2022'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 > 2022's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

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Cerebral Bore: Apr 21, 2010; Fun Shoe

MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs Lee Moriarty
HM: Chris Jericho & Jake Hager vs Santana & Ortiz
HM: Thunder Rosa vs Mercedes Martinez
MOTYC: Sammy Guevara vs Darby Allin

All from AEW Dynamite 16.02

# ? Feb 17, 2022 10:21

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# ? Jun 3, 2024 18:07

Quantum of Phallus: Dec 27, 2010

Testekill posted:

MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs Lee Moriarty, AEW Dynamite 2/16

Two of the best technicians in the world.

Nth. Danielson the literal GOAT of wrestling

# ? Feb 17, 2022 10:51

Akileese: Feb 6, 2005

Cerebral Bore posted:

MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs Lee Moriarty
HM: Chris Jericho & Jake Hager vs Santana & Ortiz
HM: Thunder Rosa vs Mercedes Martinez
MOTYC: Sammy Guevara vs Darby Allin

All from AEW Dynamite 16.02

nth

# ? Feb 17, 2022 12:04

A Fancy Hat: Nov 18, 2016; Always remember that the former President was dumber than the dumbest person you've ever met by a wide margin

Cerebral Bore posted:

MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs Lee Moriarty
HM: Chris Jericho & Jake Hager vs Santana & Ortiz
HM: Thunder Rosa vs Mercedes Martinez
MOTYC: Sammy Guevara vs Darby Allin

All from AEW Dynamite 16.02

Nthing this.

Great show top to bottom, and this was a star-making performance for Lee Moriarty.

# ? Feb 17, 2022 13:22

Lily Catts: Oct 17, 2012; Show me the way to you
(Heavy Metal)

GEORGE W BUSHI posted:

MOTY: Taichi vs. DOUKI - JTO TakaTaichiMania 3 (1/10)

After having the train ride home to reflect on this match, I've decided it's not only my match of the year so far (ten days in, but it's beating stiff competition from a match earlier today I'll try to post about later) and will take something really special to beat it, but it's one of my favourite pro wrestling matches of all time.

I will preface this review by saying that sorry to disappoint forkboy and Lamuella, it doesn't end with a Taichi/DOUKI wedding, but it does end with a birthday party which is almost as good as far as celebrations go.

Three years ago, at the first TakaTaichiMania, oft-maligned junior heavyweight Taichi wrestled the top star in all of Japan, Tetsuya Naito after his heartbreaking loss to Kazuchika Okada and took him to the absolute limit displaying an ability to go toe-to-toe with one of the best wrestlers in the world and not look out of place, and though it didn't turn opinions around on Taichi overnight, it started his ascent to becoming a highly regarded heavyweight bruiser. A year later, at the second TakaTaichiMania, DOUKI, a man who was sent to Taichi in Mexico by Milano Collection AT and spent almost ten years plying his trade in the scuzziest of Mexican indie promotions was handed the opportunity of a lifetime when Jun Kasai broke El Desperado's jaw, granting him an unlikely spot in Best of the Super Juniors, where he too was oft-maligned by people both on the outside and the inside of the promotion, but TAKA leaving to take care of his new promotion left Suzuki-gun without a pineater so DOUKI managed to stick around. Today, at the third TakaTaichiMania, these two men faced off. Taichi may not be the top star in the country, and his heartbreaking Wrestle Kingdom loss was against YOSHI-HASHI rather than Kazuchika Okada, and DOUKI has already begun to turn public opinion around by himself, but this was still an opportunity to pay forward the favour that Naito paid to him three years ago, and boy did he ever.

