The ESSENTIALS: The Top Ten Wrestlers The WWE Should Steal In 2013

The Alpha Female's Got My Vote

Welcome to this very special annual edition of the ESSENTIALS.  Oh yeah peeps, it's that time of year again!  The time where we single out the greatest performers in the sport that have yet to have the chance to make a lasting impact in the WWE.  Last year, Bobby Roode took the top spot, but surprisingly, there is one wrestler that surpasses even Roode's potential.  A guy so built for television that I feel awful having not included him in our inaugural list.  There are reasons for this snub that I will explain later, but for now, here are the top ten hottest prospects outside of the WWE:




Note: To keep things fresh, I neglected to include anyone from last year's list as those competitors have already been spotlighted and i want to give some shine to other grapplers that deserve a big break.

Number 10: Prince Devitt

What he brings to the table

Devitt is an outstanding wrestler with a wide variety of exciting maneuvers.  With the right look and a very good mouthpiece, he could become an invaluable asset.

Grade: B-

Gimmick

Devitt's the type of wrestler who prefers to let his in-ring ability do the talking.  One has to wonder how he could be used in this category as he has often been criticized for being a bit bland outside of the ring. 

Grade: D+

Charisma/Marketability

Yet another category in which Devitt is a bit underwhelming, but in all fairness, he hasn't been given the chance to really show other sides of his personality.  Still, his flashy repertoire would dazzle the kids and I'm sure he could sell a few colorful T-shirts if given the opportunity.

Grade: C

In-ring ability

From a purist's perspective, Devitt is arguably, the best prospect on this list.  He has magnificent timing and is one of the most well polished, exciting and versatile wrestlers in the world today.

Grade: A+

Mic skills

Devitt seems confident enough on the stick and he doesn't come off as insincere or nervous, but this is another category where he has yet to show enough to really get a feel for his potential.

Grade: N/A

Overall Value

Prince Devitt is one of the best wrestlers in the world today. He is talented with a high flying cruiserweight style and is very underrated as a technical wrestler.  He is a standout amongst the sea of talent in NJPW with an unbelievably entertaining IWGP Jr Title reign.  He is a risk for sure, but he deserves a shot even if it's just off his ability alone.  And to those who doubt him for his perceived lack of personality, remember that many cynics doubted Daniel Bryan for the same reason a few years ago.

Overall Grade: C+

Number 9: The Young Bucks

What they bring to the table

The Young Bucks have that same energy that made The Hardy Boyz so famous during the Attitude Era.  Their fast paced style would quickly make them the most over act in the WWE's tag team division.

Grade: B+

Gimmick

Brash, young and cocky, Nick and Matt Jackson represent the current generation of teenagers who care more about fashion, celebrity and pop culture than they do about tradition, etiquette and respect.  They are the perfect heel tandem for the modern WWE landscape.

Grade: B

Charisma/Marketability

The Young Buck's in-ring style would make them quite marketable if they ever were to turn face, but don't expect them to be the top merch movers or even in the top five for that matter.  They're charismatic for sure, but the Hardyz they are not.

Grade: C+

 

In-ring ability

The brothers perform some of the most visually stunning moves ever seen, but they're repertoire isn't very deep in terms of scientific maneuvers.  They are very good at what they do, but their high-risk style often costs them in important matches. 

Grade: B+

Mic skills

The Bucks don't really need to say much because they're one of those teams where you have to "see it to believe it".  Still, they're at their best when they stick to arrogance and bravado in their mic work and leave the rest in the ring.

Grade: C

Overall Value

The Young Bucks are one of the most sought after teams on the independent circuit right now and with good reason.  Few can match them in terms of high impact offense and awe inspiring tag moves.  They can prove quite the asset to the WWE's tag team revival, but they aren't going to be the selling point of any WWE PPV's.

Overall Grade: B-

Number 8: Cherry Bomb

What she brings to the table

Cherry is one of the most underrated female workers in the world today.  A very unique mix of charisma, ability, looks and and presence that has helped her maintain a steady incline over the past few years.  There are very few divas in the WWE (if any) that can match her as an overall package.

Grade: B+

Gimmick

Cherry's fiery personality and will to win is reminiscent of greats like Mickie James.  She brings more enthusiasm to her matches than almost anyone else in the business today.  She is a perfect fit for television.

Grade: A-

Charisma/Marketability

Cherry is cute and sexy in equal parts.  She could play nearly any diva role as a result.  This makes her highly marketable and with the right push, she could be a cornerstone of the division.

Grade: B-

In-ring ability

A highly underrated wrestler, Cherry Bomb is every bit as good as any wrestler in North America.  Not particularly a great high flyer, technician, brawler or showstopper, but she's solid at everything.  That easily makes her in-ring style stand out from every diva on WWE television right now.

