1996 Match of the Year List
In terms of match of the year lists containing matches that will go on my 100 greatest matches ever list, I think 1996 may be the best. Really, all ten could and probably will make it. What a freaking great year of high-end matches!
Honourable Mentions
- Antonio Inoki vs Big Van Vader, NJPW, January 4
- Shinjiro Ohtani vs Ultimo Dragon, NJPW, August 4
- Mariko Yoshida vs Takako Inoue, AJW, August 30
- The Great Muta vs Jushin Liger, NJPW, October 20
- Dick Togo, MEN’S Teioh, Shiryu, Shoichi Funaki, & TAKA Michinoku vs. Gran Hamada, Gran Naniwa, Masato Yakushiji, Super Delfin, & The Great Sasuke, Michinoku Pro, December 16
Now, onto the list!
#10
Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa
“Real World Tag League Final”
AJPW Real World Tag League
December 6
Nippon Budokan
From the Best Matches I Watched This Month blog post:
I have been down on prime AJPW for a few years now, so I was curious to rewatch this match since I rated it so highly the first time I saw it. Watching it, I think my AJPW issue is that the style that is so popular today that I don’t like is a continuation of this wrestling. That said, the last ten minutes were unreal, and there is nothing in wrestling like Taue unleashed, dropping people with choke slams everywhere! Akiyama did good in the Kobashi role of trying to save Misawa’s ass too. A great match, but still, it felt like a lot of too much for me.
#9
Aja Kong vs Kyoko Inoue
“Japan Grand Prix Final”
AJW Japan Grand Prix
August 30
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
From the Best Matches I Watched This Month blog post:
Kong is out for death in this match, and Inoue is a perfect underdog with tremendous selling throughout. It’s intense from the start to the tremendous run of nearfalls down the stretch. Every lariat and every throw and hit just look like they hurt; it’s on another level. A great match that seems to be forgotten if you listen to Cagematch.
#8
El Samurai (c) vs Shinjiro Ohtani
“UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship”
NJPW New Year Special
January 21
Korakuen Hall
From the Best Matches I Watched This Month blog post:
The majority of this match is matwork and limp attacks, which normally would be a match that would kind of bore me, but this match blew me away. Ohtani’s attack on Samurai’s leg was amazing, including the vicious springboard dropkick into it. Near the end, when they hit their bigger moves, the near falls were tremendous, and the armwork by Samurai to get to the finish was perhaps the best moment of the match. A real classic.
#7
Dick Togo (c) vs Jushin Liger
“MPW British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship”
NJPW Skydiving J
June 17
Nippon Budokan
From the Best Matches I Watched This Month blog post:
This was a match I hadn’t seen in well over a decade, and boy, did it live up to my memories. Togo came in as a total asshole trying to destroy Liger. However, Liger wasn’t up for that shit and was a giant asshole back. It’s vicious, and everything hits so violently. You have the famous catching Togo off a dive and power bombing on the floor spot which was followed by another power bomb! Immediately, Liger enters the ring to strut! More great violent action continues on until we get some great stuff down the finishing stretch, including a flying dropkick into the arm, which Togo was using to pull himself up, and a top rope brainbuster. Great match!
#6
Gran Hamada, Gran Naniwa, Masato Yakushiji, Super Delfin, & Tiger Mask vs Dick Togo, MEN’s Teioh, Shiryu, Shoichi Funaki, & TAKA Michinoku
Michinoku Pro Takewaki: These Days
October 10
Ryogoku Kokugikan
The greatest collection of high spots in a match ever, but that only scraps the surface of this classic. Kaientai DX are the biggest jerks ever, teaming up to take advantage and posing on top of fallen people. It’s great. The spots are insane, too, and so quick. Using the lucha tags makes every nearfall exciting. This match has to be seen to be believed, and it still holds up today!
#5
Psychosis vs Rey Misterio Jr.
WCW Bash at the Beach
July 7
Ocean Center
The best touring match ever comes to WCW PPV and steals the show. They took everything they learned from working everywhere and put it all together into one match that tops all their others. Outside of the insane flying by both, the build and story of the match is amazing as well. What a great way to let Americans know what lucha libre is.
#4
El Dandy vs Negro Casas vs El Hijo del Santo
“Triangle Cabellera contra Mascara”
CMLL Super Viernes
December 6
Arena Mexico
From the Best Matches I Watched This Month blog post:
I had no recollection of this match, but it’s listed as a classic and, for some reason, an 8/10 on my spreadsheet. I am glad to admit I was really wrong, as this is the classic people say it is.
The first segment, where Casas and Dandy team up to pin Santo, so he has to put up his mask, was really great storytelling. Casas and Dandy then had a mighty fun singles match, leading to Casas winning and taunting everyone. That brings us to the bulk of the match, the Santo vs Dandy match, with everything on the line. It becomes a bloody, violent death match with great dives and huge drama from there, and it becomes the perfect hair vs mask match. The last few moments are as good as wrestling gets. Even if you don’t like the lucha style, this is one you will certainly love
#3
Combat Toyoda (c) vs Megumi Kudo
“FMW Independent Women’s & WWA Women’s Championship No Ropes Barbed Wire Current Blast Death Match”
FMW Fighting Creationg: 7th Anniversary Show
May 5
Kawasaki Stadium
From the Best Matches I Watched This Month blog post:
Not much to say. It’s the best deathmatch and the best FMW match in history. It’s dramatic, it’s emotional, and it’s great.
#2
Genichiro Tenryu vs The Great Muta
WAR Osaka Crush Night!
