Hey everyone, and welcome to the latest edition of my newest series here on Long Story Sport, where I list my ten favorite wrestlers from the past month. This past month has given us some truly special moments worldwide. AEW started to catch fire on their weekly television, CMLL continued their almost-robotic run of insane match quality, thus making their monthly 34-dollar YouTube membership actually worth it, and New Japan, quite frankly, gave us the conclusion to a story we never thought would ever be finished.
Because of that, picking my ten for this month was genuinely challenging. Not only that but merely deciding who'd be among my ten honorable mentions was also difficult. Daiki Yanagiuchi, Templario, Puma De Oro, and El Desperado couldn't make THAT shortlist. These men and women, however, did:
Ángel de Oro (CMLL): He started the month with two tremendous performances during the first week of February. His performance during the Reyes Del Aire tournament was especially notable. However, it was his almost otherworldly performance against the best wrestler in the world today, Konosuke Takeshita, on February 28th that will be remembered at the end of the year.
Bandido (AEW): While he only made the notebook once in February, thanks to his awesome contest against Bryan Keith from 2/8, his return has helped fuel AEW's latest resurgence in week-to-week in-ring action. He's super over with the crowd and is a consistent highlight on TK's television.
Fuminori Abe (Freelancer): He had three matches that reached the notebook, most notably his 2/24 match, where he teamed with Takuya Nomura against Rising HAYATO and Yuma Anzai for the All Asia Tag Team Titles. His other two notable matches were multi-man affairs in All Japan and Evolution.
Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) (WWE): 2024's best tag team continued their incredible run on WWE's NXT Brand and TNA. Their defense on 2/6 against the Nemeth Boys, neither of whom I expect to appear on this list at any point, was a gritty affair. Yet their next match on 2/15 against Josh Briggs and Yoshiki "Don't call me YOICHI" Inamura was a bit better.
Hechicero (CMLL): He nearly made the cut thanks to his almost transcendent work against Barbaro Cavernario in Tokyo on February 28th. That match will definitely be on my MOTY shortlist. Besides that, Hechi had a great singles match against Ultimo Guerrero on Valentine's Day and was part of a fun six-man tag televised on Ring of Honor a week later on the 20th.
Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr. (AAA) & KENTA (NOAH): While these two dudes didn't have any notebook matches this month, I've added them because they made news simply by moving promotion. Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr. left NOAH at the end of January, and while many suspected he was heading to Stamford, CT, he instead elected to join the much-maligned AAA promotion in Mexico. Hopefully, he can make that show watchable. On the other hand, KENTA made his illustrious return to NOAH, a promotion currently riding a wave of popularity, and has started strong with new tag partner Kenoh.
Kosei Fujita (NJPW): The young TMDK member had a career night on February 4th when he took on El Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship during New Japan's Road to New Beginning tour. The match currently sits 4th on my MOTY list and further illustrates that Fujita will be the ace of NJPW's junior division someday.
Neon (CMLL): He was sooooo close to making it back onto this list for the second month in a row. He started the month in style when he won CMLL's "Reyes Del Aire" match, including some top names like Mistico, Templario, and Titan.
Oleg Bolton (NJPW): This dude opened my eyes to his potential when he had a career-best match against one of the best wrestlers in the world, Konosuke Takeshita. His star power rose with that one bout.
Tam Nakano (Stardom): She started the month wrestling in Stardom's first match of the Year candidate of 2025 and immediately began the latest, possibly final, chapter in her rivalry with World of Stardom Champion Saya Kamitani. They will have a "Loser Leaves Stardom" title match in March.
With all that preamble out of the way, it's TIME to get to the main event and list my ten favorite wrestlers from February. And as always, thank you for all your incredible support.
Adam Priest
Freelancer
I have seen the light! After watching more actual US indie wrestling and not just the GCW slop I've been fed for years, I've started to earnestly watch some of the proper independents who have been ballyhooed for a while. The immediate benefit of watching US indie wrestling that's good for a change is that I've finally seen enough of this man, Adam Priest. And just like many other fans, I'm impressed.
