Voices of Wrestling 2025 Match of the Year: #2 (Mistico vs. MJF – September 9)

Mistico and MJF make magic in Arena Mexico with the #2 match in Voices of Wrestling’s 2025 Match of the Year list!

Voices of Wrestling 2025 Match of the Year Countdown

• Introduction, Project History, Voters/Media Outlets & Honorable Mentions
• Matches #100-76
• Matches #75-51
• Matches #50-26
• Matches #25-11
• Match of the Year Statistical Analysis & Top 10 Early Reveal (FlagshipPatreon.com)
• Match #10 (Sareee vs. Syuri – March 10)
• Match #9 (El Desperado vs. Jun Kasai – June 24)
• Match #8 (Bandido vs. Konosuke Takeshita – July 11)
• Match #7 (Saya Kamitani vs. Tam Nakano – April 27)
• Match #6 (Hirooki Goto vs. Zack Sabre Jr. – February 11)
• Match #5 (Toni Storm vs. Mariah May – March 9)
• Match #4 (Adam Page vs. Jon Moxley – July 12)
• Match #3 (Adam Page vs. Will Ospreay – May 25)
• Match #2 (Mistico vs. MJF – September 9)
• Match #1 (Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd – January 5)

Voices of Wrestling’s 2025 Match of the Year Voter List

Here is the distinguished panel of wrestling media members who voted in Voices of Wrestling’s 2025 Match of the Year poll.

(Note: some voters chose not to include websites/affiliations and/or Twitter/X/Bluesky handles)

Wrestling Media Representation in Voices of Wrestling’s 2025 Match of the Year

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#2
Mistico defeats MJF
09/19
CMLL

Overall Points: 766
Total Votes: 91
Percentage of Ballots: 44.61%
25 First-Place Votes

Heel vs Face, Title vs Mask, Arena Mexico, the atmosphere, the blood, my God the blood! This match was just about as perfect as a match can be. It was not so much my #2 as it was my #1B. – Jason Hart (Voices of Wrestling)

If you ever want to see what a classic 1980s NWA territory match looks like, watch this match. This was a classic “babyface versus heel” match, and it was done so exceptionally well, despite being so simplistic in its execution. Blood in Arena Mexico is a rare visual, and Mistico’s blade job here was gruesome. The fact that it happened so quickly into the match was a shocking treat for everyone in attendance, but that meant that the entire match was built around it. MJF was a total prick here, getting so much heat out of doing so little. He’s certainly had better heel performances in his promos for AEW, but from a bell to bell perspective, this may be the best singular performance of his career.

And then there’s Mistico, the biggest star in Lucha right now, and CMLL’s most popular wrestler. He bled buckets here, and it was a nasty sight to see. He sold exhaustion better than a lot of people more famous than him, and it came off like a real struggle for him all match long. The best way I can describe it for those that haven’t seen this is that the top of his head looked like a candied apple. It was gross. And yet, he was the most endearing wrestler you’ve ever seen for the duration of this match.

He had the crowd eating out of his hands, as he displayed amazing babyface fire and courage. He never stayed down, and he always kept coming for MJF. The crowd was so hot for this match, as they desperately wanted to see the asshole MJF get his from their hero Mistico. It was all basic stuff – MJF doing taunts to get the crowd fired up, or Mistico fighting his way back to his feet – but because of the execution, it was one of the best displays of the basics of wrestling I’ve seen in years.

You absolutely owe it to yourself to check this one out. It’s Pro Wrestling 101 in how to have a crowd fully attentive to you without having to bust out crazy spots or hardcore moments. It’s a defined babyface against a defined heel, and they told a simple story of overcoming the odds, and never giving up. It’s fucking excellent, and one of many reasons why CMLL has been considered the best promotion anywhere in the world for 2025. – Daniel Everhart (DanTheWrestlingFan)

The God of Arena Mexico spilling the red stuff, goat shit buddy. – Sam Palmer (Wrestling Inc.)

The best performance on MJF Career and Mistico cements his legendary status. – Green_Dragon (Moonsault)

As much as people love to say, wrestling isn’t always best at its simplest. But sometime it actually is.

