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Post by microstatistics on Jul 23, 2023 19:31:38 GMT -5
80. Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito (NJPW - 8/13/2016) Total Points: 483 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Tetsujin - 13 2021 Finish: 87 (+7)
My #50. A modern classic.
79. Terry Funk vs Stan Hansen (AJPW - 4/14/1983) Total Points: 490 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: [Darren] - 28 2021 Finish: 74 (-5)
It missed my list this time around but am glad it's still here.
78. Negro Casas vs El Dandy (EMLL - 7/3/1992) Total Points: 494 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: KB8 - 1 2021 Finish: 128 (+50)
I'm a little lower on this than most but appreciate it all the same. The #1 vote is badass.
77. Aja Kong vs KAORU (GAEA - 2/13/2000) Total Points: 495 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Cactus - 11 2021 Finish: 198 (+121)
Just about misses the great mark for me but this one is a cool addition.
76. Eddy Guerrero and Love Machine vs El Hijo Del Santo and Octagon (AAA - 11/6/1994) Total Points: 500 # of Ballots: 7 High Vote: madwizzzard - 4 2021 Finish: 141 (+65)
My #7 so I'm pleasantly surprised I wasn't the high vote. More importantly, great to see it crack the main list.
75. Bryan Danielson vs Takeshi Morishima (ROH - 8/25/2007) Total Points: 501 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Kadaveri - 16 2021 Finish: 68 (-7)
My #72 so spot on.
74. Aja Kong vs Yumika Hotta (WWWA World Championship - AJW - 1/24/1994) Total Points: 507 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: CFOS - 9 2021 Finish: 100 (+26)
My #21. A joshi classic.
73. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Minoru Suzuki (NJPW - 10/8/2012) Total Points: 514 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Control21 - 10 2021 Finish: 35 (-38)
An impressive achievement and a feather in both wrestlers' caps. This might be an odd criticism but I thought it's maybe a little too minimalist. It could have done with a couple of high impact moves (e.g., a Gotch Piledriver from Suzuki and definitely one or two dragon suplexes from Tanahashi) to really sell the finish.
72. Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (WWF - 11/17/1996) Total Points: 527 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Grimmas - 2 2021 Finish: 88 (+16)
Still a great match but now it's more of a Top 200 pick for me.
71. Brock Lesnar vs CM Punk (WWE - 8/18/2013) Total Points: 538 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 15 2021 Finish: 52 (-19)
A match that strangely never really clicked for me even though Lesnar around this time was THE big match wrestler and Punk is always a reliable worker. Part of it might be all that Paul Heyman interference.
70. Anarchy in The Arena (AEW - 5/29/2022) Total Points: 541 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: puroraisedme - 1 2021 Finish: n/a
The match I was most interested in seeing where it landed and it didn't disappoint.
69. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW - 12/3/1993) Total Points: 548 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: Kadaveri - 14 2021 Finish: 17 (-52)
Ah, the match that inspired the most undeserved reputation (Kawada, the great leg seller) in wrestling history.
68. Thunder Queen Battle 60-Minute Match (JWP - 7/31/1993) Total Points: 557 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: mvz - 14 2021 Finish: 202 (+134)
This was legendary in some circles back in the late 2000s/early 2010s. Nice addition.
67. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, & Kenta Kobashi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Masa Fuchi, & Akira Taue (AJPW - 4/20/1991) Total Points: 560 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: [Darren] - 12 2021 Finish: 42 (-25)
A lot of neat stuff in this but it's too long. The 90 and 92 matches are superior.
66. Jerry Lawler vs Terry Funk (No DQ - CWA - 3/23/1981) Total Points: 563 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 13 2021 Finish: 60 (-6)
Good but I always thought it was pretty overrated. Didn't like Lawler no-selling the knee work.
65. The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Lex Luger, & JJ Dillon) vs The Road Warriors, Nikita Koloff, Dusty Rhodes & Paul Ellering (War Games - JCP - 7/4/1987) Total Points: 573 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: mattsdmf - 2 2021 Finish: 85 (+20)
The Wargames gimmick was never a favorite of mine so don't think I've seen this in 10+ years.
64. Randy Savage vs Ultimate Warrior (Retirement Match - WWF - 3/24/1991) Total Points: 585 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: mvz - 2 2021 Finish: 64 (No Change)
Not for me.
63. Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega (NJPW - 6/9/2018) Total Points: 586 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: KAS, dkuchler31096 - 2 2021 Finish: 81 (-18)
I rewatched it recently and while I would *only* give it ***1/2 or so, similar to HBK vs. Taker WM25, I understand its wider appeal. A well deserved finish.
62. Kiyoshi Tamura vs Volk Han (RINGS - 9/26/1997) Total Points: 591 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Microstatistics - 5 2021 Finish: 63 (+1)
My #5. Top 50 would have been nice but this isn't bad.
61. The Rockers vs Buddy Rose & Doug Somers (AWA - 8/30/1986) Total Points: 592 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: [Darren] - 10 2021 Finish: 58 (-3)
My #55. I've always called this the best US tag but then realized When Worlds Collide technically took place in LA. So I would amend that statement and label this the best tag match to occur under the banner of a US promotion.
