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)

«‹›121 »

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

HM: MIRAI vs. Momo Watanabe, Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 7/23

# ? Nov 10, 2023 21:06

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# ? Jun 3, 2024 15:14

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

HM: Suzu Suzuki vs. Syuri, Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix, 7/23
MOTYC: Giulia vs. Saori Anou, same show

# ? Nov 11, 2023 00:52

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

SG Bamboo posted:

Also Jru I see Nakajima vs Kento Miyahara from NOAH is on both the MOTYC list and the almost MOTYC list. If it's really only got 6 votes someone else should watch it pronto, it was fantastic

No it had the 7 votes, I just missed pruning it out of the Almost MOTYC list, thanks for catching it!

# ? Nov 11, 2023 01:43

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

Jerusalem posted:

No it had the 7 votes, I just missed pruning it out of the Almost MOTYC list, thanks for catching it!

WE GOT 'EM AGAIN!!!

# ? Nov 11, 2023 02:29

Bonk: Aug 4, 2002; Douche Baggins

May add some HMs from the undercard later; DG had a fantastic week.

Dragongate - Gate of Destiny 2023 - 11/5/23

MOTYC: Dream Gate: Madoka Kikuta� vs BigBoss Shimizu (watch)
These two just beat the poo poo out of each other. Shimizu running through all of the Big Six on the way to this was a great story, and they threw absolute bombs at each other the whole time.

Dragongate - Gate of Evolution Day 4 @ Korakuen Hall - 11/9/23

MOTYC: Natural Vibes (Kzy, Kamei, Lee, SMJ) vs D'courage (Kikuta, Dia, Yoshioka, Tanaka) (watch)
Really this whole Korakuen was great and I recommend a top to bottom watch, but do not miss this 8-man. It's pure distilled classic DG multiman sprint.

# ? Nov 11, 2023 02:48

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

HM: Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch, NXT 10/24

# ? Nov 11, 2023 04:04

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

AEW Rampage 11/10

HM: Preston Vance vs. Ricky Starks
HM: Red Velvet vs. Ruby Soho
HM: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Komander/El Hijo del Vikingo

That last match is a borderline MOTYC. What a loving good Rampage.

# ? Nov 11, 2023 05:00

graph: Nov 22, 2006; aaag peanuts

Pylons posted:

AEW Rampage 11/10

HM: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Komander/El Hijo del Vikingo

disagreeing with pylons !!

# ? Nov 11, 2023 05:15

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

NJPW Strong Lonestar Shootout - 11/10

HM:
Eddie Kingston (c) v. Satoshi Kojima for the NJPW Strong Openweight Title
Mayu Iwatani (c) v. Stephanie Vaquer for the IWGP Women's Title

MOTYC:
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) v. "Speedball" Mike Bailey for the New Japan TV Title
Shingo Takagi (c) v. Trent Beretta for the NEVER Openweight Title

Really good show! That Zack Sabre Jr. and Mike Bailey match was something else, definitely check that out. I think all the NJPW TV Title matches get uploaded to the official YouTube at some point.

# ? Nov 11, 2023 05:51

Sticky Nate: Jan 9, 2012

apophenium posted:

NJPW Strong Lonestar Shootout - 11/10

HM:
Eddie Kingston (c) v. Satoshi Kojima for the NJPW Strong Openweight Title
Mayu Iwatani (c) v. Stephanie Vaquer for the IWGP Women's Title

MOTYC:
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) v. "Speedball" Mike Bailey for the New Japan TV Title

2nd

# ? Nov 11, 2023 06:15

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

apophenium posted:

NJPW Strong Lonestar Shootout - 11/10

HM:
Eddie Kingston (c) v. Satoshi Kojima for the NJPW Strong Openweight Title
Mayu Iwatani (c) v. Stephanie Vaquer for the IWGP Women's Title

MOTYC:
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) v. "Speedball" Mike Bailey for the New Japan TV Title
Shingo Takagi (c) v. Trent Beretta for the NEVER Openweight Title

Really good show! That Zack Sabre Jr. and Mike Bailey match was something else, definitely check that out. I think all the NJPW TV Title matches get uploaded to the official YouTube at some point.

