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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Thanlis: Mar 17, 2011

All from Wrestle Kingdom 16, 1/4, night 1:

WMOTYC: EVIL vs. Ishii
MOTYC: Okada vs. Takagi
MOTYC: Shibata vs. ~MYSTERY MAN~
MOTYC: Desperado vs. Hiromu
HM: Dangerous Tekkers vs. Goto & YOSHI-HASHI

My third Wrestle Kingdom, the worst so far, but still sets a good bar for the rest of the year. Despy and Hiromu elevated to MOTYC for me when they started throwing those closed fist punches out of sheer intensity. I originally hoped that was going to close out the feud but now I'm OK with it going another year. I liked the tag championship match but we really need to get G1 ZSJ into these tag matches, he's too good to be the perennial guy who takes the beat down before Taichi saves him.

# ? Jan 5, 2022 18:20

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# ? May 21, 2024 10:21

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

WMOTYC
3rd January
All Japan New Year Wars Night 2
Purple Haze (Devil Murasaki & Izanagi) vs Total Eclipse (Kuma Arashi & TAJIRI)

This is extremely TAJIRI booking. Devil Murasaki is a loving terrible gimmick & I think i'm officially done with sports tape comedy spots done by people who aren't Toru Yano.

Izanagi AND Kuma deserve better than thus

# ? Jan 6, 2022 00:29

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

SG Bamboo posted:

AJPW New Years War Night 2 January 3rd
MOTYC
Runaway SUPLEX (Shotaro Ashino and SUWAMA) (c) vs NEXTREAM (Kento Miyahara and Yuma Aoyagi) - AJPW Tag Team Championships
- SUWAMA is very obviously past his prime now, but the other three guys are great enough that they're are able to cover for him when he needs to slow down. NEXTREAM are in the running for the best stable in the world, they only have four members but all four rule. This match ruled, only mistep I saw was around 20 minutes in where Ashino slipped when going for a corner suplex, but that's small beans when taken with the rest of the match (and also having Kyohei as the ref. gently caress you, you slow counting old man).

2nd this. Although I'm a bit higher on Suwama than SG is, I think he's slowing down but is Still more than good enough. Just no more Triple Crown reigns please.

I actually feel upbeat about All Japan after these 2 shows this week. Yuma has been successfully elevated to the main event scene now, Ashino is undercontract, Kento is still great, you have Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi who aren't at the level but I think Doi could be a legitimate TC challenger without too much booking effort. The Saito Brothers are about to go to MLW for a while and are improving noticeably every time you see them. They still have access to 2AW, BJW & GLEAT talent. Rising HAYATO is going to have his first title shot, Atsuki Aoyagi looks like an ace of the Juniors in the future, I'm assuming Akira will be back at some point.

If the booking doesn't get in the way of things it's an exciting promotion.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 01:39

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

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:34

Truther Vandross: Jun 17, 2008

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

Seconded. Amazing match

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:35

JUNGLE BOY: Sep 23, 2019

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

Nth

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:36

Akileese: Feb 6, 2005

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

Nth

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:36

Dango Bango: Jul 26, 2007

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

Absolutely wonderful. Nth.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:36

flatluigi: Apr 23, 2008; here come the planes

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

beginning to think these two dudes are good at wrestling (nth'd)

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:36

Testekill: Nov 1, 2012; I demand to be taken seriously

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

Nthd, this might have been better than the first round.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:37

Kevino07: Oct 16, 2008

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

nth

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:38

Thanlis: Mar 17, 2011

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

Nth; they took the first match and built on it in different ways, which was cool.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:39

Pylons: Mar 16, 2009

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

Nth. A goddamn war.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:39

STING 64: Oct 20, 2006

STONE COLD 64 posted:

i will update this post as the year progresses. i don't bother with HMs. if i nominate something MOTY then it is because i believe it is the best match i've seen this year, further nominations mean that i think it displaces my previous MOTYC. the same goes for WMOTY noms.

MOTY: Katsuyori Shibata vs Ren Narita, NJPW WrestleKingdom in the Tokyo Dome n1

Shingo Takagi vs Kazuchika Okada, NJPW WrestleKingdom in the Tokyo Dome n1

Kazuchika Okada vs Will Ospreay, NJPW Wrestle Kingdom in the Tokyo Dome n2

Hangman Adam Page vs Bryan Danielson, AEW Dynamite Jan 5 2022

WMOTY:

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:40

Benne: Sep 2, 2011; STOP DOING HEROIN

MOTYC: MJF vs. Shawn Dean, AEW Dynamite 1/5

You know I'm right

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:45

Kevino07: Oct 16, 2008

Benne posted:

