If you work in Hollywood, you’d love to work for Disney or Netflix. They’re the cream of the crop and the perks aren’t bad (Disneyland tickets…wink, wink)! The equivalent to that in pro wrestling is WWE. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Death Star of sports entertainment is where the money is. That and possible outside acting opportunities (e.g. The Rock & John Cena).
If you are a wrestler or aspire to be one in the future, then working for WWE has to be a goal of yours or at least a constant consideration. Besides the fame, merchandise, mega events and pyro for your entrance, WWE is a global brand — the measuring stick if you will — that lets everyone know that you’re one of the best of the best.
As powerful as WWE is, the company has a wish-list of wrestlers it would love to bring into the fold at some point in the near future. While the company has invested millions upon millions into turning NXT into a lab where they can create future superstars, the truth of the matter is that most stars will come from outside sources. Whether it’s the indies, Mexico or Japan, there are some amazing, talented individuals building great careers as they buck the trend of working for billionaire Vince.
After watching countless hours of YouTube matches, I’ve compiled 10 talents you should be keeping an eye on outside of your normal WWE viewing.
Kenny Omega (NJPW)
If the Monday Night Wars between WWE and WCW were still around today, Kenny would be the top free-agent both brands would be fighting over. If you follow Wrestling Wednesday (why wouldn’t you?!), then by now you know we’re Kenny Omega fans. The man’s an amazing in-ring performer, charismatic and hilarious on the mic. He’s transformed himself into a top guy, taking the mantle from Finn Bálor and AJ Styles as the top foreign wrestler in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). While a WWE stint seems inevitable, we should all enjoy Kenny’s savage and funny antics now before his style gets censored.
Candice LeRae (Indies/PWG)
Who could dethrone Asuka from her undefeated reign as NXT Women’s Champ? Candice LeRae wouldn’t be a bad option considering her experience and talent. While WWE has been harping about their Women’s Revolution, Candice has been a revolutionary, building a career battling men and women. One half of The World’s Cutest Tag Team alongside Joey Ryan, the intergender star has built a reputation for being one of the toughest and creative wrestlers in the ring. Since her husband Johnny Gargano is thriving in NXT, chances are high that she will join him. If she does, they’ll become the power couple of the brand.
The Young Bucks (Indies/NJPW/ROH)
Arguably the best tag team in the world and the masters of self-promotion, Matt and Nick Jackson have become YouTube darlings. Along with Kenny Omega, the trio have a can’t miss YouTube series called “Being The Elite,” which destroys every wrestling code, rule or barrier you could think of. Kayfabe is long dead and these guys couldn’t be happier! Having flirted with the WWE in the past, The Young Bucks have shown other wrestlers that you don’t need to be a WWE Superstar to make a good living or build a brand. They wrestle everywhere; they keep winning titles and do whatever they want. Everything is just “too sweet” for these two!
Matt Riddle (Indies)
Not to be confused with Tom Riddle, the true identity of Lord Voldemort, former UFC star Matt Riddle has been touted by many as the next big thing in wrestling. Comparisons to Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle are natural considering his physical gifts and MMA background. While not as accomplished in amateur wrestling as those two greats, Matt is just as impressive and a legit badass. After getting dropped by UFC for weed violations and calling Dana White an “a-hole,” Matt’s been wrestling for only three years. Having risen so fast in a short amount of time, the sky’s the limit for Riddle, the only question is how high does he want to go?
Ricochet (Lucha Underground/NJPW)
Is this guy human? We’re not sure based on the “OMG” moves he does in the ring. Part Street Fighter character, part comic book superhero, Trevor Mann, better known to wrestling fans as Ricochet, is that next-level talent that can be a face of a company. The high flyer has fought all around the world for promotions such as NJPW, PWG and in Lucha Underground. On the El Rey show, he wears a mask and goes by the name Prince Puma, but regardless of the gimmick he uses, his undeniable skills should be appealing for WWE to go after.
Sexy Star/Dulce Garcia (Lucha Underground)
The first woman to become Lucha Underground Champion has not retired from wrestling. Unmasked and now going by the name of Dulce Garcia, the talented luchador is trying her hand in boxing, adding onto the legacy she’s already built in wrestling. Like Candice LeRae, she can work with men and women, delivering high quality matches and stories in the ring. How long she splits her time between boxing and wrestling is yet to be seen, but when she returns full-time to a promotion, with or without the mask she’s a star.
Adam Cole (ROH/PWG)
Don’t be surprised that in a year from now Adam Cole “Bay! Bay!” is holding the NXT Championship and the face of the brand. Rumors are swirling of him joining WWE after his Ring of Honor (ROH) contract expires at the end of this month. Cole’s got the look, arrogance and technical skills to be a main-event level star if properly used in WWE/NXT. Having worked the indie leagues for years, The Bullet Club member has been the ROH World Champion and the PWG Champion. His on and off again feud with Kenny Omega over the right to be BBF with The Young Bucks, hopefully culminates in a match.
Jay Lethal (ROH/TNA)
If former TNA wrestlers like Samoa Joe, AJ Styles and Bobby Roode can find success in WWE, chances are that Jay Lethal will do the same. During his time down in TNA, Jay was more of a comedic wrestler with gimmicks that utilized spot-on impressions of “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. As is the case with TNA, they didn’t know how to use the charismatic and entertaining wrestler, so he left and found success in Ring of Honor. Less laughs and more intensity worked out for him in ROH, as Lethal became the first African American to win the ROH World Championship.
Kazuchika Okada (NJPW)
The jewel of NJPW is “The Rainmaker” himself, Kazuchika Okada. The 29-year-old Japanese star is a marquee talent that in January put on an instant classic match against Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 11, earning both mat heroes a six-star rating by wrestling guru Dave Meltzer. After Shinsuke Nakamura left NJPW, Okada has filled his role as top dog in the company and along with guys like Omega, Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi and The Bullet Club, has helped establish NJPW as the second top company in the world. Once he gets a better grasp on his English, this guy will blow up even more in the States just as Nakamura has.
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