Best Matches of 2014

gnfnrhead

Much like last year, WrestleKingdom has to kick us off. Think this will end up becoming a tradition.

Goto vs Shibata
Okada vs Naito
Nakamura vs Tanahashi

All deserve to be seen. Devitt vs Ibushi and the Juniors tag are also very good.

rovert

Not an absolute upper tier match but I still think you should watch it. The last match of the annual interpromotional New Japan and Mexico's CMLL combined tour of Japan.

NWA World Historic Welterweight Title: Volador Jr.(c) vs. Mascara Dorada

Time mark 2hr 7min mark or so

As for the match, this wasn’t so much a match as it was a spectacle. One big dive and flying maneuver after another. I’m not even sure how to rate this or describe it. They were doing things I’ve seen before, things I’ve never seen before, things I thought I’ve seen before but taken to new levels, and i’m pretty sure they invented a few things as they went along. The body control displayed by these men was nothing short of amazing, as at times they seemed to be floating in the air. In some ways it was similar to the World 1 vs Mad Blankey tag match from Dragon Gate at Kobe World, except this was even more of a spotfest, with one big dive/springboard/tope/suicide attempt after another.

http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2014/01/19/new-japancmll-fantasticamania-119-review/

Tore the house down

sockmo

Trent Barrera v Anthony Nese the opening match from Evolve 25.

What a match! Sorry on my phone can't link but it's up on watchwrestling.net

gnfnrhead

Angle vs Roode from this week's Impact is likely going to be a TNA MOTYC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nbMreESK00

rovert

Borderline pick but AJ Styles vs Roderick Strong is really good in places. Available here for next few days:
http://www.rohwrestling.com/tv/current

Looper007

Wyatt vs Bryan at Royal Rumble and Bryan vs Orton on Raw were excellent matches.

gnfnrhead

rovert wrote: »

Borderline pick but AJ Styles vs Roderick Strong is really good in places. Available here for next few days:
http://www.rohwrestling.com/tv/current

I also have to give a vote for this. A little sloppy in spots but the vast majority is top quality.

Nigel is also the first person I've heard in a long time that can pronounce Pele properly.

Abyss vs Eric Young from Impact is also worth watching.

rovert

gnfnrhead wrote: »

I also have to give a vote for this. A little sloppy in spots but the vast majority is top quality.

Yeah that's the thing there's some premium level exchanges there but there were some extremely sloppy mistakes. I don't think Roderick has wrestled since.

Machismo Fan

Tanahashi vs. Nakamura from todays show. Better than their WrestleKingdom match.

BohsJohnny

I would Second that really great match.

Machismo Fan

Link for that match: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bmgbj_hiroshi-tanahashi-vs-shinsuke-nakamura-the-new-beginning_sport?search_algo=1

Machismo Fan

Okada vs. Goto was really great and Ishii vs. Naito was excellent, my MOTY so far.

BohsJohnny

Apart from one part of the Ishii vs Naito match going wrong it's my moty so far to also helps that's i'm a Ishii mark.

And here it is http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k4Z5ayHU2aPbgM5qDUo

Omackeral

I'm gonna nominate Cena vs Cesaro from 17/2/14's Raw as WWE Match of the Year so far. It was intense, the crowd were dead into it and it went a good length and got Cesaro over huge. Some great spots like the top rope Suplex and the AA reversal. Cesaro is the real deal.

gnfnrhead

Unless ROH has a crap year, it wont be in contention at the end but Lethal vs Ciampa vs Traven from the weekly show on the 8th was really good.

beakerjoe

With the cross over between NJPW and ROH later this year, me thinks these shows could have a few contenders depending on whos facing who

Lithium93_

I think The Wyatt Family Family vs. The Shield from last night's Elimination Chamber can be considered one of the best matches of 2014

gnfnrhead

Lithium93_ wrote: »

I think The Wyatt Family Family vs. The Shield from last night's Elimination Chamber can be considered one of the best matches of 2014

It was a snoozefest until the rules went out the window. Cena vs Cesaro was light years ahead of it.

Lithium93_

gnfnrhead wrote: »

It was a snoozefest until the rules went out the window. Cena vs Cesaro was light years ahead of it.

