Wrestling Review – May 2024

Take a look back at the crucial moments of the last 30 days, at the wrestler and the match of the month with the May 2024 wrestling review.

 

WWE

• May 4: WWE has its first ever PLE in France, in the city of Lyon, with Backlash.
  Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill defeat The Kabuki Warriors at Backlash to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team championships.
  WWE announces that the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada will host WrestleMania 41 on April 19 & April 20, 2025.
• May 16: Asuka announces on YouTube that she will be out of action because of a knee injury.
• May 17: Ivar announces on X that he will be out of action because of a serious injury.
• May 20: Sonya Deville makes her return on Monday Night Raw.
• May 21: WWE announces that they will be back in Japan for the first time since 2019 in July 2024 with three house shows.
• May 23: TKO Group Holdings announces that the WWE and UFC live events departments are merging.
  WWE announces that SummerSlam 2026 will be held in two separate nights, on August 1st and August 2nd.
• May 25: At WWE King & Queen of the Ring, Liv Morgan defeats Becky Lynch to win the WWE Women’s World championship.
  Nia Jax becomes Queen of the ring by defeating Lyra Valkyria and Gunther becomes King of the Ring by defeating Randy Orton.
  WWE announces that Crown Jewel 2024 will take place on Saturday, November 2nd in the city of Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

NXT

• May 28: The TNA Knockouts World champion Jordynne Grace appears for the first time in NXT to challenge Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s championship at Battleground.
  “All Ego” Ethan Page makes his NXT debut by attacking the NXT champion Trick Williams from behind.

AEW/ROH

• May 1: Christian Cage returns on AEW Dynamite to confront the AEW World champion Swerve Strickland.
  Kenny Omega returns on AEW Dynamite.
• May 8: Mogul Embassy betrays Swerve Strickland on Dynamite.
• May 15: Darby Allin returns on AEW Dynamite.
• May 16: ROH announces that Death Before Dishonor 2024 will take place on Friday, July 26th at the Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas.
• May 21: Kenny Omega undergoes surgery.
• May 23: Jim Ross is hopitalized in emergency for respiratory problems.
• May 26: MJF makes his AEW return at Double Or Nothing.
  Will Ospreay defeats Roderick Strong and wins the AEW International championship at Double Or Nothing.
  Mercedes Moné defeats Willow Nightingale and wins the AEW TBS championship at Double Or Nothing.
• May 28: Mark Henry leaves AEW.
• May 29: Bodyslam.net claims that Jake Hager did not renew his AEW contract and has left the company.
  The AEW TNT championship is vacated due to Adam Copeland’s injury.
  Will Ospreay becomes the n°1 contender for the AEW World championship on Dynamite.

NJPW

• May 11: Gabe Kidd wins the NJPW STRONG Openweight championship by defeating Eddie Kingston in a No Rope Last Man Standing match at NJPW Resurgence.

NOAH

• May 4: Kaito Kiyomiya defeats El Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr. at NOAH Wrestle Magic to become the new GHC Heavyweight champion.

Other

• May 20: “Bad Bones” John Klinger passes away at the age of 40.

 

Read also: Results – AEW Double Or Nothing 2024

 

Wrestler & Match of the month

Wrestler of the month

Liv Morgan. The new WWE Women’s World champion has had a huge impact this past month on the wrestling industry. She really launched her “Revenge Tour” by becoming the n°1 contender for the Women’s World title, and got the opportunity to face Becky Lynch at WWE King & Queen of the Ring in Saudi Arabia, where she was able to become champion for the second time in her career. Two days later on Monday Night Raw, she successfully defended the World championship against the former champion in a Steel Cage match. With Dominik Mysterio being implicated, Liv Morgan is now waiting for Rhea Ripley to return to action to get her “Revenge Tour” completed. Sky is the limit for Liv Morgan in the wrestling business right now.

Liv Morgan on WWE Monday Night Raw on May 27, 2024 (WWE)

Match of the month

Kevin Owens & Randy Orton vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga), WWE Backlash 2024 (May 4)

This Tag Team match opened things up at WWE Backlash in Lyon, France, where the atmosphere was absolutely insane as the French crowd gave everything he had in the LDLC Arena on Saturday, May 4th. And what an opener that was, as the SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis made it a Tag Team Street Fight to heat things up between the two teams. With some huge spots, some chaos all over the arena, some fights into the French WWE Universe, this match was brutal and it had everything you could expect from an opening contest on pay-per-view. Thanks to the debut and the interference of The Bloodline’s new member Tanga Loa, Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga took the win over Kevin Owens & Randy Orton.

Even if Dave Meltzer gave 5 stars to the WWE Undisputed title match between Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles at Backlash, this opener deserved to be nominated Match of the month, especially for its unexpected nature.

Kevin Owens & Randy Orton vs. Tama Tonga & Solo Sikoa – WWE Backlash 2024 (WWE)