JKWebb

I love this moment. The first week with Hall is such an iconic moment, but with that slap from Sting - you knew the war was on. Such an awesome angle that obviously changed the business forever. From here through 1997 WCW is probably my time period as a wrestling fan.

I loved the beginning of this match and the pacing throughout with some really great near falls. I am super high on this match. If you love All Japan and haven't seen this one yet - seek it out.

“In WCW they throw hot coffee. Here in ECW we use the whole machine.” YES. Was New Jack the first person that let his song play continuously throughout a match (or, at least all the way through until ended)? I can’t think of others that did that, or at least did it often. I loved that as a teenager when I first got into ECW. It’s fitting for these types of brawls. Yeah, fun watch.

I thought of Elizabeth immediately. This was so dumb. Meanwhile, on the other show She’s having dinner with Flair “spending Macho’s money.” Anyways - more lame stuff from WWF in 1996. At least on Nitro we were getting Malenko vs. Liger.

Incredible. This starts off super hot with the dives and then the violence creates the drama that leads to the great mannerisms and expressions from Tenryu. Fujinami, as noted, gives a great underdog fiery performance as it goes on. The slap at the end is pretty classic. Great match.

Trading spots in a fun match. It started out great with high intensity. I agree, it lost momentum as it went on. I like this one better than the previous as well, but I prefer the Mikey/Sabu match that happened shortly prior to this one to either. I felt like it had more of a story within the match.

This match may not be for everyone, but I think for many that were kids during this era it solidified Shawn as the guy and came across as a legendary match and a great moment. The entrance and the ending will be used as highlights forever. I land around where Marty, Micro & Chad did on this one.

I despise this too. This stuff is so dumb... lame... whatever... I would think pretty embarrassing...

Yeah loved the garbage can punch and the hand psychology too... this match is a ton of fun! The post-match is brutal and puts it over the top as a great moment in ECW. I still think my favorite Cactus match (in ECW) is his farewell vs. Mikey in 1996, but this has to be up there as my likely #2. Definitely worth checking out for anyone who hasn’t seen it. Great match, and I haven’t really heard this one talked about much. Thanks for the recommendation Sleeze! http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2020/05/pro-wrestling-lov-vol-59-best-of.html

This match rules! I’m surprised I haven’t heard this talked about more. Outta nowhere on Nitro you get the Steiners and the Road Warriors and they go hard. They’re throwing bombs and hitting big moves. Love it.

I loved this too, it hits great for me. It’s my favorite of the Juvi/Rey matches to date. I loved the finish with Rey pulling out the table (so, I thought the table would be involved before the finish), but Rey gets him off the top rope instead... then puts him through the table! Super fun match - what a time in ECW!

I’m with Tim - I thought this was great! It might be my favorite ECW Cactus match overall... The ending was super entertaining as well!

I loved this. I loved the trading jabs and chops towards the end of the match, and the finish didn't bother me. Arn's DDT ruled.

I'm with Zenjo. This was lame, and wow has WWE tried to change the narrative over the years through their documentaries. Not surprising at all, but just lame.

Dusty Rhodes once took down a bear with a palm strike! This debut of Finlay is fantastic. This is an example why WCW is and was the best. At this point in time, they are bringing in so many of the best wrestlers from around the world. It truly feels likes a "world" promotion with sports feel which was so different from what WWF was doing at the time.