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Post by nintendologic on Jul 24, 2023 6:51:26 GMT -5
99. Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee (No DQ, Loser Leaves Town, Dundee’s Hair on the Line - CWA - 12/30/1985) Total Points: 428 # of Ballots: 7 High Vote: KB8 - 4 2021 Finish: 115 (+16)
This match actually bored me to tears when I watched it recently. Ten minutes straight of nothing but one guy pretending to punch another guy gets tedious in a hurry no matter how good the one guy's punches are and the other guy's selling is.
98. Jun Akiyama vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW - 7/24/1998) Total Points: 429 # of Ballots: 7 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 21 2021 Finish: 91 (-7)
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Kobashi getting a late 90s All Japan crowd to buy into a figure four leglock as a potential match ender might be the ultimate testament to his greatness.
96-T. Manami Toyota vs Aja Kong (AJW - 11/20/1994) Total Points: 436 # of Ballots: 8 High Vote: Grimmas - 10 2021 Finish: 127 (+31)
This fell out of the top 100 after I left it off my 2021 ballot. It's back in after I voted for it again. You're welcome.
91. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (AJPW - 10/19/1990) Total Points: 452 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 4 2021 Finish: 69 (-22)
We've still got a ways to go before this catches up to 4/20/91, but at least the gap is closing.
88. Stan Hansen vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW - 2/28/1993) Total Points: 464 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 18 2021 Finish: 53 (-35)
I'll just say that I'm sorry for whatever happened in elliott's life that left him unable to appreciate beauty and goodness.
80. Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito (NJPW - 8/13/2016) Total Points: 483 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Tetsujin - 13 2021 Finish: 87 (+7)
This has never connected with me as an all-timer even within the style. I need to watch their 2017 match again because the last time I did, I thought the action, pacing, structure, and psychology were objectively elite or close to it. The only problem is that I just didn't give a shit at all about either guy or anything they were doing. It actually made me kind of depressed to be completely unmoved by something they clearly worked hard at and put a lot of thought into.
72. Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (WWF - 11/17/1996) Total Points: 527 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Grimmas - 2 2021 Finish: 88 (+16)
Pretty cool that this rose overall despite taking a tumble on my own ballot.
65. The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Lex Luger, & JJ Dillon) vs The Road Warriors, Nikita Koloff, Dusty Rhodes & Paul Ellering (War Games - JCP - 7/4/1987) Total Points: 573 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: mattsdmf - 2 2021 Finish: 85 (+20)
I don't know if this is the best WarGames match, but I'm not attached strongly enough to any of the others to argue the point.
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Post by KB8 on Jul 24, 2023 8:59:54 GMT -5
100. Shinobu Kandori vs Yumiko Hotta (LLPW - 3/21/1998) Total Points: 427 # of Ballots: 8 High Vote: Cap - 13 2021 Finish: 121 (+21)
Kandori v Hotta might be my favourite pairing in joshi. I didn't end up voting for a singles match between them, but this one came closest. A real slaughterhouse of a match.
99. Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee (No DQ, Loser Leaves Town, Dundee’s Hair on the Line - CWA - 12/30/1985) Total Points: 428 # of Ballots: 7 High Vote: KB8 - 4 2021 Finish: 115 (+16)
If you like your punches in pro wrestling then this is very much the match for you. If you don't like your punches in pro wrestling then maybe consider getting your fucking act together! My #4 and I could've had it three spots higher on another day.
98. Jun Akiyama vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW - 7/24/1998) Total Points: 429 # of Ballots: 7 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 21 2021 Finish: 91 (-7)
I don't remember a thing about this now because the last time I watched it I was probably 17 and that was not a small number of yesterdays ago. I'll re-watch it at some point. I'm not exactly excited about the prospect but I also would not say I'm dreading it. So there you go.
96-T. Manami Toyota vs Aja Kong (AJW - 11/20/1994) Total Points: 436 # of Ballots: 8 High Vote: Grimmas - 10 2021 Finish: 127 (+31)
About as easy to follow as you can get. Didn't vote for it, but I considered it for a second there and it's great.
96-T. Ted DiBiase vs Jim Duggan (LLT, Coal Miner's Glove on a Pole, Tuxedo, Cage - UWF - 3/30/1985) Total Points: 436 # of Ballots: 8 High Vote: Lemming - 9 2021 Finish: 62 (-34)
One of the best US brawls ever. My #34. Duggan staggering around with his white shirt pulled over his head as blood seeps through it while DiBiase punches him half to death is what the pro wrestling is about.
95. Jumbo Tsuruta vs Mitsuhara Misawa (AJPW - 9/1/1990) Total Points: 443 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Cactus - 28 2021 Finish: 59 (-36)
I watched both singles match from 1990 a few years ago and thought they were really good, probably even great, but not anything I'd consider voting for at this stage. This one would've been a #1 contender for me 15 years ago, though.
94. Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee (Loser Leaves Town - CWA - 6/6/1983) Total Points: 445 # of Ballots: 7 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 9 2021 Finish: 41 (-53)
Also great, but I dropped this late and I was okay doing so. The clipping is as annoying as any clipping in any match ever. Love the top 10 pick. Almost enough to make me reconsider hating the person putting it there for their comments on the far superior '85 iteration.
93. Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Brian Pillman & Jim Nedihart vs Steve Austin, Goldust, Ken Shamrock & The Road Warriors (WWF - 7/6/1997) Total Points: 446 # of Ballots: 8 High Vote: Conker - 1 2021 Finish: 126 (+33)
Awesome match and about as close to a WAR v New Japan gang war as the WWF ever came. Biblical Austin performance, but on last watch - about four months ago - I thought Brian Pillman as a maniac trying to ruin Ken Shamrock's life wasn't too far off him. Can totally see a case for this as #1 all time.
