PWI Weekly for December 1, 2025
Title Wins, Terrific Shows, And ... Tequila?
WE HAVE REACHED THE time of year when some industries begin to wind down. Not professional wrestling, however. With mere weeks remaining in 2025, WWE and AEW still have big shows on their schedules. Before you know it, we will be in a new year, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling will be taking center stage for a highly anticipated Wrestle Kingdom.
For the biggest companies, things simply don’t seem to slow down. This edition of the PWI Weekly isn’t about them, though. This week, we are focusing our attention elsewhere—and giving some love to some other parts of the wrestling sphere that have been grabbing our interest as of late.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
When Silas Mason dethroned Thom Latimer to become NWA World heavyweight champion, it was the culmination of an old-school wrestling story built on grit and a bruising authenticity. Long before he ever held the “Ten Pounds Of Gold,” Mason carved out a path as a throwback powerhouse who wouldn’t have been out of place in the NWA of the 1970s. Throughout his career, he has continued his dominant climb through the ranks, managing a memorable reign with the NWA National heavyweight title along the way.
For some time now, the “Thrillbilly” has had his sights set on the storied World championship. Indeed, when he claimed the belt at the promotion’s Anniversary taping back in August, it felt like an inevitability. Dory Funk Jr., Harley Race, and Dusty Rhodes … like these men, Silas Mason has long carried with him a sense of rugged determination. Today, he shares something else with these titans of the sport: the title of NWA World heavyweight champion.
A QUICK WORD ABOUT …
Yoshiki Inamura’s triumphant capture of the GHC championship marked a defining moment in the career of the Pro Wrestling NOAH man. While many fans in the West would know him best from his excursion to NXT, Inamura has long been tabbed by NOAH as someone who could front the Japanese brand. By defeating the legendary KENTA for the top title in “The Ark,” this young talent affirmed the promotion’s well-placed faith in him.
Inamura today is a stronger, more refined wrestler than the one who was an understudy to Josh Briggs on Tuesday nights—and he’s also much more confident. Can he be someone who will lead NOAH to new heights? Time will tell. If the past is prologue, though, we figure Inamura will give it his best shot.
SPOTLIGHT CARD
In the crowded North American wrestling market, it can be easy to overlook the position that Major League Wrestling occupies. To do so, however, is to miss out. The federation routinely puts on top-notch cards, full of action. Consider the recent MLW x Don Gato event, for example.
The show featured a slick presentation, a hot crowd, and the contributions of actor/writer/producer Danny McBride—the mastermind behind Don Gato tequila and its titular, fictitious luchador. And all of that is before we get to the actual wrestling. Rather than take our word for it, why not check out the show for yourself?
TERRITORIAL DISSINGS
Full disclosure: We have no clue what is going on here … but we love it. The clip above stands a proof that wrestling promos don’t have to be detailed—or even particularly coherent—to resonate.
PRO WRESTLING INDIESTRATED
Just days after winning the WWE ID Women’s title on Wrestling Open—and becoming the second titleholder in the coveted championship’s brief lineage—Laynie Luck sat down with Kaia McKenna and PWI Editor-in-Chief Kevin McElvaney for a special live edition of the Pro Wrestling INDIEstrated podcast.