365 days of wrestling

[NintendoLogic]

While lying in bed last night, I got an idea for an ambitious/ridiculous/insane project: compile a list of the best matches to take place on every single day of the year. Some of the days, like June 3, are no-brainers. Other days are more difficult. For example, off the top of my head, I can't think of a single great match to take place on New Year's Day. So who wants to chip in?

 

THE MASTER LIST

 

January

13-El Hijo del Santo vs. Brazo de Oro, 1991

15-Kawada vs. Taue, 1991

20-Misawa vs. Kobashi, 1997

21-Ohtani vs. Samurai, 1996

22-Han vs. Tamura, 1997

31-Liger vs. Sano, 1990

 

February

5-Fujinami vs. Dynamite Kid, 1980

9-Liger vs. Ohtani, 1997

17-Tenryu vs. Hashimoto, 1994

20-Flair vs. Steamboat, 1989

22-Kawada vs. Hashimoto, 2004

27-Misawa vs. Akiyama, 2000

28-Hansen vs. Kawada, 1993

 

March

5-Jumbo vs. Robinson, 1977

6-Gotch vs. Inoki, 1972

11-Jumbo vs. Robinson, 1977

17-Liger vs. Ohtani, 1996

20-Bret vs. Owen, 1994

22-Duggan vs. DiBiase, 1985

23-Hart vs. Austin, 1997

24-Finlay vs. Regal, 1996

26-New Japan elimination match, 1986

29-Savage vs. Steamboat, 1987

31-Misawa vs. Kobashi, 1996

 

April

1-Rock vs. Austin, 2001

14-Funk vs. Hansen, 1983

15-Misawa vs. Taue, 1995

19-New Japan gauntlet, 1984

20-Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi vs. Jumbo/Taue/Fuchi, 1991

24-Ikeda vs. Ishikawa, 2005

25-Kobashi vs. Takayama, 2004

29-Cena vs. Lesnar, 2012

 

May

2-Vader vs. Misawa, 1999

17-Wargames, 1992

21-Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue, 1994

23-Misawa/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue, 1996

25-Kobashi/Kikuchi vs. Furnas/Kroffat, 1992

 

June

1-El Dandy vs. Angel Azteca, 1990

3-Misawa vs. Kawada, 1994

5-Jumbo vs. Tenryu, 1989

6-Lawler vs. Dundee, 1983

7-Misawa/Akiyama vs. Williams/Ace, 1996

8-Jumbo vs. Misawa, 1990

9-Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue, 1995

13-Hart vs. Perfect, 1993

16-Slaughter vs. Sheik, 1984

17-Tenryu vs. Hashimoto, 1993

20-Rude vs. Steamboat, 1992

21-Eddy vs. Rey, 2005

 

July

1-Hart vs. Kid, 1994

3-El Dandy vs. Negro Casas, 1992

5-Flair vs. Morton, 1986

12-Vader vs. Sting, 1992

17-Punk vs. Cena, 2011

18-Santo vs. Casas, 1987

19-Tamura vs. Uematsu, 1997

23-Flair vs. Funk, 1989

25-Destroyer vs. Mil Mascaras, 1974

27-Hansen vs. Tenryu, 1988

29-Hansen vs. Kobashi, 1993

 

August

4-Ultimo vs. Ohtani, 1996

8-Tenryu vs. Hashimoto, 1993

10-Liger vs. Sano, 1989

11-Mutoh vs. Chono, 1991

19-Angle vs. Austin, 2001

22-Devil vs. Chigusa, 1985

27-HBK vs. Ramon, 1995

 

September

1-Jumbo vs. Misawa, 1990

11-Fujiwara vs. Super Tiger, 1985

12-New Japan elimination match, 1988

14-Satanico vs. Gran Cochisse, 1984

19-Santo vs. Casas, 1997

20-Hart vs. Undertaker, 1997

28-HBK/Diesel vs. Ramon/Kid, 1994

 

October

1-Joe vs. Kobashi, 2005

3-Minis trios, 1997

5-HBK vs. Undertaker, 1997

8-Tanahashi vs. Suzuki, 2012

9-Kawada vs. Sasaki, 2000

11-Jumbo vs. Tenryu, 1989

19-Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi vs. Jumbo/Taue/Fuchi, 1990

24-Jumbo vs. Kawada, 1991

26-Eddy vs. Rey, 1997

31-Misawa vs. Kobashi, 1998

 

November

16-Vader vs. Dustin, 1994

17-Hart vs. Austin, 1996

19-Dustin/Steamboat vs. Arn/Zbyszko, 1991

21-Hennig vs. Bockwinkel, 1986

24-Ultimo vs. Rey, 1996

26-Toyota/Yamada vs. Ozaki/Kansai, 1992

28-Magnum vs. Tully, 1985

 

December

3-Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue, 1993

6-Misawa/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue, 1996

8-Trio Fantasia vs. Thundercats, 1991

11-Bockwinkel vs. Robinson, 1980

13-Lawler vs. Kerry, 1988

14-El Dandy vs. Satanico, 1990

16-Hansen/Gordy vs. Tenryu/Kawada, 1988

17-Hart vs. Bulldog, 1995

28-Vader vs. Sting, 1992

30-Lawler vs. Dundee, 1985

[Jimmy Redman]

I'm sure you can easily find better ones with some digging, but here a couple of good NYD matches from WWE:

 

Rey vs Tajiri, SD 1/1/04

Cena vs K-Fed, Raw 1/1/07

Miz/Morrison vs Yang/Moore, ECW 1/1/08

Jericho vs Rey, SD 1/1/10 (Beat the Clock)

 

Actually, how do you want to handle taping date vs airdate?

[Al]

The Miz/Morrison match took place the week after. According to Cawthon, the NYD ECW show had that match as a six-man including Kelly and Layla, and was taped two days prior.

[gingears]

Thought this one was interesting:

 

Randy Macho Man Savage versus Arn Anderson from Nitro, 1996. It's sort of paced weirdly and has the obligatory unsatisfying ending a TV match probably should have, but I enjoyed it well enough. There's reference made on commentary to a Benoit/Regal match to follow that might eclipse it, but I'm more interested in tracking down Cena versus K-Fed now.

[mookeighana]

This project dovetailed nicely with the "Most Televised Matches in WWF/WWE" analysis that I was working on, so I went ahead and put together a quick resource which may assist you.

 

https://sites.google.com/site/chrisharringt...s_calendar_year

[Loss]

I think this is a great endeavor, but I would suggest going for the "gimme" days first and then working to fill in the blanks, instead of starting with January 1 and the project getting stalled out because you can't find a **** match on January 1.