Coming into 1996, and I'm super high on the quality of Nitro and all things WCW. I noted this about December of 1995, but I really loved the 12-18-1995 match between The Giant & Randy Savage. Savage was my MVP of WCW in 1995, because I love the matches he had with Flair as well. I'm coming into to 1996 feeling the same way. I'm about half into the month of Jan. right now, and he has had two of my favorite matches so far. Also, to note -- Some of my favorite matches were not included in the YB. I have been enjoying the Nitros, so just watching those in full as they pop up. My favorite match in Jan. thus far is Randy Savage vs. Arn Anderson on 01/01/1996. It is a short match, but one I'd classify as a hidden gem. The following week he teams with Hogan vs. Flair & Arn, which also a fun match. Then following that, on 01/15/1996 he has another quick but hard hitting and very good match with Lex Luger. He's really at the top of his game in this era. One debate that is always fun in wrestling is favorite punchers -- Of course there are the top answers of Lawler & Murdoch & Dundee and others, but I think Sting is pretty underrated puncher. If you watch the triangle match in Starrcade of 95, just watch the difference between his punches on the top rope vs. Flair compared to Luger's. I'm not dogging Luger, because I think he is great during this run. I'm just saying Sting is good striker - this may not even be a debate for those who love the Vader/Sting feud and like watching him chop down the nWo, I'm just saying he doesn't get brought up as much as I think he could in that category. Sting is also firing on all cylinders at this point. Also, right on par with the greatest punchers of all-time are Regal's palm strikes. His match with Hash in 95 blows my mind -- it's so great -- And, he has another one of my favorite matches in Jan. here in 1996 vs. Eddie G. on 01/08/1996. I'm looking forward to completing Jan. of 1996. Loving it right now... Oh man... the 96 Rumble -- Marty J. still with the worst gear. He was such a good wrestler, but man his gear was SO dated, and actually wouldn't have been good in the 80's anyway... I just don't see how he took himself seriously in that outfit ha. I loved the debut of Finlay in Jan. of 1996. It's a great example of why WCW is and was the best. They bring in so many of the best talents from around the world. It truly feels like a "world" promotion with "sports" feel rather than "sports entertainment" and it was just very different than WWF. My matches of the month in Jan. 1. Shinjiro Ohtani vs. El Samurai (NJ 1/21/96) 2. Vader vs. Antonio Inoki (NJ 1/4/96) 3. Randy Savage vs. Arn Anderson 1/1/1996 4. Ric Flair vs. Sting (Nitro 1/15/96) 5. Luger & Savage from 1/15/95 and Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson (Nitro 1/8/96) were really fun too - I also liked the Stevie Richards/Sabu match from this month - I haven't made it to the Rey cage match yet.... Overall, Jan. of 1996 is leading me to believe that 1996 will top 1991 as my favorite YB. We shall see... For Jan., I'll add that the Savage/Flair and Hogan/Flair matches at the end of the month are both really good - also, the Road Warriors return is fun with their first tag back against the Faces of Fear. I didn't love the Rey cage match as much as I thought I would. I'm a few weeks into Feb. at this point, and Nitro is still my favorite part of 1996 so far. ECW is still going strong too. Rolling through Feb., and WCW and ECW continue to remain at the top as my favorite promotions. WCW has really been on a roll since December of 1995. The Brian Pillman stuff in ECW has been fantastic. As far as in-ring wrestling, really enjoyed some New Japan in Feb. as well. WWF was really desperate in their approach to talk trash on Ted Turner on these RAWs. It really made them look bad. The narrative from WWE was that WCW was trying to drive them out of business and talked trash on the air, but the WWF stuff is just terrible and in my opinion more egregious than what WCW was doing at the time. Those Billionaire Ted skits are lame. Favorite Feb. Matches: 1. Shinya Hashimoto & Junji Hirata vs. Yoji Anjo & Yoshihiro Takayama 2. Macho Man vs. Ric Flair - 2/19/96 3. Black Tiger & El Samurai & Gran Hamada vs Shinjiro Otani & Koji Kanemoto & Dean Malenko 4. HBK vs. Owen from In Your House 3. I think WCW had a really good run of some good matches here: Eddie G. vs. Lex Luger, Macho Man vs. Benoit & others I'm coming into March, and I think it is a pretty awesome month. I just watched Rey Misterio Jr vs. Juventud Guerrera (2/3 falls) (ECW 3/9/96) and LOVED it. I also thought the Sting/Flair match from Saturday Night was pretty good too. March of 1996 is LOADED: 1. