This is my entry for the Greatest Matches Ever project. A bi-annual vote for the greatest matches ever, plus they do fun other votes in the off years. The ballot is due 2023-06-30. Check them out at GME Board.
What makes a great match?
One of the biggest traits I look for is memorable. Yes, I rate things as I watch them, but what makes something great is looking back at it later and still remembering spots, moments, or even the whole story. My memory is shit, so actually cementing itself in there is a great accomplishment.
Let’s see how I feel in June 2023.
I previously voted in 2021, so I will also note how I voted then for contrast.
Honourable Mentions (all rated 9.25/10)
- Jim Duggan vs Ted DiBiase – “Loser Leaves Town Coal Miner’s Glove On A Pole Steel Cage Tuxedo Street Fight” – Houston – March 22, 1985
- Angel Azteca vs El Dandy – EMLL – June 1, 1990
- Damiancito el Guerrero vs Cicloncito Ramirez – “2/3 Falls” – CMLL – January 7, 1997
- Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair – “Last Woman Standing” – WWE – October 28, 2018
- Giulia vs Tam Nakano – Stardom – April 23, 2023
9.25/10 Rated Matches
#100
The Great Muta vs Scott Norton
“G1 Climax”
NJPW G1 Climax 1997
August 2, 1997
Ryogoku Kokugikan
2021: 100th
#99
The Ultimate Warriors (Ultimate Warrior, Jim Neidhart, & The Rockers) vs The Heenan Family (Andre the Giant, Bobby Heenan, Arn Anderson, & Haku)
“Survivor Series Match”
WWF Survivor Series
November 23, 1989
Rosemont Horizon
2021: 99th
#98
Kana vs Meiko Satomura
Kana Pro Mania
February 25, 2014
Korakuen Hall
#97
Akira Hokuto vs Bull Nakano
“Steel Cage Match”
AJW on July 30, 1992
Prefectural Gymnasium
2021: 81st
#96
Andrade Almas (c) vs Johnny Gargano
“NXT Championship”
NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia
Wells Fargo Center
#95
Io Shirai (c) vs Mayu Iwatani
“World of Stardom Championship”
Stardom Galaxy Stars
June 21, 2017
Korakuen Hall
2021: 80th
From my 2017 MOTY post:
“I began watching STARDOM this year, and Mayu Iwatani quickly became my favourite. A unique and very loveable babyface, perhaps the best in the business. This match ended years of her chasing Io Shirai and finally toppling her to become the ace. An emotional contest that I cared more about than any other match this year.”
#94
Dynamite Kansai vs Mayumi Ozaki
“Street Fight”
JWP Jazz and Soul
March 17, 1995
Hakata Starlanes
From a Best Matches I’ve Watched This Week post:
“This match was a wild street fight that was bloody, violent, and out of control. The ring was destroyed, and they used a chain like it was a dog collar match just because they wanted to kill each other, not because of the stipulations. This escalated so well and never lit up. The finish was kind of a surprise, but I kind of dug it. An excellent match!”
#93
El Felino vs El Hijo del Snato
“Best 2/3 Falls”
October 18, 1998
Arena Coliseo Monterrey
2021: 49th
#92
Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue vs Eagle Sawai & Leo Kitamura
LLPW on June 15, 1993
Ota Ward Gymnasium
From my 1993 MOTY post:
“Leo Kitamura is a wrestler I have never even heard of until I started watching all of Joshi, and here she is in the top 10 matches of the year. That’s how great the Aja Kong and partner vs Eagle Sawai and partner feud was in 1993. This is a match of contrasts as the brutes of Kong and Eagle try to destroy each other while the face-painted Kyoko Inoue and Kitamura do weird shit around them. An unbelievable and surprising match you must watch.”
