The Indy Wrestling Experience

Episode #13 - Sampson (UPW Heavyweight Champion)

We’re back this week with a packed episode, highlighted by our interview with UPW Heavyweight Champion, Sampson. Listen as he tells us about the long and winding road that led him to professional wrestling, getting injured soon after starting training, and overcoming two hip replacements to become the second longest reigning UPW Champion of all time.
 
This past weekend, Bob and Jon attended MCW’s Spring Fever stop in Hollywood, Maryland. We will review this entire show, and discuss what happened the next night when the MCW Spring Fever Tour made it’s first stop in Dundalk, Maryland in 13 years.
 
Our Youtube recommendation this week is the latest episode of Juggalo Championship Wrestling Lunacy (Episode 24), which features a Willie Mack vs Matt Cross for the JCW title, The Backseat Boyz vs Mercer & Corino for the tag titles and much more.
 
As always, we congratulate nineteen new champions that were crowned in the past week, including Ricky Morton winning the Boca Raton Heavyweight Championship. Of course, we also preview this weekend’s action from promotions such as:
Atomic Legacy Wrestling  
Absolute Intense Wrestling  
Adrenaline Championship Wrestling  
Coastal Championship Wrestling  
Beyond Wrestling  
Real Shoot Wrestling  
Dynamite Championship Wrestling 
Ohio Championship Wrestling   
Frontline Pro   
POWW Entertainment
Absolute Pro Wrestling 
Next Level Wrestling  
Impact Pro Wrestling  
Zero1 USA  
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00:00:00 – Intro, Artist Artest
00:03:59 – MCW Spring Fever
00:58:44 -- #ANDNEW
01:06:04 – Youtube Recommendation: JCW Lunacy Episode 24
01:35:49 – Sampson Interview
02:31:16 – Weekend Preview
 

Episode #12 - Lola Yara (aka Lola the Adventurer)

We’re back this week with a really fun episode. In our interview segment we are joined by Lola Yara, also known at Lola the Adventurer, from Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestling. Listen as she talks about growing up in Utah and starting wrestling training there before moving to Colorado and joining Rocky Mountain Pro. Lola tells us all about her extensive travels and accomplishments as part of the Peruvian gymnastics team and winning the gold for her home country. Also, Lola talks about joining the Law Office in RMP and being the longest reigning number one contender in the history of Rocky Mountain Pro.
We start this show with sad news as we discuss the recent deaths of wrestlers Vince Steele and Australian Suicide. As many of you know, Vince had a medical event in the ring during a Brii Combination Wrestling show and passed away shortly afterward. Australian Suicide died suddenly in Mexico after sustaining two blows to the head in a short period of time. We’ve put the link to the GoFundMe for Vince Steele in our Indy Wrestling Experience Linktree. There is a GoFundMe for Australian Suicide as well. As soon as we get that link, we will post it as well for anyone who is able and willing to donate.
Over the weekend, Jon and I watched a bunch of wrestling for this week’s show. First, we watched Intergender Bonanza “IGB 22 Creamed Out” from the H2O Wrestling Center in Williamstown, New Jersey. This event featured Super Champion Airicia Demia defending the title against her father cWo Solar, plus Marcus Mathers vs. Zayda Steel for the IWTV Championship
Our Youtube Recommendation of the week is Trailblazer Championship Wrestling’s “Revenge” which took place on February 15, but was just uploaded to TCW’s Youtube page last week. This show features Austin Mulitalo vs Mike Sydal for the TCW Championship, plus Nixi XS takes on Sadie Bell in a women’s division match.
As always, we congratulate twenty new champions that were crowned over the past week and we preview many of the shows coming up this weekend, including, but not limited to:
Insane Wrestling Revolution 
Freelance Wrestling 
Adrenaline Championship Wrestling 
Magnum Wrestling
Mega Championship Wrestling  
Elite Pro Wrestling 
Three Legacies Wrestling 
EWA Pro Wrestling
UPW Pro Wrestling 
PWF 
Minnesota Independent Wrestling  
Wrestling Revolver  
West Coast Pro Wrestling 
Wild Zero  w
Pro Wrestling Action 
New Texas Pro Wrestling 
Rocky Mountain Pro 
Reactivate Pro Wrestling 
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00:00:00 – Intro, Vince Steele, Australian Suicide
00:13:02 -  Intergender Bonanza IGB22 Creamed Out
00:43:52 - #ANDNEW
00:52:39 – Youtube Recommendation – Trailblazer Championship Wrestling
01:16:08 – Interview – Lola Yara
02:01:32 – Weekend preview
 
