QWI 200: The best LGBTQ pro wrestlers of 2025, No. 50-21
The 2025 QWI 200 cracks the top 50 on day six. With just one more day to go, who will be revealed in the Top 20? The post QWI 200: The best LGBTQ pro wrestlers of 2025, No. 50-21 appeared first on Outsports.
Mark
This week-long Queer Wrestling Index 200 reveal period for 2025, full of gay, lesbian, bi, trans and queer wrestlers, reminds us of the connection we have to one another, whether we’re gathered around a ring, wrestling in one or out in the world experiencing the hardships the day throws at us, we have these threads that still bind us through a thing we love.
That is why this list continues to exist. Because our ranks grow larger every single year, up to over 800 in 2025. Because we’re done having our joy robbed from us. Because we fight, drawing inspiration and strength from this neverending dance of blood, emotion, pain and glory.
Welcome to the 2025 QWI 200.
Day One: QWI First 50 & 200-171
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50. B3CCA
Don’t be fooled… she loves this HOT BOD
@RayneLeverkusen @ProWrestlingEVE
Head Drop pic.twitter.com/9MkgURg5JB— ☆ B3CCA ☆ (@b3cca4ever) October 7, 2025
On B3CCA. On God. The pop sensation dropped singles on foes across the U.S. and beyond through 2025. B3CCA’s international tour included matches with Spain’s Revolution Championship Wrestling, Pro Wrestling EVE and an entry into wXw’s Femmes Fatales tournament in Germany. Back stateside, B3CCA dealt with pop diva throwdowns with Brooke Havok and Lara Frazier in Hoodslam and SlamTown, scored wins over Kylie Rae, Ashley Vox and Anthony Greene, tore it up with Gay Best Friends partner Aaron Rourke and reigned as Blitzkrieg Pro tag Team champions with TJ Crawford. She added the DREAMWAVE Women’s championship later in the year after challenging for titles in Chaotic Wrestling and West Coast Pro and closed out her year with a BST Monarch title win over Vita VonStarr in a Street Fight. A highlight of the year came when she sang Havok to the ring at “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch” before making her GCW return in the Clusterfuck match during WrestleMania week.
49. Gabby Forza
Gabby Forza’s quick rise among the independent wrestling elite hit overdrive this year. Forza held the Create-A-Pro Women’s championship through the beginning of the year as she built her name in numerous Northeast U.S. promotions, including Battle Club Pro, LIVE Pro Wrestling and Focus Pro. She rose her stock the most in Beyond Wrestling and Wrestling Open with excellent performances against Kylie Alexa and Cosmic while embracing the deathmatch world with her tag partner and husband Bear Bronson. Known as the Savage Gnomes, the two exchanged blood with the likes of Krule, Shotzi Blackheart, The Residency and Shot Through The Heart. The duo ended the year as Blitzkrieg Pro Tag Team champions while Forza looked for singles gold in Limitless Wrestling, DREAMWAVE Wrestling and Juggalo Championship Wrestling.
48. Kaitlyn Marie
Kaitlyn Marie went on the run of her career this year, kicking off with her much anticipated Premier Wrestling Federation championship win over Ryan Galeone. Marie logged defenses against Andrew Everett and Curt Robinson before falling to Jon Davis only to regain the title in October against Davis and Kody Manhorn. Kidd Bandit, Jada Stone, Gary Jay, Rob Killjoy and Mickie Knuckles all fell to her at the North Carolina promotion. Marie also held the RWA Women’s and OSCW Women’s titles during the evaluation period and added matches across the Southeast U.S., including her own “Pink Pony Fight Club” event with New South Pro Wrestling, while finding success in northern pastures. She reached the finals of Labor of Love’s Wrestling Cup tournament, battled Gabby Forza at Battle Club Pro, teamed up with Sammi Chaos as Survival of the Thickest and competed for a shot at the WWE ID Women’s championship at Wrestling Open. Marie capped off the year with a Reality of Wrestling Women’s title challenge, harkening to the opportunities on the horizon for her.
