December matches get shafted sometimes as Best of the Year discussions start before the month is even over. Then come the holidays and then the electric feeling of starting a new year off fresh.
But we won’t let these bangers go unnoticed. We offer a list of recommended bouts from the end of 2025 that includes a standout showing from a rookie, the Superfly Championship getting the spotlight, and one of Yuu’s final matches before her retirement.
Read on to get some big matches and hidden gems to check out before we get too caught up in what 2026 has to bring.
Mika Iwata vs. Sora Ayame, Marvelous – Marvelous (Dec. 3)
Matches always get extra points from me if they start like this one did—the two wrestlers slugging it out before anyone can even clear the streamers from the ring.
There is a bit of a dip in energy in the middle, but there’s a strong story told overall. Ayame defended her territory against the invading Iwata, and the rookie found herself overwhelmed by the veteran several times. Each woman plays her role well, producing a solid work of drama.
Ayame’s shin-kicking makes this a lot closer than you’d expect, and the result is arguably Sora’s best singles effort to date.
Recommended by: Ryan
Mayu Iwatani vs. Hummingbird, Marigold – True Victory Night Show (Dec. 6)
Cartoon-fast action highlights the start of Iwatani’s fifth defense of the Super Flyweight Championship before the intensity starts to bloom.
Excellent emotional performance from Hummingbird who runs into a bulldozer of a champion. Mayu was kicking Hummingbird so hard that the feather flew from the challenger’s mask. Mayu, an absolute bully, had her hands full with a feisty and ferocious opponent.
Marigold has to revisit this matchup. There’s a lot more drama to draw out from these two.
Recommended by: Ryan
Sayaka & Makoto vs. Miya Yotsuba & SOY, ChocoPro #491 Rivals (Rel. Dec. 5)
I like this. Very much.
The day finally came for Miya Yotsuba. Failure after failure and watching your sister leave the promotion made this a pretty rough year for Miya. Having unsuccessfully challenged for titles twice in 2025, only made the rookie push herself harder to win gold, and with her trusted partner by her side, they were able to beat the Bellflowers for the Asia Dream Tag Team Championships. The team of Sayaka and Makoto fought a hard battle, but one final Miya Hammer put away the Smiling Violence.
Miya and SOY’s hands were raised that day, and as one of their fans, I couldn’t be happier.
Recommended by: Fernando
Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu vs. Mika Iwata & Miyuki Takase, Sendai Girls (Dec. 6)
The last chapter of this rivalry.
Team 200kg and Red Energy collided one final time for the Sendai Girls Tag Team Championships, this time with Chihiro and Yuu as champions. This match was everything one would expect from these four women: kicks, chops, power moves, and to top it all off, Yuu having the opportunity to add another successful defense before retiring. Mika and Miyuki fought a hard battle, but just like their match in July, Team 200kg took the victory.
The tag champions retained their belts, but they would have one more title match before the year ends and Yuu hangs up her boots.
Recommended by: Fernando
Marino Saihara vs. Rico Fukunaga, AWG – ACTwrestling In Osaka (Dec. 20)
It really shows when a promotion books its championships so well that every time they change hands, it really feels like a new era has begun.
After a great reign with the AWG title, Natsuki dropped the belt to Marino Saihara, who also did pretty well as champion, and after five successful defenses, it was Rico Fukunaga’s turn. They battled in Osaka at AWG’s second-to-last show of the year. The champion was having a hard time trying to counter Rico’s kicks, who also used submission moves and a Tiger Suplex, which Marino survived. However, the challenger countered a German Suplex to hit a second Tiger Suplex to finally put an end to the match and win the AWG Championship.
After leaving Beastz Rebellion and forming ActWres 5, Rico Fukunaga has shown she is able to represent the promotion as its top champion, and with Nagisa Shiotsuki winning the KING of Entertainment title just one match before this one, the two will lead AWG to a promising 2026.
Recommended by: Fernando
Mei Seira vs. Yuna Mizumori, STARDOM – Stardom Year End Xmas Show (Dec. 24)
All the greatness you’d expect from another one of Seira’s High Speed Championship defenses. Bursts of action. Counters on counters. Near falls everywhere.
It’s a wild ride where Mizumori shines. Her best work in STARDOM has been against Seira, and this is more proof of that. She’s equal parts fluid and aggressive, her style meshing so beautifully with the champ’s.
As a bonus, there is an emotionally powerful post-match promo that doesn’t require a lick of Japanese to understand its intensity.
Recommended by: Ryan
RESURA 