5 Count: March 16-31, 2025
1) Kenny Omega vs Blake Christian (AEW Dynamite 3/26/25) Winner: Omega. When AEW debuted, I would argue that its #1 selling point was that Kenny Omega would be wrestling regularly on American TV. In the wrestling media, it is often said that AEW should be and do everything WWE can't. Kenny Omega matches are the top of the list of things that seperate AEW from its bigger competitor. In ring-he is simply the greatest of his generation. Combine that with his strange charm that allows this fairly private individual to have a deep personal connection with the fans. Simply the man is special-so special that even this PPV warm up match warrants attention.
The crowd was charged, chanting his name. A Omega singles match is something of a rarity especially on TV. When he hasn't been injured or suspended, much of Omega's AEW run has been tied up with the Elite in multi-man matches(the faction war with Inner Circle, the tag team with Hangman, the Trios matches with the Bu cks). Omega has wrestled less than 40 singles matches over the 6 year history of AEW. The bulk of that was his heel "Belt Collector" title reign in 2020-21. After winning the International title earlier this year, it feels like his fans are finally getting something they have longed for--a face singles run.
This was a perfect TV match against a perfect TV opponent. Blake Christian plays the smug upstart with relish and has the ring skills to keep up with Omega. Omega let Christian have a little shine--a spear on the apron, that twisting tope thru the ropes. Then Omega took control with those crisp dragon suplex, neckbreaker, v-trigger on the ropes, and then a One Wing Angel for the win. A quick strong win. zSimilar to an earlier match with Brian Cage ,Omega has been working a more minimalist style--a few years ago there would a few more v-triggers, more top flips. Now working a smarter simpler power style and relying more on his underrated ring psychology, he is giving fans what they want, but preserving his body for big matches, and I hope we get a year of those matches. Rating: Rocks
2)Galeon Fantasma vs. El Sky Team & Star Jr. (CMLL Viernes Espectacular 3/28/25) 2/3 Falls. Winner:El Sky Team & Star Jr. I recently listened to a podcast that where the hosts had done a statisical analysis of Cagematch ratings to determine the Top 100 wrestlers of all time. Outside of Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero , this list contained no luchadors. To their credit, the hosts did a necessary disclaimer, and it is true that a large swath of Mexican wrestling history simply does not exist on video. Still I would say the omission makes the entire endeavor suspect and this list irrelevant. It's another example of the disrespect for Lucha Libre despite it being one of the foundations of the modern wrestling scene.
If you want an example of how fucking good, lucha can be-this match hits those heights. El Sky Team duo of Neon and Mascara Dorada are such talented athletes that they are entertaining just doing the speed limit. This match pushed the pedal all the way down from the go, and were flipping and flying all over the place. They looked like they had something to prove and maybe the did. Sky Team's usual captain Mistico was sidelined with an injury. Neon and especially Dorada have often thought of as the young tecnicos destined to take his spot at the top of the card. Despite their talent, however, neither have shown the presence or charisma that Mistico has in spades. So it was good to see both not only lean into what they do well, but flaunt it with such flair and intensity. Also their tag partner, Star Jr looked really good as he has since he lost his mask. Showing a lot of fire, slapping the shit of Difunto. When he was masked initially , the talk was he had a face for rudo, but he has cleaned up pretty well. He ain't no Malboro Man, more Kenny G, but his long locks cover his face during the action, and dude's got a nice smile.
Their opponents also shined in the one. The team is a pair of pirates, Zandokan Jr and Barboza, and what i assume is a waterlogged corpse, Difunto. The trio matched Sky Team in intensity—just throwing them around on their way to the second round victory. Zandokan continues his way on his path up the card--nice sweat spraying chops. Difunto was a nice surprise-showed a lot of agility springboarding off the middle of the road and splashing off his partner's shoulders. Galeon Fantasma also did one of my favorite heel moves--all three carrying Star Jr above their head ,and just dropping down hard onto the mat.
In the end, the good guys won with a pair of 360 splashes for the double pin. They may also locked in the match of the year for CMLL. Rating: HAWT ROAST
3) Timothy Thatcher vs Marcus Mathers (West Coast Pro West Coast Best Coast 3/22/25) Winner: Thatcher. Thatcher is the perfect wrestling nomad( apologies to the former Baron Corbin). With the exception of his two years in NXT, he basically travels from indie to indie--enough of name you can put in a main event, but not too big that you have to put him over. His throwback style of drinking his opponents milkshakes thru old school grapplin' has its charms, but the spell it casts is not longlasting. So jumping from promotion to promotion works best for him and the audiencce.
