The Indy Wrestling Experience

Episode #20 - Deathmatch Watch-Along - ICW No Holds Barred 74

We're back this week with a special watch-along episode. In honor of the passing of hardcore legend Sabu, Jon decided this was his week to be introduced to the DEATHMATCH. So, we decided to watch the recent ICW No Holds Barred show, ICW NHB74 which took place on May 2. The card features Danny Demanto vs Tank, Bobby Beverly vs Nathan Mowery, and the Pillars vs The Rejects in the main event. On top of that, we add another performer to the list of Indy Wrestling Experience favorites, Lil Sicko!!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - RPW Destiny 5 Talent Signing

Today Bob is here with Rich to announce an incredible signing for RPW Destiny 5, taking place on September 27, 2025. This stacked ten-match card already features Ken Anderson vs Silas Young, Trevor Lee vs Hayden Backlund and more. Now, RPW has signed a huge name to be added to the Maggie Lee vs Lili Ruiz match. Who will it be??? 

Episode #19 - Interview with Tully Bertorelli

Jon has returned from assignment and we’re ready to get back into talking about independent wrestling. We start the show covering some news and notes from the past two weeks, including the eight AAA wrestlers signed to WWE, Fuego del Sol’s new name, and Minoru Suzuki vs Joey Janela coming up at Defy Fatal Fantasy.
 
Our guest this week is Tully Bertorelli, who will be challenging Sampson for the UPW Heavyweight Championship at Marquette Mania 3 on May 17. Tully talks about the road that led to this epic clash and his strategy for taking down the giant Sampson. In addition to UPW, Tully has matches coming up for OnlyWrestlers.com later this month, Frozen Tundra Wrestling this Saturday, and an appearance at  Fantastic League of Wrestling (FLOW).
 
Outside of wrestling, Bertorelli is an artist, a musician, and an actor. You can see Tully in Weekend Deadaway on Tubi right now, plus he’s appeared in Fargo, Empire, and Chicago PD. You can check out his music at
 
https://tullybertorelli1.bandcamp.com/
 
Tully has a very interesting story to tell about his unique journey to, and through, the world of professional wrestling, while working with special needs kids during the day and staying strong through five and half years of sobriety. We’re already looking forward to having Tully back on the show.
 
Our YouTube recommendation of the week is Elevate Pro Wrestling – Still Standing which took place on April 26, 2025 and was just recently uploaded to YouTube. This show features six really good matches, one of which includes friend of the show Brox Boulder in a six-man tag match teaming with Titan Try and Zexy Zee to take on Jekyllz, Repik, and the Fiji Wildman. In addition, there are two semi-final matches in the tournament to crown a Next Level Champion, plus a heavyweight title clash in the main event, Brutus vs Jake Raynor. Most importantly, we found new Indy Wrestling Experience favorite in Nikeem the Dream!
 
As always, we congratulate twenty #ANDNEW champions crowned over the past week. Finally, we preview a huge slate of wrestling action coming up this weekend, including shows at:
 
Lionheart Championship Wrestling
Coastal Championship Wrestling – featuring friend of the show King Eddie Valentine
Emerge Wrestling
Apple City Championship Wrestling
Pinfall Wrestling Association
Frozen Tundra Wrestling
New Texas Pro Wrestling
Zero1 USA
Iron Spirit Pro
MLW
Best of the West Wrestling
SHINE
Inspire Victorious
 
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00:00:00 – Intro, News & Notes
00:25:25 - #ANDNEW
00:30:05 – Youtube Recommendation – EPW “Still Standing”
00:39:05 – Interview with Tully Bertorelli
02:01:20 – Weekend Preview

Episode #18 - Interview with King Eddie Valentine & Ragin' Rich Rates Referees

 
We’re back…well, Bob is back. Jon is on assignment this week, so we brought in Rich Buchholtz to start the show and he does so in a BIG way. Over the weekend, RPW announced a two-day event called Perseverance, to take place on November 7-8, at Big Apple in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Over those two days, a sixteen-person, single elimination tournament will be held for the title of best in the Midwest and, more importantly, a future RPW title shot. Rich begins this episode by giving us an exclusive and announcing the first fourteen participants in the tournament!
 
On top of that, Rich gives us updates on RPW Homecoming and RPW Destiny, and shares his thoughts on the sales of OVW and AAA in the past couple of weeks. Finally, Rich and Bob discuss wrestling referees. As a referee himself, Rich has strong opinions on referees and shares his thoughts on what good referees do, what bad referees do that they shouldn’t, and the things he finds important when he referees a match. It’s a very informative discussion and worth a listen.
 
As if that wasn’t enough, CCW Heavyweight Champion, King Eddie Valentine joins Bob to discuss his early career and his current run in Coastal Championship Wrestling. Listen as King Eddie discusses his arrival in CCW, his early shots at then-CCW Champion Ariel Levy, the formation of the Night Riders, and why he calls Domino estúpido. In addition, the king previews his upcoming match with Cha Cha Charlie at Bash at the Brew 52, as well as his defenses against Chris Farrow and Danny Briggs coming up later this month.
 