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (Ironman Match) (Mania 3/31/96) 2. Cactus Jack vs. Mikey Whipwreck (ECW 3/9/96) -- This is my favorite Cactus ECW match. I really have gotten into Mikey going through ECW. 3. Rey Misterio Jr vs. Juventud Guerrera (2/3 falls) (ECW 3/9/96) 4, Undertaker vs. Diesel WM 12 5. Roddy Piper vs. Goldust (Hollywood Backlot Brawl) (Mania 3/31/96) 6. Steven Regal vs. Fit Finlay (Uncensored 3/24/96) 7. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (AJ 3/31/96) 8. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue (AJ 3/31/96) 9. Road Warriors vs. Rick & Scott Steiner (Nitro 3/11/96) 10. Great Sasuke & Tiger Mask IV & Shiryu vs. Super Delphin & Taka Michinoku & Gran Naniwa 11. El Hijo del Santo & Atlantis & El Dandy & Lizmark vs Blue Panther & Felino & Dr Wagner Jr & Negro Casas (CMLL 03/15/96) 12. Shawn Michaels vs. 1-2-3 Kid (RAW 3/4/96) 13. Sting & Lex Luger vs. Marcus Bagwell & Scotty Riggs (Nitro 3/25/96) The WWF Billionaire Ted skits continued to be trash. It's hard to believe they continued with it. First, that they think it is funny and they are on par with something like SNL. Also, it was just lame and felt desperate. Hogan has been pretty lame still on WCW but everyone else, especially Savage/Flair & Luger/Sting have been one great he really doesn’t matter. With WCW and ECW on the roll that they are, the great matches coming out of New Japan, and All Japan being All Japan --- 1996 is going to end up top 1991 as my favorite year of the 90's thus far. For me, Savage and Flair set atop the list of the WOTY candidates at this point. Week in and week out they are at the top of WCW and haven't lost a step. I think this might change as the year goes on, but we'll see. There are so many great/fun matches at this point, it's hard to rank them...Enjoyed the short Finlay/Savage match too... April Favorites: New Japan is back to topping the list with a MOTYC for me. Hash also is making his way into the WOTYC for me as well. I loved this main event. 1. Nobuhiko Takada vs. Shinya Hashimoto (NJ 4/29/96) 2. Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel (No Holds Barred) (PPV 4/28/96) 3. Genichiro Tenryu vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (NJ 4/29/96) 4. Steve Williams vs. Akira Taue (AJ 4/20/96) 5. Sabu vs. Mikey Whipwreck (ECW 4/13/96) 6. Steven Regal vs. Belfast Bruiser (Parking Lot Brawl) (Nitro 4/29/96) 7. Jerry Lawler vs. Jeff Jarrett (USWA 4/20/96) May Favorites (as I go): 1. Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 05/24/96) - I think I'm a little higher than some on this match, but to this point in the year it is my MOTY. I loved it. 2. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 05/23/96) 3. The Gangstas & Tommy Dreamer vs. The Eliminators & Brian Lee (ECW 5/11/96) 4. Ric Flair & Randy Savage vs. Arn Anderson & Eddy Guerrero (WCW 5/19/96) 5. Steve Austin vs. Savio Vega (Caribbean Strap Match) (WWF 5/28/96) 6. Ric Flair vs. Eddy Guerrero (Nitro 5/20/96) 7. Sting & Lex Luger vs. Meng & Barbarian (Nitro 5/20/96) I enjoyed Ahmed Johnson vs. Vader from 5-27-1996 too - I thought Ahmed was throwing some pretty big bombs - fun big man fight. Lex Luger had a great 1996. I know the nWo is coming... but, I feel the opposite about Hogan up to this point. The Murdoch/Fujiwara match was fun too (from May). It was really fun to see The Rock's first appearance in Memphis. Also, Scott Hall made his historic appearance on Nitro. The angle that brought me back into wrestling as a teenager is about to begin and I'm looking forward to going back through it. June: 1. Nobuhiko Takada & Masahito Kakihara vs Tatsumi Fujinami & Yoshiaki Fujiwara (UWFI 06/26/96) 2. Rey Misterio Jr & Ultimo Dragon vs Heavy Metal & Psicosis (World Wrestling Peace Festival 06/01/96) - Rey is so fired up in this. The crowd is nuts. It's a really fun match and one of my favorites of the year. 3. Rey Mysterio vs. Dean Malenko - Great American Bash 1996 - At this point, I think Rey may be my front runner for WOTY seeing what he has been doing around the world and now his debut in WCW. I also think Hash is having an amazing 1996. 4. Sting v Steven Regal (WCW Great American Bash 06/16/96) 5. Sting & Lex Luger v Ric Flair & Arn Anderson (WCW Nitro 06/10/96) - Hidden Gem! 6. Raven v Terry Gordy (ECW Hardcore Heaven 06/22/96) 7. Black Tiger vs Shinjiro Otani (NJPW 06/05/96) 8. Sabu v Rob Van Dam (ECW Hardcore Heaven 06/22/96) 9. Steve Austin vs Marc Mero (WWF King of the Ring 06/23/96) What a month - Austin 3:16 & GAB 1996! July: Two great PPVs back-to-back for WCW - Two of my all-time favorites... 