# List of independent wrestling promotions in the United States

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 | Notes |
| Assault Championship Wrestling | Waterbury | Jason Knight | 2000–present | |

### Massachusetts

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Note |
| Century Wrestling Alliance | Revere | Ellen Magliaro Tony Rumble | 1989–2007 | Formerly known as NWA New England from 1998 to 2007. Is the longest-running independent promotion under a single owner in New England Tony Rumble died in 1999. |
| Chaotic Wrestling | North Andover | Jamie Jamitowski Killer Kowalski | 2000–2017 | |
| International Wrestling Federation | Reading | Killer Kowalski | 1979–1995 | Associated with Kowalski's wrestling school, a number of his early students competed in the promotion such as Perry Saturn, Joanie Laurer (later to be known as Chyna) and Paul Levesque (now better known as Triple H); later relocated to Burlington, Vermont |
| International World Class Championship Wrestling | Boston | Joseph Savoldi | 1984–1996 | Dominant independent promotion in New England during the 1980s; succeeded by Century Wrestling Alliance prior to its close in 1996 |
| Millennium Wrestling Federation | Melrose | Dan Mirade Neil Manolian | 2001–2013 | |
| New England Championship Wrestling | Jamaica Plain | Sheldon Goldberg | 2000–2019 | |
| Top Rope Promotions | Fall River | Steve Ricard | 1984–(Last event was in 2017 so far) | Formerly known as Yankee Pro Wrestling from 1997 to 2004 |
| World Wrestling Stars | Rockland | Mike Sparta | 1998–2010 | |

### New Hampshire

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Front Row Wrestling | Rochester | Scott C. Despres | 2003–2010 | Announced a merger with NWA Liberty States Wrestling in Massachusetts |

### Rhode Island

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Power League Wrestling | Pawtucket | Jack Martin Ralph Adams | 1991–2016 | Oldest independent wrestling promotion in Rhode Island |

## East Coast
### Delaware

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| East Coast Wrestling Association | Newark | Jim Kettner Mike Tartaglia | 1967–present | Longest-running independent promotion in Delaware |

### Maryland

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Maryland Championship Wrestling | Baltimore | Dan McDevitt Dick Caricofe Dennis Whipwrecht | 1998–2003 1998–2003 | Founded 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 Federation | Essex | Dennis Wippercht Tim Burke | 1991–2004 | |

### New Jersey

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Game Changer Wrestling | New Jersey | Brett Lauderdale | 1999–present | |
| Independent Wrestling Federation | Woodland Park | Kevin Knight | 1998–2017 | |
| Jersey All Pro Wrestling | Bayonne | Frank Iadeavia Jeff Sharpio | 1997–2018 | Iadeavia died on September 23, 2015. |
| Phoenix Championship Wrestling | Toms River | Don Bucci | 2001–2003 | Promoted by the twin brother of Simon Dean, Donnie B, PCW was home to a number of future WWE stars, most notably Mike Bucci |
| Women Superstars Uncensored | Lake Hiawatha | Sean Hansen | 2007–2012 | |
Active Movers Wrestling Old Bridge NJ

### New York

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active |
| Family Wrestling Entertainment | Manhattan | Jordan Schneider | 2010–2015 |
| House Of Glory | Ridgewood, New York City | The Amazing Red Brian XL Master P | 2012–present |
| The Dynasty | Albany | Chris Envy | 2013–present |
| Northeast Wrestling | Newburgh | Mike Lombardi | 1994–present |
| Wild Zero | Syracuse / Rochester | Krist Worthless | 2017–present |

### Pennsylvania

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| CHIKARA | Allentown | Mike Quackenbush | 2002–2020 | |
| Combat Zone Wrestling | Philadelphia | D. J. Hyde | 1999–present | |
| Dragon Gate USA | Philadelphia | Satoshi Oji Gabe Sapolsky | 2009–2015 | American affiliate of the Japanese puroresu organization Dragon Gate |
| Extreme Championship Wrestling | Philadelphia | Tod Gordon Paul Heyman | 1992–2001 | |
| Extreme Rising | Philadelphia | Shane Douglas Kevin Kleinrock Steve O'Neill | 2012–2014 | |
| Keystone State Wrestling Alliance | Pittsburgh | Bobby O | 2000–present | |
| Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling | Philadelphia | The Blue Meanie Jasmin St. Claire | 2002–2005 | Also known as 3PW; featured many former stars from Extreme Championship Wrestling following its close in 2001 |
| Pro Wrestling eXpress | McKeesport | Jim Miller | 1994–present | |
| Steel City Wrestling | Pittsburgh | Norm Connors | 1994–2000 | Promotion closed after Conners entered the mortuary business; became promoter for the International Wrestling Cartel in 2001 |
| World Xtreme Wrestling | Allentown | Afa Anoa'i | 1996–2024 | Associated with Afa Anoa'i's Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center |
| International Wrestling Cartel | Pittsburgh | Justin Plumer | 2001–Present | |

