The Best Women's Wrestling Matches Of All-Time

What's happening peoples?!  In this world of wrestling now where women are finally asserting their immense and limitless value within the sport, we often times don't recognize just how greatly women have contributed to this artform in terms of memorable matchups.  While we may not hear about these matches very often, please believe there are A LOT of significant matches out there that have really influenced today's generation of lady grapplers, and the aim by the end of this list will be for you to look up, find, and watch these marvelous matches and realize that the women can turn up the thermostat and give us five star matches just like men can.  With that being said, let's get into it shall we?

15. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch vs. Bayley/Fatal Four Way/NXT Women's Championship

NXT Takeover: Rival

When NXT was slowly becoming THE brand to watch by the more hardcore, enthusiastic fan as opposed to the main roster shows of WWE, the women were getting fully highlighted by the womens division.  The four biggest names in the NXT women's locker room were Bayley, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte.  Although these four young ladies would later refer to themselves as The Four Horsewomen of WWE, at the time, they were all competing for a very rich prize in the NXT Womens Title.  This match was as hotly contested as you would imagine, as well really saw the potential of each of these ladies.  With matches like this, it's no wonder they would go on and become the stars they ended up becoming.

14. Sexy Star vs. Mariposa/No Mas MAtch

Lucha Underground Season 2

It's not very often we see violence within most women's divisions (save for Japan and occasionally Mexico), but when mixed with a fantastic story being told in the ring, you have a hell of a moment.  Such was the case with Sexy Star and Mariposa during season two of the popular El Rey show, Lucha Underground.  This rivalry had finally hit its apex with a No Mas match (basically an I Quit match), and homie, it brought the goods.  With Sexy Star bleeding profusely underneath her mask, she brought a fight to Mariposa (Cheerleader Melissa in the indies).  This was just a brawl, but the story was Sexy had lost her mojo to Mariposa, being intimidated and fearful of Mariposa due to some unspeakable act that wasn't fully mentioned.  She fought from underneath to present one of the finest matches in the short history of LU.

13. Joey Ryan & Candice LeRae vs. The Young Bucks/Guerilla Warfare Match/PWG Tag Team Championship
PWG Eleven

Holy hell! The only intergender match in this list may be the greatest in North American history.  The team of Joey Ryan and Candice (The World's Cutest Tag Team) faced the most revolutionary team of our generation, The Young Bucks for the belts in a Guerilla Warfare Match (subsequently a street fight).  While this match alone was crazy, it was Candice that made the news here.  Not only did she take a beating with the rest of the guys, she was busted WIDE open.  A completely bloody mess, Mrs. Johnny Wrestling showed more heart and balls than most men would in her position.  Her unrelenting toughness was on full display, especially towards the end and this served as virtually an inspiration to women who ever wondered how good intergender wrestling could go. At times, it was visibly disturbing to see the type of punishment Candice would take from these grown men (that superkick with tacks was just chilling), but she took it all. Not to mention, the horribly bloodied Candice WON the belts for the team in a match many consider to be one of the greatest matches in PWG history.

12. Natalya vs. Charlotte/NXT Women's Title match

NXT Takeover

When Paige, the inaugural NXT Womens Champion, left to go to the main roster, it was time for a new Womens Champion to lead the division.  A young, charismatic, highly athletic Charlotte faced off against former WWE Divas and Womens Champion, Natalya, in the finals.  Both ladies are second or third generation wrestlers and had their family members in their corners. Bret Hart was in his niece Natalya's corner, and the iconic Ric Flair was in his youngest daughter's corner.  This match was very important, as we saw just how good Charlotte could hang with the veteran Natalya.  This was an absolutely great match and one that really showed the world how very good Charlotte could become, and it definitely did.

11. Ember Moon vs. Asuka/NXT Women's Title Match

NXT Takeover Brooklyn III

One of the brightest upstarts in the NXT Women's locker room was Ember Moon, a student of Booker T in Texas and was definitely known throughout the indies as the highly regarded Athena.  She emerged in NXT and took over the brand by storm.  She has ambitions to become the Womens Champion, but that meant going through the unstoppable Asuka.  This match at NXT Takeover III was passionate and intense.  Both excellent in-ring workers, these two women gave it their all, and while Ember went down to the "Empress Of Tomorrow", Ember gained even more respect and fandom than she did coming in, and she scared Asuka the most by not just becoming new champion but putting a blemish on her undefeated streak.

10. Trish Stratus vs. Lita /WWE Womens Championship

WWE Raw 12/6/04

Trish Stratus and Lita are definitely two of the greatest competitors in modern womens wrestling history, at the very least, among the most influential and successful.  Their rivalry was called the female Rock/Stone Cold of their era, and that's not at all a far-fetched comparison.  While many matches they've had against each other are important and defining, it was their history-making match on Raw of December 4, 2016 that made them icons for their time.  This was the first time a womens match was the main event of the flagship show of the mainstream wrestling business, Raw.  This had never happened before, but based upon their incredible storytelling and athleticism, this match served as the benchmark for future womens matches to main event Raw, and there weren't two better ladies that could accomplish that.

9. Double Inoue vs. Mayumi Ozaki & Cuty Suzuki

AJW Dreamslam 4/2/93

Off to All Japan Women Wrestling where we see this PHENOMENAL tag team match between the Inoue sisters of Takako and Kyoko against the very formidable Cuty Suzuki and highly talented Mayumi Ozaki.  At a time where All Japan was the company for both men and women, this match is among the most treasured tag team matches of the decade, as these four women made magic against each other.  This was athletic but was also stiff as hell, as these women held nothing back and they showed the rest of the world how awesome Japanese women wrestling could be in tag team action.  Did I mention this match got the coveted five stars from Meltz??

