Pro Wrestling Illustrated recently released their 35th annual PWI 500 magazine. Every year the list format prompts debates about rankings, but most importantly it introduces readers of the publication to wrestlers they’ve never heard of. The PWI 500 is how I first heard of wrestlers such as Reckless Youth, Sabu, Joe Rules, Twiggy Ramirez and countless others that weren’t readily available to see on national television.
However, in 2025 it’s increasingly easier to watch full events or matches of independent wrestling on YouTube and it’s never ending with posts being uploaded hourly on the site. In this series, I wanted to do a spotlight on wrestlers (current and older) that appeared in the PWI 500.
The first wrestler I’m focusing on is Danny Orion, a 27-year old wrestler based out of Amarillo, TX. Orion has been competing since 2021. One of his trainers, Ricky Starks (Saints), is currently competing for NXT and previously had success in AEW. Speaking of AEW, Orion made an appearance for AEW on August 17th, 2024 edition of AEW Collision in a singles match against Jack Perry. Orion most recently appeared on ROH TV on August 28th, 2025 teaming with Stephen Wolf in a losing effort against the Spanish Announce Project (Angelico & Serpentico).
Orion is a regular for promotions New Texas Pro Wrestling, West Coast Pro Wrestling, and has made appearances for HOG (House of Glory) and The Wrestling Revolver. I recently discovered Orion on Twitter due to the sharing of PWI rankings and I viewed a few clips of his on social media. It influenced me to seek out some of his matches. So, the following matches are matches that Orion himself recommended as I wanted to watch matches that stick out to the performer himself.
West Coast Pro Heavyweight Champion Kevin Blackwood vs. Danny Orion — Prestige/West Coast Pro Conquer The World — May 15th, 2025
Blackwood takes Orion down to the mat, but taunts the fans. Blackwood gains control with a hammerlock, but Orion counters for a moment. Blackwood gains headlock control on the mat. Orion breaks free leading to a standoff. Blackwood shoulder blocks Orion, but misses a clothesline. Orion goes to the floor and sits in the front row to frustrate Blackwood. Orion gets back into the ring and springboards off the ropes to avoid Blackwood and dropkick Blackwood to the floor. Orion looks for a dive to the floor, but Blackwood uppercuts Orion to cut him off and puts a sleeper on Orion in the ropes. Blackwood lets go of the hold and clotheslines Orion for a two count. Blackwood chops Orion in the corner and tries for a suplex, but Orion gets a two count with an inside cradle. Blackwood knee lifts Orion followed by a snap suplex for a near fall. Orion forearms Blackwood and tries for a handspring, but Blackwood hits a German suplex for a near fall. Blackwood delivers a few elbow strike on the mat and locks in an abdominal stretch in a kneeling position. Orion gets a few strikes in, but a kick by Blackwood stops the momentum. Orion sidesteps Blackwood in the corner, and drops Blackwood over the top turnbuckle face first and hits a snap German suplex causing both men to be laid out on the mat.
Orion ducks a clothesline and delivers a kick. Blackwood clotheslines Orion to the apron, but Orion springboards back into the ring and takes Blackwood out with a running somersault dive to the floor! Orion rolls Blackwood into the ring and hits a slingshot splash followed by a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Orion heads to the top rope and avoids Blackwood. Blackwood gets Orion onto his shoulders, but Orion breaks free and takes Blackwood down. Blackwood kicks free and gets a two count with a rollup. Orion avoids a German suplex and does a handspring and drives Blackwood face first to the mat for a near fall. Orion misses the Crack Shoot kick. Blackwood delivers a standing double stomp, but Orion fights back with a kick. Blackwood plants Orion with a pop-up powerbomb and a running knee strike for a two count. Blackwood heads to the top rope, but is stopped by Orion. Orion punches Blackwood a few times and hooks Blackwood for a suplex. Blackwood headbutts Orion, but is met with a kick on the top turnbuckle. Orion stands on the middle rope, but Blackwood shoves Orion off to the apron and Blackwood hits a top rope double stomp onto the apron. Blackwood spikes Orion with a brainbuster for a near win. Blackwood runs the ropes to kick Orion on the chest. Blackwood kicks Orion over the back, but Orion blocks a kick to the chest. Blackwood strikes Orion, but Orion locks in the Boston Crab in the middle of the ring. Blackwood nearly reaches the ropes, but is pulled away. Blackwood thinks about tapping , but Blackwood counters with an inside cradle. Orion nails Blackwood with the Crack Shoot kick.
