This is a list of independent wrestling promotions in the United States, sorted by regional area, and lists both active and defunct "indy promotions" from the 1990s and 2000s. This list does not include the regional territories or promotions affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance.
There is no concrete definition on what constitutes an independent promotion. A general guideline would be that an independent promotion, as its name suggests, has no corporate sponsor or ownership providing funding for its operation. For example, Ring of Honor is owned by Tony Khan and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports, so they fall outside this definition. Another guideline would be a restriction, either by choice or by financial or logistical circumstances, to a particular geographic area, be it a state, a metropolitan area, or even a single town or arena.
Of lesser consideration is the promotion's fanbase. Fan attendance at live shows can be a factor, but is by no means a definite consideration. Most shows hosted by independent promotions have attendances anywhere from under fifty to a thousand or more, but Extreme Championship Wrestling in its heyday in the 1990s regularly hosted events of several thousand fans. Media exposure is also considered. Most independent promotions have very limited television exposure, if any, as they lack equipment or infrastructure to produce broadcast-quality programming. None have had any national television contract since ECW in the late 1990s. The most successful televised promotions release shows as syndicated programming, aired by one or several network affiliates in their local area.
New England
Connecticut Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesAssault Championship WrestlingWaterburyJason Knight2000–present
Massachusetts Name Location Owner(s) Years active NoteCentury Wrestling AllianceRevereEllen MagliaroTony Rumble1989–2007 Tony Rumble died in 1999. Chaotic WrestlingNorth AndoverJamie JamitowskiKiller Kowalski2000–2017International Wrestling FederationReadingKiller Kowalski1979–1995International World Class Championship WrestlingBostonJoseph Savoldi1984–1996Millennium Wrestling FederationMelroseDan MiradeNeil Manolian2001–2013New England Championship WrestlingJamaica PlainSheldon Goldberg2000–2019Top Rope PromotionsFall RiverSteve Ricard1984–(Last event was in 2017 so far)World Wrestling StarsRocklandMike Sparta1998–2010
New Hampshire Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesFront Row WrestlingRochesterScott C. Despres2003–2010
Rhode Island Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesPower League WrestlingPawtucketJack MartinRalph Adams1991–2016
East Coast
Delaware Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesEast Coast Wrestling AssociationNewarkJim KettnerMike Tartaglia1967–present
Maryland Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesMCW Pro WrestlingBaltimoreDan McDevittDick CaricofeDennis Whipwrecht1998–presentFounded by Dan McDevitt and Mark Shrader in 1998, it went on hiatus for three years before resuming operations in 2006 Caricofe died on May 14, 2021.Mid-Eastern Wrestling FederationEssexDennis WipperchtTim Burke 1991–2004
New Jersey Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesGame Changer WrestlingNew JerseyBrett Lauderdale1999–presentIndependent Superstars of Pro WrestlingStockholmTommy Fierro 1998-presentIndependent Wrestling FederationWoodland ParkKevin Knight1998–2017Jersey All Pro WrestlingBayonneFrank IadeaviaJeff Sharpio 1997–2018 Iadeavia died on September 23, 2015. Phoenix Championship WrestlingToms RiverDon Bucci2001–2003Pro Wrestling MagicEast RutherfordSteve Off2015- PresentHas a dedicated roster of talent that has appeared on WCW, AEW, WWE among others. Women Superstars UncensoredLake HiawathaSean Hansen2007–2012
New York Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesAwesome Championship WrestlingPoughkeepsieHale Collins & Vik Dalishus2024-presentFamily Wrestling EntertainmentManhattanJordan Schneider2010–2015House Of GloryRidgewoodThe Amazing RedBrian XLMaster P2012–presentNortheast WrestlingNewburghMike Lombardi1994–presentImmortal Championship WrestlingUpstate New YorkMike King2018-presentNickel City WrestlingBuffaloUnknown 2016- presentUpstate Pro Wrestling Rochester Mike "Hellcat" Rosario2003- present
