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 ten matches from across eight different recent indy shows.
Produce Wrestling “Volume 2: Taiga Style” at the White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey, on July 16, 2026 (free on YouTube)
After news broke this week that West Coast-based indy star Johnnie Robbie signed with CMLL, Produce Wrestling released this single match on their YouTube page (it is not the full pay-per-view). The lighting and production were really good. Caprice Coleman was on commentary, and I love his analysis.
Ranna Yagami vs. Johnnie Robbie. Johnnie threw her to the mat. They separated, got up, and locked up. Ranna tied her up on the mat, and they twisted each other’s left arms. Ranna hit a stiff kick to the spine, then another, and got a nearfall at 2:00. Robbie hit a running Facewash in the corner and got a nearfall. Robbie hit a running knee to the jaw for a nearfall at 4:00. The commentators talked about Robbie spending a lot of time in Mexico for CMLL.
Robbie applied a Camel Clutch and cranked back on the chin. Ranna hit a running kick to the spine, then one to the chest, for a nearfall. Ranna hit a bodyslam for a nearfall at 6:00. She hit a dropkick. She tied Johnnie in a pretzel on the mat, but Robbie reached the ropes. Ranna hit a flying kick, but she missed a top-rope kick. Robbie hit a Kamigoye-style knee strike to the collarbone for a nearfall at 7:30. She missed her step-up double knees to the back of the head, but she hit a swinging sidewalk slam for a nearfall. She hit the step-up double knees to the back of the head and scored the pin! Sharp for the time given.
Johnnie Robbie defeated Ranna Yagami at 8:27.
Produce Wrestling “Volume 6: Hell Comes To Dogtown” at the Vermont Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, October 22, 2026 (YouTube)
Produce Wrestling aired a two-match pre-show before its pay-per-view. Here is one of them. Lighting was really good. Tom Lawlor and Jordan Castle provided commentary; I’ve always said Jordan is like a 25-year-old Don West.
Matt Mako and “Violence is Forever” Kevin Ku and Dominic Garrini vs. Tim Bosby, Angel Verduzco, and Joe Dashou. I don’t think I’ve seen Bosby’s partners, and I’ll note that Angel doesn’t have a cagematch.net bio yet. Mako just faced Bryan Keith on Thursday’s ROH episode, and he’s competed in multiple “Bloodsport” shows. Mako opened against the bald Dashou and tied up Joe’s left arm. Jordan Castle said Dashou has trained with Josh Barnett and at the NJPW dojo. Angel, who has long, curly brown hair, entered at 2:00 and battled Garrini. Those two traded chops while they were seated on the mat.
Bosby and Ku entered at 3:30, and Tim dropped him with a shoulder tackle, then a few more! Bosby hit a flying splash into the corner and a hip-toss. Bosby hit an impressive delayed vertical suplex on Ku, then he tagged Dashou back in. However, ViF began working over Dashou in their corner. Mako hit a hard kick and got a nearfall at 6:00, then a double-underhook suplex for a nearfall. Ku hit some hard chops. Garrini hit a stiff Penalty Kick to the chest for a nearfall at 9:00. Mako again went for a cross-armbreaker, but Dashou reached the ropes.
Dashou finally hit a German Suplex on Ku, and he tagged in Bosby at 11:00. Tim hit a flying back elbow on Ku, then a backbreaker over his knee on Garrini. He slammed Mako face-first to the mat, then a powerbomb-style backbreaker over his knee on Ku for a nearfall. Nice! Ku hit a running knee to Bosby’s head, and they were both down. Angel tagged back in, but Garrini hit a series of chops. Angel hit some spin kicks to Dominic’s thighs. Angel hit a suplex with a high bridge for a nearfall.
ViF hit a running knee-and-slam combo for a nearfall at 13:30. Angel hit an impressive fallaway slam with a high bridge for a nearfall! Bosby hit his release F5 slam. Mako hit a back suplex on Bosby. Ku and Angel traded punches, and Kevin kicked him in the face, then hit a running knee! ViF hit the Chasing the Dragon brainbuster combo. Mako applied a standing rear-naked choke on Dashou, who passed out. A lot to like here. The rookies are clearly well-trained.