Orion spikes Blackwood with the Neo-Deadly Rave (springboard tornado DDT). Orion hits the rising tackle (crucifix bomb), but Blackwood kicks out at two. Orion misses a top rope swanton bomb. Blackwood hits a running yakuza kick in the corner and leaps off the top to double stomp Orion for the win.
Bob’s Take: An impressive showing by Orion, and a damn good match. I’ve been familiar with Blackwood since his ESW days, but admittedly hadn’t seen enough of him to truly gauge his style. I thought these two matched up very well and Orion’s style of offense is a lot of fun. It feels like there’s not a wasted motion. Orion looked crisp here and the crowd came across invested in the idea of Orion winning the title. A good battle with the action being consistent and exciting throughout.
Match Rating: ***1/2
Inspire Pro Pure Prestige Champion Danny Orion vs. Maya World — Inspire A.D — September 1st, 2024
Orion misses a leaping spin kick and after blocking each other Maya kisses Orion followed by a superkick and a twisting vertical suplex for a near fall. Maya wipes her lips clean from the kiss with Orion on the shirt of the referee. World goes to the apron trying to get Orion onto her shoulders, but Orion avoids it and they trade chops. World kicks Orion on the apron and runs the ropes to try for a sunset flip powerbomb to the floor, but Orion holds onto the ropes. Orion proceeds to hit a somersault dive taking World out on the floor and landed on his feet. Orion taunts World, but World chops Orion a few times. Orion mauls World in the corner followed by a snap suplex. Orion drives World to the mat with a neckbreaker for a near fall. World strikes Orion several times, but Orion spin kicks World in the midsection. Orion tries for a Burning Hammer, but World breaks free. World counters a leg sweep attempt and superkicks Orion. Orion hits a handspring back elbow strike. Orion back suplexs World to the mat and gets a near fall.
World strikes Orion a few times followed by forearms to pummel Orion in the corner. Orion kicks World a few times out of the corner. Orion is stopped on the middle rope and World tries for a sunset flip powerbomb, but Orion avoids it and spikes World with the Deadly Rave for a near fall. World stops Orion with a jawbreaker and a discus forearm. World almost wins with a school girl a couple of times. World headbutts Orion through the ropes to the apron. Orion kicks World from the apron and hits a slingshot twisting splash. World avoids a springboard moonsault and plants Orion with a cutter. World forearms Orion and they trade strikes from their knees. World kicks Orion from the middle rope and puts a head scissors choke on Orion over the top rope. World kicks Orion off the ropes and hits a tornado DDT for a near fall. Orion gets off of World’s shoulders and blocks a reverse hurricanrana to hit one of his own. Orion plants World to the mat chest first for a near fall. Orion goes to the floor and grabs the championship. The crowd is calling Orion a coward, but Orion doesn’t use the title.
Oli Summers, Orion’s former partner, comes out and the distraction allows World to hit a springboard sunset flip powerbomb off the middle rope. World continues with a spinning kick, but Orion pops his shoulder up at two. World sits Orion on the top turnbuckle and hits a hurricanrana, but Orion did a 450 and landed on his feet. Orion tosses World with a release German suplex followed by a spinning kick, but World kicks out at one! World takes Orion down with a rollup and picks up the three count to win the title!
Bob’s Take: Intergender wrestling is a lot more acceptable in 2025 than it has ever been before. I though this was a great match. There were hard hitting strikes and the action was pretty much non-stop as they didn’t stall for time, at all. The crowd loved this and it made for the viewing that much more enjoyable. Orion showed his heel persona throughout as I liked that he started the match a bit dismissive over Maya World, but he never came across as panicked. His mood certainly changed, but it changed in the form of not taunting her. It’s a subtle manner to show that she’s an equal to him. Maya World, whom I’ve never even heard of prior to this, is very good. I didn’t like the finish being abrupt as I’d rather Maya hit her finishing move to really pop the crowd, but according to the description on YouTube this is match two of a three match series, so I’m sure it helps set the stage for a third match. Also, after searching her YouTube channel directly.. they are dating. So, the wiping of her lips from the kiss is all kayfabe. Keep an eye out on these two. I could totally see them being a present day Gargano/LeRae couple on the indies.
