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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 January 4th
MOTYC
FTR (Dash Harwood and Cash Wheeler) (c) vs Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto) - IWGP Tag Championships
Ren Narita vs Zack Sabre Jr - Vacant NJPW World Television Championship
Taiji Ishimori (c) vs El Desperado vs Master Wato vs Hiromu Takahashi - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship
Will Ospreay (c) vs Kenny Omega - IWGP US Championship
Jay White (c) vs Kazuchika Okada - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

HM
Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira and TJP) vs LiYoh (Lio Rush and YOH) - IWGP Jr Tag Championships

Chock full on weird moments and odd decisions and dumb botches, but when New Japan is on it's loving ON

Nth to these. And I really wish I could give an HM to Kairi and Tam but it stopped just as it was getting good.

Barry Bluejeans posted:

AEW Dark - January 4th, 2023

HM: Top Flight vs. The Workhorsemen

Nth to this.

# ¿ Jan 4, 2023 16:53

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# ¿ May 21, 2024 14:05

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

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Samoa Joe (C) vs. Darby Allin for the TNT Title - AEW Dynamite 1/4

Holy poo poo this was even better than their first match, aided by an absolutely electric crowd.

Nth, what a good match.

# ¿ Jan 5, 2023 09:19

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

Jerusalem posted:

For the first time this year, AEW has taken 1st place in the successful MOTYCs list, and if the last couple of years are anything to go by it will hold this lead for the rest of the year.... or WILL IT!?!

Depends how may times Muta has final matches, baby

# ¿ Jan 12, 2023 23:46

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

so we're 14 days into 2023 and we've had 15 MOTYCs so far (coincidentally exactly the same number we'd had by this time last year). Pretty solid pace.

# ¿ Jan 15, 2023 00:00

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

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Kazuchika Okada & Togi Makabe vs. Kaito Kiyomiya & Yoshiki Inamura - Wrestle Kingdom 17: NJPW vs. NOAH 1/21

They very, very, very wisely made the decision to have Okada and Kiyomiya just lose their loving minds and try to kill each other in complete disregard for the actual match and it ruled so loving much.

Nth. Absolutely exquisite way to do this.

# ¿ Jan 21, 2023 10:22

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW/NOAH Present Wrestle Kingdom 17 Night 2 January 21st
MOTYC
Shingo Takagi vs Katsuhiko Nakajima
Tetsuya Naito vs Kenoh

HM
Kazuchika Okada and Togi Makabe vs Kaito Kiyomiya and Yoshiki Inamura
Hiromu Takahashi vs Hajime Ohara

Real fun show, the 4 hours breezed by

Nth to these, and MOTYC to Okada & Makabe vs Kiyomiya and Inamura

# ¿ Jan 22, 2023 08:54

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

ROH: Jay Briscoe Tribute and Celebration Of Life (I'm calling this ROH because ROH uploaded it).

HMHagane Shinno vs Wheeler Yuta - really well executed Pure match between two outstanding opponents

Catching up on the rest, but it's hard to judge this as a wrestling show because I'm too emotional about it.

# ¿ Jan 26, 2023 22:21

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

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: Zack Sabre Jr (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii, NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo, 05/02

Ishii did a Yoshi Tonic what the gently caress man

Easiest loving Nth of the night.

# ¿ Feb 5, 2023 08:47

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

HM: Billie Starkz vs Yuka Sakazaki, AEW Dark Elevation, February 6.

Overall a very good match with an absolutely insane apron spot.

# ¿ Feb 7, 2023 09:15

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

graph posted:

AEW Dynamite 2/8

MOTYC: MJF vs. Konosuke Takeshita
MOTYC: RUSH vs. Bryan Danielson
MOTYC: The Elite vs. AR Fox & Top Flight

just another banger rear end loving dynamite

Know what? This gets an Nth.

# ¿ Feb 9, 2023 10:04

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

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: Jay White vs. Hikuleo, NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka, 11/02

Incredible character work from Jay combined with a genuinely uncertain outcome makes this a must watch

Nth, really good.

# ¿ Feb 11, 2023 12:04

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

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.

Nth the whole lot. Solid.

# ¿ Feb 11, 2023 12:05

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

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta, AEW Dynamite, 22/02

nth

# ¿ Feb 23, 2023 10:22

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

Rarity posted:

We don't say it enough so thanks for all your work on this thread, J-Ru!

# ¿ Mar 1, 2023 10:49

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

Pylons posted:

ROH Honor Club 3/2

MOTYC: ZSJ vs. Blake Christian
HM: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Josh Woods
HM: Willow Nightingale vs. Lady Frost
MOTYC: Claudio Castagnoli vs. AR Fox

Nth. What a good show.