Grade: B

Mic skills

Cherry is very intelligent and highly passionate about the business.  She will never be mentioned amongst the best talkers in pro wrestling, but her desire pours out even when she speaks softly.

Grade: C

Overall Value

Cherry Bomb is a diamond in the rough amongst female independent wrestlers.  Many of her fans say she is the best woman in the sport, but even many "smart" fans don't even have her on their radar.  I feel as if she has star potential, but the only reason I wouldn't rank her higher is because the WWE already has a diva with a similar package in AJ Lee.  Thus, I don't know if Cherry would end up lost in the shuffle if she were to make the trip to Stanford.

Overall Grade: B-

Number 7: Kevin Steen

What he brings to the table

Kevin Steen has the largest cult following in professional wrestling.  He is something the WWE has never seen before.  A hardcore brawler with a attitude that screams "don't give a fuck" and there is absolutely no one like him on the roster right now.  A superb mix of Steve Austin, Mick Foley with a little CM Punk.  Steen is truly special.

Grade: A+

Gimmick

Steen's ruthless and calculating attitude is an extreme contrast to the WWE's PG landscape, but his followers support him with a level of intensity that is only matched by Steen's ring persona.  He's heartless to the core and wrestling fans love him for it.  He's like a one man ECW.

Grade: A+

Charisma/Marketability

Steen's T-shirts are consistently some of the best selling pieces of merchandise in ROH today.  Still, his look and gimmick would be a hard sell in the WWE.  He's definitely proven to be marketable, but they'd struggle finding ways to sell him to their core audience.

Grade: C-

In-ring ability

Despite what those dismissive to his style would say, Steen is a very good wrestler.  He's surprisingly agile and smooth for his size and can tell a story just as good as anyone.  Still, he's primarily known as a deathmatch wrestler and one has to wonder how he'd do if you take away his bread and butter almost permanently.

Grade: B+

Mic skills

Kevin Steen is one of the best talkers in the industry.  That includes CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Bully Ray and many other acclaimed mic workers.  He'd say anything to get his point across and he always gets the fans invested in whatever he's doing.

Grade: A

Overall Value

Steen is a controversial choice for me.  I'm on both sides of the fence when it comes to his potential as a WWE superstar.  Many would say he should be number one and that is debatable if you're just talking about overall talent, but in the WWE world, there are a few things left to be desired.  No doubt about it, they would want to water down his gimmick and have him lose a considerable amount of weight, two things that Steen has gone on record saying he's completely against doing.  His stance against conformity is admirable, but it won't earn him any job offers in the near future.

Overall Grade: B+

Number 6: The Colony

What they bring to the table

It doesn't get much more "kid friendly" than these guys.  Three of Chikara's most popular standouts, The Colony are a show unto themselves.  There have been a few different incarnations of the group, but the one's I'd choose are shown above (Soldier Ant, Fire Ant & Green Ant).  There's lots of money to be made off these three.

Grade: A

Gimmick

Their gimmick is exactly as their name suggests, they are a colony of ants.  I know I thought it sounded ridiculous the first time I heard it also, but give these guys a watch and they will make you a believer because they are three of the finest entertainers on the planet.

Grade: A

Charisma/Marketability

The potential is limitless for the trio to become the most marketable stable the WWE has seen since D-Generation X.  With new and improved attires accompanied by a uniquely awesome entrance, there's no doubt in my mind that they would become one of the most over acts in the company. 

Grade: A+

In-ring ability

Their gifted abilities as entertainers would often cause many to overlook just how talented they are, but make no mistake about it, they are three of the best wrestlers on the independent circuit.  All three possess an incredible mix of humor, technique and flash that has made them into one of Chikara's must see acts.

Grade: B

Mic skills

The Colony tends to cut their promos together and Green Ant in particular is very effective when he wants to be.  The idea is not to take them too seriously, but their promos are good enough to raise more than enough interest for their matches.

Grade: B-

Overall Value

The Colony bring so much entertainment value that I'd be shocked if they were not on the WWE's radar already.  I could only imagine what these three could do on Saturday Morning Slam.  Santino Marella is hilarious, but the young viewers need something a bit more fresh and The Colony would be a perfect fit for family friendly TV.

Overall Grade: B+

Number 5: Jesse McKay

What she brings to the table

Jessie McKay is a rare breed of professional wrestler.  Her look and attitude scream "WWE Diva", but she is leagues ahead of most of the women there from a mat perspective.  She is women's wrestling next big thing.

Grade: A+

Gimmick

Jessie is the girl next door similar to the role Stacy Keibler made famous years ago.  In Keibler's absence, few have been able to captivate the audience with just a smile and a twinkle in their eye.  Jessie has all the tools to do so, but can turn in great in-ring performances when the time calls for it.

Grade: A

Charisma/Marketability

McKay's moniker of "Everybody's Favourite Girlfriend" would be an amazing tag for T-shirts and posters and there are very few women in the history of the sport who are as instantly likable.  Her value here is unmatched.

