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As 2017 draws to a close, it's obvious who made the greatest impact. Names like Jinder Mahal, Alexa Bliss, and Shinsuke Nakamura have dominated the talk circulating among wrestling fans.
But what about the year to come? Here is a look at the ten athletes who could own 2018.
#10 Kavita Devi
Gold Medal weightlifter Kavita Devi turned a lot of heads at the Mae Young Classic this year. Her powerful build and unique look made her a standout, even though she didn't advance past her first match in the tournament.
Devi was recently signed to a WWE developmental contract, meaning she could end up on the NXT brand. With many athletes vying to fill the void left by Asuka, the Indian Superstar could make 2018 her breakout year.
Strongest Assets: Strength, and the WWE's desire to court the Indian wrestling market.
What could hold her back: Even though she has the raw potential, Kavita Devi is still 'green', and her in-ring skills are not polished by any means. While she probably has the aptitude to become a respectable worker, there is still the off-chance that things could go awry.
#9 Kalisto
The human dynamo known as Kalisto has already enjoyed success in his WWE run, capturing both the US and Cruiserweight titles. Born Manuel Alejandro Rodriguez, Kalisto has competed in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Originally, he gained fame as the kayfabe child of legendary ninja-esque Luchadore Octagon, but Kalisto has built his own reputation in the WWE.
Though he is currently confined to the 'minor league' brand of 205 Live, Kalisto has proven his ability to work with wrestlers of any size and any style. He is one of the few Luchadores to make a smooth transition into the television-centric WWE style of wrestling, where one plays to the cameras more than the live crowd.
Kalisto stands to benefit from WWE's desire to slice off a big piece of the Mexican wrestling pie. He is arguably the most popular Latino athlete on their roster at this time. This combined with his high regard in the locker room should make him an interesting prospect for 2018.
Strongest Assets: Athletic ability, his standing with Mexican fans, and a great attitude backstage.
What might hold him back: Simply put, size. Kalisto is 5'6', which makes him seem diminutive when standing in the ring with even modest-sized athletes like AJ Styles. Also, he seems nervous and twitchy on the microphone; if he brushes up on his promo skills, there may be no stopping him.
#8 Buddy Murphy
Formerly a tag wrestler with his partner Blake, Buddy Murphy has embarked on a singles career. So far, he has largely been used as a jobber to the stars, but that seems to be changing.
With sickening athletic ability —the six-foot Murphy can pull off the tricky Shooting Star Press — and an aptitude for making his opponent look fantastic no matter their skill level, he is already high on WWE's list.
Strongest Assets: Agility, precision, and ability to work well with any wrestler on the roster. Also, it cannot be discounted that he is engaged to WWE top female heel Alexa Bliss.
What might hold him back: Like Christian and Rusev, Buddy Murphy is believed by backstage officials to be something short of handsome. There are also rumours of jealousy from more tenured performers, who cannot believe that he ended up with the stunning Alexa Bliss.
#7 Kairi Sane
Considered by many experts to be one of the top wrestlers in the world — male or female —Kairi Sane recently made her WWE debut. By winning the inaugural Mae Young Classic, she has already secured a spot in the history books less than a month after her debut.
Sane combines agility and timing with the stage presence that only a trained actor can bring to bear. Her acting isn't the only thing on par with Hollywood, as Kairi Sane is one of the most beautiful women in wrestling today. Now prominently placed on the NXT brand, she may make 2018 her breakout year, but she will have a hard time living up to the legacy Asuka left behind.
Strongest Assets: Wrestling ability, fearlessness, and glamour girl good looks.
What might hold her back: Sane speaks English as her second language. The fans have accepted Asuka's halting command of the tongue, but will they accept another so willingly? Kairi also is in danger of being seen as 'Asuka Lite' and needs to distinguish herself from the former NXT champion.
#6 Bobby Fish
When you're trained by the legendary Harley Race, you know sheer physicality is going to be an important part of the curriculum. Bobby Fish combines brutal, strong style strikes with a great technical game, making him exciting to behold when between the ropes.
The fifteen-year veteran finally made it to the 'big leagues,' signing with WWE's NXT brand. Almost immediately he was paired with former tag team partner Kyle O'Reilly and ROH alum Adam Cole. Even though his first official match was a losing effort to Aleister Black, Fish has seemed brutal and efficient as part of the Undisputed Era. Could 2018 finally be the year he escapes his tag partner's shadow and comes into his own?
Strongest Assets: Technical precision, striking, and submission wrestling, but perhaps his biggest asset is on the microphone; the former host of The Fish Tank has proven both loquacious and articulate when given the opportunity to shine. What else would you expect from someone who debuted as Jerk Jackson?
What might hold him back: Of the three members of the Undisputed Era, Fish has the lowest stock. He hasn't enjoyed the same amount of singles success as Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly, who both wore ROH's 'big belt.' Other than being less successful than his peers, he has no limitations.
