08/31/2026
‼️LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD
Sadly, the Minnesota Independent Wrestling summer season has come to an end.
But what a great summer it was!
MIW debuted at new festivals and fun venues, returned to many of our regular favorites, made new fans, entertained plenty of long-time supporters and thoroughly enjoyed the summer months.
A huge thank-you goes out to all of the festivals, venues and fans who make Minnesota Independent Wrestling possible. Without your support, none of this happens.
And it takes a lot to make these cards happen.
Over the summer, MIW booked 48 different wrestlers, referees and ring announcers, including 10 wrestlers making their MIW debuts. And that doesn't even include the invaluable sound and ring crew who work behind the scenes at every event.
So, on to the wrestling talk!
⭐Rylie Jackson — Still the Man to Beat
Rylie Jackson remains the MIW Heavyweight Champion, and he has been on an incredible run.
His title defense against Paul Virk last Saturday in Granite Falls was off the charts. His triple threat against Kyle Pro and Mr. Williams in Delano was masterful. His match against The System in C**n Rapids was another hot contest.
That's just naming a few.
Jackson has become a must-see competitor, and anyone looking to take the MIW Heavyweight Championship is going to have to go through one of the toughest champions MIW has seen.
🔥El Bano Keeps Rolling
El Bano remains the MIW Open Weight Champion.
It is simply amazing how popular this competitor has remained over the years. Whether he's defending the championship or simply stepping into the ring, El Bano continues to connect with MIW fans.
And as long as he has the title, there will be no shortage of challengers looking to take it away.
🚨BOOM Brings the Energy
Wildcard Wyatt Tordsen and Celtic Wolf — collectively known as BOOM — are the MIW Tag Team Champions.
They surprised the salty veteran team of Canadian Strong-Style Rob Stardom and Chadwick Wentworth III in Chanhassen this summer to capture the championships.
BOOM has put together solid defenses since winning the titles, but the road ahead won't be easy in the MIW tag division.
Tordsen might be the most improved wrestler in MIW over the last 10 months. He is bringing energy to every event and continues to develop into a major player.
And, of course, Celtic Wolf and his trademark howl can be heard throughout the region!
🎆The Pro Who Runs the Show
Kyle Pro still claims to be “The Pro Who Runs the Show,” and he has plenty of reason to continue making that claim.
Pro won the huge Pola-Czesky Days Cage Match Rumble and has shined throughout the summer with slick wrestling and surprising power.
His search for championship gold came up just short a couple of times this summer, but don't expect that pursuit to end anytime soon.
Championship gold and “The Pro Who Runs the Show” aren't likely to be strangers for long.
🎻The System Is Back
The System returned to MIW after a long absence and has quickly made his presence felt.
He's another competitor hunting for titles, glory and the desire to become “The Man.”
A big victory over James Jeffries last weekend could push The System even further in that direction.
🎆Captain Freedom — The Surprise of the Summer
Captain Freedom was perhaps the biggest surprise of the summer.
This masked man burst onto the MIW scene seemingly out of nowhere, bringing with him plenty of red, white and blue spirit during America's 250th anniversary year.
What a fun addition to an MIW card.
🚨Heavy Metal Lore Remains a Problem
One of the biggest problems in MIW continues to be Heavy Metal Lore.
He doesn't seem to care about wins, losses or suspensions. He continues to drill people with his deadly heart punch.
While the move is legal and wrestlers accept the risk when they step into the ring, Lore has also drilled referees and announcers.
Promoter Terry Fox may have to do something about this man. Will he have the guts to do it?
Lore came dangerously close to winning the MIW Heavyweight Championship in July. Had that happened, it could have been dangerous for everybody for a very, very long time.
🥊Korus and Knight Ready to Make Noise
Kanan Korus and Devo Knight were both on full display throughout the summer.
Korus brought his tremendous combination of strikes and high-flying ability, while Knight countered with quickness and cunning.
These two may be flying a little under the radar right now in MIW.
But they won't be for long.
🎳Kingpin Continues to Grow
Kingpin was a busy competitor throughout the summer, gaining valuable experience to go along with his tremendous size and ability.
His showing against Chadwick Wentworth III in Delano was impressive, and Kingpin has been campaigning hard for a championship opportunity.
On size alone, he represents a major threat to any title holder.
🪙Who Is Hunting for Gold?
Looking ahead, it would be hard not to include guys like Brick McCarthy and Paul Virk on the list of wrestlers hunting for the MIW Heavyweight Championship.
McCarthy was relatively quiet in MIW this summer, appearing in only a tag match, but the powerhouse has been collecting championship belts in Wisconsin and showed last season that he is a wrestler not to be messed with.
Virk's performance in Granite Falls has left many wondering if it is only a matter of time before he adds another championship belt to his collection.
‼️Plenty of Questions for Fall and Winter
There are plenty of other questions heading into the next season.
Can Stardom and Wentworth III rekindle the magic one more time and get back to championship gold?
Can Officer Rob Justice earn another shot at the Open Weight Championship?
Can guys like James Jeffries, VIPete, Shay Diesel, A.T. Rude, Elijah Dickson, Freakshow Cho, Bryce Jordan, Raiga of the Gale, Jaded James Morgan, Gunner Wixx, Porkchop and Nick Pride make bigger impacts?
And then there are the newcomers.
This summer saw MIW debuts from Cordova, Benny Delite, Yoshi Kai, Owen Slade, Armando Alvarez, Shadow Extreme, Denny B. Good, Panda-Style Erik Only, Larry Lance and The Omen Bray Holloway.
Who might we see make their MIW debut next?
And will one of these newcomers surprise everyone and emerge as a major player this fall or winter?
The Next Chapter Begins
The summer season may be over, but there are more questions than answers heading into the next chapter of Minnesota Independent Wrestling.
Who will rise?
Who will fall?
Who will challenge for championship gold?
And, most importantly, who will become the next must-see competitor in MIW?
It is an exciting time to follow Minnesota Independent Wrestling.
Stay tuned!
