PWI Weekly for June 23, 2025
Keep Pro Wrestling Weird: Mr. Iguana, Mega Maniacs (Plus: Matt Brock Weighs In)
IN THIS EDITION of the PWI Weekly, we are going to get a little weird!
In a world of suplexes and dropkicks, certain people stand out for other reasons. Wrestling has always been a place for the curiously colorful, but what about those who color outside the lines of even that bold realm?
From the bizarre to the boundary-pushing, let’s dive into this special look at some of wrestling’s most unique characters.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
It’s odd to label a fifteen-year veteran of the sport as an overnight sensation, but it feels like that’s exactly what Mr. Iguana has become.
Following his appearance at Worlds Collide, the radiant, reptilian wrestler has been all over social media. It seems that WWE fans have finally discovered what Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide fans have known for a while—Mr. Iguana is awesome!
This has not gone unnoticed by WWE, either. The unexpected—or perhaps completely predictable—connection the green grappler has made with fans prompted the industry leader to air a vignette on Raw.
Rumors are now abounding that Mr. Iguana may be headed to the WWE main roster soon. And truthfully, it’s easy to see why. Along with his beloved hand-puppet Yesca, Iguana has the potential to be a merchandise-shifting machine. Which is not to say that’s all he is. Behind this unique character lies a very talented wrestler who has carved out a niche for himself in a crowded entertainment landscape. For Mr. Iguana, that place may be about to get a lot bigger.
A QUICK WORD ABOUT …
The career of Dustin Rhodes is a masterclass in evolution. Although he may always be remembered for his time as Goldust, Rhodes has long since shed that persona and embraced who he really is these days—the grizzled veteran of AEW.
No longer “The Bizarre One,” the second-generation star now resonates as a respected, hard-hitting, and often emotional competitor. His contest against younger brother, Cody—PWI’s Match of the Year in 2019—was a testament to Rhodes’ enduring talent and longevity. Today, “The Natural” wears many hats in AEW, including those of a coach and mentor. Rhodes has stated his intention to retire as an in-ring competitor with the promotion, even setting his sights on becoming a World champion in Ring of Honor before then. We’d like to see it.
For now, though, we should all enjoy having Dustin Rhodes around. One of the most groundbreaking and colorful characters in the history of the industry is still going strong, making sure that we will never forget the name … Dustin Rhodes.
MUSINGS, WITH MATT BROCK
You think wrestlers today are weird? Please! Your “Freshly Squeezed” slacker and your “Very Nice, Very Evil” demon aren’t anything outlandish. I’ve been writing about this sport longer than most of you have been alive. And let me tell you: What passes for “out there” these days wouldn’t have lasted a long weekend with Mark Lewin.
Whenever someone a little bit wacky appears on television, fans reach for their Instagram accounts (do fans still use Instagram?). I’ve seen wrestlers in person who had me reaching for a Rorschach test. Remember Giant Gonzalez? A literal human mountain in a painted bodysuit with fur. How about Phantasio? He was a creepy magician who made opponents’ gear disappear … before ultimately making himself do the same. And these were only two of the more amusing weirdos who came through the curtain. Others, like Kevin Sullivan, were downright scary when they let their dark sides out.
You want to talk about coloring outside the lines? In my day, that meant someone might bleed on you over the railing. Now, it means some clown with a stuffed iguana tries to pin his opponent with it. Don’t get me wrong; that Mr. Iguana has got something. He’s popular with kids. And good for him! But weird? Gimme a break!
Ask yourself this, dear reader: Who would you rather be trapped in a dark room with? Mr. Iguana or The Sheik in his frightening prime?
I rest my case.
TERRITORIAL DISSINGS
What’s better than one zany wrestler? Two of them! And that’s exactly what we got from this all-too-brief pairing of “Macho Man” Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior. The iconic former WWE champions formed an alliance in late-1992 with the intention of toppling the dastardly duo of Ric Flair and Razor Ramon. The match, which was scheduled for Survivor Series that year, sadly didn’t take place due to Warrior leaving the World Wrestling Federation. Instead, his spot on the team was filled by Mr. Perfect. It wasn’t quite the same. Still, while fans never got to see “The Mega Maniacs” team up, they did get epic promos about “maniacism.”