The Junebug vs. Dial M Exhibition Match
"[If] you guys have not heard, we have a little student versus master going on today." -DSJ
With Junebug announcing his competitive hiatus at the end of 2025, everyone wondered who the premier DK to take the throne would be. Within three months of June’s announcement, one of the fastest-growing players Melee has ever seen scooped up the spot June had been carving, carrying that momentum into a new era. He put his own spin on the character and changed the perception of how the Kong can be played - all without ever giving anyone time to question the character’s relevance at the highest level. That competitor is Dial M.
The Setup
Fast forward to May 9th, where the Colorado Melee scene hosted Altitude Sickness 3. With 235 entrants and a Melee bracket so densely packed with talent it earned the weight of being called a National, the atmosphere was already electric. While Junebug was brought in for their exceptional commentary, their unique position as a top-level DK specialist provided a rare opportunity: a high-stakes show match against the state’s most talked-about rising star. What followed was arguably the most high-profile Donkey Kong ditto the scene has ever witnessed.
If you haven’t watched the VOD yet, I strongly suggest you do so before reading further—you can find the link below. Consider this your final warning: spoilers ahead.
The Reality of the Throne
The most convenient narrative for this set would be a simple coronation: the winner claims the title of “Best DK in the World.” It’s the classic underdog story of the new blood challenging the old guard, especially with Junebug stepping away from his active competitive status. However, framing the match this way ignores the logistical reality of the rankings. Unless Junebug remains active or Dial M surpasses June’s 19th-place rank on the 2025 MPGR, a single show match can’t objectively settle the “Best in the World” debate.
Beyond the rankings, the nature of the Donkey Kong ditto complicates the “Best DK” claim. The matchup occurs so rarely at the top level that a player can be the best in the world against the rest of the cast without ever mastering the intricacies of the mirror match. Their true value as players is best showcased when they are squaring off against the high tiers, not necessarily each other.
The discrepancy in their playstyles further muddies the waters. They represent two opposite ends of the DK spectrum: Junebug plays a reserved, clinical Kong - reminiscent of Wizzrobe’s methodical Captain Falcon - while Dial M favors an explosive, high-risk approach. Much like “S2J” Johnny Kim, Dial M prioritizes speed and raw threat, forcing opponents to respect heavy-hitting options or risk being sent offstage early. Because one style might naturally counter the other in a vacuum, the set becomes less a definitive ranking and more a specific study in how these two philosophies collide.
The Architecture of a Champion
Dial M may have the faster hands, but Junebug’s win illustrates the difference between technical skill and set management. Winning a First to Five requires more than just high-damage sequences; it requires the stamina to dismantle an opponent's confidence game by game. By the end of the set, it wasn't just about who played DK better, but who understood the player across from them more deeply.
This depth of understanding was echoed in the post-game interview, where Junebug compared Dial M’s trajectory to the relentless growth mindset of a player like Zain. Junebug’s prediction - that Dial M is on a path toward the Top 20 or even Top 10 - reframes the loss not as a failure, but as a necessary step in an evolution for Dial M that is only just beginning.
Perhaps the most staggering realization is that Dial M is doing all of this at just 14 years old. Junebug has been honing his craft at in-person events longer than Dial M has been alive, yet the young phenom is already meeting that veteran standard head-on. In the end, adaptation and the willingness to grow will always champion a single moment of raw ability. Dial M may not have walked away with the set, but by proving he could push a legend to his limits, he achieved a feat grander than any “Best in Class” title could ever confer.