If you work in Hollywood, you’d love to work for Disney or Netflix. They’re the cream of the crop and the perks aren’t bad (Disneyland tickets…wink, wink)! The equivalent to that in pro wrestling is WWE. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Death Star of sports entertainment is where the money is. That and possible outside acting opportunities (e.g. The Rock & John Cena).

If you are a wrestler or aspire to be one in the future, then working for WWE has to be a goal of yours or at least a constant consideration. Besides the fame, merchandise, mega events and pyro for your entrance, WWE is a global brand — the measuring stick if you will — that lets everyone know that you’re one of the best of the best.

As powerful as WWE is, the company has a wish-list of wrestlers it would love to bring into the fold at some point in the near future. While the company has invested millions upon millions into turning NXT into a lab where they can create future superstars, the truth of the matter is that most stars will come from outside sources. Whether it’s the indies, Mexico or Japan, there are some amazing, talented individuals building great careers as they buck the trend of working for billionaire Vince.  

After watching countless hours of YouTube matches, I’ve compiled 10 talents you should be keeping an eye on outside of your normal WWE viewing.

Kenny Omega (NJPW)

If the Monday Night Wars between WWE and WCW were still around today, Kenny would be the top free-agent both brands would be fighting over. If you follow Wrestling Wednesday (why wouldn’t you?!), then by now you know we’re Kenny Omega fans. The man’s an amazing in-ring performer, charismatic and hilarious on the mic. He’s transformed himself into a top guy, taking the mantle from Finn Bálor and AJ Styles as the top foreign wrestler in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). While a WWE stint seems inevitable, we should all enjoy Kenny’s savage and funny antics now before his style gets censored.