JMA
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Post by JMA on Oct 14, 2010 5:15:10 GMT -5
Seeing as how ROH is on TV now and a lot bigger, which indy promotion in the US is the biggest? Or, if that can't be narrowed down, what would people here say are the top 5 biggest?
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triplethreatmark
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Post by triplethreatmark on Oct 14, 2010 5:18:56 GMT -5
Seeing as how ROH is on TV now and a lot bigger, which indy promotion in the US is the biggest? Or, if that can't be narrowed down, what would people here say are the top 5 biggest? This is based off of popularity and where the fed is located which leads to more exposure: 1. Chikara 2. PWG 3. Dragon Gate USA 4. CZW 5. FIP maybe, but probably not
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Post by American Dragon on Oct 14, 2010 6:28:11 GMT -5
PWG comes right to mind, in terms of popularity. Both Chikara and PWG seem to be the two biggest indy promotions in the U.S, also, the two with the most loyal fanbases. I know of people who were supporting Chikara back in 2002, even before ROH, and are still following the product, so that speaks volumes on the quality of their product.
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skulldouggory
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Post by skulldouggory on Oct 14, 2010 7:34:31 GMT -5
Well i'm a huge PWG fan....I'd say they are the biggest aswell, they have been going quite awhile and put on great shows.
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BxB
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Post by BxB on Oct 14, 2010 7:38:44 GMT -5
PWG manages to put on some of the best cards on the Indy circuit, in terms of name power and match quality. I'd give them a slight nod over Chikara and DG USA.
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Post by Andrew is Good on Oct 14, 2010 8:40:09 GMT -5
Hmm, I think it depends. There was this card in Georgia that drew about 2000 people, I don't even know the name of the promotion, but it was booked by Air Paris. He also had Scott Steiner and Abyss on his card, and they drew bigger then TNA. But, apparently the guy was good at promoting and booking shows, and did a lot of stuff around the town.
OVW is trying to get a bit bigger again, as they have a working relationship with ROH, and are getting some former OVW/WWE stars to come in more (Sinn Bodhi, Nick Dinsmore, Cliff Compton, Mike Mondo). They run weekly shows too, and usually try to have a big show once a month.
Chikara is really starting to get bigger ever since the BDK angle, which is really good on them.
CZW, I stopped watching it after I realized it sucked, and most of the time, the wrestlers aren't that good or are good, but are in the ring with people who aren't that good, and it brings them down.
PWG, I watched a recent show, and they have the long volley in tennis issue. It just goes back and forth, big move after big move, with no room to soak things in.
I haven't watched DG USA, and I maybe wrong as the roster is starting to get a little more diverse, but when I first read about it, I never wanted to get into it because it was going to have the same matches the entire show. Though, Jimmy Jacobs is in it, and I love Jimmy Jacobs.
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Post by shadowangel on Oct 14, 2010 9:23:57 GMT -5
This is based off of popularity and where the fed is located which leads to more exposure: 1. Chikara 2. PWG 3. Dragon Gate USA 4. CZW 5. FIP maybe, but probably not I think FIP lost of momentum after the split from ROH. I'd rather put SHIMMER on there. They don't make many shows, but they manage to sell out their DVDs, they have very loyal fans and i'm always shocked when i meet some german wrestling fans who know them. And there's basically no talk about FIP or OVW (they fell out of the spotlight after WWE cut the ties) and not so much about DragonGate USA. From my german standpoint it's more like Chikara CZW Shimmer PWG DragonGate USA I guess in the USA it's more like Chikara PWG CZW Shimmer DragonGate
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Post by kingoftheindies on Oct 14, 2010 9:56:36 GMT -5
Hmm, I think it depends. There was this card in Georgia that drew about 2000 people, I don't even know the name of the promotion, but it was booked by Air Paris. He also had Scott Steiner and Abyss on his card, and they drew bigger then TNA. But, apparently the guy was good at promoting and booking shows, and did a lot of stuff around the town. OVW is trying to get a bit bigger again, as they have a working relationship with ROH, and are getting some former OVW/WWE stars to come in more (Sinn Bodhi, Nick Dinsmore, Cliff Compton, Mike Mondo). They run weekly shows too, and usually try to have a big show once a month. Chikara is really starting to get bigger ever since the BDK angle, which is really good on them. CZW, I stopped watching it after I realized it sucked, and most of the time, the wrestlers aren't that good or are good, but are in the ring with people who aren't that good, and it brings them down. PWG, I watched a recent show, and they have the long volley in tennis issue. It just goes back and forth, big move after big move, with no room to soak things in. I haven't watched DG USA, and I maybe wrong as the roster is starting to get a little more diverse, but when I first read about it, I never wanted to get into it because it was going to have the same matches the entire show. Though, Jimmy Jacobs is in it, and I love Jimmy Jacobs. you should give CZW another chance Andrew. Since DJ Hyde took over, the product has improved so much.
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Post by thereallybigshow on Oct 14, 2010 11:17:41 GMT -5
Northeast Wrestling. www.northeastwrestling.comIt's not you typical indy promotion. They put on serious shows, with serious talent, in front of large crowds. They use top Northeastern talents in HUGE names for EVERY show. Here is the line-up from a show a coming up. Every show they run in a unique experience. I've work with them for several years and have met and worked with nearly every star I watched growing up including Flair, Piper, Nash, Lawler, Dusty, and more. Going to an NEW show you will get your moneys worth. To be an indy I don't think you just have to use underground talent, wrestle in crappy buildings, and focus on "5*" matches. NEW uses former, current, and future stars. They draw upwards of 1000 a show. They offer a varied line-up featuring a little something for everyone. NEW all the way.
