Table of contents for Fall 2025 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated

REGULAR READERS OF THIS column are well aware of my predilection for independent (indie) wrestling. Though some cynics see such promotions as transitional “minor leagues”—or, perhaps even worse, a lesser version of the professional wrestling offered on weekly television—true enthusiasts understand that the indies are nearly as often on the cutting edge of the sport. Colorful characters and innovative athleticism abound at various regional and touring companies—ambitious, robust promotions that nevertheless operate without the safety net (or restrictions) imposed upon leagues with stronger financial backing. Much has been written about the influence of indie wrestling, from the salad days of Extreme Championship Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla to the transformative All In show of 2018. If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend picking up a copy of Keith…

HULK HOGAN—THE ICON who graced the cover of PWI 82 times between 1981 and 2007, won six world titles in the WWF and six more in WCW, and led two wrestling boom periods—passed away on July 24 in Clearwater, Florida. He was 71 years old. His rapid health deterioration was unknown to most people, prompting a stunned reaction throughout the world. Paramedics were dispatched to his home that morning, and then he was transported to Morton Plant Hospital and pronounced dead of cardiac arrest. The Wrestling Observer confirmed Hogan took a turn for the worse after neck surgery on May 14, and he’d recently been hospitalized for renal failure, fluid overload, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A makeshift hospital room had been assembled in his home. While his family…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umwvsTtW4Ao From Midwestern grit to European glory, Steve Manders has brought his hard-hitting style across the Atlantic. This is the story of how a modern-day cowboy rode the trail through Europe’s toughest rings, winning gold and fans along the way CALLED MANDERS knows what it’s like to stand apart. He knows what it’s like to speak and be met by blank stares and language barriers. He also knows about the universal languages of toughness, heart, and respect. It’s those that have carried him from thecornfieldsof Iowato the cobblestone streets of Germany. Along the way, he has embraced being different. In a world of flash and filters, he is genuinely himself. There are no gimmicks—just boots, grit, and a damn good lariat. And all of that has been enough to position him…

AMIDST THE HUSTLE AND bustle of a Saturday night in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, AKIRA sits thousands of miles from his home in Delphi, Indiana. The birthplace of wrestling legend and multi-hall-of-famer Dick The Bruiser, the small city of Delphi has an unlikely history of pro wrestlers and shattered glass, dating back to November 1885. That month, Australian newspapers reported the death of 29-year-old wrestler Clarence Whistler, who had traveled downunder to compete. A son of Delphi, Indiana, Whistler’s name became synonymous with the toughness he exuded in and out of the ring. Before Whistler’s death, famed rival William Muldoon had noted that Whistler “fought like a demon.” Indeed, one particularly memorable bout between the two had ended in a draw, with both wrestlers sustaining injuries one would more likely expect in…

FOR PERIOD ENDED JULY 20, 2025 The top singles wrestlers, tag teams, and more are ranked and dissected. HEAVYWEIGHT 1 ADAM PAGE (9) AEW World champion Aaron’s Creek, VA 2 JOHN CENA (1) WWE Undisputed Universal champion West Newbury, MA 3 GUNTHER (2) WWE World heavyweight champion Vienna, Austria 4 ZACK SABRE JR. (-) IWGP World champion Isle of Sheppey, U.K. 5 TRICK WILLIAMS (7) TNA World champion Colombia, SC 6 BANDIDO (-) ROH World champion Torreon, Mexico 7 KAZUCHIKA OKADA (-) AEW Unified champion Aichi, Japan 8 HIJO DEL VIKINGO (6) AAA Mega champion Puebla, Mexico 9 MATT RIDDLE (-) MLW World champion Las Vegas, NV 10 KENTA (-) GHC heavyweight champion Saitama, Japan WOMEN 1 TONI STORM (1) AEW Women’s World champion Auckland, New Zealand 2 MERCEDES MONE (5) CMLL World/AEW TBS/RevPro Women’s champion Boston, MA 3 TIFFANY STRATTON (6) WWE…

IF WRESTLING MATS COULD talk, GCW’s canvas would gurgle and sputter a bloodthirsty Cenobite. Since its rechristening in 2015, Game Changer Wrestling has developed a reputation for raw and unrestrained wrestling action that rivals heavy-hitting predecessors like CZW, XPW, and even the O.G. of hardcore wrestling, ECW. On July 11, 2025, before a packed house in Dallas, Texas—as well as a vast audience of streaming customers—GCW’s penchant for chaos was on full display via its Boss of All Bosses event. For those who aren’t exactly hip to the jive, GCW isn’t your dad’s hardcore wrestling. Some call it “ultraviolent,” some call it deathmatch wrestling, and one guy infamously referred to GCW as an “outlaw mudshow.” The one thing that pretty much all parties can agree on is that GCW isn’t…

