Wrestival week is upon us. For the second year in a row Beyond Wrestling and IWTV brings you The Wrestival! What is The Wrestival? The Wrestival is three days of events from independent wrestling promotions across the country, and it all takes place at the White Eagle in Worcester, Massachusetts.
This year the venue will play host to nine different events from promotions such as Pizza Party Pro, Prestige Wrestling and Limitless Wrestling. The action begins on Thursday afternoon and continues until New Year’s Eve on Saturday night. Tickets are on sale now at ShopIWTV. But if you’re unable to attend, you can watch in the comfort of your own home. All nine events will be streaming live on IWTV.
Here’s twenty (I know, twenty is a lot) of my most anticipated matches of Wrestival. Hope you enjoy.
Tony Deppen vs. Weber Hatfield – Pizza Party Pro Presents “POP! POP!”
This time last year, at the first ever Wrestival, Weber Hatfield had to unmask in front of the Worcester crowd. This year he has a huge test ahead of himself in Tony Deppen. Deppen is often known as the gatekeeper of independent wrestling. If Hatfield can prove himself against one of the best in the scene, this match could be something amazing.
Marcus Mathers vs. Jordan Blade – Pizza Party Pro Presents “POP! POP!”
This is a huge styles battle between the two. Marcus Mathers often known for his high flying ability, will be taking on the submission specialist Jordan Blade. The Young Prodigy versus the Submission Sniper. Style clashes usually make for great fights and this should be a great one. Jordan Blade also seems to be going into this match with a chip on her shoulder as this is her only Wrestival booking. She tweeted out that she’s going to go out and prove how versatile and essential she is.
Brick City Boyz vs. The Haven – Wrestling Open “The Last Stand”
Here’s two teams that were given the last minute opportunity for a shot at becoming the inaugural IWTV Tag Team Champions after an injury from Bryce Donovan took Shook Crew out of the tournament. You better believe these two teams will make the most of it. Expect them both to go all out there and leave it all out in the ring.
Steel Cage Warfare – Wrestling Open “The Last Stand”
Is this the first time we will be getting a steel cage match inside the White Eagle? There’s a lot of bad blood going into this match. The Mane Event along with Pedro Dones have been feuding with The Miracle Ones for most of 2022. Add Bobby Orlando and Brad Hollister to the mix. Eight competitors locked inside a steel cage. This match is going to be insane.
Akira vs. Alec Price – ICW Pit Fighter 14
This is a first time ever match between the two and the first time Alec Price is stepping inside the Pit. Despite this being Price’s ICW debut, he will have the Worcester crowd behind him. Akira is obviously no stranger to the Pit. Interesting to see which direction this match goes.
Kasey Kirk vs. Hoodfoot – ICW Pit Fighter 14
This match is no longer for the ICW American Deathmatch Championship as Kasey Kirk is no longer champion. Despite the championship no longer being on the line, I still expect this one to be brutal. 2022 saw the rise of Kasey Kirk in deathmatch wrestling, but 2022 also saw Hoodfoot at the top of his game and being one of the top deathmatch wrestlers in the world. These are two of the best right now and there will be no holding back.
Masha Slamovich vs. Danny Demanto – ICW Pit Fighter 14
This match is the only scheduled match that both competitors have for the duration of Wrestival. Masha Slamovich is no stranger to bleeding inside the White Eagle. She is also familiar with making her opponents bleed. At last year’s Wrestival she took on Kimber Lee in a Fan Bring The Weapons Match. This year she puts her ETU Key To The East Championship on the line against the boss of ICW Danny Demanto. Win or lose, Demanto has been leaving it all inside the ring this year against John Wayne Murdoch, Brandon Kirk, Matt Tremont, and others. This will be a bloodbath.
Alec Price vs. Alex Shelley – Blitzkrieg Pro “Always The Hardway”
We’re on to day two of Wrestival and this match will kick of the second day. Blitzkrieg Pro has already announced that this match is going to open the show, which is absolutely insane. This is a match that has the potential of stealing the show as well as the entire Wrestival. The 20 year veteran Alex Shelley is gonna take on the “Northeast Beast” Alec Price. That’s a main event caliber match.
BUSSY vs. Ava Everett and Anthony Greene – Blitzkrieg Pro “Always The Hardway”
When isn’t BUSSY the most anticipated? In a match that was originally scheduled to be BUSSY taking on Shook Crew, Ava Everett and Anthony Greene stepped up due to Bryce Donovan’s injury. Even though Ava and Anthony have been at the top of their game in singles competition, they haven’t teamed together in 2 years. This will be interesting to see if the couple can overcome BUSSY.
