Editing Independent circuit (section)

==By country==

===United States===
{{see also|List of independent wrestling promotions in the United States}}
Independent promotions are usually local in focus and, lacking national [[Television|TV]] contracts, are much more 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 work for free due to the fact most promoters can only afford to pay well-known talent). Most cannot afford to regularly rent large venues, and would not be able to attract a large enough crowd to fill such a venue were they able to do so. Instead, they make use of any almost open space (such as fields, ballrooms, or gymnasiums) to put on their performances. Some independent promotions are attached to [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|professional wrestling school]]s, serving as a venue for students to gain experience in front of an audience. As independent matches are seldom televised, indie wrestlers who have not already gained recognition in other promotions tend to remain in obscurity. However, scouts from major promotions attend indie shows, and an indie wrestler who makes a good impression may be offered a developmental or even a full-professional 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 indie circuit to gain some 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.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%;"
|+Top 10 most-attended shows
! No.
! Promoter
! Event
! Location
! Venue
! Attendance
! class=unsortable|Main Event(s)
! class=unsortable|
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|[[NWA New England|NWA-NE]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey|[[WRKO|WRKO's Taste of the Boss]] <br> {{dts|1999-09-25}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey|[[Boston, Massachusetts]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|[[Boston City Hall Plaza]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|35,000
|bgcolor=lightgrey|5-0 ([[Trooper Gilmore]] and Corporal Johnson) vs. Victor Rivera <!-- not original --> and Jay Kobain
|bgcolor=lightgrey|
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[Independent Wrestling Revolution|IWR]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Warped Tour|Warped Tour 2002]] <br> {{dts|2003-08-03}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Pontiac, Michigan]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Pontiac Silverdome]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 19,000
|bgcolor=lightgrey| Deranged vs. Tommy Starr in a [[Hardcore wrestling|UV Light Tube Death match]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| <ref name="WO2003-AUG4"/>
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[I Believe In Wrestling|BELIEVE]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[BELIEVE 156]] <br> {{dts|2018-04-21}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Orlando, Florida]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| Central Florida Fairgrounds
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 15,000
|bgcolor=lightgrey| Aaron Epic (c) vs. Andrew Merlin for the SCW Florida Heavyweight Championship
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[Atlantic Wrestling Federation|AWF]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Cement Belt Fair]] <br> {{dts|1990-06-21}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Cementon, Pennsylvania]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| Cementon Fairgrounds
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 12,500
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Heidi Lee Morgan]] vs. Baby Face Nellie
|bgcolor=lightgrey|
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[World Power Wrestling|WPW]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Orange County Fair (California)|OC Fair: Flower Power]] (Day 2) <br> {{dts|2006-07-23}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Costa Mesa, California]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[OC Fair & Event Center|Washington Mutual Arena]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 12,000
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[El Hijo del Santo]], Lil Cholo and Silver Tyger vs. Infernal, Super Kendo 2 and [[Super Parka]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 
|-
| 1.
| {{center|—}}
| [[All In (professional wrestling event)|All In]] <br> {{dts|2018-09-01}}
| [[Hoffman Estates, Illinois]]
| [[Sears Centre Arena]]
| 11,263
| [[The Golden Elite]] ([[Kota Ibushi]], [[Matt Jackson (wrestler)|Matt Jackson]] and [[Nick Jackson (wrestler)|Nick Jackson]]) vs. [[Bandido (wrestler)|Bandido]], [[Rey Fénix]] and [[Rey Mysterio]] in a [[six-man tag team match]]
| 
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[World Power Wrestling|WPW]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Orange County Fair (California)|OC Fair: Flower Power]] (Day 1) <br> {{dts|2006-07-22}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Costa Mesa, California]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[OC Fair & Event Center|Washington Mutual Arena]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 10,000
|bgcolor=lightgrey| El Hijo del Santo, Lil Cholo and Silver Tyger vs. Infernal, Super Kendo 2 and Super Parka
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[Heartland Wrestling Association|HWA]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[BaseBrawl]] <br> {{dts|2003-07-19}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Columbus, Ohio]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Cooper Stadium]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 8,757<ref group=Note name=PostgameShowHWA/>
|bgcolor=lightgrey| Rory Fox (c) vs. [[Shark Boy]] for the [[HWA Cruiserweight Championship]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| <ref name="WO2003-JUL28HWA"/>
|-
| 2.
| {{center|[[United States Wrestling Association|USWA]]}}
| [[Memphis Memories]] <br> {{dts|1994-03-07}}
| [[Memphis, Tennessee]]
| [[Mid-South Coliseum]]
| 8,377
| [[Jerry Lawler]] vs. [[Austin Idol]] vs. [[Brian Christopher]] vs. [[Doug Gilbert]] vs. [[Eddie Gilbert (wrestler)|Eddie Gilbert]] vs. [[Jimmy Valiant]] vs. [[Koko B. Ware]] vs. [[Moondog Spot]] vs. [[Terry Funk]] vs. [[Tommy Rich]] in a 10-man elimination match
