Introduction & Honorable Point out: voicesofwrestling.com/2024/06/25/the-vow-30-under-30-2024-introduction-honorable-mentions/
Final yr, led by the cost of Voices of Wrestling contributor Griffin Peltier, we started a brand new yearly wrestler rating listing: The VOW 30 Below 30. The 2023 listing noticed an skilled panel come collectively to appoint and vote on the highest professional wrestlers underneath the age of 30. This yr, we’re again with an all-star panel to create wrestling’s most complete 30 Below 30 listing for 2024.
Very like the critically acclaimed FSM 50 listing, the aim of this listing is to be as well-informed and wide-ranging as potential. Our panelists are plugged into numerous types of wrestling throughout the globe, together with American TV, lucha libre, deathmatch, Joshi wrestling, and all the things in between.
Each wrestler underneath thirty years outdated was eligible for this yr’s listing.
With out additional ado, listed below are the 30 finest wrestlers underneath 30:
#30
Mariah Could
Age: 25
Years Energetic: 5
Promotion: All Elite Wrestling
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: Goddesses Of Stardom Champion
Highest Panel Rating: 3
Final 12 months’s Rating: NR
“I really really feel that Mariah Could is the full bundle. An incredible look, a very strong talker, and a fairly good wrestler (that point in STARDOM did wonders on that entrance). Her ceiling is extremely excessive, and whereas she’s presently enjoying the protege position on this storyline with Toni Storm, she has the possibility to be a prime ladies’s star in AEW for years to come back as soon as that inevitable cut up with Toni lastly happens.” – Sean Sedor
“Unquestionably probably the most shocking and welcome additions to the AEW roster, as she continues to show her value with each look.” – Warren Hayes
“Mariah Could is the full bundle. She’s an excellent wrestler within the ring, can discuss on the mic, has charisma for days, and is effortlessly current each second she’s on display screen. She has “It”, and is on-track to grow to be one among AEW’s prime feminine stars later this yr.” – Adam Berger
“At the same time as a aspect character to Timeless Toni, Mariah Could’s potential is off the charts. She’s impressed me in her appearances within the ring as a gatekeeper to the Girls’s Title, and her charisma and look are tailored for US tv. She’s nonetheless Toni’s sidekick at time of writing, however she’s a real famous person within the making.” – Go well with Williams
“An incredible in-ring expertise that’s taking the Toni Storm gimmick to new heights and is seemingly being poised for an even bigger run earlier than too lengthy.” – Will Younger
“I really imagine that Mariah Could has all of the potential to be one of many largest wrestlers on this planet. Her run in Stardom confirmed her to be one of many quickest bettering wrestlers that I’ve ever seen in all my years of watching. I’m so excited to see the place she can be a yr from now.” – Kelly Harrass
#29
MAO
Age: 27
Years Energetic: 8
Promotion: DDT Professional Wrestling
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: DDT Common Champion, KO-D Ten Man Tag Crew Champion, DDT Iron Man Heavy Metallic Champion, King Of DDT 2024 Winner
Highest Panel Rating: 4
Final 12 months’s Rating: NR
“MAO’s been wrestling for practically eight years, nevertheless it’s solely within the final couple of years he’s actually put it collectively. He’s had a powerful reign as DDT Common Champion and has proven he can do all the things – comedy, deathmatches and tangle with huge guys. His charisma and flashy moveset is ideal for DDT and he’ll assist to guide it into the post-Takeshita future.” – Gerard Di Trolio
#28
Ryohei Oiwa
Age: 25
Years Energetic: 2
Promotion: New Japan Professional Wrestling, Professional Wrestling NOAH
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: Victory Problem Tag League 2024 Winner
Highest Panel Rating: 3
Final 12 months’s Rating: NR
“Oiwa has managed to outshine all of his fellow younger wrestlers in New Japan whereas nonetheless on his lengthy tour in Professional Wrestling NOAH, with the potential exception solely of Yota Tsuji (who’s not eligible for this listing!). Hopefully they’re able to push this man to the moon at any time when he lastly will get again.” – John Carroll
“The roster higher prepare for this child’s return to NJPW. He’s coming in your spot.” – Warren Hayes
