{"id":5443,"date":"2017-06-14T20:59:55","date_gmt":"2017-06-15T00:59:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=5443"},"modified":"2017-06-14T20:59:55","modified_gmt":"2017-06-15T00:59:55","slug":"20-best-matches-of-the-month-may-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2017\/06\/14\/20-best-matches-of-the-month-may-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Best Matches Of The Month: May Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

There was so much wrestling in the month of May, an extra week of events are still being released now. From NJPW Dontaku<\/em><\/strong>, RevPro<\/strong> Live At The Cockpit<\/strong><\/em>, Lucha Forever<\/strong>, EVOLVE<\/strong> and a WWE<\/strong> and NXT<\/strong> Special, there was no shortage of live events. NJPW’s Best Of The Super Juniors<\/strong><\/em> and PROGRESS<\/strong>‘ Super Strong Style 16<\/strong><\/em> tournaments were mostly all fantastic matches, making this list very hard to narrow down. A list of only 20 is no easy task after all the cards, comment or respond to me @DanNilesWrestle<\/strong><\/a> on Twitter if you have any thoughts, but on to the top 20 best matches of May.<\/p>\n

#20. Travis Banks vs Jimmy Havoc,\u00a0<\/strong>1st Round Match-up at\u00a0PROGRESS Super Strong Style 16<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Photo: PROGRESS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The popularity of Banks reached it’s peak not just in this tournament, but in this match with the best of PROGRESS. More of a brawling style of a match and one would think that would benefit Havoc but it actually went in the favor of Banks. Havoc went for a chair but Havoc caught it and used it for a kick on the floor. Havoc going out this early was a big surprise but Banks was the heavy favorite.<\/p>\n

Awesome finishing stretch when Havoc repeatedly tried for the Acid Rainmaker but Banks kicked Havoc in the head a few times instead and won with a Kiwi Crusher. Banks really came off like a machine and a top star in the match and getting the win was huge. One of the most physical matches all year.
\nRating: ****<\/strong><\/p>\n

#19. Michael Elgin vs Zack Sabre Jr, <\/strong>SMASH: Have Ring Will Wrestle<\/h2>\n
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Photo: SMASH Wrestling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Elgin came back to Toronto to take on the technical wizard in a rematch from AAW, this match was a technical back-and-forth that didn’t receive enough buzz. Very even match where Elgin can overpower Sabre but can make it even with the mat wrestling. A 22-Minute match where the crowd was left on their feet. Elgin hit such offense as a sunset bomb off the top and a tiger driver and still couldn’t win.<\/p>\n

Sabre was able to hit a tornado DDT and lock in some submissions but Elgin was on fire with a tope rope falcon arrow. Huge moment when Sabre kicked out at 1 of a crucifix powerbomb. Fight forever chants from Elgin’s hometown crowd and an Elgin bomb finished an epic match.
\nRating: ****<\/strong><\/p>\n

#18. Donovan Dijak vs Josh Bodom, <\/strong>Revolution Pro: Live At The Cockpit<\/h2>\n
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Photo: Revolution Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bodom is the RPW Cruiserweight champion and is quite undersized but he takes it to Dijak and this has been a feud in Rev Pro for months, leading to a heated rematch where these 2 go full-tilt. Dijak has a temper and he uses it to his advantage, all over Bodom and looking to win early.<\/p>\n

Dijak hit Feast Your Eyes right at the start of the match and a few minutes later but Bodom incredibly kicked out both times. Bodom did not have the strength to pull of the Bodom Breaker but he did hit the Bliss-Buster piledriver for 2. Dijak gives Bodom the middles finger, hits numerous strikes and Feast Your Eyes for the third time to finish a fight of a match.
\nRating: ****<\/strong><\/p>\n

