2024'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 > 2024's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

«‹›36 »

Count Thrashula: Jun 1, 2003; Death is nothing compared to vindication.; Buglord

Pylons posted:

AEW Dynamite 5/8

HM: Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta
MOTYC: Adam Copeland vs. Brody King

yup

# ? May 9, 2024 14:01

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# ? May 27, 2024 11:31

graph: Nov 22, 2006; aaag peanuts

Pylons posted:

AEW Dynamite 5/8

HM: Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta
MOTYC: Adam Copeland vs. Brody King

yeah we'll go with this

# ? May 9, 2024 14:14

Quantum of Phallus: Dec 27, 2010

Pylons posted:

AEW Dynamite 5/8
MOTYC: Adam Copeland vs. Brody King

nth

# ? May 9, 2024 14:49

flashy_mcflash: Feb 7, 2011

Pylons posted:

AEW Dynamite 5/8

HM: Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta
MOTYC: Adam Copeland vs. Brody King

Nth!

# ? May 9, 2024 14:54

Barry Bluejeans: Feb 2, 2017; ATTENTHUN THITIZENTH

I'm a little surprised at the lack of love for Jay/Rocky (which I'll give an HM btw), I thought it was a really well executed TV match with an exceptional ending sequence

# ? May 9, 2024 15:44

The Taxman: Jan 2, 2007; greetings sweeties, let me give you a back massage. for i am a whiz!

SG Bamboo posted:

TJPW Yes! Wonderland May 6th
MOTYC
Daisy Monkey (Arisu Endo and Suzume) (c) vs HIMAWARI and WAKANA Uehara - Princess Tag Titles
- The new generation defending their titles against the even newer, hungier generation. HIMAWARI especially was great here when she was in peril

Miu Watanabe (c) vs Shoko Nakajima - Princess of Princess Title
- Fantastic stuff, Miu looked right at home in her first defence of the big belt and Shoko is so effortlessly smooth at everyhting she does

HM
Maki Itoh vs Haru Kazeshiro

Also Runa vs Yuna is worth checking out if there's time, very fun show from top to bottom

Burn Down Canberra posted:

Stardom ASGQ 27/4/24

MOTYC: Mayu Iwatani v Sareee. This one is an easy nomination. They literally beat the poo poo out of each other. Pretty much the perfect way of doing a "dream match" where it did suffer from a lack of build but the wrestlers are just so insanely awesome that they could drag all the heat into the match.

MOTYC: Saori Anou v Hanan. This had every right to struggle. Saori at times leaves me very cold when she is on top and she can pace matches in a way that drags. Hanan is a 19 year old in her biggest ever match. They had to follow Iwatani v Sareee but they smashed it out the park. It was actually my motn. I think my investment in Hanan through the Cinderella and up to this match probably plays a role in my fondness for this match but they delivered big time.

HM: Maika v Momo Watanabe: This was a really good match but it was let down by the second fall I thought making it fall just a bit short of the other big title matches. I was also really invested in Momo through the first half of the year. Maika continues being a strong champion.

HM: Crazy Star v FWC v 02 line v SLK/Ruaka : A crazy high speed tag team match. Its probably the easiest recommendation because its just bonkers.

HM: Meltear v Aja Kong/Kaoru Ito: I am probably judging this match on some sort of crazy sliding scale in my mind but this was an otherworldly good performance by meltear. Tam Nakano has returned in good form

Catching up, nthing these

# ? May 9, 2024 21:24

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: The ABC vs. Speedball Mountain, TNA Impact 5/9

# ? May 10, 2024 02:59

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

AJPW Champion Carnival Tag 10 - 5/6

HM
Seigo Tachibana (c) v. Dan Tamura
GAORA TV Title

Marvelous 8th Anniversary - 5/3

HM
Mio Momono & Takumi Iroha v. Mayumi Ozaki & Maya Yukihi

The Momono Ozaki feud continues, this time in a tag bout. Mio is maybe the best babyface in the world right now. She also took a sitout Ganso bomb (it was a botch) and apparently had to go to the hospital to get checked out. But she wrestled again 3 days later so I guess she's okay. I hope she is. I'm desperate to see her best Ozaki.

https://x.com/Raion74_/status/1788641308220784872

# ? May 10, 2024 03:42

Dimebags Brain: Feb 18, 2013

Dragongate at Korakuen Hall, 5/9
MOTYC:
Open the Triangle Gate Championship
Z-Brats (Shun Skywalker, ISHIN, KAI) (c) vs. Natural Vibes (Strong Machine J, Big Boss Shimizu, U-T)

Flawless trios wrestling.