This is a straightforward hero vs. villain clash told wonderfully. MJF is most effective when the context surrounding a feud allows him to ham it up, and Mistico (approaching Mexican folk hero status by this point) is the perfect opponent in that regard. – Jack G. King (Jack the Jobber)

Cometh the moment, cometh the man. MJF’s presence had been a blight upon CMLL as a series of woeful cheap heat main events saw him both defeat Averno and, inexplicably, humiliate the hottest young rudo in the promotion, Zandokan Jr. Mercifully, come the Aniversario his mini-reign of terror was put out of its misery in all time classic encounter. Mistico, whose punnishing schedule can leave him heavy legged, was in the form of his life. Drenched in a gruesome amount of blood, CMLL’s MVP didn’t did more than just endure and overcome, he dazzled. With a spring in his step he obliterated MJF with a series sumptous tijeras, corkscrew torneos and elegant spingboards. Mistico was rolling back the years as a feral crowd roared him to an incredible come-from-behind victory. The perfect hybrid of a 70s bloodbath and modern lucha libre, the match was an encapulsation of everything that makes CMLL so great; a harmonious fusion of wrestling’s heritage and brazen modernity. – David Hayter (Social Suplex)

Mistico and Max stands a cut above everything as my clear number one, the match I will most associate 2025 with. Mistico’s ascension back to his throne has brought a lot of great moments but a defining, Anniversario singles match put it over the top. This was everything good that pro wrestling can be. Mistico delivered a heroic performance that sits among the greats in that category while I thought MJF being slightly understated worked wonders. Then there was the unexpected part, the blood. MJF got away with a few CMLL taboos in the build up but I never would have predicted blood or blood to this degree in 2025 CMLL. It would have been a MOTYC without it but that just put it over the top. – Andrew (cero1max) (Cero1MAX Wrestling)

The sole CMLL match on my list this year, and one could argue the biggest CMLL match of the year for an English-speaking audience. The feud leading up to the match had me hooked, with MJF stealing the mask of Mistico, and attacks and angles spanning AEW, CMLL and even MLW (where the action never stops).

The match itself was fantastic, MJF controlled most of the match, letting Mistico work for comebacks, showing exactly why he is the megastar he is in Mexico. Mistico in a big match in Arena Mexico is unlike anything else. It may not translate to anywhere else, but watching Mistico in his home arena is on another level.

They timed the match perfectly, working right up to the crescendo where they took it home at the exact right point. Another match under the belt of MJF to prove he is an elite level in ring worker and another match to push forward Mistico’s wrestler of the year candidacy. – Kristian Scheurer (Backbreakr)

Mistico really blended the line between fake and real with the way that he sold his blood loss, taking it so far as to stumble around after the match to really impart the impression that he had been so weakened by MJF’s assault. That made his triumph over MJF resonate even further with the faithful Arena Mexico crowd. MJF played a great villainous foil for Mistico. – Kim Wong (Wrestling With Thoughts)

This is classic pro wrestling. Hated asshole heel against the hero with a molten hot crowd. Being there live, I heard the gasps and people going “Mistico is bleeding”, making the crowd support the hero even more. The arena moved with people hitting the floor in support. A guy was even kicked out because he threw a food or beer at MJF. Just a great pro wrestling match which was one of the highlights of my 2025. – Abraham Delgado (Voices of Wrestling)

A generational match that transcends star ratings and discussions of what constitutes a great match. The greatest hero of this century overcomes the villainous outsider through sheer will. – Dalton Henry (Voices of Wrestling)

Simplicity = perfection. A molten crowd, an imperious babyface in Mistico and a career-best performance from MJF. The sort of match that restores your faith in this sport. – Andrew Sinclair (Voices of Wrestling)

The emotional connection between Arena Mexico and Mistico is palpable. MJF is the wicked arrogant foreigner against the beloved local baby face. It’s a tried and true wrestling story played perfectly. – Nikki Derella (Monthly Voyage Podcast)

This was pro wrestling perfection. Foreign heel MJF comes in as the American villian and Mistico gets a massive pop for being the local hero. MJF attacked Mistico from the jump and he bled buckets quckly. Pro wrestling simplicity doesn’t have to be boring, it can be a match of the year. We simply need more of this – Tyler Forness (Voices of Wrestling)

