{"id":21646,"date":"2018-07-16T21:49:37","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T01:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=21646"},"modified":"2018-08-11T12:36:10","modified_gmt":"2018-08-11T16:36:10","slug":"the-20-best-matches-of-the-month-june-2018-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2018\/07\/16\/the-20-best-matches-of-the-month-june-2018-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"The 20 Best Matches Of The Month: June 2018 Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i>Every month, our own Dan Niles compiles his personal 20 Best Matches list from around the world, from North America to Europe to Japan. Some are obvious best matches choices, some are dark horses, but they\u2019re always fun to find some matches you may have missed the previous month! (DISCLAIMER: This list is subjective and is compiled exclusively by Dan Niles; there will obviously be matches he may have missed that you may feel deserve credit \u2013 we encourage you to list some of your best matches of the month in the comments section below to help add to the list! In regards to videos, we only show FULL MATCHES that are authorized by the promotions; video highlights are used where possible; we encourage you to seek out these matches through promotions VOD or streaming networks)<\/i><\/p>\n<h1>20 Best Matches Of The Month<\/h1>\n<h3><strong>#20.\u00a0<\/strong><strong>PCW ULTRA Championship:\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Penta El Zero M (C) vs. Sami Callihan, PCW ULTRA: Opposites Attack<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22295\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/pcwultra6818-e1531790270802.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\"><\/p>\n<p>Penta El Zero M and Sami Callihan have been feuding for years now from AAW Pro to Impact Wrestling and this PCW ULTRA feud culminated in a Steel Cage for the PCW ULTRA Championship. Penta finally defeated <strong>Rob<\/strong> <strong>Van<\/strong> <strong>Dam<\/strong> this year for the PCW Championship, now the task is being the man on top just like in <strong>Lucha<\/strong> <strong>Underground<\/strong>. The match started on top of the Steel Cage and soon enough chairs were being thrown across the ring and Penta was even Powerbombed into a mess of stacked chairs. Callihan kicked out of the Pentagon Driver on Lego\u2019s and Fear Factor onto steel chairs. Callihan had his arm bent backwards then another Fear Factor ended the match but not the war.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ***1\/2<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#19. WWN Championship: Austin Theory (c) vs. Joey Janela, EVOLVE 106<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22296\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22296\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22296\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/evolve106theoryjanela.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/evolve106theoryjanela.png 800w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/evolve106theoryjanela-300x92.png 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/evolve106theoryjanela-768x236.png 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/evolve106theoryjanela-696x214.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22296\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: WWN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe Bad Boy\u201d earned one of the biggest wins of his career to date in his debut for EVOLVE Wrestling by becoming the WWN Champion in a red-hot encounter between a couple of the hottest young stars in all of independent wrestling. <strong>Penelope<\/strong> <strong>Ford<\/strong>, Janela\u2019s girlfriend and valet, got involved with a top rope crossbody to the floor to negate the <strong>Priscilla<\/strong> <strong>Kelly<\/strong> factor in the champions corner. Janela kicked out of the TKO and a Package Piledriver on Theory was somehow only a two-count. Ford took the title from Theory\u2019s hands on the top rope and an Avalanche Brainbuster shocked the fans with a new champion in Joey Janela.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ***1\/2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"EVOLVE 4K Mini-Doc: The Shocking Title Change\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/h29DKvSmtu0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#18. ROH Television Championship: Punishment Martinez (c) vs. &#8220;Hangman&#8221; Adam Page, No Disqualification&#8217;s, ROH Best In The World<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22297\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22297\" style=\"width: 480px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22297\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/hqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/hqdefault.jpg 480w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/hqdefault-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/hqdefault-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/hqdefault-265x198.jpg 265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22297\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: ROH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Punishment Martinez won the Ring Of Honor Wrestling TV Championship from \u201cThe Last Real Man\u201d <strong>Silas<\/strong> <strong>Young<\/strong> in a six-way match right before this Pay Per View title defense and it was made No Disqualification\u2019s. The stipulation certainly went in Martinez\u2019 favor when he hit a Last Ride on the apron and a chokeslam on the floor to the challenger. \u201cHangman\u201d was put in a zip tie and curb stomped on a steel chair but he still kicked out! Page performed a moonsault in the ziptie and after thumbtacks and another major breakthrough effort, Page went down to the South Of Heaven Chokeslam through a table.