With the recent news report coming from WrestleTalk regarding NXT UK, and wrestlers signed to the brand will be exclusive, many fans are feeling pretty annoyed with the deal. It’s still not entirely clear exactly what it all means, and whether or not it applies to everyone on the roster, but these restrictions do feel a little disappointing. Partner promotions like wXw, PROGRESS, and ICW will still be allowed to feature the top talent, but many other indies without ties to WWE are going to have to wave goodbye to potential matches featuring guys like El Ligero, Xia Brookside, and Moustache Mountain.

It feels like a kick in the teeth, especially after we were told back in 2016 that there would be “no restrictions” and the WWE weren’t “the big bad wolf” planning on poaching all the talent for themselves, but there you go. There’s not a lot we can do, and if anything, this is great news for those that have worked so hard to forge a path towards the grandest stage of them all. It does make me proud to see such incredible talent ‘make it’ in the world of professional wrestling, and see just how much of an impact the likes of Pete Dunne have made an impact on the sport. You’ve got to remember that there are so many other men and women out there that’ll continue to entertain on the indie circuit, and you’ll still be able to see incredible talent like Will Ospreay, David Starr, Jimmy Havoc, Kip Sabian, and Viper at your local leisure centre or nightclub.

See, it’s not all bad.

I wanted to use this opportunity to shine a light on some of the talent still putting on incredible performances on a nightly basis who might not be getting the recognition they deserve, because there are plenty of guys out there who are a joy to watch, and 2019 has the potential to be their most important year to date. Sugar Dunkerton, CJ Carter, Los Federales Santos Jr, Lana Austin, TK Cooper – so many names. So much talent on our shores, but the following seven are wrestlers that I love to watch, and will continue to do so as we welcome in the new year in just over a month.

Rocky Mac

Rocky Mac is a great wrestler who loves a scrap, and has a superb Twitter game. He’s been to OTT, Frontline, and TIDAL to name a few, and when he’s back from injury next year, you should certainly check him out. You should definitely be watching his work in Pro Wrestling Clash, as his match against Paul Robinson was a blinder. Although he can’t wrestle for the PWC World Championship due to injury, he will be at A Clashmas Carol to discuss his position.

Sierra Loxton

The weird and wonderful Sierra Loxton has had some great matches this year, wrestling for plenty of well regarded promotions like Pro Wrestling Chaos, PROGRESS, EVE, Dragon Pro, and Rev Pro. She’s still young, but the “Freaky Princess” has a bright future, and I’m looking forward to watching her set the indies a light with her own unique style.

Gene Munny

What’s not to love about “The Sexual Gammon”? Mixing comedy and wrestling, Gene Munny is well worth the price of admission, and is slowly becoming a name to watch out for on the indie scene. His Tournament of Excellence is a real highlight as of late, and he’s managed to pick up some big wins against the likes of Mike Bailey and No Fun Dunne.

Cara Noir

It’s amazing that Cara Noir hasn’t broke into NXT UK, but I’m glad he hasn’t because I’ll get to see him at a lot more indie shows. His style in the ring is refined, theatrical, and exciting, matching his persona and entrance. It’d be great to see Cara Noir in PROGRESS, or even try his luck at OTT or wXw, mainly because he’s currently one of the most fascinating performers on the independent scene.

Beano

Beano’s Ironman Match with Mark Haskins back in October for Pro Wrestling Chaos was exceptional. He trained at the UK Dragon Pro Wrestling Academy, and if you know anything about it, you’ll know they have an exceptional success rate, with guys like Flash Morgan Webster and Mark Andrews training there. It was announced recently that he’s the Chaos Wrestling’s Wrestler of the Year, and that momentum’s only going to continue into next year.

Nico Angelo

Another star straight out of Dragon Pro UK, Nico is so much more than a ‘high flyer.’ He’s technically superb in the air, with pinpoint precision and a vision like few else on the indie scene. For a great example of Angelo’s talent, watch his recent match at Momentomori in Attack Pro; seriously gifted and constantly hungry to improve.

Chuck Mambo

Where to start with this guy? Chuck has had a fantastic year on the indie circuit, wrestling at Wembley, becoming the Riptide Brighton Champion, and making a huge impact and potential heel turn with three other wrestlers who are also worthy of your time (Spike Trivet, Drew Parker, and Bill Eaver). I can’t wait to see Mambo become even better, and if his attack on Havoc, Haskins, and Dennis at the recent PROGRESS Chapter is anything to go by, the self-proclaimed “Scramble Master” has a bright future.

Of course, I could go on and list so many more out there. The point is, we’re in a very lucky position within the UK. We have a wealth of top promotions like Riptide, Attack Pro, and Defiant, along with many up and comers such as Wrestling Resurgence who’re pushing the boundaries and making wrestling more than just a selection of matches. Don’t be downhearted, be positive, be happy, and be thankful that there’s so much good coming out of Britain at the moment that this most certainly isn’t the end – it is just the beginning.