With 2025 officially over, I want to start a thread of my choices for who truly took the independent wrestling world by storm this past year. As always, you can check out my work on @pwponderings, and my Twitter page. The results are as follows:

Matt Mako (@TheMattMako) names opponents he'd like to square off with, including JuleZee (@itsjulezee), Ryan O'Neill (@FlyinRyanONeill), Sal Mistretta (@sturdysal46), Juni Underwood (@JuniUnderwoodFS), Lee Moriarty, and Wheeler Yuta (@WheelerYuta): “I mean, as far as some of the new faces, the guys that are the new workhorses, if you will. The JuleZees, the Flying Ryans, these people are all sort of connected to my area and the academies that I train at, like Catch Point and the Worldwide Dojo. These are places I’ve trained, and I’ve known these guys for a long time. They’re out there killing it. Sal Mistretta. Sturdy Sal. Juni Underwood. These are some of the younger guys who are really kicking ass right now. It’s great to see. In terms of people coming up, those are the ones I want the most. In terms of, I can just name you a whole bunch of people at Ring of Honor and AEW I want to wrestle. Half I probably already have. I can’t think of anyone, necessarily, that I’d like to wrestle right now, in terms of recently released, at least. I’d love a rematch with Moriarty; I’d love to get my hands on Yuta again. Yada yada yada, doesn’t every indie wrestler? But yeah, that’s just me.” @pwponderings pwponderings.com/2026/10/21/…

Matt Mako (@TheMattMako) on being a part of the PRODUCE Wrestling (@PRODUCENYC) roster, and his upcoming match with Violence Is Forever (@dgarrinibc & @kevinxku) against Tim Bosby (@Tim_Bosby), Joe Dashou (@JoeDashou), and Angel Verduzco (@AngelVerduzc0): “PRODUCE, as we discussed earlier, has hit the ground running. Very ambitious schedule. They’ve already had shows internationally, in Montreal, Canada. It seems like their home is New York, specifically the Brooklyn area. Again, it’s great; with them, it’s an independent that also books. There’s a lot of contracted talent on the show, which is awesome for the fans. On the other side of the coin, those people are then wrestling to see independent wrestlers. Indie wrestlers get to wrestle this top-tier talent, and maybe get exposed to new fans who maybe never heard of them prior. They’re tuning in to see Thekla or the Dogs. A lot of people are going to be in LA this Thursday for the PRODUCE show. Lio Rush. Jon Gresham. Those are some of the guys from the last show. I think they’ll be in LA Thursday, as well. It’s been great. I’ve been doing pretty well there. Big win at the DEAN show against Tim Bosby, and then I picked up a win last week against the big, 6-foot-9 Pat Sawyer. That was a good one.” “I mean, of the three people we’re wrestling against, I have wins over two of them in singles matches. I wrestled Angel at the last Bloodsport, in Vegas, and I just mentioned Bosby a couple of weeks ago. Have not been in the ring with Joe yet. Essentially, this is a Team Karl Malenko Dojo vs. the Josh Barnett Dojo. We’re having a trios match to figure out which is superior. Later in the night, the boss men will go at it in a singles match. It should be a great night in LA.” @pwponderings pwponderings.com/2026/10/21/…

Matt Mako (@TheMattMako) on his upcoming match with Gabriel Skye (@GabrielSkye_) against 4825 (@Jaden4Real & @jshook_75), The Expected (@The_IkuroKwon, @AustinLukeW), and Alec Price (@ThePrizeCityOG) recent decision: “Again, Jamesen and Jaden are also former IWTV Tag Team Champions as well. So, again, a huge task for me and Gabe. I feel like, if you’re watching ETU, The Expected usually find a way to come out on top. I don’t think Sunday is going to be any different.” “Kwon and Gabe are great. They’re buddies of mine. Austin is just coming back from an injury, so we’re kind of working him back into the fold here. We had an unfortunate incident with Alec Price at the last show. That still kind of stings a little bit. If you’re an IWTV subscriber, go back and check that out. But, as far as Gabe and Kwon go, and Austin, I trust those guys, and it’s been great to work with them over the last few years.” “I just feel like it’s Alec Price being Alec Price, man. I mentioned the IWTV Title. I have been able to wrestle for it. It was against Price at the H2O building during Season 5 of Uncharted Territory, maybe that’s not the right number, but one of those matches got a little messed up by Krule. But Alec did beat me. He beat me clean at the end of the season there. I respect Alec Price as a wrestler. As a person, he’s a sly dog. I’m not surprised that happened; let’s put it that way.” @pwponderings pwponderings.com/2026/10/21/…

