Well, would ya look at that, we're half way through the year already! Where has all the time gone? I couldn't tell ya, because I was too busy watching wrestling! And these are some of the best matches I watched this month. Make sure to read the whole post because I've included a brand new segment at the bottom. Read on to find out what it is!
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Komander - AEW Collision - 05/31/2025
Kommander has really started to establish himself in AEW as a solid hand that can be relied on to have an exciting match with mostly anyone that really connects with the crowd. To the surprise of none, the freakishly strong Claudio makes a fantastic base for any luchador, allowing them to fly around and manipulate the human body in incredible ways. His background in the "American lucha" promotion of CHIKARA no doubt helps him in these matches, and this match is a shining example. Claudio throws Kommander around with ease, while Kommander flips, flops, and flies around Claudio with the exact same ease. A clash of styles is almost always exciting, especially when both men are at the top of their game.
Hechicero vs. Mascara Dorada - AEW Collision - 05/31/2025
I have not been quiet about my love for Hechicero. After his exceptional match with Zack Sabre Jr last year, I made it my goal to always keep Hechicero on my radar, watching whatever new matches of his I could find. This Collision main event against another exceptional CMLL talent, Mascara Dorada, was a real treat. In essence, they worked a CMLL style match, with some American flair and flash, and made it work perfectly. There's less high flying and high action in this match, and more manipulation of limbs and technical holds that leave a crowd in a very unique state of awe. It may not be a match for everyone, at a slower pace than most CMLL lucha libre matches, but they know when to step on the gas when the moment calls for it. Very, very fun.
Andrew Everett vs. Trevor Lee - DPW 3rd Anniversary - 12/08/2024
Featured in Weekly Watchist 051
Jake Something & Mike Bailey vs. Violence Is Forever - DPW 3rd Anniversary - 12/08/2024
Speedball x Something has come to become one of my favourite tag teams ever. I was so excited when working my way through the DPW library knowing I'd get to see their entire run from start to finish, with this match being the final time we'd see the two men together. VIF work more like heels in this match than they normally do, knowing they need to eliminate the more powerful World Champion in Jake Something if they hope to have a fighting chance. They isolate Bailey for a good stretch but when all four men are in the ring together, it's magic. An incredible blend of speed, power and agility. Something is a complete fucking freak and Bailey is exceptional. They look excellent in defeat with Bailey announcing he is done with DPW and the indies, knowing he will be signing with AEW soon with the benefit of hindsight.
Adam Priest vs. LaBron Kozone - DPW 3rd Anniversary - 12/08/2024
Main eventing the third anniversary show is the DPW National Title match, with Priest defending. Kozone has been with DPW since the early days and has really built up a lot of momentum over the years, establishing himself as a bit of an underdog at times, despite how he comes across. Priest, to his part, is an exceptional heel champion, dismantling opponents with technique and underhanded violence that compliments his smaller stature. Hell, he's been able to make a damn chop block a devastating move. Priest digs into his usual bag of tricks here, the same ones that have turned away all other challengers, but Kozone takes it all and keeps coming back again and again. It's a brutal back and forth, with Priest suffering from a basty gash early on that weakens the champion with each passing minute. Kozone's heart is too much, fighting through Priest's best before hitting him with his best. Ballgame.
Gorgeous George vs. Jesse James - NWA Los Angeles - 04/09/1951
Featured in Weekly Watchist 051
Gorgeous George vs. Frankie Talaber - NWA Chicago - 04/14/1950
Maybe it's just the criminally small sample size that's readily available, but ever match i've seen of Gorgeous George's might be my favourite. He's an incredible talent that gets so much from so little. I spoke about him at great length in Watchlist 051, and he's up to his usual trick here. This is far and away George's longest match available as well, really giving you a chance to see what he's all about at a prolonged scale. It's highly technical with plenty of George's signature begging off, the hour time limit making the most of the three falls stipulation these matches were always fought under. George is able to prove that he's more than a wig and panto, that he can go the distance and hang on when it counts.
Big Van Vader vs. Ric Flair - WCW Starrcade 1993 - 12/27/1993
Featured in Weekly Watchist 052
Abyss vs. Sabu - No Disqualification - TNA Unbreakable 2005 - 09/11/2005
I've only recently discovered how amazing Sabu is after his passing. His skill and mastery inside the ring comes from his complete disregard for safety and grace, both for himself and his opponent. The silent wildman's sole focus once the bell rings is to win and wound, by any means necessary. 10 years after his heyday in ECW, Sabu was able to find a career renaissance in TNA and this pair of matches against Abyss feel like they'd have been right at home in the ECW arena. Sabu has to use his speed and skill to bring the monstrous Abyss down to the canvas, flying around the ring and sprinting from spot to spot with unreal efficiency. There's no shortage of violence and weapons in this match, only paling in comparison to their sequel a few months later. The visual of Abyss' incredible Black Hole Slam driving Sabu through the ring with thousands of thumb tacks breaking his fall is a horrific visual. I love it.