Yeah agreed

# ? Nov 11, 2023 07:43

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

apophenium posted:

HM: Eddie Kingston (C) vs. Satoshi Kojima for the NJPW Strong Openweight Title - NJPW Lone Star Shootout 11/10

4thing.

HM: Zack Sabre Jr. (C) vs. Speedball Mike Bailey for the New Japan TV Title - NJPW Lone Star Shootout 11/10
HM: Shingo Takagi (C) vs. Trent? For the NEVER Openweight Title - NJPW Lone Star Shootout 11/10

The sound was fine but you couldn't really hear the impact on moves plus the inky void kind of hampered the whole presentation, but there were some fun, good matches on that show.

Pylons posted:

HM: FTR vs. El Hijo del Velkingo & Komander - AEW Rampage 11/10

3rding. Vikingo and Komander are crazy.

# ? Nov 11, 2023 10:30

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

HM
24th September
Pro Wrestling NOAH Grand Ship In Nagoya
GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
Alejandro & Ninja Mack vs Alpha Wolf & Dragon Bane

A kind of ridiculous spotfest, you could absolutely see people getting in position & setting each other up but gently caress it, it's really spectacular.

# ? Nov 11, 2023 11:31

Dimebags Brain: Feb 18, 2013

Bonk posted:

May add some HMs from the undercard later; DG had a fantastic week.

Dragongate - Gate of Destiny 2023 - 11/5/23

MOTYC: Dream Gate: Madoka Kikuta� vs BigBoss Shimizu (watch)
These two just beat the poo poo out of each other. Shimizu running through all of the Big Six on the way to this was a great story, and they threw absolute bombs at each other the whole time.

Dragongate - Gate of Evolution Day 4 @ Korakuen Hall - 11/9/23

MOTYC: Natural Vibes (Kzy, Kamei, Lee, SMJ) vs D'courage (Kikuta, Dia, Yoshioka, Tanaka) (watch)
Really this whole Korakuen was great and I recommend a top to bottom watch, but do not miss this 8-man. It's pure distilled classic DG multiman sprint.

2nd these. Dream gate match one of my favorite singles matches I�ve seen this year and the eight man is the type of match that makes every other companies� sprints look amateurish in comparison.

# ? Nov 11, 2023 16:03

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

SG Bamboo posted:

Ganbare Pro Giri Giri Chop October 1st
HM
Koji Doi and Kuma Arashi vs Ken Ohka and Shota - Hair vs Hair
Shuichiro Katsumura and Takuya Wada (c) vs Hentai Punch Drunkers (Hikaru Sato and Taison Maeguchi) - Spirit of Ganbare Tag Team Championship

Seconding both of these. GanPro is a fun little indie.

# ? Nov 11, 2023 23:23

Chinston Wurchill: Jun 27, 2010; It's not that kind of test.

apophenium posted:

NJPW Strong Lonestar Shootout - 11/10

HM:
Eddie Kingston (c) v. Satoshi Kojima for the NJPW Strong Openweight Title
Mayu Iwatani (c) v. Stephanie Vaquer for the IWGP Women's Title

MOTYC:
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) v. "Speedball" Mike Bailey for the New Japan TV Title

Really good show! That Zack Sabre Jr. and Mike Bailey match was something else, definitely check that out. I think all the NJPW TV Title matches get uploaded to the official YouTube at some point.

Nth, but HM for Shingo Takagi (c) v. Trent Beretta for the NEVER Openweight Title

# ? Nov 11, 2023 23:26

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

I'm such a dumb All Japan mark

HM
5th November
All Japan Giant Series Hokkaido Edition Show 6
Dan Tamura vs T-Hawk
Watch this here

HM
5th November
All Japan Giant Series Hokkaido Edition Show 6
Ryuki Honda, Suwama & Yuma Anzai vs Zennichi Shin Jidai (Kento Miyahara, Shuji Ishikawa & Yuma Aoyagi)
Watch this here

MOTYC
5th November
All Japan Giant Series Hokkaido Edition Show 6
PWF Junior Heavyweight Title
El Lindaman(c) vs Jonathan Gresham
Watch this here

Even thought the Tag Team Title match with the Saitos vs Hokuto Omori & Minoru Suzuki was just a notch below HM level.

