10 HUGE Predictions For Independent Wrestling After ALL IN

3. A Change In Format

For all the good wrestling on offer at ALL IN, it was the story and character-based content that drew the strongest reactions. Flip Gordon's battle royal victory, Joey Ryan's return, Cody's championship triumph: each blew the roof off the Sears Center, and they stemmed from stories built on Being The Elite.

The old super indie format, in which cards are no more than endless streams of hyper-athletic "dream matches" with nothing greater tying them together, is fading away. Promotions like PWG will endure, but the past few years have seen a wider shift away from such shows. ALL IN has now accelerated the process.

Look at WrestleMania weekend's two most talked-about shows. Joey Janela's Spring Break 2 was another slice of madcap "banter wrestling" headlined by the man himself versus the Great Sasuke, while Matt Riddle's Bloodsport opened the weekend with the former UFC fighter's take on shoot style. Both were huge hits, and with such shows, guys like Janela, Cody, and the Bucks are signposting the way to the independents' future.

Good wrestling for good wrestling's sake is no longer enough. Now, you need an angle, a story, or a theme to stand out. Expect the landscape to change as more promoters cotton on to this.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.