Professional wrestler Matt Cardona, who rebranded himself as the "Indy God" after his 2020 WWE release, has named three independent wrestling stars fans should follow. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Cardona identified Shotzi, Richard Holliday, and Ben Bishop as wrestlers currently making significant impacts on the independent circuit.
Cardona, who has cultivated his own brand and success outside of major promotions like WWE and AEW, said these wrestlers have adopted a similar approach to self-promotion and marketing. "If you aren’t doing whatever you can to succeed, like, if you don’t treat yourself like a big deal, I don’t think anyone else will," Cardona stated.
Shotzi, who previously performed in WWE, is noted by Cardona for her dedication and effort. "She’s somebody who cares," he said. "I think effort is very, very important not just in independent wrestling but professional wrestling in general." Shotzi currently holds the Major League Wrestling (MLW) women's world championship and has competed in various promotions globally.
Richard Holliday is also recognized for his active social media presence, a strategy Cardona emphasizes for wrestlers not signed to major companies. "When you’re not in WWE, you can’t take a day off of being on your phone," Cardona explained, drawing a parallel to his own past experiences. "If I don’t post about myself, no one is going to post about me." Holliday has built a substantial following online, contributing to his profile in the sport.
Ben Bishop rounds out Cardona's list of emerging talents. Like Holliday, Bishop has leveraged social media to enhance his visibility. Both Holliday and Bishop have gained significant followings on social media platforms, bolstering their presence in professional wrestling.
Cardona offered advice to aspiring independent wrestlers, emphasizing persistence. "Everyone has a different path. Everybody has a different journey but if you don’t quit … if you don’t quit, you might make it. If you quit, you definitely won’t. It’s as simple as that," he said.