'Blown away by his improvement': Australian wrestlers dominate ESPN's '30 under 30' list
Updated . First published at
Australia's takeover of the wrestling industry has continued, with two of the country's best talents headlining a packed list of global superstars.
The rise of Aussie athletes taking on the world stage has grown tenfold over the past decade, with huge representation across both WWE and AEW.
It was on full-display last month in Perth when the increasingly-popular Rhea Ripley received a hero's welcome for the Crown Jewel event.
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Ripley has become not only one of the biggest female stars in WWE over the past few years, but a legitimate box-office attraction and among the best wrestlers in the world.
The 29-year-old Adelaide product has won multiple world titles, headlined numerous shows and produced some of the best matches of the modern era.
Rhea Ripley Getty
On a new list released by ESPN, ranking the best 30 professional wrestlers in the world under the age of 30, Ripley came in at third and was the highest-ranked woman.
But the dominance of young Aussies doesn't start and end with Ripley anymore.
In second spot on the 30-under-30 list was Sydney's own Kyle Fletcher, who has taken the business by storm over the past two years and developed into one of the best in-ring performers AEW - or any company, for that matter - has to offer.
The 26-year-old has rapidly grown from a background player to a main event-level star and in an interview with Wide World of Sports, wrestling icon Bryan Danielson heaped praise on the future world champion's growth inside and outside the squared circle.
"I'm just blown away by Kyle's improvement over a short period of time," he said.
"Wrestling is like anything - you are naturally good at some things, but struggle with other things. I was naturally good at the actual wrestling part from the very beginning of my career, but I struggled with doing interviews and promos.
"It took me a long time to get to the point where I was comfortable doing any of that.
"I'm really impressed with Kyle Fletcher and his ability to learn all of these things in the short time that he has been on TV.
Kyle Fletcher AEW
"Not only is he an incredible in-ring performer - one of the best - but the way that he carries himself and the way that he speaks have dramatically improved in the last year.
"It's at the point where I don't think it's premature for him to be in a world title match."
Fletcher is expected to feature prominently when AEW tours Australia early next year.
The No.1 spot on the ESPN list for the second year in a row went to second-generation star Dominik Mysterio, who has stepped out of his father Rey's shadow.
Other notable names on the list included MJF, Tiffany Stratton and Bron Breakker.
