Matt's Mat Musings: My 100 Favourite Wrestling Matches, Part 10
It's time for the final countdown.
But first...
100 - 91: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite.html
90 - 81: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_16.html
80 - 71: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_31.html
70 - 61: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_89.html
60 - 51: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_22.html
50 - 41: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_24.html
40 - 31: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_46.html
30 - 21: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_59.html
20 - 11: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/05/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_4.html
Now on with the Top 10.
10) Sasha Banks vs Bayley
NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 2015
Throughout her NXT career, Bayley had portrayed a good natured, friendly fan favourite who lacked the ruthlessness to succeed. She had been double crossed by multiple partners who had gone on to greater success and had to work her way up from the bottom of the division. In stark contrast, Sasha Banks was ruthlessness personified in her 'Boss' persona and had established herself as a dominent NXT Women's Champion. When the match was made between these two women, at NXT's biggest show to date, it wasn't just a clash of wrestlers, it was a clash of philosophies, Bayley's hard work and positivity clashing with Saha's self centred, opportunism. Everything about this bout, beginning with their respective entrances, emphasises the contrast between the two women. Bayley is donning garb in tribute to mutual mentor Dusty Rhodes, while Sasha arrives in an Escalade with her own private security. The match itself carries on this story with Sasha exploiting every advantage she can when Bayley is in control, and then showing contempt and disdain for the challenger when she has the advantage. This peaks with a beautiful moment of Sasha targeting Bayley's recently injured hand to add an extra level of sadism to Bank's offence. This final act of disrespect has the adverse effect on Bayley though and provides her the motivation to final reach the champion's level. This stole the show at NXT's first Brooklyn event and I honestly believe this is the best women's match in WWE history. While the in-ring work is excellent, for me this match succeeds entirely upon the strength of the character work on display from both women
Full Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5vavt9
9) Sami Zayn vs Shinsuke Nakamura
NXT Takeover: Dallas 2016
From 2013 to 2016, Sami Zayn was basically the protagonist of NXT. His clashes with Cesaro, pursuit of Adrian Neville's NXT Championship and the renewal of his rivalry with Kevin Owens had been the backbone of the brand's growth from development territory into a respected promotion in its own right. By early 2016 it had become clear that Sami's days in NXT were numbered and he would inevitably make the transition to RAW or SmackDown sooner rather than later. But how best to send off a competitor that had meant so much to NXT? Well you could do no better than to have his last match on the brand be against the most high-profile acquistion in NXT history in his debut match, The King Of Strong Style himself, Shinsuke Nakamura. It may be tough to remember in 2020, but the signing of Nakamura by WWE in early 2016 was a HUGE deal. Shinsuke was one of Japan's biggest stars, with a state of the art ringstyle and a colossal charisma that crosses any and all language barriers. Matching up these two men at NXT Takeover: Dallas basically guaranteed a great match and on the night, the audience knew they were watching something special. Zayn and Nakamura wrestle pretty much the perfect bout, one that establishes the latter as an instant star but sees the former rise to meet the challenge. There may not be huge amounts of narrative drama at stake, but the match itself is hugely entertaining and an absolute classic.
Full Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4jo6yo
8) Daniel Bryan vs Triple H
WWE WrestleMania XXX 2014
Part of what makes pro-wrestling so hugely unique as a storytelling medium is the way it can blend fiction with reality. The truth of the matter in 2014 was simple, WWE management did not see Daniel Bryan as a headliner. They respected his wrestling abilities sure, but did not believe he had the x-factor to be the face of the company. To emphasise this, the opinion of management was written into WWE programming as the belief of 'The Authority', the villainous onscreen faction lead by Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Make no mistake, and ignore WWE's revisionist history, the plan for WrestleMania XXX was for Randy Orton and Batista to headline the show for the World Championship. Unfortunately the WWE fans had different ideas and had convinced themselves that Daniel Bryan was going to win the 2014 Royal Rumble. At that event, when the realisation hit the audience that not only would Bryan not win the match, he wasn't even going to take part in the titular match, the audience were livid and turned on the match. Career long fan favourite Rey Mysterio was ferociously booed when he was revealed as the last entrant in the match (a spot many expected to go to Bryan), Roman Reigns received the first negative reactions of his career (that would become a frequent problem for the next several years) and eventual winner Batista was widely rejected by the fans. Initially, the WWE felt that this was just a notoriously difficult Philadelphia crowd, but the reactions continued so vigorously week after week that WWE were forced to change their plans, wrote the genuine fan rebellion into their storylines and gave Daniel Bryan an opportunity against Triple H at WrestleMania XXX, where the winner would enter the main event at the same show. This was actually a stroke of genius as the prospect of Triple H beating Bryan in the first match to later enter the match against his former stablemates was all too real a prospect for this company. being in live attendance that night I can personally attest that as the match between Bryan and Triple H unfolded, the tension in the building was unreal and the reaction when Bryan won the match almost surpassed the one he would get later in the night. Daniel Bryan is probably my favourite wrestler of all time and the symbolism and emotional impact of him beating Triple H clean at WrestleMania is a memory I'll not soon forget.
