By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
Wrestling Open RI “Episode 69”
Streamed on IndependentWrestling.TV
September 28, 2026, in Cranston, Rhode Island, at Rhodes On The Pawtuxet
The venue is an attractive two-story, white ballroom, and the lighting is really good. The crowd was perhaps 125. Paul Crockett, Devin Reno, Bobby Casale and referee Scott Robinson provided commentary.
1. AZ vs. Danny Cabral in a spotlight match. Az is the young kid who could play a 20-year-old Disco Inferno in a movie. Reno and Robinson provided commentary here. Fairly basic back-and-forth action, with Cabral hitting a Sliced Bread out of the corner for the pin. I was getting dinner on the table for my boys, so I don’t have much more to add about this one.
Danny Cabral defeated AZ at 4:55.
* Paul Crockett is back on solo commentary for the main show. He said that Bear Bronson is sick and won’t be here.
2. Bryce Donovan vs. Channing Thomas. No VSK tonight, and Smart Mark Sterling is presumably at the ROH tapings in Florida. This should be really good! A clean lockup, and the taller Bryce easily pushed him back into the corner. Channing hit a dropkick, and Bryce stalled on the floor. Bryce hit a Black Hole Slam in the ring for a nearfall at 2:30. He hit a big bodyslam and an elbow drop for a nearfall. He remained in charge and jawed at Ref Gina. Channing got a Crucifix Driver for a nearfall at 6:00. They got up, and Channing hit some European Uppercuts.
Bryce ran Thomas back-first into the corner. Channing hit a German Suplex, then a running Claymore Kick for a nearfall. Channing went to the top turnbuckle, but Bryce shook the ropes to crotch Channing in the corner. Bryce hit a Tower of London stunner for a nearfall at 8:00. Bryce missed a Helluva Kick. He threw Channing shoulder-first into the corner. Channing got a rollup for a nearfall. Bryce hit a flying forearm to the back of the head for a nearfall. He yelled at Ref Gina again! He shoved her, so she shoved him back! Channing rolled up Bryce for the flash pin!
Channing Thomas defeated Bryce Donovan at 9:40.
* Lauren St. James spoke backstage about being British. She talked about how English chocolate tastes better. Okay…
3. Oxx Adams vs. All Go Nelli. Poor AGN again got the “in the ring” treatment. Again, Oxx is at or near seven feet tall and has a big muscle mass advantage on the young, slender Nelli. No sign of Brett Ryan Gosselin. Nelli hit a dropkick at the bell and some forearms, then a Lungblower move to the jaw. He tried a top-rope move, but Oxx caught him and dropped him throat-first on the top rope. Oxx hit a clothesline for a nearfall. Nelli hit a top-rope missile dropkick at 2:30 that finally knocked Oxx down! He got a one-count, but Oxx forcefully kicked out. Oxx immediately hit the Choke Bomb for the pin. This went as it should have gone.
Oxx Adams defeated All Go Nelli at 2:49.
* Oxx got on the mic and said what he did to Nelli is going to happen again next week when he gets a rematch with Dutch from The Righteous.
* Rich Palladino interviewed Liviyah and Paris Van Dale on the stage. Neither woman was dressed to wrestle. Paris told Rich he’s gross, and she dismissed him, and he left. Liv informed Paris they will be fighting in a four-way week. Kylie Alexa will be in it; it was hard to hear them, but I presume that Shannon LeVangie will also be in it.
* Footage aired of the feud between Bobby Casale and Anthony Vecchio.
4. Santi Rivera vs. Bobby Casale. Crockett noted it’s been a few months since WWE ID prospect Santi has been here. A clean lockup; Santi has great muscle definition, but my guess is that Casale has a strength advantage. Bobby picked him up and threw Santi to the mat, then he hit a gut-wrench suplex at 1:00. Bobby hit a running Penalty Kick, then a senton for a nearfall. Casale hit some Sheamus-style blows to the chest while Santi was tied in the ropes at 2:30.
Casale hit a suplex for a nearfall. He hit a Bulldog Powerslam for a nearfall at 4:00. Santi unloaded some chops. Casale unloaded some roundhouse kicks to the chest, then a Gory Bomb at 5:30, then a German Suplex, and he was fired up. He nailed a sit-out powerbomb, then a Dominator swinging faceplant for the pin. Wow, that was one-sided and decisive over a WWE ID prospect! I enjoyed it.
Bobby Casale defeated Santi Rivera at 6:24.
