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Post by microstatistics on Nov 7, 2023 22:35:44 GMT -5
2023 could potentially be the best wrestling year since the mid-2000s (let's say 2003-2006). The only time periods since that might match up are 2015-16 with peak Lesnar and Styles at the helm and NJPW heating up and 2012-13 with an assortment of great stuff dispersed across the big three (Japan, US, Mexico). I know some people are fond of 2017-18 but, aside from a few exceptions, that was a flat period for me.
I value high-end output above all and consider the five matches below to be legitimately great (which is more great matches in an individual year for me since 2005), with the Top 3 being Top 100 locks/contenders.
Moreover, the basal output seems solid with AEW (and by extension ROH) consistently delivering the goods (even with backstage theatrics), a compelling WWE run marshaled by Gunther and, to a lesser extent, the Bloodline (depending on how much you like the Tribal Chief-style matches), and the best Japanese product in years. Unfortunately, lucha appears stagnant and stale but that's nothing new.
Top 5 MOTY
1. Bryan Danielson vs. MJF (AEW, 3/5)
Finest match of the decade thus far. An ultra-ambitious hit with engaging twists and turns and great psychology.
2. Gunther vs. Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE, 4/2)
Gem of modern WWE. The smashmouth European style melded into a heavyweight epic.
3. Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW, 1/4)
I should have included this in the botton quarter of my Top 100 ballot this year. Best match to come out of Japan in the past 4-6 years.
4. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH, 2/21)
This feels like Okada's Mind Games in that even his detractors thought this was great. Compact action with both hierarchy-based and inter-promotional elements.
5. Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage (AEW, 8/19)
Perfect TV wrestling that highlights the power of sound fundamentals.
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Post by elliott on Nov 8, 2023 0:07:08 GMT -5
While I only like one of those matches you mention it does seem like it's been a heck of a year.
I like Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin more than I've liked any current wrestlers in the last ~20 years. So that's exciting.
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Post by fxnj on Nov 8, 2023 0:51:13 GMT -5
I think I’d put the first half of the 2010s above it, but it does seem like the trend of 20 years of near linear decline might be reversing a bit. I’m curious to also check out the Mutoha stuff that Jetlag has spoken very highly of.
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Post by KB8 on Nov 9, 2023 16:23:45 GMT -5
I'm more interested in checking out that Okada match than I think I have been for any Okada match since...the Misawa tag from 2009, I guess? I don't really have much use for him, but the Mind Games comparison feels pretty apt considering even the people who don't care for him seem to like it.
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Post by elliott on Nov 9, 2023 16:46:36 GMT -5
I'm more interested in checking out that Okada match than I think I have been for any Okada match since...the Misawa tag from 2009, I guess? I don't really have much use for him, but the Mind Games comparison feels pretty apt considering even the people who don't care for him seem to like it. I put it at 3 1/2 stars instead of turning it off midway through. So best Okada match by far. |
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Post by TheDutifulWebmaster on Nov 16, 2023 17:02:11 GMT -5
2023 could potentially be the best wrestling year since the mid-2000s (let's say 2003-2006). The only time periods since that might match up are 2015-16 with peak Lesnar and Styles at the helm and NJPW heating up and 2012-13 with an assortment of great stuff dispersed across the big three (Japan, US, Mexico). I know some people are fond of 2017-18 but, aside from a few exceptions, that was a flat period for me. I value high-end output above all and consider the five matches below to be legitimately great (which is more great matches in an individual year for me since 2005), with the Top 3 being Top 100 locks/contenders. Moreover, the basal output seems solid with AEW (and by extension ROH) consistently delivering the goods (even with backstage theatrics), a compelling WWE run marshaled by Gunther and, to a lesser extent, the Bloodline (depending on how much you like the Tribal Chief-style matches), and the best Japanese product in years. Unfortunately, lucha appears stagnant and stale but that's nothing new. Top 5 MOTY 1. Bryan Danielson vs. MJF (AEW, 3/5) Finest match of the decade thus far. An ultra-ambitious hit with engaging twists and turns and great psychology. 2. Gunther vs. Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE, 4/2) Gem of modern WWE. The smashmouth European style melded into a heavyweight epic. 3. Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW, 1/4) I should have included this in the botton quarter of my Top 100 ballot this year. Best match to come out of Japan in the past 4-6 years. 4. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH, 2/21) This feels like Okada's Mind Games in that even his detractors thought this was great. Compact action with both hierarchy-based and inter-promotional elements. 5. Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage (AEW, 8/19) Perfect TV wrestling that highlights the power of sound fundamentals. As for the best wrestling year since the 2000's, I think 2018 would probably get my vote. Also, what does 'compact action' mean regarding the Kazuchika Okada match? |
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Post by timm on Nov 17, 2023 7:49:17 GMT -5
For me it feels like every year just gets worse when it comes to the quality of the highest-end wrestling. Styles everywhere have jumped the shark and no one knows how to make spots mean anything, they just throw everything against the wall for the immediate pop it gets.