Matt Mako and “Violence is Forever” Kevin Ku and Dominic Garrini defeated Tim Bosby, Angel Verduzco, and Joe Dashou at 15:49.
Insane Wrestling Revolution “Monsters Ball” at The FOP in Monroe, Michigan, on Thursday, October 29, 2026 (YouTube)
This is a fairly basic, plain room, but it was absolutely packed with a crowd of 300. Lighting is good. I see that Monroe is south of Detroit, along Lake Erie, halfway to Toledo, Ohio. (Editor’s Note: Dot Net Members who listen to the Q&A audio show know Monroe as the Cannabis Capital of Michigan, thanks to Monroe resident and Q&A regular John.)
Jason Hotch vs. Trey Miguel for the IWR Title. Hotch had his TNA International Title as well as the IWR belt. He’s a heel here and jawed at the crowd before the bell. He attacked Trey from behind, and we’re underway! They brawled to the floor; the commentators pointed out we haven’t had a bell yet. They traded chops on the floor. Hotch teased that he was going to throw Trey into the crowd, but didn’t do it. He suplexed Trey across two open chairs (NOT metal folding chairs) as they continued to fight at ringside and trade chops. We still haven’t had a bell!
They got into the ring, and we got a bell at 4:08! Hotch crashed shoulder-first into the corner. Trey hit an enzuigiri, and he dove through the ropes onto Jason. Hotch put him in a Torture Rack, turned it into a Go To Sleep, and scored the pin! WTF? That’s it? Wow. Trey sold a knee injury. Hotch grabbed a chair, and he struck Trey across the damaged leg, and was loudly booed.
Jason Hotch defeated Trey Miguel at 6:02/official time 1:54.
Madman Fulton and Jody Threat vs. Soultaker and Shotzi Blackheart in a Monster’s Ball match. This was the main event. I don’t think I’ve seen Soultaker; he’s a tall Black man in a mask, giving off a lot of Abyss vibes. He’s every bit as tall as Fulton. The guys grabbed each other’s throats, so the women did the same. They all rolled to the floor, went under the ring, and got some weapons. The women hit each other on the floor with thin cookie sheets. In the ring, the women got on the shoulders of their teammate so they could ‘chicken-fight’ with weapons.
Shotzi dove through the ropes onto Fulton at 4:00. All four fought at ringside. The women climbed onto a bar and consumed beers. Jody dove off the bar onto all three at 6:00. The guys got into the ring and traded strikes over the head with thin cookie sheets, and they both collapsed at 8:00. Jody carried a door from the back; so did Shotzi! They got in the ring and threw them at each other, then they traded punches on the mat.
The guys each caught a woman in their arms, and they slammed the women’s backs into each other. The guys hit a double chokeslam. (I hate that move; it is so unrealistic.) Jody picked up Soultaker and threw him onto a door in the corner at 10:00! Shotzi suplexed Fulton through a door. The women brawled, and Jody hit a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall, then some clotheslines in the corner. Shotzi hit a second-rope Meteora to pin Fulton! Good brawl; it never got gross, and no one bled.
Soultaker and Shotzi Blackheart defeated Madman Fulton and Jody Threat in a Monster’s Ball match at 11:31.
New Wave Pro Wrestling “November Reign” at the Clinton Recreation Center in Clinton, Indiana, on November 7, 2026 (IWTV)
I watched the main event. This venue is a gym, and the lights were on, so it was easy to see. The crowd was perhaps 150, but they were pretty spread out, so it looks more empty than it actually is.
Billie Starkz vs. Ashlyn Alexander (w/manager) for the vacant New Wave Pro Women’s Title. Again, powerhouse Alexander reminds me a lot of Piper Niven. She has dyed her hair jet black. A nice pop for Billie. The female ref showed off the belt. Ashlyn attacked at the bell and immediately stomped on Billie in the corner. They fought to the floor just seconds in, and Billie whipped her into the guardrails several times. They got into the ring, where Ashlyn hit a running buttbump in the corner and got a nearfall at 1:30. The heel manager tripped Billie, and he choked her in the ropes. Ashlyn backed Billie into a corner and hit some chops.