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ***1\/2<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#17. Jimmy Havoc vs. Spike Trivet, Death Match, PROGRESS Chapter 71: FEELINGCALLEDPROGRESS<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22298\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22298\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22298\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/Screen-Shot-2018-07-16-at-9.21.46-PM-e1531790546868.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"335\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22298\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: PROGRESS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Spike Trivet and Jimmy Havoc showed why Deathmatch wrestling is an art form of it\u2019s own, literally as well as Jimmy Havoc was hung in a tree of woe, had his bloody head dipped on the canvas and painted in blood on a canvas by Trivet! Havoc used some big innovation with a DDT to counter a Burning Hammer onto steel chairs. Trivet proved on this night, he is every bit as sick and twisted as Havoc is when there are no rules. Havoc was slammed into thumbtacks and chair shots to the head finished Havoc.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ***1\/2<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#16.\u00a0WWE United Kingdom Championship: Pete Dunne (c) vs. Zack Gibson, WWE NXT United Kingdom Special<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22299\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22299\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22299\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/20180625_UK_Match_DuneZack_logo-c38d81ec06c84a9b95397f8859ffd140-678x381-e1531790629309.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22299\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pete Dunne defended the WWE United Kingdom Championship after a one year title reign against the winner of the second WWE United Kingdom tournament, this match has never even happened in the United Kingdom and not ever with these stakes. Commentator and former ROH World champion <strong>Nigel<\/strong> <strong>McGuinness<\/strong> was audibly excited when Gibson almost won the title with Nigel&#8217;s old finishing hold. Gibson did a fantastic job of working over the arm with a keylock into the barricade to the champion. Gibson wrestled the best he has ever wrestled in the tournament but it wasn\u2019t enough to beat \u201cThe Bruiserweight\u201d although Gibson became only the second person in WWE to kick out of the Bitter End. Both struck with head-butt after head-butt until Dunne was more resourceful, another Bitter End put Pete Dunne on another level in WWE and the United Kingdom.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ***1\/2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pete Dunne leaves Zack Gibson battered and bruised: 2018 NXT U.K. Championship\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CQ1O-MYeSao?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#15.\u00a0PCW ULTRA Lightweight Championship: Shane Strickland (C) vs. Dragon Lee, PCW ULTRA: Opposites Attack\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22300\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22300\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22300\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/maxresdefault-2-e1531790689665.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22300\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: PCW ULTRA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Shane Strickland and Dragon Lee went to PCW ULTRA for a dream match of sorts and a match worthy of the Best Of The Super Juniors tournament that was held this month in <strong>New<\/strong> <strong>Japan<\/strong> <strong>Pro<\/strong> <strong>Wrestling<\/strong>. \u201cThe King Of Swerve\u201d attacked Dragon Lee&#8217;s arms but Dragon Lee countered that with some submissions of his own, much like <strong>Katsuyori<\/strong> <strong>Shibata<\/strong> whom Dragon Lee has been paying tribute to lately with his kickpads and entrance. Lee took Strickland over with a vicious Regal-Plex and a hurricanrana off the apron to the cement floor! The incredibly athletic showcase paid off with fireworks in the finish, a reverse Hurricanrana was countered by Strickland and the JML driver helped Strickland retain the PCW ULTRA Lightweight Championship.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#14. El Desperado vs. Dragon Lee, NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22301\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22301\" style=\"width: 512px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22301\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/dbb0589f8f1b5061b17fc524410113af.