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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW G1 Climax 33 Night 1 July 15th
MOTYC
Ren Narita vs Shota Umino
- These two are going to be rivals for the next decade and I love it

Kaito Kiyomiya vs Yota Tsuji
- Welcome to the G1 kid

Will Ospreay vs Taichi
- Some questionable selling from Billy aside this loving rocked

HM
Kazuchika Okada vs Great O-Khan

Nth

I actually quite liked Hikuleo v sanada but not quite an hm level match

# ? Jul 15, 2023 11:50

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# ? Jun 3, 2024 13:04

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW G1 Climax 33 Night 1 July 15th
MOTYC
Ren Narita vs Shota Umino
- These two are going to be rivals for the next decade and I love it

Kaito Kiyomiya vs Yota Tsuji
- Welcome to the G1 kid

Nth to these.

# ? Jul 15, 2023 11:56

TriffTshngo: Mar 28, 2010; Don't get it twisted who your enemies are.

Decided to do a bit of catch up before getting fully Back In (after a false start with SakGen awhile back) with the G1 and so I watched Dontaku and Dominion a week or two ago but never posted about em in here so before we get to the current stuff:

Wrestling Dontaku [5.3.23]
MOTYC
NJPW World TV Title - Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Jeff Cobb
IWGP World Heavyweight Title - SANADA (c) vs Hiromu Takahashi

HM
NEVER Openweight Trios Titles - Strong Style (c) vs Okada/Ishii/Tanahashi

Dominion [6.4.23]
MOTYC
NJPW World TV Title - Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Jeff Cobb
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title - Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs Master Wato
IWGP World Heavyweight Title - SANADA (c) vs Yota Tsuji

HM
IWGP US Heavyweight #1 Contendership - Will Ospreay vs Lance Archer
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Titles - Intergalactic Jet-Setters (Kushida & Kevin Knight) (c) vs Catch 2/2 (TJP & Francesco Akira)

And finally, from tonight:

G1 Climax 33 - Night 1 [7.15.23]
MOTYC
A BLOCK: Shota Umino vs Ren Narita
A BLOCK: Yota Tsuji vs Kaito Kiyomiya
B BLOCK: Taichi vs Will Ospreay

HM
B BLOCK: Kazuchika Okada vs Great O-Khan
B BLOCK: Yoshi-Hashi vs El Phantasmo

if you only have time to watch one of these make it tsuji and kaito that match loving ruled

TriffTshngo fucked around with this message at 12:13 on Jul 15, 2023

# ? Jul 15, 2023 12:11

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

NOAH One Night Dream July 15th
MOTYC
Kento Miyahara vs Katsuhiko Nakajima
- Action was fantastic as expected but the partisan crowd absolutely made this

# ? Jul 15, 2023 13:00

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NOAH One Night Dream July 15th
MOTYC
Kento Miyahara vs Katsuhiko Nakajima
- Action was fantastic as expected but the partisan crowd absolutely made this

2nded

# ? Jul 15, 2023 13:01

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

MOTYC: Kento Miyahara vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima - NOAH One Night Dream 7/15

I went in with overly high expectations and it surpassed them. Every so often NOAH (with a little help from All Japan's Kento of course!) reminds me why I keep coming back to watch despite some of their astonishingly bad booking choices.

# ? Jul 15, 2023 13:01

closet statist: Mar 9, 2010

Rarity posted:

HM: Yota Tsuji vs. Kaito Kiyomiya, NJPW G1 Climax 33 Night 1, 15/07

Welcome to the big leagues kid

nth. this was awesome, yota is a star

# ? Jul 15, 2023 14:13

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

PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 1, January 7

HM: Bryan Keith vs. SB KENTo
HM: Komander vs. Latigo
HM: Jonathan Gresham vs. Jordynne Grace
MOTYC: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Michael Oku
HM: Daniel Garcia vs. Titus Alexander
MOTYC: Bandido vs. Black Taurus vs. El Hijo del Vikingo

PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 2, January 8

HM: Jordynne Grace vs. Mike Bailey
HM: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Titus Alexander
HM: Bryan Keith vs. Masha Slamovich
HM: Bandido vs. Komander
MOTYC: Mike Bailey vs. Shun Skywalker
HM: Aramis & Rey Horus vs. Black Taurus & Latigo

I still have the semis, finals, and special guests tag match on night two to watch.

