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 five different recent indy shows.
Chicago Style Wrestling “Harvester of Sorrows” at American Legion Post 974 in Franklin Park, Illinois, on October 10, 2026 (IWTV)
This is their usual venue. It’s a small VFW. They pack it, but the crowd is only perhaps 200. The lights were on, and it’s easy to see. I picked out four of the nine matches.
Shazza McKenzie vs. Sierra for the CSW Women’s Title. Sierra is on par with Dani Luna in size, build, and power. Haven Harris was a surprise special guest referee, and Shazza was not pleased with this development. Both women got quick rollups, and neither was happy with Haven’s count. Sierra hit a back-body drop at 2:00, then a basement dropkick for a nearfall. Shazza hit a DDT on the ring apron. She barked at Haven as she got back into the ring and got a nearfall at 3:30. Shazza hit a stiff kick to the spine, and another, then a running knee for a nearfall.
Sierra hit a German Suplex and a Meteora in the corner for a nearfall at 6:00. Shazza nailed the Splits Stunner for a visual pin, but Haven saw that Sierra got a foot on the ropes. Shazza got up and bumped into Haven. She grabbed her belt, but Haven also grabbed it. They had a tug-of-war over the belt (you’ve seen this before!), and Haven pulled the belt away, but it accidentally struck Sierra in the head! Shazza covered the knocked-out Sierra. Haven was forced to make the three-count. After she won, Shazza struck Haven with the belt for good measure.
Shazza McKenzie defeated Sierra to retain the CSW Women’s Title at 7:46.
Solomon Tupu vs. Marshe Rockett for the CSW Men’s Title. Again, I’ve compared Tupu to Bronson Reed, but shorter. This was mid-show, so I’m expecting a screwy finish. They locked up, and Rockett has a noticeable height advantage. Tupu pushed him into a corner and hit some chops, and he clotheslined Rockett to the floor at 1:30. Tupu followed, and they brawled at ringside. Rockett slammed him back-first on the ring apron at 3:00. They got into the ring, and Rockett hit a dropkick for a nearfall. Marshe hit a powerslam for a nearfall.
They hit stereo clotheslines and were both down at 5:30. Rockett hit some clotheslines, but Tupu hit a uranage out of the corner, then a senton for a nearfall at 7:00. Rockett nailed a spear for a believable nearfall! Tupu hit a rolling cannonball in the corner. Erik Surge appeared at ringside and distracted Tupu! Erik got on the apron and jawed at Tupu. Tupu avoided being hit by a belt shot, and he hit a running body block. He climbed the ropes, glared at Surge, and hit a Tsunami frog splash on Rockett for the pin. Good match, and it further sets up Tupu’s next opponent.
Solomon Tupu defeated Marshe Rockett to retain the CSW Men’s Title at 9:10.
The Ring of Destiny. This is a Royal Rumble match; I don’t know the number of participants. When we get down to the final four, it becomes a four-way elimination match. Rafael Quintero drew No. 1 and Chris Miller drew No. 2. Rafael dove onto Miller as he approached the ring! (Miller is a Green Bay Packers fan, wearing a green-and-gold singlet; that’s guaranteed heat in Chicago! He wrestled in one of the earlier matches.) Adam Stallion (No. 3) entered at 1:00. Jack (or is it Shaq?) Jordan was No. 4; I don’t know him. He’s a young Black man who made me think of Elix Skipper.
Steve Boz was No. 5 at 2:30; they are coming out faster than the promised one-minute intervals! Shane Hollister entered at No. 6 and he immediately brawled with Boz. The tie-wearing attorney Eric Schultz was No. 7. No eliminations yet. FXB was No. 8 at 4:30. Axel Rico was No. 9. Hans Carden was No. 10. He put Miller in his half-crab, but of course, you can’t win via submission (not yet anyway). Victor Analog was No. 11. Erik Surge was No. 12 at 8:30, and a commentator said that Erik had the final spot. OKAY, eliminations are just now allowed! (Weird rules) We got a surprise No. 13! It’s Jake Painter.
Analog tossed Hollister. Schultz was tossed. Quintero tossed Miller. Rico tossed Stallion. Boz tossed Jordan. Painter tossed Boz. Hans tossed Painter. Surge tossed Hans, and at 12:30, we’re down to the final FOUR: Erik Surge, Axel Rico, Victor Analog and Rafael Quintero. Everyone ganged up on the bigger Surge. They all clotheslined him to the floor, but that is no longer an elimination! Quintero dove onto him.
