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 eleven matches from across six different recent indy shows.
1 Fall Wrestling (1FW) “Summer Stage 2” at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 17, 2026. (Episode 52, on MyAEW)
This episode was released Tuesday (September 22). I reviewed episode 49 in its entirety, and a few matches from both episodes 51 and 52. They had a good, packed crowd at Center Stage for the show. I opted to watch just the main event this week. “Road Dogg” Brian James was a guest on commentary. This is QT Marshall’s promotion, and he’s a massive babyface here.
Brady Pierce vs. Carlie Bravo vs. QT Marshall for the 1FW Title. Pierce, as champion, came out last. He has short, black hair and a great physique. They all traded punches at the bell. QT hit a dropkick on Pierce, and Carlie clotheslined Pierce to the floor. Bravo and QT traded rollups. Pierce got back in and hit a clothesline before a commercial. [C]
Pierce was stomping on Bravo as we returned from the break and got a nearfall at 3:00. Bravo hit some flying forearms on Pierce. Pierce hit a Bulldog Powerslam on Bravo for a nearfall at 5:00. QT finally got back in and hit a handspring-back-enzuigiri, then a Lionsault. Pierce accidentally kicked his heel manager. QT hit a Diamond Cutter on Pierce for a nearfall at 6:30, but Bravo hit a frog splash for the save, and all three were down. Bravo and QT traded punches, and Carlie hit a running neckbreaker. QT hit another Diamond Cutter, but Pierce pulled him off Bravo. [C]
Bravo hit a Shellshock-style swinging faceplant on Pierce for a nearfall at 8:30, but QT made the save. They executed a Tower of Doom out of the corner, and all three were down. QT hit another Diamond Cutter on Bravo. Marshall put Pierce in a Boston Crab at 11:00, but Bravo hit an axe kick to the back of Marshall’s head, and all three were down. Cory Hollis and Jocey Quinn jumped in the ring and beat up Bravo and QT. That brought out Shawn Dean and Trish Adora, who chased them off.
Pierce hit a low-blow punt kick on Bravo, then a Mafia Kick for a believable nearfall at 12:30. Bravo put Pierce in a Crippler Crossface! However, QT hit a top-rope elbow drop to break it up. Bravo hit a plancha to the floor on QT, then a slingshot stunner on Pierce. He hit an axe kick to the back of Pierce’s head for the pin! New champion! The crowd went nuts! “The roof has come off Center Stage!” a commentator shouted. “My God, what a moment!”
Carlie Bravo defeated QT Marshall and Brady Pierce to win the 1FW Title at 14:05.
Apple City Championship Wrestling “WrestleGate III” at the Brookford Town Hall in Hickory, North Carolina, on September 12, 2026 (IWTV)
This is a dark auditorium. The ring is lit okay, but certainly not ideal. I’ve checked out a few matches from their last few shows here. (I’ve noted this before; I am hearing one commentator in my left ear and the other commentator in my right.)
BoJack and Dash Morgan vs. “The Devil & The Don” Drew Hood and Don Furio vs. “Damn Extreme” Thomas Extreme and Buggy Wright in a three-way for the ACCW Tag Team Titles. Bojack is the awesome 350+ pounder, while Dash is a short high-flyer, perhaps only 5’4″. This was supposed to be a regular tag match, but Hood (the devil figure) and Furio emerged from the back and made it a three-way! Furio plays up the Italian stereotype; he’s young and cocky. Bojack and Furio opened, with Bojack dropping him with a single hard chop! He tagged in Hood.
Buggy got on Hood’s back and “rode him horsey style” to embarrass Hood. Dash got in and hit a running Shooting Star Press at 2:00. Bojack re-entered, so Hood quickly tagged out to Thomas Extreme. Bojack hit a uranage on Extreme. Dash hit a moonsault off of Bojack’s back, and they worked over Extreme in their corner. Furio made a blind tag by slapping Bojack on the back at 4:30, and he also beat up Extreme. Buggy got back in and hit some Stinger Splashes, then a Sliced Bread out of the corner, then a DVD on Furio for a nearfall at 7:00.
