra Valkyria, who will soon be household names on the main roster.

She also delivered on Raw, especially competing in one of the best women's matches in WWE history against Trish Stratus inside a steel cage. She also gave Tegan Nox and Xia Li career-best matches.

The Man is absolutely back and looks better than ever. Surrounded by women that may be more athletic than her, she has elevated her in-ring IQ to work with anyone.

She did all of this without carrying one of the top two women's championships. It is likely she will get another opportunity to capture that gold in 2024.

Until then, there is just one woman that stands above her as a defining star in WWE.

Men's No. 1: Gunther

The in-ring performer of 2023 was Gunther, bar none. The Ring General started and ended the year as Intercontinental champion. The difference was how many wrestlers he elevated through rivalries.

Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Chad Gable, The Miz, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Bronson Reed, Tommaso Ciampa, even Mustafa Ali (before his release) delivered career-efforts in the ring with Gunther.

While none could topple him, several stand out as bigger stars after facing The Ring General. Of course, none are bigger than Gunther himself, who has more credibility as the record-setting IC champion than anyone else in WWE.

Even if he was not holding a world championship, he made his title feel like the biggest prize in wrestling.

It is remarkable how much he has done to elevate himself through in-ring performance, though he has also delivered on the microphone whenever asked.

In 2024, he will likely go after an official world championship. Even Roman Reigns and Seth "Freakin" Rollins are not safe if The Ring General makes them his next target.

Women's No. 1. Rhea Ripley

The biggest star of Monday Night Raw is Rhea Ripley. She is so vital to WWE right now that fans feel whenever she is off for a week.

Arguably, only Roman Reigns tops her in all of WWE for pure aura, and she has set that standard without breaking any championship records (yet).

Enjoying a fruitful partnership with "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, she has elevated herself and "Papi" to new heights as top heels. She has taken up a mantle from the late Chyna as a woman that transcends the women's division.

The Judgment Day rules Raw despite regularly losing matches because Ripley remains untouchable. She alone carries the pure dominant aura that makes the stable great.

Her title reign began at WrestleMania 39 in a classic match with Charlotte Flair, and her performances have been consistently strong since. The only problem has been that no one yet has been able to match her.

In 2024, she will be challenged to keep this dominance while also bringing up the women around her. If she can do that, she will remain by far the number one woman in WWE for years to come.