2020's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > The Hammer House: Stinger Splash Zone > 2020's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

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Thanlis: Mar 17, 2011

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI (C) vs. Suzuki-gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., and DOUKI) for the NEVER Openweight Trios Championship - NJPW Road to POWER STRUGGLE 10/23

This match was a ton of fun and the nearfalls and the lengthy YOSHI-HASHI/DOUKI war while their teammates did everything to help their teammates succeed was just great.

Yaaaas what an amazing match. Super-close to MOTYC for me... nah, you know, MOTYC.

# ? Oct 24, 2020 05:17

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# ? Jun 3, 2024 14:35

Akileese: Feb 6, 2005

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI (C) vs. Suzuki-gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., and DOUKI) for the NEVER Openweight Trios Championship - NJPW Road to POWER STRUGGLE 10/23

This match was a ton of fun and the nearfalls and the lengthy YOSHI-HASHI/DOUKI war while their teammates did everything to help their teammates succeed was just great.

nth. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this but well, stranger things have happened!

# ? Oct 24, 2020 05:24

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI (C) vs. Suzuki-gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., and DOUKI) for the NEVER Openweight Trios Championship - NJPW Road to POWER STRUGGLE 10/23

This match was a ton of fun and the nearfalls and the lengthy YOSHI-HASHI/DOUKI war while their teammates did everything to help their teammates succeed was just great.

Agreed

The 6 man belts have been booked the strongest they have ever been over the last few months and it's all do to the simple story of people wanting belts. Pro Wrestling is so simple sometimes

# ? Oct 24, 2020 06:16

Rarity: Oct 21, 2010; ~*4 LIFE*~

HM: Rocky Romero vs. Jay White, NJPW Strong, 24/10

A good match that really should have had a crowd but never would have happened if there was one

# ? Oct 24, 2020 08:30

Lamuella: Jun 26, 2003; It's like goldy or bronzy, but made of iron.

Rarity posted:

HM: Rocky Romero vs. Jay White, NJPW Strong, 24/10

A good match that really should have had a crowd but never would have happened if there was one

Nth. This was really solid, wonderfully executed, and lacked only a crowd response to make it super special.

# ? Oct 24, 2020 08:44

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

Rarity posted:

HM: Rocky Romero vs. Jay White, NJPW Strong, 24/10

A good match that really should have had a crowd but never would have happened if there was one

I'll throw in a third, especially with the post-match promo thrown in.

# ? Oct 24, 2020 09:46

forkboy84: Jun 13, 2012; Corgis love bread. And Puro

HM
24th October
All Japan Pro Wrestling
AJPW Junior Heavyweight Title
Koji Iwamoto(c) vs Atsuki Aoyagi

Aoyagi's first ever title shot, very good.

Sadly missed the HW Tag main event but I bet it'll be good too

# ? Oct 24, 2020 13:01

Price Check: Oct 9, 2012

Rarity posted:

HM: Rocky Romero vs. Jay White, NJPW Strong, 24/10

A good match that really should have had a crowd but never would have happened if there was one

Nth. Probably the best New Japan Strong match thus far.

# ? Oct 24, 2020 14:15

Punch McLightning: Sep 19, 2005; you know what that means; Grimey Drawer

MOTYC: Kota Ibushi vs. Shingo Takagi, G1 Climax Night 11, October 7
HM: Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI, G1 Climax Night 12, October 8
HM: Toru Yano vs. Zack Sabre Jr., G1 Climax Night 12, October 8

# ? Oct 24, 2020 20:23

MassRafTer: May 26, 2001; BAEST MODE!!!

MOTYC: Mayu Iwatani vs. Takumi Iroha, Stardom 10/18

I don't think this was as good as their match in February but this kicked so much rear end. Not many people are more convincing at looking completely destroyed than Mayu and Iroha just looks like such a killer.

# ? Oct 24, 2020 22:31

STING 64: Oct 20, 2006

Rarity posted:

HM: Rocky Romero vs. Jay White, NJPW Strong, 24/10

A good match that really should have had a crowd but never would have happened if there was one

2 years in the making

# ? Oct 24, 2020 22:32

Edward Mass: Sep 14, 2011; 𝅘𝅥𝅮 I wanna go home with the armadillo
Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene
Friendliest people and the prettiest women you've ever seen𝅘𝅥𝅮

HM: Rohit Raju (c) vs. Willie Mack vs. Chris Bey vs. Jordynne Grace vs. TJP vs. Trey Miguel for the X-Division Championship, Impact Bound for Glory 10/24

Fun match where everyone got to express their character and style.