October 11
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
From the Best Matches I Watched This Month blog post:
I had never seen this before, and I feel really stupid because this match is unbelievable. From the beginning, Muta shoots two different mist colours! He gains his advantage by breaking a glass bottle and digging that into Tenryu’s head for a while! Outside the ring, he piledrivers him on a table and then hits him with some kind of tripod or something. That wasn’t even enough, inside the ring he pulls out something and digs that more into the cut! Tenryu’s hope spots after that were great, and the cut-offs by Muta were on that level, too. Also, I’m not much of a chop person, but they looked great here, probably due to the other violence making it fit in. To get back to the outside, Tenryu switches to straight punches that look sick as fuck! Tenryu throws some chairs and a table into the ring to up the madness! However, more mist from Muta stops the attack before Tenryu can get too far ahead and uses chairs and the table to continue the assault, including moonsaulting Tenryu through it! Instead of going for the win, Muta attacks Tenryu’s second to steal his white shirt to use Tenryu’s blood to write on it and then choke him out. Muta thinks he’s all that, so he goes for the moonsault, which Tenryu counters with a massive top rope powerbomb and an enzuigiri, and one more powerbomb, which is countered with Muta misting him! Muta weirdly goes under the ring and emerges to use the mist again, but Tenryu covers his mouth with an unreal counter! That leads to the ultimate finish, and this is up there with Dr. Wagner Jr vs LA Par-K as one of the most amazing, crazy brawls ever! I am blown away!
#1 “Match of the Year”
Bret Hart vs Steve Austin
WWF Survivor Series
November 17
Madison Square Garden
From my Top 100 Bret Hart matches post:
I have talked a lot about this match in the past, and it’s my favourite match of all time. What I love about this is that it feels like a love letter to old school wrestling and the end of an era. Jim Ross tells the story perfectly, Austin knows Bret and uses his moves through out the match. One of my all-time favourite wrestling moments is Bret Hart’s comeback in this match, where he wins a first fight after losing one earlier. The emotion here is priceless.
Coming Soon
The top 25 wrestlers of 1996 list should be ready shortly, plus at the end of every month, I’ll write up the top 25 matches I watched during it.
You can discuss this on Twitter!
Discord
We also have a lovely discord community to discuss the greatest wrestler ever project and anything else under the sun. It’s an open and welcoming group, and I am very proud of it. Everyone is welcome:
Join:
We also do weekly watch-along parties with chat!
How Can You Help?
Callen-Lorde is the global leader in LGBTQ healthcare. Since the days of Stonewall, we have been transforming lives in LGBTQ communities through excellent comprehensive care, provided free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay. In addition, we are continuously pioneering research, advocacy, and education to drive positive change around the world because we believe healthcare is a human right.
Please donate to Callen Lorde!
2023 Match of the Year List
2023 was an odd year, with a lot of great stuff scattered around, but I didn’t feel like there were any obvious picks for me. If I re-wrote this list in 2 months, it would be in a completely different order.
Honourable Mentions
- Roman Reigns vs Sami Zayn, WWE, February 18
- Gunther vs Drew McIntyre vs Sheamus, WWE, April 1
- Mina Shirakawa vs Saya Kamitani, Stardom, April 23
- Suzu Suzuki vs Syuri, Stardom, July 23
- Jaguar Yokota, Momoe Nakanishi, & Nanae Takahashi vs Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid, & Yuu, Stardom, August 19
Now, onto the list!
#10
Swerve Strickland (c) vs Nick Wayne
“DEFY World Championship”
DEFY The Realest
Washington Hall
April 8
Swerve had one of the best heel performances in years, and this is your perfect veteran heel champion putting over a youngster match!
Swerve’s control and build-up of heat was perfection, and Wayne’s hope spots were well placed. Some of the high spots were amazing, especially Wayne diving from the stage into the ring but Swerve timing it to do a dive and meeting him in the air. There was one kick out that I felt took the match out a little, but all the callbacks to previous matches and earlier in the match and the finish were brilliant. It’s a great old school, but with modern moves, match up!
#9
The Usos (c) vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
“WWE Unified Tag Team Championship”
WWE WrestleMania 39: Saturday
April 1, 2023
SoFi Stadium
From The Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month blog post:
Although this match should have been the perfect end to Roman Reigns’ title reign, at least it was the perfect end to the reign of the Usos.
It was one of the best face-in-peril segments ever in WWE history. It led to a great hot tag for Owens. The staredown was great, and the ending was immensely satisfying with a Sami Zayn victory. A rare, perfect ending for the WWE.
#8
Titan (c) vs Mascara Dorada 2.0
“CMLL World Middleweight Championship”
CMLL Noche de Campeones
Arena Mexico
September 29
From The Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month blog post:
I haven’t seen much of the new Mascara Dorada, but he is insanely good for a wrestler who debuted in 2021. He reminds me of Rey Mysterio Jr., who came around and blew everyone away with his flying, but it never looked like he was showing off, but always competing in a match. Dorada is the same way.
Titan is no slouch, as he’s been great for a long time. With all the great flying, the spot that really hit me was Titan doing a double stomp from the top rope to Dorada on the apron. As it built towards the finish, all the submission nearfalls were amazing. It was a great match and probably in my top ten matches of the year.