47. Chantal Jordan
Jordan traveled through the British independent scene as a triple champion for most of the year, holding and defending the Kamikaze Pro Fighting Females, Coventry Pro Wrestling Lioness and APEX HTTB Women’s championships. She lit up Millie McKenzie in a Bloodsport-esque battle, challenged LA Taylor and Skye Smitson for the RCW Women’s Tag Team titles with Sara Leon in Spain and shined in bouts with Lucy Sky and Harley Hudson in prominent U.K. indies Pro Wrestling EVE and TNT Extreme. Jordan pulled double duty at “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch UK 3” in the Rainbow Rumble and Pride Up Briefcase scramble and brought her striking ability to Bridge Pro Wrestling, South West Wrestling and Elevation Wrestling in search of more title glory. She rounded out her year with wins in Belgium at Flemish Wrestling Force and a victory in BCW’s Wonderland match.
46. Mylo
The SoCal stalwart beamed along the West Coast, particularly in the Bay Area where she and Keita ruled as the most disruptive duo in Hoodslam. Mylo held the GLAMpionship for most of the year, or at least until she became SlamTown’s premier wrestling astrology expert. She reunited with Barbie Boi in Versus Pro and brought a Folsom-apporved version of MyloBoo Barbie to Full Queer, returned to the New Japan Pro Wrestling Academy against Viva Van and took on Johnnie Robbie, Gin Sevani and Aria Perkins en route to becoming the inaugural Rival Pro Wrestling Women’s champion. Mylo made her Ring of Honor debut in March against Billie Starkz and snagged additional bouts at Kitsune Women’s Wrestling, UGWA, Alliance For All, WGW, IZW and NTLL to close her grapple travels through the Southwest.
45. Randy Myers
Part pro wrestler. Part cabaret performer. Full “Weirdo Hero.” 25 years into his pro wrestling career, Randy Myers continued to make crowds swoon and opponents fall all around the Pacific Northwest. The reigning DEFY Pride champion defended his crown at the Seattle-based promotion’s annual Pride event, challenged for the SOS Wrestling Island Rules title and scored wins against G-Sharpe and Jovani Amor at DUSK Pro. Myers’ time in Portland’s DOA Pro Wrestling saw him join forces with Jaiden and Kidd Bandit to contend with Hell’s Belles before winning the DOA Grand championship. The “Ravenous” one added a solid showing against Joey Janela and formed a thoroughly unserious team with Matt Brannigan at DEFY, duck walked his way through GCW against Jordan Oliver and made his “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch” debut. Throw in more chances for kisses at BOOM! Pro Wrestling and getting dragged to hell in WrestleCore and you have a perfectly weird year.
44. Benjamin Harland
(@sweetprincebh)Harland and his Act Two partner Jack Knudsen ended the year as one of the most decorated tag teams in all of Europe. The duo entered the evaluation period as Atomic Pro Wrestling Tag Team and FUTR Tag Team champions and wrapped the evaluation period in possession of tag team championships from TNT Extreme, Wrestling Resurgence, ATTACK! Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Chaos. Harland and Knudsen maintained that massive collection of titles in matches against notable U.K. teams Lykos Gym, Subculture, Hyperactive, Temple of Malum and The Experience. They turned in a great clash with Gen 1’s Prince Pele and James Grayson in True Grit Wrestling and reached the finals of the No Mercy Wrestling Tag Team title tournament. Singles success remained in the cards for the “Sweet Prince.” He battled for the TNT Extreme Ultra X title and took MJ Grayson to task in a Street Fight at New Wave Wrestling. One can imagine there isn’t much room left in their luggage for titles, but you can always find a little extra space if you try hard enough.