On the video screen, Warhorse taunted Victor Analog! Warhorse said they are going to have a strap match in November! The distraction allowed Rico to hit a running knee and pin Analog at 15:05. Surge hit a double clothesline on Rico and Quintero, then a snap suplex on Rico. Surge hit a headbutt for a nearfall on Rico at 17:00. Surge rolled up Rico with a handful of tights to pin him at 17:57, and we’re down to our final two!
Rafael hit a running knee to the side of the head for a nearfall. Surge hit a spinebuster for a nearfall. Rafael hit a DDT onto the ring apron at 20:30. He rolled Surge back into the ring and hit a frog splash. However, Jake Painter returned to ringside and shoved Rafael off the top turnbuckle to the mat. Surge immediately hit a Hidden Blade forearm strike to the jaw to pin Quintero. Solid action. (Based on what we saw in the Tupu-Rockett match earlier, this was 100 percent predictable. The two matches should have been swapped in the match order.)
Erik Surge won the 13-man “Ring of Destiny” to earn a future title shot at 21:21.
* Tupu came out and brawled with Surge. They’ll have their title match in November, and Surge’s lackeys are banned from ringside!
Kylie Rae vs. Lili La Pescadita Ruiz. We got the bell, but they circled each other before finally locking up. They twisted each other’s left arm. Kylie mocked Ruiz’s dance. Ruiz hit a delayed vertical suplex for a nearfall at 3:00. They brawled to the floor, and Kylie whipped her face-first into the ring post. In the ring, Kylie threw her to the mat by her hair at 6:00. Kylie tied up Lili’s arms and stretched her. Kylie hit a hard clothesline for a nearfall at 7:30. Lili hit a second-rope superplex, and they were both down at 9:00.
Lili hit a huracanrana and some hard back elbows, then a spinebuster for a nearfall. Ruiz got a backslide for a nearfall at 10:30, and they traded rollups. Ruiz nailed a brainbuster for a nearfall. They got up and traded forearm strikes. Kylie hit a Russian Leg Sweep at 12:00 and immediately applied a Crossface on the mat, but Ruiz rolled her over for a nearfall. Ruiz hit a Death Valley Driver for a nearfall, but Iniestra appeared and put Kylie’s foot on the ropes! Lili argued at her former partner (and real-life husband!). It allowed Kylie to get a rollup with a handful of tights for the pin!
Kylie Rae defeated Lila La Pescadita Ruiz at 13:30.
* Lili got on the mic and challenged Iniestra to a stretcher match in November!
International Wrestling Cartel “Super Indy 25” at Court Time in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, on October 3, 2026 (IWTV)
This is a gym, and it’s pretty packed, possibly 400. The overhead lights are down low; the lighting is okay but certainly not ideal. This is an eight-man tournament. The show opened with a montage of winners from the first 24 years, including Adam Cole, Cole Karter, and Delirious. I watched two first-round matches.
Bill Collier vs. Sam Holloway in a first-round tournament match. Two BIG, tall men! They both appear to be about 6’8″. Collier wears plain trunks, not his “Agent Zero” TNA look. An intense lockup, and Sam dropped him with a shoulder tackle. Sam hit a flying elbow drop for a one-count at 1:30, and he clotheslined Collier to the floor. Moments later, Collier dove over the top rope onto Holloway! Sam pushed Collier against the ring post and hit a LOUD chop to the chest. Collier slammed Holloway back-first on the apron. In the ring, Collier hit a delayed vertical suplex at 4:30. Impressive!
Collier hit a leaping guillotine leg drop for a nearfall. Sam hit a powerbomb, and they were both down at 6:00. Sam hit some hard clotheslines and a double-underhook suplex, then a big dropkick for a nearfall. Collier fired back with a Claymore Kick for a nearfall at 7:30. Sam hit a spear into the corner for a nearfall. Bill hit an enzuigiri and a Cradle Shock for a nearfall. Sam hit a sit-out chokeslam for a nearfall at 9:30, and we got a “This is awesome!” chant. Sam went to the top rope, but Bill tripped him. Collier hit a second-rope superplex, then a running forearm strike and a spear for the clean pin! Good big-man action.
