2023'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 > 2023's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

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

HM: Jack Perry vs. Sanada (c), IWGP World Heavyweight

Just a bit shy of MOTYC for me, but a really good match.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 02:19

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# ? Jun 3, 2024 13:39

YourHumbleMessiah: Oct 11, 2005

Punch McLightning posted:

HM: Jack Perry vs. Sanada (c), IWGP World Heavyweight

Just a bit shy of MOTYC for me, but a really good match.

2ND THE HM

# ? Jun 26, 2023 02:20

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

MOTYC: The Elite, Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Blackpool Combat Club, Shota Umino & Konosuke Takeshita - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

This was loving nuts, and while everybody looked fantastic and there were great stories going on, Takeshita reminded everybody yet again why he's potentially one of the biggest future stars in wrestling.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 02:50

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

MOTYC: Elite + Kingston + Ishii vs. BCC + Takeshita + Umino

YESSSSSSSS

# ? Jun 26, 2023 02:51

Kirios: Jan 26, 2010

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: The Elite, Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Blackpool Combat Club, Shota Umino & Konosuke Takeshita - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

This was loving nuts, and while everybody looked fantastic and there were great stories going on, Takeshita reminded everybody yet again why he's potentially one of the biggest future stars in wrestling.

Easiest nth I've done all year

# ? Jun 26, 2023 02:53

YourHumbleMessiah: Oct 11, 2005

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: The Elite, Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Blackpool Combat Club, Shota Umino & Konosuke Takeshita - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

This was loving nuts, and while everybody looked fantastic and there were great stories going on, Takeshita reminded everybody yet again why he's potentially one of the biggest future stars in wrestling.

We're gonna be talking about this at the end of the year, Nth

# ? Jun 26, 2023 02:53

Saucer Crab: Apr 3, 2009

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: The Elite, Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Blackpool Combat Club, Shota Umino & Konosuke Takeshita - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

This was loving nuts, and while everybody looked fantastic and there were great stories going on, Takeshita reminded everybody yet again why he's potentially one of the biggest future stars in wrestling.

numerous Nth

# ? Jun 26, 2023 02:54

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

HM: Toni vs. Willow

poo poo rocked

# ? Jun 26, 2023 03:09

Truther Vandross: Jun 17, 2008

MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

Holy loving poo poo

# ? Jun 26, 2023 03:55

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

MOTYC: Kenny Omega (C) vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP US Championship - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

They almost lost me with one particularly dumb part Callis returning despite being ejected and just openly physically interfering in the match right in front of the ref, but then they absolutely got me back for the ending.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 03:55

YourHumbleMessiah: Oct 11, 2005

sportsgenius86 posted:

MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

Holy loving poo poo

What is loving real Nth

# ? Jun 26, 2023 03:56

A Real Horse: Oct 26, 2013

sportsgenius86 posted:

MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

Holy loving poo poo

Nth.

I need a cigarette after that. And I don't smoke.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 03:56

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

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Kenny Omega (C) vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP US Championship - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

They almost lost me with one particularly dumb part Callis returning despite being ejected and just openly physically interfering in the match right in front of the ref, but then they absolutely got me back for the ending.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 03:59

NickRoweFillea: Sep 27, 2012; doin thangs

MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

Tiger Driver 91

# ? Jun 26, 2023 04:01

closet statist: Mar 9, 2010

sportsgenius86 posted:

MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

Holy loving poo poo

Nth. Almost too brutal

# ? Jun 26, 2023 04:02

boxcarhobo: Jun 23, 2005

sportsgenius86 posted:

MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

Holy loving poo poo

nth

# ? Jun 26, 2023 04:02

Maxwell Lord: Dec 12, 2008; I am drowning.
There is no sign of land.
You are coming down with me, hand in unlovable hand.

And I hope you die.

I hope we both die.; Grimey Drawer

Punch McLightning posted:

HM: Toni vs. Willow

poo poo rocked

Nth, abrupt finish but still fun and brutal.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 04:03

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

HM: Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

Don't get me wrong, this was great, but maybe my sky-high expectations were too high, or I was just taken out of it by the clearly fake but still gross convulsion spot but the match didn't quite live up to what I was hoping for. Still a great match, just not a MOTYC for me.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 04:57

Lid: Feb 18, 2005; And the mercy seat is awaiting,
And I think my head is burning,
And in a way I'm yearning,
To be done with all this measuring of proof.
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth,
And anyway I told the truth,
And I'm not afraid to die.

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

Don't get me wrong, this was great, but maybe my sky-high expectations were too high, or I was just taken out of it by the clearly fake but still gross convulsion spot but the match didn't quite live up to what I was hoping for. Still a great match, just not a MOTYC for me.

