Here's the annual list of the ten best matches reviewed on the blog in 2013. Though I've not published as much as I'd like to this year, there is still a good blend of stuff here, I feel. A bit of BritWres, some classic WWF, some puro and an 80's territories tag match. All stuff I've watched and loved this year. Here's to a great 2014
10. Kaz vs Volador Jr vs Daivari vs Naruki Doi (TNA World X Cup 2008)
This was the final of the World X Cup in an Ultimate X match with all to play for. All four guys looked really good here, with the booking possibly making Kaz look better in defeat than if he'd won.
9. Ernie Ladd & Butch Reed vs Brickhouse Brown & Master Gee (The Best of Ernie Ladd)
Really fun tag match, with the bigger, surly heels dominating against the energetic face team. Brown and Gee looked great here, and the heel tactics of their opponents provided a nice structure for the match.
8. Stixx vs Kevin Steen (Southside Wrestling Supershow)
Great brawl between two hard-working big men. They went all over the venue and, on a card featuring a whole host of big names from TV, stole the whole show.
7. Masato Yoshino, Milano Collection AT & Puma vs Doug Williams, Tyson Dux & Alex Koslov vs Rey Buccanero, Ultimo Guerrero & Averno vs the Motor City Machineguns & Curry Man (TNA World X Cup 2008)
As the saying goes, "If you're going to do a spotfest, make it a good one". Just an insane elimination match that provided massive entertainment from start to finish.
6. Tyler Bate vs Joe Coffey (Triple X Wrestling The Nov 24th Show)
Bate is a star on the rise for sure, and this match with Joe Coffey was excellent. Coffey came with a great reputation that he lived up to, with both guys putting in some neat matwork and some stiff brawling.
5. Zack Sabre Jr vs Tommy End (Southside Wrestling Menace II Society III)
ZSJ is my standout BritWres performer of the year, and our loss is Japan's gain in view of his recent tag title victory. This WXW title match with Tommy End was spectacular, two guys just trying to break the other one down.
4. Cody Rhodes & Goldust vs Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns (WWE Battleground)
The WWE's recent emphasis on tag wrestling has provided a load of great matches this year. This one, with the backstory of the Rhodes' fighting for their jobs and Dusty providing ringside support, is the pick of the bunch.
3. Ronnie Garvin vs Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (WWF Royal Rumble 1990)
Not the kind of match you'd expect in 1990's WWF. These two were clearly both more than happy to wail away on each other, and there was a fun story to the match as well. Really loved this.
2. Fritz Von Erich vs Giant Baba (The Best of the Von Erichs Vol 1)
Filmed in glorious black-and-white, this match is very much an example of how you can do more with less. Most of Fritz's offence involved claw attempts, but the way he put together those attempts, and the way he carried himself, made him a massive threat, which only made Baba look better in victory.
1. Zack Sabre Jr vs Mark Andrews (Triple X Wrestling XXXstravaganza)
So, for the second year in a row, a BritWres match tops the list, and this one was a real belter. I'd never been to a Triple X show before this year, but having caught all the 2013 shows I can honestly say they've been my most enjoyable times of watching live wrestling. Amidst all the fun of wrestling zombies, local jobbers and pornstars, you also get consistently good wrestling matches. Here we had the highflier (Andrews) taking on the more experienced stiff mat-wrestler (ZSJ), and they gelled brilliantly. Though Zack was often in control, there were some great hope spots for Andrews, and an ending that showed how much of a threat he'd been. Looking forward to seeing more great things from both guys in 2014.
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