Top 5 Things You Didn't Know About Indie Wrestling
Independent wrestling is a very different beast from the WWE. From the paychecks, to the dangers, to the wrestlers in general, professional wrestling's indie circuit is as wild as it is interesting. WatchMojo counts down the top things you didn't know about indie wrestling.
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#5: It's Not Always a Decent Paycheck
Like with music or the arts, those who participate in indie wrestling do it for the love of the thing - with very little hope of making a living out of it.
Yes, some former indie wrestlers, like Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins or CM Punk make their way up to the big leagues, and independent promotions can be a great way to make a name for yourself, but just like any other area of show biz… many will try - few will make it.
For larger scale indie promotions like PWG, more established wrestlers can make a pretty penny – with some choosing to remain on the indie circuit rather than take a WWE contract.
But for the little guy starting out, this kind of gig is next-to-impossible...
You need to love minor indie wrestling for what it is: a small-scale, heartfelt endeavor that might allow you to travel the country, or even the world. But unless you’re among the lucky few… it’ll never pay the bills.
#4: It's Risky
To many outsiders, wrestling is nothing more than over-the-top stage fighting, but don’t let a fan of the sport catch you saying that.
Wrestling, both at the indie and professional level, comes with significant risks. While the contenders in the ring work together to mitigate injury, the reality is… it’s an extremely physical activity and one that takes it’s toll on a body.
In the major promotions, the wrestlers have the necessary support systems in place should they get injured.
If you’re an indie wrestler doing it out of pocket, an injury can not only take you out of the ring, but leave you unable to perform at your day job too. In the minds of some, this is a necessary gamble, as they choose to take dangerous bumps in order to stand out amongst their peers. In fact, the moves and spots taken in this scene are often way more hazardous than those you see on TV every week.
Knowing the risks ivolved, you really have to appreciate their dedication to the craft...
#3: It's Much More Diverse Than WWE
The offerings of professional wrestling organizations aren’t for everyone, but just because you never connected with WWE or even WCW back in the day, doesn’t mean you’ll automatically feel the same way about an independent wrestling promotion.
Indie wrestling is a fundamentally different beast. Yes, it’s still people beating the living daylights out of each with a whole lot of theatricality thrown into the mix, but because of the local nature of these events, you see wrestlers with all manner of body types, personas and individual styles.
In this regard, indie wrestlers are encouraged to be themselves, rather than go on-script. You can witness a genre clash from the likes of old-school British grappling, to the Japanese strong style.
But if you switch on to Raw you’ll likely just see what’s colloquially known as “the sports entertainment style”.
All in all, it makes for a much more diverse experience - one that you just might enjoy.
#2: It’s All For the Fans
Like we said… there isn’t a lot of money to be made on the indie circuit. So why do it? Well, first and foremost, indie wrestlers do it for the love of the sport - but on the indie circuit, there’s a lot more to it than just getting in the ring. Fans love their indie wrestlers, and the wrestlers love them right back. If you attend an event or talk to regulars, you quickly begin to understand that it’s a real subculture, a scene, or in some places… a family. Yes, indie wrestlers put their safety on the line for little reward, but with fans this devoted, you can understand why!
#1: Some Events Are Depressing, Others Are Absolutely Amazing
Because there’s really no minimum entry point to indie wrestling, the events vary significantly in quality. That’s both a blessing and a curse. As previously mentioned, it means you get to see all manner of fighter step into the ring, but if it’s an event featuring entry level wrestlers put on by a fledgling promoter, it could make for a painful viewing experience. On the other hand, that very same scenario could result in some truly off-the-walls antics, the likes of which you’ve never seen before. With an experienced promoter and serious talent, you might be in for the show of a lifetime and in an indie setting, you’re always up close and personal.
