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 eight matches from across four different recent indy shows. I’ll point out that all these matches are available for free, either on YouTube or on MyAEW.
1 Fall Wrestling (1FW) “Summer Stage 2” at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 17, 2026 (Episode 51, on MyAEW)
This episode was released Wednesday. I reviewed all of episode 49 and Jay Lethal’s match from episode 50. They had a good, packed crowd at Center Stage for the show. I opted to watch just the main event this week. Like last week, “Road Dogg” Brian James was a guest on commentary.
Darby Allin vs. Kiran Gray in a no-DQ match. Kiran executed a leg sweep during the ring introductions, and we’re underway! Gray hit some European uppercuts, and he kept Darby grounded. They went to the floor. Kiran got a table from under the ring. Darby got a leather, studded belt, and he whipped Kiran with it. Back in the ring, Darby hit a hard back elbow, then an inverted DDT (Scorpion Death Drop!) for a nearfall at 3:30. Both guys were bleeding quite a bit — I think that studded belt cut Kiran open.
Kiran opened a toolbox and got a roll of tape. He taped Darby’s hands behind his back. Kiran hit a splash to the mat for a nearfall at 5:30. Darby kicked Kiran backwards and through the table in the corner at 7:00. (Darby’s hands were free now.) Darby put Kiran’s hand inside the toolbox and stomped on it! Darby hit a top-rope Coffin Drop onto Kiran on the floor! In the ring, Kiran did another leg sweep as Darby was standing on a chair, knocking Darby to the mat.
Kiran whipped a chair at Darby (which is inexcusable). Gray set up several chairs. He went for a frog splash, but Darby moved, and Gray crashed onto the open chairs! Ouch! Darby immediately hit a Code Red for a believable nearfall, and they were both down at 12:00. They got up and traded open-hand slaps. Kiran hit a spinebuster. I hope this is the final match of the show because the mat was splotchy red. Darby put Kiran in a Scorpion Death Lock (Sharpshooter), and Kiran tapped out. A bloody brawl.
Darby Allin defeated Kiran Gray in a no-DQ match at 13:15.
EVE – Riot Grrrls of Wrestling “Episode 4” released September 18, 2026 (MyAEW)
I watched the first two episodes in their entirety, and I’ll continue to catch matches that feature women who routinely compete in the U.S. This match was recorded at “Wrestle Queendom” on March 8 at Indigo At The O2 in London, England. This is a large room. Cagematch.net states that the crowd here is 1,200, but I am just not seeing anywhere close to that many people.
Willow Nightingale vs. Nina Samuels (w/Abi Cartwright) for the AEW TBS Title. The crowd chanted and sang the tune they also sing for Bayley. Nina (formerly of NXT UK) was irritated with the crowd and stalled early. She tried a shoulder tackle, but Willow didn’t budge. Willow dropped her with a shoulder tackle at 2:00, so Nina rolled to the floor to regroup. Back in the ring, Nina choked Willow in the ropes. Willow hit a Russian Leg Sweep at 6:30. Nina was going for a pin; Abi distracted the ref, but it may have cost Nina a win!
Abi choked Willow, but the ref saw it and ejected her. Willow fired up and hit some clotheslines at 8:00, then a spinebuster for a nearfall. Willow hit a German Suplex, then a Bulldog Powerslam for a nearfall at 9:30. Nina did a cartwheel-into-a-knee drop on the back of the head for a nearfall. They got up and traded forearm strikes, and Willow hit another clothesline, and they were both down at 11:30.Nina hit an axe kick to the back of the head.
Willow hit a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron, and they both collapsed to the floor. In the ring, Willow missed a rolling cannonball. They fought on the ropes in the corner. Nina hit a sit-out powerbomb for a nearfall at 14:00. Nina hit an impressive top-rope 450 Splash for a nearfall. Willow avoided a gutwrench suplex, and she nailed a Pounce! Willow hit the Babe With The Power gutwrench powerbomb for the pin. A thoroughly enjoyable match.
Willow Nightingale defeated Nina Samuels to retain the AEW TBS Title at 16:01.
Produce “Volume 4 – Express Lane” at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Sunday, September 13, 2026 (YouTube)
The main show is a pay-per-view on MyAEW: I checked out two of the four matches on the free pre-show hour. Walker Stewart and Tom Lawlor provided commentary. This is the pre-show, but the canvas is splotchy and gross — I wouldn’t want to roll around on that! Pretty unprofessional look for a show on a PPV.
