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 four different recent indy shows.
Labor of Love “We Real Cool” at First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 27, 2026 (free on YouTube)
This show was held in a church. It’s daytime, so lighting isn’t an issue. The crowd was maybe 200.
Davey Bang and August Matthews vs. “The Outfielders” Weber Hatfield and Shea McCoy in a tag tournament match. This was the show opener. August opened against Weber; they shook hands before locking up. Weber hit a huracanrana but August rotated and landed on his feet. Weber hit a crossbody block at 1:00. Shea entered, and she walked the top rope before she slapped Bang. She hit a slow-motion senton off the ropes, and that got a pop. Silliness. Bang and Matthews hit some quick team moves on Hatfield, and they worked him over in their corner. Bang knocked Shea off the apron at 6:00, and that earned some boos!
Bang and Matthews missed their team double stomps to Weber’s back. Shea finally got the hot tag, and she hit a series of forearm strikes on Bang, then some on Matthews. They superkicked her twice, but Shea pushed Bang into Matthews. Bang and Shea pulled each other’s hair. She hit a Kamigoye Kneestrike for a nearfall at 8:00! Weber tagged back in and battled August. Matthews hit the Cave-In double stomp.
This time, Bang and Matthews hit their team double stomps to Weber’s back. Bang nailed the Spears Tower for a nearfall at 9:30, but Shea made the save. Shea hit more chops on both opponents. She hit a flying shoulder tackle on August, and suddenly everyone was down. Bang and Matthews hit stereo superkicks on her. They again tried a Spears Tower, but she caught Bang with a jumping knee! Weber hit a running back elbow. Weber hit a team Code Red for the pin on Bang. Solid action, but the better team lost.
“The Outfielders” Weber Hatfield and Shea McCoy defeated Davey Bang and August Matthews at 10:57 to advance to the tournament finals.
Matt Mako vs. JTG vs. Marcus Mathers in a three-way for the LOL Citywide Title. This was the main event. Mathers and JTG just had a singles match a week or so earlier in Expect The Unexpected. No surprise that Marcus wore his Phillies-themed blue gear. All three fought at the bell. Mako (who competed on ROH on Thursday!) stomped on JTG. JTG hit a bodyslam on Matt at 2:00. JTG slammed Marcus onto Mako! JTG caught Mathers coming off the ropes, and he hit a swinging uranage for a nearfall. Mathers hit a top-rope crossbody block.
Mako dropped Marcus throat-first across the top rope at 4:30, and he hit a flying kick and kept Mathers grounded. Mako hit a snap suplex, and he went for a Rings of Saturn, but JTG made the save at 6:00. Mako put JTG in an STF! Mathers made the save. Mako hit a Michinoku Driver on Mathers, and he applied a Boston Crab on Marcus while also cranking back on JTG’s chin! Nice double submission spot! JTG escaped at 8:00. JTG clotheslined Mako, and he hit a Pump Kick on Mathers.
The commentators just acknowledged that Mathers and JTG fought a week ago. Mathers hit a DVD on Mako for a nearfall at 10:00, but JTG made the save. JTG and Mathers got up and traded forearm strikes. Mathers hit a huracanrana that flipped JTG onto Mako. Mako hit a uranage on Mathers, and he applied a front guillotine choke on JTG. They all got up and traded chops and forearm strikes. Mako hit some jumping knees. Mathers hit his Ospreay-style heel hook kick to the jaw.
JTG set up for a Razor’s Edge, but he hit a slam on Mathers for a nearfall; Mako stopped the ref from counting. Mako slammed JTG. Mako hit a frog splash on JTG. Mathers hit a 450 Splash on JTG, and he got a rollup on Mako for a nearfall. However, Mako applied his cross-armbreaker in the center of the ring, and Mathers frantically tapped out. Good action.
Matt Mako defeated Marcus Mathers and JTG in a three-way to retain the LOL Citywide Title at 15:30.
Strong Style Pro at the Halifax County Fairgrounds in Halifax, Virginia, on October 2, 2026 (free on YouTube)
This video is just ONE match, not the entire show. This show was held outdoors at the county fair; you can see the carnival rides in the background. It was nighttime, but the lighting is good. Perhaps 80 people were watching; it appears the ring was in the middle of the fair, so people could walk by and watch a match. (Point being, this doesn’t appear to be an event where people had to pay to watch.) There is NOT commentary.
Hunter Price vs. Diego Hill for the SSP Internet Title. My first time seeing Hunter; he’s white with a reddish mullet (think a 20-year-old Heath Slater!) Diego is one of my favorites. We got the bell, and Diego knocked him down with a shoulder tackle. Hunter hit a huracanrana but Diego rotated and landed on his feet. Hill did the same thing, and we had a standoff. Price hit a hurricanrana-into-a-headplant, then a flying forearm into the corner. Diego hit a running Shooting Star Press for a nearfall at 3:30.