Ladder Hell – Blitzkrieg Pro “Always The Hardway”
On day one of Wrestival we are treated to a steel cage match. On day two, a ladder match. I don’t know if the White Eagle has ever hosted a ladder match before but I expect this one to be totally insane. Eight men in one match with ladders, I’m expecting a trainwreck…in a good way.
Independent Invitational Gauntlet – IWTV Class of ’22
This is the all star match of the weekend. Eight competitors. Four previous champions (AC Mack, Alex Shelley, Tracy Williams and WARHORSE). Four top contenders (Hoodfoot, Adam Priest, Trish Adora and Matt Tremont). I have no clue as to who will walk out Worcester as the new IWTV Independent Wrestling World Champion.
American Wolves vs. Motor City Machine Guns – Prestige Wrestling Presents “The Things We Carry”
This definitely has to be the most anticipated match of the entire Wrestival right? Even though these two teams have wrestled eachother before, getting to see these four independent wrestling legends inside a ring together is going to be an amazing moment. Two of the best tag teams to ever step inside a ring.
Brick City Boyz vs. C4 – Prestige Wrestling Presents “The Things We Carry”
This might be the sleeper match of the entire Wrestival. Both tag teams are participating in the T4 Summit tournament in some way. Brick City Boyz are in a qualifier match the night before, while C4 are competing in a semi-finals match on the event before this. If neither team are able to make it to the finals, this match can be absolutely nuts, with both tag teams wanting to show out. With this also being C4’s Northeast debut, this match could end up being a war.
Mane Event vs. Violence Is Forever – Pro Wrestling Grind “All We Are”
These are two of the best tag teams in wrestling right now. Even though both of these teams fought eachother twice this year already, once for Black Label Pro and the other time at ETU, both teams are constantly improving and uping their game up. This could turn out to be once of the best tag team matches of the weekend.
Emi Sakura vs. Delmi Exo – Pro Wrestling Grind “All We Are”
In a rare US independent wrestling appearance, the Japanese legend Emi Sakura will be taking on Pro Wrestling Grind staple Delmi Exo. Exo called her shot and challenged the near 30 year joshi veteran. This is a huge test for Exo and this might even be the biggest match of her career. Expect this one to be spectacular.
Anthony Henry vs. Kevin Blackwood – Limitless Wrestling “High Strung”
This match was scheduled to happen at last year’s Wrestival for Limitless Wrestling. Now a year later and this much anticipated match is happening. Anthony Henry tweeted out that he was glad it didn’t happen last year as both wrestlers are better versions of themselves and the match will be even better! Kevin Blackwood has said that this match is gonna be violent and beautiful. If you’re unfamiliar with these two, expect a hard hitting match filled with strikes and high impact moves.
JD Drake vs. Andy Brown – Limitless Wrestling “High Strung”
BIG MEATY MEN SLAPPING MEAT! That’s exactly what this match will be. JD Drake is one of the best wrestlers out there and put on one of the best matches of last year’s Wrestival with Alec Price. This year he faces the “Thiccc Daddy” Andy Brown. This is a huge test for Andy Brown, who I see having a huge 2023 in the world of independent wrestling.
Limitless OGs vs. Miracle Ones – Limitless Wrestling “High Strung”
Limitless Wrestling came with the last minute fire announcement with this one. The OGs of Limitless Wrestling, Ace Romero and MSP will take on the trio that has been making waves in independent wrestling throughout 2022, The Miracle Ones. There’s going to be a lot of action in this one so I wouldn’t blink if I was you.
Willow Nightingale vs. LuFisto – Beyond Wrestling’s Heavy Lies The Crown ’22
AEW star Willow Nightingale will be at Wrestival! In the last event of Wrestival, Heavy Lies The Crown, the recent AEW signee Willow Nightingale will take on independent wrestling legend and hall of famer LuFisto. LuFisto has paved the way for many womens wrestlers today. This will be a huge test for Willow but she is going into this event with a bunch of momentum. This will be a good one.
SLADE vs. Atticus Cogar – Beyond Wrestling’s Heavy Lies The Crown ’22
A Thumbtack Match taking place on the same event as a Fans Bring The Weapons Match!? What was DC thinking?! If you don’t know by now, SLADE is a madman. He’s legit one of the scariest men in wrestling. And incase you forgot, Atticus Cogar is one of the best deathmatch wrestlers out there. He’s not afraid to put SLADE through hell…and that’s exactly what I think this match will be, HELL.