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 five different recent indy shows.
Freelance Wrestling “Welcome To Logan Square” at Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago, Illinois, on October 2, 2026 (IWTV)
This two-level ballroom is my favorite venue in indy wrestling. Freelance is just addicted to intergender matches. They have four women on the show, but spread out over three intergender matches. Why not just book rising teen star Izzy Moreno against ring vet Kylie Rae? Why not book a first-time-ever singles match between B3cca and Shazza McKenzie? Those are far more interesting matches.
Izzy Moreno and Kylie Rae vs. Sean Login and Mason Morgan. I’ve noted that Login gives young HBK vibes, and Mason is a young, flamboyant Black cheerleader. Login and Kylie opened. Izzy entered at 1:30 and hit a dropkick for a nearfall. Login tied up Kylie’s left leg on the mat. Mason tagged in at 3:00. The guys kept Rae in their corner. Mason struck Kylie and did a cheer dance. He missed a moonsault. Izzy got the hot tag at 6:30, but the ref missed it and ordered Moreno back to her corner.
The men continued to work over Kylie in their corner. Login hit a bulldog for a nearfall. Izzy finally tagged in at 8:00 and hit a series of clotheslines on Morgan. She hit a second-rope crossbody block for a nearfall and switched to a cross-armbreaker, but Login made the save. Login hit a spinebuster on Izzy for a nearfall. Kylie hit a second-rope superplex on Login at 10:30. Izzy hit a Lungblower to his back, and she applied a crossarmbreaker, and Sean tapped out! Kylie also tied up Morgan so he couldn’t make the save.
Izzy Moreno and Kylie Rae defeated Sean Login and Mason Morgan at 11:01.
Chico Suave vs. Shazza McKenzie (w/Mason Morgan, Sean Login) for the Freelance Legacy Title. The rotund luchador Suave is fairly popular here. Basic reversals early on. She bailed to the floor to regroup with her minions, so Chico dove onto all three at 1:30. Login and Morgan stomped on Suave. In the ring, Shazza hit a stiff kick to the spine for a nearfall at 4:00. She stayed in charge, stomping on him and keeping Chico grounded. She tied him in an Octopus Stretch at 5:30.
Chico set up for Scotty 2 Hotty’s “Worm,” but the minions jumped in the ring, so he hit a double stunner on them. Shazza hit a fisherman’s suplex for a nearfall at 7:00. Chico hit a back suplex for a nearfall, but Morgan pulled the ref to the floor. The ref argued with Morgan. Meanwhile, Login hit a low-blow uppercut on Chico! Shazza hit the Splits Stunner! The ref rolled back into the ring and made the three-count! New champion!
Shazza McKenzie defeated Chico Suave to win the Freelance Legacy Title at 8:11.
“The Syndicate” Shane Mercer, Davey Bang, and August Matthews (w/James Russo) vs. Craig Mitchell and “White Meat” Robbie Reeves and Stone Ambrose. Ambrose (who thinks he’s a dog) opened against Bang. Within seconds, all six were brawling. Mercer entered, and he threw Ambrose around the ring. He’s quite the powerhouse! August hit a running kick on Stone for a nearfall at 2:30. Stone hit a German Suplex. Reeves, a thick young kick, entered and hit a swinging uranage. A commentator noted how Reeves has leaned out since he started wrestling.
Bang hit a handspring-back-elbow on Reeves. The older Mitchell tagged in at 5:00 and hit some clotheslines on Mercer, then a Michinoku Driver. Craig hit a Black Hole Slam on Matthews, and he hit an impressive standing moonsault. Ambrose — with a tennis ball in his mouth! — hit a top-rope bulldog for a nearfall at 7:30. Mercer scooped up Ambrose and held him above his head, but Reeves made the save. Mitchell hit a hard clothesline on Mercer, and suddenly everyone was down at 9:00.
Mercer nailed Moonsault & Battery on Reeves for a nearfall, but Ambrose hit a ‘Dog Splash’ to break it up. Matthews threw a chair at Mitchell’s head — I hate that! — but only got a one-count at 10:30. Bang and Matthews each hit some Buzzsaw Kicks on Craig. Bang went for the Spears Tower, but Mitchell blocked it with a knee strike! Mitchell hit a package piledriver on Matthews for a nearfall, but Bang grabbed the ref’s ankle! Bang and Mercer struck the ref with a chair! A new ref ran in. We finally got the bell. (I stopped the stopwatch at the bell, not when the ref was hit.)
Craig Mitchell and “White Meat” Robbie Reeves and Stone Ambrose vs. “The Syndicate” Shane Mercer, Davey Bang, and August Matthews was ruled a no contest at 12:15. (Mitchell’s team should have won by DQ.)