# ? Oct 25, 2020 01:23

Edward Mass: Sep 14, 2011; 𝅘𝅥𝅮 I wanna go home with the armadillo
Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene
Friendliest people and the prettiest women you've ever seen𝅘𝅥𝅮

MOTYC: Eric Young (c) vs. Rich Swann - Impact World Championship, Bound for Glory 10/24

FFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKK

# ? Oct 25, 2020 03:54

SalTheBard: Jan 26, 2005; I forgot to post my food for USPOL Thanksgiving but that's okay too!; Fallen Rib

Edward Mass posted:

MOTYC: Eric Young (c) vs. Rich Swann - Impact World Championship, Bound for Glory 10/24

FFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKK

2nd. Hell of a match

# ? Oct 25, 2020 04:14

J-Ro: Jul 26, 2005; Child Of The Revolution

Edward Mass posted:

MOTYC: Eric Young (c) vs. Rich Swann - Impact World Championship, Bound for Glory 10/24

FFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKK

3rd. This was intense.

# ? Oct 25, 2020 05:53

SG Bamboo: Aug 21, 2013; Smile. Win. Yay!

MOTYC - DDT Road to Ultimate Party October 25th
Eruption (Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai) vs DISASTER BOX (Yuki Ueno, Naomi Yoshimura & Kazuki Hirata)
Eruption (Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi) vs Nautilus (Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura)

I'm really nominating this as one long match because the second match was so informed by the first. The three members of Eruption defended their 6-man titles against Disaster Box, which was immediately followed by the two male members of Eruption challenging for the tag belts against those same guys. The ending to the first match left one guy dead on the floor as his partner tried valiantly to keep the fight going until he could recover, and by the end all four guys sold being completely exhausted trying to break up pinfalls until they just couldn't anymore.

loving phenominal. Make time to watch these matches if you have a DDT Universe sub.

SG Bamboo fucked around with this message at 05:57 on Oct 25, 2020

# ? Oct 25, 2020 05:54

Cerebral Bore: Apr 21, 2010; Fun Shoe

Rarity posted:

HM: Sonny Kiss vs. Rey Fenix, AEW Dark, 20/10

Short but fun with Fenix doing lots of neat things

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI (C) vs. Suzuki-gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., and DOUKI) for the NEVER Openweight Trios Championship - NJPW Road to POWER STRUGGLE 10/23

This match was a ton of fun and the nearfalls and the lengthy YOSHI-HASHI/DOUKI war while their teammates did everything to help their teammates succeed was just great.

It came a little close to breaking down at times, but agreed. Just a super fun match and another great entry in the :yoshihashi:

redemption arc.

# ? Oct 25, 2020 11:18

jesus WEP: Oct 17, 2004

Edward Mass posted:

MOTYC: Eric Young (c) vs. Rich Swann - Impact World Championship, Bound for Glory 10/24

FFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKK

Nth

# ? Oct 25, 2020 11:46

ItohRespectArmy: Sep 11, 2019; Cutest In The World, Six Time DDT Ironheavymetalweight champion, Two Time International Princess champion, winner of two tournaments, a Princess Tag Team champion, And a pretty good singer too!
"When I was an idol, I felt nothing every day but now that I'm a pro wrestler I'm in pain constantly!"

SG Bamboo posted:

MOTYC - DDT Road to Ultimate Party October 25th
Eruption (Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai) vs DISASTER BOX (Yuki Ueno, Naomi Yoshimura & Kazuki Hirata)
Eruption (Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi) vs Nautilus (Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura)

I'm really nominating this as one long match because the second match was so informed by the first. The three members of Eruption defended their 6-man titles against Disaster Box, which was immediately followed by the two male members of Eruption challenging for the tag belts against those same guys. The ending to the first match left one guy dead on the floor as his partner tried valiantly to keep the fight going until he could recover, and by the end all four guys sold being completely exhausted trying to break up pinfalls until they just couldn't anymore.

loving phenominal. Make time to watch these matches if you have a DDT Universe sub.