[mookeighana]

I think this is a great endeavor, but I would suggest going for the "gimme" days first and then working to fill in the blanks, instead of starting with January 1 and the project getting stalled out because you can't find a **** match on January 1.

I concur. (Though as the expansive list that I posted above proves - there are recorded WWF/WWE matches that aired on every single day of the year; it's just a matter of deciding which one is your selection but you can rest assured that July 1 is taken care of with The Red Rooster defeated Jim Magen via submission at 1:57 with a chickenwing from Superstars 1989.)

[Jimmy Redman]

If you can find matches for the end of October, maybe start now with the match of whatever date it is today and work forward? Then you have two months to find matches for the tricky holiday/New Year period.

 

I'm interested to know if you can get a run going of even a week or so of genuinely great matches.

[mookeighana]

That shouldn't be impossible. Here's two months

(Genesis was the star ratings list for 3.5+):

 

10/1/05 Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi ***** [ROH]

10/2/04 Samoa Joe vs. Bryan Danielson **** [ROH]

10/3/02 Edge vs. Kurt Angle ****1/4 [WWF]

10/4/99 Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit ****1/4 [WCW]

10/5/97 Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker (Hell in the Cell) ***** [WWF]

10/6/07 Randy Orton vs. Triple H (Last Man Standing) ****1/4 [WWF]

10/7/02 Kane vs. Chris Jericho/Christian vs. Jeff Hardy/Rob Van Dam vs. Bubba Ray Dudley/Spike Dudley (Tables, Ladders & Chairs) ****1/4 [WWF]

10/8/01 Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle ***1/2 [WWF]

10/9/04 Kenta Kobashi vs. KENTA **** [NOAH]

10/10/10 Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Kurt Angle **** [TNA]

10/11/03 Akira Taue/Daisuke Ikeda/Mohammed Yone vs. Kenta Kobashi/Tamon Honda/KENTA ***1/2 [NOAH]

10/12/02 Yoshinobu Kanemaru/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. KENTA/Takashi Sugiura (IWGP Jr. Tag Titles) ***3/4 [NOAH]

10/13/12 Kevin Steen vs. Michael Elgin ****1/2 [ROH]

10/14/12 Christopher Daniels/Kazarian vs. Kurt Angle/AJ Styles vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr./Hernandez **** [TNA]

10/15/09 AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle ****1/4 [TNA]

10/16/04 Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk ***** [ROH]

10/17/99 Matt Hardy/Jeff Hardy vs. Edge/Christian (Ladder) ****1/2 [WWF]

10/18/09 Matt Morgan v Kurt Angle **** [TNA]

10/19/03 Kurt Angle vs. John Cena ****1/4 [WWF]

10/20/02 Kurt Angle/Chris Benoit vs. Edge/Rey Mysterio ****3/4 [WWF]

10/21/01 Chris Jericho vs. Rock ****1/2 [WWF]

10/22/00 Kurt Angle vs. Rock (No DQ) ****1/4 [WWF]

10/23/94 Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair (Cage) ****1/4 [WCW]

10/24/93 Vader vs. Cactus Jack (Texas Deathmatch) ****3/4 [WCW]

10/25/12 Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle ***3/4 [TNA]

10/26/97 Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Eddy Guerrero (Mask vs. Title) ****3/4 [WCW]

10/27/96 Dean Malenko vs. Rey Misterio Jr. ****1/4 [WCW]

10/28/07 Undertaker vs. Batista **** [WWF]

10/29/06 Naomichi Marufuji vs. KENTA (GHC Title) ****3/4 [NOAH]

10/30/94 Shawn Michaels/Diesel vs. Razor Ramon/123 Kid ****1/2 [WWF]

10/31/02 Edge vs. Chris Benoit ***3/4 [WWF]

11/1/03 KENTA/Naomichi Marufuji vs. Ricky Marvin/Juventud Guerrera (GHC Jr. Tag Titles) ****1/2 [NOAH]

11/2/98 Rock vs. Ken Shamrock ***1/2 [WWF]

11/3/05 Samoa Joe/Christopher Daniels/Alex Shelley vs. AJ Styles/Sonjay Dutt/Austin Aries **** [TNA]

11/4/11 Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes (Street Fight) ***3/4 [WWF]

11/5/05 Kenta Kobashi/Go Shiozaki vs. Kensuke Sasaki/Katsuhiko Nakajima ****3/4 [NOAH]

11/6/02 AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn **** [TNA]

11/7/99 Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka ****1/4 [ECW]

11/8/07 Christian Cage vs. Kaz ***1/2 [TNA]

11/9/08 Kurt Angle vs. Abyss (Falls Count Anywhere) ****1/4 [TNA]

11/10/04 Chris Sabin vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Elix Skipper (Ultimate X) **** [TNA]

11/11/12 Jeff Hardy vs. Austin Aries (Ladder) ****1/4 [TNA]

11/12/98 Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera ***1/2 [WCW]

11/13/05 Jeff Jarrett/Chris Harris/James Storm vs. Rhino/Brother Ray/Brother Devon **** [TNA]

11/14/02 Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio ****1/4 [WWF]

11/15/89 Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk (I Quit) ***** [WCW]

11/16/98 Juventud Guerrera vs. Billy Kidman ****1/4 [WCW]

11/17/96 Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin ****1/2 [WWF]

11/18/95 Chris Benoit vs. Eddy Guerrero ****1/2 [WCW]

11/19/06 Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe ****1/4 [TNA]

11/20/06 Jeff Hardy vs. Johnny Nitro (Ladder) ***3/4 [WWF]

11/21/04 Naomichi Marufuji vs. Go Shiozaki (GHC Hardcore Title) ***3/4 [NOAH]

11/22/08 Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson ****1/2 [ROH]

11/23/97 Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Misterio Jr. **** [WCW]

11/24/96 Ultimo Dragon vs. Rey Misterio Jr. ****1/2 [WCW]

11/25/92 Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels ****1/2 [WWF]

11/26/95 Bull Nakano/Akira Hokuto vs. Mayumi Ozaki/Cutie Suzuki **** [WCW]

11/27/11 Jun Akiyama vs. Taiyo Kea ****1/2 [NOAH]

11/28/09 Naruki Doi/Masato Yoshino vs. Dragon Kid/Shingo Takagi ****1/2 [DG/DGUSA]

11/29/05 Chris Benoit vs. Booker T ***3/4 [WWF]

11/30/03 KENTA vs. Takashi Sugiura (GHC Jr. Title) ****1/4 [NOAH]

[Jimmy Redman]

Hence the problem with using Meltzer star ratings. Honestly I think if you took an entire * off every single TNA match listed you would be closer to their actual merit.

