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

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.

I will go motyc on it

# ¿ Jan 21, 2023 10:43

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# ¿ May 21, 2024 11:08

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

forkboy84 posted:

Is it as obvious as it seems on paper who ate the pin?

I highly recommend going in completely blind

# ¿ Jan 21, 2023 12:17

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

SG Bamboo posted:

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

HM

Hiromu Takahashi vs Hajime Ohara

Real fun show, the 4 hours breezed by

Already went motyc on the makabe/okada v Kiyomiya/inamura match but Nth those ones

# ¿ Jan 21, 2023 22:58

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

Crapple! posted:

Stardom New Blood 7: 1/20/2023

MOTYC: Hanan and Saya Iida vs MIRAI and Tomoka Inaba

Just 4 ladies beating the absolute poo poo out of each other. Got downright brutal when Saya and MIRAI were in there together

https://youtu.be/sB9znyaGDsI?t=7140

I'll go an HM on that. It was a really strong new blood show from an in ring perspective.

# ¿ Jan 21, 2023 23:00

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

GEORGE W BUSHI posted:

HM: TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Mad Mikey Nicholas, Hysterical Shane Haste & Kosei Fujita) vs. Bishamon, Tomohiro Ishii & Oskar Leube - NJPW Road to The New Beginning (1/24)

They went insanely hard for a Road to show in Korakuen. Fujita continues to prove that he (along with Oiwa) are the best young lions NJPW have had in a very long time. The dynamic here between Ishii, Fujita and Zack was a great story thread.

Nth very good

# ¿ Jan 24, 2023 11:54

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

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: Catch 2/2 (c) vs. Just 2 Guys, NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo, 04/02

DOUKI keeps getting better and better until the ending nooooooo

Nth

Catch 2/2 are amazing and so are the two guys

# ¿ Feb 4, 2023 11:17

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

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: Taichi vs. Will Ospreay, NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo, 04/02

The best wrestler on the New Japan roster and also Will Ospreay

Nth

# ¿ Feb 4, 2023 11:51

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo February 4th

HM
TMDK (Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls, Zack Sabre Jr and Kosei Fujita) vs CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii) and Yuto Nakashima

I'm gonna Nth this bad boy too..extremely fun stuff

# ¿ Feb 4, 2023 15:51

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo February 5th
MOTYC
Zack Sabre Jr (c) vs Tomohiro Ishii - NJPWWorld Tevelvision Championship
- The 15 minute time limit on these matches is absolutely inspired, last few minutes were tense as hell

HM
Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto) (c) vs TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste) - IWGP World Tag Team Championships
Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs YOH - IWGP Jr Championship

Main event took a while to get going but the last 10 minutes were real good, big step up from yesterday's show

Nth but motyc on yoh v hiromu

# ¿ Feb 5, 2023 09:38

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

SG Bamboo posted:

Stardom Supreme Fight February 4th
https://m.vk.com/video-4499945_456250302
MOTYC
Chihiro Hashimoto vs MIRAI
- Big Hash doesn't have bad matches, it's nice to check in on how Mirai has developed since her rookie period and this is the first match i've seen where he opponent can out-hoss her

7Upp (Nanae Takahashi and Yuu) (c) vs MaiHime (Maika and Himeka) - Goddesses of Stardom Title
- I'm biased, i've been a big fan of Nanae and Yuu for years and it was very cool to see them team up against two ladies unafraid to take and give punishment

Guilia (c) vs Suzu Suzuki - World of Stardom Title
- Suzu rules, Giulia is also pretty good

Finally watched this as its gone up on stardom world

Nth to these matches.

Borderline on the mainevent but I'm a sucker for the overall story. Their very melodramatic 5 star gp match has retroactively gone into my match of the year list for 2022 as ive gotten into stardom more. This wasn't as good or anime as that but it was good enough

The other two clear motyc votes

# ¿ Feb 9, 2023 21:23

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

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Switchblade Jay White vs. Hikuleo in a Loser Leaves Japan Match - NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2/11
HM: Tama Tonga (C) vs. El Phantasmo for the NEVER Openweight Title - NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2/11
MOTYC: Kazuchika Okada (C) vs. Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship - NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2/11

First two matches were very interesting and a lot of fun to watch. The main event was incredible: top guys wrestling in front of a white-hot Osaka crowd, time ceasing to have all meaning in the best New Japan tradition, Okada back at absolute full power once again now that crowds can make noise, Shingo reminding everybody he wasn't just champ during COVID as a placeholder but is legit one of the best wrestlers in the world.

