By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
There is far more good indy wrestling out there than I can watch. So, in this review, I’m popping in on multiple recent indy shows and watching just a few matches from each show that interest me. The reality is that I wasn’t going to get to watch every match from every one of these shows! I picked out matches with top names we’ve seen on TV, some top indy names, and WWE ID prospects.
* In this roundup, I picked out eight matches from across four different recent indy shows (two from each show).
CMLL “Martes de Glamour” at Arena Coliseo Guadalajara, in Guadalajara, Mexico, on August 18, 2026 (free on YouTube)
CMLL posted this six-match show for free. I didn’t recognize a single name in the first three matches. I opted to watch the fourth match and the main event. We have English commentary! I didn’t expect that! This is a small arena; the crowd was maybe 3,000.
Tessa Blanchard and Lluvia vs. Dark Silueta and Hecate in a best-of-three-falls match. I don’t know Hecate and Silueta; all four women appear to be roughly 5’5″. They took turns playing to the crowd; Tessa and Lluvia are the babyfaces! Tessa opened against Hecate, who wore black and had long black hair halfway down her back. Silueta has dark red hair; she jumped in to break up one of Tessa’s moves. Tessa hit a hard slap to the face at 3:00, then a slingshot splash for a nearfall and a stunner. Lluvia (the only woman wearing a mask) got in.
Silueta accidentally kicked Hecate. Lluvia hit a basement dropkick in the corner on Silueta. Those two brawled to the floor. In the ring, Hecate hit a fisherman’s suplex and pinned Tessa at 5:40! Silueta put Lluvia in a Camel Clutch. She choked Lluvia in the ropes. Lluvia was shoved to the floor, and the two heels began working over Tessa. Silueta hit a basement dropkick on Lluvia for a nearfall at 11:00. The babyfaces got stereo rollups for pins at 11:11! It’s tied 1-1!
Tessa hit a powerbomb for a nearfall on Silueta, but Hekate made the save. Lluvia hit a Lungblower to the back. All four began to brawl. “It’s all-out chaos, everyone is doing their own thing,” a female commentator said. Silueta got a rollup, grabbed the ropes, and got a nearfall. Silueta yanked off Lluvia’s mask, rolled her up, and pinned her! Lluvia was too busy covering her face to kick out!
Dark Silueta and Hecate (2) defeated Tessa Blanchard and Lluvia (1) at 14:13.
Titan and Templario vs. “Los Guerreros Laguneros” Ultimo Guerrero and Stuka Jr. in a best-of-three-falls match. The rudos attacked, and we’re underway! Templario wore blue with yellow trim, while Titan wore black trunks today. The rudos untied Templario’s mask. Templario hit a springboard crossbody block at 3:30. He dove to the floor on UG. Meanwhile, Titan pinned Stuka Jr. at 4:20. Stuka (wearing a singlet) traded quicker reversals with Templario. UG again tugged on Templario’s mask.
Stuka hit a running twisting neckbreaker, and the rudos worked over Templario. He hit a frog splash on Titan at 8:00. Stuka Jr. hit a dive to the floor on Titan. Meanwhile, Ultimo Guerrero rolled up Templario, with his feet on the ropes for added leverage, and got the pin at 9:15! It’s tied 1-1! Guerrero and Titan played to the crowd. Titan hit a springboard huracanrana on Stuka Jr. Templario tagged back in at 12:00 and traded forearm strikes and chops with Stuka Jr. He hit a huracanrana on UG. All four fought at ringside.
In the ring, the heels hit a double-noggin-knocker. Templario hit another huracanrana. Titan and Templario hit stereo dives through the ropes at 14:00. They again hit dives through the ropes. In the ring, Templario hit a powerslam and a Lionsault at 15:30. Guerrero hit a second-rope faceplant for a nearfall. Templario hit a Cradle Shock for a nearfall. Titan hit a springboard crossbody block. Stuka Jr. hit a backbreaker over his knee on Titan for a nearfall.
