Within the span of a week things changed in the wrestling community in ways we could never expect – we went from a thriving indie scene to a complete stand still and hold on all wrestling shows due to the Corona Virus. This is professional wrestling in 2020…kinda.
At first it looked like athletes and promotions would be alright. “Just a few weeks without shows.” Wrestlers who relied on in-ring activity looking for various ways to make ends meet; the most obvious one being to push merch sales or Patreon as a way of making up for missing out on three weeks worth of bookings. As the week progressed it became very apparent that this wrestling moratorium would be longer and more impactful than we expected. To quote a friend, “We are all gonna eat sh*t. Our business found its biggest weakness.”
With each passing day some new order was put forth: First a ban on events hosting more 250 people, then 50, and now 10 people is being deemed the cap, and as those number dwindled so did the jobs of people who support indie wrestling due to the California lockdown. In short, we have a scenario where both the wrestling business and a large majority of its fans are without income.
So, what can be done? This may spell the end for some wrestling companies, some may not be able to recover from their losses, much like other businesses. We all hope that our favorite indie companies and wrestlers can make it through this time but might not have the ability ourselves to buy merch, purchase shows, or things of the like. Here I have compiled Three FREE ways to support indie wrestling during the Corona Virus shutdown:
- Retweet peoples online store or websites: you might not have the means to purchase something, but someone else might.
- Watch/Retweet matches: this helps increase viewing hours for channels, which can also help your favorite promotion or wrestler gain monetization. You’re also introducing these people and companies to potentially new fans. Don’t forget to subscribe!
- Share links from your favorite wrestling promotions website – smaller promoters (i.e. not WWE) are really taking this one on the chin – visit their site, subscribe, or sign up for their email list. If you have it in you, click and ad or two. These things count.
I’m also including website addresses and YouTube channels for some of some of your favorite SoCal promotions. Sharing is caring…unless it comes to germs. Be safe and wash your hands.
Santino Bros
https://santinobros.net
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi4clNCkpuz4yHD1rvMUYdg
Twitter: @SantinoBros
Ground Zero San Diego
https://www.facebook.com/GroundZeroSD/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWkvcN2H90sgOR0e9QlrPag
https://leveluprowrestlingsd.wixsite.com/levelupschool
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC336Qr9YXZdI8NqyKP51wVw
Twitter: @GroundZeroSD / @lvlupwrestling
FIST Combat
https://www.facebook.com/fistcombattv/
https://www.youtube.com/fistcombattv
Twitter: @FISTCombatTV
Millennium Pro Wrestling
http://mpwwrestling.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqjhkEzU5RKkE35VLy4bzZg
Twitter: @MPW805
Empire Wrestling Federation
https://empirewrestlingfederation.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/TeamMetal
Twitter: @EWFEmpire
SoCal Pro
http://socalprowrestling.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/SoCalProWrestling
Twitter: @SoCalPro
Bar Wrestling
https://www.facebook.com/BarWrestlingLA/
Twitter: @BarWrestling
PCW ULTRA
http://www.pcwultra.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpWXclNuk4mk_HXut3DJb5Q
Twitter: @PCWULTRA
AWS
https://www.facebook.com/AWSPROMOTIONS/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe0sYBawM3xYh6ynnhdbLBg
Twitter: @bartaws
Wrestling Pro Wrestling
https://www.facebook.com/WrestlingProWrestling/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGazEwauaUSWmai8b9SMZlw
Twitter: @WrestlingPW
SoCal Uncensored
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_w7KezW2Lveqfh5jQXqinA
Twitter: @SoCalUncensored
No link to PWG?