1. Sting, Lex Luger & Randy Savage vs Ric Flair, Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael (WCW Monday Nitro 07/29/96) 2. Rey Misterio Jr. v Psicosis (WCW Bash at the Beach, 7/7/96) 3. Sting, Lex Luger & Randy Savage v Scott Hall & Kevin Nash (WCW Bash at the Beach, 7/7/96) 4. Akira Taue v Kenta Kobashi (All Japan, 7/24/96) 5. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 07/09/96) 6. Genichiro Tenryu v Yoji Anjoh (WAR, 7/21/96) August Favorites: Riki Choshu vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW G-1 Climax 08/02/96) & Genichiro Tenryu v Naoki Sano (UWFi, 8/17/96) Mysterio is still my choice for WOTY through August. He was great in his portion of the Tag with Konan. Hash is right there for me too. WCW is still hands down my favorite promotion and the best thing going in 1996. Throughout this year, I watched the first 25 or so UFC PPVs. I had seen the TK match vs. Volk Han a few years ago, but it was cool to come back to it with more knowledge of TK and his legend in UFC. September: I do think 1996 will end up being my favorite YB so far. The nWo storyline really hits, and All Japan and New Japan have been great. Shawn Michaels is performing at an elite level. I love every Tenryu match. It's just a great year. Savage has a had a super strong year too. I think he has been so consistent for WCW throughout the year. Favorites: 1. Shawn Michaels v Mankind (WWF In Your House 9: Mind Games, 9/22/96) 2. Stan Hansen v Kenta Kobashi (All Japan, 9/5/96) 3. Genichiro Tenryu v Nobuhiko Takada (UWFi, 9/11/96) 4. Hollywood Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash & nWo Sting v Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger & Sting (WCW Fall Brawl, 9/15/96) - the match is really good, but this is all about the moment with Sting and the aftermath. One of my favorite wrestling moment ever. 5. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama v Steve Williams & Johnny Ace (All Japan, 9/5/96) I also want to add I really enjoyed the Austin/Jake Roberts match on Raw from September. It was short but really good for what it was. October Favorites: I loved the Savage/Hogan angle. WCW will be the promotion of the year. You just can't get any better than Savage in those types of moments and drawing emotion from the fans into the angle. Also, I think Rey solidified his case as WOTY with his match vs. Dean Malenko at Halloween Havoc 1996. I still have two months to go, but based on what he has done all over the world this year, I think I will land with him. 1. Genichiro Tenryu v Great Muta (WAR, 10/11/96) 2. Rey Misterio Jr vs Dean Malenko (WCW Halloween Havoc, 10/27/96) 3. Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 10/18/96) 4. Hogan vs Savage - Halloween Havoc I have always thought the Austin/Hart match from SS was a classic, but it really clicked with me going through the YB. I think it’s my US MOTY for 1996. Nov Favorites: 1. Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (WWF Survivor Series 11/17/96) 2. El Hijo del Santo & Bestia Salvaje & Scorpio Jr vs Negro Casas & El Dandy & Hector Garza (CMLL 11/22/96) 3. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama v Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (All Japan, 11/29/96) 4. El Hijo del Santo & Bestia Salvaje & Scorpio Jr vs El Dandy & Negro Casas & Hector Garza (CMLL 11/29/96) 5. Rey Misterio Jr vs Ultimo Dragon (WCW World War 3 11/24/96) 6. Shawn Michaels v Psycho Sid (WWF Survivor Series, 11/17/96) 7. Steve Austin v Mankind (WWF RAW, 11/18/96) December: I love how strong CMLL came on towards the end of the year. Starrcade 1996 is one my favorite PPVs of this era. What a great time to be a wrestling fan this was! The Sting storyline is really kicking by this point too. I would say that angle is probably the biggest reason I became the lifelong fan I still am today. I can’t remember if it was Nov. or Dec., but it was fun to see Lawler and Dundee throw down again, even if it was a short TV match. 1. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 12/06/96) 2. El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas vs El Dandy (CMLL 12/06/96)  3. Nobuhiko Takada vs Genichiro Tenryu (WAR 12/13/96) 4. Jushin Liger vs Rey Misterio Jr (WCW Starrcade 12/29/96) 5. Lex Luger vs The Giant (WCW Starrcade 12/29/96) 6. Hogan vs. Piper - Starrcade 1996 -- Hogan rules the end of 1996. The heat he gets is off the charts. He does so many little things so well... just the best heel in the biz by this point. Piper is also great in the "one more match" veteran role. 7. Steven Regal vs Psicosis (WCW Monday Nitro 12/16/96)

