Mission 024 – The Mission? Analyzing the Rising Temperature of Summer Wrestling in 2025
Hi, everyone! I’m back yet again with another review – that you probably thought wasn’t happening after ULW successfully released our premiere of the new magazine -, and I am here with a few quick highlights for the week that we just experienced with the competition!
Dragunov and Danielson Tear it Up for a shot at Knight
AEW treated us to another instant classic bout this past week as the very-similar exciting styles of Ilja Dragunov and Bryan Danielson were clashed together in a match with a shot at LA Knight’s TV Title on the line! The people in attendance were on their feet throughout this showdown, and I can’t blame them! I sincerely thought that Ilja was going to win on several occasions – which would have been his biggest victory to date, as Danielson is a former world champion -, but it was ultimately Danielson who got the win! For reasons that I will get into later, I don’t think Danielson is going to defeat Knight, but it will sure as hell be a fun ride! Great job, guys!!
Bret Hart has a Goldberg Problem
So, last week, Goldberg accidentally knocked Bret Hart out when HBP rubbed him the wrong way. This week, Doc Brown questions Goldberg’s manhood and dodges a spear that Hart inadvertently catches! The way that these two moments were been delivered thus far have been downright hilarious, and it is perfect that they were paired with two of WWE’s most popular acts in HBP and Doc Brown! Honestly, I can’t wait to see what Hart does next, or to see how he catches a stray from Goldberg again. I don’t know where this is heading, but I love it so far!
Olson, Lee, and “Closure”
In a fantastic vignette, Sean Olson explains his actions in costing his brother Brandon Lee the AEW title the previous week. He also goes on to note that the two have never actually had “closure” despite their numerous battles over the eras. This is half-true, only because they had at least one match – buried in the failed 5th Era -, which was supposed to be their “closure”, but the truth is that what’s coming may be a better send-off since that previous attempt at closing the book for them happened when the industry was barely hanging on. Whenever CME gets the old records together and shares them, we’ll be able to explore that part of their past more, but until then I am truly enjoying what we’re seeing right now!
WWE’s Heating Up Tag Division
With the new “Wyatt Sicks” and the resurgent A-Town Down-Under each having tag success this past week, it is important to note that WWE is putting more emphasis on their tag division than ever before! Now, WWE has always had a great tag division, just as it had inherited from AXW/HLW beforehand. But, now we are seeing a seriously stacked division get an injection of steroids like never before! I am starting to doubt that the Street Profits will be able to hold the gold past the start of autumn!
Hayes becomes the new North American Champion and is set to face Ethan Page
On NXT, GM HBK announced that the North American Title’s vacancy – which was caused by Bronson Reed being traded to ULW – would be filled by a triple threat match and that the first challenger for said title would be decided in a single’s match main eventing the evening. After two very exciting bouts, the winners emerged with Carmelo Hayes as the North American Champion (his first title since he held the Premier Title a year ago) and Ethan Page as his first challenger! It is actually awesome that these two top-ten WWE draft picks are set for a clash, and I can’t wait to see what happens when they do!
HBP punished by the D’Angelo Family
It has been too easy as we have been laughing along with HBP over the course of the past month to forget that the D’Angelo Family is actually a serious group, but HBP had a violent reminder of just that when the Family publicly punished him Sopranos-style on NXT, as they interrupted Chase U! HBP apparently ditched being their driver to hang out with the wrestling university, and he paid a steep price! I feel an arc coming wherein HBP attempts to escape the Family without going through a body bag, and it might be the dark horse contender for story of the year!
A War on Lucha
On Evolve, this past Wednesday, the reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion – Chad Gable – delivered his own “presidential address” wherein he declared a state of war on “Lucha Libre”! As if Chad hadn’t already been acting like this war was ongoing, my impression coming out this was that he was going take a turn for the serious (much like the aforementioned Family of Tony D), and it also sends me a bit of a signal that Mystico may well become Chad’s final opponent in this reign! Good stuff.
LA Knight face to face with Swerve
After receiving Swerve’s help in winning the TV title the previous week, Knight delivered a dynamite promo this past week and then was stopped from leaving by the man who helped him become champion. This was a friendly affair, and it is the main reason that I know Danielson has no chance of winning the title from Knight. Interestingly, this was the first time that these two officially met since Knight arrived in PWI-HCW long after Swerve left PWI. I do think that Knight will eventually best Swerve as well, but it will still be an enjoyable journey along the way!
Murrey Marital and Cocaine Madness
This past week we saw signs of trouble in paradise for the newly-married Nikki Bella and Pete, as Stone Cold Steve Austin attempted to counsel the woman who is already fed up with…the man she was forced to marry. Nikki was curiously emotional because Pete keeps counting during intimacy because his entire personality since birth has been that of a wrestling official. Stone Cold tried to comfort her, but it went nowhere. Is this Stockholm’s Syndrome???
The next day, we see Jeff Murrey partaking in illegal drug consumption alongside a guy I know absolutely nothing about (apparently he is from a popular streaming service show of something), and this guy is amping Murrey up about finally making it to TV. I am guessing that Murrey has turned to coking it up in light of his son’s marital problems, but I am otherwise clueless as to what’s happening. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next.
