As we kick off 2019, Sporting News takes a look back at the best of 2018 and give out our combat sports awards for Fighter of the Year (MMA), Fighter of the Year (Boxing), Fight of the Year (MMA), Fight of the Year (Boxing), Knockout of the Year (MMA), Knockout of the Year (Boxing), Submission of the Year (MMA), Match of the Year (Pro Wrestling) and Wrestler of the Year (Pro Wrestling).
To kick things off, we reflect on the year that was in professional wrestling and hand out the award for the best pro wrestler of the year. The award goes to the wrestler who had the biggest impact on the industry in both match quality and presence.
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And the winner is...
Kenny Omega
While 2017 was the year that Omega proved himself as one of the best wrestlers on the planet, it was in 2018 when Omega took it to another level. Not only did he have countless memorable matches but did so at a time when expectations were ridiculously high every time he stepped in the ring.
Yet, "The Best Bout Machine" stepped up and gave of his body and mind night after night with physical matches and amazing storytelling. That began in January when he and Chris Jericho had a barn-burner, no-disqualification showdown at New Japan Pro Wrestling's annual event "Wrestle Kingdom."
Highlighting the year was his historic win against Kazuchika Okada at NJPW "Dominion" on June 9 to finally capture the IWGP heavyweight championship while also ending Okada's nearly two-year title reign. The spotlight gleaned on him even brighter at that point as the champ and NJPW's top star.
Omega continued to deliver with an incredible G-1 Climax tournament that saw him have unbelievable matches with Kota Ibushi and Tomohiro Ishii. He never took it easy -- whether it was facing fellow "Elite" member Cody in Ring of Honor, Penta El Zero M at the huge "All In" independent event or blowing the roof off the building in Poughkeepsie, New York in a fantastic match against Fenix for a special appearance with Northeast Wrestling.
This year not only saw Omega rise to the top of New Japan but cement himself as the best in the world who everyone else is looking up at and aspires to be.
Becky Lynch (Runner Up)
Sometimes, you simply have to take what you want and that's exactly what Becky Lynch did this year. After being a talented player for several years in the WWE women's division, Lynch broke free from the pack after she turned on her longtime friend Charlotte at "SummerSlam" and with it, earned the adulation of fans everywhere.
After that, we saw a different side of Lynch as she displayed a newfound swagger and determination with fiery promos and sizzling social media takes to go with along with in-ring aggression. Even when she had to miss time due to Nia Jax's "facebreaker" right hand, that didn't hold her down as she fired back with even more gusto.
In the process, Lynch has dubbed herself "The Man" and rightfully so as she has separated herself not just from the other women but as one of the hottest performers in all of WWE.
