We are just a week away from the biggest show in wrestling. with WrestleMania 34 taking place this Sunday in New Orleans. While this is the biggest show of the year for WWE, WrestleMania has recently become the biggest weekend for the rest of wrestling too. Some of the world's biggest independent promotions will descend upon New Orleans this week to take advantage of the thousands of wrestling fans wandering around the city looking for action.
Starting on Thursday and running all the way through to the WrestleMania event itself, these shows will see some of the best independent talent on show. From the weird to the wonderful, there is literally a little bit of everything on offer this week.
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Let's take a look at some of the shows taking place in New Orleans and elsewhere over the next week.
New Orleans
The weekend action starts on Thursday for GCW who present Matt Riddle's Bloodsport at 3pm at the Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center. A different event, with every match being decided by knockout or submission. Matches include Matt Riddle vs Low Ki, WALTER wrestling Tom Lawlor and Dan Severn against Chris Dickinson. There will also be appearances from Martin Stone, Timothy Thatcher and KTB. Tickets for the show are available here.
Also on the Thursday, Evolve host Evolve 102 at 8pm also at the Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center. Some great matches will include Zack Sabre Jr. defending the Evolve Championship against Matt Riddle. A tagteam dream match with Timothy Thatcher & WALTER taking on Daisuke Sekimoto & Munenori Sawa, Will Ospreay vs AR Fox and appearances from Keith Lee, Darby Allin, Austin Theory, DJZ and others. The show will be available to watch on WWN Live and tickets can be purchased here.
The first day of action ends with Beyond who host Lit Up at 11.55pm at the Pontchartrain Center. In a Beyond vs Womens Wrestling Revolution there will be inter-gender matches galore with Matt Riddle vs Deonna Purrazzo, Toni Storm against Timothy Thatcher and a battle of the Havoks with Jimmy taking on Jessicka. Tickets are available here.
Starting the Friday shows, Progress host their first chapter on foreign shores with Chapter 66: Mardi Graps on Friday at the Pontchartrain Convention Center at 12pm. Travis Banks defends the Progress World Championship against Shane Strickland, Ringkampf take on the Sexy Starr team of Jack Sexsmith and David Starr. There will also be a three-way between Pete Dunne, Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster. Tickets are quickly selling out but are available here.
At the same time, The Crash Lucha Libre put on a great exhibition on Lucha action at the Sugar Mill. Austin Aries will be there and will be taking on Penta El OM, Flamita wrestles Rey Fenix. There will also be appearances from Flip Gordon, LA Park, Mr 450, Bastia 666 and many more. Visit their website for all information.
Later on Friday, Revolution Pro host a show at The Sugar Mill at 4pm. There will be some big New Japan talent on show with Zack Sabre Jr. vs Tomohiro Ishii, Jeff Cobb vs Minoru Suzuki, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Juice Robinson facing Aussie Open. As well as appearances from Will Ospreay, Martin Stone, David Starr, Rocky Romero. Tickets and on demand can be found on their website.
Taking places at the same time, Evolve present Evolve 103 over at the Pontchartrain Convention Center. The theme for the show is Evolve vs The World, and the matches will include Matt Riddle against Daisuke Sekimoto, Darby Allin will try to survive as he takes on WALTER and Travis Banks vs Chris Dickinson. All information can be found here.
Later on that day, the WWN Supershow Mercury Rising will take place at 8pm also at the Pontchartrain Convention Center. Keith Lee wrestles Daisuke Sekimoto, Zack Sabre Jr. takes on Munenori Sawa, Matt Riddle vs Will Ospreay and The Doom Patrol will defend the Evolve tag titles against Ringkampf. Tickets are available here and will be available to watch here.
The show ends with possibly the most anticipated show of the weekend Joey Janela's Spring Break 2 at 11.55pm from Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center. Last year's show was must see and this year's may just out do it. Joey Janela main events against The Great Sasuke, WALTER takes on Pierre Carl Ouellet and a possible match of the year contender in Matt Riddle vs James Ellsworth. All information on the show can be found here.
