May is finished as we're rounding third to a year of the WRestrling Vault! Hard to believe it, eh? May was a month of fantastic wrestling, my first full month of not watching modern WWE (roulette matches ruined my perfect month) and I don't regret my decision for a second.
Don't believe me that great wrestling exists outside WWE? Well, a month of amazing matches says otherwise.
Adam Page vs. Kyle Fletcher - AEW Dynamite - 04/30/2025
I've never been quiet about who my favourite guys are in wrestling right now. Anyone who has been on this blog for longer than a couple months knows that I'm a Hangman fan until the day I die, and I think Kyle Fletcher is one of the best wrestlers in the world right now. It should come as no surprise that Hangman and Fletcher was a match I was really looking forward to, and also one that blew my expectations out of the water. Hard hitting enough to have Fletcher's back bleeding within the first few minutes of the match and blisteringly close near falls and exhilarating action that wouldn't feel out of place in a Pay Per View main event. The story and drama revolved around Hangman making it to the Owen Hart finals, seeking redemption. Fletcher is more than deserving of that spot, but it's just not his night. I loved everything in this match.
Josh Alexander vs. Brody King - AEW Collision - 05/03/2025
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 047
Hechicero vs. El Barbaro Cavernario - NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2025 - Day 8 - 02/28/2025
I had a few CMLL shows sitting around that I was meaning to get to when I found myself in the mood for some good lucha things. I checked out their cards to find stuff I'd enjoy and settled on a handfull of matches, not having the time to watch entire shows at the time. I knew Hechicero was a guy I liked a lot, so I watched everything of his when I came across this match,. I'd never heard of "El Barbaro Cavernario" and thought he was a bit too gimmicky for my liking, thinking this while watching a wrestling wizard, but his performance here completely changed my mind. He more than holds his own against the technically brilliant Hechicero, using his wildman antics and technical skill to make a unique blend of wrestling that I did not expect. They even brawled to the floor with some utterly insane moves, including a suplex onto one of those notoriously concrete-like New Japan tables that looked to hurt Hechicero as much as Barbaro. Excellent action, so fun to watch.
Dax Harwood vs. Daniel Garcia - AEW Collision - 05/08/2025
With newly minted heel FTR, they've been on a real tear recently, disrespecting everyone they come into contact with. Garcia is the first person who stood up against FTR despite them taking him under their wing at one point, not putting up with FTR being blatant assholes. Challenging any member of FTR, Garcia finds himself against The Axe in a hard hitting, snug and sound matchup on Collision. Garcia is excellent when he's getting the shit beat out of him, born to be the babyface underdog in peril. Dax gives it as well as he takes it, with Garcia busting Dax open while charging into him on the outside and then taking Dax down for three superplex's in a row. Dax's ego nearly gets the better of him, but Garcia refuses to give in and never backs down. The match seems well in hand for him but the match gets called off with Nigel McGuiness finally having enough and getting in the ring to save young Danny.
Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu - AJPW Super Power Series 1997 - Day 12 - 05/31/1997
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 048
WALTER vs. Tom Lawlor - GCW Matt Riddle's Bloodsport - 04/05/2018
Prior to WALTER's signing with WWE, I didn't know a whole lot about him. I'd seen clips of him on Twitter and stuff and knew he was a world beater, but not until his match with Dunne did I watch anything of his. Now, on my journey through Bloodsport, I've seen yet another indie match of WALTER's proving that he always and forever has been an absolute killer. Tom Lawlor has a legitimate MMA background, competing in UFC and other MMA promotions. He made the transition to pro wrestling in 2014 and has been there since, flourishing with natural charisma and fighting skills. This match with WALTER is everything you'd expect it to be, they hit each other hard as shit, and wrap each other in vicious submission holds. Admittedly, Lawlor is nursing a hand injury and naturally, WALTER locks onto that weakness like a shark. His size, strength, and resilience are what put WALTER over the edge here, handily taking Lawlor out.
Don Eagle vs Gorgeous George - NWA Chicago - 05/26/1950
I got on a real Gorgeous George kick the other day. Don't ask me why, just popped up on my feed and I went to town. I want to give George a proper look in a match on here, so one of these two matches may show up again, but I'll give a quick rundown here. I really love how these guys wrestle, there's incredible emphasis and meaning to the simplest of moves. We'll never see wrestling like this ever again because the modern style of wrestling no longer comes from a basis of amateur wrestling. These guys had actual amateur skills, taking it to the ring and adding some flair, character, and an agreement to not actually hurt each other. That's important to remember too. If the guys today only had, say, 50 moves to pick from, they'd make a hammerlock and knuckle lock mean so much more, just like these guys do. I especially love when George had Eagle in a leglock, almost a spinning toe hold but without the spin. He uses the ropes to push and add extra pressure, even bouncing off them to stretch the leg more and more. Simple, but so, so effective.
