WWE's Best Matches of 2016

[Badger]

Will get it done when I get back from work tonight.

[Murphy]

Ran out of time for re-watching some of the CWC. So will put my list together now, with the last few spots a little thrown together. Still, pretty sure my list will still be as it would have been with said re-watch.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Final Day, people! 17 lists! Countdown begins tomorrow morning!

[Honey_Badger]

[Rancid_Planet]

Im done. I just have to get the time to type them up and send them over to you Psycho. I'll probably do it sometime tonight after I get off work.

[Badger]

Back home now. Away to rewatch three more matches then shall put my list together and send it. Should be done before midnight UK time.

[Badger]

Sent.

[Rancid_Planet]

Sent.

[Psycho666Soldier]

That's 19 lists and the deadline is a few minutes away from being up. As I said, I'll accept any submissions before I'm done preparing the first entry, which should be up tomorrow morning before I leave for work. First year we've done received less lists than the previous, but still on par with our average turnout. Still room to squeeze a couple more in.

[Psycho666Soldier]

I've hit my wall for the night. I'm only a few lists short of counting everything, but it's looking like I won't have the time to finish tomorrow. So DEADLINE IS OFFICIALLY EXTENDED UNTIL EARLY THURSDAY!!

Sorry for the delay, everybody, but the reveal should be really interesting.

[takerson]

Yesss get a few more lists in foo's!

[Andy]

Can't wait. Feel like there's no absolute definites like there have been in previous years so it should be a fun countdown. Is it worth PMing anyone who hasn't sent one yet?

[Psycho666Soldier]

The list is officially tallied up. There was a pretty harsh battle for the last few spots as I was counting the last couple lists, and it's very interesting what started in the middle of the list and ended up just barely missing the cut. I'm preparing the details for the first entry and getting ready to rewatch for a write-up. It should be up before I leave for work, but at worst, it'll be up before the end of the night.

Get pumped, y'all!

[Rancid_Planet]

I couldn't believe myself what didn't make my own list. There were a ton of great matches this year. There were a few that I assumed would be in my top 15 that when it came down to it, couldn't even make my top 25.

I have to keep track of this shit better this year. This list was hard.

[Psycho666Soldier]

My issue was that I actually did keep a running list this year, but there were tons of important matches that I reserved judgment on because I felt I was too distracted on first watch, and I didn't get to rewatch all of them. As such, certain gems like Ambrose/Owens, the Fastlane Triple Threat, and the IC Title 4-Way missed my list, and they probably all would have made it had I got the chance to properly rewatch them.

It really goes to show how much higher the baseline match quality is these days. Matches that would have been an instant YES for me in 2011 happen on RAW and Smackdown on a regular basis. It's not that the matches that don't make the list aren't great, it's that everything else is amazing. And it's kind of like this around the world, not just in WWE.

It's no wonder Meltzer felt compelled to add a sixth star to one of the best matches of the year so far, whether as a partial joke or not.

[Psycho666Soldier]

#25(tied)

NXT Championship
Shinsuke Nakamura(c) vs. Samoa Joe
NXT Takeover: Toronto 11/19


For all intents and purposes, Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Samoa Joe should be well-lauded series of matches. They both work a stiffer, stronger style that seems to cater to each other perfectly, and they are two of the most well-known competitors to make their names outside of WWE. Yet, the Joe/Nakamura series seemed to come up short on delivering the mind-blowing, barn-burning 7-Star match that everyone imagined. It wasn't that the matches weren't good, it's just that we know both men had far better matches in them. They never seemed to fully shift past a certain gear. That was until Takeover took place in Toronto, when the two finally crossed the threshold of match quality we had all been waiting for.

