They Got NeXT: The Top NXT Matches Of All-Time

What's good folks?!  We all give acclaim to promotions such as PWG, NJPW, ROH, and British promotions such as PROGRESS, wXw, ICW, and RevPro.  Sometimes, because of the umbrella this brand is under, we forget that NXT is one of the single top brands in the game, in spite of being a WWE product.  It could easily be considered a promotion in itself, even if considered "developmental".  The brainchild of the late, great Dusty Rhodes, Triple H spearheads as the head honcho of the brand, and with William Regal acting as on screen GM, this promotion serves as one of the most talked about brands on Earth.  So much so that they recently expanded to have a British division called NXT UK, which I'm sure we'll be seeing as a prominent brand as well.  For now, however, we will go over some of the most profound matches within NXT and help defined them into what they are today.  Let's get started shall we.

20. Adrien Neville vs. Sami Zayn vs. Tyler Breeze vs. Tyson Kidd/NXT Championship

NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way

Before they became main roster mainstays, they were handling NXT quite well.  Kidd was struggling on the main roster before he came to NXT to help out, and he ended up flourishing.  Everybody was hot going into this match, so it was no wonder why this encounter was so thrilling.  Near fall after near fall dominated this match.  Neville was the exciting champion going into this match and he looked as good as everyone else did here.  Neville retained, but not without having one hell of a match with three other guys that turned it out right with him.

19. Authors Of Pain vs. DIY vs. The Revival/NXT Tag Team Championships

NXT Takeover: Orlando

Three of the most successful teams in NXT history merged together at Takeover: Orlando for a very intense Triple Threat Match for the NXT Tag Team Championships.  The highly skilled Revival, the incredible indie darlings DIY of Gorgano and Ciampa, and the ever vicious Authors Of Pain were all hell bent on walking out with the gold that night.  These teams were not going to be stopped.  The difference here was that this was also an elimination match so the first team to get pinned got eliminated and sent to the back.  This was filled with incredible physicality, and ended with AOP as the champs after being in a war they had never been in before.

18. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks/NXT Womens Championship

NXT Takeover: Unstoppable

Before being hugely successful on the main roster, the champion Sasha Banks and challenger Becky Lynch tore it down at Takeover: Unstoppable in a match many still talk about today as one of the defining matches within the women's division at NXT.  Lynch came in as the fiery, determined challenger wanting to show the world that she deserved to be mentioned within the same light as Sasha and Charlotte at this time.  Although "The Bo$$" came away with a hard fought win, Lynch did what she wanted to accomplish: getting people to talk about her, and her performance was an introduction to the "Lass-kicker" we know today.

17. The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O' Reilly, Bobby Fish) vs. SaNity (Eric Young, Killian Dane, Alexander Wolfe) vs. Roderick Strong & Authors Of Pain/War Games

NXT Takeover: War Games

For the first time in nearly two decades, WWE reintroduced the legendary (and violent) match, War Games.  Introduced back in '97, the War Games has been synonymous with team brutality and bloody aggression.  This War Games match was slightly different.  Yes it was two rings together with a cage surrounding them, but there's no roof on the cage for one, and two, this also consisted of three teams of three, which was very different.  In any event, these nine men took themselves through virtual hell in this match.  Injuries were presumed everywhere, especially to Wolfe who suffered a hideous and lengthy gash in the back of his head.  In the end, with tables, chairs, trash cans, and more involved, it came down to The Undisputed Era defeating the others, and with the hardest of hard fought victories, they showed they were the new dominant crew in NXT.

16. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte vs. Bayley vs. Becky Lynch/NXT Women's Championship

NXT Takeover: R-rival

In what was a competitive match if there ever was one within the women's division, the quadrant that would later become known as The Four Horsewomen all clashed with each other at Takeover: R-rival.  Bayley, Charlotte, Sasha, and Becky all presented a display of intense desire to become the head in charge of the division.  Sasha became the woman this night, but without earning the complete respect of everyone that viewed the event, along with Charlotte, Bayley, and Becky.  While these women have more than proven themselves on the main roster as four of the best in-ring workers in the business, this match gave a clue as to what each one was capable of.

15. Ember Moon vs. Asuka/NXT Womens Championship

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III

For over a year and some change, the statement was "Nobody's ready for Asuka", and it was proven time and time and time again.  Nobody had an answer for the Japanese phenom.  The young lady was undefeated for nearly two years straight before "retiring" from NXT undefeated and as Women's Champion.  However, one of her single toughest competitors and challengers was rising star Ember Moon (no pun intended).  Moon was highly regarded as the next big thing within NXT and was impressing people left and right.  This match was a rematch from their encounter in Chicago earlier in the year.  This match was not only better, but Ember came within an eyelash of winning.  Easily one of the greatest women's encounters in NXT history, Asuka nearly tasted defeat closer than any other time before.

14. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs. The Undisputed Era (Kyle O' Reilly & Roderick Strong)/NXT Tag Team Championships

NXT Takeover: Chicago II

The Undisputed Era is collectively the most impressive faction possibly in all of WWE.  All these highly successful former ROH talents merged into quite the group in New Orleans when Roddie Strong joined the group.  They met a very formidable challenge at Takeover: Chicago II in the form of super tough veterans, Oney Lorcan and the UK's Danny Burch.  Almost nobody expected the fight they brought O' Reilly and Strong, but man oh man what a fight they gave them.  Strong and O' Reilly fought their asses off to retain the gold, but afterwards, those same people that didn't give Burch and Lorcan much of a chance were standing in applause for minutes.  Lorcan even suffered quite a devastating facial injury as a result of the match that kept him out for some months.  Best believe, after that kind of performance, they'll be champions sooner than later.

13. Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro/Two Out Of Three Falls

NXT TV Taping- 8/21/13

Sami Zayn is what the term "workhorse" personifies: heart, grit, determination, and all around superb in-ring work ethic.  When he emerged in NXT, he was very quickly taken in by the NXT audience (most already were familiar with him as the masked Canadian Luchador, El Generico).  However, he had quite the rivalry with former FCW/NXT star Cesaro, as Zayn was never able to beat him.  Zayn had the temerity to challenge Cesaro yet again for a match.  While Cesaro was reluctant to accept the challenge due to him already frequently defeating him, he accepted one more time in a Best Of Three Falls match.  This match was without question the best of their series of matches, as Cesaro was so dominant throughout the majority of the match, but when Zayn shined, he SHINED.  The storytelling here was fantastic, and the athleticism that matched was just awesome.  

12. Asuka vs. Nikki Cross/NXT Womens Championship

NXT TV Tapings- 6/28/17

The commentators refer to her as Sanity's "twisted sister", but Scotland's Nikki Cross is as brilliant as she is nuts.  Fearless and intense, Cross challenged the historic-reigning NXT Womens Champion, Asuka to the first ever Last Woman Standing match (no, people, Becky vs. Charlotte was not the first, this was).  The mixture of the fierce aggressiveness of Cross with Asuka's staggering strong style offense made for a vicious affair on NXT TV.  To say these ladies threw everything at each other is quite an understatement.  Asuka had faced quite a variety of notable challengers including Nia Jax, Ember Moon, Bayley, and Dana Brooke, but this one was different.  This one met her brutal offense almost to the T, but once again Asuka survived, and I do mean SURVIVED.

11. Sami Zayn vs. Adrien Neville/NXT Championship

NXT Takeover: R-Evolution

Adrien Neville (later just Neville) was a sizzling champion.  He had held the belt for about a year before super hungry challenger Sami Zayn was knocking on his door.  These two friends threw it all out the window and it became such a hotly contested encounter.  These two outstanding, world class talents gave us a hell of a match that still stands up today as one of the finest NXT Championship encounters in brand history.  Sami ended up obtaining the title over his close friend, only for the victory to be marred by best friend-turned-antagonist Kevin Owens.

10. DIY vs. The Revival/NXT Tag Team Championships/Two Out Of Three Falls

NXT Takeover: Toronto

In what was, without question, the standout match of NXT Takeover: Toronto, the self-assured, yet very impressive, champions The Revival were challenged by the hungry and focused team of Tamosso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, collectively DIY.  DIY had been fighting their asses off for this moment to obtain a shot at the gold.  They lost once to them in a fantastic match for the gold, however this time it was Two Out Of Three Falls, and DIY didn't come to play around with nobody.  This match was textbook precision at its finest between these two highly touted teams.  After two incredible falls, it came down to the third fall, and DIY finally grabbed the brass ring and won the gold in a match that would never be forgotten anytime soon.

9. Tyler Bate vs. Pete Dunne/WWE UK Heavyweight Championship

NXT Takeover: Chicago

Representing the United Kingdom, UK Champion, Tyler Bate, was challenged by the man he defeated in the finals of the tournament to declare the inaugural champion, "The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne.  While their match at the UKCT was excellent in itself, this match was just out of this world.  Dunne had been on fire at this point, and it was clear he was chomping at the bit to become only the second man to hold the belt.  The very young champion and the almost as young challenger took things to higher levels than ever before with this unbelievable match.  Ultimately Dunne came out the new champion, and isn't terribly far from being a two-year champion, thus making him the longest reigning champion in the company and possibly the business overall now that Okada isn't IWGP Champion anymore.  In this match, Dunne had officially arrived.

