Top 5 non-WWE wrestlers

You would probably be surprised at the number of fans who I talk to who have no clue about the world outside of WWE, in regards to optional wrestling programming. Sure, Vince has his corporate thumb on the entire pulse of the sport, but yes, there is indeed life outside of the "E."

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Whether you're into New Japan Pro Wrestling, Chikara, Ring of Honor or perhaps some independent promotion near your hometown, there is plenty of quality professional wrestling to keep you occupied. With this said, who are some of your favorite non-WWE performers?

Today we take a look at some of the very best wrestlers who are not currently signed to a WWE contract. Here's our list of the Top 5 non-WWE Wrestlers as of this writing. Take a look and let us know who some of your favorite non-WWE Superstars are!

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#5 Dalton Castle

Unique...yet effective.

I believe Wikipedia hit the nail on the head when they described Dalton Castle's gimmick as a cross between Gorgeous George, Adrian Street, Ric Flair, and Goldust. Castle, however, typically embraces the crowd's favoritism as one of the top babyface performers on the Ring of Honor roster.

Early on in Castles career, many, including this writer, never really pictured him as a potential top-tier performer. But, as he evolved as a complete performer, Dalton honed his craft to the absolute highest level. In fact, Dalton reached the pinnacle of his industry in December of 2017, when he defeated Cody Rhodes at the 2017 ROH Final Battle pay-per-view, which resulted in Castle capturing the Ring of Honor World Championship.

Dalton would hold that title for nearly 200 days, until he finally lost the Championship to Jay Lethal on June 30, 2018, at a television taping in Fairfax, Virginia.

#4 Young Bucks

The best brother duo in wrestling history?

They are exciting, they are brass, they are arrogant, they are provocative...they are good, really good. The Young Bucks remain as one of the most successful and decorated tag teams in all of professional wrestling.

For many years now, fans have wondered "why are these guys not on a WWE roster?" Now the response from most of us is "why would they?" Matt and Nick Jackson may still be young, but these guys have been wrestling now for well over a dozen years. Working their way from their backyard ring, through the ranks of the California independent scene, all the way to the very top of the craft, The Young Bucks have accumulated a laundry list of championship reigns.

Not only have they held the ROH Tag Titles three-times, but they have also held the highly coveted IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Titles a total of seven-times and counting. These are just two of the many titles The Young Bucks have captured throughout their career thus far.

#3 Cody (Rhodes)

The new and improved son of a plumber.

The story of Cody Rhodes' unfortunate saga with WWE officials is one of the most intriguing, yet disappointing series of events in recent memory. Cody was under WWE contract for roughly 10 years before his infamous departure in mid-2016.

While there are various versions of the story, most folks agree that Cody was simply frustrated with his creative input and ideas falling onto deaf ears. For someone like Cody, who is a member of one of the professional wrestlings most elite family's, it's sort of like a slap in the face to his lineage for his input to not be considered.

Since his infamous departure, Cody appears to be having the time of his life. Not only has he captured some of the top championships outside of the WWE, but he also now belongs to the most dominant faction on the planet, The Bullet Club.

Cody is also heavily involved in the upcoming ambitious pay-per-view 'All In,' which is set for September 1 in the Chicago suburban town known as Hoffman Estates. It is also worth noting that this event is indeed sold-out according to the venue's website.

#2 Kazuchika Okada

'The Rainmaker' Kazuchika Okada.

He is undoubtedly the most decorated Japanese wrestler of the current era, quite possibly of all-time. At the ripe old age of 30 years old, Kazuchika Okada has accomplished everything Japanese professional wrestling has to offer.

To be honest, many, including this writer, are a bit surprised that Okada hasn't at least landed on the WWE radar. But then again, why even consider such a provocative move if you are happy where you are.

Okada ended 2017 as the number one wrestler on the PWI 500 ranking and until his recent loss to Kenny Omega at Dominion 6.9, he was on track to have a repeat performance. Nonetheless, Okada will still be ranked in the top 3 at years end, with a strong chance of fighting his way back into that top spot.

#1 Kenny Omega

Kenny 'The Cleaner' Omega.

For nearly two full decades, Kenny Omega has been honing his craft and in doing so, he has essentially become pound-for-pound, the best wrestler on the planet today. With dozens of title victories to his credit, his greatest accolade came recently as he defeated "The Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada to become the new IWGP World Champion.

Omega has been the most consistent performer of the modern era, both in and out of the ring. With a laundry list of matches that are rated 5-stars or above, Kenny continues to show the wrestling world why he is considered by fans and critics alike to be the current industry standard.