elliott:

It takes a lot to live up to the Mad Dog nickname in pro-wrestling but Connelly managed to earn the moniker before their 30th birthday. Connelly is a tremendous brawler who brings a genuine aura, authenticity, naturalism & sense of ferociousness to his matches. He has the timeless ability to make a 10 minute match feel like an epic war. A strong grappler on the mat & an ability to bump & sell while maintaining a dangerous aura makes Mad Dog a more well rounded performer than just a typical crazed brawler. The sky is the limit for this guy. 

 

vs Gary Jay 5/7/22

vs Manders Dog Collar Match 1/26/24

vs Demus Dog Collar Match 4/4/24

Probably a bit early for him, but he is really coming out of the gate hard. He already has enough great matches on tape to give him a comparable record to a lot of guys on this list, and post DEAN he should be getting some bigger opportunities, including a spot in the Scenic City Invitational.

 

Would also recommend his Terminal Combat match against Max the Impaler and dog collar match against Jordan Blade.

In a just world Mad Dog would have a modest case and the Demus match would be start of the meteoric rise to putting on a couple truly GREAT years to wrap the voting period up.

But we don't live in a just world. He had to work lesser talent in lesser promotions. Hopefully we are on the way to talking about him as a real DUDE for 2036 which is insane to start thinking about but that is where we are at.

I also don't see him getting much chance here come 2026, so I think the least we can do is provide as many matches of his worth checking out that are available. Here's a dozen or so to start:

Jake Lander vs. Mad Dog Connelly (ZERO1 USA, 30/4/2022)

Camaro Jackson vs. Mad Dog Connelly (SLA Dingo Invitational, 17/6/2022)

Camaro Jackson vs. Mad Dog Connelly (ZERO1 USA Homecoming 2022, 19/7/2022)

Mad Dog Connelly vs. Thomas Shire (SLA Circus Maximus X-7, 29/7/2022)

Mad Dog Connelly vs Remington Rhor (Flophouse/PPW Booze-A-Palooza, 20/11/2022)

Jeremy Wyatt vs. Mad Dog Connelly (SLA Gateway To Anarchy 2023, 27/1/2023)

1 Called Manders vs. Mad Dog Connelly (SLA As Seen On Anarchy, 14/4/2023)

1 Called Manders, Christian Rose & Mad Dog Connelly vs. Derek Neal, KC Karrington & Moonshine Mantell (SLA Giant's Woke, Eyes Open, 9/6/2023)

1 Called Manders vs. Mad Dog Connelly (SLA Circus Maximus X-8, 28/7/2023)

Jordan vs. Mad Dog Connelly (Timebomb Pro There Goes The Neighborhood, 10/8/2023)

Mad Dog Connelly vs. Matthew Justice (PPW 6th Anniversary Show, 3/11/2023)

Camaro Jackson vs. Mad Dog Connelly (SLA Battle Of Spaulding II, 29/3/2024)

Connelly has had a bigger profile 2025 then 2024, main evented DEAN 2, and had a great series against Matt Tremont in several different promotions, I got something pretty sick on tap for DEAN 3 as well, so I think he is making a late push.

I love Connelly, but two years seems entirely too early here.

I guess, but iff you look at someone like Rick Rude, he is really just 86-92, Connelly will have as long a career as that by the time the vote comes along

1 hour ago, Phil Schneider said:

I guess, but iff you look at someone like Rick Rude, he is really just 86-92, Connelly will have as long a career as that by the time the vote comes along

I'm not really familiar with his Proving Ground Pro and Zero1 work, but I'm dubious that Connelly's 2018-2020 would be comparable with Rude's (insert three years from the mentioned time period).

No-one here has made any sort of argument for him as a great, let alone the greatest.

Mad Dog Connelly is great and is maybe one of the best wrestlers in the world right now. He brings a great intensity and anything can happen to his matches. Great presence. Him vs. Matt Tremont from DPW Victory Lap is one of my favorite  matches of the year so far. The Rick Rude comp is fun because his character before Connelly was Dan Liplock (basically  a Shawn Micheals early 90s character) from what I have seen is solid but, felt not him.

 I think it's way too early for him but,  if someone put in their 90s I would understand it. Very fun to watch but, is still developing. I try to be stricter with newer wrestlers and more lenient towards older wrestlers.