Fair enough it was a snooze til the rule book was tossed out the window, but how many heel factions can get a crowd cheering for them before anything has kicked off properly, Cesaro vs. Cena was also a good match

the groutch

Yeah the lack of physicality on the lead up to the match made it far more intriguing.
And it was great to see Rollins step out from the shadows and prove he's not just a 3rd wheel.

rovert

Zayn vs Cesaro from NXT Arrival.

PWG match on WWE TV. Madness.

brianregan09

Match was amazing as good on anything on WWE tv in a long time ,Crazy that they rarely have matchs of this quality when they easily have the personell to do it

gnfnrhead

rovert wrote: »

Zayn vs Cesaro from NXT Arrival.

PWG match on WWE TV. Madness.

This isnt another overhype job like last year is it?

BohsJohnny

gnfnrhead wrote: »

This isnt another overhype job like last year is it?

Nope it was really good.

rovert

gnfnrhead wrote: »

This isnt another overhype job like last year is it?

Depends on your tastes. Probably better live/in the moment too. But I've seen people rate it between ***3/4-****3/4. Also people I thought who would rate it lower rated it higher than I expected and visa versa.

gerrybbadd

I've just seen the Zayn / Cesaro match now... amazing. That is all:):):)

gnfnrhead

Didnt think it was anything special. Good, but not something I'd care enough to watch again. Cesaro regularly has matches of a similar standard.

On another note, those NXT fans are easy to impress. A holy shit chant for an upper cut, and a this is awesome chant for a double stomp. Have they never seen wrestling before, or are they just incredibly easy to impress?

BohsJohnny

gnfnrhead wrote: »

Didnt think it was anything special. Good, but not something I'd care enough to watch again. Cesaro regularly has matches of a similar standard.

On another note, those NXT fans are easy to impress. A holy shit chant for an upper cut, and a this is awesome chant for a double stomp. Have they never seen wrestling before, or are they just incredibly easy to impress?

Wow you have high standards if you didnt think that was anything special.

gnfnrhead

BohsJohnny wrote: »

Wow you have high standards if you didnt think that was anything special.

It wasnt a bad match, it just wasnt anything amazing like it has been hyped.

Machismo Fan

Echoing the praise for the Zayn/Cesaro match. Just a superb match and a great story. Some mind blowing stuff in there.

gerrybbadd

gnfnrhead wrote: »

It wasnt a bad match, it just wasnt anything amazing like it has been hyped.

In fairness, it was head and shoulders above most stuff WWE have put on PPVs in recent times. It was amazing - if you didn't consider that match amazing, what do you consider to be? (Not nitpicking here, just genuinely interested)

beakerjoe

Ah I thought it was a great match myself. From crowd participation to commentary and of course the in ring story told by tweo great grapplers. Top notch

gnfnrhead

gerrybbadd wrote: »

In fairness, it was head and shoulders above most stuff WWE have put on PPVs in recent times. It was amazing - if you didn't consider that match amazing, what do you consider to be? (Not nitpicking here, just genuinely interested)

Cena vs Cesaro on Raw a couple of weeks back was better. Orton vs Bryan from not long before would also be up there. I didnt like it as much as others, but the Shield six man from EC would also be above it. That's three from the last few weeks in WWE alone.

Cesaro has matches of a similar level almost every single week. Not sure why this one is being singled out for praise.

BohsJohnny

gnfnrhead wrote: »

Cena vs Cesaro on Raw a couple of weeks back was better. Orton vs Bryan from not long before would also be up there. I didnt like it as much as others, but the Shield six man from EC would also be above it. That's three from the last few weeks in WWE alone.

Cesaro has matches of a similar level almost every single week. Not sure why this one is being singled out for praise.

Just a guess because most people thought it was really good I could be wrong but that's what it seems like to me,and I liked the Orton match but Imo Cesaro and Zayn was a much better match.

robvondoom

Shield / Wyatts 2 was pretty special indeed.