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/dbb0589f8f1b5061b17fc524410113af.jpg 512w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/dbb0589f8f1b5061b17fc524410113af-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22301\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>El Desperado has since challenged Dragon Lee to a Mask vs Mask match on Twitter since this heated match between the sensational Junior Heavyweight from Mexico and the <strong>Suzuki<\/strong>&#8211;<strong>Gun<\/strong> guitar swinging brawler. El Desperado bent the rules by using a chair to Dragon Lee\u2019s leg but Dragon Lee responded by trying to rip off Desperado&#8217;s mask. Dragon Lee still hit the top rope double stomp somehow, the stretch muffler put a stop to Lee though. Desperado almost advanced in the tournament with an inverted Vertabreaker, a flurry of counters and referee manipulation from Desperado led to the three-count. The best match in a very long time to feature a simple low-blow finish from two men that know each other better than we think.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UHje0MJogSg<\/p>\n<h3><strong>#13.\u00a0WWE United Kingdom Championship: Pete Dunne (c) vs. Kyle O&#8217;Reilly, WWE NXT<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22302\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22302\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22302\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/20180608_MatchGraphic_NXT_DuneKyle__528895b02a8f2158279ecc7370b4a78b.1528894046-e1531790885727.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22302\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One of NXT\u2019s best matches ever was a technical back and forth, both haven\u2019t faced each other often in competition at all but it was like they had wrestled hundreds of times. Dunne saw Axe And Smash coming just as well as O&#8217;Reilly saw the Bitter End and reversed it right into a guillotine choke. This is what <strong>WWE<\/strong> needs more of, wrestling with a story told inside and outside of the ring but with a clean finish after a match with plenty of time. Kyle O\u2019Reilly proved he could be a major player in the singles division as well, The Bitter End showed it may be a long time until someone takes the WWE United Kingdom Championship off of Dunne&#8217;s waist&#8230;or out of his teeth.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pete Dunne vs. Kyle O&#039;Reilly - WWE U.K. Title Match: WWE NXT, June 13, 2018\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O6YkrJ_snyI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#12. WALTER vs. Darby Allin, EVOLVE 106<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22303\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/Dfm5K0tVAAEUNkm-e1531790977274.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"246\"><\/p>\n<p>Darby Allin was supposed to take on WALTER in New Orleans during <strong>WrestleMania<\/strong> weekend but he was hospitalized and missed the match due to his hardcore antics in the ring. What made this match so gripping was the traditional unpredictability of pro wrestling, Darby was thrown around the ring but he refused to give up no matter what happened to him. Darby came back with a shotgun dropkick and Code Red for a near fall. WALTER&#8217;s hand hit the post from a missed chop and Darby took advantage before long with a rollup for the shocking underdog victory EVOLVE fans won\u2019t ever forget.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#11.\u00a0NXT Tag Team Championship: Undisputed Era (Roderick Strong &amp; Kyle O&#8217;Reilly) (c) vs. Oney Lorcan &amp; Danny Birch, NXT Takeover: Chicago ll<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22305\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22305\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22305\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/nxt-tag-team-champions-undisputed-era-vs-oney-lorcan-danny-burch-e1531791103513.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22305\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Undisputed Era put the NXT tag teams titles on the line against a team that had never made it to a Takeover event and made sure it was one the fans wouldn\u2019t forget. Oney Lorcan suffered a broken orbital bone, the match was so smash-mouth. There were plenty of great submission attempts as well and combinations like Oney and Birch&#8217;s tandem DDT and Doomsday Device with a European Uppercut. Roderick Strong was the man with the most stamina like usual and he fired back with O&#8217;Reilly to retain with Total Elimination.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Oney Lorcan &amp; Danny Burch push Undisputed ERA to the limit: NXT TakeOver: Chicago II (WWE Network)\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Nny1okr3N7E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#10. British Strong Style (Pete Dunne, Trent Seven and Tyler Bate) vs. The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O&#8217;Reilly and Roderick Strong), WWE NXT United Kingdom Tournament<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22306\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22306\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22306\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/wwe-u-k-champion-pete-dunne-moustache-mountain-to-clash-with-undisputed-era-in-six-man-tag-team-match-e1531791121416.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22306\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pete Dunne got some help from his British Strong Style buddies in the United Kingdom for a dream six-man tag team match in the Royal Albert Hall and if they got some more time for this match it would have been even better. Dunne was all over Strong after Roderick Strong was the man who betrayed him for a spot in the Undisputed Era faction. Tyler Bate showed off his freakish strength for a man of small stature with an airplane spin and giant swing at the same time. Kyle O&#8217;Reilly hit a big penalty kick and Trent Seven dealt out the receipt with the Seven Stars lariat. <strong>Mustache<\/strong> <strong>Mountain<\/strong> (Trent Seven and Tyler Bate) took out Kyle O\u2019Reilly with a Dragon Suplex\/ Rebound Lariat combo to bring the hometown crowd to their feet.