#7
Becky Lynch vs Trish Stratus
“Cage Match”
WWE Payback
PPG Paints Arena
September 2
From The Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month blog post:
This was a perfect WWE cage match. It was not built around trying to do cool moves; it was built around the feud and legacy. For once, no blood, after being rammed into the cage, was perfectly covered, as Trish had a giant welt on her forehead. The tributes to the first-ever WWE women’s cage match and other cage matches in WWE history were perfectly done. They were even somewhat subtle, like the Bret-Owen superplex and the outside interference door slamming into the face. I loved the finishing sequence so much, where Becky had enough of Trish’s lackey, so she locked her in the cage too and took her out, leading to catching Trish on the top of the cage and hitting a super Manhandle slam.
#6
Arisa Nakajima (c) vs Saree
“SEAdLINNNG Beyond The Sea Championship”
SEAdLINNNG 8th Anniversary
Korakuen Hall
August 25
This felt like a classic stiff Nakajima battle from her prime, and it’s so nice to see her at that level still and Sareee getting back to being at that level. The strikes were, of course, on point, and some of the flying double stomps by Nakajima were just vicious. Actually, everything was vicious, and it had a great pace throughout!
#5
Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa vs The Usos
“Bloodline Civil War”
WWE Money in The Bank
The O2
July 1
From The Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month blog post:
It was one of the best tag team matches in WWE history and great WWE wrestling. It worked so well playing off storylines and building drama setting up the finish of what the fans wanted, which sets up a huge match down the line.
It started pretty traditionally with a great shine by The Usos, followed by a face in peril by Jey, including an amazing hot tag tease where Jimmy was pulled off the apron by Solo at the last second. After a fun hot tag, the match started building towards the finish with no silly kick-outs, as partner’s made the saves. There was a great near fall where Roman stacked both The Usos, only for them to kick out. I loved Roman not sure what to do, and in shock, Solo just starts kicking ass and is like Roman, what the fuck? After some more great action, we got the big shocking finish. Awesome.
#4
Queen’s Quest (AZM, Hina, Lady C, Miyu Amasaki, Saya Kamitani & Utami Hayashishita) vs Oedo Tai (Momo Watanabe, Natsuko Tora, Rina, Ruaka, Saki Kashima & Starlight Kid)
“Loser Must Leave Unit Steel Cage Match”
Stardom Sunshine
Yoyogi National Gymnasium #2
June 25
From The Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month blog post:
The same rules as the other cage match, but the last person in the ring has to leave their unit this time. This works so much better because escaping saves your ass, even if it puts your team behind. Also, each escape felt like a huge accomplishment, as they were all battles. After people escaped, they still battled the other unit on the floor!
It was tremendous storytelling with great hatred and drama between the teams. Utami establishing herself as Queen’s Quest’s ass was the stand-out story as she helps Kamitani escape putting herself alone two on one. That led to a great finishing sequence with Utami bleeding, the teasing of a split between Utami and Kamitani, and Tora destroying Utami to leave, only to have Kashima be the final loser.
#3
Gunther (c) vs Chad Gable
“WWE Intercontinental Championship”
WWE Monday Night Raw
Spectrum Center
September 4
From The Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month blog post:
This played off the previous match and built upon it. Gable knew he could win, and Gunther had doubts for almost the first time in his reign. Gable again fought from underneath, but here, his hope spots meant more. The comeback and the Gable’s attempts to win were electric. This had the best ankle lock submission nearfalls I have ever seen. When Gunther finally survived and got back on offense, there was no back-and-forth bullshit. He delivered a bunch of vicious offense and just pinned him clean. The camera immediately moved to Gable’s daughter crying in the first row. This might be my match of the year.
#2
Adam Page vs Swerve Strickland
“Texas Death Match”
AEW Full Gear
The Kia Forum
November 18
It’s awesome to see such a violent modern grudge match that doesn’t have the pitfalls that I would expect in a match like this. Swerve is a perfect heel, and maintaining that throughout this match only adds to the story. Of course, people can point to the blood-drinking, cinder blocks, staples, barbed-wire, and piledrivers onto the guardrail for huge moments, but what stood out was the masterful job Swerve did keeping the heat on Page.
#1
Giulia (c) vs Tam Nakano
“World of Stardom Championship”
Stardom All-Star Grand Queendom
Yokohama Arena
April 23
From The Best Matches I’ve Watched This Week post:
This may be my favourite feud of all time now. It’s gone on for years and has had many classics and this one may have been my favourite of the bunch. It did feel the most violent as their hatred had grown and grown over time. I loved that they saw red and didn’t even try to wrestle at the start before they realized they had a title to win. The snapmare from the top to the table looked so vicious, I was dying! By the end, they both tried everything before the Steiner Screwdriver by Tam finished Giulia off.
Years of Stardom booking long reigns really made Tam’s victory feel special.
Coming Soon
The top 25 wrestlers of 2023 list should be ready shortly, plus at the end of every month, I’ll write up the top 25 matches I watched during it.
You can discuss this on Twitter!
Discord
We also have a lovely discord community to discuss the greatest wrestler ever project and anything else under the sun. It’s an open and welcoming group, and I am very proud of it. Everyone is welcome:
Join:
We also do weekly watch-along parties with chat!
How Can You Help?
Callen-Lorde is the global leader in LGBTQ healthcare. Since the days of Stonewall, we have been transforming lives in LGBTQ communities through excellent comprehensive care, provided free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay. In addition, we are continuously pioneering research, advocacy, and education to drive positive change around the world because we believe healthcare is a human right.
Please donate to Callen Lorde!
1995 Match of the Year List
1995 as a year of wrestling is freaking awesome, even if WWF and WCW were not at their best. Joshi, Puro, Lucha, and Deathmatches were all at peaks, while the emergence of ECW was all happening at once.
