As the Hardcore Kidd, Aguilera appeared in Ultimate Pro Wrestling, marking his first wrestling match since being released by WWE. On August 6, 2005, Aguilera started appearing in the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) promotion, first losing to T.J. Perkins (aka Puma), and then on the August 19, 2005 teaming with Davey Richards to defeat Perkins and Alex Shelley. On September 30, 2005, Aguilera lost to his former tag team partner Christopher Daniels at Adrenaline Unleashed. On October 22, 2005, Aguilera appeared at AWS, teaming with Al Katrazz to defeat Davey Richards and Tony Kozina. Then, on November 19, 2005 with the PWG, Aguilera teamed with Petey Williams, losing to Frankie Kazarian and Chris Sabin. On November 26, 2005, Aguilera wrestled Babi Slymm to a no-contest. Then at the January 15, 2006 Pro Wrestling WAR show, Aguilera wrestled Charles Mercury to a no-contest. Then in the main event, Aguilera & Keiji Sakoda wrestled Teddy Hart and Jack Evans to a double countout. Afterwards, Hart did a moonsault off a basketball hoop and injured his knee. Aguilera made an appearance at AWS at Frank and Sons on May 20, 2006 and picked up a win against "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce after hitting Pearce in the head with a boot that he took from Pearce's manager, C. Edward Vander Pyle. Aguilera challenged Pearce and Vander Pyle to a tag team match on July 8, 2006 with his manager, El Jefe.