10 Next Big Things In Wrestling You Need To Know
From the WWE Performance Center to Japanese dojos and beyond...
This list is about discovery.
In wrestling or any other artform, few things are more satisfying than uncovering a hidden gem. Investing in them early, when they're still working on a relatively small stage, then watching them grow, develop, and improve as a performer, through every success, failure, and setback, is incredibly fulfilling.
Doing this in 2019 can be tough; not because fans are short of choice, but because the sheer volume is overwhelming. Hot prospects can be found at every level from WWE's heady heights all the way down to the smallest indie bingo hall. With that in mind, this article focuses on names that might be unfamiliar to those who watch main roster WWE and main roster WWE alone.
"Next big thing" is a heavy descriptor. Not all of these performers are destined to headline WrestleMania before they retire, but they will become increasingly huge deals over the next few years, so anyone wanting to keep their finger on the pulse must jump on the bandwagon before it hits full steam.
Following these names and their journeys to the top is going to be loads of fun. Get started with the matches recommended within, then go exploring...
10. Ace Austin (Impact)
22-year-old Ace Austin is the kind of wrestler that would've thrived in TNA's most marketable niche ten years ago. A fast, fluid, and exciting high-flier, he's "X Division" to a tee, and he stood out the moment he debuted in Impact Wrestling last year.
Austin is still waiting for his breakthrough, though. A strong early-2019 saw him overcome fly-ins like Jake Atlas and Aiden Prince, as well as X Division stalwart Petey Williams. He has challenged for the belt itself in two separate scrambles and generally looked good whenever he's on camera, but tangling with the returning TJ Perkins has yielded two straight defeats. Recent weeks have seen him chase Eddie Edwards' wife, Alisha, in a series of daft backstage segments, though many fans would rather see Ace doing his thing between the ropes.
What's most encouraging about Austin is that he already possesses several traits that can't be taught. He has the intangibles down, showing considering charisma and the all-important X-factor since signing with Impact. Already on his way to becoming a fully-formed, three-dimensional star, all Austin needs is for his employers to invest in him.
Key Match: vs. DJZ (MLW Fusion 48 - 10 March 2019)