Vetter’s Independent Wrestling Roundup: Juventud Guerrera vs. Caleb Konley vs. Diego Hill vs. Rocky Rojas, Hazuki and Fuwa-Chan vs. Raychell Rose and Ranna Yagami, Brian Cage vs. Jake Crist

By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)

There is far more good indy wrestling out there than I can watch. So, in this review, I’m popping in on multiple recent indy shows and watching just a few matches from each show that interest me. The reality is that I wasn’t going to get to watch every match from every one of these shows! I picked out matches with top names we’ve seen on TV, some top indy names, and WWE ID prospects.

* In this roundup, I picked out eleven matches from across six different recent indy shows.

America’s Most Liked Wrestling (AML) “Battle of Scars,” at Albemarle High School in Albemarle, North Carolina, on July 26, 2026 (MyAEW)

This show took place in a school gymnasium. Lighting is just so-so. The crowd was maybe 250. Google Maps shows that Albemarle is located one hour east of Charlotte. They had a meet-and-greet with Juventud Guerrera, The Godfather , and Buff Bagwell before the show.

Jacari Ball vs. John Skyler. WWE ID/Evolve vs. TNA! Jacari immediately dragged him to the mat and did a Gator Roll on the canvas. Skyler stalled on the apron and jawed at the crowd. He got back in and was met by a dropkick at 2:00. John threw Ball against the ropes, and Jacari fell to the floor. Skyler threw him against the ring post. Ball got back in before a count-out, but Skyler stomped on him and kept Jacari grounded.

Jacari fired up and hit some clotheslines and a snap suplex at 6:00. He hit a fisherman’s suplex for a nearfall. Ball hit three consecutive gutwrench suplexes; Skyler rolled to the ropes for safety. Skyler hit a spear through the ropes for a nearfall at 7:30. Jacari hit an Angle Slam out of nowhere for the pin. Good action.

Jacari Ball defeated John Skyler at 9:04. 

Diego Hill vs. Rocky Rojas vs. Juventud Guerrera vs. Caleb Konley in a four-way. I’m always surprised to see that Juvy is still wrestling. I saw Rojas for the first time on the last show; he is a masked wrestler and wears a large sombrero. He’s been feuding with Diego Hill. Caleb wears his Stone Cold-style black vest; he looks nothing like his “Kaleb With A K” days in TNA. On the last show, Diego lost a title belt via DQ — which was permitted under the rules of that title. All four fought at the bell. Juvy hit a huracanrana on Rojas. “I feel like it’s 1997 all over again,” a commentator said.

Juvy unloaded some chops on Konley. He hit a double DDT on Konley and Diego. Rojas hit a backbreaker over his knee on Konley at 2:00. Diego hit a double springboard armdrag. Rojas and Juventud traded chops. Juventud hit a discus clothesline at 5:00. Diego hit a handspring-back-spin kick on Juvy. Diego nailed a flip dive to the floor on Caleb and Rocky. In the ring, Caleb missed a Lionsault. Rocky hit a powerslam on Caleb for a nearfall. Diego hit a series of quick kicks. Juvy hit a Michinoku Driver. Diego rolled up Rojas for the flash pin! Fun, non-stop action. Juventud does not move like a 51-year-old man!

Diego Hill defeated Juventud Guerrera, Caleb Konley, and Rocky Rojas in a four-way at 7:53.

Willie Mack vs. Fodder (w/Angelina Love). Willie ducked a lockup, and he danced, which annoyed Fodder. Willie hit a senton. They fought to the floor at 2:30, where Mack hit some LOUD chops. Love swung a kendo stick, but Mack blocked the blow. However, it allowed Fodder time to push Mack face-first into the ring post. In the ring, Fodder kept Mack grounded in a headlock. Mack hit a hard clothesline at 7:00 and a back elbow, then a running kick in the corner.

