I made a Top 100 Tennessee wrestlers list last year and found myself really reaching and depending on other people for more information. This year I just wanted to make a favorites list of 23 guys or teams that I'd love to see more people book or continue to book outside of my home state.
In alphabetical order:
Bailey Blake - Show me a younger wrestler with a better wrestling IQ than Bailey Blake and I'll show you someone who has a LOT of potential. This Chattanooga based "king" is getting experience and will look to branch out more and more in 2018.
The Boys(Brent & Brandon Tate) - Knoxville area based Tate Twins have caught the attention of Independent wrestling as 6 man tag champs in ROH along with Dalton Castle. They're exciting workers who will continue to impress and create an identity of their own. Points if you can tell them apart!
The Carnies (Nick Iggy & Kerry Awful) - The Independent MVPs of the state. They worked British Strong Style( Bate & Seven) and debuted at CZW in 2017 after a name change for the former Team IOU. If anyone has something different to offer and is willing to put in the work to get opportunities, it's these guys. They're also merchandising machines!
Brad Cash - Cash is based in the Knoxville area once again and doesn't ever seem to back down from any challenge. He's built a reputation as a hardcore guy going up against some of the biggest names of the genre and with an upcoming battle against Masada. Cash will take 2018 to continue to build on that resume, as well as establish himself more with pure wrestling with his own strongstyle flavor added I'm sure.
Caleb Courageous - Courageous didn't start wrestling in 2017 but he did start getting on some other people's radars this year based on his Resolute Wrestling company in Crossville and some of his work with fellow list maker Toby Farley. Courageous is a smaller guy who doesn't impress with his physique but he's creative, athletic, and willing to make the most of his opportunities to earn more.
Chris Crunk - Crunk is another Chattanooga based guy who has done some traveling and created a fanbase at some Georgia promotions. He'll look to create his own magic in 2017 with upstart promotion Chattanooga Pro.
Toby Farley - In an age where skinny kids and fat guys do nothing but high spots or do... nothing... Farley stands out as a talented grappler competing to win matches. He's a bigger bodied, hard-striking, technical guy that has legitimacy when he steps into the ring. He's winning over fans as one of the main staples of the respected Innovate(former NWA Smoky Mountain) Promotion in East Tennessee.
AJ Gray - This West Tennessee guy is an absolute wrecking ball in the ring combining power moves with aerial ability. He has a college football background but I'd bet none of his gridiron contemporaries have the high-flying prowess that he has. Gray is constantly branching out and impressing at new promotions outside of the state.
Brett Ison - The Strongstyle Pitbull. Talk about legitimate feel. Ison has a thousand yard stare to go with the look and feel of a guy you don't want to mess with. He picked up a victory over retiring veteran Tank at Southern Underground Pro this year and will hopefully put some miles under his wheels in 2018 to show the rest of the world what a lot of Middle Tennessee wrestling fans already know and fear.
Josephus - The Bruiser Brody-esque looking Middle Tennessee musician is like an interesting book with an interesting look. His friendship with NWA Owner Billy Corgan is already netting him opportunities with the new/old upstart so look for him to be seen more in 2018.
Kevin Ku - Ku is another Middle Tennessee based guy who comes from a Northeast training background. His style and heritage make him stand out at any event and he's always impressed when I've seen him compete. He battled some injuries in 2017 but already has some exciting stuff coming up for 2018 inside and outside the state lines.
Menace - Menace is one of the most respected workers in East Tennessee. The self-proclaimed Blackanese Assassin combines martial arts and lucha influences to add to his pure wrestling ability. He's a name that I fear many outside the area aren't familiar with and I hope he'll continue to get bigger opportunities.
Chris Michaels - The only guy on my list who debuted in the 1980's and is still a guy I can confidently say can still go in the ring. Michaels has a long and storied history in the ring with all the major promotions of the 90's and 00's and still has the "it" factor to make fans respect him or hate him when he laces up the boots.
Jaden Newman - The young driving force behind Chattanooga based TWE - he has more experience than virtually anyone his age in the states based on running his own promotion. With experience and responsibilities at a young age comes a lot of criticism but he constantly overcomes it or perseveres through it to win over a lot of his critics. Newman recently made a trip to Booker T's Reality of Wrestling in Texas and will continue to travel out and run his promotion in 2018.
Chase Owens - Chase is probably technically a Virginia guy but close enough and based on his involvement in Innovate, I'll include him. Chase, a Ricky Morton trainee, has defied the odds for Southern independent wrestlers by defining himself as a New Japan staple and member of the Bullet Club. He's a guy that has become one of the most looked up to guys in this area based on his professional accomplishments and I'd guess he'll continue to build on that in the upcoming year.
Axton Ray - A young and exciting Innovate competitor who is also traveling for opportunities. As Jason Kincaid and Chase Owens outgrow Innovate - Axton will look to step into those mighty big shoes.
Elliott Russell - One half of the Heatseekers with Sigmon(who I believe now lives in Florida). Russell has the size and the work to earn some major opportunities and I believe he and his partner did their first tour of Japan this year. They make a great tag team but I'd love to see more of what Russell has to offer as a singles competitor as well. Sorry Sigmon! haha
Se7en - One of the most fear-striking looks in professional wrestling, the Middle Tennessee based Deadly Sin has been slowed by some recent injuries after a car wreck but will look to bounce back in 2018 and continue to bring his brand of violence outside of the state.
Shawn Shultz - Everybody Knows... that Shultz is one of the best workers in the state. The East Tennessee staple has branched out and continues to do so. He's a guy that I feel like has also earned the respect of a lot of younger wrestlers looking to get in better shape and get better in the ring.
Chase Stevens - Stevens is what people want to see when they come to a professional wrestling show. He's jacked and athletic with a lot of personality. He's been doing his thing for many years in the Southeast and has established himself as a veteran presence and instant credibility to a wrestling roster.
Lenny Stratton - In a growing East Tennessee scene of promotions and events that bring in big names, Stratton has stepped up as a local option to face off with. He and his talented Mrs. (Nicole Pain) have got to be the most talented in-ring couple in the state. He'll continue branching out and putting in work for 2018.
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