My 241 Favorite Matches

[Loss]

So I was looking over the My 883 Favorite Matches thread, and while there are a lot of those matches I still love, some of them make me look back and wonder what I was thinking at the time I ranked them. I don't want to keep editing that thread, because I think it will still be interesting to look back at at some point, but I do feel the need to start over.

 

Consider this thread the place for starting over. As matches are watched, I'll link to a review, and also keep an ongoing list just like before.

[Loss]

1969

#1 - The Destroyer vs Giant Baba (JWA 03/05/69) ****1/2

#2 - Antonio Inoki vs Chris Markoff (JWA 05/16/69) ****1/4

 

1975

#1 - The Destroyer vs Hiro Matsuda (AJPW 12/15/75) ****1/4

#2 - Jerry Lawler vs Jack Brisco (Mid South Coliseum 09/16/75) ***1/2

 

1977

#1 - Harley Race vs Jerry Lawler (Mid South Coliseum 12/10/77) *****

#2 - Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee (Mid South Coliseum 08/29/77, Hair vs Hair) ****1/4

 

1978

#1 - Harley Race vs Jumbo Tsuruta (AJPW TV 01/20/78) ****

#2 - Bob Backlund vs Ivan Koloff (WWWF Madison Square Garden 08/28/78) ***1/2

 

1979

#1 - Roddy Piper & Ron Bass & Red Bastien vs Buddy Rose & Luke Williams & Butch Miller (PNW 10/27/79) ***3/4

#2 - Roddy Piper vs Buddy Rose (PNW 05/12/79) ***1/2

#3 - Roddy Piper & Buddy Rose & Killer Brooks & Ed Wiskowski vs Adrian Adonis & Ron Starr & George Wells & Hector Guerrero (PNW 04/07/79, Elimination Match) ***1/2

#4 - Antonio Inoki vs Dusty Rhodes (NJPW 11/08/79) ***1/4

#5 - Roddy Piper vs Buddy Rose (PNW 05/19/79, Lumberjack Match) ***1/4

#6 - Antonio Inoki vs Dusty Rhodes (NJPW 11/01/79) ***

 

1980

#1 - Ricky Morton vs Sonny King (Memphis Wrestling TV 04/26/80) ***1/2

#2 - Ricky Steamboat & Dick Slater vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Giant Baba (AJPW Real World Tag League 12/05/80) ***1/2

 

1981

#1 - Ric Flair vs Jumbo Tsuruta (AJPW 10/09/81) ****1/4

 

1982

#1 - Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich (WCCW Star Wars 08/15/82) ****1/4

#2 - Harley Race vs Ricky Steamboat (AJPW 12/07/82) ***3/4

#3 - Ricky Steamboat & Atsushi Onita vs Jim Brunzell & Greg Gagne (AJPW 06/08/82) ***1/2

#4 - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (AJPW 06/04/82) ***1/4

 

1983

#1 - MS-1 vs Sangre Chicana (EMLL 09/23/83, Hair vs Hair) *****

#2 - Ric Flair vs Jumbo Tsuruta (AJPW 06/08/83) ****1/2

#3 - Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart vs Magnum TA & Mr. Wrestling II (Mid South Wrestling 12/25/83, Cage Match) ****1/2

#4 - Michael Hayes & Kamala & The Mongol vs David Von Erich & Chris Adams & Iceman Parsons (WCCW Fort Worth 10/10/83) ***1/2

#5 - Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin vs Kerry Von Erich & Chris Adams (WCCW Fort Worth 10/31/83) ***1/4

 

1984

#1 - Jumbo Tsuruta vs Kerry Von Erich (AJPW 05/22/84) ****3/4

#2 - Ricky Steamboat vs Tully Blanchard (NWA Starrcade 11/22/84) ****1/2

#3 - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (Night of Champions 05/29/84) ****1/2

#4 - Ricky Steamboat vs Genichiro Tenryu (AJPW 02/23/84) ****1/4

#5 - Tito Santana vs Greg Valentine (WWF Madison Square Garden 11/26/84) ****

#6 - Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey & Ernie Ladd vs Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson & Hacksaw Duggan (Houston Wrestling 06/08/84) ****

#7 - Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey & Ernie Ladd vs Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson & Hacksaw Duggan (Mid South Wrestling 07/02/84) ****

 

1985

#1 - Chigusa Nagayo vs Devil Masami (AJW 08/22/85) ****3/4

#2 - Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich (Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling 10/12/85) ****3/4

#3 - Dick Murdoch vs Butch Reed (Mid South Wrestling 09/22/85) ****3/4

#4 - Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee (Mid South Coliseum 12/30/85, Loser Leaves Town) ****1/2

