May 2025: A Historic Month for Professional Wrestling

May 2025 will be remembered as one of the most spectacular months in professional wrestling history, delivering an unprecedented run of major events that captivated audiences worldwide and set a high bar for the remainder of the year.

The month featured an impressive lineup of premium live events across multiple promotions, including WWE's Clash in Italy, Backlash, and Saturday Night's Main Event. All Elite Wrestling contributed Double or Nothing and the innovative Fairway to Hell event held at the SoFi Center in Florida—a venue typically associated with golf league competitions. The card received widespread praise and announced plans to return with Brawl at the Ballpark in July at Target Field in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Wrestling Dontaku from Japan and Lucha Libre AAA's Noche de Los Grandes rounded out a remarkable calendar.

At WWE's Clash in Italy, Roman Reigns successfully defended his World Heavyweight Championship against Jacob Fatu in a Tribal Combat match, marking the second confrontation between the two in a single calendar month. The victory solidified Reigns' position as the sport's dominant force while simultaneously signaling a new chapter in The Bloodline saga. Following the match, Reigns departed the arena alongside Fatu and the Uso brothers, while Solo Sikoa watched from a distance with his newly formed MFT faction, which included Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga. The group severed ties with Reigns after WrestleMania 40, where Sikoa declared himself the head of his own table.

Sikoa later took to social media to express his displeasure, suggesting Fatu should have remained loyal to his faction rather than facing what Sikoa described as a neutering defeat. Despite the internal turmoil, Reigns entered June with his championship reign intact. He has since targeted LA Knight and Royce Keys as frontrunners in the King of the Ring Tournament, positioning them as future challengers for his title at SummerSlam.

The month also saw Sol Ruca capture the Women's Intercontinental Championship, adding to WWE's championship picture.

Across the Atlantic, AEW's Double or Nothing proved equally significant. Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Adam Copeland, and Christian Cage all secured championship victories at the Las Vegas event. At Wrestling Dontaku, Will Ospreay continued to develop his narratives with the United Empire and the Death Riders factions. The latter group has become particularly influential, with Jon Moxley leading a crew known for their ruthless tactics.

The rivalry between Kenny Omega and Ospreay took center stage during a backstage segment at Double or Nothing. Omega, undergoing medical evaluation, warned Ospreay about the dangers of trusting the Death Riders.

"My worry is that you can't trust those guys," Omega expressed. "What they do is what they say they will do. They wanted to hurt me. They hurt me. I will do anything for you, Will. For you to realize your dream of being champion, there's nothing I wouldn't do. It would've been so easy for me to help you."

Ospreay acknowledged Omega's perspective but questioned his inconsistent presence, noting the champion rarely appears week to week. Moxley later appeared, offering tacit approval of Omega's counsel.

Ospreay advanced to the semifinals of the Owen Hart Men's Tournament by defeating Samoa Joe at Double or Nothing. Victory in the tournament would earn him an opportunity at the AEW World Championship—a prospect made more significant by the potential of competing in his home country.

In Mexico, Lucha Libre AAA concluded one of the year's most compelling storylines at Noche de Los Grandes. The mask-versus-mask encounter between El Grande Americano and Original El Grande Americano delivered on its considerable hype, with El Grande Americano emerging victorious. The match's conclusion revealed Chad Gable as the Original El Grande Americano, a twist that earned widespread acclaim as an early contender for Match of the Year honors.

Major League Wrestling launched its new season of "Fusion" with a newsworthy double episode. Killer Kross, the MLW World Heavyweight Champion, signed an open contract inviting any challenger. Matt Riddle accepted before Alex Hammerstone could make his move, setting up a potential championship opportunity. Meanwhile, undefeated Shotzi continued her pursuit of Shoko Nakajima's MLW World Featherweight Championship after defeating Priscilla Kelly. Austin Aries and Trevor Lee delivered a standout performance, with Aries afterward calling out MLW Openweight Champion Blue Panther. Zamaya also made a memorable debut with a quick victory.

The month of May demonstrated the current strength of professional wrestling, with major promotions delivering consistent quality across numerous events. As companies pivot toward summer programming, expectations remain elevated following an extraordinary five-week stretch that fans and analysts alike are already citing as potentially the best month in recent memory.