Elo is a rating system used to calculate the relative skill levels of players, usually in two-player games, like chess. The system is adapted here for pro wrestling matches spanning across wrestling history through the present.
The data on this page is programmed to automatically update daily.
➡️ See methodology at the bottom of this page.
This methodology calculates Elo ratings for pro wrestlers, considering both one-on-one matches and formats with more than two wrestlers, alongside factors such as promotion and event type. For one-on-one matches, Elo changes are determined by the difference in ratings between the winner and loser, with greater gains or losses resulting from upsets. In matches with more than two wrestlers, the winners’ Elo gain is calculated using the average Elo of all losing participants, with adjustments made based on the number of competitors to mitigate the impact of unpredictable outcomes. Stronger opponents are given more weight in these matches, ensuring that victories over highly rated wrestlers lead to more significant Elo boosts. Conversely, Elo decreases for losing participants are scaled, softening their impact in larger matches.
Promotion weight was calculated for each promotion annually and based on several factors, including attendance records available for events, the rate of televised events over time, the overall number of events held, and the volume of event votes on Cagematch.net, though the ratings of those votes were not factored in. This multi-faceted approach intends to ensure that promotions with a history of greater attention carry more influence in the Elo calculations. Additionally, event type plays a role. Matches held at major pay-per-view events, perceived as high-stakes competitions, result in the most substantial Elo changes. Regular weekly television shows hold moderate weight, while house shows or non-televised events are weighted minimally, considering their lower relative significance. House shows after 1985 are excluded entirely from the calculation because faces tend to disproportionately win in those event types.
Elo ratings are also adjusted to decay due to inactivity; without this adjustment, the today’s rankings would be populated by inactive (or long-deceased) wrestlers. The decay mechanism gradually reduces a wrestler’s rating over time if they do not participate in matches, ensuring that only active wrestlers remain prominent in the rankings. For transparency, the rating without this adjustment is displayed in the “Unadj. Elo” column.
This approach attempts to produce Elo ratings that are intuitive but comprehensive, reflecting the importance of both the promotion and the event type. By factoring in the complexity of multi-participant matches, this methodology attempts to provide a more nuanced picture of a wrestler’s ranking, emphasizing the context of their victories and losses rather than relying solely on win-loss records.
Cagematch.net is the data source for the match results used, which extend back to the early 1900s. Ratings are calculated in chronological order, to provide a comprehensive and historical perspective on wrestler rankings.