A little over a year ago, I began a three post series counting down my favorite 30 wrestlers aged 25 and under. I got some nice feedback for that list, thank you all for that, so I decided I'd roll up my sleeves and give this list an update for 2025.
Two things before we begin this list. First is that there is going to be a major change that you'll notice this go around, and in the future for that matter. To simplify the eligibility rules moving forward, I will not be including wrestlers who are 25 as of the cutoff date, which will be as of January 1st of the Age 25 year (2000 in this case). If you're born on that day or later, you've got a chance to make it, everyone else is officially too old. Unfortunately, that means that even more people from my first list will not be allowed to be selected again. This includes the following, born in 1999:
Miu Watanabe (20th last year)
Hook (19th)
Francesco Akira (16th)
MIRAI (15th)
Madoka Kikuta (13th)
Rising HAYATO (9th)
Mei Suruga (8th)
Yuma Anzai (6th)
Atsuki Aoyagi (4th)
The second thing I'll mention before we get started is that instead of listing 30 wrestlers like last time, I'll only be including 25 in the main countdown. There will be a few honorable mentions, but I won't be talking too much about them at this point.
This year's countdown includes wrestlers currently signed to ten companies in three countries. They combined for a grand total of 127 years in the business as of cutoff date, and have already earned countless titles so far. Before we hit the list, however, I'll give you my honorable mentions!
Haruka Umesaki (Born: 2/7/2001) - Diana's young ace in the making is consistently one of the most fun Joshi to watch who's not consistently showcased in any of the major Joshi promotions in Japan today.
Je'Von Evans (4/29/2004) - NXT's resident Bouncy superstar has shown glimpses of in-air brilliance in his short time with the yellow brand. But anyone knowledgeable of his work at DEADLOCK in the past know that the sky's the limit for the 20-year-old.
Owadasan (8/12/2000) - While he's only been working for a little over a year, the youngest member of TEAM 2000X has the confidence of a 10-year veteran. While not on this list, look out for this guy in NOAH's junior heavyweight division.
Rina (12/28/2006) - It's astonishing to think that Rina is only now 18-years-old as her work as the impish and charismatic ne'er do well is so confident. If she's able to take her in-ring to the next level, she could be a problem as a top mid-carder in Stardom.
Tetsuya Izuchi (2/16/2000) - A wrestler who's strengths in the ring are deafened considerably because he works for GLEAT, Izuchi is someone who could thrive in a promotion that knows how to use their talent.
Now with all of that out of the way, it's time to find out who are the best young wrestlers today. It's time for the 1st EVER official Long Story Sport 25 Under 25. Let's get it going!
25
Sayaka Kurara
Stardom
Birthday - 6/20/2000 in Toyohashi City, Aichi, Japan
Debut - 12/25/2023 at Stardom New Blood 12
Last Year's Rating - N/A
We’re kicking off this year’s countdown with Sayaka Kurara, a wrestler who has quickly emerged as one of the leading rising stars in Stardom today. Since making her debut on Christmas Day 2023, the Aichi native has shown immense promise both in the ring and on the microphone, even though I can't understand any Japanese for the life of me. Her passion for wrestling and her genuine babyface energy are evident every time she has the opportunity to shine.
Something that's kind of amazing about Kurara right off the bat is that unlike pretty much everyone who's ever graduated from Stardom's famed training school, she did so without having any confirmed previous sporting background of any kind. She didn't even do something as mundane as badminton or curling for goodness sake! So while she was pretty obviously a little out of her depth in the first stretch of her career, Kurara was able to work through all that and become more comfortable with the wrestling lifestyle.
One trait that became pretty obvious with Stardom's fanbase was that she bore a striking resemblance to the leader of Cosmic Angels and former World of Stardom Champion Tam Nakano. Kurara possesses an almost inhuman ability to gain sympathy in every segment she participates in, which is a pretty rare talent in the current wrestling landscape. It’s no wonder that Nakano welcomed Kurara into Cosmic Angels just two months into her journey.