It never got out of first gear, when The Pose happened the match needed another thirty minutes.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:00

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

I don't disagree, but also are you seconding the nomination? :shobon:

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:03

Jonny Nox: Apr 26, 2008

YourHumbleMessiah posted:

We're gonna be talking about this at the end of the year, Nth

Omega and Osprey are like "they won't even be talking about this at the end of the night."

also Omega/Osprey for my MOTYC

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:04

closet statist: Mar 9, 2010

HMs:
Punk vs Kojima
Bucks Kingston Ishii vs BCC Shooter Takeshita
OC vs Shibata Vs ZSJ vs Garcia

Edited to add the four way

closet statist fucked around with this message at 05:26 on Jun 26, 2023

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:12

Captain Foo: May 11, 2004; we vibin'
we slidin'
we breathin'
we dyin'

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Orange Cassidy (C) vs. Daniel Garcia vs. Katsuyori Shibata vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for the AEW International Title - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

The above quote says it all, really.

Nth

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:14

Captain Foo: May 11, 2004; we vibin'
we slidin'
we breathin'
we dyin'

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: The Elite, Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Blackpool Combat Club, Shota Umino & Konosuke Takeshita - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

This was loving nuts, and while everybody looked fantastic and there were great stories going on, Takeshita reminded everybody yet again why he's potentially one of the biggest future stars in wrestling.

Nth

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:15

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

AEW/NJPW presents Forbidden Door June 25th
MOTYC
Orange Cassidy (c) vs Zack Sabre Jr vs Katsuyori Shibata vs Daniel Garcia - AEW International Championship
Kenny Omega (c) vs Will Ospreay - IWGP United States Championship

HM
MJF (c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi - AEW World Championship
Satoshi Kojima vs CM Punk
SANADA (c) vs Jack Perry - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
The Elite (Adam Page, Nick Jackson and Matt Jackson), Eddie Kingston and Tomohiro Ishii vs Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta and Jon Moxley), Shota Umino and Konosuke Takeshita

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:15

Captain Foo: May 11, 2004; we vibin'
we slidin'
we breathin'
we dyin'

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

Don't get me wrong, this was great, but maybe my sky-high expectations were too high, or I was just taken out of it by the clearly fake but still gross convulsion spot but the match didn't quite live up to what I was hoping for. Still a great match, just not a MOTYC for me.

Yeah this. Nth

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:17

Captain Foo: May 11, 2004; we vibin'
we slidin'
we breathin'
we dyin'

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Kenny Omega (C) vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP US Championship - AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 6/25

They almost lost me with one particularly dumb part Callis returning despite being ejected and just openly physically interfering in the match right in front of the ref, but then they absolutely got me back for the ending.

Exact same. Nth

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:18

Dango Bango: Jul 26, 2007

SG Bamboo posted:

AEW/NJPW presents Forbidden Door June 25th
MOTYC
Orange Cassidy (c) vs Zack Sabre Jr vs Katsuyori Shibata vs Daniel Garcia - AEW International Championship

Kenny Omega (c) vs Will Ospreay - IWGP United States Championship

The Elite (Adam Page, Nick Jackson and Matt Jackson), Eddie Kingston and Tomohiro Ishii vs Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta and Jon Moxley), Shota Umino and Konosuke Takeshita

HM
MJF (c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi - AEW World Championship

Satoshi Kojima vs CM Punk

Nth-ing these. Needless to say, Omega/Ospreay is my MOTY thus far.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:19

Stall_19: Jan 2, 2013; Prodigy of Victor von Doom

Wonder how different the reaction for Danielson/Okada would have been if they had swapped the card position with the Omega/Ospreay

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:21

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

AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

HM: Athena vs Billie Starkz
HM: Stu Grayson vs El Phantasmo
HM: MJF vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
HM: CM Punk vs Satoshi Kojima
MOTYC: Orange Cassidy vs Zack Sabre Jr vs Daniel Garcia vs Katsuyori Shibata
MOTYC: Sanada vs Jungle Boy
MOTYC: The Elite, Eddie Kingston, and Ishii vs the BCC, Takeshita, and Shota Umino
HM: Toni Storm vs Willow Nightingale
HM: Sting, Darby Allin, and Naito vs Jericho, Guevara, and Suzuki
MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs Kazuchika Okada

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:28

AlmightyPants: Mar 14, 2001; King of Scheduling; Pillbug

sportsgenius86 posted:

MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

Holy loving poo poo

nthing this, completely different than what I was expecting and absolutely incredible. I liked their January match better but this is right up there in contention for the best of the year.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:29

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

Stall_19 posted:

Wonder how different the reaction for Danielson/Okada would have been if they had swapped the card position with the Omega/Ospreay

I had to pause the PPV for about 15 minutes before watching the main event. I came into feeling fresh and it blew me away.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:30

fez_machine: Nov 27, 2004

Stealing Bamboo's formating

AEW/NJPW presents Forbidden Door June 25th
MOTYC
Orange Cassidy (c) vs Zack Sabre Jr vs Katsuyori Shibata vs Daniel Garcia - AEW International Championship
Kenny Omega (c) vs Will Ospreay - IWGP United States Championship
The Elite (Adam Page, Nick Jackson and Matt Jackson), Eddie Kingston and Tomohiro Ishii vs Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta and Jon Moxley), Shota Umino and Konosuke Takeshita

