JNPO: Inside the rise of Seattle's DEFY Wrestling
By F4W Staff | @WONF4W | Mar 25, 2022 3:45 pmAs always, this is a free show. Just click below to listen.
In January 2017, a new indie promotion launched in Seattle, Washington, headlined by Cody Rhodes vs. Shane Strickland competing for the now-defunct GFW NexGen Championship.
In current day, DEFY Wrestling just celebrated their fifth anniversary, has a rabid and loyal fanbase, their own on-demand video service, and has helped further along the careers of Strickland, Darby Allin and prodigy Nick Wayne.
In this look at the history and future of the promotion, co-owner and co-founder Matt Farmer talks with me about everything DEFY in a fascinating look at how an indie promotion has fought to make it in a region that needed a modern wrestling infusion.
In our talk, we discuss Allin, Strickland, the rise of Wayne and the night he was given his AEW contract, balancing cards with local vs. fly-in talent, and plenty more.
If you're in the Portland, Oregon, area Saturday, check out their Saturday, March 26th event headlined by DEFY Interim World Champion Christopher Daniels, 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Nick Wayne, a no DQ match between Joey Janela and Schaff, and more.
Click below to listen.
