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2018 has been quite an interesting year in the world of professional wrestling. While on one hand, WWE's TV ratings and live event attendance continued to dwindle, the independent wrestling witnessed a massive boom with independent events selling out in a matter of moments and generating strong numbers on PPV.
While the WWE was criticized throughout the year for a myriad of reasons, the promotion managed to pull off a billion dollar five-year broadcasting deal with FOX that will see SmackDown move to FOX in October next year. The company was unanimously praised for their first-ever all-women's pay-per-view, 'Evolution' and their 'NXT Takeover' specials.
2018 has also seen a lot of wrestlers break out in the business in a big way, both in the WWE and independent circuit.
These superstars have been active for quite some time now, 2018 was the year when they truly shined and made a mark in the wrestling business, achieving a level of success which no one thought they would never achieve.
These wrestlers have been able to grab the perennial 'brass ring' and have become the breakout stars of 2018. Here are five such Superstars:
#5 Juice Robinson
When Juice Robinson left NXT in 2015, not many people would've thought that former 'CJ Parker' would become one of the top foreign stars in New Japan.
But not only has Robinson become one of the most popular superstars in the Land of Rising Sun, but he has also won the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship, becoming the first American to hold the title.
The biggest indicator of Robinson's popularity is the fact that he was reportedly offered a big-money deal by the WWE, which he refused.
Robinson has openly spoken about his frustrations in the WWE and went on a profanity-laced rant against the company after winning the IWGP United States Championship from Jay White at G1 Special from San Fransico, back in July. (H/T- Wrestling Inc.)
Robinson has improved by leaps and bounds ever since he left the WWE and is on his way to becoming an even bigger star in 2019.
Although, his title reign wasn't as long as one would've hoped as he lost the title to Cody at Fighting Spirit Unleashed in September.
With the Elite possibly leaving New Japan early next year, expect Robinson to be a major player in New Japan in 2019.
Juice is scheduled to lock horns with Cody for the IWGP United States Championship at WrestleKingdom 13 on January 4.
He is excepted to regain the US title as Cody is almost confirmed to start his own promotion with The Young Bucks in 2019. Robinson's rise from an afterthought in NXT to one of the biggest stars on the independent circuit has been nothing short of phenomenal.
#4 Buddy Murphy
One of the biggest success stories of 2018, the reigning WWE Cruiserweight Champion has come from being a lower mid-carder in NXT to the backbone of 205 Live in a matter of months.
The former NXT Tag Team Champion was called up to the Cruiserweight division during the 16-man tournament to crown the next Cruiserweight Champion, which was left vacant after the departure of Enzo Amore.
Murphy reached the quarterfinals of the tournament before losing to eventual finalist, Mustafa Ali.
Murphy would then go on to have a slew of a highly-engaging single match against of Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali.
After winning a fatal four-way match on the 25 March 2018 edition of 205 Live, Murphy would fail in his mandatory weigh-in, thereby being stripped of his championship opportunity and was removed from the 205 Live rosters.
The next few weeks would see Murphy trying to cut weight to fulfill the weight requirement for the cruiserweight division. Murphy finally got his title opportunity against reigning champion Cedric Alexander on the 29 May 2018 edition of 205 Live, where he failed to capture the Cruiserweight title.
After a few unsuccessful attempts, Murphy finally captured the Cruiserweight Championship by defeating Cedric Alexander in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia at WWE SuperShowDown in October.
Murphy would successfully defend the title against Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander at Survivor Series and TLC respectively.
Murphy has been one of the biggest reasons for 205 Live consistently being dubbed by fans as the best pure wrestling show on the network. He has been the biggest breakout in the WWE in 2018 and 2019 promises to be another great year for the Australian.
#3 Flip Gordon
One independent star who stock has risen throughout 2018 is Flip Gordon. The 27-year old has had a great 2018 and has become one of the hottest stars in the independent scene.
Gordon recently signed a multi-year deal with Ring of Honor and is looked at as the next big thing in the promotion. He also debuted in New Japan, competing in the Best of the Super Juniors (BOSJ) tournament, finishing the tournament with three wins and four losses, thereby failing to make it to the finals.
A major part of Gordon's success can be attributed to his association with Cody and The Young Bucks and their weekly YouTube Show 'Being The Elite'. Gordon is a regular cast member on the show and is one of the most beloved characters on the show.
Throughout the first half of 2018, Gordon had to compete in multiple matches as part of the storyline to get booked for the Cody-Young Bucks promoted ' ALL IN'.
Gordon would end up squandering all his chances by failing the qualifying matches. A week before the show, The Bucks would ask Flip to officiate a match at the event. Gordon would instead compete in the pre-show battle royale in the match, winning the match and earning an ROH Championship match against Jay Lethal later in the night, which he lost.
