By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
Wrestling Open “Episode 240 – Summer Stunner Night 2”
Streamed on IndependentWrestling.TV
August 6, 2026, in Worcester, Massachusetts, at The White Eagle
The lighting is good, and it’s easy to see. The crowd was maybe 100. Brother Greatness and referee Scott Robinson provided commentary; no Paul Crockett again.
1. Julezee vs. Elijah Drago in a Discovery Gauntlet match. Again, the gauntlet continues every week with no announced end date. The winner will be back next Thursday. Drago competes on QT Marshall’s 1FW shows, and he has a big, muscular frame. (He looks WWE TV ready and has similar looks to former WWE talent Alex Riley.) The flamboyant Julezee is giving up a LOT of size and muscle mass. Julezee threw some punches and tried a crossbody block, but Drago caught him. Julezee hit a spin kick. Drago hit a massive fallaway slam at 2:00!
Drago hit a shoulder tackle that sent Julezee flying. Julezee tried a few more punches to the ribs. Drago hip-tossed him across the ring at 4:00, and this has been a one-sided beatdown. Julezee fired up and hit a running knee. Drago hit a flipping neckbreaker for a believable nearfall at 6:00! Julezee ducked a spin kick, hit his own spin kick, and hit a Helluva Kick. Julezee hit a flying headbutt to the jaw and scored the pin.
Julezee defeated Elijah Drago at 6:45 to advance in the gauntlet.
2. Kylie Alexa vs. Nessa Ferrari for the Wrestling Open Women’s Title. I’ll reiterate that Nessa reminds me of WWE legend Victoria, or TNA’s Daria Rae, and she’s been pretty impressive for how few matches she’s had. She has the height and overall size advantage over the tiny heel Alexa. Basic offense early on, and Nessa slapped her at 1:00! Alexa dragged her to the mat and tied up the left arm. Nessa hit an armdrag and some spin kicks to the thighs, then a Meteora for a nearfall. Kylie choked her in the ropes and took control.
Kylie nailed a flying kick at 4:00. She stood on Nessa’s long hair and pulled on Nessa’s wrists. She hit a running mid-ring buttbump for a nearfall and was in charge. Nessa hit some clotheslines. She hit a top-rope flying crossbody block at 6:00. Nessa went for a springboard move, but Kylie caught her with a kick to the ribs. Kylie hit her running dropkick into the corner for the pin. Good for the time given, and I’ll reiterate that Nessa is pretty impressive for someone so new.
Kylie Alexa defeated Nessa Ferrari to retain the Wrestling Open Women’s Title at 6:42.
* Lauren St. James checked on Nessa. Kylie attacked Lauren, so those two brawled.
3. Shawn Knyte vs. 23 Hazard. Basic action early on. Knyte removed Hazard’s do-rag, and the crowd immediately chanted, “Bald!” at him. Knyte hit an enzuigiri, then a dropkick at 2:30. Hazard hit a gutbuster over his knees, then a running crossbody block into the corner. He hit a short-arm clothesline for a nearfall at 4:30. Knyte hit a neckbreaker over his knee for a nearfall. Hazard hit a hard diving elbow to the back of the head for the pin.
23 Hazard defeated Shawn Knyte at 6:59.
* Hazard got on the mic and called out Bear Bronson!
4. Devin Reno vs. Ichiban. Loud “bald!” chants at Reno before the bell. He has a big size advantage on Ichiban. Reno has been based on the West Coast, but Robinson just confirmed he “moved to the area” recently. Reno hit a shoulder tackle. Ichiban applied a headlock, and he snapped off a huracanrana for a nearfall at 3:00. Ichiban jokingly argued with the ref; Reno attacked from behind and stomped on Ichiban, and he took control. Reno caught Ichiban, spun him around, and hit a backbreaker over his knee at 6:30.
Ichiban hit a Stundog Millionaire. He hit a missile dropkick and was fired up. He hit a superkick and a top-rope twisting crossbody block. Reno ducked the 619, but Ichiban hit a dropkick. On the floor, Ichiban hit a modified 619 around the ring post at 9:30. In the ring, Ichiban missed a top-rope move. Reno hit a spinning back suplex for a nearfall. Reno choked Ichiban in the corner and refused to let go! The ref tried to step in, but Reno pushed him aside, so the ref called for the bell!
Ichiban defeated Devin Reno via DQ at 11:17.
5. Steven Stetson vs. Bobby Casale. This feud has been simmering for months. Casale easily backed him into a corner, then he threw Stetson to the mat a few times. Casale hit a gutwrench suplex at 1:30 and laid in some chops. The crowd offered their unique profane chant at Stetson. Casale hit a senton for a nearfall at 3:00. Stetson snapped Bobby’s throat across the top rope, and it allowed Steven to take control.
Stetson hit a World’s Strongest Slam at 5:30, and he was in charge. Stetson hit a sidewalk slam for a nearfall. Stetson overshot on a senton, so Casale rolled him up for a nearfall. They got up and traded forearm strikes at 8:30. They traded Mafia Kicks and were both down. Casale hit a German Suplex and a Bulldog Powerslam for a nearfall at 10:00. Bobby hit an Angle Slam, but Stetson hit a brainbuster for a nearfall at 11:30.