| <ref name="PWT-MM">{{cite web |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Today_2/article_76751.shtml |title=MAR. 7 IN HISTORY: Lawler headlines "Memphis Memories" card 20 years ago also featuring Funk, Idol, Koko, more |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=March 7, 2014 |website=PWTorch.com |publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch]] |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[World Xtreme Wrestling|WXW]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Sportsfest (1998)|Sportsfest]] <br> {{dts|1998-07-12}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| Cedar Beach Park
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 8,000
|bgcolor=lightgrey| The Love Connection (Jay Love and Georgie Love) vs. [[D'Lo Brown]] and [[Owen Hart]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|
|-
| 3.
| {{center|[[United States Wrestling Association|USWA]] / [[World Wrestling Federation|WWF]]}}
| USWA vs. WWF <br> {{dts|1996-02-17}}
| [[Memphis, Tennessee]]
| [[Mid-South Coliseum]]
| 7,500
| [[Bret Hart]] (c) vs. [[Jerry Lawler]] in a [[Steel Cage match]] for the [[WWF World Heavyweight Championship]]
| <ref name="Cawthon-1996"/>
|-
| 4.
| {{center|[[Fuerza Mexicana de Lucha Libre|FMLL]]}}
| [[LuchaMania USA Tour]] <br> {{dts|2013-01-26}}
| [[Los Angeles, California]]
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena]]
| 7,000
| [[Blue Demon Jr.]], [[Cien Caras Jr.]] and [[Dr. Wagner Jr.]] vs. [[El Hijo del Santo]], [[L.A. Par-K]] and [[Rayo de Jalisco Jr.]] in a [[six-man tag team match]]
| 
|-
| 5.
| {{center|[[Jim Crockett Promotions|JCP]]}}
| [[Ric Flair's Last Match]] <br> {{dts|2022-07-31}}
| [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
| [[Nashville Municipal Auditorium]]
| 6,800
| [[Ric Flair]] and [[Andrade El Idolo]] vs. [[Jay Lethal]] and [[Jeff Jarrett]]
| 
|-
| 6.
| {{center|[[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling|FMW]] / [[World Wrestling Association|WWA]]}}
| [[FMW vs. WWA]] <br> {{dts|1992-05-16}}
| [[Los Angeles, California]]
| [[California State University|Cal State-Los Angeles Gym]]
| 6,250
| [[Atsushi Onita]], [[Tarzan Goto]] and [[El Hijo del Santo]] vs. [[Negro Casas]], [[Horace Boulder]] and Tim Patterson in a [[Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match|Best 2-out-of-3 Falls]] [[Street Fight match]]
| <ref name="WO1992-JUL20">{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=July 20, 1992 |title=Vader makes title history, title belt lawsuit, Bash 92, real names |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Anyway, what this means is we've been underestimating the crowds of the Lucha Libre shows and that the original 5/16 show really did draw 6,250 (tickets were $20, $15 and $10 for that show and more freebies so the house was probably well under six figures but probably still in excess of $70,000).}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[International Wrestling Cartel|IWC]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Big Butler Fair]] <br> {{dts|2003-06-28}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Prospect, Pennsylvania]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| Big Butler Fairgrounds
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 6,000
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Dusty Rhodes]] vs. [[Jerry Lawler]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 
|-
| 7.
| {{center|Multiple}}
| [[World Wrestling Peace Festival]] <br> {{dts|1996-06-01}}
| [[Los Angeles, California]]
| [[Los Angeles Sports Arena]]
| 5,964
| [[Antonio Inoki]] and [[Dan Severn]] vs. [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]] and [[Oleg Taktarov]]
| <ref name="WO1996-JUN17">{{cite magazine |last=Alvarez |first=Bryan |author-link=Bryan Alvarez |date=June 17, 1996 |title=Brian Pillman future after Humvee accident, Ilio DiPaolo bio, WCW and WWF big gates over the weekend, tons more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Actual attendance at the World Wrestling Peace Festival was 5,964. I incorrectly misinterpreted the number of comps as being about 1,500 less than it actually was, although in no way did it look like there were anywhere close to 6,000 in the building but that is a legit figure.}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2|8.
| {{center|[[Extreme Championship Wrestling|ECW]]}}
| [[November to Remember (1998)|November to Remember]] <br> {{dts|1998-11-01}}
| [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]
| [[Lakefront Arena]]
|rowspan=2|5,800
| [[The Triple Threat]] ([[Shane Douglas]], [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] and [[Chris Candido]]) vs. New Triple Threat ([[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]], [[Rob Van Dam]] and [[Tazz|Taz]])
| <ref name="Cawthon-1998">{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/ecw98.htm |title=Yearly Results: 1998 |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |date= |website=TheHistoryOfWWE.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
|-
| {{center|[[Juggalo Championship Wrestling|JCW]]}}
| [[Bloodymania]] <br> {{dts|2007-08-11}}
| [[Cave-In-Rock, Illinois]]
| Hatchet Landings
| | [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]] and [[The Insane Clown Posse]] ([[Shaggy 2 Dope]] and [[Violent J]]) vs. [[Trent Acid]] and The Young Altar Boys (Young Altar Boy #1 and [[Silas Young|Young Altar Boy #4]])
| 
|-
| 9.
| {{center|[[Full Contact Wrestling|FCW]]}}
| [[FCW Pride|Pride]] <br> {{dts|2005-09-24}}
| [[Inglewood, California]]
| [[Great Western Forum]]
| 5,500
| | [[Blue Demon Jr.]], [[El Hijo del Santo]], [[Mil Mascaras]] and [[Tinieblas]] vs. [[Dr. Wagner Jr.]], [[Scorpio Jr.]] and Los Guerreros del Infierno ([[Rey Bucanero]] and [[Ultimo Guerrero]])
| 
|-
| 10.
| {{center|—}}
| [[Funk Free for All]] <br> {{dts|1993-10-28}}
| [[Amarillo, Texas]]
| [[Amarillo Civic Center]]
| 5,500
| [[Terry Funk]] vs. [[Eddie Gilbert (wrestler)|Eddie Gilbert]] in a [[Texas Death match]]
| <ref name="WO1993-NOV08">{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=November 8, 1993 |title=Oro dies in the ring, Sid Vicious vs. Arn Anderson stabbing incident |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=7,200 tickets were given away, enough to fill the Civic Center. About 5,500 showed up, a surprising amount of whom were certainly old enough to remember the weekly Thursday night cards from the 60s and 70s, and many of whom were kids who came largely to see the Big Bossman of WWF television fame.}}</ref>
|}

