5 COUNT: March 1st-15th 2025

1) Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Giulia (c) (WWE NXT Roadblock 3/11/25) NXT Women's Title / NXT Women's North American Title Match. Winner: Vaquer. These two were the biggest signings in years for NXT. Both are well established international stars (Vaquer in Mexico, Giula in Japan) with big match and big crowd experience. Unlike NXT's other recent signings of former AEW and TNA talent both Giulia and Vaquer have had limited exposure on US TV-so they feel fresh for the NXT audience. Fortunately, WWE seems to know what they have, and have pushed these two into NXT main event scene after their debut late last year--with Vaquer winning the North American Title and Giulia with NXT championship.

It is interesting WWE moved so quickly to pit the two against each other--Not gonna complain--assuming it's part one of a series of matches. It's also nice symmetry at it was the almost exactly one year since their first singles match in Stardom. Also interesting was the match length--I was expecting the old NXT EPIC special, instead was pleasantly surprised with an under 1o minute sprint."

The match started with the two countering each others moves--leading to a "Big Moment" staredown (probably the only false note in the contest--way to0 early). The crowd seemed firmly behind Vaquer as she seemed more receptive to letting them in. The "Dark Angel" was sporting a wicked grin throughout the opening salvos; showing she was having a good time and letting the audience feel it. Giula was working solid, but just didn't seemed to have that same crowd connection.

Vaquer hit the first big move with high impact springboard crossbody to the floor. Giulia recovered with hanging neckbreaker off the apron. From there the two were dropping bombs on each other–Vaquer double knees in the corner, wrapping her legs around her opponent's head a driving into the mat again and agian–-Giula counters-hitting a underhook super-plex and a big package driver. Forearm exchange--then Vaquer hits a nasty dragon screw leg drop and her finisher, a package neck breaker. Giula kicks out-Vaquer tries a twisting moonsault from the top rope and Giula executes a perfect counter into triangle submission. Vaquer breaks free-hits a bullseye of a superkick, the two more package neckbreakers for the 1-2-3. Somewhere in a far away pasture, a herd of cows shudder as Paul Levesque out his leather jacket catalog to find the perfect present for his new double champion. Rating: Hot Rocks

2) KUSHIDA vs. Neon (MLW Intimidation Games 3/8/2025) Winner: KUSHIDA. These MLW specials are a mixed bag. The storyline-driven feuds are pretty well worn wrestling tropes--hardly notable or innovative. The promotion uses a fairly lackluster roster of WWE talent who have some indie bona fides (ie Matt Riddle, Bobby Fish, Dijack). Outside of Alex Kane, the "homegrown" talent is not much better. However, their shows do pepper in some current CMLL stars on a regular basis, and to be honest, MLW has made better use of luchadors than most U.S. based promotions including AEW. For that alone, these specials are worth checking out.

Neon is a high-flying CMLL regular and part of their strong crop of talented young guys. He caught al ot of eyes over the last couple years with some highly regarded tag matches with Futuro. KUSHIDA is best known for his Marty McFly inspired gimmick and success as in New Japan's junior division in the 20-teens. He then had a uneven run in NXT for a few years and returned to New Japan. He hasn't had much direction but working steady in the midcard for their U.S based NJPW Strong or making guest spots for their U.S. partners TNA and AEW.

This match was nice contrast in styles--KUSHIDA technical grappling style vs Neon attacking thru the air. Kushida started off trying lure Neon into ground game. Now anyone who has watched CMLL knows even the high flyers can work on the mat and Neon held his own for a time including nimbly reversing Kushida's surfboard stretch into one of his own. No panic tho from KUSHIDA who worked his way back into control-working Neon's arms and hard strikes to the body. After catching KUSHIDA with a kick to the head, Neon popped the crowd with a couple top rope moonsaults for a near pin. This was the way of the match-Neon going for airstrikes and KUSHIDA trying to dodge or counter them into submissions. In the end, it was KUSHIDA using a top rope spot with an avalanche 'Rana and hitting his "Back to the Future" small package driver for the win. Really fun match. Ratings: Rocks