* I've also included a link to the excellent music video that WWE put together for this match that took almost a year of terrible creative decisions and made it seem like the plan all along. The editing team are the real heroes of the company. If you don't watch the match, I highly recommend still watching the promo as it's an excellent story in it's own right.
'Monster' Promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsX1ATcyQxU
Full Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3kf5n4
7) Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega (Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls)
NJPW Dominion 2018
There is a strong argument to be made that this is one of, if not the, greatest match of all time. I discussed the first collision between these two men in an earlier entry of this list. Following that match (which was also considered the greatest match of all time) Omega and Okada clashed two more times. At NJPW Dominion 2017 they went to an excellent 1 hour draw, and Omega finally defeated Okada in a non-title clash during the 2017 G1 Climax League. Adding to the drama of this being the deciding clash between the two top talents of NJPW was the historic nature of Kazuchika Okada's 720 day title reign. Not only was it the longest single reign in the championship's history, but he had recently surpassed long-time rival Hiroshi Tanahashi for most successful title defences. All he had left to do to be considered the undisputed best wrestler in the world was to avenge his G1 loss to Omega. Meanwhile, Kenny's journey had nowhere else to go. He had successfully graduated from junior-heavyweight to heavyweight, become the first foreigner to win the G1 in 2016 and even made peace with perennial rival/friend/lover Kota Ibushi. If he couldn't beat Okada now then he never would. Owing to their previous time limit draw, and the need for a decisive winner, the match at Dominion 2018 was fought under 'Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls' with no time limit. Whoever won this match could rightfully call themselves the better man. The match starts slow but as per Okada's storytelling style, lays vital groundwork for the match to come. The pace gradually builds until the first fall comes around 30 minutes in. At this stage the match is already one of the best of the year, but these two talents are far from done. The emotion and drama are dramatically ramped up for the next 20 minutes leading into the second fall of the contest and once the third fall begins, we are in entirely unknown territory. The storytelling, performance and passion in that last fall are beyond almost anything else I have ever seen, and the near 70 minute duration of the match helps the wrestlers to tell a true epic. The only reason this match isn't higher on the list is that I don't have the emotional connection to it that I do the others but on a purely critical level I can honestly say this is the best wrestling match I have ever seen.
Full Match Part 1: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6li0n3
Full Match Part 2: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6li5kx
6) The Young Bucks vs World's Cutest Tag Team (Guerilla Warfare)
PWG Eleven 2014
Of all the matches on this list I expect this no disqualification clash for the PWG Tag Team Championship to be the most divisive. I completely understand why intergender wrestling is a bone of contention for many but I am firmly of the opinion that it has its place in the business when it is done well and I honestly don't think it has ever been done better than in the PWG career of Candice LeRae. Debuting in 2006 as a valet, Candice would be involved in a storyline with PWG stalwarts Human Tornado and Chris Hero that attempted to push boundaries, but in truth was ultimatley problematic. Following this Candice's appearances were reduced due to the company's lack of enthusiasm for women's wrestling and were it not for the intervention of real life best friend, Joey Ryan, her career would likely have come to a premature end. Ryan has always been a talented worker, but found greater success by employing a more comedic aspect to his character. He was keen to revisit the the infamous matches Andy Kaufman had against women in the 1980's, but to replace the inherent misogyny with a more feminist slant. The resulting rivalry between Joey and Candice would go a long way towards legitmising LaRae in the eyes of the PWG audience, and when they eventually teemed up as the 'World's Cutest Tag Team' they were instantly the most popular act in the company and they found the perfect opponents in 'The Young Bucks'. Nick and Matt Jackson, following their departure from TNA, had reinvented themselves on the independent wrestling scene and had become legitimate stars in their own right. Despite their overwhelming popularity in PWG, they were natural heels and their relatively small size, and willingness to work as equals with Candice, made every confrontation between the two teams feel special. By July 2014, the Bucks had been PWG champions for 18 months, in which time Joey and Candice had firmly established themselves as their main rivals so the booking of a 'Guerilla Warfare' (no disqualification) match between the two teams was a natural endpoint of their feud. But no one could have expected what would unfold. The entirety of this match, is built around making Candice LeRae the biggest star in PWG and it succeeds in all regards. The toughness Candice displays towards the end of this match is outstanding, and some of the actions taken by the Bucks make them truly despised by the fans. If the thought of depictions of any male on female violence is unsavoury to you, do not watch this match. But if you can see beyond traditional gender boundaries, this is a must watch confrontation. By the end of the match, when a bloodied Candice holds the PWG Tag Team Championship up in victory you will know that you have watched not only a phenomenal match, but also that rarest of things, a truly progressive pro-wrestling encounter. I really do love this match.
