Following recent global events wrestling has proven that it, like everything else, is not immune to hard times. AEW, NWA, Impact Wrestling, NJPW, and even WWE have all closed their doors. Now, six months after the final wrestling show aired, a new website mysteriously launched: www.bestintheworld.com, with the following events advertised:


4-09-2021 - All-State Arena: Chicago, Illinois
4-10-2021 - 2300 Arena: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
4-11-2021 - Air Canda Center: Toronto, Ontario
4-12-2021 - 3 Arena: Dublin, Ireland
4-13-2021 - Wembley Arena: London, England
4-15-2021 - Korakuen Hall: Tokyo, Japan
4-17-2021 - Staples Center: Los Angeles, California
4-18-2021 - Madison Square Garden: New York City


One week later the following message appeared:


There are very few constants in life, and recent times have showed the reality of this more than ever. In times of adversity, fear, and struggle, people all turn to familiar comforts to give them the strength to carry on. This is true for all of humanity. Whether rich or poor, eastern or western, we all have those intangible familiarities that bring us comfort and hope. For many of us, professional wrestling was one of those comforts. Although insignificant when compared to the loss of life and livelihood that many faced, the loss of professional wrestling took that familiar comfort away from so many of us. It's time to bring it back.


The Global Wrestling Collective is a group of visionary business people who, like so many around the world, love professional wrestling. We come from different nations and backgrounds but are united in one thing: a love for this great sport. As such we are pleased to announce the 'Best in the World' tournament. Spanning three continents over 8 nights, we are bringing together 64 of the best professional wrestlers in the world for a single elimination tournament. We know that we could have sold out stadiums around the world, but we want these shows to bring that familiar sense of comfort to wrestling fans around the world, and so have chosen 8 of the most iconic arenas in the sport. In the future, if the appetite is there, we may run larger shows - but for now, this is a chance to bring the very best in the sport together in the places they all call home.


We hope that you, like us, are excited for the return to the squared circle, and to find out, after all this time, who the best in the world truly is.


Global Wrestling Collective

Still not a real website... PUSSY!

So this fed is a collective in every sense of the word in that I want some reader participation. So I'm going to do prediction competitions, and if you win, you can make decisions/stipulations etc. for things going forward. So, we have a 64-man tournament. (Has anyone ever planned one of those before? Damn it takes a while). I'm going to post the first 32 men in the competition below, and want you guys to predict the other 32. Whoever gets the most correct will get to make some exhibition matches later on in the tournament. And 🤯 , will like the post of the winner as well.

So come on down 🤯 ,, @admin , mysterious , jTjohncenaGOAT , 1RealSmartAlex , KING KID , RT , Baker , @ness , UT , Emperor , Big Evil , KJ , System , dylan , @ck , rad , @theshow , pduh , The Dazz , Todd , Kilgore , iron maiden , Rogue , Big Pete , CM Punk'd , c , spladle125 , daveymolz , bodyslam , Ed , NATH45 , Strobe , dex , kingoftheworld , X-zero , LS and anyone else with any sort of vague interest in wrestling or just competitions.

Here are the first 32:

The USO’s!

PB I literally tried doing this shit a few months ago. Did all the hype, the brackets, one match and was like fuck it lmao.

Wasn't there a time when KJ asked us all to send him a list of wrestlers to include in a new fed? Did that fed ever happen? Maybe it did, I can't say I'm especially active in Fan Fic.

Anyway, this is cool, I'll do it.

Fuck yes. 1000% on board with this. Working on my list now. We PM it or post it here?

Apr 17, 2020 17:51:32 GMT RT said:

Fuck yes. 1000% on board with this. Working on my list now. We PM it or post it here?

What do you think? Obviously if we post them here then people can steal ideas from others, but maybe that’s good for people who are less up to date?

Wait, what are we supposed to do?

Apr 17, 2020 18:13:55 GMT 🤯 said:

Wait, what are we supposed to do?

