#TheChris100 2020: #30-21

I just want to say before we get to the next portion of the list that you might disagree with some of these rankings and where they're placed in relation to one another. I understand, but you must acknowledge that The Chris 100 was a scientific process and that all of these results are objectively correct.

30. “The Murder Grandpa” Minoru Suzuki (7 ballots, 271 points, average rank 17.57143)

High Vote: Son of Mecha Mummy (1)
 
Recommended Matches:
vs. Jon Moxley (NJPW, 2/9)
vs. Yuji Nagata (NJPW, 6/17)
vs. Tomohiro Ishii (NJPW, 9/19)
vs. Kota Ibushi (NJPW, 10/10)
vs. Shingo Takagi (NJPW, 11/7)

29. Mayumi Ozaki (7 ballots, 273 points, average rank 16.57143)
High Vote: Dakota, Dominic (2)
 
Recommended Matches:
w/ Saori Anou vs. Aja Kong & Hiroyo Matsumoto (ZERO1, 2/24)
w/ Saori Anou vs. Ibuki Hoshi & Yoshiko (OZ Academy, 3/8)
vs. Saori Anou (OZ Academy, 8/28)
w/ Saori Anou vs. Kaho Kobayashi & Kakeru Sekiguchi (OZ Academy, 11/8)
vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. Yoshiko (OZ Academy, 12/30)

"This portion of the list is high on old veteran ass-kicker wrestlers, and there are few veteran ass-kickers on the level of Mayumi Ozaki. The 52 year old joshi legend kept enducing fear into the hearts of her opponents throughout 2020, defending her OZ Academy Openweight belt only when she felt like it, and completely destroying her opponents when she did feel like it. It doesn't matter if her opponent is a stablemate like Saori Anou. Ozaki will kick her ass until her will to wrestle has been completely eradicated. She's the queen of this shit." ~Chris Gibbons

28. Kazuyuki Fujita (12 ballots, 274 points, average rank 28.16667) – ONLY TWELVE BALLOT WRESTLER
High Vote: Kevin (13)
 
Recommended Matches:
w/ Hideki Suzuki & Takashi Sugiura vs. Go Shiozaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima & Shuhei Taniguchi (NOAH, 1/30)
w/ Takashi Sugiura vs. Go Shiozaki & Kaito Kiymoiya (NOAH, 2/16)
w/ Hideki Suzuki vs. Go Shiozaki & Shuhei Taniguchi (NOAH, 2/24)
vs. Go Shiozaki (NOAH, 3/29)
w/ Hideki Suzuki vs. Go Shiozaki & Yoshiki Inamura (NOAH, 12/29)

"This veteran shooter didn't even have a dozen matches to his name in 2020, and basically all of those matches were tags. Still, Fujita ran wild on his opponents, especially when he would go against Go Shiozaki. The Fujita/Shiozaki brawl was the peak of COVID Empty Arena Wrestling, featuring an epic staredown before one of the best brawls of the year. Fujita drinking hand sanitizer is the image most ingrained in my mind from 2020 wrestling. An absolute beast." ~Chris Gibbons

27. Daisuke Harada (7 ballots, 278 points, average rank 10.28571)
High Vote: Flae (4)
 
Recommended Matches:
vs. Hajime Ohara (NOAH, 1/30)
vs. Dick Togo (NOAH, 1/30)
vs. Yoshinari Ogawa (NOAH, 3/29)
w/ Kinya Okada & YO-HEY vs. Hao, Nio & Tadasuke (NOAH, 8/30)
vs. Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH, 11/28)

26. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (9 ballots, 284 points, average rank 21.11111)
High Vote: Brandon from Maine (2)
 
Recommended Matches:
vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE, 1/26)
vs. John Cena (WWE, 3/7)
vs. Braun Strowman (WWE, 7/16)
vs. Kevin Owens (WWE, 10/9)
vs. Randy Orton (WWE, 12/20)

"The Fiend's placement on this list is probably going to be the most controversial placement of anything. The Fiend is the silliest of silly gimmicks, and his matches often rely on cinematics and special effects. Because so many shows were without fans, there was a large uptick in 'cinematic' matches in 2020. For better or worse, no wrestler exemplifies cinematic wrestling matches like The Fiend. Purists may scoff at these matches being counted towards 'in-ring work' at all, but I think when well done they can belong in wrestling just as much as spotfests, brawls, or technical matches. Bray Wyatt is super dedicated to the character of The Fiend, and it works even if it shouldn't. I even think the Swamp match with Braun was pretty fun. Sue me." ~Chris Gibbons