8. Moustache Mountain vs. The Undisputed Era (Kyle O' Reilly & Roderick Strong)/NXT Tag Team Championship

NXT TV Taping- 7/11/18

The story here was the epic storytelling.  The team of Trent Seven and former WWE UK Heavyweight Champion Tyler Bate were Moustache Mountain, and they had defeated O' Reilly and Strong of The Undisputed during the taping of the second annual UKCT in London at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.  They brought the belts back to the States to defend the belts against the men they won them from in a spectacular match.  With Strong and O' Reilly injuring the knee of Seven, the story began, and it was compelling.  The heart shown by Seven and the conflict of Bate trying to decide whether or not to throw in the title was so classically done and done well.  Bate ultimately threw it in, thus allowing The Undisputed's second tag team title reign in what was an emotionally charged match and the first five star match on NXT TV.

7. Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

NXT Takeover: Dallas

In one of the most storied matches in NXT history, Sami Zayn had just gotten the call to go up to the main roster.  He had one last huge challenge before he left: to defeat the hottest free agent in the game at the time, Shinsuke Nakamura.  These two would meet for the first time ever, and JESUS what a match! The fans were going crazy before the bell even rang to give it a huge fight feel.  This match was the definition of the word EPIC. The match had a style that was the closest to a New Japan-like style we had ever seen in WWE. This was one of the first time WWE audiences had delivered the chant "Fight forever", and it was so richly deserved.  We could've seen these guys fight for an hour plkus.  It's not often we see this type of magic under the WWE umbrella, even NXT, but this match is surely a match generations will still speak about years down the road.  This was special, plus it gave Nakamura his first win in one of his most god-level matches ever!

6. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks/NXT Womens Championship/30 Minute Ironman Match

NXT Takeover: Respect

This rivalry has been considered the most impactful women's rivalry in NXT history and rightfully so. It redefined the division and made it possible for women to not only steal the show but main event all male programs.  This was evidenced in their amazing first encounter at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, and again at NXT Takeover: Respect.  Bayley defeated Banks in Brooklyn, and she came into this rematch as champion, facing a bitter yet utterly determined Sasha Banks.  This was the first Ironman match in company history, and this was one for the books.  The emotion going into this one was off the page as Bayley had to show she was worthy of the title and this was has hard fought of an encounter as you'll ever see in NXT.  This match showed some of Sasha's best heel work, even going so far as to make then seven year old Bayley superfan Izzy cry heartbreakingly.  The guts showed by both women made this a true NXT standout moment and the match got fans and peers alike standing on their feet in applause out of respect and admiration for a job very, very well done.

5. Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream vs. EC3 vs. Killian Dane vs. Lars Sullivan vs. Ricochet/Ladder/NXT North American Championship/Ladder Match
NXT Takeover: New Orleans

When fans mention the term 'Ladder match', people go to such classics as Razor vs. Shawn, most Money In The Bank matches or Dudley Boys vs. E&C vs. Hardyz.  You need to add another to that profound list.  This was a ladder match for the newly activated North American Championship.  In the chase to become the inaugural champion and make history, these six guys KILLED in this match.  EC3 and Ricochet were the newbies in this match and Cole and Dream had a ton of momentum going into this match.  This was a brutal, at times hard to watch, encounter showing the future of NXT in their toughest forms.  Although nobody came out unscathed, Cole reached the top first and became the first N.A. Champion.  Easily the most awesome Ladder Match of 2018 and one of the best in recent memory.

4. Johnny Gargano vs. Tomassa Ciampa/Street Fight

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV

Arguably the greatest and most personal rivalry in NXT history has been former friends and partners, Johnny Gargano against Tomasso Ciampa.  At Takeover: New Orleans, they told the best story all year, but in this one, they tried to flat out destroy each other and came very close to accomplishing it.  They were in street clothes and fought like they were legitimately in the streets.  This was an uneasy encounter at times, as stiff shots were plenty and these two turned up the level of intensity and physicality from New Orleans.  Ciampa, with his hands handcuffed, pulled out a win in this ungodly physical match and continued a rivalry that has redefined the whole structure of NXT for 2018.

3. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks/NXT Womens Championship

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn

This is the match that completely redesigned the entire Women's division, not just in NXT, but WWE as a whole.  Bayley and Sasha were involved in twenty of the most compelling minutes we had ever seen within the Women's division under Vince's umbrella.  Underdog and constant ring-chaser Bayley was trying to capture the Women's Title from the arrogant, yet incredibly talented, Banks.  Bayley came out with the heart of someone who felt she had everything to lose and her back was against the wall.  What resulted was damn near a masterpiece.  A showing of two women looking to be bring legitimacy back to women's wrestling on a mainstream level (not counting TNA and their Knockout division).  Bayley finally did it, and it was one of the single most heartfelt moments in wrestling.  So much so that afterwards, the Four Horsewomen did a "curtain call" of sorts similar to The Kliq back in MSG.  This was a changing of the guard, and these women were responsible for it.  

2. Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas/NXT Championship

NXT Takeover: Philadelphia

The highly cocky, yet exceptionally talented, Andrade "Cien" Almas was the reigning NXT Champion, defeating previous champion Drew (Galloway) McIntyre.  With this match, Gargano had been the relative underdog.  The guy that fights and scraps and fights some more and scraps some more.  He was finally the number one contender, even though he had lost to ACA before.  With the cunning Zelina Vega in his corner, Almas showed no mercy and went after him quickly, but Gargano, ever the fighter, would always bounce back.  Folks, this was as close to a perfect match as you would get.  The storytelling, the action, the emotion, the adrenaline.  This was all here and in fabulous fashion.  If nothing else showed the world Johnny Wrestling belonged in the main event, this did, and both guys delivered career benchmark performances in this instant classic that will stand among the upper echelon of NXT Championship matches.

1. Johnny Gargano vs. Tomasso Ciampa/Unsanctioned Match

NXT Takeover: New Orleans

The event, NXT Takeover: New Orleans, has been referred to as the best Takeover event of all-time.  From the aforementioned Ladder Match to Aleister Black winning the NXT Title from Cien Almas, this event was exceptional.  However, it was capped off with what has to be considered WWE match of the year in Johnny Gargano vs. Tomasso Ciampa.  Gargano was "out" of NXT thanks to him putting his NXT career on the line and losing to Almas, however, Ciampa was the reason, as he interfered in the match.  The match for Johnny's future and another shot at competing in NXT was on the line, as he faced his former friend in an Unsanctioned Match, meaning NXT/WWE wasn't responsible for any injuries from this match.  This match had every element imaginable to be considered among the greatest matches ever witnessed in NXT.  Although not quite as brutal as later encounters, this match didn't need top be.  This match was as compelling as it was entertaining.  You rooted for this extremely talented, yet underachieved, star, and you wanted for him to live his dream so badly.  This match was simply an experience to watch.  In a year that saw perhaps the greatest wrestling match of all time with Okada and Omega at Dominion earlier this year, don't you dare leave this off the list of all-time great matches that will be spoken of twenty years from now.  Gargano won and got his NXT career back, but as thrilling of a victory as this was, it was only the beginning.


Honorable Mentions

Black vs. Almas (NXT Takeover: New Orleans)
Black vs. Dream (NXT Takeover: War Games)
Ricochet vs. Dream (NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV)
Charlotte vs. Natalya (NXT Takeover)
Paige vs. Emma (NXT Arrival)
Charlotte vs. Banks (NXT Takeover: R-Evolution)
Black vs. Ciampa (NXT Takeover: Orlando)
Dunne vs. O' Reilly (NXT TV Taping 6/13/18)
Balor vs. Owens (NXT Takeover: Brooklyn)
Nakamura vs. Roode (NXT Takeover: Orlando)
Balor vs. Neville (NXT Takeover: R-rival)
Moon vs. Asuka (NXT Takeover: Orlando)
Nakamura vs. Joe (NXT Takeover: Toronto)
Nakamura vs. Joe (NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II)
Black vs. Cole (NXT Takeover: Philadelphia)
Liger vs. Breeze (NXT Takeover: Brooklyn)
Zayn vs. Owens (NXT Takeover: Unstoppable)
Asuka vs. Moon vs. Cross vs. Royce (NXT Takeover: War Games)
Bayley vs. Asuka (NXT Takeover: Dallas)
American Alpha vs. Revival (NXT Takeover: Dallas)


NXT has proven itself to be way more than a "developmental" brand. This brand is the real deal and continuously outdoes its major league company each and every time, especially with their Takeover events.  They have a deeper following plus critically they're more consistent.  Some have compared them to a higher production budgeted ROH. This could in instances be true.  In any event, NXT is legitimately one of the single best brand around, and with the addition of the UK division and rumors of a German division as well coming, can they be stopped?  Don't bet on it.  Until the next time!

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!