With so much great wrestling, there’s a number of matches that could’ve made the Top 5 this week. AEW, NXT and New Japan; all bring a lot to the table this week. But first, who won last week?

Even though it wasn’t my vote, New Japan Cup Day 7: Tomohiro Ishii vs Hiromu Takahashi, edged out the competition. This brings us to the fun possibility of now since New Japan is back and regaining their footing; how much will that change our current MOTY pool? Speaking of which, June’s Pool was voted on, and the winner had the early lead and never lost it.

Match of the Year Pool:

• January – Wrestle Kingdom 14: Double Gold Match: Kazuchika Okada vs Tetsuya Naito
• February – AEW Revolution: AEW World Tag Team Championship: Hangman Page & Kenny Omega (c) vs The Young Bucks
• March – AEW Dynamite: AAA Mega Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs Sammy Guevara
• April – WrestleMania 36: NXT Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs Charlotte Flair
• May – NXT: Pit Fight: Matt Riddle vs Tim Thatcher
• June – NXT In Your House: NXT Women’s Champion Triple Threat: Io Shirai vs Charlotte Flair (c) vs Rhea Ripley

So it’s fun to see that 2 NXT matches have taken the last two months, 3 if you count the fact the Mania match was for the NXT title. Plus it can’t be overlooked that Charlotte and Rhea are reoccurring names in the matches.

Now let’s look at this week’s Top 5!

Quick Top 5:

1. NJPW Dominion: NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs SHO
   Rating: **** 3/4
2. AEW Fyter Fest Night 2: Chris Jericho vs Orange Cassidy
   Rating: **** 1/4
3. NXT Great American Bash Night 2: NXT Championship & North American Championship: Adam Cole (c) vs Keith Lee (c)
   Rating: **** 
4. 2AW Launching Business 1 Anniversary: 2AW Openweight Championship: Ayato Yoshida vs Yuji Okabayashi (c)
   Rating: ****
5. NJPW New Japan Cup Finals: EVIL vs Kazuchika Okada
   Rating: ****

Honorable Mentions:

• NJPW Dominion: IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Championships: Tetsuya Naito (c) vs EVIL
  Rating: *** 3/4
• NJPW Dominion: IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Golden Ace (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi) (c) vs Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr)
  Rating: *** 1/2
• NXT Great American Bash Night 2: Street Fight: Mia Yim vs Candice LeRae
  Rating: *** 1/2
• NJPW Cup Finals Day: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Zack Sabre Jr, El Desperado & Taichi vs Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Yuji Nagata
  Rating: *** 1/4
• IMPACT!: Josh Alexander w/Ethan Page vs Sami Callihan
  Rating: *** 1/4
• WWE Raw: Sasha Banks vs Kairi Sane
  Rating: *** 1/4
• AEW Fyter Fest Night 2: AEW Tag Team Championship: Private Party vs Hangman Page & Kenny Omega (c)
  Rating: *** 1/4
• NJPW Dominion: Taiji Ishimori & Yujiro Takahashi vs Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto
  Rating: *** 1/4
• AEW Fyter Fest Night 2: SCU vs Dark Order & Colt Cabana
  Rating: *** 1/4
• NJPW Cup Finals Day: DOUKI vs Master Wato
  Rating: ***
• AEW Fyter Fest Night 2: Young Bucks & FTR vs Butcher & Blade & Lucha Bros
  Rating: ***
• IMPACT!: Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary vs Susie & Kylie Rae
  Rating: ***
• NJPW Cup Finals Day: CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii, SHO & Toru Yano) vs LIJ (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi)
  Rating: ***
• NXT Great American Bash Night 2: Isaiah Scott vs Johnny Gargano
  Rating: ***
• WWE SmackDown: SmackDown Tag Team Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro vs New Day (c)
  Rating: ***
• NJPW Cup Finals Day: Yuya Uemura & Yota Tsuji vs Great Bash Heel (Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe)
  Rating: ***

5. NJPW New Japan Cup Finals: EVIL vs Kazuchika Okada

From My Results:
This match played into their past, EVIL’s current trajectory and Okada doing the Okada thing. EVIL got a quick jump on things, as he’s done in the past, but Okada won’t fall in a 2 minute match. EVIL applied his signature chairs with the chair wrapped around the arm into the ring post and of course, the Home Run Chairshot. Red Shoes was bumped and bullied quite a few times allowing EVIL numerous moments to uppercut Okada between the legs, Garvin Stomp the boys and even counter the Cobra Clutch with a well aimed backwards leg.

EVIL brought back memories of their first meeting when he hit Darkness Falls on a pile of chairs. Much like their first meeting, this match ended well for EVIL. At first when we saw Gedo run out to distract the referee and Yujiro hit the Miami Shine on Okada, announcers and everyone seemed confused. But once EVIL hit Everything is Evil to win the Cup, it all made sense.

Winner: EVIL via Everything is Evil

4. 2AW Launching Business 1 Anniversary: 2AW Openweight Championship: Ayato Yoshida vs Yuji Okabayashi (c)

This falls under the category of me following some of the Puro-Twitter buzz. It’s lead me to interesting deathmatches that I enjoyed and some off kilter stuff before. Ayato Yoshida is a name some might recognize since he was a psuedo Young Lion. He was involved in a bunch of Lion’s Break Project shows, but he was billed as being from Kaientai Dojo. Since Taka Michinoku had the affair scandal, Kaientai Dojo, rebranded to 2AW. Okabayashi however is a well traveled power wrestler, notably in BJW, Zero1, AJPW and DDT.