There have been Suzuki-gun vs. Suzuki-gun matches at TakaTaichi shows before and they've usually been fun displays of two villainous scumbags trying to out-scumbag the other ending with them making up at the end. This match followed TAKA vs El Desperado, which was a lot of TAKA laying traps to try and get one over on the junior champion. You may have been forgiven for thinking this would end being more of the same, but these two went to loving war. For over 25 minutes, DOUKI took every lariat, every kick, every move Taichi has cribbed from one of the four pillars and gave it right back with the reckless abandon that has come to endear him to New Japan fans. One of the absolute highlights of the match was DOUKI backflipping out of a nodowa otoshi attempt from Taichi on the ring apron all the way to the floor and killing Taichi with a DDT to the apron. The more of Taichi's onslaught the more DOUKI turned the crowd who'd come to support Taichi in his favour until the only person in the whole building who was still showing their support for Taichi was Miho Abe, who for her part was running back and fore to Kimihiko Ozaki at ringside to check how much time was remaining and panickedly informing Taichi how much time he had to left to avoid being held to a shock draw.

The emotional climax of the match came 25 minutes in after DOUKI managed to kick out of a Last Ride, Milano Collection AT leaped from the commentary table and ran to DOUKI's corner to will him to victory along with Mima Shimoda and the rest of the Korakuen crowd. They edged closer and closer to the 30 minute time limit and DOUKI even managed to hit Taichi with the scrappiest Suplex de la Luna he's hit. Taichi made it look like a real loving struggle. However, eventually Taichi managed to hit Black Mephisto and for the first time ever I, and many other people in Korakuen Hall, groaned with disappointment as Taichi pinned DOUKI for the three count. It was an absolute masterclass in getting someone over in defeat. If this had happened at an NJPW show it would have loving made DOUKI.

After the match all of Suzuki-gun were called out to wish Happy Birthday to Miho Abe and all but Minoru Suzuki, who was supposedly out the front selling merch, answered the call. However, once they started singing, the boss himself emerged (along with a gaggle of idols he'd picked up along the way) carrying a birthday cake for Miho, which he then smashed into her face. Suzuki-gun then posed as that amazing TakaTaichi theme played and I realised these loving assholes have completely replaced LIJ as my favourite NJPW faction. I love Taichi. I love DOUKI. I love Suzuki-gun.

This match probably won't mean as much to you as it meant to me, but it was still loving incredible pro wrestling, and I would easily put it above anything on Wrestle Kingdom. Buy this show, pirate it, I don't care. Just find a way to watch it because it was amazing. Five stars.

Just watched this. Nth. I love DOUKI, I love Taichi.

# ? Feb 17, 2022 23:58

Kirios: Jan 26, 2010

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs. Lee Moriarty, AEW Dynamite, 16/02
HM: Chris Jericho/Jake Hager vs. Santana/Ortiz, AEW Dynamite, 16/02
HM: Thunder Rosa vs. Mercedes Martinez, AEW Dynamite, 16/02
MOTYC: Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin, AEW Dynamite, 16/02

Nth - agree with these.

# ? Feb 18, 2022 00:09

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

fez_machine posted:

MOTYC
13th of Feb
ChocoPro 200 Day 2
Minoru Fujita (c) vs. Baliyan Akki for the Super Asia Championship in a Last Man Standing match

No joke the hardest loving match ever done in the Chocolate Square

2nd this. It's fantastic wrestling. Great selling, great grappling, great story telling. It's well worth making time even if you aren't a regular ChocoPro watcher. https://youtu.be/YPqWM_sTJTc starts at 1 hour 37

HM
13th February
Gatoh Move ChocoPro 200 Day 2
Hoshitango & Masahiro Takanashi vs Rina Yamashita & Yuna Mizumori

This is more your classic ChocoPro silliness but Rina is Rina & so still manages to bring some fire. Also uses a pineapple like it's a cheese grater which is a fun spot

# ? Feb 18, 2022 01:08

achillesforever6: Apr 23, 2012; psst you wanna do a communism?

HM
Enjoy Wrestling Striking Distance Episode 2 Feb 17th
Violence is Forever vs Yokai
Lee Moriarty & PB Smooth vs A Tribe Called Catch (Darius Lockhart & Suge D)
Whole episode is these two episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJAZJDKaU84

I know Darius became a joke because of the whole Swole stuff and him getting flashdrive with Tony, but this tag match has pretty solid combo of comedy, serious wrestling, and ends kind of a flat note but as a logical way to build between his feud with Lee.

