1. Brogan Finlay
Let's get the obvious out of the way. Yes. It's Fit's son and David's brother. He has around 20 matches under his belt including one with Chris Dickinson. He's very new but the instincts are there. He has a realism to what he does and isn't afraid of a fight(does that surprise anyone?). He's branching out from WWA4 and has had several matches at Action in Tyrone, GA.
2. Ron Bass Jr.
Another legacy pick but he's not just living off his dad's name. He's a big ol boy and he packs a wallop behind his lariat. Currently based in Florida, he may be moving to Tennessee soon and he'll get a ton of opportunities to be a fun big man and continue to improve.
3. The Prodigies of Wrestling: Jay Malachi & Jackson Drake
These guys are still in high school but they're already 3-4 year veterans who are impressing people wherever they go, including being standouts recognized by Arn Anderson at one of his seminars. They're North Carolina based but look for them to start branching out more and more.
4. Pete Youngblood
A TWE Chattanooga trainee, Youngblood has a lot to still figure out but with only about 20 matches under his belt - he has plenty of time to figure it all out and shows a lot of promise. I believe he's already competed in 4 or 5 different states so he's willing to travel and earn opportunities.
5. Culture Inc (Eli Knight & Malik Bosede)
Oh where have you gone, legit tag teams? Right here. These guys are Florida based but get around. They're exciting and motivated.
6. Rico Gonzalez
Another AR Fox trainee with promise. He's super athletic and smooth for someone of his experience level. He also connects with crowds and shows good personality.
7. Tyler Foshie
If you looked at where he wrestles and tried to guess where he's from, you'd probably be incorrect. Foshie is a far East Tennessee(Greeneville) based wrestler who has been working his way into Middle Tennessee and Georgia. He's a fun cruiserweight underdog type guy with ambition and a good attitude.
8. Duncan Mitchell
The former "Prospect" has already dropped that moniker but is still definitely a guy on the rise. He's a Nightmare Factory guy who has made good strides in Alabama's New South and has continued to branch out. He's got a good look, has shown he can hang with some much more experienced guys, and has a lot of potential.
9. Nick King
He's the kind of wrestler that is really hard to have a bad match with already because he's grapple based and stays on his opponents. He's based in the Midwest but has made some trips into the Southeast. He's also a guy that many veterans like Gary Jay and Warhorse put their name on. His stock will rise quickly when given bigger opportunities.
10. Bojack
In a world of smaller cruiserweight flippy guys and stumpy technicians, the heavyweight Bojack stands out as a super athletic big man that brings the personality as well. The "Dreadlock Demolition Machine" is North Carolina based and worth checking out for sure.
11. Ash Bennett
This slim-framed WWA4 standout calls himself the "Ash-hole" and isn't afraid to flash some attitude to go with his technical and athletic abilities.
12. Jay Lucas
Yet another WWA4 guy, Lucas has athleticism but also has some size and swagger. When he finds his next level confidence, he'll be on his way to bigger things.
13. Landon Hale
Athleticism is a theme among many people on the list but Hale may be at the top of the list(alongside Eli Knight from Culture Inc). He defies gravity and your camera better have some shutterspeed if you want good pictures of him wrestling. He was trained by Robert Gibson but has also trained with AR Fox. He's a guy who is really easy to like in and out of the ring.
14. Noah Hossman
Trained by Curt Stallion(now Stallion Rogers) and Dr. Tom Prichard, Hossman is a big amateur based guy who can destroy opponents with grappling or power offense and who gets better each match. He's really growing as a performer(personality wise) every time I see him, as well.
15. Carmen Michael
It's my list and if I want to put a non-wrestler on it, then I will and am. Carmen is a likable ring announcer/whatever you need me to be in Alabama who engages the crowd with a smile and a suit. In an environment where many announcers have been doing it for years and/or shouldn't have ever been doing it - he stands out as a talented guy with a bright future.
16. Kim Skiles
There are some talented females in the Southeast, most that I've already written about or many that are still a couple of years away from getting enough polishing to stand out. Kim is one of the most talented females in professional wrestling as a referee for TWE, New South, Scenic City, and a few other places. She's come out of her shell to take command in the ring while constantly improving - yet also being one of the most humble people you could meet.
17. Sir Knight Merrik Donovan
An absolute force. Donovan is a machine. He's powerful and technical and as legitimate as they come when people want to pay to watch someone fight. He "wrestles up" to bigger opponents or can ground and pound high flyers. He's Florida based but very willing to travel.
18. Jack Kujo
If you aren't having fun watching Jack Kujo then you aren't watching Jack Kujo. The personification of charisma in a world of competitors who "just wrestle", he's talented, athletic, and innovative. He's a WWA4 guy you need to see and will enjoy!
19. Diego Hill
Another young North Carolina based guy who impresses with limitless athleticism. He's just getting started but will be a guy that everyone in the Southeast(and beyond!) will know if he stays at it.
20. Damion Turner
He's an all-arounder from WWA4. He's a medium build guy who stands out as a guy who can do it all. It's very early on for Turner but he's putting in the work, showing up for opportunities, and impressing when he gets them.
21. Robert Martyr
He's 20 years old but he's already an encyclopedia of professional wrestling and already has a resume that could earn him a spot on any given show, including winning the 2021 Action Futures Showcase championship at this year's Scenic City Invitational. He's rabid in the ring and isn't afraid to be hated but also overcomes with grit and undeniable passion. If you don't believe in Robert Martyr then you've never seen or met him.
Thanks for reading!
If you have any other suggestions of talented and motivated up and comers in the Southeast that I haven't written about then please send me a message on facebook or Twitter
@ScottCHensley
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