It’s been five years since Freelance Wrestling opened its doors in Chicago, Illinois, and since then they’ve become one of the Infinity Stones of the vibrant Chicago-area indie scene. It’s their 5th anniversary on Friday night, as Freelance presents Freelance Wrestling vs. The World, with a top-notch card of some of the best of the Midwest independents against some top national and international stars. It airs live on IndependentWrestling.tv at 9pm CDT or 10pm EST.
Preview: Freelance Wrestling – Freelance vs. The World
Texas Bullrope Match: Ruff Crossing vs. Chris Castro
This match is five years in the making. In the first Freelance event, The Rebellion: Chapter One, Chris Castro defeated Ruff Crossing before both went on their separate paths for the next few years. Earlier this year, the two rekindled their rivalry, as Ruff beat Castro this past April at Burn After Reading. For the rubber match, the two are heading into a brutal Texas Bullrope match, as these two Freelance Originals look to settle a score five years old.
The Take-It-Homewreckers (Darin Corbin, Bucky Collins & Mikey) vs. Arik Cannon, Kikutaro & EFFY
Darin Corbin and his fellow Homewreckers, Bucky Collins and Mikey, have been running rampant in Freelance for ages now. Corbin has a long history with Midwest indie veteran Arik Cannon, going back to Corbin’s early days in Minnesota. They’ve teamed on multiple occasions, but in Freelance, these two have been feuding for ages. Cannon tries to topple the Take-It-Homewreckers with two new allies on Friday night, as he enlists Japanese legend Kikutaro and rising indie star EFFY.
Isaias Velazquez vs. Pat Monix
Former 2x Freelance World Champion Isaias Velazquez has been a staple with Freelance for years now and is looking to get his feet back into the World title discussion in Freelance Wrestling, but on Friday he’ll be facing one of the top young emerging talents in the Midwest. Chicago’s own Pat Monix is the reigning IWA Mid South Junior Heavyweight Champion who is looking to break out in Freelance.
Freelance Underground Championship: GPA (c) vs. Craig Mitchell
Freelance Wrestling’s even more hardcore sister promotion, Freelance Underground, is represented on Friday night when newly crowned Freelance Underground Heavyweight Champion GPA looks to defend against the man he recently beat for the belt, Freelance Original Craig Mitchell.
Freelance Legacy Championship Scramble: Eye Candy Elliott vs. Kobe Durst vs. Alex Ohlson vs. Gringo Loco vs. Thunder Rosa vs. Matt Knicks
Freelance Wrestling is introducing a new singles title on Friday night with the Freelance Legacy Championship, and they’ll be crowning the winner of this 6-person scramble match as the inaugural Legacy Champ. Eye Candy Elliott is a former IWA Mid South Tag Team Champion with Pat Monix looking to advance his career as a singles star in Freelance, while Canadian indie star Kobe Durst is cleaning up the Midwest lately, as the reigning Black Label Pro Heavyweight Champion. Alex Ohlson is another Freelance Original still looking for his first Freelance gold, while Gringo Loco is a Chicago indie legend just now getting his due in Major League Wrestling (MLW). Thunder Rosa is one half of the Twisted Sisterz tag team whose been making waves as a singles star in her own right (and a regular with Lucha Underground). Matt Knicks is another Freelance Original and one half of the former Freelance Tag Champs Four Star Heroes with Chris Castro.
Freelance World Tag Team Championship: The Work Horsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) (c) vs. Space Pirates (Shane Sabre & Space Monkey)
The Work Horsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) are one of the most underrated tag teams in the US indies. The reigning Freelance World Tag Team Champions for 364-days, JD Drake is also the reigning WWN Champion, while Henry is the Full Impact Pro World Champion. They’re facing a Canadian duo in former Black Label Pro Tag Team Champions Space Pirates, featuring Shane Sabre and Space Monkey. The Work Horsemen are methodical like Arn & Tully, but the unpredictability of the Space Pirates could prove to be their greatest foil.
Rob Anthony & Frank the Clown vs. Kylie Rae
With former Freelance World Champion Kylie Rae now one of the faces of All Elite Wrestling (AEW)‘s women’s division, it won’t be long till she goes AEW exclusive on TNT in the fall. She’s winding down on her indie appearances, and in what may be her final show for Freelance before she’s All Elite, she’s in a handicap match against one of the indies real mouthpieces in Frank the Clown, who is bringing along former CZW World Heavyweight Champion Rob Anthony (aka Egostico Fantastico) to partner with, in a 2-on-1 Handicap match to rid Freelance of Kylie Rae once and for all.
Freelance World Championship Open Challenge: “All Ego” Ethan Page (c) vs. ???
It was this past April that “All Ego” Ethan Page defeated Kylie Rae to become the new Freelance World Champion, and in the past 56 days, he’s defended the title against Rickey Shane Page and Hakim Zane. On Friday night, he’s opening the challenge to the entire Freelance Wrestling locker room and beyond. Who will answer Page’s call?
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