As always, we congratulate a bunch of new champions crowned over the past week. Plus, we preview a handful of shows coming up this weekend at:
ICW No Holds Barred
VIP Wrestling
DCW
Route 33 Wrestling
Northeast Wrestling
ZOWA Live
Virginia Championship Wrestling
Coastal Championship Wrestling
New South Pro Wrestling
Pro Championship Wrestling
Next week, Tully Bertorelli joins us to talk about Marquette Mania 3 (May 17), and his efforts to get a shot at UPW Champion, Sampson, on that show, plus much much more. STAY TUNED!!
 
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00:00:00 – Intro, RPW Midwest Tournament Participant Announcement, OVW Sale
00:43:07 – Rich Buchholtz on Referees
01:10:25 – “Once Known As” Game with Rich
01:20:30 - #ANDNEW
01:25:54 – Youtube Recommendation – NWA JCP EP 61
01:29:52 – Interview with King Eddie Valentine
02:23:43 – Weekend Preview

Episode #17 - Sampson's Vegas Vacation, Wrestlemania Week

We’re back with our post-Wrestlemania week show as everyone is making their way back from Las Vegas. One of the first to return was UPW Heavyweight Champion, Sampson, fresh off of his clash with Super Beast at UPW Vegas Vacation last Friday. Sampson will join us to review Vegas Vacation, preview Maquette Mania 3, which takes place on May 17, and give us some history behind Marquette Mania and the Lakeview Arena on the campus of Northern Michigan University. After that, Sampson watches along with us as we view UPW Uprising Season 3 Episode 15, featuring Sinn Bodhi & J-Sin vs Onyx Andretti & Tully Bertorelli. Follow along with using the link below or search Youtube for the episode and listen along as Sampson tells stories and gives us some behind the scenes info.
 
UPW Uprising Season 3, Episode 15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCDx-cfYgUU
 
Before that, Bob and Jon review both nights of Wrestlemania, as well as NXT Stand and Deliver, plus we discuss news from the indies that happened over the course of Wrestlemania week, including: Natalya’s confrontation with Kenzie Paige, Minoru Suzuki’s battle with Butterbean, Mickie James and Maki Itoh’s sing-off, Paul Walter Hauser winning the PROGRESS Proteus Title, and Fuego del Sol’s unmasking.
 
As always, we congratulate nineteen new champions crowned last week, plus we preview a huge slate of wrestling action coming up this weekend, including events presented by:
 
Ohio Valley Wrestling
St. Louis Anarchy
World Domination Wrestling Alliance
Pro Wrestling Battleground
Frontline Pro
Palmetto Championship Wrestling
MCW Pro Wrestling
Reality of Wrestling
Focus Pro
Intergender Bonanza
Arizona Wrestling Federation
POW! Pro Wrestling
Pro Wrestling Turbo
Adrenaline Championship Wrestling
Reactivate Pro Wrestling
 
Next week, Rich Buchholtz returns to discuss what makes a great wrestling referee, as well as to update us on RPW Homecoming on May 31, and Destiny on September 27. Also, next week, we will be joined by CCW Heavyweight Champion, King Eddie Valentine. It’s going to be a lot of fun. STAY TUNED!!
 
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00:00:00 – Intro, Wrestlemania Week
00:27:13 - #ANDNEW
00:00:00 – Sampson Interview
01:25:18 – Weekend Preview

BONUS EPISODE - Bob & Lauryn Watch Cena vs Cody

At the last minute, my youngest daughter Lauryn agreed to come on the podcast while we watch night 2 of Wrestlemania. We decided to hit record before the main event WWE Championship match between John Cena and Cody Rhodes. My daughter told me she has opinions. Now, you get to hear them! We talk about the disparity between Night 1 and Night 2, Jey Uso's appearance at the post-night 1 press conference, and why she is anti-babyface and pro-kids crying. 
 

Episode #16 - Uprising: Women Athletes 5 Watch-Along

We're back, but everyone else is in Las Vegas for Wrestlemania week. So, we thought it would be a good time to do a watch-along episode and, boy, did we pick a good one. Last weekend was DREAMWAVE weekend, culminating with DREAMWAVE X on Sunday, April 12. Before that, there was Uprising: Women Athletes 5 from the Berwyn Eagles Club in Berwyn, Illinois on Friday, April 11. 
Neither Bob nor Jon watched this in advance. So, watch along with us as we discuss a stacked card of women's wrestling featuring Maggie Lee vs Kylie Rae for the DREAMWAVE Women's Championship, Rebecca J. Scott defending the Uprising Alternative Championship in a fatal four way with. On top of all that, Masha Slamovich is in action against Zamaya, and Brittnie Brooks takes on B3CCA. We also name two new Indy Wrestling Experience favorites, Gabby Forza and Fallyn Grey! 
It's a fun time and a fun show. Join us!!