You’re trying to predict the other 32 men taking part. Then you get the prize of booking some matches/results later on.

Apr 17, 2020 18:14:40 GMT PB said:

Apr 17, 2020 18:13:55 GMT 🤯 said:

Wait, what are we supposed to do?

You’re trying to predict the other 32 men taking part. Then you get the prize of booking some matches/results later on.

Assuming currently active and or at least living wrestlers only?

Apr 17, 2020 18:15:51 GMT 🤯 said:

Apr 17, 2020 18:14:40 GMT PB said:

You’re trying to predict the other 32 men taking part. Then you get the prize of booking some matches/results later on.

Assuming currently active and or at least living wrestlers only?

Yes. Although you’ll see Goldberg in the first 32, so they don’t have to be full time active.

Apr 17, 2020 18:16:55 GMT PB said:

Apr 17, 2020 18:15:51 GMT 🤯 said:

Assuming currently active and or at least living wrestlers only?

Yes. Although you’ll see Goldberg in the first 32, so they don’t have to be full time active.

Last question...

You really gonna make me have to reverse image search all those jobbers I don't recognize?

Apr 17, 2020 18:20:56 GMT 🤯 said:

Apr 17, 2020 18:16:55 GMT PB said:

Yes. Although you’ll see Goldberg in the first 32, so they don’t have to be full time active.

Last question...

You really gonna make me have to reverse image search all those jobbers I don't recognize?

Ha! No. The first 32 are:

Hiroshi Tanahashi
Kevin Owens
Chris Jericho
Kenny Omega
Seth Rollins
Nick Aldis
Will Ospreay
Edge
Bully Ray
Kofi Kingston
Dragon Lee
Finn Balor
Tetsuya Naito
Jeff Cobb
Jay White
Fenix
KENTA
Sanada
King Corbin
Jeff Hardy
Chris Hero
Minoru Suzuki
Sheamus
Jon Moxley
Pentagon Jr.
Tim Storm
Goldberg
Keith Lee
AJ Styles
Zack Sabre Jr.
Cody
Tyler Bate

Any time limit?

Apr 17, 2020 19:22:12 GMT @ck said:

Any time limit?

Let’s say a week. And send them via PM. 

Apr 17, 2020 18:20:56 GMT 🤯 said:

Apr 17, 2020 18:16:55 GMT PB said:

Yes. Although you’ll see Goldberg in the first 32, so they don’t have to be full time active.

Last question...

You really gonna make me have to reverse image search all those jobbers I don't recognize?

PB if you want me to delete garbage posts to clean up the thread just let me know.

Apr 17, 2020 20:59:26 GMT RT said:

Apr 17, 2020 18:20:56 GMT 🤯 said:

Last question...

You really gonna make me have to reverse image search all those jobbers I don't recognize?

PB if you want me to delete garbage posts to clean up the thread just let me know.

Whoa, who you calling garbage, garbage man?

the list is in and I'm calling my shot with 5 of 32 correct

Seems like fun, will start working on my list this afternoon

Loving the amount of list I’ve received so far. It’s really interesting seeing how people are picking. I think the leader at the minute has 20/32 which is fun, as I was worried more than one person would get all 32. The lists have drawn my attention to a couple of people I wanted to include but didn’t and I now feel bad about.

Mauro Ranallo: Welcome to the Global Wrestling Collective Road to Best in the World. I’m Mauro Ranallo and, representative of the collective approach to sports entertainment that we’re taking, I’m joined by two very different experts. On my right is the man who’s been repping wrestling in the mainstream and is never afraid to get a little cheap heat – it’s my friend and yours Peter Rosenberg. On my lift is puroresu’s Ask Jeeves – the man who has been educating the world on the history of strong style – the one and only Chris Charlton. Chris, we’re going to come to you first – undoubtedly a lot of names announced for the tournament will be a little unfamiliar to some of our viewers – who should we be keeping an eye on from the land of the rising sun.



