MOTY Thread

[joeg]

Here's my list (as much a favorite match list as a best of list) as it stands right now

1- Kazuchika Okada vs Katsuyori Shibata

2- Rush vs LA Park

3- Brock Lesnar vs AJ Styles

4- Brock Lesnar vs Braun Strowman vs Samoa Joe vs Roman Reigns

5- Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega 1

6- Low Ki vs Sami Callihan

7- Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega 2

8- Twin Towers vs Strong BJ 1/2

9- Hiromu Takahashi vs Dragon Lee 2/11

10 - Dr Wagner Jr vs Psycho Clown Mask vs Mask

[Rah]

1) Callihan vs Ki

2) Rush vs LA Park

 

Everything else I saw pimped was either good/great but nothing standing out as excellent. Though, that said, I barely watched wrestling this year.

[DMJ]

Just posted my 3rd annual Top 10 Network Matches column. As I'm a WWE-centric fan and barely watch the TV, my list takes that format, but I still think everything I ranked was highly enjoyable viewing:

 

http://kwangtheblog.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-favorite-network-matches-of-2017.html

 

As I wrote the column, I not only checked out my own at-the-time reviews, but also the threads from here, which were really helpful in getting some additional critical insight. Happy reading and a merry Xmas to all.

[Ricky Jackson]

My favorite matches of 2017 in no particular order and based on nearly 100% WWE viewing as far as modern stuff is concerned

 

Roode vs Strong NXT 7/5

Styles vs Lesnar Survivor Series

Okada vs Omega Wrestle Kingdom

Asuka vs Moon Takeover Brooklyn

DIY vs Revival vs AOP Takeover Orlando

Goldberg vs Lesnar Mania

Dunne vs Bate UK tournament finals

Almas vs McIntyre Takeover Houston

Hardys vs The Bar trilogy 4/30, 6/4 and 7/9

Asuka vs Cross 6/28

[superkix]

1. Shibata vs. Okada

2. H. Suzuki vs. Okabayashi

3. M. Suzuki vs. Takagi

[bucky]

Here's my Top 30 in order. Lots of stuff still to watch, especially from the back half of the year, but I feel very comfortable with this.

 

Braun Strowman vs. Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE 8/20)

Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki (NJ 8/08)

Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (NJ 8/12)

Pete Dunne vs. Tyler Bate (NXT 5/20)

Trevor Lee vs. Nick Richards (CWF Mid-Atlantic 6/24)

The Revival vs. Authors of Pain vs. #DIY (NXT 4/01)

Darby Allin vs. Ethan Page (EVOLVE 2/25)

David Starr vs. WALTER (WXW 3/10)

AJ Styles vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE 11/19)

Snooty Foxx vs. Roy Wilkins (CWF Mid-Atlantic 5/13)

Kazuchika Okada vs. Katsuyori Shibata (NJ 4/09)

Chip Day vs. Trevor Lee (CWF Mid-Atlantic 3/25)

Shotaro Ashino vs. Jiro Kuroshio (W1 9/02)

Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJ 6/11)

Satoshi Kojima vs. Kazuchika Okada (NJ 7/27)

Jurn Simmons & David Starr vs. Axel Dieter Jr. & WALTER (WXW 2/04)

Drew McIntyre vs. Oney Lorcan (NXT 4/05)

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuji Nagata (NJ 7/23)

Ilja Dragunov vs. WALTER (WXW 3/12)

Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki (NJ 2/06)

Tetsuya Naito vs. Kenny Omega (NJ 8/13)

Chris Hero vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (EVOLVE 1/28)

Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada (NJ 1/04)

Samoa Joe vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE 7/09)

Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE 4/02)

Dominic Garrini vs. Cain Justice (CWF Mid-Atlantic 2/25)

L.A. Park vs. Rush (Baracal Entertainment 3/11)

Matt Riddle vs. Curt Stallion vs. Joey Lynch vs. Anthony Henry (SCI 8/05)

Matt Riddle vs. Gunner Miller (SCI 8/05)

Hideki Suzuki vs. Yuji Okabayashi (BJW 5/05)

[Coffey]

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Tetsuya Naito; NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11

2. Tyler Bate Vs. Pete Dunne; WWE UK Tournament

3. The Authors of Pain Vs. DIY; NXT Takeover: Chicago

[Laz]

I really haven't been paying attention to matches this year beyond odds and ends, but Jack Gallagher vs. Tyler Bates from Progress: Boston made my jaw drop. It honestly reminded me of how great Bryan Danielson's 2005-2006 run was because it built and built without needing a thousand spots. ****, easily.

