Best Speaker: Chris Jericho
Runners-Up: Kevin Owens, Matt Hardy, The Miz, Kenny Omega, Enzo Amore
Despite being one of the oldest wrestlers on the roster, Jericho was spectacular on the microphone in 2016. While he has always been good at promos, he became even better this year, coming up with so many new catchphrases and sub-gimmicks that have made him more fun to watch.
From getting the word ‘it’ over with the audience, to making the audience chant ‘stupid idiot’ whenever he’s on screen, to making a list the funniest thing on the roster, Jericho has been masterful, and truly deserves the respect he has earned for his hard work and creativity.
Kevin Owens has also been an excellent speaker throughout the year. But while his regular promos are solid, Owens excels in trash-talking during his matches, on commentary, and in random one-liners. Him mocking the audience with his rambling even managed to make Roman Reigns laugh at a house show, which is a testament to his abilities.
Of course, one cannot discuss great promos without mentioning ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy. In the span of six months, Hardy’s promos have become so ridiculous you cannot help but laugh at him. He knows this and does whatever he can to make himself even more outlandish with every passing week.
He’s the wackiest character in wrestling today, and you never know what he’s going to say (or more importantly, how he’ll say it).
The Miz has also been money with his promos this year, especially with his famous ‘meltdown’ on Talking Smack. The realism and passion he put into that promo (as well as many subsequent promos) have led to something of a rebirth for the Miz, turning him into arguably the biggest heel on the SmackDown roster.
In Japan, Kenny Omega has also become a fantastic talker. Not only are his promos very fun to listen to in English, but he’s also fluent in Japanese, which is a major accomplishment given how difficult it is to master that language.
The fact that Omega can transition between these two languages without effort makes him a major asset for NJPW, especially as they expand their product further onto the international stage.
Finally, Enzo Amore’s promos have been very interesting as well. He has an odd magnetism about him when he talks, and his mannerisms make him someone you can’t take your eyes off. While his in-ring work might not be the best, one cannot deny he has a gift for the gab.