Furio hit a hard clothesline to the back of Buggy’s head, and the heels took control. Dash entered and hit an enzuigiri on Furio. Furio hit a backbreaker over his knee on Dash for a nearfall, then a snap suplex and a brainbuster at 9:30. Hood and Furio kept Dash grounded in their corner. Bojack finally got a hot tag at 11:00, and he hit some shoulder tackles, then a fallaway slam on Hood. He hit a big Pounce on Furio! Bojack hit a Michinoku Driver on Hood. Buggy hit a flying top-rope knee strike on Bojack. Hood hit a running knee on Dash.
Extreme leapt off the top rope, but Bojack clocked him with a forearm strike, and suddenly all six were down at 13:30, and we got a “This is awesome!” chant. Dash and Buggy got up and traded forearm strikes, and Buggy hit an enzuigiri. Wright hit a Canadian Destroyer! Dash hit a Poison Rana. Furio hit a chop block on the back of Bojack’s knee! Furio and Hood hit stereo running knees on Bojack, who rolled to the floor. Buggy hit a Lethal Injection on Furio. Hood struck Buggy in the head with a title belt and pinned Buggy! The champions lost their belts without factoring in the decision!
“The Devil & The Don” Drew Hood and Don Furio defeated BoJack and Dash Morgan and “Damn Extreme” Thomas Extreme and Buggy Wright in a three-way to win the ACCW Tag Team Titles at 15:57.
* Extreme beat up teammate Buggy Wright after the match!
Landon Hale vs. Colby Corino for the Catawba Valley Title. I’ve only seen Colby a few times since his return from his severe neck injury. They shook hands and locked up. Hale tied up the left arm. They fought to the floor at 2:00. (The lighting is surprisingly good from one camera and really poor from another camera. I don’t get it.) Landon accidentally chopped the ring post. Corino took control on the floor. In the ring, Corino kept him grounded in a headlock. Hale hit a Lethal Injection at 6:30. Hale hit a mid-ring Spanish Fly at 8:00, and they were both down.
Hale hit an enzuigiri and some clotheslines, then a backbreaker over his knee, then a second-rope twisting crossbody block and a DDT for a nearfall. Hale hit a Lethal Injection. He went for a second-rope moonsault, but Corino got his feet up to block it. Corino nailed an LA Knight-style Snapmare Driver for a believable nearfall at 10:30. Corino hit a jumping knee to the chin in the corner. Hale hit a third Lethal Injection, then two moonsaults for a nearfall.
Corino nailed an Air Raid Crash for a nearfall, and he cranked back on Hale’s neck at 12:30, but Landon got a foot on the ropes. Corino hit some Yes Kicks to the chest. They got up and traded forearm strikes. Hale hit a piledriver and an Athena-style flying stunner for the pin. That was a really sharp match.
Landon Hale defeated Colby Corino to retain the Catawba Valley Title at 14:27.
United Wrestling Network “Sunday Night Slam” at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, on September 13, 2026 (MyAEW and YouTube)
I’ve checked out several matches from these tapings. The crowd is maybe 150. Lighting is good. I really like the sports-like presentation of the commentary team of Johnny Loquasto, Christian Cole, and Todd Keneley. I watched the final three matches.
“5150” Danny Limelight and Slice Boogie vs. “Thunder & Lightning” Will Allday and Cam Cole for the UWN Tag Team Titles. Allday and Cole are regulars in Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling in Houston. We saw footage from ROW, with Booker T in his office, telling them they were headed to LA to fight for these belts. He reminded them this is about “checks and championships,” and told them not to come back without those tag team titles. To the venue! Danny Limelight cut a promo backstage, saying he thought they put this team away. The challengers dove onto the champs as they approached the ring, and I started the stopwatch. They brawled on the floor.