#91
Stan Hansen vs Toshiaki Kawada
AJPW Excite Series
February 28, 1993
Nippon Budokan
2021: 74th
#90
Bull Nakano (c) vs Yumiko Hotta
“WWWA World Championship Steel Cage Match”
AJW on January 23, 1991
2021: 61st
#89
Sasha Banks (c) vs Charlotte Flair
“WWE Raw Women’s Championship Hell in a Cell”
WWE Hell in a Cell
October 30, 2016
TD Garden
2021: 52nd
From my 2016 MOTY post:
“The chemistry between Charlotte and Sasha is at an all-time level, and this feud has produced as many great matches as any feud in WWE history. If you want to hear more about this match, listen to this amazing episode of “Stacey & Elliot’s Bogus Journey,” where they talk about this match for 90 minutes.”
#88
Kyoko Inoue (c) vs Akira Hokuto
“All Pacific Championship”
AJW Dream Rush in Kawasaki
November 26, 1992
Kawasaki City Gymnasium
2021: 48th
#87
Kaori Yoneyama (c) vs Emi Sakura
“JWP Openweight Championship Hair vs Hair Match”
JWP Revolution
September 19, 2010
Shinjuku FACE
From my Joshi Match Recommendations post:
“Oh boy, let’s get right into it! Tag partners turned into enemies fighting for a title and to keep their hair. The intensity is off the page. It gets into counter-intensive and bomb fest but is done really well. It’s from the “dead” era of Joshi, so it’s not well known. That should be changed. Yes, Kaori Yoneyama is currently Fukigen Death in Stardom. The post-match hair cutting is an emotional airfare that Joshi catches really well.”
#86
Lacey vs Sara Del Rey
“SHIMMER Championship Tournament Finals”
SHIMMER Volume 12
June 2, 2007
Berwyn Eagles Club
2021: 86th
#85
Bayley (c) vs Sasha Banks
“NXT Women’s Championship Iron Man”
NXT TakeOver: Respect
October 7, 2015
Full Sail University
2021: 79th
From my 2015 MOTY post:
“This match has aged really well and is one of the best Iron Man matches ever, maybe the best.”
#84
Eddie Guerrero (c) vs John “Bradshaw” Layfield
“WWE Championship”
WWE Judgement Day
May 16, 2004
Staples Center
2021: 58th
From my 2004 MOTY post:
“It’s the bloodbath match for Eddie. JBL had just turned, and Eddie did this amazing job of cementing JBL as a threat through bleeding buckets. A great underdog bloody performance by Eddie.”
#83
Emi Sakura & Kaori Yoneyama vs Arisa Nakajima & Command Bolshoi
“JWP Tag Team & Daily Sports Tag Team Championship”
JWP Pure Slam
August 19, 2012
Korakuen Hall
#82
Becky Lynch (c) vs Bianca Belair
“WWE Raw Women’s Championship”
WWE WrestleMania 38: Saturday
April 2, 2022
AT&T Stadium
From my 2022 MOTY post:
“The main event of WrestleMania delivered big (Becks?) time! They called back to their SummerSlam match early and then continued with a brilliant heel performance by Lynch. The psychology was great, and this was an instant classic.”
#81
Devil Masami (c) vs Chigusa Nagayo
“All Pacific Championship”
AJW Summer Night Festival In Budokan
August 22, 1985
Nippon Budokan
2021: 78th
#80
Carlos Colon vs Stan Hansen
“Bullrope Match”
WWC on January 6, 1987
2021: 87th
#79
Rick Martel vs Terry Funk
“WWC Universal Championship Tournament Semi-Final”
WWC 13th Aniversario
September 20, 1986
Palacio de Recreación y Deportes
2021: 91st
#78
Larry Zbyszko vs Nick Bockwinkel
AWA on July 11, 1987
Las Vegas, NV
#77
Kaientai DX (Dick Togo, MEN’s Teioh, Shiryu, Shoichi Funaki, & TAKA Michinoku) vs Gran Hamada, Gran Naniwa, Masato Yakushiji, Super Delfin, & Tiger Mask
Michinoku Pro These Days
October 10, 1996
Ryogoku Kokugikan
2021: 73rd
#76
El Dandy vs El Satanico
“Hair vs Hair Best 2/3 Falls”
EMLL Juicio Final
December 14, 1990
Arena Mexico
2021: 76th
#75
Steve Austin (c) vs Dude Love
“WWF World Championship No DQ Falls Count Anywhere Match”
In Your House: Over The Edge
May 31, 1998
Wisconsin Center Arena
2021: 69th
#74
The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Brian Pillman, Davey Boy Smith, Jim Neidhart, & Owen Hart) vs Goldust, Ken Shamrock, Steve Austin, & The Legion of Doom
WWF In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede
July 6, 1997
Saddledome
2021: 72nd
#73
Eddie Guerrero (c) vs Rey Mysterio Jr.
