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 12 matches from across six different recent indy shows.
wXw “Shortcut To The Top” in Oberhausen, Germany, on August 15, 2026 (IWTV and a PPV on MyAEW.)
I love the enthusiasm of the European crowds. wXw has top-notch production. There are 800 here, maybe more. The ring announcer speaks in German, but there is English commentary. I only watched the main event before the Royal Rumble-style main event.
Bandido vs. 1 Called Manders for the ROH World Title. Bandido also had his AEW Six-Man Tag Title belt with him. Manders brought his Rev Pro Tag Title belt. They shook hands before the bell. A match clock appears in the lower-left corner of the screen. Some basic tie-ups early on with a bit of comedy. Bandido hit a huracanrana at 2:00, then a dropkick that sent Manders to the floor. Bandido tried a plancha, but Manders caught him, and they fought on the floor. Bandido nailed a flip dive onto Manders. They traded chops on the floor. Bandido put Manders on his shoulders and hit a rolling DVD onto the front row of chairs at 4:00!
In the ring, Bandido missed a frog splash, and Manders dropped him gut-first across the top rope at 5:30. The crowd has a unique chant for Manders when he’s here, and they are loudly singing. The action went back to the floor, with Manders hitting more chops. Manders hip-tossed Bandido into the rows of chairs at 7:00! Manders took a beer from a fan. The heel commentator said there is “nothing honorable about these exchanges on the outside.” Back in the ring, Manders got a nearfall. He missed an elbow drop, and they were both down.
Bandido hit a top-rope corkscrew crossbody block and some flying forearms, but he couldn’t hit a Gorilla Press. Manders hit some chops, but Bandido hit an enzuigiri. Bandido stood on the ring post and hit a moonsault to the floor at 10:00! In the ring, he hit the frog splash for a believable nearfall, and we got a “This is awesome!” chant (in English). They got up, and Manders hit more chops and a clothesline into the corner, then the Oklahoma Stampede (Bulldog Powerslam) for a nearfall at 11:30.
Bandido put Manders on the top turnbuckle, and they traded blows on the ropes. Manders bit Bandido’s fingers! Bandido hit a second-rope tornado DDT at 13:00, then a Poison Rana! Manders hit a leaping clothesline from his knees! They were both down again. We got a “Fight forever!” chant. Manders got back to his knees and gave Bandido the middle finger. They both got up and traded chops. Manders hit a left-arm clothesline for a nearfall at 15:30, and we’re back to a “This is awesome!” chant. Bandido hit a superkick; Manders hit a decapitating clothesline for a nearfall. Manders hit a top-rope moonsault for a nearfall!! (Yes, Manders did that!) Bandido hit a brainbuster, then the 21-Plex for the pin. That match was darn-near perfect.
Bandido defeated 1 Called Manders to retain the ROH World Title at 18:20.
Future Stars of Wrestling “Survival of the Fittest” at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on August 22, 2026 (Title Match Network on YouTube).
This venue was used for several indy shows over WrestleMania week, and maybe 400 were watching. FSW has uploaded these two matches for free as individual video files; the entire show is available only to subscribers. (These were the two matches I was most interested in seeing, too!) Other top wrestlers on this show included WWE ID talent Cappuccino Jones, former ID wrestler Ice Williams, and top indy heel Danny Limelight.
Zamaya vs. Veronica West for the FSW Women’s Title. Again, West is the former WWE ID talent, Veronica Haven. Zamaya has been getting a push in MLW. West grabbed the belt and posed with it. Zamaya reached down to the floor, pulled West into the ring, and we got the bell! Zamaya hit some shoulder blocks into the ribs of the shorter Veronica, then a series of headbutts in the corner! They went to the floor, where West hit some chops, and they looped ringside. West threw her back into the ring and hit a senton for a nearfall at 2:00.
Veronica choked Zamaya in the ropes and was in charge, then hit a 619 for a nearfall. West hit a running knee for a nearfall at 5:00. Zamaya hit a headbutt and some clotheslines, then a fisherman’s suplex at 6:30. She hit a hard splash into the corner, then a buttbump. A commentator made the Bull Nakano comparison! (I’ve used that comparison many times before). West hit a Lungblower to the chest, then the Last Supper (Bronco Buster) at 8:00. However, Zamaya got up and cut West in half with a spear, then a Death Valley Driver, for the pin. Good action.