Matt Mako (@TheMattMako) on his upcoming match with Shlak at Beyond Wrestling (@beyondwrestling) and Combat Zone Wrestling (@combatzone) joint show on Saturday, what he's hoping to show fans, and what it means to represent Beyond: “That’s a good question. I definitely have to be prepared for an environment I don’t find myself in a lot of the time with the rule sets, and the extreme title being on the line. Shlak’s his own person. So, I’m going to have to corral the beast, if you will, if I want to come out on top on Saturday.” “It’s going to be fun. I’ll probably bring my kendo sticks; I’ll leave it at that. I’ll have my kendo sticks. Maybe some other surprises I have up my sleeve. I’ve been thinking about this for a bit now and how I’m going to compete with Shlak for the Ultraviolent Championship. It’s definitely going to be a different side of Matt Mako. It’s emerged in the past, as we were referencing. I’ve had some matches with some more hardcore, extreme, deathmatch-type wrestlers. I just kind of have to go to that place and make it happen on Saturday.” “Beyond is a huge part of my story and my career. Really the first place to put me on the map. I had less than maybe 10 matches and found myself at Beyond, wrestling. Which, as we spoke about earlier, is the epitome of wrestling in the Northeast. I kind of found myself maybe a little in over my head at that point in my career. Maybe I wasn’t mentally fully prepared for all that. I think I did well, considering, if you go back and watch a lot of those matches. I’m definitely a different person now. That was a long time ago. My relationship, working with Beyond, has been a little intermittent over the last few years, but there was a time when I was wrestling there, with their weekly shows, maybe, I don’t know, 20 times a year with Uncharted Territory and their monthly shows. It feels right to represent Beyond Wrestling at this event.” @pwponderings pwponderings.com/2026/10/21/…

As always, you can read my interview with Matt Mako below, where he talks about Shlak, Beyond Wrestling, ETU, Alec Price, PRODUCE Wrestling, Power Pro Lucha, and so much more. @pwponderings @TheMattMako pwponderings.com/2026/10/21/…

Check out my latest interview with Matt Mako, where he discusses his upcoming match with Shlak, Beyond Wrestling, ETU, Power Pro Lucha, and so much more. Watch it in its entirety below. @pwponderings @TheMattMako youtube.com/watch?v=xgn5HZWv…

Brian Cashman got extended... Aaron Boone got brought back for next year... How the hell do you expect anything different? This regime is pathetic. Best advice, don't spend a single dollar towards this pathetic franchise. #RepBX #Yankees

In my interview with @TheMattMako today (which should be out tomorrow) we spoke about his match on this show! Be sure to check it out. @PRODUCENYC is killing it right now. These shows are SOOOOO worth it.

The Long Island Nets announced their Theme Games for this upcoming season. Long Island’s home slate at Nassau Coliseum will again feature season-long promotions, headlined by Nets Value Nights at every home game played on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. Eight of this season’s theme games will take place on Nets Value Nights, which feature $5 concession specials. Students can also purchase $10 tickets in Section 19 through the team’s Student Section program. Fans can start their night early with Pregame Pilates before four theme games: all three Island Nights (Nov. 16, Jan. 11 and Feb. 11) and Black History Celebration (Feb. 1). The Nets will also host Paws and Hoops Night on Tuesday, Dec. 8, in partnership with the North Shore Animal League, allowing fans to interact with dogs and cats at the game and potentially find a new pet to adopt. Which one are you guys most looking forward to? Check out the full list below: Home Opener - Friday, November 13th @ 7 pm EST (vs. College Park Skyhawks) Island Nights: Monday, November 16th @ 7 pm (vs. Delaware Blue Coats) Monday, January 11th @ 7 pm (vs. Grand Rapids Gold) Thursday, February 11th @ 7 pm (vs. Capital City Go-Go) Faith & Family - Wednesday, November 18th @ 7 pm (vs. Delaware Blue Coats) Dale's Birthday - Saturday, November 28th @ 5 pm (vs. Maine Celtics) Winter Wonderland - Wednesday, December 16th @ 7 pm (vs. Westchester Knicks) MLK Day Celebration - Monday, January 18th @ 5 pm (vs. Birmingham Squadron) Mental Health Awareness - Tuesday, January 19th @ 7 pm (vs. Birmingham Squadron) Brooklyn Nets Affiliation Night - Thursday, January 28th @ 7 pm (vs. Greensboro Swarm) Linking Long Island - Saturday, January 30th @ 1 pm (vs. Greensboro Swarm) Black History Celebration - Monday, February 1st @ 7 pm (vs. College Park Skyhawks) New York Liberty Night - Wednesday, February 3rd @ 7 pm (vs. College Park Skyhawks) Education Day - Tuesday, February 9th @ 11 am (vs. Motor City Cruise) Cross Up Cancer - Saturday, February 13th @ 3 pm (vs. Capital City Go-Go) Women's Impact - Tuesday, March 16th @ 7 pm (vs. Westchester Knicks) Fan Appreciation Night - Saturday, March 27th @ 6 pm (vs. Motor City Cruise) @NetsDaily #StrongIsland #NetsWorld

PSA! Disgusting/annoying this even has to be said.

Not a Rams fan in the slightest, but I really see them turning it around and more than likely making a deep playoff run. Seems like that'll be in the cards this season for the football Gods. The narrative heading into the playoffs will be "The Rams overcome early season woes." #RamsHouse #LARams