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)

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

I really want to start putting in more nominations, so let's start!

SG Bamboo posted:

TJPW in Korakuen Hall January 4th
MOTYC
Hyper Misao vs Shoko Nakajima
- Kyoraku Kyomei explode once again for their annual bullshit stipulation match. Abolsute delightful nonsense mixing some genuinely brutal bumps with cartoon hijinks

Miu Watanabe (c) vs Trish Adora - International Princess Championship
- We all know Miu is strong and cool. Turns out Trish is also very strong and cool, really made me want to see more big matches from her

HM
Maki Itoh vs Rika Tatsumi vs Mizuki vs Kamiyu vs Suzume vs Hikari Noa - Number 1 Contender battle royal
Reiwa AA Cannon (Saki Akai and Yuki Arai) (c) vs Wasteland War Party (MAx the Impaler and Heidi Howitzer) - Princess Tag Championships

I love Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling

Nth, for the matches that I saw.

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Will Ospreay (C) vs. Kenny Omega for the IWGP US Heavyweight Title - NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 1/4

Human beings should not be capable of what these two do in the ring.

Nth.

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Switchblade Jay White (C) vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship - NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 1/4

They had a hell of a job having to follow Omega/Ospreay and it was tough going at first, but they're two of the best wrestlers in the world today and they just did what they do so magnificently, and allowed it to build and build till I was completely on the hook.

Nth.

# ¿ Jan 4, 2023 13:28

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# ¿ May 21, 2024 13:17

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

Dango Bango posted:

MOTYC: Emi Sakura vs. Jamie Hayter (c) - AEW Rampage 1/27

This match made me yell "motherfucker" at my TV.

gently caress. Yes.

# ¿ Jan 28, 2023 05:02

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

karmicknight posted:

TJPW Max Heart Princess Finals 2/11
HM: Moka Miyamoto vs Arisu Endo
HM: Yuki Arai vs Pom Harajuku
MOTYC: Janai Kai & Hikari Noa vs Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino
HM: Miu Watanabe & Suzume vs Magical Sugar Rabbits (Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki)
MOTYC: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao vs 121000000 (Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh) - Max Heart Tag Team Tournament Finals

minor changes.

I will nth this lineup.

# ¿ Feb 11, 2023 07:34

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

Pylons posted:

TJPW Live in Los Angeles 3-31

HM: Miu Watanabe & Shoko Nakajima vs. Wasteland War Party (Max The Impaler & Heidi Howitzer)
HM: Billie Starkz vs. Rika Tatsumi(c), International Princess Championship
HM: 121000000 (Maki Itoh & Miyu Yamashita)(c) vs. Magical Sugar Rabbits (Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki), Tag Team Princess Championship

Nth, plus

HM: Daisy Monkey v Free Wi-Fi

# ¿ Mar 31, 2023 21:56

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

My version of nominations:

Pylons posted:

ROH Supercard of Honor 3/31

HM El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Komander
HM: Athena vs. Yuka Sakazaki
HM: "Reach for the Sky" Ladder match - Top Flight (Dante Martin, Darius Martin) vs. The Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven), Lucha Bros (Penta & Rey Fenix), Los Faccion Ingobernables (RUSH & Dralistico) & Aussie Open (Mike Davis & Kyle Fletcher)
MOTYC: Wheeler Yuta vs. Katsuyori Shibata
MOTYC: Eddie Kingston vs. Claudio Castagnoli

I had a period of minimal attention due to a Thunderstorm Warning so that's why the Joe and Ace matches aren't on my list.

# ¿ Apr 1, 2023 04:09

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

Catching up with Mania-weekend recs:

DDT Goes Hollywood March 30
HM: 37KAMIINA (Shunma Katsumata and MAO) vs Chris Brookes and YOSHIHIKO

DDT vs GCW 3/31
HM: The Moonnlight Express vs. the East West Express
HM: BUSSY vs Pheromones

GCW: Joey Janela's Spring Break 7 3/31
HM: The Motor City Machine Guns (c) vs. the East West Express
MOTYC: Maki Death Kill vs. Bussy

# ¿ Apr 1, 2023 16:00

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

Defenestrategy posted:

Effys Big Gay Brunch 4-1-23

HM: Thrussy vs Mason's Mercenaries War Gays match. - Fun match

HM: Max the Impaler vs Vipress - Fun slasher movie with a romance sub plot.

