10 Best Wrestlers Of 2015 (Who Don't Work For WWE)

3. Kazuchika Okada (NJPW)

Highlight of the Year: Defeating AJ Styles for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship (July 5). 2015 was another stellar year for "The Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada. The three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion - who just turned 28 - is without question one of the most talented wrestlers in the world, and a guaranteed cornerstone of New Japan in the decade to come. Okada's year got off to a rough start with a Wrestle Kingdom loss to Hiroshi Tanahashi and subsequent difficulty beating Bullet Club member Bad Luck Fale, but after finally taking down "The Underboss," he set his sights back on AJ Styles and the championship. He defeated "The Phenomenal One" for the title at July's Dominion event, retained it successfully in a rematch at King of Pro Wrestling, and is heading for another showdown with Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 10. Another testament to just how respected Okada is was Genichiro Tenryu's choice of "The Rainmaker" as his final-ever opponent. Tenryu, who was defeated by the IWGP Heavyweight Champion on November 15, made it clear that he sees Okada as the future of pro wrestling. If that's the case, pro wrestling is in good hands.