I finished up 1995. WCW has picked things up with Nitro, and I think the Monday Night War is officially here with Madusa dropping the title in the trash. I don't believe it was included in the YB though, which I found interesting as it feels like one of the first big blows in the fight. Really enjoyed Starrcade overall. I like where WWF is going with Diesel, but they still do feel behind the times. I'm really looking forward to 1996. My favorite match in December is: Bret Hart vs Davey Boy Smith (WWF In Your House 12/17/95). #2 Flair/Savage 12/25 Nitro & #3 the triple threat at Starrcade. I also liked the Austin/Sandman/Mikey train wreck of match a lot too. Austin didn't get a lot of screen time early in the year, but he is my favorite promo of 1995. I know a lot of folks would probably say Foley, but some of his stuff is a little over the top for me. Buddy had his premier year in SMW, and from what I understand, got a shot in WWF only to get injured slipping on some ice and it was all over. Bummer for Buddy. Memphis still stayed entertaining for me in its own promo, studio style show way. Promotion of the Year: ECW Wrestler of the Year: Mitsuharu Misawa (Runner-Up Kawada) Match of the Year: Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 06/09/95) Here are my favorite matches of the year: 1. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 06/09/95) 2. Toshiaki Kawada vs Gary Albright (AJPW 10/25/95) 3–way—tie. Kenta Kobashi vs Akira Taue (AJPW 07/24/95) & Flair/Savage Bash 95 & Steven Regal vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 04/16/95) 6. Rey Misterio Jr vs Psicosis (ECW TV 10/07/95) -- and probably right there with this one is Gangstas Paradise and November to Remember) 6. Raven & Stevie Richards vs Pit Bulls (ECW Gangstas Paradise 09/16/95) 7. Although the WWF didn't have the best year, they had some classic matches that I'd slot here: Bret/Diesel (another long time personal favorite), Shawn/Razer Ladder II - I still like X better, but an incredible match, and I also loved Bret/Davey from Seasons Beatings. The 1995 Ranking: At this point, it's kind of hard to remember all of 1990 ha. But, 1991 is still my favorite. I loved 1994 WCW, but I think All Japan in 1995 and the fun that ECW brings probably surpasses that year overall. I think I would have 1995 ahead of 1994 at this point. But, for sure beats out 1993. 6 years down, 4 to go... on to 1996... Coming back to note I checked out the Giant vs. Randy Savage from the 12-18-95 Nitro, and it’s a super fun match. Totally worth checking out. Savage is probably the 95 WCW MVP.

