End of 2018 Round Up Post

As is now traditional, here is the annual end of year post of the best matches reviewed on the blog this year. Lots of contenders this year, maybe more than ever - the shortlist had 20 matches on, and was really hard to pair down. This, however, was the best of the best.

10) Meiko Satomura vs Mercedes Martinez (Mae Young Classic 2018 – Round 2 #1)

The standout match of the Mae Young Classic. Stiff, hard-hitting stuff from two veterans, which set a high standard for the rest of the tournament. The remaining rounds were full of good stuff, but this was the highlight.

9) Jigsaw, Mr Zero, Gran Akuma, Icarus, Jolly Roger, DJ Skittlez, Private Eye & Shane Storm vs Larry Sweeney, Rorschach, Mano Metallico, Share Cropper, Ultramantis Black, Spyruzal, Crossbones & Hallowicked (CHIKARA – The Cibernetico Cometh)

Going well over an hour, with some wrestlers who have thoroughly underwhelmed in my CHIKARA watching, this could have been as disaster. Instead, it’s really smartly worked, exceptionally entertaining and the hour simply flies by.

8) Alex Reynolds vs John Silver (NYWC Sideshow 2018)

Always enjoyed Silver, but Reynolds has had some hit or miss matches over the years. Here, the two partners work terrifically together, with clever counters showing their familiarity. It goes 17 minutes, which had me worried, but this was great.

7) Cain Justice vs Fred Yehi (Action Wrestling Debut Show 27/04/2018)

This is the spot where I jumped on the bandwagon for both these guys. Really clever stuff with some unique but logical spots which actually build towards the end of the match.

6) Super Dragon & B-Boy vs Billy Ken Kid & Ebessan (CHIKARA Tag World Grand Prix 2005 Night 1)

Terrific tag match, taking comedy worker Ebessan and using him as a sympathetic foil for the Dragon/B-Boy team. Builds to a dynamite hot tag, just tremendous stuff.

5) Toby Farley vs Timmy Lou Retton (Innovate Pro Wrestling – Regenesis)

Two guys I’d never seen before in a big time title match. Lots to enjoy here, a fun fake injury angle, Farley selling a broken jaw by taping his jaw shut and some good, hard hitting stuff.

4) Big Van Vader vs Sting (WCW Great American Bash 1992)

I could honestly have put 4/5 matches from this show on this list, it was that good a show. The textbook on how to work a giant heel vs valiant face hero, both guys come out of this looking like warriors, and Sting puts Vader with no bullshit.

3) Eddie Kingston vs Chris Dickinson (Limitless Wrestling – The World Is Ours)

Two of the best brawlers on the indies kicking lumps out of each other. Both guys give no quarter, and you can see them slowly breaking the other down. They smartly don’t draw it out, it ends at the right time, and this is a super fun war.

2) Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs Steve Austin & Dustin Rhodes (WCW Great American Bash 1992)

In any other year, this would probably have been #1. Four of the best wrestlers in the world at the time put on an absolute clinic. You’d have forgiven Dustin and Windham for taking it easy, with two more matches still to come, but they still put it all out there. Tremendous heat section, really exciting end run.

1)    Andrade “Cien” Almas vs Johnny Gargano (WWE NXT Takeover: Philadelphia)

Not only the best match in NXT history, for my money this is a top three match in WWE history. A masterclass in selling from Gargano, a guy who once did the worst sell job I’d seen, some lovely offence by Almas, logical and natural counters and reversals, finishing with a definitive end sequence. One of the best matches I’ve ever seen.