10 Biggest Game-Changers In Wrestling Right Now
2. The Elite
It'd be a shame to see Kenny Omega, Cody, The Young Bucks, and their various associates jump to WWE in early 2019. Though no one should begrudge them the opportunity to make big bucks on the world's largest wrestling stage, they'd be walking away from something truly special on the independents, and all the fruits of the past few years' labour.
Each is a self-starter. Cody left WWE because he valued himself higher than the goofy Stardust gimmick, and has since proved himself a master worker. Omega is a legitimate wrestling genius operating on a completely different level to most between the ropes. The Bucks, meanwhile, are expert brand builders, having become the world's most sought-after tag team through superior merchandising, business nous, and, of course, crowd-popping matches.
Together, this group is the most powerful collection of wrestlers outwith WWE. That ROH/NJPW's upcoming Madison Square Garden show sold out so quickly is testament to this, as is ALL IN's unqualified success, and their Being The Elite web series is pushing wrestling storytelling forward. No matter where they end up next year, they'll probably still be changing the game - even if that means operating within WWE's restrictive framework.