Professional Wrestling has a variety of great talents throughout the world, and with good reason: there are some who utilize technical wrestling into their arsenal; others who use their speed and flight to awe-inspire their audience; and then there are ones who do not rely on their immense skill but rather their gimmick (character) to help tell a story. Each brings something different to the wide, wide world of pro wrestling.

Regardless of who deserves to be on this upcoming list, I must note the importance of each of these wrestler's within the current year. Although some hail from New Japan and even ROH, the wrestlers contracted under WWE are also putting on great matches and classic storytelling within the confines of those ropes.

*Note: Cesaro and Sami Zayn did not make this list due to previous mentions in past articles. They can definitely be considered honorable mentions.

1. Kenny Omega (NJPW/ROH)

"The Cleaner" and incumbent Bullet Club leader Kenny Omega is, right off the bat, the epitome of one of the best wrestlers in today's business. His tenure in New Japan for the last few years has been capped off with great matches. 2017 is a tremendous year for Omega, too, having three 6-plus star matches (ranked by Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter) with a man who is also going to make an appearance on this list. Omega's rise began last summer when he won the intense G1 Climax Tournament to earn a shot at the IWGP World Championship, and his matches in the IWGP US Title Tournament to become the first-ever IWGP US Championship showed his tenacity as a pure wrestler making a name for himself in this business. "Goodbye...and Goodnight. BANG!"

2. Drew McIntyre (WWE/NXT)

From being promised a big push in 2009 to basically being released in 2014, Drew McIntyre returned to WWE's NXT brand in late March after an incredible run in the Independent scene and re-creating his image as a name to look out for. His matches with Oney Lorcan, Wesley Blake, Killain Dain and now ex-NXT Champion Bobby Roode have been great, and his undefeated streak is still intact. Although it's early to say where Drew's path goes moving forward, it's a definite opinion when I say McIntyre is on the rise of being a future WWE megastar like he was previously promised.

3. Samoa Joe (WWE)

"The Samoan Submission Machine" has been credited with impacting the wrestling world when he signed with WWE back in 2015. His monstrous run in TNA (now Global Force Wrestling) was rekindled in NXT when he became the first two-time NXT Champion. His matches with Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura, and even Kevin Owens were just a prelude to his ultimate on the main roster. Already putting classics with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, it was his match at the Great Balls of Fire PPV with Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship that solidified his place as a name to look out for in WWE as he continues his path as a devastatingly great wrestler.

4. Aleister Black (WWE/NXT)

Previously known as Tommy End in the 'Indies', Black has amassed a great fan following as of late. His own undefeated streak is still intact, even after a hellacious match with Hideo Itami at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III recently. His finisher, Black Mass (a roundhouse kick to the face) is considered one of the most devastating moves in the business, which can even knock his opponent out. Black's incredible bought with Kassius Ohno on an episode of NXT TV moved him from being a simple, kick-first-ask-questions-later guy having two-minute matches to being a dark horse as a future NXT Champion.

5. Adam Cole (WWE/NXT, ROH)

"ADAM COLE BAYBAY!" was heard loud and clear at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III recently, where Cole appeared and made his long-awaited NXT debut attacking new NXT Champion Drew McIntyre. Cole's run in ROH, first being the leader of The Kingdom stable to eventually becoming another member of Bullet Club, was considered some of his best work, although he still has a lot left to prove now that he's under Vince McMahon's roof. Cole's matches with Jay Lethal, Kyle O'Reilly and even Christopher Daniels in the last year and a half are incredible bouts to relive, where fans saw Cole's rise as a top name come to fruition. It's exciting to say Cole is heading in the right direction as he begins to work for NXT...baybay.

6. Kazuchika Okada (NJPW)

"The Rainmaker" of New Japan and current IWGP Heavyweight Champion has made a name for himself these last few years...and is only 29 years old. His three 6-plus star matches with Kenny Omega in 2017 alone has cemented him and Omega as two of the greatest wrestlers in the world. Along with that accomplishment, Okada has had great matches with pretty much everyone, including current WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura and ROH World Champion Cody Rhodes. Okada's reign as champion has also been combined with the fact that he will definitely be the hottest free agent in the world once he decides to leave New Japan.

7. Asuka (WWE/NXT)

Another undefeated wrestler, same popularity. "The Empress of Tomorrow" has had an incredible run as NXT Women's Champion, and her matches with Ember Moon, Bayley, Nikki Cross and even Ruby Riot have been some of the best women's matches in WWE history. As her career soars to new heights, many fans are wondering if she'll have the same success on the main roster as she did in NXT. As for now, she remains a hot name for wrestling fans to talk about and is one of the best in the world.

8. The Young Bucks (NJPW/ROH)

Fellow Bullet Club members Matt and Nick Jackson make this list as the only tag team on it. This ELITE tag team is pretty 2 Sweet, and did I mention they love to host Superkick Parties? I'll admit I'm a huge fan of them, and not because of their merchandising techniques. Their matches with the Hardyz, Briscoes, Roppongi Vice as of late have been incredible and have proven that they are serious workhorses of their craft and are very passionate about being the best professional wrestlers in the world.

9. AJ Styles (WWE)

"The Phenomenal One" of pro wrestling has been on fire since his debut for WWE in early 2016. Coming off an incredible match in New Japan with Shinsuke Nakamura, Styles has had a great run in the company so far. His matches with Dean Ambrose, John Cena, Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens and even Chris Jericho have been noted as some of the best in WWE history, and that adds to a list of already great matches for Styles outside of WWE. This Bullet Club alum has definitely proven that he has yet to run out of gas in his incredible career so far.

Honorable Mentions: Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Bobby Roode, Ember Moon, War Machine, Authors of Pain, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt, New Day, Usos, Ricochet, Rey Mysterio, Will Osperay, Tama Tonga, JT Dunn, Johnny Mundo, Shinsuke Nakamura, Kevin Owens, Johnny Gargano.

10. Tetsuya Naito (NJPW)

The winner of the recent G1 Climax tournament for New Japan and leader of the popular stable Los Ingobernables de Japon has been putting on great matches in the last few years and is considered the next flag-bearer of NJPW's Heavyweight Championship. His recent matches with Kenny Omega have been just as impressive next to the Omega/Okada trilogy. Naito's unique character meshes well with his in-ring style, and the way he holds himself in the stable makes a pretty good indication of where he's heading in the ever-changing world of pro wrestling. Naito is definitely someone to look out for this year, especially after his impressive 7-2 record in his tournament block.

Again, this list was compiled based on certain aspects of this year's great matches, popularity in and out of the ring, and how 2017 shaped their paths so far. Congratulations on all of these wrestlers' accomplishments and good luck with what lies ahead!