PWI Weekly for April 7, 2025
Matt & Jeff, Athena & Mercedes, Earthquake & Typhoon
WELCOME, WRESTLING ENTHUSIASTS, to the first PWI Weekly of April 2025. Spring is in full bloom in most of the Northern Hemisphere—and so, too, is the wrestling industry. April has become the de facto “wrestling month,” thanks to WrestleMania and the accompanying shows that now surround it.
To be sure, this year will be no different. PWI will be on hand for numerous big shows this month. So, keep an eye out for coverage in our upcoming “Supercards” issue (as well as right here in the Weekly).
Now, without further ado, let’s get to this week’s goings-on.
TAG TEAM OF THE WEEK
The Hardys might be the poster boys for wrestling resilience. Despite periods when their careers seemed to plateau, or their momentum was marred by personal issues, Matt and Jeff have consistently found ways to reinvigorate themselves and their prospects. Much of this is owed to the undeniable connection the brothers have with wrestling fans. After decades of innovation and undeniable charisma, the North Carolinians are still making crowds go wild. Just watch TNA Wrestling these days.
After stagnating in AEW, The Hardys returned to TNA and set about showing the wrestling world that they still had much to offer. What could have been a quick nostalgia tour has turned into one of the finer stints of their illustrious tandem career. Their reign as TNA World tag team champions has seen the duo greeted by raucous crowds and rapturous ovations each time they appear. And their recent NXT appearance offered much of the same. More than deserving of being our Tag Team of the Week—and worth an early consideration for Tag Team of the Year.
A QUICK WORD ABOUT
The simmering tension between Mercedes Mone and Athena is coming dangerously close to boiling point. And we at PWI are all for it!
Athena’s dominant, almost tyrannical reign as ROH Women’s World champion has dovetailed with Mone’s brash, arrogant ascension up the AEW women’s ladder. While fate—and patient booking—have kept them apart until recently, the dream matchup between the two seems to be inching closer to reality.
Indeed, this high-stakes clash of champions has the potential to be a landmark moment for AEW and women’s wrestling in general. Athena and Mone each have charisma to burn and a wealth of in-ring talent, which should make the build-up and the battle alike joys to watch.
WE HEARD THAT
“When it comes to British wrestling, I’m John Cena.”
—Michael Oku to PROGRESS champion Luke Jacobs.
We aren’t sure if Michael Oku owns any jorts, or if he is obsessively neat and tidy around the house, but he may have other things in common with Mr. Cena.
Like the sixteen-time World champion, Oku boasts a relentless work ethic: one that might see him dethrone Luke Jacobs for the PROGRESS Men’s championship soon. The duo is set to clash for the gold when the promotion lands in Las Vegas on April 17. Who knows? Oku might even bump into “Big Match John” somewhere around Sin City. And wouldn’t that be an encounter to remember?
TERRITORIAL DISSINGS
With their induction into the WWE Hall of Fame just around the corner, we thought it fitting to give the floor to The Natural Disasters this week. In this classic promo from Wrestlemania VIII, Earthquake and Typhoon threaten to take the tag team title from Money Inc., while making their former manager Jimmy Hart suffer, too.
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FROM THE VAULT
In the above photo from the PWI archives, Chavo Guerrero Sr. poses with the NWA Americas title belt. Years before WWE fans met him as Chavo Classic, the elder Guerrero inspired West Coast wrestling fans as a regional hero.