 

Anyway, this is good information though.

[NintendoLogic]

Thanks for the contributions, everyone. And yeah, my preference would definitely be to start with the no-brainers and work my way out rather than going in chronological order. In that spirit, here's a few I would say are gimmes:

 

January

13-El Hijo del Santo vs. Brazo de Oro, 1991

20-Misawa vs. Kobashi, 1997

22-Han vs. Tamura, 1997

31-Liger vs. Sano, 1990

 

February

5-Fujinami vs. Dynamite Kid, 1980

20-Flair vs. Steamboat, 1989

22-Kawada vs. Hashimoto, 2004

27-Misawa vs. Akiyama, 2000

28-Hansen vs. Kawada, 1993

 

March

20-Bret vs. Owen, 1994

22-Duggan vs. DiBiase, 1985

23-Hart vs. Austin, 1997

24-Finlay vs. Regal, 1996

29-Savage vs. Steamboat, 1987

 

April

1-Rock vs. Austin, 2001

15-Misawa vs. Taue, 1995

20-Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi vs. Jumbo/Taue/Fuchi, 1991

24-Ikeda vs. Ishikawa, 2005

25-Kobashi vs. Takayama, 2004

29-Cena vs. Lesnar, 2012

 

May

2-Vader vs. Misawa, 1999

17-Wargames, 1992

23-Misawa/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue, 1996

25-Kobashi/Kikuchi vs. Furnas/Kroffat, 1992

 

June

1-El Dandy vs. Angel Azteca, 1990

3-Misawa vs. Kawada, 1994

5-Jumbo vs. Tenryu, 1989

6-Lawler vs. Dundee, 1983

7-Misawa/Akiyama vs. Williams/Ace, 1996

8-Jumbo vs. Misawa, 1990

9-Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue, 1995

13-Hart vs. Perfect, 1993

16-Slaughter vs. Sheik, 1984

17-Tenryu vs. Hashimoto, 1993

20-Rude vs. Steamboat, 1992

21-Eddy vs. Rey, 2005

 

July

1-Hart vs. Kid, 1994

3-El Dandy vs. Negro Casas, 1992

12-Vader vs. Sting, 1992

17-Punk vs. Cena, 2011

18-Santo vs. Casas, 1987

23-Flair vs. Funk, 1989

29-Hansen vs. Kobashi, 1993

 

August

10-Liger vs. Sano, 1989

11-Mutoh vs. Chono, 1991

19-Angle vs. Austin, 2001

29-Hart vs. Bulldog, 1992

30-Kong vs. Kansai, 1995

 

September

1-Jumbo vs. Misawa, 1990

14-Satanico vs. Gran Cochisse, 1984

19-Santo vs. Casas, 1997

20-Hart vs. Undertaker, 1997

22-HBK vs. Mankind, 1996

23-MS-1 vs. Sangre Chicana, 1983

28-HBK/Diesel vs. Ramon/Kid, 1994

 

October

1-Joe vs. Kobashi, 2005

9-Kawada vs. Sasaki, 2000

19-Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi vs. Jumbo/Taue/Fuchi, 1990

21-Rock vs. Jericho, 2001

26-Eddy vs. Rey, 1997

28-Kawada vs. Tenryu, 2000

 

November

16-Vader vs. Dustin, 1994

17-Hart vs. Austin, 1996

19-Dustin/Steamboat vs. Arn/Zbyszko, 1991

 

December

3-Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue, 1993

6-Misawa/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue, 1996

11-Bockwinkel vs. Robinson, 1980

14-El Dandy vs. Satanico, 1990

16-Hansen/Gordy vs. Tenryu/Kawada, 1988

17-Hart vs. Bulldog, 1995

28-Vader vs. Sting, 1992

30-Lawler vs. Dundee, 1985

 

Any recommendations for additions/subtractions?

[Loss]

Not sure it needs to be replaced, but debating which is better between Rey vs Psicosis on 9/22/95 (in AAA) and Michaels vs Mankind at Mind Games on 9/22/96 would be interesting.

[Loss]

Add:

 

January

21 - El Samurai vs Shinjiro Otani, 1996

 

February

9 - Jushin Liger vs Shinjiro Otani, 1997

 

March

27 - Akira Hokuto & Shinobu Kandori vs Aja Kong & Bull Nakano, 1994

 

April

10 - Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs Mayumi Ozaki & Dynamite Kansai, 1993

 

May

5 - Megumi Kudo vs Combat Toyoda, 1996

21 - Misawa/Kobashi vs Kawada/Taue, 1994

22 - Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi vs Jumbo/Taue/Fuchi, 1992

 

July

19 - Yoshiko Tamura vs Toshie Uematsu, 1997

 

August

27 - Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon, 1995

 

October

25 - Nobuhiko Takada vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara, 1990

 

November

26 - Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs Mayumi Ozaki & Dynamite Kansai, 1992

 

Fun debate:

 

Hokuto vs Kandori for 4/2 (from '93) or Flair vs Steamboat for 4/2 (from '89)?

[Gregor]

You should go with either only airdates or only taping dates. It feels like cheating if you can choose which date to use for a certain match.

[Phil Schneider]

The dates the matches actually happened is what should be used

[NintendoLogic]

The people have spoken, and I have listened. I've decided to use the date the match took place across the board. It somewhat complicates things for WWE, but it's a consistent standard.

 

Moving on, let me throw out some more dates where I think a reasonable debate exists.

 

January 4-This is basically a question of the best New Japan Dome match. Off the top of my head, I'd go with Vader/Inoki from 1996, but there are a number of worthy candidates.

January 28-Jumbo/Tenryu vs. Choshu/Yatsu from 1986 or Cena/Umaga from 2007?

February 15-Savage/Steamboat from 1987 or Eddy/Brock from 2004?

March 27-The date of the first Clash. I really like the Luger/Windham vs. Arn/Tully tag, but others might go with MX/Fantastics or Flair/Sting.

May 5-You have Kudo/Toyoda, but you also have various WoS matches, perhaps the most notable of which is Breaks/Saint from 1973.

May 22-Jumbo/Kerry from 1984 or the Jumbo/Misawa six-man from 1992?

July 24-Baba/Robinson from 1976 or Misawa/Kawada from 1995?

August 18-Vader/Takada from 1994 or Brock/Punk from 2013?

