From Scott Hensley: I think acknowledgement can go a long way and wanted to highlight 19 guys that I think are raising their stock i...
From Scott Hensley:
I think acknowledgement can go a long way and wanted to highlight 19 guys that I think are raising their stock in the Southeastern scene and beyond. This is not about the guys who are already headlining cards - this is more about the guys who are working their way up the cards or getting some of their first opportunities to travel.
1) Blake Christian - this guy is blowing up! The West Tennessee based high flyer is set to compete in the TPI tournament starting tonight and is headed to California next week to be a part of PWG's BOLA events - teaming with Tony Deppen to take on Joey Janela and Alex Zayne in non-tournament action.
2) Alex Zayne - Kentucky's favorite "sauce" is getting some great opportunities to shine with Game Changer Wrestling, is headed to Japan soon, and as previously mentioned is teaming with Joey Janela at BOLA. He made a surprise appearance on night 2 of the Scenic City Invitational this year, defeating Tony Deppen.
3) Will Kaution - one of the guys in Georgia who probably has the most untapped potential at this point. He's getting experience and moving up cards quickly.
5) Shawn Dean - Dean has exploded onto the Georgia scene at Action Wrestling. He's competed with AC Mack and recently scored a big victory over Seth Rollins' trainee Benjamin Carter in a match that has to be seen. Dean recently became a client of Logan Chase at Southern Honor and looks to be feuding with the aforementioned Ashton Starr.
6) Cyrus the Destroyer - middle Georgia's resident monster has recently branched out to Wildkat Wrestling in New Orleans and is headed to Wrestle-1 in Japan soon after earning the opportunity at a regional tryout.
7) Donnie Primetime - this Alabama based competitor has become a star at New South Wrestling, has started traveling more extensively in the last year, and has really been putting in the work to train and network. He debuts for Nashville based Southern Underground Pro soon.
8) One Called Manders - This guy isn't a Southeastern guy... but he's putting himself into the conversation by competing at Nashville's SUP, Chattanooga's Scenic City Invitational, and Atlanta(Tyrone, GA)'s Action Wrestling. He's a former Iowa football player trained by the Black & Brave Academy(Rollins' school). I've heard his build compared to Bobby Roode or Dash Wilder and he has a boatload of charisma and talent to go with it.
9)Ben Buchanan - the son of WWF wrestler Bull Buchanan has size and developing talent. He's starting to put some miles under his belt as he begins his career and starts earning bigger opportunities.
10) Lutha X - this Alabama based competitor has been branching out for the last year, while still being a force to be reckoned with at Rocket City Wrestling located in the Huntsville, AL area. Look for him to keep popping up at bigger promotions as he gets more experience.
11) Orion Bishop - wait...he's back? Bishop was a juggernaut several years ago that took a break and is now back and motivated once again. He's a former Anarchy tag champion, competed for Ring of Honor, and has been called "the strongest guy I've ever been in the ring with" by multiple people. He recently battled Joey Lynch at Rocket City and is set to challenge Adam Priest coming up.
12) Big Smuve - This rookie is THE guy that several friends have been messaging me about. He's got size and charisma with the ability coming along nicely. He's based in the Birmingham, AL area but is already heading out for more experience and exposure.
13) Erron Wade - Another rookie who is really impressing people lately. He's based in the Chattanooga area and has a nice following at TWE wrestling in Red Bank, TN. He has a martial arts background that gives him some impressive offense at times. He's getting in more and more cars to travel each weekend to be seen and to get opportunities.
14)Clyde Braddock - another guy who seemingly took some time off but appears to be back and more motivated than ever. Braddock is a man among boys in terms of his power and demeanor on the Southern independents.
15) Jaden Newman - sure he's been on top at his hometown TWE but he's just getting started other places. He recently made his Scenic City Invitational debut after defeating Warhorse and he has also traveled to Chikara - where he made it to the second round of the Young Lions Cup, Washington DC for Primetime Pro Wrestling, Booker T's Reality of Wrestling in Texas, Action Wrestling, Southern Underground Pro, and many other promotions.
16) Peyton Polson - The Human BB Gun is a small framed guy who goes all out but also has the pedigree of being trained at the Tried N True Academy featuring Crimson and Jeremiah Plunkett. He's been off to the races for several months now.
17) Brett Ison - Brett is another guy that headlines "locally" but he's also another guy that is STILL on the rise. He's reigned supreme at SUP against some of the best talent in the country and been a killer on many other Middle and Eastern Tennessee events but it's only a matter of time until he isn't "just a Tennessee guy"
18) Logan Stunt - The brother of AEW's Marko Stunt, he's similar sized but completely different in the ring, as he is a legitimate blackbelt. He still has a lot to prove but has the motivation to put in the work and overcome, much like his brother while being a completely different wrestler than his brother.
19) Lee Johnson - I've written about Lee before but he's still impressing me more and more. He has a team with the talented David Ali and one day in the next year or two he could be primed to break out as a big time singles star. He's a dual threat guy with technical ability and high-flying pizzazz.
Who are your picks for guys with rising stock?
Thanks for reading!