 
 
 

Episode #11 - Bobby Blaze

We’re back with a really exciting episode this week because Bobby Blaze, former Smoky Mountain Wrestling Champion, head trainer at the FTC Art of Grappling Wrestling School in Ironton, OH, and author of two highly respected books about the wrestling business, joins us to talk about his career, training the new generation, and, of course, to tell tons of great stories. The one about his run-in with Macho Man Randy Savage is absolutely hilarious!
 
Also, as a special gift to all of our listeners, you can get 10% off of tee shirts and accessories at Collar x Elbow by using the code #BLAZE. Collar x Elbow has some really great stuff for you to check out and now it’s a little bit cheaper thanks to Bobby Blaze.
 
Before we bring Bobby Blaze on, we try to bring some more attention to the plight of Nasty Boy Brian Knobbs, who was recently rushed to the hospital with an infection and is facing possible amputation of his leg in addition to other very serious medical issues. We are all praying the Brian kicks out like he has twice before. We have posted the link to Brian’s GoFundMe in our Linktree, but you can also Google and find it. If you’re able to help, we are sure Brian and his family appreciate anything you can give. If not, we hope you send good vibes out for Brian who entertained so many of us for so many years.
 
Of course, we congratulate our #ANDNEW champions of the week, including new MCW tag team champions, and the fall of Ivelisse as SHINE Champion as she was defeated by Kelsey Raegan to end a three plus year reign as SHINE Champion.
 
Our Youtube recommendation of the week is Voltage Wrestling’s Season 2 Episode 20, which was uploaded to Youtube last week. This episode features Valerie Verman vs Dani Mo, The Faculty vs a modified Country Club, and an appearance by One Room Media’s JLaw that has implications for Voltage’s April show.
 
Finally, we preview a bunch of really great shows coming your way this weekend from promotions including:
Pro Wrestling Conquest 
River City Championship Wrestling 
Intergender Bonanza 
NWA Kross Fire 
Titan Championship Wrestling 
New Age Wrestling 
Empire Pro Wrestling 
MCW Pro Wrestling 
Real Shoot Wrestling 
Apple City Championship Wrestling 
Unsanctioned Pro 
Virginia Championship Wrestling 
League of Lions Wrestling 
Best of the West Wrestling 
POW Pro Wrestling 
BMFX Wrestling
Xcite Wrestling 
Supreme Pro Wrestling 
Next we will be back with Lola Yara, formerly known as Lola the Adventurer from, among other places, Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestling. We’re very excited to hear about Lola’s journey through wrestling and her recent gimmick change. STAY TUNED!!!!
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00:00:00 - Intro, Brian Knobbs Medical Situation
00:06:07 - Homicide’s retirement
00:11:53 - #ANDNEW
00:20:14 - Youtube Recommendation - Voltage Wrestling
00:35:26 - Bobby Blaze Interview
01:46:21 - Weekend Preview
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Episode #10 - Route 33 Wrestling, PCW Limelight Rumble, LFG, Cena Heel Turn, & the Wrestling United Controversy

