Tag: GCW

Shayna Baszler to compete in Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X on April 4

Shayna Baszler on the Bloodsport X card could mark a drastic change in WWE policy.

It’s not just WWE that sets up shop in the WrestleMania host city in early April each year. Most of the pro wrestling world also descends upon the same location, taking advantage of the fact that so many fans are in one place. And while WWE usually tends to ignore the indie shows that swirl around Mania week, that’s changing in a big way this year thanks to today’s announcement that Shayna Baszler will compete in Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X.

Fightful Select (subscription required) first reported Friday afternoon that “multiple WWE talent will be competing at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport” β€” a major break in tradition not just for WrestleMania week, but in WWE policy in general. Superstars are rarely if ever permitted to work elsewhere.

Shortly after that report, Barnett himself confirmed that Baszler would be part of the show on April 4.

Baszler is a natural choice for the event. Not only was she trained by Barnett, but her MMA background is tailor made for Bloodsport, which is positioned as a hybrid between MMA and pro wrestling and features hard-hitting but technical matches.

As well, with the Fightful report suggesting more than just Baszler will be involved, it raises the question of whether WWE will allow more talent to compete in other promotions from time to time.

Bloodsport X is also part of the GCW Collective, a group of shows held throughout WrestleMania weekend in Philadelphia that includes Defy, DDT Pro-Wrestling, Progress, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling and other promotions. Tickets for Bloodsport X are sold out, but limited General Admission ticket packages good for admission to all Collective shows are still available at the time of this post.

WrestleMania events 2023: Full list of all the wrestling in L.A. during WrestleMania week

Get the when, where and how much for all the WrestleMania week wrestling shows in Los Angeles.

Prior to the pandemic, WrestleMania week had a history of becoming the epicenter of the entire pro wrestling universe. Promotions from all over the country, and indeed, the world, would converge on the host city, offering fans a smorgasbord of options leading up to WWE’s biggest show.

Things have been trending back in that direction, and it’s safe to say that for WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, that same feel has fully returned. Starting several days before the Showcase of the Immortals, there is pro wrestling of all kinds running straight through the weekend β€” and even into Monday night, counting the always intriguing Raw After WrestleMania.

If you’re heading to L.A. or just want to keep tabs on everything going down during WrestleMania week, we’re here to help. We’ve gathered up all the wrestling shows by day, along with links to tickets where there’s still some left.

Scroll on down and find the stuff that interests you most, and we hope to run into you sometime during WrestleMania week.

(All times PT)