Strike-fest to start the match was hot. Shows how even they are. And while the mostly remain on even-footing, Joe takes a strong lead early on that sees him stopping any run of offense Nakamura can string together. Joe is focused, and collected, yet at the same time, that is when he is his most intense violent. And while Shinsuke finds opening after opening, Joe is quick to shut that shit down every time. When Nakamura finally does get a real string of offense going, it feels like a huge turning point, and it's only within the first ten minutes. But again, Joe only allows his throne to be occupied by someone else for so long, as an ill-calculated strike sets up Joe for another chain of dominance. This is all an example of how deeply compelling of a structure this match holds. The constant bid for control that occurs is infectious, especially once they get neck-and-neck with their strikes.

The turning point of this match comes early, though, when Joe drops Nakamura on his knees in a sort of piledriver technique where the knees take the impact. It takes a while for this to truly pay off, as Nakamura has a way history of...shall we say "unique" selling of his legs? The commentary does a miraculous job covering for this to carry you through to the end, which COrey Graves and to a lesser extent Tom Philips deserve much credit for. Whether intentional or not, though, Nakamura's lack of leg-selling is often attributed to his Strong Style, and here, it truly feels like it. It's like he keeps reaching a second-wind after his leg gets damaged, but with every wind, his knee's durability deteriorate And this hits home when Nakamura tries to land a final Kinshasa while Joe is on the ropes. Not only does this send Joe out of the ring to make pinning difficult, but Nakamura's knee gives out as he
cries out in agony. He manages to stumble outside, but it's too late. Joe hits a finishing kick to Nakamura's leg, slams him with a ura-nage onto the steel steps that he set-up far earlier in the match, and then drags him into the ring for a Muscle Buster that officially reclaims his NXT Championship. And it is such a beautifully intense finish that it earns the spot on the list alone.

All-around, this match is full of little touches that wrap the whole thing into a spine-tingling package. Each spot is set up too beautifully to contrived. Every single step they take feels organic, and by the time the finish rolls around, you almost wonder how you couldn't see the natural transition before-hand. It's that damn smooth of a match, while being brutal and dramatic in the right doses. Add a shocking result and an amazing moment of growth for both competitors, and you have something that will probably be remembered more fondly in the future than it will now.

Points: 73
Highest Rank: #2(Badger)
5 lists total

[Psycho666Soldier]

That's right, it's now officially a TOP 26 Match of the Year list. Was the very last calculation. I voted this match at #5, and I don't regret that, as I believe everything I said in the write-up. The matches before were a dud, but this was a masterpiece. I'm honestly surprised that it made the list at all, though, because I know a lot weren't particularly high on it.

It's tie to come tomorrow.


**P.S. Could we get a sticky on this thread?

[Rancid_Planet]

I couldn't fit this match in my top 25. I just couldn't.

But like many great matches that got left off my list this year. Don't blame me. Blame AJ Styles. That list hogging son of a gun.

He's on my list like 7 or 8 times I think.

[Cewsh]

Great match, but they both had better in 2016.

[Kdestiny]

Didn't have this one on my list. Not because it wasn't good but because there was so much that was better this year.

[Andy]

Didn't make my list. Really didn't enjoy much of the Joe/Nakamura or Joe/Balor series tbh

[Badger]

Feel ever so slightly embarassed now that my #2 rank only made #25 overall.

Admittedly my list was a bit rushed as it was only done over a couple of days (I only submitted the bare minimum of 10). If I had more time to watch more matches, I may have re-assessed. There's some gems I've no doubt forgotten about.

It says somethingfor the quality this year though if that's only #25. My lower ranking might end up scoring higher. If they don't, I'm going to cry for a week.

[Dr_Seldon]

Great match, had it at 11. Loved it at first watch, really felt like the match I had hoped their first one would be. Was considering it really high on my list. Didn't quite like it as much on the re-watch, but still great. Very hard nosed and believable heavyweight match.

[takerson]

Great match, I mostly agree with the write up. I expected their first match to be amazing. It was just "OK" and had me worried about the rematch basically being a redo. Their 3rd and 4th matches were also painfully disappointing. But this match, this one match was the dream match I wanted. A very good and intense match, I want to rewatch it now. Ha.