The champs stomped on both of them and celebrated. Allday dove over the guardrail onto the champs. They got in the ring, and we got a bell at 1:43 to make this official! Cam hit a snap suplex on Danny. Boogie tripped Cam in the corner, and it allowed Danny to jump on him and keep Cole grounded. Slice hit a Vader Bomb-style elbow drop. Danny hit a springboard double stomp for a nearfall at 4:00, and he choked Cole. Limelight got on the mic and jawed at Cole and the fans, while Boogie was working over Cam.
Danny accidentally punched Boogie! Allday got a hot tag, and he dove through the ropes onto Danny at 7:00. Cam rolled up Boogie for a nearfall. Danny hit a frog splash on Cole for a nearfall. Boogie hit a piledriver for a nearfall, but Allday made the save. Allday flipped Danny from the second rope, and Cam caught Danny and hit a Lungblower to the chest for the pin! New champions! A commentator said, “Shucky ducky quack quack, Booker T is going to have a big smile on his face in Houston.”
“Thunder & Lightning” Will Allday and Cam Cole defeated “5150” Danny Limelight and Slice Boogie to win the UWN Tag Team Titles at 9:36/official time of 7:53.
Big Mama vs. Bryn Thorne for the UWN Women’s Title. I just watched Bryn compete on a Kitsune Women’s Wrestling show, also from the Los Angeles area. She’s tough-as-nails, blonde, with tattoos on her arms; think Zoey Serrano or Ronda Rousey. Big Mama is taller and has a size advantage, too. Bryn hit a shotgun dropkick at the bell and some punches. They brawled to the floor. Simone joined commentary for this match, and she wants Big Mama to win so she can take the title off of her.
In the ring, Big Mama hit a Tombstone Piledriver for a nearfall at 2:00. Bryn choked Big Mama in the ropes and was in charge early on. Thorne hit a rolling cannonball in the corner at 3:30. Bryn hit some more kicks and got a nearfall. Big Mama hit a Vader Bomb for a nearfall, but Bryn reached the ropes at 6:00. Thorne hit a DDT, then an impressive top-rope moonsault for a nearfall. Big Mama hit a Choke Bomb for the pin. Solid match. Big Mama sure looks unbeatable.
Big Mama defeated Bryn Thorne to retain the UWN Women’s Title at 7:28.
* Simone left commentary, jumped in the ring, and attacked Big Mama from behind. She struck Mama several times, and security had to separate them.
* Backstage, Jordan Cruz boasted about his lengthy title reign, and he’s adding another big win tonight when he beats TJP!
Jordan Cruz vs. TJP for the UWN Title. A clean lockup; the taller and visibly stronger Cruz easily shoved TJP to the mat. He dropped TJP with a shoulder tackle. TJP hit a dropkick at 1:00, and flipped Jordan to the mat in a headlock to slow the bigger man down. TJP tied him in a Tarantula in the ropes but let go before being disqualified. Cruz slammed TJP’s knee on the ring apron and took control. Back in the ring, he hit some punches in the corner, then targeted the left knee and twisted it.
TJP hit a double mule kick to the chest, then a spin kick to the jaw at 4:00. He hit his Facewash Kick in the corner, but he missed the Mamba Splash, landing on his feet. Cruz applied an ankle lock. TJP tied him in an Octopus Stretch, but Cruz turned it into a Samoan Drop at 6:00, and they were both down. Cruz hit a superplex for a nearfall and immediately went back to the ankle lock, this time dropping to the mat. TJP writhed in pain on the mat, but he reached the ropes at 7:30.
Cruz rolled to the floor and got a chair! The ref confiscated it. Cruz accidentally clotheslined the ref! TJP hit a DDT and the Mamba Splash for a visual pin. The groggy ref eventually made a two-count! Cruz hit a running knee to the collarbone, and he went back to an ankle lock. He nailed the “No More Sorrow” shoulder-breaker over his knee for the clean pin! Good match.
Jordan Cruz defeated TJP to retain the UWN Title at 9:50.