Nth but make Jay v Hikuleo a motyc

# ¿ Feb 11, 2023 13:02

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

Njpw battle in the valley 18/2 (although really 19/2 in the east)

Motyc : Mercedes v kairi was motn imo

Motyc: okada v tanahashi this was the best of hits of my favourite match up so I'm going to like it

HM : zsj v Clark
Hm: Eddie v switchblade

# ¿ Feb 19, 2023 08:37

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

GEORGE W BUSHI posted:

MOTYC

Kazuchika Okada vs Kaito Kiyomiya
Keiji Muto vs Tetsuya Naito

NOAH Keiji Muto Final Pro Wrestling �Last� Love ~Hold Out~ (2/21)

Nth

# ¿ Feb 21, 2023 12:28

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW New Japan Cup Night 1 March 5th
MOTYC
SANADA vs Just 1 Guy (Taichi)
- Sanada has fire, therefore the match is excellent if only the right guy won

HM
El Phantasmo vs Tetsuya Naito

Nth

# ¿ Mar 5, 2023 12:54

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW 51st Anniversary March 6th
MOTYC
Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI and Hirookie Goto) (c) vs Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi - IWGP Tag Team Championships
- Holy gently caress this was fantastic, crowd were absolutely electric

HM
Yujiro Takahashi vs Shota Umino
David Finlay vs Tomohiro Ishii

Nth still buzzing over the mainevent

# ¿ Mar 6, 2023 13:34

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

I'm still watching this but currently

Stsrdom 4/3/2023 triangle derby finals

Motyc hazuki v saya kamitani

Motyc: azm v starlight kid : I highly recommend this bad boy. I liked it more than the last

# ¿ Mar 10, 2023 08:56

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

Stardom 4/3

Motyc giulia v Maya yukihi

This match might be the best of the 3. They beat the hell out of each.

# ¿ Mar 10, 2023 09:21

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

New japan cup 10/3

Motyc : yoshi hashi v kyle fletcher

Hm : shingo v henare

# ¿ Mar 10, 2023 12:52

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

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 young guys trying to stop black shorts okada is going to rule

# ¿ Mar 11, 2023 11:02

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW New Japan Cup Night 5 March 12th
HM
Aaron Henare vs Tama Tonga
Kyle Fletcher vs Hirooki Goto

Not the strongest cup matches but still two solid fights

nth both had slight timing issues but were really good matches even with it. Kyle and Goto took like 5 minutes to get on the same page energy wise imo but it was fantastic after that point. Tama did that normal thing where I cant tell what his counters are doing that often takes me out of his matches.

# ¿ Mar 12, 2023 11:21

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

Rarity posted:

[

HM: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis, NJPW New Japan Cup Night 6, 13/03

Can only assume everyone turned the stream off in disgust after th HoT match cause I can't be the only one to think Ospreay/Dunk is worth an HM

Nth

# ¿ Mar 14, 2023 21:38

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

Jerusalem posted:

HM: Shota Umino vs. Zack Sabre Jr. - NJPW New Japan Cup Night 7 3/15

I expected this to be good. It was better. I expected Zack Sabre Jr. to win. I was wrong. It built and built and got so loving good by the end, with a fantastic finish.

I'm giving it a motyc but nth

# ¿ Mar 15, 2023 12:56

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

Price Check posted:

New Japan Cup - 3/17
HM - Lio Rush & YOH & Ishii vs. Hiromu & Bushi & Shingo
HM - Mark Davis vs. EVIL
HM - SANADA vs. Naito

I liked the show. Crowd took things up a couple notches for me.

Nth

# ¿ Mar 18, 2023 02:03

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

Rarity posted:

HM: Shota Umino vs. David Finlay, NJPW New Japan Cup, 18/03

These two have pretty decent chemistry

Nth I look forward to the future of this match up

# ¿ Mar 18, 2023 12:36

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW New Japan Cup Night 10 March 19th
MOTYC
Mark Davis vs SANADA
- New and improved SANADA is great, Dunk is better

HM
David Finlay vs Tama Tonga

nth

# ¿ Mar 19, 2023 13:23

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

forkboy84 posted:

HM
10th March
Stardom In Korakuen
Himeka vs Natsupoi
Watch this here

Himeka retirement road just makes me even madder at the cunts who feel it necessary to take out their inadequacies & failures on wrestlers on social media.

Nth and agreed on the comment

# ¿ Mar 21, 2023 09:58

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

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Hiromu Takahashi (C) vs. Lio Rush for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship - NJPW New Japan Cup Finals 3/21

Astounding match in front of an incredible crowd. Lio playing the speed demon with Hiromu struggling to keep up, Hiromu playing the hoss able to power out of and through Lio's high speed offense, the gradual shift in figuring out each other's timing (not in a bad way, it was excellently managed), lead to a match that built to a perfect crescendo and a perfectly executed ending. Amazing stuff.

Nth

# ¿ Mar 21, 2023 11:32

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

Jerusalem posted:

HM: SANADA vs. David Finlay in the New Japan Cup Final - NJPW New Japan Cup Finals 3/21

This was very, very good and built to a very, very strong ending, only let down by having to follow the incredible Jr. Heavyweight match. SANADA using the Shining Wizard was an incredible moment.