“WCW World Cruiserweight Championship vs Mask Match”
WCW Halloween Havoc
October 26, 1997
MGM Grand Arena
2021: 64th
#72
Bull Nakano (c) vs Aja Kong
“WWWA Championship”
AJW Wrestlemarinepiad
April 25, 1992
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium
2021: 54th
#71
Akira Taue vs Mitsuharu Misawa
“Championship Carnival Final”
AJPW Champion Carnival
April 15, 1995
Nippon Budokan
2021: 67th
#70
Greg Valentine vs Roddy Piper
“Dog Collar”
NWA Starrcade
November 24, 1983
Greensboro Coliseum
2021: 53rd
From my 1983 MOTY post:
“The greatest dog collar match of all time. The Hammer focuses his offence on Piper’s ear, taking out his equilibrium making for a fun dynamic. Bloody and violent with a super hot crowd on the very first Starrcade.”
#69
Psychosis vs Rey Mysterio Jr.
WCW Bash At The Beach
July 7, 1996
Ocean Center
2021: 66th
#68
Bret Hart vs Mr. Perfect
“King of the Ring Semi-Final Match”
WWF King of the Ring
June 13, 1993
Nutter Center
2021: 77th
#67
Atlantis Sr., Brazo de Oro, El Dandy, La Fiera, Mascara Magica, Negro Casas, Shocker, & Ultimo Dragon vs Black Warrior, Dr. Wagner Jr., El Hijo del Santo, Felino, Kevin Quinn, Satanico, Scorpio Jr., Silver King
“Torneo Cibernetico”
CMLL Super Viernes – 41. Aniversario de Arena Mexico
April 18, 1997
Arena Mexico
2021: 65th
#66
Dustin & Dusty Rhodes & The Nasty Boys vs Arn Anderson, Bunkhouse Buck, Terry Funk, & Col. Robert Parker
“War Games”
WCW Fall Brawl
September 18, 1994
Roanoke Civic Center
2021: 60th
From my 1994 MOTY post:
“I know there is no blood, but this is one of the most wild and unpredictable War Games ever. Dustin is a perfect babyface for the Studd Stable to go after, and the dynamic of the loose cannons of The Nasty Boys and Terry Funk mixed in make this one of the greatest War Games ever.”
#65
Arisa Hoshiki (c) vs Tam Nakano
“Wonder of Stardom Championship”
Stardom Shining Destiny 2019
June 16, 2019
Korakuen Hall
From my 2019 MOTY post:
“I am a sucker for great stories in wrestling, and the best story in wrestling in 2019 was Tam Nakano and Arisa Hoshiki. The storytelling in this match then lived up to the overall story, with each having great strategies and it all leading up to a brilliant conclusion. Everything was stiff and crisp and super emotional. A match of the year in most years, but this is a 2019 list…”
9.5/10 Rated Matches
#64
Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki vs Kyoko Innoue & Takako Inoue
AJW All-Star Dream Slam
April 2, 1993
Yokohama Arena
2021: 55th
From my 1993 MOTY post:
“The two Dream Slam shows are just filled with classic matches, and this one may have the most exciting nearfalls and finishing sequence of them all. The heel Ozaki adds the dynamic, and I can’t not mention the amazing giant swing Kyoko does here!”