Ashlyn hit a snap suplex for a nearfall at 3:00, and she choked Billie in the ropes. Billie hit a neckbreaker and a spin kick. The heel manager hopped on the apron, but Billie knocked him to the floor, then she dove off the apron onto him at 4:30. However, Ashlyn hit a piledriver out of the ropes as Billie was getting back in. She hit a running splash to Billie’s back and got a nearfall. Two heel guys got in the ring, but Billie hit a suplex, and that got a pop. The guys left as quickly as they appeared.
Ashlyn hit a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall at 6:30, but Billie got a foot on the ropes. Billie hit a hard clothesline. She went to the top rope, but the two heels tripped her. Cole Radrick made the save. Billie nailed the top-rope Swanton Bomb for a nearfall at 8:30. Billie hit a uranage, rolled up Ashlyn, and leaned back for added leverage and scored the pin. I liked that, but these two didn’t need the other heel wrestlers interfering.
Billie Starkz defeated Ashlyn Alexander to win the vacant New Wave Pro Women’s Title at 8:49.
1 Fall Wrestling “Episode 59” released on November 10, 2026 (MyAEW)
This is from their training center. Production quality is really good; I really like what QT Marshall is doing with his promotion. The crowd was maybe 200. I’ll note they have a huge show on Nov. 20 in Rome, Georgia, with Bandido, Jay Lethal, and Carlie Bravo in action.
Angelica Risk vs. Lili La Pescadita Ruiz in an Eliminator match for the 1FW Women’s Title. They locked up, and both women are really short, around 5’1″ each. Lili hit a dropkick at 1:30 and got a nearfall. She hit some loud overhand chops. Risk yanked on Ruiz’s hair over the top rope. Risk hit a top-rope crossbody block. She hit a basement dropkick for a nearfall at 3:30, and she applied a rear-naked choke on the mat. [C]
Back from the break, they were on their feet and traded forearm strikes. Ruiz hit a delayed vertical suplex for a nearfall at 6:00. Risk hit a second-rope swinging Flatliner for a believable nearfall; I thought that was it. Ruiz dropped her snake-eyes in the corner, then she nailed a spinebuster for a nearfall at 7:30. She hit a DVD for a nearfall, but Risk grabbed the ropes. They fought on the ropes in the corner, and Risk bit her forehead and hit a superplex! She nailed a running knee to the side of Lili’s head and scored the pin. I liked that.
Angelica Risk defeated Lili La Pescadita Ruiz in an Eliminator match for the 1FW Women’s Title at 9:17.
Komander vs. Adam Brooks vs. Parker Li vs. Rosario Grillo in a four-way. A nice pop for Komander. Both Li and Grillo have competed at the recent ROH tapings. Grillo rolled to the floor at the bell and pointed at his head to show he’s smart for letting the other three fight it out. The three babyfaces … danced? … in the ring, rather than lock up. (Li’s whole gimmick is he’s a male stripper.) Those three finally all traded rollups. Brooks dove onto Grillo at 2:00.
Komander and Li traded fast-paced lucha reversals and had a standoff. Li dove through the ropes onto Komander. In the ring, Brooks hit a Flatliner on Grillo to slam him face-first into the middle turnbuckle at 3:30, then he slammed Rosario for a nearfall. Komander jumped in and rolled up Brooks. Li and Grillo attacked Komander, and they both stomped on him, and those two danced. They hit stereo back elbows on Komander. [C]
Li and Rosario continued to work over Komander. Komander hit a DDT on Grillo at 6:00. Brooks got back in and traded kicks with Komander. Komander went for a springboard move, but Adam caught him with a punch. Adam hit a Helluva Kick and a leaping sit-out powerbomb for a nearfall. Grillo hit a running knee to Komander’s back. Grillo and Li traded punches.
Brooks suplexed Komander into the turnbuckles at 8:00, and he hit a neckbreaker over his knee on Grillo for a visual pin, but a heel manager pulled the ref to the floor! Li hit a Lungblower to Brooks’ chest for a nearfall. Komander flipped Li into the turnbuckles, then hit his springboard Shooting Star Press on Li! However, Grillo threw Komander to the floor and covered the prone Li for the stolen pin. Good action.
