As July 1 marks the halfway point of the year, these individuals are being recognized for their significant contributions.

Trick Williams' Rise in WWE

Trick Williams has rapidly become a fan favorite in WWE since his main roster debut at the start of 2026. He has proven to be a perfect fit for the spotlight, delivering impressive performances in the Royal Rumble and the Elimination Chamber before capturing the United States Championship from Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 42. Williams has since successfully defended the title against Zayn at Backlash and Ricky Saints at Night of Champions. His appeal lies more in his promos and personality, which bring life to SmackDown, rather than purely in-ring ability. He has excelled in the midcard, and his current push suggests a future in the main event picture.

Jon Moxley's Workhorse Year in AEW

Jon Moxley has transitioned from a perceived stagnation in AEW to becoming the promotion's ultimate workhorse in 2026. After closing out 2025 as the AEW Continental Champion, Moxley has had numerous title defenses in the first half of 2026. While match outcomes are often predictable, he consistently delivers high-quality performances when the championship is on the line. His notable matches have been against Konosuke Takeshita, Will Ospreay, and Bandido. His alliance with Ospreay has kept him relevant at the top of the card while also allowing him to dominate the midcard. The alignment of Moxley and The Death Riders has been a point of confusion, with their status as babyfaces or heels varying week to week depending on their opponents, but the quality of Moxley's matches remains unquestioned.

Sami Zayn's Reinvigoration

Sami Zayn began 2026 feeling colder than he had in some time, following a brief but impactful run as United States Champion late last year. He entered the year without clear direction, and the lukewarm reception to his Undisputed WWE Championship match against Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia did little to help. Zayn's character became significantly more interesting after he began to embrace the boos, not by turning fully heel, but by stating his claim that he did nothing to deserve the backlash and that he stood by his allies. This added an intriguing element to his feud with Trick Williams, who was organically gaining momentum as a babyface. Their matches for the United States Championship were described as fun.

Featured names

• Halfway Through
• World Championship
• Royal Rumble
• Elimination Chamber
• United States
• Ricky Saints
• The Death Riders
• Konosuke Takeshita
• Will Ospreay
• Saudi Arabia
• Trick Williams
• Bizarre Pivots
• World Heavyweight
• Seth Rollins
• Bron Breakker
• Roman Reigns
• The Second City
• Kevin Knight
• The Death Riders
• Swerve Strickland
• Kris Statlander
• Mina Shirakawa
• Thunder Rosa
• Jamie Hayter
• Alex Windsor
• Mercedes Mon
• Forbidden Door
• The Toxic Spider
• Proxima Nova
• Fallback Helvetica
• Fallback Arial