43. O’Shay Edwards
The “Big, Bad Kaiju” staked his claim to the “belt collector” moniker in 2025 with more than a handful of title reigns in promotions east of the Mississippi River. Edwards entered the year as F1ght Club Pro Wrestling Chocolate City, AXW Heavyweight, ALW Heavyweight, Catalyst Heavyweight and Ohio Wrestling Alliance champions and ended the year still in the midst of all of those reigns. He added the Fightt Pro Premier Hybrid championship in a Blackout Rules match against former ROH star Rhett Titus and the 1CW Heavyweight title against Shawn Carlson to make his suitcase that much heavier. The true heavyweight delivered hard-hitting performances against Robb Rockham, Tim Bosby, Alex Kane and Isaiah Broner while logging appearances with GCW, Jersey Championship Wrestling, TWE Chattanooga and PWF, keeping all who step to him aware of the force he truly is.
42. Trish Adora
The Ring of Honor star and Shane Taylor Promotions cohort’s distinct in-ring stylings took center stage in ROH and several notable independent promotions during 2025. Adora entered the ROH Women’s Pure championship tournament after shining against Ashley Vox, Aleah James, Janai Kai, Harley Cameron and Rachel Ellering in the AEW sibling promotion. Beyond ROH, Adora challenged Johnnie Robbie for the West Coast Pro Women’s title in her Prestige Wrestling return, did her best to pry the DEADLOCK Pro Women’s championship from Pacific Northwest standout Nicole Matthews and took on Gypsy Mac and Brittnie Brooks in Las Vegas’s FSW. The “Afropunk” wrestled her first match in Pro Wrestling EVE since 2019 and added appearances with New Japan Pro Wrestling and Santino Bros. Pro Wrestling.
41. Badger Briggs
Badger Briggs is quick to remind anyone they are not dead yet, but that doesn’t mean they won’t test it. The Minnesota-based mauler delivered stellar bouts in promotions around the northern U.S., showing off their bruising arsenal while bleeding buckets in the deathmatch world. They reigned as Timebomb Pro Sanctuary champion for 330 days, defending their title in weapons-filled brawls both in and out of the ring. Their matches against CHO produced some of the most brutal seen in the region in 2025. Briggs scored shots at additional accolades in Timebomb Pro and Higher Ground Wrestling, challenged Ava Lawless for the Winnipeg Pro Wrestling Women’s title in their return to Canada and showcased more of their deathmatch prowess in WLW, Spriggle Fighting Trials and Madhouse Wrestling. F1RST Wrestling became a huge stage for Briggs as well, with them earning a F1RST Grand title match after building a strong body of work against CHO, Devon Monroe, Zamaya, Jinn Hallows and their Hyperkill 2000 partner Rudy Hell.
40. Gypsy Mac
Bruja BaddieThe “Bruja Baddie” spent 2025 drowning in championships and those prizes were not easy to come by. Mac captured the FSW Women’s title by defeating Alice Blair inside a steel cage and secured the East Los Lucha Women’s title in a grueling Ladder match against Delilah Doom. She would add the Lucha Libre Voz Queen of Queens championship later in the year. Mac held on to all three titles for a large chunk of the year, notching successful defenses against Zamaya, Doom and Daena Lynn, but her rivalry with Brittnie Brooks over the FSW Women’s title produced highlight battles for both. The two bashed one another in a First Blood match and a Casket match with the title on the line. Mac logged appearances nationwide with JCW, Uprising Women Athletes, Wrestle Drag, Phase 1 Wrestling and Iron Heart Pro Wrestling while fighting her way to the finals of the Focus Pro Women’s championship tournament, facing Kaia McKenna in a Ladder match for the title. With matches against Dark Sheik, Vipress and Olivier Vegas under her belt, Mac and Dante King teamed up to challenge for the Alliance For All Tag team titles. And if that wasn’t enough, Mac and Lois Grain stapled each other all over at Circle 6.
