Villano IV vs Pentagon Jr (AAA - 10/15/2022)

I say it every year, but nothing is as timeless as a lucha brawl. This had all that you love about the style in absolute spades, just non-stopped action and violence from star to finish. Penta comes out and immediately gets tossed on the ramp. No time for taunts and all that, which is great, because that is the #1 thing that gets in the way of his matches for me. Villano takes the first 5 minutes or so and is trying to pour it on as much as possible, but once Penta gets control he keeps it throughout the match. Of course there are hope spots and there are moments where Villano gives the crowd something to talk about, but it is mostly him surviving the onslaught of Pentago. Penta does the arm breaker twice at one point, getting a one count and then a two. I loved that. It really puts over how important the match and the mask is for Villano. Penta is trying rollups and what not… really anything to get the win, but Villano will not die. They use counts and submission attempt so wonderfully with a little bit of ref stuff, but not a distracting amount. Ultimately Pentagon punts Villano in the head and then hits the arm breaker again for the pin in what is easily one of the best matches of the year. Well worth a nomination, even if it remains a long shot for my list for the foreseeable future.