8. Kairi Hojo vs. Io Shirai

STARDOM 5 Star Grand Prix

Arguably two of the very best women in-ring workers on the planet are Kairi Sane and Io Shirai.  Their rivalry has been compared to legendary male rivalries like Tanahashi/Okada or Cena/Orton.  Before these two got signed to NXT (Hojo is now Kairi Sane in WWE), they were tearing it down in japan and presenting some of the best matches in modern history.  Both of their styles are similar and both possess amazing in-ring psychology to tell fantastic stories.  While Charlotte vs. Sasha was the women's rivalry to beat in the States, this was that rivalry in Japan and the only word that comes to mind when it comes to this match is MAGIC.

7. Dynamite Kensai & Nayumi Ozaki vs. Toshiyo Yamada & Minami Toyota/2 Out Of 3 Falls

AJW Dream Slam 2

Listen folks, there's no such thing as a bad Minami Toyota match. Not one such thing.  Toyota has been acclaimed as the greatest women's wrestler, bell to bell, of all-time.  This was another example of her greatness, only in tag team action.  Along with the super tough Toshiyo Yamada, they face an equally badass team in Kensai and Ozaki.  Ladies and gentleman, this is one of the greatest tag team matches in wrestling history, regardless of gender.  These four women gave masterful performances and for nearly thirty minutes, these women showed the world, they can deliver a masterpiece.  Boy did they!

6. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte/WWE Raw Women's Championship

WWE Raw 7/25/16

There were no two hotter talented women in WWE at this time than Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks.  Banks had received enormous acclaim from her historic rivalry with Bayley in NXT. Charlotte at this time was on her way to realizing the overwhelming potential of living up to the legacy of her legendary father Ric Flair.  Since NXT, these two had been battling each other, but once they both made it to the main roster, these two got even better.  On a 2016 episode of Raw, Charlotte defended the belt against a red hot Banks, and the story they told in this match ranked among the best in the history of the division.  These two would exchange the belt a number of times throughout this rivalry, but this was arguably the best of their encounters, which was saying a ton.

5. Gail Kim vs. Awesome Kong/TNA Knockouts Championship

TNA Turning Point '97

The Knockouts division of TNA (Impact Wrestling nowadays) was very competitive and doing some breakthough things in mainstream wrestling.  Arguably the heart of the division was former WWE prospect turned TNA star Gail Kim.  Undeniably one of the hardest workers this generation regardless of gender, Kim had a hell of a rivalry with monster heel Awesome Kong.  Before there was Nia Jax as the huge six-foot near three hundred pound athletic beast, there was Kong.  This was a classic David vs. Goliath fight that showed Kim's impeccable heart taking it right to this powerful Kong.  Much like today's Braun Strowman, Kong was virtually unstoppable, but Kim's resilience against her made this match perhaps the greatest Knockout match to exist.

4. Minami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue

AJW Wrestlemarinepiad '92

In North American circles, the name Minami Toyota isn't incredibly known, but in eastern culture, Toyota is considered the best women's wrestler there's ever been.  Toyota could easily be ranked up there with many male counterparts such as Flair, HBK, or Ricky Steamboat.  In '92, she faced a practically equally great Kyoko Inoue.  This match was ahead of its time for women's wrestling for its day and clearly ran laps around most matches during this time period regardless of gender.  These ladies put on a breathtaking display of storytelling and athletic mastery and if you're a fan of today's NJPW, NOAH, or AJPW style, this match stands up with anything of today's era.  This is the highest rated women's match of all-time, receiving a 5.5 star rating from the Wrestling Observer, and after watching, you may very well agree.  Just brilliance.

3. Minami Toyota vs. Aja Kong

AJW Queendom '95

Earlier, we mentioned Gail Kim and Awesome Kong and their fantastic match was of David vs. Goliath storytelling.  There was perhaps no women's match that exhibited this style of match then Toyota vs. Aja Kong.  No relation to Awesome Kong, Aja Kong is as badass as it gets.  This was once again a match that showed that Toyota could truly do anything in the ring and make you become completely enthralled in any match she was involved with.  Meanwhile Kong was an animal in this one, and established herself as one of the most imitated big women in the business, not to mention highly successful.  These tw, complete with at times unsettling stiff shots, was a milestone in women's wrestling.

2. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks/NXT Women's Championship/30 Minute Ironman Match

NXT Takeover: Respect

Before they were becoming big stars on the main roster, Bayley and Sasha were having one of the most amazing rivalries in not just NXT, but the sport overall.  Hoping to continue to momentum off their exceptional match at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, they went one step further to break barriers for women in wrestling (or at least WWE) with a 30 Minute Ironman Match at NXT Takeover: Respect.  While the card itself was decent, it was all worth it to witness a truly magnificent wrestling match between two up-and-coming NXT stars.  Many have argued which was the better match: their first one or this one.  There's not really a bad answer here, as just like in Brooklyn, these two women set a new standard in WWE for the women and this match, complete with emotion from everyone involved including a then seven year old Bayley superfan Izzy, was simply marvelous.

1. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks/NXT Women's Championship

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn

Why this match wasn't considered a five star match, I'll never truly know.  This match truly had it all.  Not since the history that Trish and Lita made throughout their rivalry had we seen a rivalry that had all the greatness of a Thanksgiving dinner.  The cocky, yet highly talented, Sasha defending against the happy-go-lucky yet hungry underachiever Bayley.  Going into this match, Bayley was seen as the one who couldn't "win the big one", and with this match, she was DETERMINED to show up and show out.  This match was as close to perfect as you can possibly get, and changed the landscape of women wrestling for this era.  Bayley finally won the match, thus winning the title, but the major moment happened afterwards when her and Sasha embraced, and was joined by Charlotte and Becky Lynch as they publicly declared themselves as The Four Horsewomen of WWE.  This was a game changing match for this generation and may be truthfully the greatest WWE Women's match of all-time.

Honorable Mentions

Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte/WWE Hell In A Cell '17

Asuka vs. Nikki Cross/NXT TV Taping 6/28/17

Bayley vs. Asuka/NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II

Sasha Banks vs. Asuka/WWE Raw 1/2018

Alundra Blayze vs. Bull Nakano/WWE Summerslam '94

Akira Hokotu vs. Shinobu Kandori/AJW '93

Gail Kim vs. Teryn Terrell/Slammiversary IX

Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks/NXT Takeover: R Evolution

Kairi Sane vs. Shayna Baszler/NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III

Bull Nakano vs. Kyoko Inoue/AJW Queendom '95

Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks/NXT Takeover: Unstoppable

Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks/WWE Wrestlemania 32

Io Shirai vs. Mayu Iwatani/Stardom '16

Indi Hartwell vs. Kellyanne/PCW Slam 150

Combat Toyada vs. Megumi Kudo/FMW '96
Natalya vs. Carmella vs. Becky Lynch vs. Naomi vs. Charlotte/Smackdown Live 6/27/17
Emma vs. Paige/NXT Takeover '14
Trish Stratus vs. Lita/WWE Unforgiven '06
Rebecca Knox (Becky Lynch) vs. Daizee Haze/Shimmer '06
Women's Royal Rumble/Royal Rumble '18
Cheerleader Melissa vs. Lexxus/Women Superstars Uncensored '11
Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle vs. HHH & Stephanie McMahon/WWE Wrestlemania 34
Beulah McGillicutty vs. Bill Alphonso/ECW Hardcore TV '97

There has never been a better time for women's wrestling and now is the time to seize the moment.  Here's to more special moments for women's wrestling.

The Top 20 Matches 0f 2018...So Far

What's happening folks?!  It's been a while since this has been updated, but it doesn't mean the heart wasn't in the place to write.  Trust me folks, I GOT THE TIME TODAY!  This has been every bit as acclaimed of a year in wrestling as the historic year we saw last year, maybe even more so.  As usual, New Japan has been on absolute fire, while NXT and others such as PWG and Progress have been right up there almost with them overall.  However, let's not completely sleep on what WWE has done so far this year (when I say WWE, I mean the main roster of Raw, SD, and 205).  There have been a few matches that have raised eyebrows, especially 205, as we've seen a flourish of excellent matches for the past several months since Paul "Triple H" Levesque was officially put in charge.  The year is only just over halfway done, but rust me when I tell you, this list was HARD to make except the number one entry.  This year has been THAT good so far.  With all that being said, let's get started.

20. Seth Rollins vs. Miz/WWE inter-Continental Title

WWE Backlash '18

One wouldn't categorically put a bunch of Miz matches in top year-end lists, but nobody can deny that his range has really gotten better and he has been half responsible for some pretty damn good matches over the past couple of years.  He had an Inter-Continental Title match with the super red hot Seth Rollins at Backlash earlier this year.  While the rest of the event was among the worst of the year, this match was the absolute standout and showed that, as hot as Rollins was going into this match, Miz was able to hang with him, and the result was one of Miz' better matches to date.

19. KUSHIDA vs. Will Ospreay/IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku '18

One of the more celebrated rivalries in the game involves multi-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, KUSHIDA, and one of the absolute best on the planet, Will Ospreay.  Ospreay has already had a searing year, with unbelievable matches with the likes of Okada, Marty Scurll, and Hiromu Takahashi.  These two once again put on a great display of how they compliment each other each time they compete.  Any time they get together, we're all the more better for it.  On night two of NJPW's Wrestling Dontaku, this was a standout match, only lessened by the SUPERB main event.  Ospreay and KUSHIDA are two of the best and we never get tired of seeing them.

18. Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll vs. KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi/IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12

At New Japan's signature event, Wrestle Kingdom, one of the matches everyone was enamored over was the Fatal Four Way match between Will Ospreay, KUSHIDA, Hiromu Takahashi, and Bullet Club member Marty Scurll.  Although the company isn't very much known for multi-man singles matches for championships, this was off the page, with four of the world's best going above and beyond the call of duty for the Junior Heavyweight Championship.  There were spots that you sincerely were concerned for the well being of each man, but after the smoke cleared, we were all treated to one HELL of a fatal Four Way match, and quite likely the best Fatal Four Way match i n the game so far.  This match was hard to follow.

17. Asuka vs. Sasha Banks

Raw 1/29/18

The women have been doing their thing this year and really working their asses off.  From the Women's Royal Rumble Match to the Women's Elimination Chamber to the Women's MITB match, the ladies have had so much to prove and their efforts have been overall great.  In the beginning of the year, previously undefeated Japanese phenom Asuka faced "The Bo$$' Sasha Banks in one of the best women's matches seen in quite a while on Raw.  You had two ladies that were among the best workers backstage and this was as competitive as it got.  Though Asuka got the win, Sasha showed once again why she may arguably be the best in-ring worker on the main roster in the women's division and just as good as most of the guys as well.