Willie hit a rolling cannonball in the corner (it appears he hit the middle turnbuckle and actually didn’t touch Fodder!) Fodder went for a uranage, but Mack blocked it. Willie hit a Norman Smiley-style wind-up bodyslam. Angelina hopped on the ring apron and yelled at Mack. Fodder charged, but he accidentally collided with Angelina, knocking her off the apron. While the ref was checking on Love, John Skyler jumped in the ring and attacked Mack! Fodder jumped on the prone Mack and got the tainted pin. Fodder and Skyler hugged at ringside.

Fodder defeated Willie Mack at 9:14.

Warrior Wrestling “Street Rumble In The West End” at West End Avenue in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, on July 31, 2026 (MyAEW)

As is often the case, Warrior Wrestling released just a single match, not the entire show. They also haven’t had commentary in recent years. The crowd was 150 to 200. Lighting was decent. St. Louis Park is a suburb west of Minneapolis. There were several indy shows in the Twin Cities over Summer Slam weekend, and this was one I was unable to attend. This was the main event!

Brian Cage vs. Jake Crist. A nice pop for Cage. They locked up, but Jake couldn’t budge Cage, and he eventually fell face-first to the mat. Brian scooped him up — Crist yelled, “Oh shit!” — and Cage ran him back-first into the corner. Cage hit some LOUD chops that popped this crowd, then hip-tossed Jake across the ring. Cagematch.net is showing this is the 12th time these two have shared a ring, going back to 2017, and Brian is 2-0 in singles matches. (Most of the matches were in TNA.) Jake hit a top-rope crossbody block for a nearfall at 3:00.

Cage hit a 619! The crowd popped for seeing a man of Brian’s size do that! They fought to the floor again, where Brian whipped him into a wall. Cage slammed him back-first onto the ring apron at 5:00. Cage powerbombed him against the ring post! In the ring, Crist hit a springboard fadeaway stunner for a nearfall at 8:00. (It appears there was a light edit here.) Crist hit a tornado DDT, and they were both down. Jake hit a top-rope guillotine leg drop for a nearfall. Brian hit a modified Go To Sleep, then an F5 Slam for a believable nearfall at 10:30.

Cage hit a standing powerbomb, then a Buckle Bomb, then a sit-out powerbomb for a believable nearfall at 12:00. Good sequence. We got a “This is awesome!” chant. Crist hit a series of kicks to the head and scored a nearfall. Jake hit a Sliced Bread out of the corner for a nearfall. Cage hit a second-rope release Razor’s Edge for a believable nearfall at 14:00! Brian hit a discus clothesline, then the Drill Claw piledriver for the pin. A fun match to showcase Brian’s raw power.

Brian Cage defeated Jake Crist at 14:58.

Beyond Wrestling “Slam At Sun Valley” at the Sun Valley Beach Club in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, on July 4, 2026 (IWTV)

While this show was held a month ago, it was just released this week on IWTV. A lot of the newer trainees were in action over ten matches — I know all the names here — but I picked out the top three that interested me. Lighting is okay, but the crowd was only about 60. It almost feels like the hard camera is connected to the ceiling — it’s really high up, looking down on the ring.

DJ Powers vs. Eye Black Jack Pasquale. Massive boos for DJ as he emerged through the curtains. (The kid just has a punchable face!) A basic lockup. DJ rolled to the floor to stall and draw some boos. Back in the ring, DJ twisted the left arm. Jack clotheslined him to the floor at 2:30. They brawled at ringside, as DJ trapped Jack’s legs in the ring skirt (à la Fit Finlay). In the ring, DJ hit a Rude Awakening-style standing neckbreaker at 4:00, but he soaked in the boos rather than go for the pin. He choked Jack in the ropes and slapped him in the face.

Jack hit a clothesline, and they were both down at 5:30. Jack hit a Bulldog Powerslam and a leaping DDT for a nearfall. DJ nailed his running Claymore Kick for a nearfall at 7:30. They got up and traded chops. They picked up the speed and intensity of the chops, then hit stereo clotheslines and were both down at 9:00. This has been really sharp. Jack hit a superkick. Powers hit a Pedigree for a nearfall. Jack hit a frog splash for the pin. I liked that; the commentator said it was “the match of the night.”

Eye Black Jack Pasquale defeated DJ Powers at 11:15.

