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Your 5 Star Match Lists

180K views 1K replies 189 participants last post by  redunk808 
#1 ·
What are matches you guys have given 5 stars? heres my list


-Ric Flair(c) vs Sting,NWA Title,NWA Clash Of The Champions

-Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat(c), NWA World Title ,Judges At Ringside,NWA/WCW WrestleWar 1989

-Bret Hart(c) vs Davey Boy Smith, WWF Intercontinental Title, WWF Summerslam 1992

-Bret Hart vs Owen Hart, WWF WrestleMania X

-Razor Ramon(c) vs Shawn Michaels,WWF IC Title,Ladder Match,WWF WrestleMania X

-Bret Hart(c) vs Shawn Michaels,WWF Title,60 Minute Iron Man Match,WWF Wrestlemania 12

-Megumi Kudo vs Combat Toyoda,Deathmatch,FMW 5-5-1996

-Rey Mysterio vs Psychosis,WCW Bash At The Beach 1996

-Bret Hart vs Steve Austin,Submission Match,WWF Wrestlemania 13

-Shawn Michaels(c) vs The Undertaker,WWF Title,Hell In A Cell,WWF Badd Blood 1997

-Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero(c),WCW CW Title vs Mask,WCW Halloween Havoc 1997

-Rob Van Dam(c) vs Jerry Lynn,ECW TV Title,ECW Hardcore Heaven 1999

-Bret Hart vs Chris Benoit,WCW Nitro 10-4-1999

-Triple H(c) vs Cactus Jack,WWF Title,Street Fight,WWF Royal Rumble 2000

-Triple H vs Steve Austin,2/3 Falls,WWF No Way Out 2001

-Edge And Christain vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz(c),WWF Tag Titles,TLC,WWF WrestleMania X-Seven

-The Rock(c) vs Steve Austin,WWF Title,NO DQ,WWF WrestleMania X-Seven

-Kurt Angle vs Shane Mcmahon,Street Fight,WWF King Of The Ring 2001

-Kurt Angle vs Steve Austin(c),WWF Title,WWF Unforgiven 2001

-Shawn Michaels vs Triple H,Street Fight,WWE Summerslam 2002

-Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit vs Edge and Rey Mysterio,WWE Tag Titles(First),WWE No Mercy 2002

-Brock Lesnar(c) vs The Undertaker,WWE Title,Hell In A Cell,WWE No Mercy 2002

-Kurt Angle(c) vs Chris Benoit,WWE Title,WWE Royal Rumble 2003

-Kurt Angle(c) vs Brock Lesnar,WWE Title,Level Playing Field,WWE WrestleMania XIX

-Kurt Angle(c) vs Brock Lesnar,WWE Title,WWE Summerslam 2003

-Kurt Angle(c) vs Brock Lesnar,WWE Title,60 Minute Iron Man Match,WWE Smackdown 9-18-2003

-Kurt Angle vs Eddie Guerrero(c),WWE Title,WWE WrestleMania XX

-Brock Lesnar(c) vs Eddie Guerrero,WWE Title,WWE No Way Out 2004

-Triple H(c) vs Chris Benoit vs Shawn Michaels,WWE WHC,WWE WrestleMania XX

-Randy Orton(c) vs Cactus Jack,WWE IC Title,Hardcore Match,WWE Backlash 2004

-AJ Styles vs Chris Sabin vs Petey Williams(c),TNA X Title,Ultimate X,TNA Final Resolution 2005

-AJ Styles(c) vs Christopher Daniels,TNA X Title,30 Minute Iron Man Match,TNA Against All Odds 2005

-Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels,WWE WrestleMania 21

-John Cena(c) vs JBL,WWE Title,I Quit,WWE Judgment Day 2005

-AJ Styles vs Matt Hardy,IWC 7-29-2005

-AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels(c),TNA X Title,TNA Unbreakable 2005

-Samoa Joe vs Kenta Kobashi,ROH Joe vs Kobashi

-Kurt Angle(c) vs The Undertaker,WWE WHC,WWE No Way Out 2006

-Blood Generation vs Do Fixer,ROH Supercard Of Honor 3-31-2006

-John Cena vs Shawn Michaels,WWE Raw 4-23-2007

-Kurt Angle vs AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe vs Christain Cage vs ???,TNA World Title(First),KOM,TNA Slammiversary 2007

-Kurt Angle(c) vs Yuji Nagata,IGF Title,Tokyo Dome Show 1-4-2008

-Kurt Angle(c) vs Samoa Joe,TNA Title vs Career,Cage,TNA Lockdown 2008

-Kurt Angle vs Jeff Jarrett,NO DQ,TNA Genesis 2009

-Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels,WWE WrestleMania 25

-Kurt Angle vs Matt Morgan,TNA Bound For Glory 2009

-Kurt Angle vs AJ Styles(c),TNA Title,TNA Impact 1-4-2010

-Kurt Angle vs Mr Anderson,Cage,Escape Only,TNA Lockdown 2010

-MCMG(c) vs Beer Money,2/3 Falls,TNA Tag Titles,TNA Whole F'N Show

-AJ Styles vs Bully Ray,Last Man Standing,TNA Slammiversary IX 2011

-Eddie Edwards(c) vs Davey Richards,ROH Title,ROH Best In The World 2011

-John Cena(c)vs CM Punk,WWE Title-WWE Money In The Bank 2011


Out of the thousands of matches i have seen i have 52 5 star matches. pretty special.

anyway id love to see ur guys's lists
 
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#1,407 ·
As of right now.

WWE:
Chris Benoit vs Triple H vs Shawn Michaels - Wrestlemania 20
CM Punk vs John Cena - Money in the bank 2011

NJPW:
Katsuyori Shibata vs Tomohiro Ishii - G1 Climax 23 Day 4

NOAH
KENTA vs Naoimichi Marafuji - Autumn Navigation 2006

Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi - Navigate for evolution 2003
 
#1,408 ·
Posted this in wwe but also wanna get opinions here. But I'm curious to this. I'm about to watch the 1992 Royal Rumble which I hear is 5 stars. Now I keep a list of 5 star matches. And if I aggree that it is indeed 5 stars,should I give ALL 30 men that rating or just Flair? I see it both ways. On one hand they all play a part and are officially in the match. On the other hand what about the people who are there for 2 min or less? Also if there was ever a 5 star lumberjack match(which there would probably never be) I wouldn't give the Lumberjacks the prestige. Only the ones competing. I believe Scott Keith only gave the winner the recognition. Again kinda silly thread but it's been bugging me. Lol
Thoughts?
 
#1,410 ·
Angle, that's up to you.

I agree with RK that Rumbles can't be rated. I can say "wow that was fucking awesome" (1992) or "jfc wtf did I just watch" (2014). But I'll never say it was x amount of stars.
 
#1,413 ·
I agree, this thread was/is great. Love reading it once in a while.

Anyways, here is my 5-star match list. I will probably soon do a re-watch project where I re-watch all of these, and see if they hold up.

WWF/E
• Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin - Wrestlemania 13
• Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker - In Your House: Badd Blood
• Steve Austin vs. The Rock - Wrestlemania 17
• Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoit - SmackDown 05/31/01
• Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar - No Way Out 2004
• Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker - Wrestlemania 25
• Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker - Wrestlemania 26
• CM Punk vs. John Cena - Money In The Bank 2011
• CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan - Over the Limit 2012
• CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar - SummerSlam 2013
• Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena - SummerSlam 2013
• The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family - Elimination Chamber 2014
• Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H - Wrestlemania 30

ROH
• Bryan Danielson vs. Low Ki - Round Robin Challenge
• Bryan Danielson vs. Paul London - The Epic Encounter
• Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk - Joe vs. Punk II
• Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi - Joe vs. Kobashi
• Bryan Danielson vs. Roderick Strong - Vendetta
• KENTA vs. Low Ki - Final Battle 2005
• Team ROH vs. Team CZW - Death Before Dishonor IV
• Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness - Unified
• Bryan Danielson vs. KENTA - Glory By Honor V, Night 2
• Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness - Driven
• Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima - Manhattan Mayhem II
• Austin Aries vs. Nigel McGuinness - Rising Above 2007
• Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness - 6th Anniversary Show
• Nigel McGuinness vs. Tyler Black - Take No Prisoners
• KENTA vs. Nigel McGuinness - 7th Anniversary Show
• The American Wolves vs. Bryan Danielson & Tyler Black - Tag Title Classic