* On the next show on November 15, Big Mama will defend against Simone.
New South “Millbrook Reloaded” in Millbrook, Alabama, on August 22, 2026 (IWTV)
This venue has a high ceiling. I watched the main event, which was essentially a War Games Match, but with a single ring. The lighting was good. Millbrook is located on the north side of the Montgomery metro area. This cage has hard metal bars, like an old-school WWF cage (or the one that TNA used recently at the PPV, with gaps big enough for Heather Reckless to squeeze through the holes). ALSO, there is a platform in one corner of the cage. Good idea for two guys to fight on top of that.
“The Program” Jamesen Shook, Tim Bosby, Erron Wade, and Kohnor Martin vs. “Team New South” Dump Sanders, ‘Big’ Dave Weaver, Shean Christopher, and Sean Campbell in an Atomic Warfare (WarGames) match. Shook’s heel team came out first to Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry.” They wore identical jackets and pink pants with their names on the butt, and they were booed. Shook and Christopher
Christopher hit a Spanish Fly, and both men were down at 4:00. A commentator noted this cage is worse than the chain-link fence cages “Because those bars do not move.” (I agree!) Martin joined the match for The Program at 6:30 (it was supposed to be after five minutes), and he slammed Christopher and choked him in the cage. Shean was also bleeding. Dump Sanders, who has a big bushy beard, entered at 8:30 to even the odds. Jamesen accidentally threw a chair at Martin’s head! (I truly hate those chairshots, far more than the blood loss happening already.)
Erron Wade joined at 10:30 to give the heels the man advantage. Big Dave entered at 13:00 and hit a belly-to-belly suplex on Martin. He threw a chair at Shook; there really is no call for that. Bosby entered at 15:30, and he hit some suplexes. Christopher hit a Canadian Destroyer; his whole head was red with blood now. Gross. The four heels were in charge, and the three babyfaces were down. Shook demanded he be given a microphone. He told the crowd that no one could find Sean Campbell, so this match is officially starting now, even though it’s 4-on-3.
However, Campbell ran to the ring at 18:30, climbed the cage, and hit a crossbody block onto all the heels below! Shook hit a powerbomb on Christopher. Dump hit a back suplex. A table was set up in the ring. Shook hit a crossbody block to send Dump through the table at 21:30. Bosby applied an ankle lock on Dump, but Christopher struck Bosby in the cage with a guitar. Dump hit a chokeslam on Bosby. Another table was set up! Christopher climbed the cage. Big Dave hit a second-rope Bulldog Powerslam on Martin, slamming him through a table at 24:30.
The babyfaces made a double-decker table. Shook climbed the cage wall and brawled with Sean Campbell on a tiny platform. Shook set up for a sidewalk slam, but both of them flew back-first from the top of the cage through the double-decker tables at 26:30! Dump hit a chokeslam. Shean Christopher choked Erron Wade out with the lining of a table, and Wade tapped out! Good brawl. Fans who like a bit of blood will be happy with this. Shook and Bosby continue to be the stars to watch from here.
“Team New South” Dump Sanders, ‘Big’ Dave Weaver, Shean Christopher, and Sean Campbell defeated “The Program” Jamesen Shook, Tim Bosby, Erron Wade, and Kohnor Martin in an Atomic Warfare (WarGames) match at 27:52.
* Bosby and Shook were angry at Wade for submitting, so they beat him up and left. It looks like by default, Wade and Martin just turned babyface. However, Big Dave slammed the cage door onto Dump Sanders’ face and beat him up, turning Big Dave heel! It was quite a post-match segment!
FWE, “Unforgettable” at Sports HQ in Cary, North Carolina, on September 19, 2026 (IWTV)
I haven’t heard of this promotion, but this popped up on IWTV this week. I thought I’d check out a match to see how it looks. It’s far too dark in the ring and really hard to see; the ringside camera was much better for viewing. This is a large, two-level room.
