This is a list of independent wrestling promotions in the United States, sorted by regional area, and lists both active and defunct "indy promotions" from the 1990s and 2000s. This list does not include the regional territories or promotions affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance.
There is no concrete definition on what constitutes an independent promotion. A general guideline would be that an independent promotion, as its name suggests, has no corporate sponsor or ownership providing funding for its operation. For example, Ring of Honor is owned by Tony Khan and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports, so they fall outside this definition. Another guideline would be a restriction, either by choice or by financial or logistical circumstances, to a particular geographic area, be it a state, a metropolitan area, or even a single town or arena.
Of lesser consideration is the promotion's fanbase. Fan attendance at live shows can be a factor, but is by no means a definite consideration. Most shows hosted by independent promotions have attendances anywhere from under fifty to a thousand or more, but Extreme Championship Wrestling in its heyday in the 1990s regularly hosted events of several thousand fans. Media exposure is also considered. Most independent promotions have very limited television exposure, if any, as they lack equipment or infrastructure to produce broadcast-quality programming. None have had any national television contract since ECW in the late 1990s. The most successful televised promotions release shows as syndicated programming, aired by one or several network affiliates in their local area.
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Assault Championship Wrestling | Waterbury | Jason Knight | 2000–present | [1] [2] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Century Wrestling Alliance | Revere | Ellen Magliaro Tony Rumble | 1989–2007 | Formerly known as NWA New England from 1998 to 2007. Is the longest-running independent promotion under a single owner in New England [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Tony Rumble died in 1999. |
Chaotic Wrestling | North Andover | Jamie Jamitowski Killer Kowalski | 2000–2017 | [8] [9] [10] |
International Wrestling Federation | Reading | Killer Kowalski | 1979–1995 | Associated with Kowalski's wrestling school, a number of his early students competed in the promotion such as Perry Saturn, Joanie Laurer (later to be known as Chyna) and Paul Levesque (now better known as Triple H); later relocated to Burlington, Vermont [1] [3] [4] [5] [11] |
International World Class Championship Wrestling | Boston | Joseph Savoldi | 1984–1996 | Dominant independent promotion in New England during the 1980s; succeeded by Century Wrestling Alliance prior to its close in 1996 [1] [3] [5] [12] |
Millennium Wrestling Federation | Melrose | Dan Mirade Neil Manolian | 2001–2013 | [14] |
New England Championship Wrestling | Jamaica Plain | Sheldon Goldberg | 2000–2019 | [8] [15] [16] [17] |
Top Rope Promotions | Fall River | Steve Ricard | 1984–(Last event was in 2017 so far) | Formerly known as Yankee Pro Wrestling [8] [3] [4] from 1997 to 2004 |
World Wrestling Stars | Rockland | Mike Sparta | 1998–2010 |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Front Row Wrestling | Rochester | Scott C. Despres | 2003–2010 | Announced a merger with NWA Liberty States Wrestling in Massachusetts [18] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Power League Wrestling | Pawtucket | Jack Martin Ralph Adams | 1991–2016 | Oldest independent wrestling promotion in Rhode Island [8] [3] [19] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
East Coast Wrestling Association | Newark | Jim Kettner Mike Tartaglia [20] | 1967–present | Longest-running independent promotion in Delaware [3] [4] [5] [21] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Maryland Championship Wrestling | Baltimore | Dan McDevitt Dick Caricofe Dennis Whipwrecht | 1998–2003 1998–2003 | Founded by Dan McDevitt and Mark Shrader in 1998, it went on hiatus for three years before resuming operations in 2006 [3] [22] Caricofe died on May 14, 2021. |
Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation | Essex | Dennis Wippercht Tim Burke | 1991–2004 | [3] [4] [11] [23] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Game Changer Wrestling | New Jersey | Brett Lauderdale | 1999–present | |
Independent Wrestling Federation | Woodland Park | Kevin Knight | 1998–2017 | [3] [24] |
Jersey All Pro Wrestling | Bayonne | Frank Iadeavia Jeff Sharpio | 1997–2018 | [8] [3] [25] [26] Iadeavia died on September 23, 2015. |
