Following the biggest independent wrestling weekend of the year, WrestleMania Weekend, we saw the independents return to normal, but still see their fair share of amazing shows. This weekend’s must-see matches were headlined by a veteran match-up, a championship open challenge, an intergender hard-hitting match, two of the brightest up-and-comers in the women’s picture on the independent scene today, and a major championship match featuring two of the best in the world. From the likes of Wrestling REVOLVER, Limitless Wrestling, Jersey Championship Wrestling, and ACTION Wrestling, here are five must-see matches.

5. Jake Crist vs. Gringo Loco from Wrestling Revolver’s “Strong”

Kicking off the list, we saw Jake Crist battle Gringo Loco to kick off the Wrestling REVOLVER era on YouTube. This marked REVOLVER’s first-ever show strictly on their YouTube channel, as they left TrillerTV+. REVOLVER had to kick off their YouTube-era in a big way and absolutely stacked the show. The show itself was headlined by Ganger’s Retirement match as he battled Alex Colon in a deathmatch. We also saw Rich Swann battle Damian Chambers, Mance Warner challenge for the REVOLVER World Championship, and Tye or Die meet The Outbreak to crown new REVOLVER World Tag Team Championships since The Rascalz were forced to vacate them due to their schedule. On such a stacked show, how do you start it off? You put on Jake Crist and Gringo Loco in singles action. Not only was this a stellar match, but it will forever go down as the very first match on the very first live event on REVOLVER’s YouTube channel. This means more people can now watch the promotion, and more people can become fans of some of the talent there. Who is someone that embodies everything REVOLVER is? Jake Crist. Crist has been a mainstay at REVOLVER for years now. He’s someone who, if you want to have a good match, you put him out there. Crist is one of the very best in the world, and when he has a good dance partner, magic can be made. Gringo Loco was the damn near perfect dance partner for Crist. Loco is one of the most talented men on the independent scene today, and the stuff he can pull off in the ring is simply unbelievable. This was the perfect way to kick off the REVOLVER on YouTube era. While the whole show was just simply insane, this match took the cake. Go back and check this one out, free of charge, on the REVOLVER YouTube channel.

4. Donovan Dijak vs. Dustin Waller from Limitless Wrestling’s “Fan Appreciation Night”

Next on this list, we saw Donovan Dijak battle Dustin Waller at Limitless Wrestling’s big “Fan Appreciation Night” event. This was a match that all started when Dijak held an open challenge for his Limitless Wrestling World Championship. On a night which saw the Savage Gnomes vs. Star Struck, Aaron Rourke vs. Joseph Alexander, and MSP’s final match ever with all three of them combining their forces to take on B3CCA, Aaron Ortiz, and Aaron Rourke (who pulled double duty), if you would have told me Donovan Dijak vs. Dustin Waller would be my match of the night, I would have called you crazy. Not because they’re any less than, but because this show was so unbelievably stacked. Hell, we even saw the Canadian Powerhouse, Dreya Mitchell, make her return to Limitless Wrestling to battle Liviyah in a match between two of the independent scene’s best up-and-coming talents. Since returning to the independent scene, Dijak is showing exactly why he deserves to be on television. He’s just so damn good and so damn crisp in the ring. Truth be told, Dijak might be the very best big man around today on the independent scene, and I don’t really know who comes close to him. In this one, he worked with one half of the independent scene’s top tag teams, Miracle Generation’s Dustin Waller. Waller has been someone that I have admired for a while now. The stuff he, alongside Kylon, can pull off in the ring is just special. He’s a fantastic high-flyer, but he can also go in the ring without being a one-trick pony. Combining Dijak and Waller, I wasn’t sure how to feel, but I certainly was not disappointed. This one stole the show and is a must-watch match. Go back and check this one out on the Limitless Wrestling YouTube channel, also free of charge.

3. 1 Called Manders vs. Gabby Forza from JCW’s “Home Opener”