EVER SINCE MONDAY NIGHT Raw moved to Netflix, I’ve been checking out more streaming shows. And I’ve got to tell you: Some of these concepts really strain credulity. Take Squid Game for instance. Am I really supposed to believe some bored billionaires would risk the lives of so many people just for entertainment’s sake? Then, I remembered that last Anarchy in the Arena match. I guess it’s not so far-fetched after all. Binge out on this streaming-inspired edition of “Quick Count.” SLOW HORSES When transcribing interviews for PWI, I often play back an audio recording at three-quarter speed. The way those interviews sound is the way John Cena’s matches have looked since his return. Cena deserves a ton of credit for how much he’s committed himself to WWE in his farewell run—putting…

PWI sits down with one of the most popular competitors in All Elite Wrestling to discuss her optimistic personal philosophy, her unique relationship with fans, and the joys of hurling opponents through the “forbidden door” “NOTHING MATTERS. SMILE ANYWAY.” This is the tagline for Willow Nightingale, one of the most popular members of the flourishing women’s division in All Elite Wrestling. One might describe such a sentiment as cheerful nihilism. Or, if you’re the former TBS champion, you might call it hope. “It’s almost core to who I am,” said Nightingale, speaking to PWI from backstage at a recent taping of AEW Dynamite. “I want people to know that even when life gets hard, there is light waiting for you somewhere. Sometimes, you just have to look for it to make…

ARIZONA TUCSON—Throwback Era Wrestling at VFW Post 4903: Javi Chacon defeated Narval … Joey Dux defeated Danny Diaz … Western States champion Tecolote beat Sincere to retain … Sskull defeated Bryan Blade … Mateo Gemini beat Eddy Atlas … Leviathan defeated Johnny Saovi … Blaque & Mild beat tag team champions The Royal Deathmatch Family to win the title … Rod Irons defeated Shot Saxon. (06-28-25) —Jesus Higuera CALIFORNIA SAN JOSE—Underground Wrestling Alliance at Narrative Fermentations: Gatekeeper champion Kenny K defeated Cosmo Orion to retain … Bret The Threat beat Ocean Avery … Anton Voorhees defeated Kidd Bandit and Richie Coy in a triplethreat … D-Dre Fresh beat Alpha Zo, Dave Dutra, and UGWA champion Jordan Cruz in a four-way elimination match to win the title … Isaiah Bronson defeated…

IF YOU’RE ANYTHING LIKE me, then you grew up reading the work of grizzled wrestling reporter Matt Brock for years in these very pages. Although he still is known to contribute the occasional column to the PWI Weekly email newsletter (you’re subscribed, aren’t you?), Matt is more or less enjoying a greatly earned retirement these days, the rigors of the road behind him. It was my pleasure recently to catch up with him—more grizzled than ever—at his condo in Port St. Lucie, Florida, to pick his brain on today’s professional wrestling scene. The following is an excerpt from that memorable conversation. Solomon: Mr. Brock, it’s an honor to sit down and chat with you! Thanks for taking a break from your retirement … Brock: Semi-retirement. I’d be happy just kicking back and…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtszpCmhmIs CIRCUMSTANCES MEETS FATE in the aftermath of an uprooted dream. Designers of their destinies, Matt Cardona and Shotzi Blackheart evolved from superstars on the screen to almighty beings on the indies. But there can only be one “Indy God.” Following his WWE release in April 2020, Cardona emerged anew on the independent circuit, first as the “Death Match King” and then as the “Indy God”—a cheeky reference to both his drawing power and his Indiana Jones-inspired entrance gear. Cardona answered his doubters with an indie run for the history books, picking up two consecutive Independent Wrestler of the Year awards (2022, 2023) from this publication. Now, following her own recent departure from WWE, Blackheart is in a race to claim the “Indy God” moniker. It’s a bold move that…

GREETINGS, GRAPPLE FANS. And welcome to another edition of “The Irish Whip.” This month, we are bringing you the hottest happenings from BritWres this summer. On June 29, PWI was on hand for PROGRESS Wrestling’s Chapter 181 show, held at the o2 Ritz in Manchester, England. The event saw competitors stake their claims at the forefront of British wrestling, while, elsewhere, rivalries boiled over in the sweltering conditions. One such rivalry was that between Kanji and Nina Samuels. When yours truly sat down to mediate a virtual face-off between the two women in early-June, tensions were already high. Indeed, bad blood had been building for years between the former PROGRESS Women’s champions, during which time they had cost each other opportunities and championships. PROGRESS announced that the two would square off…