Phoenix Championship Wrestling | Toms River | Don Bucci | 2001–2003 | Promoted by the twin brother of Simon Dean, Donnie B, PCW was home to a number of future WWE stars, most notably Mike Bucci [27] |
Women Superstars Uncensored | Lake Hiawatha | Sean Hansen | 2007–2012 |
Active Movers Wrestling Old Bridge NJ
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Family Wrestling Entertainment | Manhattan | Jordan Schneider | 2010–2015 | ||
House Of Glory | Ridgewood, New York City | The Amazing Red Brian XL Master P | 2012–present | ||
Northeast Wrestling | Newburgh | Mike Lombardi | 1994–present | ||
Wild Zero | Syracuse / Rochester | Krist Worthless | 2017–present |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
CHIKARA | Allentown | Mike Quackenbush | 2002–2020 | [8] |
Combat Zone Wrestling | Philadelphia | D. J. Hyde | 1999–present | [3] [28] |
Dragon Gate USA | Philadelphia | Satoshi Oji Gabe Sapolsky | 2009–2015 | American affiliate of the Japanese puroresu organization Dragon Gate |
Extreme Championship Wrestling | Philadelphia | Tod Gordon Paul Heyman | 1992–2001 | [3] [15] [4] [5] [11] [29] |
Extreme Rising | Philadelphia | Shane Douglas Kevin Kleinrock Steve O'Neill | 2012–2014 | |
Keystone State Wrestling Alliance | Pittsburgh | Bobby O | 2000–present | |
Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling | Philadelphia | The Blue Meanie Jasmin St. Claire | 2002–2005 | Also known as 3PW; featured many former stars from Extreme Championship Wrestling following its close in 2001 [30] [31] |
Pro Wrestling eXpress | McKeesport | Jim Miller | 1994–present | [32] |
Steel City Wrestling | Pittsburgh | Norm Connors | 1994–2000 | Promotion closed after Conners entered the mortuary business; became promoter for the International Wrestling Cartel in 2001 [3] [4] [5] [33] |
World Xtreme Wrestling | Allentown | Afa Anoa'i | 1996–present | Associated with Afa Anoa'i's Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center [8] [3] [34] |
International Wrestling Cartel | Pittsburgh | Justin Plumer | 2001–Present | [35] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
All American Wrestling | Berwyn Chicago LaSalle | Danny Daniels | 2004–present | In 2018 began branching out to Austin, Texas. |
American Wrestling Federation | Chicago | Paul Alperstein | 1994–1996 | Tito Santana and Sgt. Slaughter were bookers for the promotion [3] [36] |
Shimmer Women Athletes | Berwyn | Dave Prazak Allison Danger | 2005–2021 | [37] |
Warrior Wrestling | Chicago Heights | Steve Tortorello | 2018–present | |
Windy City Pro Wrestling | Chicago | Sam DeCero | 1988–2010 | [3] [15] [4] [5] |
Women's Wrestling Army | Chicago | Bobby Cruise Maria Kanellis | 2022–present |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
IWA Mid-South | Clarksville | Ian Rotten | 1996–2022 | [8] [3] [38] [39] |
Main Event Championship Wrestling | Evansville | Jason Daniel | 2009–present |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
National Wrestling Alliance | Waterloo | Billy Corgan | 1948–2012 2017-Present |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Metro Pro Wrestling | Kansas City | Chris Gough | 2010–2016 | Sold to the National Wrasslin' League in December of 2016 |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Juggalo Championship Wrestling | Detroit | Shaggy 2 Dope Violent J | 1999–present | [40] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pro Wrestling America | Minneapolis | Eddie Sharkey | 1985–1998 | [3] [11] [41] [42] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
National Wrasslin' League | Kansas City | Major Baisden | 2016–2018 | |
World League Wrestling | Troy | Harley Race (former) | 1999–present | Associated with the Harley Race Wrestling Academy; formerly affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance [8] [3] [43] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Heartland Wrestling Association | Cincinnati | Cody Hawk Jack Kimble Chad Dillefeld | 1996–2015 | Founded by Les Thatcher [8] [3] [44] [45] |
World Wide Wrestling Alliance | Columbus | Richard Arpin Dave Nelson | 2004–2005 | Originally known as NWA Ohio [46] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Full Impact Pro | Largo | Sal Hamaoui | 2004–present | Sister promotion of Ring of Honor from 2003 to 2009; talent exchange agreement with Dragon Gate USA [47] [48] |
Future of Wrestling | Fort Lauderdale | Bobby Rogers | 1998–2003 | Associated with Rusty Brooks' School of Hard Knocks. [3] [49] |
Shine Wrestling | Tampa | Sal Hamaoui | 2012–present | Sister promotion of Shimmer Women Athletes. Runs events regularly on internet pay-per-view. |
Continental Championship Wrestling | Jacksonville | Chris Turner | 1989–1991 | Sister promotion of Continental Championship Wrestling (Alabama). Runs events regularly on YouTube. |