Pennsylvania Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesCHIKARAAllentownMike Quackenbush2002–2020Combat Zone WrestlingPhiladelphiaD. J. Hyde1999–presentDragon Gate USAPhiladelphiaSatoshi OjiGabe Sapolsky2009–2015Extreme Championship WrestlingPhiladelphiaTod GordonPaul Heyman1992–2001Extreme RisingPhiladelphiaShane DouglasKevin KleinrockSteve O'Neill2012–2014Keystone State Wrestling AlliancePittsburghBobby O2000–presentPro-Pain Pro WrestlingPhiladelphiaThe Blue MeanieJasmin St. Claire2002–2005Pro Wrestling eXpressMcKeesportJim Miller1994–2025Steel City WrestlingPittsburghNorm Connors1994–2000World Xtreme WrestlingAllentownAfa Anoa'i1996–2024International Wrestling CartelPittsburghJustin Plumer2001–Present
Midwest
Illinois Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesAll American WrestlingBerwyn Chicago LaSalleDanny Daniels2004–presentIn 2018 began branching out to Austin, Texas.American Wrestling FederationChicagoPaul Alperstein1994–1996Shimmer Women AthletesBerwynDave PrazakAllison Danger2005–2021Warrior WrestlingChicago HeightsSteve Tortorello2018–presentWindy City Pro WrestlingChicagoSam DeCero1988–2010Women's Wrestling ArmyChicagoBobby CruiseMaria Kanellis2022–present
Indiana Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesIWA Mid-SouthClarksvilleIan Rotten1996–2022Main Event Championship WrestlingEvansvilleJason Daniel2009–present
Iowa Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesNational Wrestling AllianceWaterlooBilly Corgan1948–2012 2017-Present
Kansas Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesMetro Pro WrestlingKansas CityChris Gough2010–2016
Michigan Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesJuggalo Championship WrestlingDetroitShaggy 2 DopeViolent J1999–presentAll Class Independent WrestlingWaterfordMike GibbsG-Money2023–present
Minnesota Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesPro Wrestling AmericaMinneapolisEddie Sharkey1985–1998Minnesota Independent WrestlingChanhassenTerry Fox1999–PresentF1RST WrestlingMinneapolisArik Cannon2007-PresentParadise City WrestlingNew PragueMitch Paradise2021-Present
Missouri Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesNational Wrasslin' LeagueKansas CityMajor Baisden2016–2018World League WrestlingTroyHarley Race (former)1999–present
Ohio Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesHeartland Wrestling AssociationCincinnatiCody Hawk Jack Kimble Chad Dillefeld1996–2015World Wide Wrestling AllianceColumbusRichard ArpinDave Nelson2004–2005
South Dakota Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesNew Sound WrestlingSioux FallsDe'Lorian Diggs Amanda Mensing-Diggs2024-present
Wisconsin Name Location Owner(s) Years active Notes4th Wall Wrestling MilwaukeeMario Crivello, Theodore Niles & Chris Arzberger2013 - presentACW WisconsinOshkoshSwoggle2013-presentBrew City WrestlingWaukeshaFrankie DeFalco2004 - presentFrontline ProMarshfieldBen McCoy2018 - presentFrozen Tundra WrestlingFond Du Lac2018 - presentGreat Lakes Championship WrestlingGraftonDavid Herro1997 - presentHybrid Wrestling EntertainmentGreen BayTW32023 - present
Southeast Florida Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesAtomic Legacy WrestlingOrlandoAlex Red 2017-presentPreviously known as Atomic Wrestling Entertainment and later Atomic Revolutionary WrestlingFull Impact ProLargoSal Hamaoui2004–presentFuture of WrestlingFort LauderdaleBobby Rogers1998–2003Shine WrestlingTampaSal Hamaoui2012–presentContinental Championship WrestlingJacksonvilleChris Turner1989–1991Coastal Championship WrestlingCoral SpringsBruno Sassi2004-presentBoca Raton Championship WrestlingBoca RatonMatthew Maschler2022-present
Georgia Name Location Owners Years Active InformationDeep South WrestlingMcDonoughJody Hamilton2005–2007National Championship WrestlingCorneliaSteve Martin1997–1999Turnbuckle Championship WrestlingMariettaDusty Rhodes2000–2003