# ? Nov 12, 2023 02:35

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

AEW Collision 11/11

HM: Daniel Garcia vs. Andrade el Idolo
HM: La Faccion Ingobernable (RUSH & Dralistico) vs. The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)
HM: Darius Martin vs. Roderick Strong
HM: Willow Nightingale vs. Julia Hart
HM: Adam Copeland, Sting, & Darby Allin vs. Snake Army (Vincent, Dutch, & Lance Archer)

Pylons fucked around with this message at 04:04 on Nov 12, 2023

# ? Nov 12, 2023 04:01

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

HM: Andrade El Idolo vs. Daniel Garcia - AEW Collision 11/11
HM: Dalton Castle vs. Nick Wayne - AEW Collision 11/11

Every match on Collision was good tonight but these two were the best, and Dalton Castle/Nick Wayne absolutely ruled. Castle is incredible from start to finish.

# ? Nov 12, 2023 04:02

graph: Nov 22, 2006; aaag peanuts

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Andrade El Idolo vs. Daniel Garcia - AEW Collision 11/11
HM: Dalton Castle vs. Nick Wayne - AEW Collision 11/11

Pylons posted:

AEW Collision 11/11

HM: La Faccion Ingobernable (RUSH & Dralistico) vs. The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)

these ones nth

IM ALL ZAZZED UP

# ? Nov 12, 2023 04:13

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

AJPW Real World Tag League/Jr Battle of Glory Night 1 November 12th
MOTYC
Zennichi Shin Jidai (Kento Miyahara and Yuma Aoyagi) vs BULK Orchestra (Hayato Tamura and Galeno Del Mal)

HM
Dan Tamura vs Fuminori Abe
Rising HAYATO vs Hikaru Sato

Solid start to the tour, the Nakajima match is also worth a watch as neither team had the vibe of guys that wanted to team together for an entire tournament

# ? Nov 12, 2023 05:48

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

DDT Ultimate Party November 12th
MOTYC
Eruption (Saki Akai, Hideki Okatani and Yukio Sakaguchi) vs Naomichi Marufuji, Kazusada Higuchi and Miyu Yamashita
- :sickos:

but also

Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs Kazuki Hirata - ~ Nivea Cream Care Body Wash Presents ~ Dramatic Dream Round �Let�s Have Fun!!� What Will Happen!? Fun Death Match for the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight TItle
- What a way to lift the spirits after the emotional retirement ceremony, Hiromu adapted so well to the DDT insanity. Hirata is Hirata, he's the best comedy wrestler in the world

Chris Brookes (c) vs Yuki Ueno - KO-D Openweight Title
- Hell of a way to close out a 5+ hour show, two friends drop absolute bombs on each other

HM
Takeshi Masada vs Kuroshio TOKYO Japan
Matt Cardona (c) vs MAO - DDT Universal Title
KONOSUKE TAKESHITA vs Chris Jericho

First half was whatever but everything from the Eruption match onwards was fantastic

# ? Nov 12, 2023 11:22

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

HM: Eruption (Akai, Okatani, & Sakaguchi) vs. Kazusada Higuchi, Miyu Yamashita & Naomichi Marufuji in Saki Akai's Retirement Match - DDT Ultimate Party 11/12
Very emotional, very sad, very sweet, very beautiful.

MOTYC: Hiromu Takahashi (C) vs. Kazuki Hirata in a Dramatic Dream Round "Let's Have Fun!!" What Will Happen? Fun Deathmatch for the DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title - DDT Ultimate Party 11/12
New Japan's resident "weirdo" gets a lesson in just how loving weird wrestling can get. A wonderful time.

HM: Chris Jericho vs. Konosuke Takeshita - DDT Ultimate Party 11/12
50+ year old Chris Jericho going toe-to-toe with one of the best wrestlers in the world in a great match.