Peak pro wrestling. MJF was incredible as the invading asshole American but even he was outdone by Misticos babyface performance on this night. Wrestling is so simple and these two are magic together. Hell of a bladejob by Mistico too – Lee Malone (Days of Thunder)

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Mistico wrestle I followed his run in WWE and it wasn’t good at all however I haven’t seen much of him since he left unless it was reading something about him online. I heard about this match the week that it happened and I was told that it was must watch so here we are. Mistico comes out to a huge ovation and MJF starts pounding on him from the bell and ripping at his mask he runs him into the ring post and Mistico begins to gush blood from his head. What a hell of a start, Mistico was insanely over with the crowd and rightfully so and MJF was great here it might be the best I’ve seen from MJF the guy can really go when he needs to. During the match Mistico keeps trying to get something going but every time he does MJF shuts him down with offense the odds seemed to be stacked against Mistico during the entire duration of the match because at one point he gets attacked on the outside of the ring. MJF capitalizes with a beautiful fozbury flop to the outside of the ring Mistico’s blood is all over the place. MJF gets the upper hand once again and starts rubbing Mistico’s blood all over his body. If you weren’t a fan of MJF before this match you need to watch it because it will make you a fan of the guy instantly. Mistico did great in his own right in his flawless performance throughout the match he had flawless execution of his offense this match told a tremendous story for the entire duration of the match the match had everything storytelling drama and great in ring action it checked all of my boxes as far as what I like in wrestling and it was extremely entertaining to watch. Even watching it back now there is no doubt in my mind that Mistico and MJF had the runaway match of the year I knew it when I first saw the match and I know it now upon the rewatch and my subsequent writing. If you haven’t seen this match if it wasn’t on your radar after it happened do yourself a favor and fix that right now because this match is must see! – Nathan Neumann (WrestleCast Radio)

This match checks every box I have for wrestling in 2026: stakes, heat, amazing spots, and blood. Lots of blood – Corey Clark (Troubles Weekly)

This was an incredible “good vs. evil” story. Mistico was an outstanding babyface fighting from underneath, while MJF dialed in with an all-time great villain performance. The blood and extracurriculars added so much, and the drama was off the charts. – Ryan Mac (Ryan’s Reviews)

If I’m just judging the match on it’s own, this may have been the match of the year; a near perfect example of a hated heel finally getting his comeuppance at the hands of a beloved babyface. What keeps it from the top slot for me was the build to it, which may not be entirely fair, but this is MY list. In a world with ICE agents attacking our neighbors and friends, I’m not sure there is room on North American television for a “FORIEGNER BAD” type heel. Obviously, the fans in Arena Mexico didn’t exactly feel that way; I can only speak to how I feel. Not only that, the feud with Mistico really seemed to take up a variable amount of bandwidth; sometimes seeming important, sometimes seeming to be a total afterthought. As for the match itself, Friedman 100% brought his A game and did a great job when it came down to it. My problems with his work very, very rarely come down to what he presents in ring. I still think it’s a shame that this match wasn’t mascara contra cabella, which had been teased (and MORE than teased, all but promised at points). Mistico; what can you say? I remember watching CMLL in 2005 or 2006 and he was the biggest thing going then. It’s wild to me that is still the case in 2025, and that’s not a knock; it’s a wonderful thing. The king is back on his throne. – DJ Convoy (La Zona Muerta)

I feel like this match is one I would show to someone who’s never watched wrestling before and wants to understand it. The babyface is clear and heel is clear, great match, action, shenanigans, and blood. This is pro wrestling. – Conrad Kushman (Everything Pro Wrestling )

In any other year, this would be my undeniable match of the year. Who knew Mistico would be the best rival MJF has ever had? – Andrew Gelinas (Long Story Sport)

Portal is the perfect video game, in that it isn’t too long, it’s not too short, it gives you everything that you could want from a video game.
Mistico vs MJF is the Portal of Wrestling. The Story, the characters, the heel work, the entrances, the crowd, the in ring action… nothing is really lacking. It might very well be the perfect match of 2025. The reason, it’s not higher for me is because I have no real connection to Lucha Libre or Mistico. – Akash Merten (Five Star Network)