Honourable Mentions
- El Hijo del Santo vs Psicosis, AAA, May 3
- Kyoko Inoue vs Manami Toyota, AJW, May 7
- Blue Panther, Fuerza Guerrera, Pentagon, & Psicosis vs El Hijo del Santo, Octagon, La Parka, & Rey Mysterio Jr., AAA, June 18
- Aja Kong vs Dynamite Kansai, AJW, August 30
- Aja Kong vs Bison Kimura, AJW, September 2
- Akira Hokuto vs Manami Toyota, AJW, September 2
- Raven & Stevie Richards vs The Pitbulls, ECW, September 16
- Dynamite Kansai vs Manami Toyota, AJW, December 4
- Bret Hart vs British Bulldog, WWF, December 17
The List
#10
Bad Nurse Nakamura vs Chigusa Nagayo
GAEA Hearts On Fight
July 29
Korakuen Hall
From my “Best Matches I’ve Watched This Week” post:
This is the most shocked I have ever been by a match being great. The story of this classic is that Bad Nurse and her second Shark just destroy Chigusa with weapons and brawling, bloodying her up until Chigusa calls her out as a chicken and challenges her to wrestle. Nakamura takes up the challenge and argues with Shark leading to her throwing away the weapon and grabbing a headlock. Chigusa makes a comeback and, after some tremendous nearfalls, wins with a Running Three into a Dominator-type move that looked vicious.
#9
Bull Nakano vs Kyoko Inoue
AJW Destiny
September 2
Nippon Budokan
From my “Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month” post:
This match was built around a huge struggle between the two. Every Inoue power bomb took so much effort. Every attempt by Inoue to win was a huge challenge. Wrestling may have peaked when Bull did a series of leg drops from the apron to the floor. Inoue finally getting her win on her fourth try was a great conclusion.
#8
Keiji Muto vs Scott Norton
“IWGP Heavyweight Championship #1 Contedership”
NJPW Fighting Spirit
February 3
Nakajima Sports Center
Although this started off a little slow, with Muto trying to keep grounded, it sure delivered. After Norton got control, the match was a classic. The offense by Norton was just vicious! The hope spots were so well planned out, and the cut-offs by Norton were perfect. The crowd was rabid for Muto. He got in some nice nearfalls as the match built to the finish, with some that had me bite. The finish was so well done, with Norton just having enough of Muto, who wouldn’t go away, so he goes to the top. Must watch match.
#7
Dynamite Kansai vs Mayumi Ozaki
“Street Fight”
JWP Jazz and Soul
March 17
Hakata Starlanes
From my “Best Matches I’ve Watched This Week” post:
This match was a wild street fight that was bloody and 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!
#6
Akira Taue vs Mitsuharu Misawa
“Champion Carnival Final”
AJPW Champion Carnival
April 15
Nippon Budokan
Taue was on a mission to chokeslam his way to winning the Carnival, and he wasn’t letting the ace of AJPW stand in his way! Tremendous relentlessness from Taue here.
#5
Psicosis (c) vs Rey Misterio Jr.
“WWA World Welterweight Championship 2/3 Falls”
AAA
September 22
Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera
From my “Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month” post:
After two great falls built around trying to one-up each other with matwork, submissions, and rolls, we get to one of the most insane third falls ever. Unreal dives left and right by both and huge moves everywhere, all set up in a logical fashion. This is the best lucha and felt really ahead of its time. No wonder this match was exported all over the world.
#4
Manami Toyota vs Yumiko Hotta
“Japan Grand Prix Final Match”
AJW Japan Grand Prix
September 3
Korakuen Hall
From my “Best Matches I’ve Watched This Month” post:
Hotta was really feeling it tonight and was just plain mean! Early she stopped Toyota every time she got momentum with brutal kicks. When Toyota finally makes a comeback, she is brutal as well. The rest of the match was just insane, with some of the most killer suplexes ever. Straight Jacket German Suplex from the top rope? Another unbelievable spot was Toyota diving off the top to try to put Hotta through a table, but Hotta got her feet up into her face. There was a Ganso Bomb as well. It all ends with a Super Ocean Cyclone Suplex Bomb with the largest bridge ever. What a brutal classic!
#3
Chigusa Nagayo & Dynamite Kansai vs Devil Masami & Mayumi Ozaki
GAEA Memorial First Gong In Korakuen
April 15
Korakeun Hall
From my “Best Match of the Week” post:
This is the main event of the very first GAEA show, and it’s the perfect way to establish a promotion!
I find it really interesting that Kansai and Nagayo are dressed normally, but Masami is dressed as Super Heel Masami, and Ozaki is dressed for a street fight. Ozaki knew what was up because this was one of the most violent wild, bloody brawls I have ever seen.
It was so out of control the ring crew started taking apart the ring mid-match, and the wrenches they used became a weapon for Ozaki. The sight of a half-destroyed ring with brawling everywhere is a great sight!
The match keeps escalating, and many times you think it is over, but it, instead, just gets more violent! All of this leads up to an all-time great finish, where Nagayo goes for the Running Three on Ozaki, but Masami on the outside just stabs Nagayo with a sword, allowing Ozaki to counter into a rollup
#2
Diesel (c) vs Bret Hart
“WWF World Championship No Holds Barred”
WWF Survivor Series
November 19
USAir Arena
I love this for the drama but more so for the logic. Bret looked at brawls and table spots, said what would actually make sense, and produced a classic around that. Still one of my favourite table bumps ever. Next-level wrestling is seeing a wrestler come into a match with a plan and execute it.