Zamaya defeated Veronica West at 8:31.
Zoey Serrano vs. Brittnie Brooks. It’s worth pointing out that this is before Zoey made her debut in TNA. Brooks wore her new blue gear; it’s strange not to see her in Barbie pink! She hit a kick at the bell and jawed at the crowd; Zoey responded with a hard clothesline! Zoey backed Brittnie into a corner and hit some hard overhand chops. From the floor, Zoey hit a hard knee lift to Brittnie’s chest as Brooks was on the apron. They looped ringside, and Brittnie hit some chops at 2:30. Zoey hit a superkick. Back in the ring, Brooks pushed the ref into the ropes, causing Zoey to fall off the ropes.
Zoey hit some more chops, but Brooks targeted the right leg, and Zoey sold the pain in her knee. “That’s what put her on the shelf for over a year!” a commentator said. Brooks tied the right leg in the ropes and twisted it. Brooks hit a Bulldog for a nearfall at 5:00. Brittnie missed a slingshot elbow drop at 7:00. They got up and traded forearm strikes. Serrano hit a superkick, and suddenly they were both down. Zoey hit some clotheslines and was fired up.
Serrano hit a German Suplex, then a neckbreaker over her knee for a nearfall at 9:30. Brooks hit a running knee into the corner, then an Angle Slam for a nearfall! Zoey hit a Death Valley Driver and a buzzsaw kick for a believable nearfall at 11:00. Brooks hit a DDT, then a running knee for a nearfall, but Zoey got a foot on the ropes. Brooks pulled down her knee pad! However, Zoey avoided the running knee strike. Zoey immediately hit her version of a Go To Sleep pop-up knee strike for the pin! Really good action.
Zoey Serrano defeated Brittnie Brooks at 12:20.
NWA “NWA Powerrr” released August 29, 2026 (comettv.com)
NWA has started airing its episodes on both comettv.com and on Tubi. I am truly bored by their aging roster, but am really intrigued by a new, younger wave of talent. I am unclear on the date of this taping, but it’s fairly new — Liviyah was wearing new white gear she just wore for the first time recently at a Wrestling Open show.
* I’ll note that the first nine minutes of the episode were taken up by a contract signing. Just too much talking featuring Billy Corgan… who joined commentary.
Liviyah and Corinne Joy vs. Big Alice Crowley and Sirena Veil (w/Paige Collett). I’ll reiterate that Joy, Liv, and Veil are all 19; Crowley is 23. Joy and Veil opened. Veil hit a suplex for a nearfall. Big Al hit a Saito Suplex on Joy and grabbed Corinne by her hair, then an Air Raid Crash for a nearfall at 2:00. Liviyah tagged in and hit a Samoan Drop. Joy hit a hairmare faceplant. Liv went to the top rope, but she was shoved to the floor. Veil hit a swinging back fist and a “Blood Bath” (Sister Abigail swinging faceplant) on Joy for the pin. A lot of action in a match that short.
Big Alice Crowley and Sirena Veil defeated Corinne Joy and Liviyah at 3:49.
* The heels continued to beat up Joy and Liv until Gisele Shaw ran in for the save.
Kerry Morton vs. Colby Corino. A couple of second-generation stars here. Morton has become a really good heel you want to see get his butt kicked. This is my first time seeing Corino wrestle since his return from a neck injury. Kerry immediately scrambled to the floor, so Colby hit a plancha onto him and hit some blows on the floor. In the ring, Colby hit an Angle Slam and his inverted senton for a nearfall at 2:00. The commentators talked about Colby’s neck surgery and how two vertebrae were fused. Kerry dropped him stomach-first on the top rope, and he jawed at the crowd. [C]
As we returned from a three-second commercial, Kerry leapt off the top rope but purposely came up short, then stomped on Colby, drawing boos. Colby hit a second-rope armdrag. He hit a dropkick into the corner and a standing neckbreaker at 5:00. They fought on the ropes, and Colby shoved him to the mat. Colby then hit a Swanton Bomb for a nearfall. Kerry hit an Eat D’Feat and a German Suplex, then a running knee to the collarbone. Colby hit a Dragon Suplex and some Yes Kicks. Kerry hit another running knee for the pin. Good action.