# ? Feb 18, 2022 03:00

TV Zombie: Sep 6, 2011; Burying all the trauma from past nights
Burying my anger in the past

achillesforever6 posted:

HM
Enjoy Wrestling Striking Distance Episode 2 Feb 17th
Violence is Forever vs Yokai
Lee Moriarty & PB Smooth vs A Tribe Called Catch (Darius Lockhart & Suge D)
Whole episode is these two episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJAZJDKaU84

I know Darius became a joke because of the whole Swole stuff and him getting flashdrive with Tony, but this tag match has pretty solid combo of comedy, serious wrestling, and ends kind of a flat note but as a logical way to build between his feud with Lee.

Nth. I enjoyed the first exchange between Darius and Lee as it was fast chain wrestling. I thought that PB was rather stiff as a big man but Darius and Suge worked well with him.

# ? Feb 18, 2022 03:09

Tarnop: Nov 25, 2013; Pull me out

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: The Young Bucks vs. Roppongi Vice, AEW Rampage, 11/02
HM: Jungle Boy/Luchasaurus vs. rear end Boys, AEW Rampage, 11/02

Bucks and Roppongi still needs one more MOTYC so here it is

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs. Lee Moriarty, AEW Dynamite, 16/02
HM: Chris Jericho/Jake Hager vs. Santana/Ortiz, AEW Dynamite, 16/02
HM: Thunder Rosa vs. Mercedes Martinez, AEW Dynamite, 16/02
MOTYC: Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin, AEW Dynamite, 16/02

Nth

# ? Feb 18, 2022 06:43

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

HM
11th February
GLEAT G Prowrestling Ver.17
Jun Tonsho, Keiichi Sato & Shigehiro Irie vs STRONGHEARTS (CIMA, El Lindaman & Issei Onitsuka)

Fantastic opening tag.

HM
11th February
GLEAT G Prowrestling Ver.17
G-REX Title Tournament 2nd Round
Minoru Tanaka vs T-Hawk

Show is on their YouTube as per normal

https://youtu.be/ZkF2v_1WPas

# ? Feb 19, 2022 00:53

Cerebral Bore: Apr 21, 2010; Fun Shoe

HM: #10 vs BUDGE AEW Rampage 18.02

Ten stepped up his game massively here. Dude looked like an absolute killer.

E:

HM: Dante Martin vs Will Hobbs AEW Rampage 18.02

I hear that Dante Martin was legally required to register himself as an aircraft before this match.

Cerebral Bore fucked around with this message at 01:29 on Feb 19, 2022

# ? Feb 19, 2022 01:13

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

Cerebral Bore posted:

HM: #10 vs BUDGE AEW Rampage 18.02

Ten stepped up his game massively here. Dude looked like an absolute killer.

E:

HM: Dante Martin vs Will Hobbs AEW Rampage 18.02

I hear that Dante Martin was legally required to register himself as an aircraft before this match.

nth

# ? Feb 19, 2022 01:46

Cerebral Bore: Apr 21, 2010; Fun Shoe

MOTYC: Trent Beretta vs The Detested Knife Pervert AEW Rampage 18.02

FUUUCK YOUUUU SWITCHBLADE

# ? Feb 19, 2022 01:59

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

Cerebral Bore posted:

MOTYC: Trent Beretta vs The Detested Knife Pervert AEW Rampage 18.02

FUUUCK YOUUUU SWITCHBLADE

HM from me, but man was it good to see Jay wrestling in front of a crowd allowed to make noise again.

Also gently caress YOU SWITCHBLADE! :argh:

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:00

GEORGE W BUSHI: Jul 1, 2012

Cerebral Bore posted:

MOTYC: Trent Beretta vs The Detested Knife Pervert AEW Rampage 18.02

FUUUCK YOUUUU SWITCHBLADE

2nd. Jay is the best and they should just replace Adam Cole with him in the Revolution title match

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:03

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

AEW Rampage 2/18

HM: 10 vs. Adam Cole
HM: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin
MOTYC: Trent Beretta vs. Jay White

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:07

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

Cerebral Bore posted:

MOTYC: Trent Beretta vs The Detested Knife Pervert AEW Rampage 18.02

FUUUCK YOUUUU SWITCHBLADE

I'll give this an HM, gently caress Jay White.