[Ringo]

I liked this match a fair bit and remember being quite surprised by the lukewarm reception of many. It was a few places outside my top 25 though.

[Badger]

It was a brutal strike-fest and it took two Kinshasas to put Joe down. I perhaps overrated it a bit, but I enjoy that kinda stuff more than the pretty technical or flippy stuff. Surprised as well people aren't as high on it.

[McBain]

I think I had too high expectations for what those two would do and they never quite hit them.

[Honey_Badger]

Did not make my list. Good match, but nothing special. Pretty much sums up Joe's year. He had a ton of good matches, but nothing spectacular. Personally, Roode versus Nak is a better match then any of the Joe versus Nak matches.

[Murphy]

Definitely the best of their matches, but didn't make my top 10, which was all I submitted. May have squeezed into my top 25. Loved the finish especially.

[Psycho666Soldier]

The tie for 25 will be released later this evening. Unexpected taxi day for me. Should be before 8 EST.

[Psycho666Soldier]

#25(tied)

WWE Championship
AJ Styles(c) vs. Dean Ambrose vs. John Cena
No Mercy 10/9


The layers of narrative going into this match and the completely natural, yet "spontaneous" build made this match immediately feel like a beast of a different nature. Dean Ambrose came in as the king of Smackdown, triumphantly retaining the WWE Championship, only to be met with some critical reactions and doubt from peers and idols. John Cena has long been on his way out, and with his recent run of injuries and outside appearances, people have wondered if his time is up while someone else's time is now. This puts both men at odds with each other, and with a history of unfinished business, peppered with some nasty words on a pseudo-shoot talk show, the animosity feels more real than we may be used to these days.

And all the while, AJ Styles has been tearing it up through the WWE and staking his claim to the top of the WWE heap. And while Cena and Ambrose spend time battling self-doubt and the opinions of critics, Styles swoops right in, defeats both of them, takes the championship AND the title of "The Face That Runs The Place." Needless to say, this only fuels the venom of both men, and perhaps it works to AJ Styles advantage.

The match opens with fireworks and has a constant flow of all three men being involved. It's a twist on the usual triple threat formula that doesn't happen often enough. Ambrose is blind-sided by Cena after tossing Styles around outside - and right after Cena rams Ambrose into the guard post, Styles leaps outside the ring with a forearm. And this break-neck pace never truly ends. Much of the match is fought in this same style, even when it does come down to two competitors duking it out. It emphasizes a sense of urgency. Each man knows all it takes is ten seconds of recovery to miss the opportunity to break up a fall, so every one is doing as much damage as quickly as possible to secure victory sooner. And whenever someone gets that big move off, more often than not, it's interference that breaks the fall. The amount of 3-way spots is astounding, and is consistently a crowd-pleaser. Cena looks the most fired up he's been in a while, and Dean Ambrose is running on all cylinders. AJ Styles, of course, is wrestling like a master, and is integral to a lot of the best spots in this match, like the big suplex on the apron followed by a wicked Springboard 450 that feels like it could have ended the match. And the match is full of intense, match-ending moments like this, such as Cena stealing Styles victory by locking him in the STF before Ambrose stops AJ from tapping by grabbing his hand. Or how about the STF/Calf-Crusher spot where both Ambrose and Cena make AJ tap for a false finish. It was a great moment to rile up the crowd, but the quick resolution and continuation of the match causes little distraction. It also leads to a moment that makes it seem like Ambrose offically had the better of Cena.

But it all comes to an end when Styles perfectly introduces a chair at the end of the match to take advantage of the No DQ stipulation. Not only was it the optimal way to emphasize the consequential rule, it also led to the match ending on a couple chairshots - A piece of kayfabe survival that not only makes me mark out, but also keeps things fresh. Increasing the unpredictability.

Overall, there might have been better Triple Threats in the past, and some will probably argue that the other big 3-Way was far better. But this was an excellent showcase for the skill of all men involved, built up the stock of the title, and the credibility of all three. All men felt on the complete same level, and it altogether made the match feel more important because of it.