Gorgeous George vs. Hans Schnabel - NWA Chicago - 11/03/1950
Much like his matchup with Eagle, George takes his time before locking up or engaging with Schnabel in any way, but when they do, they make everything count. Like seriously, a hammerlock looks awesome because it really looks like George is trying to wrench it out of his socket. It really looks like they're trying to force the other guy down onto the mat. Probably because they are! George is comfortable and more than capable at grounding and working snug holds on his opponent while also flying across the ring off a bump and acting as if he's terrified for his opponent to get near. It's legitimate wrestling with some flair, it's honestly really good. Sure, it doesn't hold up to what modern fans are used to, but if you can appreciate the mechanics behind wrestling, you'll really enjoy these matches.
Timothy Thatcher vs. Hideki Suzuki - GCW Josh Barnett's Bloodsport - 04/04/2019
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 049
The Beast Mortos vs. Rey Horus vs. Arez - DPW World's Strongest 2024 - 11/17/2024
I've spoke at length about Mortos on here, going over his work in AEW's Continental Classic where I feel like he really got to shine. In the wrestling first indie that is DPW, he shines just as bright. I've seen little of Horus and Arez, but these two showed up to show out at Worlds Strongest. Seamlessly fighting from one opponent to another, two man and three man spots blending together effortlessly. Mortos is an exceptional base for these men to dome some insane spots, while all three men are more than capable of flying and moving about the ring in the most unreal ways possible. The crowd was in love with this match, never quiet for a second. And neither was I, sat in my quiet little basement office.
Mark Briscoe vs. Ricochet - Stretcher Match - AEW Double or Nothing 2025 - 05/25/2025
One of many amazing matches on AEW's Double or Nothing 2025 card, Briscoe and Rico had such a fun, crazy, violent match. Mark is at his best when he can be equal parts goofy and zainy as well as being completely unhinged and bloodthirsty. Ricochet showed up for this match too, translating his unique style to this unique match type. Briscoe is bleeding early and heavily, adding an insane visual to this war. Rico cuts off the triple jump Arabian press with a pinpoint chair to the face, even using two well hidden pairs of his golden scissors to further punish the Chicken. For being AEW's first go at a stretcher match, they honestly nailed it out of the park. Kudos, guys.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Mike Bailey - AEW Double or Nothing 2025 - 05/25/2025
Who's have thought it, eh? Two world class wrestlers had an incredible match? Well, I certainly can;t believe it! I knew this match was going to be great once I saw it added to the card. I've become very aware of Speedball with his time spent in DPW as well as other indie and TNA appearances in recent years. Okada's reputation speaks for itself, and these two had styles that blended together perfectly. Two guys that have vicious, hard hitting strikes, with Okada proving to be a bit more proficient at just straight up wrestling over Bailey, but that didn't slow his momentum for a second. The finish was completely insane, with Okada down and Bailey on the top for Ultimate Weapon, he takes flight. Somehow, in that tiny window of time, Okada gets to his feet and snipes Bailey out of the sky with a dropkick to his head. Seriously, how is that even possible.
Kenny Omega, Swerve Strickland, The Opps & Willow Nightingale vs. Death Riders & The Young Bucks - Anarchy in the Arena - AEW Double or Nothing 2025 - 05/25/2025
Honestly, I don't even know how to begin describing this match. It's pure insanity, it's complete carnage, I had a smile on my face from the opening bell to the final bell. I couldn't stop laughing at times, I was cringing and wincing from the pain the guys had to be feeling. There's no possible way I can encapsulate this match into a concise, one paragraph review. It's one of my favourite matches of the year and, quite possibly, my favourite Anarchy in the Arena match to date.
Adam Page vs. Will Ospreay - AEW Double or Nothing 2025 - 05/25/2025
I had about 500 different thoughts and emotions going into this match. A main event match between two of my favourite wrestlers in the world, with the winner fighting for the World Title. Both men have equal and valid reasons for wanting to win this match, but my heart was with Hangman. It seemed like the right pick, the easy pick. But Ospreay could still do it! Quite easily! This was a matchup of two wrestlers on completely even ground, speed matched with power, even on resilience, toughness, grit and desire. It was going to come down to one good shot, one well placed bullet to win this one. There were so many incredible moments in this match. Using their greatest rival's moves, kicking out of or avoiding their opponents best shot, evading a pinfall with their body working on autopilot. These are the absolute best of the best going toe to toe, and the intensity could be felt in the air. Ultimately, Hangman feeds off the crowd, the one and only time he turns to them for support, landing the Buckshot for the win. I shed some tears after this win. He did it. One step closer to redemption, one step closer to getting the gold back.
Well, there you have it! May is in the books, officially! Just over 400 matches watched so far in 2025! Lets shoot for an even 1000, yeah? I think I can do it.
Until next month, take it easy friends.
Cliff Morgan
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