Top 10 Matches Of 2019
Which bout scored highest in your star-rating system?
Bell to bell, was this the best year of pro wrestling?
Possibly so, judging by star ratings and social media buzz, as well as the thunderous reactions of crowds throughout the United States and around the world. The depth of the talent pool industry-wide is deeper than it’s ever been, leading to excellent matches and tremendous stories in nearly every promotion.
While everyone stepped it up another notch this year, these were the ten greatest matches of 2019.
10. Chad Gable vs. Jack Gallagher (205 Live, July 16)
If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, does it a make sound?
Yes! Despite taking place on 205 Live, this rematch between Chad Gable and Jack Gallagher stirred up a lot of buzz. A technical clinic that evolved into a fight to the death, this one surpassed the original because of a decisive finish. It’s a shame that 205 Live never got the spotlight it deserved because athletes like Gable and Gallagher deserve to be household names.
9. Teddy Hart vs. Austin Aries (MLW Saturday Night SuperFight)
The show stealer of MLW’s inaugural pay-per-view. Austin Aries injured Teddy Hart’s neck heading into this MLW Middleweight Championship match, so the bullseye was crystal clear before the bell even rang. But Hart proved that resiliency flows through his family’s bloodline, as the controversial, yet beloved former MLW fighter overcame the odds. Hopefully, he can return to the “home of the renegades” in 2020.
8. Brian Cage vs. Michael Elgin (Slammiversary)
On paper, this looked like your typical battle of the big men. In reality, Brian Cage is a cruiserweight shielded by granite and Michael Elgin is the Canadian Lawrence Taylor. The irresistible force meeting the immovable object, these warriors had a main event worthy showdown that ended in surprising fashion. This was the peak of Cage’s Impact World Championship run and Elgin’s breakout performance in the promotion.
7. Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles (Money in the Bank)
You probably forgot about this match because WWE has so much content that it all blends together. So go back and check this out on the Network because Rollins and Styles had one of the best babyface-babyface matches you’ll ever see. The crowd was molten hot for the near falls and these former ROH standouts even busted out some innovative counters, such as Rollins countering the Pele with a superkick and Styles turning the Curb Stomp into a Styles Clash.
6. Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros (All Out)
Dave Meltzer maintains that this should have closed the show. Two of the top tag teams in the world collided in this insane ladder match, in which it’s a miracle that nobody ended up crippled. My favorite part was when Matt Jackson ripped Pentagon’s mask off, forcing the luchador to risk his identity in order to win the AAA Tag Team Titles. After a series of thrilling bouts throughout the year, this pay-per-view spectacle was the perfect finale to their feud.
5. Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes (Double Or Nothing)
With the majority of The Wrestling Estate team voting this Match of the Year, and all of us having such different tastes for wrasslin’, you know the Rhodes brothers hit a home run. Arguably the most emotional bout of the year, Cody and Dustin told a mesmerizing story in a fun brawl that illustrated the importance blood still has when used sparingly.
4. Kofi Kingston vs. Daniel Bryan (WrestleMania 35)
Even though women main evented WrestleMania for the first time, WWE’s biggest event of the year will be remembered as the night Kofi Kingston finally achieved his dream. What makes it even sweeter is that he achieved it by dethroning a man who embarked on a similar journey just five years prior, but had since become corrupted by the WWE system. Kingston’s victory is also the best moment of the year.
3. Rich Swann vs. Johnny Impact (Slammiversary)
Overshadowed because it happened in Impact and Elgin vs. Cage took place on the same show, Johnny Impact’s last match in the company was a beautiful sendoff. The former world champion and centerpiece of the promotion over the past year succumbed to a rising star in Rich Swann. This exhilarating contest elevated both the X-Division Championship, as well as Swann, who could easily replace Impact at the top of food chain.
2. Walter vs. Tyler Bate (NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff)
I’m a sucker for big man vs. little man matches – this one may be my favorite.
It felt like a handicap match as Walter defended the WWE United Kingdom Championship against Tyler Bate and the raucous crowd, who rallied the big, strong boi to pull off such incredible feats of strength. Unfortunately, they weren’t enough to stop Walter’s methodical onslaught. Running over 40 minutes, this was the type of clash that brings credibility back to pro wrestling, emphasizing sport over entertainment.
1. Rush & Dragon Lee vs. Briscoes (Episode 410 of ROH TV, taped June 29/aired July 26)
As I always mention during these lists, witnessing matches live is more enjoyable than watching at home. (Unless it’s WrestleMania and you’re struggling to see behind a fake palm tree.) This war went down at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, living up to the bloody legacy that ECW has left behind. It was instant carnage as both teams of brothers brawled to the outside, pounding each other to the roar of the crowd.
Mark Briscoe was bleeding profusely, but that didn’t slow him down. As a matter of fact, whenever there was a pin attempt, someone’s partner crashed the mat for the save, breeding a sense of urgency. There were deafening blows and jaw-dropping tag team maneuvers, plus Dragon Lee leaping over the rope and hitting Mark with a hurricanrana off the apron to the floor. After everybody emptied their arsenals, RUSH ultimately picked up the win.
A standing ovation followed as all of us in that crowd realized we had just experienced a classic.
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