Kerry Morton defeated Colby Corino at 7:52.
Chaotic Wrestling “Summer of Slams 4” outside of Night Shift Brewing in Everett, Massachusetts, on August 27, 2026 (free on YouTube)
This was an outdoor show, and it was ideal summer weather. A crowd of perhaps 250 watched the action. This promotion has one of the best stage areas in indy wrestling. I opted to only watch the main event. Lighting is pretty good over the ring, as it’s quite dark out now.
Tyree Taylor (w/Coach Brad Cashew) vs. Anthony Greene for the CW Title. Again, Tyree Taylor has the same big build and general look of ROH’s Shane Taylor; he’s listed at 305 pounds. They locked up, and Tyree easily shoved the smaller Greene to the mat. Anthony got up and hit a series of shoulder blocks that only staggered Taylor. From the floor, Cashew tripped Greene at 2:30. The ref saw it and ejected Coach! Taylor nailed a diving forearm strike to the jaw for a nearfall. Taylor hit a punt kick to the ribs and slammed Greene for a nearfall at 5:30, and he was in control.
Tyree hit a running crossbody block for a nearfall. He charged into the corner, but Greene moved, and Tyree crashed in the turnbuckles. Greene hit a flying shoulder tackle at 8:00, then a big bodyslam! Greene hit a top-rope twisting crossbody block for a nearfall. Tyree blocked the Unprettier faceplant, and he hit a uranage for a nearfall at 9:30. Taylor set up for the Brooklyn Zoo powerbomb, but Greene escaped. Tyree dropped him with a hard headbutt. Greene hit a superkick and a corner fadeaway stunner. He hit the springboard Unprettier for a nearfall at 10:30, but Tyree got a foot on the ropes.
They went to the concrete ground, over a guardrail, and fought into the crowd. They fought over by the Night Shift Brewing truck, and Greene hit a superkick. There was a ladder leaning against the truck! Greene climbed it and got on top of the trailer! Greene hit a crossbody block off the trailer, down onto Taylor and maybe six security guards at 13:30. Greene pushed Tyree back into the ring, but Taylor immediately hit a clothesline and the Brooklyn Zoo powerbomb for the pin! A really strong match.
Tyree Taylor defeated Anthony Greene to retain the CW Title at 14:08.
DOA Pro Wrestling “Queen of Thorns” in Portland, Oregon, on August 23, 2026 (IWTV)
This show featured a 12-woman tournament, consisting of six first-round matches, two Triple Threats in the second round, then a one-on-one finale. I opted to watch one first-round match, a non-tournament match, and the finals. This is a pretty good crowd of maybe 300 in what appears to be a large factory building.
Gypsy Mac vs. Sweet Caroline. Mac is from Las Vegas, and she’s a top West Coast regular. Caroline has competed on West Coast Pro shows all year and just returned from a tour of Japan; she’s tall, lean, and blonde. Right on cue, the commentators discussed her tour, including getting a match in the famous Korakuen Hall. A clean lockup to open. They traded reversals, but then Mac slapped her in the face! Caroline hit some forearm strikes and a big boot, then a stiff kick to the back at 1:30, then a stomp to the gut for a nearfall.
Mac took control and kept Caroline grounded. She choked Caroline in the ropes and hit some chops. Caroline fired back with some chops. Mac hit a snap suplex for a nearfall at 3:30. She dropped her weight on Caroline’s chest in the corner and hit a running kick to the jaw in the corner, then a Vader Bomb for a nearfall! Caroline fired back with some roundhouse kicks. Mac tied her in a modified abdominal stretch on the mat.
Caroline hit a double stomp to the chest for a nearfall. She hit a pair of dropkicks, then some spin kicks to the ribs and an X-Factor for a nearfall at 6:30. Mac hit a swinging uranage for a nearfall. Mac missed a second Vader Bomb attempt. Caroline hit a superkick and a fisherman’s suplex for a nearfall. Mac nailed a superkick and a Lungblower to the back at 8:00. Mac hit a piledriver out of the ropes. She grabbed the ropes for added leverage as she scored the pin. I really liked that, and I felt it could have gone either way.
Gypsy Mac defeated Sweet Caroline at 8:38 to advance.