# ? May 11, 2024 01:27

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

CMLL Super Fridays 5/10
HM: Templario vs Flip Gordon

Flip Gordon has improved after one match in Japan.... err six months in Mexico.

# ? May 11, 2024 05:44

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

DDT King of DDT ~ 20th Anniversary ~ 2nd Round May 11th
HM
Kazusada Higuchi vs Shuji Ishikawa
- It's Godzilla vs Kong but with more shoot headbutts

MAO vs To-y
- Close to MOTYC for me if not for a really weird section right at the end that ground the match to a halt, the sauna boys worked so well together as opponents and main event To-y is an absolute gem

# ? May 12, 2024 03:21

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

HM: Eddie Kingston (C) vs. Gabe Kidd in a No Ropes Last Man Standing Match for the New Japan Strong Openweight Title - NJPW Resurgence 5/11
If the crowd had been more audible (they were going nuts, but they were micced awfully) this would have been even better. I was terrified by the ending, but the angle they did with Matthew, Nicholas and Jack Perry afterwards assuaged my fears.

MOTYC: Jon Moxley (C) vs. Shota Umino for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title - NJPW Resurgence 5/11
Even with the "muted" crowd this was incredible. Shota is seriously going to be an incredible superstar of a main eventer for New Japan. Mox absolutely loving rules.

# ? May 12, 2024 07:22

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

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Jon Moxley (C) vs. Shota Umino for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title - NJPW Resurgence 5/11
Even with the "muted" crowd this was incredible. Shota is seriously going to be an incredible superstar of a main eventer for New Japan. Mox absolutely loving rules.

Nth shota is ready

# ? May 12, 2024 07:34

graph: Nov 22, 2006; aaag peanuts

HM: Lee Moriarty vs. Will Ospreay - AEW Collision - 5/11
HM: Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Top Flight - AEW Collision - 5/11
MOTYC: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Kyle O�Reilly - TNT Championship Match - AEW Collision - 5/11
HM:Trent Beretta vs. Dalton Castle - AEW Rampage - 5/11

# ? May 12, 2024 08:12

graph: Nov 22, 2006; aaag peanuts

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Eddie Kingston (C) vs. Gabe Kidd in a No Ropes Last Man Standing Match for the New Japan Strong Openweight Title - NJPW Resurgence 5/11
If the crowd had been more audible (they were going nuts, but they were micced awfully) this would have been even better. I was terrified by the ending, but the angle they did with Matthew, Nicholas and Jack Perry afterwards assuaged my fears.

MOTYC: Jon Moxley (C) vs. Shota Umino for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title - NJPW Resurgence 5/11
Even with the "muted" crowd this was incredible. Shota is seriously going to be an incredible superstar of a main eventer for New Japan. Mox absolutely loving rules.

nth

# ? May 12, 2024 08:12

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

graph posted:

HM: Lee Moriarty vs. Will Ospreay - AEW Collision - 5/11
HM: Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Top Flight - AEW Collision - 5/11
MOTYC: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Kyle O�Reilly - TNT Championship Match - AEW Collision - 5/11
HM:Trent Beretta vs. Dalton Castle - AEW Rampage - 5/11

Nth all these.

