Welcome, one and all, to another instalment of the Match of the Year tournament!
2025 is now officially behind us, so it's time to talk about the matches that lit a fire like no others in the final month of the year. December proved to be an exciting month of wrestling, with AEW's Continental Classic dominating my viewing, and the quality of wrestling getting better almost episode by episode.
Let's get into these pre-quarterfinalists and break them down, shall we?
The Pre-Quarterfinalists
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| The Pre-Quarterfinalists |
AEW's Continental Classic took up the bulk of my viewing and reviewing in the month of December, giving me plenty of exciting and great matches to talk about, including this month's contenders! It's been a long time since the MotY has been dominated totally by current matches, but that's just what happens when some of the best wrestlers in the world set out to have fantastic matches week after week. Can't be angry about that!
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Jon Moxley - 12/03/2025
A hard hitting hoss fight, the two biggest bastards of the Death Riders clash head to head in a war of attrition. Neither Mox nor Claudio were willing to give each other much in the way of an advantage, with every inch and every strike fought for harder than ever. One of the few matches that used up as much of the time limit as possible, the fall came seconds after the 15 minute mark, the candle burning hotter than ever in the final 5. A shocking victory to say the least, Claudio was able to get one over on his superior in a hard fought, and hard won war.
Mike Bailey vs. Kyle Fletcher - 12/10/2025
A late but genuine contender for Match of the Year, two of AEW's best decided to have one of the most insane, exciting, and hard-hitting matches of the year. Exciting counters and nutty action, Fletcher has been on a tear in 2025 and Bailey has been quietly consistent since the very start of his AEW run. This match absolutely blew me away and had me begging for more, and there's nothing wrong with that when it comes to great wrestling. I really hope these two run it back sooner than later.
Jon Moxley vs. Kyle Fletcher - 12/27/2025
Given the full, proper spotlight in Weekly Watchlist 081, Fletcher and Mox had a hard hitting and super exciting match en route to the C2 finals. Both men hungrier than ever, the desire to win was palpable in everything they did to each other. With Moxley even chipping a tooth during the encounter, these men gave each other everything they had and then some to try and win. What a brilliant, hard-hitting match.
Let's see which match advanced this month, shall we?
The Quarterfinalists
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| The Quarterfinalists |
When I say this match was a legitimate "Match of the Year" contender, I meant it. Bailey and Fletcher put on one of the most exciting, compelling match ups this year, proving that all it takes to put on a great match is a bit of time, energy, and desire. These two more than delivered in a major way. Kudos to you both.
But did they advance? Let's see who made it to the semi's!
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| The Semifinalists |
A close call, but I'll be dammed if Hokuto/Kandori wasn't one of the damnedest thing's I've ever seen. I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor from how good that match was. Buckets of blood, heavy strikes and bombs the likes of which you won't see anywhere else. Mother of God, those two did everything but pump pounds of buckshot into the other. What a war.
There we have it folks! The end of 2025!
Next week, I'll be going over the winner of the Match of the Year tournament for 2025, doing my best to pick a match that actually took place in 2025.
Next month will be the start of the 2026 bracket, starting with January as I work my way through, month by month. Nothing new, nothing different, but I'll be starting at the very start this year. Hope you guys are looking forward to it as much as I am!
Until next month, take it easy friends!
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