Amira vs. B3cca for the DOA Pure Wrestling Title in a non-tournament match. Just being blunt, these two are better than any of the women I have seen before in the tournament. I’ve seen a lot of international pop star B3cca this year, quite literally from coast to coast! A huge pop for hometown girl Amira. B3cca immediately hit some kicks and was loudly booed. Amira hit a headscissors takedown and a flying crossbody block for a nearfall at 1:00! Amira hit some running forearm strikes into the corner.
They brawled at ringside, and the powerhouse Amira hit some chops, as fans held back B3cca’s arms! In the ring, B3cca tied up Amira in the ropes. B3cca shouted, “Can Taylor Swift do this?” then she hit a snap suplex at 4:30. B3cca kipped up, danced, and was booed. Amira hit a suplex; huge pop for anything she does. Amira unloaded some clotheslines, then a basement dropkick to the face. Amira hit her rolling cannonball for a nearfall at 6:00.
B3cca hit a top-rope 450 Splash for a nearfall, and she was incredulous she didn’t win there. They traded rollups. B3cca hit a shotgun dropkick, sending Amira into the female referee at 8:00! Amira hit a World’s Strongest Slam for a visual pin, but we had no referee! B3cca grabbed the title belt and struck Amira with it for a nearfall! B3cca hit a German Suplex, but Amira hit her own German Suplex! Amira hit a second World’s Strongest Slam for the pin! That was thoroughly enjoyable.
Amira defeated B3cca to retain the DOA Pure Wrestling Title at 10:12.
Su Yung vs. Kikyo in an “Anything Goes” match for the Queen of Thorns. I am fairly unfamiliar with the 37-year-old Kikyo; she is a big woman. I am struggling for a comparison; maybe Bertha Faye? She moves alright for her size. Su still wrestles with a face mask (bones in her face were shattered two years ago by a chair thrown at her). They immediately got chairs and swung them at each other. They set the chairs aside and traded forearm strikes and chops. Su hit a spinning back fist.
Kikyo hit a running crossbody block on a seated Yung for a nearfall at 3:00. Su tossed a chair at Kikyo’s face. She hit a running somersault from the apron and crashed onto Kikyo on the floor. Su found a table leaning against a stage, and she dragged it to ringside. Yung whipped Kikyo into rows of chairs at 6:00, earning a “Holy shit!” chant. Kikyo found a kendo stick, and she struck Yung with it. She jabbed the end of the stick into Yung’s throat! Kikyo hit a snap suplex onto the concrete floor, and they were both down at 8:00.
Yung got up, grabbed the kendo stick, and struck Kikyo with it. Su pulled out a door from under the ring and slid it into the ring. Kikyo stood up, and she was bleeding from the forehead. In the ring, Su jabbed a broken kendo stick into Kikyo’s forehead at 10:00. Yung hit a DDT onto a folded chair for a nearfall at 12:30, and she jawed at the ref. Kikyo hit a running splash on Yung through a door in the corner, and she got a nearfall. Kikyo charged, but she ran head-first into a chair wedged in the corner at 14:30.
Kikyo hit a pumphandle DDT onto a folded chair for a nearfall. Kikyo put Su on a table and struck her on the back with a kendo stick before climbing the ropes. Su jumped up and fought Kikyo in the corner, above the table. Su applied the Mandible Claw and flipped Kikyo through the table and pinned her. A bit more violent than I prefer, but a good brawl, and the crowd was into it. They shook hands afterwards.
Su Yung defeated Kikyo at 17:19 to win the Queen of Thorns tournament.
North Shore Pro Wrestling “La Rage dans la Cage” in Quebec City, Quebec (August 21, 2026)
This show was at what appears to be a minor league baseball field, and the ring appears to be over home plate. It’s evening, but the lighting was really good. We do have English commentary.
Zak Patterson vs. Dreya Mitchell vs. Stephen Sullivan vs. Jason Gray. Zak is a young, muscular powerhouse – think Brian Cage at that age. Dreya is a tall, athletic former basketball player, and I’m a big fan. She also competed on Evil Uno’s Mystery Wrestling show in London over the weekend. (Both should be considered for future Maple Leaf Pro tapings!) Dreya hit a Samoan Drop on Jason, a white kid in white pants. Sullivan is older with a gray beard, and he hit a shotgun dropkick on the muscular Zak, and those two fought to the field.