92. El Hijo del Santo vs Espanto Jr (Mask vs Mask - Monterrey - 8/31/1986) Total Points: 448 # of Ballots: 8 High Vote: Cap - 9 2021 Finish: 144 (+52)
One of the best apuestas matches ever. My #41.
91. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (AJPW - 10/19/1990) Total Points: 452 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 4 2021 Finish: 69 (-22)
When I started to become apathetic towards 90s All Japan I at least found the 6-man tags to hold up. On last watch I thought this was really good and Fuchi standing on someone broken face will obviously be awesome, but it never felt like anything I was bothered about voting for.
90. Jumbo Tsuruta vs Mitsuharu Misawa (AJPW - 6/8/1990) Total Points: 455 # of Ballots: 7 High Vote: Control21 - 7 2021 Finish: 93 (+3)
Echoing what I said about the September match. The abdominal stretch part was worse here, though.
89. Akira Maeda vs Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW - 6/12/1986) Total Points: 458 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Control21 - 9 2021 Finish: 91 (+2)
Awesome match and I easily could've found a spot for it. Kind of goes without saying, but if they'd managed to go the whole way without cutting it short on account of Fujinami's massacred face then it would've been even better.
88. Stan Hansen vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW - 2/28/1993) Total Points: 464 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 18 2021 Finish: 53 (-35)
My #63. I obviously lean more towards it being great than terrible, but it fell off some on re-watch. I disagree with it being a mess structurally or the idea that folks only like it because they smash each other to bits, but if you're bored by it then you're bored by it and I'm not about to try and change your mind.
87. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Nobuhiko Takada (UWF - 10/25/1990) Total Points: 467 # of Ballots: 8 High Vote: Microstatistics - 2 2021 Finish: 113 (+26)
It's been ages since I've watched either of their matches from 1990 but I bet I wouldn't hate them on re-watch. Maybe the last year of Fujiwara's incredible 5-year peak.
86. Stan Hansen vs Carlos Colon (Bullrope Match - CWP - 1/6/1987) Total Points: 467 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: KB8 - 25 2021 Finish: 49 (-37)
The second-best match ever involving a rope, strap, chain or whatever else two wrestlers might be attached with. The spot where Colon has his legs wrapped around the bottom rope while Hansen furiously tries to drag him to the last turnbuckle, the crowd going absolutely bonkers, is one of the great dramatic moments in any match like it. Or just any match in general. My #25.
85. Jushin Liger vs Naoki Sano (NJPW - 8/10/1989) Total Points: 471 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: [Darren] & NintendoLogic - 20 2021 Finish: 107 (+22)
Yeah, this is the stuff. Liger's selling is obviously unbelievable, but the searing hatred and intensity and grittiness is just as amazing. It's been mentioned before, but Liger not being able to use his arm to do any actual moves so instead deciding to stomp Sano's face into the mat is really what the pro wrestling is all about. My #42.
84. Masakatsu Funaki vs Tatsuo Nakano (UWF - 7/24/1989) Total Points: 472 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: [Darren] - 6 2021 Finish: 155 (+71)
I'm surprised elliott is down on this (relatively speaking anyway). Sub-10 minutes, both guys trying to cave each other's face in, molten heat, serious ill will - that's an elliott match right there. Basically perfect. Although I guess perfect will only get you so far because I had it at #93 and not 23 or whatever.
83. Kenta Kobashi vs Samoa Joe (ROH - 10/1/2005) Total Points: 476 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Cactus - 25 2021 Finish: 66 (-17)
I haven't watched this in a long time but honestly, I'd be more inclined to put this on right now than a goodly amount of stuff from Kobashi's peak.
82. Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuinness (ROH - 8/12/2006) Total Points: 478 # of Ballots: 7 High Vote: mattsdmf - 8 2021 Finish: 40 (-42)
The only match between these two I'd have any desire to re-watch is the 2/08 one where Nigel whips the crowd into such a frenzy they start an honest to goodness USA chant. I found this one kind of boring when I last saw it and that will most likely be my lasting impression of it until the day they put me in the mud.
81. Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Nobuhiako Takada, Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Kengo Kimura vs Riki Choshu, Yoshiaki Yatsu, Animal Hamaguchi, Isamu Teranishi & Kuniaki Kobayashi (5x5 Gauntlet - NJPW - 4/19/1984) Total Points: 482 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Microstatistics - 14 2021 Finish: 153 (+72)
Honestly, I can't be bothered sitting down for long enough to watch this in its entirety again. If I do at some point though, I can't imagine not thinking it's brilliant all over again. It was my #1 on the New Japan 80s set, but it's just been so long since then that I barely remember a thing about it now. Could see it as someone's #1 on a project like this and wouldn't bat an eye.
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Post by elliott on Jul 24, 2023 11:19:39 GMT -5
88. Stan Hansen vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW - 2/28/1993)Total Points: 464 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 18 2021 Finish: 53 (-35) I'll just say that I'm sorry for whatever happened in elliott's life that left him unable to appreciate beauty and goodness. What can I say, I like selling, psychology, & logic in my wrestling. Minimalism over bloat. What's interesting is I've spelled out what I dislike about this match numerous times and nobody can really tell me whats good about it other than they HITS EACH OTHER HARD~! and argument by assertion.