# ¿ Mar 3, 2023 09:13

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

Penguin Patrol posted:

AEW Revolution 3/05
HM: Lucha Bros & Mark Briscoe vs Varsity Athletes (Tony Nese, Josh Woods & Ari Daivari) (pre-show)
HM: Ricky Starks vs Chris Jericho
MOTYC: Jungle Boy vs Christian Cage - Casket Match
MOTYC: The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks) (c) vs House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) - AEW Trios Championships
MOTYC: Jon Moxley vs Hangman Adam Page - Texas Death
HM: The Gunns (c) vs The Acclaimed vs Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal vs Orange Cassidy & Danhausen - AEW Tag Team Championships
MOTYC: MJF (c) vs Bryan Danielson - AEW World Championship Iron Man Match

Nth to all. Holy christ what a pape.

# ¿ Mar 6, 2023 09:37

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

Pylons posted:

ROH Honorclub 3/9

HM: Timothy Thatcher vs. Wheeler Yuta (c), ROH Pure Title
HM: Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) vs. "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams & Rhett Titus
MOTYC: Athena(c) vs. Willow Nightingale, ROH Women's Championship

Nth to these.

# ¿ Mar 10, 2023 09:03

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

GEORGE W BUSHI posted:

MOTYC: The Dream Team (Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi) vs. Shota Umino & Ren Narita - NJPW New Japan Cup Night 4 (3/11)

Okada vs everyone younger than him is the feud of the year. His amazing dickhead energy really shines through here.

Nth. The spirit of Mutoh lives on in him.

# ¿ Mar 11, 2023 10:55

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

Rarity posted:

HM: Aaron Henare vs. Tama Tonga, NJPW New Japan Cup Night 5, 12/03

The most I've enjoyed a Tama match in ages

Nth. Solid beef lads.

# ¿ Mar 12, 2023 10:59

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

HM Brian Cage vs Jack Cartwheel, AEW Dark 13/03/2023

Cage versus cruisers is always a good time, and Jack Cartwheel had his flying boots on tonight. Super good fun beginning to end.

# ¿ Mar 14, 2023 21:22

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

Senerio posted:

MOTYC: Andreza Giant Panda + Haruna Neko vs Kyoraku Kyomei (Hyper Misao + Shoko Nakajima) March 18 2023, Grand Princess 2

<3

Nth. A great moment in the history of wrestling and also the history of our planet.

# ¿ Mar 18, 2023 08:55

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

SG Bamboo posted:

TJPW Grand Princess II March 18th
MOTYC

Miu Watanabe (c) vs Rika Tatsumi - International Princess Championship
- Started off slow but got real good real quick, two partners throwing everything at each other including one of the sickest finishes I've seen in a while

Wasteland War Party (Max the Impaler and Heidi Howitzer) (c) vs 121000000 (Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh) - Princess Tag Championships
- It's a rare match that can make the final boss of TJPW an underdog but WWP managed it here. Max's run has been fantastic but this match sold me completely on Heidi as well, she rules

Yuka Sakazaki (c) vs Mizuki - Princess of Princess Championship
- MY EMOTIONS

HM
Suzume vs Arisu Endo
Ram Kaicho and Free Wifi (Nao Kakuta and Hikari Noa) vs Raku Appreciation Society (Raku, Yuki Aino and Pom Harajuku)
Ryo Mizunami vs Moka Miyamoto
NEO Biishiki-gun (Sakisama and Mei Saint-Michelle) vs Kamiyu and Billie Starkz

Teej don't miss when it comes to big shows, only thing I was even a little disappointed in was the Aja Kong/Yuki Arai match

Nth to these

# ¿ Mar 18, 2023 12:23

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

Pylons posted:

ROH Supercard of Honor 3/31

MOTYC El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Komander
HM: The Embassy (Brian Cage, Kaun & Toa Liona) vs. Gran Metalik, Blake Christian, & AR Fox
MOTYC: Athena vs. Yuka Sakazaki
MOTYC: Mark Briscoe vs. Samoa Joe
HM: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Daniel Garcia
MOTYC: "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)
HM: Wheeler Yuta vs. Katsuyori Shibata
MOTYC: Eddie Kingston vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Nth. Hell of a show.

# ¿ Apr 1, 2023 11:16

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

Congratulations to WWE on their first MOTYC of 2023.

# ¿ Apr 2, 2023 08:21

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

Rarity posted:

HM: Sammy Guevara vs. Konosuke Takeshita, AEW Rampage, 31/03

Nth

# ¿ Apr 3, 2023 07:17

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

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: Jamie Hayter (c) vs. Riho, AEW Dynamite, 05/04
HM: Sammy Guevara vs. Komander, AEW Dynamite, 05/04
HM: The Gunns (c) vs. FTR, AEW Dynamite, 05/04

Nth to these

# ¿ Apr 6, 2023 11:21

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

Pylons posted:

ROH Honor Club 4/6

HM: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Christopher Daniels
HM: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Tony Nese
MOTYC: Athena vs. Miyu Yamashita

Nth. Very enjoyable show.