Coastal Championship Wrestling | Coral Springs | Bruno Sassi | 2004-present | In November 2023, CCW announced to revive the historical Championship Wrestling from Florida [50] |
Name | Location | Owners | Years Active | Information |
---|---|---|---|---|
Deep South Wrestling | McDonough | Jody Hamilton | 2005–2007 | WWE developmental territory from 2005 to 2007 [51] [52] |
National Championship Wrestling | Cornelia | Steve Martin | 1997–1999 | Merged with NWA Georgia to form NWA Wildside [3] [53] |
Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling | Marietta | Dusty Rhodes | 2000–2003 | Featured many former stars from World Championship Wrestling following its close in 2001 [54] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ohio Valley Wrestling | Louisville | Al Snow | 1998–present | Affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance from 1998 to 2000 and a WWE developmental territory from 2000 to 2008; also has an affiliate promotion, Derby City Wrestling, which it used to train students as its wrestling facility [3] [55] [56] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
CWF-Mid Atlantic Wrestling | Burlington | Danny Wenkel | 2000–2019 | Also known as the Carolina Wrestling Federation; affiliated with AWA Superstars from 2005 until 2007, and Pro Wrestling International since 2009 [8] [3] [57] [58] |
Deadlock Pro-Wrestling | North Carolina | Anthony Douglas James Darnell John Blud | 2021–present | |
Fire Star Pro Wrestling | Greensboro | Labron Kozone | 2012-present | |
OMEGA Championship Wrestling | Cameron | Matt Hardy Jeff Hardy | 1997–1999 2013–present | Promotion closed when Matt and Jeff Hardy joined the World Wrestling Federation, later reopened |
South Atlantic Pro Wrestling | Winston-Salem | Paul Jones Frank Dusek | 1990–1992 | Founded as North American Wrestling Association by George Scott, John Ringley and Mike Lamberth [3] [59] |
Premiere Wrestling Xperience | Charlotte | Brian Kanabroski | 2003–present | Founded in 2003 as Carolina Wrestling Association. Renamed in 2008 as Premiere Wrestling Showcase. Since 2010, it has been known as Premiere Wrestling Xperience. |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Global Force Wrestling | Nashville | Jeff Jarrett Karen Jarrett | 2014–2017 | |
Innovate Wrestling | Kingsport | Tony Givens | 2004–present | Was known as Championship Wrestling Alliance from 2004–2011 and NWA Smoky Mountain/NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling from 2011–2017. |
Memphis Championship Wrestling | Memphis | Terry Golden | 2000–2001 | WWE developmental territory from 2000 to 2001; revived as Memphis Wrestling in 2003 [60] |
Smoky Mountain Wrestling | Knoxville | Jim Cornette | 1991–1995 | [3] [29] [61] [62] |
Southern States Wrestling | Kingsport | Beau James | 1991–present | Formerly known as NWA Championship Wrestling [8] [3] [4] [5] [63] |
United States Wrestling Association | Memphis | Jerry Jarrett Jerry Lawler | 1988–1997 | Promotion formed when regional promotions the Continental Wrestling Association and the Dallas-based World Class Wrestling Association merged in 1989 [3] [4] [5] [11] [64] [65] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance | Arlington | Shyte Pan Dan Stinky Steve | 1995–1999 | Also known as the Independent Pro Wrestling Alliance [3] [4] [66] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mason-Dixon Wrestling | Nutter Fort | Jim Hawkins | 1997–2010 | [3] [67] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Global Wrestling Federation | Dallas | Max Andrews Grey Pierson | 1991–1994 | [3] [68] [69] |
Reality of Wrestling | Houston | Booker T | 2006–present | |
Texas All-Star Wrestling | Humble | Bob Murphy | 1994–present | The first successful promotion since the close of World Class Championship Wrestling in 1990 and the Global Wrestling Federation in 1994, it is currently the oldest independent promotion in Texas [3] [4] |
Texas Wrestling Alliance | San Antonio | Rudy Gonzales | 1999–present | Founded with Shawn Michaels as part of his Texas Wrestling Academy wrestling school [3] [70] |
Warriors 4 Christ Wrestling | San Antonio | Curtis Stone | 1999–present |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
All Pro Wrestling | Hayward | Roland Alexander | 1991–present [71] | Featured in the 1999 documentary Beyond the Mat [3] [72] [73] |
Empire Wrestling Federation | San Bernardino | Jesse Hernandez Bill Anderson | 1996–present | [3] [72] [74] |
Incredibly Strange Wrestling | San Francisco | Johnny Legend August Ragone | 1995–2003 | |