[Mad Dog]

My favorite matches of 2017 in no particular order and based on nearly 100% WWE viewing as far as modern stuff is concerned

 

Roode vs Strong NXT 7/5

Styles vs Lesnar Survivor Series

Okada vs Omega Wrestle Kingdom

Asuka vs Moon Takeover Brooklyn

DIY vs Revival vs AOP Takeover Orlando

Goldberg vs Lesnar Mania

Dunne vs Bate UK tournament finals

Almas vs McIntyre Takeover Houston

Hardys vs The Bar trilogy 4/30, 6/4 and 7/9

Asuka vs Cross 6/28

Thanks you, I feel like I was the only person that really loved Asuka/Moon from Brooklyn.

 

What is the promotion and date for Low Ki vs. Sami Callihan match listed on a few lists here?

[Cap]

Here is my top 15 as I have them right now. I am in the process of going back through most of these to sort them out for my final (and extremely unimportant) match of the year list. The top six (bolded) are the matches I have highest (4.75 as of today) and the only ones I think of as really in the running for the top spot for me. There may be some changes here as we close in on the new year, but these are more or less the matches I think the most of this year.

1. Katsuyori Shibata vs Kazuchika Okada (IWGP HW Championship – 4/9)
2. Trevor Lee vs Chip Day (CWF Mid-Atlantic Championship – 3/25)
3. Walter vs Zack Sabre Jr (10/21)
4. AJ Styles vs Brock Lesnar (WWE Universal Title – 11/19)
5. Walter vs David Starr (10/28)
6. Kento Miyahara vs Shuji Ishikawa (Triple Crown Title – 8/27)
7. Tomohiro Ishii vs Keith Lee (11/9)
8. Walter vs Matt Riddle (Progress Atlas Championship – 8/12)
9. Kenny Omega vs Kazuchika Okada (1/4)
10. Rush vs L.A. Park (3/11)
11. Walter vs Ilja Dragunov (16 Carat Gold Final – 3/12)
12. Pete Dunne vs Tyler Bate (WWE UK Title – 5/20)
13. Dr. Wagner vs Psycho Clown (Mask vs Mask – 8/26)
14. Zack Sabre Jr. vs Timothy Thatcher (Evolve HW Title – 2/25)
15. Walter vs David Starr (16 Carat Gold R1 – 3/10)

P.S. I haven't seen this Ki/Sami match people keep going on about.

[Zoo Enthusiast]

Keith Lee vs Dijak at BOLA.

[Ricky Jackson]

Forgot Sane vs Baszler Mae Young finals. That match was awesome

[grendel]

Here is my list:

 

MOTY : 4/14/17 - Dick Togo vs. Daisuke Sasaki (DDT/DAMNATION PRODUCE).

 

Runner-up : Dr. Wagner vs Psycho Clown (Mask vs Mask – 8/26).

 

Tag Team MOTY : Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi vs. Shuji Ishikawa & Kohei Sato (BJW, 1/2/17).

[Cap]

Keith Lee vs Dijak at BOLA.

I really wanna get my hands on BOLA from this year soon.

[Mrzfn]

It's FINALLY out for download on highspots.com. PWG distribution is so horrible.

[Grimmas]

I have a bit more WXW watching to do, but these are my top ten currently.

 

1. Mayu Iwatani vs Io Shirai (STARDOM, June 21)

2.WALTER vs Ilja Dragunov (WXW, March 12)

3.Tyler Bate vs Pete Dunne (NXT, May 20)

4.LA Park vs Rush (March 11)

5.WALTER vs David Starr (WXW, March 10)

6.Zack Sabre Jr. vs Chris Hero (EVOLVE, January 28)

7.Authors of Pain vs Revival vs DIY (NXT, April 1)

8.Mike Bailey vs Matt Riddle (SMASH, December 17)

9.Ultimo Guerrero & Valiente vs Volador Jr. & Barbaro Cavernario (CMLL, February 24)

10.Impossible vs Relampago (IWRG, January 22)

[Childs]

The WALTER-Dragunov match is one of those highly acclaimed ones that I would give like **1/2. I find Dragunov thoroughly unconvincing.

