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AEW & Worldwide Top 30 Best Bouts of 2022 (Cagematch)

3venflow
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Last year, I compiled a list of AEW's top 30 best matches from 2021, as voted for by the users of Cagematch, the largest consensus voting wrestling site.

I'm back this year to do the same for 2022's best AEW matches with worldwide top 30 thrown in as the first reply. Merely for fun/personal interest in stats, but feel free to add your own. The ratings tend to be influenced by the perceived in-ring quality more than spectacle/storyline.

I've not included ROH matches even though they are AEW's partner promotion. Had I done, Briscoes vs. FTR matches would've occupied the #1, #2 and #3 spots which is quite incredible. They appear in the worldwide list.

I've included the average score for the match (out of 10) and when two scores are equal, I've ranked the one with the most votes higher. All of these scores are accurate as of January 1st.

Before we start, 2021's top 5:

5. Bryan Danielson vs. Minoru Suzuki (10/15/21) (9.23)
4. Kenny Omega vs. Adam Page (11/13/21) (9.28)
3. Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs. Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix (9/5/21) (9.50)
2. Adam Page vs. Bryan Danielson (12/15/21) (9.53)
1. Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega (9/22/21) (9.54)

Now on AEW's top 30 matches of 2022.

30-21

30. Chris Jericho vs. Tomohiro Ishii (11/23/22) - 8.46
29. Adam Page vs. Konosuke Takeshita (5/18/22) - 8.46
28. Chris Jericho vs. Jon Moxley (8/10/22) - 8.47
27. Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia (7/27/22) - 8.47
26. Adam Page vs. Lance Archer (2/9/22) - 8.47
25. Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus vs. Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (6/15/22) - 8.51
24. Cody Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara (1/26/22) - 8.51
23. Dax Harwood vs. Will Ospreay (6/15/22) - 8.52
22. Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly vs. Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus vs. Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (3/6/22) - 8.54
21. Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis & Will Ospreay vs. PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix (8/24/22) - 8.60

20-11

20. Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley (3/6/22) - 8.61
19. CM Punk vs. MJF (2/2/22) - 8.63
18. Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs. Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis & Will Ospreay (8/31/22) - 8.65
17. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland vs. Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs. Powerhouse Hobbs & Ricky Starks (7/13/22) - 8.67
16. Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita (12/7/22) - 8.72
15. Adam Page vs. Bryan Danielson (9/7/22) - 8.76
14. Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs. Penta Oscuro & Rey Fenix (6/3/22) - 8.84
13. CM Punk vs. MJF (3/6/22) - 8.98
12. Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs. PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix (12/28/22) - 9.00
11. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Konosuke Takeshita (8/5/22) - 9.01

10-1

10. Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood vs. Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (4/6/22) - 9.03
9. Angelo Parker, Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia, Jake Hager & Matt Menard vs. Bryan Danielson, Eddie Kingston, Jon Moxley, Ortiz & Santana (5/29/22) - 9.05
8. Orange Cassidy vs. Will Ospreay (6/26/22) - 9.07
7. Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia (8/17/22) - 9.08
6. Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs. PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix (11/19/22) - 9.11
5. Adam Page, Alex Reynolds & John Silver vs. Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (9/4/22) - 9.12
4. Jon Moxley vs. Wheeler Yuta (4/6/22) - 9.13
3. Hikaru Shida vs. Jamie Hayter (12/21/22) - 9.14
2. Anthony Bowens & Max Caster vs. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland (9/4/22) - 9.15
1. Adam Page vs. Bryan Danielson (1/5/22) - 9.43

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3venflow

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Discussion Starter · #2 · (Edited)
Here is the worldwide top 30 from Cagematch.