Match Rating: ***1/2
Danny Orion vs. Starboy Charlie — Inspire AD Funeral For A Friend — December 8th, 2024
They shake hands before the match starts, which surprises the commentary team. Orion breaks free from a wrist lock and they have a standoff. Orion has a headlock on Charlie and slides to the floor. Orion sits in the front row with a few fans. Charlie holds the ropes for Orion, but Orion jumps over the ropes. Charlie shoulder blocks Orion and slides to the floor to sit in the crowd similar to what Orion did moments earlier. Orion holds the ropes for Charlie, but Charlie doesn’t trust Orion. Charlie blocks a kick and delivers a spin kick to the midsection. Orion shoulder blocks Charlie, but Charlie spin kicks Orion followed by a running head scissors and dropkick. Charlie poses for the crowd before faking a dive to the floor. Charlie chops Orion in the front row and does the same in the next row. Orion elbow strikes Charlie and chops Charlie, but Charlie responds with a chop of his own. Charlie rams Orion face first onto a trash bin and continues with strikes in the crowd. Charlie breaks the count, but Orion strikes Charlie. Orion moonsaults off the merch table onto Charlie in the crowd.
Orion rolls Charlie into the ring. Charlie arm drags Orion, but Orion avoids a slam and double stomps Charlie over the back. Orion strikes Charlie in the corner several times followed by stomps. Orion taunts the crowd while Charlie struggles in the corner. Charlie responds with chops to stagger Orion, but Orion cuts Charlie off with a dropkick. Orion covers for a two count. Orion knee drops Charlie over the back and keeps chin control. Orion kicks Charlie and they trade snapmares. Orion gets out of a backslide and dropkicks Charlie. Charlie hits a snap suplex for a near fall. Orion stomps Charlie on the mat and hooks Charlie for a suplex. Charlie drops to his knees and punches Orion in the ribs. Charlie avoids a suplex attempt and they counter each other. Charlie ends up nailing Orion with a spinning heel kick. Charlie avoids Orion in the corner and is met with a kick. Charlie blocks a kick and hits a Slice Bread for a near fall. Charlie stomps on Orion, but gets dumped to the apron. Charlie gets an abdominal stretch over the middle rope before they end up on the apron. They trade a few strikes. Charlie forearms Orion to his knees and hooks Orion for a suplex, but Orion holds on and rams Charlie into the post. Orion sets Charlie up with a Burning Hammer, but Charlie breaks free and kicks Orion. Orion avoids Charlie and ends up hitting a somersault dive to the floor!
Charlie responds with a running dropkick through the ropes and takes Orion out with a springboard moonsault to the floor! Charlie spike Orion with a stalling brainbuster for a near fall. Charlie kicks Orion several times, but Orion plants Charlie with a tombstone. Orion hits a twisting splash from the apron and a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Charlie avoids a kick and runs into a kick in the corner. Charlie avoids a tornado DDT attempt. Charlie nails Orion with a kick to the head. Charlie and Orion trade strikes from their knees. Charlie misses a kick and they trade kicks. Charlie hits a handspring reverse hurricanrana and slams Orion followed by a standing corkscrew splash for a near fall. Charlie heads to the top rope, but Orion stops Charlie. Charlie headbutts Orion and shoves Orion off the middle rope. Charlie superkicks Orion, but Orion drops Charlie over the top turnbuckle chest first followed by a kick and a German suplex for a near fall.
Orion climbs to the top rope missing a swanton bomb attempt. Charlie climbs to the top rope looking for a shooting star press, but Orion got his knees up for a near fall. Orion hits a tornado DDT and a brainbuster for a near fall. Orion runs the ropes and hits the Crack Shoot kick for the win.