#63
Genichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada vs Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy
“AJPW World Tag Team Championship & Real World Tag League Final”
AJPW Real World Tag League
December 16, 1988
Nippon Budokan
#62
Sasha Banks (c) vs Becky Lynch
“NXT Women’s Championship”
NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable
May 20, 2015
Full Sail University
2021: 46th
From my 2015 MOTY post:
“The match that took women’s wrestling in NXT from a really solid and good part of the undercard to the real highlight of the company for me. The two former partners pulled out a classic with some amazing storytelling. Sasha Banks went right for Becky’s arm and destroyed it (which is what Becky usually does). Becky was a great babyface trying to fight through, but The Boss was too much and retained the title here.“
#61
Jumbo Tsuruta vs Mitsuharu Miswa
“Triple Crown #1 Contendership”
AJPW Summer Action Series II
September 1, 1990
Nippon Budokan
2021: 51st
#60
Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa
“Real World Tag League Final”
AJPW Real World Tag League
December 6, 1996
Nippon Budokan
#59
The Revival (c) vs #DIY
“NXT Tag Team Championship Best 2/3 Falls”
NXT TakeOver: Toronto
November 19, 2016
Air Canada Centre
2021: 47th
From my 2016 MOTY post:
“This match has the advantage of me being there live, but this match has enough praise from others for me to feel confident going the full five stars on it. This is the best tag match in WWE history and perhaps in North American history. It played off their previous matches, it built suspense, had high-end moves, and insane crowd heat. I loved this match, and it was incredibly special. It was so special that my friends I was with rushed to the merchandise stand to purchase a #DIY shirt immediately following it.”
#58
Utami Hayashishita (c) vs Syuri
“World of Stardom Championship”
Stardom Tokyo Dream Cinderella Special Edition
June 12, 2021
Ota City General Gymnasium
2021: 31st
#57
The Bloody & Fang Suzuki (c) vs Sumie Sakai & Hiroyo Muto
“LSD 2001 Match: No Rules Falls Count Anywhere Weapons Death Match for the TWF World Women’s Tag Team Championship”
“Jd’ … and Justice for All!”
July 22, 2001
Korakeun Hall
From my 2001 MOTY post:
“This is one of the most insane matches I have ever seen. They used every weapon imaginable and every part of the arena imaginable to try to kill each other. Heck, they even hung someone. This match has to be seen to be believed, and it will be making my top 100 matches of all-time list the next time I make one.”
#56
Brock Lesnar vs John Cena
“Extreme Rules Match”
WWE Extreme Rules
April 29, 2012
Allstate Arena
2021: 45th
#55
Mercedes Martinez (c) vs Kylie Rae
“Phoenix of RISE Championship No Ropes Submission Match”
RISE 13: Legendary
March 29, 2019
Berwyn Eagles Club
2021: 40th
From my 2019 MOTY post:
“Watching this live, I thought it was great, and it has only improved with time. Kylie is the perfect underdog likable babyface, and there is nobody better in the veteran dominant role than Martinez. The ropes being removed added a level of danger to that match that I really loved. It starts off really great, with Mercedes attacking Kylie while she’s covered in ribbons and only gets better from there. The legwork by Martinez was tremendous, and Kylie sold it so well. The finishing run was so exciting! I must mention that Allysin Kay and Veda Scott were also tremendous on commentary. A real classic that doesn’t get enough love.”
#54
Kenta Kobashi vs Stan Hansen
AJPW Summer Action Series
July 29, 1993
Nippon Budokan
2021: 56th
From my 1993 MOTY post:
“Kenta Kobashi’s selling is a perfect contrast to the bruising Stan Hansen. This match has been talked about to death and has maybe the greatest finish in wrestling history.”
#53
Pat Patterson vs Sgt. Slaughter
“Alley Street Fight”
WWF on May 4, 1981
Madison Square Garden
2021: 43rd
#52
Chigusa Nagayo & Dynamite Kansai vs Devil Masami & Mayumi Ozaki
GAEA Memorial First Gong In Korakuen
April 15, 1995
Korakuen Hall
#51
Cheerleader Melissa vs MsChif
“Falls Count Anywhere”
SHIMMER Volume 4
February 12, 2006
Berwyn Eagles Club
2021: 50th
#50
Bull Nakano & Condor Saito vs Chigusa Nagayo & Lioness Asuka
“Tag League The Best Final”
AJW on October 11, 1987
2021: 37th
#49
Bret Hart (c) vs 1-2-3 Kid
“WWF World Heavyweight Championship”
WWF Monday Night Raw
taped July 1, 1994, aired July 11
Fernwood Resort & Country Club
2021: 36th
From my 1994 MOTY post:
“The most old-school travelling World Champion against local babyface the WWF has ever done. Bret took the underdog 1-2-3 Kid and made him feel like he’d win the World Championship on a random Monday Night Raw.”