The 28-year-old Alabama native has had a great year so far. Back in January, he had two matches that I really enjoyed, and this past month, he added another three, with one of them technically happening in January but being released in early February. Priest is the best Southern-style heel in the United States in 2025. He can seamlessly go from feigning cowardice when he's pushed into a corner to poking an eye or putting on a hold that straddles legality.
His work in Deadlock Pro Wrestling will undeniably be his most celebrated for most, as Deadlock is the best pure pro wrestling promotion in the United States right now. Still, his work in New Texas PW and ACTION also round out Priest's resume. With that being said, my favorite matches from Priest's catalog in February came from the promotion booked by the boys that made the "Goldberg eats corn the long way" meme, Deadlock. His singles bout against Kevin Blackwood in a National Title #1 Contendership match showcased Priest's excellent propensity of committing underhanded violence on his enemy while allowing Blackwood the time to get his fiery comeback over to the Texas crowd. His three-way against Colby Corino and Trevor Lee on the 23rd further pushed Priest as this undeniably dastardly figure, this time working with fellow heel Lee.
Moving forward, I'll watch any US indie show that sports this dude on their card. If you want to watch a real Southern heel working in 2025, then I can recommend NO ONE more than Adam Priest. ROLL TIDE.
Highlighted Matches:
2/2 vs. Kevin Blackwood (DPW Title Fight in Texas, Pasadena, TX)
2/23 vs. Colby Corino & Trevor Lee (DPW No Pressure 2025, Chicago, IL)
Barbaro Cavernario
CMLL
Few guys in CMLL are as magnetic and downright dazzling to watch every week as Barbaro Cavernario. The 31-year-old had an insane month, as he notched another three matches to his wrestler-of-the-year resume, including his incredible singles match against Hechicero from the final show on this year's Fantastica Mania tour on the 28th.
Barbaro Cavernario once again showcased his unique blend of over-the-top showmanship with his daredevil in-ring style, and that combo made for some magical matches and moments. Earlier in the month, he had a great singles clash with fellow crazy person Difunto inside Arena Mexico, and he followed that with an engaging trios contest on Ring of Honor television, of all places, later in the month.
Adding those with the aforementioned one against Hechicero at the end of the month, Cavernario had three notebook matches, with one happening in Arena Mexico on a CMLL show, another one taking place in the main event of a Ring of Honor show that took place just outside Houston, and a final one inside the hallowed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. That versatility to connect with three different crowds and cultures is such an impressive trait, and Barbaro Cavernario made it look easy.
Highlighted Matches:
2/4 vs. Difunto (CMLL Martes Arena México - Los Reyes del Aire 2025, Mexico City)
2/28 vs. Hechicero (CMLL/NJPW Fantastica Mania 2025 - Night 8, Tokyo)
Hirooki Goto
New Japan
If I had to spotlight only one wrestler this month instead of 10, I would easily pick Hirooki Goto. The 45-year-old made the most incredible jump of everyone on this list after he shocked the world and defeated Zack Sabre Jr. to become the 10th different man to win the 5th version of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, which is the one pictured above. Goto is now the oldest wrestler to hold the top prize in New Japan since Keiji Mutoh won the belt in 2008 when he was 46.
As of writing this post, Goto's battle with ZSJ on February 11th is not only my Match of the Year but also my Moment of the Year. From the moment he stepped out through the curtain and onto the ramp, Goto held the Osaka crowd in the palm of his hand. Every time he was beaten down and twisted into a new knot by the Englishman, the crowd rallied behind their man. And whenever Goto hit one of his signature moves, like the Ushigoroshi or GTR, the Osaka crowd exploded into nearly religious hysterics for the leader of CHAOS.
By the time Goto finally put down Sabre for the last time and earned the three count and the win, there were people in the crowd with tears in their eyes. Outside the arena and online, people were admitting to crying themselves. Waking up that morning and going on Twitter to see that much love and happiness was like something from a dream that is often out of reach. For one day, the wrestling world was genuinely elated.
The G in IWGP truly stands for Goto. Congratulations!
Highlighted Match:
2/11 vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka, Osaka)
Konosuke Takeshita
AEW
2nd Appearance
If it wasn't already evident, given that he's been on both lists so far this year, Konosuke Takeshita is currently the best wrestler in the world. The man has been simply untouchable. This past month, Takeshita did something I've never seen before. He had MOTY candidates in four different countries. That's simply incredible!