16.Johnny Gorgano vs. Tomosso Ciampa/Chicago Street Fight

NXT Takeover: Chicago

Has there been anyone hotter in NXT than Johnny Wrestling?  Seen as the Daniel Bryan of NXT, Gorgano has been on fire as of late, delivering some of the best matches of his career.  He's been involved in one of the heated rivalries in years in NXT against former friend and partner, Tomosso Ciampa.  They had one of the greatest NXT matches of all-time at NXT Takeover: New Orleans (see later) so how does one follow up that magic? Have a Street Fight, and folks, these two delivered once again.  The story told in the match was undoubtedly awesome, and this was at times not the easiest to watch as it got very brutal.  These two put on a grade A performance and two things have come out of this feud: Johnny is the most over babyface in NXT and Ciampa may be the biggest heel in wrestling right now.

15. Tetsuya Naito vs. Zach Sabre Jr.

NJPW New Japan Cup '18

It's very possible Zach Sabre Jr is the best technical wrestler in the world.  His modern old school style using influences such as Billy Robinson and Johnny Saint, mixed with some William Regal and some Dean Malenko is so crisp and sweet, it's impossible to turn your eyes away from how good he is on the mat.  Sabre was marvelous in the New japan Cup tournament, and started with the one and only Tatsuya Naito.  naito has had an interesting year.  The G1 Climax 26 winner had a GREAT match against Okada at Wrestle Kingdom and got involved in a rather bloody feud with Chris Jericho.  These two world class caliber competitors wrestled in a damn good match that showed they had a lot of chemistry with each other.  Although this isn't the first time, they've fought, this is among the best.

14. Oney Lorkin & Danny Burch vs. Kyle O' Reilly & Roderick Strong/NXT Tag Team Titles

NXT Takeover: Chicago

The crew of Kyle O' Reilly, Roderick Strong, reigning North American Champion Adam Cole (bay-bay!) and a currently injured Bobby Fish, collectively known as The Undisputed Era, have been on a complete roll since they arrived.  Once Strong became a part of the stable, they got even better.  At NXT Takeover: Chicago, O' Reilly and Strong defended the NXT Tag Team belts against two super tough guys in Oney Lorkin and UK representative Danny Burch.  Lorkin and Burch are two veterans that have faced them all and can kick ass all day.  They had been struggling to get fully over with the NXT crowd, but this match officially put them on the people's radar.  Folks, this was as back and forth as it could get, as we say career defining performances from Lorkin and Burch.  Although Undisputed came away with the 'W', Burch and Lorkin came away with something more valuable, the respect of the NXT Universe, as they were met with a lengthy standing ovation.  Mark my words, those two are future champions.

13. The Young Bucks vs. EVIL & Sanada/IWGP Heavyweight Tag team Titles

NJPW Dominion '18

Mark and Nick Jackson have been called the greatest team of of this generation.  There's a lot of truth in that.  They're damn sure the most accomplished.  The appeal of The Bucks is at rock star levels, and they've single handedly change the way not only tag team wrestling is looked at, but that you can be a millionaire being in the indies as well.  At Dominion, they were aiming to win yet another Tag Team Championship be facing two members of Los Ingornablas de Japon, Sanada and EVIL.  The Bucks can bring the best out of any team and this stands as the best match we've seen from this combo of EVIL & Sanada.  Once again, The Bucks showed tag team perfection on a physical and psychological level as they won back the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.

12. Kazuchika Okada vs. Zach Sabre Jr./IWGP Heavyweight Title

NJPW Sakuru Genesis '18

The historic "Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada.  A modern day legend at the age of thirty.  THIRTY!  He has wrestled every kind of wrestler there is to fight.  With Sabre Jr, it was a reminder of when he fought the head of Suzuki Gun, Minoru Suzuki, in two dramatic yet highly engrossing matches.  The in-ring mat style of Sabre was a parallel to the finesse way of Okada, but it made for a match that made Sakura Genesis such an overall good event, as these two truly tore it up in the main event.  Will Sabre Jr. be IWGP Champion one day? With performances like what he gave here, it's not far off from his future.

11. Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay/IWGP Heavyweight Title

NJPW 46th Anniversary Show

In case you hadn't noticed, Mr. Ospreay has had a hellacious year of critically acclaimed matches, as has the "Rainmaker" himself.  It was only right for these two extraordinary athletes to eventually get it on, and boy did they.  Seen as a virtual dream match, Ospreay showed Okada that he was capable of not only hanging with the champion, but could beat him, and there SO many occasions where Ospreay almost became the man.  Okada was his usual knock-it-out-the-park self, countering a lot of Ospreay's offense, but Willie boy did the same to him.  This was a fantastic back and forth match that showed two of the best on the planet in their glory.  We need more matches from these two.

10. Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12

In an apocalyptic move, the legendary Y2J, Chris Jericho, showed up at New Japan and issued a challenge to who many consider the best in the world today, Kenny omega.  Both guys are from Winnipeg, Manatoba, Canada, and both men close with Impact EVP and NJPW English broadcaster Don Callis, but this was anything but a fun rivalry.  Jericho struck first, busting Omega open at the end of 2017 and setting the stage for a war, and it was just that.  Jericho, at forty-seven, had perhaps the match of his career in the Tokyo Dome against a younger and blistering hot Omega, and Jericho showed at his maniacal best, he's still among the best ever.  This bloody match ended with omega winning, but an entire new respect was met from both men, and Jericho's claims of being the "GOAT" may be more true than we realize.

9. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Will Ospreay/IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title

NJPW Dominion '18

Hiromu Takahashi has catapulted into becoming one of the most watched wrestlers in the world.  The LIJ member had a memorable match against Ishiimori to win the Best Of Super Juniors tournament and thus earning the right to face Ospreay for the Junior Title.  These two are no strangers to each other at all, but this match was perhaps their best outing, which is saying something.  Both guys had so much to prove to the other and, although Ospreay was in control the majority of the match, Takahashi showed why he's gaining more and more of a fan base.  Takahashi became the two-time champion, but not without having an incredible match showing he belongs in the upper echelon of wrestlers, with or without Daryll.

8. Velveteen Dream vs. EC3 vs. Adam Cole vs. Killian Dane vs. Ricochet vs. Lars Sullivan/Ladder Match

NXT Takeover: New Orleans

Truth be told, multi-man/women matches can be very hit or miss.  Lately, WWE has gotten it together with some fairly good ones, but this one to crown the first ever NXT North American Champion was simply out of this world.  This marked the first match of Ricochet in NXT, and of course he dazzled as always.  The story here was the absolute brutality in this match.  This Ladder Match was one of the most physically intense matches we've seen within NXT.  Every man in the match did outstanding jobs and it was non-stop action.  How nobody was more hurt? I have no viable reasoning or any idea, but even though Cole came away with the title, the respect level for each of those guys was on a whole nother level by the end of the match.

7. Golden Lovers vs. Young Bucks

NJPW Strong Style Evolved '18

When Omega and Kota Ibushi reunited as The Golden Lovers, the wrestling world went nuts, as they were seen as the best team there was from Japan.  Former Ko-D (DDT) Tag Team Champions and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, they were just awesome together.  With Omega seemingly on the outs of the Bullet Club, he and best friend Ibushi collided with former friends The Young Bucks at Strong Style Evolved '18.  The two best in the world colliding for the first time ever, and I have no problem telling you this was one of the greatest tag team matches ever seen.  These two teams exhibited a chemistry possibly unmatched amongst tag teams in the business right now, and this was storytelling 101.  While everyone demonstrated magic in this match, Matt Jackson was the MVP, as his selling and his ability to make you feel for him in this match was incredible.  This tag match was a classic and will likely hold the distinction of tag match of the year, if not the decade.

                                                                       

6. Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll/IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title

NJPW Sakaru Genesis '18

Another major rivalry that is among the most heralded in the sport is Will Ospreay and Marty Scurll.  If you have seen their prior matches, especially their absolute classic from RevPro High Stakes in 2016, you know they're capable of producing.  At Sakaru Genesis, this was their first time competing in New Japan in a one on one match, and of course, they didn't at all disappoint.  There are certain rivalries that are just made for each other.  Steamboat/Flair, Cena/Edge, Okada/Omega are a few examples.  Add this to the list.  Definitely Scurll's best match this year thus far, this was a barnburner and one that both men should be proud of for years to come.

5. Johnny Gorgano vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas/NXT Championship

NXT Takeover: Philadelphia

Andrade "Cien" Almas is one of the finest wrestlers in the world.  The former leader of the original Los Ingorbnablas and third generation luchador has been tearing up the game since he got up with Zelina Vega in 2017.  He and Johnny Gorgano had a match for the NXT Championship at NXT Takeover; Philly and it was as high drama as high drama could get.  Gorgano is a MASTER storyteller, and along with the fantastic athleticism of Almas, this match was beyond awesome, and could shoot for greatest NXT Championship match to ever be seen.  Although Johnny would come up short here, our hearts were in our throat for the last quarter of the match as we fully felt Johnny Wrestling would achieve the ultimate dream.  What he did walk away with was the distinction of being, besides AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan, the best wrestler in all of WWE.  Almas, likewise, increased his clout as well, as he proved he could shine in the main event as NXT Champion.  This was storytelling at its finest.

4. Himoru Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori

NJPW Best Of the Super Juniors Finals

There's no denying Japanese wrestling produces some of the best junior heavyweights in the world.  They have delivered stars in the form of KUSHIDA, Kota Ibushi, and of course the greatest junior heavyweight of all-time Jushin "Thundr" Liger.  The Best Of Super Juniors tournament is an annual showcase that highlights junior heavyweights and how they can completely steal the show.  This year's was very good, as they all mostly are.  There were plenty of standout matches.  However, it was the finals between Hiromu Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori that blew everything out the water, and then some.  New Japan is the home of exceptional psychology and taking people on a ride.  They got it all with this match.  This may very likely be the best match in either one's careers, as these two delivered the essence of what the not the BOSJ tournament, but what the junior division as a whole represents to the sport.  Takahashi defeated Ishimori, thus going to Dominion to challenge for the Junior Title, but not before producing a match for the ages.