DGUSA
• Bryan Danielson vs. SHINGO - Enter the Dragon 2010

NJPW
• Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki - King of Pro-Wrestling 2012
• Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada - Invasion Attack 2013
• AJ Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki - G1 Climax 24
• Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi - Wrestle Kingdom 9
• Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - Wrestle Kingdom 10
 
#1,415 ·
From the past 3 years

Okada vs Tana - King of pro wrestling 2013
Okada vs Tana - Invasion attack 2013
Okada vs Tana - Wrestlekingdom 10
Nakamura vs Ibushi - Wrestlekingdom 9


Sami Zayn vs Cesaro - Arrival
Sami Zayn vs Neville - R evolution
Sasha Banks vs Bayley - Brooklyn
 
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#1,416 ·
From the past 3 years

Okada vs Tana - King of pro wrestling 2013
Okada vs Tana - Invasion attack 2013
Okada vs Tana - Wrestlekingdom 10
Nakamura vs Ibushi - Wrestlekingdom 9


Sami Zayn vs Cesaro - Arrival
Sami Zayn vs Neville - R evolution
Sasha Banks vs Bayley - Brooklyn
Agreed. And for as much shit as the Full Sail crowd gets, even if they can be annoying at times, they really added to this match. From the entrance they were going bonkers for Zayn, and they just erupt to probably the biggest pop ever in NXT when he wins.
 
#1,417 · (Edited)
I usually don't do star ratings, so I will only name five of my favorite matches in every promotion

NJPW
. Riki Choshu vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara - 6/9/87
. Andre the Giant vs Stan Hansen - 9/23/81
. Jushin Thunder Liger vs Naoki Sano - 8/10/89
. Shinya Hashimoto vs Genichiro Tenryu - 8/8/93
. 5 vs 5 Gauntlet Challenge - 4/19/84

AJPW
. Billy Robinson vs Nick Buckwinkel - 12/11/80
. Genichiro Tenryu & Jumbo Tsuruta vs Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu - 1/28/86
. Terry Funk vs. Stan Hansen - 4/14/83
. Toshiaki Kawada vs Mitsuharu Misawa - 3/6/94
. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi - 6/9/95

BattlARTS
. Yuki Ishikawa vs Carl Greco - 6/9/08
. Daisuke Ikeda vs Yuki Ishikawa - 5/27/98
. Daisuke Ikeda & Takeshi Ono vs Yuki Ishikawa & Alexander Otsuka - 10/30/96
. Ishikawa/Sawa/Otsuka vs Ikeda/Super Tiger 2/Usuda - 7/26/08
. Alexander Otsuka vs Daisuke Ikeda - 11/5/97

FUTEN
. Yuki Ishikawa vs Daisuke Ikeda - 4/25/05
. Makoto Hashi & Kengo Mashimo vs. Daisuke Ikeda & Takahiro Oba - 10/24/10
. Takeshi Ono vs Daisuke Ikeda - 9/26/10
. Fujita Jr. Hayato vs. NARITA - 1/30/11
. Daisuke Ikeda vs Manabu Suruga - 11/24/10

RINGS
. Kiyoshi Tamura vs Volk Han - 1/22/97
. Kiyoshi Tamura vs Yoshihisa Yamamoto - 6/24/99
. Volk Han vs Tsuyoshi Kohsaka - 8/24/96
. Volk Han vs Yoshihisa Yamamoto - 6/17/95
. Volk Han vs Kiyoshi Tamura - 9/25/96

WCW
. WarGames Match - WrestleWar 1992
. Meng vs The Giant - 9/14/98
. Dustin Rhodes & Ricky Steamboat vs Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko - Clash of the Champions XVII
. Arn Anderson vs Dustin Rhodes - 01/04/92
. Steamboat/Rhodes/Koloff vs Anderson/Eaton/Zbyszko - 5/23/92

WWE
. Finlay vs Chris Benoit - Judgment Day 2006
. Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns - Wrestlemania 31
. Brock Lesnar vs John Cena - Extreme Rules 2012
. Umaga vs John Cena - Royal Rumble 2007
. Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero - 6/23/05

WWF
. Sgt. Slaughter vs Iron Sheik - Boot Camp Match 1984
. Sgt. Slaughter vs Bob Backlund - 21/3/81
. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Kurt Angle - Summerslam 2001
. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Bret Hart - Wrestlemania 13
. Greg Valentine vs Tito Santana - 1/21/85

Memphis AKA Jerry Lawler
. Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee - 6/6/83
. Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee - 12/30/85
. Jerry Lawler vs Terry Funk - 3/23/81
. Jerry Lawler vs Dutch Mantell - 3/29/82
. Jerry Lawler vs Austin Idol - 4/27/87

ROH
. Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuinness - 6th Anniversary
. Bryan Danielson vs Roderick Strong - Vendetta
. Bryan Danielson vs Takeshi Morishima - Manhattan Mayhem
. CM Punk vs Roderick Strong - Escape from NY
. Cage of Death - Death Before Dishonor IV

EMLL
. MS-1 vs Sangre Chicana - 9/23/83
. El Satanico vs Gran Cochisse - 9/14/84
. Chicana/Fiera/M.Cota vs Satanico/MS-1/Espectro Jr. - 9/30/83
. Atlantis vs Blue Panther - 8/9/91
. Americo Rocca vs Mocho Cota - 1/27/84

CMLL
. Cicloncito Ramirez vs Damiancito El Guerrero - 1/7/97
. El Dandy vs ***** Casas - 7/3/92
. El Hijo del Santo vs ***** Casas - 9/19/97
. Bracito De Oro/Cicloncito/Mascarita vs Damiancito/Fierito/Pierrothito - 10/3/97
. MS-1/Morgan/Satanico vs Los Brazos - 11/22/91

AAA
. Pirata Morgan vs El Satanico - 11/26/93
. LA Park vs El Mesias - 12/5/10
. Espectrito vs Mascarita Sagrada - 3/12/94
. El Mariachi vs Blue Panther - 10/30/94
. Santito/Octagon/Misterio/Parka vs Panther/Fuerza/Pentagon/Psicosis - 6/18/95

In a few days I will do the NWA/AWA/Mid South and Other Shoot Style lists
 
#1,419 ·
WWF/E Top 5 ***** matches (no order)
CM Punk vs Brock Lesnar (SSlam 2013)
Brock Lesnar vs Eddie Guerrero (NWO 2004)
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Bret Hart (WM 13)
The Shield vs The Wyatt Family (EC 2014)
Daniel Bryan vs John Cena (SSlam 2013)


NXT Top 3 ***** matches (no order)
Sami Zayn vs Cesaro (ArRIVAL)
Sami Zayn vs Adrian Neville (R-Evolution)
Sasha Banks vs Bayley (Brooklyn)


NJPW Top 5 ***** matches (no order)
Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kota Ibushi (WK9)
Shinsuke Nakamura vs AJ Styles (WK10)
AJ Styles vs Minoru Suzuki (G1 Climax 24)
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs AJ Styles (G1 Climax 25)
Tomohiro Ishii vs Tetsuya Naito (New Beginning In Osaka 2014)


Lucha Underground Top 2 ***** matches (no order)
Mil Muertes vs Fenix (Grave Consequences)
Vampiro vs Pentagon Jr (Ultima Lucha Night 2)
 
#1,421 · (Edited)
I have an old list over here and I don't know if this still holds it up in my mind, but with a few touches here and there, it would look like this:

WWF/E:
Steve Austin Vs Bret Hart - Wrestlemania XIII
Undertaker Vs Kurt Angle Vs Triple H Vs The Rock Vs Rikishi Vs Steve Austin - Hell in a Cell - WWF Armageddon 2000
Steve Austin Vs The Rock - Wrestlemania X-7
Hardy Boyz Vs Dudley Boyz Vs Edge & Christian - Tables, Laders and Chairs - Wrestlemania X-7
The Rock & Chris Jericho & Big Show & Kane & Undertaker Vs Booker T & Steve Austin & Rob Van Dam & Kurt Angle & Shane McMahon - WWF: Survivor Series 2001
The Rock Vs Hulk Hogan - WWF: Wrestlemania X8
Triple H vs Chris Jericho - Hell in a Cell - WWE: Judgement Day 2002
Triple Vs Shawn Michaels - Unsanctioned Match - WWE: Summerslam 2002
Shawn Michaels Vs Triple H Vs Booker T Vs Kane Vs Rob Van Dam Vs Chris Jericho - Elimination Chamber - WWE Survivor Series 2002
Ric Flair Vs Shawn Michaels - Wrestlemania XXIV
Shawn Michaels Vs Undertaker - Wrestlemania XXV
Shawn Michaels Vs Undertaker - Wrestlemania XXVI
John Cena Vs CM Punk - MITB 2011
Daniel Bryan Vs John Cena - Summerslam 2013
Brock Lesnar Vs CM Punk - Summerslam 2013
Roman Reigns Vs Brock Lesnar - Wrestlemania XXXI