You know I'm right

HM: MJF vs. Shawn Dean, AEW Dynamite 1/5

I cackled at 1:40am, so will give it a HM instead

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:46

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

Benne posted:

MOTYC: MJF vs. Shawn Dean, AEW Dynamite 1/5

You know I'm right

nth

Also MOTYC: Page vs. Danielson, but let's be real, MJF vs. Dean is the match of the year.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:48

Oil!: Nov 5, 2008; Der's e'rl in dem der hills!; Ham Wrangler

Benne posted:

MOTYC: MJF vs. Shawn Dean, AEW Dynamite 1/5

You know I'm right

Context is very important for these things, so nth.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:50

Testekill: Nov 1, 2012; I demand to be taken seriously

Benne posted:

MOTYC: MJF vs. Shawn Dean, AEW Dynamite 1/5

You know I'm right

I'm not going to nominate this but I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 02:57

flatluigi: Apr 23, 2008; here come the planes

Benne posted:

MOTYC: MJF vs. Shawn Dean, AEW Dynamite 1/5

You know I'm right

nth

# ? Jan 6, 2022 03:29

DarkstarIV: Apr 6, 2010; OFFICIAL RACIST

WMOTYC: Jade Cargill vs Ruby Soho, TBS Title Match, AEW: Dynamite 1/5/22

So I was thinking about this for like 5 minutes on if I wanted to nominate this or not. Like the match itself...existed, but I think putting the title on Jade was the wrong decision. Felt like the title should have gone on Ruby even if just for a little bit, to ignite a bit of fire for the new belt. But the botches and the finish being...a thing did not help anyone involved in this match. AEW putting the title on Jade right now is a massive gamble considering how green she is still.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 03:30

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

DarkstarIV posted:

WMOTYC: Jade Cargill vs Ruby Soho, TBS Title Match, AEW: Dynamite 1/5/22

So I was thinking about this for like 5 minutes on if I wanted to nominate this or not. Like the match itself...existed, but I think putting the title on Jade was the wrong decision. Felt like the title should have gone on Ruby even if just for a little bit, to ignite a bit of fire for the new belt. But the botches and the finish being...a thing did not help anyone involved in this match. AEW putting the title on Jade right now is a massive gamble considering how green she is still. Even if Ruby had won, I don't think people would have been opposed to a heel like Serena getting it shortly after.

Match was decent and got the crowd big for the closing minutes, in no way was this the "worst match of the year" candidate.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 03:31

Kevino07: Oct 16, 2008

WMOTYC: Ruby Soho vs Jade Cargill for the TBS Championship AEW Dynamite 1/5
Grading AEW on a curve, but this was not good. Heatless, poorly paced and sloppy.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 03:32

flatluigi: Apr 23, 2008; here come the planes

yeah i'm not giving it even a HM but it was in no way a bad match, just an okay one. excited to see some different matchups happen in the future

# ? Jan 6, 2022 03:32

Testekill: Nov 1, 2012; I demand to be taken seriously

It was slow and sloppy but not outright awful. The Women's triple threat on NXT was miles worse.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 03:39

Junpei Hyde: Mar 15, 2013

DarkstarIV posted:

WMOTYC: Jade Cargill vs Ruby Soho, TBS Title Match, AEW: Dynamite 1/5/22

So I was thinking about this for like 5 minutes on if I wanted to nominate this or not. Like the match itself...existed, but I think putting the title on Jade was the wrong decision. Felt like the title should have gone on Ruby even if just for a little bit, to ignite a bit of fire for the new belt. But the botches and the finish being...a thing did not help anyone involved in this match. AEW putting the title on Jade right now is a massive gamble considering how green she is still.

It's ok, neither of them were from Japan

# ? Jan 6, 2022 03:46

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

Cerebral Bore posted:

MOTYC: Kazuchika Okada vs Will Ospreay NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 05.01

Bad Billy may be a bellend, but he sure can wrestle. And incedentally so can Okada. Legit instant classic.

Nth

I was texting a buddy who rarely watches NJPW around the halfway mark about how this is almost as good as last night's main event and then they went to that magical place and I'm pretty sure my texts became just nonsense enthusiasm from then on. This was unreal.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 03:56

Kevino07: Oct 16, 2008

HM: Jurassic Express vs. The Lucha Brothers for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, AEW: Dynamite 1/5/22

Good match, brought back a dead crowd. Some awkwardness in the middle preventing a full MOTYC nomination.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 04:03

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

HM: Lucha Bros v JB & Lucha Dino, sorry about your arm Fenix

# ? Jan 6, 2022 04:03

Jordan7hm: Feb 17, 2011; Lipstick Apathy

Punch McLightning posted:

HM: Lucha Bros v JB & Lucha Dino, sorry about your arm Fenix

Yeah. Nth.