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:09

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

Cerebral Bore posted:

MOTYC: Trent Beretta vs The Detested Knife Pervert AEW Rampage 18.02

FUUUCK YOUUUU SWITCHBLADE

I almost want to knock it down to hm cause Jay's Tanahashi taunts were Picture in picture but nth

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:10

Seams: Feb 3, 2005; ROCK HARD

SatoshiMiwa posted:

I almost want to knock it down to hm cause Jay's Tanahashi taunts were Picture in picture but nth

FITE viewers win again

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:11

Metroid Fitzgerald: Feb 13, 2012; B O O O O B S . . . !

AEW Rampage 2/18

HM: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin
HM: Trent Beretta vs. Jay White

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:11

Kevino07: Oct 16, 2008

AEW Rampage 2/18

HM: 10 vs. Adam Cole
HM: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin
HM: Trent Beretta vs. Jay White (This was on the edge of a MOTYC though)

Another solid Rampage

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:12

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

Cerebral Bore posted:

HM: Dante Martin vs Will Hobbs AEW Rampage 18.02

I hear that Dante Martin was legally required to register himself as an aircraft before this match.

Yeah nth

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:17

Thanlis: Mar 17, 2011

Cerebral Bore posted:

HM: #10 vs BUDGE AEW Rampage 18.02

Ten stepped up his game massively here. Dude looked like an absolute killer.

E:

HM: Dante Martin vs Will Hobbs AEW Rampage 18.02

I hear that Dante Martin was legally required to register himself as an aircraft before this match.

Cerebral Bore posted:

MOTYC: Trent Beretta vs The Detested Knife Pervert AEW Rampage 18.02

FUUUCK YOUUUU SWITCHBLADE

Nth on all three of these.

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:35

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

HM
18th February
Prominence Pre-Launch Show "Ha"
Akane Fujita vs Risa Sera vs Suzu Suzuki

Someone compared these Prominence preview shows to hardcore ChocoPro & it's bang on. Match in a bar on a mat rather than in a ring, exceedingly small roster, posters for the next show being stapled to heads, shoot headbutts, getting bodyslammed onto a mat covered in thumbtacks, yet retaining a light & silly air to it all. Just very pleasant viewing

# ? Feb 19, 2022 02:47

Akileese: Feb 6, 2005

Pylons posted:

AEW Rampage 2/18

HM: 10 vs. Adam Cole
HM: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin
MOTYC: Trent Beretta vs. Jay White

Nth

# ? Feb 19, 2022 03:05

graph: Nov 22, 2006; aaag peanuts

Kevino07 posted:

AEW Rampage 2/18

HM: 10 vs. Adam Cole
HM: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin
HM: Trent Beretta vs. Jay White

Another solid Rampage

yes indeed

# ? Feb 19, 2022 04:29

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

TJPW Winter in KFC Hall February 19th
HM
Hyper Misao vs Haruna Neko
- Konnichi-nyaa big children, let's see what Misao's up to now

Hikari Noa, Mizuki and Yuki Arai vs Miu Watanabe, Yuki Aino and Suzume
- Very good match that gave everyone chances to shine, even if it was kind of disconnected from the ongoing stories (Miu/Mizuki excepted)

# ? Feb 19, 2022 05:53

Oh Snapple!: Dec 27, 2005

HM
18th February
Tokyo Joshi 2022 Winter
Hikari Noa ＆ Mizuki ＆ Yuki Arai vs Miu Watanabe ＆ Yuki Aino ＆ Suzume

# ? Feb 19, 2022 05:53

Senerio: Oct 19, 2009; Roëmænce is ælive!

