7. Io Shirai
“The Genius of the Sky” has been nothing short of exceptional this year. Shirai has constantly put on riveting performances throughout 2020. It started when she won an astonishing number one contender ladder match before defeating Charlotte and Rhea Ripley to become NXT Women’s Champion at NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
Since winning the title, Shirai has been a fighting champion, successfully defending it against Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae and Rhea Ripley in brilliant and thrilling matches. She was a central talking point coming out of WarGames due to her death-defying antics.
Shirai transitioned from heel to babyface throughout the year, but without losing any of the fear and threat she exudes. Add this to her consistent and excellent performances, the “Joshi Judas” has taken her rightful place at the top of the best women’s division in wrestling and long may she reign.
Io Shirai vs Rhea Ripley – NXT Nov 18.
Io Shirai vs Charlotte vs Rhea Ripley – NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
Io Shirai vs Candice LeRea – Halloween Havoc
6. Giulia
Giulia has been a standout performer in STARDOM this year. The leader of the promotion’s most dominant heel faction, Donna Del Mondo, is a Joshi legend in the making.
In 2020 the “Glorious Warrior” has held the Artist of STARDOM tag team titles and the company’s secondary title, the Wonder of STARDOM Championship. Her feud and matches against Tam Nakano in the lead up to winning the title were phenomenal and established Giulia as the future of STARDOM.
Giulia possesses the in-ring skill, charisma and confidence way beyond her four years in the business should allow. The fact she has only been wrestling since 2017 makes her rise in Joshi wrestling even more impressive and as this year has proven she is only getting better.
Giulia vs. Tam Nakano – Yokohama Cinderella
Giulia vs. Konami – Sendai Cinderella
Giulia vs. Syuri – Osaka Dream Cinderella
5. Asuka
Asuka’s 2020 has seen the “Empress of Tomorrow” drenched in gold. She entered the year as Women’s Tag Team Champion with Kairi Sane and she leaves as two-time tag champion with Charlotte Flair. Asuka also became a Grand Slam Champion the year when she became the RAW Women’s Champion for the first time at Money in the Bank.
Asuka has always been a standout performer and this year was no different. Be it singles match or tag team action, Asuka excelled in the ring. Her feud and resulting matches Bayley and Sasha Banks was one of the highlight of the year in WWE.
Her dance routines are both comedic and scary at the same time, her promos never fail to get the point across as her infectious charisma transcends the language barrier. Asuka possess an incredible ability to portray herself as a fun-loving, likeble and caring character while being one of the most legitimately threatening, dangerous and exceptional wrestlers in the world.
Asuka vs Becky Lynch – Royal Rumble
The Kabuki Warriors vs Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss – WrestleMania 36
Asuka vs Sasha Banks – SummerSlam
4. Mayu Iwatani
Mayu Iwatani is the face of STARDOM and has carried the company through the most difficult of times this year. Referred to as the ‘Icon of STARDOM’, Iwatani is most certainly that. She entered 2020 as the World of STARDOM Champion, after defeating Bea Priestly on Nov 4, 2019. Iwatani successfully defended the title four times throughout the year in some enthralling and breathtaking performances. Her match against Takumi Iroha on Oct, 10 was especially outstanding.
Her amazing in-ring skill and underdog babyface character work along with epic title defences make her must-watch star and prove that she is the best Joshi-wrestler on the planet.
Mayu Iwatani vs. Takumi Iroha – Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League 2020 – Day 4
Mayu Iwatani vs. Utami Hayashishita – Sendai Cinderella
Mayu Iwatani vs. Syuri – Yokohama Cinderella
3. Bayley
Along with Sasha Banks, Bayley was the MVP of WWE for the entirety of 2020. She started the year as she left the last, as SmackDown women’s champion. She successfully retained the title against Lacey Evans, Carmella and Naomi in the early months. But it was in the Performance Center shows in which Bayley truly shone the brightest.
She upped her game massively in persona and on the mic. Overnight she became amazingly arrogant and effortlessly annoying, and it was a joy to watch. Her partnership with “The Boss” blossomed into the best storytelling WWE had shown in years. They ran roughshod throughout the women’s division and won all the titles available to them. Despite their dominance, there was always a layer of mistrust and animosity bubbling beneath the surface of their friendship.
Bayley’s cocky and over-confident character meant she would do everything to keep her title, even turning on her best friend and partner. But this would be her undoing and Sasha Banks would defeat Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship in an epic encounter at Hell in a Cell.
Bayley may not walk of 2020 as she entered it, but she leaves as one the best characters and in-ring performers in a year that we will never forget.
Bayley vs Sasha Banks vs Tamina vs Lacey Evans vs Naomi – WrestleMaina 36
Bayley & Sasha Banks vs Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox – NXT June, 17
Bayley vs Sasha Banks – Hell in a Cell