Progress kick off the action on Saturday with Chapter 67: Bourbon is also a Biscuit at 12pm at Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center. In a possible MOTY contender the Atlas Division Champion WALTER will battle against Zack Sabre Jr. in a number one contender match for the Progress World Championship. Visit their website for all information.
CZW bring some hardcore to Mania for Welcome to the Combat Zone at 3pm at The Sugar Mill. Rickey Shane Page defends the CZW Heavyweight title against Ethan Page, Jeff Cobb wrestles Joe Gacy. Juice Robinson will also be appearing as he takes on David Starr. Tickets for the show are available here.
Womens promotion, Shimmer host Volume 100 at 4pm also from the Pontchartrain Center. Nicole Savoy defends the Simmer Championship against Mercedes Martinez, Nicole Matthews wrestles Toni Storm, Madison Eagles takes on Deonna Purrazzo. All information can be found here.
Right after in the Pontchartrain Center, WWN present Style Battle the Season 1: Finale at 8pm. The tournament matches include Keith Lee vs Nick Cage, Matt Riddle against Dave Crist as well as Anthony Henry, Darby Allin, Tracer X and Jason Kincaid. Visit their website for information.
A late show from House of Hardcore who present HOH 40 at 11pm from The Sugar Mill. Talent announced for the show include Carlito, Billy Gunn, Super Crazy, KES and Tommy Dreamer. Tickers can be purchased here.
Also taking place the 11pm, The Wrestling Revolver present Pancakes and Piledrivers II: The Indy Summit at the Sugar Mill. ACH defends the AAW Heavyweight Championship against Trevor Lee, Jeff Cobb wrestles Shane Strickland, and the Lucha Brothers take on Teddy Hart & Jack Evans. Tickets can be purchased here.
UK
If you can't make it to New Orleans, then Preston City Wrestling will be hosting their He Who Dares Wins show followed by a WrestleMania viewing party on Sunday at the Preston Guild Hall. There will be a 30 man rumble match as well as a three-way for the Women's Championship with Rhio defending against Viper and Nightshade. Tickets for the show are available here.
Attack Pro host My Sacrifice II: EmbassyBingoMania on Sunday at Walkabout nightclub in Cardiff. The show will also be followed by a WrestleMania viewing party. Tickets and other information can be found here.
Rest of the World
WXW continue their We Love Wrestling Tour this week in Ilsenburg on Saturday and Nurnberg on Sunday. Talent on show will the winner of the recent 16 Carat Gold Absolute Andy, Marius Al-Ahni, Julian Pace, Killer Kelly and Melanie Gray. Visit their website for information on both shows.
German Wrestling Federation host the GWF Light Heavyweight World Cup on Saturday at Huxleys Neue Welt in Berlin. The show will include some of the best talent from around the world, including Angelico, Kenny Williams, Jody Fleisch, Kris Jokic, Oliver Carter and Tarkan Aslan. All information can be found on their website.
Elsewhere in Europe, Italian Championship Wrestling host their next show on Saturday at the Palestra via Faedo, Morbegno. Charlie Kid wrestles Paxxo in the main event. Tickets are available here.
In Chile this week, Campeonato Nacional de Lucha Libre present Vendetta on Sunday in Santiago. In the main event, Rocket defends the National Championship against Pedro Pablo. Tickets are available here
Also in Santiago, Legion Neuva Era host Territorio Hostil on Sunday at the Teatro Novedades. Guachulo defends the championship against Atemista. There will also be appearances from CWC competitor Alejandro Saez, Anarko, Fear and many others. Tickets are available here.
Ending this week with Southern Pro New Zealand on Saturday from the Union Hall, Dunedin. JK Moody defends the heavyweight championship against Taylor Adams, Markus Kool battles Kane Khan and Alex Savage takes on Jaxon Cross. Tickets, on demand and all other information can be found on their website.
Are you attending any of these shows? Is there a show we missed that you want to tell us about? Let us know in the comments below!
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