Wrestler Effy faces Slade and Dr Wagner Jr in back-to-back New York shows this weekend

Independent wrestling star Effy faces two major matches in New York this weekend. As part of PRODUCE Wrestling's back-to-back showcase, he will meet Slade in a bounty match at the Assembly event in Kingston on Saturday night, then take on Lucha Libre legend Dr Wagner Jr at Lucha Fresca in Brooklyn.

The 6-foot-2 wrestler said he and Slade have a long history. The two have wrestled before, and Effy said Slade took a two-year hiatus from the ring after one of their matches. With Slade back, Effy said he had to put him back on his list of opponents.

In an interview with OutKick Dropkick, Effy said many wrestlers who have faced him have had their careers changed by the experience. He said stepping into the ring with him forces an opponent to decide whether they are as fully committed to professional wrestling as he is.

Effy noted that he has previously wrestled well-known names including Jeff Jarrett, JBL, Jon Moxley and Jinder Mahal. He said that ten years of such matches have put him in a position where he can make or break an opponent's career.

On the Lucha Fresca match in Brooklyn, Effy said he was determined not to miss the event. He said he has already beaten Lucha Libre wrestlers including Pimpanella Escarlata and Psycho Clown, and now wants to defeat Dr Wagner Jr in front of the legend's sons.

Dr Wagner Jr's two sons, El Hijo del Dr Wagner Jr and Galeno Del Mal, are also wrestlers. Effy said he had seen El Hijo del Dr Wagner Jr in Tokyo, and that beating their father in Brooklyn in front of them is his aim.

Effy said Dr Wagner Jr would have to put up the fight of his life to avoid being embarrassed in front of his sons. At the same time, he acknowledged that Wagner is a legend and said he was honoured to share the ring with him.

Effy's real name is Taylor Gibson. He was ranked No. 72 on Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 list for 2026, and is regarded as one of the top independent professional wrestlers on the scene today.

In the interview, Effy also spoke about being a gay man in a predominantly straight male sport. He said the freedom to be himself in the ring has carried him forward, and that many fans see his presence as a source of encouragement.

He described wrestling as an improvisational art form, in which a fight is choreographed on the day and performed in a single take in front of a crowd, with the goal of getting the audience excited.

Effy said some of his performances, done simply by being himself, have drawn a million views online. He said the continuing support of fans has kept him on the path of making wrestling a viable career and a living.