3) Zeuxis (c) vs. Persephone (CMLL Funcion 100% Femenil Conmemorando El Dia Internacional De La Mujer 3/7/25) CMLL World Women's Title Match. Winner: Zeuxis. I had this match circled for a couple reasons. First, it has my fave, Persephone going for a title and second, reading the match write up on the essential luchablog, Zeuxis had post-match comments talking about how the CMLL women needed to raise their game. So I was hoping for a gem, and if you watched the highlights, there were some sweet spots. However the full match was a bit underwhelming. Outside of the nasty curbstomp and a couple of other spots , Zeuxis seemed pretty flat. Peresphone was rough in the early going-seemed to be working fairly soft. She did get it going towards the end, and definitely the reason to watch. Love her Razor's Edge power bomb and scoop powerslam. All in all, it was fairly solid, but hoping for more. Rating: Rent.

4) "Speedball" Mike Bailey vs. The Beast Mortos (AEW Dynamite 3/12/25) International Title Tournament. Winner: Bailey. Let me preface this by saying Bailey is a very good wrestler--can't say I've ever seen him have a bad match. The past few years the independent scene has been fairly thin when it came to male talent, and Bailey not only stepped in the void, but also stepped up—working an average of 150 matches a year since 2022. His style is a pretty combo of hard strikes and high flying (that spinning knee drop-chef's kiss!). He's earned his new paycheck from Tony Khan.

Now I found his AEW debut underwhelming—not a fatal one and he certainly proved himself with his match against Ricochet and Kenny Omega at the recent Dynasty PPV. However, this is my issue with Bailey--it is not his talent, it is the fastrack positioning on the card. Bailey is good, but in a stacked AEW Men's Division, he doesn't even crack the top 10, maybe not top 15. He's a younger, fresher, shoeless Matt Sydal. No small shakes, but the ceiling is the midcard and midcard titles (A Cole/Bailey TV title feud could be a lot of fun).

The International Title may be a secondary title, but Kenny Omega is not a secondary talent. Omega is the best wrestler of his generation and on a given night might be the best wrestler in the world. His match with Gabe Kidd in January is still my forerunner for MOTY. He is special, and even more so because we have been denied his greatness so many times over the past 6 years due to injury, Brawl Out nonsense, and most recently, diverticulitis. One can't help but think Omega matches like the Captain's cousin, are in limited supply. They are premium real estate, and I don't think wasting one to showcase Speedball is worth it; especially when Ricochet/Omega 1 on 1 could have been just as good--if not better. There a so many people on this roster I'd like to see Omega go up against and Bailey wasn't on that list.

You know who was awesome in this match? You know who I would like to see face Omega? Beast fuckin' Mortos. Dude has been fantastic since his arrival in AEW last year. He is so much more than a great base--he's got power, speed, intensity and charisma. Instead of big time matches, he's been eating pins and at best looks to be in a comedy romance subplot with Harley Cameron. Now that's bull. Rating: Rent

5) Sareee vs. Syuri (Sareee-ISM Chapter VII 3/10/25) Winner: Time Limit Draw. Not a big Joshi fan, but becoming a big Sareee fan with every match. She's been on streak run of bangers that may reach an ALLTIME run when it's over. This one was against Syruri and as the result shows--a real back and forth affair. Syuri delivering hard smacks, Sareee answered with a THUD– hard forearms to the chest. Syrui worked the arm, Sareee the knee. Saree hits two stomps to the chest on the floor, Syrui kneeing Sareee in the audience throwing her to the chairs. Normally draws can have some drag, but after an initial sizing up these two went full throttle. Sareee deseerves a lot of credit for her selling-every submission she fought like the life of her child depended on her breaking. The dramatic crawl on the platform to beat the 20 count. The anguish and exhaustion every time Syruri was so real-no NXT shock face. This built to each wrestler hitting finishers, with Sareee having the upper hand as time ran out. Best 30 minutes since Brooklyn 99 Halloween Heist. Rating: HAWT Roast