Grade: A+

In-ring ability

In her matches with Cheerleader Melissa, Jessie showed that she could go toe-to-toe with the world's finest and hold her own.  She is no Sara Del Rey, but she is better than a large percentage of the WWE Divas.

Grade: C+

Mic skills

Jessie is devastatingly cute and whether or not she's cutting the promo of the night doesn't seem to matter.  Regardless of what she says, the fans swoon and applaud.  This is what you want in a babyface.  Skill nearly ceases to matter when you've got that level of crowd control.

Grade: B-

Overall Value

Jessie McKay has the potential to be the biggest female wrestler in the world.  Why the WWE hasn't gotten their hands on her already is beyond me.  I do believe she will make it there at some point and at the ripe young age of 23, she's got plenty of time to further perfect her craft in the meanwhile.

Overall Grade: A-

Number 4: El Generico

What he brings to the table

The Canadian luchador is one of the brightest young talents in the world.  At age 28, Generico has the experience of a mat veteran to go along with his undeniable charisma and superb wrestling ability.  He is the most unique wrestler on the Indy scene and already has a huge fan base.

Grade: B+

Gimmick

Generico uses the gimmick of a Mexican luchador.  While this may come off as a bit offensive to some at first, Generico is every bit as good as some of the more famous luchadors in the world. 

Grade: B

Charisma/Marketability

Genrico's trademark OLE! catchphrase is already a hit with T-shirt buyers and there's no doubt that it would get him over in the WWE.  Love him or hate him it doesn't matter, the guy gets some of the loudest crowd reactions anywhere and earning that kind of connection with an American audience very difficult when you're wearing a mask.

Grade: A+

In-ring ability

El Generico is one of the very best high flyers in the entire world.  His moveset is is full of high spots and he has taken on the reputation of a human highlight reel.  He is also tremendously entertaining when he wants to be and I think his transition to the "WWE style" would be almost effortless.

Grade: B+

Mic skills

Generico is hard to rate here since he usually sticks to his gimmick and speaks mostly in Spanish often pretending not to even understand what is asked of him.  It's a solid technique that has worked for him thus far, but I don't know how the WWE audiences will respond.

Grade: N/A

Overall Value

El Generico has that unique charisma that garners him huge ovations and a massive following wherever he decides to wrestle.  Without a doubt, that would transfer in a move to the WWE.  Sure, he doesn't really fit their mold, but he's the kind of rare performer that can get by on his unmatched ability to control an audience. 

Overall Grade: A-

Number 3: Alpha Female

What she brings to the table

At 6'1" and 168lbs, the German born Alpha Female is one of the most intimidating women in the world today.  With the recent releases of Beth Phoenix and Kharma, the WWE needs a new dominant woman to fill the void. 

Grade: B

Gimmick

Alpha Female's name says it all.  There is no woman in the WWE who has her awe-inspiring presence and upon entering the ring with her, most would crumble in fear.  She enjoys laying a beating into her opponents and gets twisted pleasure in hearing them scream.

Grade: A

Charisma/Marketability

No doubt about it, Alpha Female has an undeniable persona and the ever elusive "X" factor that is so rarely seen in today's athletes.  Not since the heydey of Chyna has any woman of her stature been able to reach a top tier level of popularity, but she certainly has all the tools necessary.  "Crush, Kill, Destroy" would also make for quite the catchphrase.

Grade: B

In-ring ability

In the ring, Alpha Female is easily the most limited of everyone on this list, but she doesn't have to be the best technician to get her point across.  Her size and strength are unmatched by nearly every woman in the sport and the formula of most of her matches highlight her strengths.

Grade: C

Mic skills

English is not Alpha Female's first language and though it may limit her ability to connect with the audience, I do believe her promo style makes her persona that much more effective.  Her thick accent and tendencies to switch back and forth from German to English only add to her amazonian aura and give her a "European Juggernaut" vibe similar to that of Vladimir Kozlov circa 2007.

Grade: B-

Overall Value

Alpha Female is the most intriguing choice on this list for me because of her lack of notoriety among most fans.  Her arrival in the WWE would seemingly come out of nowhere and if done right, she could have just as big of an impact as Kharma did initially.  The Divas division needs more standout talents and if Alpha Female does anything better than anyone else, it's making her presence known.

Overall Grade: A-

Number 2: Michael Elgin

What he brings to the table

Elgin is the hottest young prospect in professional wrestling.  Period.

Grade: A+

Gimmick

Elgin is an all business tough guy with a take-no-prisoners attitude.  His unbelievable strength has become a bit of a trademark as well and is definitely something I know the WWE would tap into once he made it there.

Grade: B+

Charisma/Marketability

Elgin is no John Cena.  He's closer to Ryback, with less charisma and more ability.  His amazing raw power could be a selling point for him, but he's definitely not the most electrifying persona in the wrestling world.