MOTYC: Chris Brookes (C) vs. Yuki Ueno for the KO-D Openweight Title - DDT Ultimate Party 11/12
Holy poo poo. This was the last match of a 5 hour long show and it still managed to work the crowd (and me) into a frenzy. Amazing stuff.

# ? Nov 12, 2023 11:25

fez_machine: Nov 27, 2004

SG Bamboo posted:

DDT Ultimate Party November 12th
MOTYC
Eruption (Saki Akai, Hideki Okatani and Yukio Sakaguchi) vs Naomichi Marufuji, Kazusada Higuchi and Miyu Yamashita
- but also

Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs Kazuki Hirata - ~ Nivea Cream Care Body Wash Presents ~ Dramatic Dream Round �Let�s Have Fun!!� What Will Happen!? Fun Death Match for the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight TItle
- What a way to lift the spirits after the emotional retirement ceremony, Hiromu adapted so well to the DDT insanity. Hirata is Hirata, he's the best comedy wrestler in the world

Chris Brookes (c) vs Yuki Ueno - KO-D Openweight Title
- Hell of a way to close out a 5+ hour show, two friends drop absolute bombs on each other

HM
Takeshi Masada vs Kuroshio TOKYO Japan
Matt Cardona (c) vs MAO - DDT Universal Title
KONOSUKE TAKESHITA vs Chris Jericho

First half was whatever but everything from the Eruption match onwards was fantastic

Nth
A fantastic 3 hour show in a 5 hour package

# ? Nov 12, 2023 11:27

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

HM: Hazuki vs. Mayu Iwatani, Stardom 7/23
HM: AZM vs. MIRAI, Stardom 8/5
HM: Starlight Kid vs. Suzu Suzuki, Stardom 8/5

# ? Nov 12, 2023 18:49

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

HM: BUSHI & Titan vs. El Desperado & Master Wato, NJPW Super Junior Tag Team 10/25

# ? Nov 12, 2023 22:39

Chris James 2: Aug 9, 2012

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hiromu Takahashi (C) vs. Kazuki Hirata in a Dramatic Dream Round "Let's Have Fun!!" What Will Happen? Fun Deathmatch for the DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title - DDT Ultimate Party 11/12
New Japan's resident "weirdo" gets a lesson in just how loving weird wrestling can get. A wonderful time.

MOTYC: Chris Brookes (C) vs. Yuki Ueno for the KO-D Openweight Title - DDT Ultimate Party 11/12
Holy poo poo. This was the last match of a 5 hour long show and it still managed to work the crowd (and me) into a frenzy. Amazing stuff.

nth

# ? Nov 12, 2023 23:22

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

HM: Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey vs. Lio Rush & Trey Miguel, Impact/NJPW Multiverse United 2, 8/20
HM: Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney vs. Francesco Akira & TJP, NJPW Super Junior Tag League 10/24
HM: Shingo Takagi vs. Tama Tonga, NJPW STRONG Fighting Spirit Unleashed 10/28

# ? Nov 13, 2023 00:45

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

Pylons posted:

AEW Collision 11/11

HM: Daniel Garcia vs. Andrade el Idolo
HM: La Faccion Ingobernable (RUSH & Dralistico) vs. The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)
HM: Willow Nightingale vs. Julia Hart
HM: Adam Copeland, Sting, & Darby Allin vs. Snake Army (Vincent, Dutch, & Lance Archer)

Minor tweak but nthing these 4

# ? Nov 13, 2023 00:52

graph: Nov 22, 2006; aaag peanuts

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Chris Jericho vs. Konosuke Takeshita - DDT Ultimate Party 11/12
50+ year old Chris Jericho going toe-to-toe with one of the best wrestlers in the world in a great match.

MOTYC: Chris Brookes (C) vs. Yuki Ueno for the KO-D Openweight Title - DDT Ultimate Party 11/12
Holy poo poo. This was the last match of a 5 hour long show and it still managed to work the crowd (and me) into a frenzy. Amazing stuff.

caught these two, nth very good

wish i would have paid more attention to that spin-the-wheel stip match

# ? Nov 13, 2023 03:10

Pinwiz11: Jan 26, 2009; I'm becom-, I'm becom-,
I'm becoming
Tana in, Tana in my mind.