Nth, plus:

HM: Carlos Romo vs. Devon Monroe - The best match on the show

# ¿ Apr 2, 2023 17:12

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

Summary noms:

AEW Double or Nothing 5/28

MOTYC:
Blackjack Battle Royal
MJF (C) vs. Darby Allin vs. Jungle Boy vs. Sammy Guevara
Blackpool Combat Club (Mox, Danielson, Claudio & Yuta) vs. The Elite (Kenny, Hangman & The Young Bucks) in Anarchy in the Arena

HM:
FTR (C) vs. Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett

# ¿ May 29, 2023 15:31

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

Captain Foo posted:

AEW Collision 6/17

HM: Andrade El Idolo vs. Buddy Matthews
HM: Toni Storm & Ruby Soho vs. Willow Nightingale & Skye Blue
HM: CMFTR (CM Punk & FTR) vs. Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson) & Samoa Joe

Nth

# ¿ Jun 18, 2023 04:27

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

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Kazuki Hirata vs. MAO vs. YOSHIHIKO for the vacant DDT Extreme Title - DDT What Are You Doing? 6/25

This is one of those matches DDT does so well that mixes comedy with obvious incredible athletic talent, and it was a lot of fun to watch.

Nth

# ¿ Jun 25, 2023 17:36

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

Pylons posted:

AEW Rampage 6/30

HM: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Komander
HM: Hikaru Shida vs. Taya Valkyrie

Nth

# ¿ Jul 1, 2023 06:33

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

Catching up on Nths:

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

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

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. Eddie Kingston, NJPW G1 Climax 33 Night 2, 16/07
HM: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr., NJPW G1 Climax 33 Night 2, 16/07

# ¿ Jul 16, 2023 19:01

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

My version:

MassRafTer posted:

AEW ALL IN 8/27 THE BIGGEST SHOW IN HISTORY

HM: Better than You Bay Bay vs Aussie Open
HM: The Golden Elite vs Takeshita, White and Juice
MOTYC: The Young Bucks vs FTR
MOTYC: Stadium Stampede 3
HM: Chris Jericho vs Will Ospreay
MOTYC: MJF v Adam Cole

# ¿ Aug 27, 2023 22:34

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

My version

flatluigi posted:

MOTYC: Ricky Starks vs Bryan Danielson
HM: MJF/Cole vs Reynolds/Silver
HM: Kris Statlander vs Ruby Soho
M(eat)OTYC: Miro vs Hobbs
MOTYC: Kenny Omega vs Konosuke Takeshita
MOTYC: Orange Cassidy vs Jon Moxley

That was an amazing night.

# ¿ Sep 4, 2023 06:49

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

My edit and Nths:

Punch McLightning posted:

HM: Athena, Billie Starkz, Keith Lee & Satoshi Kojima vs. Diamante, Lee Moriarty, Mercedes Martinez & Shane Taylor
HM: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Josh Barnett
MOTYC: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Eddie Kingston
HM: Julia Hart vs. Kris Statlander
HM: Gunns vs. Hook & Orange Cassidy vs. Bucks vs. Luchas
MOTYC: Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland
MOTYC: Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
MOTYC: Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, & Kota Ibushi vs. Callis Family

MOTYC: Darby vs. Christian

# ¿ Oct 2, 2023 05:34

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

Sticky Nate posted:

MOTYC: Speedball Mike Bailey vs Will Ospreay - Bound For Glory 10/21

Nth. Unsurprisingly, these two are great at pro wrestling.

# ¿ Oct 22, 2023 02:17

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

SalTheBard posted:

HM: Alex Shelley vs Josh Alexander - Impact World Championship match - BFG 2023 - 10/21/23

Nth

# ¿ Oct 22, 2023 23:42

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

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

Jerusalem posted:

Hangman Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland in Texas Death - AEW Full Gear 11/18
Bloody, monstrous, disgusting, revolting. Just sickening.

I nominate it for Match of the Year.

Nth

# ¿ Nov 19, 2023 06:02

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

Pylons posted:

AEW Rampage 11/25

HM: Kris Statlander vs. Diamante
HM: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Wheeler Yuta

AEW Collision 11/25

HM: Daniel Garcia vs. Claudio Castagnoli
HM: Eddie Kingston vs. Brody King

Nth

# ¿ Nov 26, 2023 04:28

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# ¿ May 21, 2024 13:17

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

Answers Me posted:

HM: Billie Starkz v Marina Shafir - ROH TV 30 November

Starkz is gonna be a star, and Shafir is either extremely underrated/unfairly criticized or has improved massively lately.

Nth

# ¿ Dec 2, 2023 07:12

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)