[superkix]

Here is my list:

 

MOTY : 4/14/17 - Dick Togo vs. Daisuke Sasaki (DDT/DAMNATION PRODUCE).

 

Hell yeah!

[Boss Rock]

Top 15 (as of now):

 

1. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (G1 Climax, August 12)

2. Tetsuya Naito vs. Kenny Omega (G1 Climax, August 13)

3. Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Special in USA)

4. A.J. Styles vs. John Cena (Royal Rumble)

5. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (Dominion)

6. Tyler Bate vs. Pete Dunne (NXT Takeover: Chicago)

7. Kazuchika Okada vs. Katsuyori Shibata (Sakura Genesis)

8. Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns (Summerslam

9. The Revival vs. #DIY vs. Authors of Pain (NXT Takeover: Orlando)

10. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (Wrestle Kingdom)

11. Kento Miyahara vs. Suwama (Raising an Army Memorial Series, October 9)

12. Kota Ibushi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (Power Struggle)

13. Suwama and Shuji Ishikawa vs. Kento Miyahara and Yoshitatsu (Real World Tag League, December 12)

14. Pete Dunne vs. Tyler Bate (NXT, December 20)

15. Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii (New Japan Cup, March 12)

[Mrzfn]

The WALTER-Dragunov match is one of those highly acclaimed ones that I would give like **1/2. I find Dragunov thoroughly unconvincing.

 

He's hit or miss for me most of the time, but when pieces of his chest are literally falling off because he's taken such a beating while continuing to fight on, he's convinced me that he's an underdog with fighting spirit.

[Cap]

 

The WALTER-Dragunov match is one of those highly acclaimed ones that I would give like **1/2. I find Dragunov thoroughly unconvincing.

 

He's hit or miss for me most of the time, but when pieces of his chest are literally falling off because he's taken such a beating while continuing to fight on, he's convinced me that he's an underdog with fighting spirit.

 

This is sort of my feeling. I am not as high on that match as some, but I find the brutality of that one hard to not get on board with.

[Boss Rock]

WALTER-Dragunov isn't quite on MOTY-level for me, but it is a great match. Really physical, hard-hitting stuff and the crowd was super-hot for Dragunov's comebacks.

[Zoo Enthusiast]

 

 

The WALTER-Dragunov match is one of those highly acclaimed ones that I would give like **1/2. I find Dragunov thoroughly unconvincing.

 

He's hit or miss for me most of the time, but when pieces of his chest are literally falling off because he's taken such a beating while continuing to fight on, he's convinced me that he's an underdog with fighting spirit.

This is sort of my feeling. I am not as high on that match as some, but I find the brutality of that one hard to not get on board with.

The wrestling that I love most hits me on a visceral level. This match did that. WALTER kicking ass in general does that for me. It’d definitely make my top 10 for the year (note to self: I need to start a spreadsheet for 2018).

[Cap]

The Walter/Dragunov match is just outside the real MOTY thinking for me, but it is also one that I am going to try to rewatch in the next week or so as part of my final takeaway from the year. It stuck with me as it did for a lot of people and that is - in itself - a great quality in a match.

[SmartMark15]

An Imperfect Top 15 Matches of the Year

 

1. Kazuchika Okada vs. Katsuyori Shibata (NJPW 4/9/17)

2. The Revival vs. #DIY vs. Authors of Pain (NXT 4/1/17)

3. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (NJPW 8/12/17)

4. Pete Dunne vs. Tyler Bate (NXT 5/20/17)

5. Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles (WWE 11/19/17)

6. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman (WWE 8/20/17)

7. Trevor Lee vs. Chip Day (CWF Mid Atlantic 3/25/17)

8. Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi (NJPW 7/17/17)

9. AJ Styles vs. John Cena (WWE 1/29/17)

10. Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE 4/1/17)

11. Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns (WWE 7/9/17)

12. The New Day vs. The Usos (WWE 10/8/17)

13. The New Day vs. The Usos (WWE 8/20/17)

14. Authors of Pain vs. #DIY (NXT 5/20/17)

15. LA Park vs. Rush (Baracal Entertainment 3/1/17)