TNA
Samoa Joe Vs Christopher Daniels Vs AJ Styles - Unbreakable 2005


ROH
Low Ki vs Doug Williams vs Spanky vs Christopher Daniels - Crowning a Champion
Samoa Joe Vs CM Punk - World Title Classic
Samoa Joe Vs CM Punk - Joe Vs Punk II
ROH(Claudio Castagnoli, Delirious, Rocky Romero & Austin Aries) Vs Dragon Gate(CIMA, Dragon Kid, Ryo Saito & Yokosuka) - ROH: All Star Estravaganza 3
Kenta Kobashi Vs Samoa Joe - Joe Vs Kobashi
Bryan Danielson Vs KENTA - Glory By Honor V Night 2
Nigel MacGuinness Vs Bryan Danielson - Unified


PWG
Bryan Danielson Vs Chris Hero - Guerre Sans Frontieres
¡Peligro Abejas! Vs Young Bucks Vs Cutler Brothers – Guerrilla Warfare - PWG Seven


CZW
John Zandig Vs Sick Nick Mondo - 2 Out of 3 Falls Log Cabin Deathmatch - CZW: Tournament of Death II
Ian Rotten Vs Necro Butcher - Fans Bring Weapons - CZW: Tournament of Death II


NJPW
Naoki Sano Vs Jushin Thunder Liger - 1-31-1990
Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs Hirooki Goto - Destruction 2007
Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs Satoshi Kojima - G1 Climax 2010 Final
Kota Ibushi Vs Shinsuke Nakamura - Wrestle Kingdom 9


AJPW

Jumbo Tsuruta Vs Genichiro Tenryu - 05/06/1989
Mitsuharu Misawa Vs Toshaki Kawada - 03/06/1994


NOAH
Kensuke Sasaki Vs Go Shiozaki - 24/07/10


Dragon Gate

YAMATO Vs Naruki Doi - Compilation Gate 2010
 
#1,422 ·
I'm the OP if this thread. I'll post my updated list soon. Over 100 5 star matches on it. Tho ever since I've been training pro wrestling I have become even more appreciative of how hard it is and I only do half stars not quarter stars.

Two matches I'm stuck on

Survivor series 2001 tag

Eddie vs Lesnar 02
 
#1,429 · (Edited)
I'm the OP if this thread. I'll post my updated list soon. Over 100 5 star matches on it.
85 of them being Kurt Angle matches, no doubt.

Yesterday, I watched Kawada vs. Hansen for about the 25th time. It was as glorious as the first time. Two guys that just beat the ever loving shit out of each other. It wasn't pretty but it's damn sure five stars. I'm shocked that Big Dave only gave this ****3/4.

I'd love to have time to rewatch all of my 5* matches (~80) and the matches that I haven't yet decided on (there are many). Sadly, I just don't have the time or interest in wrestling any longer.
 
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#1,425 ·
CM Punk vs John Cena MITB
CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan OTL
CM Punk vs Brock
CM Punk vs Undertaker
CM Punk vs Joe 2
CM Punk vs Austin Aries
Daniel Bryan vs HHH
Shawn vs Taker Badd Blood
Austin vs Triple H 3 stages of hell
Will Osprey vs Jimmy Havoc (the one where he wins the belt)
Pentagon JR vs Vampiro
Seth vs Brock vs Cena
Austin vs Rock WM

I'm sure there's more.
 
#1,432 · (Edited)
Bumping this excellent thread, because I love going back & reading it - and I'd be really interested in seeing other people's lists!

Here's my updated one:

AWA
Curt Hennig vs. Nick Bockwinkel (11/15/86)

NWA/WCW
Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk (11/15/89)
Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. (10/26/97)

WWE
Sgt. Slaughter vs. The Iron Sheik (06/16/84)
Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (03/20/94)
Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (03/23/97)
Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker (04/05/09)
CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan (05/20/12)
Daniel Bryan, Kane & Ryback vs. Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins (12/16/12)
Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk (08/18/13)
John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan (08/18/13)
Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn (02/27/14)
Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H (04/06/14)
Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns (02/22/15)
Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (04/01/16)
Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson vs. Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa (11/19/16)

NJPW
Riki Choshu vs. Shinya Hashimoto (08/02/96)
AJ Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki (08/01/14)
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi (01/04/15)
Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (01/04/16)

AJPW
Akira Taue, Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada (05/22/92)
Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas vs. Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (05/25/92)
Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa (12/03/93)
Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada (05/21/94)
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (06/03/94)
Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (04/15/95)
Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada (06/09/95)
Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa (12/06/96)
Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (01/20/97)
Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (07/24/98)
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jun Akiyama (02/27/00)
Kenta Kobashi vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (05/26/00)

NOAH
Kenta Kobashi vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (04/25/04)

IWA-MS
Chris Hero vs. CM Punk (02/07/03)

ROH
Bryan Danielson vs. Paul London (04/12/03)
Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk (12/04/04)
Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi (10/01/05)
Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness (08/12/06)
Bryan Danielson vs. KENTA (09/16/06)
Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness (06/09/07)
Takeshi Morishima vs. Bryan Danielson (08/25/07)
Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson (02/23/08)
Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson (11/22/08)
El Generico vs. Kevin Steen (12/18/10)

PWG
Chris Hero vs. Bryan Danielson (09/04/09)
 
#1,433 · (Edited)
I'll ballpark mine starting from 1994 onward. A lot I really need to see from the 80's/90's (I really need to spend time watching AJPW). But yeah from then on it's most of the token matches you'd expect to see.

1994: Bret Hart v Owen Hart - WWF WrestleMania 10
1994: Shawn Michaels v Razor Ramon - WWF WrestleMania 10
1994: Eddie Guerrero/Art Barr v Octagon/El Hijo del Santo - When World's Collide
1996: Shinya Hashimoto v Nobuhiko Takada - Battle Formation
1996: Bret Hart v Steve Austin - WWF Survivor Series
1997: Bret Hart v Steve Austin - WWF WrestleMania 13
1997: Eddie Guerrero v Rey Mysterio - WCW Halloween Havoc
1997: Koji Kanemoto v El Samurai - NJPW BOSJ
1997: Shawn Michaels v The Undertaker - WWF Badd Blood
2000-2001: Edge/Christian v Dudley Boys v Hardy Boyz - Ladder/TLC series (fuck you, I'm not picking.The GOAT car crashes)
2001: Steve Austin v The Rock - WWF WrestleMania 17
2002: Kurt Angle/Chris Benoit v Edge/Rey Mysterio - WWE No Mercy
2004: Kenta Kobashi v Jun Akiyama - NOAH Departure
2004: Kenta Kobashi v Yoshihiro Takayama - NOAH Encountering Navigation
2005: Kenta Kobashi v Samoa Joe - ROH Joe vs. Kobashi
2009: Shawn Michaels v The Undertaker - WWE WrestleMania 25
2012: Hiroshi Tanahashi v Minoru Suzuki - NJPW King of Pro Wrestling
2013: Shinsuke Nakamura v Kazushi Sakuraba - NJPW WrestleKingdom 7
2014: AJ Styles v Minoru Suzuki - NJPW G1 Climax
2014: Katsuyori Shibata v Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW G1 Climax
2015: Shinsuke Nakamura v Kota Ibushi - NJPW WrestleKingdom 9
2016: Hiroshi Tanahashi v Kazuchika Okada - NJPW WrestleKingdom 10
2016: Tetsuya Naito v Kenny Omega - NJPW G1 Climax
 
#1,434 · (Edited)
I am still gonna try to revive this thread :side:

New addition:

Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 07/24/95)

Holy fuck this was great. Easily their 2nd best match after that '94 GOAT puro match one. This was all about Kawada's desperation to beat Misawa, right from the get go he was being a total dick to Misawa by attacking his face and showing no remorse at all. That set the tone for the match - Kawada being awesome, kicking ass, and Misawa busting out awesome comebacks with those GOAT elbows. My god his big comeback towards the end was SO good. One of the best ones I've ever seen.

