2025 has been another exciting year in wrestling. The match quality across promotions has been incredibly high. WWE has purchased AAA and entered into a partnership with TNA. AEW has continued to deliver fantastic pay per views. The scenes in Mexico and Japan have seen positive momentum and Europe continues to produce standout new talent.

The competition for this year’s Positive Wrestling awards has been fierce so lets see who the winners are.

Men’s Wrestler of the Year

Winner: Will Ospreay

Runners Up: John Cena, Dominik Mysterio, Cody Rhodes, Gunther

With incredible charisma and match quality through January to August, Will Ospreay wins the men’s wrestler award. Even with his enforced absence due to injury, Will has continued to contribute by help to book and promote Pro Wrestling Eve who are due to hold the biggest all women’s show in the UK in 2026.

If it wasn’t for his disappointing heel turn, John Cena would have won. Dominik Mysterio went from most booed to being heavily cheered. Cody Rhodes was consistent throughout the year but suffered from a disappointing WrestleMania. Gunther was world champion during 2025 but ended the year with an even more significant victory by defeating Cena in his last match.

Women’s Wrestler of the Year

Winner: Saya Kamitani

Runners Up: Toni Storm, Iyo Sky, Mercedes Mone, Stephanie Vaquer

Saya Kamitani and her H.A.T.E. stable dominated Stardom during 2025. Holding the World of Stardom championship for the full calendar year, she also ended 2025 as the New Japan Pro Wrestling Strong champion. Incredible presence and fantastic matches against the likes of Tam Nakano, Sayaka Kurara, Suzu Suzuki and Bea Priestly saw Saya win women’s wrestler of the year.

Toni Storm continues to have most interesting persona in AEW and was world champion for seven months. Iyo Sky had her best year yet in WWE with an incredible title defence at WrestleMania. Mercedes Mone collected belts as if they were Pokemon. Stephanie Vaquer made a big impression in WWE winning titles in NXT and on Raw.

Tag Team of the Year

Winner: The Hardys

Runners Up: Bandido & Brody King, Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez, FTR, The Elegance Brand

The tag team award was difficult to decide upon but after lots of deliberation The Hardys were victorious. Great matches for the TNA tag titles against The Nemeths, The Rascalz and Team 3D, coupled with title victories in NXT and House of Glory were key to the decision.

If Bandido and Brody King had teamed all year, it is likely they would have won the award as they had a fantastic second half of the year in AEW. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were on course for a dominant year in WWE prior to Liv’s unfortunate injury. FTR were the most consistent team with great matches during 2025 and another AEW title run. The Elegance Brand were incredibly entertaining and held the TNA Knockouts tag championship for over six months.

Match of the Year

Winner: The Wyatt Sicks v DIY v Andrade & Rey Fenix v Fraxiom v The Motor City Machine Guns v The Street Profits (August 3rd)

Runners Up: Iyo Sky v Rhea Ripley v Bianca Belair (April 20th), Kevin Owens v Cody Rhodes (February 1st), Saya Kamitani v Tam Nakano (April 27th), Will Ospreay v Adam Page (May 25th)

The list of contenders for this award was incredible. You could easily have picked a top five consisting solely of John Cena match and it was difficult to leave off the WrestleMania triple threat between Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and CM Punk.

The match that wins this years award was the six team tag title match from SummerSlam. There have been so many great matches involving ladders over the years that it takes something special to stand out. This match had so many innovative moves that you couldn’t help but be on the edge of your seat. Particularly memorable ones were Tommaso Ciampa hanging upside down over the ring and Canice LeRae’s terrifying bump through a ladder at ringside.

The women’s championship triple threat had great in ring action and a pleasing ending. Kevin Owens versus Cody Rhodes at the Royal Rumble had incredible moments and fantastic storytelling especially when Sami Zayn came to ringside.

Saya Kamitani and Tam Nakano had the best match in Japan this year with Tam’s career being on the line as well as the World of Stardom championship. The final of the Owen Hart Cup between Will Ospreay and Adam Page was genuinely unpredictable, either could have won but after a gruelling over thirty minute battle, Page lifted the Owen.

Feud of the Year

Winner: CM Punk v Seth Rollins

Runners Up: Drew McIntyre v Cody Rhodes, MJF v Mistico, Becky Lynch v Maxxine Dupri, Chelsea Green v Nick Aldis

Long lasting feuds in 2025 were few and far between. One feud that did last was this years winner involved CM Punk and Seth Rollins. The feud was centred on Seth’s dislike of Punk and his mission to prevent him being world champion. When Punk finally won the championship, Seth immediately cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to dethrone him. The involvement of real life spouses AJ Lee and Becky Lynch added an extra dimension to this classic feud.

Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes had a number of great matches in a feud that become personal with Drew attacking Cody on his bus and Cody responding by turning up at Drew’s house. MJF had a feud with Mistico that generated incredible old school heel heat – especially when they fought in Arena Mexico.

The feud between Maxxine Dupri and Becky Lynch only started three months ago and didn’t seem like something that would be more than a one off. Incredible improvement from Maxxine saw her take the Intercontinental championship from Becky leading to some fun cries of injustice from the former champion.

The final runner up is between two stars who never met in the ring. Chelsea Green and her Secret Hervice were one of the most entertaining things about Smackdown. Her ambitions were constantly thwarted by General Manager Nick Aldis leading to some hilarious segments.

Well that’s a wrap on the 2025 Positive Wrestling awards. Looking forward to seeing who wins in 2026.