A key to a good Thatcher match is the right opponent, and Mathers fits the bill. The most polished wrestler in the WWE ID system, Mathers knows how to work, and his style built on speed is a effective clash of styles with Thatcher. It helps that Thatcher is good foot or more taller–setting up a classic big bully vs underdog match. Thatcher took control early twisting and turning Mathers' arms and knocking him around his European uppercuts. Mathers's selling was on point--writhing in anguish as with every contortion of his body, slapping the mat in frustration as his offense was stalled by a Thatcher heavy blow. This all made for a good build for Mathers' comeback and when it came, it came in a flurry. Springboard Stunner, Blue Thunder Bomb, Superkick, A German, and high flying cutter. He followed up a big clothesline knocking Thatcher out of the ring with a textbook tope. Alas--visions of victory was short lived as the wily veteran Thatcher countered a roll up into a pinning package of his own for sneaky win.
The match was a good showcase for Mathers and while he is undersized for the typically big man world of WWE, I can see what they see in him. He has a very Dolph Ziggler vibe--good seller, credible ring work, adds some flash to his offense, In AEW, he would be lost in, sea of similar talent, but would be something differnet for the current WWE product. The Fed could easily slide him in to stale Men's Division in NXT or be a midcard maestro on the main roster. Rating: Rocks
4) Maxx Ramirez (c) vs. Kai Drake (Integrity Born For Greatness 3/22/25) Integrity Heavyweight Title Match. Winner: Ramirez. This one popped up in my youtube algorithm and wasn't familar with the wrestlers or the promotions. Integrity Sports Entertainment sounds less like an Australian indie, and more like a faith based studio producing films with Kevin Sorbo as a football coach. Ramirez and Drake both looked like a couple of Aussie indie vets--good believable builds, Ramirez as tall and slim heel, Drake as the fiery babyface. No gimmicks, no cosplay, no stips, no irony-the two just had a rock solid TV quality main event. Sometimes that, a can of Coke and some low dose Lexapro is just what the doctor ordered.
They went at each other with passion-Ramirez has a good overhand chop, Drake throwing nice forearm. Both had nice form on with more technical moves. Good work outside the ring to engage the crowd(who tho small, were hot for it) There were some creepy crawl moments where they were just off enough for you notice, but overall just classic professional wrestling. Ramirez squeaked out a victory with his feet on the ropes--old fashioned heel heet. Not saying this a must watch, but a good example of how entertaining basic wrestling is-bells and whistles not needed here. Rating: Qaulity Rent.
5)The 37KAMIINA (MAO & To-y) (c) vs. Astronauts (Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura) (DDT Judgement 2025 3/20/25) KO-D Tag Team Title Match Winner: Astronauts. the past few months have been exactly what I've wanted to see from the Astronauts. The BJW matches were always fun, but I've want to see them go against top talent. Since going freelance, they had the great match in All Japan against ELPIDA, a nice series of matches in WxW, and another edition of Wrestling Detectives. However, this one is the high watermark so far.
MAO and To-y are ideal opponents. MAO's got stunning ringwork and cool vibes for days. His partner To-y plays the little brother role, slim build–- more heart than muscle, but shouldn't be underestimated. Their offense is one where they are off the feet and in air--a good contrast to ground and submission game of the Astronauts.
After the initial feeling out to start, these two teams fast and furious for the 15 minutes. MAO & To-y came out strong--using a series of double teaming kicks and elbows on Abe. Things shifted when Nomura entered; playing bad ass --he Nope'd a top rope cross body from To-y and backed down Mao from the opposite turnbuckle. Nomura went to work slapping faces and dropping germans. Abe came back in and went to work on To-y's arm. The plan seem to be to isolate the weaker To-y and wear him down. To-y had some great comebacks tho--hitting A+ dropkicks to the chest and at one point machine chopped Nomura in the corner. Still if he gave Abe or Nomura a second to recover, they usually did.
The peak of the match came when the Astronauts were just browbeating To-y. MAO breaks it up, but To-y blindly chops his partner in the chest MAO more stunned then hurt, slaps Toy's across the face– the two then head but each other, and just when it looks like they might tear each other apart-the two fire up and pull a great offensive series on their opponents. MAO leaps over Nomura to give Abe a stunner, To-y catches Abe on the rebound and flings him to the ground. Mao leaps up and dropkicks Nomura out of the ring. To-y then lifts Abe up in the wheelbarrow position for MAO to hit a jumping spin kick.
Ultimately tho, the Astronauts fought their way back Nomura kept MAO outside the ring, while Abe stretched out To-y with an Octopus submission. Without MAO to save him, To-y had to submit. Abe & Nomura tack another championship to the board. Rating: ROOOOOOOOOOOAST!