Silva, I had you covered on page 1! That Luger/Sting vs. Steiners match is a ton of fun...

This match is a great example of why I love watching wrestling chronologically. Yes, the match itself isn't the best, and I think their best vs. each other in ECW is probably the Hostile City Showdown match from 04/15/95. But, this was all about the moment. If you follow along their feud in ECW, and it leads you here, you can see and feel the emotion from the crowd and from Dean and Eddy post-match. I really enjoyed the moment, and what they meant to this timeframe of ECW and ECWs fanbase is probably why this is so fondly remembered and an important addition to compilations.

I love Kobashi in 1993, 2004/05. I love Bret in 97. I watched the AWA set, but I wouldn't be able to place it - but, there has to be a year candidate for Bockwinkel no? I agree Buddy was awesome in Portland as well. I think I'd either go with one of the Kobashi years or a Bock year with some review. However, this is all with a higher focus on in-ring work than anything else. If you take the full package of "wrestler," I assume Austin or Hogan would have some pretty good arguments. But, I wanted to throw out something a little unconventional I think for this question. One of my favorite years for a wrestler is Randy Savage in 1991. March of 1991 is highlighted by WrestleMania 7, and some would say Savage's match is one of the greatest in company history (some say the greatest). You have to love the Liz/Randy proposal that kicks off the WWF in July. It's such a great and memorable moment. Savage/Piper/Vince are all pretty funny there. In August you get the bachelor party and cobra or whatever at the reception ha. Jake and Macho Man are on fire by November of 1991. You have one of the most famous WWF segments ever with the King Cobra attacking Savage, and his performance is off the charts. During this year he cuts some of the best promos of his career - I think the poolside promo with Gene is during this time, then you get the awesome match/moment/and post-match promo (maybe his best ever) from Savage at Tuesday in Texas... Just a fun thought of another way to look to at a wrestler's year. Also, that being said - I'd probably consider Savage when thinking on this during his feuds with Tito and Steamboat... I'm also a big fan of CM Punk's 2013 run...

Hey I’m already listening! And, I do have the set! Also, wasn’t there one where you went 1 on 1 with Parv — Flair vs. Savage for GWE? Maybe it was Grimmas — either way, great stuff! ... I might just be thinking of his series about Flair that probably came out around the same time...

This is seriously the only place I go to read opinions on wrestling, besides Sleeze’s blog posts, which of course I found from here. Through my love for WCW I found Where the Big Boys Play which led me here (years ago now), led me to talking wrestling footage with Will & so many deep dives, reading my favorite reviews from Sleeze, Ricky Jackson restoring my faith that Savage truly is the GOAT ha (loved that podcast you did with Parv years ago) — speaking of podcasts ... so many great podcasts over the years from here (and the forever connected P2B & now NoSo Connection family). Lists! — I’m a list guy. The projects here and lists here have always been a highlight for me. Chad - I use your lists all the time ... I go through the YBs and love following along for all the history and opinions ... and as mentioned, the match rankings from Chad & Loss too. I love how opinions can be so different, but the love for wrestling is the same. Thanks everyone!

