There's been enough talk...it's time for the main event!
100-T. Aja Kong vs Yumika Hotta (WWWA World Championship – AJW – 1/24/1994)Total Points: 298
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Tetsujin - 20
2020 Finish: 62
Good match, not the best WWWA title match. That would be either Kong/Kansai on 8/30/95 or Toyota/Kansai on 12/4/95, neither of which received a single vote. Shame on all of you. And shame on me too, I guess.
100-T. Kenta Kobashi vs Jun Akiyama (GHC Heavyweight Championship - NOAH - 7/10/2004)
Total Points: 298
# of Ballots: 5
High Vote: EnviousStupid - 22
2020 Finish: 60
This might actually be their worst match together.
99. Jaguar Yokota vs La Galactica (UWA Women’s Championship - AJW - 2/27/1985)
Total Points: 299
# of Ballots: 5
High Vote: mvz - 8
2020 Finish: 516-T
Highly unlikely, Brain.
98. Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Kengo Kimura, Umanosuke Ueda & Kantaro Hoshino vs. Akira Maeda, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Nobuhiko Takada, Kazuo Yamazaki & Osamu Kid (Elimination Match - NJPW 3/26/1986)
Total Points: 303
# of Ballots: 5
High Vote: Cactus - 4
2020 Finish: 94
I found good chunks of this to be pretty aimless. The longer these matches go past 25 minutes, the more likely they are to lose their way.
97. Daniel Bryan vs HHH (WWE – 4/6/2014)
Total Points: 311
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Cactus - 5
2020 Finish: 160
Maybe not the best match of HHH's career, but probably his best individual performance. A worthy entry into the top 100.
96. Atsushi Onita vs Terry Funk (No Rope Barbed Wire Exploding Ring Death Match - FMW - 5/5/1993)
Total Points: 312
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Cactus - 21
2020 Finish: 142
I only watch matches that take place in rings surrounded by actual ropes.
95. Shinobu Kandori vs Akira Hokuto (AJW – 12/6/1993)
Total Points: 314
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: Darrenn - 17
2020 Finish: 589
I thought Hokuto came back way too easily after taking an avalanche tiger driver. Actually, that should have been the point of no return for her. Also, Kandori's first uppercut at the end missed by a mile.
93-T. Jumbo Tsuruta vs Mitsuharu Misawa (AJPW - 6/8/1990)
Total Points: 317
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Control21 - 6
2020 Finish: 80
There was a time in my life when I would have had this in my top ten as well. These days, the middle portion of the match is a bit too flabby for me. I think I'd go with the 4/91 TC match as their best singles encounter at this point.
93-T. Brock Lesnar vs Eddie Guerrero (WWE Undisputed Championship - WWE - 2/15/2004)
Total Points: 317
# of Ballots: 5
High Vote: Tim Livingston - 18
2020 Finish: 141
Eddie's best match and one of the great feel-good moments in wrestling history. Thrilled this finally made the top 100.
91-T. Akira Maeda vs Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW - 6/12/1986)
Total Points: 322
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Control21 - 8
2020 Finish: 81
A top 10 match for 80s New Japan and a strong contender for best singles match of 1986. Shame they had to go home early and couldn't do the planned finish.
91-T. Jun Akiyama vs. Kenta Kobashi (Triple Crown Championship - AJPW - 7/24/1998)
Total Points: 322
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: NintendoLogic - 15
2020 Finish: 50
This actually finished 183 in 2020. I have no idea how this fell out of the top 100 last year. You all had better not let it happen again if you know what's good for you.
90. El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas vs El Dandy (Hair vs Hair vs Mask – CMLL – 12/6/1996)
Total Points: 323
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Gramsci - 16
2020 Finish: 58
Obviously not the best match to take place on this day, but I prefer this to Santo/Casas the following year.
89. Stan Hansen vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW – 4/16/1993)
Total Points: 331
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Cap - 8
2020 Finish: 74
My gut feeling has this as their fourth-best singles match. I have it definitely behind 7/29/93 and 9/5/96 and probably behind 9/4/91.
88. Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (WWF - 11/17/1996)
Total Points: 334
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Grimmas - 3
2020 Finish: 124
About as good as American wrestling gets. A top 3 vote rules.