“If the Reiwa Three Musketeers depart you underwhelmed, there’s all the time Oiwa. New Japan’s alleged new method to its younger expertise appears to be benefitting him essentially the most. His run in NOAH thus far has been nice and seen quite a lot of development for him from Kaito Kiyomiya’s tag accomplice to his rival. He’s demonstrated each a powerful grasp of technical wrestling and the large transfer epic model of Japanese principal occasions.” – Gerard Di Trolio
“Does anybody else discover it a little bit humorous that essentially the most thrilling NOAH younger boy in years (probably even a long time) is a New Japan younger boy who’s doing his tour in NOAH? No? Simply me. Bought it. Anyhow, Ryohei Oiwa has been a world-beater since getting into NOAH’s ring final summer time. He was an impressive accomplice to Kiyomiya, each in NOAH and NJPW final yr, and within the temporary glimpses we’ve seen of him away from Kiyomiya because the formation of Revolt, Oiwa hasn’t misplaced any little bit of what beforehand made him particular.” – Case Lowe
“New Japan has three Reiwa Musketeers, but the chief of the following technology should still be on tour. Oiwa has blossomed in Professional Wrestling NOAH, teaming with Kaito Kiyomiya earlier than his latest activate him. He’s been so good that you simply overlook he’s not a NOAH man and that New Japan can be getting him of their ranks sooner or later. He’s as near a certain factor as any of these Musketeers, and New Japan can be all the higher for it as soon as they get him again.” – Go well with Williams
#27
Miu Watanabe
Age: 24
Years Energetic: 6
Promotion: Tokyo Joshi Professional-Wrestling
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: Princess Of Princess Champion
Highest Panel Rating: 4
Final 12 months’s Rating: NR
“There are few wrestlers who’re extra charismatic or higher as a pure babyface than Watanabe. Beneath her huge smile is a killer energy wrestler who’s extremely robust for her measurement. Her first Princess of Princess reign has been an enormous success thus far.” – Gerard Di Trolio
“This smiling pink muscle idol was lastly given the ball by TJPW and he or she’s working away with it. Miu is undeniably unimaginable within the ring. The power she exhibits and the pace of her large swing brings Claudio Castagnoli comparisons and that’s super firm to be in.” – Kelly Harrass
#26
Bandido
Age: 29
Years Energetic: 13
Promotion: All Elite Wrestling
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: WWA World Welterweight Champion
Highest Panel Rating: 6
Final 12 months’s Rating: 14
“There are only a few wrestlers on this planet with Bandido’s distinctive mix of pace and power. He’s been out for a very long time resulting from accidents, however I’m optimistic he’ll rapidly regain his type.” – Adam Berger
“Two years in the past, I went to Melrose Park, Illinois to observe Ultimo Dragon wrestle on a GALLI Lucha Libre present. Ultimo Dragon was very over, as he all the time is, however he didn’t put in any effort, as he typically does. My reminiscence of that present just isn’t Ultimo-related. Two years later, I can’t get the picture of Bandido climbing into the bleachers and being handled like a God throughout a principal occasion crowd brawl out of my head. He parted the ocean of individuals like Moses. They chanted his title like he was the Chosen One. He carried out with God-like means. It’s simple to overlook simply how proficient Bandido is as a result of he’s missed a lot time resulting from harm, however when Bandido heals up and will get again within the ring, I believe he has respectable top-of-the-card attraction. Wrestling can be higher off when Bandido is again within the image.” – Case Lowe
“I really imagine that Bandido may grow to be a significant singles lucha star for AEW. His power and pace mixture all the time will get crowds into his work, even when he’s are available in chilly. He’s received a terrific look too with the bandit masks. Well being has been his major subject, as he’s been out for some time resulting from a wrist harm and an ineffective surgical procedure to repair it. However I believe one he’s again he can add one thing to the completely loaded midcard in AEW.” – Go well with Williams
