LogFAQs > #949035879

Most Improved Wrestler of 2020

Despite everything that was going on this year a large number of wrestlers got to have their best shot to get their craft honed. A few people took major major steps forward in their career and the following are just a few of them.

5.) Taichi (New Japan Pro Wrestling)
Suzuki-gun's #2 man has always been a controversial figure - he's been a rising star for the last 5 years it feels like, but this year he was talked about as the breakout performer of the G1 in some circles and that is reflected here. Now he enters 2021 with the expectation that he can replace and supplant Suzuki and potentially lead a new faction in the changing landscape of New Japan.

4.) Eita (Dragon Gate)
Again, not a player that rose from no where or from being bad. He has been well known as a solid hand for a while - the so called King of the Chop. But this year he took a major step forward from a mid-card guy, to a made man as he took the Open the Dream Gate title from Naruki Doi and then simply did not look back, having a great 3+ month run. He is now set up to be one of the key players in the company alongside Shun Skywalker and Ben-K.

3.) Britt Baker (AEW)
Britt Baker this year began as a mostly reviled babyface that wasn't getting over with anyone - hell she was the runner up for Worst Angle of the year for how poorly their attempt to get her over as a babyface dentist was going. Instead she turned heel by going very hard and brutal in a post-match beatdown against Yuka Sakazaki and then she went and big-timed Tony Schiavone in an interview and she was off to the races. Her confidence rose and her natural heel charisma began to shine through. She got badly injured during a botch and spent most of the early lockdown in a wheelchair where she and Tony and "Rebel" developed a rapporte and her time off allowed her to really master her character.

2.) Roman Reigns (WWE)
The Tribal Chief - Reigns was all set to have his like 30th coronation at Wrestlemania when covid hit. Roman, thanks to his compromised immune system from his Leukemia, opted out of mania and several months of shows causing him to miss his own coronation in favor of Braun Strowman. And while Strowman completely bungled that opportunity - Roman came back from his time off as the latest Paul Heyman guy with a new edge to his character as he turned heel, lost the combat vest and began wrestling in a more interesting style. He is now considered one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal WWE landscape.

1.) Maxwell Jacob Friedman (AEW)
MJF has of course been well known as a strong promo and great look but was largely considered kind of a shitty worker. This year his feud with fellow blue chipper Jungle Boy led to a large number of memorably and good encounters and then he had a feud with Jon Moxley which was not particularly well-built until the last couple weeks and MJF delivered by far his best in ring performance ever. MJF this year became a complete package. This time last year he was seen as "the future" of AEW. But after the year he had many expect him to be the present sooner rather than later as MJF continues to put it all together and grow in confidence.

Congrats to MJF, our most improved wrestler of the year.


---

Board 8's Voice of Reason
https://imgur.com/AWY4xHy