5 Count: June 1-15th, 2025

1) Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay (AEW Dynamite 6/11/25) Winner: Time Limit Draw. Re-match of last year's Forbidden Door's main event--a match of the year candidate--Swerve's best defense in his title reign; cementing him as top-of-the-card talent. It was a classic Big Brother/Little Brother match where big bro had to show his kid bruv what it takes to be a champion.

This match somehow topped it--quite a feat for a match that ended in a draw. This one had more grit, more heat. Two friends at a philosophical impasse (Will pushing for the greater good, Swerve saying, "Nah, I'm good") and settling it thru their chosen trade of violence. This bout was just more physical than the last time...Will busting his nose, Swerve selling his leg. Will committing 100 percent to every maneuver--even to his own detriment (that missed Hidden Blade into the turnbuckle looked perfectly RUFF). Swerve jumping on every mistake, brutally attacking the Will's arm and neck. The Knucklelock toss from the top rope. The Hidden Blade from the ring to the floor. House Calls! Thrust Kicks! These two are perhaps the most creative wrestlers in the game and they were riffing tonight.

Time limit draws in AEW are generally a let down because A) the matches tend to be excellent and resolution is desired and B) they generally lead to a less exciting rematch. Here we got some nice storytelling with a post match attack from the Young Bucks transferring the disappointment of the finish to heat on the heels. It also set up a fresh All In match between the Bucks and Osprey/Swerve that turned out to be one of the top matches of the event. RATING: HOT ROAST.

2) Jon Davis vs Noah Veil (River City Wrestling Con 6/8/25) Winner: Davis. Classic no-nonense hard hitting vet vs a young upstart with chutzpah than skill. Match started with Davis nonchalantly chucking Veil out of the ring after each of a few lockups until the punk rock primadonna stood their ground and got in some offense--eventually getting Davis out of the ring and hitting him with a trio of suicidas. Back in the ring, Davis shifted the momentum with bang-bang spinebuster. Rinse repeat-this was the formula for the match--Davis manhandling Veil, then Veil getting some comeback until Davis put the down hard again. Davis looked great--just beasting Veil around the ring. Best spot was Davis stopping a tornado DDT, running Veil into turnbuckle then flattning them with a runing powerslam.

Veil did their part, taking and selling those big bumps. Veil's lack of quit got the crowd on their side. Veil's got a similar frame and style to Orange Cassidy--so working underneath suits them. The key is execution-this is where Cassidy excels-hitting everything cleanly with perfect timing. Veil needs to improve in this area to get to the next level-his offense just had some slop to it. Still they got the right ideas and plenty of personality which goes along way in getting over. Just need to clean up those hemlines to make it runway ready. Rating: Rocks

3)Mark Wheeler vs. Evan Rivers (Defy Vortex 6/13/25) Winner: Rivers. Nice to see Rivers get a win here-his role in Defy has mostly been First Level Boss for touring talent or the lackey in Sovereign, his faction with Sinner and Saint. He works a sleazeball heel routine (ballsweat chops, wet willies) and gets good heat from the fans. He can also pull of some impressive moves including low and long moonsault across the ring for the win here. Wheeler looked solid--very reminiscent of Anthony Bowens in build and work. Very basic style but with a lot of exta ooomph and flair--stalling the suplex, getting some extra air on a standing elbow drop. An extended feud might be beneficial to both guys. For now Rating: Roar.

4) Cowboy Way (c) vs. Sinner And Saint (West Coast Pro/DPW/Prestige Unit3d 6/1/25) West Coast Pro Tag Team Title Match. Winner: Cowboy Way. Helluva match. Raptors vs a couple of T-Rex's. The Cowboys are Manders (picture Dax Harwood with few extra beef patties) and Thomas Shire, a tall Randy Quad-in-Kingpin lookin' galoot with a body straight outta the 80's territories. These two just drop lariats and big chops--classic hoss ass kickers.

On the other side of the ring, we got Sinner and Saint, one of the best pure tag teams on the indies. You know that scene in "The Driver" where Ryan O'Neal's potential heist mates doubt his skills so he dismantles their car piece by piece squealing around an underground parking lot? That's what Sinner and Saint are— high speed damage with expert precision. Dark haired Judas Icarus is currently getting the single push in Prestige, but his teammate Travis Williams really impressed in this one. He had two moments-one big and one small-that stood out. The Big One: Manders had caught Icarus on a dive to the outside, Williams rev's up his own dive for the carom, but stops and changes course mid-stride as Manders had move to the other side of the ring. BAM! deadeye sucida! Smaller moment--Williams getting in sprint position to attack Manders across the ring--notices Shire on his back behind him and throws a couple kicks his way before stepping off. Belle Touche!

This match came really close to hitting the next level--maybe a few more minutes and a stronger finish. Still..Rating: Roast

5) Syuri (c) vs. Alex Windsor (EVE 135: Hit Me Baby One More Time) IWGP Women's Title Match Winner: Syuri. The intensity of this match ramped up early and quickly. Syuri popped out of a Windsor head scissor--staredown ensued with Windsor sporting a grin. Syuri gave her the cold blooded SLAP--knocking that smirk into the front row. This wasn't a Divas' cat fight swipe–it was a declaration of war. Fight was on and the bomb were dropping. Windsor throwing big forearms and showed off her power including a brutal avalanche fisherman's suplex. Syuri took the damage, and gave it back with popping strikes, and dismantling Windsor's arm--stretching it,twisting it and stomping it. In end, the champ finished Windsor with offensive series of a german, kicked to head, and that sweet Electric Chair driver.

The near future for these two is a curious one. Syrui is already top of the card for arguablely Japan's hottest promotion, but she was set to take an excursion and work Ring of Honor before an injury at ALL IN resulted in some surgery. When she recovers, it will be interesting to see if she returns to main eventing in Stardom or sticking around in the States. The grass may not be greener, but the money is. She would be a nice fit with AEW--despite their reliance on Joshi talent in the early days, the company hasn't had blue chip Japanese female talent on the roster for a couple years now (YMMV on Mina) She is more than credible opponent for the their champs, Toni Storm and Mercedes Mone. In fact, she might be the ideal person to take those belts off them.

Windsor has already started her AEW career and has already been put into a program with Mone. As this match showed, she could hold her own with the best--so the in ring work is not going to be an issue. She's got a good luck, strong build with Peggy Carter mug--she just needs to find the personality element to connects with the crowd. She's got the verses, just needs the hook. Rating: Roast