#1 “1995 Match of the Year”
Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa (c)
vs
Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada
“AJPW World Tag Team Championship”
AJPW Super Power Series
June 9
Nippon Budokan
It’s a famous match you probably know if you are reading this. My joy from this match is from Kobashi trying desperately to save Kobashi and Taue, bringing death at every move.
Coming Soon
The top 25 wrestlers of 1995 list should be ready shortly, plus at the end of every month, I’ll write up the top 25 matches I watched during it.
You can discuss this on Twitter!
Discord
We also have a lovely discord community to discuss the greatest wrestler ever project and anything else under the sun. It’s an open and welcoming group, and I am very proud of it. Everyone is welcome:
Join:
We also do weekly watch-along parties with chat!
How Can You Help?
Callen-Lorde is the global leader in LGBTQ healthcare. Since the days of Stonewall, we have been transforming lives in LGBTQ communities through excellent comprehensive care, provided free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay. In addition, we are continuously pioneering research, advocacy and education to drive positive change around the world, because we believe healthcare is a human right.
Please donate to Callen Lorde!
1989 Match of the Year List
Let’s cut right to the chase. There were many sexist, sexual abusers, racists, and bigots of many varieties in 1989, and I don’t want to promote or watch them. If you are going to say my list sucks because it doesn’t have the typical 1989 matches in it, ask why I would hype up a match that includes such an abuser?
Honourable Mentions
- The Brain Busters vs The Hart Foundation, WWF, August 28
- Lex Luger vs Tommy Rich, NWA, September 12
The List
The 1989 year was loaded with so much top-end wrestling that this is a very deep top 10!
#10
Genichiro Tenryu (c) vs Yoshiaki Yatsu
“AJPW Triple Crown Championship”
AJPW Summer Action Series
July 18
Shiga Prefectural Gymnasium
I’m not sure why these two are so competitive against each other, but their chemistry is unreal. I saw so many cool bulldogs in this match, which was a highlight. Yatsu fought tooth and nail to overcome Tenryu, but it wasn’t enough. A great story and a great match.
#9
Greg Valentine vs Ron Garvin
WWF
September 30
Madison Square Garden
A beautiful slugfest between two of the hardest hitters in wrestling history.
#8
Ricky Steamboat vs Terry Funk
NWA Clash of The Champions VII “Guts And Glory”
June 14
Fort Bragg Gym
This is great fun. It was a short, heated main event where they worked stiffly and held nothing back. Heck, Funk even did a running piledriver on the floor! Scoff at the finish if you want, but it works well with Funk’s character and his frustration for being unable to put down The Dragon.
#7
Akira Hokuto vs Chigusa Nagayo
AJW
March 19
The young Hokuto tries to take out the legend Nagayo and takes it to her with urgency. The selling is tremendous in this, and Hokuto looks like the future star she is, but of course, Nagayoholds everything together as the goat she is.
#6
Lioness Asuka (c) vs Bull Nakano
“WWWA World Championship”
AJW
May 14
This was chaotic madness, and I loved it. After Lioness got off a really fast giant swing, the match broke into a Chigusa-Dump match, with Bull using every weapon she could find to pick her apart, including breaking the ring to use it as a weapon with the ring post hook and digging into her bloody forehead. Sadly, the referee threw it out after Bull chucked a heavy briefcase at his head because of a finish here, and it could have been an all-time classic.
#5
Jushin Liger (c) vs Naoki Sano
“IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship”
NJPW Fighting Satellite 1989 Japan vs USA vs Soviet Union Battle Series Part II
August 10
Ryogoku Kokugikan
Sano destroys the arm, and Liger sells it so well for the rest of the match. After that destruction, Liger is able to counter a move into a superplex onto the apron and then the floor, which makes the rest of the match pure desperation by both. They do their best to put the other away, but both are severely hurt, and the drama is amazing. A beautiful, gritty fight that could make my top 100 matches ever!
#4
The Ultimate Warriors vs The Heenan Family
“Elimination Match”
WWF Survivor Series
November 23
Rosemont Horizon
This is one of my favourite matches in wrestling history and one of the best stories the WWF ever did in the ring. Heenan is forced to dawn the tights as Tully is gone and steals the show. Hiding, taunting, and even getting a pin when Arn and Haku had the advantage. Arn and Haku look like the all-time lost great tag team in this. Of course, it leads to a perfect end of Warrior getting revenge. Perfect pro-wrestling.
#3
Jumbo Tsuruta (c) vs Genichiro Tenryu
“Triple Crown Championship”
AJPW Super Power Series
June 5
Nippon Budokan
From “The Best Matches I’ve Watched in June 2023” post:
“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.”
#2
Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen vs Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura
“AJPW Real World Tag League”
AJPW Real World Tag League
November 29
Nakajima Sports Center
This is all about the story! Tenryu wipes out Baba in the first moments, leading to Kimura having to try to fend off both Tenryu and Hansen on his own until Baba can make a comeback. This match is pure joy!
#1 “Match of the Year”
Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu (c) vs Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen
“AJPW World Tag Team Championship Real World Tag League Finale”
AJPW Real World Tag League
December 6
Nippon Budokan
This is one of the biggest tag war matches I have ever seen in a non-gimmick match. It was violent and bloody and so dramatic. Although the story would seem, on the surface, to be focused on Tenryu vs Tsuruta, it turns out the real main character was Yoshiaki Yatsu! The dude comes in with padded headgear, which gets ripped off, and later replaced with wraps. He was hurt and was out to prove himself against the other aces. There were so many great neat touches, great nearfalls, and drama. I loved this; it is my favourite Real World Tag League final ever!