## Midwest
### Illinois

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| All American Wrestling | Berwyn Chicago LaSalle | Danny Daniels | 2004–present | In 2018 began branching out to Austin, Texas. |
| American Wrestling Federation | Chicago | Paul Alperstein | 1994–1996 | Tito Santana and Sgt. Slaughter were bookers for the promotion |
| Shimmer Women Athletes | Berwyn | Dave Prazak Allison Danger | 2005–2021 | |
| Warrior Wrestling | Chicago Heights | Steve Tortorello | 2018–present | |
| Windy City Pro Wrestling | Chicago | Sam DeCero | 1988–2010 | |
| Women's Wrestling Army | Chicago | Bobby Cruise Maria Kanellis | 2022–present | |

### Indiana

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| IWA Mid-South | Clarksville | Ian Rotten | 1996–2022 | |
| Main Event Championship Wrestling | Evansville | Jason Daniel | 2009–present | |

### Iowa

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| National Wrestling Alliance | Waterloo | Billy Corgan | 1948–2012 2017-Present |

### Kansas

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Metro Pro Wrestling | Kansas City | Chris Gough | 2010–2016 | Sold to the National Wrasslin' League in December of 2016 |

### Michigan

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Juggalo Championship Wrestling | Detroit | Shaggy 2 Dope Violent J | 1999–present | |

### Minnesota

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Pro Wrestling America | Minneapolis | Eddie Sharkey | 1985–1998 | |

### Missouri

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| National Wrasslin' League | Kansas City | Major Baisden | 2016–2018 | |
| World League Wrestling | Troy | Harley Race (former) | 1999–present | Associated with the Harley Race Wrestling Academy; formerly affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance |

### Ohio

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Heartland Wrestling Association | Cincinnati | Cody Hawk Jack Kimble Chad Dillefeld | 1996–2015 | Founded by Les Thatcher |
| World Wide Wrestling Alliance | Columbus | Richard Arpin Dave Nelson | 2004–2005 | Originally known as NWA Ohio |

## Southeast
### Florida

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Full Impact Pro | Largo | Sal Hamaoui | 2004–present | Sister promotion of Ring of Honor from 2003 to 2009; talent exchange agreement with Dragon Gate USA |
| Future of Wrestling | Fort Lauderdale | Bobby Rogers | 1998–2003 | Associated with Rusty Brooks' School of Hard Knocks. |
| Shine Wrestling | Tampa | Sal Hamaoui | 2012–present | Sister promotion of Shimmer Women Athletes. Runs events regularly on internet pay-per-view. |
| Continental Championship Wrestling | Jacksonville | Chris Turner | 1989–1991 | Sister promotion of Continental Championship Wrestling (Alabama). Runs events regularly on YouTube. |
| Coastal Championship Wrestling | Coral Springs | Bruno Sassi | 2004-present | In November 2023, CCW announced to revive the historical Championship Wrestling from Florida |

### Georgia

| Name | Location | Owners | Years Active | Information |
| Deep South Wrestling | McDonough | Jody Hamilton | 2005–2007 | WWE developmental territory from 2005 to 2007 |
| National Championship Wrestling | Cornelia | Steve Martin | 1997–1999 | Merged with NWA Georgia to form NWA Wildside |
| Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling | Marietta | Dusty Rhodes | 2000–2003 | Featured many former stars from World Championship Wrestling following its close in 2001 |

### Kentucky

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Ohio Valley Wrestling | Louisville | Al Snow | 1998–present | Affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance from 1998 to 2000 and a WWE developmental territory from 2000 to 2008; also has an affiliate promotion, Derby City Wrestling, which it used to train students as its wrestling facility |

