WWE will host WrestleMania 40, this weekend, with a loaded card set for Saturday and Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. WWE is producing hours and hours of content around the shows. With everything from a Hall of Fame ceremony and Slammy Awards to WrestleMania SmackDown and The Undertaker’s One Deadman Show.
Despite all this to compete with, indy wrestling companies are hosting shows during WrestleMania weekend. Here, we give you our lowdown on the can’t-miss indy matches from across WrestleMania 40 weekend. Plus, find out how to watch these matches from the comfort of your own home.
Shayna Baszler vs. Masha Slamovich
One of the biggest shocks in the build-up to WrestleMania 40 was the news that a current WWE star would be competing on an indy show. Shayna Baszler will battle Masha Slamovich at GCW’s The Collective Josh Barnett’s Bloodsports. Baszler being allowed to wrestle TNA star Slamovich on an indy show is a huge move away from the previous WWE ideology of not acknowledging other companies.
The rest of the card is absolutely stacked. Nic Nemeth vs. Mike Bailey, Josh Barnett vs. Johnny Bloodsport (John Morrison), Fuminori Abe vs. Takuya Nomura and Minoru Suzuki vs. Royce Isaacs will all take place on the show on Thursday, April 4.
How to watch: TrillerTV (FREE 7-day trial)
“IM GOING TO TASTE YOUR BLOOD AND PUT YOU DOWN” – @mashaslamovich
SLAMOVICH VS BAYZLER AT BLOOSPORT APIRIL 4TH pic.twitter.com/dUpB50cRxo
— DEATH PARK (@nkbdpt) April 3, 2024
Blue Kane vs. Matt Cardona
The biggest in-joke in internet wrestling history comes to life when Blue Kane actually appears IRL. Someone recolored images of Kane to make him blue and put it on the internet. It caused such a buzz that someone started wrestling in a Blue Kane costume. WWE unsurprisingly issued a cease and desist order.
So Blue Pain was born. Matt Cardona hates Blue Kane/ Blue Pain because the actual Kane pushed him off a WWE stage in a wheelchair a decade ago. The two will meet at GCW’s The Collective Joey Janella’s Spring Break.
How to watch: TrillerTV (FREE 7-day trial)
CARDONA VS. BLUE KANE at @GCWrestling_ on April 5 in Philadelphia! pic.twitter.com/53xDyugVvq
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) March 26, 2024
“Bussy” Effy & Allie Katch vs. “Dirty Breeze” Tyler Breeze and Dirty Dango
Think Cody Rhodes will get the biggest pop in Philadelphia? Think again. The loudest ovation during WrestleMania weekend tends to be saved for Effy and Allie Katch “Bussy”. Bussy will blow the roof off at Big Gay Brunch on Saturday morning.
Initially, Effy’s Big Gay Brunch featured universally LGBTQ+ performers. But ‘heteros’ have been showing up in recent years such as the popularity of Big Gay Brunch. Former WWE duo “Breezango” Tyler Breeze and Fandango will be taking on Bussy whilst fans sip on mimosas at what is often the most fun show of the weekend.
Tyler Breeze will be appearing on WWE’s The Bump ahead of WrestleMania 40. Allie Katch is the subject of a new documentary on IWTV.
How to watch: Triller TV
Yall less than thirty minutes until TLO Allie Katch on @indiewrestling I am not ready 🫡😭🥲 pic.twitter.com/3PGlTWDQ4q
— ALLIE KATCH アリー・キャッチ (@AllieKATCH) April 1, 2024
Kid Lykos vs. Man Like Dereiss
Once seen as the shining light of the British wrestling scene, things went very dark for Progress Wrestling in 2020. The London-based organization has decamped the UK for the weekend to host its Freedom Walks Again show in Philadelphia as part of GCW’s The Collective.
Kid Lykos losing his mask but using this pain to spark his successful journey to becoming Progress World Champion has been a great storyline. This could signal Progress is on the way back to glory.
Man Like Dereiss challenges Lykos on a show that sees the best British wrestlers share the ring with indy stars from across the globe.
How to watch: TrillerTV
WrestleMania Weekend London
Whilst Progress is in the USA, London will experience its own WrestleMania weekend celebrations.
EVE – Riot Grrrls of Wrestling puts on Wrestle(wo)mania at Big Penny Social on Friday. The Viking theatrical play told through wrestling Mythos: Ragnorak is at The Cockpit Theatre all week.
Meanwhile, RevPro will test sleep deprived Brits by hosting a show that will be sandwiched between the two WrestleMania 40 all-nighters on Sunday evening.
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