3. Johnny Gorgano vs. Tomosso Ciampa

NXT Takeover: New Orleans

Oh Johnny boy!  Johnny Wrestling has produced the three best matches in all of WWE this year, and two of them involved his former friend and partner Tomosso Ciampa.  With Gorgano's NXT career on the line, the level of intensity these two delivered was off the charts here.  These two told a simply masterful story that showed an unbridled hatred between two guys that were closer than brothers. It was from this match that we clearly saw how hated Ciampa was and how the no music approach with theme music got him some of the loudest boos for a heel we've heard in quite some time.  Ciampa proved his worth as a despicable, selfish sociopath, while Gorgano showed all the elements made to be a classic babyface and delivered a dynamite performance.  To cap off what was probably the best bell to bell NXT event in years, Ciampa and Gorgano put on match we may never forget.

2. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada/IWGP Heavyweight Title

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku '18

We mention how legendary the Okada/Omega rivalry and the matches that have redefined the business.  However, if there was a rivalry that would be in high comparison to that rivalry, it would be the career defining rivalry between Okada and the "Ace" of New Japan, the incomparable Hiroshi Tanahashi.  Every time these two get together, you can expect a wrestling clinic.  An exhibition of two of the very best in the world and in the history of NJPW.  Their match as Dontaku was absolutely no different, if not their best one yet.  The forty-year-old Tanahashi has been dealing with injuries since last year, but the stubborn toughness of the legend refused to let him slow down.  Okada, of course, was on a historic run, on his way to becoming the longest reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all-time.  So much to prove from both men, and we were treated to a brilliant display of never say die from the challenger, but the cunning nature and just overall transcendent talent of Okada was a tad too much for Tanahashi.  If there was one rivalry that continuously showed the world what NJPW had to offer over the years, it was this one, and they never, ever disappoint.

1. Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada/2 Out of 3 Falls/No Time Limit/IWGP Heavyweight Title

NJPW Dominion' 18

There are those matches where you remember where you were when you were watching something immensely special. Taker and Shawn from Wrestlemania 25 and Wrestlemania 26, Steamboat and Flair from WrestleWar '89, and Punk and Cena from Money In The Bank '11 are a few that come to mind. These are matches that are so very special, they leave an indelible imprint within you like a tattoo.  When it comes to Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada, this has been a rivalry unlike any other perhaps in wrestling history.  In only four matches, these two have set an impossible bar to reach or outdo.  Just when you thought you had seen the greatest match ever, they out do that match with another.  At Dominion, the two best in the world fought in not just the greatest two out of three falls match ever, but arguably the greatest professional wrestling match of all-time. This match was the epitome of heart, spirit, determination, and endurance.  The work shown by these men, physically and psychologically, was the most awe-inspiring experience ever seen in a ring.  Going into the match, Okada defeated Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in a forty-seven minute legit classic.  The rematch occurred at Dominion '17 and these two fought to a previously never before seen sixty minute time limit draw. They fought again on the final night of the B block in the G1 Climax 26 tournament, and Omega defeated him.  This was seen as the rubber match and for seventy-four minutes, these two made you see and feel an experience we have never felt in years, if ever.  We could go on and on about how god-like this match was, but folks, not only will this match likely never be outdone, the new standard has been set, and the bar may never be touched.




Honorable Mentions

Naito vs. Jericho (NJPW Dominion '18)
Goto vs. Suzuki (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12)
Okada vs. Naito (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12)
Omega vs. Page (NJPW Wrestling Dontaku '18)
Black vs. Almas (NXT Takeover: New Orleans)
Riddle vs. Sabre Jr. (PWG Time Is A Flat Circle)
Sky, Daniels, & Kazarian vs. Gordon & The Bucks (ROH Supercard Of Honor XII)
Lee vs. Takahashi (NJPW BOSJ '18)
Asuka vs. Charlotte (WWE Wrestlemania 35)
Ibushi vs. Hashi (NJPW New Japan Cup '18)
Hashi vs. Sanada (NJPW 46th Anniversary Show)
Balor vs. Rollins (WWE Raw 4/30/18)
Alexander vs. Ali (WWE Wrestlemania 35)
Tanahashi vs. Suzuki (NJPW New Beginnings '18)
Ricochet vs. Dream (NXT Takeover: Chicago)
Ishii vs. Elgin (NJPW New Japan Cup '18)
Ibushi vs. Sabre Jr. (NJPW New Japan Cup '18)
Ospreay vs. Ishimori (NJPW BOSJ '18)
Ospreay vs. Brooks (PWG Time Is A Flat Circle)
Okada vs. SANADA (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka)
Ospreay vs. Takahashi (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka)
Ospreay vs. Gordon (NJPW BOSJ '18)

Greatest Royal Rumble (WWE GRR)

Alexander vs. Murphy (205 Live)

Ali vs. Murphy (205 Live)

Magabe vs. Suzuki (NJPW 46th Anniversary Show)

RPG Vice 2.0 vs. Bucks (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12)

Reigns vs. Strowman vs. Cena vs. Miz vs. Elias vs. Balor (Raw 2/19/18)

Banks vs. Natalya vs. Charlotte vs. Ember vs. Naomi vs. Bliss vs. Lynch (WWE MITB '18)

Miz vs. Strowman vs. Joe vs. Owens vs Kingston vs. Balor (WWE MITB '18)

Rollins vs. Elias (WWE MITB '18)

Dunne vs. O' Reilly (WWE NXT 6/28/18)
Dragunov vs. Klinger vs. WALTER (wXw 16 Karat Gold- Night 2)
Thatcher vs. WALTER (Progress Ch. 61)
Shirai vs. Satomura (Sendai Girls 4/19/18)
Ospreay vs. Riddle (WWN Live Supershow: Mercury Rising)
Bucks vs. Briscoes (ROH Best In The World '18)
Lee vs. Ishii (RevPro Epic Encounter '18)
Sabre Jr. vs. WALTER (Evolve 99)
Mayahara vs. Marifuji (AJPW Power Series)

As you can see, there have been plenty of great matches, and there are still several that should be on the list.  This year isn't close to being over, which means more excellence is to come.  Thus warrants an incredulous amount of anticipation.  2018 is already another historic year for the sport.  Until next time!