# ? Jul 15, 2023 17:00

Price Check: Oct 9, 2012

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW G1 Climax 33 Night 1 July 15th
MOTYC
Ren Narita vs Shota Umino
- These two are going to be rivals for the next decade and I love it

Kaito Kiyomiya vs Yota Tsuji
- Welcome to the G1 kid

Will Ospreay vs Taichi
- Some questionable selling from Billy aside this loving rocked

HM
Kazuchika Okada vs Great O-Khan

Nth

# ? Jul 15, 2023 18:52

apophenium: Apr 14, 2009; Cry 'Mayhem!' and let slip the dogs of Wardlow.

NJPW G1 Climax 33 Night 1 July 15th
MOTYC
Ren Narita vs Shota Umino
These boys are going to main event Wrestle Kingdom one day and it's gonna be rad

HM

Kaito Kiyomiya vs Yota Tsuji
I still haven't finished watching Dominion I should get on that cause Tsuji is loving great.

Will Ospreay vs Taichi

# ? Jul 15, 2023 19:35

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

PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 2, January 8

HM: Bryan Keith vs. Mike Bailey
HM: Jericho Appreciation Society vs. Evil Uno, Jonathan Gresham, Kevin Blackwood, Michael Oku & SB KENTo
MOTYC: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mike Bailey

# ? Jul 15, 2023 20:20

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: Alan Angels vs. "Speedball" Mike Bailey vs. Jonathan Gresham vs. Kevin Knight vs. KUSHIDA vs. Jake Something in Ultimate X49, Impact Wrestling Slammiversary XXI 7/15

# ? Jul 16, 2023 01:24

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

MOTYC: FTR (C) vs. Bullet Club Gold (White & Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AEW Tag Titles - AEW Collision 7/15

Last week they had a MOTYC to set up this match. This week they elevated so far beyond that match it's unbelievable. The crowd was white-hot, both teams were incredible in the ring, the nearfalls were works of art, the pacing was perfect, and the time just sailed by and the match NEVER felt like it was spinning its wheels or making up time. Also the Riccaboni/McGuinness commentary pairing was excellent and Nigel losing his loving mind at how good the match was ruled.

# ? Jul 16, 2023 02:05

flatluigi: Apr 23, 2008; here come the planes

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: FTR (C) vs. Bullet Club Gold (White & Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AEW Tag Titles - AEW Collision 7/15

Last week they had a MOTYC to set up this match. This week they elevated so far beyond that match it's unbelievable. The crowd was white-hot, both teams were incredible in the ring, the nearfalls were works of art, the pacing was perfect, and the time just sailed by and the match NEVER felt like it was spinning its wheels or making up time. Also the Riccaboni/McGuinness commentary pairing was excellent and Nigel losing his loving mind at how good the match was ruled.

nth

# ? Jul 16, 2023 02:06

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: FTR (C) vs. Bullet Club Gold (White & Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AEW Tag Titles - AEW Collision 7/15

Last week they had a MOTYC to set up this match. This week they elevated so far beyond that match it's unbelievable. The crowd was white-hot, both teams were incredible in the ring, the nearfalls were works of art, the pacing was perfect, and the time just sailed by and the match NEVER felt like it was spinning its wheels or making up time. Also the Riccaboni/McGuinness commentary pairing was excellent and Nigel losing his loving mind at how good the match was ruled.

Yeah agreed

# ? Jul 16, 2023 02:06

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

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: FTR (C) vs. Bullet Club Gold (White & Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AEW Tag Titles - AEW Collision 7/15

Last week they had a MOTYC to set up this match. This week they elevated so far beyond that match it's unbelievable. The crowd was white-hot, both teams were incredible in the ring, the nearfalls were works of art, the pacing was perfect, and the time just sailed by and the match NEVER felt like it was spinning its wheels or making up time. Also the Riccaboni/McGuinness commentary pairing was excellent and Nigel losing his loving mind at how good the match was ruled.

Nth. What an incredibly great match

# ? Jul 16, 2023 02:09

A Real Horse: Oct 26, 2013

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: FTR (C) vs. Bullet Club Gold (White & Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AEW Tag Titles - AEW Collision 7/15

Last week they had a MOTYC to set up this match. This week they elevated so far beyond that match it's unbelievable. The crowd was white-hot, both teams were incredible in the ring, the nearfalls were works of art, the pacing was perfect, and the time just sailed by and the match NEVER felt like it was spinning its wheels or making up time. Also the Riccaboni/McGuinness commentary pairing was excellent and Nigel losing his loving mind at how good the match was ruled.

