Most Underrated Indy Wrestler

[Guest ShooterJay]

There's a lot of indy wrestlers who are cut down on this board because they get too much hype, but who in your opinion is really good but isn't hyped at all? Here's my list:

 

Mark Briscoe: Jay gets most of the hype, but I think ultimately being a 6 foot 200 pound "power wrestler" will impede his progress. Mark is an unbelievable athlete, better than Jay IMO, his understanding of psychology is fantastic, he can do power moves and unlike Jay is a beautiful highflyer. Mark is far more well-rounded than Jay, and that will ultimately take him farther.

 

Izzy (Insane Dragon)/Dixie/Deranged: These guys have been overshadowed by recent Special K additions Slim J and Jody Fleisch, and have been lumped with the crap spot wrestlers of the group like XL, Hydro, Yeyo, Angel Dust etc, but Izzy and Dixie are a fantastic cruiserweight tag team that I wish would get pushed more. The JAPW matches I've seen with those two are great. Some of Izzy's spots are mind-blowing (SFII Blanka backflip kick), and I'd love to see an Izzy/Red match just for the sheer insanity. Deranged reportedly put in one of the more impressive performances at Best of the Best 3, and his selling is some of the best I've seen in a while.

 

Carnage Crew: I'll admit I've shat on these guys before. But they are intense hardcore workers who can actually highspot and wrestle. They cut damn good promos too- their one before "Night of the Butcher" is GOLD.

 

CM Punk: Admittedly he does get a lot of hype, but this guy is the next Christopher Daniels.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

Colt Cabana...he's almost as good as Punk but only gets half the press.

[Guest j.o.b. squad]

adam flash and derik frasier: neither of these guys gets half of the recognition they deserve.

[Guest TonyJaymzV1]

Adam Flash and The Bruisier

 

The Bruiser is one of the best power wretslers out there, reminds me of Rhyno.

 

Adam Flash is just great all around

[PsychoDriver 0]

I'd say that alot of SoCal wrestlers are underated. They don't get nearly as much praise as their East Coast counterparts do...

 

So I'll Say:

 

Super Dragon

Excalibur

TARO

Bobby Quance

Jardi Frantz

Havana Pitbulls

Frankie Kazarian

Lil Cholo

Joey Ryan

Scott Lost

[Guest Youth N Asia]

If we're going for local guys I have to toss in Truth Martini and Chris Sabin

[Guest Sandman9000]

With PsychoDriver's SoCal list, I'd agree with all except Super Dragon. From what I've seen on other boards, he gets pimped like a motherfucker.

 

I'd say Chris Hero, but you could make a case for the whole Gold Bond Mafia (Hero, Colt Cabana, CM Punk) as being underrated. With his exposure in ROH, I think Punk is starting to get past the underrated label and really is starting to become appreciated.

[PsychoDriver 0]

With PsychoDriver's SoCal list, I'd agree with all except Super Dragon. From what I've seen on other boards, he gets pimped like a motherfucker.

I can agree with that... But also I think CM Punk is kinda the same thing, Don't think he's underated anymore.

[Guest Phoenix Fury Legdrop]

If we're going for local guys I have to toss in Truth Martini and Chris Sabin

Saw Sabin & Martini on an IWA-MS tape; love them, especially Sabin. Martini was able to carry Jorge Estrada's worthless 'fro-ey ass to a pretty good match, and Sabin-Cabana's really good.

 

I'm going with Jimmy Rave (way more than "that armbar guy"), Jason Cross (better than AJ Styles, that's for sure), Ace Steel, Ian Rotten (technical wizard), "Spyder" Nate Webb, Nick Mondo (both are much more than "deathmatch guys"), Salvatore Rinauro (most charismatic man to ever live, and he's a hell of a worker too), and Danny Daniels (awesome heel; way, way better than any of you who only saw him in ECW think).

[Guest Rob Van Dam]

I'm gonna have to say Homicide.

[Guest GroundZeroSplash]

Rainman is by far the most underrated guy out there. He hasn't had a bad match in almost a year working lots of different styles with lots of different guys.

 

It's real easy to have good matches when you work the same guy over and over.

 

When Jason Cross learns where to put his spots, then he might be better than A.J. Styles, until then , no way.

 

Sal Rinauro isn't even in Slim J's league yet, let alone better, no matter how homosexually Styles Clash pimps him.

 

 

Oh and I'm dieing to know what good non Death Matches Nick Mondo has had.

 

Kind of hard to call CM Punk overrated when he's the flavor of the month for internet fan boys, who fawn over everything they read, and have probaly only seen him in 2 matches.

[Guest ShooterJay]

It's real easy to have good matches when you work the same guy over and over.

 

When Jason Cross learns where to put his spots, then he might be better than A.J. Styles, until then , no way.

 

Sal Rinauro isn't even in Slim J's league yet, let alone better, no matter how homosexually Styles Clash pimps him.

 

 

Oh and I'm dieing to know what good non Death Matches Nick Mondo has had.

 

Kind of hard to call CM Punk overrated when he's the flavor of the month for internet fan boys, who fawn over everything they read, and have probaly only seen him in 2 matches.