Sabu vs. Abyss - Barbed Wire Massacre Match - TNA Turning Point 2005 - 12/11/2005
The sequel to their match 3 months prior cranks the violence up to an entirely different level. It's not nearly as violent as Sabu's war with Terry Funk in ECW, but theres plenty of blood and nasty entanglements in the wire. Sabu is forced to modify his rope-rebound style here with the ropes traded for barbed wire, and Abyss thrives in an environment that allows him to be as violent as possible. I can't remember if this is the Abyss that is not yet afraid of barbed wire or has gotten over that fear, but he is totally at home in this ring. They even introduce barbed wire chairs and a pair of plywood sheets caked with thwe wire, with Abyss nearly planting Sabu on the sheet a few times. Ultimately, Sabu sandwiches Abyss with the boards and sits on his fucking head for the pin, trapping the monster between barbed wire hell. It's a fantastically violent match.
1 Called Manders vs. Adam Priest - DPW You Already Know 2025 - 01/17/2025
I've struggled to enjoy Manders during his time in DPW. There's just something about him I can't get past that keeps me from liking him and I can't pinpoint what it is. But with Priest's recent ascension up the card in DPW during the back half of 2024 and early 2025, he's really shown that he can bring people along with him and have fantastic matches. Again, the size difference sees Priest dig into his bag of tricks to wear and tear Manders down to size by dismantling his knee. Manders shows incredible heart, pummelling Priest and defiantly flipping him the bird while tapping out to a punishing single leg crab. Even in defeat, Manders still wants a fight, no doubt getting his rematch sometime down the road.
LaBron Kozone vs. Starboy Charlie - DPW You Already Know 2025 - 01/17/2025
I first saw Starboy on West Coast Pro's Whiplash show in 2013. He's an impressive kid and I'm glad DPW gave him the moment to shine with one of the most consistent hands in the company. Kozone has been on a great run in 2024 and brought the very best out of Charlie here. It's no often you realize just how big Kozone is, but against someone Charlie's size, you realize it very quickly. He's a great base for him and an impressive tree to knock down when Charlie is able to, proving to be an impressive challenge but one that the Starboy is capable of standing against. His heart pushes him further in this match than most could, but the Starboy ultimately falls to the National Champion in a fantastic outing.
Holy Demon Army vs. Super Generation Army - AJPW Super Power Series 1995 - Day 15 - 06/09/1995
Featured in Weekly Watchist 053 - 1 Year Special
LaBron Kozone vs. Titus Alexander - DPW Title Fight In Texas 01/26/2025
What more can I say about Kozone this month? The end of 2024 was all about his ascension to the National Title and now he's consistently putting on the best match on every card he's on. Titus Alexander is no slouch either, he's someone I've always enjoyed from his first match with this one being no exception to the rule. Alexander tries to eliminate Kozone's strongest weapon through the entire match, focusing on his left arm, targeting it with vicious efficiency. But Kozone is made of sterner stuff than Alexander could have planned for, gritting his teeth through the pain as he forces himself to fight through the pain. They beat lumps out of each other with Alexander coming close on a few occasions, but Kozone keeps his gold just a bit longer.
Gabe Kidd vs. Tomohiro Ishii - 30 Minute Iron Man Match - NJPW Windy City Riot 2025 - 04/11/2025
Kidd went from a total nobody to me last year to a standout performer in 2025. His brash, loudmouth attitude and his hard hitting, violent style are so enjoyable, I can't look away from his matches. He found his match with Ishii when it comes to firing off lethal shots in a match, with both men going blow for blow like only New Japan contracted wrestlers can. There's a lull in the middle of this match, but they quickly pick the pace up and bring the crowd with them, with the closing stretch before their sudden death overtime having the crowd in a fever pitch. Kidd is arrogant and so confident he can handle Ishii, up until the point where he's hit harder than he's ever been in his life, then the match shifts gears. So, so fun.
Akira Hokuto vs. Rumi Kazama - AJW Legacy Of Queens - 08/25/2993
Featured in Weekly Watchist 054
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. David Finlay - NJPW Windy City Riot 2025 - 04/11/2025
Arguably two of the best New Japan gaijin's square off in whats billed as a special singles match, and man, this one felt special alright. ZSJ, to the surprise of none, takes every chance he can to tie up and twist Finlay here, even catching a corner charge with his signature head twist. The counter wrestling is top notch and the impacts are solid and unyielding, both men giving it everything they've got to make this match even a half star better. I had no expectations for this match and came away absolutely buzzing. More of this, please.
(PS. Does David Finaly kinda look like biker era Undertaker to anyone else? No? Just me?)
Ah, there we have it. June has wrapped and we're in the back half of 2025 now. See you guys next month!
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