PWDU 2024 Top 80 Male Wrestlers Downunder
PWDU 2022 list click here, PWDU 2023 list click here.
Criteria for consideration…
- Activity / In demand by promotions. (bookings in multiple states or appearing for several promotions in one state, AUSTRALIA ONLY)
- In-ring achievements (championships held, milestones, tournaments, matches won etc)
- Level or standard of opponents.
- Quality or standard of promotions worked for.
- Performance ability / wrestling ability.
*Members of ‘established’ tag teams will not have tag team matches count towards a ranking. Our 2024 Top 10 Tag Team list, click here.
*Special mentions to Adam Crowe, Cosmo Cooper, Aragon, Maddog, Noah Greene, Mad Maxx Ramirez, Lochy Hendricks, James Kray, Kobra Jones, Anth Cava, Jimmy Zero, Zakk Archer, Will Gibson, Jordan Bishop, Krackerjack
80. Jaxson Parker
79. Tony Cruise
78. Ryan Rapid
77. Mike Kaos
76. Lucas Fantasia
75. Slade Mercer
74. JXT
73. Tommy Hellfire
72. Jarvis
71. Aries
70. Dean Draven
69. Tyson De Haunt
68. The Puppeteer
67. Otis
66. Korvus
65. Tyson Gibbs
64. Trent O’Day
63. Mitch Ryder
62. Cadie Tre
61. Jebediah Clark
60. Gino Gambino
59. Solomum Blackwell
58. EC Diamond
57. Sam Osbourne
56. James Sly Silver
55. Zack Sabbath
54. Syd Parker
53. Billy Preston
52. Paris De Silva (tag team list)
51. Bojack
50. Moko Kai (tag team list)
49. Will Kiedis
48. Chris Basso
47. Doomslayer
46. Jesse Love
45. Tony Sin
44. Rogan Karguis
43. Morgan Rose
42. Bruno Nitro
41. Chris Target (tag team list)
40. Damian Slater (WA)
39. Rufio (QLD)
38. Redshaw (SA)
37. Scott Green (NSW) (tag team list)
36. Dean Brady (SA)
35. Chad Atlas (QLD)
34. Jarrad Slate (WA)
33. Downunder (SA)
32. Levi Nixon (VIC) (tag team list)
31. Vicent De Maria (SA)
30. Chadwick Jackson (WA)
29. Havok (SA)
28. Lee Morrow (NSW)
27. Cass Stone (VIC)
26. Matt Hayter (SA)
25. Mikey Broderick (WA)
24. Edward Dusk (VIC)
23. EC Brownie (NSW)
22. Marcus Pitt (WA)
21. Jack Bonza (NSW)
20. Emman Azman (VIC – ROW, MCW) Ranking #333 in the PWI 500. Defeated Caveman Ugg for the Renegades Of Wrestling championship at ROW Uprising 2024. OPW & NJPW Tamashii appearances.
19. Yeet Stevens (QLD – Wide Bay, UPW, PWL, APW). Wide Bay Pro Wrestling champion for just over eights months of 2024. Considered one of Queensland’s top performers.
18. Robbie Eagles (NSW, WA, VIC – PWA, ISE, EPW, OPW). Despite competing overseas in Japan and America for the majority of 2024 Robbie Eagles still manages to make his mark on the Australian scene. Soul Of PWA champion since April 2024. A big part of Integrity Sports Entertainment in 2024. Would rank much higher with more appearances Downunder.
17. The Tuckman (NSW, ACT, VIC, WA – PWA, MCW, Slam, IWA, Newy Pro). Gaining in popularity every year, 2024 was a stand out year for The Tuckman. The former Soul Of PWA champion claiming to have over 70 matches in 2024. Despite competing in tag matches for nearly half of the year, The Tuckman has grabbed the attention of the Australian wrestling community. ‘The Dropouts’ would rank high in our Top Tag Teams of 2024 list, click here.
16. Mitch Waterman (VIC – MCW, BCW, ROW, Mayhem). After not being ranked in our Top 20 list for 2023 and ranking 4th in 2022 Waterman is back on the map in 2024 with a solid year. Wins over Robbie Thorpe, Jarvis, Mick Moretti, Ryan Rapid, Emman Azman. Competed for the Qatar Pro Wrestling title at MCW/OPW Worlds Collide.
15. Keegan Brettle (NSW, VIC – All Star). All of 2024 as All-Star Heavyweight champion, competed for the NWA title in Australia against EC3, one of NSW’s hardest working performers. All-Star Wrestling and the rest of the country would benefit from seeing more from Keegan outside of NSW. Competed across regional and outback NSW while appearing on community television through the All Star Wrestling Showcase. Why did they change the belt midway through the year?
14. Ben Braxton (NSW – Newy Pro, PWA, IWA, NJPW Tamashii). Newcastle Pro Heavyweight champion for all of 2024. Mostly unseen outside of NSW, a versatile athlete and agile big man, Braxton is a clear stand out among NSW’s top promotions.
13. Caveman Ugg (VIC, NSW – MCW, ROW, NJPW Tamashii, PWA, Wrestlerock). Renegades Of Wrestling Champion in 2024, competed in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, ACT and Northern Territory. Notable wins over Mick Moretti, Robbie Thorpe, Tommy Knight, Mikey Nicholls and Slex. One of Australia’s best big men, a very unique and entertaining character.
12. Bobby Bishop (QLD, NSW – Wide Bay, PWL, APW, PWA, Suplex, Venom). Beat Yeet Stevens for the Wide Bay title in September, Atomic Pro champion. Stand out stipulations matches in 2024, 3 stages of hell, first blood and dog collar matches. One of few representing QLD interstate. #20 PWDU Top 50 2022, PWDU #14 2023.