Dani Mo vs. Aliyssa Rios vs. Joiya Blake for the FWE Women’s Title. I always compare Dani to Sol Ruca. I’ve seen Joiya three or four times now; she has a splash of blonde in her dark hair. I haven’t seen Rios before; she’s a young Latina with long, curly hair almost to her butt. Cagematch.net shows that it’s Aliyssa’s 12th match ever and her first outside of Florida. Dani hit a spin kick to Blake’s head at the bell. She splashed onto both women in the corner. She hit a running Pump Kick on Blake that sent her to the floor.
Dani then hit a baseball slide dropkick onto both opponents. Rios pushed Dani face-first into the ring post, then she slammed Joiya onto the apron. They brawled into the crowd — it’s almost impossible to see there — and Rios hit some chops on both opponents. In the ring, Rios got a rollup on Dani for a nearfall at 3:30. Rios hit a double knee drop to Dani’s ribs in the corner and got a nearfall at 5:00. Joiya hit a double stunner in the ropes! She hit some shoulder thrusts to Rios’ ribs in the corner and was in charge.
Joiya hit a guillotine leg drop on Rios for a nearfall at 7:00. Dani got back in and threw Joiya to the floor. Blake hit a powerbomb on Dani, but Rios immediately hit a Lungblower on Blake for a nearfall at 8:30. They all got up and traded forearm strikes. Mo kicked Joiya to the floor. She hit some punches on Rios. Mo hit a Code Red on Joiya for a nearfall. Rios hit a running Sling Blade-style clothesline on Dani, and she tried to steal the pin on Blake.
Rios hit a snap suplex on Mo at 10:30, then a second one! Dani fired back with her own snap suplex for a nearfall. Rios hit a DDT on Blake for a nearfall, but Dan made the save. Dani hit a Twist of Fate on Rios for a believable nearfall. Dani set up for a dive, but Blake struck her with a chairshot to the head! Blake hit a running knee on Rios, then a Death Valley Driver for the pin! New champion! Dani Mo loses the belt without factoring in the decision!
Joiya Blake defeated Dani Mo and Aliyssa Rios to win the FWE Women’s Title at 12:57.
St. Louis Anarchy “Who Wants To Live Forever?” at Spaulding Hall in Alton, Illinois, on August 28, 2026 (IWTV)
I previously reviewed a Shimbashi-Billie Starkz match from this show. The entire show has now been uploaded to IWTV. This is their usual venue with white walls and a low ceiling. Sound is better than recent shows!
Victor Analog vs. Warhorse for the Destination Title. The commentators noted this has been brewing for more than a year. (They also have been feuding in Chicago.) They worked over each other’s left arm early on. They traded back suplexes. Warhorse hit a loud chop at 3:00, and they rolled to the floor and traded more chops in front of the fans. They traded thudding headbutts, and the female commentator noted it’s not a good idea to trade headbutts with Warhorse. Warhorse got a chair and set it up on the floor. Victor threw him like a lawn dart into the wall at 5:00!
They got back into the ring, with Victor in charge, and he kept Warhorse grounded. Victor hit some Yes Kicks at 8:00. Warhorse hit a flying back elbow, and he was fired up. He hit a clothesline into the corner, then a rolling cannonball into the corner, then a German Suplex into the turnbuckles for a nearfall at 9:30. Victor hit a back-body drop, then a spinning heel kick to the jaw for a nearfall. They traded chops, and Victor hit some roundhouse kicks to the chest. He hit a running knee to the sternum, then a dive through the ropes at 12:00.
Warhorse got in and hit his own flip dive, and they landed deep into the crowd. Victor dove through the ropes, but Warhorse caught him, and Warhorse hit a half-nelson suplex onto an open chair! Ouch! In the ring, Warhorse hit a decapitating clothesline for a nearfall, then a running powerbomb for a nearfall at 14:00. Victor hit an Exploder Suplex. Warhorse hit an enzuigiri. Victor hit a discus forearm strike. Warhorse hit a half-nelson suplex. He accidentally struck the ref! Analog hit a brainbuster for the pin! Good match; this is what I was looking for from these two. (They had a short, unsatisfactory match in Chicago recently.)
