By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
Focus Pro “Get Rich Or Die Trying”
August 2, 2026, in Medford, Massachusetts, at Great American Beer Hall
Released August 2, 2026, on IndependentWrestling.TV
This is a narrow two-level room, and I’ve seen shows here before. The crowd was maybe 150, with nearly everyone standing. The lights were on, making everything easy to see. Medford is on the north side of the Boston metro area.
* Channing Thomas cut a heel promo, and he made an open challenge.
1. Mance Warner vs. Channing Thomas (w/Sidney Bakabella) for the IWTV World Title. Mance not only accepted the challenge, but he turned it into a title match! Channing attacked from behind during introductions. They brawled to the floor. Mance struck him with a crutch at 2:00, and he lifted it between Channing’s legs to crotch him. In the ring, Channing took control and hit a big elbow drop for a nearfall at 3:30. Mance backed him into a corner and hit some chops. A commentator said this is Mance’s 10th title defense.
Sidney handed Channing a chair! He swung, but it ricocheted off the top rope and onto his own forehead at 5:30. Mance hit some jab punches and some clotheslines. Sidney handed something to Channing, then Sidney got in the ring to distract Mance. Mance stole Sidney’s wig. Channing went to throw powder, but Mance knocked it into Channing’s eyes. The blinded Channing rolled up Sidney and thought he got a pin! Mance hit a running knee for the pin. They kept that moving!
Mance Warner defeated Channing Thomas (w/Sidney Bakabella) to retain the IWTV World Title at 7:24.
2. KJ Orso vs. LJ Cleary. Orso competed in Minneapolis 20ish hours earlier, then flew here. He got on the mic and told LJ he’s going to make him tap out. We got the bell, but KJ stalled on the floor. He got in, and they tied up, as the commentators talked about Orso’s WWE tryout over the weekend. Cleary (Lyra Valkyrie’s spouse) went for a Boston Crab, but Orso escaped. KJ stomped on him in the corner and took control. Cleary hit a Dragonscrew Legwhip in the ropes at 5:00 and a double stomp to the back.
KJ got a rollup with his feet on the ropes, but the ref saw it and stopped counting. KJ jawed at him, so the ref shoved Orso to the mat. KJ hit a jumping knee to the chin. Cleary hit a spin kick to the head, and they were both down at 7:00. They traded rollups. Orso hit a Divorce Court armbreaker, and he locked in a Crossface on the mat, and the fans chanted, “Don’t tap!” Cleary hit a springboard Canadian Destroyer, locked in a Walls of Jericho (vertical Boston Crab), and Orso tapped out! That wrapped up suddenly, too!
LJ Cleary defeated KJ Orso at 8:47.
3. Paul London vs. Brian Bayside. Brian is rotund and flamboyant, always in a pink singlet. I’m admittedly not a fan. London sang his way to the ring. Lots of silliness before the bell. Paul attacked him to end the cartoonish stuff, and we got the bell. Brian dove through the ropes onto him! Bayside ate cheese, and we had more silliness. No one is going to break a sweat, apparently. London hit a baseball slide dropkick at 4:00; he celebrated and was booed. They fought at ringside, and London threw Bayside into a merchandise table.
London hit a baseball slide dropkick through the ropes at 6:30. They got in the ring, and London was in charge. Brian hit a splash into the corner and some jab punches. He hit a Flatliner for the pin. Not my thing. London has lost weight compared to three years ago… but make no mistake — this is not 2006-era Paul London.
Brian Bayside defeated Paul London at 9:42.
4. Mike Graca (w/Katey Prescott) vs. Richard Holliday. I’ve always said Graca reminds me a bit of former AEW wrestler Jimmy Havok, and a bit like Darby Allin. Holliday teased he had signed with WWE but he’s now taking more indy dates. They brawled early on, and Graca pulled down the straps of his singlet and invited some chops. Graca clotheslined Holliday to the floor at 2:00. They brawled to the floor.
They got back into the ring, and Graca avoided His Signature Move (a low-blow uppercut). Holliday hit some blows to the chest and was in charge. Holliday tied up the left arm on the mat. Graca hit a second-rope flying senton for a nearfall at 6:30. Holliday tied him in a Torture Rack and turned it into a neckbreaker to the mat for a nearfall. Katey hopped on the apron and jawed at Holliday. It allowed Graca to hit a chokeslam for a nearfall at 9:00.
Holliday set up for His Signature Move. Katey again hopped on the apron, so Holliday pulled her into the ring and yelled at her. Graca hit a clothesline and he checked on Katey. Holliday accidentally hit a low-blow uppercut on Katey, who no-sold it. Graca hit a pumphandle swinging slam for a believable nearfall at 10:30. They traded rollups. Holliday got a rollup with his feet on the ropes for the tainted pin.
