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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:03:11 GMT -5
11) Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (NOAH, 3/1/2003)
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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:04:32 GMT -5
10) Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori (AJW, 4/2/1993)
This finally did it: it cracked my Top 10 AND finished as the highest women's match, edging out DreamRush and other Hokuto matches.
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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:04:50 GMT -5
9) Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (NOAH, 7/10/2004)
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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:05:01 GMT -5
8) Rey Hechicero vs. Charles Lucero (Monterrey, 8/4/2013)
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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:05:15 GMT -5
7) El Hijo del Santo/Octagon vs. Los Gringos Locos (AAA, 11/6/1994)
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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:05:26 GMT -5
6) Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai (NJPW, 4/30/1992)
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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:08:48 GMT -5
5) Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Volk Han (RINGS, 9/26/1997)
I expected this to seriously challenge for my #1 spot this time around but it was unable to hit that level. The sequences were not quite as transcendent as I remember. But it still finished in the Top 5, which tells you everything you need to know.
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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:10:50 GMT -5
4) Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (WWE, 3/29/2015)
I've said a ton about this match in the past but just wanted to add that, regardless of crowd alignment, Reigns gave one of the finest babyface performances in wrestling history here.
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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:11:06 GMT -5
3) Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind (WWF, 9/22/1996)
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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:11:17 GMT -5
2) Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs. Nobuhiko Takada (UWF, 10/25/1990)
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Post by microstatistics on Jun 9, 2023 0:32:02 GMT -5
1) Kenta Kobashi/Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue/Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW, 6/9/1995)
This is still the gold standard. There are a few sequences they could have optimized I guess but perfection is an idiotic thing to strive for.
One storytelling element that struck me was the differences in approaches by the two teams. The Holy Demon Army approached this like it was a savage street fight to the death right from the get go while Misawa/Kobashi treated it like a classic title defense. The latter fared the best when also became pissed off and matched the ferocity. But after being in control, they would again settle into a groove, epitomized by the sleeper/facelock sequence. I guess it was consistent with Misawa's philosophy of wrestling and it might have worked had they not had debilitating injuries on the day. But Taue/Kawada's take-no-prisoners method succeeded in overcoming their own poor track record(s) and finally broke through the Misawa factor, raising the question about the inevitability of the result.
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Post by mvz on Jun 9, 2023 5:03:06 GMT -5
This is awesome, a few great surprises and aggressive rankings of matches I love. Appreciate all the commentary you provided as well. Still kind of digesting but I’m looking forward to squeezing in a watch of a few things on here I may have missed otherwise.
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Post by [Darren] on Jun 9, 2023 7:02:05 GMT -5
60) Big Van Vader vs. Sting (WCW, 12/28/1992)I've always been in the GAB camp when it comes to what is considered the best in the series but have come around in thinking this match is superior. Same. I had GAB significantly higher but this year I decided this was THE match.
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Post by mrjmml on Jun 9, 2023 8:45:43 GMT -5
68) Steve Grey vs. Johnny Saint (JP, 1/28/1990) I think it's 1980.
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Post by mvz on Jun 9, 2023 8:50:10 GMT -5
I am on board w Sting-Vader from Starrcade being the best of the bunch, that’s a good one to call out.
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