Wrestling, to me, has never just been about wrestling, and has never just been about body slams, wrestlers' entrances, bright lights, and fans going wild as wrestlers are thrown through tables. It's been about magic. It has filled the void of both noise and color in my life in the moments when they existed the least. It's been my escape, my comfort, my adrenaline, and in a lot of ways, my oldest friend.

There are countless pieces to Lyons’ career arts, combat sports, and a knack for the theatrical but the singularity of each component make her one of the most recognizable proponents of the NXT brand. Immediate and untamed energy is tied into everything she does. With a winning combination of swagger, confidence in her combat ability, and a presence built from years on the dance floor and stage, Lyons has a resume packed with experiences garnered from her years out of the squared circle. Though her career has been marred with injuries, she has the added benefit of having her fans anticipate the comeback as she trades in her viral sensation title for one of a serious contender.

Killer Kross is among the most compelling wrestlers on the planet. Not in terms of interesting or underrated. Compelling. Kross makes wrestling feel dangerous not because he is unsafe, but because he is the type of guy who seems to believe every entrance and every stare is the beginning of something not to be ignored and not to be taken lightly. For years, what Kross could have been, should have been, and what he should have been understood has been heavily discussed. However, it is safe to say the current run of Killer Kross has made this debate all but meaningless. Now, he doesn’t need anybody to support or allow him to go on with what he believes. He’s doing it. Now, he is proving the point everywhere independently, in MLW, in movies, in books, at conventions, and, of course, with Scarlett Bordeaux.

Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) may sound misaligned on a summary level, but in practice, it's completely coherent. Due to its origins with the Insane Clown Posse (ICP), JCW combines hardcore wrestling with comedy, music, cult fandom, and, with its outsider-showmanship, wrestles its way into a market where larger and more prestigious wrestling companies have failed to survive. JCW has always been a welcoming and sincere atmosphere for fans where, as they say, "you're more than a fan". JCW has been more than an emotional outlet for wrestling fans, and that sincere atmosphere is their secret weapon.

Nyla Rose, known as The Native Beast, is an innovative performer and creator of character that has catalyzed conversations and brought much-needed first-hand insight into established interpersonal and professional concerns such as: earned representation, credibility, equal wrestling opportunities, and consideration in the fast-changing realm of women’s professional wrestling. Rose’s dedication, combined with her blend of talent, instinct and insight, has contributed to the establishing of AEW’s brand and identity. Rose’s contribution to professional wrestling has truly been pioneering and deserving of concurrent consideration with her AEW efforts at other promotions, such as Pro Wrestling EVE, and beyond.

Wrestlers have presence, but Cassius has something else: glitter, volume, and a pre-bell, personality bomb! “The Neon Explosion” is an amazing name for the British independent wrestling camps scene bright and bold performer who has a stamp on the scene with his combination of camp, confidence, agility, and some great wrestling theatrics, and incorporates elements of pro-wrestling that has both an old school and a modern flair.

John Bradshaw Layfield is a great professional wrestling example of transformation. From the hard knock south came a bruiser embodying the violent mercenaries of the Attitude Era. He was also one half of one of WWE’s tag teams, but his greatest metamorphosis was perhaps as the world champion who was also a limousine driver, cigar chomping businessman. JBL’s career is more than a case of transformation. It is more a case of timing and a demonstration of his relentless dedication and personality.

AJ Francis is at the beginning of carving his legacy in the world of professional wrestling, and he is placing himself at the top of the conversation, championship or not. Every time he is on TNA, he showcases his presence and confidence with charisma and star power. He has a different energy about him, and this story is different from other former football players or former WWE talent who take to wrestling to have another opportunity. This story is about a performer who has taken every label that has been put on him, every (justifiable or not) doubt, every joke that has been made about him, and every criticism that has been thrown at him, and has used it as his fuel. AJ Francis is loud and focused, and that is why he is world champion material.

There is something electric about TNA Wrestling. It's not just another wrestling promotion; it's the loud, bruised, stubborn, and impossible to ignore wrestling promotion that modern professional wrestling deserves. In the last 25 years, TNA has been ridiculed, rebranded, rebuilt, counted out, mocked, and written off more times than any major North American wrestling promotion. Despite it all, TNA gets back up. That is the magic of TNA. Heartbreak, ambition and chaos. It is a promotion that is all heart and refused to die.

Some wrestlers capture fans with moments that energize the crowd. Some even have the fans remember them for the titles that made them the face of the company. Then there are the few who capture the hearts of their fans who feel the moments delivered on a deeper level. Bray Wyatt and Brodie Lee were the few. They built worlds and captured fans in ways that were strange, beautiful, and frightening all at the same time.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) isn't a polite guest at the professional wrestling table. It isn't a company that politely knocks on the door. AEW brings the noise, the passion and the chaos. It marches through the door. It brings the fireworks and a rabid and loyal fan base. It boldly asserts that the wrestling business does not have to be boring. AEW is a statement; it is a challenge; it is a movement. It combines the fires of independent wrestling, the internet fandom, the international influence, the enigmatic yet powerful inspiration of 'what if.' It poses the question of if professional wrestling needs another main stage. A place where wrestling can be created, fought, and risked. A place where history can be made and where failures can be embraced and where victories can be epic.