Rosario Grillo defeated Komander, Adam Brooks, and Parker Li in a four-way at 9:12.
Primal Pro “Primal Rage” in San Diego, California, on November 8, 2026 (YouTube)
This venue is their small training center, which is essentially a large garage (the far wall is a garage door). GCW has run shows here in the past with some of the Primal Pro talent. The ring is pushed up against one wall, and the crowd is only about 60.
Zara Zakher vs. CJ Tino. Zara’s run as a WWE ID prospect was really short, but she’s billed as “the petite powerhouse,” and she’s really talented. (I believe she earned her ID deal after an impressive match here against Masha Slamovich on that GCW show I mentioned.) Aussie wrestler CJ Tino reminds me a lot of former NXT wrestler Duke Hudson — just shorter. I saw him wrestle live on the preshow of an NJPW Windy City Riot in Chicago a few years ago. Standing switches to open. The commentators said these two have fought before, but there has not been a clear winner.
Zara hit a powerslam, and she got a nearfall. She hit a huracanrana at 2:00, then a top-rope crossbody block for a nearfall. She backed CJ into a corner and hit some chops. Tino dropkicked her as she was on the apron, then hit a double stomp to her chest for a nearfall. He dropped her snake-eyes on the top turnbuckle at 4:00 and was in charge. She hit a mule kick from her back and rolled him up for a nearfall. Tino hit a backbreaker over his knee for a nearfall. He missed a dropkick; she hit a missile dropkick, and they were both down at 6:00.
Zakher got up and hit some running Polish Hammers, then a swinging faceplant for a nearfall. Tino went for a Boston Crab, but she blocked it. She hit a handspring-back-elbow into a corner, but he hit a dropkick into another corner. Zara hit a spinebuster for a nearfall at 7:30. Tino hit an Angle Slam for a nearfall, and they were both down, and we got a “This is awesome!” chant. She hit a Code Red for a nearfall, then a Shining Wizard for a nearfall at 9:30.
They traded chops on the ring apron. She hit some punches to his ribs, then a jumping knee! She went for a top-rope huracanrana, but Tino caught her and applied a Boston Crab! Zara reached the ropes at 11:00. Tino missed a drive-by kick on the floor. She dove through the ropes onto him, then threw him back into the ring. Tino hit an enzuigiri, then a vicious powerbomb! He hit a German suplex for a nearfall; the commentators were shocked she kicked out! Tino scooped her up, but she hit a stunner. Zara did a double backflip-into-a-stunner for the pin! That was really sharp.
Zara Zakher defeated CJ Tino at 12:58.
MLA Worldwide “Episode 39” in Norcross, Georgia, on October 18, 2026 (YouTube)
This is just one match, not the entire show. This does NOT have commentary.
Corinne Joy vs. Sirena Veil vs. Rachel Ley in a three-way. Ley has now appeared on AEW a few times, including as a valet for Andrade El Idolo. (She was also in a video where they were on a yacht.) The match began immediately as the video started; there were no entrances. Ley missed a splash into the corner. Veil hit a rolling cannonball on Rachel, then a Vader Bomb-style senton for a nearfall. Corinne wore green gear (is that supposed to be DC villain Poison Ivy?) Joy hit a punch to Veil’s jaw, and she swore at a fan, then slammed Veil in the corner for a nearfall at 2:00.
Ley hit a Mafia Kick on Joy, then a handspring-back-elbow into the corner. She did a double springboard armdrag. Ley dove off the apron onto both opponents on the floor, then she threw Joy back in, where she hit a forward Finlay Roll and a flipping guillotine leg drop for a nearfall at 4:00. She hit a top-rope moonsault for a nearfall, but Veil made the save. Joy got a rollup on Veil for a nearfall. Joy got some oversized Halloween scissors and jabbed them in Veil’s ribs, then she hit a piledriver. Joy and Ley traded rollups, and they hit stereo clotheslines and were both down at 5:30.