Points: 73
Highest Rank: #5(Hero!)
5 lists total

[Andy]

Had it at 19 but easily could've had it higher. Really cool match.

[Badger]

Hero! ranking this #5 makes me a feel a bit better makes me feel a bit more at ease with my ranking Nak/Joe at #2 considering the mass opinion.

Nonetheless a great match-up that deserves a mention and I didn't think of. Well done dude!

[Rancid_Planet]

This is another one that I was positive was going to be on my list but it just didn't make the cut.

[Sasori]

This is one of those matches that fell off my radar at the end of the year. As good as it was, it didn't make a big impression on me.

[Tainted Eclipse]

it was a fun enough match to watch but made no real impression on me.

[Psycho666Soldier]

I loved the Styles/Cena/Ambrose match. I had it at #16, but I easily could have seen it dropping off my list. The pacing of it was fantastic, and the finish just floored me. I'm a huge mark for matches ending on something other than a finisher, especially if it makes sense. I think some were iffy on the finish coming off a chair shot, but that's the kind of kayfabe I like. I remember when everyone was winning with a roll-up for a while, and it actually made it more convincing whenever they teased a roll-up finish. That's the kind of shit I love.

#24 incoming.

[MJH1986]

It was on my list, Psycho666Soldier eludes to something in the match review which I also noticed. This match maybe gets forgotten about because WWE had a number of other high profile Triple Threat Matches in 2016. I personally feel that they use multi-man matches too much and maybe that hurt this match.

Again I completely agree with Psycho666Soldier’s review, this match is great because of the strong build going into it and because the match layout was so different to other WWE Triple Threat Matches. That said, I can totally see why others may have liked other Triple Threats this year, like Charlotte Vs Becky Vs Sasha, Lesner Vs Ambrose Vs Reigns or Rollins Vs Reigns Vs Ambrose and a tied #25 is fine with me, at least it made the cut in the end.

[Psycho666Soldier]

#24

RAW Women's Championship
Charlotte(c) vs. Sasha Banks
Falls Count Anywhere
RAW 11/28


Charlotte and Sasha Banks had one hell of a year together. After Charlotte officially wiped Nikki Bella from her path, she kept a fierce grasp on the Women's Championship. She tore it up with Becky Lynch and established an undefeated PPV streak. Sasha Banks had to battle with injuries and being held back due to timing, but she would get her spot with the other two at WrestleMania to carve their place in the horrendously dubbed WWE Universe. And then, when we finally got the long-awaited one-on-one clash between Sasha and Charlotte...we got it again. And again. And again. But unlike Cena/Orton, and to a lesser degree Orton/Sheamus, despite being tired of it, the two managed to deliver excellent match after excellent match. It was to the point that you really had to nitpick to decide which match you liked the best. The title trading hands every time didn't help, but there was no denying the raw quality. There's probably a strong split between those who preferred the TV matches to the PPV bouts, and certain ones cause great controversy over the finishes, whether it be bad execution or awkward booking. But there's no denying that what they did here...was pretty much perfection.

For starters, the match actually happens in two parts, and is much more satisfying if watched that way. After Sasha lost the belt for a second time, she was driven to get her revenge and prove she is the better wrestler. Yet, despite getting rid of Dana, the tension heats up so much that they end up outside of the ring, and much to Charlotte's delight, the match was counted out. But Mick Foley rightfully proclaimed that a big match-up like that shouldn't be wasted on a non-finish. So it was restarted in the main event under Falls Count Anywhere rules, and from the moment Sasha walks from behind the curtain, you can tell she's not playing around anymore.

Charlotte and Sasha are sometimes plagued by being too creative, and that leads to some otherwise amazing spots having bad execution. But despite that flaw, these two are alway finding new ways to deliver their brand of wrestling, creating unique segments that keep you from turning away. One such moment is when countering each other's corner moves ends with them dueling on the apron with rough slaps for 30 seconds before Charlotte finally drops Sasha with a big boot. Not only do they effortlessly segue into these spots, they also utilize the gimmick more than most, taking advantage of every tool and spot their new environment allows. I don't think I have ever seen kendo stick shots that had more malice behind them. There was a moment where I think Charlotte was legitimately pissed at how hard Sasha was hitting her.