Trevor Outlaw (w/Frank the Clown) vs. B3cca for the Freelance Title. International pop star B3cca got to sing for the Florida crowd before her ROH match that aired Tuesday. She sang “Hot Bod” on her way to the ring, and she has new black gear. Trevor isn’t particularly tall, but of course he has a strength advantage. He flipped her to the mat, and a commentator said Travis isn’t taking B3cca seriously. B3cca hit some forearm strikes and a stiff kick to the spine at 1:30. She hit a dropkick and celebrated; the crowd was fully behind her.
B3cca hit a shotgun dropkick into the corner and a series of punches. B3cca hit a rolling somersault off the apron to the floor, and she hit some chops as Outlaw was leaning against the guardrail at 4:00. Outlaw shoved her face-first into the ring post. They got into the ring, but he choked her with a shirt or a towel. He hit a spear into the corner, then a suplex. Frank reached into the ring and choked her in the ropes at 7:00. B3cca hit a huracanrana and some running back elbows. Outlaw tied B3cca in a cravat against the ropes and kept her grounded.
They fought onto the stage, and she nailed a splits leg drop over his chest at 10:00. In the ring, she hit a top-rope crossbody block for a nearfall. Outlaw hit a running swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall at 11:30. B3cca fired back with a running kick to the side of Outlaw’s head for a nearfall. Outlaw hit a superplex, but she held on and hit a suplex at 13:30! She nailed a top-rope 450 Splash for a visual pin, but Frank pulled the ref to the floor at the two-count.
Outlaw hit a Pedigree for a nearfall, then a Cross Rhodes for a nearfall at 15:00. Frank tossed the belt into the ring, but B3cca grabbed it and struck Trevor across the forehead with it! She hit a TKO stunner for a nearfall. They traded rollups. He hit a second Cross Rhodes for the pin. A fun, well-booked match… but why not just put B3cca in a first-time-ever singles match against Shazza McKenzie?
Trevor Outlaw defeated B3cca to retain the Freelance Title at 17:21.
New Outlaws Wrestling “NOW Paradise” at Camping Lac des Pins Inc., in Saint-Antoine-Abbe, Quebec on September 17, 2026 (IWTV)
This is an attractive, large hall on the south side of the Montreal metro area. Lighting was downright awful; there were times the ringside cameras were really dark. (I don’t pretend to understand why it suddenly was so dark and nearly impossible to see.) I opted to watch matches with two of my favorite Canadian wrestlers (Dreya Mitchell and Zak Patterson), and I’ve advocated that Maple Leaf Pro use them both at future tapings.
Dreya Mitchell vs. Chris Hollow. Dreya is a tall Black woman, and she’s an impressive athlete. My first time seeing Chris; he’s white with long black hair. They took turns playing to the crowd at the bell. Of course, he attacked her from behind and was booed. She got up and hit some chops; she’s about 5’11” and might be taller than Hollow. She hit a basement dropkick for a nearfall at 2:00. Hollow hit a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall. He hit some forearm strikes and knocked Dreya down and kept her grounded in a cravat.
Dreya hit some forearm strikes, so Hollow grabbed her hair and yanked her to the mat at 5:30. Chris hit a springboard Blockbuster for a nearfall. They got up and traded more forearm strikes. She hit a Helluva Kick and a spinebuster for a nearfall at 7:30. Dreya hit a discus forearm strike and a DVD, then a Michinoku Driver for the pin! Fun match.
Dreya Mitchell defeated Chris Hollow at 9:54.
Zak Patterson vs. Matthieu St. Jacques. Zak is a young powerhouse, still in his early 20s. They immediately traded punches! Matthieu hit a senton. He set up for a dive to the floor, but Zak caught him with a chairshot. In the ring, Zak repeatedly stomped on him in the corner. He hit a backbreaker over his knee at 2:00, and he tied up St. Jacques on the mat. Matthieu threw a chair at Zak’s head. (The lighting from the ringside camera was suddenly awful, and I couldn’t see a thing. They should stick to the hard camera.)
Matthieu hit a superplex at 5:30. They got up and traded clotheslines. St. Jacques pushed some boards and doors into the ring. Patterson hit a belly-to-belly suplex into a door in the corner. He charged but wound up crashing through a door at 9:00. They took turns slamming each other through doors in the corner. They took turns striking each other with door shards. Matthieu hit a stunner for a nearfall at 11:00. Matthieu pushed a door into Zak’s face. Zak hit a low-blow punt kick and an Ospreay-style Stormbreaker for a nearfall at 13:00.