Charlton: Mauro, this is truly the most exciting tournament in the history of professional wrestling, and I hope that people are prepared for the excitement that is coming our way. There are names that many westerners will be familiar with for sure.You’ll know KENTA either from his time in Ring of Honor or as Hideo Itami in NXT, but ever since he returned to Japan, KENTA has developed an attitude that saw him begin to rise up the ranks very quickly. Also announced is the New Zealand born leader of the Bullet Club, Jay White. What’s really interesting is that two other former Bullet Club leaders were announced in AJ Styles and Finn Balor. We don’t know if the Bullet Club still exists or where their loyalties lie - so that’s something really interesting to keep an eye on. Minoru Suzuki is the toughest man in wrestling, Sanada is a tag team specialist who has been impressing in singles competition recently, and Naito was the first man to simultaneously hold the IWGP Intercontinental and World Championships, so should make a big impression. If there is only one name I want people to keep an eye on, however, it’s Hiroshi Tanahashi. NJPW was not the powerhouse of pro wrestling that it was when Tanahashi became their ace, their top guy. The growth and expansion that New Japan has seen over the last decade has come on the back of Hiroshi Tanahashi. He’s their John Cena – he’s done everything that there is to do – and he’s an artist in the ring. He’s a real life rockstar and will be seeing this as a huge opportunity to prove himself on a truly global stage.



Rosenberg: First of all, shout-out to Stat Guy Greg. Second of all,I will admit, I was a total WWE guy before. I knew the names, but I didn’t follow Indy wrestling or International wrestling. But like most people, I see the gifs on twitter – so tell me more about maybe the most giffed wrestler there is – tell us about Will Ospreay.



Charlton: Will Ospreay was maybe the best wrestler in the world in 2019, and that’s not something to say lightly. His main success has come in the junior heavyweight division, but in the G1 Climax he showed that he could bulk up a bit, and take the fight to the heavyweight division. The gifs you’ve seen show the incredible athleticism that Ospreay has, but there is way more to his game than that – he has matured and now when he goes into the ring, it’s not just about showing off, he really wants to win and will do whatever it takes to do that.



Ranallo: Peter you’ve made it clear that you were a WWE guy – so let’s change track completely and get your perspective on a name that was maybe a surprise inclusion – what do you think of the chances of Bill Goldberg?



Rosenberg: You know we have to be honest here – Bill is not a young man anymore, and the last few times we’ve seen him compete it hasn’t been pretty. But who the hell watches Bill Goldberg and wants to see something pretty? There’s only one thing we want to see and that is dominance. I don’t care what age he is, I don’t care who he’s in that ring with – if he hits the spear and the jackhammer, he’s progressing it’s just that simple.



Ranallo: Who else are you excited to see?



Rosenberg: My guy to watch is King Corbin. I don’t care what the haters say – Baron Corbin is on of the most consistent competitors in wrestling in the past five years. This is the perfect opportunity to reinvent himself, prove people wrong, and show that he has the abilities to back up his words.



***


We cut to Finn Balor, speaking directly to the camera.



Balor: You know, I’m starting to think people have got the wrong idea about me. You’ve seen the smiling face. You’ve seen the endless merchandise. You’ve seen me going out, putting on a show, giving people what they want. I’ve had a lot of time to think over the past year…and maybe if people have the wrong idea about me, it’s my own fault. I’ve had to ask myself some pretty hard questions. Do I want to be known as a showman … or do I want to be known as a champion? This tournament is a chance for me to set the record straight. I’m not coming to entertain, I’m not coming to sell merchandise, and I’m certainly not coming to smile. I’m coming to prove to everyone else what I already know – that I’m the best in the world.



***


We move to an in-studio sit-down interview.



Renee Young: I’m very excited to introduce my guest at this time…Chris Jericho. Chris, how excited are you to be stepping back into the squared circle next month for the Best in the World tournament?



Jericho: We haven’t see each other for a long time Renee.



Young: No we haven’t.



Jericho: Do you remember the last time we saw each other?



