Editing Independent circuit (section)

==Origins==
The "indie" scene in the United States dates back to the days of regional territories. When a promoter ran opposition in even one town controlled by a [[National Wrestling Alliance]] sanctioned territory, they were often called an "outlaw" territory.<ref name=Farmer2015>{{cite web |url=http://www.theindycorner.com/columns/the-history-of-independent-wrestling/ |title=The History of Independent Wrestling |last=Farmer |first=Matt |date=December 23, 2015 |website=TheIndyCorner.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612212653/http://www.theindycorner.com/columns/the-history-of-independent-wrestling/ |archive-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref> This is considered by some to be a forerunner to indies since some stars of the past got their start in these low quality local rivals to the big regional territories.

The modern definition of the independent circuit came about in the middle to late 1980s and fully formed and flourished after 1990. These promotions initially sought to revive the feel of old school territorial wrestling after former territories either went national, such as [[WWE|WWF]], went out of business, or eventually did both, such as [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]]. Several indies did in fact manage to tour different towns within a region and maintain a consistent schedule.

After [[Vince McMahon]], seeking regulatory relief, gave in 1989 testimony in front of the [[New Jersey State Athletic Commission]]<ref name="WWF">{{Cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119010/3/index.htm |title=Vince McMahon has transformed pro wrestling from a - 03.25.91 - SI Vault |access-date=2013-08-06 |archive-date=2014-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407093053/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119010/3/index.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> where he publicly admitted pro wrestling was in fact a sports-based entertainment, rather than a true athletic competition, many state athletic commissions stopped regulating wrestling. This obviated the need for complying with many expensive requirements, such as the need for an on-site [[ambulance]] and trained emergency medical personnel at each bout. After the business was thus exposed and deregulated, just about anyone could be a promoter or a wrestler since no licensing beyond a business license was then required. Many thought they could save money by holding shows in lesser towns and smaller arenas with little to no televised exposure, leading to many shows being held only once a week or once a month in local towns.

<!--===Differences between the defunct territorial system and the current independent scene===
[[List of National Wrestling Alliance territories|Territories]] held large shows in a major town each week, with smaller shows in smaller towns throughout the region on other nights of the week. Promoters in those days could fill big arenas seating well up into the thousands, while most current indie promoters struggle to draw a few hundred people at a high school gym, small venue (such as a [[Veterans of Foreign Wars|VFW]], [[American Legion]] or church hall) or local fairground.

Wrestlers in the territories could afford to make a good living for years at a time. Territories generally also had weekly television shows on local stations in each major town which were viewable over the air in all or most of the smaller towns targeted by the promotion.

In the territory system, most wrestlers would learn the basics by setting up the ring or having a job at the arena (such as setting up, selling merchandise, or refereeing matches). They would then wrestle night after night in different small towns before debuting on the television show and eventually on the main weekly event in the promotion's focal city, and then often go to other territories to learn something new from experience. Many of today's wrestlers learn their trade in a wrestling school, but scrape by learning their craft on occasional indie bookings.-->