EDIT: On a re-watch, went down to ****3/4, so not a 5*, but still a badass match. :eek:
 
#1,435 ·
Benoit/Angle Backlash 2001
TLC II
Rock vs Austin WM17
Team WWE vs Team Alliance Survivor Series 2001
Edge vs Mick Foley Hardcore match WM22
AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe vs Cristopher Daniels TNA Unbreakable
HBK vs Undertaker WM25
Undertaker vs HHH End of an Era HIAC WM28
The Shield vs The Wyatts Elimination Chamber 2014
Zayn vs Neville NXT Takeover R Evolution
Nakamura vs Ibushi WK9
AJ Styles vs Hiroshi Tanahashi G1 25
Tomohiro Ishii vs Katsuyori Shibata WK10
Shinsuke Nakamura vs AJ Styles WK10
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada WK10
Shinsuke Nakamura vs Sami Zayn NXT Takeover Dallas
Tomohiro Ishii vs Kazuchika Okada G1 26
Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito G1 26
Kazuchika Okada vs Naomichi Marufuji King of Pro Wrestling 2016
Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega WK11 (all the stars)
 
#1,437 · (Edited)
I haven't given snowflakes in nearly seven years but I do miss something about them. I would never go back to it because of how much of a hassle I found it in the end, but I think keeping a five star list might be cool. I'm gonna watch and re-watch a bunch of matches and see if I'd give them five, just for fun. Posting this here so if I don't do it I encourage people to yell at me. Gonna re-watch matches I think are classics, and use sources to see stuff for the first time. Maybe I'll finally actually watch some 2010s New Japan.

Edit. holy crap I used UK dating in my first post in this thread. Long damn time ago, that was.
 
#1,439 · (Edited)
I actually watched stuff! I'm gonna keep updating even if no one else posts, so prepare for shameless double/triple/etc posting if it happens.
Magnum TA v. Tully Blanchard (NWA 11/28/85)

BEFORE THE MATCH – Haven’t seen this in years. Little doubt in mind it holds up, and whether it’s five stars or not I guess I’ll find out. Dunno if I ever actually considered it “five stars” but I think my peak appreciation for it came after I gave up star ratings so maybe I did.

THE MATCH – Total master class in hate-filled violence. From the very second they tie up there’s steam coming out of both of their ears. One of my favourite little things in the entire match is very early when they’re both just on the floor doing what is maybe a one-armed test of strength before Tully breaks it up. It’s just so reckless and sloppy, they didn’t know how to start off the match – they just know they wanted the other guy to be in as much shitting pain as possible. Even the mundane wrestling moves and general cage stuff looked so much more filled with vitriol. Let alone when they’re literally JUST ripping at each other’s faces, psychopathically clawing at hair and eyes. Tully’s arm gets shredded, Magnum’s head gets busted, they walloped each other with the microphone and the smack sounded like someone tenderizing meat for schnitzel, the both of them screamed into the mic like they were giving birth through the throat, they could barely move when delivering basic moves like an atomic drop.

The commentators really add to this, too. They stay silent for the real bulk of chaos, and it comes off like they’re breathless just watching the fucked up mess in front of them.

The chair spike for the end match sums up the whole thing – it just came off of chair when Tully threw it on the floor. No set up, nobody’s going through a TV monitor or falling off of something in a contrived spot, nothing fancy about it. It’s a disgusting jagged piece of wood, and it’ll get the job done. A lot of the match is like they wanted to violently kill each other, and their emotions came over them so much that their bodies’ could barely listen. They did whatever came to them at the time and needed no game plan. This match will always be one of the greats. Best gimmick match of all time?

IS IT FIVE STARS? – It might possibly be borderline, but yes. What starts out as “just” a great match cage match turns into something truly transcendent. This is that masterpiece eyes-glued-to-the-screen-level shit. I have it on again while typing and I’m having trouble looking away from it.

Yoshiaki Fujiwara v. Super Tiger (UWF 12/5/84)

BEFORE THE MATCH – These two make probably one of the best series of matches in wrestling footage history. I’m going to at least watch this one, and 9/11/85. I thought the latter was their best but their second best being five stars or close doesn’t seem unrealistic, if at least based on my memory. And any excuse to watch Fujiwara.

THE MATCH –
Still fantastic, to absolutely no surprise. Classic kick v. grapple, with both guys going into early confrontations super cautiously. Fujiwara is just incredible. His fighting stances and baiting for kicks only to counter are so crazily natural looking that for a split second you’d think it was MMA. Sayama tried levelling the kicks not only for a little damage, but I think to bait Fujiwara himself into a missed grab so Tiger could really take advantage. Tiger delivers some motherfucking brutal kicks to the head, too. There are some while Fujiwara is on the floor that’ll make your own brain rattle, but the corker of them all is late in the match. Fujiwara does the best sell of a kick to the head I’ve ever seen, tumbling down fucking perfectly and sliding his hands down the ropes sideways along the way. Almost directly after that Fujiwara dodges another kick but it’s as if moving his own body caused him to spin out dizzy, and he collapsed onto the ground and wound up in serious deep shit. It was there when Sayama’s kicks started doing it’s damage (and it just kept getting worse and worse), and quite literally perfectly sold by Fujiwara. Favourite part of the match.

My other favourite part of the match was a sort of chain that began with Sayama landing one heavy kick on Fujiwara’s leg, which made Fujiwara tumble backward a bit. Sayama took major advantage of that and kept on kicking until Fujiwara was down. Then both guys wound up on their feet and I thought the leg thing had no major bearing on the match, despite being what felt like the first big move. I was proven well wrong when Fujiwara comes out with forty five swinging fists – HIS first big move in the match. The leg got him in trouble and this was his way of making sure he was going to get some time on top, even if it was risky with Tiger being able to spring a kick out of nowhere. He was getting desperate.

Really awesome vocal selling throughout too, which I’ve never really thought about it before, but I kind of find is more important in shoot style than any other type of wrestling. I especially loved Sayama choking and coughing, which to be fair may have not been a work but whatever.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – No. This dumbass project will be awkward in some cases where I say negative things about matches I think are basically classics, but five stars is the real mega uber all time classics and I didn’t get that from this until the final stretch. Some odd transitions and missed opportunities to elevate the match kind of put this on a lower level to the real top of the line. The grappling is good but not next-level or anything, which doesn’t matter in the long run but again, does for five stars. I think shoot style really benefits from not having 25 minute long matches, too.

It would have been five stars if the entire match was as good as the last six or so minutes though. I have to refrain myself from just continuing talking about how cool it was. I didn’t even mention Fujiwara fighting back with kicks of his own, or the amazing way he sold his own headbutt. Fuck I wasn’t gonna rewatch Fujiwara/Choshu but I think I have to.

El Satanico v. Pirata Morgan (AAA 11/19/93)


BEFORE THE MATCH – Watched this on the 1993 yearbook and it was indescribable to see this match that I didn’t know existed until the set came out. One of the best apuestas matches I’ve seen, the single best AAA match I’ve seen, and an easy MOTYC from 1993. Before rewatching it I can name but two matches from the 1993 year I think are better. I HAD to watch this again.

THE MATCH
– Satanico gets the jump on Morgan pre-introduction, and already has his teeth around Morgan’s bleeding forehead 3 minutes into the match. Can I just gush about how fun the selling and bumping is? I know I harp on this a lot sometimes, but it really means a lot to me when a wrestler sells a punch well. Not to mention Morgan starts the match bumping into the turnbuckles in a way I don’t think I can describe in words. He even does that Flair/Michaels turnbuckle flip bump in a more convincing way than I think I’ll ever see.

Third fall is no duh where the match takes off and sweet Christ does it take off. I don’t even really know what to say. The just hit each other. Neither guy has a realllllll extended period to work on top because they just keep fucking hitting each other. Both guys look exhausted the whole thing and every single move in the match feels like it means something. This is how you make your moves matter, motherfucker. Every little stomp, every elbow, every punch, every headbutt. It felt like it all counted and added something positive to the match. In fact I will go on record saying I remember two specific things in this entire 20+ minutes that I thought he match could have fixed. TWO THINGS. I was utterly captivated the entire time.