While she has yet to achieve significant success in terms of tournament victories or title challenges, I believe that Kurara’s attention to detail in character development will ensure she has a long and memorable career.
24
Julia Hart
All Elite Wrestling
Birthday - 11/8/2001 in Bloomington, Minnesota
Debut - 10/26/2019 at Modist Madness
Major Accomplishments - AEW TBS Champion (1x), Wrestling Observer Most Improved (2023)
Last Year's Rating - N/A
While Sayaka Kurara has shown a tremendously high level of character work in the Japanese scene, one wrestler who's done the same but on American television is former AEW TBS Champion and current Hound of Hell, Julia Hart. But instead of being able to improve in the friendly confines of Stardom's smaller community, Hart has been forced to do so in an environment that is quick to give up on talents that don't kick off their careers well.
If we can be honest for a second, Julia Hart’s AEW debut was far from impressive. She was introduced to the scene as the third member of the underwhelming Varsity Blonds act. Despite this, it became clear over some time that she possessed an impressive blend of athleticism and high-flying talent, albeit she was super green at the time. But if the powers that be allowed her time to figure herself out and get those reps in, she could be pretty good.
Luckily, one person who believed in her was AEW's man in charge, Tony Khan, who eventually orchestrated Julia Hart's move to the dark side as part of the enigmatic House of Black faction, which was led by Malakai Black, one of the promotion's most interesting characters at the time. Hart took this move well, as evidenced by her output following that move.
Back in September of 2023, Julia Hart reached the next level after she defeated Kris Statlander to win the TBS Championship, AEW's secondary singles title for the women's division. During her subsequent 155-day reign, Hart reached seven successful defenses, including ones against people like Emi Sakura, Anna Jay, fellow spooky wrestler Abadon, and Trish Adora. She only lost the belt in April of 2024 because she had to get surgery to fix her shoulder.
Hart has only recently returned to action back in January of 2025, where she's since had four matches on AEW television. She's currently in the middle of a feud with my favorite woman on the roster, Jamie Hayter. It remains to be seen what her 2025 will look like and if she'll earn any shots for any titles, but one thing will always be sure about Julia Hart, and that's that whatever she'll do, her devotion to character work will make anything she does more interesting.
23
Nick Wayne
All Elite Wrestling
Birthday - 7/10/2005 in Seattle, Washington
Debut - 4/27/2018 at ICW Rumble In Rutland
Major Accomplishments - DEFY World Champion (1x), GCW Tag Team Champion (1x), AEW World Trios Champion (1x), 5CC Wrestling Champion (1x)
Last Year's Rating - 21
I think it's safe to say that this past year hasn't been especially kind of Nick Wayne's case for a list like this. In 2024, the 19-year-old only appeared in 16 televised matches for the promotion, including three on Dynamite, seven on Collision, and only one on a Pay-Per-View. Sure, he was a constant presence on television as part of Christian's Patriarchy crew, but that hasn't translated in him appearing in more high-profile matches.
Even so, Nick Wayne hasn't rested on his laurels and has instead appeared on shows for other promotions so that he can stay relevant as a high-level in-ring worker. Last year, Nick Wayne had singles matches against the likes of Lio Rush, Jack Cartwheel, El Hijo Del Vikingo, and even The Great Sasuke, while also having tag team matches where he battled alongside the likes of Speedball Mike Bailey, Timothy Thatcher, and his constant GCW tag partner Jordan Oliver.
The son of Pacific Northwest wrestler Buddy Wayne, Nick has the DNA within to be that tremendous wrestler he's been promised to be for the next few decades. As someone who's witnessed his ascent both on television and in person, I'm hopeful that he can maximize his minutes in between the ropes on AEW TV and showcase the same fiery passion he's showcased in the past. I still have the hope that one day he'll be a massive babyface competing against AEW's biggest heels for the top belts in the promotion.
