10 Indie Stars Who Were Supposed To Be The Next Big Thing

4. Reckless Youth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3FHbY4qreI The 'King of the Independents', Reckless Youth was an independent 'star' in the late 1990s, before the proliferation of the internet. Real name Thomas Carter, Youth trained with Larry Sharpe and Al Snow and began plying his trade on the indie scene, working everywhere and ammassing a reputation for excellence. WWE were watching and signed him to a developmental deal in 1999. The hope was that he would develop a high-flying sensation (and improve his distinctly un-WWE physique). His skills were good, but WWE weren't really all too interested and he left the developmental league after a year. Following that he suffered a serious back injury, thought to be a career-ender, which just about erased any hopes of a WWE run. He founded Chikara with Mike Quackenbush but then left the business after a few years wrestling on the indies (where he employed a new, safer technical style).