IS IT FIVE STARS?
– Arguably, but not……You know? To fuck with it, I’m gonna say yes, at least for now when this project is still in it’s infancy. The fact I want to watch the match again right now is taking precedent over my nigglings about it maybe just being a top ****3/4 match. I think most won’t agree, including maybe even me at a later date, but five stars.
Volk Han v. Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 9/25/96)

BEFORE THE MATCH – Gotta be honest with this one, there’s almost no way I give it five stars. But their other two matches I might, so why not just watch their first with them.

THE MATCH – I miss watching RINGS so much. The rope break/KO points system adds so much drama to matches, and these two are the most electric shoot style wrestlers in the universe to watch. Absolute fucking masters of suspense, drama and rolling around on the floor like gay sex. Motherfucking five star moment when Tamura has all of his limbs wrapped around one of Han’s legs, only for Han to nab a quick armbar which lead to Tamura letting go – except for his leg which was stuck and he had to quickly unravel. There was one leglock where Tamura’s leg was really awfully bent behind himself too.

Another five star moment when Han was locked in an armbar himself, went toward the ropes but found an opening to swiftly free himself, so he wouldn’t get a rope point. Tamura kept building up those rope points himself, so he unleashes a spot that I forgot was one of my favourite spots of all time – a straight kick to the gut. Han goes down like punching bag cut from the ceiling and probably lost every bit of oxygen in him for a good few seconds. That kick leads to a 9 count which feels like the “even the playing field” moment for Tamura. Han is a little sluggish in the next exchange compared to how swift he was the rest of the match, so the playing field might not be so even after all. Just incredible wrestling. A fucking classic in 11 minutes and somehow the worst match they had together.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – I wouldn’t argue with someone who thought so, but no. I worry that I’m only thinking that because I know they have two better matches that may actually be five stars, but it’s been so long since I’ve seen them that I think I can look at this one alone, and I don’t think it’s five stars. I can’t even drum up reasons or flaws as to why; it’s just not of “that” level of quality.
Volk Han v. Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 1/22/97)

BEFORE THE MATCH
– Unlike most people I’ve always thought their third match was their best instead of this one. Been years now though so lemme see.

THE MATCH – Tamura is real persistent compared to last match, and heavily laying in kicks, mostly successfully to Han’s legs and hips. Han does what he can to take it to mat, including trying to weaken Tamura with palm strikes, but Tamura’s pressure-bringing doesn’t let Han get anywhere near as much of the advantage as he was going for. And it’s not like Tamura can’t take anybody on the mat, but if he can equal Han on the mat yet best him in pure strikes – he’s gonna go to the strikes. His tenacity means frequent rope breaks this time, too. He was quicker to avoid getting in a jam than he was in September, and his speed took Han off guard a lot more this time.

Some of the exchanges in this are unreal. Is Han avoiding the leglock by hopping, then Tamura kipping up the greatest five seconds of any match ever? Hey! I’ll answer that – NO! The best five seconds of wrestling ever is Tamura delivering the exact same kick to the gut to Han that he did in the 96 match! It only got an 8 count this time! Reference! Chills and goosebumps. Han at one point prevents Tamura from grabbing the ropes by clutching his wrists, that was also awesome and simple fucking brilliance.

I literally could not list everything good about this match if I tried, and it’s only 13 minutes long.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – Yep. This doesn’t have every cool thing that’s in their 96 match, but if it did it would be like why even have two matches or whatever. This is still basically their 96 turned up to 11. Or 5…from a maximum possible 4 and a half shut up.
Volk Han v. Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 9/26/97)

BEFORE THE MATCH – One year and one day after their first match. That’s neat huh. Like I said I always thought this was their best, but after the rewatch 1/22/97 will be difficult to top. I’m excited!!!!

THE MATCH
– I forgot to mention (shock) that the 1/22 started with a five million out of ten swinging wristlock takedown attempt by Han. He started the match with the same thing here and landed it, and it leads Tamura to use up a rope break way too early in the match for him. Really awesome spot that feels like it plays off of their other matches.

Tamura was pretty kick reliant in this but he came off as a lot less desperate early on than in 1/22. This was the first match of the three by the ten minute mark where it felt like Tamura had the very clear lead and Han had to work upward or risk losing the match. Brilliant, brilliant spot where Han gets up immediately following a couple of violent to say he’s ok, just to avoid getting knockdown points. Then on one specific kick to Han’s leg (after a series of them), Han tumbles and tries to get up immediately again, but the ref counts it as a knockdown and starts counting. Tamura does the gut kick third match in a row after that, and it only gets a seven count this time. That’s one less each time. SEX! Tamura gets a chokehold on IMMEDIATELY following that, causing Han to get the ropes, and causing his points just keep climbing higher and higher. End match really honestly feels like a great conclusion to their series, even though they were supposed to face again in January 1998. Fucked up that never got to happen.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – Yes. Though I actually do think the January match is better now.
Jerry Lawler v. Bill Dundee (CWA 6/6/83)

BEFORE THE MATCH
– Watched this first time years ago and thought it was great, but very clearly below their 85 match. Watched it one or two more times and felt the same thing. Watched it again in December 2013 and thought it was basically the best match I’d ever seen. I’ll copy/paste what I said back then.

THE MATCH
What did I just watch? I’ve seen this more than once but I have never been so freakishly connected to it. In fact I cannot remember the last time I got this involved in a match, or the last time I thought a match was this good. It almost felt like I was watching the greatest wrestling match of all time. The opening was enough to make me a drooling fan girl. It was the greatest ‘big time fight’ boxing opening I have ever seen, and when Lawler swung that punch and Dundee flinched, fell flat on his arse and rolled out of the ring, I lost it. I had to rewind it multiple times and I swear to God it may be my new favourite wrestling match moment that has ever happened. It was the perfect opening line for this kind of loser leaves town match. The punches themselves are godly. Is there a match in history with better punches and selling of punches ever? Any fool is taught how to throw a punch in wrestling, but execution is everything, and these two don’t fuck around with selling hard punches. They don’t do the simple pissy ‘stomp and move head’, they go all out with swinging bodies and stumbling and jolting their head in the right direction of the punch. I remember multiple specific punch sells from this and I suspect I’ll remember them for a while. They’re also perfect when selling how hard the punch is. It’s like they know how much force each other will put behind the punch and sell appropriately based on that. And every punch felt big; there wasn’t a single move used to waste time, used for filler, used to set up something more elaborate– this was all important shit. Punches punches PUNCHES PUNCHES MOTHERFUCKER THE PUNCHES.

Most of this is punches, but, again, execution is everything, and when you’re executing the greatest punches in any wrestling match ever then you can afford to use mostly punches. Not any two wrestlers could do this. Everything outside of punches is classic too, though. Lawler’s sell of the first shoulder block might be the best one I’ve ever seen, the missed leg drop sell might be the best I’ve ever seen, and he did ‘gets hit off of the apron and bounces off table’ better than anybody I’ve ever seen. None of this is hyperbole or exaggeration. I actually loved the referee getting involved. In a lot matches without rules they get in the way and the attention almost gets dragged towards them, but I thought the sight of Tommy Gilbert trying to tear Dundee away from the bleeding Lawler was an incredible sell of how ruthless Dundee was being; like an animal tamer stopping a lion attack. Some of the concrete spots are a little rough to think about, even if we don’t really get to see the fall. Lawler does that ‘holds onto the ropes and nearly falls backward’ spot, and actually falls. There aren’t mats here, either - it was pure concrete, so I don’t give a shit if you see it or not, just the idea of that is brutal.

I’ve tried but I cannot explain this match in full detail. If I were to mention everything right with it I would have to do an honest move-by-move play-by-play. Not a single move wasted, not a single thing felt unimportant, not a single thing didn’t keep me totally gripped. Big match with a big match feel and wrestlers in the front row and fans getting unglued and just an indescribable piece of footage. I swear, this match truly feels like a surreal, unreal, all time classic. It’s basically perfect. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been watching truly amazing wrestling for a while, but I felt like if we had the full match it might be a Greatest Match of All Time contender. And it may not even be the best Jerry Lawler v. Bill Dundee match. This is the 80s.
My rewatch did nothing to change anything I said there, really. I should just add that Dundee had the greatest missed elbow of all time. Easily among my top ten favourite matches and as of now, top ten best. Like I actually am not kidding saying I don’t believe how good the match is. I must be imagining that it even exists. Damn shame it isn’t the full match.