39. Skye Smitson
The longtime British standout kept international gold around her waist in 2025. Smitson and her The Experience partner LA Taylor lorded over TNT Extreme’s women’s tag team division as champions for the majority of the year while extending their tag team title reign in Spanish promotion Revolution Championship Wrestling to over 630 days. The duo stood firm against a slew of notable opponents during those reigns, including Safire Reed, Anita Vaughn, Zoe Lucas, Amira Blair, Kasey, Molly Spartan and Chantal Jordan. The Pro Wrestling EVE fixture found singles success in the all-female promotion, prevailing in a triple threat match against Nina Samuels and AEW star Alex Windsor to win the Pro Wrestling EVE International championship. It marked her first singles title win in her seven-year tenure with the promotion. She would go on to feature in the Riot of Violence match in the promotion as well. Smitson added title challenges in True Grit Wrestling and Purpose Wrestling while taking the fight to opponents in France and Germany and crafting a memorable match with Kanji at Revolution Pro.
38. Bryn Thorne
Arizona favorite Bryn Thorne rampaged throughout her home region, making history along the way. Thorne became the first woman and second out LGBTQ wrestler to ever hold the IZW Heavyweight championship when she won the promotion’s Monster rumble match and downed Can’t Stop Jamaal for the title in May. She brought the brawl to bouts against Amira, Noah Anderson, Alice Blair and Ava Lawless as she made her way through several Southwest U.S. promotions. Her team with Tyler Bateman swirled around the PrideStyle Tag Team championship picture and she got one last chance to team with close friend Parada. Thorne mixed it up at Wrestle Drag, Circle 6, GrapHouse and Alliance For All, but the region couldn’t contain her. The “Belle of The Brawl” burst on the scene at Midwest promotions 2econd Wrestling and Honor Among Wrestling, Denver’s Respect Women’s Wrestling and Vancouver’s All Star Wrestling.
37. Anakin Murphy – QWI Debut
Whether you know him as “Death Wish” or “Chattanooga’s Favorite Twink” (or both), Anakin Murphy’s spirit within the ring is undeniable. The St. Louis native showed just that in spots all around the Midwest and Southeast U.S., reigning as ZERO1 USA Thursday Night Throwdown champion while defending the TWE Chattanooga Tag Team titles with Conversion Therapy partner The Luminary early in the evaluation period. Murphy added a Unsanctioned Pro Tag Team title reign alongside Gary Jay as Unsigned and Don’t Care before winning the Ohio promotion’s Hardcore Cup tournament to become Unsanctioned Pro Hardcore champion later in the year. He made opponents say “so long and goodnight” at St. Louis Anarchy, ACTION Wrestling and Uncanny Attractions while challenging for titles from Naptown All-Pro, H2O and 2econd Wrestling. Of course, Murphy starred in the bloody confines of deathmatch too, infusing his fights with Dr. Redacted, Malcolm Monroe III, Shimbashi, Alex Colon and Neil Diamond Cutter with his distinct emo energy.
36. Sean Campbell
From one pro wrestler with a death wish to another, Sean Campbell embodied the ethos of the faction he calls home, KOBK, during 2025. He and KOBK brother Hardway Heeter challenged for the TWE Chattanooga Tag Team titles multiple times while the KOBK combo of Campbell and Brett Ison squared off with Jaden Newman and Jameson Shook for the IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team titles. Campbell scored tag team gold in TWE with another KOBK mate, Big Dave, as he built a library of intense bouts with Darian Bengston, Gary Jay and Hunter Drake. “Yung Dirt McGirt” reveled in the deathmatch world, shedding blood with Malcolm Monroe III, Tommy Trainwreck, Phil Insane and Hoodfoot. Campbell sought singles titles in Ruthless Pro, TWE and ACTION Wrestling as well, solidifying himself as a beloved name in the Southeast U.S. no matter how bittersweet he may be.
35. Noah Veil
Noah Veil carried the banner for “The Forgotten State” across the United States, leaving memorable moments in their wake. Veil held the Naptown All-Pro Tag Team titles alongside Athrun Amada as the Night City Machine
34. Pimpinela Escarlata
The most tenured honoree on this list added to his already leyenda status as he approaches 40 years in lucha libre. Pimpinela appeared regularly for AAA both before and after the established lucha promotion was purchased by WWE. The exótico icon regularly teamed with Lady Shani, Nino Hamburguesa and Jessy Ventura in matchups against Las Toxicas, Los Vipers and Tony Casanova and became a point of celebration for LGBTQ audiences with their appearance at “Triplemania” in the Copa Bardahl. Pimpi held the RGR Exótico championship during the year, appeared with more than a dozen independent promotions across Mexico and California and got besos everywhere he went while battling Abismo Negro Jr., Mamba and La Diva Salvaje.
