2022 was a very interesting year for wrestling fans, as companies would go on signing sprees, with Impact Wrestling, NJPW, AEW, and WWE all bringing in a number of new stars to their promotions. With it being the new year, this is a trend that could very likely continue in 2023.

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With so many names to choose from across the wrestling world, major companies have a lot of options when it comes to signing new free agents. Whether it is getting a handy veteran for your roster, signing a rising women's wrestling star, or grabbing a young star who you can mold for the future, these are 10 free agents that should be signed to a major company in 2023.

UPDATE: 2023/07/23 07:30 EST BY ANDREW KELLY

At the start of 2023, there were plenty of big free agents on the market that the biggest promotions in professional wrestling needed to snap up before someone else. Fast forward seven months later, and some of these free agents are in fact still on the market (though we will look at those who have been signed to a company and what they’re doing now). Additionally, this will also look at some more free agents who should be signed by a major promotion, whether that be WWE, AEW, NJPW, or IMPACT Wrestling. There are several rosters which are jam-packed full of talents, though there is still room to always grow and expand.

13 AOP

Rezar NXT Tag Team Champion Cropped

The Authors of Pain have yet to wrestle since their WWE exit back in 2020 (with their one and only planned appearance being canceled), but the two young names were a very promising act. They could have been the next great big man tag team, though weren’t really given a big chance on the main roster.

They would be a wonderful addition to any tag team division on the planet, and with still room to improve, they would certainly be a strong investment. Whether it be a return to WWE or elsewhere, a company should sign them.

12 Santana Garrett

Santana Garrett Cropped

Santana Garrett never really got a fair shot in WWE, being underused in NXT before getting released and turning her attention to the independent scene. She has made cameos in both AEW and IMPACT Wrestling, though neither company has signed her.

She is someone who has years of experience and also years left to give, and she would be a strong piece of any women’s division instead of roaming around on the independents.

11 Jordynne Grace

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After her contract expired with IMPACT Wrestling earlier this year, Jordynne Grace has ventured outside the professional wrestling world. For someone so talented and still so young, the likes of AEW, WWE, and IMPACT again should be vying to bring her back into the ring.

Grace is a wonderful performer proven by her reigns as IMPACT Knockouts Champion and the Digital Media Champion too.

10 Rachel Ellering

Jordynne Grace and Rachel Ellering Cropped

The daughter of Paul Ellering, Rachel Ellering is a former WWE NXT women's wrestler and former Impact Wrestling Knockouts Tag Team Champion. While she never got off the ground in NXT, it seemed like Rachel had found her footing in her last run with Impact. Things would not go well for her either, as following her and Jordynne Grace losing their tag-team belts, Ellering would exit the company.

With a very likable personality and strong in-ring work to boot, Rachel Ellering is worth a look from major companies looking to beef up their women's division, whether it be a return to Impact, a second stint in NXT, or taking a bet with AEW.

9 Bryan Keith

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Making his wrestling debut in 2013, The Bounty Hunter Bryan Keith has made a name for himself across the independent scene thanks to a cool persona, great wrestling skills, and being one of Booker T's most promising trainees.

2023 is off to a hot start for Bryan Keith, as he would enter PWG's Battle of Los Angeles. The young star would not only enter the tournament, but he would have quite the run, making it to the semi-finals where he would be defeated by the tournament's eventual winner, Mike Bailey. Ahead of Impact's first PPV of the year, Impact World Champion Josh Alexander would share in an interview that he recommended Impact Wrestling's Talent Relations to look into signing Bounty Hunter Bryan Keith.

8 Kylie Rae

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At one point, Kylie Rae seemed poised to be the face of the AEW Women's Division when the company was launching in 2019. After a quick exit however, her career would spiral downwards due to personal issues that would later effect her run in Impact Wrestling as well.

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In December 2022, news would come out that Kylie Rae had worked a WWE Tryout at the Performance Center. Following this, she would appear on an episode of WWE Main Event, wrestling under her real name of Briana Ray in a losing effort to Dana Brooke. She has not appeared since and it has been reported that she is still a free agent.

7 *Jake Something

Jake Something in TNA

After becoming a true breakout star within Impact Wrestling's X Division, Jake Something seemed like a name that would be picked up by AEW or New Japan sometime in 2022, as he would begin working AEW Dark and New Japan Strong tapings regularly after leaving Impact. A contract would never be signed for him as he remains a free agent in early 2023.