Price legit slipped coming off the ropes; Diego was able to sidestep being struck. The girls in the crowd were chanting, “Let’s go, Hunter!” Diego hit a forward Finlay Roll, but he missed a moonsault, landing on his feet. Hunter hit a superkick; Diego hit a spinning heel kick at 6:30. Diego hit a German Suplex, but Price hit a Canadian Destroyer. Hill hit a running knee to the sternum, and they were both down. They got up and traded forearm strikes.
Hunter nailed a spin kick, then a flying leg lariat in the corner at 8:30, and a rolling cannonball. Hunter missed a top-rope move, and Diego hit a running kick, then a moonsault for a nearfall. They went onto the ring apron and traded forearm strikes, and they both collapsed onto the parking lot at 10:30. The ref was counting, and she was admonishing them to get back into the ring. However, neither got up, and the ref reached the 10-count. Okay, match; I guess that’s a decent way to protect a local champion.
Hunter Price vs. Diego Hill went to a double count-out at 11:23; Price retains the SSP Internet Title.
Produce Wrestling “Volume 5 – Express Lane” in New York, New York, on October 12, 2026 (free on YouTube)
The four-match, hour-long pre-show was live and free on YouTube; the rest of the show was a pay-per-view. The canvas was clean and clearly new. The lighting was decent, but the crowd was at most 150.
Nixi XS and Janai Kai (w/Jordan Blade) vs. Tiara James and Kalypto. I’ve seen Kalypto a few times now in the past three months; she wore teal shorts and a teal sports top. Gay icon and fashionista Nixi (who just returned from an extended European excursion) opened against James. Janai and Kalypto entered at 1:00 and immediately traded spin kicks to the thighs and ribs.
Nixi hit a bulldog on Kalypto for a nearfall. The heels worked over Kalypto and kept her grounded. Kai applied a Dragon Sleeper at 3:30, but Kalypto escaped. Tiara got a hot tag and hit some clotheslines on Nixi, then a running swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall, but Janai made the save. Kalypto hit a pop-up knee strike on Janai’s head! Janai nailed a spin kick to Kalypto’s head for the pin. Solid; I wish that had gotten more minutes.
Nixi XS and Janai Kai defeated Tiara James and Kalypto at 5:21.
Gringo Loco and KJ Orso vs. Tiny Giant and Julezee. I’ve suddenly seen Tiny Giant five times in about three weeks; he’s masked and has a good physique. (Despite his name, he’s perhaps 5’6″ — he’s not terribly short.) Orso and Julezee opened and traded standing switches. Julezee dropped him with a shoulder tackle. Julezee hit a bodyslam. Tiny Giant entered at 2:30; Julezee slammed him onto Orso. Gringo Loco tagged in for the first time to tie up with TG. Tiny Giant hit a dropkick that sent Loco to the floor. Tiny Giant and Julezee hit stereo planchas at 4:00.
Back in the ring, Tiny Giant dropped Julezee onto Loco for a nearfall. Loco and Orso began working over Tiny Giant in their corner and stomped on him. Loco slammed him stomach-first for a nearfall at 6:00. In an awkward spot, KJ accidentally tripped on Loco’s feet, and the crowd was unforgiving and taunted them over the miscue. Julezee got a hot tag at 8:00. He hit some open-hand slaps on Orso. Tiny Giant hit a Frankensteiner on Loco. Julezee slammed Tiny Giant onto Loco. KJ hit a back suplex.
Loco hit a swinging faceplant on Tiny Giant for a nearfall. Julezee tagged back in and hit a German Suplex on Loco. KJ hit a top-rope twisting Spiral Tap for a nearfall, but Tiny Giant made the save. Tiny Giant hit an enzuigiri and a back suplex on Orso. Loco ripped off Tiny Giant’s mask, rolled him up, and got the tainted pin, as Tiny Giant was hiding his face. Pretty entertaining action.
Gringo Loco and KJ Orso defeated Tiny Giant and Julezee at 12:39.
Matt Mako vs. Pat Sawyer. I don’t think I’ve seen Sawyer; he’s tall with dark hair, and he wore some face paint. He’s listed on cagematch.net at 6’9″ but I’d bet he’s closer to 6’4″. OH, I didn’t realize I’d have two Mako matches in one roundup! Mako jumped on Sawyer’s back, but Sawyer shrugged him off. Matt tied him up on the mat and snapped the left arm backwards at 2:30. The crowd started a “bald!” catcall at Mako, who tied up Sawyer on the mat.