===Canada===
{{see also|List of independent wrestling promotions in Canada}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%;"
|+Top 10 most-attended shows
! No.
! Promoter
! Event
! Location
! Venue
! Attendance
! class=unsortable|Main Event(s)
! class=unsortable|
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[Lutte 2000]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Alouettes Mania I]] <br> {{dts|2002-08-25}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Montreal, Quebec]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Stade Percival-Molson]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 20,000
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Jacques Rougeau]] vs. [[King Kong Bundy]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[Lutte Familiale|LF]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Alouettes Mania III]] <br> {{dts|2004-07-15}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Montreal, Quebec]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Stade Percival-Molson]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 20,000<ref group=Note name=HalftimeShow-AMIII>This was part of a [[halftime show]] for [[2004 Montreal Alouettes season#Season schedule|a CFL game]] between the [[Montreal Alouettes]] vs. [[Calgary Stampeders]].</ref>
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Jacques Rougeau]] vs. [[Kamala (wrestler)|Kamala]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[Lutte Familiale|LF]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Alouettes Mania IV]] <br> {{dts|2005-07-08}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Montreal, Quebec]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Stade Percival-Molson]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 20,000<ref group=Note name=HalftimeShow-AMIV>This was part of a [[halftime show]] for [[2005 Montreal Alouettes season#Season schedule|a CFL game]] between the [[Montreal Alouettes]] vs. [[Edmonton Eskimos]].</ref>
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Jim Duggan]] vs. [[Kurrgan]] with special referee [[Jacques Rougeau]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| 
|-
| 1.
| {{center|[[Lutte 2000]]}}
| Pierre Carl Ouellet vs. Kurrgan <br> {{dts|2001-12-30}}
| [[Montreal, Quebec]]
| [[Centre Bell]]
| 5,500+<ref group=Note name=DisputedSellout-5500to12000>There are different reports on the attendance of the event with numbers ranging from 5,500 to as high as 10,000 and 12,000.</ref>
| [[Pierre Carl Ouellet]] vs. [[Kurrgan]] with special referee [[Sid Vicious]]
|-
| 2.
| {{center|—}}
| [[Stu Hart 50th Anniversary Show]] <br> {{dts|1995-12-15}}
| [[Calgary, Alberta]]
| [[Stampede Corral]]
| 4,600
| | Bret Hart (c) vs. The British Bulldog for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
| 
|-
| 3.
| {{center|[[Lutte Familiale|LF]]}}
| [[Jacques Rougeau's Super Wrestling Family Gala]] <br> {{dts|2008-12-27}}
| [[Verdun, Quebec]]
| [[Verdun Auditorium]]
| 4,300
| | [[Jacques Rougeau Jr.]] and J.J. Rougeau (c) vs. [[Eric Mastrocola]] and Taloche the Clown for the Johnny Rougeau Tag Team Championship
| 
|-
| 4.
| {{center|[[Lutte 2000]]}}
| Pierre Carl Ouellet vs. King Kong Bundy <br> {{dts|2000-12-29}}
| [[Verdun, Quebec]]
| [[Verdun Auditorium]]
| 4,000
| | [[Pierre Carl Ouellet]] vs. [[King Kong Bundy]]
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingTheTruth/dec30_rou-can.html |title=Rougeau mega-show covers the bases |last=Benner |first=Eric |date=December 30, 2000 |website=[[Canadian Online Explorer]] |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414034952/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingTheTruth/dec30_rou-can.html |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBiosO/ouelett_05jan01.html |title=Ouelett & Rougeau: Stronger together |last=Oliver |first=Greg |date=January 5, 2001 |website=[[Canadian Online Explorer]] |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010408201637/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBiosO/ouelett_05jan01.html |archive-date=April 8, 2001}}</ref>
|-
| 5.
| {{center|[[Championship Wrestling International|CWI]]}}
| [[Brawl at the Bush II]] <br> {{dts|2011-05-14}}
| [[Brantford, Ontario]]
| [[Brantford Civic Centre]]
| 3,600
| Haven, [[Lanny Poffo]], [[Brutus Beefcake]] and [[Bushwhacker Luke]] vs. Big Daddy Hammer, [[Virgil (wrestler)|Virgil]] and [[The Nasty Boys]] ([[Brian Knobbs]] and [[Jerry Sags]]) in a [[Survivor Series elimination match]]
| 
|-
|rowspan=2|6.
| {{center|[[Jacques Rougeau Promotions|JRP]]}}
| Richard Charland vs. Abdullah the Butcher <br> {{dts|1995-07-15}}
| [[Montreal, Quebec]]
| [[Verdun Auditorium]]
|rowspan=2|3,500
| | [[Richard Charland]] vs. [[Abdullah the Butcher]]
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=July 24, 1995 |title=Bash 1995 and AAA at the LA Sports Arena, Shamrock vs. Severn pro-wrestler shoot fight results, tons more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Jacques Rougeau Jr. ran his first show on 7/15 in Verdun, QUE drawing what was reported in the newspapers as 3,500 fans but there is no way of knowing a real figure. The highlight of the show was Abdullah the Butcher's main event win over Richard Charland.}}</ref>
|-
| {{center|[[Lutte Familiale|LF]]}}
| [[Jacques Rougeau's Super Wrestling Family Gala]] <br> {{dts|2009-12-27}}
| [[Montreal, Quebec]]
| [[Verdun Auditorium]]
| | [[Jacques Rougeau]] and Giant Martin vs. [[Kurrgan]] and [[Eric Mastrocola]]
| <ref name="SLAM-JAN2010">{{cite web |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2010/01/01/giants-battle-on-rougeau-christmas-shows/ |title=Giants battle on Rougeau Christmas shows |last=Leroux |first=Yves |date=January 1, 2010 |website=SlamWrestling.net |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
|-
|7.
|Gatineau Pro wrestling (GPW)
|Guerre civil 4
|[[Gatineau, Quebec]]
|[[Centre Slush Puppie]]
|3,242
|Thunder VS Darko (heavy weight championship)
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |8.
| {{center|[[Night of Thunder Promotions|NOTP]]}}
| Night of Thunder <br> {{dts|2000-02-12}}
| [[Winnipeg, Manitoba]]
| [[Winnipeg Convention Centre]]
| rowspan="2" |3,000
| | [[Chi Chi Cruz]] vs. [[Scott D'Amore]]
|
|-
| {{center|[[Lutte Familiale|LF]]}}
| [[Jacques Rougeau Jr. Retirement Tour]] (Day 1) <br> {{dts|2010-12-28}}
| [[Montréal, Quebec]]
| [[Verdun Auditorium]]
| | [[Jacques Rougeau Jr.]] and J.J. Rougeau vs. [[Eric Mastrocola]] and Sylver 
| 
|-
| 9.
| {{center|[[Lutte 2000]]}}
| [[L'Union Fait La Force IV]] <br> {{dts|1999-12-29}}
| [[Montreal, Quebec]]
| [[Centre Pierre Charbonneau]]
| 2,600
| | [[The Fabulous Rougeaus]] ([[Jacques Rougeau]] and [[Raymond Rougeau]]) vs. The Garvin Brothers ([[Ron Garvin]] and [[Jimmy Garvin]]) for the Johnny Rougeau Memorial Tag Team Championship
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/dec30_garvins.html |title=Garvins topple Rougeaus for belts |last=Oliver |first=Greg |date=December 30, 1999 |website=[[Canadian Online Explorer]] |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021117012724/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/dec30_garvins.html |archive-date=November 17, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=January 10, 2000 |title=NJPW Tokyo Dome reviewed, 1999 in revenue for promotions, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Jacques Rougeau's 12/29 show in Montreal drew about 2,600 fans in the 3,000-seat Pierre Charboneau Center, his biggest crowd to date. In the main event, Ron & Jimmy Garvin won the Johnny Rougeau tag team titles from Jacques & Raymond Rougeau.}}</ref>
|-
| 10.
| {{center|[[BSE Pro Wrestling|BSE]]}}
| [[Welcome to Mexico!]] (Day 1) <br> {{dts|2009-07-18}}
| [[Toronto, Ontario]]
| [[Harbourfront Centre]]
| 2,500
| | James Champagne, [[La Sombra (wrestler)|La Sombra]] and The KGB vs. [[Incógnito (wrestler)|Incógnito]], Xtremo and [[Blue Demon Jr.]]
| 
|-
|rowspan=2|11.
| {{center|[[Lutte 2000]]}}
| [[L'Union Fait la Force]] <br> {{dts|1999-02-14}}
| [[Montreal, Quebec]]
| [[Pierre-Charbonneau Arena]]
|rowspan=2|2,200
| | 14-man Battle Royal
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb15_benner.html |title=Indie show thrills Quebec crowd |last=Benner |first=Eric |date=February 15, 1999 |website=[[Canadian Online Explorer]] |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050210193356/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb15_benner.html |archive-date=February 10, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingTheTruth/99feb19.html |title=Rougeau puts heart into promoting |last=Benner |first=Eric |date=February 19, 1999 |website=[[Canadian Online Explorer]] |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050131015220/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingTheTruth/99feb19.html |archive-date=January 31, 2005}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey| {{center|[[Border City Wrestling|BCW]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[BCW Rumble on the River|Rumble on the River]] <br> {{dts|2000-07-15}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Windsor, Ontario]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Riverfront Festival Plaza]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]] (c) vs. Geza Kalman for the [[BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Championship]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey| <ref>{{cite news |last=Pearson |first=Craig |date=July 12, 2001 |title=Wrestlefest 2001; Border City Club's Bout Will Leave Someone Singing The Blues |page=45 |work=[[Windsor Star]] |location= |quote=We'll find out when the BCW finale explodes on the Civic Terrace from 2 to 4:15 p.m., once again part of the annual Bluesfest in the biggest local wrestling show of the year. Two years ago, the BCW's riverfront spectacle drew 1,600 people, while last year it attracted 2,200 - one of the biggest draws for independent pro wrestling in Canada.}}</ref>
|}