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Post by KB8 on Jul 24, 2023 11:58:30 GMT -5
Man I wrote like three paragraphs on that shit last month (half-baked paragraphs, tbf). No-sold!
I honestly can't be bothered going back and forth on a match that, all things considered, I don't have nearly as strong a personal affinity as I do for like 80 other matches on my list, but I thought it had all of the things in it that you didn't. Them hitting each other hard is absolutely one of the selling points and I will feel no SHAME for that, as many of the matches on my list have people hitting each other hard and I'll feel no shame for that either. When I last watched Hansen/Kawada I tried watching it through the lens of the criticisms you've made of it in the past, and some of them I could even agree with, albeit to a much lesser extent. I don't think it's perfect by any stretch. It's a match with about eight thousand words written on it here already and there could be another eight thousand written on it and I don't see either side budging too much.
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Post by KB8 on Jul 24, 2023 12:43:16 GMT -5
80. Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito (NJPW - 8/13/2016) Total Points: 483 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Tetsujin - 13 2021 Finish: 87 (+7)
I'm afraid there are very few wrestlers that I care less about than these two. Yet I suppose some day I maybe owe it to myself to watch one of their matches. If nothing else my grandchildren may appreciate the story.
79. Terry Funk vs Stan Hansen (AJPW - 4/14/1983) Total Points: 490 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: [Darren] - 28 2021 Finish: 74 (-5)
My #38. Two of the greatest wild brawlers in history putting on a madness.
78. Negro Casas vs El Dandy (EMLL - 7/3/1992) Total Points: 494 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: KB8 - 1 2021 Finish: 128 (+50)
A very decent wrestling match. My #1.
77. Aja Kong vs KAORU (GAEA - 2/13/2000) Total Points: 495 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Cactus - 11 2021 Finish: 198 (+121)
This took a mad jump. I watched it for a best matches of the 00s poll years ago and basically thought nothing of it at all. I've watched more KAORU in the last couple weeks than I had in the previous ten years though, and KAORU was a fucking hoot so I should definitely re-watch this at some point.
76. Eddy Guerrero and Love Machine vs El Hijo Del Santo and Octagon (AAA - 11/6/1994) Total Points: 500 # of Ballots: 7 High Vote: madwizzzard - 4 2021 Finish: 141 (+65)
I've come to the conclusion that I will never get this match. It's not that I think it's bad or anything like that, it's just never once stood out as anything particularly special. Like I'll watch it and every single time I'll come out the other end thinking "that was a fine wrestling match." It's never connected on any other level for me. It might be the only widely-praised Eddie Guerrero match that leaves me feeling like that.
75. Bryan Danielson vs Takeshi Morishima (ROH - 8/25/2007) Total Points: 501 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Kadaveri - 16 2021 Finish: 68 (-7)
I watched all of these a few years ago and this one held up as the best of the bunch for me. I didn't love it or anything but I thought it was fine and all.
74. Aja Kong vs Yumika Hotta (WWWA World Championship - AJW - 1/24/1994) Total Points: 507 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: CFOS - 9 2021 Finish: 100 (+26)
Deeply brutal match. Not my favourite from either woman and something I could see myself dropping off the list in future, but for now it's there and will continue to give me nightmares. My #78.
73. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Minoru Suzuki (NJPW - 10/8/2012) Total Points: 514 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Control21 - 10 2021 Finish: 35 (-38)
The minimalism talking point has me intrigued. I do not associate minimalism with 2012 Minoru Suzuki or any year of Hiroshi Tanahashi and certainly not 2010s New Japan. Still, I've been meaning to watch it for years now so maybe I should get my shit together and actually do it.
72. Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (WWF - 11/17/1996) Total Points: 527 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Grimmas - 2 2021 Finish: 88 (+16)
I should've voted for this. A brilliant match and my favourite from both men. Yeah, I done fucked up.
71. Brock Lesnar vs CM Punk (WWE - 8/18/2013) Total Points: 538 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 15 2021 Finish: 52 (-19)
Yeah, this rules. I watched it about six months ago for a best WWF/E match ever poll and I thought it was somewhere around the top 30 and I haven't changed my mind on that since then.
70. Anarchy in The Arena (AEW - 5/29/2022) Total Points: 541 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: puroraisedme - 1 2021 Finish: n/a
The modern day approximation of the Memphis concession stand brawl. A supremely fun bit of madness and I'm not at all shocked it picked up a #1 vote.
69. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW - 12/3/1993) Total Points: 548 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: Kadaveri - 14 2021 Finish: 17 (-52)
I was surprised upon re-watching this late last year how absolutely ineffective Kawada looked against Misawa. About 10 years ago I would've considered this for the top 15 but 10 years ago me and here and now me are quite different people. Prolly.
68. Thunder Queen Battle 60-Minute Match (JWP - 7/31/1993) Total Points: 557 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: mvz - 14 2021 Finish: 202 (+134)
I did not enjoy this when I watched it on the 1993 yearbook. That was back in 2011 though, and I've since come around on a lot of joshi I didn't enjoy back then. I should probably re-watch it, but it's a whole-ass hour and so we can never be sure if I ever will.
67. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, & Kenta Kobashi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Masa Fuchi, & Akira Taue (AJPW - 4/20/1991) Total Points: 560 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: [Darren] - 12 2021 Finish: 42 (-25)
Another one I would've had high back in the day. The length means there's a not-terrible chance that I never actually watch it again, but maybe I'll surprise myself one day.