IS IT FIVE STARS?
–. I could have said yes without rewatching it but I was absolutely going to rewatch it no matter what. I honestly think I might give this five stars if it was half as long. If the gap in quality between this and 85 is as big as I used to think, then 85 is by far the single greatest wrestling match in history.



Jerry Lawler v. Bill Dundee (CWA 6/6/83)
Magnum TA v. Tully Blanchard (NWA 11/28/85)
El Satanico v. Pirata Morgan (AAA 11/19/93)
Volk Han v. Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 1/22/97)
Volk Han v. Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 9/26/97)

Man I'm way more lenient than I used to be. Wait, no, don't overthink, you fool. That sucks the fun out of it like always.

side-note: I love how this thread is rated four stars.
 
#1,440 · (Edited)
Putting every individual match in quote tags from now on, and edited the above. Even with the bold and underline and red it still looked like a big eyesore and I hated it. I will change the red text too since I already hate that and with the quotes it isn't needed to separate the matches.


This is the "will I like it more?" edition. I'm gonna rewatch a few matches that other people like way more than me (and that I was a little surprised that I wasn't as high on) and see if my opinion lines more up with their's. Because why not ruin the fun I'm having with matches I may not even like?

Randy Savage v. The Ultimate Warrior (WWF 3/24/91)

BEFORE THE MATCH – Never liked this. Way back when, I soured a bit on guys I’ve since come back around on (e.g. Brian Pillman, Owen Hart), and I don’t remember Savage being one of them. Though somehow I never cared for this match. Watched it three times and the third time I actually fast forwarded through a lot of it because I just didn’t want to watch it any more. Been a long time since then so let’s give it another shot. I do wonder how much the five elbows and the (what I remember being a) terrible, terrible finish will bother me even if I like it this time.

………

Ok I should say before the match I’m already really into it. The highlights of past altercations (including the WWF title changing as a result), Elizabeth being at ringside, the looming thought of Savage being corrupt, Warrior walking to the ring instead of running. Don’t fucking let me down match you have me already.

THE MATCH – hahahahahahaha I was wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy wrong. The execution isn’t the STRONGEST as far as selling and offense (especially coming from watching Lawler/Dundee yesterday), but I seriously cannot sit here and say the match would have been that much better if it was. This to me was all about Savage losing his edge in what should be the match that he has his best showing in, and slowly coming to grips with his career being over. It was almost obvious he was losing; he looked kind of pathetic unlike any heel I can remember.

Sherri might have consistently made the best contribution to the match. We’ve all seen managers interfering, we’ve all seen managers giving their guy the upper hand, but not many – if any – managers that basically needed to interfere to save an entire career. This didn’t feel like a manager giving an unfair advantage – this felt like a manager constantly trying to even things up, and even bloody failing to do that. It really looked like Savage would have lasted maybe five minutes without her. He tried to catch Warrior off guard I don’t know how many times, threw the chair in as a distraction, caused a ref bump (GREAT bump from the ref, btw), and one of his biggest “moves” was dodging a splash so Warrior launched himself to the outside – Savage couldn’t get the upperhand with offense so he had to make Warrior injure himself. Sherri’s interferences gave Savage most of his openings, and especially because of the ending face turn, it felt like she was in the match almost as much as the other two.

I thought going into to this even if I liked it, I’d think it was a Savage carry. I really, really, really, really didn’t. Warrior being more slow and deliberate and keeping the crazy rushing at a low really put the match over, and basically every move he did was amazingly placed into the match. His interactions with Sherri, too; basically ideal for what they were going for without taking attention away from Savage. Some of his individual spots rocked, too. Catching Savage in a powerslam but instead placing him down and slapping him in the face is one of my new favourite spots. Savage’s face and then leaving the ring was amazing. It’s like not only did he feel disrespected, but he actually felt inferior at that moment. Whole match was just a gorgeous puzzle and everyone put their fair share of pieces in.

Neither the elbows nor the finish bothered me this time either. Warrior looked out of it after the elbows, and I can count it as part of Savage being a wreck at this point. The Hulk Up was egregious but way less than it could have been. It at least felt like the elbows had impact on him. Finish I remember being just some regular move, and the one foot pin bothered me, but now I think it really sums the whole match up, in a positive way. After needing Sherri to even be able to breathe, Savage had his ONE moment of actually kicking out of Warrior’s splash, and he couldn’t handle anything after that. Warrior’s shoulder tackles and Savage looking more pathetic each time falling out of ring felt honestly perfect. The entire match was Savage off of his game and the elbow kick outs plus shoulder tackles fit right in with that. It’s almost moralistic in conjunction with the face turn.

I forgot about Warrior talking his sky pirates, thought it was cool this time, of only because Savage was being a chump the whole match, and if Warrior thought he didn’t deserve a career if he could beat him, then that’d be cool.

This is like opposite of Rock/Austin X7. It’s a corrupt nutcase slowly losing his edge and coming to grips as time went on. Oh man if they had something similar to this with Austin in 2001 it would have been amazing. Though it wouldn’t have had the career match shadow, and would have ended with no crying and all Vince McMahon bleeding, but still.

I don’t even have to say it, but the aftermath to this is probably the best WWE moment in history.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – I’ll put this on the chopping block when it comes time to trim the list down, but yeah, I’m green lighting it now. Utterly shocked. I think this is easily a contender for best WWE match of all time. Please nobody allow me to be this wrong about something for seven straight years ever again.
Bryan Danielson v. KENTA (ROH 9/16/06)

BEFORE THE MATCH – First time I watched this I was very sexually frustrated and instead of pausing the match and having a wank like I would now, I for someone reason waited until the match ended. So naturally when I didn’t take to the match I blamed that, and watched it again. I didn’t like it any more than I did the first time. I’ve choked the chicken in preparation and am ready to see it again!

THE MATCH – No I still don’t care about this. I should clarify, I’ve always thought this was a very good match looking with “objective/unbiased” eyes, but I really don’t ever care to watch it again for as long as I live. I mean this is good wrestling but I really don’t GET it.

Shoulder stuff was really cool. KENTA wastes his time trying to mat wrestle at one or two points, but he’s up against Dragon so after that he generally tries to stick to arm/shoulder stuff, especially kicking. Though I literally rolled my eyes when KENTA gets up from the snap mare + kick and does his own so I was glad that wasn’t a common theme. Except when KENTA no sells that German suplex because he forgets he’s wrestling someone good and not Marufuji. That series of boots and suplexes was pretty bad, honestly, but thankfully it was pretty short too.

I really liked Danielson’s dive, mainly because it wasn’t really a dive and he just liked jumped with his knees up. Was really reckless and he came out of it having benefitted from it. The kip up while holding the shoulder was awesome, and KENTA’s Fujiwara armbar following was great and super desperate looking.

Finish stretch was good. KENTA got to the shoulder when h could but Dragon wasn’t really letting him. Dragon’s the guy who uses his two arms for most of his offense so he had to risk the shoulder by doing more gradually dangerous things like the Regalplex and the top rope back body drop. I was waiting for him have to break the cattle mutilation because of the shoulder but I was fine with it not happening. The catch into the Go to Sleep kind of ignored the shoulder in a good way; it’s like Dragon almost forgot that KENTA could do anything but go for the shoulder so he slipped up. Dragon being wise to the second one made that even cooler. This is good.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – I don’t see it. The MOTDC hype that surrounds this just completely passes me by, it’s something I seriously just do not understand even though I honestly have positive things to say about almost the entire match (which you know if read the above). It’s like if you see a good match on SmackDown one week and are ready to post all “this is worth watching guys”, but you get into the thread and see people calling it match of the year. I really don’t have anything against this match but what makes it special completely escapes me. Off the top of my head I wouldn’t even consider this one of the best ROH matches of 2006.
Shinya Hashimoto v. Nobuhiko Takada (New Japan 4/29/96)


BEFORE THE MATCH – Unlike the two matches above I really really liked this but people around me call it a MOTYC, and wasn’t really getting that so much as it’s just a great match. Has one of the best spots ever though (I’m saying that a lot aren’t I) Hashimoto in 1996 is a potential WOTYC, but he really doesn’t have that ONE amazing match to me the whole year. Maybe this will be it now?

