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When working on my article “PWI 500 reveals top ten wrestlers of 2017”, I realised something - eight out of the ten wrestlers were from WWE. This raised an important question - who is the best non-WWE wrestler in the world?
We've had some epic clashes that set the wrestling world abuzz this year. Bouts like Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega, Tetsuya Naito vs. Kenny Omega, Marty Scurll vs. Will Ospreay and more, showed us what professional wrestling is all about - in-ring talent. Professional wrestling has risen to a whole new level. The wrestlers mentioned in this list are some of the most talented wrestlers in the world.
This purpose of this list is to showcase the top ten wrestlers in the world who don't work for WWE. This list takes into account accomplishments and championships, in-ring performance, mic skills, and gimmicks.
Since the list is limited to just ten wrestlers, many wrestlers like Hiromu Takahashi, Marty Scurll, Tomohiro Ishii, and Katsuyori Shibata just missed the list by a narrow margin.
If you feel a wrestler who should have made the list has been neglected, then let your voice be heard in the comment section below.
#10 Cody
Cody - formerly known as Cody Rhodes in WWE - has really come into his own ever since he won the ROH World Title. In a way, WWE releasing Cody is the best thing that ever happened to him. To be honest, he was one of the most underrated guys on the roster, but looking at the incredible work he has done since his release, I just had to include him in this list.
He just makes this list at number 10 because he just started to reach his peak. The son of Dusty Rhodes is definitely someone to look out for in the coming years.
Since his WWE release, he has gained the biggest win of his career when he defeated Kurt Angle on two separate occasions. He then went on to debut for Ring of Honor (ROH) under the ring name Cody. His debut was memorable; he defeated Jay Lethal following a low blow, taunted ROH fans and shoved ROH commentator Steve Corino, turning him heel in the process. 'The American Nightmare', then went on to win the ROH World title from Christopher Daniels.
Cody, who is now a member of The Bullet Club in New Japan Pro Wrestling, has improved his in-ring abilities. He has put on some impressive matches and gained a lot of buzz among hardcore wrestling fans. He was already a good talker on the mic when he worked for WWE, but he has now developed himself into a solid character who can hold his own in the ring.
Cody has also stated that he has no plans to return to WWE in the near future and to be honest, I’m really glad to hear that. WWE didn’t know what to do with him, and that resulted in the really stale gimmick known as Stardust.
For now, the ROH World Champion remains at number 10, but if he keeps this up, he could be in the top 5 next year. He certainly has the potential.
#9 Jay Lethal
Jay Lethal has been one of the most consistent and charismatic in-ring performers in recent years. He has only gotten better with age, and is now in the best shape of his life. The former ROH World Champion is dependable when it comes to putting on great matches.
His matches with Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, Tetsuya Naito, and Adam Cole were an absolute delight to watch. He may not have had the best year in 2017, but his rivalry with Silas Young still shows us he has a lot more left in him.
At only 32 years of age, the former X-Division Champion still has a lot more to achieve in his career, and there is always room for improvement. For now, Lethal will have to settle for the ninth spot on this list. Expect him to climb up this list in the years to come.
#8 Zack Sabre Jr.
I’m glad Zack Sabre Jr. couldn’t agree contractual terms with WWE last summer or we would have seen him waste his talent on 205 Live. Since the Cruiserweight Classic, Zack Sabre Jr. has been in the form of his life.
The British technician is well known for his submission skills and technical prowess in the ring. I’ll be honest, I never really liked watching technical wrestling. I’m a fan of fast-paced action, so naturally, when I first saw ZSJ, I thought he would be a boring and slow match. I was proved wrong. 'The British Master' has made me fall in love with the British style of wrestling.
He has had some incredible matches against Will Ospreay, Walter, and Kota Ibushi. He shocked the world by defeating IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi in the G1 Climax tournament.
This was the biggest win of his career and solidified him as a legit wrestling star who is to be taken seriously in the ring. Furthermore, Minoru Suzuki handpicked him to be a part of his faction in NJPW. That shows just how good he is.
His matches are quite vicious to watch and can give you an eerie feeling. This rising star could definitely make his way up to number three provided he doesn’t sign with WWE.
#7 KUSHIDA
KUSHIDA is one of the best junior heavyweights in the world. He is often considered NJPW’s ace in the junior heavyweight division. But these past 18 months have seen a lot of ups and downs for the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. After Wrestle Kingdom 11, he lost his junior heavyweight title to the unpredictable Hiromu Takahashi, and it took him two attempts to regain the belt.
However, KUSHIDA had a good showing in the Best Of The Super Juniors tournament with excellent performances against BUSHI and Will Ospreay. He won the tournament by defeating Will Ospreay in the finals in one of the best matches of the year.
His most notable wins of the year came against Marty Scurll, Hiromu Takahashi, Will Ospreay, Ryusuke Taguchi, and BUSHI. The 'Time Splitter' has been consistently delivering great matches throughout the year. His match against Will Ospreay at Best Of The Super Juniors tournament final received a 5-star match rating. His in-ring prowess and skills in the junior heavyweight division are second to none.
He is a five-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, making him one of the best wrestlers in the world. He also won the Best Of The Super Juniors tournament twice.
KUSHIDA is one of the most respected and loved junior heavyweights in the company. Keeping up these consistent performances could make him the greatest junior heavyweight in NJPW history.
#6 Lo Shirai
Being the only female wrestler on this list shows how talented this young star is. Lo Shirai accepted a contract for WWE, but the contract was rescinded by WWE citing Shirai’s recurring medical issues.
Putting her medical issues aside, Lo Shirai is the best women’s wrestler in the world today. She has held the World of Stardom title for 546 days until June 21. Notable wins against Viper, Shayna Baszler, Hojo, and Toni Storm proves the former World of Stardom Champions is resilient in the ring.