# ? May 12, 2024 09:07

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

AJPW Champion Carnival Night 10 May 12th
MOTYC
Kento MIyahara vs Jun Saito
- Match rocked, crowd were hot, final stretch especially was fantastic. Great end to a pretty mediocre tournament

SG Bamboo fucked around with this message at 11:26 on May 12, 2024

# ? May 12, 2024 11:23

Sticky Nate: Jan 9, 2012

SG Bamboo posted:

AJPW Champion Carnival Night 10 May 12th
MOTYC
Kento MIyahara vs Jun Saito
- Match rocked, crowd were hot, final strentch especially was fantastic. Great end to a pretty mediocre tournament

2nd

# ? May 12, 2024 11:25

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

graph posted:

HM: Lee Moriarty vs. Will Ospreay - AEW Collision - 5/11
HM: Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Top Flight - AEW Collision - 5/11
MOTYC: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Kyle O�Reilly - TNT Championship Match - AEW Collision - 5/11
HM:Trent Beretta vs. Dalton Castle - AEW Rampage - 5/11

Nth these.

# ? May 12, 2024 12:36

iPodschun: Dec 29, 2004; Sherlock House

HM: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Kyle O�Reilly - TNT Championship Match - AEW Collision - 5/11

MOTYC: Jon Moxley (C) vs. Shota Umino for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title - NJPW Resurgence 5/11

# ? May 12, 2024 17:39

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

graph posted:

HM: Lee Moriarty vs. Will Ospreay - AEW Collision - 5/11
HM: Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Top Flight - AEW Collision - 5/11
MOTYC: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Kyle O�Reilly - TNT Championship Match - AEW Collision - 5/11
HM:Trent Beretta vs. Dalton Castle - AEW Rampage - 5/11

Nth to these

# ? May 12, 2024 17:55

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

graph posted:

HM: Lee Moriarty vs. Will Ospreay - AEW Collision - 5/11
HM: Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Top Flight - AEW Collision - 5/11
MOTYC: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Kyle O�Reilly - TNT Championship Match - AEW Collision - 5/11
HM:Trent Beretta vs. Dalton Castle - AEW Rampage - 5/11

Yeah agreed. Fun show live!

# ? May 12, 2024 18:22

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

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Eddie Kingston (C) vs. Gabe Kidd in a No Ropes Last Man Standing Match for the New Japan Strong Openweight Title - NJPW Resurgence 5/11
If the crowd had been more audible (they were going nuts, but they were micced awfully) this would have been even better. I was terrified by the ending, but the angle they did with Matthew, Nicholas and Jack Perry afterwards assuaged my fears.

MOTYC: Jon Moxley (C) vs. Shota Umino for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title - NJPW Resurgence 5/11
Even with the "muted" crowd this was incredible. Shota is seriously going to be an incredible superstar of a main eventer for New Japan. Mox absolutely loving rules.

Nth.

# ? May 12, 2024 20:01

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

Mystery Wrestling 8 5/12

HM: Gabriel Floyd vs. Myung Jae Lee, 2-count hair vs. hair

# ? May 12, 2024 22:26

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

Pylons posted:

Mystery Wrestling 8 5/12

HM: Gabriel Floyd vs. Myung Jae Lee, 2-count hair vs. hair

HM: "Cowboy" Psycho Mike vs. Dan Berry
HM: Jordynne Grace vs. Miyu Yamashita

# ? May 13, 2024 00:15

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

AEW Collision 5/11

HM: Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli vs Top Flight
HM: Lee Moriarty vs Will Ospreay
MOTYC: Adam Copeland vs Kyle O'Reilly

# ? May 13, 2024 00:22

abraham linksys: Sep 6, 2010

apophenium posted:

AJPW Champion Carnival Tag 10 - 5/6

HM
Seigo Tachibana (c) v. Dan Tamura
GAORA TV Title

this whipped rear end, i cannot believe after the longest build in the world this ended up being my favorite match of the tour lol. probably helps that a loud korakuen and actual production will always beat a bunch of single-cam muted-music no-comms house shows, night 10 was super fun in general

# ? May 13, 2024 02:26

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

NJPW Best of the Super Jr 31 Night 1 May 11th
HM
SHO vs Drilla Moloney
Kevin Knight vs TJP
Hiromu Takahashi vs KUSHIDA
El Desperado vs Tit�n

Great start to the tournament, crowd wasn't the best but all the matches were easy watches

# ? May 13, 2024 06:27

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

HM: El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita - NJPW Best of Super Juniors 31 Night 2 5/13
This match had a soundtrack.