Full Match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=622_SfrCjmQ
5) Sting's Squadron (Sting, Nikita Koloff, Ricky Steamboat, Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes) vs The Dangerous Alliance (Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Bobby Eaton, Arn Anderson, Larry Zybszko) (War Games Match)
WCW WrestleWar 1992
Honestly, for the longest time THIS was my favourite match but over the years, its effects have diminshed slightly. What hasn't diminished at all is the caliber of the talent involved. I spoke earlier of my fondness for the 1997 incarnation of 'The Hart Foundation' as a villainous stable, but I don't think there has EVER been a heel group with more sheer potential than Paul E. Dangerously's 'Dangerous Alliance'. Rick Rude had been legitmately one of the top stars of the WWF in the 1980's and since making the jump to WCW had established himself as one of the very top talents in the industry. Steve Austin was 6 years away from becoming arguably the biggest star in the history of the business, but here was considered one of the best workers in the company. Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton were two of the biggest names in tag team wrestling thanks to their stints in the Horseman (and Brain busters) and Midnight Express respectively and while Larry Zybszko is a name that carries less noteriety today, he was a megastar in the early 80's owing to his heated feud with the legendary Bruno Sammartino. Sting's Squadron were no less impressive with Sting himself being the face of WCW, while Ricky Steamboat and Barry Windham were NWA stalwarts and Dustin Rhodes was a rookie on the rise. Only Nikita Koloff really let's the side down but wisely, he is the last entrant into the match. The War Games stipulation had produced some dramtic moments in its short lifespan before this, but only the previous year's installment could realistically be considered a good match. Yet thanks to the levels of talent involved, this match surpasses all expectations. Throw in the excellent commentary duo of Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura and you have a truely classic match.
Full Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1q988q
4) Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuiness (Pure Rules Match)
ROH Unified 2006
This is the match I always refer to when I'm trying to explain what is so great about being a wrestling fan. When we arrived at the show, my friends and I were divided. They, like the majority of the audience, were firmly behind hometown hero (re. English in England) Nigel McGuiness while I was firmly in the camp of ROH Champion Bryan Danielson and was utterly convinced he would win based on ROH's longer running storylines. As these two masters of their craft went at it I was slowly turned by the story being told, and Danielson's excellent character work, into supporting Nigel's quest to dethrone Danielson (yet in my head, still knew Danielson's win was all but assured). By the home stretch of the match, not only did I now want McGuiness to win, I was totally and utterly convinced that this was his night to unify ROH's top single's titles. The emotion in the Olympia that night was unbelievable and by the climatic moments of the bout, everyone was cheering for Nigel as if he was a member of their own family. All we wanted was for him to do the impossible. It's a real credit to both men that when the inevitable happened, and Danielson was victorious, no one was disappointed. We all knew that we had just witnessed something truly special and I firmly believe this is the greatest wrestling match to ever take place on British soi
Full Match: https://vimeo.com/243003979
3) Christopher Daniels vs AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe
TNA Unbreakable 2005
I was dubious of the prospects of TNA as a promotion for the first few years of it's existence, but this match changed my mind. I was familiar with all 3 men prior to this match, and while I enjoyed all of their work, I was dubious at the prospect of a three-way match as they are usually clunky, struggling to flow naturally. So the match that we got was an absolute revelation. Styles, Daniels and Joe each had vastly different ringstyles that had been proved to work together perfectly in singles confrontations, so it shouldn't have been that much of a surprise that could put together such an immaculate three way. There really isn't a whole lot of story or narrative to wax lyrical about regarding this bout, simply 3 of the best talent of their generation putting on an absolute classic. Watching this match for the first time I felt the same excitement I did the first time I watched ECW in the 1990's. It felt like I had just witnessed the future of pro-wrestling, and considering the current workrate focused product presented in both NXT and AEW, I suppose I had. This match at Unbreakable 2005, didn't just put all three men on the map and legitimise TNA as a valid alternative to the WWE, it created a template for a hybrid style of pro-wrestling that still dominates in North America to this day.