We’re back with another packed episode! This week, Bob and Jon discuss Bob’s trip out to Spencer, West Virginia for Route 33 Wrestling. The show featured Gorgeous Morgan Taylor vs The Mountain King in the main event, plus two first round matches in a tournament to crown the newly unveiled Wild and Wonderful West Virginia Championship.
Friend of the show, Rich Buchholtz, the owner and promoter of Ragin’ Pro Wrestling in Wisconsin, joins us again to discuss a range of topics from John Cena’s heel turn, the announcement of WWE ID championships to be defended in the independents, and the first three episodes of LFG.
We will also talk about the recent issues at Wrestling United in Canada following a tweet by Liiza Hall canceling her booking for Wrestling United’s show after Wrestling United booker, Mike Davidson, made comments about female wrestling talent on the BeezSheez podcast. Rich, Jon and Bob will give their thoughts on the situation and Rich tells why it is so important for promoters to filter what they say publicly.
Our Youtube recommendation this week is PCW Limelight Season 4, Episode 31 which features a 30 man rumble for a shot at PCW Champion Bad News Blakeslee. Bob and Jon were introduced to many performers we had never seen before and were seriously impressed by a new Indy Wrestling Experience favorite, Olumide!
Finally, as always, we preview several shows coming up this weekend around the country, including but not limited to:
SSW Entertainment 
Wrestling Theology Fellowship 
Premier Wrestling League – Mid Atlantic 
ESW Keystone 
Midwest All Star Wrestling 
ZOWA 
MCW Pro Wrestling
Test of Strength 
Pro Wrestling 225 
Showtime Pro Wrestling 
Brew City Wrestling 
2econd Wrestling 
Next week we will be back with Bobby Blaze!! We are so excited that he agreed to come on the show and we can’t wait to hear Bobby Blaze stories. You won’t want to miss this!!

Episode #9 - Interview with Brox Boulder

00:00:00 - Intro, GCW Coming to Maryland
00:14:50 - #ANDNEW
00:19:45 - Youtube Recommendation - Rocky Mountain Pro Charged Ep 434
00:36:04 - Brox Boulder Interview
02:20:09 - Weekend Preview
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We are back this week with an awesome episode, mostly because we have an awesome guest. Brox Boulder joins us for a long form interview where we talk about how he came up in the business, being trained by Bobby Blaze and Jillian Hall, then becoming a trainer at FTC Art of Grappling alongside those folks. Believe me when I tell you, Brox has some crazy Bobby Blaze stories you won't want to miss. 
While helping the new generation find success in the wrestling business, Brox is also focusing on his own wrestling career. He is currently 1/2 of the Route 33 Wrestling Tag Team champions, Grappling, Inc. along with Titan Troy and a former Art of Grappling champion. Grappling Inc. will be defending their tag team titles this Saturday at Route 33 Wrestling's latest event in Spencer, West Virginia where they will take on Beefcake and Chaz Monroe. Brox talks about how impressed he is by Route 33 Wrestling, how much he loves the town of Spencer, and he helps us preview this Saturday's show.
On top of all that, Brox has a podcast called Hitting the Ropes with Brox Boulder that is rapidly gaining steam in the wrestling community and has already led Brox to a very cool new opportunity with Wrestling Society Network. Brox will tell us about the genesis of the podcast and how it's grown. Plus, he is gracious enough to give Bob and Jon some pointers for new podcasters!! 
We wanted to focus on the Brox interview this week, so we streamlined some things and saved some topics for next week, but we do talk about the announcement that GCW is coming to Maryland in May at MCW Pro Wrestling's R.J. Meyer Arena. We also congratulate fifteen #ANDNEW Champions that were crowned over the past week and make our regular Youtube recommendation. This week, we watch the latest episode of Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestling, "Charged" (Episode 434) which features a #1 Contenders match for the tag titles, Cease & Desist vs JK Pop, plus we talk about our discovery of another new Indy Wrestling Experience favorite, Lola Yara!!
Finally, as always, we preview action coming up this weekend around the country beginning tonight presented by:
PWP Live
Pure Pro Wrestling
RSW
Pro Wrestling Battleground
American Xcellence Wrestling
Beyond Wrestling
Proving Ground
Pro Wrestling King
Wrestling for a Cause
Ascend Pro Wrestling
New Breed Wrestling
Absolute Pro Wrestling
ICW No Holds Barred
POWW Entertainment
Voltage Wrestling
 