===Australia===
{{see also|List of professional wrestling organisations in Australia}}
Unlike the [[North America]]n or [[Japan]]ese products which have large, globally renowned organisations such as [[WWE]] and [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] with several hundred smaller [[professional wrestling promotion|promotions]], Australia only has approximately 30 smaller independent circuit promotions which exist in all but one of the states and territories, that being the [[Northern Territory]]. Tours from the North American product are regularly sold out in capital cities such as [[Melbourne]], [[Sydney]], [[Perth]] and [[Brisbane]].

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%;"
|+Top 10 most-attended shows
! No.
! Promoter
! Event
! Location
! Venue
! Attendance
! class=unsortable|Main Event(s)
! class=unsortable|
|-
| 1.
| {{center|[[Australian Wrestling Federation|AWF]]}}
| [[Wrestleriot]] <br> {{dts|1993-02-26}}
| [[Melbourne, Victoria]]
| [[Festival Hall (Melbourne)|Festival Hall]]
| 4,000
| | Jake Roberts vs. Jim Neidhart
| <ref name="WO1993-Mar08">{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=March 8, 1993 |title=Superbrawl, Ross done with WCW, two major lawsuits, tons more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Junkyard Dog, Don Muraco, Jushin Liger, Joe & Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, Jake Roberts and Jim Neidhart are in the midst of headlining an Australian tour. First night in Brisbane on 2/25 drew 2,200 and 2/26 in Melbourne drew about 4,000. Must be interesting because they are using Liger vs. Benoit, who have no name identity in Australia, as the semifinal, and Neidhart vs. Roberts on top. Can you imagine Roberts and Neidhart having to follow those two?}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=3|2.
| {{center|[[Australian Wrestling Federation|AWF]]}}
| [[Wrestleriot 2]] <br> {{dts|1993-06-18}}
| [[Sydney, New South Wales]]
| 
|rowspan=3|3,500
| | Road Warrior Hawk vs. Demolition Smash
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=June 28, 1993 |title=Trying to fix WCW, Hogan about to leave WWF after King of the Ring |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=6/18 Sydney, Australia (AWF - 3,500): [...] Road Warrior Hawk b Demolition Smash}}</ref>
|-

| {{center|[[Australian Wrestling Federation|AWF]]}}
| [[Wrestleriot 2]] <br> {{dts|1993-06-24}}
|rowspan=2|[[Melbourne, Victoria]]
| 
| | Nailz vs. Big Boss Man
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=July 5, 1993 |title=More WCW idiocy, Hogan leaves WWF, Roddy Piper returns, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=6/24 Melbourne, Australia (AWF - 3,500): [...] Big Bossman b Nailz}}</ref>
|-

| {{center|[[High Risk Championship Wrestling|HRCW]]}}
| ''[[High Risk Championship Wrestling TV]]'' <br> {{dts|1999-07-17}}
| [[Festival Hall (Melbourne)|Festival Hall]]
| | Nailz vs. Primo Carnera III
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=August 2, 1999 |title=Vince McMahon comments on Bret Hart, WWF Fully Loaded review, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=7/17 Melbourne, Australia (High Risk Championship Wrestling - 3,500): [...] Nailz DDQ Primo Carnera III}}</ref>
|-
| 3.
| {{center|[[World Series Wrestling|WSW]]}}
| [[WSW International Incident|International Incident]] (Day 1) <br> {{dts|2005-10-05}}
| [[Melbourne, Victoria]]
| 
| 2,500+<ref group=Note name=Disputed-2500to3000>There are different reports on the attendance of the event with numbers ranging from 2,500 to 3,000.</ref>
| | Jeff Jarrett vs. Rhino for the inaugural WSW Heavyweight Championship
| 
|-
| 4.
| {{center|[[Australian Wrestling Federation|AWF]]}}
| [[Wrestleriot]] <br> {{dts|1993-02-25}}
| [[Brisbane, Queensland]]
| 
| 2,200
| | Jake Roberts vs. Jim Neidhart
| <ref name="WO1993-Mar08"/>
|-
| 5.
| {{center|[[World Series Wrestling|WSW]]}}
| [[WSW International Assault Tour|International Assault Tour]] (Day 2) <br> {{dts|2005-10-07}}
| [[Sydney, New South Wales]]
| 
| 2,100
| | Rhino (c) vs. Jeff Jarrett for the WSW Heavyweight Championship
| 
|-
| 6.
| {{center|[[Australian Wrestling Federation|AWF]]}}
| [[Wrestleriot 2]] <br> {{dts|1993-06-26}}
| [[Adelaide, South Australia]]
| 
| 1,450
| | Big Bossman vs. Nailz
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=June 28, 1993 |title=Trying to fix WCW, Hogan about to leave WWF after King of the Ring |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=6/26 Adelaide, Australia (AWF - 1,450): [...] Big Bossman b Nailz **1/2}}</ref>
|-
| 7.
| {{center|[[World Series Wrestling|WSW]]}}
| [[WSW International Assault Tour|International Assault Tour]] (Day 3) <br> {{dts|2005-10-08}}
| [[Newcastle, New South Wales]]
| 
| 1,200+<ref group=Note name=Disputed-1200to2000>There are different reports on the attendance of the event with numbers ranging from 1,200 to 2,000.</ref>
| | Rhino (c) vs. Jeff Jarrett for the WSW Heavyweight Championship
| 
|-
|rowspan=2|8.
| {{center|[[Aussie All Pro|AAP]] / [[House of Hardcore|HOH]]}}
| [[House of Hardcore 28|HoH 28]] <br> {{dts|2017-06-17}}
| [[Sydney, New South Wales]]
| [[Sydney Showground Stadium|Sydney Showground]]
|rowspan=2|1,200
| | Tommy Dreamer and Billy Gunn vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
| 
|-
| {{center|[[Melbourne City Wrestling|MCW]]}}
| [[MCW 100]] <br> {{dts|2018-08-18}}
| [[Albert Park, Victoria]]
| [[Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre]]
| | Slex (c) vs. Will Ospreay for the MCW Intercommonwealth Championship
| 
|-
|rowspan=2|9.
| {{center|[[Outback Championship Wrestling|OCW]] / [[House of Hardcore|HOH]]}}
| [[House of Hardcore 15|HOH 15]] <br> {{dts|2016-06-24}}
|rowspan=2|[[East Burwood, Victoria]]
|rowspan=2|Whitehorse Club
|rowspan=2|1,100
| | Andy Phoenix vs. KrackerJak vs. Carlito vs. Tommy Dreamer in a Number 1 contenders Fatal 4-Way match for the OCW Heavyweight Championship 
| 
|-
| {{center|[[Aussie All Pro|AAP]] / [[House of Hardcore|HOH]]}}
| [[House of Hardcore 30|HOH 30]] <br> {{dts|2017-06-23}}
| | MVP vs. Jack Swagger vs. Tommy Dreamer in a Three-Way Dance
| 
|-
|rowspan=4|10.
| {{center|[[Australian Wrestling Federation|AWF]]}}
| [[Wrestleriot]] <br> {{dts|1993-03-02}}
| [[Adelaide, South Australia]]
| 
|rowspan=4|1,000
| | Jake Roberts vs. Jim Neidhart
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=March 15, 1993 |title=Japan Super Show, Hogan, Flair and Brutus return, ratings, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=3/2 Adelaide, Australia (AWF - 1,000): [...] Jake Roberts b Jim Neidhart *}}</ref>
|-

| {{center|[[High Risk Championship Wrestling|HRCW]]}}
| Nailz vs. High Risk Warrior <br> {{dts|1999-07-23}}
| [[Adelaide, South Australia]]
| 
| | Nailz vs. High Risk Warrior
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=August 2, 1999 |title=Vince McMahon comments on Bret Hart, WWF Fully Loaded review, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=7/23 Adelaide, Australia (High Risk Championship Wrestling - 1,000): [...] High Risk Warrior b Nailz, Pit Bulls b DOA-DQ}}</ref>
|-

| {{center|[[Australasian Wrestling Federation|AWF]]}}
| [[Psycho Slam Tour]] (Day 4) <br> {{dts|1999-08-30}}
| [[Melbourne, Victoria]]
| Camberwell Civic Centre
| 
| Sabu vs. Chris Candido
| 
|-
| {{center|[[Australasian Wrestling Federation|AWF]]}}
| [[Supanova Sidney]] (Day 1) <br> {{dts|2009-06-27}}
| [[Sydney, New South Wales]]
| [[Acer Arena]]
| | Spaceboy Dacey vs. Zander Bathory
| 
|}