Coming in at number three, we saw 1 Called Manders battle Gabby Forza at JCW’s “Home Opener.” This very well would have been the best match of the show, had the main event not been a thing. This show was extremely stacked. We saw the likes of Bustah & The Brain put the GCW World Tag Team Championships on the line against Juni Underwood & Flyin’ Ryan O’Neill, Nixi XS battle Devious Cass in a battle which featured two more of the independent scene’s best up-and-coming stars around today, and so much more. However, one of the best matches of the night was Manders hard-hitting style meshing very well with Gabby Forza’s. Manders has been on a tremendous run lately. He’s coming off a major win at GCW’s big “Joey Janela’s Spring Break X” event, where he won the Brass Ring to call his shot at the GCW World Championship, whenever he wants it. Spoiler alert: Following this match, he called his shot. I can not say enough good things about Manders. Manders is someone who is such a hard worker in the ring, and it translates over beautifully. He’s about as hard-hitting as it comes, and reminds me of an early days Bradshaw or Stan Hansen type of character. A bruiser. Through and through. As for Gabby Forza, she is someone who has the potential to be the biggest women’s wrestling star that professional wrestling has ever seen, and that’s saying something. She’s jacked, looks like a million bucks, and has all the talent in the ring to back it all up. Hell, she’s wrestling Kris Statlander this Friday at Create A Pro’s biggest show ever, “Monumental Moment.” She has put in the work to get to this point, and it’s paying off. She has the fans in the palm of her hand and makes everything look so easy. She brings the fight to whoever is standing in front of her, and she did just that to Manders. This was truly remarkable. Go back and check this one out on TrillerTV+, it’s well worth the money.

2. Corinne Joy vs. Jazzy Yang from ACTION Wrestling’s “Better Eight Than Never”

At number two, we saw Corinne Joy battle Jazzy Yang at ACTION Wrestling’s big eighth anniversary show, “Better Eight Than Never.” From top-to-bottom, this show was absolutely stacked. The main event of the show saw Bomaye South (Alex Kane, Terry Yaki, Jay Lucas) battle The Good Hand (Suge D, Kasey Owens, & Tyler Stevens), as well as Darian Bengston put the ACTION Wrestling World Championship on the line against Kevin Ku, Tim Bosby go one-on-one with Slim J, and so many other fantastic bouts. However, the match that stole the show for me was Corinne Joy and Jazzy Yang’s impressive match. What makes this match so special to me is that it featured two of the very best young women’s talents on the independents today. I love looking at the next generation who’s getting ready to break out, and that’s exactly what we saw with Joy and Yang. Their match was tremendous, as they are wise beyond their years, especially when it comes to in-ring stuff. Corinne Joy just recently exploded onto the independent scene. She calls herself “The Diva” for good reason, because that’s exactly what she is. Cocky, brash, but above all else, a diva. She reminds me of a younger version of Melina with a hint of Alicia Fox. That’s exactly the character we have with her. She embodies it so well. It’s even crazier to remember she’s only 18 years old. So, she can be in this world for a while, and if she’s only getting better, she may do major things in this world. As for Yang, she was born and bred into this. Her father is Jimmy Wang Yang, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Jimmy Wang Yang was a tremendous wrestler and a very fun character to cheer on in his time with WWE, and Jazzy is out to carve her own path to the big show. Yang has shown she has all the potential and talent in the world to be the next big thing on the independent scene, and for good reason. She’s going to be a star, as is Joy. This could be a fun match to look back on in 10 years and remember where they both started as they’re crushing it in AEW or WWE by then. Jazzy is coming off a fantastic WrestleMania week, as is Joy, and they are only getting better. Expect to see them booked all over, and this match is just a precursor of things to come. Go back and check this one out on IWTV.

1. Charles Mason vs. Marcus Mathers from JCW’s “Home Opener”

Coming in at number one on this list, we return to Jersey Championship Wrestling’s big show to kick off their new “season,” “Home Opener.” Before, I spoke about how 1 Called Manders and Gabby Forza would have been the best match on the show had the main event not happened… Well, it happened. The main event of the show saw Charles Mason put his JCW World Championship on the line against WWE ID prospect and one of the very best professional wrestlers in the world, Marcus Mathers. On a show that represented a new season for JCW, both men wanted to get a win here to kick off their seasons right. Since winning the JCW World Championship, Mason has been on a whole other level. He’s become somewhat of a belt collector, as he’s also the House of Glory World Champion and the Blitzkrieg! Pro Bedlam Champion. He also represents Pro Wrestling Junkie as their World Champion. I’ve been fortunate enough to follow Mason’s career from way back when, in like 2018-2019, and I can comfortably say, the Charles Mason we are seeing now is the best version of him that we have ever seen. He’s always been talented and always had the potential, but this is just otherworldly. He’s finally getting recognized for his fantastic matches, as he has been getting title-after-title-after-title. This is very well-deserved for one of the scariest, but best characters around today. As for Mathers, what more can we say about him? He is simply one of the best professional wrestlers in the world today, bar none. That’s exactly why he earned a WWE ID prospect contract, and why he will be signed to NXT sooner rather than later. He’s so damn good. He has all the makings to be the next big star in any televised company. The stuff he can pull off in the ring, and how good he makes not only himself, but his opponent, look, is truly astronomical stuff. He is simply one of the best around today, regardless of the independent scene or regardless of any promotion. This match was simply amazing. Go back and check this one out on TrillerTV+.