HM
MJF (c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi - AEW World Championship
Satoshi Kojima vs CM Punk
SANADA (c) vs Jack Perry - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

Great show. AEW unfortunately ran out of pops for the main event

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:30

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

A Fancy Hat posted:

AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

HM: Athena vs Billie Starkz
HM: Stu Grayson vs El Phantasmo
HM: MJF vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
HM: CM Punk vs Satoshi Kojima
MOTYC: Orange Cassidy vs Zack Sabre Jr vs Daniel Garcia vs Katsuyori Shibata
MOTYC: Sanada vs Jungle Boy
MOTYC: The Elite, Eddie Kingston, and Ishii vs the BCC, Takeshita, and Shota Umino
HM: Toni Storm vs Willow Nightingale
HM: Sting, Darby Allin, and Naito vs Jericho, Guevara, and Suzuki
MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs Kazuchika Okada

agreed

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:32

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

A Fancy Hat posted:

AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

HM: Athena vs Billie Starkz
HM: Stu Grayson vs El Phantasmo
HM: MJF vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
HM: CM Punk vs Satoshi Kojima
MOTYC: Orange Cassidy vs Zack Sabre Jr vs Daniel Garcia vs Katsuyori Shibata
MOTYC: Sanada vs Jungle Boy
MOTYC: The Elite, Eddie Kingston, and Ishii vs the BCC, Takeshita, and Shota Umino
HM: Toni Storm vs Willow Nightingale
HM: Sting, Darby Allin, and Naito vs Jericho, Guevara, and Suzuki
MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs Kazuchika Okada

Nth these.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:33

Erin M. Fiasco: Mar 21, 2013; Nothing's better than postin' in the morning!

A Fancy Hat posted:

AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

HM: Athena vs Billie Starkz
HM: Stu Grayson vs El Phantasmo
HM: MJF vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
HM: CM Punk vs Satoshi Kojima
MOTYC: Orange Cassidy vs Zack Sabre Jr vs Daniel Garcia vs Katsuyori Shibata
MOTYC: Sanada vs Jungle Boy
MOTYC: The Elite, Eddie Kingston, and Ishii vs the BCC, Takeshita, and Shota Umino
HM: Toni Storm vs Willow Nightingale
HM: Sting, Darby Allin, and Naito vs Jericho, Guevara, and Suzuki
MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs Kazuchika Okada

Nth

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:34

The Berzerker: Feb 24, 2006; treat me like a dog

AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

MOTYC: Orange Cassidy vs Zack Sabre Jr vs Daniel Garcia vs Katsuyori Shibata
HM: The Elite, Eddie Kingston, and Ishii vs the BCC, Takeshita, and Shota Umino
HM: Toni Storm vs Willow Nightingale
MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs Kazuchika Okada

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:36

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

AEW NEW JAPAN FORBIDDEN DOOR
HM: Athena vs Billie Starkz
HM: Stu Grayson vs ELP
HM: MJF vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
MOTYC: Satoshi Kojima vs CM Punk
MOTYC: Orange Cassidy vs Zack Sabre Jr vs Daniel Garcia vs Katsuyori Shibata
MOTYC: The Elite, Eddie Kingson and Ishii vs The Blackpool Combat Club and Takeshita
HM: Toni Storm vs Willow Nightingale
MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay
HM: Kazuchika Okada vs Bryan Danielson

What a show. I thought Ospreay/Omega 1 was "merely 4 stars" but this one might be 7.

# ? Jun 26, 2023 05:39

Kirios: Jan 26, 2010

MassRafTer posted:

AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 6/25

HM: Athena vs Billie Starkz
HM: Stu Grayson vs El Phantasmo
HM: MJF vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
HM: CM Punk vs Satoshi Kojima
MOTYC: Orange Cassidy vs Zack Sabre Jr vs Daniel Garcia vs Katsuyori Shibata
MOTYC: Sanada vs Jungle Boy
HM: Toni Storm vs Willow Nightingale
HM: Sting, Darby Allin, and Naito vs Jericho, Guevara, and Suzuki
MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs Kazuchika Okada

Nth. (Removed The Elite match since I nth'd it prior).

# ? Jun 26, 2023 06:27

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# ? Jun 3, 2024 13:39

STING 64: Oct 20, 2006

(all nominations from AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II)
HM
Tomohiro Ishii, Eddie Kingston, Adam Page, Nick Jackson, & Matt Jackson vs Wheeler Yuta, Shota Umino, Jon Moxley, Konosuke Takeshita, & Claudio Castagnoli

Orange Cassidy vs Daniel Garcia vs Katsuyori Shibata vs Zack Sabre Jr.

Bryan Danielson vs Kazuchika Okada

MOTYC
Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay

# ? Jun 26, 2023 07:14

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > The Hammer House: Stinger Splash Zone > 2023's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

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