87. Tetsuya Naito vs Kenny Omega (NJPW - 8/13/2016)
Total Points: 336
# of Ballots: 5
High Vote: Tetsujin - 13
2020 Finish: 294
Matches where Omega gets his leg worked over are a chore for me to get through. He'll do highly performative "Look at me, I'm selling my leg!" spots, but it never seems to meaningfully hinder him or force him to alter his game plan.
86. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Super Tiger (UWFi – 12/5/1984)
Total Points: 338
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Superstar Sleeze - 4
2020 Finish: 108
The first incarnation of the UWF is mostly uncharted territory for me, particularly 1984 when the style was still in flux.
85. The Four Horsemen vs. The Super Powers (War Games - JCP - 7/4/1987)
Total Points: 339
# of Ballots: 4
High Vote: mvz - 2
2020 Finish: 118
The best Dusty match and the second-best WarGames match.
84. Dump Matsumoto vs Yukari Omori (AJW 3/20/1986)
Total Points: 343
# of Ballots: 4
High Vote: Elliott - 1
2020 Finish: 246
Hell to the naw.
83. Chigusa Naguyo vs Dump Matsumoto (Hair vs Hair - AJW - 8/28/1985)
Total Points: 348
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Elliott - 5
2020 Finish: 126
Absolutely not.
82. Mitsuharu Misawa and Jun Akiyama vs. Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW - 5/23/1996)
Total Points: 358
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: NintendoLogic - 7
2020 Finish: 90
Nearly perfect tag wrestling. Ranking this ahead of 12/6/96 is a hill I'm willing to die on.
81. Kenny Omega vs Kazuchika Okada (2/3 Falls – IWGP Heavyweight Championship – NJPW – 6/9/2018)
Total Points: 360
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Kas - 2
2020 Finish: 99
An incredibly ambitious match that mostly succeeds in achieving what it aimed for and not collapsing under the weight of its own ambition. Something just about any fan should be able to get something out of unless they're absolutely allergic to extremely long matches or modern New Japan.
80. Kenta Kobashi vs Yoshihiro Takayama (GHC Heavyweight Championship – NOAH – 4/25/2004)
Total Points: 362
# of Ballots: 9
High Vote: NintendoLogic - 3
2020 Finish: 72
The best match of the 21st century.
79. Sasha Banks vs Bayley (NXT Women’s Championship WWE - 8/22/2015)
Total Points: 372
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Grimmas - 4
2020 Finish: 182
I remember this being quite good and hugely historically significant but clearly below the Iron Man match from an in-ring standpoint
78.Kenta Kobashi vs Mitsuharu Misawa (Triple Crown Championship – AJPW – 10/31/1998)
Total Points: 373
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: Bossrock - 3
2020 Finish: 52
This marks the point where the matches between the two started to go off the rails with excess, but it's still probably better than every single Flair/Steamboat match.
77. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (Triple Crown Championship – AJPW – 7/24/1995)
Total Points: 376
# of Ballots: 9
High Vote: andyLFC - 23
2020 Finish: 102
I'll give them credit for working a more compact match than the typical TC epic, and the first ten minutes or so are virtually flawless. They unfortunately lose their way a bit after that, and all the head drops are overkill even by All Japan standards. If you appended the final twenty minutes of 6/3/94 to the first ten minutes of this, you'd have a near-perfect match.
76. Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns ft. Seth Rollins (WWE World Heavyweight Championship - WWE - 3/29/2015)
Total Points: 378
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Cactus - 7
2020 Finish: 49
I actually had a dream about this match the other night. It involved zombies overrunning the Earth and Al Bundy being the only one who could restore electricity to the world. I don't remember exactly how the match fit in, but it definitely played a part.
74-T. Terry Funk vs Stan Hansen (AJPW - 4/14/1983)
Total Points: 384
# of Ballots: 10
High Vote: Elliott - 33
2020 Finish: 54
I tried to force myself to love this several years ago, but it never worked. Pre-1988 Hansen is mostly a miss for me.
74-T. Nigel McGuinness vs Bryan Danielson (ROH World Title - ROH - 2/23/2008)
Total Points: 384
# of Ballots: 5
High Vote: Darrenn - 10
2020 Finish: 165
The only match between these two I have any time for.
73. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jun Akiyama (AJPW - 2/27/2000)
Total Points: 385
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Superstar Sleeze - 15
2020 Finish: 50
Possibly the best singles match of Akiyama's career and the last five star-worthy Misawa outing even if seeing him take so much punishment to his neck isn't the easiest thing to watch.
72. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (Hell in a Cell - WWF World Title - WWF - 10/5/1997)
Total Points: 395
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: bossrock - 13
2020 Finish: 57
Late 97-early 98 Shawn might be the most contemptible wrestler of all time, so watching him get beaten and bloodied is great fun. On the downside, this started the HIAC gimmick off on the wrong foot by having the focus be on stunt bumps outside the cell rather than bloody brawling on the inside.
71. Vader vs Sting (WCW - 7/12/1992)
Total Points: 397
# of Ballots: 6
High Vote: Darren - 14
2020 Finish: 120
I prefer the Starrcade match, but Vader finally making the top 100 is cause for celebration.
70. Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kota Ibushi (IWGP IC Title – NJPW – 1/4/2015)
Total Points: 400
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Kas - 11
2020 Finish: 71
I've always preferred their match at the 2013 G1, but this is a worthy pick.
69. Kenta Kobashi Mitsuharu Misawa Toshiaki Kawada vs Akira Taue Jumbo Tsuruta Masunobi Fuchi (AJPW - 10/19/1990)
Total Points: 404
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: NintendoLogic - 5
2020 Finish: 33
Easily the best Jumbo/Misawa six-man. It saddens me to see it fall off relative to last year. I was hoping this would be the year it overtook 4/20/91. I guess you can't win them all.
68. Bryan Danielson vs Takeshi Morishima (ROH World Title – ROH – 8/25/2007)
Total Points: 419
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Darrenn - 9
2020 Finish: 59
The best ROH match I've ever seen as well as the best Morishima match, although that's not a titanic accomplishment on either front. Someone working a match with a detached retina would normally make me squeamish, but Danielson didn't suffer any permanent damage to his vision that I'm aware of, so all's well that ends well.
66-T. Terry Funk & Dory Funk Jr. vs. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy (AJPW - 8/31/1983)
Total Points: 421
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: Cactus - 19
2020 Finish: 79
Probably the best match of Dory's career. Better than any of the Terry/Hansen singles matches up to that point.
66-T. Kenta Kobashi vs Samoa Joe (ROH – 10/2/2005)
Total Points: 421
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: Tetsujin - 28
2020 Finish: 106
Joe's puro tribute offense was a bit too on the nose for me. It made the match feel more like wrestling fantasy camp than a contest.
64-T. Randy Savage vs Ultimate Warrior (Retirement Match – WWF – 3/24/1991)
Total Points: 422
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: mvz - 4
2020 Finish: 123
Warrior talking to his hands should have anyone not heavily emotionally invested in the Savage/Liz storyline rolling their eyes. On that note, the payoff with the two reuniting isn't nearly as heartwarming now that we all know what an abusive psychopath Savage was.
64-T. Shinobu Kandori vs Bull Nakano (Chain Match – AJW/LLPW – 7/14/1994)
Total Points: 422
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: mvz - 10
2020 Finish: 83
Probably Bull's best singles match. Her swinging the chain like a pair of nunchucks ruled.
63. Kiyoshi Tamura vs Volk Han (RINGS - 9/26/1997)
Total Points: 427
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Gramsci - 7
2020 Finish: 45
The match between the two I've seen the least. In fact, I think I've only seen it once.
62. Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Ted DiBiase (Loser Leaves Town, Coal Miner's Glove on a Pole, Tuxedo, Steel Cage Match - UWF - 3/30/1985)
Total Points: 428
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: JKWebb - 24
2020 Finish: 38
One of the all-time legendary matches. It sounds completely preposterous when you first hear about it, but then you're blown away when you actually watch it.
60-T. Jerry Lawler vs Terry Funk (No DQ Match - CWA - 3/23/1981)
Total Points: 430
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: mvz - 13
2020 Finish: 61
You can take your "wrestling moves" and "wrestling holds" and stick them where the sun don't shine. This match shows you don't need much more than punches if the guys throwing them know how to punch and the guys taking them know how to sell.
