Free Wrestling This Month (May 2025 Uploads)
From Mentai Kid’s outstanding retirement match to a Hair vs. Hair bloodbath. Plus a trip back to a 1970s Poffos tag. It’s all here, and it’s all free!
I’m spanning the globe seeking a constant variety of professional wrestling (think “Wide World of Sports”). On this trip, I’m using a month’s uploads from free official YouTube accounts as my guide. I’m mostly going to be taking in the current scene with a few trips into the time machine in pursuit of broadening my horizons.
I happily present to you the May 2025 Uploads where I witnessed one of the best retirement matches in recent memory, a wonderfully bloody hair versus hair match, a potential new heir to the best heavyweight in the world throne, an unaired 1970’s television pilot, and so much more. Check out the full YouTube Playlist and watch before or after you read more context on the matches.
I’m starting out hot with a match that I’ll remember come year-end time and one that nearly slipped past my radar (it’s constantly being upgraded!), it’s Mentai Kid vs. Genkai in Mentai Kid’s Retirement Match!
It’s May 11, 2025 in Fukuoka, Japan at the Fukuoka Island City Forum for Kyushu Pro Wrestling, a promotion launched in 2007 by Ryota Chikuzen. Ryota himself came out of Taka Michinoku’s Kaientai Dojo and primarily worked those shows until he started Kyushu Pro. The company also operates a training center and mainly runs shows on the Kyushu island of Japan. Mentai Kid has been a constant for Kyushu Pro over his 17 year career and said that he wanted to go out before becoming a shadow of his former self. He also wanted his final match to be against his rival Genkai.
It’s an absolute gem of a match where Mentai Kid lives up to his word. He looks and moves like he still has another ten years in him. The crowd is packed with a lot of families expressing their love for Mentai Kid. Jushin Liger is there doing commentary and Mentai’s original trainer, Ultimo Dragon, is there as well to offer support.
“I used to think wrestlers should be distant icons. But now I believe we need to be close to the people. That’s something I learned,” Mentai stated. And this match showed him to be anything but a distant icon. Genkai is outstanding as well, playing the role of the cold bruiser intent on putting Mentai out with a loss. I really liked how impactful it was when Genkai chose to show more emotion. It’s an excellent pure good guy versus bad guy match filled with high quality wrestling to match the outstanding atmosphere. It’s one to remember for sure.
Up next, I head stateside to St. Louis, Missouri for Saint Louis Anarchy where Thomas Shire is defending the Gateway Heritage Title against Kenny Alfonso on April 25, 2025.
Shire is a tall, imposing, throwback style wrestler. It takes a lot of work by Alfonso to take the man off his feet and really allows the fans to get behind Alfonso’s efforts. Shire wrestles in a way that would be commonplace decades ago but sticks out a lot in the present day. It suits his frame and feels authentic to him rather than a tribute act. It felt like Alfonso earned everything he got and he’s an easy guy to root for. I especially liked him doing the bridge out of pins.
My first trip in the time machine takes me back to April 7th, 2008. It’s Night Three of the Champion Carnival for All Japan Pro Wrestling and American Joe Doering is going up against veteran powerhouse Kensuke Sasaki.
Doering is a future Triple Crown Champion and early in his run here while Sasaki will leave for Pro Wrestling NOAH in a few months. It’s a sub 10 minute slugfest between two heavyweights and gives me a good idea why Doering became a regular in Japan.
From there, I head to the famed Arena Naucalpan in Mexico for a Hair versus Hair Match between Bombero Infernal and Cerebro Negro from May 18, 2025.
I’ve seen Cerebro recently in a vicious chain match also in IWRG. The 52-year-old Bombero Infernal’s entrance is tremendous being accompanied by his students. The crowd is raucous and larger than usual. They’re mostly here to see the veteran put Cerebro Negro in his place. Bombero spent much of his career working in IWRG and is a trainer for them as well. These two have been feuding for the past couple months in IWRG to build up to this moment and I very much felt like it was a trainer saying “let me show you how it’s done.” It has the blood, emotion, and violence that I’ve come to expect from a lucha brawl. It probably even topped the aforementioned chain match as the promotion’s best bloody brawl of the year.
It’s back to the US and Las Vegas, Nevada where Winner's Circle Pro-Wrestling is featuring “The Octopus” Jonathan Gresham against Alpha Zo from April 17, 2025.
It’s hyped as a pure style of match but it’s under normal pro wrestling rules. I’ve seen Zo recently in a dog collar match with Mad Dog Connelly and I want to see him in a regular match. I’m also interested in seeing how the former ROH World Champion is looking. Gresham looks quick and brings the type of creativity I came to expect from him during his great ROH run. Zo shows versatility and brings good grit and competitiveness. It's a match that has good substance with a few fireworks as well.
