MJF has been named the No. 1 wrestler in the 2026 PWI 500, completing one of the most dramatic year-to-year climbs in the annual ranking’s newly revealed top 10.

The former AEW World Champion rose from No. 30 on the 2025 list to take the top position this year. MJF finishes ahead of WWE’s Cody Rhodes, who lands at No. 2 after occupying the No. 1 spot in both 2024 and 2025. CM Punk takes third, while Mistico, Konosuke Takeshita, “Hangman” Adam Page, Yota Tsuji, Trick Williams, Oba Femi and Gunther round out the first 10 names.

The result gives MJF the highest individual placement of his career on the list and puts an AEW name atop a ranking populated by leading performers across several major promotions. The 2026 top 10 is especially notable for its broad representation, featuring wrestlers associated with AEW, WWE, CMLL and NJPW.

2026 PWI 500 Top 10

  1. MJF
  2. Cody Rhodes
  3. CM Punk
  4. Mistico
  5. Konosuke Takeshita
  6. “Hangman” Adam Page
  7. Yota Tsuji
  8. Trick Williams
  9. Oba Femi
  10. Gunther

MJF Makes a 29-Place Leap

The defining movement in this year’s top 10 belongs to MJF. His placement at No. 1 represents a 29-position improvement over his No. 30 ranking in 2025. That kind of jump immediately separates his 2026 standing from the previous year and reflects a substantial increase in how his body of work has been evaluated within the ranking.

For more background on this topic, read Will Ospreay Sees Ilja Dragunov as a Potential Major AEW Main Event Opponent.

MJF’s ascent also changes the recent shape of the list’s very top tier. Rhodes had held the No. 1 ranking for two consecutive years, in 2024 and 2025, before slipping only one position to No. 2 in 2026. The one-place change means Rhodes remains firmly among the most highly regarded performers in the field even as MJF takes over the lead spot.

For MJF, the move from No. 30 to No. 1 is the headline development. It is not merely an entry into the upper reaches of the rankings, but a jump all the way to the peak of a list that annually attempts to place 500 wrestlers in order. The result places him in front of several established names who have remained fixtures near the top of the industry conversation.

Rhodes and Punk Remain Near the Summit

Rhodes’ No. 2 ranking ends his two-year run at the top without removing him from the championship level of the list. A single-place decline is minimal in a ranking of this scale, and his position keeps him immediately behind MJF in the 2026 edition.

CM Punk follows at No. 3, giving WWE two of the first three spots. The top three therefore presents a clear mix of major modern wrestling figures: MJF in first, Rhodes in second and Punk in third. Each name carries significant prominence, but the ordering underscores that the 2026 list is not simply a repeat of the prior year’s result.

The placement of Rhodes and Punk also establishes the balance that runs throughout the top 10. While WWE has multiple representatives, the group is not limited to one company or one wrestling style. The remaining positions include talent tied to AEW, CMLL and NJPW, emphasizing the international scope of the performers recognized near the top of the list.

Mistico Continues His Top-10 Run

Mistico comes in at No. 4, continuing a notable run of appearances in the upper tier. After entering the top 10 in both 2024 and 2025, the CMLL star remains there again in 2026. His new position is his highest of those three consecutive top-10 placements.

The No. 4 ranking places Mistico ahead of Takeshita and Page while making him the highest-ranked wrestler outside the first three. His continued presence near the front of the list is significant in a year when the top 10 spans promotions and regions rather than focusing on a single major wrestling market.

At No. 5, Konosuke Takeshita joins MJF and Page as an AEW-associated presence in the top 10. “Hangman” Adam Page follows at No. 6, ensuring AEW has three names among the first six ranked wrestlers. With MJF in the No. 1 position, AEW’s representation is one of the key stories within the revealed rankings.

Yota Tsuji’s Rise Among the Biggest Changes

NJPW’s Yota Tsuji is listed at No. 7 after making one of the largest stated gains in the top 10. Tsuji climbed 24 places to reach his new ranking, a move that puts him alongside many of the most recognized names in the global wrestling landscape.

His position provides NJPW with representation in the top 10 and highlights one of the clearest upward trends from the announced placements. While MJF’s climb to No. 1 is the largest focal point because it ends at the top of the full list, Tsuji’s 24-place improvement is also a major achievement and establishes him as a central part of the 2026 class.

Tsuji’s appearance at No. 7 comes ahead of a trio of WWE names. Trick Williams takes No. 8, Oba Femi is No. 9 and Gunther completes the top 10. Williams and Femi both secure spots in the list’s uppermost tier, while Gunther remains inside the top 10 despite a year-to-year decline.

Williams, Femi and Gunther Give WWE Five Top-10 Names

With Rhodes at No. 2, Punk at No. 3, Williams at No. 8, Femi at No. 9 and Gunther at No. 10, WWE accounts for five members of the 2026 top 10. That gives the company half of the first 10 positions, although MJF’s No. 1 ranking means the top honor goes elsewhere.

Williams’ eighth-place result places him ahead of Femi and Gunther, while Femi’s No. 9 standing puts him within the top 10 for the 2026 edition. The pair’s placement adds further depth to WWE’s showing beyond Rhodes and Punk at the front of the list.

Gunther falls seven spots to land at No. 10. Even with that decline, he maintains a place in the top 10, which remains an important distinction given the size of the overall ranking. His position closes a top group in which every wrestler has either held a prominent place over the past year or made a marked move upward from the prior list.

A Cross-Promotional Top 10

The 2026 PWI 500 top 10 offers a snapshot of a wrestling landscape that extends across multiple major promotions. MJF, Takeshita and Page represent AEW; Rhodes, Punk, Williams, Femi and Gunther represent WWE; Mistico represents CMLL; and Tsuji represents NJPW.

That distribution matters because the list’s top tier does not center on one roster. The No. 1 position belongs to MJF, while Mistico’s fourth-place finish and Tsuji’s seventh-place finish ensure that CMLL and NJPW are represented well inside the first 10. Meanwhile, WWE’s five entries and AEW’s three show the continued prominence of both companies within the ranking.

The individual changes provide much of the intrigue. MJF’s rise from No. 30 to No. 1 is the largest stated shift at the very top. Tsuji’s 24-place jump reinforces the sense of momentum among the new top 10. Rhodes remains just one spot from the lead after two straight years at No. 1, while Gunther stays in the group despite dropping seven places.

The physical edition of the 2026 PWI 500 magazine is scheduled to arrive in stores on October 13. An online edition will also be available for purchase. With the top 10 now revealed, MJF’s move to No. 1 stands as the central result: a substantial leap for the former AEW World Champion and a new name at the summit after Rhodes’ two-year stay in first place.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.