#48
El Hijo del Santo vs LA Park-K
“Best 2/3 Falls”
Monterrey on December 23, 2001
From a Best Matches I’ve Watched This Week post:
“This match was the absolute perfect hate-filled, violent, gritty bloody brawls. You know it’s going to be something special when both wrestlers’ costumes are white. By the end, both were wearing pink.
I loved how this naturally felt like a fight. They threw each other into chairs, stomped really hard, punched, etc… This wasn’t about hitting spectacular moves; it was about trying to hurt the other while you are pissed off. That being said, there were plenty of dramatic nearfalls and a few spectacular big spots. Even the rudo and técnico disagreeing referees were done well here, especially in how that came to the finish. A true must-watch classic if you like blood and brawls.”
#47
Aja Kong & Akira Hokuto vs Eagle Sawai & Shinobu Kandori
AJW All-Star Dream Slam 2
April 11
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
2021: 22nd
From my 1993 MOTY blog:
“This was the most shocking discovery of the Joshi chronological watch we are doing on the discord. This match is NEVER talked about, it has no rating from Dave Meltzer, and the usual sights don’t have threads for it. That is bizarre because this rules so hard.
We have the continuation of the Hokuto and Kandori feud, but adding the beginning of the Eagle Sawai and Aja Kong feud, which is also awesome. Kong is at her best in huge tag matches, and this may be the best performance of her career up until this point. The other takeaway is that Eagle Sawai is a great wrestler, and this was a huge wake-up party for me. Hate, drama, and excitement. Watch this!”
#46
Diesel (c) vs Bret Hart
“WWF World Championship No Holds Barred Match”
WWF Survivor Series
November 19, 1995
USAir Arena
2021: 57th
#45
Combat Toyoda (c) vs Megumi Kudo
“FMW Independent Women’s & WWA Women’s Championship No Ropes Barbed Wire Current Blast Death Match”
FMW Fighting Creation: 7th Anniversary Show
May 5, 1996
Kawasaki Stadium
2021: 41st
9.75/10 Rated Matches
#44
Io Shirai (c) vs Mayu Iwatani
“World of Stardom Championship”
Stardom Year-End Climax
December 22, 2016
Korakuen Hall
2021: 29th
#43
Bull Nakano (c) vs Akira Hokuto
“WWWA World Champiosnhip”
AJW on January 4, 1991
Korakuen Hall
2021: 30th
#42
Jumbo Tsuruta (c) vs Genichiro Tenryu
“Triple Crown Championship”
AJPW Super Power Series
June 5, 1989
Nippon Budokan
I hadn’t watched this match in many years, and with the focus on 1989 and the Greatest Match Ever, I figured I needed to. The nearfalls steal the show in this one, but consistent intensity and excitement make this a classic. Some really cool spots on the outside, too, that I loved.
#41
Sting’s Squadron (Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, Ricky Steamboat, & Sting) vs The Dangerous Alliance (Arn Anderson, Beautiful Bobby, Larry Zbyszko, Rick Rude, & Steve Austin)
“War Games”
WCW WrestleWar
May 17, 1992
Jacksonville Coliseum
2021: 21st
#40
John Cena (c) vs CM Punk
“WWE Championship”
WWE Money In The Bank
July 17, 2011
Allstate Arena
2021: 28th
#39
Bull Nakano vs Shinobu Kandori
“Chain Match”
LLPW/FMW/AJW on July 14, 1994
Tokyo Coliseum
From my 1994 MOTY post:
“A brutal encounter between two badasses hitting each other with chains. One of the best uses of a gimmick being used in a gimmick match ever.”
#38
Syuri (c) vs Giulia
“World of Stardom Championship”
December 29, 2022
Ryōgoku Kokugikan
From my 2022 MOTY post:
“I waited on putting out this list until this match had ended, and that was a wise decision as it is my match of the year. This is pro-wrestling, a very long-term storyline that paid off in a highly emotional moment on a grand stage!