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The top 25 wrestlers of 1989 will be coming soon!
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2001 Match of The Year List
2001 is a weird year for me because it was my first year of University so I missed so much. It was also 12 years before I started my spreadsheet, so I had almost no starting point. It’s taken a long time to finish this year off.
It was a fascinating year though, with the Invasion, the death of WCW/ECW, the start of Indies, Joshi still having great stuff, lucha libre being great, NOAH’s rise, and AJPW with a bit of a resurgence.
How does that play out for the top 10 matches of the year? Before the top ten, here are some honourable mentions.
Honourable Mentions
- AKINO vs Ayako Hamada (ARSION, January 27)
- Carlos Amano & Chiyako Nagashima vs Meiko Satomura & Sumie Sakai (Oz Academy, February 18)
- Command Bolshoi
- Dr. Cerebro vs El Hijo del Santo (IWRG, March 3)
- Akira Hokuto & Mayumi Ozaki vs Chigusa Nagayo & Lioness Asuka (GAEA, April 8)
- Akira Hokuto & Mayumi Ozaki vs Chikayo Nagashima & Sugar Sato (GAEA, April 22)
- Kumiko Maekawa vs Momoe Nakanishi (AJW, May 4)
- Kumiko Maekawa vs Momoe Nakanishi (AJW, August 17)
- Damian 666, Rey Mysterio Jr., & Vamprio vs Halloween, LA Park, & Rey Misterio Sr. (Tijuana, October 26)
- El Hijo del Santo vs LA Par-K (Tijuana, November 16)
#10
Command Bolshoi vs Azumi Hyuga
“JWP Openweight Championship”
JWP
February 18
Differ Ariake
#9
Megumi Yabashita vs Sumie Sakai
“AWF Women’s & Queen of the Ring Championship”
Jd’
March 18, 2001
#8
Kensuke Sasaki vs Toshiaki Kawada
“IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament Final”
NJPW Wrestling World
January 4
Tokyo Dome
At the Tokyo Dome in the finals of the tournament for NJPW’s main title, it’s the NJPW star vs the former AJPW star in a true dream match that lived up to the hype. To add to the drama, Kawada had one less match in the tournament that night making the hometown NJPW star the underdog. It was a glorious sprint with a tremendous comeback finish by Sasaki.
#7
Command Bolshoi vs Kayoko Haruyama
JWP
December 9
Differ Ariake
#6
Sumie Sakai vs The Bloody
“AWF Women’s & Queen of the Ring Championship”
Jd’ Nameless Endless “5th Anniversary Show“
April 29
Korakeun Hall
The Bloody sets out to kill Sakai early in this match with some insane offence and blood. Bloody even throws her down a flight of stairs. The bumps Suaki takes are unreal, like missing a huge moonsault onto a pile of chairs! Sakai’s relentless fighting-back comeback was such a great performance and this feud is an all-time great feud that needs to be experienced.
#5
Steve Austin vs Kurt Angle
“WWF Championship”
WWF SummerSlam
August 19
Compaq Center
This is peak Kurt Angle and peak Steve Austin heel turn. Angle is the brave WWF loyalist trying to take the title back from the turncoat, giving all of his blood and energy to do so. Austin is a lunatic who is trying to kill Angle and take out anyone who stands in his way including multiple referees. The jealousy Austin has for Angle even shines through in how Austin works, as he is resorting to throwing Angle-like German Suplexes to show that he can do anything Angle do can better! Such a great story and a great match!
#5
Akira Hokuto & Mayumi Ozaki vs Chigusa Nagayo & Meiko Satomura
GAEA Edge of the Heart
March 11
Korakeun Hall
This is another violent awesome match with Hokuto and Ozaki being the best heel tag team ever! They literally put dog collars on Chigusa and Meiko to connect them, so they can destroy them with weapons. As you can imagine, Chigusa and Meiko are the valiant babyfaces who try to overcome. It’s a perfect brawling GAEA tag match!
#4
Genichiro Tenryu vs Keiji Mutoh
“AJPW Triple Crown”
AJPW Super Power Series 2001 “Super Power In Budokan”
June 8
Nippon Budokan
A well-known classic that really cemented the resurgence of Keiji Mutoh. The story here is tremendous with Mutoh hitting the Shining Wizard early and Tenryu having to throw everything he has to fight back. The legwork is really good and the finishing sequence is amazing. Not your typical AJPW match of the time, which really makes it stand out.
#3
The Bloody & Fang Suzuki
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
Korakeun Hall
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 will be making my top 100 matches of all-time list the next time I make one.
#2
El Hijo del Santo vs LA Par-K
“2/3 Falls”
Wrestling In Monterrey
December 23
Arena Coliseo de Monterrey
#1
Akira Hokuto
vs
Meiko Satomura
GAEA Limit Break
April 29
City Gymnasium
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!
Coming Soon
The 2001 Wrestler of the Year list!
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1994 Match of the Year List
Rarely do I get a year with a 10/10 rated match in it, let alone 3. 1994 was a special great year, even if it falls below 1993. Every match in the top 10 and the honourable mentions I rated 9/10 or higher.
Honourable Mentions
- The Great Sasuke vs Jushin Liger, NJPW, April 16
- Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne vs The Nasty Boys, “Chicago Street Fight”, WCW, April 17
- Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada, AJPW, June 3
- Kaoru Ito & Sakie Hasegawa vs Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada, AJW, June 10
- Mocho Cota vs Negro Casas, CMLL, September 23
- Dustin Rhodes vs Vader, WCW, November 16
#10
Hiroshi Ono & Terry Funk
vs
Nobutaka Araya & Shoji Nakamaki
“Hair vs Hair No Ropes Barbed Wire Fire Death Match”
IWA Japan Texas Bronco New Coming
November 13
Multipurpose University Plaza
One of the wildest and most out-of-control brawls ever. Some of that is due to the unpredictability of fire but mostly due to the unpredictability of Terry Funk.
