We are on the Road to Wrestlemania and along the way are many pit stops, including those that are non-WWE related! Here are our picks for the must-see independent shows during the big week in New Orleans this week. They are in order by the date and/or time they happen.
Matt Riddles Bloodsport – Thursday 3PM:
The description on their ticket site says it all:
“What happens when GCW and Matt Riddle team up to bring you an event where Pro Wrestling and MMA’s baddest and best collide?What happens when you strip away the rules of professional wrestling, take away pinfalls and every match must end with a KNOCKOUT or a SUBMISSION?Join us on Thursday, April 5th at 3 pm for a unique crossover event as GCW presents “Matt Riddle’s Bloodsport”!”
Already announced:
Matt Riddle vs. Low Ki
Timothy Thatcher vs. Nick Gage
WALTER vs. Filthy Tom Lawlor
Dan Severn vs. Chris Dickinson
Eddie Kingston vs. Tracy Williams
Dom Garrinni vs. KTB
Who wouldn’t want to see this? For tickets click here.
The Crash – Friday Noon
We love Lucha Libre, and this show has a fantastic lineup!
Lucha Super Estrella
Penta Zero M vs Austin Aries
Lucha Semifinal
L.A. Park, Nicho El Millionario, & Damien 666
vs
Bestia 666, Garza Jr., & Mr 450
Lucha De Luju
Ret Fenix vs Flamita vs Rich Swann
Lucha Especial
Daga vs Brian Cage vs Willie Mack vs Sami Callihan
Lucha De Parejas
Bandito & Black Boy
vs
Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz
vs
Dave & Jack Crist (OVE)
Poder A Poder
Rey Horus vs Flip Gordon vs Laredo Kid
Lucha De Escandalo
Lacey Lane & Black Danger
vs
Christi Jaynes & Oraculo
vs
Barbie Hayden & Joey Ryan
vs
Diamonte & Douglas James
Lucha De Alarido
Aeroboy vs Draztik Boy vs J.Spade vs Amarok vs Matthew Palmer vs Jason Cade vs Angel Fashion vs Kurt Stallion
You can purchase tickets here.
Impact vs Lucha Underground – Friday 9PM
This is one of the most anticipated shows of the Week next to Wrestlemania itself. As soon as Lucha Underground was announced as a partner, tickets started selling like hotcakes. Expect a lot of high flying action, blood, and plenty of violence on this show!
The Matches announced so far:
Eddie Edwards vs Jeremiah Crane (I Quit Match)
Dezmond Xavier, Andrew Everett, DJZ vs Drago, Aerostar, King Cuerno
LAX vs Willie Mack & Killshot (IMPACT Tag Team Title Match)
Austin Aries & Fenix vs Alberto El Patron & Pentagon Jr
To purchase tickets click here.
SHIMMER – Sat 4PM:
This is SHIMMER’s 100th show!!! They are the longest consecutively running womens promotion in the US right now… and possibly ever? SHIMMER has given many young women from around the world a chance to showcase what they do in the ring. Also, it is important to note many of the women you saw in the Mae Young Classic are from the current SHIMMER roster or are alumni! This is going to be an action-packed show with women’s wrestling like you have never seen before! This is also a pretty family friendly event, so bring the kids!
SHIMMER Championship Match
Nicole Savoy defends vs. Mercedes Martinez
Heart of SHIMMER Championship Match
Shazza McKenzie defends vs. Tessa Blanchard
Nicole Matthews vs. Toni Storm
Madison Eagles vs. Deonna Purrazzo
SHIMMER Tag Team Championship Match
Leva Bates & Delilah Doom defend vs. LuFisto & Hudson Envy
Shotzi Blackheart vs. Cheerleader Melissa
Britt Baker & Chelsea Green vs. Charli Evans & Jessica Troy
Also in action:
Kimber Lee
Rhia O’Reilly
Samantha Heights
Mia Yim
Veda Scott
Kellyanne
Zoe Lucas
Plus more competitors still to be announced!
For tickets click here.
Ring Of Honor – Saturday 7:30 PM
Ring of Honor has a lot more going on than just this card, so make sure you check the ticket link below to see what exactly they have in store for the week. As ROH has grown it has managed to keep true to its roots while evolving to meet today’s wrestling audience. This show looks to be another amazing card produced by them!
Matches Announced:
Cody vs Kenny Omega
ROH Championship Match
Dalton Castle vs Marty Scurll
ROH World Tag Team Championship Match
The Briscoes vs Jay Lethal & Hiroshi Tanahashi
ROH World 6 Man Championship Match
SoCal Uncensored vs The Young Bucks & Flip Gordon
ROH TV Championship
Kenny King vs Silas Young
Punishment Martinez vs Tomohiro Ishii
Adam Page vs Kota Ibushi
For tickets click here.
House of Hardcore – Saturday 10PM:
HOH is Tommy Dreamer’s branded enterprise featuring not only Legends from ECW but stars of today as well! This show is set to begin one hour after NXT ends!
Headlining:
Rich Swann vs. Austin Aries
Already scheduled for this event include:
Rock N Roll Express
Tommy Dreamer
Carlito
Billy Gunn
Willie Mack
Luchasaurus
Killer Kross
Super Crazy
Lance Hoyt
Davey Boy Smith Jr
and more to be announced soon!
For tickets click here.
Kaiju Big Battel – Saturday 11:55PM
Pro wrestling monsters!!! If you have not seen Kaiju Big Battel before, you have been missing out on some of the wildest action and storylines available in sports entertainment. It doesn’t matter if you don’t follow the company or know the storylines, you will be entertained!!!
No Matches announced but expect some sort of trouble from Dr. Cube!
(there always is!)
Tickets to this event are available here.
And the show you may want to skip?
Joey Janelas Spring Break 2
Why? Because we feel that Joey Janela puts his opponents at risk for his own benefit. He has been wrestling far too long to wrestle this unsafely, and honestly, we are astounded that this mark hasn’t seriously injured any of his opponents yet. He disrespects not only those who came before him, but his callous behavior and recklessness also show disrespect for the entire wrestling industry. Even advertising it as a “Clusterfuck” is disrespectful. We seriously hope he doesn’t do anything to put the promoter’s license being used for this show in jeopardy so he can get his rock off. And besides, who over 25 besides perverts and losers go to “Spring Break”?
Sadly while we do not support nor have any respect for Janela, there is some great talent on this card.
Already announced:
Janela vs. Great Sasuke
Mike Quackenbush vs. David Starr
Matt Riddle vs. James Ellsworth
WALTER vs. PCO
Nick Gage vs. Penta 0M
The CLUSTERF&$k
“and more”
For tickets click here.
If you are still looking for tickets to Wrestlemania or aftermarket tickets to any of these shows that may be sold out check out StubHub and Ticket Liquidator.
If you are interested in the latest lines for WWE events sign up for our newsletter below.