The women continue to command the spotlight when it comes to pro wrestling, so who was the 2023 top female wrestler?
Top Female Wrestler Of The Year: Rhea Ripley
This year felt like it was Rhea Ripley’s world and everyone else was just living in it. She started 2023 off strong by winning the Women’s Royal Rumble match, defeating the odds by starting at number one, and making history as the longest time spent in a Women’s Rumble match.
She’d move on to gain some respect and bragging rights when she defeated “The Queen” Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 in a match that many argued should’ve closed the show. She also happens to be the leader a part of the most dominant faction in WWE right now, Judgement Day.
Ripley is undeniably the face of the WWE Women’s division, also topping PWI’s Best 250 list this year. It’ll be interesting to see the glass ceilings she shatters in 2024.
Top Female Wrestler Of The Year: Honorable Mention – IYO SKY
IYO SKY had an incredible year, not only winning the 2023 Miss Money In The Bank briefcase but successfully cashing it in at SummerSlam. She’s held on to the WWE Women’s title since and thanks to solid in-ring technique, amazing matches, and strong promos, she is slowly, but surely, transforming into Damage CTRL’s pseudo-leader.
Top Female Wrestler Of The Year: Not Quite Done …
It’s challenging to have one top female superstar for this list when so many women out there have made an incredible impact in 2023. “The Man” Becky Lynch solidified her legacy in the company this past fall when she became NXT Women’s Champion, and was a workhorse during her reign, pulling triple duty on all three brands to elevate the women’s division and help place a spotlight on new and upcoming female talent.
Meanwhile, Trish Stratus proved age was nothing but a number with her splashing return in February 2023, participating in this year’s WrestleMania, turning heel, and being a part of an intense feud with Becks.
Toni Storm has caught the eyes of many this year. She’s solid both in the ring and on the mic, plus, has strong character awareness. As such, it’s not overly shocking that Tony Khan told Superstar Crossover during an interview recently that he believes Storm is doing “some of the best work” in all of wrestling right now.
He’s not wrong. She’s the current AEW Women’s Champion in a record-tying third reign and also ranked 16 on ESPN’s 2023 Best Pro Wrestlers Under 30.
What will Toni accomplish come 2024? Only time will tell.