30-21

30. Giulia vs. Mayu Iwatani (Stardom, 1/29/22) - 9.11
29. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Tetsuya Endo (DDT, 3/20/22) - 9.11
28. Adam Page, Alex Reynolds & John Silver vs. Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (AEW 9/4/22) - 9.12
27. Trent Seven vs. Tyler Bate (WWE NXT UK, 7/7/22) - 9.12
26. Kento Miyahara vs. Yuma Aoyagi (AJPW, 5/15/22) - 9.12
25. Hikaru Shida vs. Jamie Hayter (AEW, 12/21/22) - 9.13
24. Jon Moxley vs. Wheeler Yuta (AEW 4/6/22) - 9.13
23. Go Shiozaki vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima (NOAH, 1/1/22) - 9.13
22. Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi vs. Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (BJW, 6/27/22) - 9.13
21. Tetsuya Naito vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW, 8/17/22) - 9.14

20-11

20. Anthony Bowens & Max Caster vs. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland (AEW, 9/4/22) - 9.15
19. Gunther vs. Sheamus (WWE, 9/3/22) - 9.17
18. El Phantasmo vs. Robbie Eagles (NJPW, 5/26/22) - 9.18
17. Michael Oku vs. Will Ospreay (RevPro, 1/29/22) - 9.21
16. Shingo Takagi vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW, 8/6/22) - 9.24
15. Shingo Takagi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW, 3/26/22) - 9.24
14. Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW, 3/21/22) - 9.25
13. Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW, 1/5/22) - 9.25
12. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii (NJPW, 1/5/22) - 9.27
11. Tetsuya Naito vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW, 5/11/22) - 9.33

10-1

10. Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood vs. Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis (NJPW, 10/1/22) - 9.34
9. Josh Alexander vs. Mike Bailey (IMPACT, 11/19/22) - 9.36
8. Kazusada Higuchi vs. Konosuke Takeshita (DDT, 9/25/22) - 9.43
7. Adam Page vs. Bryan Danielson (AEW, 1/5/22) - 9.43
6. Giulia vs. Syuri (Stardom, 12/29/22) - 9.44
5. Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood vs. Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe (ROH, 7/23/22) - 9.45
4. El Desperado vs. Jun Kasai (JTO, 9/12/22) - 9.50
3. Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood vs. Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe (ROH, 12/10/22) - 9.59
2. Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW, 8/18/22) - 9.59
1. Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood vs. Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe (ROH, 4/1/22) - 9.59

Promotion representation in the top 30:

NJPW - 10
AEW - 5
ROH - 3
WWE - 2
Stardom - 2
DDT - 2
IMPACT - 1
RevPro - 1
JTO - 1
AJPW - 1
NOAH - 1
BJW - 1

 
thorwold

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#5 ·
I was getting seriously worried for a couple of seconds there that the first FTR/Briscoes match wasn't going to make it :D

Anyway...

21. Tetsuya Naito vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW, 8/17/22) - 9.14
2. Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW, 8/18/22) - 9.59

Back-to-back days... And his one with Juice on the 16th clocks in at a not-too-shabby 7.27 as well. Then before the month is out he flies halfway round the world and has those two 6-man tags in AEW as well:ROFLMAO:
 
Outlaw91

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#6 ·
Municipal Waste said:
Love the 60-minute Walking Weapon v Speedball match landing in the global Top 10. Easily one of my favorites this year.
Click to expand...
This was a big surprise for me. I initially thought the plan was for angry on Bully Ray Josh to somehow squash Mike Bailey but the match kept going and getting better and better.
 
DUD

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#8 ·
I had a look at the Cagematch ratings earlier today to put my theory to the test that Josh Alexander has had the best year in terms of quality of matches in Impact since AJ Styles in 2005 and it turns out I was right.
 