#5 - Ric Flair vs Terry Taylor (Mid South Wrestling 06/01/85) ****1/2

#6 - Ric Flair vs Butch Reed (Mid South Wrestling 08/10/85) ****1/4

#7 - Ric Flair vs Terry Taylor (Mid South Wrestling 04/28/85) ****1/4

#8 - Ted DiBiase vs Brad Armstrong (Mid South Wrestling 02/16/85) ****1/4

#9 - Randy Savage vs Jerry Oski (Louisville Gardens 05/07/85) ****

#10 - Ric Flair vs Koko Ware (Mid South Coliseum 11/18/85) ****

#11 - Ted DiBiase vs Terry Taylor (Mid South Wrestling TV 07/03/85) ****

#12 - Rick Martel vs Jerry Lawler (Jarrett Promotions 10/12/85) ***3/4

#13 - Ric Flair vs Jake Roberts (Mid South Wrestling 11/24/85) ***3/4

#14 - Ricky Steamboat & Tito Santana vs Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake (WWF Mapleleaf Gardens 04/21/85) ***3/4

#15 - Randy Savage vs Jerry Lawler (Mid South Coliseum 06/03/85) ***1/2

#16 - Ric Flair vs Ted DiBiase (Mid South Wrestling TV 11/06/85) ***1/2

#17 - Barry Windham vs Dick Murdoch (WWF Philadelphia Spectrum 02/16/85) ***1/2

 

1986

#1 - Akira Maeda vs Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW 06/12/86) ****1/4

#2 - Curt Hennig vs Nick Bockwinkel (AWA New Years Eve Special on ESPN 12/31/86) ****1/4

#3 - Steve Williams vs Buzz Sawyer (Mid South Wrestling 01/28/86) ****1/4

#4 - Jerry Lawler vs Bam Bam Bigelow (Mid South Coliseum 09/07/86, Texas Death Match) ****

#5 - Steve Williams vs Terry Gordy (UWF TV 09/15/86) ****

#6 - Ric Flair vs Ricky Morton (NWA Pro Wrestling 05/10/86) ****

#7 - Ricky Steamboat vs Jake Roberts (WWF Boston Gardens 08/09/86) ***1/2

#8 - Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat (WWF Mapleleaf Gardens 07/27/86) ***1/4

 

1987

#1 - El Hjio del Santo vs Negro Casas (WWA 07/18/87 Los Angeles, CA Hair vs Hair) *****

#2 - Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat (WWF Wrestlemania III 03/29/87) ****1/4

#3 - Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat (WWF Mapleleaf Gardens 02/15/87) ****

#4 - One Man Gang vs Big Bubba Rogers (UWF Power Pro 04/19/87) ****

#5 - Barry Windham vs Dick Murdoch (UWF Power Pro 07/11/87) ***3/4

 

1988

#1 - Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane vs Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton (NWA Clash of the Champions I 03/27/88) ****1/4

#2 - Barry Windham vs Tully Blanchard (NWA World Championship Wrestling 01/23/88) ****

#3 - Big Van Vader vs Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW 06/26/88) ***3/4

#4 - Lex Luger & Barry Windham vs Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (NWA Clash of the Champions I 03/27/88) ***3/4

#5 - Big Van Vader vs Tatsumi Fujinami (NJPW 04/27/88) ***3/4

#6 - Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton vs Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (Houston Wrestling 06/10/88, 2/3 falls) ***1/2

#7 - Jerry Lawler vs Dutch Mantell (CWA 05/29/88) ***1/2

#8 - Barry Windham vs Sting (NWA Clash of the Champions III 09/07/88) ***1/4

#9 - Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden & Tommy Rich vs Bill Dundee & Jeff Jarrett & Jimmy Valiant (CWA 09/17/88) ***1/4

 

1989

#1 - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (NWA Clash of the Champions VI 04/02/89) *****

#2 - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (NWA Chi-Town Rumble 02/20/89) ****3/4

#3 - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (NWA Capital Centre 03/18/89) ****3/4

#4 - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (NWA Wrestle War 05/07/89) ****1/2

#5 - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (NWA Philadelphia Civic Center 03/18/89) ****1/2

#6 - Lex Luger vs Ricky Steamboat (NWA Great American Bash 07/23/89) ****

#7 - Ric Flair & Barry Windham vs Ricky Steamboat & Eddie Gilbert (NWA World Championship Wrestling 01/21/89) ****

#8 - Sting vs Mike Rotunda (NWA World Championship Wrestling 03/31/89) ***3/4

#9 - Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner vs Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin (NWA World Championship Wrestling 11/18/89) ***1/2

#10 - Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane vs Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose (NWA Main Event 01/22/89) ***1/2

#11 - Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty vs Jacques Rougeau & Raymond Rougeau (WWF London 10/10/89) ***1/2