August 28-Jumbo/Brisco from 1976 or Warrior/Rude from 1989?

August 31-Santo/Espanto from 1986 or Doc/Kobashi from 1993?

November 20-The date of Big Egg Universe. Kong/Toyota is my favorite, but there are plenty of matches to pick from.

[Gregor]

Ooh, one last recommendation: make it 366 days. February 29 has had its share of good stuff (SuperBrawl II, for instance).

[Kevin Ridge]

The people have spoken, and I have listened. I've decided to use the date the match took place across the board. It somewhat complicates things for WWE, but it's a consistent standard.

So much for the Raw Bowl in 1996 for January 1st.

[ohtani's jacket]

Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask 1/1/82.

[WingedEagle]

The people have spoken, and I have listened. I've decided to use the date the match took place across the board. It somewhat complicates things for WWE, but it's a consistent standard.

 

Moving on, let me throw out some more dates where I think a reasonable debate exists.

 

January 4-This is basically a question of the best New Japan Dome match. Off the top of my head, I'd go with Vader/Inoki from 1996, but there are a number of worthy candidates.

January 28-Jumbo/Tenryu vs. Choshu/Yatsu from 1986 or Cena/Umaga from 2007?

February 15-Savage/Steamboat from 1987 or Eddy/Brock from 2004?

March 27-The date of the first Clash. I really like the Luger/Windham vs. Arn/Tully tag, but others might go with MX/Fantastics or Flair/Sting.

May 5-You have Kudo/Toyoda, but you also have various WoS matches, perhaps the most notable of which is Breaks/Saint from 1973.

May 22-Jumbo/Kerry from 1984 or the Jumbo/Misawa six-man from 1992?

July 24-Baba/Robinson from 1976 or Misawa/Kawada from 1995?

August 18-Vader/Takada from 1994 or Brock/Punk from 2013?

August 28-Jumbo/Brisco from 1976 or Warrior/Rude from 1989?

August 31-Santo/Espanto from 1986 or Doc/Kobashi from 1993?

November 20-The date of Big Egg Universe. Kong/Toyota is my favorite, but there are plenty of matches to pick from.

First of all, this was an awesome idea and the kind of fun that makes this place great. As for these dates:

 

1/4 -- I'd go for Nakamura/Sakuraba from this year.

2/28 -- The AJ tag was my #1 match on that set so it definitely takes this date.

2/15 -- Eddy wins!

3/27 -- Gun to my head I'd take the Horsemen sprint over MX/Fantastics but can't go wrong with either. Flair will have his days here. And his long matches, including many that hold up a ton better.

5/22/92 -- AJ 6-man is probably my match of an all around spectacular year, so it takes the prize.

8/18 -- Brock/Punk. No worse than top 3 MOTY for me at this point.

8/31 -- Doc/Kobashi, but I'm often times an irrational Kobashi fan.

11/20 -- I'm with you on Kong/Toyota.

[Loss]

For 1/4 Tokyo Dome shows, I think I'd put Choshu vs Hashimoto from '97 over Vader vs Inoki from '96. I like Vader/Inoki, but I wonder if it would be as fondly remembered without that German.

[NintendoLogic]

I edited the OP to include a master list of dates I think are pretty much settled. Here are a few more dates for discussion.

 

February 29-Better match from Superbrawl II: Liger/Pillman or Dustin/Windham vs. Austin/Zbyszko?

March 27-In addition to the first Clash, you also have the Hokuto/Kandori vs. Bull/Aja tag from 1994.

April 11-Toyota/Yamada vs. Ozaki/Kansai is the best known match from Dreamslam II, but I prefer Kong/Hokuto vs. Kandori/Sawai.

July 24-In addition to the previously mentioned matches, you also have Fujiwara/Yamazaki from 1989.

August 29-Bret/Bulldog from 1992 or Liger/Tanaka vs. Kikuchi/Kanemaru from 2002?

August 30-Midnight Rockers vs. Rose/Somers from 1986 or Kong/Kansai from 1995?

August 31-In addition to the previously mentioned matches, you also have Funks vs. Hansen/Gordy from 1983 and Jumbo/Tenryu from 1987.

September 22-Rey/Psicosis from 1995 or HBK/Mankind from 1996?

September 23-Hansen/Andre from 1981 or MS-1/Sangre Chicana from 1983?

October 21-Hansen/Jumbo from 1986, Misawa/Kobashi from 1997, or Rock/Jericho from 2001?

October 28-Jumbo/Tenryu from 1988 or Kawada/Tenryu from 2000?

December 5-Inoki/Fujinami vs. Murdoch/Adonis from 1984 or LA Park/Mesias from 2010?

[mookeighana]

I took the list of Wrestling Observer Match of the Year Finalists and Runner-ups (1980-2012) and arranged them by date and how they finished. This might provide some inspiration. (Keep in mind that Dec matches are part of the following year's ballot.)

 

01/04: #2. Bull Nakano vs. Akira Hokuto (Tokyo) [1/4/91]

01/19: #2. Angle vs. Benoit (Boston) [1/19/03]

01/19: #5. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi (Osaka) [1/19/95]

01/20: #2. Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (Greensboro) [1/20/87]

01/20: #2. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (Osaka) [1/20/97]

01/21: #6. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho (New Orleans) [1/21/01]

01/22: #6. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Osaka) [1/22/99]

01/23: #8. Hulk Hogan vs. Iron Shiek (MSG) [1/23/84]

01/23: #2. Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (Madison Square Garden) [1/23/00]

01/24: #4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada (Yamagata) [1/24/95]

01/25: #4. Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich (St Louis) [1/25/85]

01/28: #2. Yoshiaki Yatsu & Riki Choshu vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu (Tokyo) [1/28/86]

01/28: #5. John Cena vs. Umaga (San Antonio) [1/28/07]

01/30: #4. Bob Backlund vs. Adrian Adonis (MSG) [1/30/82]

01/31: #1. Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano (Osaka) [1/31/90]

02/05: #4. Nobuhiko Takada vs. Shiro Koshinaka (Tokyo Sumo Hall) [2/5/87]

02/05: #5. Terry Funk vs. Shane Douglas vs. Sabu (Philadelphia) [2/5/94]

02/07: #6. Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (Greensboro) [2/7/82]

02/09: #10. Jushin Liger vs. Shinjiro Otani (Sapporo) [2/9/97]

02/11: #10. Kenta vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima (Tokyo) [2/11/09]

02/13: #9. AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels (Orlando) [2/13/05]