Full Match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U28pyOAMXcI
2) The Undertaker vs Mankind (Hell In A Cell Match)
WWF King Of The Ring 1998
On a purely technical level, this match is terrible. In terms of generating drama and emotion, this match really is a work of art. To anyone who might not be familiar with this now legendary bout a brief recap. The Undertaker and Mankind had fought a storied feud in the 2 years before this event, but the company's focus was now on building Undertaker as a challenger to Steve Austin's WWF Championship. Subsequently this match was thrown together without any real purpose or stakes. Mick Foley, feeling that he was falling by the wayside and fearing the pressure of living up to the original Hell In The Cell match, consulted his friend and mentor Terry Funk and together they came up with the idea of starting the match on top of the cage. From that decision onwards, much of the behind the scenes of this match is as much myth as fact. What is certain is that following some basic brawling between the two men, and the revelation that the cell in fact could not take their combined weight and was starting to give way, The Undertaker through Mankind off the top of the cage and he fell 16ft before crashing through the Spanish announce table and sliding under the ringside guard rail. This infamous fall, coupled with Jim Ross's amazing commentray, would become the lasting image of the match, but was only the start of Mick Foley's night. Fearing serious injury, management stopped the match and tried to stretcher Foley out of the building. The rush of adrenaline that rushes through the crowd as Foley emerges from the stretcher and scales the cage to resume the match is indescribable and needs to be seen to be believed. Whether or not what happened next was intentional cannot be accurately discerned, but intentional or not, The Undertaker proceeds to chokeslam Mankind through the top of the cage and to the ring below. That's right, THROUGH the cage. The 8ft fall may not seem as bad as the fall from the cage, but actually proved far more devastating to Foley owing to the wooden boards under the ring mat providing a far more unforgiving landing as well as the steel chair that follows Foley down, breaks his teeth and causes one to go through his lip and imbed in his nostril. Realistically, this could have killed Foley, but following some brief stalling by Terry Funk and The Undertaker (who by the way entered the match on a broken foot) the match continued for a further 5 mins of basic hardcore wrestling before Foley came around enough to take a bump into a sea of drawing pins and lose the match. What I've described may seem to the unitiated as just mindless violence, but thanks to Mick Foley. The Undertaker, Terry Funk, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler it becomes a timeless example of the dramatic stroytelling potential of pro-wrestling. It's a shame that this bout often overwhelms the rest of Foley's career highlights but it stands even 20 years later as a testament to how far one man was willing to go for his artform. It's oddly beautiful and undeniably compelling.
Full Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4pfa6m
1) Takeshi Morishima vs Bryan Danielson
ROH Manhattan Mayhem II
Honestly, what seperates this match from the runner up is so neglible that they could swap postions on any given day. What this match may lack in history and spectacle it makes up for by being a great wrestling match seperate to what ends up being the main source of its drama. At this stage in ROH history, Morishima was the dominant ROH Champion and Danielson was on a quest to reclaim the title after returning from injury. The collision of Morishima's size and brutal strength against Danielson's speed and technical ability would have been compelling enough in it's own right, but then disaster strikes. Around 5 mins into the match, during a barrage of strikes from Morishima, Danielson's orbital bone is severely fractured and he temporarily loses sight in one of his eyes. As with several entries on this list, the match probably should have been stopped, but Danielson was determined to finish and pushed on. The subsequent performance Bryan puts on is one of, if not the, best I've ever seen. Every move he makes is enhanced with intensity and passion and every blow Morishima lands seems to hit all the harder. I mentioned Mick Foley suffering for his art in the previous entry and Bryan Danielson does much the same in this match. The commitment and love he has for pro-wrestling has never been on display more clearly than in this bout and the match he has with Morishima would be the best of the latter's ROH career. If professional wrestling exists within the middle ground of fiction and reality, then this match and its blurring of those lines is one of the best examples of the potential of the medium and is my favourite wrestling match of all time.
Full Match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHy6swAxsYA
Thank you so much if you've read these all the way to the end. They have been a real boon to my mental health for the last few weeks and I'm really grateful for that. Hopefully, they've provided you some small entertainment too. Thanks again.