Richard Holliday defeated Mike Graca at 11:21.
5. Dr. Redacted vs. JB Anderson for the American Deathmatch World Title. Yeah, I’m still burned out on death matches, so I passed.
Dr. Redacted defeated JB Anderson to retain the American Deathmatch World Title.
6. Steph De Lander vs. Izzy Moreno vs. Gypsy Mac for the Focus Pro Women’s Title. This is Steph’s first title defense. She got on the mic and ripped into Boston, so the fans responded with a “This is Medford!” chant. Mac and SDL both attacked babyface Izzy, and we’re underway! The heels hit a snap suplex. Izzy got up and hit a double noggin’ knocker. Izzy hit a running knee on Mac. SDL attacked Izzy from behind and stomped on her. Izzy hit a series of chops on SDL at 1:30, then a side kick for a nearfall.
SDL hit a sidewalk slam on Izzy for a nearfall. Mac got back in and hit a dropkick on Izzy. She grabbed Moreno and rubbed Izzy’s face in Gypsy’s breasts, then Gypsy hit a Facewash Kick at 4:00. Izzy snapped Mac’s throat across the top rope. Mac dove through the ropes onto Steph. Izzy fired up and hit some forearm strikes on Mac, then a series of forearms on Steph. Izzy hit a second-rope double crossbody block for a nearfall. Steph hit a Tower of Doom, and they were all down at 6:00.
Steph hit a spear for a nearfall. Mac hit a clothesline. Izzy hit a German Suplex on Mac. Izzy leapt off the second rope, but she accidentally crashed onto the ref at 7:30! Izzy hit a bulldog on Mac, then a running knee to the jaw for a visual pin, but we had no ref! The groggy ref eventually made a two-count. Steph grabbed Izzy, got a schoolgirl rollup, and the flash, clean pin! (I kept expecting her to grab the ropes or put her feet on the ropes, but she didn’t!) Izzy and Mac shoved each other, then threw more punches at each other. Izzy took a chair away from Mac and repeatedly struck her with it.
Steph De Lander defeated Izzy Moreno and Gypsy Mac to retain the Focus Pro Women’s Title at 8:54.
7. Mani Ariez vs. Diego Alvarez in a ladder match for the Focus Pro Title. They had two criss-crossing wires (like a TNA Ultimate X), and the belt was suspended from it. Diego (think Sammy Guevara!) ran up the ladder at the bell! Mani pulled him down, and they brawled. Mani crashed face-first against the ladder in the corner at 1:30. Mani clotheslined them both over the top rope to the floor. Mani held back Diego’s arms and let some fans chop Alvarez. They continued to loop the room and got onto a stage at 3:30.
Back in the ring, Mani was bleeding from his forehead, and Alvarez was in charge. Mani bodyslammed him onto a folded, horizontal ladder. He went for a frog splash, but Diego moved, and Mani crashed onto the ladder at 9:00. Mani climbed the ladder and got his fingers on the belt, but Alvarez pulled him down. Alvarez hit a superplex at 11:30, and we got a “This is awesome!” chant. They traded forearm strikes while on their knees, and more while standing. Mani hit a decapitating clothesline. Mani hit an enzuigiri. He dove through the ropes onto Diego at 13:00.
A table was set up on the floor. Mani hit a chairshot to Diego’s back. He pushed Diego onto the table, but it buckled and cracked at 15:00. So, Mani found another table. Mani ran the length of the apron and hit a senton onto Diego, who was lying on the new table. In the ring, they both climbed the same ladder and fought near the top at 18:00. Mani tripped him, and Diego fell to the mat. However, a big masked man jumped in the ring, climbed the ladder, and knocked Mani off the ladder. He unmasked, and it’s Tyree Taylor! Tyree beat up Mani, then left. Diego got back in, climbed the ladder, and pulled down the belt! “Not like this!” the babyface commentator shouted.
Diego Alvarez defeated Mani Ariez to win the Focus Pro Title at 20:11.
* A video package aired — Joseph Sawyer (f/k/a Joe Gacy) is returning to Focus Pro! He wants Diego!
Final Thoughts: A really strong brawl and ladder match to close out the show. Mani has been a good champion here, and of course, he’s protected in losing his belt with the interference from Tyree. The women’s match takes second. Izzy is so good at such a young age — I think she just turned 18 or 19! I really liked the Orso-Cleary match for third, just ahead of Holliday’s match. Really, my only complaint is the undercard matches needed a few more minutes each.
No, I didn’t like London-Bayside. I should have just skipped it. The right opponent can bring a good match out of London; Bayside’s humor and antics just aren’t for me. I entirely skipped the death match. So, a lot more good here than bad.
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