Titan hit a springboard frog splash on Stuka Jr. for a nearfall at 18:00. Titan and Stuka got up and traded chops. Titan hit a springboard DDT and a superkick to send Stuka to the floor. He hit a flip dive to the floor. In the ring, Templario took off his mask and threw it at Guerrero, then he fell to the mat to cover his face! The ref turned around, saw Guerrero holding the mask, and called for the bell! I can’t say I’ve seen that sort of ‘Eddie spot’ before!
Titan and Templario (2) defeated “Los Guerreros Laguneros” Último Guerrero and Stuka Jr. (1) via DQ at 20:08.
Bodyslam Wrestling “11th Anniversary” at Pumpehuset in Copenhagen, Denmark, on August 22, 2026 (IWTV)
My first time seeing wrestling from Denmark! We again have English commentary and a good-sized crowd of 400 or so in attendance. The lighting is really good.
Bam Bam Quaade vs. Katsuya Murashima for the Bodyslam Title. Murashima is an outstanding NJPW trainee now on excursion; he has the size to be a big player when he returns to Japan. The commentator noted that Katsuya is just 25. My first time seeing Bam Bam, and it’s hard not to make a quick Terry Gordy comparison, as he’s tall and a bit rotund with thick, wavy hair. They traded shoulder blocks, and Murashima went for a dropkick at 2:00, but Bam Bam blocked it. Murashima hit a bodyslam and a leaping elbow for a nearfall at 4:00.
Bam Bam hit a senton for a nearfall. Murashima hit a brainbuster. He backed Bam Bam into a corner and hit a series of chops at 6:30. Murashima did an Airplane Spin-into-a-DVD for a nearfall. Bam Bam hit a short-arm clothesline for a nearfall. He hit a German Suplex, but Murashima popped up and hit his own German Suplex at 9:00, and they were both down. Murashima hit a hard clothesline. Bam Bam hit a clothesline, then another, for the pin. Thoroughly entertaining. Murashima will hopefully be back in Japan by winter.
Bam Bam Quaade defeated Katsuya Murashima to retain the Bodyslam Title at 9:54.
“SAniTy” Big Damo and Axel Tischer vs. Toby Zane and Buster for the Bodyslam Tag Team Titles. My first time seeing the challengers, who gave up a lot of size. Buster is pronounced as “Booster” here. The champs attacked at the bell, and all four fought on the floor. Toby wore white pants, and he fought Axel. Damo fought Buster, who wore plain black trunks. In the ring, Big Damo walked across Toby’s stomach at 2:00, and the champs worked over Toby in their corner.
Tischer hit a snap suplex, then dropped to the mat to do some push-ups and earn some boos. Toby hit a Sling Blade clothesline at 4:00. Damo entered and splashed the scrawny Zane in the corner. Damo hit a massive senton that had the crowd groaning. Buster finally got a hot tag at 7:00. A clothesline on Damo had no effect; a second one dropped him. Damo hit a running crossbody block on Buster for a nearfall. Damo hit an assisted Bulldog Powerslam for a nearfall, but Zane made the save. Zane hit a Claymore Kick to send Damo to the floor.
Tischer hit some punches on each challenger. Toby hit a superkick on Axel, and Booster hit a brainbuster for a visual pin! However, Damo pulled the ref to the floor and clocked him! Toby dove onto Damo, but Damo hit a Tombstone Piledriver on the stage at 10:00! In the ring, Buster hit a bodyslam on Damo for a visual pin, but we had no ref! Tischer punched the ring announcer.
Tischer got in the ring and hit Buster with his title belt to the face and got a nearfall at 12:00. Tischer kicked the referee! Buster grabbed the belt and struck Tischer with it. Damo blocked getting hit with it, and Damo hit a bicycle kick on Buster. Toby hit a buzzsaw kick on Damo, but Damo hit a clothesline on Toby. However, Toby rolled up Damo and got the flash pin out of nowhere! New champions! The crowd went nuts for the title change! “What a feel-good moment!” the commentator shouted.
