Modern Wrestling Musings #1
Dragon Gate dive. Wrestle Dynasty delivers. IWRG impressions. Plus, when shorter matches are better.
Creating this as a catch-all space for current wrestling that I’m watching and enjoying. My plan is to bounce around to a few different promotions throughout the year as time permits. I also find it easier to catch up on promotions at various times instead of trying to follow them in real-time.
Dragon Gate Dive
Heading into 2025, Dragon Gate was high on my list of promotions I wanted to take a closer look at after really enjoying the select matches I watched last year. What I’ve always appreciated about Dragon Gate is that they do their own thing. I initially felt it might be tricky to jump in relatively cold, but the combination of Mark’s excellent YouTube videos (gutsdozer) and the English commentary helped a ton. I started by watching the three English-commentary shows from January: the back-to-back Open The New Year Gate shows from Tokyo Korakuen Hall and The Gate of Bayside from Yokohama Budokan. The two Korakuen Hall shows served as a great entry point, and I actually wound up enjoying them more than The Gate of Bayside, which I thought was decent but not outstanding.
What stood out to me was Z-Brats as the big heel group feuding with GOLD CLASS. Shun Skywalker continues to be a tremendous presence, and his dominant win over YAMATO set the tone. It’s looking to be a big year for Shun. I was really impressed with Kota Minoura as a very unlikable heel. He comes off as a jerk, a bully, and utterly irredeemable. For GOLD CLASS, JACKY KAMEI and Riiita were the two who stood out the most, bringing very good underdog babyface energy. I also liked what I saw of Dragon Dia as a young, energetic high-flyer. Hyo’s explosiveness is next-level, even in a promotion full of fast wrestlers. I’m a big fan of Strong Machine J, especially in trios, so it was really cool to see him going for the Open The Dream Gate Championship.
More than any individuals, I enjoyed the way the shows flowed—something that can be missed when cherry-picking matches. There was a good variety of match types, finishes, and personalities. I liked the use of veterans like Don Fujii on the undercard for comedy, and Masaaki Mochizuki playing the role of a grumpy dad who finally agreed to face Mochizuki Jr. because he felt his son was getting lazy. ISHIN disguising himself as a reporter to jump Madoka Kikuta was a fun moment, and Masato Tanaka stopping by for a hardcore match added some variety. I’m planning on checking out more full shows throughout the year.
Top Picks:
Riiita vs. Kota Minoura (1/16)
Masaaki Mochizuki vs. Mochizuki Jr (1/15)
GOLD CLASS (Ben-K & JACKY KAMEI & Mochizuki Jr.) vs. Z-Brats (Shun Skywalker & Jason Lee & Homare) (1/16)
Dragon Dia vs. Naruki Doi (1/15)
Open the Twin Gate Championship Z-Brats (Kota Minoura & Jason Lee) vs. GOLD CLASS (Riiita & JACKY KAMEI) (1/25)
Wrestle Dynasty Delivers
On January 5th, 2025, New Japan Pro-Wrestling presented the first Wrestle Dynasty event from the Tokyo Dome. The show featured talent from AEW, ROH, and CMLL. I went into the show thinking I would catch up on a few standout matches later, but I ended up watching the full event. Overall, the production and presentation of New Japan remain at a very high level when they have access to top-tier talent.
The night peaked with Kenny Omega’s return to the ring in a bloody war against Gabe Kidd. Omega looked terrific physically, and Kidd delivered what could be a career-defining performance. In the build-up, Kidd emphasized that Omega was now an outsider, and Kenny leaned into more aggressive, heelish tactics throughout the match. It was a match that moved NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi to tears. The Ace has a long history with Omega and a personal connection with Kidd, whom he supported during some well-documented personal struggles.
For me, Kenny Omega is a wrestler whose big-time matches I can completely lose myself in. I didn’t think he’d return in this way if he wasn’t confident in his abilities post-injury, but I also wasn’t expecting the kind of physical, emotional, and violent war that this turned out to be. It was a statement from both men and left me feeling that Kenny is back for more than just a farewell run.
I really enjoyed Brody King and David Finlay having a meathead classic. I haven’t been following New Japan closely, so I was pleasantly surprised by the wrestler Finlay has evolved into. Brody brought a big effort, and in a different era, he’d probably have a run as the top foreign act in the company. Tomohiro Ishii continues to defy age and logic, dialing things up against Konosuke Takeshita in an excellent, hard-hitting affair that’s well worth seeking out.