# ¿ Apr 7, 2023 07:26

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

SG Bamboo posted:

AEW Elevation April 10th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzi6DB19iP8
HM
37KAMIINA (Shunma Katsumata, MAO and Yuki Ueno) vs The Butcher, The Blade and Kip Sabian
- Real happy the sauna boys got to show off some of their stuff to a wider audience

Nth, a hosed up match for a hosed up world.

# ¿ Apr 11, 2023 05:52

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

A Fancy Hat posted:

AEW Dynamite 4/12

MOTYC: Swerve vs. Darby Allin
MOTYC: Orange Cassidy vs. Buddy Matthews

Nth to these. Super solid singles wars.

# ¿ Apr 13, 2023 06:59

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

Pylons posted:

ROH Honor Club 4/13

HM: Wheeler Yuta vs. "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams
HM: Katsuyori Shibata & Alex Coughlin vs. The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)

MOTYC: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Metalik

Nth to these.

# ¿ Apr 14, 2023 10:13

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

It was a battle for a belt...

# ¿ Apr 14, 2023 13:33

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

Pylons posted:

NOAH Green Journey in Sendai 4/16

HM: Sumire Natsu vs. Maya Yukihi
HM: Jack Morris vs. El Hijo de Doctor Wagner Jr.
MOTYC: Takashi Sugiura & Shuhei Tanaguchi vs. Masa Kitamiya & Daisuke Inaba
MOTYC: Jake Lee vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima

I'll Nth these

# ¿ Apr 17, 2023 07:10

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

Rarity posted:

HM: Ruby Soho/Toni Storm vs. Britt Baker/Jamie Hayter, AEW Dynamite, 19/04
HM: Powerhouse Hobbs (c) vs. Wardlow, AEW Dynamite, 19/04
HM: Jay White vs. Komander, AEW Dynamite, 19/04
MOTYC: Sammy Guevara vs. Jack Perry, AEW Dynamite, 19/04

Nth

Pylons posted:

ROH Honor Club 4/20

HM: Willow Nightingale vs. Robyn Renegade
HM: Lee Moriarty vs. Konosuke Takeshita
MOTYC: El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Gringo Loco

Nth

# ¿ Apr 22, 2023 11:05

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

Jerusalem posted:

HM: El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Dralistico - AEW Rampage 4/22

Nobody told these guys this was a "B Show" on the wrong night, and they just went hard in front of a fired up crowd doing some unbelievably cool poo poo.

Nth. Vikingo only has one speed and he hit it here.

# ¿ Apr 23, 2023 06:48

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

achillesforever6 posted:

Enjoy Wrestling: Rites Of Spring 4/27/2023

HM Trish Adora & Jordan Blade vs Wasteland War Party (c) for the TJPW Princess Tag Team Championship

Nth, this was very good

# ¿ Apr 28, 2023 13:48

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

Rarity posted:

HM: Jeff Cobb/Aussie Open/Aaron Henare vs. Zack Sabre Jr./Mikey Nicholls/Shane Haste/Kosei Fujita, NJPW Road to Dontaku, 30/04

TMDK vs. UE has been the highlight of this tour

Just think, Shane Haste could have been locking Reggie in a cage while yelling "Crikey!" right now.

# ¿ Apr 30, 2023 10:13

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

Pylons posted:

TJPW Inspiration 5/1

MOTYC: Gabai Ji-Chan vs. Mahiro Kiryu
HM: Sawyer Wreck vs. Hikari Noa

Nth to both.

# ¿ May 1, 2023 12:02

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

MassRafTer posted:

ROH on Honorclub 5/4

MOTYC: Claudio Castagnoli vs Robbie Eagles
HM: Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels

Basically everything in the first hour is good to great. Athena is particularly good. But this Claudio/Eagles match, wow. What a finish especially.

Nth to both. Eagles stepped way up.

# ¿ May 5, 2023 06:44

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

Rarity posted:

HM: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Rey Fenix, AEW Dynamite, 10/05
MOTYC: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Daniel Garcia, AEW Dynamite, 10/05
HM: Julia Hart vs. Anna Jay, AEW Dynamite, 10/05
MOTYC: Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega, AEW Dynamite, 10/05

Nth

# ¿ May 12, 2023 05:47

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# ¿ May 21, 2024 14:05

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

Pylons posted:

ROH Honor Club 5/11

HM: Mark Briscoe vs. Shane Taylor
HM: Blackpool Combat Club (Wheeler Yuta & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. The Foundation ("Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams & Rhett Titus)
HM: Blake Christian vs. Samoa Joe
HM: Willie Mack vs. Ninja Mack
HM: Kyle Fletcher vs. Tony Deppen
HM: AR Fox vs. Anthony Henry
HM: Athena vs. Skye Blue

Nth to all, except I'm bumping Athena / Skye to a motyc

# ¿ May 12, 2023 08:10

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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