Multiple names from across the world of professional wrestling had career years in 2022. AEW’s Chris Jericho reinvented himself once again, forming the Jericho Appreciation Association and taking home the title of World Champion in the Ring of Honor. WWE’s Sheamus has experienced a wrestling renaissance, putting up banger after banger against the likes of Gunther and Drew McIntyre. While these two veterans made their way back to stardom, plenty of newcomers have had the opportunity to perform on a world stage, and it’s safe to say that these ComicBook.com Gold Edition Award nominees for Best Rising Star have proven they won’t. Anywhere.
NXT standout Carmelo Hayes spent the majority of 2022 in his run as the NXT North American Champion, establishing the mid-card belt as a “title” on the white and yellow brand. Another NXT candidate comes in the form of Roxanne Perez, as she dazzled The Prodigy with her feud against former friend Cora Jade and capped off the year by ending Mandy Rose’s long reign with the NXT Women’s Title. AEW’s Jamie Hayter has wrestled since 2015, but 2022 saw her break out onto the Western stage as she rode the support of her fans to win the AEW Women’s Title at the end of the year. Hawk’s real rookie year came in 2022, where his undefeated run led him to winning the FTW Championship. Finally free from MJF’s chains, Wardlaw handed his former teammate a rare loss at Double AEW or nothing He was awarded the AEW TNT Championship soon after.
And the winner of the 2022 ComicBook.com Golden Issue Award for Best Rising Star is…
AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter!
Hayter fans see day and night today compared to Hayter two years ago. While she had two AEW matches in 2019, she spent most of the early months of 2020 in Stardom, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. With many promotions closed during that time, Hayter found herself couchsurfing at friends’ houses, unsure if she would ever wrestle again.
In August 2021, Hayter was brought back to AEW to stand alongside then-AEW Women’s Champion, DMD Dr. Brett Baker as the reigning Muscle Champion. She was still wrestling, but rarely had the chance to shine on her own. Slowly but surely, chants of “Jimmy Hayter!” It reverberates throughout AEW arenas across the country, getting progressively louder and louder. That fan support propelled Hayter into title chances in the fall, with the Southampton native finally winning the AEW Women’s Title last November at AEW Full Gear.
Congratulations to Hater on her win!
The full list of Best Rising Star nominees is…
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Carmelo Hayes
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Jimmy Hayter – winner
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Hook
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Roxanne Perez
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Wardlaw
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