#12 - Arn Anderson vs Mike Rotunda (NWA Power Hour 12/22/89) ***

 

1990

#1 - Jushin Liger vs Naoki Sano (NJPW 01/31/90) ****1/2

#2 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue (AJPW Real World Tag League 12/07/90) ****

#3 - Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton vs Joe Malenko & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (AJPW 09/01/90) ***3/4

#4 - Ric Flair vs Brian Pillman (NWA World Championship Wrestling 02/17/90) ***3/4

#5 - Jerry Lawler vs Steve Keirn (IWA Florida 1990) ***1/4

 

1991

#1 - Ric Flair & Barry Windham & Larry Zbyszko & Sid Vicious vs Sting & Brian Pillman & Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner (WCW Wrestle War 02/24/91) ****3/4

#2 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (AJPW 04/20/91) ****1/2

#3 - Toshiaki Kawada vs Akira Taue (AJPW 01/15/91) ****1/4

#4 - Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty vs Pat Tanaka & Kato (WWF Royal Rumble 01/19/91) ****1/4

#5 - Randy Savage vs Ultimate Warrior (WWF Wrestlemania VII 03/24/91) ****1/4

#6 - Ric Flair vs Brian Pillman (WCW Saturday Night 04/06/91) ****

#7 - Barry Windham vs Brian Pillman (WCW Pro 04/06/91) ****

#8 - Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes vs Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko (WCW Clash of the Champions XVII 11/17/91) ***3/4

#9 - Steve Austin vs Dustin Rhodes (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/26/91) ***1/2

#10 - Sting vs Cactus Jack (WCW Power Hour 11/23/91, Submit or Surrender) ***1/2

#11 - Sting vs Rick Rude (WCW Clash of the Champions XVII 11/17/91) ***

 

1992

#1 - Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs Mayumi Ozaki & Dynamite Kansai (AJW Dream Rush 11/26/92, 2/3 falls) *****

#2 - Jushin Liger vs El Samurai (NJPW Top of the Super Juniors Tournament Final 04/30/92) ****3/4

#3 - Rick Rude & Steve Austin & Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton & Larry Zbyszko vs Sting & Ricky Steamboat & Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes & Nikita Koloff (WCW Wrestle War 05/17/92) ****1/2

#4 - Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat (AJPW 05/25/92) ****1/2

#5 - Rick Rude vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW Beach Blast 06/20/92, 30-minute Ironman Challenge Match) ****1/2

#6 - Big Van Vader vs Sting (WCW Great American Bash 07/12/92) ****1/2

#7 - Rick Rude vs Masa Chono (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/12/92) ****1/2

#8 - Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner vs Steve Williams & Terry Gordy (WCW Clash of the Champions XIX 06/16/92) ****1/2

#9 - Steve Austin & Larry Zbyszko vs Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes (WCW SuperBrawl II 02/29/92) ****1/4

#10 - Bret Hart vs Davey Boy Smith (WWF Summerslam 08/29/92) ****1/4

#11 - Rey Misterio Jr. & Misterioso & Volador vs Rocco Valente & Tony Arce & Vulcano (AAA 10/02/92) ****1/4

#12 - Fuerza Guerrera vs Octagon (CMLL TV 02/02/92) ****1/4

#13 - Arn Anderson vs Dustin Rhodes (WCW Saturday Night 01/04/92) ****

#14 - Rick Rude & Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton & Larry Zbyszko vs Sting & Ricky Steamboat & Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes (WCW Saturday Night 02/22/92) ****

#15 - Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton & Larry Zbyszko vs Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes & Nikita Koloff (WCW Saturday Night 05/23/92, 2/3 falls) ****

#16 - Jushin Liger & Koji Kanemoto vs Ultimo Dragon & Masao Orihara (WAR 12/11/92) ****

#17 - Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs Steve Austin & Steve Williams (WCW Halloween Havoc 10/25/92) ****

#18 - Brian Pillman vs Jushin Liger (WCW SuperBrawl II 02/29/92) ***3/4

#19 - Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff vs Brian Pillman & Jushin Liger (WCW Great American Bash 07/12/92) ***3/4

#20 - Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue vs Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (AJPW 01/26/92) ***1/2

#21 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Masa Fuchi & Rusher Kimura & Yoshinari Ogawa (AJPW Fan Appreciation Night 04/18/92) ****

 

1993

#1 - Akira Hokuto vs Shinobu Kandori (AJW Dreamslam I 04/02/93) *****

#2 - Rey Misterio Jr. & Super Calo & Winners vs Heavy Metal & Picudo & Psicosis (AAA 01/29/93) *****

#3 - Rey Misterio Jr. & Eddy Guerrero & Lizmark vs Heavy Metal & La Parka & Psicosis (AAA 02/21/93) ****1/2

