Best In Pro Wrestling In 2021 (Part 1)

In this edition of The Wrestling Estate roundtable, we name the best in pro wrestling in 2021.

Who was the best tag team of 2021?

Chad Gelfand: Young Bucks

Steven Jackson: Definitely FTR. They have delivered in every big match they’ve had, and their interview segments have been fantastic!

John Corrigan: FTR. Aligning with The Pinnacle gave them that MJF main event rub, which they needed after floundering since arriving in AEW. They stole the show at Blood & Guts, and then Cash truly showed his blood and guts during a helluva match with Santana & Ortiz. In a twist nobody saw coming when 2021 started, they’re ending the year teasing a feud with the Briscoes, while holding the AAA Tag Team Titles.

Jack Goodwillie: Despite what Nick Aldis will tell you, there are two destinations for tag team wrestling in 2021: NXT and AEW (Even though I gave last year’s vote to The North). As a result, you can make a case for four different teams to win the award in a year that was not short on great tag team matches and memorable title reigns. As much as I’d like to give it to MSK or Imperium, the body of work the Lucha Bros put in this year is just too much for me to pass up.

Who was the best commentator of 2021?

Gelfand: Taz

Jackson: I have to go with two men: Stewart Fulton and Mark Pickering for NOAH’s English broadcasts. They’ve had the chance to usher in a new era for the WrestleUNIVERSE, and their announcing has been amazing. Nobody comes close.

Corrigan: Taz. The former ECW World Champion blends in-ring insights with New Yawk attitude. The funniest line of the year was during Bryan Danielson vs. Minoru Suzuki on YouTube while SmackDown was on: “If you’re watching TV right now, you’re a dumbass!”

Goodwillie: Pat McAfee, and he’s only been on the job for eight months! Similar to what he’s done with sports talk radio/podcasting, McAfee has brought a different spin to the commentary booth next to Michael Cole. Working with Pat has even led Cole to raise the bar for himself, which is crazy to think about considering how long he’s been doing this for. Just as his brief in-ring stint was, Pat has been a breath of fresh air and one of the bright spots on a sub-par WWE product in 2021. I love his enthusiasm, and it comes through crystal clear that he’s actually a fan of this stuff, too; it’s not just a job for him. WWE needs more of that energy to spread throughout the company. That’s the only way it’ll be able to touch the heights it once achieved. And Pat – congrats on the new deal with FanDuel!

What was the best feud of 2021?

Gelfand: Adam Page vs. Kenny Omega

Jackson: Jake Lee vs. Kento Miyahara in AJPW. This year has only been a particular chapter in their multi-year feud, but they developed the layers of their matches even further, and the characterization got even stronger. I’ll continue to be invested heading into 2022.

Corrigan: Joey Ace vs. Mr. Ooh La La. Unfortunately, it didn’t have a happy ending.

Goodwillie: WWE vs. the WWE Universe. This was generally a down year for “wrestling feuds” because WWE doesn’t really have those. It has long programs, for sure, but with Roman Reigns getting the nod in every single big match spot, it’s tough to really push a guy opposite of him. When Chris Benoit would wrestle Steve Austin or The Rock, he may lose, but his stock was going up no matter what. This is something AEW is very good at in its own right and something WWE has lost sight of.

I’m half serious about WWE vs. the WWE Universe, by the way. THAT is a real feud that should not be overlooked, but as far as feuds in the wrestling ring go, I’d lean Omega vs. Page. While not perfect, it did tell a cohesive story that had the right guy winning in the end. Once AEW really begins to roll in 2022 and 2023, it wouldn’t shock me to have two or three Page/Omegas in a given year.

Who cut the best promos of 2021?

Gelfand: Eddie Kingston

Jackson: Eddie Kingston. We had CM Punk return in Chicago, and MJF verbally tear everyone to shreds within reach. But Eddie Kingston’s authenticity and integrity is what makes his promos so good. For my money, Kingston is untouchable.

Corrigan: nZo. If you’re not following the former Enzo Amore on Twitter, you probably haven’t seen his promos this year. Well, the “Smack-talker Skywalker” is still elite on the mic, but now he has a chip on his shoulder. Seemingly blackballed from the major leagues (aside from MLW, of course), nZo has been working hard to get back in the spotlight. Promoting various matches on the indie scene, he films these short clips in unique locations, spitting that hot fire.

Goodwillie: Picking MJF for best promos of the year would almost seem too easy. His entire gimmick is based around his sharp tongue, but then again, so is CM Punk’s, so it’s only natural that they’re going to be feuding into 2022. That said, for as crap as the Chris Jericho feud was, there were countless examples of MJF’s believable promos that gave me the “wow” factor on the other side of the screen. His recent confrontation with Punk was must-see, and the promo he cut after the Long Island show, while a bit of a different flavor, was great, too. I always thought people were jumping the gun just a tad when they were so willing to anoint MJF as one of the best talkers in wrestling during his first month in AEW, but I now believe he has arrived and is here to stay.

What was the best promotion of 2021?

Gelfand: AEW

Jackson: GCW. “The Last Outlaws” have grown into the most exciting and unique promotion in the world. Putting on 24-hour benefit shows, presenting versatile Collective weekends and bringing a new lease on life to the U.S. independent scene, nowhere has been as consistent or as fun to watch as Game Changer Wrestling!

John Corrigan: If the COVID-19 pandemic hadn’t prevented MLW from running events for half the year, Court Bauer’s baby would be my pick. Instead, I’ll give the nod to AEW for making Wednesday nights destination TV.

Goodwillie: AEW. Tony Khan really opened up the wallet this year to give the fans something to be excited about, and when there wasn’t some sort of surprise to be had, AEW had a very quality TV show to fall back on. This is probably as no-brainer of a choice for this award as I can remember.