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hiromu Takahashi (C) vs. Kazuki Hirata in a Dramatic Dream Round "Let's Have Fun!!" What Will Happen? Fun Deathmatch for the DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title - DDT Ultimate Party 11/12
New Japan's resident "weirdo" gets a lesson in just how loving weird wrestling can get. A wonderful time.

Nth. Wrestling is Art.

# ? Nov 13, 2023 04:05

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

HM: Maika vs. Saori Anou, Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 8/5
HM: Natsupoi vs. Syuri, Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 8/8
HM: Giulia vs. Mariah May, Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 8/8

# ? Nov 13, 2023 05:37

Chinston Wurchill: Jun 27, 2010; It's not that kind of test.

Stardom Goddess Tag League Final:

HM: Finals Megan Bayne & Maika vs. Suzu Suzuki & Mei Seira

I didn't pay much attention to the schedule on this one so I didn't even know the finals were this weekend.

Hope the Stardom crew can take some time to recover in the lead up to the big end of year show.

# ? Nov 13, 2023 16:26

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

HM: Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser vs. Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa, Raw 10/30
HM: Bronson Reed vs. Ivar vs. Ricochet vs. The Miz, Raw 11/6
HM: Sami Zayn vs. Seth Rollins, Raw 11/6

Zayn-Rollins was definitely the strongest of the three.

# ? Nov 13, 2023 17:19

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

HM: BIG BOSS Shimizu, Kzy & Strong Machine J vs. Masaaki Mochizuki, Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda, Dragongate Gate of Passion 4/9

# ? Nov 13, 2023 21:48

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

HM: Mayu Iwatani vs. Suzu Suzuki, Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 8/8

# ? Nov 13, 2023 22:52

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

HM
6th July
Big Japan Big B Style ~ Oh When the Crazies go Marching In ~ Night 4
Daimonji So & Yasufumi Nakanoue vs Hearts On Fire (Shigehiro Irie & Yuya Aoki)

WMOTYC
4th October
DDT God Bless DDT Night 2
KO-D Tag Team Titles
DAMNATION TA (KANON & Minoru Fujita) vs Romance Dawn (Shota & Soma Takao)

DAMNATION TA loving sucks.

# ? Nov 13, 2023 23:57

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

MOTYC
9th October
Nagoya Golden Fight Kinshachi Miracle
Wonder of Stardom Title
MIRAI(c) vs Momo Watanabe

HM
9th October
Nagoya Golden Fight Kinshachi Miracle
KAIRI, Mayu Iwatani & Nanae Takahashi vs STARS (Hazuki, Koguma & Saya Iida)

HM
9th October
New Japan Destruction in Ryogoku
NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Titles
CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii) & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Josh Alexander & Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)

HM
9th October
New Japan Destruction in Ryogoku
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
Hiromu Takahashi(c) vs Mike Bailey vs YOH

WMOTYC
9th October
New Japan Destruction in Ryogoku
IWGP World Heavyweight Title
SANADA(c) vs EVIL

Hopefully this is the end of main event EVIL

HM
9th October
Pro Wrestling NOAH Monday Magic Vol.1
Mio Momono & Takumi Iroha vs Riko Kawahata & Yuu

Funny the standout match on this show is a Marvelous offer match, but I'm happy to see the Marvelous wrestlers.

I still have 2 shows from the 9th October to watch, it was a stacked day of wrestling.

# ? Nov 14, 2023 02:05

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

HM: Mayu Iwatani vs. Natsupoi, Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 8/10

# ? Nov 14, 2023 03:08

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? Jun 3, 2024 15:14

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

HM: El Desperado & Master Wato vs. Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA, NJPW Super Junior Tag League 10/30
HM: El Desperado & Master Wato vs. Francesco Akira & TJP, NJPW Super Junior Tag League 10/31

HM: Averno vs. Virus, CMLL Grand Prix de Amazonas, 10/27

Punch McLightning fucked around with this message at 06:04 on Nov 14, 2023

# ? Nov 14, 2023 05:52

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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