Cody Rhodes and the 10 Current Hottest Non-WWE Wrestling Stars

In the world of pro wrestling, WWE is king, but that doesn't mean it employs all of the best wrestlers in the world. In fact, many of the top talents from around the globe have never set foot in one of Vince McMahon's rings.

Europe, Japan and Mexico have been major wrestling markets for decades, and some of the top grapplers continue to work in those regions without much exposure in the United States.

However, we have started seeing certain companies gain a foothold in the U.S. by presenting something different from WWE while putting on amazing matches.

New Japan Pro Wrestling has been gaining popularity through AXS TV showing its events, and the company has even started holding shows on U.S. soil. The recent G1 Special in USA garnered universal praise from fans and wrestlers alike. Even Roseanne Barr expressed her love for it via Twitter.

Lucha Underground has been showcasing numerous wrestlers from Mexico since its inception, Ring of Honor has continued to gain steam for many years and European promotions like Progress and Rev-Pro have even been plugged on WWE television through its United Kingdom Championship matches.

All of these companies operate separately, but many of them allow Superstars to appear for multiple promotions at once as long as there are no scheduling conflicts.

I recently posted a message on Twitter asking who fans throught were the best wrestlers not working for WWE, and the response was overwhelming. There were many opinions, but certain workers were mentioned by almost everyone.

This slideshow will look at the best non-WWE Superstars making waves in the world of pro wrestling.

Honorable Mention: The Bullet Club

Before we get to the top 10, The Bullet Club has to be recognized as a whole. The NJPW stable has been gaining popularity for the past few years, and WWE has even tried to cash in on its momentum.

AJ Styles, Finn Balor Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows have all been acknowledged as former Bullet Club members on WWE television.

It's rare for WWE to even acknowledge the existence of another promotion, let alone associate one of its talents with the company.

Styles, Anderson and Gallows were put together to form The Club, and The Balor Club has been how The Demon's fans have been referred to since shortly after his debut in NXT.

The Bullet Club has become one of the best-known stables since the New World Order and D-Generation X, but it has managed to carve out its own legacy without feeling like a knockoff.

It contains about a dozen members, and most of those wrestlers appear in multiple promotions simultaneously while maintaining allegiance to the stable.

Before we get to the countdown, it should be noted this is all a matter of opinion. You may have a completely different top 10, and you are encouraged to share your thoughts in the comments section.

10. Zack Sabre Jr.

Zack Sabre Jr. is one of the few people on this list who will be familiar to fans who only watch WWE because of his participation in the Cruiserweight Classic.

He has been regarded as one of the best technical wrestlers in the world for quite some time, and it's mainly due to his unique arsenal of submissions.

At first glance, he looks like some skinny kid from England who would never stand a chance against the powerhouses we associate with pro wrestling, but he is deceptively strong.

In addition to being a master at tying up his opponents, he can counter just about any hold his opponent tries to put him in.

He worked as a heel during NJPW's recent G1 event, but it's hard to hate a guy who is so good at what he does.

9. Alberto El Patron

Alberto El Patron, known as Alberto Del Rio in WWE, is known around the world for his technical ability and heritage.

His strikes are as stiff as they come, his knowledge of submissions is above average and he has built a loyal fanbase through his incredible performances.

He might seem boisterous at times, but nobody can deny how good he is between the ropes. During the recent rebranding of TNA into Global Force Wrestling, Patron was positioned as the company's top star.

He merged the GFW and TNA Championships when he defeated Bobby Lashley at Slammiversary XV, and he has recently begun feuding with the relaunched LAX stable.

8. Ricochet

Ricochet might not be a name many American fans are familiar with, but that's mostly because he worked under a mask as Prince Puma during his run with Lucha Underground.

It doesn't matter what name you use as long as you understand he is one of the most gifted luchadores in the world.

He appears to have cut ties with LU after appearing during the G1 Special in USA and declaring his intention to dominate NJPW.

He has been working in the business for a little over a decade, and in that time, he has managed to win dozens of titles around the world.

He has popularity, technical and high-flying skills, charisma and an enviable physique. It's a mystery why WWE hasn't sent an armored truck full of cash to try to get him to sign with the company.

7. Tetsuya Naito

Any wrestler who wants a lesson in how to be a charismatic heel needs to study the work of Tetsuya Naito.

Americans were given a small taste of what he is capable of during the NJPW G1 Special in USA, but he has been popular in Japan for years.

He worked for TNA in 2009, but it was a short run, and he hadn't developed into the megastar he is today at that point in his career.

He is the kind of villain you can't help but like because he is so good at what he does. He might be from Japan, but comparisons have been made to the likes of Roddy Piper and Shawn Michaels.