Up next, the time machine takes me back quite a bit further to 1975 for an unaired pilot for Dave McKigney's Canadian Big Time Wrestling.
McKigney is a Canadian pro wrestler best known for wrestling bears under the ring name of Gene Dubois. Yes, actual bears. Sadly, McKigney dies in a 1988 crash when the van he’s in swerves to avoid hitting a moose. It is the same accident that also claimed the lives of Adrian Adonis and Victor “Pat Kelly” Arko.
According to the upload by Maple Leaf Pro, this is an “Unaired pilot for "Canadian Big Time Wrestling", a show produced by "Wildman" Dave McKigney. Live from London Gardens Arena, London, Ontario, 1975.” Lord Layton is charming as host as he guides us through the night’s matchups. On tap, we’ve got Gene Dubois (McKigney) against Waldo Von Erich, “The Alaskan” Jay York tangles with The Patriot, The Sheik collides with Tiger Jeet Singh in a Cage Match, the North American Champion Stan Stasiak takes on Ron Doner, and the World Tag Team Champions The Poffos (Angelo and Lanny) defend against Irish Mickey Doyle and Billy Red Lyons.
It’s a great effort with a unique blend of talent that is available at the time. It’s basically a Canadian version of Detroit’s Big Time Wrestling and it’s interesting to see a TV wrestling program from the time done in an arena as opposed to a studio. Dubois really impresses me with some of his athleticism. He lands on his feet off a backdrop which is super impressive. Waldo is a classic heel with a full bag of tricks. A fun opener for sure.
I am reminded not to judge a book by his cover with “The Alaskan” Jay York. He shows quite a bit of technical prowess beyond the gimmick. Lord Layton is excellent at explaining the moves and how everything all works in professional wrestling. The Sheik and Tiger Jeet Singh bleed and trade punches in the cage. It works for the crowd as they bite on the many the escape attempts. Apparently it was illegal to go over the cage in these matches.
Stan “The Man” Stasiak looks the same no matter what year I see him in. I’m impressed with Ron Doner, an Ontario local. His energy is and I want to learn more about him. My favorite part of this is the World Tag Team Title match pitting The Poffos (Angelo and Lanny) against Irish Mickey Doyle and Billy Red Lyons. Angelo looks great for 50 and Lanny is just 21. I can see just how much Randy Savage picked up from the both of them. Angelo is very expressive, sells and reacts to everything great, and is the best part of this. I’m amazed at how over Irish Mickey Doyle is with the crowd and I see that he has a book available that I’ll check out. The finish is unique and well done. I almost didn’t catch what happened the first time. Of course, Lord Layton makes things right. I’d definitely recommend checking out The Poffos tag above all else.
It’s back to Japan for a tag team showdown between Red Energy (Mika Iwata & Miyuki Takase) and Ayako Sato & Hanako Nakamori from the Feb. 14, 2025 World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Future Sight Vol. 31.
Diana is Kyoko Inoue’s promotion. Inoue started in AJW and later founded NEO before starting Diana in 2011. Sato and Nakamori are both seasoned veterans while Red Energy regularly competes in Sendai Girls among several other promotions. Ayako and Hanako set the tone early with their hard hitting style. Mika and Miyuki don’t back down and it’s clear what type of match I’m in for. I’m more familiar with Red Energy and they bring some really good tandem offense. Sato and Nakamori utilize a tray as a weapon throughout which leads to a great moment late in the match. I’m really impressed with Sato and Nakamori as this mean, nasty veteran team while Iwata remains one of the coolest wrestlers on the scene.
My next stop is Seoul, South Korea where Pro Wrestling Society present Wrestle Nation in front of a reported crowd of 3,000. The venue looks very full with a lot of families in attendance. The promoter, Shiho is in the Main Event against Samuray Del Sol while the undercard features some recognizable names like Tajiri, Ikemen Jiro, Melina, and Ricardo Rodriguez. I’m taking a look at the Korean Title Match which pits Lee Rang (c) vs. Jin Gae Sung vs. Kim Jung Wook.
Starting with the introductions, the fans like Kim Jung Wook but they LOVE Jin Gae Sung. His entrance is very cool with flashing green lights. Lee Rang, however, is very hated as the big heel champion. He's got a great look and stands out as the most polished of the three. It’s very scrappy and feels very influenced by US wrestling. The crowd is with them the whole way and they build to a very nice finish. I’d like to see some more from Rang in the future and keep an eye on if they continue to do crowds like this.
I take a short trip in the time machine back to May 7, 2022 in Newport, Kentucky for Impact Wrestling’s Under Siege where The Briscoes are challenging Violent By Design for the World Tag Team Titles.