===Mexico===
{{see also|List of professional wrestling promotions in Mexico}}
[[Lucha libre]] has many more independent wrestlers in proportion to the rest of North America, because of the weight classes prevalent in the Mexican league system as well as its emphasis on multiple person tag matches; just about anyone with ability can emerge from an independent promotion into either [[Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide|AAA]] or [[Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre]] and be a champion there. Independent Mexican wrestlers may use a lot of gimmicks, including some that may be based on [[copyright]]ed characters from American television shows, such as ''[[Thundercats]]'' and ''[[X-Men]]''. (These [[Gimmick (professional wrestling)|gimmicks]] are often changed if the wrestler playing them makes it into AAA or CMLL; the most prominent example of non-compliance with this method is midget wrestler Chucky from AAA, whose gimmick is based on the ''[[Child's Play (franchise)|Child's Play]]'' movies.)

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%;"
|+Top 10 most-attended shows
! No.
! Promoter
! Event
! Location
! Venue
! Attendance
! class=unsortable|Main Event(s)
! class=unsortable|
|-
| 1.
| {{center|[[Toryumon (Último Dragón)|Toryumon Mexico]]}}
| [[DragonMania III]] <br> {{dts|2008-05-11}}
| [[Mexico City, Mexico]]
| [[Arena Mexico]]
| 17,000
| | Ultimo Dragon, Mistico and Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Ultimo Guerrero, Atlantis and Rene Dupree
| 
|-
| 2.
| {{center|[[Toryumon (Último Dragón)|Toryumon Mexico]]}}
| [[DragonMania II]] <br> {{dts|2007-05-13}}
| [[Mexico City, Mexico]]
| [[Arena Mexico]]
| 16,800
| | Último Dragón, Mil Máscaras, Marco Corleone, and Kazuchika Okada vs. Yoshihiro Takayama, Minoru Suzuki, Último Guerrero and SUWA
| 
|-
| 3.
| {{center|[[Lucha Libre Elite|LLE]]}}
| [[ALL Elite]] <br> {{dts|2015-02-08}}
| [[Mexico City, Mexico]]
| [[Arena Mexico]]
| 15,000
| | Dr. Wagner Jr. and La Sombra vs. L.A. Par-K and Volador Jr.
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=February 16, 2015 |title=Possible WrestleMania main event changes, Genichiro Tenryu retires, more UFC drug testing woes, future of NXT, CMLL at a crossroads, and more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=After the return of L.A. Park, Dr. Wagner Jr. and Fuerza Guerrera to Arena Mexico on 2/8 drew more than 15,000, more than five times the normal Sunday crowd [...] An outside promotion, All Elite, booked Arena Mexico using those three stars, and drew the biggest crowd in the arena since the Anniversary show.}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=3|4.
| {{center|[[Todo X el Todo|TXT]]}}
| [[Torneo Todo X El Todo]] <br> {{dts|2007-12-08}}
| [[Naucalpan, Mexico]]
| [[El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos]]
|rowspan=3|12,000
| | 16-man Torneo Todo X El Todo tournament
| 
|-
| {{center|[[Toryumon (Último Dragón)|Toryumon Mexico]]}}
| [[DragonMania VIII]] <br> {{dts|2013-06-15}}
| [[Mexico City, Mexico]]
| [[Arena Mexico]]
| | Último Dragón, Atlantis and Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs. Último Guerrero, Hajime Ohara and Mike Knox
| 
|-
| {{center|[[Lucha Libre Elite|LLE]]}}
| <br> {{dts|2015-12-20}}
| [[Mexico City, Mexico]]
| [[Arena Mexico]]
| | Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Octagón and Atlantis vs. Los Hermanos Dinamita (Universo Dos Mil, Cien Caras, Máscara Año Dos Mil)
| 
|-
| 5.
| {{center|—}}
| [[Lucha de Leyendas]] <br> {{dts|2013-06-23}}
| [[Mérida, Mexico]]
| [[El Poliforo Zamná]]
| 11,500
| | El Hijo del Santo vs. Blue Demon Jr.
| 
|-
| 6.
| {{center|[[Lucha Libre VIP|LL-VIP]]}}
| <br> {{dts|2008-07-05}}
| [[Monterrey, Nuevo Leon]]
| [[La Arena Monterrey]]
| 10,500+<ref group=Note name=Disputed-10500to11000>There are different reports on the attendance of the event with numbers ranging from 10,500 to 11,000.</ref>
| | Atlantis vs. Blue Panther vs. Místico vs. Último Guerrero vs. Villano V vs. Tigre Universitario in a 6-way Mask vs. Mask match
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=July 14, 2008 |title=Forrest beats Quinton, rule changes UFC ignores, Ring of Hell |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=On 7/5 at Arena Monterrey, they drew 10,500 fans for an elimination match where the loser would get unmasked with Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero, Villano V, Atlantis, Blue Panther and Tigre Universitario}}</ref>
|-
| 7.
| {{center|[[Toryumon (Último Dragón)|Toryumon Mexico]]}}
| [[DragonMania V]] <br> {{dts|2010-05-29}}
| [[Mexico City, Mexico]]
| [[Arena Mexico]]
| 10,000+<ref group=Note name=Disputed-10to13>There are different reports on the attendance of the event with numbers ranging from 10,000 to 13,000.</ref>
| | Mil Máscaras, Tatsumi Fujinami, Último Dragón and Brazo de Plata vs. Rey Bucanero, Chuck Palumbo, Atlantis and Arkángel de la Muerte
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=June 7, 2010 |title=UFC 114 in-depth, major change could affect TV, WWE injuries, NXT bios |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Ultimo Dragon’s annual DragonMania show took place on 5/29 at Arena Mexico, a TV taping for Japan. The show drew more than 10,000 fans, although tickets were cheap and a lot of people got in free. [...] The main event was the babyface legendary quartet of Mil Mascaras (who turns 71 in July) & Tatsumi Fujinami (56) & Ultimo Dragon (43) & Brazo de Plata (47) beating Chuck Palumbo (in Mexico for one match) & Rey Bucanero & Atlantis & Arkangel de la Muerte.}}</ref>
|-