3venflow

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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
Garmonbozia said:
Do one for WWE.
Click to expand...
WWE Top 20 of 2022

20. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair (6/5/22) - 8.39
19. Carmelo Hayes vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Oro Mensah vs. Von Wagner vs. Wes Lee (NXT, 10/22/22) - 8.40
18. Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso vs. Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods (11/11/22) - 8.43
17. Ilja Dragunov vs. Jordan Devlin (NXT UK, 4/20/22) - 8.43
16. Gunther vs. Sheamus (10/7/22) - 8.48
15. Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair (4/2/22) - 8.51
14. Ilja Dragunov vs. Nathan Frazer (NXT UK, 3/3/22) - 8.51
13. Chad Gable & Otis vs. Kevin Owens & Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton & Riddle (3/7/22) - 8.57
12. Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus (7/29/22) - 8.59
11. Ricochet vs. Santos Escobar (12/2/22) - 8.60

10. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (7/30/22) - 8.60
9. Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins (5/8/22) - 8.63
8. Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins (4/2/22) - 8.63
7. Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. JD McDonagh (NXT, 10/22/22) - 8.76
6. Butch, Ridge Holland & Sheamus vs. Giovanni Vinci, Gunther & Ludwig Kaiser (10/8/22) - 8.83
5. Axiom vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Grayson Waller vs. JD McDonagh vs. Joe Gacy (NXT, 12/10/22) - 8.98
4. Gunther vs. Ricochet (12/16/22) - 9.02
3. Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins (6/5/22) - 9.05
2. Trent Seven vs. Tyler Bate (NXT UK, 7/7/22) - 9.12
1. Gunther vs. Sheamus (9/3/22) - 9.17
 
AthleticGirth

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#10 ·
I still haven't caught any of the FTR Briscoes trilogy of matches. I need to rectify that. Same with the Alexander Speedball match, which I'll try and watch over the bank holiday.

Always nice to see the likes of Despi, Oku and Miyahara make these lists getting some deserved recognition.

I wonder if Seth Rollins takes notice of these lists and gets irked, especially as Ospreay is the clear work rate fans darling. Rollins wants to be acknowledged as the best in the world, but he'll never get that while in WWE whether true or not. Does he trade cash for professional fulfilment?
 
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LifeInCattleClass

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#11 ·
My personal top 5

from 1 down

28. Adam Page, Alex Reynolds & John Silver vs. Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (AEW 9/4/22) - 9.12

1. Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood vs. Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe (ROH, 4/1/22) - 9.59

3. Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood vs. Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe (ROH, 12/10/22) - 9.59

(Not listed?) Claudio v ZSJ

24. Jon Moxley vs. Wheeler Yuta (AEW 4/6/22) - 9.13
 
3venflow

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Discussion Starter · #13 ·
LifeInCattleClass said:
do you have the top 30 AEW women’s matches for shits and giggles?

i think they’ve had a better year, but it should still be pretty bad ratings
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It'd be digging too deep into mediocrity to find just matches from 2022, so I did this.

Top 20 rated AEW women's matches of all-time:

20. Ryo Mizunami vs. Yuka Sakazaki (2/28/21) - 7.57
19. Anna Jay & Tay Conti vs. Penelope Ford & The Bunny (12/29/21) - 7.61
18. Hikaru Shida vs. Thunder Rosa (9/5/20) - 7.61
17. Riho vs. Serena Deeb (2/17/21) - 7.63
16. Hikaru Shida vs. Serena Deeb (10/6/21) - 7.64
15. Hikaru Shida vs. Serena Deeb (12/15/21) - 7.80
14. Riho vs. Serena Deeb (5/30/21) - 7.81
13. Emi Sakura vs. Yuka Sakazaki (2/22/21) - 7.81
12. Emi Sakura vs. Hikaru Shida (8/24/22) - 7.84
11. Hikaru Shida vs. Penelope Ford (7/1/20) - 7.91

10. Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm (11/19/22) - 7.94
9. Nyla Rose vs. Riho (2/12/20) - 7.97
8. Hikaru Shida vs. Tay Conti (4/21/21) - 8.03
7. Hikaru Shida vs. Ryo Mizunami (3/7/21) - 8.08
6. Emi Sakura vs. VENY (2/15/21) - 8.14
5. Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose (5/23/20) - 8.18
4. Emi Sakura, Maki Itoh & VENY vs. Hikaru Shida, Mei Suruga & Rin Kadokura (2/28/21) - 8.51
3. Hikaru Shida vs. Serena Deeb (10/27/21) - 8.74
2. Dr. Britt Baker DMD vs. Thunder Rosa (3/11/21) - 8.77
1. Hikaru Shida vs. Jamie Hayter (12/21/22) - 9.14
 
LifeInCattleClass

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#14 ·
3venflow said:
It'd be digging too deep into mediocrity to find just matches from 2022, so I did this.

