2020's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > The Hammer House: Stinger Splash Zone > 2020's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

«‹›143 »

Dimebags Brain: Feb 18, 2013

Dragon Gate Rainbow Gate, 6/21

MOTYC: Open the Brave Gate Championship - Kaito Ishida vs. Keisuke Okuda

Very good match, excellent story of Ishida being an absolute arrogant poo poo head and Okuda wanting to kick his dumb stupid rear end.

# ? Jun 21, 2020 18:32

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# ? Apr 24, 2024 09:28

MassRafTer: May 26, 2001; BAEST MODE!!!

IceAgeComing posted:

hello I am a criminal

MOTYC: SEAdLINNNG Beyond the Sea Singles Title: Arisa Nakajima (c) vs Asuka, SEAdLINNNG Delivered To You 2020, 13th June

This is one of those matches that you could tell would be great from the moment they were announced. Asuka just gets wrestling more than 99% of other wrestlers despite still being very young and comparatively inexperienced and she gets how to change her style up with the promotion she's working and the opponent she has and Arisa Nakajima is the best big match wrestler around today; she wrestles a lot less than others but she always wrestles at this insanely high level in every match she works.

These big SEAdLINNNG main events have an intensity that a lot of other Joshi companies just can't match. They feel like this big time fights even though in this case they're wrestling in front of no fans because of a pandemic. I didn't even notice that botch and if there was something it didn't detract from the match, and the story of the match just worked really well. I forgot that no fans were present which I've never done before for any other no fan match.

I will nth this.

# ? Jun 21, 2020 21:27

Rarity: Oct 21, 2010; ~*4 LIFE*~

HM: SANADA vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

Comedy, technique, nearfalls, this match had a bit of everything

# ? Jun 22, 2020 11:43

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

HM: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. SANADA - New Japan Cup Night 3 6/22

Match was feeling the lack of crowd, but it picked up so strong in the back half and had such a good ending I have no issue with giving it an HM nod.

Rarity posted:

HM: SANADA vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

Comedy, technique, nearfalls, this match had a bit of everything

Edit: Yep, that's a 2nd from me.

# ? Jun 22, 2020 11:44

Cerebral Bore: Apr 21, 2010; Fun Shoe

Rarity posted:

HM: SANADA vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

Comedy, technique, nearfalls, this match had a bit of everything

Agreed.

# ? Jun 22, 2020 11:49

Benne: Sep 2, 2011; STOP DOING HEROIN

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO, New Japan Cup 6/22

Best match of the Cup so far

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:04

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO - New Japan Cup Night 3 6/22

Just insane from start to finish, lariats and suplexes and just loving killing each other at an insane pace. Glorious. And that finish... holy fuccccck.

Benne posted:

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO, New Japan Cup 6/22

Best match of the Cup so far

Second behind Nagata/Suzuki for me, but goddamn yes this is a 2nd because what a loving match.

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:05

Cerebral Bore: Apr 21, 2010; Fun Shoe

Benne posted:

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO, New Japan Cup 6/22

Best match of the Cup so far

nth forever.

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:05

Aesculus: Mar 22, 2013

Jerusalem posted:

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO - New Japan Cup Night 3 6/22

Just insane from start to finish, lariats and suplexes and just loving killing each other at an insane pace. Glorious. And that finish... holy fuccccck.

Yes, I agree

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:05

forkboy84: Jun 13, 2012; Corgis love bread. And Puro

Benne posted:

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO, New Japan Cup 6/22

Best match of the Cup so far

Nth, tho I preferred Nagata Suzuki

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:06

Taffy Torpedo: Feb 2, 2008; ...Can we have the radio?

Rarity posted:

HM: SANADA vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

Comedy, technique, nearfalls, this match had a bit of everything

Benne posted:

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO, New Japan Cup 6/22

Best match of the Cup so far

yea

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:08

Rarity: Oct 21, 2010; ~*4 LIFE*~

MOTYC: SHO vs. Shingo Takagi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

What a loving finish

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:08

Cavauro: Jan 9, 2008

Benne posted:

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO, New Japan Cup 6/22

Best match of the Cup so far

plusone

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:31

Benne: Sep 2, 2011; STOP DOING HEROIN

HM: Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr., New Japan Cup 6/22

Didn't quite hit the peaks of a MOTYC but real loving good action

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:37

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

Benne posted:

HM: Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr., New Japan Cup 6/22

Didn't quite hit the peaks of a MOTYC but real loving good action

Yeah, really solid even if it seemed like both guys were going a little easier than normal.