But first...
100 - 91: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite.html
90 - 81: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_16.html
80 - 71: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_31.html
70 - 61: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_89.html
60 - 51: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_22.html
50 - 41: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_24.html
40 - 31: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_46.html
30 - 21: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_59.html
20 - 11: https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/05/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_4.html
Now on with the Top 10.
10) Sasha Banks vs Bayley
NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 2015
Throughout her NXT career, Bayley had portrayed a good natured, friendly fan favourite who lacked the ruthlessness to succeed. She had been double crossed by multiple partners who had gone on to greater success and had to work her way up from the bottom of the division. In stark contrast, Sasha Banks was ruthlessness personified in her 'Boss' persona and had established herself as a dominent NXT Women's Champion. When the match was made between these two women, at NXT's biggest show to date, it wasn't just a clash of wrestlers, it was a clash of philosophies, Bayley's hard work and positivity clashing with Saha's self centred, opportunism. Everything about this bout, beginning with their respective entrances, emphasises the contrast between the two women. Bayley is donning garb in tribute to mutual mentor Dusty Rhodes, while Sasha arrives in an Escalade with her own private security. The match itself carries on this story with Sasha exploiting every advantage she can when Bayley is in control, and then showing contempt and disdain for the challenger when she has the advantage. This peaks with a beautiful moment of Sasha targeting Bayley's recently injured hand to add an extra level of sadism to Bank's offence. This final act of disrespect has the adverse effect on Bayley though and provides her the motivation to final reach the champion's level. This stole the show at NXT's first Brooklyn event and I honestly believe this is the best women's match in WWE history. While the in-ring work is excellent, for me this match succeeds entirely upon the strength of the character work on display from both women
Full Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5vavt9
9) Sami Zayn vs Shinsuke Nakamura
NXT Takeover: Dallas 2016
From 2013 to 2016, Sami Zayn was basically the protagonist of NXT. His clashes with Cesaro, pursuit of Adrian Neville's NXT Championship and the renewal of his rivalry with Kevin Owens had been the backbone of the brand's growth from development territory into a respected promotion in its own right. By early 2016 it had become clear that Sami's days in NXT were numbered and he would inevitably make the transition to RAW or SmackDown sooner rather than later. But how best to send off a competitor that had meant so much to NXT? Well you could do no better than to have his last match on the brand be against the most high-profile acquistion in NXT history in his debut match, The King Of Strong Style himself, Shinsuke Nakamura. It may be tough to remember in 2020, but the signing of Nakamura by WWE in early 2016 was a HUGE deal. Shinsuke was one of Japan's biggest stars, with a state of the art ringstyle and a colossal charisma that crosses any and all language barriers. Matching up these two men at NXT Takeover: Dallas basically guaranteed a great match and on the night, the audience knew they were watching something special. Zayn and Nakamura wrestle pretty much the perfect bout, one that establishes the latter as an instant star but sees the former rise to meet the challenge. There may not be huge amounts of narrative drama at stake, but the match itself is hugely entertaining and an absolute classic.
Full Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4jo6yo
8) Daniel Bryan vs Triple H
WWE WrestleMania XXX 2014
Part of what makes pro-wrestling so hugely unique as a storytelling medium is the way it can blend fiction with reality. The truth of the matter in 2014 was simple, WWE management did not see Daniel Bryan as a headliner. They respected his wrestling abilities sure, but did not believe he had the x-factor to be the face of the company. To emphasise this, the opinion of management was written into WWE programming as the belief of 'The Authority', the villainous onscreen faction lead by Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Make no mistake, and ignore WWE's revisionist history, the plan for WrestleMania XXX was for Randy Orton and Batista to headline the show for the World Championship. Unfortunately the WWE fans had different ideas and had convinced themselves that Daniel Bryan was going to win the 2014 Royal Rumble. At that event, when the realisation hit the audience that not only would Bryan not win the match, he wasn't even going to take part in the titular match, the audience were livid and turned on the match. Career long fan favourite Rey Mysterio was ferociously booed when he was revealed as the last entrant in the match (a spot many expected to go to Bryan), Roman Reigns received the first negative reactions of his career (that would become a frequent problem for the next several years) and eventual winner Batista was widely rejected by the fans. Initially, the WWE felt that this was just a notoriously difficult Philadelphia crowd, but the reactions continued so vigorously week after week that WWE were forced to change their plans, wrote the genuine fan rebellion into their storylines and gave Daniel Bryan an opportunity against Triple H at WrestleMania XXX, where the winner would enter the main event at the same show. This was actually a stroke of genius as the prospect of Triple H beating Bryan in the first match to later enter the match against his former stablemates was all too real a prospect for this company. being in live attendance that night I can personally attest that as the match between Bryan and Triple H unfolded, the tension in the building was unreal and the reaction when Bryan won the match almost surpassed the one he would get later in the night. Daniel Bryan is probably my favourite wrestler of all time and the symbolism and emotional impact of him beating Triple H clean at WrestleMania is a memory I'll not soon forget.