#4 - Steve Austin & Brian Pillman vs Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas (WCW Clash of the Champions XXII 01/13/93) ***3/4

#5 - Vader & Barry Windham vs Sting & Dustin Rhodes (WCW Saturday Night 01/30/93) ***3/4

#6 - Barry Windham vs Steven Regal (WCW Power Hour 04/24/93) ***1/2

#7 - Vader vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW Worldwide 05/29/93) ***1/2

 

1994

#1 - Espectrito vs Mascarita Sagrada (AAA 03/12/94) ****1/2

#2 - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW Saturday Night 05/14/94) ****1/4

#3 - Bret Hart vs 1-2-3 Kid (WWF Monday Night RAW 07/11/94) ****

#4 - Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW Spring Stampede 04/17/94) ****

#5 - Shawn Michaels & Diesel vs Razor Ramon & 1-2-3 Kid (WWF Action Zone 10/30/94) ****

#6 - Steve Austin vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW Bash at the Beach 07/17/94) ****

#7 - Vader vs Sting (WCW Fall Brawl 09/18/94) ****

#8 - Steve Austin vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW Saturday Night 03/12/94) ***3/4

#9 - Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon (WWF Monday Night RAW 08/01/94) ***1/2

#10 - Ric Flair vs Hulk Hogan (WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII 08/24/94) ***1/4

 

1995

#1 - Rey Misterio Jr. & El Hijo del Santo & La Parka & Octagon vs Psicosis & Blue Panther & Fuerza Guerrera & Pentagon (AAA 06/18/95) ****3/4

#2 - Rey Misterio Jr. & El Hijo del Santo & La Parka & Octagon vs Psicosis & Jerry Estrada & Fuerza Guerrera & Pentagon (AAA 07/08/95) ****1/4

#3 - Eddy Guerrero vs Dean Malenko (ECW Hostile City Showdown 04/15/95) ****

#4 - Rey Misterio Jr. & El Hijo del Santo & Octagon vs Psicosis & Heavy Metal & Pentagon (AAA 07/16/95) ****

#5 - Rey Misterio Jr. & Octagon & La Parka & Latino Lover vs Fuerza Guerrera & Psicosis & Pentagon & Blue Panther (AAA 07/28/95) ***3/4

#6 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Juventud Guerrera (AAA 06/16/95) ***3/4

#7 - Jeff Jarrett vs Razor Ramon (WWF Royal Rumble 01/22/95) ***1/4

 

1996

#1 - Taka Michinoku & Shoichi Funaki & Dick Togo & Mens Teoh & Shiryu vs Gran Hamada & Super Delphin & Tiger Mask IV & Gran Naniwa & Masato Yakushiji (Michinoku Pro 10/10/96) ****1/2

#2 - Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (WWF Survivor Series 11/17/96) ****1/4

#3 - Jushin Liger vs Dick Togo (NJPW Skydiving J 06/17/96) ****1/4

#4 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Dean Malenko (WCW Monday Nitro 07/08/96) ***3/4

#5 - Eddy Guerrero vs Chris Benoit (WCW Monday Nitro 11/18/96) ***1/2

#6 - Ric Flair vs Eddy Guerrero (WCW Monday Nitro 05/20/96) ***1/2

#7 - Steven Regal vs Dean Malenko (WCW Monday Nitro 08/19/96) ***1/4

#8 - Chris Benoit vs Hector Guerrero (WCW Monday Nitro 11/11/96) ***

 

1997

#1 - Bret Hart vs Undertaker (WWF One Night Only 09/20/97) ****1/4

#2 - Owen Hart vs Davey Boy Smith (WWF Monday Night RAW 03/03/97) ****

#3 - JC Ice & Wolfie D vs Spike Dudley & Mikey Whipwreck (ECW TV 07/12/97) ****

#4 - Rey Misterio Jr. & Juventud Guerrera vs Psicosis & La Parka (WCW Monday Nitro 12/15/97) ***3/4

#5 - Eddy Guerrero vs Dean Malenko (WCW Saturday Night 02/08/97) ***

 

1998

#1 - Steve Austin vs Dude Love (WWF Over The Edge 05/31/98) ****1/4

#2 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Juventud Guerrera (WCW Thunder 01/15/98) ***3/4

#3 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Juventud Guerrera (WCW Thunder 11/12/98) ***3/4

#4 - Mariko Yoshida vs Candy Okutsu (ARSION 12/18/98) ***1/2

#5 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Chris Jericho (WCW Monday Nitro 08/03/98) ***1/2

 

2000

#1 - HHH vs Chris Jericho (WWF Fully Loaded 07/23/00, Last Man Standing Match) ****

#2 - Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho (WWF Backlash 04/30/00) ***3/4

#3 - Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho (WWF Judgment Day 05/21/00, Submission Match) ***3/4