Two wrestlers with very different styles working like they know each other very well. MJF can work with this style in every country it really works. Amazing face vs heel dynamic with non-boring pacing. It’s not possible to get bored while watching this. – Kaan Ünverdi (Tokyo Merkez Podcast)

Pure pro wrestling perfection. Everyone played their roles perfectly here, including Jon Cruz who made a tremendous manager for MJF in CMLL. There was so much good wrestling in 2025 between the bells, but this is the only match you simply HAVE to see. – Jeremy Sexton (Voices of Wrestling)

The best triumphant hero conquering the diabolical villain-type match of the year. MJF delivered some of the best work of his career in antagonizing Mistico, his torn mask seeped with blood but still hanging to withstand all the abuse & outdo his adversary. Lived up to the interpromotional build-up and ensured the two of them are in the conversation for the MVPs of 2025. – Nick Johnson (Cagematch.net)

Sometimes, we need to be reminded of the beauty of simple things. Freshly washed bedsheets. Sunlight through a window when you’re not expecting it. Finding a twenty you forgot about in a jacket pocket. A gringo bad guy shredding a national hero into a bleeding wreck. That’s the operative word with Mistico vs. MJF: simplicity. A match built and executed on the most basic premise in pro wrestling, but championed by two excellent in-ring storytellers, diametrically opposed, yet fully aware of their roles in creating emotion. And not only do they understand it, they execute it avec une main de maître, achieving a level two lesser wrestlers might attempt, but never reach.

It’s the kind of match that makes you feel that way about pro wrestling, that makes days like this, when you commit to this awesome-cum-somtimes-frustrating hobby, where the bad stuff makes you appreciate a match this good. Why you spend hours watching stuff, wading through the average and the bad, if only to be able to sit back, take a sip of your favorite beverage (hot or cold, your preference), and nod in deep appreciation for one of the most satisfying and compelling matches you’ve ever seen, suddenly noticing that ray of sunlight peeking in against your face. – Warren Hayes (Voices of Wrestling / The Mr. Warren Hayes Show)

Mistico has spent the better part of this decade on a historically great run. He’s been as consistently great as anyone and has been the clear face of CMLL’s excellent business record since 2023. He was missing his defining match from this era, however. During his first run of greatness, which was capped off by a Flair/Thesz award in 2006, you could point to his brilliant encounter with Black Warrior at that year’s Aniversario show. This match with MJF will now live on as the greatest representation of who Mistico was during this truly special era of his career. Mistico bled for CMLL. He bled for all of Mexico, quite frankly, given the way that MJF and Jon Cruz positioned themselves leading up to and during the match. Mistico has been the babyface of all babyfaces over the course of the last few years, and this outing was the ultimate babyface performance. MJF and Cruz were brilliant in their roles, but this match isn’t what it is with someone else in the place of Mistico. The best match of 2025. One of the best matches of the 2020s. One of the best matches in CMLL history. – Case Lowe (Voices of Wrestling / Open the Voice Gate)

After MJF took off Mistico’s mask at Grand Slam Mexico a few months prior, the top star of CMLL finally got his chance for revenge at the promotions 92nd Anniversary Show, in a match where both his mask and MJF’s CMLL World Light Heavyweight Title were on the line. In front of an energetic crowd in Arena Mexico, Mistico managed to defeat MJF in what was an awesome contest. The fact that the match ultimately delivered didn’t shock me at all, but what did surprise me a bit was the amount of blood we got in this one. The visual of Mistico bleeding buckets with his mask torn up is just one of those moments that you’ll always remember. As for MJF, matches like this continue to show just how great of an in-ring talent he’s become over the years. His character and his promos might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and his sports entertainment tendencies can be incredibly annoying to those of us who want something different in our wrestling, but there’s no denying that, in biggest spots, MJF can absolutely deliver in the ring, and this matchup with Mistico was no exception. – Sean Sedor (Voices of Wrestling)

An easy #1. Mistico, having perhaps the biggest year of his legendary career defeats the wicked foreigner and his annoying manager in an absolute bloodbath, something not seen in Arena Mexico in years. Something so rare that it felt unique when someone had bled from their finger after a cut. From the entrances to the bloody Mistico winning the title, nothing could top this. – mongo_ebooks (The Monumental Podcast)