It's also real easy for Mark to have good matches with a lot of other people too- watch some more tapes dude.

 

Agreed about Cross.

 

Never seen Rinauro.

 

Nick Mondo vs. Trent Acid (Divide and Conquer), Mondo vs. Johnny Kashmere (forget the show), Nick Mondo vs. Messiah (EPIC), Nick Mondo vs. Nate Webb (IWA-MS) Nick Mondo vs. Colt Cabana (IWA-MS)

 

And he's the "flavor of the month" as you put it, because he is that good.

[PsychoDriver 0]

Oh and I'm dieing to know what good non Death Matches Nick Mondo has had.

Mondo Vs. B-Boy from GSCW in July was great and it wasn't a death match at all.

[Guest Tim Cooke]

Jason Cross better AJ Styles?

 

Quote of the year candidate.

 

I am no huge Styles fan but Cross should be wrestling on a trampoline in some backyard.

 

Tim

[Guest gangsteruwa]

Ian Rotten. Watch his match with Tarek the Great (IWA MS 10/4/02) and his match with Chris Hero (IWA MS 5/4/02). There are other great Ian Rotten wrestling matches, but those are the only two I've seen.

 

Alot of the non-ROH talent are very underrated. IWA Mid South and CZW wrestlers generally get lumped in the "Garbage Wrestler" catagory, but most are far from garbage wrestlers. Ruckus is great for his size. Sonjay Dutt rarely blows spots (if he does, I rarely notice them). Nate Webb is extremely entertaining and can do anything from old school mat wrestling to the most insane death matches. Same with JC Bailey...I was personally suprised to hear he was a death match wrestler. He looks more along the lines of a Special K member. I've heard that even Corp. Robinson is an awesome wrestler. Something I did not expect. I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I'll check out the suggested match next time I order tapes.

[Guest ShooterJay]

Man, I completely forgot about SONJAY~!. He was only my avatar for like 5 months. Sonjay is awesomeness.

[Guest ChaosTheory]

Jeremy Lopez

Colt Cabana

[Guest Phoenix Fury Legdrop]

First off, GZS, I will agree with the fact that Rainman's quite underrated, and quite the good wrestler, but what the hell's with the Jason Cross hate around here? I probably went a little overboard with the statement about him being better than AJ, but there was a point last year where, undoubtedly, Cross was better than "Mr. Flip, Flop, & Fly X Division Star" AJ Styles. Certainly better than some backyarder, Cooke.

 

As for Salvatore Rinauro, he's probably the most charismatic, entertaining character in Wildside not named Jeff G. Bailey, as well as being one hell of a heel in the ring. I will give you that Slim J's better in-ring than Rinauro, but no man in his right mind would say that Sal's not more entertaining overall than Slim.

 

ShooterJay did a hell of a job backing up my opinion about Nick Mondo.

 

I agree with ChaosTheory's choices too, though Jeremy hasn't worked a US indy show since fall 2002.

[Guest ConspiracyVictim]

Yeah, I would definatly put JC Bailey up there. For anyone who say IWA MS "#301" you saw his match with Chris Hero where he more than held his own. He is a great bump taker and will do anything but he is becoming a better wrestler by the day. Also both Jimmy Jacobs and Alex Shelley have been growing on me. Their 2/3 falls match from "Quote the Raven" was very good and I cant wait to see their match from "April Bloodshowers" which I hear is even better. There are some Chikara Pro guys like Hallowicked and Blind Rage that dont get enough hype. Mike Quakenbush is great and underrated also. I would also have to agree with Rainman who in early 2001 I will admit I thought he was just a New Jack wannabe but he has turned out to be a damn good wrestler.

 

I will also say Sabin and Martini. I really want to see some Michigan Indy stuff since I hear they have been blowing them away on a monthly basis. After I saw their Christmas Carnage match, which was awesome and anyone who has not seen it needs to pick it up to see what they really can do, I have been a fan. Also their three way with Daniels, who is also underrated, was great.

I will have to say overall my most underrated indy guys are the Overboyz. I have seen what both Samir and Joey Corman can do when they are let loose and given time to either wrestle or do crazy ass spots. They can do both well, they just need more exposure. Unfortunatly they are not together at the moment but I hope sometime or another ROH will bring them in and put them in a Scramble when they get back together.

[Guest chickiesinger]

Mercury Flash and Sebastin from Keystone Championship Wrestling are the two most underated wrestlers because their never mentioned in PWI. Mercury Flash and Sebastin put on a 30 minute TLC match with only 1 blown spot, which was very minor. Most of the wrestlers everyone else is posting is hyped by being given a spot in the PWI 500 or is showcased in a major independent federation like TNA, Ring of Honor, Combat Wrestling, ect! I'd say if your going to say someone is the most underated wrestler than they have to be a wrestlers that doesn't wrestle in Ring of Honor or Combat Wrestling. Everyone and their mother buys these tapes. If your going to give a award for most underated it should be from a federation like KCW, Mason Dixon Wrestling, House of Pain Wrestling, ect. These aren't major independent wrestling federations unlike Ring Of Honor and XPW! Peace out and have a nice day

 

Chickie Singer

[Guest Sandman9000]

Ian Rotten. Watch his match with Tarek the Great (IWA MS 10/4/02) and his match with Chris Hero (IWA MS 5/4/02). There are other great Ian Rotten wrestling matches, but those are the only two I've seen.

