Wrestling Open “Episode 242 – The Heat Is On” results (8/20): Vetter’s review of Bear Bronson vs. 23 Hazard for the Wrestling Open Title, Stetson Ranch vs. Danny Miles and Bobby Casale for the Wrestling Open Tag Titles

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

Wrestling Open “Episode 242 – The Heat Is On”
Streamed on IndependentWrestling.TV
August 20, 2026, in Worcester, Massachusetts, at The White Eagle

The lighting was good, and it was easy to see. The crowd was maybe 100. Referee Scott Robinson and Brother Love provided commentary. We are back to having fans standing on the side opposite the hard camera (Good; the crowd looks so much bigger and more lively with the fans on their feet).

1. “Handyman” Jake Gray vs. Buck Sawin in a spotlight match. Sawin wears a Mick Foley-style red-and-black flannel, and his whole look resembles a member of the Briscoe family. Basic back-and-forth action early on. Gray hit a huracanrana and a jumping knee for a nearfall at 1:30. Sawin hit a back suplex. He hit some blows to Gray’s back. Gray talked about Sawin being a military veteran. Gray hit a double stomp to the chest at 4:30. He hit a sidewalk slam and a shotgun dropkick into the corner, then the mid-ring Sliced Bread for the pin.

“Handyman” Jake Gray defeated Buck Sawin at 5:22.

2. Colton Charles vs. Love, Doug. Again, Colton reminds me a lot of Royce Keys; he has a big frame and has the size advantage over Doug. We got the bell, and Colton easily shoved him to the mat. They got in a knuckle lock, and Colton overpowered him in a test of strength. Brad Hollister came to ringside at 2:00 and mockingly patted the ring to “cheer on” Doug. Doug tried a slingshot crossbody block, but Colton caught him. Charles went for a Gorilla Press, but Doug escaped, and Doug hit a dropkick.

Colton hit a hard clothesline, and he choked Doug in the ropes, then hit a flying back elbow at 4:00. Colton held Doug upside down, walked around the ring, and eventually hit the delayed vertical suplex for a nearfall. Such power! Doug hit a stunner. Charles snapped Doug’s throat across the ropes at 6:30. Doug hit a big boot and some punches, then some flying back elbows. Colton hit a D’Lo-style Sky High for a nearfall at 8:00. Colton peeled down his straps, but he missed a Vader Bomb. Doug threw rose petals at Colton for a distraction, then he nailed the Lariat of Love for the pin.

Love, Doug defeated Colton Charles at 9:32.

* Hollister got in the ring, got on the mic, and he apologized for his actions last week. Doug snatched the mic away from him. Doug challenged both Hollister and TJ Crawford to fight him in a Triple Threat at Americanrana! But first, he wants Brad one-on-one next week. “Maybe I can beat some sense into you!” Doug said, then he stormed off.

3. Lauren St. James vs. Selena Hekate. Selena’s hair is a lighter pink this week. Lauren hit a dropkick, then a bulldog for a nearfall. Hekate took control and kept Lauren grounded. Selena hit a Samoan Drop for a nearfall at 4:30. Lauren got up and hit some forearm strikes, then a bulldog out of the corner for the pin. Lauren is still a ‘work in progress,’ but she’s putting in the effort.

Lauren St. James defeated Selena Hekate at 5:13.

* The video package aired on all the prior Wrestling Open champions, which includes NXT wrestlers Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes. Why is this match not in the main event? My spidey sense sees a screwjob finish coming…

4. “The Stetson Ranch” Steven Stetson and Brian Morris vs. Bobby Casale and Danny Miles for the Wrestling Open Tag Team Titles. All four brawled. Casale pushed Stetson into his corner and hit some blows to the ribs. Miles hit a standing neckbreaker. The champs worked over Miles in their corner. Miles got a rollup for a visual pin on Morris at 6:00, but Stetson was distracting the ref. Stetson hit a wind-up bodyslam and a butt drop to the chest for a nearfall at 8:00. Miles hit a top-rope double clothesline. Casale finally got a hot tag at 9:30, and he hit a German Suplex on Morris, then one on Stetson.

Casale hit some running Facewash Kicks, then a Bulldog Powerslam on Stetson. Miles hit a Lungblower on Morris. Casale hit a powerbomb for a nearfall. The champs hit a team slam on Casale for a nearfall at 11:30. Casale hit a suplex on Morris. Stetson accidentally struck Morris while trying to make a save at 13:00. Miles got back in and hit a rolling cannonball in the corner. Suddenly, all four were down. Stetson hit a Mafia Kick. Morris jumped in the ring with a title belt. He struck the challengers with it, causing the DQ. Lame finish to a decent tag match.

Bobby Casale and Danny Miles defeated “The Stetson Ranch” Steven Stetson and Brian Morris via DQ at 15:20; The Ranch retained the Wrestling Open Tag Team Titles. 

5. Rain Conway vs. Gabriel Skye. Rain came out first. He’s got that dawwwwg in him! It might be a year or longer since ETU star Skye has been here. Skye was slated to face Christian Darling. Standing switches to open, and Skye hit a dropkick. Conway hit a suplex that dumped Skye on his head at 2:30. Gabriel held his head in pain, and the ref backed Rain off. However, Rain jumped on Skye and hit a German Suplex, then some forearm strikes to the base of the neck. Skye’s selling has been great.