Bob’s Take: This had been voted second runner-up for match of the year in Inspire After Dark. Honestly, that was an incredible match. The action, the pace, just the overall vibe of this was fantastic and the crowd ate it up. If this was a second runner-up for the promotion for match of the year, then I wonder what else is going on in Inspire After Dark. I don’t think there’s any way to deny that Orion is a fast rising competitor on the indies especially after seeing this bout. It’s quite rewarding to watch good professional wrestling when I otherwise would have never likely seen it. Kudos to both men.
Match Rating: ****
Danny Orion vs. Lil Evil — New Texas Pro Wrestling — June 1st, 2025
They start off trading a flurry of strikes. Orion double springboards off the ropes, but Evil sidesteps a dropkick and slaps Orion across the face followed by strikes in the corner. Orion slides to the floor after being sent into the corner. Maya World is at ringside to protect Orion allowing Orion to cheap shot Evil. Orion drops Evil face first over the apron in the Burning Hammer position. Orion hits a slingshot twisting splash and a springboard moonsault for a two count. Evil works over Orion in the corner with chops. Orion kicks Evil and hits a suplex for a near fall. Orion chokes Evil over the middle rope. Maya World chokes Evil while the referee is distracted by Orion. Evil delivers a jawbreaker and DDT onto Orion. Evil clotheslines Orion in the corner and taunts the crowd. World grabs Evil’s boot in the corner as the referee is distracted again. World slaps Evil and World head scissors Evil into the turnbuckle. Orion hits a handspring cutter, but Evil kicks out at two. Evil forearms Orion and runs into a dropkick by Orion. Evil delivers a stunner to Orion to counter a suplex. Evil hits a rolling German suplex, but Orion rolls to the floor to avoid being pinned.
Evil is distracted by World on the apron and avoids a slap. The referee ejects Maya World from the ringside area. Orion slides into the ring, but Evil strikes Orion. Evil kicks Orion and hits a dangerous reverse hurricanrana. Evil dives off the top to hit a coffin drop onto Orion on the floor. Evil covers Orion for a two count. Evil grabs Orion by the hair and slaps Orion on the apron. Orion avoids Evil sending him to the floor and hits a somersault dive to the outside! Orion drives Evil into a concrete wall in the crowd. They trade strikes as Orion stands on the concrete planting Evil with a DDT onto the concrete. Evil is busted wide open and Orion digs at the open wound to cause Evil to bleed more. Evil slams a door into Orion’s face. Evil rams Orion into the door a few times. Orion is busted wide open, as well. Orion is bleeding a considerable amount.
They return to the ring where the referee is checking on Orion. Evil pummels Orion on the mat with forearms. Orion gets to his feet and they trade a series of strikes. Evil strikes Orion, but Orion delivers a kick. Evil misses a clothesline, but a second attempt turns Orion inside out. Evil waits in the corner as Orion struggles to his feet. Evil hits the spear, but Orion kicks out at two. Evil stomps Orion on the mat and delivers a few kicks to the face. Evil heads to the top rope, but Orion kicks Evil. Orion double stomps Evil on the back of the head off the top rope! Orion plants Evil with a running sit down powerbomb for a near fall! Orion heads to the top rope, but Evil avoids it. Orion tries to grab Evil, and plants Evil face first to the mat. Orion heads to the top rope hitting a swanton bomb for a near fall. Orion waits in the corner, but Evil spears Orion in midair. Evil leaps off the top to double stomp Orion. Evil hits a double under hook face buster, but Orion powers out at two. Evil locks in a modified Cloverleaf. Orion refuses to submit and crawls towards the ropes, but Evil pulls Orion back and locks in an STF. Orion teases submitting, but reaches the ropes.
Evil strikes Orion several times knocking Orion to his knees. Orion leaps into the air and hits a crucifix bomb, which looked incredible. Orion nails Evil with Crack Shoot kick and picks up the win.
Bob’s Take: This is Lil Evil’s return to wrestling after suffering an injury that almost ended his career. Now, you’ll see the match rating and think that I’m perhaps overreacting to it, but I thought this was incredible. Orion showed a different side to his ability and I loved the focus on this being a FIGHT. The work in the crowd and blood spilled by both men is an example of it enhancing the match and not being done just for the hell of it. Orion winning the match with his finishing move and not some kind of protected manner, makes it even that much better. A decisive victory for Orion after battling for close to a half hour. Evil far exceeded my expectations. I loved this match. The fact this has 171 views on YouTube at the time of this writing is criminal. But, it’s an example of how much great wrestling is virtually not seen. Check this match out.