HM: Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI - NJPW Best of Super Juniors 31 Night 2 5/13
Borderline MOTYC, the finish almost took it over the top, just handled perfectly. Also, I couldn't loving believe it when the 20 minute call came in, New Japan time dilation^{^TM} at its best.

# ? May 13, 2024 12:55

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

Jerusalem posted:

HM: El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita - NJPW Best of Super Juniors 31 Night 2 5/13
This match had a soundtrack.

HM: Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI - NJPW Best of Super Juniors 31 Night 2 5/13
Borderline MOTYC, the finish almost took it over the top, just handled perfectly. Also, I couldn't loving believe it when the 20 minute call came in, New Japan time dilation^{^TM} at its best.

Nth

But motyc on despe v fujita that was right down my alley

# ? May 13, 2024 12:58

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

HM
23rd April
New Japan Road to Wrestling Dontaku Night 4
Clark Connors vs Shingo Takagi
Watch this here

HM
23rd April
New Japan Road to Wrestling Dontaku Night 4
David Finlay vs Hiromu Takahashi
Watch this here

This match kind of runs in from the previous one so it was really annoying to pick a timestamp here :shrug:

HM
22nd April
Pro Wrestling NOAH Monday Magic Season 2 Ep.4
GHC Tag Team Titles
Good Looking Guys (Anthony Greene & Jack Morris)(c) vs Metal Warrior A & Metal Warrior B Masaaki Mochizuki & Susumu Yokosuka)
Watch this here

HM
3rd May
All Japan Champion Carnival Night 8
Champion Carnival B Block
Jun Saito vs Rei Saito
Watch this here

I had a couple of days over the weekend where I really didn't watch any wrestling, but hey, sometimes you gotta recharge the batteries.

# ? May 13, 2024 21:54

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

AEW Collision - 5/11

HM
Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli v. Dante Martin & Darius Martin

HM
Will Ospreay v. Lee Moriarty

HM
"Dynamite Kid" Thomas Billington v. Dax Harwood

NJPW STRONG Resurgence: The Buy in - 5/11

HM
Lio Rush v. Mustafa Ali

NJPW STRONG Resurgence - 5/11

HM
Jeff Cobb (c) v. Lance Archer
NJPW World TV Title

HM
Shingo Takagi (c) v. Yuya Uemura
NEVER Openweight Title

HM
Eddie Kingston (c) v. Gabe Kidd
No Rope, Last Man Standing Match for the NJPW STRONG Openweight Title

MOTYC
Jon Moxley (c) v. Shota Umino
IWGP World Heavyweight Title

AJPW Champion Carnival Tag 11 - 5/12

HM
Rising HAYATO (c) v. Kaz Hayashi
AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title

MOTYC
Jun Saito v. Kento Miyahara
Champion Carnival 2024 Final

# ? May 14, 2024 02:08

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW Best of the Super Jr 31 Night 1 May 11th
HM
SHO vs Drilla Moloney
Kevin Knight vs TJP
Hiromu Takahashi vs KUSHIDA
El Desperado vs Tit�n

Great start to the tournament, crowd wasn't the best but all the matches were easy watches

Second.

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI - NJPW Best of Super Juniors 31 Night 2 5/13
Borderline MOTYC, the finish almost took it over the top, just handled perfectly. Also, I couldn't loving believe it when the 20 minute call came in, New Japan time dilation^{^TM} at its best.

Third.

Burn Down Canberra posted:

But motyc on despe v fujita that was right down my alley

Second.

# ? May 14, 2024 03:50

abraham linksys: Sep 6, 2010

AJPW Champions Carnival Night 11, 5/12

HM: Hartley Jackson & Lord Crewe vs. Hokuto Omori & Kuma Arashi
HM: Ren Ayabe vs. Rei Saito
MOTYC: Kento Miyahara vs Jun Saito

great capstone show to a pretty mid tour. Kaz vs Hayato didn't quite make my picky HM cut but had some pretty awesome big match bumps

# ? May 14, 2024 03:53

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

Jerusalem posted:

HM: El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita - NJPW Best of Super Juniors 31 Night 2 5/13
This match had a soundtrack.

