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 six matches from across three different recent indy shows. (Because there were some longer matches here, I kept this review to fewer matches.) I’ll note that all of the matches in this roundup come from YouTube, so they are free to check out.
Bodyzoi, “First Anniversary” at the Salle Bodyzoi in Frameries, Belgium, on August 16, 2026 (released September 2 on YouTube)
This was a six-match show. I skipped the first three matches and watched the final three. This has FRENCH-ONLY commentary, so I turned down the sound. Lighting over the ring was really good, and the crowd was maybe 400. I’ve noted this before, but Frameries is on the border with France, straight north of Paris.
Rhio vs. Anita Vaughan. Rhio is on quite a roll in the European scene and was featured in the Rev Pro show a day before AEW’s All In. Anita is white with long hair halfway down her back; I’ve seen her a few times in Germany-based wXw. They started brawling on the floor, and I started the stopwatch. They got into the ring, and Rhio tied her up on the mat. Anita knocked her down with a shoulder tackle at 3:30, then she hit a backbreaker over her knee and a snap suplex for a nearfall. Rhio hit a shotgun dropkick at 5:00. She hit some shoulder thrusts to the ribs in the corner and took control.
Vaughan hit a hard forearm strike at 8:00, and they were both down. Rhio stomped on her repeatedly and kept Vaughan down. Rhio hit a hard clothesline in the corner at 11:30. They got up and traded forearm strikes. These are clearly stronger, bigger women — not heavy but just bigger. (I fully believe either of them could beat the crap out of an average woman.) Vaughan hit a hard clothesline at 13:00. Rhio hit a spinning heel kick to the jaw, and they were both down. They traded forearm strikes. Vaughan hit another hard clothesline.
A female wrestler hopped on the apron and distracted the ref, so Vaughan punched her. Anita turned around, and Rhio clocked her with a leaping headbutt. Rhio hit a twisting neckbreaker for a believable nearfall at 16:30. Anita hit a back-body drop. She charged into the corner, but Rhio caught her with a Mafia Kick, then Rhio applied a full nelson and a backbreaker over her knee for a nearfall. The female wrestler got back into the ring and attacked, but she accidentally hit Rhio, causing the DQ. Good action but a lame finish.
Rhio defeated Anita Vaughan via DQ at 18:16[official time of 16:43.
Daniel Garcia vs. Adam Frost. I saw Frost on the last show; he lost a tournament match to Trent Seven. He’s white with short, dark hair. He has tattoos on his chest, ribs, and arms. A feeling-out process early on; I doubt these two have met before today. They got into a knuckle lock and traded offense. Frost grabbed him by the waist and slammed Garcia to the mat, then mockingly did Daniel’s dance moves. Frost hit a second-rope flying back elbow for a nearfall at 2:00. Garcia hit a Dragonscrew Legwhip, and Frost immediately sold the pain in his knee. Garcia hit a second one.
Frost hit a spin kick to the head at 5:00 but sold the pain in his knee. He tried a top-rope move and jammed his knee again upon landing. Garcia applied a sleeper on the mat at 7:00. He switched to a half-crab ankle lock, but Frost reached the ropes. Garcia hit some chops as Frost was leaning against the ropes. Frost spun him to the mat and applied a crossface. Garcia applied a Sharpshooter at 9:00. Garcia hit an enzuigiri; Frost hit a clothesline, and they were both down. This has been really sharp.
They got up and traded forearm strikes. Garcia hit a leaping piledriver for a nearfall at 11:00. He hit his signature, repeated elbow strikes to the side of Adam’s head. Frost hit an enzuigiri and a gutbuster over his knees for a nearfall, but Daniel grabbed the ropes. Frost’s legs buckled. Garcia hit a running knee to the sternum, and he re-applied the Sharpshooter. Frost grabbed Garcia’s head and got a rollup for a nearfall; Garcia rolled him over for the flash pin! A really sharp match in front of an appreciative crowd.
Daniel Garcia defeated Adam Frost at 13:25.
* Frost angrily untied his boots! The crowd knows what that means! Even in French, I know they are begging him to stop and not leave them behind (as it means he’s retiring!) They wound up giving him a standing ovation.