TJ Crawford vs. Liviyah. Teenager and second-generation wrestler Liviyah has signed her NWA contract. Crawford came out first, and to my great surprise, he was a babyface. They shook hands and traded standing switches. He’s only a bit taller but clearly thicker. They traded lucha-style reversals. He kicked her in the gut at 1:30 and got some boos. She ducked a chop, and she hit some chops. He once again threw a chop, but Liv ducked it, and she hit her own chops. They went to the floor, and she hit some more chops. He chopped the ring post.

Crawford hit a Silver Bullet spin kick to the head. They got into the ring, and he hit a fadeaway stunner for a nearfall at 3:30. He viciously kicked her as Liviyah was in the ropes, and he was getting more boos now. (That was a quick turn from babyface to heel!) Liviyah hit a Russian leg sweep. She went for her Eye of the Hurricane (she hasn’t done that in recent months!), but he escaped. Liviyah tried to put him across her shoulders, but TJ escaped. She hit a flying shoulder tackle at 6:00, then a Helluva Kick and a German Suplex for a nearfall.

Liviyah got him up and hit a Samoan Drop for a nearfall! She put her hair up so you know she means business! She went for a second-rope missile dropkick but he caught her legs. She ducked a kick and hit a spear. She again went for the Eye of the Hurricane, but he escaped and hit a Silver Bullet spin kick to the head. He hit a sideslam and scored the pin. Good action.

TJ Crawford defeated Liviyah at 8:09.

Kylon King vs. Dustin Waller vs. Ichiban. Waller and King, of course, are the team known as the Miracle Generation, so this really should be considered a handicap match, right? They all traded quick rollups at the bell, and for some comedy, the referee also got a quick rollup, and we had a standoff. Ichiban hit a huracanrana on King, then one on Waller. He hit some monkey-flips. Everyone tried a dropkick; Waller and Ichiban kipped up, but Kylon could not, for some more comedy. Kylon hit a kick on both guys, and we got back to action.

Ichiban hit a dropkick on Waller at 3:30. Kylon hit a double Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall. On the floor, Waller hit a superkick on Ichiban at 5:00, and they looped the ring. Ichiban pushed Kylon into the ring and got a nearfall at 7:30. Kylon hit a brainbuster on Ichiban for a nearfall at 9:00. Dustin hit a springboard clothesline onto Ichiban, a plancha onto Kylon on the floor, then a running Shooting Star press on Ichiban for a nearfall at 10:30. Ichiban and Waller fought on the top rope and hit some headbutts.

Kylon jumped up there and hit a double superplex, and they were all down at 12:30. They all got to their knees and traded forearm strikes and chops. Ichiban nailed a superkick on Kylon, then a tornado DDT at 14:30, then a missile dropkick. Ichiban hit a huracanrana on Waller, then a double 619. He hit a slingshot leg drop on Kylon for a nearfall. Waller hit a Lethal Injection on Ichiban for a nearfall at 16:30. Waller hit a flip dive to the floor onto both guys. He threw Kylon into the ring and hit a Mamba Splash for a believable nearfall.

Kylon hit a powerslam on Ichiban. Ichiban hit a springboard moonsault to the floor at 18:30. In the ring, Kylon hit a Gotch-style piledriver on Ichiban for a believable nearfall, and everyone was down. Kylon missed a top-rope moonsault. Kylon and Waller hit stereo superkicks on Ichiban. Ichiban hit a Canadian Destroyer on Waller, then the Ichiban-Kai (leaping Flatliner) on King for the pin. A thoroughly entertaining match.

Ichiban defeated Kylon King and Dustin Waller at 20:24.

Produce Wrestling “Taigastyle” at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey, on July 16, 2026 (IWTV)

Because this match is for the IWTV World Title, this single match was uploaded to IWTV, not the entire pay-per-view. The room was dark, but the ring was well-lit. This was the co-main event.

