Sydney Steele entering for a match at Arena Mamá Lucha’s in Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico. (Photo: Adrián Rodríguez Hernández)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge pro wrestler named one of world’s best in top 500 list

Dec 3, 2021 | 11:33 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A Lethbridge-based professional wrestler has been named one of the best in the world.

Sydney Steele was ranked 443 on the Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Top 500 list, an annual ranking of the world’s 500 best male pro wrestlers. PWI has issued its rankings since 1991.

Topping the list was Canadian Kenny Omega, who hails from Manitoba. The list includes other stars like current WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Canadian legend Chris Jericho, All Elite Wrestling’s Cody Rhodes and of course, Lethbridge’s Sydney Steele.

He has called YQL home for more than 12 years and said it’s an honour to be included on the list alongside “the best in the world and future Hall of Famers.”

The past year has seen a number of other accomplishments for the grappler, including being rated at number 80 on a statistical top 100 wrestlers in Alberta’s history list, dating back 90 years. That list includes Calgary’s own Bret Hart and his late brother Owen, as well as the British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith and Stampede Wrestling icons The Cuban Assassin and Leo Burke.

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2021 saw Steele’s 686-day reign as Pure Power Wrestling (PPW) Heavyweight Champion come to an end at the hands of Kyle Sebastian. Despite the loss, Steele was able to regroup and spent two months in Mexico City training in the Lucha Libre style of wrestling and performing in the region.

That includes an appearance on IWRG TV, a program that airs weekly throughout Mexico and Latin America.

He said, “having the opportunity to learn from legends of Mexican wrestling, and some of the best current in-ring talents on the planet was a privilege.”

“But being able to stand in the ring with the best Mexico has to offer and represent Canada and the Canadian style of pro wrestling was even better.”

Steele’s next appearance on hometown soil will be on Saturday, January 1 at Pure Power Wrestling’s ‘New Years Beatings’, where he will defend his newly-regained PPW Heavyweight Championship against Kyle Sebastian.

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