WWE is box office and always will be, but if you want to experience any sport in its purest form, you will often find that the best place to look is in the feeder formats. For example, if you go to a college football game, you will be spared the pyrotechnics and the players and coaches playing up to the cameras – but you will see some of the biggest talents giving it their all in a bid to get noticed and make the step up to the big time.

For the love of the game

The same applies across all disciplines. A top casino in Vegas might have the razzmatazz and star appeal, but to simply play your favorite game and stand the best chance of beating the house, you can’t beat Casino-Websites.co.uk new casino site reviews. And if you have yet to experience wrestling outside the world of WWE, chances are you will find it a breath of fresh air.

On the other hand, if you are already a fan of the lesser known formats, see if you agree with our top five names from the past 12 months.

Zack Sabre

This British wrestler has been one of the biggest names in his home country for the past decade, but having turned 30 this year, he is now hitting his prime. If awards were made on the basis of airmiles, he would be the hands-down winner, having competed on both sides of the Atlantic, including a classic AAW encounter with Michael Elgin in May and an equally memorable bout with Will Ospreay in his home country in October.

Walter

Austria has a great track record when it comes to providing the world with muscle-bound superstars. While it might be a little early to suggest that Walter could emulate his most illustrious countryman, he certainly has the potential to go to the very top. Like Sabre, he is just coming into his prime, and he has the confidence and mental toughness to match his most obvious physical attribute – put simply, the guy is built like a truck.

Kazuchika Okada

Ask those in the know who is the best wrestler on the planet, and you might be surprised at the answer. The Rainmaker has held the IWGP Heavyweight crown for 18 months – a record in the history of the championship. WWE might be box office, but this man is something else – and at just 30 years old, his strength, talent and ability to tell a story in the ring could take his career absolutely anywhere.

Tomohiro Ishii

If the Rainmaker is beyond box office, Tomohiro Ishii could be mistaken for a member of the crew who stepped into the ring by mistake. Anyone who mistakes the understated appearance for a lack of prowess finds out their mistake the hard way, however. This 41 year old exemplifies the phrase “fighting spirit” to the letter.

Keith Lee

When Kassius Ohno joined WWE, fans feared he would leave a huge hole in the independent scene. Thankfully, Keith Lee was ready to step in, and he has done so in a unique style. For athleticism, theatre and all out-brutal power, he has it all, and if you’ve not seen him yet, make a date to do so in 2018.