Mance Warner vs. Mad Dog Connelly (w/Beastman) for the IWTV World Title AND the Wrestling Revolver Title. As per usual, Connelly carried his dog collar chain to the ring. Security took Beastman to the back! Warner attacked, and we’re underway. This canvas is an absolute bloody mess from matches earlier in the show. (I watched the free pre-show match and it was spotless then!) Mance and Connelly brawled to the floor and traded punches. They got back into the ring at 2:30, and Connelly threw some chairs at Mance (and that is so unnecessary). Connelly put a chair around Mance’s neck and struck that chair with another chair.

Mance hit a headbutt and some loud chops. He hit some chairshots across Connelly’s back. They sat down on chairs and traded punches. Mance hit a Bionic Elbow at 7:00. Connelly hit a second-rope superplex, dropping Mance across two open chairs for a nearfall. Connelly brought a ladder into the ring and put it over his head and spun (à la Terry Funk), but Mance ducked to avoid being hit. Mance grabbed a yellow card and a red card (World Cup season!), but he used a stapler to connect them to Mance’s shoulder, then to his tongue!

Connelly hit a piledriver onto a folded, horizontal ladder for a nearfall at 12:00. Connelly set up a ladder bridge and he powerbombed Mance onto it for a nearfall. Mance hit a back-body drop onto the ladder bridge. Mance hit a running knee for a nearfall at 14:30. Mance went to the floor and got a screwdriver. He jabbed Connelly in the head with it. He tripped Connelly and jabbed Connelly’s bare feet with the screwdriver! Gross! Mance hit another running knee and a leaping piledriver for the pin. Violent, but it somehow never got bloody. (Not sure which match earlier in the show turned this white canvas a splotchy red.)

Mance Warner defeated Mad Dog Connelly (w/Beastman) to retain the IWTV World Title AND the Wrestling Revolver Title at 16:30. 

New Texas Pro, “Wrestle Matsuri” at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, on July 25, 2026 (IWTV and YouTube)

I opted to watch the final two matches. Some top Japanese female wrestlers have been touring the U.S., and three were in action here.

Raychell Rose and Ranna Yagami vs. Fuwa-Chan and Hazuki. Raychell’s hair is more red today than I recall. She’s wrestled in both AEW and TNA in the past. Rookie Fuwa-Chan wore the same bright pink-and-blue-and-yellow gear I’ve seen on a few other shows on this U.S. tour; a commentator accurately described her as “bubbly.” Fuwa-Chan and Ranna opened, with Yagami hitting a quick kick at the bell. Intense standing switches. Ranna hit a running one-footed dropkick at 1:30. She hit a stiff kick to Fuwa-Chan’s spine.

Raychell entered and hit a Helluva Kick on Fuwa-Chan at 4:30, then a kick to the back for a nearfall. Fuwa-Chan fired up and hit some forearm strikes on Ranna, but Ranna dropped her with a stiff kick. Hazuki finally tagged in for the first time at 6:30, and she unloaded some blows on Ranna. Those two traded forearm strikes. This crowd was hot and into this! Ranna hit a dropkick and a running knee for a nearfall at 8:00. Raychell entered and hit a backbreaker over her knee on Hazuki, and she cranked back on Hazuki’s neck. Rose hit some chops, and she choked Hazuki in the ropes.

Hazuki and Fuwa-Chan hit a team suplex on Rose for a nearfall at 10:30. Hazuki applied a crossface, but Ranna made the save. Rose hit a superkick on Hazuki, then a back suplex for a nearfall. Fuwa-Chan and Ranna fought on the floor. Rose set up for a Pedigree, but Hazuki escaped and hit a DDT. Hazuki hit a running stiff kick to the collarbone for a believable nearfall. She hit a buzzsaw kick to the jaw for a nearfall, but Ranna made the save. Hazuki hit a top-rope flying senton to pin Rose. That was really fun. “What a treat, what a contest!” a commentator said.

Fuwa-Chan and Hazuki defeated Ranna Yagami and Raychell Rose at 12:32. 

Jesse Funaki vs. JJ Blake for the LoneStar Title. We got the bell, and they took turns playing to the crowd. JJ finally attacked at 2:00, and we’re underway! Jesse clotheslined him to the floor. Back in the ring, Funaki hit a series of punches to the ribs, then a top-rope crossbody block for a nearfall at 4:30. JJ took control and grounded Jesse. JJ planted his knee in Funaki’s throat. Blake hit a back suplex for a nearfall at 6:30, and he choked Funaki in the ropes. He slowed Funaki down in a headlock on the mat. Blake slammed Funaki stomach-first to the mat and got a nearfall at 9:30.