Machismo Fan

Another New Japan show and another great match, this time Okada vs. Ibushi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIt5Nglg7X4

rovert

No one will probably check this out but Athena vs LuFisto from WSU Mutiny was fantastic. Best women's match I've seen this year. ****1/2

gnfnrhead

Hero vs Gargano vs O'Reilly vs Younger from PWG's DDT4 is awesome. When it started I thought it was going to be a dud but it gets great fairly soon after.

gnfnrhead

Taiji Ishimori vs. Daisuke Harada for the GHC Jr. Heavyweight title from NOAH's Great Voyage a few weeks ago. NJPW's Jr. division has been really lacking in recent months and this shows how it should be done. Solid throughout and the finish is amazing.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ibkxb_taiji-ishimori-c-vs-daisuke-harada-noah_sport

Also, Naomichi Marufuji & Tetsuya Naito vs. KENTA & Masato Tanaka from the same show. Naito plays a brilliant heel throughout.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1idc5b_naomichi-marufuji-tetsuya-naito-vs-kenta-masato-tanaka-noah_sport

rovert

Matches I really dug this week. These all **** range matches:

Timothy Thatcher vs Drew Gulak British Rounds Wrestling Odyssey

The Wyatt vs The Shield WWE Main Event

Chris Hero vs. Masato Tanaka Dragon Gate USA: Open the Ultimate Gate 2014
Ricochet vs. Johnny Gargano Dragon Gate USA: Open the Ultimate Gate 2014

Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (c) vs. Kota Ibushi & El Desperado - NJPW Invasion Attack
Tomohiro Ishii vs Tetsuya Naito - NJPW Invasion Attack
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shinsuke Nakamura - NJPW Invasion Attack

Orton vs Batista vs Bryan Wrestlemania 30
Triple H vs Daniel Bryan Wrestlemania 30

Shown on ROH TV last weekend:
Roderick Strong vs Chris Hero: ROH Raising the Bar
Young Bucks vs ReDRagon: ROH Raising the Bar
Avaliable here for the next few days: http://www.rohwrestling.com/vod

Haven't watched ROH's Supercard of Honor show from last Friday yet.

beakerjoe

Wyatt v Cena was great to watch. While not a technical master class, the psychology on display in this match was excellent, esp from 2 workers who get a lot of flack from myself sometimes.

rovert

beakerjoe wrote: »

Wyatt v Cena was great to watch. While not a technical master class, the psychology on display in this match was excellent, esp from 2 workers who get a lot of flack from myself sometimes.

Liked it but didn't love it. The Bray's entrance was *****! Thought Cena's acting was poor and the wrong man won. In the light of day I can understand Cena winning given Undertaker lost and all that I guess but still.

Ape Lincoln

I got the impression that the crowd couldn't get into Wyatt/Cena because the angle of Bray getting into Cena's head didn't come off well in the Silverdome. If they had done that match on Raw it would've got the heat and probably worked better.

I really liked Triple H vs Bryan. Didn't know what would happen, was expecting something screwy and was pleasantly surprised with it.

Looking forward to Bryan getting a few MOTYC between now and December. Hopefully.

Lesnar/Taker is a contender for worst WWE match of the year imo.

rovert

Kevin Steen vs Michael Elgin: ROH Supercard of Honor goes on the Wrestlemania Weekend listt: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=89902076&postcount=40

Ape Lincoln

Where can I find the Gulak vs Thatcher British rounds match? Is it on the youtube?

rovert

Ape Lincoln wrote: »

Where can I find the Gulak vs Thatcher British rounds match? Is it on the youtube?

Here:
http://www.wwnlive.com/event-awo-04-04-14.html

Flat show outside of Gulak vs Thatcher. I wouldn't pay $15 for one match personally.

I don't think it is up illegally anywhere had little interest online.

BohsJohnny

Have had this on list to watch since it got a lot of praise but for one reason or another only got around to watching it tonight

Ricochet vs Uhaa Nation Open The Dragon Gate Title Match March 6th 2014
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1iesaf_uhaa-nation-vs-ricochet-c-dragon-gate_sport

Really great match that i would put right up there with anything else to come out of Japan so far.

gnfnrhead

Haven't watched it yet but seeing Ricochet in the title has already put me off. One of my least favourite wrestlers today.

robvondoom

Ha, was beginning to feel like the only one. Great athlete to be sure but no selling or charisma whatsoever.

Hashtag_HEEL

gnfnrhead wrote: »

Haven't watched it yet but seeing Ricochet in the title has already put me off. One of my least favourite wrestlers today.

I feel towards him they way I do towards Bo Dallas. Utter hatred :pac:

rovert

May is a big one for fans of snowflakes and workrates:

WWE Extreme Rules
NXT Takeover
The two ROH/New Japan iPPV shows
New Japan Invasion PPV
Two Dragon Gate PPV
The return of CHIKARA