The Best Wrestler of 2025: KYLE FLETCHER

     Kyle Fletcher was in so many great matches in 2025 it's kind of astounding. He definitely sealed the deal as the best wrestler of 2025 once Will Ospreay left to get neck surgery in August. Fletcher picked up the ball and ran with it, immediately having one of the best matches of the year against 'Hangman' Adam Page in the main event of September's All Out. Then, if maybe towards of the end of 2025 you still weren't believing it, Fletcher had one of the best TV matches of the year on Dynamite against 'Speedball' Mike Bailey. To cap off the year, Fletcher and Jon Moxley had one of best matches of the year at World's End on December 27th to end the year on a high note. Fletcher was also in the #1 match of the year, his epic steel cage match at Revolution. Fletcher's feud with Mark Briscoe this year was also fantastic. They had the best match on the Dynasty PPV in April and a fantastic, ***1/2 star match at Full Gear. To be in four of the top 10 matches of the year is pretty incredible. And he did it by having bloody and crazy hardcore matches and great, dramatic, and entertaining straight-up wrestling matches. The things he put his body through this year just to entertain us was astounding. He plays a great heel, but he also has the speed, the spectacular moves, the timing, and the look of a star to back it all up. I can't wait to see what he does in 2026.

The Best Show of 2025: AEW REVOLUTION 3/9

 

    Remember the legendary days of New Japan's Wrestle Kingdom shows where there were three or four back-to-back awesome, match-of-the-year contenders? And sometimes the matches just got better and better? Yeah, those days are long gone, but this show had a three match stretch that was incredible. Toni Storm beat Mariah May for the women's title in a "Hollywood Ending" bloodbath match. It was the best women's match in AEW history. I still remember both women breaking bottles of champagne in buckets and taping the shards of glass to their hands to use on their opponent. Insanity. Right after that, Kenny Omega and Konosuke Takeshita had a ***1/2 star match. Right after that, Will Ospreay and Kyle Fletcher had the best match of the year that took place in a steel cage. The actual PPV even started with a ***1/2 star match between MJF and 'Hangman' Adam Page that had the crowd going crazy. The other good match on the show was Ricochet vs. Swerve Strickland. Every match on the show wasn't great of course, and the main event was weak. Still, that three match stretch of greatness was a sight to behold. To have a PPV with three ***1/2 star matches and one **** star match is truly rare. This was, like the glory days of New Japan, legendary.  

The Best Match of 2025: WILL OSPREAY vs. KYLE FLETCHER (STEEL CAGE) "AEW REVOLUTION" 3/9

    This was a kitchen sink match in that they seemingly did everything. I only watched this match once, ten months ago, and yet I still remember Ospreay giving Fletcher a Styles Clash onto thumbtacks, Ospreay giving Fletcher a Spanish Fly off the top of the cage, and Fletcher, on his knees, screaming at Ospreay, "I fucking hate you!" before Ospreay gave him a Hidden Blade to end it. This was masterful stuff, extremely violent and highly dramatic with a hot crowd cheering everything. Usually, a steel cage match is just a random match these days, but the point of its' invention was to be the final blowoff match in a feud, the ultimate culmination of everything, and this match was truly that. Fletcher beat Ospreay in November of 2024 and Ospreay beat Fletcher in December 2024. The feud was finally settled in this bloodbath masterpiece. These two always lay it on the line and in this match they delivered everything they had and more. Just the toll these two took on their bodies to entertain us and shock us is jaw dropping. This was epic and awesome and a match you won't forget. 

Other Notable Matches:

Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd   NJPW/AEW/CMLL Wrestle Dynasty   1/5

Toni Storm vs. Mariah May   AEW Revolution   3/9

Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita   AEW Dynamite   4/16

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Bandido   ROH Supercard of Honor   7/11

The Young Bucks vs. Swerve Strickland & Will Ospreay   AEW All In Texas   7/12

'Hangman' Adam Page vs. Jon Moxley   AEW All Out Texas   7/12

'Hangman' Adam Page vs. Kyle Fletcher   AEW All Out   9/20

Kyle Fletcher vs. 'Speedball' Mike Bailey   AEW Dynamite   12/10

Jon Moxley vs. Kyle Fletcher   AEW Worlds End   12/27