02/14: #1. Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (Orlando) [2/14/86]

02/15: #6. Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar (San Francisco Cow Palace) [2/15/04]

02/15: #8. Mistico vs. Ultimo Guerrero (Arena Mexico) [2/15/05]

02/16: #7. Satoshi Kojima vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Tokyo Gym) [2/16/05]

02/17: #6. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama & Yuji Nagata (Tokyo Nippon Budokan) [2/17/02]

02/18: #9. Hulk Hogan vs. Roddy Piper (New York) [2/18/85]

02/19: #10. Kurt Angle vs. The Undertaker (Baltimore) [2/19/06]

02/20: #3. Ric Flair vs. Rick Steamboat (Chicago) [2/20/89]

02/21: #7. Sting vs. Vader (Asheville) [2/21/93]

02/23: #7. Nigel Mcguinness vs. Bryan Danielson (New York) [2/23/08]

02/24: #3. Ric Flair & Larry Zbyszko & Sid Vicious & Barry Windham vs. Steiners & Sting & Brian Pillman (Phoenix) (War Games) [2/24/91]

02/24: #4. Keiji Muto vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Tokyo Nippon Budokan) [2/24/02]

02/24: #6. Ric Flair vs. Harley Race (Meadowlands) [2/24/85]

02/25: #8. Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger (Greensboro) [2/25/90]

02/25: #5. Triple H vs. Steve Austin (Las Vegas) [2/25/01]

02/26: #3. Chigusa Nagayo vs. Lioness Asuka (Kawasaki) [2/26/87]

02/27: #6. HHH vs. Mick Foley (Hartford) [2/27/00]

02/28: #10. Stan Hansen vs. Toshiaki Kawasda (Tokyo) [2/28/93]

02/29: #2. Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman (Milwaukee) [2/29/92]

03/01: #1. Misawa vs. Kobashi (Tokyo) [3/1/03]

03/01: #3. Kenta vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima (Tokyo) [3/1/09]

03/02: #10. Blue Panther vs. Negro Casas (Mexico City) [3/2/12]

03/04: #6. Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito (Tokyo) [3/4/12]

03/06: #4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama (Tokyo) [3/6/99]

03/09: #2. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera (Philadelphia) [3/9/96]

03/12: #2. Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood vs. Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle (Greensboro) [3/12/83]

03/14: #2. HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (New York) City Madison Square Garden) [3/14/04]

03/17: #1. Atlantis vs. Villano III (Arena Mexico) [3/17/00]

03/17: #9. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Yumiko Hotta & Suzuka Minami (Tokyo) [3/17/92]

03/20: #1. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (New York) [3/20/94]

03/20: #5. Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada vs. Shiro Koshinaka & Keiji Muto (Tokyo Korakuen Hall) [3/20/87]

03/21: #1. Steiners vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (Tokyo) [3/21/91]

03/22: #3. Ted Dibiase vs. Jim Duggan (Houston) (Cage Match) [3/22/85]

03/23: #1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (Chicago) [3/23/97]

03/27: #1. Ric Flair vs. Sting (Greensboro) [3/27/88]

03/27: #2. Midnight Express vs. Fantastics (Greensboro) [3/27/88]

03/28: #1. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (Phoenix) [3/28/10]

03/29: #1. Rick Steamboat vs. Randy Savage (Pontiac) [3/29/87]

03/29: #10. Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino & Genki Horiguchi vs. Cima & Ryo Saito & Dragon Kid (Orlando) [3/29/08]

03/30: #2. Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (Orlando) [3/30/08]

03/30: #4. Jerchio vs. Michaels (Seattle) [3/30/03]

03/30: #5. American Dragon vs. Low Ki (Philadelphia) [3/30/02]

03/30: #7. Angle vs. Lesnar (Seattle) [3/30/03]

03/30: #8. Undertaker vs. Edge (Orlando) [3/30/08]

03/31: #1. Dragon Kid & Ryo Saito & Genki Horiguchi vs. Cima & Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino (Chicago) [3/31/06]

03/31: #3. Davey Richards vs. Michael Elgin (Ft. Lauderdale) [3/31/12]

03/31: #5. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (Anaheim) [3/31/96]

03/31: #7. Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff vs. Mr T & Hulk Hogan (New York) [3/31/85]

03/31: #8. Cima, Shingo Takagi & Susumu Mochizuki vs. Dragon Kid, Ryo Saito & Masaaki Mochizuki (Detroit) [3/31/07]

04/01: #4. Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior (Toronto) [4/1/90]

04/01: #5. Undertaker vs. HHH (Miami) [4/1/12]

04/01: #6. Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto vs. Dragon Master & Masanobu Kurisu (Tokyo) [4/1/90]

04/01: #9. The Rock vs. John Cena (Miami) [4/1/12]

04/01: #7. Rock vs. Steve Austin (Houston) [4/1/01]

04/02: #1. Ric Flair vs. Rick Steamboat (New Orleans) [4/2/89]

04/02: #3. Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori (Yokohama) [4/2/93]

04/03: #2. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels (Los Angeles) [4/3/05]

04/03: #3. HHH vs. Undertaker (Atlanta) [4/3/11]

04/03: #5. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuji Nagata (Tokyo) [4/3/11]

04/03: #6. Davey Richards vs. KENTA (Houston) [4/3/09]

04/03: #7. Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior (Los Angeles) [4/3/91]

04/05: #1. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (Houston) [4/5/09]

04/07: #2. Ric Flair vs. Bob Backlund (Atlanta) [4/7/82]

04/07: #10. British Bulldogs vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake (Chicago) [4/7/86]

04/11: #1. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki (Osaka) [4/11/93]

04/11: #6. Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (Baltimore) [4/11/87]

04/11: #10. Juventud Guerrera vs. Blitzkrieg (Tacoma) [4/11/99]

04/11: #10. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (Kanazawa) [4/11/00]

04/12: #5. Danielson vs. London (Philly) [4/12/03]

04/13: #3. Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe (Lowell) [4/13/08]

04/13: #8. Great Sasuke & Gran Hamada & Masato Yakushiji vs. Mens Teioh & Dick Togo & Taka Michinoku (Philadelphia) [4/13/97]

04/13: #10. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuji Nagata (Osaka) [4/13/07]

04/15: #6. Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (Philadelphia) [4/15/95]

04/16: #3. Great Sasuke vs. Chris Benoit (Tokyo) [4/16/94]

04/16: #9. Jushin Liger vs. Great Sasuke (Tokyo) [4/16/94]