Episode #8 - Rich Buchholtz Talks Professionalism in Wrestling

Jon and Bob are back this week and we are joined by Rich Buchholtz, owner and promoter of Ragin Pro Wrestling.
On this episode, Rich will discuss professionalism in the wrestling business, among other things. The conversation centers around a list, posted by Brutal Bob Evans on Facebook, of 34 ways to be professional in the wrestling business. Rich will give his opinion on a bunch of the items on that last, good and bad, then transition into talking about two of his recent Facebook posts which outlined Rich's personal dos and don'ts for people who want to work with his promotion specifically.
Finally, Rich will update us on RPW Homecoming 3 (5/31) and RPW Destiny 5 (9/27) and the stacked cards for each show and tell us about the unique contest he is running with a fan vote for RPW Homecoming. 
First, Bob and Jon review DREAMWAVE "Famous Last Words" from February 8, featuring a dog collar match for the DREAMWAVE championship, Christian Rose vs Connor Hopkins, plus Masha Slamovich vs Sierra, and new DREAMWAVE tag team champions, 
Our Youtube Recommendation of the week is Millennium Pro Wrestling "Love Drunk" which was uploaded to Youtube over the weekend, featuring a champion vs champion match in the main event, and our discovery of a new Indy Wrestling Experience favorite, Hydie. Go check it out!
As always, Bob and Jon congratulate all of the new champions crowned over the past week and preview shows coming up at promotions all across the country, including, but not limited to shows offered by:
Atomic Legacy Wrestling
Chicago Style Wrestling
Respect Women's Wrestling
Keystone State Wrestling Alliance
DCW Wrestling
Atlantic Pro Wrestling
NWA World League Wrestling
UPW Wrestling
Bayou Independent Wrestling
Freelance Wrestling
Battle Club Pro
Xcite Wrestling
Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment
Bob, Jon and Rich also discuss Hollyhood Haley J leaving OVW for Booker T's school in Texas and the recent announcement that WWE is bringing EVOLVE back with weekly TV to air on Tubi. Bob thinks all of this is bad for the business and, as usual, claims this is all tied to WWE ID and the sky is falling.
What do you think?
 

Episode #7 - Jessica McCumbers (Promoter, Route 33 Wrestling)

00:00:00 Intro
00:13:16 #ANDNEW
00:22:20 Jessica McCumbers Interview 
01:29:01 Preview of coming shows
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It's a winter wonderland here in the Mid-Atlantic and the snow has wreaked havoc on our schedules.
In this episode, Bob interviews the owner and promoter of Route 33 Wrestling in Spencer, WV, Jessica McCumbers. Ms. McCumbers talks about her unique road to find wrestling, the formation of Route 33 Wrestling, and Route 33's upcoming show on March 1 at the Spencer Armory, in Spencer, West Virginia including a main event cash-in, a new title to be unveiled and much more! 
Also, Bob talks briefly about Hollyhood Haley J leaving OVW, and EVOLVE on Tubi, but leaves those conversations to continue next week, when Jon and Rich Buchholtz return for a round table discussion. Of course, we also congratulate 21 #ANDNEW champions crowned over the past week, and preview a ton of the action all around the country this weekend, including but not limited to:
Coastal Championship Wrestling
MCW Pro Wrestling
Titan Championship Wrestling
Midwest All-Star Wrestling
New Era Wrestling
Black Wrestlers Matter
Great Lakes Wrestling Association
Below Zero Wrestling
Victory Pro Wrestling
POW! Pro Wrestling
SHINE Wrestling
Blood Sweat Tears Wrestling
Primos Premier Pro Wrestling
 
 

Episode #6 - A Co-Host!! Plus, Rich reviews Redemption 4, Riddle, Ryan, and Enjoy Wrestling "Get Warmer"

We are back with another packed episode featuring the arrival of my co-host and friend of over 40 years, Jon Adkins. Listen as we introduce you all to Jon and hear about his love of wrestling dating back to the 1980s. Jon and I will talk about the recent allegations leveled at Kevin Ryan of ACTION Wrestling and their impact on the wrestling scene. We will also discuss Matt Riddle's two recent no-shows at indy wrestling events. And we will continue the discussion about WWE ID and the recent flurry of WWE ID Showcase matches on the indy scene. 
Rich Buchholtz is back to review RPW Redemption 4 that took place on January 25, 2025 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and preview his two next events, Homecoming 3 (May 31) and Destiny 5 (September 27) and how those cards were affected by the events that took place at Redemption 4. Rich also gives his opinion on the Matt Riddle, Kevin Ryan and WWE ID topics from the perspective of a promoter. Listen as Rich gives us the inside scoop on how promoters deal with these personnel, financial, and booking issues. 
Our Youtube recommendation of the week is the newly posted Enjoy Wrestling show, "Get Warmer" which took place back in December of 2024 but was just made available for free on Youtube. The main event features Sonny Kiss vs Max the Impaler for the Enjoy title. 
As always, we congratulate this week's crop of newly crowned champions in our #ANDNEW segment, and we will preview a ton of action coming your way all across the country this weekend, including but not limited to:
 