nth, absolutely unreal match(es)

# ? Oct 25, 2020 12:29

a cyborg mug: Mar 8, 2010

I post in this thread kind of randomly even though I do keep up with it. In the case of NJPW, I�ll often nominate matches from the start of a tournament only to stop a few shows in, usually because a lot of other people are already watching those shows and nominating the same matches I would, so I just feel like it�s kind of pointless on my end. Bigger NJPW shows in general I might not nominate because of the same reason. Then, occasionally you get the random Road To shows where something cool happens and there�s a real possibility of a lot of people not checking it out because it�s just a Road To show. Like for instance the one from Friday. That trios match was :discourse:

and all NJPW fans owe it to themselves to watch it. Amazing work from YOSHI-HASHI and DOUKI, Goto felt more fired up than during the G1, you get some sweet, sweet Taichi vs Ishii action, ZSJ does his thing... I really hope this is the kind of match they�ll be doing and the kind of position they�ll be giving the trios belts from now on. It�s honestly what they should�ve been doing with them all along, but I guess you gotta start somewhere.

MOTYC: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI (C) vs. Suzuki-gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., and DOUKI) for the NEVER Openweight Trios Championship - NJPW Road to POWER STRUGGLE 10/23

# ? Oct 25, 2020 17:05

Procrastinator: Aug 16, 2009; what?

Edward Mass posted:

MOTYC: Eric Young (c) vs. Rich Swann - Impact World Championship, Bound for Glory 10/24

FFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKK

HM this for me. The length & pacing aren't quite to my liking, but there were stretches of fire that were outstanding.

# ? Oct 25, 2020 18:30

Punch McLightning: Sep 19, 2005; you know what that means; Grimey Drawer

Two more HMs from G1 Climax Night 12 on October 8.

KENTA vs. SANADA
Juice Robinson vs. Tetsuya Naito

# ? Oct 25, 2020 20:25

Hellblazer187: Oct 12, 2003

Procrastinator posted:

HM this for me. The length & pacing aren't quite to my liking, but there were stretches of fire that were outstanding.

I'm conflicted on this. If there were a crowd it would have been a MOTYC. I just can't fully buy in on an empty arena match. But in terms of what they did inside the ring, I can't find any flaws. But, for lacking a crowd, I think I have to go with HM.

# ? Oct 25, 2020 20:47

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

WMOTYC: Roman Reigns (C) vs. Jey Uso for the WWE Universal Championship in an I Quit Hell in a Cell Match - WWE Hell in a Cell 10/25

Oh my loving God. Words cannot express how loving dreadful this was. The lovely match structure, the botches, the :geno:

ref, the ACT-ing, the TERRIBLE ending.... Jesus loving Christ.

Jerusalem fucked around with this message at 00:53 on Oct 26, 2020

# ? Oct 26, 2020 00:46

xbilkis: Apr 11, 2005; god qb
me
jay hova

WMOYTC - Miz/Otis, Hell in a Cell 10/25

# ? Oct 26, 2020 01:21

Kirios: Jan 26, 2010

xbilkis posted:

WMOYTC - Miz/Otis, Hell in a Cell 10/25

no. loving. doubt. nth.

# ? Oct 26, 2020 01:21

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

xbilkis posted:

WMOYTC - Miz/Otis, Hell in a Cell 10/25

Seconded for sure. Just complete dogshit.

# ? Oct 26, 2020 01:33

Macksy: Oct 20, 2008

Jerusalem posted:

Seconded for sure. Just complete dogshit.

I missed it was it worse than roman vs jey?

Also WMOTY roman vs jey uso hell in the cell

# ? Oct 26, 2020 01:40

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

Macksy posted:

I missed it was it worse than roman vs jey?

Terrible in a completely different way, mostly for the awful, nonsensical and utterly pointless finish Tucker attacked Otis with the briefcase and gifted Miz the win. Then did a promo backstage saying Otis hogged too much spotlight. They're on different brands now so there is nowhere for this story to go.

# ? Oct 26, 2020 01:49

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

Jerusalem posted:

Terrible in a completely different way, mostly for the awful, nonsensical and utterly pointless finish Tucker attacked Otis with the briefcase and gifted Miz the win. Then did a promo backstage saying Otis hogged too much spotlight. They're on different brands now so there is nowhere for this story to go.

