From the likes of Kitsune Wrestling, St. Louis Anarchy, PROGRESS Wrestling, Wrestling REVOLVER, & Expect The Unexpected Wrestling, these are five must-see matches from this past weekend that every fan should go back and check out. These matches include a women’s showcase between two of the best on the west coast, a hard-hitting fight, a bloody war, a return to the indies by a former WWE superstar who has something to prove, and a match of the year candidate that saw two of the best young guns on the indies today fight to become the new Key To The East Champion. Check it all out below.
5. Mylo vs. Veronica Haven from Kitsune Wrestling’s “Stay With Me”
Coming in at number five, we saw a West Coast showdown as the “Macdaddy” herself, Mylo, faced off with one of the WWE ID programs latest signees, Veronica Haven. This was a very exciting match right off rip. The announcement that Mylo was going to meet Haven in a singles contest got many talking, myself included. When you think of the independent wrestling scene, especially on the women’s side of things, the potential for many is endless. That’s what made this match so enticing. Haven, formerly known as Fallyn Grey, has already found herself under the WWE umbrella competing on WWE Evolve. This was a very, very positive signing for WWE as Grey has been showing the world just how amazing she is in that ring. Now, as Veronica Haven, she gets to show a brand new crop of fans what fans of the independent scene already knew, she’s special. Haven deserves every single shot she’s been getting and then some. She’s one of the most fun, talented, and entertaining people around today, and she has a very bright future in this world. The sky is truly the limit. As for Mylo, she’s arguably my most underrated talent. She’s someone who may not always get talked about as much as she should. However, she continues to impress each and every time she steps into the squared circle. She has the talent, potential, and everything a promotion could want in a wrestler. She oozes charisma. From her entrance to her persona in the ring, she is a star in every sense of the word. So, while Haven may have already reached the mountaintop and signed with WWE, Mylo is not far behind. This match just showcased that. This match was an absolute blast. Go back and check this one out shortly when Kitsune Wrestling uploads the “Stay With Me” event on their YouTube page for free, for the first-time ever.
4. Calvin Tankman vs. Gary Jay from St. Louis Anarchy’s “Circus Maximus XXI”
Next up, we saw a heavyweight battle as Calvin Tankman squared off with Gary Jay at St. Louis Anarchy’s “Circus Maximus XXI.” When I first saw this match get announced, I was very excited. Spoiler alert, it was not a let down and certainly did not disappoint. For anyone who may have been living under a rock, Calvin Tankman is one of the best big men on the independent wrestling scene today. He recently took a break and has been getting his feet wet jumping back into the squared circle. However, he wasted very little time in establishing himself as the one true big man on the independent scene today. The big man, bruiser role, is something that is often tried, but a lot of the times failed. However, for Tankman, he embodies everything you’d want to see a big man do. He’s hard-hitting, strong, powerful, and above all else, a fantastic professional wrestler. He has an aura about him that you just don’t see anymore in this sport. As for his opponent in this one, much of the same can be said about him. While he may not have the mass and power that Tankman does, whenever I see Gary Jay’s name get announced for a match, I know we’re going to be in for a brutal, and hard-hitting affair. I’ve gone on record on saying that Jay is one of the most hard-hitting, and underrated professional wrestlers out there. He’s not booked all over, BUT, wherever he is booked, you know you’ll be in for an incredible showing, and a match of the night candidate. For St. Louis Anarchy’s big event, he once again delivered on that, as he and Tankman put on the match of the night in a brutal, amazing, hard-hitting affair. This match was everything I hoped it would be and then some. Tankman and Jay have some unbelievable chemistry. I can watch these guys go at it for hours and not get tired. Go back and check this one out, free of charge, on the St. Louis Anarchy YouTube channel. You will not be disappointed.