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla | Los Angeles | Excalibur Joey Ryan Scott Lost Super Dragon | 2003–present | [72] [75] |
Ultimate Pro Wrestling | Los Angeles | Rick Bassman | 1998–2007 | The home promotion for many current stars of TNA, WWE and Zero One; as of 2005, is an official talent scout for the WWE [72] [76] [77] |
Wrestling Society X | Los Angeles | Kevin Kleinrock Cody Michaels Vampiro | 2006–2007 | Produced by Big Vision Entertainment, it was briefly aired on MTV in 2007 [78] |
Xtreme Pro Wrestling | Sherman Oaks | Rob Zicari Tom Byron | 1999–2003, 2021–present | [79] [72] [80] |
PCW Ultra | Torrance | Mike Scharnagl | 2015–present |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ladies Professional Wrestling Association | Laughlin | Tor Berg | 1989–1992 | Based in Laughlin, Nevada the promotion held its only pay-per-view in Minnesota. [81] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Portland Wrestling Uncut | Portland | Pete Schweitzer Roddy Piper Don Coss | 2012–2014 | The promotion aired on KPTV and KPDX. [82] [83] [84] |
West Coast Wrestling Connection | Salem | Jeff Manning Pat Kelly | 2005–2016 | Weekly television broadcast on KPDX-TV [85] |
DOA Pro Wrestling | Portland | Terry Farness | 2008-present | Monthly show carried live on IWTV |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ultra Championship Wrestling-Zero | Salt Lake City | Steve Neilson | 2002–present | Affiliated with AWA Superstars from 2005 to 2007 [86] [87] |
Pedro Aguayo Damián better known as "(El) Perro Aguayo" and El Can de Nochistlan was a Mexican wrestler through the 1970s to the 1990s.
Brian Wohl is an American retired professional wrestler, better known for his ring name Julio Dinero.
Matthew Bowman is an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name "Wiseguy" Jimmy Cicero, who has worked for the United States Wrestling Association, Extreme Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and various other promotions on the independent circuit. He also works at the Independent Pro Wrestling Association Wrestling School and has trained several wrestlers who later worked for major promotions.
Steven Stewart, known by his ring name Bart Sawyer, was an American professional wrestler, color commentator, and occasional actor. He was best known for his time in Championship Wrestling USA and the United States Wrestling Association during the 1990s. In his career, Sawyer also wrestled for Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling, House of Pain Wrestling Federation, Memphis Wrestling, NWA Georgia, NWA Main Event, NWA Worldwide, World Xtreme Wrestling and W*ING. Additionally, he competed as a preliminary wrestler in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation.
Andrew Warner is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "the Black Nature Boy" Scoot Andrews.
Anthony "Tony" Salantri is a former American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names Tony Santarelli or Tony Stradlin, who competed in North American promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance, as well as New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Zero1, Deep South Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. One half of the tag team High Impact with Mike Taylor, he and Taylor were the first DSW Tag Team Champions.
The Century Wrestling Alliance, formerly known as NWA Cold Front and NWA New England, was a New England–based American independent wrestling promotion located in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded by Tony Rumble in 1989, a retired wrestler and manager in International World Class Championship Wrestling, and included much of its roster prior to and following its close during the early 1990s. The promotion eventually replaced IWCCW as the dominant independent promotion in the Greater Boston area and, in 1997, became an affiliated territory of the National Wrestling Alliance.
The CWA Heavyweight Championship is the primary professional wrestling singles title in the Century Wrestling Alliance. The title was first won by Tommy Dreamer who defeated "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas in a tournament final held in Wallingford, Connecticut on November 5, 1992, and defended throughout New England by former World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation wrestlers as well as some of the top independent wrestlers in the Northeastern United States. The title was combined with the CWA New England title to create the NWA New England Heavyweight Championship when the CWA joined the National Wrestling Alliance and became NWA New England in January 1998. The title returned to its original name when the CWA withdrew from the NWA on March 10, 2007.