* I've also included a link to the excellent music video that WWE put together for this match that took almost a year of terrible creative decisions and made it seem like the plan all along. The editing team are the real heroes of the company. If you don't watch the match, I highly recommend still watching the promo as it's an excellent story in it's own right.
'Monster' Promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsX1ATcyQxU
Full Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3kf5n4
7) Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega (Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls)
NJPW Dominion 2018
There is a strong argument to be made that this is one of, if not the, greatest match of all time. I discussed the first collision between these two men in an earlier entry of this list. Following that match (which was also considered the greatest match of all time) Omega and Okada clashed two more times. At NJPW Dominion 2017 they went to an excellent 1 hour draw, and Omega finally defeated Okada in a non-title clash during the 2017 G1 Climax League. Adding to the drama of this being the deciding clash between the two top talents of NJPW was the historic nature of Kazuchika Okada's 720 day title reign. Not only was it the longest single reign in the championship's history, but he had recently surpassed long-time rival Hiroshi Tanahashi for most successful title defences. All he had left to do to be considered the undisputed best wrestler in the world was to avenge his G1 loss to Omega. Meanwhile, Kenny's journey had nowhere else to go. He had successfully graduated from junior-heavyweight to heavyweight, become the first foreigner to win the G1 in 2016 and even made peace with perennial rival/friend/lover Kota Ibushi. If he couldn't beat Okada now then he never would. Owing to their previous time limit draw, and the need for a decisive winner, the match at Dominion 2018 was fought under 'Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls' with no time limit. Whoever won this match could rightfully call themselves the better man. The match starts slow but as per Okada's storytelling style, lays vital groundwork for the match to come. The pace gradually builds until the first fall comes around 30 minutes in. At this stage the match is already one of the best of the year, but these two talents are far from done. The emotion and drama are dramatically ramped up for the next 20 minutes leading into the second fall of the contest and once the third fall begins, we are in entirely unknown territory. The storytelling, performance and passion in that last fall are beyond almost anything else I have ever seen, and the near 70 minute duration of the match helps the wrestlers to tell a true epic. The only reason this match isn't higher on the list is that I don't have the emotional connection to it that I do the others but on a purely critical level I can honestly say this is the best wrestling match I have ever seen.
Full Match Part 1: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6li0n3
Full Match Part 2: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6li5kx
6) The Young Bucks vs World's Cutest Tag Team (Guerilla Warfare)
PWG Eleven 2014
Of all the matches on this list I expect this no disqualification clash for the PWG Tag Team Championship to be the most divisive. I completely understand why intergender wrestling is a bone of contention for many but I am firmly of the opinion that it has its place in the business when it is done well and I honestly don't think it has ever been done better than in the PWG career of Candice LeRae. Debuting in 2006 as a valet, Candice would be involved in a storyline with PWG stalwarts Human Tornado and Chris Hero that attempted to push boundaries, but in truth was ultimatley problematic. Following this Candice's appearances were reduced due to the company's lack of enthusiasm for women's wrestling and were it not for the intervention of real life best friend, Joey Ryan, her career would likely have come to a premature end. Ryan has always been a talented worker, but found greater success by employing a more comedic aspect to his character. He was keen to revisit the the infamous matches Andy Kaufman had against women in the 1980's, but to replace the inherent misogyny with a more feminist slant. The resulting rivalry between Joey and Candice would go a long way towards legitmising LaRae in the eyes of the PWG audience, and when they eventually teemed up as the 'World's Cutest Tag Team' they were instantly the most popular act in the company and they found the perfect opponents in 'The Young Bucks'. Nick and Matt Jackson, following their departure from TNA, had reinvented themselves on the independent wrestling scene and had become legitimate stars in their own right. Despite their overwhelming popularity in PWG, they were natural heels and their relatively small size, and willingness to work as equals with Candice, made every confrontation between the two teams feel special. By July 2014, the Bucks had been PWG champions for 18 months, in which time Joey and Candice had firmly established themselves as their main rivals so the booking of a 'Guerilla Warfare' (no disqualification) match between the two teams was a natural endpoint of their feud. But no one could have expected what would unfold. The entirety of this match, is built around making Candice LeRae the biggest star in PWG and it succeeds in all regards. The toughness Candice displays towards the end of this match is outstanding, and some of the actions taken by the Bucks make them truly despised by the fans. If the thought of depictions of any male on female violence is unsavoury to you, do not watch this match. But if you can see beyond traditional gender boundaries, this is a must watch confrontation. By the end of the match, when a bloodied Candice holds the PWG Tag Team Championship up in victory you will know that you have watched not only a phenomenal match, but also that rarest of things, a truly progressive pro-wrestling encounter. I really do love this match.
