The Independent Wrestling Thread

[Warner2BruceTD]

Lots of rumors that Wrestling Is Awesome will fold. Shows like yesterday won't help:

Just got home from the show. Being a diehard wrestling fan, especially CHIKARA, PWG and WWE this was a huge letdown. Went to the last Fairfield show and it was pretty great, but boy did this show lack big time in the entertainment dept. Seemed like everyone was phoning it in saving it for the big show tomorrow night, Kobald VS. Thunderfrog (which was the opener) was by and far the best match of the evening. Both guys were over huge and nothing else compared other than the Jervis love all around. Everything else I would rate 2 stars or below. O'Rourke who beat Surfer Mitch (Green Ant didn't make the show for whatever reason) advances, Mathews and Parker both advance, and Smashmaster advances after destroying Castle in the main event, who no one cared for and in all honesty I don't know why he was pushed as the top babyface. I am guessing a 3.0 final maybe? The end of the show had the Wrecking Crew come out and kill Castle some more and Smash posed with the Awesome title. Not a great show and I am assuming tomorrow is going to be the last Awesome show anyways so not a good farewell for Fairfield. On another note the crowd was more into putting themselves over than the wrestlers which is surprising as the last show wasn't like that at all. Avoid this show unless your a completist, bring back CHIKARA!!

[BigBiss]

Phone is open for Great Depression bookings if Qua ... "They" want to pop the territory

[Warner2BruceTD]

Wrestling Is Awesome was shut down tonight. They did an angle just like at Wrestling Is Intense.

[FedEx227]

I won't say I called it... but I called it.

Sucks that these companies are going away, but they were destined to fail.

[FedEx227]

If you guys shoot the matches like that, on film, with those unique angles, that is a potential game changer and instant attention grabber.

YES YES YES. I love this and I've been calling for pro wrestling to be shot differently for years now. The presentation of wrestling has been largely unchanged in 40-50 years and that's pathetic given the advanced in technology, cameras, etc.

THIS is what I'd love to see. Great colors, solid DSLR camera, shot like film... love it man, hope to see more like it.

[Warner2BruceTD]

The NWA has announced the entire card for their big "New Japan Invasion" show on Friday, October 18 in Houston.

The line-up is designed to mix national stars such as NWA champion Rob Conway, New Japan stars such as Jushin Liger (replacing Satoshi Kojima), and top local talent such as Byron Wilcott and Jax Dane.

Invasion Card

- NWA World Title match: Rob Conway vs. Byron Wilcott in a No DQ match.

- NWA tag champions Lance Archer/Hoyt & Davey Boy Smith, Jr. vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Jushin Liger.

- NWA Jr. Hvt. Title match: Jason Kincaid vs. Chase Owens.

- NWA Lone Star tag champions Alex Reigns & James Claxton vs. Damien Wayne & Lance Erikson.

- Kingz of the Underground vs. New Japan stars Gedo & Watanabe.

- Jax Dane vs. Michael Tarver.

- Ray Rowe vs. NWA Eastern States champion Lou Marconi.

- Carson & Mike Dell (w/Barbi Hayden) vs. Kevin Douglas & Ricky Starks.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Oh boy...Michael Tarver?

BUY BUY BUY!

[Warner2BruceTD]

OK, here's the deal now with the next shows. They will be on Nov. 16th in Queens, NY back at the Elk's Lodge and Nov. 17th in Brooklyn at the Lyceum. We are waiting on something now to see if they will be DGUSA or EVOLVE shows. As soon as it is determined, we will get a WWNLive Alerts out and put tickets on sale. We can confirm now that DGUSA Champion Johnny Gargano, DGUSA Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks, EVOLVE Champion AR Fox, Ricochet, Anthony Nese, Trent Baretta, The Bravado Brothers and Chuck Taylor are all confirmed for both events. BREAKING NEWS: As a result of EVOLVE 24, it will be Ricochet vs. Anthony Nese on 11/17 in Brooklyn. Also, we can confirm that The Bravado Brothers will face The Young Bucks at one of the shows for the Open The United Gate Titles. We will announce more matches as soon as we confirm more talent for these events. Put the dates down on your calendar and stay tuned....

Also a quick note that DGUSA Enter The Dragon: Third Anniversary Celebration and EVOLVE 17 DVDs are now in stock and shipping from DGUSA.tv.

Cliffs:

-I'm trying to book japanese dudes. Eita & U-T aren't in Mexcio anymore, so it's tough. If I can't get any japanese dudes, no problem man, these will be EVOLVE shows.

-We've got fresh new DVD's from shows that took place over a year ago that nobody even remembers took place anymore in stock now!

[Warner2BruceTD]

Also, for the guys who I gave that HOT SCOOP to about Anthony Nese, now that I think about it, he never really specified when...

[FedEx227]

Cliffs:

-I'm trying to book japanese dudes. Eita & U-T aren't in Mexcio anymore, so it's tough. If I can't get any japanese dudes, no problem man, these will be EVOLVE shows.

-We've got fresh new DVD's from shows that took place over a year ago that nobody even remembers took place anymore in stock now!

He tweeted out last week something to the effect of: "Pretty awesome how soon DVDs are coming out now?" ....The shows took place over a year ago, Gabe.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I assume DGUSA and Evolve shows sell like shit on DVD, hence, they don't care when they sell'em.

[FedEx227]

Still, it's fucking mastering a DVD. Should take 2 weeks TOPS.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I assume DGUSA and Evolve shows sell like shit on DVD, hence, they don't care when they sell'em.

It's been a problem forever, and you could argue it killed his DVD business (along with iPPV to be fair, because the hardcores who needed to see everything were just ordering live or on demand). DGUSA was a hot DVD property at the start, they were a real high quality item with premium packaging, always multiple discs with extras from FIP or DG Japan, etc. Now they come out over a year later, in standard packaging with no extras.

The entire DGUSA concept, if you recall at the beginning, was a "premium wrestling experience". Six match cards that were always STACKED with nothing but top talent & dream matches, higher ticket prices that were tiered which allowed the high priced tickets early entry to watch the try out matches, premium DVD's, storyline continuity with DG Japan, etc. That all got dropped along the way. Now we get marathon cards in shitty buildings, DVD's over a year later after nobody wants to see the damn show anymore, and if you're lucky, 3 or 4 authentic DG wrestlers per show.

Somewhere along the way this concept took a bad turn. I used to be all in on this, I just can't muster the enthusiasm anymore. And this from someone who eats Dragon Gate for breakfast. I still watch DGUSA, but it just isn't the same.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I count at least 8 talents from EVOLVE 17 who don't even work for the company anymore. Three signed with the WWE months ago. Unless you're a completest, why on earth are you buying such an old show? I cant imagine anybody has been waiting around and wanted to see this who either A.) gave up and lost interest or, B.) just watched the fucking thing on iPPV.

[FedEx227]

DGUSA and to a lesser extent Evolve were extremely interesting when they first began because they were different. Evolve's concept was wonky and it likely wasn't going to work long-term but at least it tried to be something different. DGUSA WAS different for quite a while and it made them one of the most intriguing products in wrestling. Somewhere along the line it fell apart to the point where now as you mentioned it's same old shit, there's no reason to watch DGUSA over *insert local indie*. I have AAW in Chicago that runs a lot of the same workers, in a small-ish arena and I can go watch one of their monthly shows for $12. That's replaced any type of money I would give to DGUSA (and I gave a lot to them in the first few years including attending live shows).