60-T. Ric Flair v. Terry Funk (NWA - 11/15/1989)
Total Points - 430
# of Ballots - 6
High Vote: Darrenn - 11
2020 Finish: 46
I Quit matches just don't do it for me. The heel yelling at the face to quit followed by the face yelling no followed by the heel hitting the face in the head with the microphone gets old in a hurry. I suspect a big part of why this match became so legendary is the novelty of Flair actually winning a match with the figure-four.
59. Mitsuhara Misawa vs Jumbo Tsuruta (AJPW – 9/1/1990)
Total Points: 433
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: AndyLFC - 27
2020 Finish: 132
I've always had this clearly behind the June match, but Jumbo snapping and destroying Misawa with a chair is as great of a "shit just got real" moment as you'll ever see.
58. Buddy Rose/Doug Somers vs The Midnight Rockers (AWA - 8/30/1986)
Total Points: 441
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: JKWebb - 11
2020 Finish: 69
Best tag match in US history.
57. Eddie Guerrero vs John Bradshaw Layfield (WWE World Title – WWE – 5/16/2004)
Total Points: 447
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: EnviousStupid - 1
2020 Finish: 43
“The greatest match of all time. Wrestling that transcends the form we know and love. Visceral in ways we'll likely never see again on a national stage. Holding themes of race and class that wound up being almost prophetic 12 years later. JBL switches between oversized stooge and big brute so efficiently, it's probably his career performance. Meanwhile Eddie, the best babyface in the world at the time, overachieves in his own role and it's only elevated by the best bladejob I've ever seen. It's the kind of wound that tears down artificial barriers in wrestling, allowing realism to settle in on a man who wants nothing more than to make the bastard that hurt his family pay. It's the match that made JBL into a viable contender for the title to myself and many others, as well as the match I always remember whenever Eddie Guerrero is brought up. A tour de force in every sense of the term.” - EnviousStupid
With all due respect, this is a bunch of malarkey. Pro wrestling is escapist entertainment. If I want to see racist heels go over, I'll turn on the news. The real world is shitty enough. I don't need my entertainment to be shitty.
56. Necro Butcher vs Samoa Joe (IWA Mid-South - 6/11/2005)
Total Points: 450
# of Ballots: 10
High Vote: Tim Livingston - 29
2020 Finish: 121
This sort of barbarism has no place in a civilized society.
55. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto (RINGS - 6/24/1999)
Total Points: 452
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Gramsci - 2
2020 Finish: 27
You guys seem to be pretty fond of this Tamura fella.
54. El Satanico vs El Dandy (Hair vs Hair – EMLL – 12/14/1990)
Total Points: 455
# of Ballots: 9
High Vote: Mattsdmf - 8
2020 Finish: 40
The first two falls are rather plodding and overly forehead-bitey. The third fall is a different story with action and drama that had me on the edge of my seat even though I knew the outcome.
53. Stan Hansen vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW – 2/28/1993)
Total Points: 457
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: JKWebb - 21
2020 Finish: 42
The best Hansen match of 1993. Hell, the best Hansen match period. And literally everyone on Earth agrees.
52. CM Punk vs Brock Lesnar (No DQ Match -WWE - 8/18/2013)
Total Points: 461
# of Ballots: 10
High Vote: Darrenn - 16
2020 Finish: 114
The best match of the decade. I'm overjoyed this nearly made the top 50.
51. Ricky Steamboat vs Rick Rude (Iron Man Match – WCW – 6/20/1992)
Total Points: 463
# of Ballots: 10
High Vote: Tetsujin - 19
2020 Finish: 35
At this point in my life, I'd rather watch Steamboat's matches with Rude than the ones with Flair.
50. Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue (AJPW - 5/21/1994)
Total Points: 475
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: andyLFC - 13
2020 Finish: 85
Nowhere near the best match between these two teams, but also nowhere near the worst since it isn't a 60-minute draw.
49. Stan Hansen vs Carlos Colon (Texas Bullrope Match – CWP – 1/6/1987)
Total Points: 480.
# of Ballots: 10
High Vote: Bossrock - 28
2020 Finish: 53
A match with Colon where you win by touching the four corners of the ring. That's a double nope from me.
47-T. Dangerous Alliance vs. Sting's Squadron (War Games - WCW - 5/17/1992)
Total Points: 488
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Tim Livingston - 4
2020 Finish: 101
The definitive WarGames match.