The CWA Cruiserweight Championship is the primary lightweight wrestling title in the Century Wrestling Alliance. It was first introduced as the CWA Light Heavyweight Championship and won by The Tazmaniac who defeated Flexx Wheeler in a tournament final held in Windsor Locks, Connecticut on January 3, 1993. The title was mostly dominated by IWCCW veterans Ray Odyssey and The Pink Assassin, both of whom feuded with El Mascarado over the title for much of the 1990s. The title was renamed as the NWA New England Cruiserweight Championship when the CWA joined the National Wrestling Alliance and became NWA New England in January 1998. A year later, it changed to the NWA New England Junior Heavyweight Championship and co-promoted with NWA East / Pro Wrestling eXpress. The title was defended throughout the New England area, most often in Massachusetts and Connecticut, from 1999 until 2002 when it became inactive for a year. The title was revived as the NWA Cold Front Cruiserweight Championship in 2006 but returned to its original name when the CWA withdrew from the NWA on March 10, 2007.
The CWA Tag Team Championship is the primary wrestling tag team title in the Century Wrestling Alliance. Double Trouble were the first team to win the titles by defeating The Interns in Wakefield, Massachusetts on September 23, 1993. The title was renamed as the NWA New England Tag Team Championship when the CWA joined the National Wrestling Alliance and became NWA New England in January 1998. The tag team title returned to its original name when the CWA withdrew from the NWA on March 10, 2007.
Brendan Higgins, best known by his ring name Knuckles Nelson is a retired American professional wrestler, promoter and trainer who wrestled throughout the North American independent circuit during the 1990s and 2000s. He competed in several regional promotions such as the Century Wrestling Alliance, the National Wrestling Alliance and the United States Wrestling Association. He also briefly appeared in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as well as touring Japan as Super Destroyer between 1997 and 1999.
William Perry Blake III, better known by the ring name "Hard Rock" Ricky Blues, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and trainer who competed in the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic independent circuit during the 1990s and 2000s. He is regarded as a pioneering cruiserweight wrestler and dominated the Baltimore-area, especially in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation and Maryland Championship Wrestling, in the early to mid-1990s.
The MDW Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling heavyweight championship in Mason-Dixon Wrestling (MDW). It was the original heavyweight title of the Atlantic Coast Championship Wrestling promotion during its first year of operation. In December 1998, the promotion became Mason-Dixon Wrestling and the title became the MDW Heavyweight Championship.
The MDW Tri-State Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling secondary championship in Mason-Dixon Wrestling (MDW). It was the original television title of the Atlantic Coast Championship Wrestling promotion during its first year of operation. In December 1998, the promotion became Mason-Dixon Wrestling and the title was replaced by the MDW Tri-State Heavyweight Championship.
Pro Wrestling eXpress is a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in North Versailles, Pennsylvania in 1994 by Jim Miller and Sean "Shocker" Evans. It is the longest-running promotion in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. PWX was the main rival of Steel City Wrestling during the 1990s and was an affiliate of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 to 2012. PWX held a prominent role in the organization during this period. It was part in the annual NWA Anniversary Shows from 1998 to 2000 and brought national and world NWA champions to audiences in the East Coast of the United States. The promotion also collaborated with non-NWA members on the local independent circuit holding several interpromotional shows with Chris Lash's Allied Powers Wrestling Federation and participated in Deaf Wrestlefest (2010).
Erich L. Sbraccia, also known as Eric Sbraccia, is an American retired professional wrestler. He began his career in International Championship Wrestling at age 14 as a "junior member" for manager "Boston Bad Boy" Tony Rumble and debuted as a wrestler two years later. He emerged as one of the promotion's top heel performers during the late 1980s, while feuding with "Jumping" Joe Savoldi, and was part of The Dynamic Duo with "Fabulous" Phil Apollo. He is a former ICW Light Heavyweight Champion and two-time ICW Tag Team Champion with Apollo.
James "Jim" McCarthy is an American professional wrestler and trainer, best known by his ring name Dukes Dalton. He competes on the independent circuit in the Northeastern United States. He has wrestled for the Century Wrestling Alliance, the National Wrestling Alliance, and Chaotic Wrestling where he was inducted into its hall of fame in 2008. He also made brief appearances in the World Wrestling Federation in 1999 and 2001, both as a singles wrestler and with tag team partner Knuckles Nelson.
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