### North Carolina

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| CWF-Mid Atlantic Wrestling | Burlington | Danny Wenkel | 2000–2019 | Also known as the Carolina Wrestling Federation; affiliated with AWA Superstars from 2005 until 2007, and Pro Wrestling International since 2009 |
| Deadlock Pro-Wrestling | North Carolina | Anthony Douglas James Darnell John Blud | 2021–present | |
| Fire Star Pro Wrestling | Greensboro | Labron Kozone | 2012-present | |
| OMEGA Championship Wrestling | Cameron | Matt Hardy Jeff Hardy | 1997–1999 2013–present | Promotion closed when Matt and Jeff Hardy joined the World Wrestling Federation, later reopened |
| South Atlantic Pro Wrestling | Winston-Salem | Paul Jones Frank Dusek | 1990–1992 | Founded as North American Wrestling Association by George Scott, John Ringley and Mike Lamberth |
| Premiere Wrestling Xperience | Charlotte | Brian Kanabroski | 2003–present | Founded in 2003 as Carolina Wrestling Association. Renamed in 2008 as Premiere Wrestling Showcase. Since 2010, it has been known as Premiere Wrestling Xperience. |

### Tennessee

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Global Force Wrestling | Nashville | Jeff JarrettKaren Jarrett | 2014–2017 | |
| Innovate Wrestling | Kingsport | Tony Givens | 2004–present | Was known as Championship Wrestling Alliance from 2004–2011 and NWA Smoky Mountain/NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling from 2011–2017. |
| Memphis Championship Wrestling | Memphis | Terry Golden | 2000–2001 | WWE developmental territory from 2000 to 2001; revived as Memphis Wrestling in 2003 |
| Smoky Mountain Wrestling | Knoxville | Jim Cornette | 1991–1995 | |
| Southern States Wrestling | Kingsport | Beau James | 1991–present | Formerly known as NWA Championship Wrestling |
| United States Wrestling Association | Memphis | Jerry Jarrett Jerry Lawler | 1988–1997 | Promotion formed when regional promotions the Continental Wrestling Association and the Dallas-based World Class Wrestling Association merged in 1989 |

### Virginia

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance | Arlington | Shyte Pan Dan Stinky Steve | 1995–1999 | Also known as the Independent Pro Wrestling Alliance |

### West Virginia

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Mason-Dixon Wrestling | Nutter Fort | Jim Hawkins | 1997–2010 | |

## South Central
### Texas

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Global Wrestling Federation | Dallas | Max Andrews Grey Pierson | 1991–1994 | |
| Reality of Wrestling | Houston | Booker T | 2006–present | |
| Texas All-Star Wrestling | Humble | Bob Murphy | 1994–present | The first successful promotion since the close of World Class Championship Wrestling in 1990 and the Global Wrestling Federation in 1994, it is currently the oldest independent promotion in Texas |
| Texas Wrestling Alliance | San Antonio | Rudy Gonzales | 1999–present | Founded with Shawn Michaels as part of his Texas Wrestling Academy wrestling school |
| Warriors 4 Christ Wrestling | San Antonio | Curtis Stone | 1999–present | |

## West
### California

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| All Pro Wrestling | Hayward | Roland Alexander | 1991–present | Featured in the 1999 documentary Beyond the Mat |
| Empire Wrestling Federation | San Bernardino | Jesse Hernandez Bill Anderson | 1996–present | |
| Incredibly Strange Wrestling | San Francisco | Johnny Legend August Ragone | 1995–2003 | |
| Pro Wrestling Guerrilla | Los Angeles | Excalibur Joey Ryan Scott Lost Super Dragon | 2003–present | |
| Ultimate Pro Wrestling | Los Angeles | Rick Bassman | 1998–2007 | The home promotion for many current stars of TNA, WWE and Zero One; as of 2005, is an official talent scout for the WWE |
| Wrestling Society X | Los Angeles | Kevin Kleinrock Cody Michaels Vampiro | 2006–2007 | Produced by Big Vision Entertainment, it was briefly aired on MTV in 2007 |
| Xtreme Pro Wrestling | Sherman Oaks | Rob Zicari Tom Byron | 1999–2003, 2021–present | |
| PCW Ultra | Torrance | Mike Scharnagl | 2015–present | |

### Nevada

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Ladies Professional Wrestling Association | Laughlin | Tor Berg | 1989–1992 | Based in Laughlin, Nevada the promotion held its only pay-per-view in Minnesota. |
| Naked Women's Wrestling League | Las Vegas | Howard Mann | 2004–2009 |

### Oregon

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Portland Wrestling Uncut | Portland | Pete Schweitzer Roddy Piper Don Coss | 2012–2014 | The promotion aired on KPTV and KPDX. |
| West Coast Wrestling Connection | Salem | Jeff Manning Pat Kelly | 2005–2016 | Weekly television broadcast on KPDX-TV |
| DOA Pro Wrestling | Portland | Terry Farness | 2008-present | Monthly show carried live on IWTV |

### Utah

| Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
| Ultra Championship Wrestling-Zero | Salt Lake City | Steve Neilson | 2002–present | Affiliated with AWA Superstars from 2005 to 2007 |