Memphis WrestlingInsane Wrestling Revolution
Premier Wrestling Federation
Wild Zero Wrestling
Action Packed Wrestling
Defy Wrestling
Riot Pro Wrestling
Viral Pro Wrestling
Titan Championship Wrestling
Atlantic All-Star Wrestling
Northern Wrestling Federation
EWA Maryland
Virginia Championship Wrestling
Innovate Wrestling
BMFX Wrestling
 
 
 

Episode #5 - Brandon Kirk retires, HOG "Watch the Throne," & IWC Reloaded 11.0

It's just me this week, folks, but we have got a lot to talk about. We will take a look at IWC Reloaded, which featured Bill Collier vs Andrew Palace for the IWC title, plus Marcus Mathers vs Sam Holloway in a WWE ID showcase for the Super Indy Title. 
We will also talk about House of Glory "Watch the Throne" from this past Friday night which saw Mike Santana defend the HOG Championship against Ricky Starks, Matt Cardona vs Mustafa Ali, and my first chance to see up-and-comer Phumi Nkuta. 
Although, I did not watch The People vs GCW in it's entirety, there is much to discuss from that show. Brandon Kirk had his final match after announcing his retirement last week. Effy became your new GCW Champion, defeating Mance Warner in a crazy match. 
Also on that show, Allie Katch suffered a terrible injury to her leg performing a tope suicida on Effy in their match earlier in the night. There is a GoFundMe up to help Allie Katch with her medical bills. Please contribute as much or as little as you can to help Allie Katch through this tough time. Link below:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-allie-katch-thru-injury
Our Youtube recommendation of the week is 880 Wrestling's Den of Desire's Ball Drop which streamed live on the IndyWrestling.US Youtube channel on Friday and is available to view for FREE. Really fun show that's worth a watch. 
As usual, we also congratulate 21 new champions that were crowned over the past weekend, and preview the shows coming up this weekend including, but not limited to shows presented by:
New Texas Pro Wrestling
SWA Wrestling
Rival Showdown Pro Wrestling
ACTION Wrestling
KrossFire Wrestling NWA
Ragin' Pro Wrestling
AML Wrestling
Tampa Bay Pro Wrestling
Wrestling Theology Fellowship
Championship International Wrestling
Pro Wrestling 225
MCW Pro Wrestling
2econd Wrestling
Bayou Independent Wrestling
West Coast Wrestling Company
Pro Wrestling Action
 
 
 
 
 

Episode #4 - RPW Redemption 4, Focus Pro Larger Than Life, & A New MLW Featherweight Champion

We're back this week with a packed episode. Rich Buchholtz returns to the show to give us the final card and details for RPW Redemption 4 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on January 25, 2025. Rich will also update us on Destiny 5 on September 27, as well as Homecoming on May 31. After that's done, Rich hangs out and helps me preview this weekend's independent wrestling shows from all across the country. 
We start off the episode by reviewing Focus Pro Wrestling's "Larger than Life" which took place this past weekend from Barrel House Z in Weymouth, MA. A fantastic card topped off by the first title defense of Mani Ariez. 
In our #ANDNEW segment. we congratulate 21 new champions crowned this past weekend, highlighting the MLW Featherweight Title vs Hair match from Kings of Colosseum on January 11 in which Delmi Exo regained the title she lost to Janai Kai a year and a half ago, losing only a little bit of hair in the process. 
Our YouTube Recommendation of the Week looks at 4th Rope Productions, "Heels Have Eyes III" which took place on November 2, 2024, but was just uploaded for free viewing on 4th Rope Production's YouTube page. It is the only video on their page, but it is a good one. A stacked card featuring Joe Hendry vs A.J. Francis, Moose vs Zilla Fatu, and much more.