04/17: #8. Lightning Kid vs. Sabu (Minneapolis) [4/17/93]

04/17: #8. Nasty Boys vs. Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne (Chicago) [4/17/94]

04/18: #5. Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley (Edmonton) [4/18/04]

04/18: #10. HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (Edmonton) [4/18/04]

04/19: #5. Yoshiaki Yatsu vs. Nobuhiko Takada (Tokyo) [4/19/84]

04/19: #6. Fantastics vs. Sheepherders (New Orleans) [4/19/86]

04/20: #9. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi (Tokyo) [4/20/91]

04/20: #4. Minoru Tanaka vs. Takehiro Murahama (Tokyo Korakuen Hall) [4/20/01]

04/21: #1. Pat Patterson vs. Sgt. Slaughter (Madison Square Garden) [4/21/81]

04/23: #3. Tiger Mask vs. Dynamite Kid (Tokyo) [4/23/83]

04/23: #4. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels (London) [4/23/07]

04/25: #3. Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue (Yokohama) [4/25/92]

04/25: #4. Kenta Kobashi vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (Tokyo Budokan Hall) [4/25/04]

04/25: #5. Ted Dibiase vs. Randy Savage (Madison Square Garden) [4/25/88]

04/25: #5. Steve Austin vs. Rock (Hartford) [4/25/99]

04/26: #3. Midnight Express vs. Fantastics (Chattanooga) [4/26/88]

04/27: #8. Jerry Lawler vs. Austin Idol (Memphis) (Hair vs. Hair Match) [4/27/87]

04/28: #8. Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel (Omaha) [4/28/96]

04/29: #2. John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar (Chicago) [4/29/12]

04/29: #7. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton (Atlanta) [4/29/07]

04/29: #10. Akira Hokuto vs. Meiko Satomura (Kawasaki) [4/29/01]

04/30: #4. Jushin Liger vs. El Samurai (Tokyo) [4/30/92]

05/01: #4. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Tokyo) [5/1/98]

05/06: #3. Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich (Texas Stadium) [5/6/84]

05/06: #10. Jushin Liger vs. Hiroshi Hase (Tokyo) [5/6/91]

05/07: #1. Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue (Tokyo) [5/7/95]

05/07: #2. Ric Flair vs. Rick Steamboat (Nashville) [5/7/89]

05/16: #6. El Hijo Del Santo & Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto vs. Negro Casas & Tim Patterson & Horace Boulder (Los Angeles) [5/16/92]

05/17: #7. Sting & Nikita Koloff & Dustin Rhodes & Ricky Steamboat & Barry Windham vs. Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton & Steve Austin & Larry Zbyszko & Rick Rude (Jacksonville) (War Games) [5/17/92]

05/19: #1. Bob Backlund vs. Ken Patera (Madison Square Garden) [5/19/80]

05/19: #5. Steiners vs. Sting & Lex Luger (St. Petersburg) [5/19/91]

05/20: #8. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan (Raleigh) [5/20/12]

05/21: #7. Chris Benoit vs. Fit Finlay (Phoenix) [5/21/06]

05/21: #7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (Sapporo) [5/21/94]

05/21: #2. Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho vs. Steve Austin & Triple H (San Jose) [5/21/01]

05/21: #8. HHH vs. Rock (Louisville) [5/21/00]

05/22: #10. Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan vs. Nasty Boys (Philadelphia) [5/22/94]

05/23: #4. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (Sapporo) [5/23/96]

05/25: #1. Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas vs. Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (Miyagi) [5/25/92]

05/25: #9. Chris Benoit vs. Steven Regal (Cincinnati) [5/25/00]

05/29: #6. Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (Meadowlands) [5/29/84]

05/29: #9. Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoit (Edmonton) [5/29/01]

05/31: #5. Steve Austin vs. Dude Love (Milwaukee) [5/31/98]

06/02: #4. Antonio Inoki vs. Hulk Hogan (Tokyo) [6/2/83]

06/03: #2. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Tokyo) [6/3/94]

06/05: #6. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Genichiro Tenryu (Tokyo) [6/5/89]

06/05: #6. El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto (Tokyo) [6/5/97]

06/05: #8. Footloose vs. Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat (Tokyo) [6/5/89]

06/06: #5. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Tokyo) [6/6/97]

06/07: #1. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams & Johnny Ace (Tokyo) [6/7/96]

06/07: #10. Yoshihiro Asai vs. Negro Casas (Tokyo) [6/7/90]

06/08: #1. Keiji Muto vs. Genichiro Tenryu (Tokyo Nippon Budokan) [6/8/01]

06/08: #2. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (Tokyo) [6/8/90]

06/09: #3. Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness (Philadelphia) [6/9/07]

06/09: #7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada (Tokyo) [6/9/95]

06/10: #6. Kota Ibushi vs. Ryusuke Taguchi (Tokyo) [6/10/11]

06/11: #1. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (Tokyo) [6/11/99]

06/12: #3. Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Akira Maeda (Osaka) [6/12/86]

06/12: #7. Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk (Dayton) [6/12/04]

06/12: #9. Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Tokyo) [6/12/98]

06/16: #2. Sgt. Slaughter vs. Iron Sheik (MSG) [6/16/84]

06/16: #4. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada (Osaka) [6/16/12]

06/19: #2. Tyler Black vs. Davey Richards (Toronto) [6/19/10]

06/19: #6. Prince Devitt vs. Naomichi Marufuji (Osaka) [6/19/10]

06/21: #1. Kuniaki Kobayashi vs. Tiger Mask (Misawa) [6/21/85]

06/22: #5. Kenta & Go Shiozaki vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima (Tokyo) [6/22/09]

06/24: #8. Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Riki Choshu (Osaka) [6/24/88]

06/24: #9. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto (Tokyo) [6/24/99]

06/25: #5. Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Koji Kanemoto & Minoru Tanaka (Tokyo) [6/25/00]

06/26: #2. Eddie Edwards vs. Davey Richards (New York) [6/26/11]

06/27: #3. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (Yokohama) [6/27/98]

06/27: #8. The Cobra vs. Nobuhiko Takada (Nagoya) [6/27/86]

06/28: #2. Undertaker vs. Mankind (Pittsburgh) [6/28/98]

06/28: #3. Bob Backlund vs. Jimmy Snuka (MSG) [6/28/82]

06/28: #7. Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho (Sacramento) [6/28/09]

07/04: #1. Freebirds vs. Kerry, Kevin, & Mike Von Erich (Fort Worth) [7/4/84]