He is a member of Los Ingobernables de Japon and a former IWGP heavyweight champion. At only 35, he is already well on his way to earning legendary status.

6. Will Ospreay

Will Ospreay has been working his way through promotions in America, Europe and Japan for years, but he gained a lot of notoriety because of a highly publicized feud with Vader in 2016.

Their big showdown wasn't exactly an instant classic, but it helped him gain fans who may have never heard of him otherwise.

He is working for Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling and a variety of indy promotions, and he is regarded as one of the best in all of them.

During one of Paul Heyman's speaking engagements in the United Kingdom last year, Ospreay was offered a contract by the silver-tongued advocate to work for Evolve in the U.S.

The high-flyer was clearly moved by the gesture, but it appeared he was even more affected by being called a revolutionary in the business.

5. The Young Bucks

If you don't know who The Young Bucks are by now, you aren't paying attention. Even hardcore WWE fans who never watch other promotions are familiar with Nick and Matt Jackson.

Tag teams don't stay together as long as they did in the '80s and '90s, but being real-life brothers has helped the Bucks overcome any issues partners might have on the road.

They have accumulated more than two-dozen different championships across multiple promotions, including New Japan, ROH and Dragon Gate USA.

They are known for producing exciting matches with lots of energy, but they are mostly associated with their excessive use of the superkick.

Not working for WWE has worked to their benefit because they have been able to make names for themselves as one of the greatest duos in the business while retaining the rights to their characters and merchandise.

If we ever do see the Jacksons in a WWE ring, it will have to be because McMahon shelled out a hefty sum to get them to leave the comfortable living they have built for themselves.

4. Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes was one of the most misused WWE Superstars in recent memory. The Stardust gimmick produced some funny moments, but his heart never seemed in it.

Instead of collecting an easy paycheck and continuing to work as a copy of his brother's character, Goldust, Rhodes did the unthinkable and chose to leave WWE to see what else he could accomplish on his own.

As soon as his 90-day non-compete clause was up, he became one of the hottest commodities in pro wrestling.

He put in some time with multiple smaller promotions while checking names off his list of dream opponents, but he started to gain momentum when he joined The Bullet Club.

He recently won the Ring of Honor World Championship before coming up short against Kazuchika Okada in a match for the IWGP Championship at the G1 Special in USA.

Working for WWE got him worldwide recognition, but it's his technical ability and mic skills that have allowed him to write his own ticket to any promotion he chooses to work for.

3. Marty Scurll

Marty Scurll is a gifted wrestler, but what separates him from every other talented grappler is his unique gimmick and presentation.

He isn't just a wrestler. This guy is a villain, plain and simple. When he comes to the ring, the fans know they are going to see a bad guy do what bad guys do.

As a member of The Bullet Club, he has gained more prominence, but Scurll has been able to maintain what made him special as a solo act.

His appearances during TNA British Boot Camp helped him gain attention from the international wrestling audience, and he has continued to make a name for himself as a special talent at a time when many wrestlers are fighting for recognition.

2. Kazuchika Okada

One of the reasons the IWGP Heavyweight Championship is so prestigious is because NJPW doesn't play hot potato with the title.

Only the best of the best get to wear the belt, and Kazuchika Okada definitely qualifies as one of the elite pro wrestlers in the business today.

Every time he steps into the ring, he puts on an instant classic. His series of matches against Kenny Omega have been called some of the best in the history of the business, and he still has plenty of time to outdo himself.

He is a four-time champion, which puts him in a tie with The Great Muta for the second-most reigns in the company's history.

His most recent win came when he defeated Naito in April of 2016, and he has managed to hold on to the title ever since.

1. Kenny Omega

Okada may be the top champion in New Japan, but Kenny Omega is the international face of the company and the leader of The Bullet Club.

Some fans may not realize Omega had a deal with WWE in 2005 when Deep South Wrestling was used as a developmental territory.

After requesting his release, Omega began the journey to where he is today and built a reputation as one of the most exciting wrestlers in the world.

Seth Rollins recently started using Omega's Rain Trigger finishing move as his own, and he has had a gaming feud with Xavier Woods, which has been shown multiple times on Woods' UpUpDownDown YouTube channel.

His most recent accomplishment came during the G1 Special in USA, when he became the first IWGP United States champion following a victory over Tomohiro Ishii.

The wrestlers featured on this list are the cream of the crop when it comes to non-WWE talents, but there are dozens of Superstars out there who are just as talented without having the same level of exposure. 

As we get closer to WWE's Mae Young Classic tournament, you will see a similar list put together that highlights the best female wrestlers in the world.