BK Westbrook said getting on television was a milestone he’d chased through years on the independents. The North Carolina native recalled a May appearance on AEW Collision where he faced “Speedball” Mike Bailey — a match that lasted just over a minute but, he told Fox News Digital, mattered far more than the clock.
BK Westbrook’s AEW Collision appearance
Westbrook appeared on AEW Collision in May and took part in a rapid, competitive exchange with Mike Bailey that ended in Bailey’s favor. The match itself lasted just over a minute, but Westbrook told Fox News Digital the experience was about visibility and validation as much as in-ring time.
“I was super thrilled just to be able to be on TV,” Westbrook said to Fox News Digital. He added that the chance to perform live on a televised card changed how he thought about opportunities and exposure.
He also noted, in conversation with Fox News Digital, that he’d done extra work previously and that this felt different: “It was cool. So, I’ve done extra work a couple times… But to be on the show and to be like wrestling, is my first opportunity that I got.” For Westbrook, the brief TV appearance was less about the result and more about being seen by a wider audience.
From North Carolina indies to TV
Westbrook built his craft on the regional circuit in North Carolina and beyond, working for promotions such as Game Changer Wrestling, Pandemonium: Pro Wrestling, Deadlock Pro Wrestling and TBD Wrestling. That steady run on the independents, he said, prepared him for the pace and professionalism of a televised locker room.
He told Fox News Digital that the indie grind — the long drives, late nights and small-but-passionate crowds — taught him fundamentals and resilience. Those lessons, he said, made the transition to a TV environment feel less like a leap and more like the next rung on a ladder he had been climbing for years.
Westbrook framed his AEW appearance as the kind of spotlight that can amplify the work of independent wrestlers. Even a short segment on a national program, he said, can change how promoters and fans view a performer and can lead to further opportunities outside the local scene.
What to know about the JoJo charity match
Westbrook is booked for Pandemonium Pro’s JoJo event in August, a card promoted to raise money for the family of Jordan Saint, who, according to Fox News Digital, died in a car crash. On that show he is scheduled to face an opponent billed as Epidemiyus Jr., in a match the promotion has described as part of the benefit night for Saint’s family.
Westbrook told Fox News Digital the charitable element gives the bout extra weight. “It’s important to use what we have to help others,” he said, explaining that performing at benefit shows is a way for wrestlers to support a grieving community while honoring a peer.
The JoJo card represents a concrete next date on Westbrook’s calendar and also a moment where the independent scene rallies for one of its own, he said. For many performers, events like this blend competition with community care, and Westbrook said he welcomed the chance to be part of that effort.
Why the AEW spot matters for independents
A televised appearance such as Westbrook’s on AEW Collision can alter a wrestler’s trajectory. For independents, even a brief match on a national broadcast increases visibility with promoters, bookers and fans who might not otherwise catch regional shows.
Westbrook acknowledged the exposure doesn’t erase the grind of independent wrestling, but it can accelerate recognition. Appearing on TV, he said, validates long hours and helps build name recognition beyond the local scene — a practical boost when pursuing higher-profile bookings or recurring television chances.
He emphasized to Fox News Digital that television opportunities still require preparation: being professional in the locker room, learning camera rhythms, and showing up ready to perform at a moment’s notice. Those non-ring skills, he said, are part of why the TV spot felt like a milestone.
Looking ahead
Short-term, the August Pandemonium Pro JoJo event is the next concrete date on Westbrook’s schedule. Beyond that, he said he plans to continue working across independent promotions while using the AEW appearance and benefit match to build momentum.
Westbrook told Fox News Digital he remains focused on improving both in and out of the ring and on contributing to shows that support fellow wrestlers and their families. He said he would welcome more televised chances but is equally committed to the grassroots work that established his reputation.
Source and credits
Reporting and interview details from Fox News Digital: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pro-wrestler-bk-westbrook-recalls-aew-match-against-speedball-mike-bailey
