Contrary to popular beliefs, wrestling be that professional or not is not just about staged matches and predetermined spectacles broadcasted online. In fact, wrestling is very much about strength and reputation that is easily ruined with one unsuccessful match. Looking at the top wrestlers that we saw this year so far, we can certainly make some viable predictions for what to expect in 2018. However, don’t take everything for granted, as in wrestling, the moments of suspense and surprises are what make us leave everything else and focus on our most awaited matches. Take, for example, the recent announcement of the return of Triple H, which will be his first match since WrestleMania’s defeat to Seth Rollins. What a better turn of a rather uneventful year according to many of the wrestling critics! Before jumping to conclusions, consider the great match that we saw between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada.

Certainly, a lot of bucks were made on either side and if wrestling is your betting sports choice, make sure to know which sites to choose and who to watch out for. Without bonuses, people wouldn’t be interested in sports gambling online, that is why the best new customer sign up offers of the leading sportsbooks on the market change every week. To help you better prepare for the rest of 2017 and early 2018 wrestling events, here’s who else, but the obvious AJ Styles, Omega and Okada, caught our eye throughout the year.

Asuka

Wrestling is one of the few sports where gender stereotypes have no weight when it comes to great players. 2017 saw the rise of Asuka who is often called the Empress of Tomorrow and is perceived as the best female wrestler on TV right now. Asuka has had her lows when she almost lost the belt against Ember Moon at the NXT Takeover, but soon she marked her best match in Orlando, which is probably the best moment of her professional career. Certainly, Asuka showed a lot more personality throughout 2017, and a rematch with Moon is in the cards.

Io Shirai

If you mix Ember Moon with Asuka, you might get Io Shirai. This Japanese star has agility and power, and there is no need to mention that she is daring. The high-wire act of the star could rival basically anyone in the WWE and it could even put Charlotte to the test of the best in the women’s division. Moreover, Shirai already has quite the following, considering the fact that she wrestles with a promotion that has only existed for 6 years. Simply place her on Smackdown and watch the interest rise for the Blue brand’s women’s division.

Zacky Three Belts

The pro wrestler, Zack Sabre, has had a remarkable year so far, starting with a victory at the Evolve Championship in February, which put an end to the reign of Timothy Thatcher. Zack showed unseen character traits in the wrestling world with his speech calling for compassion in pro wrestling, and he’s set to become an example for the wrestling community by making regular donations to charities from his recent victories. On the ring, he then later got back his lost British Heavyweight Championship belt and continued to score points against counterparts like Okada and Hirooki Goto, something that very few have dared to do.

Tetsuya Naito

Japanese pro wrestling has marked a renaissance with the rise of Tetsuya Naito, who beat Hiroshi Tanahashi at the start of the year, only to continue to wrestle against Micheal Elgin, eventually defending successfully his IWGP Intercontinental Championship belt for the second time.

Kairi Hojo

Another Japanese star, Hojo has often been referred to as the World Wonder Ring Stardom, sharing the title only with Shirai, the world’s greatest female wrestler. Even if Shirai might have earned her title, in 2017 Hojo has shown that she wouldn’t give her peace until she becomes number 1 in pro wrestling for women. She was reported to have signed a three-year contract with WWE, further making her counterparts shiver, as she prepares to take over the Performance Centre.

Hiromu Takahashi

We’ve already mentioned Takahashi, but who is he really? Ticking Time Bomb is surely the greatest entertainer of them all with his risky moves in the ring, such as his regular hurricanes over the top rope outside the ring. His best match so far was against Kushida, which followed a historic match with his greatest rival, Dragon Lee.

Keith Lee

Undoubtedly, the greatest surprise of 2017, was the appearance and rise of Keith Lee. Starting as a little-known independent at the start of the year, now he’s become a major card in WrestleMania shows and surely, the most watched wrestler, unrelated to WWE. Signing with Evolve at the start of the year, he’s surely one follow closely.

Our top best list includes stars that unexpectedly rose to great heights this year, despite a majority of negative comments on the state of the wrestling in 2017. If you’re looking for more advice and betting options, you should head straight to TopRatedBettingSites.co.uk for more trusted rankings.