#5 Jason Jordan
The tall, muscular, and dashingly-handsome Jordan has a lot going for him. With his amateur wrestling background, he brings credibility and prestige into his professional career. He also has charisma, and very similar technical abilities to Kurt Angle, to whom he has often been compared.
Unfortunately, that resemblance has become a hindrance, as Jordan is stuck in a poorly received storyline where his Kurt Angle's son. The angle with Angle does little to advance his in-ring career, but he has been more prominently featured on TV of late. He is thought of as the 'better' half of American Alpha by management, however, and 2018 might be the year he explodes.
Strongest Assets: Incredible athleticism; he was a multi-sport athlete and turned down a potentially lucrative career with Major League Baseball to pursue wrestling. His good looks and powerful build will aid him as well.
What could hold him back: Besides being involved in a storyline that seems downright silly, Jordan has had trouble resonating with fans on the microphone. In the ring, while performing, he holds them in the palm of his hand, but he hasn't been able to bring that charisma to bear on the microphone.
#4 Alexander Wolfe
A thirteen year veteran of the European wrestling scene, Alexander Wolfe is the dark horse in the Sanity stable. While Killian Dane has the size and Eric Young the experience, Wolfe manages to mix top-notch brawling and surprisingly technical moves into a chaotic ring style that makes him entertaining to watch.
In a lot of ways, Wolfe is like a young Arn Anderson; average size (for a wrestler) and average looks but with raw physical genius and an ability to connect with the fans, for good or ill. 2018 may be the year he moves ahead of his Sanity cohorts and enters the NXT title picture.
Strongest Assets: Wolfe seems to be born to wrestle, confident and comfortable in his vocation. He rarely makes mistakes and seems to improve almost every week.
What could hold him back: His English is heavily accented, making it difficult for him to establish a connection with the fans. Also, he doesn't have the build or the face WWE management likes to put on PPV posters.
#3 Singh Brothers
The former Bollywood Boyz turned heel and turned heads when they joined with WWE champion Jinder Mahal to form another ethnically based stable. Their speed, agility, and tag team chemistry caught the notice of NXT fans and upper management, who moved them up to the Smackdown brand.
While Sunil and Samir are currently the henchmen of champion Mahal, there are rumours that the relationship could end soon. The WWE is considering turning Jinder Mahal babyface, and as a rule, babyface champions don't need minions to protect them or interfere with their matches.
Either the Singh Brothers will break out on their own — possibly turning on Jinder — or they will turn babyface as well. Either scenario should lead to more in-ring time and a chance to shine in the tag division. 2018 stands to be their breakout year.
Strongest Assets: Technical ability, dazzling speed, and good looks. The fact that they are of Indian heritage will also help since the WWE has begun a strong push into the Indian pro wrestling market.
What could hold them back: Simply put, size. They are on the smaller side even for the cruiserweight division. However, the WWE has pushed smaller wrestlers before, especially as a unit (ala the Rockers.)
#2 Kyle O'Reilly
Kyle O'Reilly is already an internationally recognized wrestling star and is widely believed to be one of the best the sport has ever seen. With speed, strength, striking ability, submissions, and incredible stamina, Kyle can — and has — put on some of the most exhilarating matches the world has ever seen.
Whether on his own or teaming with longtime tag partner Bobby Fish, Kyle looks to be in for an impressive 2018 as part of the Undisputed Era.
Strongest Assets: In the ring, O'Reilly simply has no flaws. His MMA inspired offence and strong presence make him stand out in any promotion, and his interview skills are nearly as impressive as those of partner Bobby FIsh.
What could hold him back: Guilt by association. Since he has been packaged together with fellow ROH star Adam Cole, only one of them can be the stable's 'top guy.' O'Reilly might end up in the tag division, and even though he would be quite successful, his intentions have always been to become more of a singles star.
#1 Adam Cole
Adam Cole cut his teeth in the brutal Combat Zone Wrestling, which has also produced the likes of BJ Whitmer and Dean Ambrose. Cole, much like Kyle O'Reilly, benefited from being involved with ROH early in his career, picking up technical precision to augment his hardcore arsenal.
Cole would go on to hold both the tag titles and the world title in ROH. His three runs with the big belt are currently the most on record for that promotion, a prestigious distinction indeed. Cole debuted on NXT with a great deal of fanfare and aligned with fellow newcomers to form the Undisputed Era. 2018 could be his year of dominance over the NXT brand.
Strongest Assets: Much like a Shawn Michaels or Mr Perfect, Cole seems to be able to get a great match out of any opponent of any size. Besides his top-notch in-ring skills, Adam is gifted on the microphone and possesses movie star good looks.
What could hold him back: Sometimes, WWE will hold back performers from other promotions to put their own spin on their characters. That was not the case with AJ Styles or Asuka, but Cole might have to be humbled a little bit before he's allowed to climb to the top of the card.
These are the ten wrestlers to watch out for in 2018. We wish them all luck!
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