First, Takeshita was part of an AEW televised tag team match featuring tag partner Kyle Fletcher and opponents Brody King and Buddy Matthews. Six days later, he had a classic hoss match against Oleg Bolton at New Japan's New Beginning in Osaka event in Japan. Four days after that, he and Kyle Fletcher teamed up again, this time against Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, in Australia for a third great match of the month.
Then, after heading back to the United States, Takeshita took on Orange Cassidy in his fourth match of the month. Finally, on February 28th, he battled Angel De Oro at Arena Mexico in Mexico City in a bloody affair that is well worth watching.
These past few years, at least inside the ring, have belonged to Will Ospreay, who's consistently put on great matches one after another. While he's still one of the best wrestlers in the world, no doubt, I have to admit that no one is as impressive in the ring as Konosuke Takeshita. The dude continues to amaze me, not just in his consistency but in his ability to have engaging matches no matter where he wrestles. This might sound a little crazy, but I think Takeshita is showing early signs of being a GOAT!
Highlighted Matches:
2/11 vs. Oleg Boltin (NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka, Osaka)
2/15 w/ Kyle Fletcher vs. Kenny Omega & Will Ospreay (AEW Grand Slam Australia, Brisbane)
Meiko Satomura
WWE
Meiko Satomura's legendary career is scheduled to end on April 29th, but the only person unaware of that is Meiko herself. It's crazy that The Living Legend puts in spectacular work at every opportunity. Back in January, she had a Match of the Year contender against Sareee, and she added two more wonderful matches for all of us to see in February.
The first match I want to highlight was a unique singles clash with freelancer Unagi Sayaka inside the famed Korakuen Hall on February 16th during a one-match show hosted by Unagi. These two had a match filled with some of Meiko's trademark deadly kicks, brawling to the outside crowd area and comedy spots, and then Meiko murdered Unagi with one of her devastating kicks.
She then traveled from Tokyo, Japan, to London, England, to compete in her final European match, a singles contest against up-and-coming English talent Rhio (not to be confused with the one from Japan). These two had a genuinely emotional bout that I'd recommend everyone check out to see how to pay respect to a legend in the business. PROGRESS might not be as prominent as it used to be, but they pulled out all the stops to show immense respect to the all-time great.
Isn't it crazy that despite all this global trotting, Meiko Satomura is still not even being considered to wrestle for her home promotion, WWE?
Highlighted Matches:
2/16 vs. Unagi Sayaka (Unagi Sayaka Produce One Match Event The Lord Is Crazy ~ My Name Is, Tokyo
2/23 vs. Rhio (PROGRESS Chapter 177: My Own Destiny, London)
Starlight Kid
Stardom
The Sky Tiger of Stardom had an excellent month, bookended by two fantastic matches for different championships. Kid's first match of note happened just two days into February, where she and fellow Neo Genesis allies AZM and Miyu Amasaki ended Natsupoi, Saori Anou, and Tam Nakano's nearly six-month Artist of Stardom reign. Most of you have probably at least heard of this one since it was really ballyhooed right after it happened, which was further strengthened after Dave Meltzer gave the match five stars, for whatever that was worth. I wouldn't go that far, but it was still one of the best trios matches Stardom has put on in a few years.
Starlight Kid would then direct her attention to her next goal: to make her first-ever defense of her Wonder of Stardom Championship, a belt she had only just won off the Natsupoi at the end of December. Her first opponent was the 18-year-old Rina, who had never attempted to win the White Belt. Adding to the drama of a first-time title match attempt, this match will also draw on the interesting dynamic that SLK and Rina have had as they were once close teammates back in Oedo Tai before Kid was kicked out of the group and subsequently turned babyface.
The Wonder of Stardom Title match finally arrived on February 24th. While I thought it would be a fun defense and touch on excellent, I was floored when it ended up being a genuine Match of the Year contender for Stardom. In fact, I went as high as four and a half stars, making it the 10th match I've ranked that high this year. This match was nearly the perfect White Belt title match, which is that it seamlessly combined intense in-ring action with poignant emotional moments and non-verbal storytelling. I loved it!