66. Jerry Lawler vs Terry Funk (No DQ - CWA - 3/23/1981) Total Points: 563 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 13 2021 Finish: 60 (-6)
I first saw this on the Memphis set back in '08. Since then, I think it's the match I've watched most often and every time it holds up as tremendous. My #39.
65. The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Lex Luger, & JJ Dillon) vs The Road Warriors, Nikita Koloff, Dusty Rhodes & Paul Ellering (War Games - JCP - 7/4/1987) Total Points: 573 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: mattsdmf - 2 2021 Finish: 85 (+20)
This was one of the first matches I watched when jumping into older footage. It was on a "best of" tape (fucking TAPE, brothers and sisters) that I got in like 2005 along with the Flair/Steamboat trilogy, Flair/Windham, Slaughter/Sheik, and I legitimately haven't watched it since then. I'm saving that re-watch for when I get to it on Will's amazing 4 Horsemen comp. So maybe that'll be before the next vote. Or the one after that. 2027 tops.
64. Randy Savage vs Ultimate Warrior (Retirement Match - WWF - 3/24/1991) Total Points: 585 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: mvz - 2 2021 Finish: 64 (No Change)
A top 5 WWF match ever. Depending on how I'm feeling on a given day, a top 1 WWF match ever. Warrior staring at his hands in disbelief because his space gods have abandoned him is the greatest moment in the history of our sport. My #50.
63. Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega (NJPW - 6/9/2018) Total Points: 586 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: KAS, dkuchler31096 - 2 2021 Finish: 81 (-18)
I watched one of their 2017 matches and didn't hate it. I watched another one of their 2017 matches and did hate it. Do with that what you will.
62. Kiyoshi Tamura vs Volk Han (RINGS - 9/26/1997) Total Points: 591 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Microstatistics - 5 2021 Finish: 63 (+1)
I didn't vote for this this year because it's been so long since I've actually seen it that I wasn't sure where to even place it. I had it high when I voted in 2020 and if I watch it before the next deadline, I imagine I'll have it high again. Top 5 vote rules.
61. The Rockers vs Buddy Rose & Doug Somers (AWA - 8/30/1986) Total Points: 592 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: [Darren] - 10 2021 Finish: 58 (-3)
A wonderful tag match. Can absolutely see this as Michaels' best, even if there's a couple I prefer. The Rockers were awesome and a big part of that is working with Rose and Somers. My #47.
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Post by elliott on Jul 24, 2023 12:44:51 GMT -5
Man I wrote like three paragraphs on that shit last month (half-baked paragraphs, tbf). No-sold! From your review, we disagree with the opening Kawada KO spot which is the unforgivable original sin of the match for me which is why I no-sold your review. If I sold your review, I'd be doing a KO spot 2 minutes into a 20+minute match with a big bad brawler when I didn't have it in me to be in the match in the first place. Better for everyone to no sell it like Bruiser Brody taking a dropkick. You said the important part though. "I get the criticisms of it outlined in here, and some of them I maybe even agree with (to a lesser extent)." It's not like I'm blindly lobbing hand grenades & no one can figure out where they're coming from. There are just disagreements on the level of damage done. You shouldn't feel shame. It's the main selling point and the main positive of the match. I just wish they did it in a smarter fashion like in their 1992 match And that's really my big issue regarding them hitting each other hard. I can get that elsewhere if I want it. Even from these two guys.
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Post by mvz on Jul 24, 2023 19:23:06 GMT -5
Can you pull yourselves away from Raw to check out 60-41? I hope so.
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Post by microstatistics on Jul 24, 2023 19:52:03 GMT -5
60. Sasha Banks vs Bayley (NXT - 8/22/2015) Total Points: 609 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: Grimmas - 7 2021 Finish: 79 (+19)
My highest ranked US women's match so cool to see it here even if it's more of a Top 200 pick personally.
59. Terry Funk vs Atsushi Onita (Exploding Barbed Wire - FMW - 5/5/1993) Total Points: 613 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: dkuchler31096 - 22 2021 Finish: 96 (+37)
“Terry Funk's best performance since his first retirement. Great drama, teases and bumps. All time great finish. Bonus points for the ref's attire.” - Microstatistics
Eh, I can't really disagree with any of that but I thought it was merely good the last time I watched it.
58. Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker (Hell in a Cell - WWF - 10/5/1997) Total Points: 623 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: Cactus - 5 2021 Finish: 72 (+14)
So I rewatched this yet again and yet again it failed to break the ***3/4 ceiling. So I've come to terms with this one not being in the upper echelon for me. I am glad this is one of the quintessential WWF/HBK matches for others though.
57. Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu vs Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Yatsu (AJPW - 1/28/1986) Total Points: 627 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 6 2021 Finish: 34 (-23)
Badass 80s tag. I should rewatch it.
56. The Briscoes vs FTR (ROH - 12/10/2022) Total Points: 637 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: dkuchler31096 - 15 2021 Finish: New Match
Wow, this did shockingly well, beating out AITA and all the Danielson matches. I enjoyed it.
55. John Cena vs Umaga (Last Man Standing - WWE - 1/28/2007) Total Points: 644 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: conker - 29 2021 Finish: 43 (-12)
Not for me.
54. Team New Japan (Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Kengo Kimura, Umanosuke Ueda & Kantaro Hoshino) vs Team UWF (Akira Maeda, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Nobuhiko Takada, Kazuo Yamazaki & Osamu Kid) (Elimination Match - NJPW - 3/26/1986) Total Points: 650 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Cactus - 2 2021 Finish: 98 (+44)
The elimination matches from 80s NJ don't really age that well for me, unfortunately.