33. Jaiden
The Pacific Northwest saw several different alternate versions of its resident pro wrestling superhero this year. Kaine Jaiden rose above having his “Unbelievable” identity stripped away in POW! Pro Wrestling to win the WWW YouTube championship and end his feud with Levi Shapiro in a Ladder match. “The Savior of Rose City” found championship success in Prestige Wrestling and DOA Pro Wrestling, joining with Amira to form UltraPOWER! to take down Prestige Tag Team champions Sinner & Saint and toppling Hell’s Belles leader Abigail Warren to win the DOA Grand championship. Fans even caught a glimpse of Shadow Jaiden. He faced competition in the form of Kidd Bandit, Su Yung, DARK Sheik, Richie Coy and Los Suavecitos as he proved once again why Cascadia adores him.
32. Kouki Amarei – QWI Debut
The genderless Marigold star built on their history-making 2024 for another strong year despite missing time due to injury early in the year. The inaugural GHC Women’s champion continued their reign with the first women’s title created by popular Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH, extending the reign to 203 days after defending the title against Chika Goto. Amarei performed well in the annual DREAM STAR Grand Prix tournament, scoring wins over Rea Seto, Seri Yamaoka, Utami Hayashishita and eventual DREAM block winner Victoria Yuzuki. They and Hayashishita teamed up to enter the Twin Star Cup before Amarei showed enormous heart against Takumi Iroha in the match that ended their title reign.
31. Alex Kane
The leader of the Bomaye Fight Club suplexed fools all across the country in 2025. Kane earned multiple MLW World Heavyweight title matches against Satoshi Kojima and Matt Riddle during the year, adding violent bouts against The Andersons and The Rogue Horsemen while with MLW. Joe Black and Jaden Newman emerged as rivals for Kane in ACTION Wrestling and Southern Honor Wrestling, leading to a Southern Honor championship match. “The Suplex Assassin” wrestled for promotions in California, South Dakota, Indiana, New York and several other states, building up momentum before challenging for the TWE Chattanooga Gig City title. He took his suplex stylings to Costa Rica with Riot Wrestling Alliance, and got the chance to reunite with mentor and former Bomaye Fight Club member O’Shay Edwards. That’s on Bomaye.
30. Dillon McQueen
Pro wrestling became a family affair for McQueen as his husband, Maverick, joined him as his ringside manager, which was perfect considering the success “Zaddy” enjoyed this year. McQueen reigned as Coastal Championship Wrestling Tennessee Heavyweight champion for most of the year, even rechristening the title the Tennessee Zaddyweight championship. Along with his Outlandish Paradise MomoCon title, McQueen defended the title in multiple states against the likes of Aaron Rourke and Jak Calloway. McQueen tried to add the GCW World championship to his collection against EFFY and battled Najasism over the Classic City Wrestling title. His climb up the ranks in Uncanny Attractions led to stellar contests against Casey Blackrose and Carter Blaq as he and Brick Savage got closer to colliding over the Unchampionship. ACTION Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Symphony and Next Generation Wrestling played host to his and Maverick’s historic pairing and infectious personalities before McQueen made his return to the NWA against Kerry Morton and Thom Latimer.
