Review Fix’s Top 10 Independent Wrestlers in the World

Even the best of wrestling legends started elsewhere before they became successful. No overnight task, most top talent currently featured in WWE and TNA (CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Austin Aries, etc.) first built credibility in smaller companies like Ring of Honor and CHIKARA Pro for a few years before they broke through to the mainstream. Below beholds a list of 10 independent wrestlers not yet in the “big leagues.” One day they could become world champions.

10: Jigsaw: Ever since he came up from the CHIKARA Wrestling School in 2002, this six-foot masked high-flyer has since bedazzled fans with vibrant in-ring athleticism. He’s also competed for ROH, Combat Zone Wrestling and Dragon Gate USA as a tag-team upper middle-card mainstay. In 2004, he won the CHIKARA Young Lions Cup Tournament and held the CHIKARA Campeones de Parejas (Tag Championships) with Mike Quackenbush in 2010. With a lethal signature straight jacket scoop brainbuster deemed the “Darkness Buster,” mainstream fans should know his name very soon.

9: Sami Callihan: With an extensive repertoire of treacherous maneuvers, the sky’s the limit for the crazed “New Horror.” Callihan first gained notoriety in CZW when he won a battle royal in his debut and went on to win three championships. Since then, he’s taken EVOLVE /Dragon Gate USA by storm. He recently formed a team with Arik Cannon and Pinkie Sanchez called the D.U.F. (Dirty Ugly F***s) and have become legitimate threats in DGUSA. Callihan’s best known for his deadly headlock snapmare finisher and at the rate he’s going, the wins shouldn’t stop for this dormant competitor.

8: UltraMantis Black: What other wrestler wears a mantis mask, speaks like a 1920’s villain, announces on commentary and has a sleeve of Christmas tattoos? Ever since he became the leader of CHIKARA’s sinister Order of The Neo-Solar Temple stable in 2006, the “Great and Devious” UltraMantis Black has become a staple in CHIKARA between his fatal array of piledriver finishers and cult following among fans for his over-the-top mannerisms both in the ring and out. It’s only a matter of time before he moves on to bigger things.

7: Roderick Strong: Strong doesn’t possess much charisma on the mic, but assuredly makes up for it in the ring with submission-styled wrestling, which made for some absolute clinics in the past. His biggest success comes from ROH where he’s been a World Champion (2010) and a Tag Team Champion (2005). Besides a brief stint in TNA in 2005 (and an even shorter one in the WWE], Strong’s hardly tasted the big leagues, but comfortably atop ROH’s main event picture, Strong’s future looks complete with promise.

6: Sara Del Rey: This list isn’t just limited to guys. This 31 year-old female is as tough as they come and is certainly no stranger to the indies. She’s flashed her talents in companies like SHIMMER, ROH and CHIKARA. Recently freed from CHIKARA’s BDK (Bruderschaft Des Kreuzes) stable, she’s out for herself now and the world is at her grasp. Whether she gets you with the LeBell Lock crossface, the Royal Butterfly suplex or the spike piledriver, know this: you won’t escape the “Death Rey.”

5: Eddie Edwards: Being trained by Killer Kowalski can lead to great things, Triple H should know. The young Edwards hopes to follow that same path. His success is no secret, as he’s the first ROH wrestler to win the Triple Crown (World Champion, Tag Team Champion, World Television Champion). Edwards has won fans over with an in-ring style that screams prominence as he often relies upon the Achilles lock, die hard (cross-legged fisherman buster) and springboard moonsault as signature finishers.

4: Johnny Gargano: The Cleveland, Ohio-born Gargano’s picked up speed as of late. He’s currently the DGUSA Open The Freedom Gate Champion as well as one half of the CHIKARA Campeones de Parejas with his Team F.I.S.T. stablemate Chuck Taylor. He also wrestles for EVOLVE and Dragon Gate. However, recently sidelined with an injury, fans hope it’s not long before Gargano’s back to take down opponents with his signature swinging reverse STO.

3: Davey Richards: There’s plenty to say about the current ROH World Champion. Richards is no stranger to gold. In fact, he’s a four-time world champion between ROH, FIP (Full Impact Pro) and PWG. Also a tag-team specialist, he’s a five-time tag team champion between ROH and PWG. Richards uses his cloverleaf submission and DR driver (double underhook brainbuster) to eliminate the competition.

2: Eddie Kingston: On November 13 at CHIKARA’s “High Noon,” Kingston beat Mike Quackenbush to become the company’s first Grand Champion. This Yonkers, NY-bred brawler worked his way from the bottom to arguably become the current face of CHIKARA. Kingston cuts promos with sheer animosity and relies on suplexes, hard chops and DDT’s galore to defeat his opponents. The “last of a dying breed,” Kingston solidifies everything an indie wrestler should want to be: hard-working, determined and delivers a stellar performance each time out.

1: Kevin Steen : “Mr. Wrestling” doesn’t respect authority and it showed in 2011. Unceremoniously dismissed from ROH after losing to partner-turned-rival El Generico at Final Battle 2010, Steen took extreme measures (Internet message boards, invading ROH shows from the crowd) to get reinstated. Steen then won a match against Steve Corino at Final Battle 2011 to do just that and confronted ROH Champion Davey Richards and guaranteed to become ROH champ in 2012. The big man can also fly. Best known for his 450 splash, package piledriver and the “Steenalizer” (throwing package powerbomb) and fiery skill on the stick, Kevin Steen is truly the top name to look out for.