Toby Zane and Buster defeated “SAniTy” Big Damo and Axel Tischer to win the Bodyslam Tag Team Titles at 13:38.
Central States Wrestling “Legacy 2” at Abdallah Shriners Temple in Overland Park, Kansas, on June 27, 2026 (free on YouTube)
I only knew a handful of wrestlers on this show, so I watched just two of the eight matches. The lighting is pretty good, and the crowd was maybe 200; the commentators said it was a sellout, and that appears to be true. The canvas is a deep blue. The production quality is pretty high.
Blair Onyx vs. Miranda Gordy for the CSW Heart of a Champion Women’s Title. Blair has been doing Lio Rush’s current gimmick for a while, looking spooky and talking to an invisible voice. She’s the babyface and got a nice pop. Miranda is older, thicker, and clearly stronger. They locked up, and Gordy easily pushed her to the mat. Blair was on her back, bridged up and crawled around, acting spooky, and Gordy bailed at 2:30 to regroup. Blair followed to the floor and hit some chops. In the ring, Gordy took control and worked over Blair’s left arm. The crowd chanted for “Source!”, which is Blair’s invisible partner.
Blair bit Gordy’s thigh at 5:30! Onyx hit a hard clothesline and a back elbow, then a stunner for a nearfall at 7:30. Blair went to the top rope, but Miranda threw her to the mat and hit a spear for a nearfall. Miranda hit a stunner; Blair leaned back creepily but got back up. Blair got a rollup with an impressive bridge for the pin! Fun match.
Blair Onyx defeated Miranda Gordy to retain the CSW Heart of a Champion Women’s Title at 8:54.
Dak Draper (w/Scott Hansen) vs. Mo Sweetness for the vacant CSW Title. I don’t know Sweetness; he is dressed a bit like The Godfather, with a big furry jacket, and he danced on his way to the ring. Draper, of course, had a nice run in the ROH Sinclair era. Dak is a legit 6’4″ and muscular, and towers over Mo. We got the bell; Mo ducked and dodged, and eventually rolled to the floor. Dak wore white trunks today; for the past two or so years, I’ve seen him wrestle almost exclusively in blue jeans. Dak chased Mo around ringside; Mo did a 619 move to land a kick.
Dak caught him on a crossbody attempt and hit a delayed vertical suplex onto the ring apron at 3:00. They finally got back into the ring, and Dak hit a suplex and was in charge. He hit another suplex. Dak hit a delayed vertical suplex; the commentators are keeping track, noting that it was the fourth suplex Dak had delivered. He snapped Mo’s neck across the bottom rope at 6:00 and got a nearfall. Dak grabbed Mo around the waist and violently shook him and swung him! The commentators wondered if the ref would have to step in and stop this.
Dak nailed a Mafia Kick for a nearfall at 7:30. They brawled to the floor, with Dak still dominating. Mo hit a huracanrana at 10:30! He hit a twisting plancha to the floor. In the ring, Mo hit a springboard twisting splash for a nearfall. Dak hit a suplex and was back in control. He hit suplex No. 6 at 13:00, then No. 7. They brawled on the floor. They brawled down the aisle toward the back. Dak hit suplex No. 8 onto the entrance stage at 17:00! He tossed Mo off the stage, with Mo’s chin hitting the metal guardrail below! (That looked awfully dangerous.)
“This has gone too far!” a commentator said. Dak rolled into the ring to break the count, then went back over by Mo. He jawed at the crowd, then scooped up Mo and threw him into the ring and got a nearfall at 18:30. Dak hit suplex No. 9, and Mo wasn’t moving. “This is hard to watch,” a commentator said. Draper hit suplex No. 10 and posed. LOUD boos! Mo shoved Dak to the mat! He hit a running forearm and another, then an axe kick in the ropes at 21:00.