29. Harley Hudson
(@harleyhudsonx)Nearly 19 months after winning TNA Wrestling’s Gutcheck Challenge, “Hudzilla” finally came to TNA in 2025 and hasn’t looked back. Hudson quickly paired up with Myla Grace and entered the Knockouts tag team division, showing off their skills against The Elegance Brand, Lei Ying Lei, Xia Brookside, Dani Luna, Lena Kross, Rosemary and Indi Hartwell. The TNA Knockout maintained a presence on the U.K. indie scene in between TNA appearances, winning the Pro Wrestling EVE Tag Team titles with Hard Up North partner Lucy Sky and holding singles championships in Iron Girders and Phenomenal Elite Wrestling. Hudson looked to add to that collection in Riot Cabaret, Ireland’s OTT Wrestling and Finland’s SLAM Wrestling in hard-hitting contests with Raven Creed and Aliss Ink. She added one more accolade during 2025, beating Adam Bolt and Melissa Fierce to win the PEW Mixed Tag Team tournament with Nathan Angel.
28. Abadon
The “Living Dead Girl” dotted the United States with their horror show this year, striking fear — and other emotions — into the heart of opponents. After downing Rachel Ellering at Ring of Honor, Abandon began stalking the independents, generating a duality of memories with Sonny Kiss and Vipress at “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch” and winning the Rising Stars Women’s Championship tournament in New York. They made regular appearances at Denver-based promotion Lucha Libre & Laughs, most notably against Maki Itoh and Dulce Tormenta, while challenging for titles in DREAMWAVE Wrestling and the Rhodes Wrestling Federation. Metroplex Wrestling played host to their next championship conquest when Abadon defeated Reiza Clarke for the MPX Women’s title and defended it against Nixon Newell at the “Who Runs The World?” events. A trip up to Mystery Wrestling brought a hardcore MLW World Heavyweight title match against Krule and a Coffin match against Amity LaVey put them in their element. Additional bouts against Vertvixen, Shotzi Blackheart and S.O.S. helped Abadon keep the wrestling world on their collective toes.
27. Jordan Blade
Blade accomplished a career milestone this year when she debuted on GCW’s “Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport,” putting her BJJ bonafides on display against Leyla Hirsch and Janai Kai. The highlights kept piling up for “Trap Daddy” as she and Kings of The District partner Eel O’Neal became the inaugural Pan-Afrikan World Diaspora Tag Team champions and linked back up with Darius Carter as Best Business Bureau in Enjoy Wrestling. Blade went strike-for-strike with TJPW star Miyu Yamashita at JCW before she and close friend Erica Leigh went to the mat over the RVA Women’s title. The reigning CFU Undisputed champion added matchups in Battle Club Pro, Flying V Fights, Firestar Pro, ASÉ Wrestling and Power Pro Lucha before stepping into Wrestling Open to compete for a shot at the WWE ID Women’s championship.
26. Vipress
(@_vipress)“La Chola” put her hair up and squared up with foes on a national scale this year, notching multiple appearances with TNA Wrestling against Jody Threat and Dani Luna and facing Willow Nightengale in AEW. Vipress ran her time as she who holds the Golden Gig in Hoodslam to 546 days, tying for the second-longest reign in the promotion’s history. She fought for more gold in DEFY Wrestling and Ladies Night Out while making regular appearances with Ohio Valley Wrestling and GCW, taking the fight to Brittnie Brooks, Atticus Cogar and Allie Katch. Her debut with Stardom saw her team with IWGP Women’s champion Syuri while her debut across the pond with Pro Wrestling EVE pitted Vipress against Anita Vaughn. She returned to “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch” (and left with Abadon) and rounded out a stellar year with matches in Vancouver’s All Star Wrestling and Circle 6.
25. Richie Coy
(@boynamedrichie)More than a year into their reign as Full Queer Princex of Pride champion, Coy maintained their place as a preeminent “Bodyslam Poet.” Coy defended their title from all challengers, including Marco Mayur, Finch, Bryce Saturn, Atomic and Lara Frazier. They showcased their technical prowess across the Southwest U.S. and West Coast, including Wrestle Drag, UGWA, SOS Wrestling, and Versus Pro, while challenging for titles in Santino Bros. and PrideStyle. They and Platonic Romance partner Damian Desire looked for tag team gold in Prestige Wrestling, Alliance For All and 365 Wrestling and marked debuts with Canadian promotions BOOM! Pro Wrestling, DUSK Pro and NEW. The Floral Phenom’s portfolio gets more impressive and undeniable with every year.