Victor Analog defeated Warhorse to retain the Destination Title at 15:45.
* They shook hands, but then Mad Dog Connolly attacked Warhorse from behind and choked him. Victor got his old-fashioned TV and struck Warhorse on the head with it.
Noah Clover vs. Ashlyn Alexander vs. Camaro Jackson vs. Cordell Cain vs. Connor Hopkins vs. King Rahim. Again, Rahim De La Suede has renamed himself as “King Rahim.” I’ve compared Clover to Wheeler Yuta. Everyone attacked Camaro at the bell! Cain (think 1997 Raven, with his flannel shirt tied around his waist) battled the cocky Hopkins. Powerhouse Ashlyn hit a running buttbump in the corner on Hopkins at 2:30. Rahim hit a double dropkick onto both of them. Clover (legit) slipped coming off the ropes, so Rahim attacked him. Clover clotheslined him to the floor.
Clover set up for a dive, but Hopkins cut him off. Ashlyn hit a crossbody block on Hopkins as he was seated on the apron. She then dove through the ropes onto all the guys at 4:00. A big guy dubbed “Big Money” at ringside gave Ashlyn some money as a payoff. Cordell hit a flip dive to the floor onto four opponents. This big manager got in the ring, but Camaro came up behind him! Camaro struck Big Money, who rolled to the floor. Camaro and Ashlyn hit a team fallaway slam on Cordell — he went flying so far that the commentators started laughing!
Camaro hit a back suplex, as Camaro and Ashlyn hit some team moves and they celebrated. She tried to lift Camaro, but she couldn’t. He hit a sidewalk slam on her at 7:00. Cordell hit a faceplant on Camaro. Camaro threw Cain to the floor onto several opponents. Rahim flew off the top rope and crashed onto Camaro. Clover tried to steal a pin on Camaro. He hit a leaping Flatliner on Camaro for a nearfall at 9:00. Camaro hit an STO Uranage out of the corner, then a decapitating clothesline to pin Noah Clover. Exactly what I wanted in a scramble.
Camaro Jackson defeated Noah Clover, Ashlyn Alexander, Cordell Cain, Connor Hopkins, and King Rahim at 9:20.
“Unsigned & Don’t Care” Aaron Williams, Gary Jay, and Anakin Murphy vs. Alvin Falcone, Derek Neal, and Luke Langley. Langley’s heel team emerged from the back, but were immediately attacked by U&DC! I started the stopwatch at first contact. Neal was immediately bleeding from his forehead. We got a bell at 1:11 as they got back into the ring, and Aaron repeatedly punched at Neal’s cut. A young woman got in the ring, and she barked at Anakin. The heels began working over Gary Jay in their corner. Falcone hit a suplex for a nearfall at 4:30.
Murphy got in and hit a tornado DDT on Alvin. Williams and Neal got back in, and Neal hit a release German Suplex. Williams fired back with a leaping DDT and a Magic Screw twisting neckbreaker off the ropes at 7:30. Langley hit a back suplex. Falcone dove to the floor on the babyfaces. Neal hit a swinging sideslam on Williams for a nearfall. Langley hit an Exploder Suplex on Gary Jay. Falcone powerbombed Murphy into the corner onto Jay at 9:30! However, Jay hit a discus forearm strike on Falcone, knocking him out, and Gary got the pin! That wrapped up suddenly. Good brawl.
“Unsigned & Don’t Care” Aaron Williams, Gary Jay, and Anakin Murphy defeated Alvin Falcone, Derek Neal, and Luke Langley at 9:42.
Final Thoughts: Not as many recognizable ‘big names’ in this roundup, but some really good action. I’ll go with the Bravo three-way for best, the Hale-Colby match for second, and the Analog-Warhorse match for third. The big War Games-style match was pretty good and was well booked.