I loved that this was a different kind of epic. At no point did they try to pad the time with pointless limp work that went nowhere. Nope, these two went to war from the opening bell to the end. So many huge moments and spots, including an Exploder suplex from the ramp to the audience!
They had a finishing sequence that was perfect. They were struggling for everything. One could say it had “botches” or was “sloppy”, but it felt like they were destroyed. Great match, on the same level as the Dream Queendom match between Utami and Syuri last December.”
#37
Bull Nakano (c) vs Aja Kong
“WWWA World Championship”
AJW Dream Rush In Kawasaki
November 26, 1992
Kawasaki City Gymnasium
2021: 26th
#36
The Can-Am Express (c) vs Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
“All Asia Tag Team Championship”
AJPW Super Power Series
May 25, 1992
Prefectural Sports Center
2021: 38th
#35
John Cena (c) vs Umaga
“WWE Championship Last Man Standing Match”
WWE Royal Rumble
January 28, 2007
AT&T Center
2021: 18th
#34
Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada (c) vs Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki
“WWWA Tag Team Championship Best 2/3 Falls”
AJW All-Star Dream Slam 2
April 11, 1993
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
2021: 24th
From my 1993 MOTY post:
“This is the most exciting high-action spot-oriented match in wrestling history. Add to that the badass Kansai and the utter heelness of Ozaki, and you are in for a giant treat. This match set up future generations of wrestling like the Omegas and the Okadas.”
#33
The Shield vs The Wyatt Family
WWE Elimination Chamber
February 23, 2014
Target Center
2021: 24th
From my 2014 MOTY post:
“The first trios match in WWE history that I feel made it to five stars. Some of the greatest booking the WWE has ever produced, having two dominant teams teasing but never touching until the match. The crowd was insane, and the Wyatts doing to The Shield what they have done to everybody else was a beautiful finish.”
#32
Bull Nakano vs Devil Masami
JWP on April 18, 1993
Korakuen Hall
2021: 23rd
From my Joshi Match Recommendations post:
“People often talk about 6-4-94 as the classic among classics, but here we have a match that cut from the same ilk that you could argue is even better. This match really stands out in 1990s Joshi, as it has a real build to escalation like the before mentioned 6-4-94 match, without the relentless pace of Joshi. These two legends add so many small great little touches that help make this match get better and better after multiple viewings.”
#31
Brock Lesnar (c) vs Eddie Guerrero
“WWE Championship”
WWE No Way Out
February 15, 2004
Cow Palace
2021: 39th
From my 2004 MOTY post:
“This match is one of the most classic underdog babyface performances of all time. This was Brock, at his best, a dynamic offensive cocky force. Eddie is in his “home” town, and the crowd is wildly supporting him, unlike almost any other match in wrestling history. A true all-time classic.”
#30
Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, Paul Ellering, & The Road Warriors vs The Four Horsemen
“War Games”
NWA The Great American Bash Tour
July 4, 1987
Omni Coliseum
#29
Utami Hayashishita (c) vs Syuri (c)
“World of Stardom & SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship No Time Limit Match”
Stardom Dream Queendom
December 29, 2021
Ryogoku Kokugikan
#28
Chigusa Nagayo vs Dump Matsumoto
“Hair vs Hair”
AJW on August 28, 1985
2021: 42nd
#27
Dr. Wagner Jr. vs L.A. Par-K
TXT
May 11, 2013
El Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera
2021: 33rd
From my 2013 MOTY post:
“On the original list, I made in 2013, this match was #2, but my love for it has grown over time. This match starts with LA Park lighting a Wagner shirt on fire draped over a chair, and while Wagner makes his entrance, Park is flipping him off. It gets better from there. Blood, chairs, beer bottles, this is everything a brawl could possibly be!”