With a great look and physical presence, Jake Something showed a great deal of promise in the later days of his run with Impact Wrestling. With ROH getting off the ground in 2023, he could be a strong signing for that brand if Tony Khan is interested in the big man.

Update: Jake Something recently made a big return to IMPACT Wrestling in 2023, with his return match coming at Slammiversary in the Ultimate X match at the event.

6 Allysin Kay

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A standout name for women's wrestling outside of WWE for the past several years has been none other than Allysin Kay. Working as Sienna in Impact Wrestling's Knockouts Division, she would capture the championship, before eventually becoming a free agent. In the years since her time in Impact, Allysin has worked across the independent scene, wrestling in NWA, and even appeared in the WWE Mae Young Classic.

More recently, Kay wrestled Serena Deeb at AEW Full Gear 2020, and later would be brought back to wrestle Willow Nightingale at ROH Death Before Dishonor 2022. In 2023, a major company needs to make a play for Allysin Kay as she remains one of the most underrated women's wrestlers alive.

5 Mandy Rose

mandy rose
via WWE

Arguably the most shocking release of 2022 would be WWE's release of Mandy Rose. After making history with her reign as NXT Women's Champion, Mandy would be booked to lose her championship to Roxanne Perez in a match that was never advertised. The next day, she was fired due to her having a FanTime page with explicit content.

As the wrestling world looks to what comes next for Mandy Rose, one has to expect that every company will at least offer her something. Her exit from WWE left fans angry and put major bad press on the company, whereas other companies such as AEW and Impact both allow their women's wrestlers to use premium content pages. 2023 could be a major comeback year for Mandy if she gets signed by another company, or if she decides to return to WWE later this year.

4 Alex Zayne

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Having an extremely short stint in NXT, Alex Zayne would be one of many hot independent wrestlers that were picked up by WWE, only to be released during mass talent cuts. Since his exit from the company, Zayne has wasted no time in wrestling everywhere possible, with matches in GCW, ROH, Impact Wrestling, and NJPW.

Zayne would take part in NJPW Strong tapings, as well as two major tournaments for the company in 2022, with both the Best of the Super Juniors and Super Junior Tag League. It appears New Japan is high on Zayne, and he could be a name that gets signed sometime in 2023.

3 *Billie Starkz

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A fast-rising name on the independent scene is none other than Billie Starkz! At only 18 years old, she is one of the youngest and brightest women's wrestlers working outside of a major company, which means she will likely begin getting scouted in the coming months and years.

With her still only being 18, she may not get the look from major promotions, although Nick Wayne, Julia Hart, & Thea Hail could prove to be counterpoints towards that. Should she sign with a major company this year, AEW or Impact would be best for the young star as she could work lighter schedules while continuing to wrestle across the indy scene as she grows as a performer.

Update: Billie Starkz is All Elite! Although she is still competing around the independent scene in the likes of GCW, Starkz was recently signed to an AEW contract, making two TV appearances so far.

2 *Lio Rush

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A bit of a polarizing name in wrestling, Lio Rush has long been the butt of many jokes due to him retiring multiple times, only to return shortly after. Failing to accomplish much in both WWE and AEW, Rush would ultimately find a more positive home in the form of New Japan Pro Wrestling, though he has yet to fully sign with the company.

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In 2022, Lio Rush would make a big return to New Japan after some time away, returning at their show in New York City where he would join the CHAOS faction before entering Junior Tag League at the end of the year. He and YOH would win the tournament, though they would come up short at Wrestle Kingdom 17. As 2023 progresses, NJPW needs to sign Lio Rush to a full-time deal in order to add a new face to the Junior Heavyweight Division.

Update: Lio Rush has been signed up once again, this time with IMPACT Wrestling. He has had a strong 2023 in the company, becoming the X-Division Champion.

1 Trish Adora

A split screen image of Trish Adora.

Arguably one of the best unsigned women's wrestlers in the world today is Trish Adora. Debuting in 2016, Adora has already gained plenty of experience working in a number of promotions including ROH, AEW, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, MLW, and GCW.

Kicking off her year with a bang, Adora would take part in a trip to Japan, wrestling for TJPW and beginning her year with a great match against Miu Watanabe. As 2023 rolls along, fans should keep their eyes on Trish Adora as she remains one of the hottest free agents in wrestling and could be a major asset to any women's division in the world.