10 Signs Wrestling Is Heading Towards A New Golden Age
1. WWE Is No Longer The Be All & End All
While WWE's market share still looks insurmountable, signing with them is no longer a set requirement for anyone who wants to become a legitimate superstar. No other company can provide a bigger spotlight or compete with their financial clout, but some of the world's most prominent wrestlers have achieved incredible levels of success without the WWE machine behind them, proving that Vince McMahon's company is no longer the be all and end all.
Kenny Omega is among the world's most talked-about wrestlers. The Young Bucks' personal brand is stronger than many WWE superstars'. Cody Rhodes has proved that life after WWE need not be a step backwards. The list goes on.
It helps that these wrestlers are among the most talented and charismatic in the sport, but they're also genius self-promoters, and tireless workhorses. Granted, we're a million miles removed from the territorial era, when there were literally dozens of places to carve a decent living, but the above names prove that it's no longer impossible to succeed without WWE. They've all forged great careers on their own terms, and while a number will likely join wrestling's biggest promotion eventually, they certainly don't need to.