10 Most Exciting Second Generation Talents In Wrestling Today
Wrestling is a family business and these wrestlers demonstrate this as the next generation.
Wrestling is filled with famous families that have spanned generations, forming their own dynasties in the sport. The Flair, Rhodes, and Anoa'i families embody this with all three still being at the top of the wrestling world after so long. Wrestling has always been a family business going back to the territorial days, with the likes of the Harts, Von Erichs, and of course the McMahons operating as a familial unit.
Cody Rhodes, Charlotte Flair, and Roman Reigns have fulfilled their potential as the next generation’s representative of their famous lineage, but this has proven to be difficult for many others. For every Randy Orton, there has been a Curtis Axel, or a David Flair not living up to the heights of their famous parents. This is completely understandable as expectations can be a burden too heavy for some to overcome, and the wrestling business, especially the fans, can be unforgiving.
There are plenty more second-generation talents who have arrived on the scene in the past few years that will hope to step out from their family's shadow and become stars in their own right - and here, the focus is on ten such talents.
10. Shota Umino
Shota Umino is one of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's brightest young talents and is continuing to develop with his foreign excursion to promotions such as OTT, RevPro, and even AEW. The protégé of Jon Moxley has become a burgeoning star in his own right after the AEW World Champion took him under his wing during Mox's New Japan run in 2019.
The son of legendary Japanese referee 'Red Shoes' Unno has chosen not to follow his father into officiating. It is obvious why, given the aptitude he has displayed as a wrestler thus far, which has been demonstrated in some standout performances against NJPW's biggest stars. Umino has battled Jay White, Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jr., and the Ace of New Japan Hiroshi Tanahashi, holding his own against each of them.
One of the undoubted highlights of Shota's young career was when he teamed with Eddie Kingston and Wheeler Yuta to take on the crazy team of Chris Jericho, Minoru Suzuki, and Sammy Guevara. 'Shooter' put in a star-making performance and earned the Chicago crowd's admiration there at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.