 

Alot of the non-ROH talent are very underrated. IWA Mid South and CZW wrestlers generally get lumped in the "Garbage Wrestler" catagory, but most are far from garbage wrestlers. Ruckus is great for his size. Sonjay Dutt rarely blows spots (if he does, I rarely notice them). Nate Webb is extremely entertaining and can do anything from old school mat wrestling to the most insane death matches. Same with JC Bailey...I was personally suprised to hear he was a death match wrestler. He looks more along the lines of a Special K member. I've heard that even Corp. Robinson is an awesome wrestler. Something I did not expect. I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I'll check out the suggested match next time I order tapes.

I wouldn't call Ruckus a great wrestler. He may be freakishly agile for any person, regardless of size, but he can only spot. He needs someone to carry him through matches (Acid @ Live Again, Mamaluke @ BOTB2) or to just be thrown into insane spotfests (Sonjay & Cash Ladder Match @ Night of Infamy).

 

And I'm just as shocked to hear that not only can Corp. wrestle, but wrestle WELL, apparently.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I'm not sold on Ian, I don't buy years of hardcore and now all of a sudden the guy's the next Benoit...sure he's better, but still not great.

[Guest Shane Legend]

Florida is full of underrated indy workers:

 

- Taurus

- Roderick Strong

- Justice

- Naphtali

- Jerelle Clark

- Steve Madison

- Shifty

- Kid Lethal

 

I'll even go as far as saying Scoot Andrews and Billy Fives. There are so many more that I just dont feel like listing lol

[Guest gangsteruwa]

Ian Rotten.  Watch his match with Tarek the Great (IWA MS 10/4/02) and his match with Chris Hero (IWA MS 5/4/02).  There are other great Ian Rotten wrestling matches, but those are the only two I've seen.

 

Alot of the non-ROH talent are very underrated.  IWA Mid South and CZW wrestlers generally get lumped in the "Garbage Wrestler" catagory, but most are far from garbage wrestlers.  Ruckus is great for his size.  Sonjay Dutt rarely blows spots (if he does, I rarely notice them).  Nate Webb is extremely entertaining and can do anything from old school mat wrestling to the most insane death matches.  Same with JC Bailey...I was personally suprised to hear he was a death match wrestler.  He looks more along the lines of a Special K member.  I've heard that even Corp. Robinson is an awesome wrestler.  Something I did not expect.  I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I'll check out the suggested match next time I order tapes.

I wouldn't call Ruckus a great wrestler. He may be freakishly agile for any person, regardless of size, but he can only spot. He needs someone to carry him through matches (Acid @ Live Again, Mamaluke @ BOTB2) or to just be thrown into insane spotfests (Sonjay & Cash Ladder Match @ Night of Infamy).

 

And I'm just as shocked to hear that not only can Corp. wrestle, but wrestle WELL, apparently.

I'm not really saying he's a great wrestler. I'm saying, for his size (he's a short, fat guy), he can pull off some amazing shit.

[Guest Galactic Gigolo]

I love Rinauro's Wildside work, but the poor kid needs to start lifting a lot of weights. And if he's already doing that, shit, use Andro or steroids. Because seeing him live at the CZW show really showed me how EXTREMELY tiny he was.

[Guest PowerPB13]

I could come up with a whole list of wrestlers from the St. Louis-based Gateway Championship Wrestling who would be great if they got more exposure(beyond a few appearances on XPlosion).

 

People who have been on XPlosion include Matt Sydal, "The Irish Luchador" Billy McNeil, Delirious, and Ryan Ash, and on the female side of things there's MsChif and Daizee Haze.

 

As for people who haven't been on XPlosion(yet), there's Diamond Back Dingo, Nikki Strychnine, OuTtKaSt, and Shawn Almighty, among others.

 

-Patrick

[Guest Jimmy Saint]

Chad Collyer. Malenko-esque wrestling ability and knows how to work a crowd carny style. WWE are fools for releasing him [you probaby know that by now though].

 

 

Also CW Anderson should probably get alot more respect from most Indy fans than he does.

 

 

 

Neither are your average skinny teenage spot monkeys who are going nowhere other than the hospital after every match.

[Guest Phoenix Fury Legdrop]

Collyer, imo, is really boring, and almost like the WCW Worldwide version of his trainer.

[Guest Rob Van Dam]

Collyer, imo, is really boring, and almost like the WCW Worldwide version of his trainer.

Oh my god yes is he boring, I almost fell asleep between his match against American Dragon in ROH. He has no look, at least Malenko has a little bit charisma, this guy has nothing but mat wrestling.

[Chunk 0]

There are loads of people over here that dont get recognition in the states, despite the fact that they are really good workers.

 

James Tighe for example is outstanding for his age, and will probably get pushed into the FWA main event scene soon, but I bet nobody has heard of him.

 

ChUnK!