Unreal vibes in Arena Mexico. Mistico was a bloody mess, MJF was the perfect heel. The outcome was never in doubt, but who cares? – Elliot Imes (Super J-Cast)

MJF and Mistico was classic pro wrestling. Hated Heel vs Beloved Babyface on a big show with a hot crowd on the hero’s home turf. MJF’s personality was perfect in this environment and he pulled out all the stops in this match, not being content to get by on charisma and character work. This was MJF at his best, and Mistico was right there with him. An instant classic and easily one of the best and most memorable matches of 2025. – Adam Berger (Voices of Wrestling)

This is a match between two performers I’m often the low man on, but somehow they worked great together in one of the craziest atmospheres of the year. – Rob Hutton (Eternal Couch Potato)

This is a match that scratched an itch in a way that I struggle to put into words.

I feel like I’ve leaned towards a certain type of match for MOTY for many years. Matches that are a certain style. Matches that go a certain length. Matches with lots of big moves, and huge big kickouts. But this? This is not that match.

This is a match that I can only describe as just Pro-Wrestling to its absolute core. Big Superhero Star vs. Detestable Foreign Villain in front of a molten sold out crowd. There’s blood within the first few seconds. They do awesome fucking work. And it just felt completely different than anything else out there this year.

I struggled so much, and rewrote this entry multiple times. And while it ultimately doesn’t end up as my #1? It’s close. So close.

I love this match, and I can’t imagine anyone not. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. – Matthew Lovallo (The Monumental Podcast)

The clear wrestler of the year by a mile, Mistico had the kind of year that made me look up Hogan, Austin and prime El Canek. And in that year no feud was a better encapsulation of el enmascarado de plata y oro than his feud with MJF in which he managed to get MJF to ignore his worst instincts and channel them into a latter perfect jingoistic heel leading to one of the hottest matches of 2025. Featuring an incredibly emotive entrance from Mistico, Mistico breaking out the rarely used color at Arena Mejico and MJF putting on a heel master class (with a delightful Jon Cruz cameo). Kudos to everyone involved in this and to MJF for noticeably cutting weight to work at speed here. The only reason it’s not my match of the year is MJF not putting up his hair (boo!) – Arturo Galletti (The P[w]rescription)

This match made me feel like a child again. It was a spectacle of good vs evil, and I felt every movement. – Neil David (Voices of Wrestling)

There were plenty of fantastic matches in 2025, but this stood out the most in terms of drama. Good vs. bad guy wrestling, when done right, is some of the best wrestling in the world. People loved Mistico that night and no one loves being the heel more than MJF. Both played their roles perfectly and we even got to see blood in a CMLL match, which is quite rare. – Bryan Rose (Wrestling Observer)

The thing I will always remember from this immaculate display of pro wrestling at its most pure is the post match. Putting everything we had just witnessed into context, I got chills watching grown people in the audience crying their eyes out for their hero as they sang along with “Me Muero” – the greatest theme in all of wrestling. This wasn’t people doing a “sing a long” because that’s what they came to the show for, or to “play their part”, or film themselves for social media. No, this was real and heartfelt. A jam packed arena Mexico filled to the rafters singing their hearts out for the man than just sacrificed his blood (so much blood), sweat and tears for them and their honor in the middle of the ring. This type of beloved babyface is a rare thing in professional wrestling. I hope everyone will appreciate the crowd connection that Mistico has with those sold out crowds every Friday night. – S. Dakota Jones (Voices of Wrestling / Special Deliveries )

I wish MJF would stay in Mexico for a long run. His skillset seems far more suited to CMLL than US wrestling right now. – Kadaveri (Segunda Caida)

One of the best atmospheres of any match this year. MJF was the perfect heel & base for Mistico’s spell binding offense & extraordinary connection with the Arena Mexico fans. This had intensity, bloodshed, passion & the desire to win. Perfection plus! – Sid Pullar III – SP3 (Tru Heel Heat Wrestling / Sports Illustrated / Fightful)