“I can’t look forward to Bandido to return and get again to stealing the present each time he wrestles on AEW tv. The corporate panorama has modified a lot since he was injured that there’s quite a lot of recent matches he can have that can for certain wow the viewers. A mixture of uncooked energy and progressive high-flying, Bandido is a complete bundle and might be the following huge lucha star… if the room decides to push him.” – Griffin Peltier
#25
Jamie Hayter
Age: 29
Years Energetic: 9
Promotion: All Elite Wrestling
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: N/A
Highest Panel Rating: 9
Final 12 months’s Rating: 7
“Regardless of an extremely lengthy restoration interval from harm, followers are nonetheless baying for the return of one of many AEW ladies’s division’s largest success tales.” – Will Younger
“Will she ever return? Her standing after being out for over a yr is why she falls this low.” – Tyler Forness
“Jamie Hayter, Jamie Hayter. The place for artwork thou, Jamie Hayter? Final yr, Hayter was a month faraway from harm after a sizzling run on AEW TV and a title reign reduce brief by stated harm. This yr, Hayter has been fully MIA, with updates on her few and much between. The AEW ladies’s division has been revitalized in her absence, and will she ever come again, she would grow to be a large piece in it. Right here’s hoping the prayer circles work.” – Go well with Williams
“Jamie Hayter is severely missed. Earlier than her harm she was elevating American ladies’s wrestling along with her stellar match high quality, and have become the most well-liked lady in AEW as a result of she was such a terrific employee. Her lengthy absence raises doubt whether or not she’ll ever return, but when/when she does, I’ll be thrilled to see her.” – Adam Berger
#24
Jacky Kamei
Age: 24
Years Energetic: 4
Promotion: Dragongate Japan Professional-Wrestling
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: Open The Triangle Gate Champion
Highest Panel Rating: 3
Final 12 months’s Rating: NR
“Massive Match Jack. The out of nowhere chief of the Class of 2020 after SBK’s departure & Kikuta’s tepid Dream Gate run. As a rookie, I assumed Taketo Kamei would have a really lucky profession because the Genki Horiguchi or Kzy of the following technology: The man who’s going to tug the heartstrings, get everybody behind him, however by no means THE GUY. What I didn’t understand was that his understudying of these males wasn’t simply to study their jobs and find out how to fill their positions on their playing cards as they received older, Jacky Kamei was decided to exceed them. Might Jacky Kamei be the primary “plucky underdog” to truly win the Dream Gate title? That’s now on the periphery for Jacky Kamei.” – Mike Spears
“Probably the most thrilling younger white-meat babyfaces in wrestling is Jacky Kamei of Dragongate. His work as a tag staff wrestler is incredible, as might be seen within the unimaginable Z-Brats/Kung Fu Masters tag match from Kobe World a pair years in the past. He had a powerhouse efficiency each inside and out of doors of the Useless or Alive Cage Match this yr that made you are feeling the emotional heft of that match. Now part of the super-babyface unit BIG HUG, Kamei goes to get much more highlight alongside Luis Mante and HYO.” – Go well with Williams
“Kamei doesn’t have the kayfabe accomplishments of some his classmates in Dragongate, however he is without doubt one of the finest wrestlers within the promotion and has an indomitable babyface spirit. The query is that if he’ll ever be pushed to prime in Dragongate, or if he’s destined to be the following technology Kzy, a strong and likeable midcarder who’s all the time the bridesmaid.” – Jesse Collings
“For the primary 5 months of 2024, Kamei was the one most attention-grabbing wrestler in Japan. Kamei, alongside Jason Lee, put collectively a Tag Crew of the 12 months run within the first three months, with Kamei including to his prolonged listing of nice matches by the use of Pure Vibes trios matches and marquee Dragongate matches, notably the cage match at this yr’s Useless or Alive. Within the early years of his profession, I anticipated Kamei to hold on the torch that Genki Horiguchi has saved lit for 25 years. I now understand that he has far surpassed that lofty comparability. Kamei is a crucial a part of Japan’s #2 promotion and somebody who hasn’t come near hitting his ceiling but.” – Case Lowe
#23
Mochizuki Jr.
