Is indie wrestling dying? It’s been a question that has popped up in pockets of the pro wrestling social media space over the last two weeks and left some wondering what is even being talked about.

On almost any given night around the U.S., there is pro wrestling to be seen – whether it’s a random high school gymnasium or a small venue with about 3,000 seats. OutKick Dropkick wrote about Fight Factory Wrestling putting on a show for many folks in Central New Jersey just last weekend.

Effy, a star on the indie scene, will also take part in a few high-profile matches for PRODUCE Wrestling in New York this weekend. He will square off against Slade at Assembly and then battle Dr. Wagner Jr. at Lucha Fresca. Effy, himself, has appeared in nearly three dozen promotions throughout 2026 – some big and some small.

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OutKick Dropkick asked Effy in a recent interview about the pre-written obituaries for independent wrestling and whether it was, in fact, dying.

“Here’s the truth about independent wrestling,” he said. “It will not be dead as long as there are people who are willing to do what the actual function of an independent wrestling show is, which is to draw in people, to excite people to want to come to the show, and to sell tickets and sell views and sell streams of what your entertainment is because people right now have unlimited choice for entertainment, right? I got a Plex server. I’m not gonna lie to anybody. I could stay at home with my dogs on my couch, but I wanna go to see certain concerts because these artists are draws and they have made me excited to see them. I wanna go see certain acts on Broadway because there’s talk about the plays and there’s marketing for the places.

“Indie wrestling is dead if you want it to be dead. A lot of wrestlers don’t even realize we’re having shows for paid audience members. They’re just waiting for your talent scouts to show up, they’re waiting for your agents to show up, they’re waiting for the hierarchy to permit them to go to whatever the next level is. And what I’m saying is, we should be promoting any show we are on at the biggest level we can promote it on because there’s no ceiling on the show other than it’s selling out. And there are a lot of people who are thankful to be on shows or say things like, if I just got a chance, the fans would love me, and instead of expecting there to be fans and expecting there to be an audience and expecting there to be active participation because you’re there and you’re a wrestler, how about going out and telling people why they should show up for you?”

Effy suggested wrestlers who are on cards for certain shows should promote it to the max – whether it’s telling family and friends to go out and buy tickets to the show or doing a cellphone promo to entice people to show up.

“My reputation is that when you come see Effy, you are gonna get your money’s worth,” he added. “You’re going to see something wild and crazy and exciting, and it’s gonna fit whatever I’m booked for, but I’m going to tell you about the show, I’m gonna show you what Effy can do, and I’m gonna try to get you excited to come to the shows.”

Effy has a long history with Slade and is eager to defeat Dr. Wagner Jr. in front of the Lucha Libre legend’s sons. He expressed those facts in a recent interview with OutKick Dropkick.

Effy puts the hurt on Andre Chance at a PRODUCE Wrestling event. (PRODUCE Wrestling)

However, he made clear that there’s more than a faint pulse when it comes to the indies.

“Indie wrestling is not dead, but whatever this fake hierarchy that we’ve created in wrestling is, because it is ignoring the No. 1 thing, which is the fan,” he said. “What are the fans excited about? What are fans reacting to? They’re not, not into your match because they’re wrong. They’re not into your match because it is not exciting to them, and it is not giving them a reason to participate or want to come back, and we have to look around the room and see what’s working and we have to look around the room and see who’s not there and start putting in some f—ing groundwork and legwork on the grassroots, put up some flyers and tell people about the show.

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“The guy who announces his match to everybody and can sell a few tickets to family and friends, and maybe is not as good of a wrestler as you, is more valuable to 90% of these shows than you thinking you’re the most impressive thing possible, and they should just give you any spot you want. I want people who are understanding that, in every level of entertainment right now, if you aren’t promoting yourself, you’re getting swallowed up by infinite entertainment. And for us to keep existing, we have to let people know what it is they’re gonna get to come see and what kind of cool stuff they’re missing out on if they don’t come see it, and we have lost our way on that path of being able to do that.”

PRODUCE Wrestling announced it would take a break ahead of the holidays, which ignited the conversation about the health of the indies.

But Effy told OutKick Dropkick that a break could be a good thing. It would allow wrestlers to rest and recharge.

Effy has been wrestling for over a decade. (Provided to OutKick)

“Listen, there’s been some rumors and innuendos about what’s going on with PRODUCE Wrestling. I think it is wonderful that we’re taking a little break with things. We’re going to be back. Things are gonna happen. I think before you make assumptions about things in wrestling, remember, you’re watching from the outside,” he said. “Watch the story as it happens. Let things move along and enjoy your Christmas holiday. You know what I mean? I’ve been doing this for as long as I’ve been doing this, and I can tell you, there’s never been a time where I’m overbooked at Christmas. There’s never been a time where I’m overbooked at the holidays.

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“It’s OK to take a step back and be a person sometimes. It’s OK to have other things to do in those moments. My calendar is still staying busy. I’m still gonna be all over the place, you know, night before Thanksgivings and after Christmases and things, but for wrestlers out there that are feeling the pinch and feeling it, take a breath. Wrestling shows are best when it is warm outside, and it’s, it’s a time of recession in a country that is trying to find a little joy, and we will find that joy, but it’s OK if you’re not booked as much as you think you should be booked in the winter right now. Let it ride out and stick to the game. That’s just a little hopefulness. I hope that some of these wrestlers will pick up on there.”