{"id":21555,"date":"2018-07-08T22:28:14","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T02:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=21555"},"modified":"2018-07-08T22:28:14","modified_gmt":"2018-07-09T02:28:14","slug":"the-forgotten-generation-indie-wrestlings-first-wave-of-influence-videos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2018\/07\/08\/the-forgotten-generation-indie-wrestlings-first-wave-of-influence-videos\/","title":{"rendered":"The Forgotten Generation: Indie Wrestling’s First Wave of Influence (VIDEOS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The current boom of indie wrestling in the pro wrestling world didn’t happen over night. There have been indie federations almost since pro wrestling began, promotions and companies that never allied with the NWA, or got absorbed by the WWF, that toiled away in their own regional pockets of the world. It wasn’t until the demise of both WCW and ECW in 2001 that a vacuum was created that created the spark – and need – for a stronger independent wrestling network in North America. Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), IWA Mid South<\/strong> and Maryland Championship Wrestling<\/strong> (now MCW Pro Wrestling<\/strong>) were already in operation (CZW and MCW founded in 1998, IWA Mid South in 1996), but there was no easy access to watch most of these indies unless you lived in the area or had friends who traded VHS tapes. But the rise of the internet and the accessibility of faster internet in the early 2000s changed that. Out of the ashes of WCW, rose TNA<\/strong> (now Impact Wrestling<\/strong>) in 2002, while other major indies like Ring of Honor<\/strong> (2002), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla<\/strong> (PWG<\/strong>, 2003) and CHIKARA<\/strong> (2002) began to pop up, providing elite level wrestlers a platform, especially with WWE being a tougher option for those “too small”.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo: ROH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The early 2000s so a great wave of their stars go on to huge careers with WWE, TNA\/Impact, and beyond – names like CM Punk<\/strong>, Daniel Bryan<\/strong> (Bryan Danielson), Seth Rollins<\/strong> (Tyler Black), Samoa Joe<\/strong>, Christopher Daniels<\/strong>, and current WWE Champion AJ Styles<\/strong>, all were part of that early to mid-2000s class of wrestlers to lead the charge, opening doors for future indie talents like Adam Cole<\/strong>, Kevin Owens<\/strong>, Ricochet<\/strong> and others to find work in bigger arenas. But there’s a wave that pre-dates that former wave, featuring innovators and risk takers, names that are held in high esteem by many wrestlers and promoters, but that are in many ways forgotten today. While some have reached cult status (for good or bad), some are mere footnotes. But there were plenty of wrestlers who forged the roads in the indies in the late 90s and early 2000s, inspiring the Tyler Blacks and the CM Punks to continue\u00a0their\u00a0<\/em>path, instead of patterning their styles after what the WWE was portraying. While there were far more than the names listed below, these are 10 wrestlers who are largely forgotten (or don’t get the credit they deserve) for leading the first wave of indie superstars, that helped launch the indie scene that has finally gotten the recognition and attention its so long deserved.<\/p>\n

The Forgotten Generation: Indie’s First Wave of Influence\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

(DISCLAIMER: This list only includes those who worked in the US indie scene)<\/em><\/p>\n

TRENT ACID (1995 to 2010)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Philadelphia’s Trent Acid<\/strong> was someone that most assumed would become the next great breakout star from the indies. An innovative and entertaining high flyer, he was well known for his tag team, The Backseat Boyz<\/strong>, with Johnny Kashmere<\/strong>, but was equally renowned as a singles star. Sadly, just as the indie scene began to thrive in the mid-2000s, Acid became a victim of his demons – his career was derailed and stagnated by substance abuse. He hit rock bottom in early 2010, when he was arrested for heroin possession and sentenced to just shy of two years in prison. Tragically, he never made it to prison, dying from a drug overdose on June 18, 2010. A 3x CZW Junior Heavyweight Champion, Big Japan<\/strong> Junior Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time tag team champion with Kashmere in a myriad of promotions, Acid was a trailblazer who burned out before he truly got a chance to shine on the big stage.<\/p>\n