Stetson went to the top rope, but Casale cut him off. Casale nailed an Air Raid Crash for a nearfall at 13:00. Stetson nailed a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Stetson set up for a Dominator, but Casale escaped, got a schoolboy rollup, and scored the pin! Stetson immediately hit a Northern Clothesline to the back of the neck and repeatedly stomped on Bobby. What a sore loser!
Bobby Casale defeated Steven Stetson at 14:45.
6. Brad Hollister vs. TJ Crawford with special referee Love, Doug. TJ tried to hide behind Doug early on. They traded punches and went to the floor at 1:00 and brawled through the crowd. Hollister hit a suplex onto the hardwood floor. Doug was counting! However, he went to the floor, and he threw both competitors back into the ring so it could continue! TJ threw Brad throat-first across the middle rope at 3:30; he mounted Brad and repeatedly punched him and choked him in the ropes.
Crawford missed a moonsault at 5:00. Brad hit a running splash in the corner and a running buttbump. He nailed the Samoa Joe-style Muscle Buster for a nearfall at 6:30. He hit a spear for a nearfall. TJ hit some Yes Kicks to the chest at 9:30. They collided and were both down, and Doug began counting them both down! TJ almost kicked Doug but was able to stop in time. TJ went for a rollup with his feet on the ropes, but Doug saw it and stopped counting.
TJ jawed at Doug, so Doug threw a handful of rose petals at TJ! The distraction allowed Brad to hit a pop-up powerbomb for a nearfall at 12:30. TJ repeatedly stomped on Brad in the corner. Doug pulled him off, but TJ nearly struck Doug! He pie-faced him. Brad pushed TJ into Doug; Doug didn’t see it, and he went for a Rebound Lariat, but accidentally struck Brad! TJ made a cover for a two-count.
TJ got a chair, but Doug wouldn’t let him use it. TJ struck Doug, pushing Doug’s head into the chair at 15:30! “Brick City” Julio Cruz and Victor Chase jumped in the ring and stopped TJ! We haven’t seen them in months! They teased they were going to hit Brad, but they instead struck Crawford! They hit the “Business is Booming” team slam on Crawford! Brad made the cover, and Doug made the three-count. Cruz, Chase and Hollister hugged. Doug left the ring, not siding with either them or with TJ. A fun match.
Brad Hollister defeated TJ Crawford at 17:01.
* Footage of this feud aired, which is centered around Waller making fun of Diaz’s father as being a “deadbeat dad” who has spent time in prison.
7. Dustin Waller vs. Sammy Diaz (w/Brother Greatness) in an ‘anything goes’ match. Dustin has definitely earned the New England MVP award for the first seven months of the year, and he carried his green folder containing his guaranteed title shot. Dustin went to the floor and hugged his dad. Ring announcer Rich Palladino said that, “Unlike Sammy Diaz, Dustin’s father is here to support him.” OUCH! Dustin charged, but Sammy hit a powerbomb. Brother Greatness returned to the booth after escorting Sammy to the ring. Waller rolled to the floor, so Diaz followed, and they brawled at ringside. Diaz shoved him head-first into the ring post at 1:30.
Sammy set up for a dive, but Waller threw something into Sammy’s face. Dustin hit a DDT onto the hardwood floor. In the ring, Diaz hit a Blue Thunder Bomb at 3:00. Waller hip-tossed Sammy onto a ladder in the corner and got a nearfall. Dustin pushed the ladder onto Sammy and kept him grounded. Dustin went under the ring and got a bag of LEGOs and dumped it on the mat. He shouted something like, “You could have played with these with your father!” Dustin hit a superkick. Sammy hit a Styles Clash onto the pile of LEGOs at 8:00!
Dustin removed his own belt, and he went to whip him, but Sammy hit a low-blow uppercut at 10:00. Sammy grabbed the belt and repeatedly whipped Dustin across the back. Brother Greatness loudly cheered this on! Sammy hit a flying knee to the sternum. Diaz hit a World’s Strongest Slam onto a folded, horizontal ladder. However, Diaz missed a moonsault and landed chest-first on the ladder! Dustin immediately hit the Mamba Splash off the ladder, and he got a nearfall at 12:30!
Dustin called his dad to ringside! Robinson said, “This is what Dustin has sunk to.” Dad got into the ring with a chair and handed it to Dustin. However, the dad pulled it back! Dustin was angry and shoved his dad, so his dad shoved him back! Sammy hit a Pele Kick on Waller. Dustin’s dad handed Sammy a chair. However, Dustin’s dad then struck Sammy across the back with a kendo stick! Dustin hit the Lethal Injection, then a 450 Splash for a believable nearfall at 14:30. Brother Greatness left commentary, got in the ring, and hit Dustin’s dad with the kendo stick, then he struck Waller! Sammy hit the second-rope Cradle Shock through a chair bridge for the pin! That was a blast. “That was the damnedest thing I’ve ever seen,” Robinson said.
Sammy Diaz defeated Dustin Waller in an “anything goes” match at 16:09.
Final Thoughts: Easily the strongest Thursday night Wrestling Open in months. The final three matches all had storylines developed over months — these weren’t just thrown together. There were reasons for the fans to show up and care about who won. Main event takes first. I’ll narrowly go with Brad-TJ for second over Stetson-Casale, but it was close.
The undercard was fine. I’ve seen Drago just a few times, and again, with his size, he looks like the sort of guy who would draw WWE interest. He has the right look to him. No real complaints at all.
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