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While it may sound like a nice tidbit for some, the world of professional wrestling doesn’t revolve around WWE.
Sportskeeda is the one-stop destination for latest WWE rumors and wrestling news.
For years now there have been wrestlers from around the world that have been carving out their own path in this business, and in the present day, you could argue that pro wrestling is less reliant on WWE than ever before. Some may take that as an insult, but trust us, we understand just how awful the industry’s position would be if the top dog didn’t exist.
Alas, we aren’t here to talk about that, because we’re here to talk about some of the guys who are really making a difference that goes above and beyond anything we’ve ever seen before. A handful of the names we’re about to list will come off as extremely obvious choices, but that’s only because of just how effective they’ve been throughout their time on the independent circuit.
So with that being said, here are five non-WWE stars who are changing wrestling.
#5 Cody
While a handful of the guys on this list never really got a chance to prove what they could do in WWE, that doesn't really apply to Cody - formerly known as Cody Rhodes. The ex-Intercontinental Champion has been able to do things outside of WWE that few could've imagined, and as one-third of the All In team, he's proven that professional wrestling extends far beyond the realms of Vince McMahon.
Some fans don't like his methods and others straight up think he doesn't deserve to be in this kind of position, but Cody is a hard worker, and he's earned everything that is coming to him. He's earning a fantastic wage for someone outside of WWE and moving forward, more pro wrestlers will look to him as an example of what life can be like away from the big time.
#4 Will Ospreay
While he may not have been around for quite as long as Cody, Will Ospreay has quickly established himself as one of the most athletic & aesthetically pleasing performers in recent history. The things that this man can do inside the ring defy all forms of logic, and if Ricochet hadn't have been signed to NXT, he would've been on this list right alongside the Englishman.
But aside from that, Ospreay has proven that you can combine those talents with great character work - and that's why been featured here. Will seems to be in the headlines every other week, and that extends beyond pro wrestling because his contributions to the business have regularly been spoken about in the wider world of sports media. He's a gamechanger and deserves to be recognized as such.
#3 Kenny Omega
While you could certainly argue that the meteoric rise of Kenny Omega has cooled off in the last few months, he's still one of the best wrestlers in the world - if not the one and only best. He's one of the only remaining prizefighters left in the game, and when Kenny steps inside the squared circle, thousands upon thousands of fans around the globe stop what they're doing and make sure they're tuning in to see it.
He just seems to possess this 'superhero' aura, that can easily transition into 'supervillain'. Omega has been on a rocket ship to the moon for as long as we can remember, and he is living proof that you don't need to have built a name for yourself in WWE before becoming a global superstar.
You may not like him, but you have to respect The Cleaner.
#2 The Young Bucks
If we're talking about the hardest workers in the game, then The Young Bucks are up there with the best of them. Matt & Nick Jackson have taken a simple idea like Being The Elite and have turned it into something that hundreds of thousands of people tune in to see on a regular basis. They understand what social media is worth these days, and they've done a fantastic job at utilizing it to perfection.n
On top of that, they seem to have a habit of turning haters into believers - and there's a reason for that. The Bucks are known for being slightly too over the top, and yet once you see them wrestle in person, you soon realize that's a big over exaggeration.
In reality, they're just a phenomenal tag team who continue to get better each and every time they go out there. Nobody can question their commitment, and it seems like this is only the beginning.
#1 Kazuchika Okada
Kazuchika Okada has been the IWGP Heavyweight Champion for more than 700 days now, and that really is a remarkable feat. The guy is the living embodiment of an icon in Japanese wrestling, and he hasn't even really hit his prime yet. Whenever Okada defends that belt it feels special, and it really does feel like he's never going to lose it.
He's a guy who holds so much power in his hands, and yet, his character is so simple. Okada feels like the modern day Ric Flair in more ways than one, and his title reign alone is drawing attention from North America, Europe and beyond.
Okada is one of the greatest of all time, and that's a fact.
Do you have any additions to this list? Let us know in the comments section below!