Top 20 rated AEW women's matches of all-time:

20. Ryo Mizunami vs. Yuka Sakazaki (2/28/21) - 7.57
19. Anna Jay & Tay Conti vs. Penelope Ford & The Bunny (12/29/21) - 7.61
18. Hikaru Shida vs. Thunder Rosa (9/5/20) - 7.61
17. Riho vs. Serena Deeb (2/17/21) - 7.63
16. Hikaru Shida vs. Serena Deeb (10/6/21) - 7.64
15. Hikaru Shida vs. Serena Deeb (12/15/21) - 7.80
14. Riho vs. Serena Deeb (5/30/21) - 7.81
13. Emi Sakura vs. Yuka Sakazaki (2/22/21) - 7.81
12. Emi Sakura vs. Hikaru Shida (8/24/22) - 7.84
11. Hikaru Shida vs. Penelope Ford (7/1/20) - 7.91

10. Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm (11/19/22) - 7.94
9. Nyla Rose vs. Riho (2/12/20) - 7.97
8. Hikaru Shida vs. Tay Conti (4/21/21) - 8.03
7. Hikaru Shida vs. Ryo Mizunami (3/7/21) - 8.08
6. Emi Sakura vs. VENY (2/15/21) - 8.14
5. Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose (5/23/20) - 8.18
4. Emi Sakura, Maki Itoh & VENY vs. Hikaru Shida, Mei Suruga & Rin Kadokura (2/28/21) - 8.51
3. Hikaru Shida vs. Serena Deeb (10/27/21) - 8.74
2. Dr. Britt Baker DMD vs. Thunder Rosa (3/11/21) - 8.77
1. Hikaru Shida vs. Jamie Hayter (12/21/22) - 9.14
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looks about right

i’d personally swap 1 and 2

and then have the tag team street fight as 3
 
D

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#16 ·
3venflow said:
WWE Top 20 of 2022

20. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair (6/5/22) - 8.39
19. Carmelo Hayes vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Oro Mensah vs. Von Wagner vs. Wes Lee (NXT, 10/22/22) - 8.40
18. Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso vs. Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods (11/11/22) - 8.43
17. Ilja Dragunov vs. Jordan Devlin (NXT UK, 4/20/22) - 8.43
16. Gunther vs. Sheamus (10/7/22) - 8.48
15. Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair (4/2/22) - 8.51
14. Ilja Dragunov vs. Nathan Frazer (NXT UK, 3/3/22) - 8.51
13. Chad Gable & Otis vs. Kevin Owens & Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton & Riddle (3/7/22) - 8.57
12. Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus (7/29/22) - 8.59
11. Ricochet vs. Santos Escobar (12/2/22) - 8.60

10. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (7/30/22) - 8.60
9. Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins (5/8/22) - 8.63
8. Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins (4/2/22) - 8.63
7. Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. JD McDonagh (NXT, 10/22/22) - 8.76
6. Butch, Ridge Holland & Sheamus vs. Giovanni Vinci, Gunther & Ludwig Kaiser (10/8/22) - 8.83
5. Axiom vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Grayson Waller vs. JD McDonagh vs. Joe Gacy (NXT, 12/10/22) - 8.98
4. Gunther vs. Ricochet (12/16/22) - 9.02
3. Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins (6/5/22) - 9.05
2. Trent Seven vs. Tyler Bate (NXT UK, 7/7/22) - 9.12
1. Gunther vs. Sheamus (9/3/22) - 9.17
Click to expand...
thought Drew vs Roman at clash of the castle deserved to make the top 20, if not the top 5.
 
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