Elsewhere, the women’s four-way featuring Athena, Persephone, Willow Nightingale, and Momo Watanabe was a lot of fun. Persephone and Willow, in particular, stood out in the big stadium setting. The Lucha Gauntlet proved to be an electric spectacle. The Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara) showed themselves to be a very good tag team, overcoming the cheating tactics of the House of Torture in a solid undercard match. Mercedes Mone and Mina Shirakawa were very dialed in for their match. Mone’s pacing is excellent in big matches, and Mina showcased some very aggressive limb work. The Young Bucks looked rested and impressive, winning the IWGP Tag Team Titles. I’m hoping they can settle into a role as big-match-only wrestlers. Lastly, Zack Sabre Jr. and Ricochet did an admirable job following Omega and Kidd’s bloodbath. They started the match hot and maintained the intensity throughout. Ricochet has really settled into his new heel persona, looking sharp and confident. It’s a match that would probably come off even better when watched in isolation.
Overall, Wrestle Dynasty was a very good show, with almost every match worth checking out.
Top Picks:
Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Brody King vs. David Finlay
Mercedes Mone vs. Mina Shirakawa
Lucha Gauntlet
IWRG Impressions
In the second half of 2024, I started checking out a few matches from IWRG, which runs shows at the historic Arena Naucalpan usually twice a week. All their shows are streamed live on their YouTube channel, and they also clip out full matches, interviews, and angles, making it very accessible. In January, I made an effort to watch at least 1 or 2 matches per week from their shows to get a better handle on what’s going on.
They kicked off the year with a big angle: El Hijo de Canis Lupus turned on Hell Boy and formed the Revolution Crew with Rey Halcon, Multifacetico Jr., and Aguila Roja. Lupus and Hell Boy have had a compelling feud across multiple shows. The dynamic high-flying duo Los Mexa Boys (Spider Fly and Noisy Boy) have backed up Hell Boy at times. Additionally, El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. and Flamita have made appearances on some shows. Overall, I’ve been enjoying the main featured talent in the promotion, and there’s usually at least one really good match per week that I’ve been adding to a “Best of 2025 IWRG” playlist when they’re clipped out.
Hell Boy is a solid brawler, and El Hijo de Canis Lupus has a great look and explosive energy that makes me think he could go far. Spider Fly and Noisy Boy are a lot of fun to watch. They attempt some ridiculous moves with varying success, but you’re always in for a treat when they’re in the ring. The surprise for me, though, has been Aguila Roja. I’m not sure what his ceiling is, but he’s a fantastic bumping rudo and often feels like the glue holding his matches together. La Pandemia are a fun tecnico trio when they’re around. I’m hoping to see more of Mala Fama (Arez, Toxin, and Latigo) because whenever they appear, they’re one of my favorite trios in wrestling right now. They could slide into any major promotion and excel, much like The Beast Mortos has. One thing IWRG provides that current CMLL lacks is the use of blood and brawls, which adds a unique edge to their shows.
Top Picks:
Flamita, Los Mexa Boy's (Noisy Boy, Spider Fly) vs. Mala Fama (Arez, Latigo, Toxin) (1/12)
La Secta vs. La Pandemia (1/5)
Mexa Boy's (Noisy Boy & Spider Fly), Aquiles & Hell Boy vs. Revolution Crew (Aguila Roja, El Hijo de Canis Lupus, Multifacetico Jr. & Rey Halcon) (1/5)
IWRG Mexico Title Match Hell Boy (c) vs. El Hijo de Canis Lupus (1/31)
Laredo Kid, Hell Boy, Flamita vs. Revolution Crew (El Hijo de Canis Lupus, Multifacetico Jr. & Rey Halcon) (1/19)
When Shorter Is Better
When I watched the IWGP Women’s Title match between Mayu Iwatani and AZM from Wrestle Kingdom 19, I wrote down “nine minutes of hell” to describe it. To be precise, it was eight minutes and forty-six seconds according to the official time.
This match brought to mind a recurring thought I’ve had: all-action style matchups are often better when kept shorter. As wrestlers move higher on the card or compete in title matches, there’s often an expectation—whether from the wrestlers themselves, their promotions, or the fans—that the match has to be longer.
Instead, I’d rather see the first thought when planning a match be: “What’s the optimal version of this match?” For Mayu and AZM, they could probably have a terrific 20- or 30-minute match, but what I saw was something I wouldn’t change, even though it was now a title match. It wasn’t “less than” because it was shorter, just as I don’t consider matches “better than” simply because they’re longer.
Additionally, the all-out, high-energy style is better suited to a shorter match. I’d compare it to a fight where two people come out swinging from the start. Realistically, that kind of intensity can only last for a round or two before someone gets knocked out—or, in reality, they become too fatigued to continue.
I wouldn’t feel robbed if an explosive, exciting main event wrestling match went nine minutes. In fact, it would probably make most matches feel more important and unpredictable. Shorter matches can heighten the sense of urgency and keep the audience on the edge of their seats, wondering if every move could be the one that ends it.
I hope you enjoyed this first edition. Please like, share, and subscribe!