Well the inaugural IWTV Showcase of the Independents has come and gone. In a timespan full of wrestling, IWTV provided a weekend full of diverse wrestling. From Deathmatches to Pure Wrestling to Tag Teams there was a whole platter of wrestling for everyone. Having watched the whole slate of events, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite matches across the whole weekend of shows.
Robert Martyr vs Dominic Garrini – IWTV Family Reunion Block A
As a fan of Paradigm’s UWFi Contenders Series, this match in particular was a must see. Going into this match, this was looking like a star making fight for Robert Martyr. He has talked up a big game across two seasons and in this one he got to show that he can hang with the best under UWFi Rules. But by no means did Dominic Garrini roll over for him as Dom pushed the young Martyr to his limits and showed exactly why he’s the “UWFi-con” in Paradigm.
Lee Moriarty vs Edith Surreal – IWTV Family Reunion Block A
This is a match I have personally described as technical wrestling bliss. Lee and Edith got absolutely scientific in the hold for hold battle that is this match. Edith asserted herself as a serious contender and Lee gave a strong showing of what his reign with the IWTV Independent Wrestling Championship will look like.
Daniel Garcia vs Kevin Ku – IWTV Family Reunion Block B
A true prize fight was this one as both the C4 Wrestling and Limitless Wrestling Titles were on the line. Ku and Garcia put it all out on the line in this match. They went to war just as hard standing up as they did on the ground trying to wear each other out. In my opinion, this is a match that we’ll most definitely be looking back at when the end of the year discussion of Best Matches comes up.
Lee Moriarty vs Steve Madison – ICW No Holds Barred Volume 11: Here & Now
Not only is this a first time match, but this is also the first appearance of the IWTV Independent Wrestling Championship in ICW. This was going to be an interesting one as Lee Moriarty has never stepped in this environment before. But overall, Lee put on an absolute wrestling spectacle with the veteran Madison in the usually gritty chains of ICW.
Adrian Alanis vs Liam Gray vs Damyan Tangras vs Jaden Newman vs Rob Killjoy vs Bobby Flaco vs Graham Bell – ACTION Wrestling & Southern Underground Pro: Have Fun Be Sad
Here we have what is in my opinion the best Scramble Match of WrestleMania Weekend. This cast of characters with varying styles of pro wrestling came together and totally blew the roof off of the 81Bay Brewing Co. In the end, the biggest compliment I can give this match is that it made me want to really dive into ACTION Wrestling.
Arik Royal vs Daniel Makabe – ACTION Wrestling & Southern Underground Pro: Have Fun Be Sad
A match three years in the making and these two made the wait well worth it. This weekend was my first time getting to see Arik Royal and I’m a big fan off the bat. This match with Makabe was as hard hitting as it was technical. Its definitely one you’re going to want to watch if you haven’t yet.
Myron Reed vs Andy Brown – Tony Deppen’s Bier Haus
We got the inclusion of this match the day of show and it completely blew me away. Myron Reed continues to be a athletic spectacle with his agile brand of offense. His opponent Andy Brown on the other hand was completely new to me and made a huge impression with how he took the fight to Myron. Hoping this match leads to Andy getting to step up to some bigger stages.
Billie Starkz vs Heather Monroe – Tony Deppen’s Bier Haus
I consider this match to be Billie’s absolute best of the weekend. Starkz had the big task of taking on one of the best women on the West Coast in Heather Monroe and she really went through the ringer. While Monroe showed the young Starkz why she’s the best in the West, this will certainly be one match to look back at when Billie absolutely takes over the wrestling world through the next few years.
Herzog vs Gary Jay – Beyond Wrestling: Time Capsule
With one spot in the main event of the show open to one of these men, they really fought like they wanted it. This hard hitting contest was one that saw Herzog go for broke with a Top Rope Chokeslam to try and put Gary Jay away for good. If you’re a fan of stiff, hard-hitting action you’ll most definitely want to check this one out.
Orin Veidt vs Bobby Beverly – ICW No Holds Barred Volume 12: Farewell to The Pawn Shop
This match was full of blood, glass and violence. Though Bobby Beverly was a last minute replacement for this show, he came ready to show the ICW crowd that he was ready to go. His opponent Orin Veidt on the other hand came into this one with a sort of new edge having gone an hour with John Wayne Murdoch.