| 8.
| {{center|[[Toryumon (Último Dragón)|Toryumon Mexico]]}}
| [[DragonMania XI]] <br> {{dts|2016-05-28}}
| [[Mexico City, Mexico]]
| [[Arena Mexico]]
| 10,000<ref group=Note name=Papered>Event is described as "[[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#P|heavily papered]]".</ref>
| | Ultimo Dragon, Octagon and Caristico vs. Fuerza Guerrera, Tiger Ali and Mephisto
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=June 6, 2016 |title=More details on WWE brand split, Jimmy Snuka found incompetent, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=This was his annual DragonMania show taped for later broadcast on Japanese television. They heavily papered the show and had more than 10,000 fans attending with All Japan’s Jun Akiyama and Yohei Nakajima being the major guests. [...] The main event was scheduled as Dragon & Octagon & Caristico over Fuerza Guerrera & Tiger Ali & Ultimo Guerrero via DQ for interference of Bucanero, and then Corleone made the save. They restarted as Dragon & Octagon & Caristico & Corleone beating Guerrera & Mephisto & Bucanero & Ali after U.K. wrestlers Saime Sahin and Jason LaRusso also interfered.}}</ref>
|-
| 9.
| {{center|[[Toryumon (Último Dragón)|Toryumon Mexico]]}}
| [[DragonManía]] <br> {{dts|2005-05-14}}
| [[Mexico City, Mexico]]
| [[Arena Mexico]]
| 9,914
| | Último Dragón, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and Tigre Enmascarado vs. Los Guerreros del Infierno (Rey Bucanero, Tarzan Boy and Último Guerrero) 
| 
|-
| 10.
| {{center|[[The Crash Lucha Libre|The Crash]]}}
| [[The Crash in San Luis Potosí]] <br> {{dts|2017-08-10}}
| [[San Luis Potosí City, San Luis Potosí]]
| [[El Domo de San Luis]]
| 9,000
| | Rey Misterio Jr., Blue Demon Jr. and Rey Fénix vs. La Máscara, M-ximo and Rey Escorpión
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=August 21, 2017 |title=Ric Flair in critical condition in the hospital, G1 Climax finals, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=The Crash ran its most successful event to date on 8/10 at the 11,000-seat Domo in San Luis Potosi, drawing 9,000 fans, the biggest crowd in company history, notable because it was a Thursday night show with no local television. They used Rey Mysterio Jr. & Blue Demon Jr. & Rey Fenix over La Mascara & M-ximo & Rey Escorpion in the main event}}</ref>
|}

===Japan===
{{see also|List of professional wrestling promotions in Japan}}
Until 1984, no independent [[puroresu]] promotion per se existed in Japan; potential talent went directly into the training dojos of either [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] or [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]]. ([[International Wrestling Enterprise]] also was a third-party promotion until 1981.) The advent of the [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|Japanese Universal Wrestling Federation]] offered a long-sought third alternative.

From 1986 to 1988 the Japanese system went back to the two-promotion system, but then the UWF was reformed and another promotion, Pioneer Senshi, was started. Because of Japanese societal [[mores]] which implied that a wrestler was a lifelong employee of a company and thus identified with it wherever he went, neither AJPW nor NJPW made an effort to acquire wrestlers trained in other promotions; wrestlers from the major promotions who left, such as [[Genichiro Tenryu]], [[Gran Hamada]], [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]], [[Akira Maeda]], [[Atsushi Onita]], and [[Nobuhiko Takada]] had to start their own independent promotions in order to keep themselves in the limelight ([[Wrestling Association "R"]], [[Universal Lucha Libre]], [[Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi]], [[Fighting Network Rings]], [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling]], and [[Hustle (professional wrestling)|Hustle]] respectively) .

As the 1990s ended, though, things began to change. Independent promotions began gaining more prominence as they were featured in major specialized media such as ''Shukan Puroresu'' and ''Shukan Gong'' magazines. With the death of [[Giant Baba]] and retirement of [[Antonio Inoki]], which effectively broke their control over the promotions they founded, the major promotions began looking to the smaller promotions for talent.

In 2000, the first major signing from an independent, [[Minoru Tanaka (wrestler)|Minoru Tanaka]] by NJPW from [[BattlARTS]], took place; soon after NJPW stocked the [[cruiserweight (professional wrestling)|junior heavyweight division]] with independent talent such as [[Masayuki Naruse]], [[Tiger Mask IV|Tiger Mask]], [[Keiji Takayama|Gedo]], and [[Shoji Akiyoshi|Jado]]. On the same year, following the [[Pro Wrestling Noah]] split, AJPW was forced to fill its ranks with independent talent; [[Nobutaka Araya]], [[Shigeo Okumura]] and [[Mitsuya Nagai]] signed up (Araya is the only one who remains, but other signings since then have been [[Kaz Hayashi]], [[Tomoaki Honma]], [[Hideki Hosaka]], and [[Ryuji Hijikata]].)