47-T. CM Punk vs John Cena (WWE World Title - WWE - 7/17/2011)
Total Points: 488
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: EnviousStupid, Kadavari - 16
2020 Finish: 82
Like everyone else, I loved it when it happened. It hasn't held up nearly as well for me over the years, though.
46. Negro Casas vs El Hijo del Santo (Hair vs Mask – CMLL – 9/19/1997)
Total Points: 491
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: Gramsci - 5
2020 Finish: 41
I can't really get into Casas apuestas matches because I don't buy him as a tough guy who can kick someone's ass. I once saw him described as a borderline exotico, and that sounds about right to me. I guess I just prefer more machismo from my luchadores.
45. Akira Hokuto vs Meiko Satomura (GAEA - 4/29/2001)
Total Points: 492
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: Grimmas - 6
2020 Finish: 313
This match certainly took a leap. Probably Meiko's best non-Aja match and Hokuto's best non-Kandori match.
44. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu vs. Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen (AJPW - 12/6/1989)
Total Points: 493
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Bossrock - 18
2020 Finish: 64
Best All Japan match of 1989.
43. John Cena vs Umaga (Last Man Standing – WWE World Title – WWE – 1/28/2007)
Total Points: 496
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: Grimmas - 18
2020 Finish: 51
About as close to a perfect gimmick match as you can get. It might have actually been perfect if not for those ridiculously slow ten-counts.
42. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Masa Fuchi & Akira Taue (AJPW - 4/20/1991)
Total Points: 502
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: Bossrock - 5
2020 Finish: 26
I've voted for this in the past, but now it's firmly in the "never need to see again" pile.
41. Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee (Loser Leaves Town – Southern Heavyweight Title – CWA – 6/6/1983)
Total Points: 509
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: JKWebb - 8
2020 Finish: 84
More of a heavyweight prize fight than an all-out brawl. I have this so far ahead of the 1985 LLT match that I have difficulty comprehending any arguments to the contrary.
40. Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuinness (ROH Title vs ROH Pure Title – ROH – 8/12/2006)
Total Points: 517
# of Ballots: 7
High Vote: Cactus - 11
2020 Finish: 39
Look, it's the ringpost headbutts match. Suffice to say that's one of the stupidest spots in history. Invading Russia in winter-level stupid. Even more so because they didn't even look as good as the protected ringpost shot Danielson took in the second Hangman match. Spots that look like shit while being damaging as hell are the worst of both worlds.
39. Megumi Kudo vs Combat Toyoda (No Rope Exploding Barb Wire Death Match – FMW Independent Womens Title/ WWA Title – FMW – 5/5/1996)
Total Points: 522
# of Ballots: 9
High Vote: Kas - 9
2020 Finish: 36
The one time I watched this, it literally made me physically ill, like reading the Lunch with Bethany chapter of American Psycho.
38. Manami Toyota/Toshiyo Yamada vs Mayumi Ozaki/Dynamite Kansai (WWWA Tag Team Titles - AJW - 11/26/1992)
Total Points: 532
# of Ballots: 8
High Vote: Tim Livingston - 8
2020 Finish: 63
About as far from a joshi for people who don't like joshi match as you can get, but certainly an all-time classic for fans of the style.
37. Devil Masami vs Chigusa Nagayo (WWWA All Pacific Title – AJW – 8/22/1985)
Total Points: 581
# of Ballots: 9
High Vote: Cap - 3
2020 Finish: 73
I don't have the patience for this style of match anymore, but Devil has some of the greatest facial expressions in wrestling history.
36. Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (NWA World Heavyweight Title - WCW - 2/20/1989)
Total Points: 617
# of Ballots: 10
High Vote: Tim Livingston - 12
2020 Finish: 29
The best match of the trilogy. Once you notice Dave Meltzer in the front row, you won't be able to unsee him.
35. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Minoru Suzuki (IWGP Heavyweight Title - NJPW - 10/8/2012)
Total Points: 633
# of Ballots: 11
High Vote: Control21 - 10
2020 Finish: 70
Probably better than all the Okada/Tanahashi matches except for Invasion Attack.
34. Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu vs Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Yatsu (NWA International Tag Titles - AJPW – 1/28/1986)
Total Points: 648
# of Ballots: 12
High Vote: - EnviousStupid - 4
2020 Finish: 30
Best match of the 80s.