Kalypto vs. Jordan Blade in the Luna Vachon women’s tournament first-round match. I’ve seen Kalypto just a few times; she has long black hair. She wore boxer shorts and a plain black sports top that seems practical for a fight. Standing switches to open. Jordan snapped Kalypto’s fingers, and she was issued a “yellow card” warning. Kalypto hit a Helluva Kick and a suplex for a nearfall at 2:00.
Jordan hit a German Suplex; she mounted Kalypto and hit some punches. Blade hit a basement dropkick to the back for a nearfall. Kalypto hit a spin kick to the jaw at 4:00. They got up, and Kalypto hit a jumping knee strike, and she applied a rear-naked choke. Jordan applied her own rear-naked choke, and Kalypto tapped out! That was a sudden finish!
Jordan Blade defeated Kalypto at 5:07 to advance.
* Sam Leterna interviewed Jordan, and Sam noted the next round of the tournament will take place on a show in October.
* A vignette aired for “Chance U”, encouraging young pro wrestlers to enroll in the school. This segment was better than NXT ever put together for Andre Chase.
Andre Chance (w/Terry Yaki, Jay Lucas) vs. Oxx Adams. I must reiterate that the seven-footer Oxx has lost a significant amount of weight in the past year and looks fantastic. He really has become the indy’s version of Brody King. Walker noted that the former Andre Chase made a name for himself in this area before going to WWE. Oxx dropped Chance with a shoulder tackle. Chance tried a plancha, but Oxx punched him on the way down at 1:30. Andre hit a running cannonball off the apron and barreled onto Oxx on the floor.
In the ring, Oxx hit a sidewalk slam for a nearfall. He did some push-ups and was booed. Oxx dropped Chance with a shoulder tackle for a nearfall at 3:30. Oxx applied a bear hug. They fought on the ropes in the corner, and Andre bit Oxx’s forehead! Chance hit a top-rope crossbody block for a nearfall at 5:00. Chance hit a Lungblower to the chest and a Shining Wizard to the back of the head for a nearfall. Oxx nailed a Choke Bomb for a believable nearfall. Oxx hip-tossed him across the ring, but he missed a spear! Chance got a schoolboy rollup for the flash pin.
Andre Chance defeated Oxx Adams at 7:04.
* Andre called Tim Bosby to the ring and invited him to join Chance U. Bosby came out, looked like he was accepting, but then he backed out.
Rhodes Wrestling Association “80s Fever 2” at the RWA training center in Leander, Texas, on September 13, 2026 (YouTube)
I’ve seen several of their shows. This is a factory-style building with a really high roof. The 100 or so fans all sit on just one side of the ring. Lighting over the ring is pretty good; overall production values are high. They also have on-screen graphics, so I’m not guessing at spellings of the newcomers. Their commentary team is much better than when they launched.
“The Texas Outlaws” Wyatt Rhodes and Wayne Rhodes vs. Cordell Bennett and Movie Myk for the RWA Tag Team Titles. This opened the show. Again, Wyatt is the younger brother, a bit taller, with the wild blond (almost white!) hair of his grandfather and his uncle Dustin. Wayne is more slender and looks more like his uncle Cody. Cordell (think Anthony Bowens) and Wyatt opened. Wayne hit a top-rope crossbody block on Cordell for a nearfall. Wayne hit a dropkick at 2:00 that sent Bennett to the floor to regroup.
Myk (think Velveteen Dream) entered and hit some European Uppercuts. Wayne knocked him to the floor, and Myk shouted “Cut!” to stop the action. Wyatt attacked both challengers on the floor. In the ring, the Rhodeses went for a team finisher, but Cordell broke it up. The heel commentator called the Rhodeses “nepo babies.” Cordell hit a jumping knee on Wayne for a nearfall at 5:30, and he kept Wayne grounded in a rear-naked choke.
The challengers kept Wayne in their corner. Wyatt got the hot tag at 8:30 and brawled with Myk. Myk got a rollup on Wyatt, with his feet on the ropes, for a nearfall. Myk distracted the ref; Cordell struck Wyatt in the back of the head with a boot, then he hit a springboard stomp on Wyatt’s head! Myk covered the prone Wyatt for the pin! New champions!
Cordell Bennett and Movie Myk defeated “The Texas Outlaws” Wyatt Rhodes and Wayne Rhodes to win the RWA Tag Team Titles at 10:27.
Garrett Borden vs. Victor V. Garrett has the same build and impressive physique as his brother, Steve. Garrett easily threw this scrawny kid into the corner. Victor slapped his face! Garrett hit a release fallaway slam and a Stinger Splash, then a TKO stunner for the pin! I actually would have preferred that be longer, so Borden can learn some more moves, timing, pacing, etc.