Noah admitted one wrestler from the independents, [[Daisuke Ikeda]], to its ranks as well (Ikeda has since left, but other wrestlers from the independents that were signed included [[Akitoshi Saito]], [[Takahiro Suwa]], and [[Taiji Ishimori]]). Although AJPW, NJPW, and Noah remain committed to their dojos, the reliance on independents is growing as obscure talent is recognized for its ability.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%;"
|+Top 10 most-attended shows
! No.
! Promoter
! Event
! Location
! Venue
! Attendance
! class=unsortable|Main Event(s)
! class=unsortable|
|-
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|—}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey|[[Tokyo Pro Wrestling#New Tokyo Pro Wrestling|TPW]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|[[Tokyo Pro Wrestling in Atami]] <br> {{dts|1996-07-23}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey|[[Atami, Shizuoka]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|Sun Beach
|bgcolor=lightgrey|65,000
|bgcolor=lightgrey|[[Abdullah the Butcher]] and [[Daikokubo Benkei]] vs. [[Kishin Kawabata]] and [[Takashi Ishikawa]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|<ref name="TPW-1996">{{cite magazine |last1=Meltzer |first1=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |last2=Alvarez |first2=Bryan |author-link2=Bryan Alvarez |date=August 5, 1996 |title=Major changes to WWF syndication, Herb Abrams dies, Kobashi wins Triple Crown for the first time, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |quote=Several of the groups this past week have run free shows as part of fireworks festivals or country fair type of events. The biggest was Tokyo Pro's show on 7/23 at Atami Sun Beach which was reported as being viewed by more than 65,000 fans.}}</ref>
|-
| 1.
| [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling|FMW]] 
| [[FMW 6th Anniversary Show]] <br> {{dts|1995-05-05}}
| rowspan=2|[[Kawasaki, Kanagawa]]
| rowspan=2|[[Kawasaki Stadium]]
| 58,250
| [[Atsushi Onita]] (c) vs. [[Hayabusa (wrestler)|Hayabusa]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Barbed Wire Massacre|No Rope Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch]] for the [[FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship]]
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=May 15, 1995 |title=WCW taping policy update, real-life pro-wrestling shoot fight booked for UFC, an early "too many shows" story, tons more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |quote=Onita's much-ballyhooed final match on 5/5 at Kawasaki Baseball Stadium drew a sellout of approximately 50,000 fans (announced at 58,250) which would be a gate in the $2.5 million range and tons more in merchandise}}</ref>
|-
| 2.
| [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling|FMW]]
| [[FMW 5th Anniversary Show]] <br> {{dts|1994-05-05}}
| 52,000
| | [[Atsushi Onita]] vs. [[Genichiro Tenryu]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Barbed Wire Massacre|No Rope Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch]]
|<ref name="PWInsider-FMW">{{cite web |url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/24244/this-day-in-history-the-final-wwf-show-fmw-anniversary-a-wwe-star-debuts-that-we-still-havent-seen-wrestle-on-tv-and-more.html?p=1 |title=THIS DAY IN HISTORY: THE FINAL WWF SHOW, FMW ANNIVERSARY, A WWE STAR DEBUTS THAT WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN WRESTLE ON TV AND MORE |last=Woodward |first=Buck |date=May 5, 2007 |website=PWInsider.com }}</ref>
|-
| 3.
| [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling|FMW]]
| [[FMW tournaments#Barbed Wire Deathmatch Tournament|Barbed Wire Deathmatch Tournament]] <br> {{dts|1991-08-17}}
| rowspan=3|[[Tokyo]], Japan
| [[Torisu Stadium]]
| 48,221
| | [[Atsushi Onita]] vs. [[Sambo Asako]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Barbed Wire Massacre|no rope barbed wire]] [[Professional wrestling match types#Hardcore-based variations|death match]] tournament final
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadspin.com/japanese-wrestlings-bomb-loving-cult-hero-is-coming-to-1797498762 |title=Japanese Wrestling's Bomb-Loving Cult Hero Is Coming To New Jersey |last=Bixenspan |first=David |date=August 3, 2017 |website=[[Deadspin.com]] }}</ref>
|-
| 4.
| [[UWF International|UWFi]]
| [[UWFi Pro Wrestling World Championship: Takada vs. Vader]] <br> {{dts|1993-12-05}}
| [[Meiji Jingu Stadium]]
| 46,168
| | [[Nobuhiko Takada]] (c) vs. [[Super Vader]] for the [[UWFI World Heavyweight Championship]]
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/2018/10/5/17940754/the-final-fall-of-the-uwf |title=The Final Fall of the UW |last=Rohan |first=Jim |date=October 5, 2018 |website=CagesideSeats.com }}</ref>
|-
| 5.
| [[All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling|AJW]]
| [[Big Egg Wrestling Universe|Super Woman Great War: Big Egg Wrestling Universe]] <br> {{dts|1994-11-20}}
| [[Tokyo Dome]]
| 42,500
| | [[Akira Hokuto]] vs. [[Aja Kong]] in the V*TOP Woman Tournament final
|<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=November 28, 1994 |title=Akira Hokuto and Big Egg Wrestling Universe, first Clash post-Flair retirement, ECW vs. NWA war, tons more! |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |quote=The figures were more than just record-breaking, they were astounding. It was more than just the 42,500 fans, which more than doubled the all-time record for a woman's wrestling show that held up for 53 years (19,000 fans for a match between Mildred Burke and Elvira Snodgrass in 1941 in Louisville).}}</ref>
|-
| 6.
| [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling|FMW]]
| [[FMW 4th Anniversary Show]] <br> {{dts|1993-05-05}}
| [[Kawasaki, Kanagawa]]
| [[Kawasaki Stadium]]
| 41,000
| | [[Atsushi Onita]] vs. [[Terry Funk]] in a No Ropes Exploding Barbed Wire Timebomb Death match
| <ref name="PWInsider-FMW"/>
|-
| 7.
| [[Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi|PWFG]]
| [[Tokyo Dome Show]] <br> {{dts|1992-10-04}}
| rowspan=2|[[Tokyo]], Japan
| rowspan=2|[[Tokyo Dome]]
| 40,800
| | [[Masakatsu Funaki]] vs. [[Maurice Smith (kickboxer)|Maurice Smith]]
|<ref>{{cite book |last=Wall |first=Jeremy |date=2005 |title=UFC's Ultimate Warriors: The Top 10 |location=Toronto |publisher=ECW Press |page=46 |isbn=1550226916}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2|8.
| [[Super World of Sports|SWS]] / [[World Wrestling Federation|WWF]]
| [[Super World of Sports#Working relationship with the WWF|SuperWrestle]] <br /> {{dts|1991-12-12}}
|rowspan=2|40,000
| | [[Genichiro Tenryu]] vs. [[Hulk Hogan]]
| <ref name="Cawthon-1991">{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/91.htm |title=Yearly Results: 1991 |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |date= |website=TheHistoryOfWWE.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
|-
| [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling|MPW]]
| [[Sendai Television Broadcasting Festival: Happy!! Juni*Land]] (Day 2) <br> {{dts|2006-11-05}}
| rowspan=2|[[Sendai, Miyagi]]
| rowspan=2|[[Sendai West Park Open Space]]
| | [[Jinsei Shinzaki]] and [[Shinjitsu Nohashi]] vs. [[Yoshitsune (wrestler)|Yoshitsune]] and [[Rasse (wrestler)|Rasse]]
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.purolove.com/misc/mpro/results/results06.php |title=Michinoku Pro-Wrestling Results: 2006 |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Purolove.com }}</ref>
|-
| 9.
| [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling|MPW]]
| [[Sendai Television Broadcasting Festival: Happy!! Juni*Land]] (Day 1) <br> {{dts|2006-11-04}}
| 37,500
| | Jinsei Shinzaki and Shinjitsu Nohashi vs. The Great Sasuke and Yoshitsune
| 
|-
| 10.
| [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling|FMW]]
| [[FMW Summer Spectacular|Summer Spectacular]] <br> {{dts|1993-08-22}}
| [[Nishinomiya, Hyogo]]
| [[Hankyu Nishinomiya Stadium]]
| 36,223
| | Atsushi Onita vs. Mr. Pogo in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Exploding Cage Deathmatch for the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship
| 
|}

===United Kingdom===
{{see also|Professional wrestling promotions in the United Kingdom}}
For most of the years of [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s coverage of British Wrestling, the dominant promoter in the United Kingdom was the [[Joint Promotions]] cartel, which was originally modelled on the NWA and later amalgamated into a single company. Nonetheless, throughout this period, untelevised alternative promotions flourished with at least one significant competitor to Joint for live shows.

Initially the main rival was the former dominant promotion in the territory, [[Atholl Oakley]]'s BWA. By the time of its demise, wrestler/promoter Paul Lincoln had established himself as a major promoter with shows featuring himself as headline heel. In 1958, when [[Bert Assirati]] was stripped of the [[British Heavyweight Championship]], Lincoln formed the BWF alliance of promoters to support Assirati's claim, later recognising [[Shirley Crabtree]] as champion. Lincoln's BWF was eventually bought out into Joint in 1970.

Welsh promoter [[Orig Williams]] also used the BWF name, promoting from the late 1960s up until the early 2000s and then sporadically until his death in 2009. From 1982 to 1995, Williams had a Welsh language TV wrestling show "Reslo" on S4C. Brian Dixon, a referee for Williams, set up his own company Wrestling Enterprises of [[Birkenhead]] later renamed [[All Star Wrestling]] {{circa|1984}}. An alliance with promoter and former top star [[Jackie Pallo]] failed to prevent Joint gaining a five-year extension on its TV wrestling monopoly from January 1982 to December 1986.

However, by the mid-1980s Dixon had won over many wrestlers and fans from Joint who were tired of the [[Shirley Crabtree|Big Daddy]]-orientated direction of Joint. Eventually this culminated in All Star gaining a TV show on satellite channel [[Screensport]] and later, a slice of ITV's coverage from 1987 until the end of ITV wrestling in 1988. By the end of this period, All Star had effectively replaced Joint (by now owned by [[Max Crabtree]], brother of Shirley) as the dominant promotion in the UK.