There is plenty of kendo stick action, but they brawl across a good stretch of the arena and spend most of the time away from the ring. And there are plenty of little touches that always bring their matches alive, like the ability to emote from both, and Charlotte's constant comments either to rub in her superiority or try to convince herself of it. And they deliver all this within a relatively short package, keeping you invested through every second. The finish in the crowd draws some contention as to how quickly it happens. But the creativity and malice hits an all-time peak here as Sasha puts Charlotte's head through the railing, knees her face into putty, and then folds her back over the railing for a sickening Bank Statement that probably would have made just about anyone tap in two seconds. Little nitpicks aside, this was an incredible finish to a shockingly great match, and while for some it wasn't the best, it definitely earns a high mark for creativity.

Points: 78
Highest Rank: #5(Alex)
5 lists total

[Honey_Badger]

Wow. #5 ranking by a member. Surprising. I liked this match but didn't consider it when compiling my list. It was good, but nothing special. I grew tired of seeing these two wrestle after a while.

[Cewsh]

I wonder if the different Sasha/Charlotte matches split the vote. I had one very high, but this one didn't make my list.

[Psycho666Soldier]

It certainly did. I had one at #3 that didn't even make the list. I had this one at #11. On re-watch, I probably would have also included the 7/25 match where Sasha first won the title.

[Psycho666Soldier]

As a heads-up, I won't be around on Sunday, so there won't be an entry. Sometime this week I'll make up for it with a double entry.

[Andy]

Had it at 22 so just about spot on for me. Their best match IMO.

[Ringo]

I had this in my top 10, it was excellent. The highest of four of their matches. It was the least flawed of their series I'd say. The No Mercy triple threat didn't feature. Fun but I preferred that triple threat on Smackdown at the end of the year that had Baron Corbin in it.

[Sasori]

I had it at 17 on my list. I've gone on and on about this one being my personal favorite of the series and the best the two had together. Unlike some of their other matches, I thought everything came together here. They told a great story and nailed every spot perfectly.

[Psycho666Soldier]

#23 will come pretty late tonight,but #22 and #21 will be up tomorrow. One in the morning, the other in the evening. It's a good run of matches that two will undoubtedly be seen as underrated.

[Psycho666Soldier]

#23

Finn Balor vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
NXT 7/13


2016 was one hell of a year for debuts. We were witness to some of the most unlikely of signed talent stepping into a WWE ring. But none were quite as mind-blowing as Shinsuke Nakamura. Not only did he arrive with a bang when he had a classic with Sami Zayn, he bulldozed through every single person put in his path. It wasn't very long before he felt there was one thing left before he could challenge for the NXT Championship: beat the NXT Icon. And no one better personifies that role that Finn Balor, the longest reigning NXT Champion in history. It's hardly arguable that Finn Balor is the biggest star to come out of NXT to date. Considering the history he's had with Nakamura overseas(which is less on-screen than they'd lead you to believe), and this being Finn's last match in NXT, this has the makings of a legendary main event.

It opens with an extended chain-wrestling spot over the first few minutes, kept interesting with constant change-ups and little flurries of offense peppered in. But as they start finding each other's openings, the match picks up quickly. Finn is more vicious and calculating than ever here, taking on the de facto heel role. He shows some varied offense and mat work he has yet to showcase up to this point, allowing Finn to show more in-ring personality than before. Despite Nakamura's greater experience, Finn looks like a proper veteran here. But that's not at the expense of Nakamura, as they treated as equals - Finn just has the residual momentum in NXT that keeps him on top. Nakamura also wresles a match that feels a bit different than anything else this year, and actually sells his leg to perfection while Finn constantly wrenches it almost to the end of the match. He has some of the fiercest kicks against Finn, one that could have knocked any man out cold to the back of Finn's head. When Nakamura finally hits the Kinshasa that puts Finn down, and the three count hits, it feels like Nakamura just earned a golden ticket to whatever the hell he wants to do. In what is one of Finn's best matches in NXT, he delivered a torch-passing performance that could have easily been the main event of a Takeover, while Nakamura continues to grow his American legacy.

