5 Independent Wrestlers WWE Need to Sign to NXT

By RJ Marceau

In the past few years, the WWE has started to sign independent wrestlers who have made their names huge in PWG, Dragon Gate USA, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor and CZW. The WWE recently signed Samoa Joe who was a huge signing especially since he was a face of TNA for a while. Other stars like Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, Dean Ambrose and Hideo Itami came from the independents and have made a big name for themselves in the WWE. Here’s a list of Independent wrestlers the WWE need to sign.

---

​5.  Jay Briscoe

When Ring of Honor started airing on Destination America, I decided to watch the program and get a new view on a new product. The first person was the then-ROH World Champion Jay Briscoe. Briscoe is great in the ring and would fit in perfectly in The Wyatt Family. He could be the member holding the U.S. or IC title while Bray and the other members try and win the other belts. If Briscoe were to sign he would have to bring his brother as well. I think Jay Briscoe in the Wyatt’s would be great.

---

4.  Prince Puma

Graham persuaded me to look into the new Lucha Underground. As a strictly WWE wrestling fan I decided to give the product a view. The first match I saw was Prince Puma vs. Johnny Mundo. This match was unbelievable and I became a big fan of Puma’s. I looked him up and realized he wrestled in PWG and Evolve, which shows this guy has been working his way up through the Indy’s. Masked or unmasked he could see big success on the main roster.

---

3. Moose

​In the same episode of Ring of Honor that I watched when I saw Moose I said how isn’t this guy in the WWE. His direction in ROH is all over the place since they really don’t focus on big storylines but it was great to see this man wreck havoc in the ring. After the World's Strongest Man retires, they should pair him with Moose if they sign him and use Henry as a manager.

---

2. Johnny Gargano

Even though I haven’t seen any of his work in Evolve, Johnny Wrestling caught my eye when he debuted on NXT in the Dusty Rhodes Classic. He has amazing in-ring skills and can easily be a big player in NXT. On the main roster, he could get lost in the shuffle but as an NXT talent he could have amazing matches.

---

1. The Panama City Playboy, Adam Cole

​How is this man not signed to the WWE? Adam Cole is an amazing talent and should have been signed by the WWE after his first tryout in 2013. Cole is 26 so he has plenty of years to be signed by the WWE but they should sign him sooner rather then later. Cole reminds me of Seth Rollins with great in-ring skills and can be great as a face or a heel. Adam Cole can be a huge star in NXT and the main roster if the WWE signs him.

---