Match Rating: *****
Danny Orion vs. Houston Hendrix — AAPW — September 6th, 2025
Orion takes Hendrix down with a headlock, but they have a standoff as Hendrix breaks free. Hendrix gets a wrist lock on Orion and delivers a dropkick to knock Orion to the mat. Hendrix offers a handshake, and Orion accepts before putting a headlock on Hendrix. Orion slides to the floor and sits in the front row chatting up some girls. Hendrix chases Orion, but Orion delivers a dropkick in the ring. Orion sends Hendrix into the corner and delivers a side slam for a near fall. Orion has Hendrix on his shoulders, but Hendrix breaks free and drops Orion over the ropes. Hendrix kicks Orion to the floor and hits a suicide dive. Hendrix rolls Orion into the ring and hits a springboard dropkick and plays to the crowd. Hendrix covers, but Orion kicks out at two. Hendrix chops Orion in the corner. Hendrix baseball slide dropkicks Orion for a two count. Hendrix puts a sleeper on Orion in the middle of the ring. Orion counters a choke hold with a pin attempt for a two count. Orion hits a handspring back elbow. Orion kicks Hendrix in the corner, but Hendrix kicks Orion over the middle rope before hitting a backstabber for a near fall. Hendrix works over Orion with stomps over the bottom rope. Hendrix uppercuts Orion into the corner and continues with strikes. Orion fights free and kicks Hendrix, but Hendrix stops Orion with a Pele kick. Orion hits a spinning Canadian Destroyer out of the corner!
They begin to trade strikes from their knees. Orion gets Hendrix over his shoulders and tosses Hendrix over the turnbuckle followed by a German suplex. Orion hits a twisting splash from the apron and hits a springboard moonsault for a two count. Hendrix avoids a kick and superkicks Orion followed by a spin kick. Orion decks Hendrix with a clothesline, but Hendrix counters a powerbomb with a Code Red for a two count. Hendrix hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Hendrix climbs to the top rope, but Orion stops Hendrix with a kick to the head. Orion hooks Hendrix on the top rope, but Hendrix fights free. Hendrix is stopped on the top rope. Hendrix kicks Orion on the apron. Orion dumps Hendrix into the ring, but Hendrix kicks Orion. Hendrix slides to the floor and Orion takes Hendrix out with a somersault dive over the top to the floor!
Orion hits a flatliner and a German suplex. Hendrix hits a sleeper suplex, but Orion plants Hendrix with a springboard tornado DDT. Orion has Hendrix on his shoulders on the middle rope, but Hendrix hits a top rope reverse hurricanrana! Hendrix hits a top rope frog splash and pins Orion for the win!
Bob’s Take: Orion has a strong move set where even if he uses them in each match, it’s not seen as bland or boring. Orion pulling out incredible offense that hadn’t been seen in the previous matches I watched makes me even more excited and interested in seeing what Orion can do in the future. I’ve never seen Hendrix, but he more than held his own and they put together a fun bout.
Match Rating: ***1/2
There’s always a risk when writing about unfamiliar wrestlers in long form, or writing about feuds that happened on the indies that nobody knows about nor have I seen. I didn’t know what to expect with Danny Orion, but I am honestly blown away. If I hadn’t enjoyed his matches I would have to have awkwardly share my honest opinion with the guy, but luckily that’s not the case. I don’t regret a single moment of watching his matches.
What makes this even more rewarding is that when finding a great wrestler often times that snowballs and more wrestlers are uncovered. As a result, Maya World, Lil Evil, Houston Hendrix and Starboy Charlie (who is a bit more established via GCW) have gotten another wrestling fan excited to see their work. West Coast Pro and New Texas Pro Wrestling are companies I may have to look into deeper and see what else is going on in Texas because this did not disappoint.
Check out Danny Orion and you will not be disappointed. If I had to guess, Orion will exceed his ranking of #427 in the PWI in short time.
Thanks for reading.