An incredibly simple yet brilliantly executed story: foreign heel invading a territory and the local hero standing up to him. MJF is excellent when he’s not trying too hard and Mistico is on a hellacious run right now.
– George Atsaves – George Atsaves/Chris Colgan (Two Guys One Sport)

You want drama? You get drama! You want emotion? You get emotion! You want a hot and invested crowd? That is here too! You want a hated villian and a beloved superhero? YEP WE HAVE THAT! When I think of what the definition of the greatest wrestling you can watch in 2025, this match replays in my head. The story, the dispute, the crowd, the wrestling, the pay off, the emotions, the celebration when Mistico wins. This is what wrestling is suppose to be and they pulled it off. This is my favorite match of 2025 and no disrepsect to the rest of my top ten, but it lands there comfortably. – Jeri Evagood (Voices of Wrestling)

A classic pro wrestling match–packed Arena Mexico, a hated heel, a fighting babyface slipping on his own blood. Timeless-a match that would have worked any place in history–a capstone for an epic Mistico year – Syd Moss (Strawberry letter 123!)

I couldn’t stop smiling while watching this match. Introducing the blood early on, and HOW MUCH Mistico bled, introduced a vivid, vivisected suspension of disbelief. Before the match, I think we ALL knew who would win, it felt like a no brainer. But Mistico bled for the art, he bled so fucking much he convinced me he might lose his mask, that bogglingly MJF might win. And I was hooked the whole match long. – James “NuclearConvoy” Snelgrove (Nuclear Convoy Productions)

A shining example of Mistico’s cultural importance to Mexican wrestling. Mistico, bloodied and mask torn, gave an all-time comeback performance and MJF played the perfect heel. – Nick (Scorpion Death Talk)

From the moment they entered the arena, you could just feel the love and hate for each wrestler. The fans, just adoring their guy in Mistico, hoping he takes the title from the asshole American. It was just perfect. Mistico bled buckets, MJF was in true form, and the building were ready to become unglued for their guy to win. This is the easiest form of pro wrestling, and at it’s finest. Put two workers in there that know the story and their job, and let them be great. – Ryan Cooke (WrestleCast Radio)

Are there any two guys in wrestling who mesh as well as MJF and Mistico? The biggest heel in the world and the biggest star in the world and the story was drop dead simple. Mistico is a hero, everybody loves him. MJF is a prick, everybody hates him. MJF wants to humiliate Mistico by taking his mask. That was all it took for them to have an incredible program and one of the best matches of the year. This is what happens when you take two stars, put them together and then get the hell out of the way, traditional heel vs. babyface pro wrestling perfection. – Jeff Ahmed (Voices of Wrestling)

If I’m ever showing someone what an all time MJF performance is, then you need to show them this match. MJF was at the top of his game here and this was the best performance of his career up there with the Danielson iron man match. This was very old school in all the right ways with the amount of heat and MJF beating up and bloodying Mistico at the bell – Doug Marsh (Wrestling Marshland)

Professional Wrestling really is just at it’s best at it’s most simple. The biggest babyface on Earth vs arguably the best heel in the game today in a classic Hero vs Villain match. This match was the feather in Mistico’s cap for his year as the Wrestler of the Year for 2025, and I think he knew it going in by how grossly he gigged himself in the opening minute of this match. The blood was the story in this, and made every single move of this match matter. This match had every element of a classic and didn’t get too cute with it, instead just let a great crowd, 2 great workers, and classic storytelling tropes carry it to the best match of the year. – TayKZY (Youtube.com/@taykzy)

The next time someone asks me to explain why I like pro wrestling, I will show them this match. As perfect a combination of hero, villain, setting, and story as you can get. – Andrew Rich (Voices of Wrestling / Music of the Mat Remix)

MJF is a lightning rod for criticism in pro wrestling, maybe the biggest one today. But there is no debate that when he keeps it simple, as he did with CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Mark Briscoe, and here with Mistico, he is as great as any talent in the business. This was as basic and beautiful as it gets, with the arrogant American getting humbled and beaten by the lucha star as he fights with a bloody face and ripped mask. The peak of a resurgent year for Mistico. – Suit Williams (Voices of Wrestling / Williams Watches Wrestling)

Voices of Wrestling 2025 Match of the Year Countdown