Best Events of 2017

What a year for wrestling. Arguably, the most competitive year of wrestling in modern history.  There were SO many amazing matches, it became hard to keep count.  As far as major events and PPVs, this was an overall incredible year as well, as NJPW, NXT, and PWG among others presented classic PPVs and set new standards for the sport in 2017. With that being said, let's go with the top fifteen events of the year.

15. NXT Takeover: San Antonio

1/28/2017

San Antonio, TX

After NJPW floored the competition with WrestleKingdom 11 at the beginning of the year, it was time for WWE to see if they could start their own momentum.  It was Royal Rumble weekend, but the acclaim went to NXT Takeover: San Antonio.  As usual, NXT presented a more athletically compelling show than the main roster. The show was highlighted by Roderick Strong against Andrade "Cien" Almas, as well as Authors Of Pain defeating DIY to become Tag Team Champions, but the main event was Shinsuke Nakamura defending his NXT Title against Bobby Roode. Great way to start off a fantastic year for the NXT brand.

14. NJPW Wrestling Dontaku '17

5/3/2017

Fukuoka, Japan

Was there a hotter promotion in the world than New Japan Pro? NOPE. NJPW completely obliterated the game this year more than any other year in its history. One of the better events they had was Wrestling Dontaku, where the main event was the incomparable Kazuchika Okada was defending the IWGP World Title against "the underboss" of the Bullet Club, Bad Luck Fale.  The majority of the event revolved around tag team matches, but the standout match was the AWESOME encounter between Tomohiro Ishii and perhaps the best wrestler in the world today, Kenny Omega.  If all the tag matches didn't eventually wear you out, this was overall a great event.

13. ROH Final Battle '17

12/15/2017

New York City, New York

Ring Of Honor presented their biggest PPV of the year with Final Battle '17. The company has had a banner year, especially with the record-breaking Global Wars tour.  It was time to put a stamp on this year with Final Battle, and what a night of action it was.  The flamboyant Dalton Castle challenged Cody (Rhodes) for the ROH World Title, but Will Ospreay and Matt Taven stole the show, and the street fight between The Briscoes and Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer was quite physical.  This was even better than 2016's, and was definitely the best ROH event all year.

12. WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament

1/14/2017-1/15/2017

Blackpool, England

With WWE expanding its horizons with the Cruiserweight division, the announcement was made that there would be a UK division with a champion to be crowned in a tournament.  The two day tournament was overall an exciting one, with the finals of Tyler Bate against Pete Dunne being the best match of the tournament.  The real stars were the fans, as they chanted everything under the sun and presented an atmosphere that was electric through the screen.  If you were there, chances are that statement didn't do it any justice.

11. NXT Takeover: War Games

10/16/2017

Houston, TX

When the announcement was made that NXT was bringing back War Games at its next Takeover event, it was met with both anticipation and pessimism.  The event took place Survivor Series weekend, but clearly was the better event.  While War Games with Authors Of Pain & Roderick Strong, SAniTy, and The Undisputed Era all damn near destroying each other in a surprisingly awesome match, the event also saw Ember Moon win her first NXT Womens Title in a very good Fatal 4 Way Match and Cien Almas win the NXT Title over a game Drew McIntyre.  The event was best known for the super highly competitive match between Aleister Black and Velveteen Dream.

10. PWG All-Star Weekend '17

10/21/2017

Reseda, CA

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla is possibly the hottest indie promotion in the U.S. today.  This year was no exception, as they had a DYNAMITE Best Of Los Angeles tournament earlier in the year.  They capitalized off the success of BOLA and presented the All-Star Weekend.  As great as this two-day event was, the best match of the weekend was German brute WALTER against the best technical wrestler of the past decade, Zach Sabre Jr in a HELL of a match.  There was also Ricochet winning the PWG Title from Chuck Taylor in a great match as well.  This was overall another fine example to the passion, entertainment, and excitement PWG presents and this was not a disappointment by any means.

9. Progress Super Strong Style 16

5/272017-5/29/2017

Camden Town, London

One of the UK's most exciting promotions is Progress Wrestling. Specializing in British strong style wrestling, Progress has been known to produce some of the best matches all year. Most of them occurred at their Super Strong Style tournament.  The finals had a heel Tyler Bate facing New Zealand's Travis Banks, but the whole weekend was filled with fantastic wrestling, with occasional over-the-top entertainment. Arguably the best moment was when Trent Seven lost to Matt Riddle in six seconds, and the fans letting him have it with every appearance from that point on.

8. NJPW King Of Pro Wrestling '17

10/9/2017

Tokyo, Japan

One of the final major events of the year for NJPW was King Of Pro Wrestling. After the historic G1 Climax of the summer, NJPW knew it had a challenge to match that kind of acclaim. KOPW came close and really provided a big time event from start to finish.  The tag matches were quite good and the Ospreay/KUSHDA match was off the page. Okada defended the IWGP Heavyweight Title against LIJ member EVIL in a competitive match.  This was a knockout event and presented more of the finest pound for pound action in the business.