Ricky Sosa vs. Trent Seven for the vacant Bodyzoi Title. I watched a handful of matches from their prior show, where Sosa and Seven won the quarterfinal and semifinal matches, setting up this finale. The belt was displayed in the center of the ring with one fighter on each side. We are at 2:29 of a video that runs 3:22 — is this match really going 40+ minutes? They shook hands at the bell and locked up; Sosa is a full head taller. Ricky tied up the left arm on the mat and kept Seven grounded. They traded shoulder blocks at 5:00. They are certainly setting a pace to go long!
Sosa hit a wind-up bodyslam and a senton for a nearfall. He missed a Lionsault but landed on his feet. Sosa hit a dropkick, then a dive through the ropes onto Trent at 6:30. Seven got in the ring and dove onto Ricky. Sosa hit an awesome dive over the top rope! They traded chops on the floor. Sosa slammed him onto a table. Seven hit a series of chops against the ring post and a DDT onto the ring apron at 11:30, and they got into the ring. Seven hit an Irish Whip and got a nearfall, then a suplex for a nearfall at 13:30.
Seven hit a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall. Sosa nailed a leaping Frankensteiner, then a moonsault press for a nearfall at 15:00. This crowd was going nuts! Seven ducked a Rainmaker clothesline and hit a German Suplex. They hit stereo crossbody blocks. They got up and hit stereo clotheslines and were both down. Ricky hit a dropkick, knocking Seven off the apron to the floor. Sosa then hit a moonsault onto him. In the ring, Seven hit a top-rope fadeaway stunner for a nearfall at 18:30. Seven hit a top-rope Dragon Suplex and a leaping piledriver for a nearfall at 20:00.
They got up and traded blows. Sosa landed an enzuigiri. Seven hit the Rainmaker clothesline for a nearfall, then a Tiger Driver for a nearfall at 21:30. Seven hit a Flatliner for a nearfall. Sosa hit some pump kicks. Seven hit a DDT. Sosa hit a Styles Clash for a nearfall at 24:00. Seven hit another Rainmaker clothesline, then a Burning Hammer for a nearfall. Ricky hit a series of pump kicks and his own Rainmaker for a nearfall at 27:00. Sosa hit a double stomp to the chest for a nearfall. Seven hit a Canadian Destroyer and another Burning Hammer for a nearfall, and they were both down at 28:30.
Seven missed a top-rope corkscrew splash. Sosa immediately hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall! He hit a running knee, then a diving European Uppercut, and a top-rope fadeaway stunner for a nearfall at 30:00. Sosa put Seven on his shoulders and hit a neckbreaker. Sosa ran the ropes to pick up speed, and he hit a running European Uppercut to the chest for the pin! That was really, really good action. The crowd danced along to Sosa’s music, and confetti fell on Ricky’s head.
Ricky Sosa defeated Trent Seven to win the vacant Bodyzoi Title at 30:19.
Title Match Network “Ladies Night Out 17: Puerto Rico” in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on August 7, 2026 (free on YouTube)
Title Match Network has held several of these “Ladies Night” shows, including one over WrestleMania weekend with around 16 matches! As per usual, they have released individual video files for each match, not the entire show. I only recognized a few names in the lineup; most are clearly locals in the Puerto Rico scene. Lighting is decent, and the crowd was maybe 200. Commentary was in Spanish!
Masha Slamovich vs. Daisy Lyn. Lyn wore green-and-blue, and she’s clearly a top babyface here. They opened with some quick rollups and Daisy hit a huracanrana, then a shotgun dropkick. Masha hit a Cave In stomp out of the corner at 1:30, then a snap suplex for a nearfall. She grabbed Daisy’s hair and yanked her to the mat! She held onto Daisy’s wrists and stomped on Daisy’s chest. Slamovich tied both arms behind Daisy’s back and kept her grounded. Masha hit a pump kick to the chest at 4:30. Daisy hit an armdrag and a huracanrana, then an awkward springboard back elbow at 6:30, as she slipped coming off the ropes.