Moving into March, Starlight Kid is holding onto two significant titles in Stardom and will be a key figure moving forward, as she's basically always been regardless of titles because she is one of the most exceptional talents on the whole roster.
Highlighted Matches:
2/2 w/ AZM & Miyu Amasaki vs. Natsupoi, Saori Anou, & Tam Nakano (Stardom 14th Anniversary Supreme Fight 2025 In Korakuen, Tokyo)
2/24 vs. Rina (Stardom Path of Thunder, Utsunomiya)
Suwama
AJPW/Evolution
From one young Joshi wrestler to an old man trying to fend off the younger generation, here we have the former Ace of All Japan Pro Wrestling, Suwama. If you had told me that this dude would've ever sniffed one of these lists when I started doing it last month, I would've laughed in your face. However, big bro did just that. Through the strength of a few really engaging matches AND his continued intense work with the underrated Evolution Pro Wrestling promotion, I'm stoked to talk about this big oaf.
The 48-year-old only had two matches in February, but I really liked both. First, he teamed up with his fellow Baka No Jidai partners Fuminori Abe and Hideki Suzuki, as well as Abe's number one tag partner, Takuya Nomura, to take on the main ELPIDA four, Ren Ayabe, Rising HAYATO, Ryuki Honda, and most importantly Yuma Anzai on All Japan's first night on their Excite Series. This match was enjoyable and worth a watch if you want to see some of Japan's best young male talents right now, let alone AJPW. I wouldn't say that Suwama was the highlight of this match, but he definitely held his own.
Suwama's best moment came ten days later when, on February 19th, he went to WAR against Takuya Nomura in a match that I initially put as four and a quarter stars but, on second viewing, bumped up to four and a half, making it the 11th MOTY contender and first for Evolution PW. I absolutely loved this match. Suwama looked less like a pro wrestler and more like a bear in man's clothing as he mauled Nomura, who held his own for most of the match. Suwama showed a side of him that was so unflinching and mean that I often missed in my Japanese pro wrestling.
While I don't expect Suwama to do anything like this more than three times this year, I am happy that he chose to show out this month, especially with Nomura. This match ruled. Suwama rules. And you should all watch his work from last month.
Highlighted Matches:
2/9 w/ Fuminori Abe, Hideki Suzuki, & Takuya Nomura vs. Ren Ayabe, Rising HAYATO, Ryuki Honda, & Yuma Anzaki (AJPW Excite Series 2025 - Night 1, Tokyo)
2/19 vs. Takuya Nomura (Evolution Vol. 31, Tokyo)
Takuya Nomura
Freelancer
I must've loved that Suwama match a ton because his opponent in that match, Takuya Nomura, is also on the list this month. I haven't seen a lot of Nomura over the past few years, except when teaming up with Fuminori Abe in the Astronauts tag team, but luckily this year has been different so far. He's notched three MOTY contenders so far in 2025, all of which happened in February.
We already touched on the match with Suwama from Evolution PW on February 19th, but I'll reiterate that this was tremendous work. Nomura might be younger and more brutal than Suwama nine times out of ten, but inside that ring on that day, Nomura's hellacious kicks and never-say-die attitude were not enough to fend off the rabid assault from Suwama. Nevertheless, the issues between these two haven't concluded, and I can't wait for their sequel.
Five days after this classic match, Nomura stepped back into an All Japan ring with Fuminori Abe to challenge Rising HAYATO and Yuma Anzai for the All Asia Tag Team Championships, the secondary tag team titles in the promotion. While you could argue that this wasn't as amazing as some would think, some expectations for this match were already too high. Nevertheless, this was a terrific clash between two top tag teams, and while Nomura came out as the loser again, he definitely showed out in defeat.
Looking ahead, he and Abe are heading to Germany. And while I don't watch a lot of European wrestling, I will make an exception so that I can watch these guys.