* Casale got on the mic and shouted about Anthony Vecchio wanting to fight him. He suggested a tag match next week, and he announced that he will team with Bear Bronson! Casale then joined Crockett on commentary.
* DJ Powers came out and cut a heel promo. He has a tag partner tonight… Rain Conway!
5. Rain Conway and DJ Powers vs. “Waves & Curls” Traevon Jordan and Jaylen Brandyn. As always, the crowd sang along to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Jordan and Powers opened. Conway tagged in at 1:30 and charged at Jordan, but he bounced off Traevon and fell to the mat. Jaylen entered and hit a dropkick on Conway. Jordan slammed Jaylen onto Conway for a nearfall. W&C kept Powers in their corner. From the floor, Conway whipped Traevon’s leg around the ring post.
The heels targeted Traevon’s left leg and kept him grounded. Traevon got up and hit some chops on both heels. Casale urged the ref to get one of the heels out of the ring. Jaylen finally got the hot tag at 7:30 and hit some clotheslines on DJ, then a Sling Blade. He hit a springboard crossbody block on Rain. Jaylen hit a second-rope flying leg lariat for a nearfall. DJ hit a German Suplex. Conway made a blind tag and rolled up Brandyn for a nearfall. Jordan hit an assisted chokeslam on Conway for the pin. Good action.
“Waves & Curls” Traevon Jordan and Jaylen Brandyn defeated Rain Conway and DJ Powers at 9:15.
* Devin Reno came to the ring. He considers himself the uncrowned champion, as he pinned Bear Bronson last week, only for the ref to immediately wave it off. Crockett noted that Reno could “snap at any moment.” Jermaine Marbury was supposed to face Reno, but Erik ChaCha is a late replacement.
6. Devin Reno vs. Erik ChaCha. Erik sure is talented, but he’s only about 5’4″, and he’s giving up a lot of size and strength to Reno. Crockett wondered if Reno would take him lightly. Erik hit some spin kicks to the thighs, then some roundhouse kicks to the chest. He hit a running Penalty Kick for a nearfall at 1:30. ChaCha hit a headscissors takedown and some Yes Kicks. Reno hit a powerbomb for a nearfall at 4:30. Reno poked Erik in the eye, scooped him up, and hit a twisting Angle Slam for the tainted pin.
Devin Reno defeated Erik ChaCha at 5:06.
* Reno got on the mic and proclaimed he is the Wrestling Open champion.
* Footage aired of Marcus Mathers turning on Ryan O’Neill last week.
7. Marcus Mathers (w/Dustin Waller) vs. Bobby Orlando. The heels came out first, and Mathers was booed. They shoved each other in the chest at the bell, then traded forearm strikes! Orlando hit some clotheslines. Mathers threw him face-first into the middle turnbuckle at 2:00. Marcus hit a series of elbow drops and got booed. He planted his knee in Bobby’s throat and hit a jumping mule kick, then some knee strikes to the spine.
Marcus hit a suplex. They lost the signal from the building. First time it’s happened tonight! The signal returned within maybe 30 seconds, and Mathers was selling back pain. Bobby hit some jab punches to the jaw at 7:00. Mathers hit his Ospreay-style heel hook kick to the jaw, then a swinging slam for a nearfall. Waller was shouting at Marcus, urging him to keep pressing the attack. Bobby hit a running neckbreaker at 9:30. Waller threw a chair into the ring. He tripped Orlando, and Bobby fell to the mat.
Mathers immediately applied a Sharpshooter and dragged Bobby to the center of the ring. Orlando eventually reached the ropes at 11:00. Orlando hit his Athena-style flying stunner. Waller got in the ring, so Bobby superkicked him! Orlando dove through the ropes onto Dustin. As he got back into the ring, Mathers rolled up Orlando with a handful of tights for the tainted pin! Really good action.
Marcus Mathers defeated Bobby Orlando at 12:50.
Final Thoughts: Unsurprisingly, Mathers-Orlando was really good and earned best match of the show. Mathers has been a babyface for so long, I forgot how good he works as a heel. Good work from both of them. Bryce-Channing was really good and earned second. Waves & Curls are always fun, and hopefully a win here will get them a title match; their match takes third.
Casale continues to impress; I expected him to beat Santi, but I didn’t expect it to be so dominating. Notably absent tonight was a women’s match. Wrestling Open continues to do a great job of moving along storylines and setting up matches for future shows. I watched this live; it should be available on IWTV by Tuesday morning