Episode #15 - Interview with Dr. Lawrence Zirconium

We’re back with another fun episode, headlined by a fun interview with Dr. Lawrence Zirconium, owner and promoter of Dangerous Adrenaline Wrestling Gladiators (DAWG) in New Jersey. Dr. Zirconium will tell us about getting into the wrestling business at a young age and working as a referee, commentator, manager, and, for a while, an in-ring performer. Dr. Zirconium goes on to tell us about the genesis of DAWG and his vision for modern day wrestling with an old school feel.
 
Dr. Zirconium previews the next two DAWG events coming up, wRAHstlemania on April 17 at Rowan University, and DAWG Wrestling at Geekfest in Westville, New Jersey on April 19. Listen to this fantastic interview as Dr. Zirconium tells a ton of funny stories and takes every chance he gets to let his feelings be known about one-half of the DAWG tag team champions, Dave Doll!!
 
In addition, Jon and Bob review CCW Bash at the Brew 51 from this past Saturday. Bob noticed they were live streaming the event at the last minute, tagged Jon, and now we’re going to talk about it. Awesome show from start to finish, including AJ Francis vs Alan S2S Martinez, Brian Kendrick vs. Domino, Ozzy Kilmeister vs Agony, and King Eddie Valentine’s Championship Celebration.
 
Our Youtube recommendation of the week is two episodes of UPW Uprising (Season 3, Episodes 13 & 14), featuring Sierra vs Leela Hall, Melvin Hayes vs Danny Duggan, and Jay Dinero vs Sampson for the UPW Championship. As always, we congratulate several #ANDNEW champions crowned last week, and preview a packed slate of independent wrestling this weekend from the following promotions:
 
Odyssey Defiance Alliance
Blood Sweat & Tears
NWA World League
Freelance Wrestling
American Xcellence Wrestling
Titan Championship Wrestling
Northern Wrestling Federation
Divine Pro Wrestling
Viral Pro Wrestling
Frontline Pro
Victory Pro Wrestling
Prestige Wrestling
BMFX Wrestling
Primos Premier Pro Wrestling
 
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00:00:00 – Intro, OVW Sold
00:14:30 – CCW Bash at the Brew 51 Review
00:42:31 - #ANDNEW
00:45:55 – Youtube Recommendation – UPW Uprising
01:01:25 – Dr. Lawrence Zirconium Interview
02:19:10 – Weekend Preview

Episode #14 - RPW Extravaganza Rewatch, H2O Hiatus, & a New Queen of Maryland

We are back this week with a different kind of show. Rich Buchholtz (Owner & Promoter, Ragin Pro Wrestling) is back with us to do a watch along episode. We will be rewatching a show that was hand picked by Rich, RPW Extravaganza 1 from March 26, 2022. This extremely stacked card features Chelsea Green vs Deonna Purrazzo, Silas Young vs Kenny King, Damian Chambers vs Ace Austin, Santana Garrett vs Kaci Lennox and so much more. Watch along with us as Rich gives behind the scenes info about this show while we follow the action!!
 
There are two links to follow along with us
Youtube Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiaIKl60P6sbpKEvDn-LW5ReC0LCnlz7T
(Or search for the RPW Extravaganza Rewatch playlist on Youtube)
OR
Google Drive (no ads)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HvVO9XLpQuBNcQtMQP-LJFuaEPXnlGGe/view?usp=drive_link
 
Before we get to the rewatch, Bob and Jon discuss the sudden announcement by Matt Tremont that H2O is on hiatus indefinitely. At a recent TWE Chattanooga show, Tremont announced that H2O has run it’s last show at the former H2O Wrestling Center on Glassboro Road in Williamstown, New Jersey. Tremont explained that H2O will be back at some point, but when that happens, H2O will reside in Tennessee. Bob and Jon start the podcast with a proper send-off for a promotion and a building that have provided tons of wrestling memories for Bob.
 
In addition, Bob and Jon review the show they attended last Friday. Adrenaline Championship Wrestling’s all women’s offshoot, Female In Ring Entertainment (FIRE) presented Queen of Maryland with a tournament to crown a new Queen of Maryland featuring Nahir Robles, Brittany Blake, Sammi Chaos, Dani Mo, and many more.
 
Because the show runs long, we’ve decided to skip the #ANDNEW segment this week. However, we will be posted a congratulatory social media post with the new champions crowned last week. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for that post.
 
As always, even though it made the podcast run long, we preview several indy wrestling shows coming up this weekend from the following promotions:
 
Santino Bros Wrestling
Live Pro Wrestling
Riot Pro Wrestling
Proving Ground
Lucky Pro Wrestling
Pro Wrestling 225
XICW
FTC – Art of Grappling (featuring friend of the show Brox Boulder)
Tarheel Championship Wrestling
Coastal Championship Wrestling
Gladiator Championship Wrestling
One Fall Entertainment
So Cal Pro Wrestling
Pro Championship Wrestling
Atlantic Pro Wrestling
Wrestling for Charity
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00:00:00 – Intro, H2O Wrestling’s hiatus
00:07:15 – ACW FIRE Queen of Maryland
00:28:21 – RPW Extravaganza 1 Rewatch
02:23:53 – Weekend Preview

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