THE MATCH – Still really awesome. Feels like one of the handful wrestling matches that feels like a true clash of heavyweights on your biggest show. The kind of thing WrestleMania main events go for and almost always completely fail at.

The spot I was talking about was Hashimoto’s leg sweep while ducking the kick. Still fucking amazing, and I’d forgotten Takada was often getting the upper hand with kicks, too. I kind of thought it was lame that Takada just had a Fujwara armbar on after that though. Crowd basically died for a sec too, it was like the volume had been gradually turned down. Fair enough to avoid the brainbuster, but shit, the sweep spot really felt like it should have been the match elevator and was just kind of left as something that had happened. Takada just basically comes off as a guy with no creativity who’s constantly being put into creative situations. Does he have any idea how to fill time?

No to rail on Takada too hard, but the match just came alive when Hashimoto did anything. There was one bit where Takada kept at it with the kicks and Hash just BOMBARDED chops at him and the place went nuts. He looked phenomenal crawling out of Boston crab, like Goku lifting a boulder after getting crushed with it. And when he delivered his own kicks to combat Takada’s it was the most satisfying thing, especially that first (and tbf Takada sold it really great). I’ve talked about matches where everything felt important and nothing felt like it was wasted – that’s basically Hashimoto’s career. It’s why it’s up there as maybe my favourite wrestler.

The landed brainbuster was amazing, and Takada seemingly trying to fight it even as he was in the air right before Hash dropped him could not have looked much cooler.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – Definitely not. I have a slightly higher opinion of it now, yet I still don’t really put it “up there”, even as a MOTYC. Make no mistake though this match is seriously great.

Jerry Lawler v. Bill Dundee (CWA 6/6/83)
Magnum TA v. Tully Blanchard (NWA 11/28/85)
Randy Savage v. The Ultimate Warrior (WWF 3/24/91)
El Satanico v. Pirata Morgan (AAA 11/19/93)
Volk Han v. Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 1/22/97)
Volk Han v. Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 9/26/97)
 
#1,442 ·
FINALLY got around to watching Kobashi vs Takayama from 2000, and by God, that was disgusting.

Takayama would knee Jesus himself square in the fucking face just for looking at him funny. Hell, that wouldn't even be necessary, he'd do it just because he can. Match hasn't even started and he's already looking to kill Kenta with a roundhouse to the side of the head :lmao Kobashi naturally answers in kind. Not even 5 minutes in and he's already DDT'ing the big motherfucker on the floor and chopping him square in the face. Takayama also proves you don't need no engineering degree to work a fuckin' arm; just knee it and drop your fat ass enough times on it and you'll render it nearly useless. Fantastic stuff, just an all-out war.

"No closed fists :mad:" get the hell outta here with that bullshit.

*****.
 
#1,443 · (Edited)
yay update

El Hijo del Santo v. Espanto Jr. (Monterrey 8/31/86)

BEFORE THE MATCH - One of my favourite lucha pairs with 3 fucking awesome matches together under the belt, but this mask v. mask is by far their magnum opus. Man I remember a lot about this. Santo’s an amazing tecnico with a lot of evidence to prove that, but this is probably the #1 match I can remember where he gets to display it. I remember it being such an incredible fight from the bottom.

THE MATCH - Nope it’s an even better fight from the bottom than remembered. Always amazed me how emotive Santo is able to come off with a mask, and to boot, shitty video quality that feels like it’s using the whole building’s source of power to keep up. Right before the match even started he looked SUPER concerned, and that was justified when Espanto spent almost all of fall 1 and 2 tossing him around, laying him out, and by the end of fall 2, shredding his mask. I forgot Espanto has the best snap mares in history. Everyone else moves forward during a snap mare so it looks like they’re using their own momentum to propel the opponent forward. Espanto grips his opponent with both hands and swing his upper body so it looks like he’s tossing them by the neck. Really great visual.

End of fall 1 Santo comes out really gutted. He got I think three moves in altogether, and spends a bunch of time post-fall reflecting on the outside. Crouched, laying his head against the post and hitting his forehead with his palm. Children come up to him and pat on the back and face and hold his hand, and it’s the kind of thing you’d think is too pure for this stinky little form of entertainment we watch.

I absolutely love how Santo is able to put more behind his flashy moveset than just the flash – it actually looks like that what he needs to do to get out of a sticky situation. With that said I loved it more that in this match after a world’s beating, and already failing to come back with the flashy stuff, he goes straight to kneeing heads and throwing around back body drops. Awesome dive prep spot after that where he kicks Espanto’s legs from underneath him while Espanto is running. Unlike most spots where the receiver might bump against the ropes, here Espanto falls outside and lands on his knees on the concrete.

Espanto was awesome getting himself back in control. Snap mare sends Santo to the outside so he mega hurriedly follows him, then slams him on the concrete and swings a chair into his head. In the ring he’s like a kodiak bear ripping at a sheep, chewing on Santo’s head and (from what I could tell) spitting the blood into the air. His punches were nasty looking too. Santo had a great comeback, and the visual of him pulling at Espanto’s mask with one arm while barely even able to stand tops all other visuals. Exactly what you want a mask/mask match to be, and as far as I’m concerned it even goes a little beyond.

IS IT FIVE STARS? - Fuck yeah. It’s everything I remembered PLUS. I don’t remember the match having cuts, though; skips around a couple times like we miss five seconds every few minutes. Freezes at a couple points, too. Tried two different video sources, might have to check my DVD instead. Not like watching it again would hurt.
Blue Panther v. Atlantis (EMLL 8/9/91)

BEFORE THE MATCH – Another lucha pair who had more than one awesome match, and another time they have – to me – a clear best of the bunch (I’ll watch their mask match for this five stars thing I think though). With that said I almost have no recollection of it at this point in time. DIVE IN.

THE MATCH – I haven’t seen Blue Panther in such a long time and enjoyed the shit out of this mostly because of it. Almost like watching him for the first time. Incredibly cool sell of an armdrag (or rather the bit where you stand up after an arm drag), and I loved his armlock takedown being more about the hold and not the takedown. He wrapped it on Atlantis and instead of throwing Atlantis down; he locked it in firmly so Atlantis looked like he was in so much pain he just couldn’t continue standing up. Panther also has some dumb in-theory holds but he’s so amazing at making them work. There was one where he basically gave Atlantis a headscissor takedown to the arm, and had his boot across Atlantis’ chin when the wound up on the floor. Another where in a surfboard he has his legs bizarrely placed so his feet wind up near Atlantis’ crotch. He totally comes off as a guy who you believe spends all his time finding different ways to bend tree branches to prepare for big matches like this.

Atlantis’ mat work hasn’t held up as much. Always thought he’s an excellent tecnico and definitely not a shabby mat worker overall in this, but I think I used to hold him just below that top tier of Casas or Panther. If this is any match to judge, and I’m pretty sure it is, he’s SEVERELY outclassed by the top tier. I probably only really held that opinion in the first place because I hadn’t run into ***** Navarro yet. Honestly I didn’t have any problem per se with the way Atlantis worked his holds here (little more force behind things, so it didn’t obviously look like Panther was just rolling himself would have been nice, though), but he’s working evenly with Panther and my brain couldn’t grasp that as realistic. It’s like if instead of focusing on the kicks, Super Tiger just kept to the mat against Fujiwara and they were consistently competitive. Wouldn’t have even brought his mat work up if Panther was destroying him like he should’ve been.

Atlantis winds up winning the first fall with some off-of-mat stuff anyway, so yeah. The match basically lifts into third gear from there. Bit of a sudden change, but with high stakes it feels fine. Third fall has some fantastic prevention of moves. Really simple stuff like Panther keeping himself back-on-the-ground (even when lifted up) to prevent a sharpshooter, or Atlantis making executing an octopus a living hell for Panther only with one leg out of place. Lead to some bits where they had to try different things to get the hold locked on.

