5 Must-Watch Independent Shows During WrestleMania Weekend

WrestleMania is just days away, and the professional wrestling world is set to take over Las Vegas. These days, any large-scale wrestling event brings the entire industry together, with independent shows running nearly every hour in the days leading up. Given the state of the industry in 2025—and the unique allure of Las Vegas—this year’s build-up to The Show of Shows is bigger than ever. Whether watching from home or in Sin City, fans will be taking in multiple events per day.

Read about five must-watch independent shows happening during WrestleMania 41 week:

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 13

One of the biggest events in independent wrestling in 2025, Bloodsport returns as part of GCW’s Collective series. For an MMA-inspired show, there’s no better backdrop than Las Vegas—especially for what may be the most stacked lineup in its 13-show history.

Inspired by shoot-style promotions like RINGS and UWF—as well as his own storied career—Josh Barnett has curated one of the most stacked lineups of the weekend. Bloodsport brings together talent from WWE, NJPW, TJPW, and STARDOM, a rare crossover in today’s landscape. MMA fans will also be treated to appearances by Barnett himself, Shinya Aoki, and Shayna Baszler.

The ruleset is simple: No ropes, and wrestlers must immediately return should they fall to the outside. From there, the match can only end by knockout, submission, or referee stoppage.

If the lineup itself wasn’t enough, the matchmaking is near perfect. A dream match between Nattie Neidhart and Miyu Yamashita is one of the most interesting matchups. That’s because the two are huge fans of each other’s work. During her U.S. visits, Yamashita trains at Natalya’s new incarnation of The Dungeon. Combine that with the fact that Natalya competing at Bloodsport feels like a perfect fit, and this match could end up being one of the most talked-about of the weekend.

Elsewhere, Barnett headlines his eponymous show taking on Gabe Kidd. Former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. faces Jonathan Gresham in a technical wrestling dream. Also on the card, the aforementioned Shinya Aoki faces NXT’s Charlie Dempsey, while Shayna Baszler takes on STARDOM’s Konami.

Even if shoot-style or technical wrestling isn’t your favorite, the star power and one-of-a-kind matchups found only on a Bloodsport card make this event a must-watch. The unique blend of talent always delivers a fun and unforgettable spectacle.

Joey Janela’s Spring Break 9

The headliner, the OG, the main event of The Collective—Joey Janela’s Spring Break is back. Despite a recent serious injury, “The Bad Boy” is still set to headline in one of the biggest Spring Break matches to date.

Expect chaos, carnage, nostalgia, and an unforgettable night before WrestleMania—culminating in the final match of the legendary Sabu. In true Sabu fashion, it’s a no-rope barbed wire match against the man on the marquee, Joey Janela. Above all, this will be violent. It will be bloody. It will be everything you’d expect from a Sabu retirement match.

Elsewhere the JCW World Championship match between champion Masha Slamovich and Suzu Suzuki should be excellent. Suzuki, at 22-years-old, and already a seven-year-vet, is one of the top young wrestlers in the world. She has been a shining light in STARDOM since making the move from Ice Ribbon. Slamovich is of course well established around the world and is a long-term champion of GCW’s sister brand JCW, in addition to her work in TNA.

Taking a sharp detour from the chaos above, we have what’s been dubbed The Senior Scramble—a match where all competitors must be 55 or older. This six-man spectacle, boasting a combined age of 392, features The Warlord, Doug Gilbert, Mike Jackson, Ricky Morton, Tommy Rich, and George South. Knowing this crowd, they’re going to eat it up and have an absolute blast. After all, who wouldn’t want to see The Warlord wrestle in 2025? Wrestling fans live for nostalgia.

And that’s not even mentioning the rest of the stacked card, packed from top to bottom with major names from across the global wrestling scene.

Full Spring Break 9 Card:

Immediately following Spring Break comes 4th Rope’s Heels Have Eyes: Four The Culture. The brainchild of Westside Gunn, 4th Rope blends hip-hop culture and professional wrestling like no one else in the game. Featuring a mix of independent and mainstream talent, alongside production values that rival the best in the business, 4th Rope has quickly established itself as a must-see event on the independent scene—despite being just one year in.

