Match Of the Month (May)

 What an unbelievable month April was. Between the pageantry and emotion of WrestleMania XL and the incredible bell to bell action of Dynasty (which included that otherworldly match between Ospreay and Danielson), April is so far the month to beat in terms of acclaim.  However, May wasn't far.  WWE had Backlash in France, and has the argument for best WWE crowd (non-USA) ever, or at least within the past couple decades.  AEW had a damn great Double Or Nothing event in Vegas, as they commemorated their fifth year in wrestling. Also, NJPW, NOAH, TNA, and AJPW had excellent events as well that keep fans excited and engaged.  Of course, there could one be one match that stands out from the rest, with another right on its heels.  Let's get into these two, shall we?

Match Of The Month (May)

Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles

WWE Undisputed Championship

WWE Backlash '24

When one mentions AJ Styles, there's never any doubt as to his legacy.  Besides arguably being the franchise and flag bearer for many of TNA's glory years, "The Phenomenal One" has had one of the most celebrated and decorated careers in all of wrestling.  A former NWA, IWGP, and WWE Champion (not to mention multiple other mid-card championships), AJ has secured his spot as a true all-time great, and with him likely going through with retirement come the end of his current WWE contract, he's aiming to go out in a blaze of glory, much like former adversary Bryan Danielson.  As for Cody Rhodes, "The American Nightmare" finally "finished the story" at WrestleMania XL, with one the most emotional wins in recent WWE history with his victory over the longest WWE Champion of the modern era, Roman Reigns.  Since then, he's been reveling in the glory of being champion, but while one crucial story finished, another one has started, as now he's gone from hunter to hunted as champion.  These two Georgia Bulldogs were set to collide at WWE Backlash, where they held the PPV (apologies...PLE) from France for the first time ever.  To say this crowd was boisterous was an understatement throughout the night.  Arguably the most spectacular crowd in WWE history (which is saying something considering how awesome last year's crowd in San Juan, Puerto Rico was at the same event), Cody and AJ performed in front of them in an incredible match. Before the match even got underway, the crowd rang into a chorus of a song that apparently gets sung every time someone is associated with the term 'phenomenal'.  Obviously this was off-putting to the heel challenger, but nevertheless it was a sight (and sound) to behold.  The action was back and forth, as neither guy is unfamiliar with the other.  The pacing and action-based storytelling involved in this match showed how these two are all too familiar with the psychological aspect of the business.  As stellar as this match was, with counter after counter, it was ultimately a hellacious Cody Cutter from the top rope onto Styles that ended up getting Cody the win in a marvelous encounter that showed how important both men are to the company and the business as a whole.  AJ is far from a stranger for putting on outstanding matches, as matches against the likes of Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, Cena, Danielson, Nakamura (especially the match at Wrestle Kingdom 10), Rollins, and Davey Richards will attest to this.  Rhodes, in many ways, can say the same, with his match against Rollins at Hell In A Cell being heralded as a true classic by insiders and fans alike, as well as matches against the likes of Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Sammie Guevara, and Brock Lesnar.  Here's to hoping we see another encounter between these two unbelievably talented athletes before Styles bows out for the last time.

Match Of The Month (Runner-Up)

Shingo Takagi vs. Gabe Kidd

IWGP NEVER Openweight Title

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku '24-Day Two

If we know anything about LIJ's Shingo Takagi, we know he's one tough SOB.  The twenty-year veteran has captured championships primarily from Dragon Gate, but has even been IWGP Heavyweight Champion.  Seen as one of the toughest and explosive technicians around, it's not hard to see why he's so highly revered. His series of matches against Will Ospreay, during Ospreay's time with New Japan, are among the most exhilarating matches in NJPW history.  There's legitimately nobody "The Dragon" can't hang with and deliver an outstanding match with. Just ask the likes of the aforementioned Ospreay, Ishii, Goto, Okada, Akira Tozawa, and Satoshi Kujima.  We also have Gabe Kidd, a very talented, yet highly physical, member of David Finaly's Bullet Club and formerly half of the Bullet Club War Dogs with now retired teammate, Alex Coughlin.  Kidd is a fearless and reckless competitor.  One who's not afraid to go unhinged and violent if need be, which is more often than he isn't.  These two competed for the IWGP NEVER Openweight Title, to whom it belongs to Takagi.  Takagi's Bret Hart meets Chris Benoit in-ring style collided excellently against the spirited and hungry grit of Kidd.  Going into the match, Kidd attacked, then challenged, Takagi for the NEVER Openweight Title, as he viewed the title as the heart and soul of the company.  Based on his performance, he showed it as well.  To be able to hang and bang with one of the company's most hard-hitting and relentless scrappers is a feat in itself.  From brawls on the outside to submissions to back and forth stiff shots and suplexes, these two wore each other out in exhaustive fashion.  This was far from a cake walk for "The Dragon", as Kidd came to play and play hard.  After a hard twenty minute struggle, Takagi survived, but this was a battle the likes of which both men would feel for weeks.  Kidd would later defeat Eddie Kingston for the NJPW Strong Openweight title at Resurgence in a brutal No Ropes No Holds Barred Match.  Both guys performed and fought aggressively and without any brakes pumped.  While there were certainly equally brutal matches in may, this one was perhaps the most engrossing on a bell-to-bell level.

Honorable Mentions

Kevin Owens & Randy Orton vs. Solo Sakoa & Toma Tonga/WWE Backlash '24

Jey Uso vs. Damien Priest/WWE Backlash '24

Bayley vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi/WWE Backlash '24

Ricochet vs. Ilja Draganov/WWE Raw 5-6

Shaemus vs. Gunther/WWE Raw 5-6

Jon Moxley vs. Shota Umino/NJPW Resurgence

Eddie Kingston vs. Gabe Kidd/NJPW Resurgence

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Masa Kitamiya/Pro Wrestling NOAH Star Navigation '24

Bryan Danielson, Darby Allen, & FTR vs. Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, & The Young Bucks/AEW Double Or Nothing '24

Cody Rhodes vs. Logan Paul/WWE King & Queen Of The Ring '24

Will Ospreay vs. Roderick Strong/AEW Double Or Nothing '24

Swerve Strickland vs. Christian Cage/AEW Double Or Nothing '24

Adam Copeland vs. Malaki Black/AEW Double Or Nothing '24

Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Mone/AEW Double Or Nothing '24