1. Alex Kane
This young star of MLW has already captured gold and is a guy that you can't help but to appreciate. He's a suplex throwing machine in the ring that oozes charisma. As MLW grows, look for him to be one of the guys getting good opportunities.
2. Mads Krugger/"The Heathen" Krule
He's no newbie but the monster persona is an evolution of the former Logan Creed who is absolutely terrifying as a creature who feels no pain. Between MLW and ICW, look for him to haunt the dreams of his opponents while entertaining larger and larger crowds.
3. Cole Radrick
This guy can do it all. He's a technical wizard that can also go to the air and he's just flat out fun to watch. He's also as motivated as they come.
4. Bryan Keith
Look for him to near double digits for matches worked Mania weekend in Texas this year. The Bounty Hunter is soon to be the hunted(by promoters) and he's a guy that can throw down with anyone.
5. Masha Slamovich
On an independent scene where the "big leagues" snatch up a lot of talented females, Masha remains with us for now. She's got a fun personality and loads of ability that she showcases against men and women.
6. Trish Adora
Like Masha, Trish is an equal opportunity hander outer of beatings. Adora is building quite the following and is already one of the top contenders for the IWTV Championship.
7. Zach Mosley
This Robert Gibson trainee with a "million dollar mullet" is exceptionally talented at making you want to see him get his face smashed in. He's incredibly old school but also will show out with superb athleticism just to remind you he can do anything any of his opponents can do.
8. Landon Hale
Another Robert Gibson trainee, Hale has the insane ups and creative flying of someone like AR Fox(Who he's also trained with) but can also go to the mat and chain. He's instantly likable and getting on more and more radars.
9. Kevin Ku
Ku has seen success as a singles wrestler but has recently become beloved as a tag team competitor alongside Dominic Garrini as Violence is Forever, a team that has been featured on MLW, is the two time IWTV tag team of the year, and I believe currently holds 3 different organization's tag championships at this time. Whether in singles or tag action, I think Ku will build upon his already impressive resume this year.
10. Damyan Tangra
Legitimately from Bulgaria, the "Mat Scientist" is as good as it gets as a technical wrestler and super easy to get behind as a person. He's already entered into the 2022 Scenic City Invitational tournament and has been having standout singles matches and tag team matches with his partner Alex Kane as "Suplex Science".
11. Hoodfoot
If you didn't see Hoodfoot in 2021 then you probably didn't watch any independent wrestling east of the Mississippi river. Hoodfoot is a wrecking ball of wrestling ability and he's coming to your town soon! He's a guy that can make you love him or hate him and he can do old school brawling, spotfests, or get downright hardcore.
12. Akira
The Death Samurai has built quite the following in the growing Deathmatch scene but is also an amazing traditional wrestler in his own right. He's always out earning additional opportunities and I think 2022 will see him do even more of that.
13. Robert Martyr
Martyr was the winner of the 2021 Scenic City Futures Showcase Tournament. He's a wrestling machine with attitude and hits the roads and the air to make sure he's seen.
14. Sir Knight Merrik Donovan
This guy won't be outworked. He's based in Florida but if there's an opportunity to be had, he'll find a way to be there and he'll impress everyone there. He's a compact powerhouse that's full of fight.
15. Ashton Starr
Ashton has always had charisma and talent but it's at an all time high. He's stepping up to extremely talented opponents, hanging with them, and even picking up well deserved victories with impressive work.
16.MERC
The former Graham Bell is a modern day warrior of the roads. If you tried to plot where he is based out of by the shows that he works then you'd probably be way off. He's out of Oklahoma but is another guy who doesn't let a little time and distance get in the way of bigger opportunities. He throws hand grenade fists and rocket launcher kicks that will hopefully see him continue his momentum into 2022 after recently colliding with Daniel Garcia, Anthony Henry, and tapping out John Wayne Murdoch.
17. Jaden Newman
Call me biased but Jaden exceeds everyone's expectations every time he steps up to a big challenge. "The Uncrowned King of the Scenic City" has become an incredibly well rounded wrestler who is putting in the work to get on more and more radars. It's only a matter of time before bigger and bigger crowds come to enjoy his abilities as a performer and athlete.
18. AC Mack
This self-professed loud mouth overcame the odds to earn the win at the 2021 Scenic City Invitational tournament defeating Big Beef Gnarls Garvin, Jeremy Wyatt, and a final that was loaded with Daniel Garcia, Alex Kane, and the 2019 SCI winner Daniel Makabe. He was recently named the #1 contender to the IWTV championship and has recently taken on a bodyguard/associate in Isaiah Broner at Southern Underground Pro in Nashville - so he could be in store for big things.
19. Noah Hossman
Hossman is one of those wrestlers that you can tell what he is like just from his name. He's an absolute suplex throwing, power technician "Baby Steiner" of a young man who trained under Curt Stallion and is a graduate of Dr. Tom Prichard and Kane's JPWA wrestling school as well. He's just getting started and wrapped up this year with an impressive match with Alex Kane at TWE in Chattanooga.
20. Pete Youngblood
Youngblood is an athletic TWE trainee who recently threw the role of trying to be a fan favorite to the side to embrace his natural arrogance and swagger as a "jack of all trades". He's got a long way to go but I feel that he'll get some good tests in 2022.
21. Rico Gonzalez
This WWA4 trainee has shined bright at Action's Next Up as an ultimate underdog. He's a talented athlete with personality and ability and it's only a matter of time before he gains the experience and confidence to start branching out and earning bigger opportunities.
22. Brandon Williams
Brandon may be the most severely under-pushed promoter in independent wrestling. The Locksmith is a co-promoter of Alabama's New South promotion but any politics or favoritism aside, he's an astute technician in the ring that brings an energy and excitement to his matches. He had some coming out parties in 2021, including tagging with Daniel Makabe vs Suplex Science at the Futures Showcase as a surprise but hopefully 2022 holds many more opportunities for him to shine.
Thanks for reading! This is certainly not an exhaustive list. I'd love to hear your picks on Facebook or Twitter @ScottCHensley
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