Bill Collier defeated Sam Holloway at 10:35 to advance to the semifinals.
Nic Nemeth vs. Tyler Breeze in a first-round tournament match. Tyler still comes out to his unique WWE theme. It’s Tyler! Nemeth wore his TNA World Title belt. Some basic offense early. They both teased superkicks and had a standoff at 1:30. Nemeth flipped Breeze to the floor. They brawled at ringside. They got in the ring, and Nemeth immediately hit a Fame-asser leg drop for a nearfall at 3:30. Breeze hit a stunner for a nearfall.
Nemeth nailed a superkick for a nearfall at 5:00, and they were both down. Nic hit an Unprettier faceplant for a nearfall. Breeze hit a “Danger Zone” (Nemeth’s finisher!) for a nearfall at 6:30; the commentators were shocked Tyler nearly got a win with that. Nemeth hit his own Danger Zone (leaping inverted DDT) for the pin. Really good action while it lasted, but I still expected this to last much longer than this. They shook hands and hugged.
Nic Nemeth defeated Tyler Breeze at 7:23 to advance to the semifinals.
NOTE: Bill Collier went on to win the tournament.
Apple City Championship Wrestling, at the Brookford Auditorium in Hickory, North Carolina, on October 10, 2026 (IWTV)
I’ve seen several of their shows from this auditorium. The ring was pushed up against the auditorium stage, and fans sat around the other three sides of the ring. The audio is too quiet; I can barely hear the commentary team over the crowd.
Landon Hale vs. Bojack vs. Jake Parker vs. Jonny Baker in a four-way for the Catawba Valley Title. I don’t know Parker or Baker at all, but Bojack and Hale are two of my favorites. They all bumped fists at the bell before locking up. Bojack clocked Hale and sent him to the floor. Bojack hit a double suplex on the other two at 1:30. Hale got back in and tried some chops on the massive Bojack, who no-sold them. Bojack hit a German Suplex on Hale! Baker (who is white, thick, and bald) hit a huracanrana on Bojack!
Parker (think Jake Doyle) scooped up Baker and slammed him onto Bojack at 3:00. Parker hit a sliding crossbody block on Baker for a nearfall. Baker hit a Flatliner on Parker. Bojack got back in and hit some forearm strikes. Baker hit an awkward Samoan Drop on Bojack for a nearfall at 4:30. Parker hit a spinebuster on Baker. Parker hit a clothesline on Baker, and he squared off with Bojack, and they traded some forearm strikes and chops. Hale hit a double missile dropkick onto both of them at 6:30.
Hale hit a huracanrana on Baker, then a plancha onto Bojack. In the ring, he hit a Lethal Injection on Parker! Hale hit a springboard tornado DDT on Bojack. Bojack and Baker slammed Hale face-first on the apron at 8:00. Parker dove through the ropes onto them. In the ring, Parker hit a Bulldog Powerslam on Hale, but Baker made the save. Baker hit a slam on Parker for a nearfall. Bojack nailed a massive senton! Bojack hit a pop-up powerbomb on Baker for a nearfall, but Hale made the save, and everyone was down at 9:30, and we got a “This is awesome!” chant.
Baker and Parker fought. Bojack hit a Pounce on Baker! Parker hit a double-arm DDT on Hale! Parker hit a discus forearm on Bojack and a clothesline into the corner, then a Helluva Kick. Bojack hit a clothesline. Parker hit a Black Hole Slam on Bojack! Baker hit a forearm strike on Parker. Hale hit a 619 on Baker, then his flying stunner. He rolled up Parker, flipped his body over for added leverage, and scored the flash pin. I really liked that; the two guys I didn’t know both looked good here.
Landon Hale defeated Bojack, Jake Parker, and Jonny Baker in a four-way to retain the Catawba Valley Title at 11:56.
Chaotic Pro Wrestling “The Devil In Me” at the Irish American Club in Malden, Massachusetts, on October 9, 2026 (free on Youtube)
They have a really good setup and a professional stage. They packed this small room with perhaps 150 fans. I watched the final two matches.
