Obscure Independent Wrestling Thread

[mizfan]

So there are more indy promotions out there than you can shake a stick at, and occasionally I run across stuff that doesn't seem to fit anywhere else, so might as well start this thread and see if anyone has any local/super under the radar stuff to talk about! Here's what I saw lately:

Gino Rivera vs. Manny Lemons, DWO Full Access Championship 2/24/18 DWO Pain Rising

This is a single cam shot with a roving ringside handheld camera, so you can't expect tremendous video quality, but all the action is captured reasonably well. I've certainly seen worse production values! Anything to get the footage out there, I say. They establish really well early on that Rivera is the heel and Lemons the beloved face, and the crowd, though small, reacts appropriately, which always warms my heart. Gino seems to be quite good in his role, nicely stalling or trying to take shortcuts. Lemons is a bit nondescript but with a bit of charisma to his name, and while I can't say the wrestling was especially notable in terms of "work-rate", they executed a simple story well and kept the crowd engaged. A perfectly solid match, if both guys continue wrestling I think we could hear more of them in the future as they continue to improve.

[LWO4Life]

Might as well post one of my old favorites. A long time ago, I use to be in the Minnesota Indy scene. Here is Arik Cannon, which is funny to watch this match because Stevie Fierce is now the cocky young heel, back when I went to 1st Ave every month to watch the indy show, Cannon was the young cocky heel who pissed off the fans. It's the circle of life... LOL

[mizfan]

Always thought Cannon could have been a breakout indy guy in the 00s more than he was. Not at all sad to add this match to my list, should be a good watch!

[mizfan]

Checked out that Freelance match!

I am a BIG Arik Cannon fan, I think he had the potential to break out in the 00s indy scene in the same way that, say, Chris Hero did, but for whatever reason it never happened, seemingly because he moved to Minnesota and stopped traveling so much so his exposure was limited after a certain time. Can't blame a guy for taking it a bit easy but he's always impressed me, right up to today, and this match is really no different. I appreciated a lot how the commentary team referenced his technical ability, which is considerable and shows off how he was influenced by guys like Hero and Mike Quackenbush in those early 00s days. Stevie Fierce was a new face to me but he did well as a cocky "sexy" heel. He had one bit where he knocked down Cannon, then started doing push ups and kissing him on the forehead as he went down. It was a bit odd but I can see how it would be effective. This was actually pretty short so I can't say it was more than solid but it looked like a good product overall, wouldn't mind seeing more Freelance or Cannon stuff, LWO.

[mizfan]

Haven't popped in here in awhile... anybody seen any good under the radar stuff lately? I've got this one on deck!

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher 3/20/16 Tier 1 Match to Victory

Speaking of Thatcher! I actually recommended this one to Pete so he could get a look at Thatcher, but I hadn’t seen it myself so I figured I’d take the time to watch it as well. Not sure if he ever had a chance to sit down with it but I enjoyed it very much overall. Thatcher’s physical, technical style is a definite throwback in a way that really works for me, he invariably forces his opponents to adapt to his powerful grappling and it almost always creates and interesting outcome. Ciampa is, of course, a pleasure to watch, even before he made it to NXT I was a fan of the guy and this is no exception. His knee strikes in particular always get me! Great match here, perhaps not MOTY but well worth a watch.