Those two got to their knees and traded punches, then got to their feet. Veil hit a top-rope flipping press onto both of them, and all three were down. They all got up and traded punches. Joy clocked Veil with a discus forearm strike, sending her to the corner, then she traded punches with Ley. Veil applied a double Muta Lock! Both Ley and Joy tapped out. Not always smooth, but I love the potential of all three rising stars.
Sirena Veil defeated Corinne Joy and Rachel Ley in a three-way at 7:50.
New Texas Pro and Borracho Pro “Secret War” on October 18, 2026 (YouTube)
This was an outdoor show; a freeway was in the background, and the downtown skyline. It was light out as it began, but it quickly got dark. One of the ringside cameras worked far better than the other one. The crowd was maybe 60. I watched just the main event.
“Team New Texas Pro” Danny Orion, Jesse Funaki, and Izzy James vs. “Team Borracho Pro” Epydemius Jr., Marvelous Mack, and Ethan Hunter. Epydemius wore the “Ghostface” costume from the “Scream” movie series. I don’t know if I’ve seen Mack; he’s a flamboyant Black man with a huge red feather boa. UK wrestler Hunter, who is the Borracho Pro champion, came out last. (Orion still had his New Texas Pro belt, but he has since lost it.) The crowd chanted “wanker!” at Hunter. Hunter and Izzy opened, but James tagged in Funaki. Epydemius tagged himself in to face Jesse, and we finally had our first lockup at 1:00.
Mack is really tall, and he dropped each opponent stomach-first to the mat, and team New Texas huddled on the ground to plot their strategy. Izzy hit a chop block on the back of Mack’s knee at 6:00, and the New Texas Pro trio took control and worked Mack over. Orion hit a dropkick. Izzy tied Mack’s legs in the ropes. Mack finally hit a double chokeslam. Epydemius Jr. got in and battled Orion. He hit a spin kick to Danny’s ear at 10:30. Hunter got in and hit a back suplex on Orion for a nearfall at 12:00, then a hard back elbow, and the crowd rallied for Danny.
Funaki entered at 14:00 and hit a dropkick, then a DDT on Epydemius Jr. He hit a DDT on Hunter. Hunter and Funaki traded punches. Hunter hit a superkick at 15:30. Orion jumped in and traded blows with Hunter. Hunter hit a superkick on Danny, but Danny dropped him snake-eyes in the corner. Orion nailed a Lethal Injection, but he couldn’t hit his Crucifix Driver. Hunter slammed Danny for a nearfall. Mack hit a Bubba Bomb on Funaki. Izzy hit a rolling DVD on Mack. Epydemius hit a German Suplex on Izzy James at 17:30, and suddenly everyone was down.
Hunter stopped Epydemius from diving to the ground! Mack hit a dive to the ground! Izzy hit a dive to the ground. Epydemius Jr. hit a flip dive to the ground at 19:30. In the ring, Funaki rolled up Epydemius Jr. for a nearfall! Those two got up and traded forearm strikes. Funaki nailed a superkick. Hunter intentionally hit a springboard fadeaway stunner on teammate Epydemius Jr., and he left! Funaki immediately hit a running knee on Epydemius for the pin. A commentator fumed that Ethan Hunter was “a damned turncoat” and said it was “disgusting behavior” to walk out on his Borracho Pro teammates.
“Team New Texas Pro” Danny Orion, Jesse Funaki, and Izzy James defeated “Team Borracho Pro” Epydemius Jr., Marvelous Mack, and Ethan Hunter at 20:52.
Final Thoughts: That New Texas Pro match was really good and well worth checking out. I wish they had filmed it in daylight. Again, lighting was passable but certainly not ideal. Hunter and Orion are both really impressive.
I’ll go with the Komander four-way for second here, and Robbie-Yagami for third. I am stunned that a Trey Miguel-Jason Hotch match (including the brawl before the bell!) went only six minutes. Just shocked. That was the match I tuned in for, and I have to imagine it’s the match a lot of fans attended that show to see.
I’ll point out that nearly every one of these 10 matches is available for free on either YouTube or MyAEW. There is a lot of great, unsigned talent out there.