Zak dumped a small bag of thumbtacks on the mat. However, Matthieu hit a spinebuster onto the tacks for a nearfall. Zak hit a Stomp onto the tacks! Matthieu threw Zak through a door in the corner, then hit another spinebuster onto the pile of tacks for the pin. Decent brawl; we just don’t need those chairshots to the head.
Matthieu St. Jacques defeated Zak Patterson at 15:06.
Hooligan Championship Wrestling “Independent Road” at the Evansville National Guard Armory in Evansville, Indiana, on September 26, 2026 (IWTV)
This venue is a large gymnasium. I’ve seen a few shows here; the lights were on, and it’s easy to see.
Airica Demia vs. Karter Cauffman. Good to see Airica back on the indy scene after leaving the WWE ID system. Cauffman has the look and gimmick of a softball player; I’ve seen her a few times in Rhodes Wrestling Association in Texas. A clean lockup; Demia is about 5’8″ and maybe three inches taller. Demia twisted Karter’s left arm. Karter dropped her with a shoulder tackle at 1:30. Karter rolled to the floor to regroup. Demia hit her anime fireball punch (no special effects!) Karter caught a leg and slammed Demia to the mat.
Cauffman backed her into a corner and hit some chops. She hit a sliding kick to the face in the corner at 4:30. Karter hit a snap suplex. Demia hit a punch to the jaw and a running back elbow, then an Eat D’Feat. Demia went for a DVD, but her legs gave out. Cauffman set up for a Widow’s Peak, but dropped Airica hard on her knees. Airica rolled to the floor at 7:00 and sold the pain in her leg. She got back in before the 10-count. She hit a flying punch and her version of an Eye of the Hurricane (inverted DDT) for the pin. Good while it lasted.
Airica Demia defeated Karter Cauffman at 7:49.
Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment “It’s All Good,” at the Loud Bird Arena in Marietta, Georgia, on October 4, 2026 (free on YouTube)
This is a really dark room; it looks like a factory. Lighting and overall production were well below-average quality. Quite bluntly, if this were an easier watch, I would have viewed more of the show. The crowd was maybe 60. The Good Brothers and Robyn Renegade participated in other matches I didn’t watch.
Tristan Moody vs. Avery Styles for the Georgia Crown Title. I think I’ve seen Tristan once. He is clearly short (maybe 5’6″?) with short, black hair. The commentators said Moody has been competing in Dragongate in Japan for the past three months, and this was his first show back. Moody had 22 matches there over three months! Quick standing switches at the bell. Avery hit a dropkick at 2:00. They fought to the floor and fought at ringside. A commentator noted Avery now has about a dozen matches under his belt. Avery hit a running knee strike on the ring apron.
They continued to loop ringside, with Styles hitting some chops. In the ring, Styles hit a suplex for a nearfall at 4:00. Moody hit an enzuigiri that knocked Styles off the apron to the floor at 5:30. Tristan brought him back into the ring and hit a snap suplex, and he planted his foot in Avery’s throat. Avery hit a huracanrana at 7:30. Moody hit a dropkick for a nearfall. He hit a stiff kick to the spine. Avery hit some forearm strikes and a leaping Fameasser, then a sliding forearm strike for a nearfall at 9:30.
Styles hit a moonsault press and caught Moody’s head. Instead of hitting an inverted DDT like AJ would, he hit a Cross Rhodes for a nearfall. Tristan hit a Lethal Injection for a nearfall! Styles slammed him for a nearfall at 11:30. Tristan hit a Phenomenal Forearm for a nearfall! “The disrespect!” a commentator shouted about Moody hitting that move on Styles. Moody missed a Shooting Star Press. Avery hit a Pele Kick! Styles went to the top rope to go for a Spiral Tap, but Moody’s minion shoved Avery off the top rope to the mat, causing the DQ! Lame finish to a really good match.
Avery Styles defeated Tristan Moody via DQ at 13:27; Moody retains the Georgia Crown Title.
* Two or three henchmen jumped in the ring and attacked Avery. The commentators said they needed to go to intermission, but “keep your eyes on social media.” WELL, the live reports were that AJ Styles ran in and saved his son from the beatdown. It’s clear to me that the commentators knew this was happening, but were not allowed to show it. Disappointing.
Eddie Kingston vs. Alexander Lev. This was the main event. Lev is a regular in the Georgia scene; he faced Avery in Nebraska during GCW’s trek through the Midwest over Summer Slam weekend. He’s young and short, with short, black hair. Eddie hit some punches. He hit some chops and kept the smaller Lev grounded. Lev hit a second-rope missile dropkick at 5:00. Lev hit an STO uranage and a stomp to the back of the head for a nearfall. Lev hit a back suplex. Kingston hit a back suplex, and they were both down at 7:00.