SG Bamboo posted:

TJPW Winter in KFC Hall February 19th
HM
Hyper Misao vs Haruna Neko
- Konnichi-nyaa big children, let's see what Misao's up to now

Hikari Noa, Mizuki and Yuki Arai vs Miu Watanabe, Yuki Aino and Suzume
- Very good match that gave everyone chances to shine, even if it was kind of disconnected from the ongoing stories (Miu/Mizuki excepted)

# ? Feb 19, 2022 05:55

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

HM: Adam Cole vs. 10, AEW Rampage Slam Dunk, 18/02
HM: Dante Martin vs. Powerhouse Hobbs, AEW Rampage Slam Dunk, 18/02
HM: Jay White vs. Trent Baretta, AEW Rampage Slam Dunk, 18/02

# ? Feb 19, 2022 07:54

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

Pylons posted:

AEW Rampage 2/18

HM: 10 vs. Adam Cole
HM: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin
MOTYC: Trent Beretta vs. Jay White

Nth to this. drat good show.

# ? Feb 19, 2022 08:55

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

MOTYC: Hiroshi Tanahashi (C) vs. SANADA for the IWGP US Championship - NJPW Golden Series 2/19

Also known as The Alliance to End Kneeamania, these two did everything they could to gently caress up each other's knees, on top of an already great match. Some absolutely perfect moments of timing here from both guys, selling in EXACTLY the right way at EXACTLY the right time to perfect effect. A nice reminder of what SANADA is capable of in addition to Tanahashi being, of course, The Ace.

# ? Feb 19, 2022 12:11

GEORGE W BUSHI: Jul 1, 2012

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hiroshi Tanahashi (C) vs. SANADA for the IWGP US Championship - NJPW Golden Series 2/19

Also known as The Alliance to End Kneeamania, these two did everything they could to gently caress up each other's knees, on top of an already great match. Some absolutely perfect moments of timing here from both guys, selling in EXACTLY the right way at EXACTLY the right time to perfect effect. A nice reminder of what SANADA is capable of in addition to Tanahashi being, of course, The Ace.

2nd. Beautiful tribute to the Living Legend Keiji Mutoh. The best SANADA match ever.

# ? Feb 19, 2022 12:13

Pistol Packin Poet: Nov 5, 2012; Everyone needs an
escape goat!

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hiroshi Tanahashi (C) vs. SANADA for the IWGP US Championship - NJPW Golden Series 2/19

Also known as The Alliance to End Kneeamania, these two did everything they could to gently caress up each other's knees, on top of an already great match. Some absolutely perfect moments of timing here from both guys, selling in EXACTLY the right way at EXACTLY the right time to perfect effect. A nice reminder of what SANADA is capable of in addition to Tanahashi being, of course, The Ace.

3rd

# ? Feb 19, 2022 12:14

Burn Down Canberra: Oct 27, 2005; GAME PLANS? We don't need no stinking game plans.

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hiroshi Tanahashi (C) vs. SANADA for the IWGP US Championship - NJPW Golden Series 2/19

Also known as The Alliance to End Kneeamania, these two did everything they could to gently caress up each other's knees, on top of an already great match. Some absolutely perfect moments of timing here from both guys, selling in EXACTLY the right way at EXACTLY the right time to perfect effect. A nice reminder of what SANADA is capable of in addition to Tanahashi being, of course, The Ace.

Nth it was great

# ? Feb 19, 2022 12:16

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

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hiroshi Tanahashi (C) vs. SANADA for the IWGP US Championship - NJPW Golden Series 2/19

Also known as The Alliance to End Kneeamania, these two did everything they could to gently caress up each other's knees, on top of an already great match. Some absolutely perfect moments of timing here from both guys, selling in EXACTLY the right way at EXACTLY the right time to perfect effect. A nice reminder of what SANADA is capable of in addition to Tanahashi being, of course, The Ace.

Nth, the best match Sanada has had with someone not called ZSJ. Old man Tana continues to be the best wrestler this century

# ? Feb 19, 2022 12:29

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

gently caress, is SANADA good again?

# ? Feb 19, 2022 12:40

GEORGE W BUSHI: Jul 1, 2012

Rarity posted:

gently caress, is SANADA good again?

Go watch the match right now

# ? Feb 19, 2022 12:47

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# ? Jun 3, 2024 18:07

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

Rarity posted:

gently caress, is SANADA good again?

GEORGE W BUSHI posted:

Go watch the match right now

Seriously, watch the match!

# ? Feb 19, 2022 13:00

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > The Hammer House: Stinger Splash Zone > 2022's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

«‹›165 »