The Ring Post: Now More Than Ever - Why Indie Wrestling Deserves Your Support
Your weekly update on the latest news, results, and highlights from the indie wrestling scene.
Good morning!
This week’s The Ring Post brings the latest news and results from across the region.
Upcoming events include Tables, Ladders & Crabs in Baltimore and WDWA’s return to Inwood, West Virginia.
In news, area wrestlers featured on AEW Collision, and fans and friends are urged to support NWA Champion Colby Corino during his recovery after emergency surgery. WWE’s new media deal with ESPN also made headlines.
Recent results cover ACW’s Burnie Beatdown, where new champions were crowned including a familiar name, Jeff Cannonball benefit show, MATW’s Manassas event, 1CW’s Summer Mayhem, and more.
Don’t miss this week’s featured video: a Star Wars Day eight-person tag match from Federated Wrestling Alliance’s Dominion 6.
Our featured article this week highlights why, now more than ever, supporting indie wrestling matters - offering affordable, intimate shows that keep wrestling’s spirit alive.
Keep scrolling for all the results, news, and highlights from the past week in pro wrestling.
The Latest News
Recent Results
• 5XW ran Gonna Give It To Ya on Saturday in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – read the highlights.
• AEW Collision aired live Saturday from Roanoke, Virginia – see the full results.
Premium Recap
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Today in Pro Wrestling History (8/5–8/11): This week’s archive features major events including WWWF in New York City (1976), WWF’s Showdown at Shea in New York (1980), WWE Monday Night Raw in Pittsburgh (2005) and Buffalo (2007), TNA’s Hard Justice 2008 in Trenton, New Jersey, and WCW’s 1991 Great American Bash Tour in Roanoke, Virginia – click to explore the full archive.
Video of the Week
This week’s Video of the Week features the Intergalactic Eight-Person Tag Team Match from May 4 at Federated Wrestling Alliance’s Dominion 6, where Post Game (Vinny Talotta and Miami Mike Walker), B3cca, and Boom Harden faced off against LSG, MSG, Colton Chase, and Curt Robinson. Watch the action unfold in this cosmic showdown that took place on Star Wars Day!
This week’s feature item is written as a reaction to recent 7headlines and other events going on in pro wrestling.
I’ve written before about how the national pro wrestling product largely drove me away during the 2010s - I wasn’t enthusiastic about it at all. But in 2019, watching NWA Powerrr on YouTube reignited my interest, eventually leading me to attend a ROH show right before the COVID shutdown. After the pandemic, I started going to MCW shows, which sparked my interest in writing and publicity within wrestling. That ultimately led me to start the site that has evolved into DMV Wrestling News and to attend indie wrestling shows at 16 companies across seven states (including D.C.). I still have a wishlist of promotions in the region and across the country I want to see.
I’ve tried to live up to the mission of promoting indie wrestling, especially the wrestlers themselves, and I want to reaffirm that mission today in light of WWE’s recent deal with ESPN. This deal will require a $29.99/month app subscription to watch pay-per-views if you don’t have cable or ESPN through other means. Meanwhile, Saturday Night’s Main Event will air on NBC (Peacock for streaming-only viewers), SmackDown will remain on Fox, and NXT will be on The CW.
I currently work overnight shifts, so I sometimes watch WWE later on Netflix. SmackDown is one I rarely see unless I happen to have the night off. I’ve never been able to watch much AEW programming - no knock against it, but it’s just not my cup of tea for the most part. I do watch the highlights online, and if you enjoy AEW, that’s great. Since Verizon FiOS dropped AXS, I can’t watch TNA on TV anymore.
WWE tickets have become more cost-prohibitive for working families than ever before. Honestly, even before, tickets weren’t that great unless you were in the nosebleeds at a house show - which they’re cutting back on now - or at a televised event. Pay-per-view prices are now completely insane. Other companies offer more reasonable ticket prices, but still not as affordable as general admission to most indie shows. While front-row and VIP seats at some independent promotions have risen in cost, the opportunity to see matches up close in smaller venues is one of the great things about going to indie shows.
Wrestlers at indie shows are generally more accessible for autographs and photos, except for many heels who maintain kayfabe and avoid public interaction. You can also meet Hall of Famers or legends who appear at independent events, alongside other wrestlers from promotions that allow them to work indie shows.
Indie shows have always been the place to see rising stars before they hit the big time, and WWE’s ID program has created some new buzz about that - though the long-term impact remains to be seen.
Many independent promotions offer family ticket packs, sometimes including concessions. The affordability makes indie shows a much better option for a fun night out with your family compared to WWE or AEW. Most indie promotions foster tight-knit fan communities where the same people show up every month, becoming friends over time - I’ve even seen tailgates before shows.
Find a local indie company near you and check out a show - if you like it, keep going. Support the wrestlers by buying merch and thanking them or complimenting their matches.
That’s why, now more than ever, it’s time to support indie wrestling!