#17. Pete Dunne vs Mark Andrews vs Mark Haskins, <\/strong>Triple Threat match for the PROGRESS World title at PROGRESS Chapter 48: Bang The Drum<\/h2>\n
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Photo: PROGRESS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dunne has screwed over Haskins and Dunne in singles matches for the title and this was the time maybe Dunne loses, but that was not to be the case as Dunne was just more cagey. Double teams on Dunne and a crazy pace made this very fun to watch and it looked like it could end any time.<\/p>\n

Andrews could not hit his patented Shooting Star Press but he did hit some great aerial offense and Haskins showed why he is the best pure transition wrestler today with his counters. Dunne got maybe his best win to date, hitting the Bitter End on Andrews on top of the back of Haskins and then a Pedigree on Andrews. Spitting in the face of the PROGRESS faithful winning that way.
\nRating: ****<\/strong><\/p>\n

#16. Matt Riddle vs Kyle O\u2019Reilly, <\/strong>WWN Title Match at EVOLVE 84<\/h2>\n
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Photo: EVOLVE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Riddle has not been the champion of WWN Live for long but he is looking to establish himself as a top champion and this win helped a lot in doing that. Both respect each other and have a similar style in the ring, making for an easy to watch chess match. Kyle has the experience edge and it shows but Riddle can keep up, but he does go to the well too much like his up-kick and pays for it.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Reilly is a perfect fit under EVOLVE’s banner as a pure wrestling company and this is a match that needs to happen again. Numerous submission attempts are involved until Riddle hit a Tombstone piledriver and locked in the Bro-Mission for the win. These 2 have met in a match in PWG in the last but the chemistry seems to be naturally there for a great main event.
\nRating: ****<\/strong><\/p>\n

#15. Zack Sabre Jr vs Lio Rush, <\/strong>EVOLVE Title match at EVOLVE 85<\/h2>\n
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Photo: EVOLVE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A rematch from last month and a much better match with a better story told, Rush almost has Sabre’s number. Sabre stretched Rush out the last time but Rush was prepared and hit his trademark kicks and almost won with a frogsplash and the Rush Hour spanish fly.
\nSabre was able to fight back from all of that and still outwrestle Rush. Sabre is an elite competitor because he can do moves you have never seen before and make it look so smooth, winning with another bridging O’Connor roll. Sabre has said on social media he would love a part 3, a rare case where the champion wants another piece of the challenger.
\nRating: ****<\/strong><\/p>\n

#14. Tyler Bate vs Matt Riddle, <\/strong>Semi-Final Match at\u00a0PROGRESS Super Strong Style 16<\/h2>\n
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Photo: PROGRESS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tyler Bate may be only 20 years old, but he had as many great matches this month as anybody and against a vast array of opponents like a former UFC fighter here. Bate decided to take his boots off and wrestle barefoot just like Riddle, giving this more of a big-fight-feel. Riddle was able to lock in an ankle lock on the bare foot of Bate early but Bate would be just as good, if not better than Riddle on this night.<\/p>\n

Matt Riddle could not lock in the holds he wanted to and this was more of an exchange of big moves. Riddle hit a kick but Bate came back with a running front kick into 2 Tyler Drivers for the massive win. Even though Riddle is already the Atlas champion, he was seen as winning it all and this was Bate’s moment instead in a breakthrough match for both.
\nRating: ****<\/strong><\/p>\n

#13. Jinny vs Laura Di Matteo vs Toni Storm,\u00a0<\/strong>Triple Threat match for the inaugural PROGRESS women’s title<\/h2>\n
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Photo: PROGRESS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The women’s Natural Progression Series all came down this in a 3-Way. Laura was a little bit of a wild-card in this match but she won all of her matches to get here, Jinny has the least amount of experience. Toni Storm was the most popular and was so physical in this match, looking to prove why she is the best female wrestler in the world. All 3 put on an amazing show in the first ever PROGRESS women’s main event on Day 2 of SSS16.<\/p>\n