07/04: #6. Von Erichs vs. Freebirds (Ft. Worth) [7/4/83]

07/04: #10. War Games I (Atlanta) [7/4/87]

07/05: #4. Dynamite Kid vs. The Cobra (Tokyo) [7/5/84]

07/05: #9. Ric Flair vs. Ricky Morton (Charlotte) [7/5/86]

07/06: #9. Takeshi Rikio & Takeshi Morishima vs. Kenta & Naomichi Marufuji (Tokyo) Budokan Hall [7/6/06]

07/07: #6. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis (Daytona Beach) [7/7/96]

07/07: #9. Ultimo Dragon vs. Chris Jericho (Tokyo) [7/7/95]

07/08: #3. Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane vs. Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong (Baltimore) [7/8/90]

07/10: #1. Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (Tokyo) Dome) [7/10/04]

07/10: #9. Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (New York) [7/10/93]

07/11: #4. Bxb Hulk vs. Shingo Takagi (Kobe) [7/11/10]

07/13: #9. Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid & David Schultz vs. Antonio Inoki & Fujinami & Cobra (Japan) [7/13/84]

07/13: #9. Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano (Tokyo) [7/13/89]

07/15: #2. Kenta & Taiji Ishimori vs. Kota Ibushi & Naomichi Marufuji (Tokyo) [7/15/07]

07/15: #8. Samoa Joe & B.J. Whitmer & Bryan Danielson & Ace Steel & Adam Pearce & Homicide vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Chris Hero & Nate Webb & Necro Butcher & Eddie Kingston Cage Of Death (Philadelphia) [7/15/06]

07/16: #6. Kenta & Marufuji vs. Liger & Murahama (Osaka) [7/16/03]

07/17: #1. John Cena vs. CM Punk (Chicago) [7/17/11]

07/17: #2. Genichiro Tenryu vs. Satoshi Kojima (Osaka) [7/17/02]

07/18: #3. Kenta Kobashi vs. Kensuke Sasaki (Tokyo Dome) [7/18/05]

07/19: #4. Footloose vs. Shinichi Nakano & Shunji Takano (Tokyo Korakuen Hall) [7/19/88]

07/20: #5. Buddy Rose vs. David Schulz (Portland) (Chain Match) [7/20/82]

07/23: #7. Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk (Baltimore) [7/23/89]

07/23: #8. Don Muraco vs. Jimmy Snuka (Landover) [7/23/83]

07/23: #7. HHH vs. Chris Jericho (Dallas) [7/23/00]

07/24: #3. Bryan Danielson vs. Shingo Takagi (Philadelphia) [7/24/10]

07/25: #10. Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (Tokyo) [7/25/98]

07/27: #7. Spanky vs. Low Ki vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Doug Williams (Philadelphia) [7/27/02]

07/27: #7. El Hijo Del Santo vs. Negro Casas (Los Angeles) (Hair vs. Hair Match) [7/27/87]

07/29: #5. Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi (Tokyo) [7/29/93]

07/31: #6. Hikari Fukuoka & Cuty Suzuki & Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki vs. Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue & Sakie Hasgewa (Yokohama) [7/31/93]

08/03: #4. Cactus Jack vs. Eddie Gilbert (Philadelphia) [8/3/91]

08/04: #9. Ultimo Dragon vs. Shinjiro Otani (Tokyo) [8/4/96]

08/05: #1. Tiger Mask vs. Dynamite Kid (Tokyo) [8/5/82]

08/07: #7. Midnight Rockers vs. Buddy Rose & Doug Somers (Las Vegas) [8/7/86]

08/08: #7. Antonio Inoki vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (Yokohama) [8/8/88]

08/08: #8. Kensuke Sasaki vs. Yoshihiro Takyama (Osaka) [8/8/04]

08/12: #4. Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel Mcguiness (Liverpool) [8/12/06]

08/12: #9. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley vs. Robert Roode & James Storm (Orlando) [8/12/10]

08/12: #10. Fabulous Ones vs. Sheepherders (Memphis) [8/12/85]

08/15: #5. Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada (Tokyo) [8/15/92]

08/16: #4. Midnight Express vs. Rock 'N Roll Express (Philadelphia) [8/16/86]

08/17: #9. Tenzen vs. Akiyama (Tokyo) [8/17/03]

08/18: #7. Kenny Omega vs. Kota Ibushi (Tokyo) [8/18/12]

08/22: #2. Jaguar Yokota vs. Lioness Asuka (Tokyo) [8/22/85]

08/25: #1. Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima (New York) [8/25/07]

08/25: #3. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (Madison Square Garden) [8/25/02]

08/25: #6. Chigusa Nagayo vs. Lioness Asuka (Kawasaki) [8/25/88]

08/26: #10. Midnight Express vs. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson (Greensboro) [8/26/88]

08/27: #3. Dudley Boys vs. Edge & Christian vs. Hardy Boys (Raleigh) [8/27/00]

08/27: #2. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (Pittsburgh) [8/27/95]

08/27: #8. Curt Hennig vs. Bret Hart (New York) [8/27/91]

08/29: #8. Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog (London) [8/29/92]

08/30: #8. Rock vs. HHH (New York) [8/30/98]

08/30: #9. Genichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu (Osaka) [8/30/88]

08/31: #2. Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi (Toyohashi) [8/31/93]

08/31: #5. Terry Funk & Dory Funk Jr. vs. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy (Tokyo) [8/31/83]

09/01: #9. Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton vs. Joe Malenko & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (Tokyo) [9/1/90]

09/02: #10. Manami Toyota vs. Akira Hokuto (Tokyo) [9/2/95]

09/05: #5. Chris Hero vs. Akira Tozawa (Reseda) [9/5/10]

09/06: #2. Davey Richards vs. Shingo Takagi (Chicago) [9/6/09]

09/06: #4. Bryan Danielson vs. Naruki Doi (Chicago) [9/6/09]

09/08: #2. Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko (Shea Stadium) [9/8/80]

09/11: #4. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles (Orlando) [9/11/05]

09/11: #8. Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (New York) [9/11/10]

09/12: #3. Kenta & Marufuji vs. Kanemura & Hashi (Tokyo) [9/12/03]

09/12: #8. Kobashi vs. Nagata (Tokyo) [9/12/03]

09/14: #7. Keiji Muto vs. Hiroshi Hase (Hiroshima) [9/14/90]

09/14: #9. Naomichi Marufuji & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Kenta & Kota Ibushi (Tokyo) [9/14/08]

09/15: #6. Briscoes vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (Chicago Ridge) [9/15/07]