53. Ric Flair vs Ricky Morton (Cage Match - JCP - 7/5/1986) Total Points: 668 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: [Darren] - 4 2021 Finish: 29 (-24)
My #48. This ended up as my highest ranked 80s US match.
52. El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas vs El Dandy (CMLL - 12/6/1996) Total Points: 668 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: Puropotsy - 12 2021 Finish: 90 (+38)
My #26. The Santo heel turn facilitated the optimal fusion of overt storytelling and fully fleshed out wrestling matches.
51. Shinobu Kandori vs Bull Nakano (Chain Match - AJW/LLPW - 7/14/1994) Total Points: 679 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: el_wreino - 6 2021 Finish: 64 (+13)
Good match.
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Post by microstatistics on Jul 24, 2023 20:09:55 GMT -5
50. Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW - 5/7/1989) Total Points: 688 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: Puropotsy - 9 2021 Finish: 32 (-18)
I expounded on this briefly a few months ago but this is one the ultimate "great in theory but not in practice" matches for me.
49. Dump Matsumoto vs Chigusa Nagayo (Hair vs Hair - AJW - 11/7/1986) Total Points: 698 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: Elliott - 2 2021 Finish: 147 (+98)
My #93. I didn't realize this didn't make it in 2021. This and the 10/10/1985 tag are far and away the standouts from this era.
48. El Satanico vs El Dandy (Hair vs Hair - EMLL - 12/14/1990) Total Points: 703 # of Ballots: 14 High Vote: Mattsdmf - 16 2021 Finish: 54 (+6)
I have similar thoughts on this as I do on Bad Blood. Really good match with lots of cool ideas but, holistically, one that is unable to crack the highest tier.
47. Akira Hokuto vs Shinobu Kandori (AJW - 12/6/1993) Total Points: 711 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Gramsci - 9 2021 Finish: 95 (+48)
This was right on the cusp of greatness last time I watched it so it's probably worth another rewatch.
46. CM Punk vs John Cena (WWE - 7/17/2011) Total Points: 724 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: luke - 1 2021 Finish: 47 (+1)
The #1 vote is fascinating but this is a hard no for me.
45. Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW - 2/20/1989) Total Points: 736 # of Ballots: 14 High Vote: conker - 7 2021 Finish: 36 (-9)
Better than WrestleWar and on par with Clash 6.
44. Dump Matsumoto vs Chigusa Nagayo (Hair vs Hair - AJW - 8/28/1985) Total Points: 739 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: madwizzzard & el_wreino - 3 2021 Finish: 83 (+39)
Still harrowing but they topped it in the future.
43. El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas (Mask vs Hair - EMLL - 9/19/1997) Total Points: 739 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: Lemming - 2 2021 Finish: 46 (+3)
My #92. This held nicely from 2021.
42. Eddie Guerrero vs John Bradshaw Layfield (WWE - 5/16/2004) Total Points: 740 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: puroraisedme - 6 2021 Finish: 57 (+15)
My #39 so spot on.
41. Dump Matsumoto vs Yukari Ohmori (AJW - 3/20/1986) Total Points: 742 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: Elliott - 1 2021 Finish: 84 (+43)
I don't really get the hype for this one. The finish was macabre no doubt but the work was merely decent and nowhere near the Chigusa matches in terms of disturbing violence, let alone coherent wrestling. I guess 11/7/1986 is to me what this is to others.
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Post by tetsujin on Jul 25, 2023 2:45:53 GMT -5
Too much Dump Matsumoto here. I even prefer the fourth Okada/Omega match.
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Post by Cap on Jul 25, 2023 7:40:22 GMT -5
56. The Briscoes vs FTR (ROH - 12/10/2022) Total Points: 637 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: dkuchler31096 - 15 2021 Finish: New Match
I was waiting for this drop. Wow. What a finish. I’m probably more impressed by it getting on 13 ballots than I am the #56 finish. Given how diverse it appears our entries were, that is impressive. I had 5 matches from 2022 and 2023 on my list. This was not the highest of those matches, but it feel like the least likely to fall off my list.
51. Shinobu Kandori vs Bull Nakano (Chain Match - AJW/LLPW - 7/14/1994) Total Points: 679 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: el_wreino - 6 2021 Finish: 64 (+13)
I was surprised I wasn’t the high vote last time and there is an even higher vote this time. I suspect this continues to creep up my list. It only jumped 1 spot this time, but it is in a whole mix of matches that could very easily shake out different.
47. Akira Hokuto vs Shinobu Kandori (AJW - 12/6/1993) Total Points: 711 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Gramsci - 9 2021 Finish: 95 (+48)
Love this jump up. It admittedly took me a minute to come around on this as elite, but I’m glad I got talked into giving it another look.
42. Eddie Guerrero vs John Bradshaw Layfield (WWE - 5/16/2004) Total Points: 740 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: puroraisedme - 6 2021 Finish: 57 (+15)
Truly magical stuff. This slipped a little for me in the past couple ballots, but that has more to do with other matches than this one. This belongs in the top 50 for sure.
41. Dump Matsumoto vs Yukari Ohmori (AJW - 3/20/1986) Total Points: 742 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: Elliott - 1 2021 Finish: 84 (+43)
I need to give this another watch soon. I liked it a lot last time, but it sort of lingered in my mind (for more than the obvious reasons) and that is usually a sign that I will like it more next time.