Don’t be fooled by her sweet innocent looks, this Japanese beauty is one tough competitor who can run circles around most women wrestlers.
She is only 27 years old, and has a long way to go in her career. I just hope her nagging neck issues don’t catch up with her and force her into early retirement. Her star aura assures her success wherever she goes.
#5 Will Ospreay
I only heard the name Will Ospreay a few times before I saw him wrestle, and after watching him in the ring, I was impressed by his in-ring abilities. It’s easy to take him for granted, but the English high-flyer has constantly delivered scintillating performance with such regularity that it’s almost expected in each match.
He has silenced his haters with a series of breathtaking performance in 2017. His match against Ricochet on May 18 could arguably be one of his best performances of the year. The match between these two high-flyers lived up to expectations and then some. The two men threw themselves around the ring, performing moves that blew the minds of fans.
Just when you thought his matches couldn’t get better, his match against KUSHIDA in the Best Of The Super Juniors tournament took it a notch higher and was one of the best matches of the year. This should come as no surprise because he has been delivering stellar matches all year long against guys like Zack Sabre Jr., Marty Scurll, Hiromu Takahashi, and Jay White.
Apart from NJPW, Ospreay wrestles for ROH and has also managed to stay active in the UK for RevPro. At only 24 years of age, expect him to have a legendary future. He is also the youngest wrestler on this list. He just misses out on making the top four on this list, but in a few years, he will be regarded as the best wrestler in the world.
#4 Hiroshi Tanahashi
At number 4, we have the IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi. If you're familiar with NJPW, the majority of the credit for its popularity should go to him. Once upon a time, NJPW was in a similar situation as Impact Wrestling, and they needed someone to save them.
In walked Tanahashi, and the IWGP Intercontinental Champion single-handedly pulled them out of trouble by putting on great matches and drawing in huge crowds. He also became the face of NJPW in the process.
He went on to win multiple title belts in the company, including the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, IWGP Intercontinental Championship, IWGP Tag Team Championship, and even won the G1 Climax twice. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter also named him “Wrestler of the Year” from 2011-2013.
Putting his accolades aside, Tanahashi, even at 41 years of age, is one of the best performers in the ring. The current IWGP Intercontinental Champion has been known to deliver outstanding matches on a regular basis. He participated in the G1 Climax with a bicep injury, showing the world just how strong mentally and physically he is.
His best performances of the year came against the likes of Kota Ibushi, Tetsuya Naito, Zack Sabre Jr., and Tomohiro Ishii. The Japanese Ace proves that he isn’t afraid to defend his title against the best, making him one of the greatest champions in NJPW history.
#3 Tetsuya Naito
Pro wrestling fans and critics seem to always underestimate Tetsuya Naito. When Pro Wrestling Illustrated compiled their list of top 500 wrestlers in the world, Naito didn’t even make the top 10.
The G1 Climax winner has had one of the best years of his career in 2017. Despite his arrogant character, fans still can’t help but cheer him during his matches, such is the impact he has on the Japanese fans. He has been delivering captivating matches all year long.
The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion has certainly come a long way since his early days in Japan. His 5-star matches against Kenny Omega, Michael Elgin, and Hiroshi Tanahashi are memorable to say the least.
Naito went on to win the G1 Climax for the second time in his career, earning a title shot against Okada’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship. With the form he is in, he poses a serious threat to Okada’s title.
He is an exciting prospect to look out for in the coming years. He is just reaching his full potential, and has a lot more to offer to the sport. If he keeps this up, expect him to be in the top two by the end of next year.
#2 Kazuchika Okada
Placing Okada in second place may be controversial because many consider him to be number 1. Pro Wrestling Illustrated also placed him as the number one wrestler of 2017. Okada is currently in the midst of one of the all-time greatest singles runs.
He made history by becoming the longest reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion holding the belt for over 538 days (he is yet to lose the title). He is second to none when it comes to in-ring class. The elegance with which he carries himself in the ring is spellbinding.
'The Rainmaker' has put on some stellar performances throughout the year, and was involved in what many are calling the greatest wrestling trilogy of all-time against Kenny Omega. Okada and Omega put on a 6-star match on three different occasions, and all three are serious contenders for match of the year. He also put on 5-star matches against the likes of Tomohiro Ishii and Katsuyori Shibata.
The IWGP Heavyweight Champion's presence in the main event guarantees a sellout at this point. He is on course to become one of the all-time greats, and at just 30 years of age, he hasn’t even peaked yet, and can only get better as time goes on. 'The New Age Star' could still go at this level for another 10-15 years. He is currently positioned as the face of NJPW.
If someone as good as Kazuchika Okada is in second place, then that raises the questions: Who is number one?
#1 Kenny Omega
Occupying the number one spot, we have the IWGP United States Champion, Kenny Omega. Omega’s rise to the top of the wrestling world didn’t really begin until last year. ‘The Cleaner’ shocked everyone by winning the G1 Climax in August 2016. He then went on to challenge Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in what many are considering one of the greatest matches in history.
The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion's meteoric rise continued when he made history by becoming the first-ever IWGP United States Champion. Omega’s name is synonymous with classic matches, and he has proved to be a big draw for NJPW.
Three 6-star matches with Okada in a period of a few months put NJPW on the map. Each match turned out to be better than their last.
Kenny Omega may very well be the best wrestler on the planet -- better than any WWE wrestler, including names like Roman Reigns, John Cena, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Brock Lesnar, Shinsuke Nakamura and many more.
'The Cleaner' is one of those wrestlers who I never want to see wrestle for WWE ever. I don’t want him to be held back by WWE’s lack of creativity. Kenny Omega has done some of the best work of his life for NJPW. Expect him to stay at the top of the sport, with or without WWE.
