Kevin Knight Tops 2026 BW500 List
Fightful's annual ranking of 500 top Black professional wrestlers names the AEW star first, with Mercedes Moné falling to second.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Wrestling
Fightful's Righteous Reg revealed the 2026 BW500 list on X/Twitter, with Kevin Knight taking the top spot after Mercedes Moné led the 2025 ranking. The list ranks 500 top Black professional wrestlers from around the world.
Why it matters
The BW500 list recognizes Black professional wrestlers across the global industry, and changes at the top reflect shifts in visibility and standing among its honorees. The annual ranking gives fans and the industry a shared reference point for comparing performers year to year.
The 2026 list ranks 500 wrestlers, with Kevin Knight first, Mercedes Moné second, Oba Femi fourth, Leon Slater eighth, Trick Williams 13th and Je'Von Evans 14th. The source does not detail how the rankings were determined.
The players
Kevin Knight
Kevin Knight is an AEW star and former TNT Champion who ranks first on the 2026 BW500 list.
Mercedes Moné
Mercedes Moné is the reigning AEW Women's World Champion who topped the 2025 BW500 list and ranks second in 2026.
Fightful
Fightful is a professional wrestling news outlet that publishes the annual BW500 list.
The details
Fightful's Righteous Reg posted the 2026 BW500 list on X/Twitter. Kevin Knight, an AEW star and former TNT Champion, moved to the top spot, while Mercedes Moné, the reigning AEW Women's World Champion, dropped from first in 2025 to second.
Timeline
2019: The BW500 list debuted with Kofi Kingston at the top.
2024: Swerve Strickland topped the BW500 list.
2025: Mercedes Moné topped the BW500 list.
2026: Kevin Knight topped the 2026 BW500 list, released November 5, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The BW500 list has been published since 2019, when Kofi Kingston held the top spot. The top position has since passed to Swerve Strickland in 2024, Mercedes Moné in 2025 and Kevin Knight in 2026, tracking a rotating set of leading Black wrestlers across the years.
The ranking gives fans a current reference for which Black wrestlers are considered the year's top performers across the industry. Readers following AEW can use the list to track how Kevin Knight and Mercedes Moné compare against other wrestlers in the 2026 field.
The takeaway
The 2026 BW500 list shows that top positions in the annual ranking change hands year to year, so readers can follow the list over time to see which Black wrestlers gain and lose standing.
Further reading
For more on the latest rankings and matches, explore the Wrestling section.
