Being an innovator in professional wrestling is not an easy situation, with so much having already been achieved in the business. However, certain talents have been ahead of their time, which is something that helps to make them memorable in history.
While a lot of innovation was done before the modern-day wrestlers were around, that isn't always the case. There are plenty of talents who are still working to this day that ended up being ahead of their time, which allowed them to tap into something unique, whether that be in or out of the ring to benefit the business.
10 CM Punk
CM Punk was very much ahead of his curve as a smaller wrestler who could become a main event star. That is something that opened the door for other talents around the world, and he did that with his promo work. His ability to sit down and talk people into the building is something that helped take him to another level.
The classic pipebomb promo became a type that many other wrestlers would follow. Calling out the boss and breaking the fourth wall is something that has ended up being popular in the industry, and that is something that Punk was ahead of and tapped into uniquely.
9 Bryan Danielson
While CM Punk was ahead of his time with the promo work and being a voice for the voiceless, Bryan Danielson was ahead of his time with what he did inside the ring. The technical wrestling clinics he put on with the underdog spirit is something that worked perfectly for him, and opened up the door for so many people.
His style became iconic and a lot of wrestlers now work in this way. Without Bryan, a lot of people wouldn't have made it to WWE, but he showcased his qualities in that way. He proved it wasn't all about height or power, and that was a huge moment for wrestling.
8 Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy has been ahead of his time twice throughout his career. The first time he did that was when he tapped into a real-life situation, used the internet, and created a major storyline. Fans bought into his rivalry with Edge on another level because things became public knowledge, which is something the wrestling industry now does a lot.
Since that point, Hardy was ahead of the curve again with cinematic wrestling. His decision to create that type of match with Jeff Hardy is something that nobody expected, and it got a lot of people talking. However, it has happened in WWE and AEW following that, becoming a huge deal.
7 Will Ospreay
In terms of in-ring work, there has been a lot of changes over the years, and nowadays, the popular style relies upon high-flying moves. That is something that Will Ospreay truly ushered in, with the matches he had in New Japan Pro Wrestling truly making a big name for himself.
The fact that so many people have followed his style and now try to work similarly to what he did previously showcases what he was able to do. Ospreay inspired a lot of wrestlers, and that is what is now becoming a popular trend around the world.
6 Chris Jericho
Wrestlers leaving WWE to be part of AEW and gain a fresh start is something that has become more common recently. However, it was Chris Jericho who was ahead of the curve in this sense. He backed himself to head to New Japan Pro Wrestling to try and do something different.
However, he was also the first big WWE legend who backed the AEW horse. Without him doing so, it is hard to know whether others would have copied him. Jericho is a huge name, and adding his star power to the company was crucial in the early moments for AEW.
5 Natalya
Natalya might not be the biggest name in the women's division, but she has had a huge impact that cannot be overlooked. She was involved in an era where women weren't given much time or focus, yet Nattie always put her focus on wrestling. It took time, but eventually, the company went in that direction.
While other wrestlers were pushing over-the-top characters, Natalya was concentrating on having the best matches possible, regardless of time. Nowadays, women being top in-ring stars is commonplace, and that is a trend that Natalya pushed to make a reality.
4 Nick Gage
There have been wrestlers that have worked a hardcore style before Nick Gage, but the likes of Mick Foley eventually left that world and went and did something else. That wasn't what Nick did, as he solely focused on this style, which has now become massively popular once again in wrestling.
GCW is now at the point where it is one of the fastest-growing promotions in wrestling, and that is something that Nick has driven as the main face of the company. He saw that hardcore, deathmatch wrestling was able to make it happen. The fact he's even taken it to AEW showcases how he has pushed the envelope.
3 The Young Bucks
Matt and Nick Jackson are truly innovative both in and out of the ring. Their wrestling style was certainly ahead of its time in many ways, which is why a lot of tag team work is now similar to what they do. However, it is how they pushed themselves outside the ring that truly was ahead of their time.
By combining YouTube with ProWrestling Tees, the two men were able to capture the attention of countless fans. This is something a lot of people are now happy to do, with many workers betting on themselves and creating genuine brands.
2 Colt Cabana
Nowadays, fans just take wrestling podcasts for granted. Tons of current and former talents have a show, while there are even more interview podcasts with every single aspect of the business being covered. From historic matches, action figures, to current topics, anything that people want can be found.
However, everybody has Colt Cabana to thank for that. He was the one that kick-started the podcast trend, spotting a gap in the market that he knew could be exploited. Cabana's podcast was a huge success, and because of that a lot of wrestlers have gone on to follow his footsteps.
1 Matt Cardona
When it comes to tapping into social media, few can do it better than Matt Cardona. He has always been ahead of his time in that sense, as he jumped onto the power of YouTube long before anybody else. He was also able to make an impact on that platform, becoming one of the most popular WWE Superstars at the time because of it.
But he has always had his finger on the pulse in that sense. Cardona knows how social media works better than most, and that has allowed him to remain popular with wrestling fans no matter where he is working, whether that be in WWE or on the independent scene.