The whole lineup has not been announced yet. But as always, they are promising live performances and special guests alongside action in the ring. There will be a performance by Flatbush Zombies and a special appearance by Joey Bada$$. Since it’s WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas—anything can happen, and anyone could show up.

So far, we’ve got The Hardys defending their 4th Rope Tag Team Championships in an open challenge, and a Steel Cage match for the Heavyweight Title as Zilla Fatu—son of Umaga and cousin to Jey, Jimmy, Solo, and Jacob—takes on Josh Bishop.

Also announced is a Triple Threat match featuring Mustafa Ali, Leon Slater, and Trevor Lee, along with a singles bout between Maya World and Tiara James. World and James are two of the brightest prospects in American women’s wrestling. They’ll be looking to use this event—and a packed WrestleMania weekend—as a launching pad to the next level. Oh, and let’s not forget Gabe Kidd vs. Matt Riddle, which promises to be an absolute banger.

DEADLOCK Pro Wrestling’s Title Fight in Vegas

Deadlock Pro Wrestling has made a major impact on the independent wrestling scene over the past few years, rapidly emerging as a leading force in just their fifth year of operation. The promotion—founded by podcasters-turned-promoters James Darnell, Anthony Douglas, and John Blud—has thrived with a blend of rising American stars and standout talent from Japan. Many of the wrestlers featured on this card are destined for the biggest stages in wrestling. A testament to their success: Deadlock Pro was the first to spotlight Jay Malachi, now known to WWE fans as Je’Von Evans.

The card showcases their strategy to perfection, headlined by a 12-man Ultimate Conflict Match for the vacant DPW World Championship. Competitors will enter at random intervals, with eliminations occurring via over-the-top-rope rules—until a pinfall happens, which ends the match and crowns the winner. If it comes down to the final two competitors without a pinfall, the match shifts into a traditional singles bout. It’s a unique and intriguing concept, and all eyes will be on how it plays out in execution.

Elsewhere on the card, one of pro wrestling’s fastest-rising stars, Leon Slater, challenges Lebron Kozone for the DPW National Championship. Women’s Champion Dani Luna will also face Marvelous standout Takumi Iroha in a high-stakes proving ground match—if Iroha wins, she earns a future title shot. This bout is a must-watch, with both competitors showcasing world-class talent and sky-high potential.

Two of the top independent tag teams in the world are set to collide in a street fight. Champions Grizzled Young Veterans take on Violence Is Forever. In this no-rules environment, expect Dominic Garrini and Kevin Ku to embody their team name as they go to war in their quest to reclaim the tag titles.

WrestleCon’s Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow

Since its inception in 2014, The Mark Hitchcock Memorial Show has delivered some of the best matches during WrestleMania weekend. With its diverse mix of talent and matchups, it’s always a must-watch event, and this year is no exception. As with every edition, surprises are to be expected, and this time around, the card includes a ten-man tag team match—though the participants remain a mystery for now.

This is truly a show that offers something for everyone. Minoru Suzuki vs. Butterbean, with Dan Severn in his corner, takes place alongside high-flying action between Mascara Dorada and Ninja Mack, and a hard-hitting clash between Maki Itoh and Mickie James. As one of the first major events of the weekend, it’s set to kick off WrestleMania festivities with a bang. It serves as the perfect opener to the wrestling festival, setting the stage for an exciting weekend and generating buzz that will carry through the following events.

The card blends mainstream names, emerging talent, and a dash of nostalgia. It promises to deliver memorable moments and matches, just like it has each year.

Which independent shows are you most excited to watch during WrestleMania 41 week? Let us know in the comments below and on social media at @TheScrapNews!

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About Post Author

Steve Fackman

Steve is a Football Business & Media Graduate from UCFB who has studied at the iconic Wembley Stadium. At The Scrap, he can be found creating Pro Wresting content ranging from WWE & AEW to Independent Wrestling promotions across the globe, and occasional fight coverage for big-league and regional MMA.

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