33. Sgt. Slaughter vs Iron Sheik (Bootcamp Match – WWF – 6/16/1984)
Total Points: 652
# of Ballots: 12
High Vote: Grimmas - 13
2020 Finish: 44
Best WWF match of the 80s and still one of the top matches in company history.
32. Ricky Steamboat vs Ric Flair (NWA World Heavyweight Title - NWA - 5/7/1989)
Total Points: 656
# of Ballots: 11
High Vote: EnviousStupid - 3
2020 Finish: 76
I once had this #1 of the trilogy. I now have it #3. I suppose that's the beauty of the series: any order is plausible.
31. Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. (Mask vs. Title - Cruiserweight Title - 10/27/1997)
Total Points: 657
# of Ballots: 11
High Vote: Mattsdmf - 12
2020 Finish: 17
What can you say, really? This is a match that just about everybody seems to love, and with good reason.
30. Mankind vs Shawn Michaels (WWF World Title - WWF - 9/22/1996)
Total Points: 658
# of Ballots: 11
High Vote: Cactus - 13
2020 Finish: 11
It's fitting that these two matches are back-to-back as this is another match that seems to be universally beloved even by those who normally despise Shawn.
29. Ric Flair vs Ricky Morton (Cage Match - NWA World Title – JCP – 7/5/1986)
Total Points: 679
# of Ballots: 11
High Vote: Darrenn - 1
2020 Finish: 37
“In a feud that was centered around what a real man is and how that relates to what women find attractive, I cant think of a better ending then a fucking ballshot by the man posturing as a tough, macho man, but is really a vindictive, arrogant and small man. They both focused on the face with laser precision. There was only one way to end this and that was an attack on the anatomical representation of manhood. It worked on two levels it exposed Flair as the total opposite of what a real man is by stooping so low to win the match and also to psychically assault Morton's manhood after disfiguring his face. I think I just convinced myself this is the greatest pro wrestling match of all time. *****” - Superstar Sleeze
More malarkey (again, with all due respect). The only measure of manhood in pro wrestling is championship gold. Flair had his hand raised and walked out with the belt. Therefore, he's the better man.
28. Shinobu Kandori/Akira Hokuto vs Bull Nakano/Aja Kong (AJPW – 3/27/1994)
Total Points: 691
# of Ballots: 9
High Vote: Kadaveri - 1
2020 Finish: 22
I just don't buy into the central story of the match at all. If Hokuto and Kandori hate each other so much, why are they teaming up? And if the match has no real stakes, who cares if they learn to get along? Even setting that aside, the work in the match largely leaves me cold. Take the end of the first Hokuto-in-peril segment. She escapes a powerbomb attempt, hits a pair of queen bee bombs, and walks over to her corner fresh as a daisy showing no ill effects whatsover from the torture she had been subjected to. I don't know why Manami Toyota gets so much grief for her selling (or lack thereof) when all of her peers did the exact same shit.
27. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada (NJPW - 4/7/2013)
Total Points: 698
# of Ballots: 11
High Vote: Kas - 1
2020 Finish: 48
I've largely soured on modern New Japan, but I actually ended up liking this quite a bit more on my most recent viewing than I had in the past. Selling the arm Rick Rude-style during the rainmaker pose is the coolest thing Okada has ever done. I dig the #1 vote.
26. Atlantis vs Vilano III (Mask vs Mask – CMLL – 3/17/2000)
Total Points: 710
# of Ballots: 11
High Vote: Grimmas - 2
2020 Finish: 34
People always talk about how emotional this is, but I don't give a shit about any of that. Emotion is overrated. There was plenty of emotion at the Alamo and look how that turned out. If you don't have the necessary emotional attachment, the seemingly endless stretch of your-turn/my-turn near falls and submissions is unbearable.
25. Greg Valentine vs Roddy Piper (Dog Collar Match – U.S. Title – JCP – 11/24/1983)
Total Points: 714
# of Ballots: 12
High Vote: JKWebb - 15
2020 Finish: 28
I've always found Piper incredibly annoying. I came away from this match thinking Valentine was the far superior worker.