Man, there is so much here I haven't seen from the 80s. Thanks for all the recommendations everyone, I can't wait to dive into as much of this as I can.

I'm back in the saddle of knocking the YBs in order, and just knocked out Jan. of 1995. 1994 ended up being one of my favorite years, so looking forward to what 1995 brings. Raven coming into ECW has definitely just improved the feel of it already. I didn't get into ECW as a kid until around late 1996 or so, but Raven was one of the first guys I was drawn to. I think that was probably the case for lots of teenagers around this time in1995 watching ECW. He looked cool, and definitely seemed like a big deal right out of the gate. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 01/24/95) was my favorite match for the month of Jan. , however I loved the big hoss battle that was Shinya Hashimoto vs Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW Tokyo Dome 01/04/95). I think the main thing that edged out the tag was the simple moment of Kobashi almost dying from all the damage, but he keeps kicking out of everything... then there is a moment you finally think the match will conclude, and Misawa comes in with an epic save. I just loved the moment. I loved the Hart vs. Diesel Royal Rumble match. I disagree with the notion of a carry job... Diesel had a ton of charisma and was firing back at Bret when they were trading punches, he had a great match with Bret Hart. There is lots of interference, but they both delivered, and it's the best WWF match of the month and probably top 10 of Diesel's career. I also thought that Randy Savage vs Arn Anderson (WCW Saturday Night 01/28/95) is a hidden gem. I thought it was great. Savage is explosive, Arn is Arn, I don't know, maybe it's just I love both guys, but I watched it twice. It's really the first sign of how truly awesome Savage still was, and one can understand why he didn't enjoy sitting on the shelf in the WWF. Great match, and for my enjoyment ranked up there with the other 4 I've talked about and was a MOTM candidate for me. I haven’t been back to comment & I’m already halfway into May as I come back here. I’ll say, overall in 1995 I’m enjoying ECW the most. I was right in line with Loss for the top marches of Feb: #1 - Bret Hart & Davey Boy Smith vs Owen Hart & Bob Backlund (WWF Action Zone 02/26/95) #2 - Juventud Guerrera & Fuerza Guerrera vs Rey Misterio Jr & Rey Misterio Sr (AAA 02/06/95) #3 - Hulk Hogan vs Vader (WCW SuperBrawl V 02/19/95) #4 Shane Douglas vs Marty Jannetty (ECW Return of the Funker 02/25/95) March: Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 03/26/95) then — Masa Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasak April - April is where 1995 really kicked into high gear for me — it’s hard to even order some of these: 1. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Akira Taue (AJPW Championship Carnival 04/15/95) & Steven Regal vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW 04/16/95) 3. Toshiaki Kawada vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW ChampionshipCarnival 04/13/95) 4. Eddy Guerrero vs Dean Malenko (ECW Hostile City Showdown 04/15/95) 5. Vader vs Nobuhiko Takada (UWFI 04/20/95) 6. Toshiaki Kawada vs Akira Taue (AJPW Championship Carnival 04/08/95) 7. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW Championship Carnival 04/06/95) 8. Shawn Michaels vs Diesel (WWF Wrestlemania XI 04/02/95) 9. Rey vs Juvi - 4/21/95 10. Sting vs Steve Austin (WCW Saturday Night 04/08/95) I could on... what a month! Through April... Misawa is leading the way as the WOTY for me... Malenko has been a highlight on the set for me & just have to comment on Regal/Hashimoto... had seen it before, but damn... blows me away. Brilliant. Dreamer/Raven is the feud. May: Tommy Dreamer & Mikey Whipwreck vs Raven & Stevie Richards (ECW Enter the Sandman 05/13/95) June is another LOADED month in 1995. Misawa still leads that way as far as WOTY, and All Japan leads the way in wrestling overall of course, but I do think I'm still having the most fun following along with ECW. I'll see how that all pays out in my favorite promotion of the year when I wrap up. One great thing for me -- I think 1995 is most I have enjoyed Lucha since the 1990 YB (which was packed with great lucha). So, I have really been enjoying all the great lucha in 1995. Another great thing about June of 1995, is you get glimpse of the GOAT-level emotional connection that only Savage can do during his match with Flair at the GAB. The emotion on his face as he approached the ring with his Dad was legit. Also, in June - We get the most probable MOTY ever. I guess it could change? Probably not. June 1995: 1. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 06/09/95) 2. Ric Flair vs Randy Savage (WCW Great American Bash 06/18/95) 3. El Hijo del Santo, Octagon, Rey Misterio Jr & La Parka vs Pentagon, Blue Panther, Psicosis & Fuerza Guerrera (AAA 06/18/95) 4. Shinya Hashimoto & Junji Hirata vs Masa Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan (NJPW 06/12/95) --- I'm not the biggest fan of RVD overall, but I did love the Kroffat match in June. It's a great match. Also -- I Rey had a great month - really enjoyed his bout with Juvi in this month as well. As I complete the rest of the year, I'm going to post my favorites from the previous years as a reference for comparison at the end... Match of the Year (previous years): 1990: El Dandy vs. El Satanico - 12/14/1990 (but, my personal favorite is Lex Luger vs. Ric Flair from WW90) 1991: Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior from WM 7 1992: Sting vs. Vader from Starrcade 1992 1993: Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi - 7-29-1993 1994: Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 06/03/94) Wrestler of the Year (previous years): 1990: Mitsuharu Misawa 1991: Randy Savage 1992: Randy Savage 1993: Kenta Kobashi 1994: Vader Promotion of the Year (previous years): 1990: All Japan 1991: WWF 1992: WWF 1993: All Japan 1994: WCW YB Rankings: 1. 1991 2. 1990 3. 1992 4. 1994 5. 1993 As I roll into July — all I can think about is how WCW has hit rock bottom... from 1994 to this... it’s the worst decline in such a short amount of time I’ve seen in wrestling content for a promotion ... ha... seriously... the Kevin Sullivan DOD stuff has been laughed at for years, but i can’t even laugh trying to get through it... just TERRIBLE. I can’t believe they even considered airing it... just wow. Ha. At least there is Flair & Savage... I love Buddy Landel promos. Really unexpected on my end and awesome to see Jeff & Matt Hardy pop up in SMW! Also, I really like the PG13 RnR feud - it’s fun to see RnR in sort of heel mode in Memphis. As far as promos, New Jack can’t be touched, but as far as wrestling ... this feud for RnR seems to have the better matches... July Matches: Wow, knew I liked Kobashi vs. Taue from 7/24/1995, but it really struck a chord with me today. Definitely my favorite match of July, and it is my second favorite match of the year to this point. That Kobashi sleeper is wicked! I wish that the sleeper would be utilized in this fashion in current wrestling. My favorite