Photo credit: @cameraguygimmik
We are back with part two of “Indie Wrestlers To Look Out For In 2022.” I’ve compiled a list of 22 wrestlers that I think will have a huge impact in the independent wrestling scene this year. This would be the second half of that list. If you haven’t checked out part one yet, you can do so HERE. Be sure to keep an eye out on these wrestlers.
Alice Crowley
Straight out of Indianapolis, Alice Crowley aka Big Al has already been making her rounds in the Midwest. At just 19 years of age, Crowley has already been wrestling for 3 years. She has squared off with some of the young stars of the independents such as Billie Starkz, Cole Radrick and Tre LaMar, as well as veterans such as Gary Jay, John Wayne Murdoch and Thunderkitty. Appearing in Black Label Pro, New Wave Pro, Paradigm and St Louis Anarchy. Crowley is a regular in IWA-Mid South where she has previously held the Women’s Championship and Tag Team Championship. She’s also wrestled for SHIMMER and appeared on AEW Dark. She has a big opportunity next month where she squares off against Kylie Rae in a three way that also includes Heather Reckless. Hoping for more big opportunities for Big Al in 2022.
Austin Connelly
Austin Connelly, aka Mad Dog Connelly is a very dangerous and physical athlete. The current New Wave Pro Higher Ground Champion has been one of the top dogs in that promotion. He’s also has had big opportunities in Paradigm Pro where he’s shared the ring with some of the best in independent wrestling. A list that includes Jordan Blade, Hoodfoot, Daniel Garcia and Davey Richards. A feud against Big Beef in Paradigm ended up with them forming a tag team together that were dangerous to any of their opponents. He returns to Paradigm this Friday as he faces Max The Impaler in a UWFi Rules Match, which should be a brutal contest.
BK Westbrook
The final member of the trio High Flying Star Machines would be BK Westbrook. I believe Westbrook along with Bojack and Diego Hill, who were listed in part one, will be big stars in independent wrestling in 2022. The wrestler out of Greensboro, North Carolina has wrestled for promotions such as ACTION Wrestling, New South, Paradigm and PWF. He’s had breakout performances at IWTV Untitled and in a Gauntlet Match at KOBK Souled Out. Bojack and Hill aren’t the only wrestlers that he’s shared a corner with, as he’s been teaming regularly with ACTION Wrestling Champion Arik Royal in PWF. With Season 4 of Uncharted Territory taking place in the South, it quite possible that BK Westbrook could make a name for himself as more eyes are now on the South.
Chandler Hopkins
You might’ve seen “The Young Gun” Chandler Hopkins on your TV already. He has made a number of appearances on AEW Dark and Dark Elevation. Facing top wrestlers such as Joey Janela, Lance Archer, Dante Martin and Brian Cage. In the independent wrestling world, he’s a regular in Texas promotions Pale Pro and New Texas Pro. In Pale he’s faced top guys such as Victor Benjamin, Mike Bennett and took Davey Richards to a time limit draw. On top of that he had a show stealing performance against Buddy Matthews fka Buddy Murphy at Warrior Wrestling’s Sweet 16 event. Keep your eyes open for this Texas talent.
Eli Knight
Culture Inc. member Eli Knight has been making a name for himself in both singles and tag team action alongside his tag team partner Malik Bosede. In 2021 Knight has made his debut for multiple promotions including Pro Wrestling Grind and Game Changer Wrestling as part of For The Culture in Tampa. As part of Culture Inc. he participated in the Tag Team Discovery Gauntlet on Beyond Wrestling’s Uncharted Territory Season 3. Later this month he makes another debut with Limitless Wrestling in Maine. He was a finalist in the 2021 ACTION Futures Showcase Tournament and has already earned his spot in the 2022 Scenic City Invitational Tournament. Expect to see the 20 year old all over in 2022.