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#9. KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi, NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors Semi Finals<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22307\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22307\" style=\"width: 512px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22307\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/3b95e0050011471115f4d9c43b658b93.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/3b95e0050011471115f4d9c43b658b93.jpg 512w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/3b95e0050011471115f4d9c43b658b93-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22307\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This was the deciding match in the NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors B Block, this was also the best Junior Heavyweight rivalry of 2017 with three classic matches. The smooth action was flawless, the Hoverboard Lock was turned into a Triangle Choke and back into KUSHIDA\u2019s Armbar. KUSHIDA connected with a top rope divorce court to further the damage to the arm. Hiromu wouldn\u2019t tap out after making it so far, a Piledriver followed up with the new D submission (triangle choke) from \u201cThe Ticking Time Bomb\u201d ended KUSHIDA\u2019s night.<br \/>\n<em>Result: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=N_3UlyXI-zw<\/p>\n<h3><strong>#8. Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega &amp; Kota Ibushi) vs. Los Ingobernobles De Japon (Tetsuya Naito &amp; Hiromu Takahashi), NJPW x ECO: When Worlds Collide<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22308\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22308\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22308\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/ceoxnjpwgoldenloversvsLIJ-min-1080x675-678x381-e1531791744417.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22308\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: CEO\/NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>IWGP heavyweight champion Kenny Omega is now on top of the world at a perfect time, NJPW was able to arrange an event for NJPW stars at the CEO x NJPW: When Worlds Collide event with CEO Fighting Game Championships, two major parts of Kenny Omega\u2019s life. The top stars of NJPW didn\u2019t take it easy either, the match went thirty minutes and Naito took some of the most brutal bumps all year long. Naito was thrown off Omega\u2019s shoulders from a Powerbomb and Ibushi caught Naito with a German Suplex on the way down, folding Naito in half. Ibushi took a beating to his neck himself with a Sunset Bomb to the floor off the apron from the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. Los Ingobernobles De Japon put up a hell of a fight but The Golden Lovers didn\u2019t reunite to lose the big main events, Takahashi was pinned by The Golden Trigger.<br \/>\n<em>Result: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"CEO 2018: CEO x NJPW GOLDEN LOVERS vs TETSUYA NAITO &amp; HIROMU TAKAHASHI\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WT4xqpSqNcc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#7. Jordan Devlin vs. Will Ospreay, PROGRESS Chapter 72: Got Got Need<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22309\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22309\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22309\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/IMG_7135-e1531791794873.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22309\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: PROGRESS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Devlin and Ospreay waged a war of words on Twitter before settling it in the ring with an extremely impressive match that proved why they are the elite in the United Kingdom today. Ospreay wrestled with something to prove, landing on his feet from a top top Spanish Fly and executing the most beautiful Sasuke Special it looked like the live crowd had ever seen. Devlin agitated the fans and rebounded with a Canadian Destroyer before a finish full of back-and-forth high flying. Ospreay hit The Acid Rainmaker in a tease of his Jimmy Havoc rivaly but Devlin took to a Springboard only to be caught in the Stormbreaker. Ospreay was the more resourceful on this night by countering the big moves from the <strong>OTT<\/strong> champion like the Package Piledriver, one can only wonder what will happen if this feud rages to the next level for years to come.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#6. Ricochet vs. Velveteen Dream, NXT Takeover: Chicago ll<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22310\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22310\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22310\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/Ricochet-vs.-Velveteen-e1531791839511.