Age: 21
Years Energetic: 2
Promotion: Dragongate Japan Professional-Wrestling
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: 4FW Junior Heavyweight Champion
Highest Panel Rating: 5
Final 12 months’s Rating: NR
“Masaaki Mochizuki has an grownup son, and he’s an absolute stud. Mochi Junior is a prodigy, and after a British tour, he’s set as much as be a significant title on the scene in Dragongate. Preserve your eyes peeled, he’s going to be headlining exhibits ahead of later.” – Go well with Williams
“The second-coming of the Mochizuki title has the entire expertise and ability to match the lofty profession that his father has had. I can’t imagine that Mochizuki Junior doesn’t have the next profile amongst wrestling tastemakers. Two years deep into his profession, though he’s hung out on the sideline resulting from numerous accidents, Junior is the brightest prospect that Dragongate has. He has poise, he’s already a superb wrestler, and now in a post-excursion universe, it’s time for Junior to blow previous his fellow contemporaries.” – Case Lowe
“At some point the wrestling world will lastly get up and understand how particular of an individual Mochizuki Jr already is at age 22. He’s solely been wrestling for 2 years and it already seems like he would be the one who will captain Dragongate for the following twenty years. By no means a step incorrect or a chance squared, one would assume the son of Masaaki Mochizuki, one of many best in-ring wrestlers in fashionable historical past, would get extra respect than he will get proper now. Junior has already proved himself as a draw for the corporate, and the lynchpin of storylines for rookie wrestlers. A time will come quickly with Mochizuki Junior main the cost for Dragongate and the wrestling business, get onboard now earlier than you look silly.” – Mike Spears
#22
Yuki Ueno
Age: 28
Years Energetic: 7
Promotion: DDT Professional Wrestling
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: KO-D Openweight Champion, KO-D Ten Man Tag Crew Champion, DDT Iron Man Heavy Metallic Champion
Highest Panel Rating: 4
Final 12 months’s Rating: NR
“Ueno has been a significant factor within the enchancment of DDT this previous yr. The corporate’s enterprise is even slowly bettering as properly. He’s good trying, charismatic, and all the time has nice matches. It’s a no brainer that he’s probably the greatest wrestlers on this planet underneath the age of 30.” – Gerard Di Trolio
#21
Sareee
Age: 28
Years Energetic: 13
Promotion: Dream Star Combating Marigold, Sukeban, Sendai Ladies, SEAdLINNNG, World Marvel Ring Stardom
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: KO-D Openweight Champion, KO-D Ten Man Tag Crew Champion, DDT Iron Man Heavy Metallic Champion
Highest Panel Rating: 1
Final 12 months’s Rating: NR
“Sareee is without doubt one of the most in demand freelancers in Japan. She’s had nice matches in Sendai Ladies, Stardom and Marigold already this yr. She’s within the uncommon place of being a freelancer who can a significant impact on the course of any firm she often works for, however on the similar time it could hobble her means to grow to be one of many largest joshi stars in Japan.” – Gerard Di Trolio
“Following her exile in NXT, Sareee burst again onto the scene and reminded everyone that she’s one of many absolute best on this planet, underneath 30 or in any other case. She hasn’t wrestled a ton of matches since her return, however rattling close to each one among them has been pocket book worthy. She’s a entrance runner for my wrestler of the yr and is my primary choose for the perfect wrestler underneath 30.” – Kelly Harrass
#20
Miyu Yamashita
Age: 29
Years Energetic: 10
Promotion: Tokyo Joshi Professional-Wrestling, Main League Wrestling
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: Princess Of Princess Champion, EVE Champion, SPARK Joshi World Champion
Highest Panel Rating: 6
Final 12 months’s Rating: 29
“A breakout star from the Joshi scene into worldwide organizations, has the potential to be a division’s cornerstone.” – Will Younger
“Undoubtedly the perfect wrestler in Main League Wrestling’s ladies’s division, Miyu Yamashita kicks laborious and may be very proficient.” – Griffin Peltier
“Miyu Yamashita has been such a terrific wrestler for therefore lengthy that it’s simple to take her without any consideration. Hell, I forgot that she was nonetheless eligible for this listing. In my early drafts of my listing she was within the mid-tier, however as I seemed again on her yr, I needed to bump her as much as my 6 spot. She was in three matches that I rated at ****3/4, which is essentially the most of anybody on my poll. Miyu is a pillar of TJPW. At the same time as she distances herself from the corporate by working extra in America, it nonetheless seems like TJPW has her in a “break in case of emergency” field. For higher or worse, at any second the corporate may determine to place the title again on her. She’s the rock they constructed the corporate on.” – Kelly Harrass
#19
AZM
Age: 21