Nth.

Holy poo poo. HOLY poo poo.

# ? Jul 16, 2023 02:10

lamentable dustman: Apr 13, 2007; ððð

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: FTR (C) vs. Bullet Club Gold (White & Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AEW Tag Titles - AEW Collision 7/15

Last week they had a MOTYC to set up this match. This week they elevated so far beyond that match it's unbelievable. The crowd was white-hot, both teams were incredible in the ring, the nearfalls were works of art, the pacing was perfect, and the time just sailed by and the match NEVER felt like it was spinning its wheels or making up time. Also the Riccaboni/McGuinness commentary pairing was excellent and Nigel losing his loving mind at how good the match was ruled.

it was an hour+ match that legit felt under 20mins. loving incredible match.

# ? Jul 16, 2023 02:10

Dango Bango: Jul 26, 2007

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: FTR (C) vs. Bullet Club Gold (White & Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AEW Tag Titles - AEW Collision 7/15

Last week they had a MOTYC to set up this match. This week they elevated so far beyond that match it's unbelievable. The crowd was white-hot, both teams were incredible in the ring, the nearfalls were works of art, the pacing was perfect, and the time just sailed by and the match NEVER felt like it was spinning its wheels or making up time. Also the Riccaboni/McGuinness commentary pairing was excellent and Nigel losing his loving mind at how good the match was ruled.

Nth. I'll add that the commercial placement and pacing was excellent and these guys worked their asses off

# ? Jul 16, 2023 02:29

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

HM: ruby soho vs willow nightingale, owen hart final. Being a compelling match in its own right after the previous match

# ? Jul 16, 2023 02:32

Sticky Nate: Jan 9, 2012

SG Bamboo posted:

NOAH One Night Dream July 15th
MOTYC
Kento Miyahara vs Katsuhiko Nakajima
- Action was fantastic as expected but the partisan crowd absolutely made this

oh HELL YEAH
nth

# ? Jul 16, 2023 02:38

closet statist: Mar 9, 2010

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: FTR (C) vs. Bullet Club Gold (White & Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AEW Tag Titles - AEW Collision 7/15

Last week they had a MOTYC to set up this match. This week they elevated so far beyond that match it's unbelievable. The crowd was white-hot, both teams were incredible in the ring, the nearfalls were works of art, the pacing was perfect, and the time just sailed by and the match NEVER felt like it was spinning its wheels or making up time. Also the Riccaboni/McGuinness commentary pairing was excellent and Nigel losing his loving mind at how good the match was ruled.

nth - wonderful

# ? Jul 16, 2023 02:43

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

Captain Foo posted:

HM: ruby soho vs willow nightingale, owen hart final. Being a compelling match in its own right after the previous match

Nth. A bit short but that Pounce.

# ? Jul 16, 2023 03:10

apophenium: Apr 14, 2009; Cry 'Mayhem!' and let slip the dogs of Wardlow.

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: FTR (C) vs. Bullet Club Gold (White & Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AEW Tag Titles - AEW Collision 7/15

An unnecessary +1 but god drat this match was good.

# ? Jul 16, 2023 03:28

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

Can someone please link that BCG/FTR match when it goes online, big fan of Jay and i've enjoyed matches with the other three in the past

# ? Jul 16, 2023 03:41

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

AEW Collision 7/15

MOTYC: FTR vs Bullet Club Gold
HM: Willow Nightingale vs Ruby Soho
HM: CM Punk vs Ricky Starks

AEW Battle of the Belts 7
HM: Orange Cassidy vs Lance Archer

# ? Jul 16, 2023 04:05

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

MassRafTer posted:

AEW Collision 7/15

MOTYC: FTR vs Bullet Club Gold
HM: Willow Nightingale vs Ruby Soho
HM: CM Punk vs Ricky Starks

AEW Battle of the Belts 7
HM: Orange Cassidy vs Lance Archer

Nth all these.