Full Match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=622_SfrCjmQ
5) Sting's Squadron (Sting, Nikita Koloff, Ricky Steamboat, Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes) vs The Dangerous Alliance (Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Bobby Eaton, Arn Anderson, Larry Zybszko) (War Games Match)
WCW WrestleWar 1992
Honestly, for the longest time THIS was my favourite match but over the years, its effects have diminshed slightly. What hasn't diminished at all is the caliber of the talent involved. I spoke earlier of my fondness for the 1997 incarnation of 'The Hart Foundation' as a villainous stable, but I don't think there has EVER been a heel group with more sheer potential than Paul E. Dangerously's 'Dangerous Alliance'. Rick Rude had been legitmately one of the top stars of the WWF in the 1980's and since making the jump to WCW had established himself as one of the very top talents in the industry. Steve Austin was 6 years away from becoming arguably the biggest star in the history of the business, but here was considered one of the best workers in the company. Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton were two of the biggest names in tag team wrestling thanks to their stints in the Horseman (and Brain busters) and Midnight Express respectively and while Larry Zybszko is a name that carries less noteriety today, he was a megastar in the early 80's owing to his heated feud with the legendary Bruno Sammartino. Sting's Squadron were no less impressive with Sting himself being the face of WCW, while Ricky Steamboat and Barry Windham were NWA stalwarts and Dustin Rhodes was a rookie on the rise. Only Nikita Koloff really let's the side down but wisely, he is the last entrant into the match. The War Games stipulation had produced some dramtic moments in its short lifespan before this, but only the previous year's installment could realistically be considered a good match. Yet thanks to the levels of talent involved, this match surpasses all expectations. Throw in the excellent commentary duo of Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura and you have a truely classic match.
Full Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1q988q
4) Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuiness (Pure Rules Match)
ROH Unified 2006
This is the match I always refer to when I'm trying to explain what is so great about being a wrestling fan. When we arrived at the show, my friends and I were divided. They, like the majority of the audience, were firmly behind hometown hero (re. English in England) Nigel McGuiness while I was firmly in the camp of ROH Champion Bryan Danielson and was utterly convinced he would win based on ROH's longer running storylines. As these two masters of their craft went at it I was slowly turned by the story being told, and Danielson's excellent character work, into supporting Nigel's quest to dethrone Danielson (yet in my head, still knew Danielson's win was all but assured). By the home stretch of the match, not only did I now want McGuiness to win, I was totally and utterly convinced that this was his night to unify ROH's top single's titles. The emotion in the Olympia that night was unbelievable and by the climatic moments of the bout, everyone was cheering for Nigel as if he was a member of their own family. All we wanted was for him to do the impossible. It's a real credit to both men that when the inevitable happened, and Danielson was victorious, no one was disappointed. We all knew that we had just witnessed something truly special and I firmly believe this is the greatest wrestling match to ever take place on British soi
Full Match: https://vimeo.com/243003979
3) Christopher Daniels vs AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe
TNA Unbreakable 2005
I was dubious of the prospects of TNA as a promotion for the first few years of it's existence, but this match changed my mind. I was familiar with all 3 men prior to this match, and while I enjoyed all of their work, I was dubious at the prospect of a three-way match as they are usually clunky, struggling to flow naturally. So the match that we got was an absolute revelation. Styles, Daniels and Joe each had vastly different ringstyles that had been proved to work together perfectly in singles confrontations, so it shouldn't have been that much of a surprise that could put together such an immaculate three way. There really isn't a whole lot of story or narrative to wax lyrical about regarding this bout, simply 3 of the best talent of their generation putting on an absolute classic. Watching this match for the first time I felt the same excitement I did the first time I watched ECW in the 1990's. It felt like I had just witnessed the future of pro-wrestling, and considering the current workrate focused product presented in both NXT and AEW, I suppose I had. This match at Unbreakable 2005, didn't just put all three men on the map and legitimise TNA as a valid alternative to the WWE, it created a template for a hybrid style of pro-wrestling that still dominates in North America to this day.
