Sports Illustrated 2018 Women’s Wrestler of the Year Award

Dec 29, 2018

Sports Illustrated announced the winner of their 2018 Women’s Wrestler of the Year award and their Top 10 Women’s Wrestlers of 2018 list. Like CBS Sports’ 2018 Wrestler of the Year award, Becky Lynch took Sports Illustrated’s top honor for their Women’s Wrestler of the year award.

WWE had the most representation in Sports Illustrated’s list with nine selections out of eleven wrestlers mentioned.

Full List of Sports Illustrated’s 2018 Top 10 Women’s Wrestlers:

Becky Lynch
Charlotte Flair
Tessa Blanchard
Ronda Rousey
Asuka
Alexa Bliss
Toni Storm
Kairi Sane and Shayna Baszler (tie)
Bianca Belair
Jordynne Grace

Official statement by Sports Illustrated:

Hard to believe, but “The Man” was not even a featured part of this past year’s WrestleMania, instead one of many in the women’s battle royal.

Only a few months later, we now live in a wrestling world where a pay per view without Becky Lynch is a significant problem for WWE.

On pace to headline WrestleMania 35 in what looks to be the first fan-driven call for a headliner since Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 30, Lynch elevated herself to another level following her title win and the unveiling of a new edge and attitude at SummerSlam. She carried herself like a star in 2018, and none of her peers in the business made a more substantial jump in value than Lynch.

Lynch’s unpredictability, which is illustrated through her chaos and violence in the ring, was captured perfectly after her face was broken and she suffered a concussion from a reckless punch from Nia Jax on the November 12 edition of Raw. It is also telling that fans are not only clamoring for Lynch to avenge Jax, but they want it well before WrestleMania–where Lynch can move on from Jax and fulfill her destiny, becoming one of the first women to ever headline WWE’s signature event.

Becky Lynch reflected on Twitter about being honored as the Women’s Wrestler of the Year by Sports Illustrated.