sequence was the beatdown outside the ropes on the ring apron... they are going back and forth but they look so exhausted and it feels so desperate.... I love that match. #2 -- Shawn Michaels vs Jeff Jarrett (WWF In Your House 07/23/95). HBK is showing of his athleticism in this classic. To this day, it remains my favorite Jeff Jarrett match, but he really is just a bumping machine for this Shawn Michaels showcase. #3 Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW 07/24/95) -- I do love how fun ECW is, but All Japan by this point has gained the momentum as my favorite promotion so far this year. The matches are just too good. In August... Dean and Eddy have their final bout in ECW... This match is a great example of why I love watching wrestling chronologically. Yes, the match itself isn't the best, and I think their best vs. each other in ECW is probably the Hostile City Showdown match from 04/15/95. But, this was all about the moment. If you follow along their feud in ECW, and it leads you here, you can see and feel the emotion from the crowd and from Dean and Eddy post-match. I really enjoyed the moment, and what they meant to this timeframe of ECW and ECWs fanbase is probably why this is so fondly remembered and an important addition to compilations. Buddy’s promo and march with HBK in SMW were both AWESOME. The first episode of Nitro was a blast and immediately had the feel of something more exciting and more of a sports feel that RAW. I have always preferred the production of Nitro to RAW. I’m really getting close to where I returned to my fandom as a teenager now, so that’s pretty cool as well. Luger is a WCW guy... it’s amazing how much of a better fit he was for JCP/WCW than he ever was in WWF. Favorite August matches: 1. Summerslam Ladder Match (Razor/HBK) 2. Shawn Michaels vs Buddy Landell (SMW Superbowl of Wrestling 08/04/95) My favorite ECW tape as teenager was either Gangstas Paradise or an ECW Weekly TV set that had the majority of those matches. Either way, it was around September maybe early October too of 95. Watching Rey Misterio Jr vs Psicosis (ECW Gangstas Paradise 09/16/95) and seeing Austin pop up in ECW... it’s just great. Also, obviously love the Raven/Pitbulls/Dreamer stuff... Loving revisiting this era of ECW right now. Memphis is having a much better 1995 than I would have thought. And finally, with Fall Brawl... and Nitro kicking off ... WCW seems to be heading back into the right direction. September Favorites: 1. Raven & Stevie Richards vs Pit Bulls (ECW Gangstas Paradise 09/16/95) - kind of like the Over the Edge 98 of ECW - just fun as hell 2 & 3. The 2 Rey/Psicosis Matches (9-16-94 & 9/22-1995) 4. Brian Pillman vs Johnny B. Badd (WCW Fall Brawl 09/17/95) 5. Flair vs. Arn Rolling through October... Scott Hall has had a really great year. I’d put him behind Shawn for WWF WOTY in 1995. Rey Mysterio has also had an incredible year. At his point, I’m pretty sure I’ll be sticking with Misawa for 95, but of course Kobashi and Kawada are GOATs too. If it weren’t for one other match in 1995, Gary Albright vs. Kawada would be my match of the year. I love that match. Kawada is so good, as I heard someone else say — Kawada is one of the best at selling the “mind is willing but body is unable.” October Favorites: 1. Toshiaki Kawada vs Gary Albright (AJPW 10/25/95) 2. Rey Misterio Jr vs Psicosis (ECW TV 10/07/95) 3. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 10/25/95) 4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (AJPW 10/15/95) 5. The Sandman vs Mikey Whipwreck (ECW TV 10/24/95, Ladder match) 6. Arn and Pillman vs. Sting & Flair - 10/16/1995 (Nitro) 7. Sandman & Mikey - 10/31/1995 Steve Austin in ECW is just another level. As well known, be really hits his stride there. As I plow through November, I’m realizing how Sting was under utilized earlier in the year. By this point the Horsemen feud really has him fired up in the ring, & that’s when Sting is at his best. Both WCW & WWF have gotten better as the year has progressed... Hogan in 95 has not. I liked the 94 stuff in WCW. Not 1995. Looking forward to rewatching the initial Goldust run... November Favorites: 1. Bret Hart vs Diesel (WWF Survivor Series 11/19/95 2. Rey Misterio Jr vs Psicosis (ECW November To Remember 11/18/95, Mexican Death Match) - Sometimes a match just hits you at the right time. I had the biggest smile on my face watching this, the crowd reaction, and then 911... What an awesome moment with Reay sending in one of the eliminators by drop kick into the chockeslam… then Rey jumps on his shoulders. This was one of my most watched ECW matches as a teenager, and I still love it just as much. 3. Masa Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Yoji Anjo & Yoshihiro Takayama (UWFI 11/25/95) - this match rules. It was too short! I wanted it to keep going. I have probably watched some Anjo in the past, but he really made an impression here that will stick. This was hard-hitting, action packed, and had great heat. 4. Sting vs. Ric Flair - 11/6/1995 -- In particular, I just love Sting's energy here. This match feels heated. You hear a lot about ECW being ahead of its time... Maybe in the wrestling industry, but really it was just with the times. The WWF was just behind the times. ECW is that punk rock band that may not be the best instrumentally, or have the greatest vocalist, but you can feel their energy in your core. That's why I love this era of ECW, and that's why it's my favorite promotion in 1995. WCW was going for something else (outside of the DOD/Hogan stuff), and they eventually nail it - which in turn ignites the biggest boom in wresting history. They have the high end production, the sports-like feel, the bigger appeal to a mass audience. Once they hit the New World Order portion of 1996, WCW will take surpass everything else for quite a while. I LOVED the Diesel/Bret Hart sit down interview going into Survivor Series. It may be my favorite WWF segment of 1995 (as far as build to a main event). Marty J and Double J reign atop 1995 as the worst dressed wrestlers. Bullet Bob has a killer heel promo building up the USWA/SMW feud. The Jarretts follow with promos that almost put me to sleep. Overall, the feud has been better than I anticipated. The crowds seem to be getting smaller. The SMW Vader rip-off is pretty funny. 1995 does have the good DDP/JohnnyBB feud. And, also around Nov. you get the final SMW episode and last few matches. A fitting group of guys closing it out. My biggest gripe from November is the ending of WW3. Like others, I found Hogan to be annoying at the finish and the next night on Nitro. He comes across so lame... He would have gotten over more had he just let Giant drag him over and congratulate Savage. He never could just let Savage have his moment. See the other side - Ric Flair puts over Sting like a champ in the match before.

Awesome list KB8! I updated the full list I had on page one with all the matches that have been noted so far in this thread. Clash 6 would be my first thought around #1 along with Tully/Magnum and Sting/Vader Starrcade… I do want to actually go through all the nominations and watch again though...