Di Matteo was energetic hitting many trademark fast-paced moves but Toni was not to be denied. Jinny was looking to antagonize both and that did not work out, getting a piledriver on the stage by Storm. Laura would hit a spinning DDT on the ramp on Toni and roll her in the ring to hit another one only for a 2-count. After a flurry with all 3, Toni hit another piledriver to make history.
\nRating: ****<\/strong><\/p>\n

#12. Marty Scurll vs Kyle O\u2019Reilly, <\/strong>RevPro: Live At The Cockpit<\/h2>\n
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Photo: Revolution Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Match started with a standoff but they took it to the mat for the next marvelous 23-Minutes. Kyle O\u2019Reilly brought Sleazy Kyle back for a moment early but the arm-work of Scurll may be the best of anyone. O\u2019Reilly went for a brainbuster but took a trip to Divorce Court and got his arm stomped on.<\/p>\n

Kyle would come back with Axe And Smash and many strikes but Marty hit a brainbuster of his own! The match had a strange finish with Kyle raking Scurll’s eyes, leading Scurll to snap the referees fingers instead! A reversal of a rollup attempt right into the Chickenwing got the win for Marty. Big win and both praised each other for their passion after the match.
\nRating: ****<\/strong><\/p>\n

#11. The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks) vs The Addiction and Hiroshi Tanahashi, <\/strong>NJPW\/ROH War Of The Worlds in Toronto<\/h2>\n
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Photo: NJPW\/ROH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kenny Omega returned to his home-country of Canada with The Young Bucks for another 30-plus minute action-packed 6-man tag. The Elite have been having the most fun matches all year and this was just as great as the rest. Tanahashi took the brunt of the offense and mocking in the early-going.<\/p>\n

Rise Of The Terminator dives from The Elite get the crowd rocking and the moves only get amped up from there. A superkick party, angels wings to Matt Jackson and a V-Trigger from Omega to Daniels was an amazing flurry. Omega hit a triple snap-dragon suplex and a triple superkick was broken up! High Fligh Flow and Best Moonsault Ever broken up! Daniels kicked out of a 450 Splash! Cody ran interference on Daniels and a V-Trigger, IndyTaker and One Winged Angel got the Elite the victory over the ROH world champion.
\nRating: ****1\/2<\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KsFXGSfXg5Q<\/p>\n

#10. Will Ospreay vs Jay White, <\/strong>NJPW\/ROH War Of The Worlds on PPV<\/h2>\n
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Photo: NJPW\/ROH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An unforgettable match in the career of Ospreay and White in one match. White has been on excursion in America and has been bringing the fight to everyone. Ospreay got the chance to show his abilities to a worldwide audience in this match. There was a moment near the end where they both just traded forearms like this was a true test for these men.
\nWhite has been developing his character and he almost wrestled like a heel, driving Ospreay into the ring apron and doing whatever it takes. \u201cThe Aerial Assassin\u201d would hit his big moves like the revolution kick and won with a running Shooting Star Press to the floor and a turnbuckle Os-Cutter. Remarkable what these guys did in 15 minutes, imagine if it was a lot longer.
\nRating: ****1\/2<\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bGaHUv1kqAA<\/p>\n

#9. Shane Strickland, Mr. 450 and Sammy\u00a0Guevara\u00a0vs Juventud\u00a0guerrera and The Lucha Bros (Penta 0M & Rey Fenix), <\/strong>WrestleCircus Lucha Carnival<\/h2>\n
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Photo: WrestleCircus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An insane spectacle in what high-flying and non-stop action means in today’s world. Hilarious spot when Strickland’s team all hit cutter’s and did Randy Orton’s pose in reference to Orton’s dive Tweet.<\/p>\n

Crazy when Strickland took a powerbomb out of a hurricanrana and a frogsplash. Guevara ended up showing his true colors and walked away from his team,letting Mr 450 take a brainbuster, package piledriver and double foot stomp off the top rope.
\nRating:****1\/2<\/strong><\/p>\n