Fans who only watch WWE can be forgiven for thinking that 2015 was a lousy year for pro wrestling. Despite the stellar performances of Seth Rollins, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Cesaro, Sasha Banks, and more, the company's television product and storylines have become so stale that ratings have dipped to depths not seen in nearly two decades. Meanwhile, the company continues to ignore fan sentiment (and conventional wisdom) in favor of pushing hand-picked stars who are roundly rejected. WWE's business is only part of the story, though - outside the company, the world of wrestling is flourishing. There has been no shortage of great moments and matches from the independent and International scenes, and thanks to the Internet, those jaw-dropping performances are available for more people to see than ever before. Around the globe, high-stakes competition comes in many forms, but it's always recognizable as what we love: pro wrestling at its athletic, dramatic best. Here are the 10 stars who best exemplified the amazing year that was 2015. Champions all, they proved that, while WWE may be the most visible promotion on Earth, it doesn't have to dictate the momentum of the entire industry...
10. Atlantis (CMLL)
Highlight of the Year: Defeating La Sombra in a Mascara contra Mascara match at CMLL's 82nd Anniversary Show (September 18). In Mexico, more than anywhere else, legends are essential to pro wrestling - and in 2015, there's no greater legend in lucha libre than Atlantis. A 53 year old who celebrated his 32nd year in wrestling, Atlantis is a bit of a sentimental choice, but that doesn't mean that he can't still deliver in the ring. He proved that early in the year, with a hard-fought loss to Ultimo Guerrero at New Japan Pro Wrestling's Fantasticamania tour. Since then, "El idolo de los Niños" has delivered quality matches on multiple occasions, none more important than when he defeated recent WWE signee La Sombra for his mask in an epic contest. Fans would be hard pressed to find a more emotional bout in 2015. Atlantis also scored one of the greatest title wins of his career this year - after winning the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship, he qualified for the CMLL Universal Championship tournament, a single-elimination contest pitting all 16 of CMLL's champions against one another. Atlantis defeated archrival Guerrero in the finals, marking his first win in the tournament.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