Nth

Njpw is very exciting

# ¿ Mar 21, 2023 12:12

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

Professor Funk posted:

HM - Seth Rollins v Logan Paul, WM 39

Super fun match, right result

Nth very good

# ¿ Apr 2, 2023 02:26

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW Road to Sakura Genesis Night 1 April 2nd
MOTYC
Shingo Takagi (h) vs Aaron Henare - KOPW 2023 Provisional Championship
- I was expecting some good hard hitting action, I was not expecting such a hot crowd that were rabid for either guy to grab the victory by the end. Good job Henare, you made the absolute most out of your main event

Nth

# ¿ Apr 2, 2023 13:16

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW Sakura Genesis April 8th
MOTYC
Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto) (c) vs Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis) - IWGP Tag Team Championships
- Fletch is going to be such a star in a couple years, but for now he and his bogan uncle are putting on banger after banger with The Lads. It's quite the accomplishment to get such a face pop over a couple of New Japan lifers in Goto and Hash but the Aussie boys managed it

Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs Robbie Eagles - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship
- Robbie is absolutely brimming with personality, learning by the Zack tree has been an absolute godsend

Kazuchika Okada (c) vs SANADA - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
- Kazu is the best in the world, what a petty smug fucker he is. Sanada is also pretty good I guess

HM
El Desperado, YOH and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Minoru Suzuki, Great O-Khan and Toru Yano
David Finlay and Bullet Club (El Phantasmo and KENTA) vs Master Wato and Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Hikuleo)
Mercedes Mon� (c) vs Hazuki vs AZM - IWGP Women's CHampionship
Zack Sabre Jr (c) vs Shota Umino - NJPW World TV Championship

Fantastic show, my MOTN was the tag title match but there was zero duds

Nth njpw is cooking

# ¿ Apr 8, 2023 13:27

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

I'm gonna try to remember to fill out the rest tomorrow but

Stardom allstar grand queendom

Motyc : giulia v tam

# ¿ Apr 23, 2023 12:35

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

Rest of the stardom show from the 23rd of April (all-star grand queendom)

HM : slk and mai seira vs azm and mei Suruga

Hm : fuwa chan and hazuki v utami hayashishita and miyu amasaki

Motyc : himeka v maika

Hm : prominence v restart (verging on a motyc nom)

Motyc : saya kamitani v Mina Shirakawa

Motyc : syuri v chihiro hashimoto

Hm: Mercedes mone v mayu iwatani

All in all an excellent show. Mainevent was my motn but everything was excellent

# ¿ Apr 24, 2023 00:30

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

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: Aussie Open (c) vs. Mikey Nicholls/Shane Haste, NJPW Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni, 29/04

Aussie Open are THE tag team of 2023

Nth

# ¿ Apr 29, 2023 11:53

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

Motyc shingo v taichi njpw wrestling satsuma no kuni 29/4

# ¿ Apr 29, 2023 22:16

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

Njpw dontaku 3/5

Motyc : zsj v Cobb
Hm: strong style v okada, tana and ishii
Motyc : sanada v hiromu

# ¿ May 3, 2023 20:08

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

MassRafTer posted:

NJPW Best of Super Juniors 5/12

HM: Clark Connors vs. Kevin Knight
HM: KUSHIDA vs. DOUKI
HM: TJP vs. Titan
MOTYC: "Speedball" Mike Bailey vs. Hiromu Takahashi

Really great show!

Nth but change kushi v douki to a motyc nom

I'm a sucker for mean kushida

Oh also

Hm : Bob of the juniors v yoh

# ¿ May 13, 2023 02:21

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

Rarity posted:

HM: DOUKI vs. Hiromu Takahashi, NJPW Best of Super Juniors, 13/05

A very good match that deserved a better crowd

Nth and agree a little hurt by the crowd

# ¿ May 13, 2023 11:10

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW Best of the Super Jr.30 Night 3 May 14th
MOTYC
Robbie Eagles vs Francesco Akira
- Match ruled, fantastic sprint

HM
SHO vs Ryusuke Taguchi
DOUKI vs Taiji Ishimori
YOH vs Dan Moloney
TJP vs Mike Bailey
Hiromy Takahashi vs Lio Rush

Still not as good as the Korakuen crowd but way better than yesterday's silence

Nth

# ¿ May 14, 2023 12:28

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# ¿ May 21, 2024 11:08

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

SG Bamboo posted:

NJPW Best of the Super Jr.30 Night 4 May 16th
MOTYC
KUSHIDA vs Mike Bailey

HM
DOUKI vs TJP
Taiji Ishimori vs Lio Rush

Nth

It's so nice to just see Kushida in singles action in new japan.

# ¿ May 17, 2023 08:57

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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