#26
Sasha Banks (c) vs Bianca Belair
“WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship”
WWE WrestleMania 37
April 10, 2021
Raymond James Stadium
2021: 25th
#25
Atsushi Onita vs Terry Funk
“No Rope Barbed Wire Current Blast Super Large Time Bomb Death Match”
FMW Genten: 4th Anniversary Show
May 5, 1993
Kawasaki Stadium
2021: 34th
From my 1993 MOTY post:
“One of the most dramatic matches and one of, if not the best, deathmatch of all time. Even if you don’t like deathmatches, like myself, this match transcends that.”
#24
Akira Hokuto vs Shinobu Kandori
AJW St. Battle Final
December 6, 1993
Ryogoku Kokugikan
#23
Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen vs Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura
“Real World Tag League Match”
AJPW Real World Tag League
November 29, 1989
Nakajima Sports Center
2021: 27th
#22
Atlantis vs Ultimo Guerrero
“Mask vs Mask Best 2/3 Falls”
CMLL 81. Aniversario
September 19, 2014
Arena Mexico
2021: 17th
From my 2014 MOTY post:
“There is little wrestling I love more than big emotional mask matches, and this one is a great version of that. A long-time-running feud that had audiences crying afterwards. There are few matches that have more drama for nearfalls than this.”
#21
Bull Nakano (c) vs Aja Kong
“WWWA World Championship Steel Cage Match”
AJW Wrestlemarinepiad
November 14, 1990
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium
2021: 20th
#20
Dump Matsumoto vs Yukari Ohmori
AJW on March 20, 1986
2021: 35th
From my Joshi Match Recommendations post:
“This is the most visceral match in wrestling history. A truly unstoppable mythical monster versus a never gives up fighter. It’s violent. It’s scary. At one point, Dump slams a pair of scissors into Omori’s arm and just walks away. Don’t watch this late at night, but watch it and show everyone you know! Then watch it again.”
#19
Jaguar Yokota (c) vs La Galáctica
“UWA World Women’s Championship”
AJW on February 27, 1985
2021: 19th
9.99/10 Rated Matches
#18
Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa (c) vs Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada
“AJPW World Tag Team Championship”
AJPW Super Power Series
June 9, 1995
Nippon Budokan
2021: 16th
#17
Aja Kong, Kyoko Inoue, Sakie Hasegawa, & Takako Inoue vs Cuty Suzuki, Dynamite Kansai, Hikari Fukuoka, & Mayumi Ozaki
“60 Minute Iron Woman First Attack”
JWP Thunder Queen Battle In Yokohama
July 31, 1993
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium
From my 1993 MOTY blog:
“The Joshi inter-promotional wars of the 1990s are the greatest thing in wrestling history, and this is one of the highlights. A 60-minute Iron Woman match with Team AJW vs Team JWP. There are a lot of great stories and highlights in these 60 minutes. I normally would never recommend a match this long, but with the rules as they are and the team aspect, it never drags. An all-time classic.”
10/10 Rated Matches
#16
Tully Blanchard (c) vs Magnum TA
NWA United States Championship I Quit Steel Cage Match”
NWA Starrcade
November 28, 1985
Greensboro Coliseum
2021: 7th
#15
Randy Savage vs Ultimate Warrior
“Career Ending Match”
WWF WrestleMania VII
March 24, 1991
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
2021: 15th
#14
Bret Hart vs Owen Hart
WWF WrestleMania X
March 20, 1994
Madison Square Garden
2021: 10th
From my 1994 MOTY post:
“Every time I go to rewatch this match, I expect to lower it from the high place I have it in my head, then I finish it, and it remains. The story of the young brother trying to update the older brother on his best night always gets me. The care they took in this match to get Owen over as a heel and over from a nothing undercard worker to a main eventer is one of the best performances in history. Greatest opener ever too!”
#13
MS-1 vs Sangre Chicana
“Cabellera vs Cabellera 2/3 Falls”
EMLL 50. Aniversario – C
September 23, 1983
Arena Mexico
2021: 9th
From my 1983 MOTY post:
“The greatest lucha bloody brawl in history at one of the biggest shows in lucha libre history. These two fought for their life in this all-time classic and a must-see 10/10 classic.”