#4 - HHH & Chris Benoit vs The Rock & Chris Jericho (WWF Monday Night RAW 04/24/00) ***1/2

#5 - Yoshihiro Taijiri vs Psicosis (ECW 08/19/00) ***1/4

#6 - HHH vs Chris Jericho (WWF Monday Night RAW 06/14/00) ***1/4

 

2001

#1 - The Rock vs Chris Jericho (WWF No Mercy 10/21/01) ****

#2 - Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho (WWF Royal Rumble 01/21/01, Ladder Match) ****

#3 - Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho vs Edge & Christian vs Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy vs Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley (WWF SmackDown! 05/24/01) ****

#4 - Steve Austin & HHH vs Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho (WWF Monday Night RAW 05/21/01) ***1/2

#5 - The Rock vs Chris Jericho (WWF Vengeance 12/09/01) ***1/2

#6 - Steve Austin & Kurt Angle vs The Rock & Chris Jericho (WWF SmackDown! 11/15/01) ***1/2

#7 - Steve Austin vs Chris Jericho (WWF SmackDown! 08/19/01) ***1/2

#8 - Chris Jericho vs Eddy Guerrero vs Chris Benoit vs X-Pac (WWF No Way Out 02/25/01 ***1/2

#9 - The Rock vs Chris Jericho (WWF Monday Night RAW 11/05/01) ***1/2

#10 - Booker T vs Chris Jericho (WWF Monday Night RAW 07/16/01) ***1/4

#11 - Rob Van Dam vs Chris Jericho (WWF Unforgiven 09/23/01) ***1/4

#12 - Rey Misterio Jr. & Billy Kidman & Shane Helms vs Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo (WCW Thunder 03/21/01) ***1/4

#13 - The Rock & Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit & Big Show (WWF Monday Night RAW 01/22/01) ***

 

2002

#1 - The Rock vs Chris Jericho (WWF Royal Rumble 01/20/02) ****

#2 - Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar (WWE No Mercy 10/20/02, Hell in a Cell) ***3/4

#3 - HHH vs Chris Jericho (WWE Judgment Day 05/19/02, Hell in a Cell) ***3/4

#4 - Bryan Danielson vs AJ Styles (ROH All Star Extravaganza 11/09/02) ***3/4

#5 - Chris Jericho vs Kane (WWE Monday Night RAW 09/30/02) ***1/2

#6 - Eddy Guerrero & Chris Benoit vs The Rock & Edge (WWE SmackDown! 08/01/02) ***1/2

#7 - Chris Jericho & Christian vs Booker T & Goldust (WWE Monday Night RAW 12/23/02) ***1/4

#8 - Chris Jericho & Christian vs Booker T & Goldust (WWE No Mercy 10/20/02) ***

 

2003

#1 - Jushin Liger & Koji Kanemoto vs Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (NOAH Kobe World Hall 01/26/03) ****1/2

#2 - KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs Makoto Hashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (NOAH Budokan Hall 09/12/03) ****1/4

#3 - Chris Benoit vs Kurt Angle (WWE Royal Rumble 01/19/03) ****1/4

#4 - Homicide vs Steve Corino (ROH Bitter Friends Stiffer Enemies 08/16/03) ****

#5 - Akira Taue vs Yuji Nagata (NOAH Budokan Hall 06/06/03) ***1/2

#6 - Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels (WWE Wrestlemania XIX 03/30/03) ***1/2

#7 - Chris Jericho vs Bill Goldberg (WWE Bad Blood 06/15/03) ***1/4

 

2004

#1 - Jushin Liger vs Makoto Hashi (NOAH Budokan Hall 03/06/04) ****1/2

#2 - Eddy Guerrero vs John Bradshaw Layfield (WWE Judgment Day 05/16/04) ****1/4

#3 - Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa vs KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH Budokan Hall 04/25/04) ****

#4 - Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho & Edge vs Randy Orton & Ric Flair & Batista (WWE Monday Night RAW 06/14/04, Elimination Match) ****

#5 - Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr. (WWE SmackDown! 03/16/04) ****

#6 - Chris Jericho vs Christian (WWE Unforgiven 09/12/04, Ladder Match) ****

#7 - Chris Jericho vs Edge (WWE Monday Night RAW 08/09/04) ****

#8 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Jamie Noble (WWE Velocity 04/27/04) ****

#9 - Shawn Michaels vs Chris Benoit (WWE Monday Night RAW 05/03/04) ***3/4

#10 - Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho & Edge vs Randy Orton & Ric Flair & Batista (WWE Monday Night RAW 08/02/04) ***3/4

#11 - Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho vs HHH & Batista (WWE Monday Night RAW 12/06/04) ***1/2