Joint, renamed Ring Wrestling Stars in 1991, dwindled down before closing with Crabtree's retirement in 1995, All Star has continued to be the dominant non-import live promotion in the UK up to the present day. Its principal competitors since that time have been Scott Conway's TWA, John Freemantle's Premier Promotions, RBW and LDN Wrestling. Since the 1990s there have also been numerous American-style "New School" promotions.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%;"
|+Top 10 most-attended shows
! No.
! Promoter
! Event
! Location
! Venue
! Attendance
! class=unsortable|Main Event(s)
! class=unsortable|
|-
| 1.
| {{center|[[Insane Championship Wrestling|ICW]]}}
| [[ICW Fear & Loathing IX|Fear & Loathing IX]] <br> {{dts|2016-11-20}}
| [[Glasgow, Scotland]]
| [[The SSE Hydro]]
| 6,193
| | Joe Coffey vs. Kurt Angle
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=November 28, 2016 |title=WWE Survivor Series review, Goldbergagrees to more matches, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Insane Championship Wrestling of Glasgow, Scotland ran the biggest show in its history, a card they had promoted for one year on 11/20 at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow. They drew 6,193 fans paid, a number probably hurt because WWE ran two television tapings in the same building, a Raw that sold out with 11,000 and a Smackdown that did 10,800, just two weeks earlier. It was the largest crowd for a U.K. based promotion since the Big Daddy vs. Giant Haystacks match at Wembley Arena in 1981. It was larger than any TNA crowd in the U.K. since 2012 (when they drew 7,000 at Wembley) and TNA has had weekly television in the market since 2007 while ICW has no television in the U.K. Last year they ran at the smaller SECC Arena and sold it out with just under 4,000.}}</ref>
|-
| 2.
| {{center|[[Progress Wrestling|PROGRESS]]}}
| [[PROGRESS Chapter 76: Hello Wembley!]] <br> {{dts|2018-09-30}}
| [[London, England]]
| [[Wembley Arena|SSE Wembley Arena]]
| 4,750
| | WALTER (c) vs. Tyler Bate for the PROGRESS World Championship
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=October 8, 2018 |title=Massive UFC 229 expectations, plus tons of news |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Progress Wrestling ran its biggest show in its history, “Hello Wembley,” on 9/30 at Wembley Arena, drawing 4,750 fans, the largest crowd for a U.K.-based promotion in England since the 1981 Big Daddy vs. Giant Haystacks match that drew 7,000 fans.}}</ref>
|-
| 3.
| {{center|[[Insane Championship Wrestling|ICW]]}}
| [[Fear & Loathing X]] <br> {{dts|2017-11-19}}
| [[Glasgow, Scotland]]
| [[The SSE Hydro]]
| 4,500
| | Joe Coffey (c-WHC) vs. BT Gunn (c-ZGC) in a Champion vs. Champion match for the ICW World Heavyweight Championship and ICW Zero G Championship
| 
|-
| 4.
| {{center|[[Revolution Pro Wrestling|RevPro]]}}
| [[RevPro 11th Anniversary Show]] <br> {{dts|2023-08-26}}
| [[London, England]]
| [[Copper Box Arena]]
| 4,072
| | [[Will Ospreay]] vs. [[Shingo Takagi]]
| 
|-
|rowspan=2|5.
|bgcolor=lightgrey|{{center|[[Preston City Wrestling|PCW]]}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey|[[PCW Tribute to the Troops|Tribute to the Troops]] <br> {{dts|2014-06-28}}
|bgcolor=lightgrey|[[Preston, Lancashire|Preston, England]]
|bgcolor=lightgrey|Harris Flights
|rowspan=2|4,000 
|bgcolor=lightgrey|Joey Hayes (c) vs. Carlito for the PCW Heavyweight Championship
|bgcolor=lightgrey|<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=July 6, 2014 |title=SummerSlam card, fall WWE direction, Jericho's return notes, What will take for Rock to return next year, PEDs in MMA, wrestling, reality of drug testing, TNA in New York and explaining TNA/Japan deal |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Preston City Wrestling in England ran an outdoor show on 6/28 as part of Armed Forces day as a Tribute to the Troops show. It was a free show that drew just under 4,000 fans. Both the Mayor of Preston and his wife attended and were in the front row. Carlito and Chris Masters were the Americans brought in as guest stars.}}</ref>
|-
| {{center|[[Insane Championship Wrestling|ICW]]}}
| [[Fear & Loathing VIII]] <br> {{dts|2015-11-15}}
| [[Glasgow, Scotland]]
| [[Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre]]
| | Drew Galloway (c) vs. Grado for the ICW World Heavyweight Championship
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=November 23, 2015 |title=Holm defeats Rousey, Nick Bockwinkel passes away, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=The Insane Championship Wrestling show on 11/15 at the SECC in Glasgow, Scotland, drew a sellout of 4,000 fans, which as noted, was the biggest crowd for a U.K. based promotion since 1982. ICW has been packing 1,500 seat buildings regularly, particularly after a BBC piece made a cult hero out of Grado.}}</ref>
|-
| 6.
| {{center|[[The Wrestling Channel|TWC]] / [[Frontier Wrestling Alliance|FWA]]}}
| [[International Showdown]] <br> {{dts|2005-03-19}}
| [[Coventry, England]]
| [[Coventry Skydome]]
| 3,400
| | Christopher Daniels (c) vs. AJ Styles for the TNA X-Division Championship
| 
|-
| 7.
| {{center|[[Revolution Pro Wrestling|RevPro]] / [[New Japan Pro Wrestling|NJPW]]}}
| [[Strong Style Evolved UK]] (Day 2) <br> {{dts|2008-07-01}}
| [[Manchester, England]]
| [[Silver Blades Altrincham]]
| 3,000
| | Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki for the RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship
| 
|-
| 8.
| {{center|[[Revolution Pro Wrestling|RevPro]] / [[New Japan Pro Wrestling|NJPW]]}}
| [[Strong Style Evolved UK]] (Day 1) <br> {{dts|2018-06-30}}
| [[Milton Keynes, England]]
| [[Planet Ice Milton Keynes]]
| 2,546
| | Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr.) (c) vs. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii) for the RevPro Undisputed British Tag Team Championship
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=July 9, 2018 |title=Death of Matt Cappotelli |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=The first show of the U.K. bouts with Revolution Pro was 6/30 in Milton Keynes, before a sellout of 2,546 fans. [...] Main event saw Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii to retain the British tag team titles.}}</ref>
|-
| 9.
| {{center|[[WhatCulture Pro Wrestling|WCPW]]}}
| [[True Legacy]] <br> {{dts|2016-10-08}}
| [[Manchester, England]]
| [[Silver Blades Altrincham]]
| 2,500+<ref group=Note name=Disputed-2500to2600>There are different reports on the attendance of True Legacy with numbers ranging from 2,500 to 2,600.</ref>
| | Kurt Angle vs. Cody Rhodes
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=October 17, 2016 |title=Goldberg returning to face Brock Lesnar, tons more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=The WCPW show on 10/8 in Manchester, on the same night as the UFC show (although this ended long before UFC started) drew 2,500 for a show headlined by Kurt Angle vs. Cody Rhodes. The crowd was very hot for the short main event that ended with Angle winning via ankle lock.}}</ref>
|-
| 10.
| {{center|[[Progress Wrestling|PROGRESS]]}}
| [[PROGRESS Chapter 36: We're Gonna Need A Bigger Room... Again]] <br> {{dts|2016-09-25}}
| [[London, England]]
| [[O2 Academy Brixton]]
| 2,400
| | Marty Scurll (c) vs. Mark Haskins vs. Tommy End in a Three-Way Dance for the PROGRESS World Championship
| <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=October 3, 2016 |title=TNA at a crossroads, WWE Clash of Champions review, more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=Campbell, California |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Progress Wrestling ran its biggest event to date on 9/25, drawing 2,400 fans to the Brixton Academy in London. We’re told this was the biggest crowd for a U.K. promotion in England since 1981.}}</ref>
|}