Young: Em, I don’t think I do. I’m guessing an AEW show?



Jericho: Yeah, Renee, it was an AEW show, and you know what, I’m pretty damn surprised you’re saying you don’t remember that night.



Young: I think we should be talking about the tournament Chris –



Jericho: No, Renee, we’re going to talk about the last time we saw each other, because the last time we saw each other was the worst night of my life. February 29 2020 – over a year ago Renee. Imagine the odds I overcame, when everyone though I was finished, when everyone thought I was done, I left my home and I bet on myself – and I proved to the entire world, that I was not a supporting player, I was not just a good hand, I was the very best. Do you know how hard that was Renee? Do you know how unlikely that was?



Young: Chris I have a huge amount of respect for you, you know —



Jericho: Ill tell you how unlikely that was – no one bet on me. They expected me to fall on my face but I didn’t. I didn’t Renee. I was the Champion of the World and it was meant to be the most glorious run the history of pro wrestling. And then came Jonny Moxley. And he took everything away from me. So what was your damn question? Am I excited to blah blah blah blah? I’m not here to give you a sound-bite, I’m not here to answer your inane questions, I’m here to make one thing very clear. I’m not here to make up the numbers. I’m not here to give someone a rub. I’m here to prove that I am exactly who I say that I am – the very best in the world at what I do. And Renee, what I really want – more than anything else, is to meet Jonny somewhere in the tournament. And when I do, I am going to break his back, make him tap, and show to him, to you, and to the entire world that the final chapter of Chris Jericho’s career has not been written yet.



***




Ranallo: And now, we’re excited to reveal the final 32 men competing in the Best in the World Tournament.






Daniel Bryan; David Starr; Shinsuke Nakamura; Adam Page; Brock Lesnar; Johnny Gargano; Roman Reigns; Lance Archer; Rob Van Dam; Adam Cole; Jordan Devlin; Sammy Guevara; Aleister Black; Matt Riddle; Bandido; John Cena; Pete Dunne; Kazuchika Okada; Randy Orton; Braun Strowman; Ken Shamrock; Triple H; Tomasso Ciampa; Andrade ‘Cien’ Adams; Mattt Hardy; Marty Scurll; PAC; WALTER; Hiromu Takahashi; Rey Mysterio; Kota Ibushi; and Drew McIntyre.

And so the results for the prediction game:

🤯, - 13
bodyslam, - 13
Baker - 2 (but lots of fun suggestions)
pduh - 13
@ @ck, - 20
jTjohncenaGOAT, - 8
Emperor, - 17 (but included two guys from the first 32!)
RT, - 16

So congrats to @ck, I’ll be in touch about your reward!

This is awesome. So awesome.

I kinda fucked up by missing Naito in his first 32. I completely forgot about PAC. I guessed way more NJPW guys than are actually in the final 32. Pretty sure I'm not the one who named 20 :lol:

UPDATE

17 is a lot more than I expected. Who else did I suggest from your first list besides Naito?

No second place prize? :lol:

Apr 30, 2020 22:10:33 GMT Emperor said:

This is awesome. So awesome.

I kinda fucked up by missing Naito in his first 32. I completely forgot about PAC. I guessed way more NJPW guys than are actually in the final 32. Pretty sure I'm not the one who named 20

UPDATE

17 is a lot more than I expected. Who else did I suggest from your first list besides Naito?

No second place prize?

Fenix! But the masks are confusing and all that...

Given we have similar enough tastes that you wouldn’t ruin things, maybe there will be a second place prize after all!

PB Shamrock?

I’m absolutely stunned I only got half right. I actually put thought into my list. Not only was I comparing with the one he posted, but I was thinking of ratios and who PB likes and all that.

This shit is fire. PB about to have a summer. Love this.

Apr 30, 2020 22:04:07 GMT PB said:

Baker - 2 (but lots of fun suggestions)

:lol:  I did it wrong. I misread it as we were voting on the last 32 spots. That's why my suggestions were so....Baker-y.