As the new year dawns, speculation by wrestling fans as to who will sign with a new company reaches a fever pitch. With WWE gearing up for Wrestlemania, and New Japan and ROH having just had their flagship PPVs, the landscape of the locker room could start to change.

Here’s a look at ten wrestlers who could be working for a new company in the near future.

10. The Briscoes

Sandy Fort, Delaware’s favourite sons currently have a deal with ROH that allows them ample time to work for other federations, such as New Japan. In fact, the Briscoes are part of the Chaos faction, though that is rarely acknowledged on ROH television.

The Briscoes seem to prefer working on their own terms, and an exclusive WWE contract has never been their stated goal. However, the WWE is still the largest platform available for wrestlers and gives them the chance to perform for millions of fans. If the WWE makes a sweet enough offer, expect the Briscoes to rear their ugly heads, possibly on NXT.

9. Dolph Ziggler

Recently Dolph Ziggler made headlines when he abandoned the US title in the middle of the ring on Smackdown Live. After telling the fans they didn’t deserve him, Dolph left the ring and has been off television for weeks.

It’s a known fact that Ziggler’s contract is up soon, and it’s also known he’s not satisfied with his role in the company. However, it seems strange that the WWE would let him win the US title on his way out the door. Signs point toward Ziggler moving toward NXT, which is apparently no longer a developmental program but a full-fledged brand equal to Raw and Smackdown.

It is possible Dolph will sign with another company, with New Japan and ROH being the most likely destinations.

8. Laurel van Ness

Ever since Laurel Van Ness started dating WWE superstar Zack Ryder, speculation had run rampant that she would jump from Impact. Soon after, she announced her departure from Impact

On paper, Laurel seems like a no-brainer for the WWE. Tall, athletic, and gorgeous, she garners interest just based on superficial reasons alone. But Zack Ryder has been mired in low to midcard Hell for a long time. Will WWE risk bringing in a new female star when her paramour possibly has one foot out the door? Only time will tell.

7. Magnus

Longtime TNA fans remember when Magnus was a green rookie who was teamed up with British veteran grappler Doug Williams. Over time, Magnus’s great look and better attitude garnered him a push to the top.

What fuels speculation about Magnus jumping ship from GFW to WWE is simple. His wife is Mickey James, currently performing on the Raw brand. Magnus has the look that WWE favours, and is skilled on the microphone. Might we see Magnus ink a contract with another company?

6. Kenny Omega

Let’s be clear about one thing; Kenny Omega signed a two-year contract with New Japan in 2017, so you WON’T be seeing him in a WWE ring until 2019.

Once that contract expires, however, there is a lot of speculation Omega will make his much-ballyhooed debut with the company. New Japan has booked Omega very strongly, and he is their current IWGP Us champion and just had a flagship match with Chris Jericho. In short, if WWE wants his services–and who wouldn’t?–they’re going to have to make him a very generous offer. WWE can pay more than New Japan, to be certain, but is the extra money enough for Omega to give up creative control of his character? We’ll have to wait and see.

5. Silas Young

Lately, ROH has made an angle out of the fact that Silas Young’s contract is set to expire soon. Most likely, he will sign with the company at least for a short while.

But what if he doesn’t? WWE has expressed interest in Silas Young, as he is small enough to be in 205 Live but has a lot of personality, something the cruiserweight division has sorely been lacking. Silas can make a much, much better living for himself and his family if he signs with WWE, but money hasn’t been as important to him as an excellent platform for his wrestling in the past. If that has changed, you could see Silas Young showing up on the WWE network in the near future.

4. Chad Gable

In spite of Chad Gable’s incredible athletic ability and wrestling acumen, the WWE just doesn’t seem sold on him. The failure of his tag team with Shelton Benjamin to get over with the fans is being placed squarely on his shoulders.

American Alpha was split up because WWE believed that Gable was holding Jason Jordan back. He was put into the tag team with Shelton Benjamin because creative allegedly had nothing else to do with either wrestler.

If WWE releases Gable from his contract or fails to re-sign him, he will be met with open arms by ROH or New Japan, who put a higher stock on in-ring action than the WWE. He could also find a home in GFW, or command a high price on the indie circuit.

3. Dana Brooke

Dana Brooke was brought up from NXT too quickly by almost everyone’s estimation. While she isn’t terrible, she also isn’t great between the ropes yet. While more experience could season her, the WWE doesn’t seem to be in much of a mind to give it to her.

Being a hot blonde with average skills in a promotion full of hot blondes with above average skills puts Dana potentially on the bubble. Fortunately for her, women’s wrestling is undergoing a Renaissance and she has a lot of places to land if WWE cuts her loose, such as GFW and the new Women of Honor division in ROH.

But there were rumours running rampant in late 2016 that WWE was planning a huge feud between Dana Brooke and Charlotte Flair for WrestleMania 33, with WWE reportedly pushing Dana Brooke as a huge babyface and the “female Roman Reigns”. Thankfully they seemingly came to their senses and blew off Charlotte & Dana’s feud on a random RAW match.

Dana’s push has since been cancelled and they don’t seem to have anything for her creatively.

2. Gene Snitsky

Currently an indie league star, Gene Snitsky is no stranger to the WWE ring. He was involved in one of the most controversial angles in wrestling history when he kayfabe caused Lita to have a miscarriage. The WWE tried pushing Snitsky several times with different looks but his clumsiness and lack of athletic ability led to his release.

Snitsky didn’t give up; he persisted, getting into the best shape of his life and working hard to improve his in-ring work. Now a chiselled apex athlete, rumours are WWE might be interested in picking him up once again. Snitsky would fit right into the Wyatt family, or become Smackdown’s monster heel.

1.Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho is the king of the comebacks. Every time you think he’s done with wrestling, he comes back in and finds a new way to delight you.

Capable of working on both sides of the heel/face fence, and more than able to work a great match with any wrestler of any size, Jericho proved he is still a hot commodity in the wrestling industry when his match with Kenny Omega at WK 12 drew great interest as well as rave reviews.

Jericho is currently a free agent, and the rumours are both GFW and WWE are heavily vying for his services. New Japan is interested too, of course. Where will Jericho end up? Only time will tell, but wherever he goes the internet wrestling community and his legion of fans will follow.

There you have it; Ten wrestlers who might be working somewhere new in the near future.

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