#12 - Rey Misterio Jr. vs Chavo Guerrero Jr. (WWE No Way Out 02/16/04) ***1/4

#13 - Chris Jericho vs Christian (WWE Monday Night RAW 05/10/04, Cage Match) ***

 

2005

#1 - Kenta Kobashi vs Minoru Suzuki (NOAH 01/08/05) ****1/2

#2 - Samoa Joe & Jay Lethal vs Homicide & Low Ki (ROH Punk: The Final Chapter 08/13/05) ****1/4

#3 - Edge vs Matt Hardy (WWE Unforgiven 09/18/05, Cage Match) ****1/4

#4 - Mistico vs Averno (CMLL 01/30/05) ****1/4

#5 - Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr. (WWE Summerslam 08/21/05, Ladder Match) ****1/4

#6 - Samoa Joe vs Necro Butcher (IWA Mid South 06/11/05) ****1/4

#7 - KENTA vs SUWA (NOAH 09/18/05) ****

#8 - CM Punk vs Roderick Strong (ROH Escape From New York 07/09/05) ****

#9 - John Cena vs Chris Jericho (WWE Monday Night RAW 08/22/05) ****

#10 - Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho (WWE Monday Night RAW 02/07/05) ***1/2

 

2006

#1 - Mistico & Negro Casas vs Mephisto & Averno (CMLL TV 04/15/06) ****3/4

#2 - Samoa Joe & BJ Whitmer & Adam Pearce vs Necro Butcher & Chris Hero & Super Dragon (ROH 100th Show 04/22/06) ****3/4

#3 - Samoa Joe vs Bryan Danielson (ROH Fight of the Century 08/05/06) ****1/2

#4 - KENTA vs Matt Sydal (ROH The Bitter End 11/04/06) ***1/2

#5 - Kurt Angle vs The Undertaker (WWE No Way Out 02/19/06) ***1/2

 

2008

#1 - Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuinness (ROH 6th Anniversary Show 02/23/08) ****3/4

#2 - Yuki Ishikawa vs Carl Greco (BattlARTS 06/01/08) ****1/2

#3 - Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho (WWE No Mercy 10/05/08, Ladder Match) ****1/2

#4 - Bryan Danielson vs Low Ki (PWG All Star Weekend 6 01/02/08) ****1/2

#5 - Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho (WWE Judgment Day 05/18/08) ****1/4

#6 - Kurt Angle vs Samoa Joe (TNA Lockdown 04/13/08, Cage Match) ****

#7 - Randy Orton vs John Cena (WWE No Way Out 02/17/08) ****

#8 - KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (NOAH 05/24/08) ****

#9 - Shawn Michaels vs Batista (WWE One Night Stand 06/01/08, Stretcher Match) ***3/4

#10 - Chris Jericho vs Batista (WWE Monday Night RAW 05/19/08) ***1/2

 

2009

#1 - Edge vs John Morrison (WWE Friday Night SmackDown! 06/19/09) ****

#2 - C.M. Punk vs John Morrison (WWE Friday Night SmackDown! 06/26/09) ****

#3 - Edge vs Rey Misterio Jr. (WWE Friday Night SmackDown! 06/05/09) ***3/4

#4 - Chris Jericho vs Rey Misterio Jr. (WWE Friday Night SmackDown! 07/10/09) ***3/4

#5 - Evan Bourne & Carlito Colon & Primo Colon vs John Morrison & The Miz & Tyson Kidd (ECW on Syfy 04/07/09) ***1/2

#6 - C.M. Punk & John Morrison vs Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (WWE Friday Night SmackDown! 05/15/09) ***1/4

[Loss]

I went through my other list and took off everything unless I was pretty sure re-watching the match wouldn't change my opinion on it. So this is what is left.

 

There were so many that I either know I overrated, know I underrated, or can't really remember. There were some that I remember well, but since I'm ranking by year, I'm not sure I still agree with the order, so I took them off.

 

It'll be fun to watch some of this again, along with stuff I never got around to seeing.

 

And I know people are sort of down on star ratings at the moment, but I do still think they're really good shorthand for how much you like a match.

[KB8]

The last two threads of yours were my favourite on the board, and I used them as frequent go-to lists of stuff I should check out, so a new one should be just as interesting.