Kingston backed Lev into a corner and hit some rapid-fire chops. Lev hit a discus clothesline and a brainbuster for a nearfall. Eddie hit some Exploder Suplexes, and he peeled down the straps of his singlet! He nailed a spinning back fist for a believable nearfall at 9:30. Eddie hit a half-nelson suplex. Lev hit a hard back elbow for a nearfall. They got to their knees and traded forearm strikes. They got to their feet and traded more blows. Eddie hit some open-hand slaps, an enzuigiri, and his spinning back fist for the pin. Good action.
Eddie Kingston defeated Alexander Lev at 11:58.
Pro Wrestling Supershow “Summer’s Last Stand” at the VFW Post in Brockton, Massachusetts, on September 18, 2026 (IWTV)
I’ve always liked these family-friendly events, but they do NOT have commentary, and I know that’s a big turnoff for some viewers. Lighting and production are decent.
Liviyah vs. Vile. I’ve only seen Vile once before; she’s blonde with Joker-style lipstick spilling onto her cheeks. She’s a bit crazy! She jawed at the kids as she came to the ring. Standing switches to open, and Liviyah threw her to the mat. They both appear roughly the same height and body build. Liv hit a dropkick. Vile caught Liv on a crossbody block and slammed her to the mat at 1:30.
Vile draped Liviyah over the ropes and hit a punt kick between her legs! Ouch! Vile took control, and she hit a bulldog for a nearfall. Liviyah hit a second-rope crossbody block, and they were both down. Liv got up and hit some clotheslines and a flying shoulder tackle at 3:30, then a suplex. She hit another crossbody block and her implant DDT for the pin. Fine for what it was.
Liviyah defeated Vile at 4:23.
DJ Powers vs. Anthony Greene for the PWS Title. We got the bell, and they glared at each other for several seconds before an intense lockup. They traded chops in the corner. AG hit a bodyslam. Powers hit a hard clothesline at 1:30, and Greene fell to the floor. In the ring, DJ planted his foot in Greene’s throat and was in charge. AG hit a back-body drop and a running neckbreaker at 3:00, and he was fired up! Greene hit a swinging faceplant, and he clotheslined DJ to the floor, then dove onto him.
Greene hit a superkick on the apron, then a springboard twisting crossbody block back into the ring, and he got a nearfall. DJ hit a jumping knee and a Pedigree for a nearfall at 5:30. Greene hit a pumphandle swinging slam for a nearfall, and he locked in a half-crab at 7:00. DJ hit a superkick and a second-rope twisting neckbreaker, with them both crashing to the mat. They got up and traded forearm strikes. AG hit a superkick. DJ hit a DVD and a Claymore Kick for a nearfall at 9:30.
DJ hit a series of forearm strikes, but AG just absorbed them, and it fired him up. Powers hit a suplex into the turnbuckles. He went for another Claymore Kick, but Greene caught the leg and re-applied a half-crab at 12:00! Nice! Greene hit a superkick. DJ pushed Greene into the ref in the corner! Greene hit a Buzzsaw kick, and he jawed while standing over Powers. He hit another one, and Powers begged for mercy. Greene backed off. Of course, DJ hit a low-blow uppercut, but Greene no-sold it.
Greene reached into his trunks and removed his cup. Greene nailed his second-rope Unprettier faceplant for a believable nearfall at 15:30. Greene hit some chops. Powers hit a standing powerbomb, then a frog splash for a nearfall at 17:00, and he was shocked he didn’t get a win there. DJ hit a second-rope Unprettier for a nearfall! He hit another frog splash for the (shockingly) clean win. That was really, really good.
DJ Powers defeated Anthony Greene to retain the PWS Title at 17:52.
Final Thoughts: Powers-Greene was the best of these 11 matches and well worth checking out. I really did like the B3cca-Outlaw match, and I’ll rank that second, but I’ll reiterate that I just don’t understand the love for intergender matches today. There is no doubt in my mind that Kylie Rae vs. Izzy Moreno and Shazza McKenzie vs. B3cca in first-time-ever singles matches is a better use of all their talents. (Izzy and Kylie have an upcoming singles match elsewhere.)
Styles-Moody earned third place of these 11 matches. Too bad WWE didn’t allow the AJ Styles footage to air, but both promotions have done this. (AEW didn’t allow a match airing of Kyle Fletcher vs. Skye Blue match, with Will Ospreay as special referee, for example. That match is hidden somewhere in the Chicago Style Wrestling vault.)
All five of these shows are available in their entirety, and I wish I had time to watch them all, but that would have taken perhaps 13 hours. I’ll say this… these 11 matches would have made for one heckuva good show.