Kevin Giza
Another Indianapolis talent on this list would be “All Balls” Kevin Giza. Giza has wrestled for GCW, ICW No Holds Barred, No Peace Underground and Unsanctioned Pro to name a few. He had a show stealing performance back in June at ICW NHB Pitfighter X8 against Dale Patricks, someone who he’s the current IWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion with. He’s held every title he could in IWA Mid-South which also includes the Junior Heavyweight and World Championships. He is also the current Unsanctioned Pro Hardcore Champion. Recently Giza has been appearing regularly in Wrestling Open and despite his losing efforts, he continues to impress. If he continues to do just that and impress people with his performances, you could expect to see him pop up in plenty of more places this year.
Robert Martyr
“The Poisoned Youth” Robert Martyr is someone that started out his career as a referee. His transition to wrestler has been a successful one as 2021 was a big year for him, some might even call it a breakout year. His career took a turning point in Tampa during WrestleMania week, where he competed at 3 different events. One of the matches that week was against Dominic Garrini.
He was taken under the wing of now AEW wrestler Daniel Garcia. 2021 saw Martyr wrestling all over, from Limitless Wrestling to Paradigm Pro to VXS to JCW to ACTION Wrestling. He is a champion for GSW where he holds the Next Gen Championship and is also the 2021 ACTION Futures Showcase Tournament winner. 2021 was a big breakout year for Martyr but in 2022 he might become one of the top independent wrestlers in the country at just 20 years of age.
Sandra Moone
The West Coast has yet to be represented in this list so let’s change that. Sandra Moone is a young star hailing out of Las Vegas, Nevada. The current FSW Women’s Champion has been making a name for herself by wrestling for promotions such a Paradigm Pro, West Coast Pro and even on TV with Impact Wrestling. She’s been getting big opportunities at Game Changer Wrestling’s West Coast promotion LA Fights. At LA Fights she has already taken on the legendary Dark Sheik and Bad Dude Tito. She’s scheduled to take on Allie Katch at LA Fights Volume 3 next week. Moone is gonna make a name for herself, win or lose.
Vert Vixen
Another wrestler that has recently appeared on Impact Wrestling would be the Texas native Vert Vixen. Vert has wrestled for promotions such as AAW, DEFY and New Texas Pro. She has also appeared on several episodes of AEW Dark. Vixen has already squared off against serious competitors such as Hyan, Masha Slamovich, Rok-C and Sandra Moone. Next week on February 26th, she faces her biggest challenge yet, Deonna Purrazzo. Not only will she be sharing the ring with one of the best in the world today, but she has a huge opportunity as she’s challenging for the ROH Women’s Championship. And with WrestleMania taking place in her backyard of Dallas, Texas, you would have to expect her to make an even bigger name for herself.
Victor Analog
Someone very unique on this list would be the next wrestler, Victor Analog. Analog comes out of the Black and Brave Academy, which is run by Seth Rollins and Marek Brave. Black and Brave has played home to some graduates such as Dante Leon, Conan Lycan, 1 Called Manders, Kaia McKenna and Blair Onyx, who was on part one of this list. For 9 months he held the ZERO1 USA Junior Heavyweight Championship. He’s wrestled for Paradigm Pro, New Wave Pro, Unsanctioned Pro and St Louis Anarchy. Analog has also been in battles with Gary Jay including a 3 way between him and ECW legend Super Crazy. With his wrestling ability and unique appearance, Analog is one to be on the lookout in the Midwest area.
The Miracle Generation
I’m cheating with this last one as it’s two wrestlers and not just one. The Miracle Generation is a tag team based out of the Northeast that pretty much popped out of nowhere and have already made a big name for themselves. The team of Dustin Waller and Kylon King faced off against The Brick City Boyz in the Tag Team Discovery Gauntlet on the second to last episode of Uncharted Territory Season 3. They quickly won over the White Eagle crowd as they scored a victory over their opponents. They then proceeded to steal the show the following week on the Season 3 finale against Above The Rest.
The celebration didn’t last long as they were attacked by Violence Is Forever following their match. This lead to a big match the next night at Heavy Lies The Crown. Since then they keep continuing to blow minds with every performance. The Miracle Generation could very well be one of the top tag teams in independent wrestling by the end of this year.