The selling was…kind of questionable in the third fall, and it took me out of it a bit. They had that sort of thing going where they’d trade moves so you’d almost forget the previous move even happened. That in some way can absolutely work if pulled off right, yeah; I bring up “desperation move” as a huge positive all the time. I just think eating a dive and getting laid out, then delivering a German suplex, and then being on your feet ready to run is not pulling it off right. The grogginess was there, but it wasn’t there enough for me.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – I didn’t think it was even at all whatsoever close. Almost certain I’d not give it four stars any more. I really don’t want to say “doesn’t hold up” because that sounds like I hated it’s stinking guts because fuck the English language, but six years ago I would’ve said this was one of maybe the ten best matches I’d ever seen. So in that regard it really, really, really doesn’t hold up. I’m actually surprised how much I’ve gone done on it, even if I do think overall it is really good. Man this feeling is fucked, maybe I’ll watch it again in a week. I hate losing a favourite.
Jushin Liger v. The Great Sasuke (New Japan 4/16/94)

BEFORE THE MATCH – It’s THAT J-Cup match. THAT one that all people who have watched puro for five minutes have seen. THAT one with the best, most fitting botch probably ever. Obviously been eight hundred years since I last saw this. Never really thought it was five stars but what the hell let’s watch it.

THE MATCH – Every bit of this match is fucking great. Sasuke may be head cheese in Michinoku Pro, but Michinoku Pro is bush league compared to New Japan. Liger was laying it in most of the beginning because he was just flat “better” and Sasuke hadn’t faced someone of Liger’s calibre before. Liger kind of acted like it too, the cockiness is important to the overall match. Loved how Liger kept getting tenser with his moves; shaking the head more, wrenching his arms, and you could hear him yelling to put torque in. Bit of arm work was really good. Sasuke sells it like a wolverine has a hold of it, and Liger swaps up moves so the ligaments or some shit don’t get too comfortable.

Brilliant comeback by Sasuke; hitting a gorgeous Asai moonsault and senton atomico, in a risk v. reward that paid off. It was all or nothing for nothing for him and he had to go for it. Like Liger he got more and more intense after that trying to put the match to rest. The bloody razor’s edge-style powerbomb was scary as fuck for a split second. Sasuke saving himself on a Liger-dodged senton by rolling was fucking awesome, and Liger shotei blasting him in the face was even better. Liger shaking his own arm after the pin attempt was awesome too. Liger still doesn’t shake being cocky as fuck when hitting the top rope frankensteiner. Can’t help himself but go for posing instead of a more effective pin. Guess what that was? Awesome. All awesome.

One nitpick that extends beyond this match - I hate how liberal juniors are with the tombstone piledriver. It’s like a routine bodyslam to them. Luckily for me when Liger ate one, he sold it WELL after he got his own move in. He’s another guy like Santo that’s stupidly good at selling emotion despite not seeing his face.

The botched finish is iconic (at least among English-speaking puro fans, I know jack all beyond that), and I honestly think it’s one of the best finishes of all time. Liger couldn’t even stop acting cocky after Sasuke had actually got the lead. Sasuke was “indie guy”, Liger was “big junior star.” He clapped like an asshole when Sasuke tripped up and signalled that the match was basically 500% his now, and it cost him everything. In addition, after that frankensteiner, Sasuke took a hell of a German suplex, a suplex to the outside of the fucking ring, a dive, a kick to the face, and more. He was out of it so that one slip up is so damn fitting. This match is so well put together.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – Like I said I never really thought it was, but it holds up incredibly well. Really is a great match. Definitely watching 7/8 again.
Wild Pegasus v. The Great Sasuke (New Japan 4/16/94)

BEFORE THE MATCH – It’s THAT J-Cup match. The THAT final of the THAT THAT. Obviously been eight hundred years since I last saw this. Never really thought it was five stars but what the hell boobies.

Also, wow, I love the ring name Wild Pegasus. It’s really thematic yet doesn’t force you into any particular theme. You can just be a dude in white pants and you’re playing the role.

THE MATCH – First ten minutes went by and I basically felt nothing. Solid wrestling for sure but not a lot of rhyme or reason to it, I suppose I’d say? I’m trying to remember stuff that stood out as particularly good and I can’t even think of anything. There a cool Sasuke leg drop where Benoit turned his head at exactly the right time so as to avoid a legit smack across the chin, but the way he did it, he made it look as if Sasuke’s leg was turning it. That was neat. Benoit has a great bridging German as always.

Match picks up into the hot finish run and it does get better from there. Still not GREAT, though. Sasuke’s selling was really good especially of his leg, and his big moves like the Sasuke special like the Liger match felt like necessary risks to take. Benoit’s offense off of the mat looked great. My favourite part was actually Liger being there with the M-Pro guys cheering Sasuke back into the ring after a big move.

This was fine wrestling and an overall good match, but it mostly didn’t do a WHOLE lot for me, and unlike Panther/Atlantis I’m pretty sure a rewatch won’t fix that.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – Yeah it’s not even close. I loved eight years ago when every puro match was something new and fresh to me, almost like I was watching a new gimmick match each time, or some kind of new cartoon, but those days ended a long, long time ago. While most stuff I think undoubtedly holds up as fantastic (if even if not “as five stars”), some other stuff doesn’t. I don’t even think there’s much wrong with this match but I never felt it was picking up to be truly great. Certainly good but I'm struggling to find interesting things to really praise it for.

Jerry Lawler v. Bill Dundee (CWA 6/6/83)
Magnum TA v. Tully Blanchard (NWA 11/28/85)
El Hijo del Santo v. Espanto Jr. (Monterrey 8/31/86)
Randy Savage v. The Ultimate Warrior (WWF 3/24/91)
El Satanico v. Pirata Morgan (AAA 11/19/93)
Volk Han v. Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 1/22/97)
Volk Han v. Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 9/26/97)
 
#1,457 · (Edited)
yay update


BEFORE THE MATCH – Unlike the two matches above I really really liked this but people around me call it a MOTYC, and wasn’t really getting that so much as it’s just a great match. Has one of the best spots ever though (I’m saying that a lot aren’t I) Hashimoto in 1996 is a potential WOTYC, but he really doesn’t have that ONE amazing match to me the whole year. Maybe this will be it now?
If you don't think the CHOOOSHUUUUUUUUUUU match at the G-1 is amazing then I'm pretty sure you don't have a soul, shame my breh :(

And the Takada match is outstanding, I'm reading through your reviews and it's pretty weird how you toss out all the context out of most of these matches. What makes them special as they are (don't care if they are "5 snowflakes or not, besides at this point we are at like what? *******7/17 stars as the new measuring stick? :grin2:) is precisely the story surrounding them.

yay update

Wild Pegasus v. The Great Sasuke (New Japan 4/16/94)

BEFORE THE MATCH – It’s THAT J-Cup match. The THAT final of the THAT THAT. Obviously been eight hundred years since I last saw this. Never really thought it was five stars but what the hell boobies.

Also, wow, I love the ring name Wild Pegasus. It’s really thematic yet doesn’t force you into any particular theme. You can just be a dude in white pants and you’re playing the role.

THE MATCH – First ten minutes went by and I basically felt nothing. Solid wrestling for sure but not a lot of rhyme or reason to it, I suppose I’d say? I’m trying to remember stuff that stood out as particularly good and I can’t even think of anything. There a cool Sasuke leg drop where Benoit turned his head at exactly the right time so as to avoid a legit smack across the chin, but the way he did it, he made it look as if Sasuke’s leg was turning it. That was neat. Benoit has a great bridging German as always.

Match picks up into the hot finish run and it does get better from there. Still not GREAT, though. Sasuke’s selling was really good especially of his leg, and his big moves like the Sasuke special like the Liger match felt like necessary risks to take. Benoit’s offense off of the mat looked great. My favourite part was actually Liger being there with the M-Pro guys cheering Sasuke back into the ring after a big move.

This was fine wrestling and an overall good match, but it mostly didn’t do a WHOLE lot for me, and unlike Panther/Atlantis I’m pretty sure a rewatch won’t fix that.

IS IT FIVE STARS? – Yeah it’s not even close. I loved eight years ago when every puro match was something new and fresh to me, almost like I was watching a new gimmick match each time, or some kind of new cartoon, but those days ended a long, long time ago. While most stuff I think undoubtedly holds up as fantastic (if even if not “as five stars”), some other stuff doesn’t. I don’t even think there’s much wrong with this match but I never felt it was picking up to be truly great. Certainly good but I'm struggling to find interesting things to really praise it for.
I've always thought the best of the mid 90's Junior matches with Benoit was the 96' BOSJ Semifinal against Eddie. The way they bring alive a dead crowd by simple storytelling amazes me to this day.

The Super J Cup always been overrated aside from Liger/Sasuke *shrugs*
 
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