3. Spike Trivet vs. Bullit from PROGRESS Wrestling’s “Chapter 196: Scorchio!”
Entering at number three on this list, we go overseas to the Electric Ballroom in London England to PROGRESS Wrestling’s big event, “Chapter 196: Scorchio!” as Spike Trivet battled Bullit in a Blood Debt Match. To give a bit of a background of the actual match type, think of a First Blood match, but win by pinfall or submission. So, the point of the match was to make your opponent bleed, and then, and only then, could you go for a regular pinfall to win the match, which means that if your opponent wasn’t bleeding, you were not allowed to go for a pinfall or submission to win the match on him yet. Trivet and Bullit have been engaged in a very fun storyline at PROGRESS Wrestling. These are two men who simply don’t like each other. This has turned into a blood feud, so a Blood Debt Match was the perfect way to finally end this rivalry for each man. Spoiler alert, both men bled a lot in this one, but it just added to the atmosphere. Trivet is someone I’m fairly new too, but after going down his rabbit hole, I’m a newfound fan of his. Trivet is one of the best bout machines in the entire UK. Whenever he’s in the ring, you’re absolutely going to get a banger of a match, a brawl, and most importantly, violence. He’s not a pretty wrestler, he doesn’t go for flips or any of that jazz, but he can get in there and cause some serious damage. As for Bullit, he’s another one that I’m a newfound fan of after going down his rabbit hole. Living in New York, it’s sometimes tough to keep up with independent wrestling scenes from the UK, but I urge everyone, regardless of where you are in the world, to go check out the UK independent scene, and more specifically PROGRESS Wrestling, Spike Trivet, and Bullit. This match was similar to Jay & Tankman when it came to the hard-hitting aspect, but there was a bit more of a story with this one, especially since this was the epic conclusion of that story. Both Trivet and Bullit made magic in this one and their chemistry is unmatched. Go back and check this one out on Hooked On Wrestling.
2. Joseph Sawyer vs. Rich Swann from Wrestling REVOLVER’s “The Silence Of The Slams”
Entering at number two on this list, we saw an epic main event at Wrestling REVOLVER’s big event, “The Silence Of The Slams,” as Rich Swann battled a former WWE superstar, Joe Gacy, now known as Joseph Sawyer. This whole show was unbelievably stacked, we even saw AEW’s Jon Moxley show up and compete in singles action against Joe Alonzo. However, if you’re looking for a must-see match, look no further than Sawyer’s return to the independent scene against someone he’s very close with, and has known for years, Rich Swann. One of my favorite things about being an independent wrestling fan, aside from seeing the stars of tomorrow begin to make their marks, is seeing talent make their way back from companies like WWE or AEW and show fans how damn good they are. Oftentimes on TV, regardless of the promotion, some talents don’t get the time or chance to show how good they really are. Sawyer is a perfect candidate for that. We saw him most recently in WWE team with Dexter Lumis as a part of the Wyatt Sicks. However, if you’ve been a fan of Sawyer’s since before he even signed with WWE, you knew that he could be a main event level talent. Sawyer’s return to the indies showcased just that. He showed everyone just how good he is and how much fun we’re about to have as he once again takes over the independent wrestling scene. He had the perfect dance partner in this one too, as Swann is one of the most underrated guys out there around today. If you want a good match, with anyone, put Swann in there. Not only will he make them look amazing, but he will make sure that the fans care about it and are into it. Sawyer and Swann have a ton of great chemistry together and that was on full display at this event. It was amazing seeing Sawyer back in action and I cannot wait to see what he has in store for the independents, now that he gets to call his own shots. Go back and check this one out, free of charge, on the Wrestling REVOLVER YouTube channel.
1. J Boujii vs. Joseph Alexander from Expect The Unexpected’s “Summer Madness 4”
Entering at number one, we saw J Boujii battle Joseph Alexander in the main event of Expect The Unexpected’s big event, “Summer Madness 4,” to crown the new Keys To The East Champion. This was a tournament style of event, as J Boujii won the opening four-way match of the night against Cole Radrick, Charles Mason, and Isaiah Broner. As for Alexander, in the succeeding match, he got past Devious Cass, Sam Holloway, and TNA’s KC Navarro to punch his ticket. This was a blast of a main event, and a match of the year contender. Boujii is one of the most fun talents out there today to watch. Whether you’re checking out his matches or his PowerSlap stuff, you’re always entertained. Boujii is certainly a name to watch who may be next in line to take over the independent scene, going on a Marcus Mathers like run. Boujii is incredibly crisp with each move he hits in the ring and he looked amazing in this one. As for his opponent, it’s about time that fans are beginning to take notice of Joseph Alexander. He was recently in the Scenic City Invitational Tournament where he made it to the finals. Alexander is someone who I always have a very fun time watching, whether in tag team action as a part of Die-Spora or Ancestral City Shooters (w/ Angelo Carter and/or Kwesi Asante), or in singles action. He’s been showcasing a lot for himself in 2026, as he also has shown his technical wrestling side much more often, getting to go up against one of the best technical wrestlers to ever lace up a pair of boots, Jonathan Gresham. So putting Boujii and Alexander together, you know you were going to be in for a great match. That’s exactly what we got and then some. These two put on a must-watch match of the year contender. These are two of the brightest, young, up-and-coming talents, and they absolutely deserve all their flowers after this one. Go back and check this one out on the ETU VOD channel on IWTV.