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:38

Rarity: Oct 21, 2010; ~*4 LIFE*~

HM: Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

Was expecting to go MOTYC but then the ending just came outta nowhere so HM it is

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:38

Cerebral Bore: Apr 21, 2010; Fun Shoe

HM: Kota Ibushi vs Zack Sabre Jr. New Japan Cup 22.06.

Great grapplefucking meets great striking and it was good.

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:38

Taffy Torpedo: Feb 2, 2008; ...Can we have the radio?

Benne posted:

HM: Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr., New Japan Cup 6/22

Didn't quite hit the peaks of a MOTYC but real loving good action

nth fun as heck match

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:39

forkboy84: Jun 13, 2012; Corgis love bread. And Puro

MOTYC
22nd June
New Japan
New Japan Cup Round 1
Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:40

Amp: Sep 10, 2010

Rarity posted:

HM: SANADA vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

Comedy, technique, nearfalls, this match had a bit of everything

Benne posted:

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO, New Japan Cup 6/22

Best match of the Cup so far

Benne posted:

HM: Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr., New Japan Cup 6/22

Didn't quite hit the peaks of a MOTYC but real loving good action

Nth

New Japan, it's good!

# ? Jun 22, 2020 12:41

Aesculus: Mar 22, 2013

MOTYC: Taichi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, New japan Cup 22/06

What the gently caress

# ? Jun 22, 2020 13:06

forkboy84: Jun 13, 2012; Corgis love bread. And Puro

Aesculus posted:

MOTYC: Taichi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, New japan Cup 22/06

What the gently caress

Finishing stretch especially ruled

# ? Jun 22, 2020 13:11

SG Bamboo: Aug 21, 2013; Smile. Win. Yay!

Aesculus posted:

MOTYC: Taichi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, New japan Cup 22/06

What the gently caress

Taichi rules, Nth

# ? Jun 22, 2020 13:12

Rarity: Oct 21, 2010; ~*4 LIFE*~

Aesculus posted:

MOTYC: Taichi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, New japan Cup 22/06

What the gently caress

Yes, although this is partly for the post match angle

# ? Jun 22, 2020 13:13

Cerebral Bore: Apr 21, 2010; Fun Shoe

HM: Taichi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi New Japan Cup 22.06

A bit too sloppy for me to go MOTYC, but it does deserve a HM.

# ? Jun 22, 2020 13:15

GEORGE W BUSHI: Jul 1, 2012

I love Taichi and he put in an incredible performance but I can't in good conscience give that an MOTYC nod given how little Tanahashi contributed

MOTYC to Shingo/SHO

# ? Jun 22, 2020 13:16

Taffy Torpedo: Feb 2, 2008; ...Can we have the radio?

EDIT: Actually, thinking about it again it wasn't quite an HM for me.

Taffy Torpedo fucked around with this message at 14:20 on Jun 22, 2020

# ? Jun 22, 2020 13:17

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

Match was just a little off HM status for me, finish notwithstanding. Kinda shocked that I thought it was the weakest singles match on the card.

forkboy84 posted:

Finishing stretch especially ruled

Sorry to be pedantic, forkboy, I assume this is a second?

# ? Jun 22, 2020 13:18

forkboy84: Jun 13, 2012; Corgis love bread. And Puro

Jerusalem posted:

Match was just a little off HM status for me, finish notwithstanding. Kinda shocked that I thought it was the weakest singles match on the card.

Sorry to be pedantic, forkboy, I assume this is a second?

Aye, sorry, I hate phone posting because since getting a new phone the buttons aren't in quite the same place and I'm still really bad at typing on it 6 months later, but that was indeed a nth

# ? Jun 22, 2020 14:05

Akileese: Feb 6, 2005

Rarity posted:

HM: SANADA vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

Comedy, technique, nearfalls, this match had a bit of everything

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: SHO vs. Shingo Takagi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

What a loving finish

Cerebral Bore posted:

HM: Taichi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi New Japan Cup 22.06

A bit too sloppy for me to go MOTYC, but it does deserve a HM.

