Independent wrestling has never been as strong as it today, even though it might not get as much coverage as it used to. But with a legion of hardcore fans and some of the best technical wrestlers in the world, the indies are growing stronger at a time when WWE’s market share has stalled a little bit.
The indies, New Japan and all included, bring a different style to the traditional WWE style. The matches are longer and more hard hitting. Although, independent wrestlers aren’t as famous as WWE Superstars, some of the them are really talented, perhaps talented enough to make a mark if given a shot in the WWE.
Let’s take a look at some of the most talented non-WWE wrestlers in the world who could make an impact in the company should they be brought in.
#10 The Young Bucks
Matt and Nick Jackson are the most popular tag-team in independent wrestling right now, wrestling everywhere from ROH and PWG to their role as members of the Bullet Club in New Japan. They’ve had WWE tryouts in the past but have decided to stick to the independent scene where the schedule is lighter and as top stars, they still make a very good living.
The Bucks have won titles everywhere they’ve wrestled, including a run as Generation Me in TNA. They’re former ROH Tag champs and 4-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. They also currently hold the NEVER Openweight 6-man Tag Team Championship along with fellow Elite member Kenny Omega. At one point during 2014, they held the ROH World, PWG World, and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships simultaneously.
Wherever the Bucks go, they bring one hell of a Superkick Party with them enthralling fans all over the world. Will we ever see The Young Bucks on WWE? Definitely someday. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
#9 Adam Cole
Adam Cole is currently one of the top guys in Ring of Honor. He’s also one of the newest members of the Bullet Club and will be wrestling in New Japan soon. Cole is technically proficient, great on the mic and just has that star quality. According to rumours, Vince McMahon himself is a huge fan of Adam Cole. He’s proven that he can be both a face and a heel and his 275 day run as ROH World Champion showed that he can cut it at the top. He’s also the longest reigning PWG World Champion of all time.
There is definitely a big chance that we’ll see Adam Cole competing in the WWE sooner rather than later and in today’s day and age, his smaller stature won’t count against him. He can go toe to toe in the ring with just about anyone and his brash in-ring persona will help set him apart in the vast ocean that is WWE’s talent pool.
#8 Matt Sydal
Matt Sydal is the only one in this list who has competed in the WWE in the past. His run in WWE as Evan Bourne had its moments but was overall disappointing. Since his return to the indies, he’s competed in ROH and New Japan and has reinvented himself, showing what he’s truly capable of.
He’s teamed up with fellow indie star Ricohchet in both ROH and New Japan and is currently one half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team champions with him. At the same time, he’s also progressed as a singles competitors, hovering around the main event scene at ROH and competing in the 2016 Best of Super Juniors.
Will Matt Sydal ever find his way back to WWE? At this point it looks unlikely, but if he does, he’s honed his skills enough to have a much more successful run than in the past.
#7 Kyle O’ Reilly
Kyle O’ Relly is one of the biggest stars in Ring of Honor today and has quickly risen to the top of the card thanks to his technical prowess and the ability to have a good match with just about anyone. His style is a unique mixture of mat wrestling and MMA inspired striking which could make him successful in either NXT or WWE as either a singles competitor or as part of a tag team.
Even though O’ Reily is okay on the mic, his main issue is that he lacks overall charisma which could count against him in WWE’s world of scripted promos. That being said, someone of O’ Reilly’s skillset can definitely work past that. If a call from WWE comes, expect him to grab the opportunity with both hands and be successful.
#6 Zack Sabre Jr.
When it comes to pure technical wrestling, Zack Sabre Jr is the best in the world today. He started training at the age of 14 and is a former NWA UK Junior Heavyweight Champion. Accolades have followed him throughout his career and he is set to compete in WWE’s Cruiserweight Classic later this summer. He’s a former winner of Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Danielson Award for Best Technical Wrestler for 2014 and 2015 consecutively.
His offence is a series of holds, locks and pinning combinations mixed with stiff strikes that stem from his love of Puroseu. His submission moves look devastating, including his patented New School Armbreaker, that has tapped out some of the biggest names in the independent scene.