Kentucky Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesOhio Valley WrestlingLouisvilleAl Snow1998–present
North Carolina Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesCWF-Mid Atlantic WrestlingBurlingtonDanny Wenkel2000–2019Fire Star Pro WrestlingGreensboroLabron Kozone2012-presentOMEGA Championship WrestlingCameronMatt HardyJeff Hardy1997–19992013–presentSouth Atlantic Pro WrestlingWinston-SalemPaul JonesFrank Dusek1990–1992Premiere Wrestling XperienceCharlotteBrian Kanabroski2003–present
Tennessee Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesGlobal Force WrestlingNashvilleJeff JarrettKaren Jarrett2014–2017Innovate WrestlingKingsportTony Givens2004–presentMemphis WrestlingMemphisCorey Maclin2003–2014Memphis WrestlingDustin Starr2021–presentMemphis Championship WrestlingTerry Golden2000–2001Smoky Mountain WrestlingKnoxvilleJim Cornette1991–1995Southern States WrestlingKingsportBeau James1991–presentUnited States Wrestling AssociationMemphisJerry JarrettJerry Lawler1988–1997
Virginia Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesIndependent Professional Wrestling AllianceArlingtonShyte Pan Dan Stinky Steve1995–1999
West Virginia Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesMason-Dixon WrestlingNutter FortJim Hawkins1997–2010
South Central Texas Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesGlobal Wrestling FederationDallasMax AndrewsGrey Pierson1991–1994Metroplex WrestlingBedfordAdrienne and Matthew Palmer2010–presentReality of WrestlingHoustonBooker T2006–presentTexas All-Star WrestlingHumbleBob Murphy1994–presentTexas Wrestling AllianceSan AntonioRudy Gonzales1999–presentWarriors 4 Christ WrestlingSan AntonioCurtis Stone1999–2012Mat War Pro WrestlingFort WorthJason Keenan2022–presentWrestle World TexasCarrolltonJayden Frost Abston2026–presentDFW All-Pro WrestlingDallas2019–presentNew Texas Pro Wrestling AbileneKeifer Bartek 2018–present
West California Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesAll Pro WrestlingHaywardRoland Alexander, Markus Mac1991–2023Big Time Wrestling NewarkKirk White, Lourie White, Taylor White, Scott Bregante1996- presentEmpire Wrestling FederationSan BernardinoJesse HernandezBill Anderson1996–presentIncredibly Strange WrestlingSan FranciscoJohnny LegendAugust Ragone1995–2003New Tradition Lucha Libre Palmdale Joe Medina1999- presentPro Wrestling GuerrillaLos AngelesExcaliburJoey RyanScott LostSuper Dragon2003–2024Slamtown (Fka Hoodslam)OaklandDark Sheik2010-presentUnderground Wrestling Alliance (UGWA)San JoseAnthony Trevino 2000-presentUltimate Pro WrestlingLos AngelesRick Bassman1998–2007Wrestling Society XLos AngelesKevin KleinrockCody MichaelsVampiro2006–2007Xtreme Pro WrestlingSherman OaksRob ZicariTom Byron1999–2003, 2021–presentPCW UltraTorranceMike Scharnagl2015–presentWest Coast Pro WrestlingSan FranciscoScott Bregante 2018–present
Idaho Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesWrestle ClubCaldwell2015-PresentBased in Caldwell, Idaho, Wrestle Club has been performing shows throughout the Treasure Valley in Idaho and Oregon since 2016.
Nevada Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesLadies Professional Wrestling AssociationLaughlinTor Berg1989–1992Based in Laughlin, Nevada the promotion held its only pay-per-view in Minnesota.Naked Women's Wrestling LeagueLas VegasHoward Mann2004–2009
Oregon Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesPortland Wrestling UncutPortlandPete Schweitzer Roddy Piper Don Coss2012–2014The promotion aired on KPTV and KPDX.West Coast Wrestling ConnectionSalemJeff Manning Pat Kelly2005–2016Weekly television broadcast on KPDX-TVPrestige WrestlingPortlandWilliam Quintana2017-2025DOA Pro WrestlingPortlandTerry Farness2009-present
Utah Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesUltra Championship Wrestling-ZeroSalt Lake CitySteve Neilson2002–present
Washington Name Location Owner(s) Years active NotesDEFY WrestlingSeattleMatt Farmer Jim Perry2017 - Present
See also List of professional wrestling promotions