Grade: C

In-ring ability

Michael Elgin had to near five star matches this year with Davey Richards and Kevin Steen, two very different styles of opponents.  At the ripe young age of 24, he has yet to even hit his prime, but already has a near decade of experience.  It's scary to think how good he can be when you look at how good he already is.  His name should be mentioned amongst the best in the business in this category and his versatility is unrivaled.

Grade: A+

Mic skills

Elgin is just an average talker at best.  He could be amazing if paired with someone like Paul Heyman who could speak for him and leave Elgin to let his ring work do the talking. 

Grade: C-

Overall Value

Michael Elgin is the the fastest rising star on the independent scene.  His name has already begun circulating amongst even the harshest of critics as "one to watch" and he deserves every bit of praise thrown his way.  I have no doubt in my mind that he will make it to the big stage at some point in the near future, but there's just one more wrestler who I see making the jump before him.

Overall Grade: A

And who is the number one draft pick for 2013?

Number 1: Colt Cabana

What he brings to the table

Colt Cabana is one of the most popular acts in all of wrestling.  He's got a unique gimmick, great ring psychology and is one of the most charismatic performers in the world.   Add to that over a decade of experience, and he's already on of pro wrestling's elite.

Grade: A+

Gimmick

Colt's fun-loving personality extends completely into his ring work.  He is the most entertaining wrestler in the business today and has the ability to be very serious if the time calls for it. 

Grade: B+

Charisma/Marketability

Colt's easily one of the most likable performers in the history of pro wrestling.  He's a genuine guy with loads of charm and through his Art Of Wrestling podcast, has become almost a friend to many wrestling fans all at once.  You feel as if you know him and that makes him easy to root for.  He also has one of the most brilliant business minds in the game, selling tons of merchandise on his own.  One could only wonder how much money could be made if he were to partner up with the WWE.

Grade: A+

In-ring ability

When Colt is serious, he can be one of the best wrestlers in the world.  He is a master of a wide variety of styles and can carry weaker opponents to some very good matches.  When he's kidding around in the ring, he can often be underrated amongst indie die-hards, but he's amazing at what he does and his style is one very few can replicate.

Grade: A

Mic skills

Colt's versatility in the ring is only matched by his versatility on the microphone.  He can be both serious and the class clown and do both with loads of entertainment value.  The proof is in the pudding and his over 1 million total podcast downloads show that when Cabana talks, people listen.

Grade: A-

Overall Value

Ok, so here's where I explain why someone who's earned such high grades was excluded from my initial list last year.  When I started this series, my intention was to highlight performers who have never earned a shot with the WWE.  Colt Cabana had a forgettable run as Scotty Goldman so by my own criteria, I could not have included him.  Then I realized he was never really given a fair shot on the main roster and I chose to make a special exception for him for the simple fact that to most of us fans, Cabana's WWE run never really even got started.  That being said, Colt Cabana should definitely already be in the WWE and I have no clue why they haven't let the guy loose on Monday nights.  He would be a surefire hit with WWE audiences and the fact that he is not in a major spotlight is a true crime to pro wrestling.

Overall Grade: A+

How Last Year's Stars Stack Up

1. Bobby Roode spent most of 2012 being the single most awesome thing about Impact Wrestling.  His title run may go down as the company's greatest and he continues to be their standard bearer.
2. Madison Rayne bounced back and forth from her appearances with TNA to fitness competitions and has fallen off the radar a bit, but is still a shining prospect.
3. Nigel McGuinness is still retired and currently shining in his role as a ROH commentator.  He is currently working on releasing a documentary about his career and the events surrounding his retirement.
4. Cheerleader Melissa lost her Shimmer title, but she's still one of the best wrestlers in the world.  She appears to be in the best shape of her career and that can only help her chances at making a WWE debut.
5. Tommaiso Chiampa is still making waves all across the independent scene and even though the buzz around him has settled a bit, he is still one of the highlights of any event he's booked on.
6. Sara Del Rey is currently signed to WWE to work with the divas division.  Hopefully in a manner similar to Finlay before her, this will lead to an eventual television role.
7. Samoa Joe spent much of the year as TV Champion in TNA.  He appears to have re-discovered some of the fire that made him so famous in the mid 00's.
8. Frankie Arion like Tommaiso Chiampa, is still touring the independent scene and it s unknown if any major promotion even has him on their radar right now.
9. Mike Bennett will most likely be the first wrestler from last year's list to make an appearance on WWE television in the near future.  He is primed and ready and has perfected all of his weak areas and has become the crown jewel of the independents.
10. Mikaze is still wrestling for many promotions in the Northeast area and is still a lock to steal the show on any given night.  He has the least amount of buzz of everyone on this list despite being one of the most talented.