#9
Kyoko Inoue vs Manami Toyota
“IWA World Women’s & All-Pacific Championship Unification”
AJW
August 24
Nippon Budokan
A title unification match which had the epic feel you would want from that stipulation. Kyoko put in an impressive performance from her great selling to great offence, to her timing on kick outs. The finishing sequence was epic!
#8
Aja Kong vs Yumiko Hotta
“WWWA World Championship”
AJW Ota Ward Champion Legend
January 24
Ota Ward Gymnasium
One of the most brutal stiff fights in wrestling history. Aja Kong is a beast and Hotta is unrelenting. If you like violence, go for this!
#7
Dustin & Dusty Rhodes & The Nasty Boys
vs
Arn Anderson, Bunkhouse Buck, Terry Funk, & Col. Robert Parker
“War Games”
WCW Fall Brawl
September 18
Roanoke Civic Center
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.
#6
Aja Kong & Akira Hokuto
vs
Dynamie Kansai & Yumiko Hotta
“Elimination Match”
AJW
August 24
Nippon Budokan
A match where everyone plays their roles perfectly. Kansi was a dominant badass. Hotta was throwing violent kicks. Kong was the great champion she was but got knocked out. Hokuto was the valiant babyface left alone to fight back against the two.
#5
1-2-3 Kid vs Bret Hart
“WWF World Heavyweight Championship”
WWF Monday Night Raw
taped July 1, aired July 11
Fernwood Resort & Country Club
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.
#4
Bull Nakano vs Shinobu Kandori
“Chain Match”
LLPW/FMW/AJW
July 14
Tokyo Coliseum
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.
#3
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
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.
#2
Aja Kong & Bull Nakano
vs
Akira Hokuto & Shinobu Kandori
AJW Wrestling Queendom
March 27
Yokohama Arena
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.
#1
Bret Hart
vs
Owen Hart
WWF WrestleMania X
March 20
Madison Square Garden
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!
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Upcoming
The 25 greatest wrestlers of 1994.
2022 Match of the Year
2022 was an excellent year for high-end matches and a significant return for WWE on my list. Stardom, of course, reigned supreme for me. They are my go-to promotion. It was challenging to narrow this list down, so there are quite a lot of honourable mentions. I rated 178 matches in 2022 as 7/10 or higher.
Honourable Mentions
- AZM vs Starlight Kid, Stardom, February 23
- Giulia vs Syuri, Stardom, March 26
- Mayu Iwatani vs Syuri, Stardom, March 27
- Arisa Nakajima vs Tsukasa Fujimoto, SEAdLINNNG, April 29
- Mayu Iwatani vs Starlight Kid, Stardom, October 1
- Jordynne Grace vs Masha Slamovich, Impact, October 7
- Mayu Iwatani vs Utami Hayashishita, Stardom, October 23
- Syuri vs Utami Hayashishita, Stardom, November 19
#10
Pentagon, Jr. vs Villano IV
“Ruleta De La Muerte Final Mask Vs. Mask Match”
AAA TripleMania XXX: Mexico City
October 15
Arena Ciudad de Mexico
I always love a big mask vs mask match. They always have drama and emotions that are hard to reach otherwise. This one was not like the CMLL ones, as it was a bloody and violent affair. Villano IV was a great underdog. A true throwback to violent mask matches of the past.
#9
Deonna Purrazzo vs Mickie James
“Impact Knockouts Championship Texas Death Match”
Impact Hard to Kill
January 8
The Factory in Deep Ellum
A violent and bloody “Texas Death Match” is a must-watch. Similar to my #10 match, this is a blast from the past with a modern twist. A great feud ending hate brawl.
#8
The Bloodline (Jey & Jimmy Uso, Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, & Solo Sikoa)
vs
Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Butch, Ridge Holland, & Sheamus
“War Games”
WWE Survivor Series
November 26
TD Garden
I seem to be alone for the love of this match, but I love great storytelling and the story of Sami Zayn trying to prove his loyalty to The Bloodline in this one was top-notch. Add in his friendship with Kevin Owens and this one had levels. Everyone played their roles well and this was a great brawl too. It was big-time dramatic down the stretch too with such a satisfying conclusion.
#7
Gunther vs Sheamus
“WWE Intercontinental Championship”
WWE Clash at the Castle
September 3
Principality Stadium
These two beat the hell out of each other in their home continent which was really hot. This battle brought the IC Title back to where it should be, the worker’s title held by a future star. Sheamus doesn’t get enough credit for being a great babyface who can draw great sympathy. Let’s not beat around the bush here, this was a stiff war!
#6
The Usos vs The Street Profits
“WWE Raw & SmackDown Tag Team Championship”
WWE Money in the Bank
July 2
MGM Grand Garden Arena
I didn’t see this match get too much hype, but it was the best tag team match of the year. The Street Profits were perfect underdog babyfaces against the Usos who refused to stay down. All of their comebacks were magical and this was a perfect mix of old-school tag team wrestling with modern excitement style.