HM: Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI - NJPW Best of Super Juniors 31 Night 2 5/13
Borderline MOTYC, the finish almost took it over the top, just handled perfectly. Also, I couldn't loving believe it when the 20 minute call came in, New Japan time dilation^{^TM} at its best.

Agreed. Fun matches!

# ? May 14, 2024 06:49

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

HM
12th April
New Japan Windy City Riot
Jack Perry vs Shota Umino
Watch this here

Perry coming out here in Chicago is loving hilarious, & the crowd heat really added to this.

HM
12th April
New Japan Windy City Riot
Hiromu Takahashi vs Mustafa Ali
Watch this here

HM
12th April
New Japan Windy City Riot
NJPW World TV Title
Matt Riddle(c) vs Zack Sabre Jr
Watch this here

HM
12th April
New Japan Windy City Riot
IWGP World Heavyweight Title
Tetsuya Naito(c) vs Jon Moxley
Watch this here

MOTYC
27th April
Ganbare Pro Spring Breakers
Fuminori Abe & Ken Ohka vs Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Yumehito Imanari
Watch this here

You should watch this. Ohka really doesn't fit into this match but also he's so loving over with the Ganbare fanbase that it doesn't matter? Super compelling stuff & with a hot crowd too.

HM
27th April
New Japan Road To Wrestling Dontaku Night 7
NJPW STRONG Tag Team Titles
TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) vs Guerillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo)
Watch this here

HM
27th April
Stardom All Star Grand Queendom
Goddess of Stardom Titles
Crazy Star (Mei Seira & Suzu Suzuki)(c) vs FWC (Hazuki & Koguma) vs Oedo Tai (Ruaka & Starlight Kid) vs Queen's Quest (AZM & Miyu Amasaki)
Watch this here

MOTYC
27th April
Stardom All Star Grand Queendom
IWGP Women's Title
Mayu Iwatani(c) vs Sareee
Watch this here

Best match since Danielson vs ZSJ imo. Insanely good.

MOTYC
27th April
Stardom All Star Grand Queendom
Wonder of Stardom Title
Saori Anou(c) vs Hanan
Watch this here

HM
4th May
Dragongate Gate of Passion Night 12
Hyo vs Shun Skywalker
Watch this here

# ? May 16, 2024 01:32

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

AEW Dynamite 5/15
HM: Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley vs Kyle Fletcher and Jeff Cobb
MOTYC: Swerve Strickland vs Brian Cage
HM: Kazuchika Okada vs Dax Harwood

# ? May 16, 2024 03:25

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

MassRafTer posted:

AEW Dynamite 5/15
HM: Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley vs Kyle Fletcher and Jeff Cobb
MOTYC: Swerve Strickland vs Brian Cage
HM: Kazuchika Okada vs Dax Harwood

Nth these.

# ? May 16, 2024 04:34

Count Thrashula: Jun 1, 2003; Death is nothing compared to vindication.; Buglord

MassRafTer posted:

AEW Dynamite 5/15
HM: Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley vs Kyle Fletcher and Jeff Cobb
MOTYC: Swerve Strickland vs Brian Cage
HM: Kazuchika Okada vs Dax Harwood

This checks out. Nth.

# ? May 16, 2024 04:53

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# ? May 27, 2024 11:31

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

NJPW Best of the Super Jr 31 Night 2 May 13th
MOTYC
El Desperado vs Kosei Fujita

HM
Robbie Eagles vs Drilla Moloney
Taiji Ishimori vs Dragon Dia
SHO vs KUSHIDA
Hiromu Takahashi vs DOUKI

NJPW Best of the Super Jr 31 Night 3 May 15th
HM
Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs Blake Christian
El Desperado vs BUSHI

# ? May 16, 2024 07:09

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > The Hammer House: Stinger Splash Zone > 2024's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

«‹›36 »