We are the future: 10 pro-wrestlers on the cusp of super-stardom

Sometimes you just have to pass the torch.

It happened in 1987 when Andre lost to Hulk Hogan, it happened in 2005 when John Cena pinned JBL, and it will happen again.

With a great number of the WWE's Attitude and Ruthless Aggression era wrestlers either retiring or winding down their careers it's time to speculate on who will be the stars of the future.

Here are ten men and women who are on the cusp of superstardom in the wrestling world.

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#10 Aleister Black

Aleister Black is one of the fastest-rising stars on NXT. With his compelling entrance, moody persona, and martial arts prowess, he is already over with the fans of that promotion.

WWE has teased his movement to one of the 'main' brands on social media. The fact that he lost his bid for an NXT title shot is more proof that he's being considered for the main roster run.

While Black's poor English will hurt his ability to connect with the fans, his gimmick and prowess in the ring should more than makeup for that. WWE could be looking at their next Undertaker with the talented Dutchman.

#9 Naito

NJPW's Naito has already won the promotion's highest belt, but his reign was short lived. However, he has been steadily climbing back into the top spot for the last year.

At first, fans couldn't stomach the squeaky clean Naito and rejected him wholeheartedly. When he turned hell, however, he developed a compelling character and affected slacker mannerisms and now he's being cheered relentlessly.

While Omega and Okada are definitely the top dogs in NJPW for the time being, Naito is nipping at their heels.

#8 Pete Dunne

The self-proclaimed Bruiserweight and multi-time WWE UK champion has been gathering steam for the past year.

And he's just 24 years old!

Not since Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton has someone come onto the grandest stage of all and performed so dominantly. Pete Dunne mixes technical wrestling with an old school mat game and stiff strikes reminiscent of strong style. His matches with Tyler Bate are already legendary, and a highlight of NXT.

And speaking of Tyler Bate...

#7 Tyler Bate

Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat...RVD and Jerry Lynn...Sting and the Great Muta...all of these men seemed mirror images of each other, and the same can be said of Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne.

Just like his rival, Bate has a great mat wrestling game and technical acumen which he supplements with stiff striking. At the tender age of nineteen, he won the UK championship and is clearly either the number one or number two man in the UK division.

WWE has big plans for Bate, so expect to see him rising to the top in the coming year.

#6 Ember Moon

Ember Moon may not have been able to knock off Asuka before the latter left NXT for the main roster, but she definitely was the biggest challenge to the Japanese superstar's reign as champion.

With a dazzling array of high flying moves and surprising strength, Ember Moon could be a star just based on her athletic ability. When you add in her epic entrance and unique look you have a winning combination that will lead the Women's revolution into the future and beyond.

#5 The Velveteen Dream

The Velveteen Dream is a wrestler the WWE is very, very high on right now.

With a combination of good size and decent agility, the Dream is on good footing for such a young man. But he also possesses excellent charisma and speaking ability. He and Aleister Black won the NXT Feud of the Year award, and the credit all goes to the Dream for this. Not since Chris Jericho feuded with a largely-absent Dean Malenko has one man successfully carried a feud based on his own mike work alone.

The Velveteen Dream is making his way to the top, and it looks like there's no stopping him.

#4 Marty Scurll

Marty Scurll began his career as a vanilla babyface, even winning the British Cruiserweight championship under this gimmick, but it was when he became truly villainous that his path to superstardom truly began.

With a great look, top-notch promo skills, and in-ring ability rivalled only by his Bullet Club stablemates, Marty Scurll is the real deal. At just 29 years old, expect to see the Villain for a long time to come.

#3 Ronda Rousey

She hasn't wrestled one single match yet, but we're certain that Ronda Rousey is the future of women's wrestling.

The former Olympic medalist and MMA champion has a background that seems tailor-made for the wrestling ring. With glamour girl, good looks, legit combat experience, and relative youth on her side Rousey have the potential to make an even bigger splash as a wrestler than she ever did as a Judoka or MMA fighter.

Rousey will likely start her journey at or near the top, and there will be no slowing her down.

#2 Killian Dain

The Beast from Belfast has already enjoyed success in NXT, having captured the tag titles with his Sanity stablemates.

At six foot four inches and a legit weight over three hundred pounds, Killian Dain seems tailor-made for the WWE. But Dain has tremendous speed and agility for such a big man, and he feels quite comfortable coming off the top rope for the devastating coast to coast dropkicks, as seen in Wargames.

At just 32, Dain still has a lot of good years left, and WWE will be keen to get the maximum yield out of him.

#1 Johnny Gargano

There's a bit of a myth that to be successful in wrestling, you have to be over six feet tall and at least 250 pounds.

Try telling that to HBK, Rey Misterio, or Daniel Bryan, who have all ascended to the highest peaks of wrestling stardom!

Johnny Gargano, quite frankly, is more skilled than any of those men. WWE didn't expect a lot out of Gargano when they hired him, putting him into a tag team with Tommaso Ciampa. However, the wrestling audience took a shine to the former indie sensation, dubbing him "Johnny Wrestling."

Gargano is possibly the most over Superstar on NXT at the current time, and now that his wife Candace Larae has been hired it looks like WWE intends to keep Johnny Wrestling both on the roster and happy as he continues to ascend the ladder.

Ten capable men and women. Ten wrestlers on the verge of superstardom. The future is now!

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