09/16: #3. Bryan Danielson vs. KENTA (New York) [9/16/06]

09/16: #9. Averno vs. La Sombra (Mexico City) [9/16/11]

09/16: #10. Angle vs. Lesnar (Raleigh) [9/16/03]

09/17: #2. Dusty Rhodes vs. Ric Flair (Kansas City) [9/17/81]

09/18: #10. KENTA vs. SUWA (Budokan Hall) [9/18/05]

09/19: #4. Blue Panther vs. Villano V (Mexico City) [9/19/08]

09/19: #5. Shiro Koshinaka vs. Nobuhiko Takada (Fukuoka) [9/19/86]

09/20: #5. Jushin Liger vs. Naoki Sano (Osaka) [9/20/89]

09/22: #8. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis (Mexico City) [9/22/95]

09/22: #9. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle (Los Angeles) [9/22/02]

09/24: #10. Eddie Guerrero vs. Edge (San Diego) [9/24/02]

09/25: #8. Bryan Danielson vs. Davey Richards (Boston) [9/25/09]

09/28: #5. Freebirds vs. Road Warriors (Chicago) [9/28/85]

09/29: #8. Rick Martel vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (St Paul) [9/29/85]

10/01: #1. Kenta Kobashi vs. Samoa Joe (New York) [10/1/05]

10/03: #7. Ric Flair vs. Stan Hansen (Atlanta) [10/3/82]

10/04: #3. Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit (Kansas City) [10/4/99]

10/05: #1. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (Portland) [10/5/08]

10/05: #3. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (St. Louis) [10/5/97]

10/06: #9. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Genichiro Tenryu (Tokyo) [10/6/87]

10/07: #3. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis (Philadelphia) [10/7/95]

10/08: #1. Tanahashi vs. Suzuki (Tokyo) [10/8/12]

10/09: #4. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kensuke Sasaki (Tokyo) Dome) [10/9/00]

10/10: #3. Dick Togo & Mens Teioh & Shiryu & Taka Michinoku & Shoichi Funaki vs. Gran Hamada & Super Delfin & Tiger Mask & Gran Naniwa & Masato Yakushiji (Tokyo) [10/10/96]

10/10: #7. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito (Tokyo) [10/10/11]

10/11: #8. Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Minoru Tanaka & Koji Kanemoto (Tokyo) [10/11/99]

10/16: #3. Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk (Chicago Ridge) [10/16/04]

10/17: #2. Edge & Christian vs. Hardys (Cleveland) [10/17/99]

10/20: #1. Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle vs. Edge & Rey Mysterio (Little Rock) [10/20/02]

10/21: #9. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (Tokyo) [10/21/97]

10/21: #10. Bruiser Brody vs. Jerry Blackwell (St. Paul) [10/21/84]

10/23: #4. Jun Akiyama vs. Suwama (Tokyo) [10/23/11]

10/23: #7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama (Nagoya) [10/23/99]

10/24: #4. Cactus Jack vs. Vader (New Orleans) [10/24/93]

10/24: #10. Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler (Minneapolis) [10/24/10]

10/26: #4. Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Misterio Jr. (Las Vegas) [10/26/97]

10/27: #5. Steiners vs. Nasty Boys (Chicago) [10/27/90]

10/29: #2. Kenta vs. Naomichi Marufuji (Tokyo Budokan) [10/29/06]

10/31: #1. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (Tokyo) [10/31/98]

11/05: #5. Kenta Kobashi & Go Shiosaki vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima (Budokan Hall) [11/5/05]

11/06: #4. Love Machine & Eddy Guerrero vs. El Hijo Del Santo & Octagon (Los Angeles) [11/6/94]

11/11: #9. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto (Tokyo) [11/11/07]

11/14: #10. Eddie Gilbert vs. Terry Funk (Wayne, NJ) [11/14/92]

11/15: #4. Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk (Troy, NY) [11/15/89]

11/15: #9. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles (Orlando) [11/15/09]

11/16: #7. Juventud Guerrera vs. Billy Kidman (Wichita) [11/16/98]

11/17: #7. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (New York) [11/17/96]

11/18: #6. Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko vs. Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes (Savannah) [11/18/91]

11/24: #1. Harley Race vs. Ric Flair (Greensboro) [11/24/83]

11/24: #9. Kerry Von Erich vs. Michael Hayes (Dallas) (Cage Match) [11/24/83]

11/24: #10. Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine (Greensboro) (Dog Collar Match) [11/24/83]

12/02: #5. Kenta Kobashi & Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama (Tokyo) [12/2/07]

12/05: #6. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (Tokyo) [12/5/97]

12/05: #6. AMW vs. XXX (Orlando) [12/5/04]

12/05: #7. Nobuhiko Takada vs. Kazuo Yamazaki (Tokyo) [12/5/84]

12/06: #7. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (Tokyo) [12/6/96]

12/09: #8. Naomichi Marufuji vs. Tatsuhito Takaiwa (Tokyo) [12/9/01]

12/11: #5. Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles (Orlando) [12/11/05]

12/13: #10. Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis (Tokyo) [12/13/95]

12/14: #3. Toshiaki Kawada & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Yuji Nagata & Takashi Iizuka (Osaka) [12/14/00]

12/17: #6. KENTA vs. Low Ki (Edison, NJ) [12/17/05]

12/18: #8. Kevin Steen vs. El Generico (New York) [12/18/10]

12/20: #7. Koji Kanemoto vs. Fujita Junior Hayato (Tokyo) [12/20/09]

12/22: #10. Bob Backlund vs. Nobuhiko Takada (Osaka) [12/22/88]

12/23: #8. Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama (Tokyo) [12/23/00]

12/25: #7. Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich (Dallas) [12/25/82]

12/27: #6. Ric Flair vs. Vader (Charlotte) [12/27/93]

12/29: #6. Nigel Mcguinness vs. Austin Aries (New York) [12/29/07]

12/30: #9. HHH vs. Shawn Michaels (San Antonio) [12/30/03]

 

EDIT: Fixed the Umaga/Cena date to be the Royal Rumble match. Thanks JR.

EDIT2: Reformatted the entire list so it was standardized, added locations to several matches, limited to only the top 10 finishers each year.

[Jimmy Redman]

I think your Cena/Umaga is off there. They never worked 2/1, the match I assume came 5th in the WON Awards was the Rumble match on 27/1.

[Chess Knight]

I've been thinking about doing this for aaaaaages but could never bring myself to (God knows why, I tackle so many other stupid goals). Glad someone is getting it together.