Ichiban vs. Jose Zamora. Ichiban is popular across New England. Zamora is the smug heel who wears a camera around his neck so he can record and livestream his life 24/7. They traded shoulder tackles. Ichiban hit some armdrags and a dropkick at 1:30. Zamora took control, but he paused to talk into his camera. Ichiban backed him into a corner and hit some “One!” punches, then his springboard twisting crossbody block. Ichiban argued with the ref over the count. Zamora hit a Lungblower to the back for a nearfall at 3:30.
Zamora stomped on him and kept him grounded. Ichiban hit a stunner. He hit some clotheslines and another stunner, then a 619 at 6:30. Ichiban hit a frog splash to the back for a nearfall. Jose hit a swinging faceplant for a nearfall! Ichiban caught him with a superkick. Zamora hit a leaping neckbreaker at 8:30. Ichiban hit a second-rope twisting suplex, and they both crashed to the mat. He hit the Ichiban Kai (leaping Flatliner) for the pin! I enjoyed that.
Ichiban defeated Jose Zamora at 9:06.
Tyree Taylor (w/Coach Cashew) vs. JTG for the Chaotic Pro Title. I’ve routinely said that Taylor is a cross between Willie Mack and Shane Taylor; he’s a big guy! They tied up and rolled to the floor at 1:00 and brawled along the guardrails. In the ring, JTG hit a leaping clothesline. Tyree backed him into the corner and hit some loud chops at 5:00. He stood on JTG’s chest and kept him grounded.
They got up and traded punches. Cashew reached in at 7:30 and tripped JTG. A woman dubbed “The Matriarch” came out from the back, and she argued with Cashew. The ref ejected them both. Meanwhile, Tyree hit a splash to the mat for a nearfall at 9:00. They got up and traded forearm strikes. They hit stereo clotheslines and were both down. JTG scooped him up and hit an impressive swinging uranage for a nearfall at 11:30! Nice!
The ref got bumped in the corner! JTG hit a Sling Blade clothesline, but the ref was down! Coach Cashew ran back to the ring. He swung his clipboard and missed. JTG hit his swinging uranage on Cashew at 13:30! However, Tyree hit a decapitating clothesline; the groggy ref crawled over and made a two-count! Tyree threw him throat-first into the turnbuckles. As JTG was stepping through the ropes, Tyree kicked the ropes to crotch him, then Tyree rolled him up for the tainted pin. Lame finish to a decent brawl.
Tyree Taylor defeated JTG to retain the Chaotic Pro Title at 15:18.
TNA “Xplosion” October 9, 2026 (free on YouTube).
This was released Wednesday, and it features real-life married couple Gabby Forza and Bear Bronson on opposite teams. (They also fought during the Rumble match at Bound For Glory, with Forza eliminating Bronson.)
Gabby Forza and KC Navarro vs. Bear Bronson and Alisha Edwards. The men opened, and Bear easily shoved the smaller KC to the mat. KC hit a superkick, but Bear hit a Black Hole Slam for a nearfall at 1:00. He choked Navarro in the ropes. Alisha choked him, too! Bronson kept Navarro grounded. KC hit a tornado DDT. Gabby got the hot tag at 2:30, and she hit some clotheslines on Alisha, then her Bulldog Powerbomb for a nearfall. Gabby put Alisha on her shoulders, but Alisha raked the eyes to escape.
Gabby picked up KC in a Gorilla Press and tossed him to the floor onto Bear! However, Bear threw him into the ring steps. He glared at Gabby and got in the ring! (The commentators did not refer to their real-life relationship!) Bear shoved her, so she hit a series of forearm strikes. She hit a big bodyslam! She scooped him up and put him across her shoulders, but Alisha made the save! Gabby hit a spear on Alisha. However, Bear hit the Fire Thunder Driver (piledriver) to pin Gabby! That was fun.
Bear Bronson and Alisha Edwards defeated Gabby Forza and KC Navarro at 5:18.
Final Thoughts: The four-way with Bojack and Landon Hale wound up being the best match of these 10. I’ll go with Holloway-Collier for second, ahead of Ruiz-Kylie Rae.
I generally like Chicago Style Wrestling, but of the four matches I checked out, three involved outside interference or a distraction that led to the pin, with the other being a ref accidentally hitting a wrestler. That’s just poor booking. Sometimes, people just need to win clean. You can do that finish here and there, but not on every top match.