They got up and traded some overhand chops. They are roughly the same height and overall size, but Masha’s chops certainly sounded louder! Masha hit some spin kicks. Daisy hit a TKO stunner for a nearfall. Masha went to the floor, so Daisy hit a somersault off the apron onto Masha on the floor. They traded forearm strikes in the corner, and Masha hit a second-rope Air Raid Crash, then a running knee for a nearfall, but she pulled Daisy up! Daisy rolled her up for the flash pin out of nowhere! Masha sat up, shocked that it just happened.
Daisy Lyn defeated Masha Slamovich at 9:58.
United Wrestling Network “Red Carpet Rumble” at Thunder Studios Arena in Long Beach, California, on August 7, 2026 (YouTube and on MyAEW)
There were six matches plus the 30-man Rumble. I don’t see nearly enough from the California scene; I looked at the names of the 30 men in the Rumble, and there are only 13 of them that I can confidently say I’ve seen wrestle at least five times. (And two of those, teammates Danger Ross and Livewire Charlie, are probably right at five or six times total.) Lighting is always good here, and the crowd was maybe 150. The excellent trio of Johnny Loquasto, Christian Cole, and Todd Keneley provided commentary.
Jordan Cruz vs. Che Cabrera for the UWN World Title. Cruz is a regular up-and-down on the West Coast, and he has a great physique; he’s no tiny luchador! They traded clotheslines at the bell. Che did a Gorilla Press, dropping Cruz snake-eyes in the corner, then he hit a Mafia Kick. They fought to the floor at 2:00. Cruz pulled Che shoulder-first into the ring post. In the ring, Cruz tied him up in a headlock. He hit a Claymore Kick and got a nearfall at 4:00. Jordan applied a standing sleeper, but Che ran backwards into the corner to escape.
They did the spot where they suplexed each other over the top rope to the floor at 5:30. Che hit a powerslam for a nearfall at 7:00. Jordan hit a second-rope superplex for a nearfall. Che hit a neckbreaker over his knee, then a Magic Screw twisting neckbreaker off the ropes for a nearfall at 9:00. Jordan hit a DDT out of the ropes for a nearfall. He applied a sleeper on the mat, but Che powered up to his feet and flipped Cruz to the mat. Che hit a hard clothesline at 11:30; Jordan countered with a jumping knee to the jaw. Jordan nailed the No More Sorrow neckbreaker over his knee for the pin. Good big-man match.
Jordan Cruz defeated Che Cabrera to retain the UWN Title at 11:50.
The Red Carpet Rumble. This was the main event. Peter Avalon was our ref. Again, I truly don’t know more than half the field! Loquasto said intervals are 60 seconds, and the final two participants will have a regular one-on-one match. The winner will face Jordan Cruz for the UWN Title. Wille Mack drew No. 1, and he won the second-ever Red Carpet Rumble in 2014, the commentators said. Richard Holliday drew No. 2! Two big names to start! Mack hit some chops; Holliday tried his Signature Move, the low-blow uppercut. Brett Ryan Gosselin was No. 3 at 2:00 (they are already a minute late!) A bit surprising to see the East Coast-based BRG here.
The muscular Halex was No. 4 (I love that we have on-screen graphics so I can spell names right!) Holliday flipped out Halex in a matter of seconds! “The Epic” was No. 5; he also has a crazy, muscular physique! A lot of his look makes me think of Malakai Black. He held BRG upside down and just dropped him. Honest John was No. 6 at 6:00. Dan Parker was No. 7; the commentators called him “the cocky Canuck.” EJ Sparks, a young Black man, was No. 8 at 8:30. Just one elimination so far. “The Anomaly” was No. 9, and he’s billed as being seven feet tall. He’s a big bald guy. (I think he might have wrestled on the last ROW taping.) He started chokeslamming everyone.
Anomaly and Epic traded blows. Bad Dude Tito was No. 10, and he is also a former winner of this match. Tito clotheslined The Epic over the ropes to the floor. G-Sharpe was No. 11 at 14:00. Damian Desire drew No. 12, and we have ten in the ring. The chubby Tr1n3ll3, in a white T-shirt and white shorts, was No. 13. Anomaly eliminated Tr1n3ll3! ROH vet Tyler Bateman was No. 14 at 17:30. Honest John was tossed. Anomaly clotheslined BRG and Dan Parker out. Bryce Saturn was No. 15 at 19:00. Fidel Bravo was No. 16; he’s pretty short. I am seeing maybe 10 guys in there.