In the ring, Gray hit a knee drop across her ribs at 2:00 and was booed. He hit a snap suplex. Gray and Sullivan traded punches. Zak snuck up behind them and hit a double German Suplex! Such power! Dreya hit a shotgun dropkick on Zak. Zak hit a backbreaker over his knee on Dreya. All four got up and brawled some more. Gray hit a Samoan Drop on Patterson at 5:00. Stephen hit a Black Hole Slam. Jason hit a flying leg lariat and a Burning Hammer on Zak for the pin! A chaotic match. Zak and Dreya are both ‘ones to watch.’
Jason Gray defeated Zak Patterson vs. Dreya Mitchell vs. Stephen Sullivan at 5:41.
Stu Grayson vs. Matt Falco for the Maple Leaf Pro Interim Canadian Title. I’m not sure if I’ve seen Falco; he has a short, bushy black beard and wet black hair and tattoos up and down his arms and upper chest. He’s almost a head taller than Stu. An intense lockup to open. Stu hit a huracanrana and a dropkick that sent Falco to the apron, so Grayson hit another dropkick. Stu hit a slingshot senton, and Falco rolled to the floor to regroup with his heel manager.
In the ring, Stu hit an enzuigiri at 2:00. He put Falco across his back, but Matt raked Stu’s eyes to escape. Matt hit a fallaway slam and was in charge. He hit a Big Boot, knocking Stu off the apron to the ground. They brawled at ringside. Stu hit a flip dive to the floor at 4:30 and landed on his feet. In the ring, Stu hit a leaping clothesline to drop Matt, then his release belly-to-belly suplexes. Stu hit a Lionsault for a nearfall. Matt hit a Pump Kick and an Air Raid Crash for a nearfall at 6:30. Stu hit a Pele Kick.
Grayson hit a top-rope superplex, and he was fired up! He went to the top rope, but Falco rolled to the floor. He grabbed the title belt, but the ref immediately confiscated it. Stu hit a running knee. The heel manager jumped in the ring and struck Grayson. The ref saw all of it and called for the bell. The heel commentator was perplexed that the heel manager did that, as it cost Falco his chance to win the belt.
Stu Grayson defeated Matt Falco via DQ to retain the Maple Leaf Pro Interim Canadian Title at 8:34.
Michel Plante vs. Richard Holliday for the NSPW Heavyweight Title. Plante wore a purple one-strap singlet, and he’s a babyface. Holliday rolled to the ground at the bell, and he jawed with fans at ringside. In the ring, Holliday hit a shoulder tackle. Plante avoided being hit by Holliday’s Signature Move (a low-blow uppercut). Holliday hit some chops in the corner. Plante hit a flying shoulder tackle at 3:00. He backed Holliday into a corner and hit some chops. Holliday tied up the left arm, and he applied a top hammerlock and kept Plante grounded.
Plante fired up and hit some punches. He hit a flying forearm at 8:30. He hit a flying spear and was fired up, and he peeled down his strap. Holliday pushed Plante into the ref! Holliday immediately hit the low-blow uppercut and the 2008 swinging suplex. A second referee got in the ring and made a two-count at 10:30. So, Holliday hit his Signature Move on the new ref! Holliday grabbed the title belt, swung, and missed. Plante hit a spear and a Hogan leg drop for the pin. Solid action; the crowd was happy.
Michel Plante defeated Richard Holliday to retain the NSPW Heavyweight Title at 11:13.
Final Thoughts: Bandido-Manders is one of the best matches I’ve reviewed on an “indy roundup” in a long, long time, if not ever. Anyone who has IWTV needs to check it out. Again, it is also available as a PPV on MyAEW.
Zoey Serrano vs. Brittnie Brooks was second-best of these 12 matches. Zoey has come back healthy with something to prove. I’ve seen her twice now since her return from injury, and both matches have been standouts. I’ll go with Amira vs. B3cca for third, with Greene-Tyree Taylor taking honorable mention.
Some really good young talents on display here. Dreya Mitchell and Zak Patterson have both competed in the U.S. but are primarily Canadian-based talents. Again, those are the sort of young athletes that Scott D’Amore should be looking at for future MLP tapings. Sweet Caroline has progressed quickly — it always amazes me how polished a young wrestler becomes after a quick tour of Japan. And I’ll reiterate that NWA needs to continue this youth movement.
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