 

I actually find your star ratings (which I also like using as a good shorthand as you put it as I have something like this ongoing myself) for 2008 most interesting. I'm not sure why it caught my eye as much as it did, but the ****1/2 rating for the Shawn/Jericho ladder match really surprised me. It's a match that's loved in a lot of circles, but I tend to find it liked much less so around places like DVDVR, Smarkschoice, here, etc. Or at least liked less by the people that frequent those places, anyway. I personally loved it immensely, and it's one of my very favourite matches ever. Being a huge Michaels fan growing up and being so into their feud last year like I was, this was somewhat of a dream match for me. Not necessarily from a "smark" perspective, but more because I was wondering if it could make me feel like a mark again, because not much of the recent stuff had been able to do that for me. I didn't watch it live, but I did go in spoiler free, and needless to say, I wasn't disappointed at all. Really, really loved it. I've only watched it the once, but I think it's the only match I've ever seen where I'll actively try and *not* watch it again so to preserve the whole rush and moment it provided when I first saw it. Sounds pretty silly, I guess, but those mark the fuck out moments where you're desperate for that balding dude that's still kicking it all heartthrob style to grab the shiny belt come few and far between nowadays, so part of me wants to try and preserve that for as long as I can. It's actually a match that I've never stuck any snowflakes to, but ****1/2 is generally where I land if anybody asks me.

 

 

Danielson/Nigel from the 6th Anny show is another that caught my eye, mostly because I've also got it as the number one match from 2008, and also sitting at ****3/4. I think the way they, especially Nigel, managed to take the "smart" crowd and completely play them like a fiddle is what stands out most to me. The whole "I'm doing this for my health" angle that initially turned people on him was interesting, but the way he managed to outsmart and completely shit all over the people that still defended him was tremendous. A freaking ROH crowd starting a USA chant was awesome as Hell. So many subtle pieces of greatness all the way through that match. I'd say it's my favourite of the Danielson/Nigel series, too.

 

 

There's some other stuff that I love there as well (Wargames '91 being your top match from that year, which is something I think myself), so I'll probably try and comment on some more stuff when you watch it and whatever.

[Marty]

I'm digging the Jericho additions, Loss.

 

In fact, this list is making me want to rewatch TLC 4 and the Jericho-Christian ladder match from '04. I don't recall being overly impressed by either (the former always felt like an even more crazy fustercluck than even other TLCs and the latter always struck me as solid, but nothing great). What did you like of both?

[Loss]

The TLC 4 match is pretty much just a collection of spots, and I agree it's not a great match, but it is a fun one. I do think that Kane having to fight six guys by himself coupled with the awesome Kane/Jericho match the previous week was a great way to build up a new challenger, which was killed immediately after this match was over with the debut of Katie Vick.

 

Jericho/Christian surprised me mainly because it was so well-paced. I thought of all the ladder matches I've seen, it probably had the best pre-ladder brought into the ring section. It didn't feel like a spotfest at all because the wrestling style didn't dramatically change when they brought the ladder into the match, whereas even with Shawn/Razor, I didn't think the early wrestling they were doing before going outside to get the ladder was all that good.

 

KB8: I really thought the Jericho/Michaels ladder match was strong, probably the best of the WWE ladder matches in terms of suspense and build. I do agree with those who have said Michaels has some major issues at times in the match, but Jericho was really on, and gave one of his better performances. I also think it was aided by the accidental blood in Jericho's mouth, because that feud was heated enough that the blowoff really felt like it needed blood, but WWE had a no blood policy. The finish of the headbutt to Shawn's eye was also brilliant.

[KB8]

Yeah, the finish was fantastic, I agree. Loved the big bump Jericho took from inside the ring on top of the ladder straight to the floor, too. And on mention of the hardway blood, I thought that worked pretty well in their Unforgiven match as well. Jericho seemed to have welts and cuts all over himself. In a sense, something like that seemed a lot more gritty than a blade job. What did you think of that match, by the way, since I don't see it on your list?

[Loss]

I haven't seen it.

[Dylan Waco]

I'm one of those people who hates that Ladder Match and thinks it is a terrible bout.

 

Having said that even I thought Jericho really busted his ass in that match and his performance really impressed me as he was essentially wrestling against a dangerously out of control and clueless performer in a setting that isn't exactly the sort of place you want to showcase carelessness in.

 

So yeah Jericho's performance in that match was very good. Michaels performance in that match is among the worst I've ever seen from an allegedly great wrestler in a big match.

[Loss]

Wow. I still like the Jericho/Rock matches, and I say this still needing to rewatch No Mercy, but I think I overrated them a tad in hindsight. Don't get me wrong, they had a great standard match. But they repeated spots and entire sequences in rematches. It really feels like a high end Johnny B. Badd/Diamond Dallas Page feud with Jericho doing the People's elbow and all the attempted big moves on the announce table replacing Badd impressing Kimberly enough to get her to hold up the 10 sign at ringside. I liked the Badd/DDP feud, but it's not a classic. Jericho/Rock has lost a little something for me on rewatch, although I suspect No Mercy will still hold up really well, and be the best of their series.

 

Also, side note cracking up that Stephanie made sure she always wore her highest heels when standing next to Jericho to emphasize that she is taller than him, which I can't see Vince letting any other valets get away with.