Garrett Borden defeated Victor V at 1:10.
Vert Vixen and Jazmin Allure vs. “The Dudettes” Karter Kauffman and Sophie Rose. The Dudettes were dressed like “Dude Love” in tie-dye shirts. (Karter usually is dressed like a softball player.) Oh, they also both have a sock puppet. Vert and Jazmin attacked, and we’re underway! Karter pulled Vert into their corner, and the Dudettes worked her over, hitting a team bulldog for a nearfall at 1:30. Jazmin got in, but Karter hit a sliding dropkick on her. Vert hit a second-rope elbow drop to Karter’s back and took control.
Vert hit a clothesline into the corner. Jazmin tagged in and repeatedly stomped on Kauffman. Vert slammed Allure onto Karter for a nearfall at 6:00. Vert hit a spin kick to the head and a bodyslam. Allure hit a hesitation dropkick into the corner. Vert hit a sliding dropkick, too. Sophie finally got a hot tag at 8:30, and she hit some clotheslines on Allure. They did a double hair-mare faceplant and were both down. Sophie hit a facebuster over her knee on Allure. The Dudettes hit some stereo kicks on Allure. The Dudettes put on their sock puppets and applied stereo mandible claws!
Vert slammed Karter onto Sophie; Allure made the cover for a nearfall. Sophie hit an X-Factor. Vert nailed a flying spin kick on Sophie. Karter hit a Black Hole Slam on Vert, and suddenly all four were down at 12:30. Allure and Rose got up and traded forearm strikes. Karter hit a straight punch to Vert’s jaw. Jazmin hit a DDT for a nearfall. Karter dove through the ropes onto Vert. In the ring, Rose hit a Lungblower to Allure’s chest for a nearfall. Rose hit the Splits Stunner for a nearfall, but Vert made the save. Rose rolled up Jazmin for the flash pin! Good action.
“The Dudettes” Karter Kauffman and Sophie Rose defeated Vert Vixen and Jazmin Allure at 14:59.
Jimmy House vs. Vin Parker for the RWA Title. House was known as CJ Valor in WWE Evolve, but he’s back to using his indy name since he left the ID program. He’s now a heel here. Parker has flowing black hair and a great physique, too. They tied up and traded intense reversals on the mat. Vin kept him grounded in a headlock. They traded rollups. House placed him on the top rope and dropkicked Vin on the back at 5:00. House’s manager reached into the ring, and she slapped Vin, too.
House hit a fallaway slam and got a nearfall. Vin hit some jab punches. They brawled on the floor, and House whipped Vin head-first into the ring post at 8:30. They got back into the ring and continued to brawl. Vin hit a powerslam, then a second-rope moonsault for a nearfall at 10:00. House hit a second-rope belly-to-belly suplex for a nearfall. He hit a Chaos Theory for a nearfall. Vin hit a Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall.
House picked up Vin, but the ref got bumped and was still on his feet. House went for a spear, but he struck the ref at 12:30! House grabbed his title belt, swung, and missed. Vin grabbed the belt, and he struck House with it! Vin got a visual pin, but we had no ref! The heel manager tried the ‘Eddie spot,’ tossing the belt to Vin, and she collapsed to the mat. (She shouldn’t be in the ring to begin with! How does that work?) The ref put the belt away, and she hit a low-blow punt kick on Vin! House immediately got a rollup with a handful of tights for the tainted pin.
Jimmy House defeated Vin Parker to retain the RWA Title at 14:38.
Final Thoughts: I really dislike all the blood loss in that Darby-Kiran match. Tony Khan has invested a lot in Darby. I am surprised he would allow Darby to work a match like that before a small, non-AEW crowd. There is just no excuse for throwing a chair at someone’s head. WWE understands this, and for the most part, you don’t see it in AEW either.
I didn’t realize when I started to watch the brand-new EVE episode that the Willow match was actually six months old, but it was still the best match of these eight. If you haven’t checked out MyAEW yet, you really should. Not only do they have full shows from a variety of indies, but they have posted a lot of random single-match videos of wrestlers who are now well-known.
As I watched Garrett Borden win in a short, dominating fashion, I couldn’t help but think about a WCW Saturday Night TV taping I attended in Mankato, Minnesota, probably in 1998. The crowd chanted for Goldberg for an hour before he finally came out and beat Van Hammer in about a minute. It was fun, but perhaps that match should have been a bit longer so Goldberg could have learned more about timing and pacing. Point being, a five-minute match might have been better for him to learn.
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