Cerebral Bore posted:

HM: Kota Ibushi vs Zack Sabre Jr. New Japan Cup 22.06.

Great grapplefucking meets great striking and it was good.

nth

# ? Jun 22, 2020 17:48

Punch McLightning: Sep 19, 2005; you know what that means; Grimey Drawer

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: SHO vs. Shingo Takagi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

What a loving finish

I'll HM this match.

# ? Jun 22, 2020 20:20

Burn Down Canberra: Oct 27, 2005; GAME PLANS? We don't need no stinking game plans.

All from the new Japan cup 23/6

Motyc: SHO vs. Shingo
HM: ZSJ v Kota Ibushi
HM: Tanahashi v Taichi

Liked sanada v taguchi too but just fell short of an hm for me personally. Great show

# ? Jun 22, 2020 21:54

forkboy84: Jun 13, 2012; Corgis love bread. And Puro

HM
23rd May
Dramatic Dream Team
DDT TV #4
DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title
Danshoku Dieno vs Antonio Honda

The first "cinematic" match I've loved, it's Dieno vs Honda nonsense, they do their usual bits, Honda does his Gon story and turns a bunch of people at ringside and the ref into his Gongitsune. And then it gets weird. A good spin on a well worn combo

# ? Jun 22, 2020 23:07

blast0rama: Aug 13, 2003; Tingly.

Benne posted:

MOTYC: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO, New Japan Cup 6/22

Best match of the Cup so far

Yes.

This absolutely ruled. I can only imagine how much a crowd would've added, but this is currently my MOTY.

(For whatever it's worth, my other favs in the running were Okada/Ibushi, Stadium Stampede, and Bucks vs. Omega/Page.)

# ? Jun 23, 2020 00:43

Jerusalem: May 20, 2004; Would you be my new best friends?

Stanfield posted:

EDIT: Actually, thinking about it again it wasn't quite an HM for me.

Hey what was this? Because I already have your name down for a bunch of stuff including two that made the list thanks to your second.

# ? Jun 23, 2020 01:32

Thanlis: Mar 17, 2011

forkboy84 posted:

MOTYC 22nd June, Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr

Nth -- this makes MOTYC for me because of the sequence where Zack kicks Ibushi lovingly just to piss him off, until Ibushi gets pissed off, kicks back, and Zack grabs his leg. Awesome bait tactics. Eventually Ibushi figures out that he's got to kick Zack by surprise.

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: SHO vs. Shingo Takagi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

What a loving finish

Cerebral Bore posted:

HM: Taichi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi New Japan Cup 22.06

Also nth for both of these.

# ? Jun 23, 2020 02:43

NienNunb: Feb 15, 2012

forkboy84 posted:

MOTYC
22nd June
New Japan
New Japan Cup Round 1
Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr

Rarity posted:

MOTYC: SHO vs. Shingo Takagi, NJPW New Japan Cup, 22/06

What a loving finish

Nth

# ? Jun 23, 2020 04:56

Chris James 2: Aug 9, 2012

Aesculus posted:

MOTYC: Taichi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, New japan Cup 22/06

What the gently caress

nth

# ? Jun 23, 2020 04:59

Taffy Torpedo: Feb 2, 2008; ...Can we have the radio?

Jerusalem posted:

Hey what was this? Because I already have your name down for a bunch of stuff including two that made the list thanks to your second.

Tana/Taichi

# ? Jun 23, 2020 05:08

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# ? Apr 24, 2024 09:28

SatoshiMiwa: May 6, 2007

MOTYC: Sho vs Shingo, Ibushi vs ZSJ

Thought both were great though Sho/Shingo is now my favorite of the no crowd matches I've seen. Sho wrestled like a heavy and he's gonna be IWGP champ some day

HM: Taichi vs Tanahashi - Finishing stretch got it up to HM for me

# ? Jun 23, 2020 05:12

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > The Hammer House: Stinger Splash Zone > 2020's Best and Worst Pro-Wrestling Matches of the Year (plus Recommended)

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