Briscoe Arrival
Anyone who read the premiere installment of ULW Magazine definitely came away with the feeling that the so-called “Jade Trade” was a big f’n deal. As mentioned in that inaugural edition, one of the consequences for the scandal of the decade was that AEW took it upon themselves to sign the Briscoe Brothers without first consulting the Available Talent list. This actually did sting both WWE and ULW a little, because both certainly had an interest in Mark and Jay, but I have to say that I loved this shocking introduction. Very much looking forward to their debut!
Storm is excited for Lynch
Perhaps the best vignette of the week came in the form of another movie-style presentation by the demented Knockout’s Champion, Toni Storm. Storm was joyfully expressing her excitement for the arrival of former two-time PWI Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch. Becky has stood atop women’s wrestling before, and she may very well do it again. However, with Toni’s reign still being young, I am doubtful that Becky takes the gold from her…yet. AEW was overwhelmingly excited to nab Toni last year, and the work she has done since has been the most captivating of any women’s talent, probably ever. So, Becky has her work cut out for her toppling THAT!
Adam Page put in timeout and new challengers step up for Lashley
At the outset of Dynamite last week, we see footage from after “Dynamite 50” went off the air. Page, in this footage, was losing his mind and spat on a heckler in the audience in the process. As a result, Splinter suspended him for a month without pay. Before I move on, I want to say that this was an excellent way to prevent Page from losing steam following the cash-in. Then, this past week on Dynamite, Lashley was confronted by Will Ospreay as well as the former EWA and ULW champion, Randy Orton! Any of those three are believable as champion, but I still think Lashley will be champion for a while. Definitely a nice redirection, though!
Cena set to face Moxley or Roman
Smackdown on Friday kicked off with absolute chaos between Jon Moxley and Roman Reigns. The reigning World Heavyweight Champion, John Cena, scoffed at the two acting like wild animals, but he found his attempt at dismissing them rebuffed by Triple H, who warned that Cena will face the winner of the two at Summerslam! I’ve been enjoying this Moxley/Roman feud ever since it erupted at Starrcade, and I am starting to think that Moxley may actually sneak out of it as the victor to challenge Cena. We’ll see!
The Rock locks up Brock and looks Beyond Cody (Who Beat the US Champion)
WWE’s Champion, Rock, had a very eventful week this past week. After the man he beat twice, Brock Lesnar, showed up on Raw and effectively declared that he was far from done after himself defeating Rock’s bodyguard, Omos, Rock turned around and put the Beast Incarnate on ice until October; forcing Lesnar to wait two months for his final piece of the unfolding trilogy! Then, Rock attempted to look beyond even Summerslam, asserting that no one was worthy of challenging him at the event. Yet, the Dual Dominion Champion, Cody Rhodes – who had just defeated the reigning WWE United States Champion, Finn Balor, which is nothing to ignore – came out to again demand that Rock face him.
Will these two ultimately face off at Summerslam? I think so, and that stage is likely to get set tonight on Raw. Even so, I maintain – once again -, that Rock is NOT losing that strap before the end of January 2026. He is going to overtake Duxen’s record. I have never doubted that. Regardless, this will be very fun to watch, and it will be great for both champions!
What does Splidder Know?
Finally, in this assessment of the competition, we look at what closed Dynamite last week: the ongoing mystery of whatever it is that Splidder knows. Splidder lectured Splinter about his proximity to the recent power struggle in AEW over the past two years, and said that he has a hard time trusting the information that he has in Splinter’s hands. Splinter came away very frustrated, and the show concluded with Splidder running into Mr. Brodie Lee, who handed him a note saying “YOU’RE WASTING YOUR BREATH”.
Technically, the only thing we learned here is that Splidder doesn’t even trust his own brother now, and that the information he has may somehow compromise the recent Hall of Fame Inductee. Well, that, and we learned that Brodie – who has a recent history being involved with Abigail Wyatt/Mouse and her cousin Jackie Mouse – wants Splidder to give up. Or, he is merely passing a message along from someone else who wants him to give up. Either way, the story of the year continues, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Independent Intentions 2025
Now, on to what ULW has on tap for our last televised show until Friday, August 8th!
Independent Intentions will kick off with the Brothers of Destruction vying for gold against the reigning 3-time Tag Team Champions, FTR!
Next, we will see Asuka and Sasha Banks square off for the third time (with each having a win over the other) to see who really is the top dog in the women’s division…outside of Ronda Rousey, of course!
After that, we see the first single’s meeting ever in this heated and increasingly personal feud between two former world champions in CM Punk and AJ Styles!
Finally, in our main event, we see the 25-time former World Heavyweight Champion, the Hall of Famer, Slammu, challenging Chris Jericho for the Undisputed Championship in a one-sided Lumberjack Match wherein Jericho has his buddies surrounding the ring to keep the action contained!
Oh yeah, and apparently the acting Vice Commissioner of ULW, Vince Russo, has a “State of the Bros” Address. Ugh.
Needless to say, another great week of action in professional wrestling as we close the month of July and kick off August!
Until our next Quest, this has been Johnny with yet another mission!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 