7. PWG Best Of Los Angeles Tournament '17

9/1/2017-9/3/2017

Raseda, CA

The most acclaimed tournament in the country is the PWG BOLA tournament. An open invitation for the best indie wrestlers in the world, this is subsequently like their Wrestlemania, only a three day event.  Regarded as the best BOLA tournament in the twelve year history of the tournament, there were constant highlights and show-stealing matches. None more captivating then the EPIC encounter between Donovan Dijak and Keith Lee that has been heralded as one o the greatest PWG matches ever.  This was a no lose event and one that continues to show PWG's cult following and why it continues to expand.

6. NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III

8/19/2017

Brooklyn, NY

For the past three years, NXT's biggest Takeover event has been Takeover: Brooklyn, which coincided with Summerslam weekend. Every time, the event would take some to a lot of the thunder from Summerslam because of how excellent the event would be. This year was as good as the prior two, with every match being special. From tje phenomenal Almas/Gorgano match to one of the single best Women's Title matches all year in Ember Moon against Asuka to the great NXT Title match between McIntyre and Roode, the event was on fire.  Not to mention the debut appearance of The Undisputed Era of Kyle O' Reilly, Bobby Fish, and Adam Cole (BAY BAY!!!)

5. NJPW G1 Climax 27

7/17/2017-8/13/2017

Various cities

The G1 Climax is the highest regarded tournament in the world. Stars have been made and legacies have been solidified at this very event. Stars such as Nakamura, Okada, Tanahashi, Kojima, Goto and Magabe have all won this event with Masa Chono as the one with the most wins. This year's Climax was regarded as the best of all-time on a match per match basis.  Matches such as Ibushi/Naito, Ishii/Tanahashi, Elgin/Omega, and Omega/EVIL were just outstanding, but it reached a WHOLE new level when Okada faced Omega on the last night before the finals in what was arguably the greatest G1 Climax of all-time.  The finals between Omega and Naito was almost every bit as superb. This was the new bar of wrestling for the year and nothing any promotion for the remainder of the year could even come close.

4. Lucha Underground Ultima Lucha Tres

9/27/2017-10/18/2017

Boyle Heights, CA

Lucha Underground  is one of television's hottest programs. In spite of only being a kayfabe promotion in lieu with the show, the matches that have been produced this season have been great to unbelievable. As awesome as the first two Ultima Lucha series have been, this one was the most violent and aggressive. Highlighted by the unreal carnage of Killshot and Dante Fox, but also the bloodletting og Ivalese and Katrina, the brutality of Crane/Muertes/Cage, and the graphic nature of Fenix and Moth Martinez, this event had it all. With Pentagon Dark coming away as new champ, this event was among the most vicious ever seen on television.

3. NXT Takeover: Chicago

5/20/2017

Chicago, IL

The most acclaimed of the Takeover events this year belonged to NXT Takeover: Chicago, which was highlighted by the brutal Ladder Match between Authors Of Pain and DIY for the NXT Tag Team Titles. This marked the first time the tag belts were in the main event, but they deserved to be with the action of both teams. Plus the shocking ending of Tomosso Ciampa turning on partner Johnny Gorgano in aggressive fashion. The event also saw arguably the greatest match all year under the WWE banner with Tyler Bate against Pete Dunne for the UK Title.

2. NJPW Dominion '17

6/11/2017

Osaka, Japan

In the eight year history of NJPW Dominion, none were as amazing, from a match to match standpoint, as 2017's version.  While matches like Tanahashi vs. Naito were nearly flawless and KUSHIDA and Takahashi had a hell of a match, it centered around the much anticipated rematch of the decade involving Kenny Omega and Kuzuchika Okada for the IWGP Title. Their first encounter was beyond words, but this rematch was even better. Dominion proved to be one of the best events in recent company not named Wrestle Kingdom.

1. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11

1/4/2017

Tokyo, Japan

Whenever the name Wrestle Kingdom is mentioned, it's regarded as the overall finest night, match per match, in the business. It matches WWE Wrestlemania in terms of pomp and pageantry, plus it's New Japan's most lucrative show. In 2017, this Wrestle Kingdom was home to the greatest match in modern history in Kazychika Okada vs. Kenny Omega. This match set a new standard of wrestling that nobody could outdo except...well...them at Dominion. However, matches like Tanahashi vs. Naito and Goto vs. Shibata were just exceptional. This was far and away the best event of the year, as the past several have been as well.  What Wrestlemania provides in entertainment, Wrestle Kingdom does for wrestling, and this one was absolutely no different.

Honorable Mentions

NJPW G1 Special In USA

ROH War Of The Worlds: UK
ROH Global Wars: Chicago

NJPW Sakura Genesis '17
NJPW Best Of the Super Juniors '17
NJPW World Tag League '17

WWE Wrestlemania 33

WWE Summerslam '17

WWE Survivor Series

WWE TLC '17

ROH Best In The World '17

RevPro High Stakes '17

CMLL 84th Anniversary Show

WCPW World Cup '17

WCPW Refuse To Lose '17

ROH 15th Anniversary Show

WWE Mae Young Classic

What a historic year for the sport. We have never seen such an outstanding year of wrestling, possibly of this era.  These events and more brought back hoe incredibly awesome wrestling can be. It became less about antics and more about good ol' fashioned wrestling. Right now, from an artistic and competitive standpoint, is in its best place in a very long time and here's to hoping 2018 will go even further. Until next time folks.