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influencer noun
someone who affects or changes the way that other people behave, for example through their use of social media.
This is how the Cambridge dictionary defines the term Influencer. To give you an example, the Kardashians are considered influencers of fashion even though they have little direct involvement with the industry. Another influencer might be film director Quentin Tarrantino. Even though he doesn't direct every film that comes out, his influence is still felt in many of them in terms of style, plot, or characterization.
Just like any other industry or entertainment, professional wrestling has its own influencers. These are people who can shape the direction sports entertainment takes, for good or for ill. Sometimes they are directly involved in the industry, and sometimes they are on the periphery. In any case, these individuals have a lot to say about how pro wrestling is going to change and evolve in the coming year.
Here are ten people who will be influencing pro wrestling in 2019.
#1 Dave Meltzer
Who is he? A sports journalist of some renown, who has worked for the Oakland Tribune and the LA Times. He also covers pro wrestling events in addition to 'legit' athletic contests.
What makes him an influencer? Meltzer has been covering pro wrestling from a journalistic standpoint since the early 1970s. His match rating system, including the coveted Five stars, is quoted and copied by fans, journalists, and critics alike.
The mercurial and controversial Dave Meltzer has been rubbing fans and athletes the wrong way since the early 1970s. He's not just a pro wrestling guy, either; He has covered Mixed Martial Arts since the days of UFC 1 nearly thirty years ago.
Meltzer often upsets some fans and even some wrestlers with his match rating system, graded from one to five. One is an awful match, while five is the best a pro wrestling contest can aspire to be. His five star ratings are so difficult to get, he didn't give out ANY from 2007-2010! Most recently he graded Kazuchiko Okada vs. Kenny Omega II a 'six star' rating, but officially the scale does not go above five.
#2 David Arquette
Who is he? A Hollywood actor best known for his work on the Scream series, he also was briefly involved in pro wrestling in WCW's fading days. He has recently made a return to the ring.
Why is he an influencer? While David Arquette was only, hitherto now, tangentially connected to the wrestling industry, he is still a recognizable actor with many fans.
David Arquette has often been regarded as the WORST NWA/WCW heavyweight champion of all time. Yes, worse even than Wildfire Tommy Rich (who didn't even pin anyone to win his one and only title) and Ron Garvin, whose lack of charisma and plodding ring style made NWA officials strip the belt off of him faster than ice melts in an oven.
Arquette was only given the title because of his starring role in the Ready to Rumble film, a feature movie that had lots of WCW stars, though only DDP had a major role. He won the title in a fluke victory on Monday Nitro, but lost it quickly enough.
David Arquette returned to his movie star life, and forgot about wrestling...or did he? Lately, Arquette has been trying to prove he was, in fact, worthy of being WCW champion by returning to the ring. He has impressed audiences and critics alike with his hard work ethic and the serious approach he has to his wrestling. For good or ill, Arquette is clearly going to be involved in the sport for the immediate future, and that means he will have influence just because of his fame (or infamy, as the case may be.)
#3 The Bruiserweight Pete Dunne
Who is he? A young grappler from the UK who has turned a lot of heads due to his prominent role with NXT and his matches against fellow brit Tyler Bate.
Why is he an influencer? Pete Dunne's no-nonsense joint manipulating mat wrestling style has already changed the way matches are paced, booked, and performed. His combination of old school toughness and new age dazzle have made him a sought-after performer all over the world.
Pete Dunne started training for the ring at the age of 12, when most boys can't be bothered to clean their room or brush their hair. Forbidden from wrestling because of his young age, he donned a mask and called himself the Tiger Kid. That's dedication to your craft!
While Dunne is best known as a performer, he also has worked as a promoter and booker. He founded Attack Pro Wrestling mainly to give a lot of his friends opportunities in the dog eat dog world of British Pro wrestling.
#4 Limitless Keith Lee
Who is he? Formerly one of the most sought after independent circuit stars, Lee has now signed with WWE's developmental brand NXT.
Why is he an influencer? Keith Lee's in-ring style involves high flying, fast and hard striking, and impressive cardiovascular conditioning. Most athletes who weigh a hundred pounds less can't match his athleticism. Lee brings cruiserweight speed and heavyweight power to the game, and has changed the way that heavier wrestlers are seen in the business.
Keith Lee doesn't look like any other pro wrestler out there. Unlike John Cena or Jinder Mahal, he lacks a rippling musculature. In fact, if you looked at Keith Lee on the street you might assume he was overweight instead of one of the most explosively quick pro wrestlers in the game.
Lee has brought a blend of Lucha Libre and strong style to NXT, and we're thinking he will be of great influence in that brand, the whole WWE, and the entire industry, causing them to rethink how they book the heavier looking wrestlers.
#5 Ed Nordholm
Who is he? The president of Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, a division of Anthem Entertainment. Anthem is the current owner of Impact wrestling.
How is he an influencer? As the commander of the second largest pro wrestling company in North America, Nordholm exerts a lot of influence in the way talent are treated and pro wrestling is presented on television.
Ed Nordholm is the fourth big name to be associated with Impact wrestling as its top executive since its inception. He is preceded in that role by Jeff Jarrett--TNA's founder and original owner--Dixie Carter, who presided over the company for fourteen years, and Billy Corgan, frontman for the Smashing Pumpkins whose attempts to buy TNA ultimately fell through.