22
Tomoka Inaba
Just Tap Out
Birthday - 7/24/2002 in Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan
Debut - 7/8/2019 at JTO Hajime
Major Accomplishments - Queen of JTO (3x), JTO Girls Tag Team Champion (1x), Sendai Girls Junior Champion (1x), JTO Girls Tournament (2022, 2024), JTO Girls Tag Team Title Tournament (2024)
Last Year's Rating - 48
The last time I wrote about Tomoka Inaba, the JTO star had just joined Syuri's God's Eye faction and appeared to soon become a signed Stardom talent. That was back in late 2022, and while she has appeared for the top Joshi promotion on many occasions, including in two Goddesses of Stardom Tag Leagues and one 5STAR Grand Prix, she has yet to put pen to paper with them. With all that being said, Inaba has continued to improve her work and has since become a highlight on the Joshi independent scene.
The 22-year-old is by far the most decorated woman to compete for the Just Tap Out promotion, which is where she made her debut back in 2019. She's held the company's Queen of JTO title, the top Joshi belt in the promotion, a record three times for an astounding 753 days, which is also a record.
Inaba employs a karate-based style in her wrestling, which is something that I personally really enjoy. She utilizes a lot of limb work akin to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, many forms of Judo throws, and even showcases some kata before her matches. Her martial arts background is also clear in how she carries herself all together. It's no wonder that she's considered to be a protege of Syuri, who herself has a strong martial arts background, even going as far as competing in the UFC for a short time.
I would love to see Inaba climb this chart in the next couple of years, however, I don't see that being possible unless she signs with a larger promotion so that she can be more visible to more fans. While she's got the potential to be a massive star, I think her bar is only so high if she remains tied to the JTO promotion moving forward.
21
Xelhua
Consejo Mundial De Lucha Libre
Birthday - 4/5/2004 in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico
Debut - 5/9/2023 at CMLL Martes De Glamour
Major Accomplishments - Lucha Memes Battle Of Coacalco (2024)
Last Year's Rating - N/A
While I've become a massive fan of lucha libre as a whole, I'd be lying to all of you if that wasn't almost entirely because of the CMLL promotion. For a group that is renowned for it's tremendous roster, which includes the likes of Mistico, Mascara Dorada, Templario, and Hechicero, I've often gravitated to the younger up-and-comings act on the roster. And while Neon and the aforementioned Mascara Dorada have gained the lion share of the praise online, one guy who deserves even more is the 20-year-old phenom from Cholula, Xelhua.
Named after an ancient Aztec mythical being who is said to have been so large that he could construct major projects on his own, Xelhua formally launched into the scene in the distant year of 2023. Working primarily for both CMLL and Lucha Memes, the son of former luchador SWAT quickly showcased a rare acumen for the sport, especially for someone as young as he was at the time.
One big reason why I enjoy watching Xelhua wrestle, which I don't see often enough because his matches aren't as readily available as I'd want, is that he is a proponent of the lucha llave style. What that basically means is that he's a technician. Think of Xelhua as a much much younger Blue Panther. Sure he'll add some high flying, something he's absolutely willing to do, but most of his best work comes not in the Mexican skies, but on the ground. And even in his less than two full years wrestling, he can grapple with the best of them. Some of his best singles opponents have so far been with Hechicero, Dragon Legendario, and most often Guerrero Maya Jr.
While he's yet to achieve any major accomplishments as of writing, look for the 20-year-old descendent of Aztec legend to become one of the key players at the oldest pro wrestling promotion on the planet in the next few years.
FULL LIST SO FAR
Honorable Mentions: Haruka Umesaki (Diana), Je'Von Evans (WWE), Owadasan (NOAH), Rina (Stardom), Tetsuya Izuchi (GLEAT)
25 - Sayaka Kurara - Stardom
24 - Julia Hart - AEW
23 - Nick Wayne - AEW
22 - Tomoka Inaba - JTO
21 - Xelhua - CMLL
Featured Image Credit - AEW
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