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Post by Spankymac is sick of the swiss on Oct 14, 2010 18:47:44 GMT -5
Easily a tie between Chikara and PWG, and I'm honestly not sure who's ahead. I guess, if pushed, I'd have to say Chikara, because they're in that northeast area where Philly and New York are, as opposed to PWG, who's all the way out in California, so they won't get exposed as much.
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Post by Spankymac is sick of the swiss on Oct 14, 2010 18:48:44 GMT -5
Northeast Wrestling. www.northeastwrestling.comIt's not you typical indy promotion. They put on serious shows, with serious talent, in front of large crowds. They use top Northeastern talents in HUGE names for EVERY show. Here is the line-up from a show a coming up. Every show they run in a unique experience. I've work with them for several years and have met and worked with nearly every star I watched growing up including Flair, Piper, Nash, Lawler, Dusty, and more. Going to an NEW show you will get your moneys worth. To be an indy I don't think you just have to use underground talent, wrestle in crappy buildings, and focus on "5*" matches. NEW uses former, current, and future stars. They draw upwards of 1000 a show. They offer a varied line-up featuring a little something for everyone. NEW all the way. Dude, you really shouldn't harsh on other indies for wrestling in "crappy buildings", when the poster you put up advertises a show in a high school gym.
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Post by Nacho STAYS Hyped on Oct 14, 2010 19:17:59 GMT -5
1. CHIKARA 2. CZW 3. PWG
I do admit, from what little I've seen of NEW, it seems like a decent promotion. On our local Memphis TV show, they once showed an Abyss-Chris Sabin match in NEW reffed by Tommy Dreamer that was really good.
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Post by shadowangel on Oct 14, 2010 19:21:19 GMT -5
Dude, you really shouldn't harsh on other indies for wrestling in "crappy buildings", when the poster you put up advertises a show in a high school gym. Have to agree, seems like a shameless advertisement. Besides, how lame is "NEW"? Imagine a promo going "I'm the new NEW Wrestling Champion" sounds pretty awkward to me Though they have some names it seems, even have Jeff Hardy and Jerry Lawler on there website. But: November to Remember? Ripping off ECW is so f***ing lame...smells like XPW
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Post by Evilution E5150 on Oct 14, 2010 19:39:34 GMT -5
1. Shimmer
and thats all ive got really
outside of the Australian indy scene i dont really pay attention to the US
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Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby
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Post by Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby on Oct 14, 2010 20:23:31 GMT -5
My impression, from following neither promotion, is that Chikara is hotter and bigger than PWG right now. It seems any time I hear about PWG nowadays, it's to read about how they're having a hard time booking champions and scheduling shows. They certainly have top-tier talent, but for whatever reason Chikara comes across as a bigger deal lately.
Two or three years ago, when I was following the indies more closely, I would have said PWG.
Shimmer seems to be in an odd position, in that they run shows rarely and don't draw much - but damn if it isn't an important and notable little corner of the business.
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Post by Baixo Astral on Oct 14, 2010 20:36:16 GMT -5
Who draws the most at the gate?
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Post by shadowangel on Oct 14, 2010 21:36:47 GMT -5
Shimmer seems to be in an odd position, in that they run shows rarely and don't draw much - but damn if it isn't an important and notable little corner of the business. I think the problem is that with the exception of one show (Vol. 14) they never went out of the Eagles Club. But if you compare the first couple of shows with the later ones you see how they got more crowd. I think there were 70 people at the first event, on the fifth they had 175 and after that they sold out with 200-250 people. It's a success. Chikara also has shows in front of a very small crowd and still they're a well known and big promotion. I think for them it's more important to sell a lot of DVD's
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Post by darkpatriot on Oct 14, 2010 21:57:29 GMT -5
I dont know how you can say they put on serious shows and then later talk about them not focusing on 5 star matches and then tout all the stars they bring in. if they arent stars because of their good wrestling then why are they stars? why would i want to go see a wrestling star if he isnt gonna try and have a great match? ive been to a few NEW shows and most are fund raisers which draws many casual fans who are either drawn in by whoever the fundraiser is for or the old guys signing autographs. thats fine but it doesnt build a fanbase. i remember a show that didnt draw well a couple years ago and one reason I heard was to place the blame on the high school who was benefiting from it. as i posted in the Mickie/Kong thread talent-wise NEW does less with more than any fed ive ever seen.
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Post by Spankymac is sick of the swiss on Oct 14, 2010 23:21:44 GMT -5
Who draws the most at the gate? Chikara recently had a show where they had to turn people away at the door, on their first show ever in New York. I'd say that's pretty big. Going into a new market, and, based purely on your reputation, sell the place out.
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triplethreatmark
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Post by triplethreatmark on Oct 14, 2010 23:53:47 GMT -5
Who draws the most at the gate? Chikara recently had a show where they had to turn people away at the door, on their first show ever in New York. I'd say that's pretty big. Going into a new market, and, based purely on your reputation, sell the place out. On the other side of the country PWG held their 7th anniversary show in July and also turned away people at the door. In fact, they probably crammed in 100 more people than they should have in the Legion Hall.
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