# ? Jul 16, 2023 04:05

graph: Nov 22, 2006; aaag peanuts

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: FTR (C) vs. Bullet Club Gold (White & Robinson) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AEW Tag Titles - AEW Collision 7/15

Last week they had a MOTYC to set up this match. This week they elevated so far beyond that match it's unbelievable. The crowd was white-hot, both teams were incredible in the ring, the nearfalls were works of art, the pacing was perfect, and the time just sailed by and the match NEVER felt like it was spinning its wheels or making up time. Also the Riccaboni/McGuinness commentary pairing was excellent and Nigel losing his loving mind at how good the match was ruled.

absolute loving masterpiece. holy poo poo

Captain Foo posted:

HM: ruby soho vs willow nightingale, owen hart final. Being a compelling match in its own right after the previous match

yeah. and the followup to that tag match. imagine following that. they did real good

# ? Jul 16, 2023 04:10

KungFu Grip: Jun 18, 2008

WMOTYC: Vampiro, Jack Evans, and Aramis vs Pagano, Besita 666, Mecha Wolf - AAA Triplemania XXXI Tijuana 7/15

# ? Jul 16, 2023 04:15

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

KungFu Grip posted:

WMOTYC: Vampiro, Jack Evans, and Aramis vs Pagano, Besita 666, Mecha Wolf - AAA Triplemania XXXI Tijuana 7/15

Yeah

# ? Jul 16, 2023 04:21

KungFu Grip: Jun 18, 2008

MOTYC Kento Miyahara vs Katsuhiko Nakajima - NOAH One Night Dream July 15th

This was the best match of the day by far.

# ? Jul 16, 2023 04:25

flashy_mcflash: Feb 7, 2011

MOTYC: Ambulance Match QT Marshall vs Pentagon JR, Triplemania 07/15

Perfection.

# ? Jul 16, 2023 05:09

boxcarhobo: Jun 23, 2005

flashy_mcflash posted:

MOTYC: Ambulance Match QT Marshall vs Pentagon JR, Triplemania 07/15

Perfection.

the purest form of real professional wrestling I have ever seen, nth

# ? Jul 16, 2023 05:10

YourHumbleMessiah: Oct 11, 2005

flashy_mcflash posted:

MOTYC: Ambulance Match QT Marshall vs Pentagon JR, Triplemania 07/15

Perfection.

This was legendary nth

# ? Jul 16, 2023 05:24

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

MassRafTer posted:

AEW Collision 7/15
HM: Willow Nightingale vs Ruby Soho
HM: CM Punk vs Ricky Starks

AEW Battle of the Belts 7
HM: Orange Cassidy vs Lance Archer

Yeah agreed

# ? Jul 16, 2023 06:46

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW G1 Climax 33 Night 1 July 15th
MOTYC
Ren Narita vs Shota Umino
- These two are going to be rivals for the next decade and I love it

Kaito Kiyomiya vs Yota Tsuji
- Welcome to the G1 kid

Will Ospreay vs Taichi
- Some questionable selling from Billy aside this loving rocked

HM
Kazuchika Okada vs Great O-Khan

Yeah agreed

# ? Jul 16, 2023 06:46

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

HM: Antifaz del Norte, Dinamico, & Gringo Loco vs. Dralistico, Hijo del Vikingo, & Laredo Kid, AAA 4/8

# ? Jul 16, 2023 07:04

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𝅘𝅥𝅮

Finished Impact Wrestling Slammiversary, which all these are from (7/15):

HM: The Coven (c) vs. Killer Kelly & Masha Slamovich for the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship
MOTYC: Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Trinity for the Impact Knockouts World Championship
HM: Alex Shelly (c) vs. Nick Aldis for the Impact World Championship

# ? Jul 16, 2023 07:44

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

HM: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NJPW G1 Climax Night 2 7/16

Zack is the perfect opponent for current day Tanahashi, who also wrestled a very smart match. Good chemistry between them and very, very clever in the way they told their story and got the crowd fully invested by the finish.

# ? Jul 16, 2023 08:03

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# ? Jun 3, 2024 13:04

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

WMOTYC: EVIL vs. Tama Tonga - NJPW G1 Climax Night 2 7/16

It's been the same old poo poo for at least 2 years now if not longer and it was loving terrible when it started. Please end the House of Torture.

HM: Jeff Cobb vs. Tetsuya Naito - NJPW G1 Climax 2 7/16

Cobb and Naito have great chemistry together and this was a cool as hell main event.

Jerusalem fucked around with this message at 08:49 on Jul 16, 2023

# ? Jul 16, 2023 08:25

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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