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Post by KB8 on Jul 25, 2023 12:01:32 GMT -5
60. Sasha Banks vs Bayley (NXT - 8/22/2015) Total Points: 609 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: Grimmas - 7 2021 Finish: 79 (+19)
I thought this was good when I watched it a few years back, but I actually preferred Sasha/Becky from that year. I'm a low voter on Bayley and I guess even Sasha for that matter, but either way it's never landed with me like it does for lots of people. The way they turned a split crowd 100% pro Bayley was some really good WORK~ though.
59. Terry Funk vs Atsushi Onita (Exploding Barbed Wire - FMW - 5/5/1993) Total Points: 613 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: dkuchler31096 - 22 2021 Finish: 96 (+37)
Been a long time since I've watched this, but I do remember some of Funk's selling being amazing. I should re-watch the thing.
58. Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker (Hell in a Cell - WWF - 10/5/1997) Total Points: 623 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: Cactus - 5 2021 Finish: 72 (+14)
Didn't make my list, but I thought it was excellent when I watched it again a few months ago. The best heel Michaels pinball bump show of them all, complete with his best blade job ever. Undertaker shambling around on offence isn't the MOST compelling thing in the world, but like Micro says it at least fits with the story.
57. Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu vs Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Yatsu (AJPW - 1/28/1986) Total Points: 627 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: NintendoLogic - 6 2021 Finish: 34 (-23)
My #13 and highest ranked 2v2 tag match ever. The best tag All Japan ever produced.
56. The Briscoes vs FTR (ROH - 12/10/2022) Total Points: 637 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: dkuchler31096 - 15 2021 Finish: New Match
I should probably watch at least one of these. Or maybe all (two?) of them? Is this the highest new entrant we've ever gotten?
55. John Cena vs Umaga (Last Man Standing - WWE - 1/28/2007) Total Points: 644 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: conker - 29 2021 Finish: 43 (-12)
I voted for this in 2020 but it fell off my list this time. Re-watched it about six months ago and thought it was still really good, but never hit me like it did in the past. A pretty great Cena performance, though.
54. Team New Japan (Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Kengo Kimura, Umanosuke Ueda & Kantaro Hoshino) vs Team UWF (Akira Maeda, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Nobuhiko Takada, Kazuo Yamazaki & Osamu Kid) (Elimination Match - NJPW - 3/26/1986) Total Points: 650 # of Ballots: 9 High Vote: Cactus - 2 2021 Finish: 98 (+44)
I had four New Japan multi-man matches on my list and easily could've had six or seven. This one actually didn't make it this time, but as far as wrestling match-types go this might be my very favourite.
53. Ric Flair vs Ricky Morton (Cage Match - JCP - 7/5/1986) Total Points: 668 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: [Darren] - 4 2021 Finish: 29 (-24)
I was a wee bit worried this wouldn't hold up considering I hadn't watched it in over 10 years, but it absolutely did. The stretch of Flair working over Morton's face is absolutely incredible stuff and my favourite piece of work in a match I've ever seen from him. My #15.
52. El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas vs El Dandy (CMLL - 12/6/1996) Total Points: 668 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: Puropotsy - 12 2021 Finish: 90 (+38)
Just missed out on my list, but an amazing bit of lucha brawling.
51. Shinobu Kandori vs Bull Nakano (Chain Match - AJW/LLPW - 7/14/1994) Total Points: 679 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: el_wreino - 6 2021 Finish: 64 (+13)
I still need to watch this. Kandori is the business and 90s veteran Bull is by far my favourite Bull, so I have high hopes.
50. Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW - 5/7/1989) Total Points: 688 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: Puropotsy - 9 2021 Finish: 32 (-18)
Been about 10 years since I last saw this. I wasn't huge on it last time and tbh I'd be shocked if it didn't end up being my least favourite of their '89 series again on re-watch.
49. Dump Matsumoto vs Chigusa Nagayo (Hair vs Hair - AJW - 11/7/1986) Total Points: 698 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: Elliott - 2 2021 Finish: 147 (+98)
Haven't seen this one. I'll probably watch it at some point but the Dump spectacles aren't really my thing, I don't think.
48. El Satanico vs El Dandy (Hair vs Hair - EMLL - 12/14/1990) Total Points: 703 # of Ballots: 14 High Vote: Mattsdmf - 16 2021 Finish: 54 (+6)
Haven't watched this since 2009. That was not yesterday and thus I don't remember shit about it but I bet when I do re-watch it I'll like it. I have a feeling, you know?
47. Akira Hokuto vs Shinobu Kandori (AJW - 12/6/1993) Total Points: 711 # of Ballots: 11 High Vote: Gramsci - 9 2021 Finish: 95 (+48)
In very hipster fashion I much prefer this to their first match. That one felt great to me but at the same time never grabbed me like it does the majority of people. It's probably the best match I've ever seen that I don't particularly care about one way or the other, if that makes sense. This one, on the other hand, is one of the best STORYTELLING~ matches I've ever seen and actually felt like pro wrestling as cinema to me, which sounds extremely pretentious but whatever. An amazing match. My #12.
46. CM Punk vs John Cena (WWE - 7/17/2011) Total Points: 724 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: luke - 1 2021 Finish: 47 (+1)
Did not care about this at all on last watch.
45. Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW - 2/20/1989) Total Points: 736 # of Ballots: 14 High Vote: conker - 7 2021 Finish: 36 (-9)
Probably my favourite Flair v Steamboat match, likely in part because it's the shortest. Crazy intense. Something I considered but ultimately left off.
44. Dump Matsumoto vs Chigusa Nagayo (Hair vs Hair - AJW - 8/28/1985) Total Points: 739 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: madwizzzard & el_wreino - 3 2021 Finish: 83 (+39)
Hell of a spectacle. Elliott has done wonders to get these things on 10+ ballots (that sound snarky but it's not intended to be at all).
43. El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas (Mask vs Hair - EMLL - 9/19/1997) Total Points: 739 # of Ballots: 13 High Vote: Lemming - 2 2021 Finish: 46 (+3)
From memory (distant as it may be), something I could see myself having sky high if I ever bothered to re-watch the fucking thing.
42. Eddie Guerrero vs John Bradshaw Layfield (WWE - 5/16/2004) Total Points: 740 # of Ballots: 12 High Vote: puroraisedme - 6 2021 Finish: 57 (+15)
One of the most insane blade jobs in history. A hell of a match around it, though. Missed my list in the end this time, but it's brilliant and I've certainly got no complaints about it finishing in the top 50.
41. Dump Matsumoto vs Yukari Ohmori (AJW - 3/20/1986) Total Points: 742 # of Ballots: 10 High Vote: Elliott - 1 2021 Finish: 84 (+43)
I didn't know what to do with it so in the end I did nothing. My favourite of the Dump singles matches, but there were a couple tags with her that I watched after the deadline that I wound up liking more. Even if I prefer the more grounded stuff with less rampant interference and scissor shtick, if this sort of thing is your thing then I can absolutely see #1. It was fucking madness, I know that much.
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Post by lemming on Jul 25, 2023 12:52:22 GMT -5
60. Sasha Banks vs Bayley (NXT - 8/22/2015)
How is this match 8 years old already? Really good and important match, though I preferred the sequel.
59. Terry Funk vs Atsushi Onita (Exploding Barbed Wire - FMW - 5/5/1993)
Yep, very fun and memorable match.
58. Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker (Hell in a Cell - WWF - 10/5/1997)
A classic. Way overdelivers on a goofy set up with both wrestlers giving wholehearted performances playing the cocky jerk vs invincible zombie in an (escapable) inescapable cage story completely straight.
57. Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu vs Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Yatsu (AJPW - 1/28/1986)
Solid pick.
56. The Briscoes vs FTR (ROH - 12/10/2022)
Big finish for such a new match! But the match is great, so: good work everyone.
55. John Cena vs Umaga (Last Man Standing - WWE - 1/28/2007)
Maybe Cena's best performance?
54. Team New Japan (Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Kengo Kimura, Umanosuke Ueda & Kantaro Hoshino) vs Team UWF (Akira Maeda, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Nobuhiko Takada, Kazuo Yamazaki & Osamu Kid) (Elimination Match - NJPW - 3/26/1986)
Not my favourite of the NJ multi man matches but hey, they're all really good.
53. Ric Flair vs Ricky Morton (Cage Match - JCP - 7/5/1986)
I'm not quite sold on the rep this has here as the best Flair match ...but the middle third of the match (the long heat segment on Morton) might be the best part of any Flair match.
52. El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas vs El Dandy (CMLL - 12/6/1996)
Glad to see this one on the rise.
51. Shinobu Kandori vs Bull Nakano (Chain Match - AJW/LLPW - 7/14/1994)
Bulk and Kandori beating each other with a chain, what's not to like.
50. Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW - 5/7/1989)
Flair vs Steamboat.
49. Dump Matsumoto vs Chigusa Nagayo (Hair vs Hair - AJW - 11/7/1986)
I'm nowhere near Elliott-high on Dump but the two hair vs hair matches with Chiggy are canonical must-watch matches for any fan. Both violent, powerful spectacles. I'd describe them as "singular" if there weren't, you know, 2 of them.
48. El Satanico vs El Dandy (Hair vs Hair - EMLL - 12/14/1990)
Loving the El Dandy love.
47. Akira Hokuto vs Shinobu Kandori (AJW - 12/6/1993)
Wow, 47 feels kinda high for this. But it's a very cool match, so why not.
46. CM Punk vs John Cena (WWE - 7/17/2011)
Another I didn't vote for but is definitely great. Work wise I maybe slightly prefer the piledriver match but this was THE moment.
45. Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW - 2/20/1989)
Flair vs Steamboat.
44. Dump Matsumoto vs Chigusa Nagayo (Hair vs Hair - AJW - 8/28/1985)
See my comments on the '86 rematch. This one is probably less of a match but even more emotional and spectacular.
43. El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas (Mask vs Hair - EMLL - 9/19/1997)
Masterpiece.
42. Eddie Guerrero vs John Bradshaw Layfield (WWE - 5/16/2004)
Eddie at his peak is transcendent. He is at his peak here.
41. Dump Matsumoto vs Yukari Ohmori (AJW - 3/20/1986)
I don't like this one, sorry. (The entrances are great though.)
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Post by lemming on Jul 25, 2023 12:57:15 GMT -5
Hadn't read KD8's comment above mine when I posted. Neat that we made the exact same comment about Flair working over Morton in the cage.
(Edit: actually our takes on this whole last section are eerily similar, though I don't write as well as he does.)
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