WWE will claim to take over Las Vegas for its WrestleMania 41 week, next month.
But WWE can’t take all the responsibility for the entertainment capital of the world becoming overrun with wrestling fans.
The wrestling industry as a whole will hijack Sin City in a heist unseen since Ocean’s Eleven.
Every wrestling company worth a dime will host shows in Las Vegas to capitalize on the thousands of fans who will attend WWE WrestleMania 41, SmackDown, WWE Raw, and NXT Stand & Deliver.
To gain attention these companies are promoting everything from WWE legends, video game voice actors, former boxers, indy darlings, hardcore matches, OAP multi-man brawls, and throwbacks to previous WrestleMania moments.
Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) is responsible for multiple indy companies appearing in Las Vegas with its GCW: The Collective event. Click here for more on that.
Here, we look at the craziest independent matches currently booked for WrestleMania week.
Butterbean vs. Minoru Suzuki (w/ Dan Severn as special enforcer)
WrestleCon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow
April 17
Former boxer Butterbean – who knocked out Brawl For All winner Bart Gunn at WrestleMania XV – will compete against NJPW legend Minoru Suzuki.
Suzuki has a 30-20 MMA career record. This means Butterbean vs. Suzuki could descend into one of the craziest shoot fights of all time.
Former UFC and NWA champion Dan “The Beast” Severn will be special guest enforcer.
WrestleCon boasts appearances by everyone from Mike Tyson, Sting, Ronda Rousey, Saraya, Toni Storm, Teddy Long, and Kurt Angle to The Berzerker, Honky Tonk Man and Dennis Rodman.
Full details on WrestleCon Las Vegas can be found here.
Its the return of @EricButterBean vs @suzuki_D_minoru with a special enforcing ref @danbeastsevern @ the Mark Hitchcock Memorial WrestleCon Supershow. pic.twitter.com/gQPvLDlGvF
— WrestleCon (@wrestlecon) March 10, 2025
Minoru Suzuki vs. Yoshihiko
DDT Pro Wrestling
April 18
One day later, what’s left of Suzuki will wrestle the inflatable doll known as Yoshihiko. That’s right.
Suzuki competes against a blow-up sex doll less than 24 hours after he fights one of the toughest men of all time. The match happens at DDT Pro Wrestling’s show as part of GCW The Collective at Palms.
🇺🇸April 18th Las Vegas Show New Match Card!
⚔️DDT UNIVERSAL Champion Minoru Suzuki's first challenger is….YOSHIHIKO!
Details:https://t.co/VyoI7XcAnz
#ddtLasVegas #ddtpro pic.twitter.com/ukcNsWT98I— DDT Pro-Wrestling (English) (@ddtproENG) March 26, 2025
Senior Scramble Match: The Warlord vs. Ricky Morton vs. Mike Johnson vs. Tommy Rich vs. George South vs. Doug Gilbert
Joey Janela’s Spring Break 9
April 18
Joey Janela’s Spring Break is set to be historic. In his attempt to create “the greatest independent wrestling show of all time” Janela has loaded the card with can’t-miss matches.
From ECW legend Sabu’s retirement with Janela, the JCW Championship match between Masha Slamovich and Suzu Suzuki to the tallest women’s match of all time Megan Bayne vs. Bozilla.
But it’s the Senior Scramble match that is set to be the craziest. All competitors must be 55+ to enter. Two will start. Every five minutes a new competitor will enter. Pinfalls can be recorded at any point but whoever has won the deciding fall before the 20-minute timelimit expires is the winner.
At 75, Mike Johnson is the oldest man in the match. 68-year-old former Rock ‘n’ Roll Express member Ricky Morton is the biggest name in the match. The Warlord (63), Tommy Rich (68), George South (62) and Doug Gilbert (56) round out the competitors.
It seems very hard for this match not to become the most talked-about moment across the weekend.
Sabu Retirement Match Announced For WrestleMania Vegas Weekend
Red Dean Redemption Star on Freemont Street
Pandemonium Wrestling: The House Always Wins
April 17
Pandemonium Wrestling’s The House Always Wins show on Freemont St has a card topped by Shelton Benjamin vs. Kevin Blackwood that is sure to get people talking.
The show will also include an appearance from the voice behind Red Dead Redemption 2 lead character Arthur Morgan. A battle royal is also advertised so we could see the voice behind Morgan – Roger Clark –compete in that. Absolutely crazy.
Our full card for The House Always Wins
Tickets are still available!!!
🎨@sierradzns pic.twitter.com/iw8AiOMyj2
— Pandemonium: Pro Wrestling (@ProPandemonium) March 22, 2025
Nattie Neidhart vs. Miyu Yamashita
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII
April 17
Despite becoming common in recent years, it is still crazy that WWE allows its talent to compete for an independent company during WrestleMania Vegas.
WWE’s Natalya will compete under her real name Nattie Neidhart at the wrestling/ MMA event Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport. Neidhart will stand across a ring with no ropes for the unique match with Japanese sensation Miyu Yamashita.
WWE lifer Neidhart personally requested to face the experienced karate star Yamashita. It is set to be one of the most talked-about matches of the weekend.
WWE stars Pete Dunne, Charlie Dempsey and Karrion Kross will also compete on the show that features talent from NJPW and across the indies.
$500 Twerk Off
All Caribbean Pro Wrestling/ Fighting Evolution Wrestling: Sin City Burn
April 17
You can’t headline WrestleMania but you could win $500 by twerking in a wrestling ring.
Sin City Burn’s card will be headlined by Zicky Dice vs. “Pope” Elijah Burke. But it is what is happening alongside the wrestling that is crazy.
The show will feature a $500 twerk-off competition and topless bottle hostesses serving bottomless tequila and rum. What. Could. Possibly. Go. Wrong.
Cancel any chance of Ric Flair appearing in the Senior Scramble, he’ll probably be at this.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling Header photo – WWE – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on WWE and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can check out WWE programming on Netflix (Raw), USA Network (SmackDown), The CW (NXT), Tubi (WWE Evolve), A&E (WWE Superstar Sunday – Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments) and Peacock (WWE Main Event as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on YouTube, and catch fast-paced action on X (WWE Speed).