11. Robbie Thorpe (VIC, NSW – MCW, PCW, BCW, PWA). Six month reign as Melbourne City Wrestling Intercommonwealth champion.
10. Jessie Lambert (WA, NSW, VIC – EPW, IWA) Defeated Damian Slater for the Explosive Pro Wrestling Heavyweight title in 2024. A stand out year for Lambert, we wait to see to he can back that up with another solid year in 2025. ‘Wrestle Radio Australia 2024 Male Wrestler Of The Year’
9. Gore (VIC – BCW, ROW, AUS, VPW). BCW Battle Express champion defeating Mad Dog in July 2024, finished the year as BCW Heavyweight champion beating Mick Moretti. Aussie fans would love to see more of the ‘Snuff Daddy’ GORE! around Australia. #44 PWDU Top 50 2022. Competed for the DEFY title against KENTA in Australia.
8. Slex (VIC, ACT, WA – MCW, Slam). Another great year from the 22 year veteran. Defeated AEW contracted Buddy Matthews for the MCW Heavyweight title back in February 2024. #232 PWI 500. The total package. PWDU #5 in 2022, #7 2023
7. Adam Brooks (VIC, QLD, WA, ACT, NSW, SA – MCW, OPW, APW, BCW, Slam, NJPW Tamashii). NJPW Tamashii Oceania Cup Quarter Finalist, one of the most travelled performers throughout Australia in 2024, our winner for ‘Interstate Traveler Of The Year’. Competed for the TNA World title in Australia. OPW Heavyweight champion. #6 PWDU 2023.
6. Luke Watts (ACT, NSW – Slam, ISE, All-Star). 10 month reign as Slam Pro Wrestling League Heavyweight champion. Wins over Ricky South, Dan Archer, Tommy Knight, Carlo Cannon etc. Went into one of Australia’s biggest independent events as champion, read more here.
5. Mick Moretti (NSW, VIC, ACT – PWA, BCW, IWA, Slam) BCW Heavyweight champion for all of 2024. The always impressive Moretti brings a stand out mix of character and athleticism. BCW Best In Battle Tournament winner. PWDU #1 2023.
4. Tommy Knight (SA, VIC, ACT, NSW, WA – WR, MCW, PWA, Slam). Seven months as Wrestle Rampage Australian National champion in 2024. PWA Colosseum finalist. Our tip to be one of the next Aussies to be signed to a major promotion in the next few years. The best big man downunder?
3. Ricky South (NSW, ACT, WA, VIC – PWA, MCW, IWA, Slam). Ended the year as MCW Heavyweight champion defeating Caveman Ugg. #255 PWI 500. The legitimate South has another outstanding year Downunder. PWDU #6 in 2022, PWDU #3 in 2023.
2. Jimmy Townsend (NSW, ACT, WA, SA – IWA, PWA, Slam, Newy Pro). International Wrestling Australia Heavyweight champion for all of 2024, wins over Moretti, Watts, Lambert, Gambino, South, Knight and Jackson Kelly. Competed against WWE contracted Grayson Waller in PWA. #340 PWI 500. #17 PWDU 2023.
- Dan Archer (ACT, NSW – Slam, ISE, R&R). ‘The Full Draw’ Dan Archer has seen incredible career growth over the last several years, a breakout year for Dan Archer in 2024 after defeating Luke Watts for the Slam Championship at Rage In A Cage II in front of a crowd of over 2,400. Has the potential to be one of Australia’s all-time greats. A true example of just what can NOW be achieved and built in Australian professional wrestling.
Read from Dan Archer right here
Good to see Gore get some recognition, Bonza could be ranked higher. Slater at 40?
Should not Luke Watts be ranked higher having held the Slam title for longer than Archer?
Good read however. Thanks
I have some goddamn thoughts about why I didn’t make the list after beating Bobby bishop senseless for an entire year!
The Puppeteer beat all the checkpoints of 2024 by going from Superstar, to Megastar to the during his rivalry with Tony Cruise for the All-Star Eastern States Championship Match, which ended with the Carnival Chaos Match at A Night To Remember. He beat the most matches record in a year in the history of All-Star Wrestling 53 in 2024, not including his battles in other feds. He is the only wrestle I’m the history of the company to win two separate belts in the one year having also won the All-Star Tag Team Championship with Queensland’s Sam Cannon, while being under the hypnosis mind control of The Ring Master, arguably the most Booo’ed villain in the country. He also holds the record of being in the first interstate Heavyweight Title defence against Orlando Jordan at Bendigo Victoria. Puppeteer also ticks off the international checkpoint by comparing in CPW in New Zealand in their Isolation Chamber Elimination Chamber Match.
Pups could be in the Top 3 best gimmicks in the country because of the diverse potential with storylines and creativity. Beyond belts, Puppeteer has won the fans, creating an almost cult like influence in the crowd, with no one coming close to the ability to get crowd to engage and interact at that capacity, and if this was a challenge to see who can get the loudest reaction, Pups would be in the Top 3 LOUDEST Pops amongst fans for 2024 and it would probably be the Top 2 Spots.
It’s hard to convey the Magic of what has been unfolding unless you are there at All-Star events to witness, with Charisma at the level of the top dog Keegan Brettle, Puppeteer has proven to be the greatest underdog story in the country and coming 68th on the PWDown Under is a huge deal, but to truly judge the magnitude of a Pro-Wrestlers mould breaking industry shaping ability, the answer lies by listening to the fans.