Survivor Series is coming up, pal!

# ? Oct 26, 2020 01:49

fatherofmustard: May 15, 2018

Was Roman/Jey that bad? I didn't watch it but it has an 8.63 on cagematch.

# ? Oct 26, 2020 02:01

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

MOTYC: Bayley (C) vs. Sasha Banks for the Smackdown Women's Championship in a Hell in a Cell match - WWE Hell in a Cell 10/25

These two are so good together and deserve so much better, but even WWE couldn't get in the way of the two of them just having a hell of a match. Bayley may legitimately be the absolute best all around performer in the promotion.

# ? Oct 26, 2020 02:01

xbilkis: Apr 11, 2005; god qb
me
jay hova

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Bayley (C) vs. Sasha Banks for the Smackdown Women's Championship in a Hell in a Cell match - WWE Hell in a Cell 10/25

These two are so good together and deserve so much better, but even WWE couldn't get in the way of the two of them just having a hell of a match. Bayley may legitimately be the absolute best all around performer in the promotion.

Nth

# ? Oct 26, 2020 02:02

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

fatherofmustard posted:

Was Roman/Jey that bad? I didn't watch it but it has an 8.63 on cagematch.

I hated it, apparently a lot of places around online thought it was really good. Opinions, of course, are subjective!

# ? Oct 26, 2020 02:02

Eat My Fuc: May 29, 2007

MOTYC - Sasha Banks vs. Bayley, Hell in a Cell 2020

I loved this match, brutal spots Bayley�s great poo poo talking and Sasha overcoming her rival in a truly brutal fashion.

Mod Edit: Put finish behind spoiler tags.

# ? Oct 26, 2020 02:02

YourHumbleMessiah: Oct 11, 2005

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Bayley (C) vs. Sasha Banks for the Smackdown Women's Championship in a Hell in a Cell match - WWE Hell in a Cell 10/25

These two are so good together and deserve so much better, but even WWE couldn't get in the way of the two of them just having a hell of a match. Bayley may legitimately be the absolute best all around performer in the promotion.

2nd, this was excellent

# ? Oct 26, 2020 02:03

KungFu Grip: Jun 18, 2008

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Bayley (C) vs. Sasha Banks for the Smackdown Women's Championship in a Hell in a Cell match - WWE Hell in a Cell 10/25

These two are so good together and deserve so much better, but even WWE couldn't get in the way of the two of them just having a hell of a match. Bayley may legitimately be the absolute best all around performer in the promotion.

Yes this was very good.

# ? Oct 26, 2020 02:07

Quantum of Phallus: Dec 27, 2010

Jerusalem posted:

WMOTYC: Roman Reigns (C) vs. Jey Uso for the WWE Universal Championship in an I Quit Hell in a Cell Match - WWE Hell in a Cell 10/25

Oh my loving God. Words cannot express how loving dreadful this was. The lovely match structure, the botches, the ref, the ACT-ing, the TERRIBLE ending.... Jesus loving Christ.

Nth. The ending was so loving overbooked. SOOOOO much bad dialogue. Awful.

# ? Oct 26, 2020 16:34

Numero6: Oct 10, 2012; ここは地の果て　流されて俺
今日もさすらい　涙も涸れる
ブルーゲイル

Jerusalem posted:

WMOTYC: Roman Reigns (C) vs. Jey Uso for the WWE Universal Championship in an I Quit Hell in a Cell Match - WWE Hell in a Cell 10/25

Oh my loving God. Words cannot express how loving dreadful this was. The lovely match structure, the botches, the ref, the ACT-ing, the TERRIBLE ending.... Jesus loving Christ.

Nth.

WWE always find a way to make their WMOTYC worse than the previous ones.

But I did laugh at least.

xbilkis posted:

WMOYTC - Miz/Otis, Hell in a Cell 10/25

Nth and this one was just plain bad.

# ? Oct 26, 2020 17:16

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# ? Jun 3, 2024 14:35

Quantum of Phallus: Dec 27, 2010

xbilkis posted:

WMOYTC - Miz/Otis, Hell in a Cell 10/25

Nth. WHAT THE gently caress IS THAT ENDING

# ? Oct 26, 2020 17:38

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > The Hammer House: Stinger Splash Zone > 2020's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

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