#12
Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada (c) vs Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki
“WWWA Tag Team Championship Best 2/3 Falls”
AJW Dream Rush in Kawasaki
November 26, 1992
Kawasaki City Gymnasium
2021: 14th
#11
Iron Sheik vs Sgt. Slaughter
“Boot Camp Match”
WWF on June 16, 1984
Madison Square Garden
2021: 13th
#10
Aja Kong vs Manami Toyota
“VTOP Woman Tournament First Round Match”
AJW Doumu Super Woman Great War ~ Big Egg Wrestling Universe
November 20
Tokyo Dome
From my 1994 MOTY post:
“The pace that these two put up on such a big stage is unbelievable. An unreal match you need to see to believe! What I love about this is, outside of the big moves and the pace, everything makes sense, and nothing feels out of place.”
#9
Bret Hart vs Steve Austin
“Submission Match”
WWF WrestleMania 13
March 23, 1997
Rosemont Horizon
2021: 12th
#8
Kairi Hojo (c) vs Meiko Satomura
“World of Stardom Championship”
Stardom Galaxy Stars
June 14, 2015
Korakuen Hall
2021: 11th
From my 2015 MOTY post:
“The first of two 10/10 matches on the list, Hojo vs Meiko, is one of my favourite feuds of all time. This is the middle match of the trilogy, with the undeserving Hojo defending the Stardom Title against the superior invading Satomura.
Hojo has one of the greatest babyface sell jobs in wrestling history in this match, as she clings on desperately, trying to survive the legendary Satomura. Meiko is confident, knowing Hojo is beneath her, but gets more and more vicious and frustrated as the match continues. The selling and hope spots by Hojo are unreal.”
#7
Sasha Banks (c) vs Bayley
“NXT Women’s Championship”
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn
August 22, 2015
Barclays Center
2021: 4th
From my 2015 MOTY post:
“This match is just special, and very few matches have that feel to it. The crowd was amazing from the entrances to the finish. The story they tell is perfect. I loved all the hand work by Sasha and Bayley’s selling of it. They way that comes back towards the end was tremendous as well. This also had some insane moves as well, including the Super Reverse Hurrancanara.“
#6
Andre the Giant vs Stan Hansen
NJPW Bloody Fight Series
September 23, 1981
Denen Coliseum
2021: 5th
#5
Aja Kong & Bull Nakano vs Akira Hokuto & Shinobu Kandori
AJW Wrestling Queendom
March 27, 1994
Yokohama Arena
From my 1994 MOTY post:
“A few years back, we started watching Joshi every Sunday, and I feel one of the goals was to get to this match in context. It was sitting on YouTube as a recommended match for years that kept tempting me, but I held off until I got there in order. It was worth the wait. The two rivals slowly begrudgingly gained respect over the course of the match against two all-time legends in a violent, unrelenting tag war that would be the number one match in almost any other year.”
#4
Atlantis vs Villano III
“Mask vs Mask”
CMLL Homenaje A Dos Leyendas 2000 – Juicio Final
March 17, 2000
Arena Mexico
2021: 2nd
#3
Akira Hokuto vs Meiko Satomura
GAEA Limit Break
April 29, 2001
City Gymnasium
2021: 8th
From my 2001 MOTY post:
“This is a top ten all-time match for me and one I keep watching over and over again since I was introduced to it a few years back.
The legendary badass Dangerous Queen tries to put down the new badass Satomura, and it feels like a Rocky film right up to the Rocky II finish. The crowd is amazing. The strikes are beyound vicious, and the drama is HIGH! Seeing Hokuto’s second jump into the ring because they felt Hokuto was going to submit is a scene etched into my wrestling mind.
A must-watch all-time classic, watch the link above!”
#2
Bret Hart vs Steve Austin
WWF Survivor Series
November 17, 1996
Madison Square Garden
2021: 3rd
The last hurrah for the wrestling Bret Hart grew up loving and performing at MSG. The legend returns to take on the new young badass, and both come out of it looking even better than going into it. It really feels like a throwback match and something you will never see again on this stage
#1
Akira Hokuto vs Shinbou Kandori
AJW All-Star Dream Slam
April 2, 1993
Yokohama Arena
2021: 1st
The greatest match ever.
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