#5
Giulia vs Tam Nakano
“5STAR Grand Prix 2022 Final Match”
Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 2022: Championship Battle
October 1
Musashino Forest Sports Plaza Main Arena
The two long-term rivals reach the finals of the 5Star Grand Prix and have to do it one more time. Giulia and Tam added to their all-time great feud with another classic. Both play their roles perfectly with the high stakes of the tournament on the line.
#4
KAIRI vs Mayu Iwatani
“IWGP Women’s Title Tournament Final”
NJPW/Stardom Historic X-over
November 20
Ariake Arena
A historic match that main evented the first-ever NJPW/Stardom show for the first-ever IWGP Women’s Championship. These two know how to feel special and make matches feel big time and they delivered on that front. Great emotions and great storytelling in this one.
#3
Giulia vs Mayu Iwatani
“Rights to Challenge for the World of Stardom Title”
Stardom Nagoya Supreme Fight
January 29
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
This was the match to determine who would get the World of Stardom Title shot at Stardom’s biggest show ever and they fought like that. It had a very old-school approach, but incorporated modern Japanese wrestling in a fresh way. A thirty-minute draw that felt like a twenty-minute match, and didn’t let on that it was a draw.
#2
Becky Lynch vs Bianca Belair
“WWE Raw Women’s Championship”
WWE WrestleMania 38: Saturday
April 2
AT&T Stadium
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.
#1
Giulia
vs
Syuri
“World of Stardom Championship”
December 29
Ryōgoku Kokugikan
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. A very long-term storyline that paid off in a highly emotional moment on a grand stage, this is pro-wrestling!
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 the finishing sequence was perfect. They were struggling for everything. One could say it had “botches” or they were “sloppy”, but it really felt like they were destroyed. Great match, on the same level as the Dream Queendom match between Utami and Syuri last December.
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My top 25 wrestlers of 2022.
1983 Match of the Year
1983 was a year when we were fully in the territorial days, but we started to get our first supercards in America (Final Conflict and Starrcade.) A start of a transition towards where we are today. There is also a footage issue, so putting together this list was an interesting exercise.
Honourable Mentions
- Don Muraco vs Pedro Morales, WWF, January 22
- Bob Orton, Jr. vs Terry Funk, South West, May 21
- Buddy Rose vs Curt Hennig, Portland, May 26
- Greg Valentine vs Roddy Piper, Mid-Atlantic, July 9
- Brett Sawyer vs Jake Roberts, GCW The Last Battle of Atlanta, October 23
#10
Jerry Blackwell vs Mad DogVachon
“Algerian Death Match”
American Wrestling Association
May 22
Bloomington, Minnesota
A grizzled old veteran battling a monster of a man in a Death Match? Yes, please. This match is a joy to watch and it felt like a special fight!
#9
Terry Funk vs Tiger Jeet Singh
AJPW Grand Championship Carnival III
July 19
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
The old-of-control wild Terry Funk brawl. This match felt like 1993, not 1983. Weapons and violence and a major surprise.
#8
Buddy Roberts, Michael Hayes, & Terry Gordy
vs
David Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich, & Kevin Von Erich
“WCCW Six Man Tag Team Championship 2/3 Falls”
WCCW Independence Day Star Wars
July 4
Tarrant County Convention Center
American Day with a super hot crowd with the beloved hometown boys vs the evil Fabulous Freebirds. The drama was high and this was the height of the American tag team wrestling style. Kerry was tremendous!
#7
Buzz Sawyer vs Tommy Rich
“Cage”
GCW The Last Battle of Atlanta
October 23
Omni Coliseum
The former “holy grail” match surfaced on the WWE Network a few years ago and it DELIVERED. A violent and bloody feud comes to a violent and bloody end in a cage. This was a classic!
#6
Genichiro Tenryu & Jumbo Tsuruta
vs
Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy
AJPW Super Power Series
August 26
Kourakuen Hall
There is another tag match in AJPW a few days later that everyone raves about, but this is the one that really connected with me. Gordy’s second night in Japan and he forms a team with Hansen that instantly clicks! The perfect AJPW tag with two rough gaijins taking on the local heroes in a classic tag match. Great teamwork all around and the Gordy Power Bomb was just vicious!
#5
Devil Masami & Itsuki Yamazaki
vs
Jumbo Hori & Yukari Omori
“Fuji Television League Cup Semi-Final 2/3 Falls”
November 29
Oto Ward General Gymnasium
A recently released unearthed match that nobody has talked about. A real precursor to the AJW tag-team style that produced so many classics in the future. Dramatic and exciting. Both teams work really well with one being a great dynamic and the other being a great badass mix.
#4
Don Kernodle & Sgt. Slaughter
vs
Jay Youngblood & Ricky Steamboat
“NWA World Tag Team Championship Cage Match”
NWA The Final Conflict
March 12
The feud that created the very first supercard, this cage match was the finale of a tremendous feud. Slaughter was outstanding in this match, directing and carrying everything and doing a wild dive off the top of the cage. Steamboat and Youngblood were good underdog babyfaces. A true classic.
#3
Greg Valentine vs Roddy Piper
“Dog Collar”
NWA Starrcade
November 24
Greensboro Coliseum
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.
#2
Stan Hansen vs Terry Funk
AJPW Grand Championship Carnival
April 14
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
A wild brawl with lots of blood. A true masterclass of a brawl with great psychology. Funk tries to dismantle Hansen’s leg, which leads to the ending of this. Funk shows he can be a perfect babyface here!
#1
MS-1 vs Sangre Chicana
“Cabellera vs Cabellera 2/3 Falls”
EMLL 50. Aniversario – C
September 23
Arena Mexico
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.
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Coming soon my top 25 wrestlers of 1983.
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