With one foot in the door already, Zack Sabre Jr looks set to sign for WWE in the near future.
#5 Kota Ibushi
The ‘Goldenstar’ is a showstopper. His match with Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestle Kingdom 9 was one of the best matches in the history of the event. Although he isn’t a household name worldwide yet, he’s already a huge star in Japan and widely acknowledged as one of the best pro wrestlers in the world. Ibushi is a former three time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a former winner of the Best of Super Juniors tournament.
After spending a long time out with injury, Ibushi is finally back to his best and has recently parted ways with New Japan Pro Wrestling, leaving him one of the most sought after free agents in world wrestling. A shot of him in the crowd at NXT Takeover: Dallas sent the rumours flying of his impending signing with NXT. However, although nothing has materialised so far, there’s a good chance that Kota Ibushi will appear in the upcoming WWE Cruiserweight Classic later this summer.
Ibushi has what it takes to not just be a top star in not just NXT, but the main roster too.
#4 Kazuchika Okada
The Rain Maker is one of the biggest stars in Japanese wrestling today. At only 27, he’s already been a mainstay on the wrestling scene for 8 years. In 2015, he became a 3-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and headlined Wrestle Kingdom 10 last year with Hiroshi Tanahashi. Okada’s one of those wrestlers who is seamless in the ring and makes everything look easy. Many legends including Jim Ross have said that Okada has the best dropkick in wrestling today.
Although he’s repeatedly said that he has no interest in leaving Japan for the WWE, rumours of WWE’s interest in him persist. If Okada does indeed decide to make the jump someday like his compatriots Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka, Vince McMahon and the WWE machine could make Okada an even bigger star than he is now.
#3 Will Ospreay
Nicknamed ‘The Aerial Assassin’, Will Ospreay was born to fly. Ospreay is one of the most exciting wrestlers out there today and has wrestled everywhere from dingy gyms in his native England to PWG, Ring of Honor and recently in New Japan.
Since his debut in New Japan, Ospreay has set the ring on fire with a series of breathtaking performances, especially his match against Ricochet and his debut against Kushida. He has the grace of a ballet dancer when he flies around in the ring. He’s living proof of the transcendent shift in modern wrestling where ability matters, not size. Will Ospreay is also the winner of the 2016 Best of Super Juniors tournament.
#2 Kenny Omega
2016 has been the most successful year of Kenny Omega’s career. He’s now the IWGP Intercontinental Champion and one-third of the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag champions along with the Young Bucks. 2016 was also the year that Kenny Omega took out AJ Styles to take over as the leader of the Bullet Club. He was also all set to take on Hiroshi Tanahashi in New Japan’s first ever ladder match before the latter got injured.
Kenny Omega has all the tools of a modern professional wrestler. He’s technically sound, strong with an arsenal of brutal strikes, kicks and suplexes and can fly through the air when he needs to. His finisher, the One Winged Angel, is one of the most devastating looking moves out there today.
Omega who is himself is a former product of WWE’s developmental system, has said in the past that he has no intention of going back to WWE but rumours of WWE’s interest in him refuse to go away. With his charisma and ability Kenny Omega has the potential to take WWE by storm and become a genuine main event player.
#1 Ricohchet
To the unacquainted, Ricochet is the complete package. His reputation as one of the most talented, agile, acrobatic and high-flying wrestlers in the world today precedes him. Whether it’s at New Japan and ROH, or performing as his alter-ego Prince Puma in Lucha Underground, Ricochet is at the top of his game right now.
Ricochet is currently one half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions along with former WWE Superstar Matt Sydal (Evan Bourne) and a former Lucha Underground Champion. He’s also a winner of the coverted Best of Super Juniors tournament in New Japan. At this stage of his career, Ricochet looks destined for greatness. He can do things in the ring that most wrestlers can’t even dream of.
Stories about WWE’s interest in Ricochet are well known, and there’s a possibility that he’ll sign with WWE after the season 3 of Lucha Underground airs next year. Till then Ricochet is doing some of the best work of his life.
Someone with his talent and looks, seems destined for a run at the top of WWE’s card.