A commentator talked about Sawyer’s Native American roots. Mako hit a running kick to the side of the head. The crowd rallied behind Sawyer. Sawyer hit some chops in the corner and a big hip-toss. He hit a hard clothesline, then another one and celebrated. Mako applied a cross-armbreaker on the mat, and Sawyer tapped out. Decent action; I’d like to see a bit more of Sawyer — he definitely has some size and presence to him.
Matt Mako defeated Pat Sawyer at 6:15.
Hyan vs. Jordan Blade. Jordan has her hair down today; she nearly always has it up. An intense lockup at the bell. They traded shoulder tackles and had a standoff at 1:30. Hyan hit a top-rope crossbody block for a nearfall. Blade kicked her repeatedly on the shoulder and kept her grounded. Hyan hit a hard clothesline at 5:00 and a back suplex for a nearfall.
Jordan applied a standing sleeper, but Hyan flipped her to the mat. Hyan nailed a spear for a nearfall at 6:30. Blade hit a Helluva Kick into the corner. Blade applied a rear-naked choke on the mat. Hyan got up and briefly escaped, but Jordan re-applied it! Hyan eventually fell backwards to break the hold. Hyan hit a shotgun dropkick. Jordan set up for a Gotch-style piledriver, but Hyan escaped. Hyan hit a Jaded-style faceplant for the pin! Good action.
Hyan defeated Jordan Blade at 10:25.
1FW “Episode 55” released on October 13, 2026 (MyAEW)
Again, this is QT Marshall’s promotion, and a lot of the wrestlers here have been competing on the ROH tapings, too. This venue is the 1FW Arena, and the crowd was maybe 125. Lighting is decent. Notable is not only is there an attractive 1FW logo in the center of the canvas, there are four smaller MyAEW logos in the corners.
Tome Filip vs. Adam Brooks. Two Australians collide in Georgia! Brooks has the size and muscle mass advantage, and he hit some chops and a huracarana that sent Tome to the floor. They briefly fought on the floor. Tome took control as they got back into the ring, and he hit some chops. Filip hit a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall at 2:30, and he choked Brooks in the ropes.
Brooks hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. He kicked Tome off the apron to the floor, then he dove onto him at 5:00! Brooks hit a flying kick into the corner and a Tiger Driver (flipping powerbomb) for a nearfall. Tome pushed the ref out of position, hit a low-blow punt kick on Adam, then his own Tiger Driver for the tainted pin. Decent action.
Tome Filip defeated Adam Brooks at 5:55.
Adam Priest vs. “Smart” Mark Sterling. Sterling wore one of his comically bad, full-body wardrobes. He stalled and wouldn’t tie up at the bell. Priest finally snuck up behind him on the floor and hit some chops. In the ring, Priest flipped him from the corner to the mat at 2:30 and hit some chops. Sterling hit a spinebuster for a nearfall. With the ref out of position, Sterling hit a low-blow mule kick and got a rollup for a believable nearfall at 5:00. He argued with the ref. Priest applied a Crossface Chickenwing, fell backwards to the mat, and Sterling immediately tapped out.
Adam Priest defeated “Smart” Mark Sterling at 5:26.
Jimmy Wild (w/the Supastars) vs. Holden Glass vs. Alan Angels in a three-way No. 1 contender’s match. Again, the Supastars all look like Motley Crue rejects. Glass is a young Black man comparable to Sheldon Jean in Maple Leaf Pro. Angels rolled to the floor at the bell and let the other two fight. They all traded quick reversals. On the floor, Angels and Wild worked together to beat down Glass, and they rolled him back to the ring. Wild crotched Angels in the ropes at 3:00 and hit some jab punches. [C]
Glass hit a series of spin kicks on Wild, and he was fired up! Angels hit a half-nelson suplex on Wild, then he dove through the ropes onto Glass at 4:30. In the ring, he hit a top-rope crossbody block for a nearfall on Wild. Alan set up for an Angel’s Wings, but Glass made the save. Wild hit a Cody-style Disaster Kick on Glass for a nearfall! Angels hit a discus clothesline on Wild. Glass set up for a superkick, but Stokely Hathaway appeared and grabbed Holden’s ankle! It allowed Wild to hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on Glass for the pin! Decent action; I’d like to see more of Holden Glass.
Jimmy Wild defeated Holden Glass and Alan Angels in a three-way to become the No. 1 contender at 6:48.
Final Thoughts: The Mako-Mathers-JTG match is definitely the one to check out of these 10 matches. I’ll go with Jordan Blade-Hyan for second, and the Diego Hill match for third. I’ll point out that all 10 of these matches are available for free, either on YouTube or on MyAEW.