Nordholm's biggest vision has been to make TNA a place where wrestlers want to work. He allows the talent to retain their rights to their intellectual property, and has tried to make Impact more about the wrestling and less about skits and special video packages. He hired Don Callis and Scott DeMore to help him run the company, and seems to be winning fans and critics over.
#6 Joe Koff
Who is he? A Sinclair broadcasting executive assigned to Ring of Honor as the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Talent and Development.
What makes him an influencer? While rarely seen on ROH television, and even more rarely referenced in storylines, Koff is a long time television executive who has many years of experience in the industry. He pushed hard for, and won, a prestigious spot at Madison Square Garden for ROH's joint show with New Japan in 2019.
Joe Koff isn't exactly a man you see much on television. In fact, he is rarely referred to in any capacity at all by the promotion, because most of his work is done backstage--though he does seem to be taking an active role in Christopher Daniels's most recent 'win or go home' angle. Basically, the angle is Koff is refusing to re-sign Daniels because of the Almighty one's age and Daniels must win the ROH world title in order to keep working for the company.
Koff has recently stepped up his game, booking Madison Square Garden after some political maneuvering from the WWE tried to prevent it. Now looking forward to an opportunity to compete with WWE on a grand scale, Koff will be a major influencer in 2019.
#7 Chris Jericho
Who is he? A multi-time world champion wrestler who has worked for WCW and WWE, and most recently for NJPW. He also is the front man for glam metal band Fozzy.
What makes him an influencer? Chris Jericho is not only influential as a performer--he practically reinvented the cocky heel for sports entertainment--he also has founded the annual Chris Jericho Rock n Wrestling rager at sea, a cruise that caters to pro wrestling fans.
Chris Jericho was once known as the "Lionheart," and was so much dripping with babyface energy that he actually let the 'humanoids' (as Bobby Heenan referred to them) touch and hug him during entrances. While he was a popular performer, he really took off when he became a whiny, narcissistic heel. WWE took note and hired Jericho, giving him a huge build up including a tie in to the Y2K hysteria sweeping the world at the time.
Jericho would go on to be the first WWE Undisputed champion and defeated every major player in that promotion during his long tenure. Now working as much behind the scenes as in front of the cameras, Jericho will exert huge influence on the direction the sport takes in 2019.
#8 Triple H
Who is he? A former wrestler and 10 time WWE heavyweight champion of the world who has recently begun to work behind the scenes as much as on the screen.
What makes him an influencer? Triple H is the current head of NXT, the developmental brand of WWE that somehow seems to keep overshadowing the main roster. It is also generally accepted that once his Father in Law Vine McMahon steps down, he will be in control of the whole of WWE. Not bad for a guy who used to wrestle in hog slop matches in the curtain jerker of Raw.
Triple H is an old school wrestler through and through. He was brought into the business during an era when grit and dedication were still quite important. After his training, his technique was refined by Stephen Regal, also his tag team partner in WCW.
The Game was a major player during the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras of WWE, but of late he has been more of a behind the scenes player, though he still comes out for the occasional match. Now as the head of NXT, he has changed many people's opinions about WWE in-ring product, and enticed many indie stars such as Keith Lee to join the brand.
#9 Vince McMahon
Who is he? The CEO and major stockholder of WWE. He also acts as head booker for RAW and 205 Live.
What makes him an influencer? Vince McMahon is arguably the most powerful man in the sports entertainment industry. He owns and runs the largest pro wrestling company in the world, and has numerous ties both political and private. His wife serves on the president's cabinet as well.
Vince McMahon is the man who has changed the face of the wrestling company more than anyone else in history. When he took over the WWWF from his father, Vince Sr., he eschewed the gentlemen's agreement that kept the territories separate, effectively ending the regional era of pro wrestling.
He also created the Rock N Wrestling connection, which utilized newly founded cable network MTV to parlay even greater visibility for sports entertainment. Vince almost single handedly took wrestling from low brow, cheap entertainment to a major force in television and pay per view. While he seems intent on focusing on the XFL revival, he will continue to have great influence on the WWE and all of wrestling in the next year.
#10 Cody Rhodes
Who is he? The son of the legendary American Dream Dusty Rhodes. Cody left WWE for the indie circuit, where he has encountered unparalleled success.
What makes him an influencer? After All In was such a resounding success, Rhodes has focused on repeating the feat as well as starting a new wrestling promotion.
When Cody Rhodes said he was leaving WWE for the independent circuit, many people shook their heads. After all, Rhodes had a prominent spot in the promotion, wrestling legends and celebrities like Stephen Amell alike. the idea that he was going to be more successful both financially and creatively seemed a massive leap of faith.
But Cody proved the naysayers wrong, becoming NWA and ROH world champion, as well as funding and executing All In, the most successful independent wrestling show of all time.
Rhodes now may be looking into starting his own promotion with the Young Bucks, called All Elite wrestling. Whatever he decides to do in 2019, Rhodes will be a major influencer in the industry.
There you have it; Ten people who will be massive influencers in pro wrestling in 2019. Questions or comments? Please leave them below the article, and thanks for reading!