Funaki fired up and hit some chops, then a dropkick at 11:00, and they were both down. Blake applied a standing sleeper. Funaki hit some punches, then a tornado DDT at 13:00. He hit a superkick and a Fameasser leg drop for a nearfall, and Jesse was fired up! Blake hit a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall. Funaki nailed a twisting flip dive to the floor at 14:30. Back in the ring, they continued to brawl. They traded kicks on the ring apron, and Blake hit a uranage onto the ring apron, with them both collapsing to the floor at 17:00.

They both jumped back into the ring before a count-out. They traded forearm strikes while on their knees. Blake hit a pump kick to the chest and a standing powerbomb for a nearfall at 19:00. Blake left the ring and grabbed a title belt! He swung and missed. Blake accidentally struck the ref! Funaki hit a leaping knee to the sternum for a visual pin at 20:30, but we had no ref! Blake struck Funaki in the head with the belt but only got a nearfall. Blake intentionally struck the ref from behind! Blake slid a chair into the ring. Blake swung a chair, but it ricocheted off the top rope and onto his own head. Funaki immediately hit another running knee and got the pin!

Jesse Funaki defeated JJ Blake to retain the LoneStar Title at 23:01.

(NOTE: Funaki lost this belt just a few days later.)

Action Wrestling “Hold My Beer” at Meehan’s Public House in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 22, 2026 (IWTV)

This was an outdoor show in a parking lot outside a tavern. About 60 people watched the show. It was still light out, so no problems seeing the action.

“Kisses and Crosshairs” Grayson Pierce and Corinne Joy vs. “The Wonderboyz” Ethan Dallas and Aaron Dallas. Joy just signed with MLW, and vignettes for her debut have aired over the past two weeks. I’ve noted that Pierce reminds me of a young HBK, or perhaps Brian Kendrick. Pierce opened. The Dallas brothers are southern hillbillies with reddish mullets, and Aaron is clearly older with a better physique and a thick mustache. Joy entered at 2:30 — she’s about 5’2″, so she’s giving up a lot of size to the scrawny, younger Ethan. Ethan tricked her into dancing, so she slapped him in the face.

Ethan got a rollup for a nearfall. Aaron re-entered and traded mat holds with Pierce. A train went by, drowning out the commentary. (The challenges of an outdoor show!) Joy grabbed Ethan’s ankle, allowing Pierce to hit a gutbuster over his knee, some swats to the rear, then a backbreaker over his knee at 5:30. Pierce paused to give Corinne a quick kiss, then he unloaded a series of chops on the scrawny Ethan. Corinne tagged in, mounted Ethan, and hit repeated punches to his face at 7:00. The heels took turns stomping on Ethan in their corner.

Ethan hit a back-body drop on Joy, and they were both down. Aaron hit a TKO stunner on Pierce for a nearfall at 8:30. Corinne snuck up behind Aaron, rolled him up, and got a nearfall. Aaron hit a spinebuster on her. Pierce hit a double stomp on Aaron’s left arm, and the heels now worked over Aaron Dallas in their corner. Joy hit a piledriver for a nearfall at 10:00. The brothers hit stereo superkicks on Joy. They hit a team Doomsday Device clothesline on Pierce for the pin.

“The Wonderboyz” Ethan Dallas and Aaron Dallas defeated Grayson Pierce and Corinne Joy at 11:07.

Final Thoughts: While there were some bigger names in this round-up, the Waller-Ichiban-King three-way was by far the best match. Cage-Crist was really good and takes second place of these 11 matches. I’ll go with the Japanese women’s match from New Texas Pro for third.

I’ve noted this before — but four of these six shows are available in their entirety. There simply isn’t enough time to watch them all, but I wish I could check out a few more matches. I’ll reiterate that several of these shows are available for free on either YouTube or MyAEW.