Being the second Openweight title in this Top 5, there is a noticeable difference. Okabayashi is a power guy and utilized it for great early gains against Yoshida. Yoshida had to catch Okabayashi with Dropkicks, or bringing his knees up to counter the Golem Splash. A hard hitting affair is an understatement, since they really brought it well. Yoshida was mostly getting stretched and beaten down, but refused to quit, even when he was in the Argentine Backbreaker for what felt like minutes.

Youth and determination powered Yoshida through the match for one last surge of energy to slip behind Oka, lock in the waistlock and hit a desperation Backdrop Driver for the stunning victory. Taking it purely at face value, since I don’t keep up enough with 2AW to know the story, it was well wrestled and told a great coming up story for Yoshida.

Definitely a fun watch if you like puroresu.

Winner: Yoshida via Backdrop Driver

3. NXT Great American Bash Night 2: NXT Championship & North American Championship: Adam Cole (c) vs Keith Lee (c)

From Mitchell’s Coverage:
Cole grits his teeth and tells himself Keith is not better. Cole aims as the crowd is thunderous for “Keith Lee! WOOP WOOP!” Keith slowly sits up, Cole runs again, but into a LARIAT! Cole lands on his head but Keith can’t cover as he flops over! The crowd reaches a fever pitch as Cole rolls to a corner. Keith stirs, spots Cole, and powers up again. Cole manages to stand, and he mule kicks a leg out! Cole goes up, leaps, PANAMA SUNRISE!! Cover, TWO!?!? And again Cole is in shock! The crowd loves “NXT! NXT!” for this main event! Cole drags himself to ropes and dares Keith to get up again. He gets in Keith’s face about it, Keith grabs at Cole but Cole pushes him away. Cole aims again, SUPERKICK! SUPERKICK! SUPERKICK!! Cover, TWO!!! Cole is beside himself!

Keith clutches his face. The damage done by Gargano around TakeOver: In Your House is still present. Cole brings that knee pad down now, runs once more, LAST SHOT!! But he won’t let that be it! Cole goes back to the corner, wanting Keith to get up. Keith does rise, Cole leaps at him again, PANAMA- NO!! SPIRIT BOMB!! But then the flip, Keith roars as he fireman’s carries, and BIG BANG CATASTROPHE!! Cover, Keith wins!!!

Winner: Keith Lee via Big Bang Catastrophe

2. AEW Fyter Fest Night 2: Chris Jericho vs Orange Cassidy

From Mitchell’s Coverage:
Cassidy gets up and DECKS Jericho! But he falls over, too! Cassidy drags himself up with the ropes, but gets a bunch of ORANGE JUICE in the face! The ref sees it plain as day but Best Friends appear to attack! They toss Santana and Ortiz over the railing and brawl with them! But Jericho uses FLOYD THE BAT!! And a CODE BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!?!? Jericho can’t believe Cassidy still lives! Jericho clubs away on Cassidy but Cassidy kicks low and throws forearms. Cassidy runs, into a back elbow! LIONSAULT FLOPS! Cassidy scoops for a MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Jericho and Cassidy have given so much already but it’s not over. They brawl on their knees back and forth. Cassidy gets the edge, runs, and rallies with clotheslines! But Jericho knees low, suplexes, only to get STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE!

Cassidy watches Jericho rise, runs, tilt-o-whirl DDT! Cover, TWO?!?! Jericho survives but barely! Cassidy gets up, brings Jericho into an Alabama lift but Jericho clubs down. Jericho swings, Cassidy dodges and comes back, JUDAS EFFECT!! Cover, Jericho wins!

Winner: Jericho via Judas Effect

1. NJPW Dominion: NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs SHO

From My Results:
SHO brought everything and then some in this match. It starts off fast with strikes and power moves and never really feels like it slows down. SHO has a very smart game plan, by focusing on Shingo’s right arm the entire time. This took a lot of sting out of Pumping Bombers, strikes and made it harder for Shingo to pull off his two big moves Made in Japan and The Last of the Dragon.

Both men showed a lot of heart and resolve during the bout, and it reached a point where anyone could’ve won. SHO locked in a cross armbar, which transitioned into a Triangle Choke when Shingo tried to fight out of it. But Shingo either barely made it to ropes, or found just enough strength left in his arm to lift up SHO and slam him. Death Valley Drivers, Powerbombs, sometimes countered, but always impressive that Shingo just refused to look weak.

There was great selling, tremendous action and two guys just beating the hell out of each other. Shingo did manage to retain, but he looked beat to hell.

Winner: Shingo via Last of the Dragon

Thoughts:

Now anyone who reads or listens to things with my input, should know I don’t really enjoy AEW’s indyrific way of spotfests, or Cornette’s little dog pockets…but that was a damn good match. IF – IF – SHO vs Shingo didn’t exist this week, I would probably have voted for Pockets vs Jericho. It was nice to see Cassidy change up his attitude immediately, instead of slowly building during the match, like what he did with PAC. Shingo and SHO however, most of us knew was going to be a banger, and god damn did they try to kill each other.

Hell, Shingo vs SHO is currently my number 2 match of 2020. That was so good I might just go watch it again. #UseYourHead