25. Romano Garcia/Mr. Condor (7 ballots, 299 points, average rank 10.85714) – HIGHEST RANKED SEVEN BALLOT WRESTLER

High Vote: Luke, Flae (5)
 
Recommended Matches:
w/ El Hijo de Fishman vs. Mascara Sagrada Jr. & Wotan (Lucha Strong, 2/15)
w/ El Gallego & Rocky Santana vs. Dement Extreme, Toxico & Ultimo Gladiador (AVE, 2/23)
vs. Demus vs. El Hijo de Fishman vs. Wotan (BELLO, 11/14)
w/ El Gallego & Rocky Santana vs. Ancla, Tiago & Toto (Xtremo, 11/29)
vs. Demus vs. El Hijo de Fishman vs. Wotan (AML, 12/6)

"Romano Garcia is who I consider to be the crown jewel of my favorite team in wrestling, Los Diabolicos. A fucked up old man who has been through the ringer for decades but can't help but pwn and brutalize people so he's still doing this bullshit. Diabolicos are a sadistic team who methodically cut guys up and deliver head trauma. Due to their advanced ages and frail nature,they are also easy to beat on and often serve as victims themselves. Mr. Condor has served as almost a third wheel in the Wotan/Fishman feud, but make no mistake, he takes matches over. I think him vs. Wotan might be the best dynamic in wrestling. Brutal chop exchanges, headbutts, and victimization. A must watch guy whenever he makes tape." ~Flae

24. Tomohiro Ishii (8 ballots, 302 points, average rank 16.14286)

High Vote: Parker Klyn (1)
 
Recommended Matches:
w/ Hirooki Goto vs. EVIL & Shingo Takagi (NJPW, 1/6)
vs. EVIL (NJPW, 2/1)
vs. El Desperado (NJPW, 6/16)
vs. Togi Makabe (NJPW, 6/24)
vs. Kota Ibushi (NJPW, 9/27)

23. GENTARO (10 ballots, 319 points, average rank 19.8)
High Vote: Lao Tzu (5)
 
Recommended Matches:
vs. Naoki Kamata (FREEDOMS, 1/24)
vs. Masamune (FREEDOMS, 6/26)
vs. Shu Asakawa (FREEDOMS/2AW, 10/25)
vs. Tatsuhito Takaiwa (FREEDOMS, 10/29)
w/ Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Mammoth Sasaki & Violento Jack (FREEDOMS, 11/10)

"Discovering GENTARO through friends this last year was a revelation. I've been a fan of FREEDOMS ever since I started watching deathmatches, but I largely skipped the undercards, especially if the matches didn't involve weapons. What a mistake. GENTARO is a 46 year old who has suffered a stroke, but years after his hospitalization he remains on the Japanese indies wrestling full time. It's easy to underestimate GENTARO, but he's truly a sight to behold in the ring. Few of his contemporaries, if any, understand and love matwork to the degree of GENTARO. His transitions are otherworldly. No matter the opponent, GENTARO will force them to have his match, and that match will make said opponent look like a mat wrestling god, because they're in the ring with the real matwork god." ~Chris Gibbons

22. Jon Moxley (9 ballots, 323 points, average rank 19.66667)

High Vote: TH (1)
 
Recommended Matches:
vs. Lance Archer (NJPW, 1/4)
vs. Minoru Suzuki (NJPW, 2/9)
vs. Darby Allin (AEW, 7/30)
vs. Chris Dickinson (GCW, 10/11)
vs. Eddie Kingston (AEW, 11/7)

21. Kenny Omega (10 ballots, 326 points, average rank 23.4)
High Vote: Michael Stocks, Corey (1)
 
Recommended Matches:
w/ Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs. PAC, Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix (AEW, 1/1)
w/ Hangman Page vs. Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (AEW, 2/29)
vs. Pentagon Jr. (AEW, 10/22)
vs. Hangman Page (AEW, 11/7)
vs. Laredo Kid (AAA, 12/12)