Full Match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U28pyOAMXcI
2) The Undertaker vs Mankind (Hell In A Cell Match)
WWF King Of The Ring 1998
On a purely technical level, this match is terrible. In terms of generating drama and emotion, this match really is a work of art. To anyone who might not be familiar with this now legendary bout a brief recap. The Undertaker and Mankind had fought a storied feud in the 2 years before this event, but the company's focus was now on building Undertaker as a challenger to Steve Austin's WWF Championship. Subsequently this match was thrown together without any real purpose or stakes. Mick Foley, feeling that he was falling by the wayside and fearing the pressure of living up to the original Hell In The Cell match, consulted his friend and mentor Terry Funk and together they came up with the idea of starting the match on top of the cage. From that decision onwards, much of the behind the scenes of this match is as much myth as fact. What is certain is that following some basic brawling between the two men, and the revelation that the cell in fact could not take their combined weight and was starting to give way, The Undertaker through Mankind off the top of the cage and he fell 16ft before crashing through the Spanish announce table and sliding under the ringside guard rail. This infamous fall, coupled with Jim Ross's amazing commentray, would become the lasting image of the match, but was only the start of Mick Foley's night. Fearing serious injury, management stopped the match and tried to stretcher Foley out of the building. The rush of adrenaline that rushes through the crowd as Foley emerges from the stretcher and scales the cage to resume the match is indescribable and needs to be seen to be believed. Whether or not what happened next was intentional cannot be accurately discerned, but intentional or not, The Undertaker proceeds to chokeslam Mankind through the top of the cage and to the ring below. That's right, THROUGH the cage. The 8ft fall may not seem as bad as the fall from the cage, but actually proved far more devastating to Foley owing to the wooden boards under the ring mat providing a far more unforgiving landing as well as the steel chair that follows Foley down, breaks his teeth and causes one to go through his lip and imbed in his nostril. Realistically, this could have killed Foley, but following some brief stalling by Terry Funk and The Undertaker (who by the way entered the match on a broken foot) the match continued for a further 5 mins of basic hardcore wrestling before Foley came around enough to take a bump into a sea of drawing pins and lose the match. What I've described may seem to the unitiated as just mindless violence, but thanks to Mick Foley. The Undertaker, Terry Funk, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler it becomes a timeless example of the dramatic stroytelling potential of pro-wrestling. It's a shame that this bout often overwhelms the rest of Foley's career highlights but it stands even 20 years later as a testament to how far one man was willing to go for his artform. It's oddly beautiful and undeniably compelling.
Full Match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4pfa6m
1) Takeshi Morishima vs Bryan Danielson
ROH Manhattan Mayhem II
Honestly, what seperates this match from the runner up is so neglible that they could swap postions on any given day. What this match may lack in history and spectacle it makes up for by being a great wrestling match seperate to what ends up being the main source of its drama. At this stage in ROH history, Morishima was the dominant ROH Champion and Danielson was on a quest to reclaim the title after returning from injury. The collision of Morishima's size and brutal strength against Danielson's speed and technical ability would have been compelling enough in it's own right, but then disaster strikes. Around 5 mins into the match, during a barrage of strikes from Morishima, Danielson's orbital bone is severely fractured and he temporarily loses sight in one of his eyes. As with several entries on this list, the match probably should have been stopped, but Danielson was determined to finish and pushed on. The subsequent performance Bryan puts on is one of, if not the, best I've ever seen. Every move he makes is enhanced with intensity and passion and every blow Morishima lands seems to hit all the harder. I mentioned Mick Foley suffering for his art in the previous entry and Bryan Danielson does much the same in this match. The commitment and love he has for pro-wrestling has never been on display more clearly than in this bout and the match he has with Morishima would be the best of the latter's ROH career. If professional wrestling exists within the middle ground of fiction and reality, then this match and its blurring of those lines is one of the best examples of the potential of the medium and is my favourite wrestling match of all time.
Full Match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHy6swAxsYA
Thank you so much if you've read these all the way to the end. They have been a real boon to my mental health for the last few weeks and I'm really grateful for that. Hopefully, they've provided you some small entertainment too. Thanks again.
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