Independent circuit In professional wrestling , the independent circuit , or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions , particularly WWE and TNA . Specific promotions on the independent circuit are referred to as indy promotions or indies . A wrestler is said to be in the indies or working the indies if he or she is wrestling in one of the independent promotions , or working the indy circuit if he or she is performing in different independent promotions . ( For most wrestlers who have previously worked in a major nationally televised promotion , this is considered a step backward in their careers . ) Independent promotions are usually regional in focus and , lacking national TV contracts , are dependent on revenue from house show attendance . Due to their lower budgets , most independent promotions offer low salaries ( it is not unusual for a wrestler to be paid only $ 5 to $ 20 per match ) . Most cannot afford to regularly rent large venues , and would not be able to attract a large enough crowd to fill such a venue , so they have to make use of any open space ( such as fields , ballrooms , or gymnasiums ) to put on their performances . Some independent promotions are attached to professional wrestling school s , serving as a venue for students to gain experience in front of an audience . As independent matches are usually not televised , indy wrestlers who have not already gained recognition in other promotions tend to remain in obscurity . However , scouts from major promotions attend indy shows , and an indy wrestler who makes a good impression may be offered a developmental contract . The advent of the Internet has allowed independent wrestlers and promotions to reach a wider audience , and it is possible for wrestlers regularly working the indy circuit to gain some small measure of fame among wrestling fans online . Additionally , some of the more successful indies have video distribution deals , giving them an additional source of income and allowing them to reach a larger audience outside of their local areas . A few independent promotions have become major forces in the wrestling business . WWE , originally the Worldwide Wrestling Federation , was an independent after breaking off from the National Wrestling Alliance ; it eventually became the dominant pro wrestling organization in the USA . More recently , TNA , originally labelled NWA : TNA , has ( like many other major promotions through the years ) distanced itself from the National Wrestling Alliance ; with a national TV deal with SpikeTV , a video game deal with Midway Games , DVD distribution and so forth , it has grown beyond independent status . Another famous example of an indy promotion gaining mainstream exposure was the original incarnation of Extreme Championship Wrestling . Although most promotions try and adhere to a high standard of wrestling integrity , independent promotions are also the most likely places to find outrageous matches involving hardcore wrestling with sharp or dangerous implements . Since the indy wrestlers are not on TV , there are usually no restrictions on what they can say and do during matches . Philadelphia - based Combat Zone Wrestling ( CZW ) is one of the most infamous indy promotions , as the wrestlers have previously used weapons like weed whackers and staple guns . They have recently toned down the amount of violence and focused more on the wrestling , though they still have the occasional deathmatch . Currently the largest and most popular indy promotion in the USA is ROH ( Ring of Honor ) .