Mo went for a springboard move, but Dak nailed a clothesline as Mo was mid-air! Dak hit a superplex (no. 11), and a sit-out powerbomb for a believable nearfall! They fought in the corner; Mo dropped underneath and hit a powerbomb! Mo fired up and hit some jab punches and a rewind kick. Mo hit a stunner and an Unprettier faceplant for a visual pin at 24:30, but heel manager pulled the ref to the floor. A scrawny wrestler named Scott Hansen got in the ring to help Dak.
However, seven-footer Ben Bishop jumped in the ring and hit a chokeslam on Dak! Another tall guy named Kevin Collosus got in the ring and brawled with Bishop. The Premier came out, and they beat up Scott Hansen. Dak slid a chair into the ring; he swung, but it ricocheted off the top rope and onto his face. Mo hit a top-rope elbow drop on Dak! The ref got in the ring and made the three-count! The crowd went NUTS! “Do you believe in miracles!” a commentator shouted! The other commentator shouted, “A performance for the ages!”
Mo Sweetness defeated Dak Draper to win the vacant CSW Title at 28:35.
International Wrestling Cartel “Iron City Comedy Festival” outside Pittsburgh Brewing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on August 15, 2026 (IWTV)
This was an outdoor show held in a big parking lot. It was light out and easy to see. The crowd was really spread out, but perhaps 150 were watching. They had a drone shooting footage high above the ring, too.
Joiya Blake vs. Ava Brooks. Brooks wore pinkish-purple and had a Cleveland shirt (just to guarantee she got booed). Joiya wore Steelers gold-white-black and got big cheers. Her hair is mostly black with a splash of light blonde. Standing switches to open. (I don’t love the drone shots looking straight down into the ring; you really can’t see much!) Ava jumped on Joiya’s back, but Blake fought free. Ava stomped on Blake and jawed at the crowd. Blake ducked some kicks.
Ava threw her into the corner and hit some chops. A commentator said Blake is just 19. She hit a snap suplex for a nearfall at 4:00. She hit a buttbump in the corner and a running Facewash Kick. We got a “Cleveland sucks!” chant. Joiya hit a top-rope missile dropkick. Joiya hit a headbutt and an enzuigiri, then a German Suplex, and she was fired up. She hit a Sling Blade clothesline for a nearfall at 6:30. Ava hit a sliding German Suplex out of the ropes, and she tied up Joiya’s legs in the ropes and got a nearfall. Joiya nailed a running knee to the jaw and scored the pin!
Joiya Blake defeated Ava Brooks at 8:27.
Zach Nystrom vs. Tyler Jordan for the IWC Super Indy Title. Jordan is a big, talented kid, and he had a WWE tryout earlier this year; I consider him a top-20 indy prospect. Tyler attacked from behind as Zach was posing in the corner; Zach still had his ring jacket on! Zach hip-tossed him across the ring, and Jordan rolled to the floor to regroup. In the ring, Jordan hit some chops. Nystrom hit his own chops. They traded punches. Nystrom dropped him with a big boot at 3:30. Jordan hit a snap suplex for a nearfall.
Zach hit a running double knees in the corner at 5:30. He hit a clothesline and was fired up. Jordan hit a rolling kick and a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Nystrom hit a Claymore Kick for a nearfall. Jordan went for a second-rope crossbody block, but Nystrom caught him, hit a Jackhammer, and scored the pin. Solid match.
Zach Nystrom defeated Tyler Jordan to retain the IWC Super Indy Title at 8:21.
Final Thoughts: Eight pretty solid matches with two going much longer than I anticipated. I had no idea that Mo and Dak Draper were going to go nearly 30 minutes, but I was entertained. We saw a one-sided beating, the big comeback, the myriad of outside interference — it all worked for me.
None of these eight matches were standout “must-see” bouts, but I am loving checking in on Murashima in Europe, as he’s so much fun to watch. Tyler Jordan is impressive. Blair Onyx has always been one of my favorites.
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