[Guest MarkGotch]

No love for Hitman vs. Mr Perfect from Summerslam '91? Early Intercontinental Title stuff is awesome too. Also suprised to see 2008 ROH, but no (far superior) 2008 Chikara. I dont see live matches that often but I was at "Northern Navigation" and I remember liking the Strong/Marufuji match better. I suppose I'll go watch them again since I really have nothing better to do right now.

[Marty]

No love for Hitman vs. Mr Perfect from Summerslam '91? Early Intercontinental Title stuff is awesome too. Also suprised to see 2008 ROH, but no (far superior) 2008 Chikara.

Pretty certain the stuff listed is stuff Loss has either seen fairly recently or stuff he saw some time ago but his opinion hasn't changed much.

[Loss]

No love for Hitman vs. Mr Perfect from Summerslam '91? Early Intercontinental Title stuff is awesome too. Also suprised to see 2008 ROH, but no (far superior) 2008 Chikara. I dont see live matches that often but I was at "Northern Navigation" and I remember liking the Strong/Marufuji match better. I suppose I'll go watch them again since I really have nothing better to do right now.

I have never seen a Chikara match.

[Loss]

Added Vader vs Tatsumi Fujinami from 04/27/88.

 

A match built around Fujinami trying to find ways to slay the monster and finally outsmarting him to get a countout win. Love his kicks to Vader's leg, and Vader using a simple move like a reverse chinlock looks like a game ender because he's so freakishly huge. This may have been Vader's first really excellent match.

[Loss]

Their next match on 06/26/88 was even better.

 

You can really track the improvement in Vader. He was good in the first match, but was really starting to come into his own in the second match. Whereas the first match was mostly Fujinami carrying Vader and making him look great, this was more a mutual effort with Vader starting to look like a ring general. Another excellent match.

[Loss]

Added Ricky Steamboat vs Bobby Eaton from 6/4/94 Worldwide.

 

Nice match with Eaton keeping Steamboat on the mat and working over his leg.

[Loss]

Wow, Austin vs Steamboat at Bash at the Beach '94 is really awesome, and I've never heard all that much praise for it. I guess I was never interested in seeing it because for whatever reason, Austin himself is not really a fan of the match. But it was awesome, with lots of great finisher teases and I loved the stuff with Austin intentionally trying to get himself DQ'd multiple times toward the end and it never quite working. Austin's chinlock on Steamboat between his ankles was also pretty awesome, so was Steamboat doing the stun gun.

[Loss]

What can I say, I really liked the Flair/Steamboat match from Spring Stampede '94. It's not at the level of their earlier matches, but it's still an excellent match. You can tell how wrestling had changed watching the match, though, in the sense that their matwork really didn't get much heat and it was only the big spots that drew a big reaction from the crowd.

 

I'm looking forward to watching the WCW SN match now, which I recall being better than Stampede.

 

I was all prepared to make the argument that Austin had surpassed Flair by 1994, but now I'm not so sure.

[Tim Evans]

You seen Wagner/Mesias from this year's Triplemania yet? It's one of my matches of the year so far and probably AAA's best since the 2007 Apaches/Air Force feud.

[Loss]

Haven't seen any 2009 lucha yet.

[ohtani's jacket]

Lizmark vs El Satanico (EMLL 12/02/83) ***1/2

Just watched this and it's not their 12/83 match. Satanico is already the champion heading into this match.

[Loss]

I just watched Steamboat/Youngblood vs Stevens/Snuka from 6/29/80 in Toronto.

 

What a weird match. It's one that I really wanted to like, and I've heard mixed things about it. I guess there are flashes of good stuff. Maybe? But it's like someone put ants down everyone's pants and then told them to go out and work a match, because you have all this unnecessary hyperactivity and weird physical awkwardness from guys that aren't really known for that. I did like in the early stages Stevens always trying to come in and save Snuka only for Youngblood or Steamboat to stop him from doing so. But for any good tag team staple like that, you get something silly like Stevens using a choke behind the referee's back for over 30 seconds, or hot tags that didn't even involve the babyface being in trouble, or an opening standoff that seems like it's never going to end. I also liked Snuka's outside in splash. But this match is really bizarre. It's not even really a spotfest, I'm not sure how to refer to it. it's just a mish-mash collection of wrestling -- good, bad, and in between, with no rhyme or reason behind it -- with Steamboat specifically wrestling like he's someone else. Maybe it's the moustache.

[Guest Hail Sabin]

Mariko Yoshida vs Candy Okutsu (ARSION 12/18/98) ***1/2

Is that from Arison Zion 98 or another show from Arison?

[Loss]

Carnival ARSION '98.

[Guest Hail Sabin]

I will need to find that match since their match at Zion was really good as was the whole tourney.