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

Also nth. What a match.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 04:05

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

Kevino07 posted:

HM: Jurassic Express vs. The Lucha Brothers for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, AEW: Dynamite 1/5/22

Good match, brought back a dead crowd. Some awkwardness in the middle preventing a full MOTYC nomination.

4thed, really good match with a lovely ending but also Fenix's arm fuccccck :gonk:

# ? Jan 6, 2022 04:18

Thanlis: Mar 17, 2011

DarkstarIV posted:

WMOTYC: Jade Cargill vs Ruby Soho, TBS Title Match, AEW: Dynamite 1/5/22

Yah � I can�t nth this cause of the outcome although I agree with you, it was just a very clumsy match and your tournament finals shouldn�t be like that. The bar needs to be higher.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 04:19

Psycho Mantits: Oct 6, 2009

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page vs. Bryan Danielson, AEW World Title Match - AEW Dynamite 1/5/22

I was unsure about the first match ending in a draw. I was a fool, because it lead to this. Absolutely incredible.

HM: Jurassic Express vs. The Lucha Brothers, AEW World Tag Team Title Match, AEW Dynamite 1/5/22

Really fun and would've been a MOTYC if not for Fenix mangling his arm (get well soon you gravity-defying bastard).

WMOTYC: Jade Cargill vs Ruby Soho, TBS Title Match, AEW Dynamite 1/5/22

Jade sucks. She might be good in a year or two but presently, she sucks. I like Ruby but she didn't do much better. A total mismatch and a terrible way to establish a new title.

Psycho Mantits fucked around with this message at 16:03 on Jan 6, 2022

# ? Jan 6, 2022 04:28

Huntman: Apr 22, 2010

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

Another nth for funsies. I loved their first match and it set an incredibly high bar for me that this one surpassed. I'm so glad Danielson can have these kinds of matches. ON TV FOR FREE.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 04:29

graph: Nov 22, 2006; aaag peanuts

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Kevino07 posted:

HM: MJF vs. Shawn Dean, AEW Dynamite 1/5

Kevino07 posted:

HM: Jurassic Express vs. The Lucha Brothers for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, AEW: Dynamite 1/5/22

nth

# ? Jan 6, 2022 04:39

edogawa rando: Mar 20, 2007

Kevino07 posted:

HM: MJF vs. Shawn Dean, AEW Dynamite 1/5

I cackled at 1:40am, so will give it a HM instead

MOTYC

# ? Jan 6, 2022 05:19

edogawa rando: Mar 20, 2007

DarkstarIV posted:

WMOTYC: Jade Cargill vs Ruby Soho, TBS Title Match, AEW: Dynamite 1/5/22

So I was thinking about this for like 5 minutes on if I wanted to nominate this or not. Like the match itself...existed, but I think putting the title on Jade was the wrong decision. Felt like the title should have gone on Ruby even if just for a little bit, to ignite a bit of fire for the new belt. But the botches and the finish being...a thing did not help anyone involved in this match. AEW putting the title on Jade right now is a massive gamble considering how green she is still.

It's a candidate for "worst" at this stage yes because we're very early in the year, but it definitely suffered in comparison to the matches that came before and after. poo poo, I'm not saying it should be punished for not being at the standard of the Stardom match at the Dome show last night, but gently caress me, it definitely felt like both could have done a much better job.

The match against Rosa was probably Jade's best match to date, and this felt like a bit of a step backwards. It was just a very sloppy and disjointed match. Hopefully it's just a bad day at the office, and I suppose everyone has a bad day at the office every so often.

# ? Jan 6, 2022 07:12

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

Not even gonna wait to finish Dynamite to nominate this one

MOTYC: Hangman Page vs. Bryan Danielson, AEW Dynamite, 05/01

They actually topped the first one holy hell

# ? Jan 6, 2022 07:15

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

MOTYC: MJF vs. Shawn Dean, AEW Dynamite, 05/01

LMAO

# ? Jan 6, 2022 07:21

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# ? May 21, 2024 10:21

Tarnop: Nov 25, 2013; Pull me out

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hangman Adam Page (C) vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title - AEW Dynamite 1/5

Picked right back up from their hour-long draw and kept up the same quality, with wonderful callbacks to that first match and notable matches of the past (including to one of the judge's own career), both these guys are insanely good. Crazy match, hot crowd, great finish. Hell yeah.

Benne posted:

MOTYC: MJF vs. Shawn Dean, AEW Dynamite 1/5

You know I'm right

Kevino07 posted:

HM: Jurassic Express vs. The Lucha Brothers for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, AEW: Dynamite 1/5/22

Good match, brought back a dead crowd. Some awkwardness in the middle preventing a full MOTYC nomination.

Nth

# ? Jan 6, 2022 07:24

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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