Skye hit a suplex, but he couldn’t keep a bridge, and he grabbed his neck in pain. Conway stomped on him. They traded rollups. Skye hit a German Suplex at 6:00, then a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall. Rain hit a fisherman’s suplex for a nearfall. Skye got an O’Connor Roll and was able to hold onto the high bridge for the pin. Robinson was impressed that Skye was able to hold the move when he was in such pain. Skye held his neck as he limped to the back.

Gabriel Skye defeated Rain Conway at 8:15.

6. Brother Greatness vs. Nick Robles. The 1980s rocker Robles backed BG into a corner and hit some spin kicks. BG hit a huracanrana to send Robles to the floor, and he played with Nick’s cowbell. Nick hit a gutbuster over his knee at 3:00. He hit a Bulldog Powerslam for a nearfall, and he kept BG grounded. Brother Greatness got up, and they traded forearm strikes. Brother Greatness hit some clotheslines and a flying crossbody block. He nailed a Brainbuster for a believable nearfall at 8:00. Robles struck BG across the head with his cowbell for the pin. Meh.

Nick Robles defeated Brother Greatness at 8:57.

* A video aired on the history of the Discovery Gauntlet, noting that past participants include Carmelo Hayes and Daniel Garcia.

* The next bout was slated to be Julezee vs. Jodi Aura in a Discovery Gauntlet match. I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from HOG wrestler Aura; his whole look and vibe makes me think of Marvel’s anti-hero Blade. He has the size advantage, and I could see him winning it here. However, J Bouji attacked Jodi Aura before the bell! He’s taking Aura’s spot! Julezee came out, and he agreed to the new match.

7. Julezee vs. J Bouji in a Discovery Gauntlet match. They immediately brawled, and Bouji went to the floor to regroup. Julezee hit a flip dive to the floor. In the ring, Bouji took control, and he stomped on Julezee, then hit some chops. Julezee hit a brainbuster. He leapt off the ropes, but Julezee caught him and hit a Lungblower to the back at 5:30. Julezee hit a Shining Wizard for a nearfall. He hit a rolling cannonball in the corner, then a Swanton Bomb for a nearfall at 7:30. J Bouji hit a springboard fadeaway stunner for a believable nearfall. Julezee hit a running headbutt and an Angel’s Wings. J Bouji hit a pumphandle sit-out powerbomb for the pin!

J Bouji defeated Julezee at 10:06 to advance in the Discovery Gauntlet match.

* The video package aired of all the prior Wrestling Open champions. I’m loving these montages.

8. Bear Bronson vs. 23 Hazard for the Wrestling Open Title. Bear hit a shoulder tackle and a back-body drop. He backed Hazard into a corner and hit some chops, so Hazard bailed to regroup. Bear followed at 2:00 and hit some chops and forearm strikes at ringside, and he took control. Hazard leapt to the floor on Bronson, and he jawed with the crowd. They got back into the ring at 6:00, and Hazard choked him in the ropes.

Hazard hit a jumping knee to the sternum for a nearfall. Bear hit a snap suplex, and they were both down at 8:30. They got up, and Bear unloaded some forearm strikes, then his butt drop onto Hazard’s sternum. Bear hit a series of clotheslines, and he was fired up. He hit a splash into the corner and a Black Hole Slam for a nearfall at 10:00. Hazard hit a springboard Stomp for a nearfall! Bear dropped him with a hard chop and pulled down the straps of his singlet. They traded more chops.

23 Hazard hit a dropkick in the corner, but Bear hit a flying forearm strike. Cash McGuiness distracted the ref, allowing Patrick Wheatman to sneak into the ring and strike Bear! 23 Hazard jumped on Bronson and got a nearfall at 13:00. Hazard hit a crossbody block, but Bear nailed the Choke Bomb. As Bronson was going for the pin, McGuiness and Wheatman jumped in the ring and attacked Bronson, causing the DQ. Meh. The heels did a three-on-one beatdown and stood over Bear. Gabriel Skye and Julezee ran to the ring to chase off the heels.

Bear Bronson defeated 23 Hazard via DQ to retain the Wrestling Open Title at 14:01. 

Final Thoughts: The build to that tag title match has been pretty solid, and I could have seen a title change there. However, 23 Hazard only has a handful of wins here, and he’s not seen as a credible challenger for the title. So, when the tag match was midway through the show, I knew we weren’t getting a clean, pinfall finish. The moment called for one, so this finish is a disappointment. Likewise, I expected Bear to easily beat 23 Hazard, so having a second DQ finish really didn’t work for me.

The highlight of the night was J Bouji winning the Discovery Gauntlet, but again, I would prefer to see that role go to a newcomer wrestler. However, J Bouji is a pretty experienced competitor. I was looking forward to seeing Jodi Aura (and Christian Darling, too, for that matter). I’d love to see Gabriel Skye back here on a more regular basis, too.

Indy wrestlers, it’s always good to bring your gear ‘just in case.’ I was looking forward to that Christian Darling-Gabriel Skye match. Rain did a fine job as a late replacement. Overall, the Monday shows continue to be the far better product, with a better overall roster. I watched this live; it should be posted on IWTV at some point on Friday.