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22310\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cAnything you can do, I can do better\u201d was the story of the match here and Dream did an exceptional job of attempting to one-up \u201cThe One And Only\u201d even if he didn\u2019t succeed. Dream was even more popular arguably than Ricochet but Ricochet was more athletic, executing a perfect Fosberry Flop to the floor. The match had so many high spots like an attempted Coast To Coast Purple Rainmaker and Shooting Star Press all the way to the centre of the ring. Velveteen Dream got too full of himself when he got in Ricochet\u2019s face to tell him all he will ever get in wrestling is \u201chotdogs and handshakes\u201d so Ricochet unleashed the 630 Splash to the back to show who really is the best between the two.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ricochet makes a stunning leap over the top rope to topple Velveteen Dream: NXT TakeOver: Chicago II\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IVgD9XpUl-Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#5.\u00a0IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi, \u00a0NJPW Dominon<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22311\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22311\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22311\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/14f01fc35b07302d.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/14f01fc35b07302d.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/14f01fc35b07302d-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22311\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Will Ospreay promised he would raise the prestige of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and even claimed he was already the ace of the division. One can\u2019t look at Ospreay\u2019s statement as hyperbole, Ospreay raised the game of anyone he steps in the ring with and the Best Of The Super Juniors winner received a rematch from February. These two pulled out all the stops to wrestle a pace that aims to excite as much as scare the viewer, a Sunset Bomb on the unprotected floor to Ospreay for instance is career shortening. Will Ospreay dove off the stage but when he went for the Stormbringer three times, it was countered by the resilient madman. Ospreay\u2019s six month title reign came to end at the hands of a Piledriver, corner Death Valley Driver and The Time Bomb.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****<\/em><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dW8eQRdqV0s<\/p>\n<h3><strong>#4. Johnny Gargano vs. Tomasso Ciampa, Street Fight, NXT Takeover: Chicago ll\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22304\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22304\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22304\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/Dc4xImxX0AIso-P-e1531791250855.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"346\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22304\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Gargano and Ciampa looked to settle the score after everything that\u2019s happened in the past year and lots of those memories were mirrored here, Ciampa was the one on the stretcher this time after an Air Raid Crash from the stage. The callbacks made this match all the more epic, the brutality was off the charts too like when Gargano was thrown neck-first into steel stairs while a chair was wrapped around his neck. After thirty-five minutes, the fans thought it was over when Gargano wouldn\u2019t let up on the beating after Ciampa was on the stretcher. Gargano was lured into the ropes and driven down with a DDT on the exposed wood of the ring and \u201cThe Sicilian Psychopath\u201d makes the feud 2-3 for Gargano so far in WWE.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****1\/2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Johnny Gargano mercilessly whips Tommaso Ciampa with his belt: NXT TakeOver: Chicago II\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/G3UpUzJfNtk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#3.\u00a0NEVER Openweight Championship: Michael Elgin (c) vs. Hirooki Goto, NJPW Kizuna Road<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22313\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22313\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22313\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/DftruVoVQAAopvB-e1531792000658.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22313\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Michael Elgin and Hirooki Goto hit each other so hard in this match that they were nearly collapsing due to exhaustion by the end of the title match. Elgin won his first Championship in NJPW but it was to be a short reign when Goto took the title back with the GTR. Both fought like bulls and even <strong>Taichi<\/strong> and <strong>Jeff<\/strong> <strong>Cobb<\/strong> got involved. Elgin used a fisherman\u2019s buster and top rope splash to take the air out of Goto. Goto kicked out of a massive Crucifix Bomb. Goto got out of the Burning Hammer and his fighting spirit proved to be more true than Elgin\u2019s on this night.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: ****1\/2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u3010\u717d\u308aVTR\u3011\u30de\u30a4\u30b1\u30eb\u30fb\u30a8\u30eb\u30ab\u3099\u30f3vs\u5f8c\u85e4\u6d0b\u592e\u7d00\u3010\u65b0\u65e5\u672c\u30d5\u309a\u30ed\u30ec\u30b9 2018.6.17\u5f8c\u697d\u5712\u5927\u4f1a\u3011\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xcvckMgqOCY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#2. Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi, NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors Finals<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22315\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22315\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22315\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/finals.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/finals.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/finals-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22315\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Quite possibly the best Best Of The Super Juniors finals ever and considered one of the best matches of 2018 so far, Ishimori and Takashi wrestled at a speed you wouldn\u2019t expect from two guys that just competed in an entire tournament and they took it all around the arena. Takahashi was sent flying down the stairs in the crowd from a hurricanrana and it somehow just got more dangerous as the match went on. There was some sequences that made it look like these two heels had done this together before but they never have. Takahashi got his knee&#8217;s up to counter a 450 Splash. The new \u201cBone Soldier\u201d of Bullet Club had the air sucked out of him from a triangle choke and the insanely scary Piledriver and Time Bomb and \u201cThe Ticking Time Bomb\u201d became the 2018 BOSJ winner.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: *****<\/em><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nL_HPKq_U1M<\/p>\n<h3><strong>#1.\u00a0IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Kenny Omega, 2 Out Of Three Falls, No Time Limit, NJPW Dominion<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22314\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22314\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22314\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/21.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/21.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2018\/07\/21-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22314\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe Cleaner\u201d finally ascended to the very top of NJPW in what has to be considered the Best match of the year at 2 falls to Okada\u2019s 1. Okada and Omega traded the big guns for forty minutes until Okada trapped Omega in a victory roll for the first fall. Omega would not let up on Okada, even trying to best Okada\u2019s trademark dropkick as exhaustion set in. Okada nailed a heavy Rainmaker but Omega would not go down! Omega earned the second fall with One Winged Angel. There was no <strong>Bullet<\/strong> <strong>Club<\/strong> or <strong>CHAOS<\/strong> necessary to end the fourth huge encounter, Okada was set in the corner for another V-Trigger to the head and the One Winged Angel pinned Okada to end a classic match and even more historic rivalry&#8230;for now. This was everything and more that you want out of pro wrestling, it takes you out of the world of long promo&#8217;s and negative fan opinions and makes you appreciate what looked like a genuine fight for the top prize in all of wrestling for over one hour.<br \/>\n<em>Rating: *****<\/em><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dbi_nYknH9c<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every month, our own Dan Niles compiles his personal 20 Best Matches list from around the world, from North America to Europe to Japan. Some are obvious best matches choices, some are dark horses, but they\u2019re always fun to find some matches you may have missed the previous month! (DISCLAIMER: This list is subjective and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2001,"featured_media":22312,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11,2,14,6,20,8,5,452,320],"tags":[748,84,945,3004,723,149,486,3000,491,2999,86,1620,1600,1248,1621,1030,694,852,68,1376,192,501,386,170,190,343,137,339,1885,385,411,188,116,2890,702,911,2998,2034,536,492,205,631,70,1734,280,81,561,1866,2325,781,1135,529,530,472,868,101,47,2763,522],"class_list":["post-21646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-evolve","category-featured","category-njpw","category-north-america","category-progress","category-roh","category-nxt","category-wwe-uk","category-wwe-women","tag-shane-strickland","tag-adam-cole","tag-adam-page","tag-best-in-the-world","tag-best-of-the-super-juniors","tag-bullet-club","tag-chaos","tag-danny-birch","tag-darby-allin","tag-dominon","tag-dragon-lee","tag-el-desperado","tag-evolve-wrestling","tag-walter","tag-hiromu-takahashi","tag-hirooki-goto","tag-jeff-cobb","tag-joey-janela","tag-johnny-gargano","tag-jordan-devlin","tag-katsuyori-shibata","tag-kazuchika-okada","tag-kenny-omega","tag-kota-ibushi","tag-kushida","tag-kyle-oreilly","tag-lucha-underground","tag-michael-elgin","tag-mustache-mountain","tag-new-japan-pro-wrestling","tag-nigel-mcguinness","tag-njpw","tag-nxt","tag-nxt-takeover-chicago-ll","tag-oney-lorcan","tag-ott","tag-pcw","tag-penelope-ford","tag-pete-dunne","tag-priscilla-kelly","tag-progress-wrestling","tag-punishment-martinez","tag-ricochet","tag-rob-van-dam","tag-roderick-strong","tag-roh","tag-silas-young","tag-taichi","tag-taiji-ishimori","tag-tetsuya-naito","tag-austin-theory","tag-tomasso-ciampa","tag-trent-seven","tag-tyler-bate","tag-velveteen-dream","tag-will-ospreay","tag-wwe","tag-wwe-united-kingdom-championship-tournament","tag-zack-gibson"],"modified_by":"Ben Kerr","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2001"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21646"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21646\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}