Tito tossed EJ Sparks. Livewire Charlie was No. 17 at 21:30, and he got a big pop — he also has muscles on his muscles! Former TNA wrestler Luster the Legend was No. 18 at 23:00. Cisco Ayala was No. 19; he wore a long, majestic robe and has a young Juventud Guerrera vibe. Rob McKnight (also commonly called Rob Shit in GCW) was No. 20 at 26:00. Rob put his fingers into his crotch and applied a Mandible Claw on the Anomaly. Gross. Tito tossed G-Sharpe. Danger Ross was No. 21. (Again, both Ross and Livewire Charlie are essentially doing the Ultimate Warrior look and style.) Those two hit a team Gorilla Press and stereo elbow drops.
Tito tossed Fidel Bravo. Ring vet Lord Crewe was No. 22 at 29:00; he’s had several ROH/AEW matches. Crewe tossed Danger Ross. Crewe and Luster worked together to toss Livewire Charlie! High-flyer Bodhi Young Prodigy, who is still just a teenager, was No. 23. He’s been on several GCW shows, too. The screen got really pixelated and impossible to see for a bit. The muscular McCallion was No. 24. This is embarrassing how bad the screen looks right now. I can’t see anything. Holliday hit a low-blow uppercut on several guys. Bodhi hit a huracanrana to flip out Holliday. The screen suddenly is visible again.
Bodhi was tossed. Jake Redondo was No. 25; I recall he had a good match here against TJP on an earlier UWN. Right on cue, the commentators mentioned that. Redondo tossed Ayala. A masked guy named Slade was No. 26; this is not the Slade who competes in GCW. Tito tossed Rob McKnight. The commentators agreed that was at least his fourth elimination. The rotund R-Three was No. 27 at 37:30; he’s clearly a bit older, and Christian said he thought R-Three was retired. Skynr, who wore white face paint, was No. 28. Evan Daniels was No. 29; he lost a title moments earlier in a match I didn’t watch.
The Anomaly tossed Daniels and Bryce Saturn, and those two brawled to the back! This massive, tall, bald Anomaly has several eliminations, too! Scorpio Sky was No. 30 at 42:00, and he got quite a pop! (If intervals were every minute, everyone would have entered by 29 minutes.) We have maybe a dozen guys in the ring. Luster the Legend tossed someone, and Crewe also tossed someone. Willie Mack, who started, is among the final 10 or so guys. Crewe and Luster tossed the Anomaly at 44:30!!!! Skynr was tossed.
I am seeing EIGHT in the ring. Redondo tossed the rotund R-Three! We’re down to seven. Tito tossed Luster at 46:00. Scorpio Sky tossed Lord Crewe! Redondo tossed Bateman! Our final four are Redondo, Scorpio Sky, Bad Dude Tito, and Willie Mack! They all got up and brawled. Mack and Tito traded forearm strikes. Tito eliminated Willie Mack at 48:30! Scorpio clotheslined Redondo to the floor, so this became a singles match. Ref Pretty Peter Avalon got in the ring, and we got a bell at 49:37.
Tito hit a powerbomb for a nearfall. Sky hit a D’Lo-style Sky High powerbomb for a nearfall. Scorpio hit a suplex and a running knee for a nearfall, and they were both down at 51:30. Tito nailed a decapitating clothesline, then an F5 Slam for the pin! Tito has earned a title shot!
Bad Dude Tito won the 30-man Red Carpet Rumble at 52:18.
Final Thoughts: Yes, make a point of going to watch Ricky Sosa vs. Trent Seven. I feel like TNA has already cooled Sosa off far too quickly — he shouldn’t have gotten pinned by the System at the PPV. A pretty enjoyable Rumble match. I haven’t seen much of Redondo, but he looked like he belonged in that final mix. Of course, the guys I knew dominated the newcomers. It was laid out pretty well. All three matches I watched from Belgium were pretty good. So, I heard a bit of French and Spanish this morning. And I’ll reiterate all these matches are free on YouTube.
Be the first to comment