There’s nothing like finding a new and upcoming star in wrestling—someone you can find on the independent scene and watch their career flourish wherever they may end up. Pro Wrestling Illustrated recently released its 2024 edition of the Top 500 Wrestlers.
This list includes household names such as Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, but it also mentions incredible independent wrestlers who don’t have as much outreach. While these independent wrestlers may not receive as much publicity as if they were on national television, this doesn’t diminish their talent or experience.
Many indie wrestlers highlighted in this list have incredible talent and the potential to become prominent in the industry but the larger audience may not recognize them. It will be good to watch these wrestlers now as they look to have long, successful careers ahead of them.
Megan Bayne
I want to start this off strong with Megan Bayne. She is among the few women featured on the PWI Top 500 List, which is why it is so impressive that she is on this list.
She also placed pretty high, at number 139 – almost in the top 100. PWI does separate lists for women wrestlers, considering the amount of talent in the wrestling industry and the overall size difference.
The few women included in the PWI Top 500 are the ones who heavily compete in intergender matches, such as Megan Bayne. Lists aside, Bayne threatens both the women’s and men’s rosters.
She has faced and defeated men such as Alec Price, Jorge Santi, Shane Mercer, Joey Janela, and more.
She’s powerful, charismatic, beautiful, and a great wrestler; what else could you ask for? Bayne is such an empowering figure for women, truly showing that women can do exactly what men do in this sport, including facing each other.
This is her first year appearing on this list, which shows how she made an incredible presence in the industry, nearly making the top 100.
Marcus Mathers
This year, ranked at 140, right behind Megan Bayne, a fan favorite of many, Marcus Mathers. The previous year, he was ranked 360.
This shows how he has grown in the last year, moving up over 200 spots on the list. Mathers has wrestled up and down the East Coast and traveled all the way to Japan to fight some of the best talent there.
His presence intrigues fans and gets them involved.
Although he is only 21 years old, he has gained a lot of experience wrestling in various places. Starting wrestling only five years ago, he has had approximately 516 matches, 93 of which are this year alone, with three months still left to finish the year.
This is an overall example of how he puts in the work by showing up whenever needed or an opportunity arises. Seeing where his career goes will be exciting, given that he is so young and putting in such hard work.
Alec Price
One of the most popular wrestlers on the East Coast is Alec Price, the North East Beast. This year, he placed higher on the PWI 500 List, at spot 92, compared to spot 131 in 2023.
Price doesn’t have the nickname “North East Beast” for no reason. While he may not be the most giant wrestler in the industry, he has the tenacity like no other.
If he had to be put into a category, he mainly falls into the technical wrestler category for his style. However, he puts on such incredible matches because of his ability to adapt to nearly any wrestling style.
There are names back in the independent wrestling scene after leaving what some may call “the big leagues.” Price has performed against some of these wrestlers, leaving his name to be remembered whether he wins or loses.
These stars include Donovan Dijak, Mustafa Ali, Jonathan Gresham, Daniel Garcia, and more.
Price has earned his respect in the industry by continuing to show up and improve. His fanbase will undoubtedly continue to grow with his career.
Richard Holliday
This year, on the PWI Top 500 List, Richard Holliday is featured in spot 215, moving up from his spot the previous year at 276. I’ll be honest: the first time I saw Richard Holliday live, all I could think of was how he could make it big.
Holliday is the perfect heel. From his trash talk to fighting dirty in the ring, anything he does is simply captivating.
Even with all these heel characteristics, the most important one for any wrestler is putting on a phenomenal match, which he can do. He is pure entertainment.
If one were to compare him to other wrestlers to get an idea of his character, he would be compared to MJF, The Miz, and Grayson Waller. While everyone is unique, those wrestlers are known to have had some of the most intense heel runs by being just plain mean.
Holliday seems to fit into the same category through his words and actions. Yet, his character allows him to separate himself from others.
He flaunts his high ego in front of the audience, saying that someone needs to give him flowers; maybe it’s time for them to.
There is a need in the industry for more mean characters. It can’t just be a heel or a “bad guy.”
It needs to be someone who can be easily hated, trashing the audience members and other wrestlers with immense confidence and barely breaking character. Richard Holliday is proving that he can fill this role.
Aside from playing a great character, he has shown his dedication to the wrestling industry. In September of 2022, Holliday was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of cancer.
By May of 2023, not even a year later, he was able to announce that he had beat cancer. It was such an emotional return but filled with so much love.
Even though I just boasted about him being so mean, seeing this human side of Holliday shows us how he loves professional wrestling just like the rest of us.
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