24. Kiyoshi Tamura vs Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (RINGS – 6/27/1998)
Total Points: 729
# of Ballots: 9
High Vote: Control21 - 2
2020 Finish: 15
Widely regarded as the pinnacle of the style. I won't argue with that.
23. Ric Flair vs Terry Funk (NWA Title – NWA – 7/23/1989)
Total Points: 748
# of Ballots:11
High Vote: Bossrock - 7
2020 Finish: 20
The only Flair match I have any desire to go out of my way to watch these days.
22. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (WWF - 3/20/1994)
Total Points: 757
# of Ballots: 12
High Vote: Grimmas - 10
2020 Finish: 24
The pinnacle of Stampede-style wrestling. A top 10 vote is awesome.
21. Sangre Chicana vs MS-1 (Hair vs Hair – EMLL – 9/23/1983)
Total Points: 761
# of Ballots: 12
High Vote: Cap - 2
2020 Finish: 10
The pinnacle of the lucha apuestas match and therefore the pinnacle of lucha libre as a whole. Doesn't quite have enough depth to be a serious #1 contender in my book. Landing in the 20s sounds about right. I had it #29 on my ballot, so hooray for the wisdom of crowds.
20. Stan Hansen/Terry Gordy vs Genichiro Tenryu/Toshiaki Kawada (AJ Tag Titles – Real World Tag Finals – AJPW – 12/16/1988)
Total Points: 778
# of Ballots: 12
High Vote: Superstar Sleeze - 10
2020 Finish: 12
I was pretty shocked at how much this ended up tumbling on my ballot (nearly 70 places from 2020). I can't imagine it ever falling off entirely, though.
19. Volk Han vs Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS – 1/22/1997)
Total Points: 792
# of Ballots: 12
High Vote: Control21 - 9
2020 Finish: 21
My favorite non-Vader shoot style match. It's a shame Vader vs. Volk Han never happened. The closest we ever got was Han vs. Tony Halme, which I bet was awesome.
18. Katsuyori Shibata vs Kazuchika Okada (IWGP HW Title – NJPW – 4/9/2017)
Total Points: 795
# of Ballots: 10
High Vote: Tetsujin - 3
2020 Finish: 19
This had the germ of a story I could get into. Okada was being completely schooled on the mat, so he went for a cheap shot off a rope break in frustration. This prompted Shibata to snap and start beating Okada's ass. Okada managed an opportunistic counter and gained control with his bread and butter of working over his opponent's neck. But then Shibata hulked up and shrugged off the neck work and the match just kept going and going for like 20 more minutes and I ended up checking out completely. Not to mention the whole thing with Shibata nearly dying.
17. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW - 12/3/1993)
Total Points: 797
# of Ballots: 13
High Vote: andyLFC - 10
2020 Finish: 25
Best RWTL decision match (there wasn't an official final until 1998) of all time. It seems almost cruel that a match this outstanding is neither the best match of the year it took place nor the best match between the combatants.
16. Tully Blanchard vs Magnum TA (Cage Match – US Title – JCP – 11/28/1985)
Total Points: 804
# of Ballots: 12
High Vote: JK Webb - 1
2020 Finish: 31
The only I Quit match I have any time for is Cena/JBL.
15. Brock Lesnar vs John Cena (WWE - 4/29/2012)
Total Points: 824
# of Ballots: 11
High Vote: Darrenn - 2
2020 Finish: 65
Seeing post-UFC Brock go on an unstoppable rampage was definitely a gripping spectacle watching live. However, this match was rendered superfluous by his subsequent matches with Punk and Roman, which harnessed that vibe in the service of fully realized wrestling matches.
14. Kenta Kobashi vs Mitsuharu Misawa (GHC Title – NOAH – 3/1/2003)
Total Points: 831
# of Ballots: 11
High Vote: Tetsujin - 1
2020 Finish: 13
Probably the greatest passing of the torch in wrestling history. I'll give it that much.
13. Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (2/3 Falls – NWA Title – WCW – 4/2/1989)
Total Points: 841
# of Ballots: 14
High Vote: JKWebb - 5
2020 Finish: 14
An incredible achievement from a cardio standpoint. CrossFit wrestling nearly three decades before the coining of the term.
12. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Akira Taue (Champions Carnival Final – AJPW – 4/15/1995)
Total Points: 848
# of Ballots: 14
High Vote: Superstar Sleeze - 3
2020 Finish: 18
This is usually thought of as Taue's crowning achievement, and rightfully so, but it might also be the best performance of Misawa's career. I dig the top 3 vote.
11. Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig (AWA Title – AWA – 11/21/1986)
Total Points: 914
# of Ballots: 11
High Vote: Tetsujin - 2
2020 Finish: 23
I'm pretty comfortable rating this the best ever 60-minute draw. Even more of an achievement since they didn't have the crutch of multiple falls.
10. Jumbo Tsuruta vs Genichiro Tenryu (Triple Crown Title – AJPW – 6/5/1989)
Total Points: 1016
# of Ballots: 14
High Vote: Darrenn - 4
2020 Finish: 6
I actually found this pretty dull the last time I watched it. Tenryu just isn't cut out for long singles matches.
9. Holy Demon Army vs Mitsuharu Misawa/Jun Akiyama (Tag League Final – AJPW – 12/6/1996)
Total Points: 1019
# of Ballots: 14
High Vote: Tim Livingston - 1
2020 Finish: 9
5/23/96 is better. In your hearts, you know I'm right.
8. Stan Hansen vs Andre The Giant (NJPW – 9/23/1981)
Total Points: 1064
# of Ballots: 16
High Vote: mvz, Grimmas - 5
2020 Finish: 16
I feel like there's a major disconnect between how I perceive this match and how everyone else seems to. It's always talked up as this epic kaiju battle, but there's far too much working of holds for that to be the case. Truth be told, any match where Hansen gets his lariat arm worked over is a near-automatic thumbs down from me because it always ends up being meaningless. Hansen/Vader at the Dome does a much better job of capturing the King Kong vs. Godzilla vibe. Andre's New Japan theme was kickass, though.
7. Can-Am Express vs Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (All Asia Tag Title – AJPW – 5/25/1992)
Total Points: 1146
# of Ballots: 17
High Vote: Tim Livingston - 5
2020 Finish: 7
I think a big part of the reason this keeps doing so well is because it's in the sweet spot of being not too Southern for Japanese wrestling fans and not too Japanese for Southern wrestling fans. It also benefits from one of the hottest crowds in Japanese history.
6. Stan Hansen vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW – 7/29/1993)
Total Points: 1242
# of Ballots: 17
High Vote: JKWebb - 7
2020 Finish: 8
This didn't fall as far for me as 12/16/88, but it did go from my top 10 to out of my top 50. Interesting that Hansen's two most acclaimed matches took such a hit on my ballot.
5. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (Triple Crown Title – AJPW – 6/3/1994)
Total Points: 1280
# of Ballots: 17
High Vote: Control21 - 1
2020 Finish: 3
No longer my #1 singles match, but unquestionably a match for the ages.
4. Shinobu Kandori vs Akira Hokuto (AJW – 4/2/1993)
Total Points: 1325
# of Ballots: 15
High Vote: Cap, mvz, Grimmas - 1
2020 Finish: 2
The greatest women's match of all time by Secretariat margins. Eminently worthy of a spot in the top 10 even if it fell out of my own this year.
3. Kenta Kobashi vs Mitsuharu Misawa (Triple Crown Title – AJPW - 1/20/1997)
Total Points: 1355
# of Ballots: 15
High Vote: Bossrock, NintendoLogic , andyLFC - 2
2020 Finish: 5
Greatest singles match of all time.
2. Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (I Quit Match – WWF – 3/23/1997)
Total Points: 1383
# of Ballots: 17
High Vote: Cactus, Mattsdmf - 2
2020 Finish: 4
Just about everything that can be said about this match has been said several times over, so I'll just reiterate how much it grinds my gears when people refer to this as an I Quit match. Anyone who does that in my presence is asking for a knuckle sandwich.
1. Holy Demon Army vs Kenta Kobashi/Mitsuharu Misawa (Tag League Final – AJPW – 6/9/1995)
Total Points: 1629
# of Ballots: 18
High Vote: mattsdmf, andyLFC, Superstar Sleeze, Cactus, Gramsci, NintendoLogic, Bossrock - 1
2020 Finish: 1
Greatest match of all time. Simple as. Bow down to the king.
Happy belated New Year, all. My sincere thanks to everyone who read through all this and for all the comments and recommendations. Let's do this again sometime.