Chicago’s Freelance Wrestling returns this Friday night with a big showcase airing live on IndependentWrestling.tv. Chicago’s rough-and-tumble Freelance is a perfect blend of hard-hitting action with top-notch wrestling, with a huge main event for the Freelance World Championship.
Ruff Crossing vs. Chris Castro
Chicago’s own Ruff Crossing has been working the US indies since 2005, working primarily the Midwest and the vibrant Chicago indie scene. He made his Freelance debut in 2014 and on Friday he faces off against one half of the former Freelance Tag Team Champions from Four Star Heroes, Chris Castro. Whether it’s in tag action or singles competition, Castro is a Freelance regular looking to get back into title contention.
#NoNewFriends (Danny Adams & Mike Outlaw) vs. Kris Chambers & Arik Cannon
Danny Adams and #NoNewFriends, his stable that also features Mike Outlaw and Kevin Lee Davidson, have been running rampant throughout the Midwest with Black Label Pro, Glory Pro, All American Wrestling (AAW), Freelance and more, and on Friday it’s Adams & Outlaw looking to continue their assault of the territory. They face an ad hoc tandem of two longtime veterans, starting with Canadian indie veteran Kris Chambers. Chambers has been wrestling the Canadian indies since 2001, working with Toronto’s Superkick’d the past few years. He made his Freelance debut last year, and on Friday is pairing with a US indie legend in Chicago’s own Arik Cannon. Cannon also debuted in 2001 and has since relocated to Minnesota where he runs F1RST Wrestling.
Eye Candy Elliott vs. Joey Ryan
“Eye Candy” Elliott Paul is a Chicago playboy who began in the Chicago-area indies in 2015 and has since honed his craft in IWA Mid South. But the “Eye Candy” is in for a fight against the man, myth, and legend Joey Ryan.
Freelance Scramble: Mark Wheeler vs. Maria Manic vs. Kobe Durst vs. San Andres vs. Bear Bronson vs. Mik Drake vs. Gregory Iron vs. Ophidian
A wild scramble full of some top emerging talent (and a few veterans). Mark Wheeler is another part of the Canadian invasion of Freelance the past few years, and the Toronto native is breaking into the US indie scene quite nicely. Maria Manic continues to turn heads, taking on all challengers, male or female. Another Toronto indie sensation is Kobe Durst, who is the reigning Black Label Pro Heavyweight Champion, while San Andres is another emerging Canadian star from Superkick’d. New York’s Bear Bronson is a graduate of the Create-A-Pro Wrestling Academy and at only 23-years old, the big man is making waves in Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), WrestlePro and Chaotic Wrestling. Mik Drake is a 14-year pro from NYC who has been working Booker T‘s Reality of Wrestling (ROW) the past few years. Cleveland’s Gregory Iron was trained by Josh Prohibition and Johnny Gargano and is a Midwest veteran with Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW), as well as Canada’s Alpha-1 and Smash Wrestling amongst others. Ophidian is a CHIKARA original and longtime veteran trainer, who continues to mesmerize the audience as he branches further away from the CHIKARA universe.
Aiden Miller, Shazza McKenzie & Craven vs. The Take It Homewreckers (Darin Corbin, Bucky Collins & Mikey McFinnegan)
It’s an Aussie invasion in Freelance Wrestling, as reigning Pro Wrestling Australia: Black Label Women’s Champion and SHIMMER veteran Shazza McKenzie leads a trio including Melbourne’s Aiden Miller and Perth’s “Australian Sensation” Craven. They’re facing one of Freelance’s resident sh*tdisturbers in Darin Corbin‘s Take It Homewreckers. The former Freelance World Champion is joined by his usual cohorts, Bucky Collins and the bizarre Mikey McFinnegan.
Freelance Tag Team Championship: The Work Horsemen (Anthony Greene & JD Drake) (c) vs. Space Pirates (Shane Sabre & Space Monkey) vs. Rickey Shane Page & Alex Ohlson
The Work Horsemen have just passed 300 days as Freelance Tag Team Champions, and the tandem of WWN Champion JD Drake and Full Impact Pro World Champion Anthony Henry have remained a formidable tag team in the US indies over the past few years. They’re putting their titles on the line in a triple threat, featuring Black Label Pro and Alpha-1 Tag Team Champions Space Pirates, as well as the tandem of former CZW World Heavyweight Champion Rickey Shane Page and longtime Freelance regular Alex Ohlson.
Isaias Velazquez vs. Robert Anthony vs. Rory Gulak vs. Anthony Greene
A huge fatal four-way featuring a cavalcade of former World Champions. Isaias Velazquez is a former 2x Freelance World Champion, looking to get back in the World title picture, while Robert Anthony is a former CZW World Champion as Egotistico Fantastico. Rory Gulak is a veteran grappler from CHIKARA, CZW, and Beyond Wrestling, while Anthony Greene is a breakout star for 2019 who recently won (albeit briefly) the CZW World Heavyweight Championship.
Nick Gage vs. Craig Mitchell
The undisputed King of American hardcore Nick Gage makes his return to the Windy City to face one of the undisputed stars of Freelance Wrestling since the promotion’s beginning in 2014 in Craig Mitchell. Mitchell has yet to taste singles gold in his five year run with Freelance, but a big win over Gage would put him in the picture.
Freelance World Championship: Kylie Rae (c) vs. “All Ego” Ethan Page
All Elite Wrestling (AEW)‘s Kylie Rae is 75-days into her Freelance World Championship title run and on Friday she prepares for her toughest title defense yet in IMPACT Wrestling’s Ethan Page. Page has been collecting belts around the Midwest, as a former BLP Heavyweight Champion, 3x AIW Absolute Champion, AAW Heavyweight Champion, and reigning Xcite Heavyweight Champion.