Highlighted Matches:
2/19 vs. Suwama (Evolution Vol. 31, Tokyo)
2/24 w/ Fuminori Abe vs. Rising HAYATO & Yuma Anzai (AJPW Excite Series 2025 - Night 4, Tokyo)
Team CDMX (Alexius, Fury Boy, Pendulo, Poseidon, & Troyano)
CMLL
Like everyone else in the world not named Rob Viper or Cubs Fan, I had never heard of any of these guys before I saw them for the first time on February 21st, but boy, oh boy, talk about a first impression. Team CDMX was comprised of five promising recruits from CMLL's Mexico City school, and they competed in a tournament that pitted CMLL trainees out of six schools from around the country; Mexico City, Puebla, Gomez Palacio, Guadalajara, Queretaro, and Torreon. This tournament coincided with New Japan's Fantastica Mania tour, which saw a group of CMLL's top stars head to Japan to compete there for a while. So, these trainees were allowed to shine under the brightest of lights.
Team CDMX's tournament matches were terrific and well worth the watch, but their first-round matchup with Team Guadalajara was the most memorable. I mean, when one of the ten wrestlers in the match has a Cagematch page, you'd probably temper any expectations, too. Team CDMX showed out altogether, and all in different ways.
Troyano was a legit Lucha base, meaning he was the big dude that all the smaller guys could bounce off and make look like a monster. Poseidon had a super cool look and showcased some power. Pendulo looked like he lived in the ring, moving with an elegance and comfort that some American indie wrestlers ten years his senior haven't achieved. Alexius was a diminutive guy but also showed a ton of charisma and a really excellent standing moonsault. And then there was my MVP of the team, Fury Boy. Even as someone who's barely dipped his toe in Lucha proper, I can see that this guy is a superstar if given a chance. This guy put out all the stops and wrestled for his life. Unless his own family has something to say about it, I am staking a claim as the leader of the Fury Boy fan club.
All in all, the five boys from Team CDMX seized the opportunity given to them by CMLL's top brass and knocked it out of the park. While their futures are not promised, I hope to El Santo that these guys are all given opportunities to break out on the main CMLL roster soon.
Highlighted Matches:
2/21 vs. Abigor, Obek, Prince Drago, Rav, & Shezmu (CMLL Super Viernes, Mexico City)
2/28 vs. Atomico Jr., Galactico Dragon, Kastigador Jr., Samuray Azteca, & Vengador vs. Astro, Blue Shark, Dreyko, El Vigia, & Tiger Boy (CMLL Super Viernes, Mexico City)
Zandokan Jr.
CMLL
Let's finish this list off with some style. Zandokan Jr. is point blank, the best heel in CMLL right now. He reminds me of Dragon Gate's Shun Skywalker, if only because he looks like he enjoys being the villain so evil that you can't help but hate him whenever you see him. He's the kind of guy you would love to see get destroyed, but not too destroyed, because you want to see him return next week to ruin another wrestler's day.
The de-facto leader of the coolest-sounding faction of all time, "Galeon Fantasma," which means "Ghost Ship," had four matches in my notebook. All of them, by the way, happened before he departed for CMLL's annual Fantastica Mania tour midway through the month. And while only one of those matches was a singles bout, even in his multi-man tags, Zandokan found multiple opportunities to be the most memorable part of the match.
But if you've got time to watch only one of his matches from February, check out his singles match against his central rival Star Jr. from the 11th. Not only was this match great on its own, but it also heated up the feverish rivalry between these two guys. And that's a good thing because this month, both Zandokan Jr. and Star Jr. will compete in a "Lucha De Apuestas" match where the loser will be unmasked for the rest of the world to see. For each man, the chance to unmask his rival is a salivating proposition. We shall see what happens on March 21st at CMLL's "Homenaje A Dos Leyendas."
Highlighted Matches:
2/11 vs. Star Jr. (CMLL Martes Arena Mexico, Mexico City)
2/14 w/ Soberano Jr. vs. Máscara Dorada & Templario (CMLL Super Viernes, Mexico City)
Former Winners:
January 2025: Blue Panther, Gabe Kidd, Hechicero, JACKY KAMEI, Jason Lee, Konosuke Takeshita, Neón, Sareee, YAMATO, & Yuma Anzai
February 2025: Adam Priest, Alexius, Barbaro Cavernario, Fury Boy, Hirooki Goto, Konosuke Takeshita (2nd), Meiko Satomura, Penduno, Poseidon, Starlight Kid, Suwama, Takuya Nomura, Toryano, & Zandokan Jr.
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