2013 kills 2023 imo. An excellent G1; Bryan/Cena, Punk/Lensar, and the Shield/Rhodes matches in WWE; and lucha still felt more like lucha rather than everyone just working a PWG, American indie style with superkicks and Canadian destoyers.
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Post by [Darren] on Nov 17, 2023 18:03:53 GMT -5
It’s an ok year. I’d say above average.
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Post by [Darren] on Nov 17, 2023 18:06:15 GMT -5
Okada matches are long and tedious. The Kiyomiya match is not.
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Post by microstatistics on Nov 17, 2023 18:38:31 GMT -5
2018 has a strong rep but a lot of the acclaimed content fell flat for me. Worthwhile stuff like Omega vs. Jericho, Omega vs. Okada IV, and WALTER vs. Allin were merely really good.
Compact action means focused, condensed sessions of wrestling that align with the narrative. I like Okada but one issue I have with the Tanahashi series (except Invasion Attack 2013) and some other big matches is the long, meandering sections that don't tie into the overall match structure and hence feel like time-fillers.
2013 is a good shout. Hechicero vs. Lucero, Invasion Attack, the old man Regal matches etc.
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Post by kas on Nov 17, 2023 19:21:47 GMT -5
For me wrestling has gotten far more formulaic over the last three years, resulting in probably more matches I like than ever before, but very very few that are blow away great like years past. I'd say one of 2013, 2015, or 2018 has been the best year of the 2000s.
In regards to Okada I think a lot of people here would dig his G1 stuff, where he very often sticks to sub-20 minute time limits and has basically 0 fluff in those matches. One particular highlight is the G1 2017 match with Satoshi Kojima - it goes 15 minutes and Okada spends the entire time being the biggest, cockiest, most condescending prick on planet Earth.
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Post by [Darren] on Nov 17, 2023 23:58:29 GMT -5
Here are my top matches of the year. It’s been a strong year but no match was far and away the best thing nor a candidate for this project.
AEW 9/3/2023 Orange Cassidy v. Jon Moxley
AEW 8/27/2023 CM Punk v. Samoa Joe
WWE 8/5/2023. Brock Lesnar v. Cody Rhodes
WWE 4/2/2023 Gunther v. Sheamus v. Drew McIntyre
ROH 3/31/2023 Eddie Kingston v. Claudio Castagnoli
AEW 3/5/2023 Bryan Danielson v. MJF
NOAH 2/21/2023 Kazuchika Okada v. Kaito Kiyomiya
WWE 2/18/2023 Sami Zayn v. Roman Reigns
AEW 2/1/2023 Darby Allin v. Samoa Joe
AEW 1/6/2023 The Acclaimed v. Jeff Jarrett/Jay Lethal
AEW 1/4/2023 The Acclaimed v. Jeff Jarrett/Jay Lethal
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Post by elliott on Nov 18, 2023 0:47:12 GMT -5
I've got a top 8 (in chronological order) that I enjoy. I've seen some other good stuff from this year but nothing that sticks out as a MOTYC worth listing.
Roman Reigns vs Sami Zayn (WWE Elimination Chamber - 2/18/23)
Jeff Jarrett vs Orange Cassidy (AEW - 3/15/23)
The Miz vs Snoop Dogg (WWE WrestleManai 39 - 4/2/23)
Mio Momono vs Chikayo Nagashima (MARVELOUS - 5/3/23)
CM Punk & Darby Allin vs Christian & Ricky Starks (AEW - 7/22/23)
Christian vs Darby Allin (AEW - 8/19/23)
Darby Allin vs Luchasaurus (AEW All Out - 9/3/23)
Jon Moxley vs Orange Cassidy (AEW All Out - 9/3/23)
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Post by [Darren] on Nov 18, 2023 3:11:10 GMT -5
I've got a top 8 (in chronological order) that I enjoy. I've seen some other good stuff from this year but nothing that sticks out as a MOTYC worth listing. Roman Reigns vs Sami Zayn (WWE Elimination Chamber - 2/18/23) Jeff Jarrett vs Orange Cassidy (AEW - 3/15/23) The Miz vs Snoop Dogg (WWE WrestleManai 39 - 4/2/23) Mio Momono vs Chikayo Nagashima (MARVELOUS - 5/3/23) CM Punk & Darby Allin vs Christian & Ricky Starks (AEW - 7/22/23) Christian vs Darby Allin (AEW - 8/19/23) Darby Allin vs Luchasaurus (AEW All Out - 9/3/23) Jon Moxley vs Orange Cassidy (AEW All Out - 9/3/23) I wanna go back and rewatch Darby & OC matches because that’s where I’m gonn find the things I enjoy. I do recommend you watch the Acclaimed v. Jarrett/Lethal matches. It’s overbooked horseshit in front of crowds that are eating it up and they have been my favorite stuff w/Jarrett in AEW. |
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Post by timm on Nov 18, 2023 8:04:22 GMT -5
More griping about recent years wrestling: it feels like there's no such thing as a home stretch anymore. Guys start trading big moves, spots, and nearfalls a couple minutes into the match, keep doing it, the intensity doesn't really go up or down for much of the length of the match, and then the ending just happens.
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