We’re nestled in the three month stretch between The Briscoes first and second matches with FTR in Ring of Honor. In that time, The Briscoes mainly work Impact Wrestling along with a few select independent dates. Violent By Design consists of Eric Young, Deaner, and Joe Doering as a heel trio. The action gets started before the bell with Deaner and Young trying to attack. The Briscoes get the better of them until Doering helps out. The Kentucky crowd is all in on The Briscoes as the familiar chants of “Man Up” ring out. I’m reminded quickly that The Briscoes have this extra gear that lets me know they’re the best team in the world. There’s often a certain moment in their matches when they overwhelm their opponents in a way that few other teams have been able to match. It’s a good match that establishes Dem Boys in a new promotion.
Off I go to Big Japan’s 30th Anniversary show on May 5, 2025 in Yokohama, Japan for the opening contest between Kazumasa Yoshida and Koshiro Asakura.
It turns out BJW is now uploading all their shows to a members tier on their YouTube channel. This one is their free offering and it’s two wrestlers I’m unfamiliar with. The stocky Yoshida is about four years in while the taller Asakura is one year. Unlike a lot of “young lion” type matches, it seems like there are few restrictions on these two. They work really hard to have an emotional dramatic match in the opener. Asakura’s clearly very raw but was able to get the fans behind him. I feel like Yoshida has a bright future in the lineage of BJW bruisers. It’s a pretty ambitious match for their experience level but one that likely made them both better.
The last stop on my journey this month is the unique looking Azalea Taisho Hall in Osaka, Japan for Osaka Pro’s 4th Light Heavyweight Tournament Final Match between SUZAKU and Ryuya Matsufusa.
It’s May 25, 2025 and the second night of the tournament. Both men have wrestled earlier in the night. SUZAKU is 28 years old and has wrestled in promotions like Dragon Gate, Tenryu Project, and All Japan before donning the mask in Osaka Pro. He’s the fan favorite here among another family oriented crowd. Matsufusa is 26 and mainly wrestles out of Osaka Pro. I’m impressed at the flash of SUZAKU early on and the meanness of Matsufusa as he rips off SUZAKU’s tassels. It’s an easy way to establish the good guy-bad guy dynamic to the crowd off the start. It’s a longer match that feels quite a bit like the big modern main event. I think SUZAKU’s found something with this gimmick that accentuates his dynamic offense. He can be that superhero type character while Matsufusa has very natural heel tendencies he’s leaning into. For a 20-minute match they have the crowd with them big time at the end.
My Top Picks
Red Energy (Mika Iwata & Miyuki Takase) vs. Ayako Sato & Hanako Nakamori
The Poffos (Angelo & Lanny) vs. Irish Mickey Doyle & Billy Red Lyons
Will I take another trip next month? Preparations are currently underway…
The Full YouTube Playlist:
Mentai Kid vs. Genkai (May 11, 2025 Kyushu Pro Mentai Kid Retirement Memorial Event ~ Kyushu Ba Genki Ni Goodbye) [Timestamp 1:08:10]
Gateway Heritage Title Match Thomas Shire (c) vs. Kenny Alfonso (Apr. 25, 2025 Saint Louis Anarchy All The Devils Are Here)
Kensuke Sasaki vs. Joe Doering (Apr. 7, 2008 AJPW Gaora Special Champion Carnival 2008 - Night 3)
Bombero Infernal vs. Cerebro Negro - Hair Vs. Hair Match (May 18, 2025 IWRG Función Espectacular) [Timestamp 2:28:58]
Jonathan Gresham vs. Alpha Zo (Apr. 17, 2025 Winner's Circle Pro-Wrestling The Score)
Dave McKigney's Canadian Big Time Wrestling (1975 Unaired Pilot)
Red Energy (Mika Iwata & Miyuki Takase) vs. Ayako Sato & Hanako Nakamori (Feb. 14, 2025 World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Future Sight Vol. 31)
PWS Korean Title Lee Rang (c) vs. Jin Gae Sung vs. Kim Jung Wook (May 10, 2025 Pro Wrestling Society Wrestle Nation)
Impact World Tag Team Title Match Violent By Design (Eric Young & Deaner) (c) vs. The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe) (May 7, 2022 Impact Wrestling Under Siege)
Kazumasa Yoshida vs. Koshiro Asakura (May 5, 2025 BJW 30th Anniversary ~ Dainichi Spirit)
SUZAKU vs. Ryuya Matsufusa - Tournament Final (May 25, 2025 Osaka Pro 4th Light Heavyweight Tournament - Night Two) [Timestamp 1:21:36]