Years Energetic: 9
Promotion: World Marvel Ring Stardom
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: N/A
Highest Panel Rating: 9
Final 12 months’s Rating: NR
“At simply twenty-one years outdated, AZM is taken into account by many to be a wrestling prodigy. She’s quick and agile with a technical spin and capable of hit her strikes with surgical precision. Will probably be attention-grabbing to observe the place she goes in Stardom following the Marigold cut up. She may very properly be the following ace within the promotion.” – Griffin Peltier
#18
Jack Perry
Age: 27
Years Energetic: 9
Promotion: All Elite Wrestling, New Japan Professional Wrestling
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: FTW Champion
Highest Panel Rating: 4
Final 12 months’s Rating: 22
“The one actual winner from the CM Punk in AEW affair. Perry’s dramatically improved in virtually each space that was perceived as a weak point. His inventory has risen dramatically and this a part of his profession, the place he goes to show his detractors incorrect, is compelling stuff.” – Warren Hayes
“The Scapegoat character saved Jack Perry, as he got here again to AEW with way more confidence and mic abilities.” – Tyler Forness
“When a man joins Home of Torture and will get higher, that’s a particular expertise. Perry has improved the one side of his sport that held him again from being a real star – his mic work – and has appeared to caught onto one thing with the Scapegoat gimmick. His work has been superb for a very long time, and if his mic work can proceed the advance that it has, Perry may very properly dwell as much as his billing as a pillar of AEW.” – Go well with Williams
#17
Fuminori Abe
Age: 29
Years Energetic: 9
Promotion: Massive Japan Professional-Wrestling, All Japan Professional Wrestling, Professional Wrestling BASARA, 666, Complete Triumph Crew, Professional Wrestling ZERO1
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: BJW Tag Crew Champion, AMBITION 14 Winner, Toshiwasure! Shuffle Six Man Tag Crew Match Winner
Highest Panel Rating: 1
Final 12 months’s Rating: NR
“Fuminori Abe is for me nonetheless one of many best wrestlers on the planet in addition to one half of the perfect tag staff of the world referred to as Astronauts. He’s stepping within the ring all throughout the globe, has stellar performances in every single place he went to and remains to be solely 29 years outdated.” – Chris Gascoigne
“The definition of underrated, increasingly more are starting to see simply how good he actually is with extra alternatives stateside.” – Will Younger
“The perfect unbiased wrestler in Japan in the intervening time, Abe is without doubt one of the finest in-ring wrestlers on this planet and has been for a few years now. He wants some stage of promotional stability to rise larger in professional wrestling, as he has seemingly hit his ceiling working indies by way of general recognition.” – Jesse Collings
#16
El Hijo del Vikingo
Age: 27
Years Energetic: 11
Promotion: Lucha Libre AAA World Extensive
Accomplishments Over The Final 12 months: AAA Mega Champion, DREAMWAVE Different Champion, Rey de Reyes 2024 Winner
Highest Panel Rating: 5
Final 12 months’s Rating: 6
“Vikingo is an attention-grabbing case. He’s the one spotlight of AAA, and he’s sparingly utilized in AEW, with future use in query as a result of new CMLL relationship. He’s an unimaginable bodily expertise who’s out proper now resulting from a knee harm. Fairly frankly, my hope is that Vikingo will get himself out of AAA as quickly as potential as he’s so significantly better than that dumpster fireplace promotion. His expertise is such that he may land on his ft wherever, and discover himself larger up this listing whereas he can.” – Go well with Williams
“The ACL harm has me involved, however the means remains to be wonderful.” – Tyler Forness
“An harm has set him again in latest months, however Vikingo is on the trail to being one of many largest stars on this planet, thriving in cameos on US tv whereas remaining a key participant in AAA for an organization that desperately wants thrilling wrestlers.” – Jesse Collings
“El Hijo del Vikingo has been the one fixed in AAA since a sure reserving regime was seemingly compelled to place the Mega title on him. Vikingo is superb within the ring and is a pocket book match machine… however that appears to be it. He’s actually proficient and you’re going to get a terrific match from him however all of them appear to mix collectively at this level. You may slap a “4” on the match earlier than the opening bell and transfer on together with your life when you’re watching VOD. Possibly a change of surroundings could be good for Vikingo if he ever leaves AAA.” – Griffin Peltier
The 2024 Voices of Wrestling 30 Below 30
- 16: El Hijo del Vikingo
- 17: Fuminori Abe
- 18: Jack Perry
- 19: AZM
- 20: Miyu Yamashita
- 21: Sareee
- 22: Yuki Ueno
- 23: Mochizuki Jr.
- 24: Jacky Kamei
- 25: Jamie Hayter
- 26: Bandido
- 27: Miu Watanabe
- 28: Ryohei Oiwa
- 29: MAO
- 30: Mariah Could
