In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions, particularly the current World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) promotions and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) of the past. Specific promotions on the independent circuit are referred to as indy promotions or indies. A wrestler is said to be in the indies or working the indies if he or she is wrestling in one of the independent promotions, or working the indy circuit if he or she is performing in different independent promotions.
Although the following paragraphs describe the system used in North America, the basic concepts can be applied to independent promotions elsewhere.
Independent promotions are usually local in focus and, lacking national TV contracts, are dependent on revenue from house show attendance. Due to their lower budgets, most independent promotions offer low salaries (it is not unusual for a wrestler to be paid only $5 to $20 per match. Most cannot afford to regularly rent large venues, and would not be able to attract a large enough crowd to fill such a venue, so they have to make use of any open space (such as fields, ballrooms, or gymnasiums) to put on their performances. Some independent promotions are attached to professional wrestling schools, serving as a venue for students to gain experience in front of an audience.
As independent matches are usually not televised, indy wrestlers who have not already gained recognition in other promotions tend to remain in obscurity. However, scouts from major promotions attend indy shows, and an indy wrestler who makes a good impression may be offered a developmental or even a professional contract. The advent of the internet has allowed independent wrestlers and promotions to reach a wider audience, and it is possible for wrestlers regularly working the indy circuit to gain some small measure of fame among wrestling fans online. Additionally, some of the more successful indies have video distribution deals, giving them an additional source of income and allowing them to reach a larger audience outside of their local areas.
A few independent promotions have become major forces in the wrestling business. TNA, originally labelled NWA:TNA, has (like many other major promotions through the years) distanced itself from the National Wrestling Alliance; with a national TV deal, a video game deal with Midway Games, and DVD distribution, has helped it grow beyond independent status. Some of the more well-known indy promotions today in the United States include All Pro Wrestling, CHIKARA, Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Heartland Wrestling Association,Maryland Championship Wrestling , Memphis Wrestling, Chaotic Wrestling, East Coast Wrestling Alliance, Ohio Valley Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Ring of Honor and its sister promotions Full Impact Pro and SHIMMER Women Athletes.
Although most promotions try and adhere to a high standard of wrestling integrity, independent promotions are also the most likely places to find matches involving hardcore wrestling, also referred to sometimes as "garbage wrestling". Since the indy wrestlers are not on TV, there are usually no restrictions on what they can say and do during matches. Infamous hardcore wrestling companies include CZW and IWA Mid-South. Independent circuits are distinct from backyard wrestling, which is performed strictly on an amateur and unprofessional basis; backyard leagues are of a notably lower quality than professional leagues featuring trained performers. However, some particularly skilled backyard wrestlers do eventually advance to the independent circuit and will wrestle in both backyard and independent pro leagues.
[edit] Differences between the old territories and today's independent scene
Territories held shows in a certain town each week while also going to a different town night after night with several towns covering a certain region. Most of today's indie promoters struggle to hold a show on a monthly basis in a single town. Promoters in those days could fill big arenas up into the thousands, while indie promoters struggle to draw a few hundred people at a high school gym or local fairground. Wrestlers in the territories could afford to make a good living in the wrestling business for years at a time (despite still needing a day job for insurance and retirement benefits) while current day indie wrestlers struggle to pay their bills, much less risk living out of their car. Territories also had weekly television shows on local stations in each town while most indies cannot afford such exposure.
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Ryan Braun HITS HOME RUN!!!!!! pt:1by MILTOWNSBEST111,273 views
at least its not the Oats mask anymore. LMAO. I should send you those pictures.
MissWickedLette 2 years ago
hilarious, fucking hilarious. i love seeing wrestlers when they dont have to be "on"
scar7stitches 2 years ago