24. Adam Bolt
“The Pride of The U.K.” is a title that fits Adam Bolt well because he has the titles to back it up. Bolt ended 2025 holding the True Grit Wrestling Pride and WAW Pride titles, running those reigns to over one year and two years respectively with defenses against Kidd Bandit, Priscilla and Jason Joshua. He went on to become a triple crown champion in Phenominal Elite Wrestling, holding the PEW Tag Team, Internet and Heavyweight championships all within 2025. Bolt and Big Man Inc. compatriot Jackie T added a second PEW Tag title win and became two-time House of Pain Tag Team champions later in the year. The man who makes it look good was part of an intense feud with Tony Wright that saw the two battle in a Ladder match that earned match of the year considerations. Bolt ramped up his presence at TNT Extreme as well, facing off with Che Monet in the first all-LGBTQ title match in the promotion’s history, defeating DARK Sheik at “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch UK 3” and winning the Pride Up Briefcase to earn another shot at Monet’s TNT Extreme Ultra X championship.
23. Anthony Bowens
2025 saw the dawn of the “Pride of Pro Wrestling” era of Anthony Bowens’ AEW career after he and The Acclaimed partner Max Caster split early in the year. Bowens made his return in April, answering Caster’s “Best Wrestler Alive” open challenge at AEW’s “Dynasty” pay-per-view and rattling off a number of impressive performances against Blake Christian, Ricochet, Kazuchika Okada and Kyle Fletcher. Bowens parlayed those showings into a Casino Gauntlet entry at “All In: Texas,” another solid outing against Konosuke Takeshida and a tenuous reunion with Caster to close out his in-ring year with AEW. He popped into the indies briefly for a match with TJ Crawford at New Jersey’s WrestlePro, but Bowens’ impact goes beyond his in-ring role. Bowens remains a key voice pushing back on homophobia within pro wrestling and its fan community, continually living up to the moniker he now bears on AEW programming.
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22. Indi Hartwell
Hartwell became a TNA Knockout in 2025 and rapidly showed her pro wrestling pedigree in matchups with Tasha Steelz, Tessa Blanchard and Victoria Crawford. Dani Luna became her main rival in the back half of the year with the two bashing one another in a No Disqualification match at “Turning Point.” Hartwell challenged Kelani Jordan for the TNA Knockouts World championship at TNA’s biggest show of the year, “Bound For Glory,” in her first title match with the company. Championship success didn’t elude Hartwell on the independents, though. The Aussie held the House of Glory Women’s, Renegades of Wrestling Women’s and the Awesome Championship Wrestling Women’s titles simultaneously for six months, turning back challenges from Zayda Steel, Tarlee, Priscilla Kelly and Hyan. Hartwell also featured in marquee matches against AEW TBS champion Mercedes Moné, Sandra Moone and Shotzi Blackheart, living up to her “Indi Wrestling” moniker.
21. MV Young
The crown of Pittsburgh pro wrestling still sits upon the brow of MV Young even as he helps build an inclusive future for his city’s pro wrestling scene with 880 Wrestling. Young stepped into the ring with nearly everyone who stepped into 880, including KC Warr, Big Game Leroy, Nix Wilde and Alao Dreams. His jaw-cracking style led him to win the 880 Home Run tournament final over Reese Hayes and aided him against EFFY in a GCW World title match. Young turned in similar performances in Enjoy Wrestling, retiring Jack Pollack and reaching the Supersonic Invitational final. He became the first two-time FEST Wrestling champion ever, went back to his no ring deathmatch roots at Uncanny Attractions and made multiple appearances in Canada with NCG. His personal success remains consistent, but even more consistent is the quality of wrestlers being produced under his tutelage.
Come back tomorrow for the top 20 LGBTQ pro wrestlers of the 2025 QWI 200.
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