Flip would then be involved in a blood feud with Bully Ray which culminated in Flip defeating Bully Ray in an ' I Quit Match' at ROH Final Battle a week ago. Flip would also unsuccessfully challenge Nick Aldis for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Gordon has been dubbed by many as the next big thing in the independent circuit and judging by how things are going at the moment, 2019 sure is going to be one of the biggest years in Gordon's wrestling career.
Flip also has a future ROH Championship opportunity, which he earned by defeating Jay Briscoe in the finals of the Sea of Honor Tournament which was held at the Jericho Cruise.
#2 Tomasso Ciampa
One of the purest heels in the business at the moment, Tomasso Ciampa has been one of the biggest attractions of WWE's developmental brand throughout 2018.
After missing a major part of 2017 due to his leg injury and turning on his longtime friend and tag team partner, Johnny Gargano, Ciampa became the most hated man in all of professional wrestling.
After making a spate of sporadic appearances in 2017, the Blackheart returned to full-time competition at the start of the year, costing Gargano the NXT Championship in a career vs Title Match.
Gargano and Ciampa would face off against one another in an unsanctioned Match at NXT Takeover: New Orleans, with the stipulation that if Gargano won, he would be reinstated in NXT.
Gargano would win the match, the first in the series of three matches, and would be reinstated in NXT.
The duo would once again lock horns at NXT Takeover: Chicago II in a Chicago Street Fight where Ciampa would come out victorious. In the meantime, Ciampa would challenge Aleister Black for the NXT Championship, winning the championship due to interference from Johnny Gargano.
Gargano Vs Ciampa Vs Black would be booked for the NXT Championship in the main event of NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV, which would then turn into a one-on-one match between Gargano and Ciampa after Black was attacked by Gargano weeks prior to the match.
Ciampa defeated Gargano in a Last Man Standing Match at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV and retained his NXT Championship. Ciampa would once again defend his title against The Velveteen Dream at NXT Takeover: Wargames II. Ciampa's success in 2018 has been a total shock to fans as they believed that Gargano would be the one getting the spotlight and Ciampa would be a transitional champion.
But, Ciampa has proved his doubters wrong by putting on one great match after another. While Ciampa was always a great wrestler, fans excepted Gargano to be the most successful as a singles star but that hasn't been the case, at least not so far.
Ciampa has been a heat magnet throughout the year and is one of the most hated superstars in the company right now. But, the Blackheart proved through his performances in the ring and on the mic that he deserves to be at the very top.
#1 Jay White
How many of you had heard of Jay White a year and a half ago, I, for, one didn't know anything about the New Zealander?
In a short span of less than a year, Jay White has gone from being an unknown rookie to the leader of one of the most influential factions of the modern era. The Young Lion graduate had a brief run in New Japan in 2015 before he was sent on a year-long foreign excursion.
White returned to New Japan in November 2017 at Power Struggle debuting the 'Switchblade' character and attacking Hiroshi Tanahashi and challenging the Ace for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship at WrestleKingdom 12 at the Tokyo Dome.
White would lose his match to Tanahashi. At New Years Dash, White would attack Kenny Omega after the latter offered him a spot in the Bullet Club.
A day later, White would officially join 'Chaos' led by Kazuchika Okada and challenge Omega for the IWGP United States Championship.
White would defeat Omega in one of the biggest upsets in New Japan history at New Begining in Sapporo to win the IWGP United States Championship. He would successfully defend on three separate occasions before being defeated by Juice Robinson at the G1 Special in San Fransico, ending his reign at 160 days.
White would then compete in the G1 Climax scoring upset victories over Kazuchika Okada and eventual winner, Hiroshi Tanahashi.
He would then attack Tanahashi and Okada at New Japan's Destruction in Kobe where he along with Gedo turned on Chaos Leader, Okada.
After losing to Tanahashi at King of Pro wrestling for the G1 briefcase before Okada came for the rescue of the Ace, White would then be joined by Gedo, Tama Tonga and the rest of Bullet Club OGs in their attack on Tanahashi and Okada, thereby resulting in him and Gedo deflecting to the Bullet Club.
White is slated to go one-on-one against Okada at WrestleKingdom 13. White's rise from obscurity to become one of the most talked about stat in New Japan has been an absolutely phenomenal feat.
The Auckland-native is considered by many to be the future of New Japan and is a future IWGP Heavyweight Champion in the making.
The Switchblade has been the biggest breakout star in the wrestling world in 2018 and that is saying something considering the highly competitive nature of the business