Points: 79
Highest Rank: #7(Saintevil)
6 lists total

[Psycho666Soldier]

#22

WWE Tag Team Championships
The New Day(C) vs. Y2AJ
RAW 3/7


Such was the magnificence of AJ Styles in 2016, it’s easy to forget that he spent a period of time as one half of the short lived tag team Y2AJ. And yet, such was the magnificence of AJ Styles in 2016, he still managed to squeeze in a match of the year contender in this short run. I’m being facetious of course, it takes two to tango, or in this case, five to have a great tag team match. But let this be the first of many instances of the highest of praise for The Phenomenal One.

What a four AJ has to work with – Chris Jericho, just starting to show signs of the renaissance that would start one of the best runs of his career, and The New Day, at their most entertaining quasi-heel best. Oh, and it’s in Chicago. A recipe for excellence right? It certainly was.

The beauty of this match is in its simplicity. The match was designed to showcase AJ Styles and it did a magnificent job of it. We only get around 14 minutes of action but boy do they use their time effectively. The action is fast paced and picture perfect. AJ only hits about four moves in the entire match, but they’re built so smartly that it makes him look like an absolute star.

The layout is basic, with the heels working over the faces to start. We’re in full on annoying-but-funny New Day, with Unicorn Stampedes, Francesca and twerking getting the crowd desperate for the hot tag. And when it comes, we get what feels like a greatest hits of AJ offence.



Quickfire kicks and punches, a springboard moonsault into a reverse DDT, a springboard 450 splash, a phenomenal forearm from the ring to the outside. Each looked absolutely devastating and each was met with a bigger reaction as the heels managed to interfere and prevent the pin. In particular, the Lionsault into the 450 brings the crowd to their feet and when Kofi is pulled out of the ring before the referee hits three, the crowd are at fever pitch.

The others play their part as the veteran Chris Jericho manages to break up pins, isolate Big E and brings out some of his own high flying moves that we rarely see these days. Meanwhile The New Day are in the form of their careers at this point and find the perfect balance between comedy and legit threat. The match finished when Big E seamlessly reverses a Codebreaker attempt into a Big Ending and all five guys get a standing ovation.

This match is a clinic. It shows how to use time effectively, shows that often less is more, it makes all five guys look fantastic. The showcasing of AJ works brilliantly not just to present him as legit but for another reason too – the Chicago crowd go wild for him and chant his name throughout. Boom, there’s the perfect reason for Chris Jericho turning on AJ after the match. He was excellent too, but the crowd have only chanted for one man. Perfect.

- Andy

PS – Psycho asked me to write this very early which I can only assume means you bastards HUGELY underrated this match. Assholes.

Points: 86
Highest Rank: #6(Andy, takerson)
6 lists total

[Psycho666Soldier]

To no overload today, #21 and #20 will be out next.

Both of these matches just barely missed my list. They were both higher at one point, and were in my Top 25, but when I chopped it down to 20, I just couldn't justify ranking them higher than certain other matches. New Day/Y2AJ in particular was heart-breaking. I really liked that match, and I knew Andy was a huge advocate for it. But on rewatch, I just couldn't put it higher on my list. But it was a great match regardless.

[BGMaverick]

Absolutely loved New Day versus Y2AJ. It was helping set the table for those to truly enjoy AJ in WWE.

[Rancid_Planet]

I really, really liked Nakamura/Balor. I had it at 11.

The match just felt big time to me. One of those matches that creates at atmosphere of excitement that, sadly, the main roster had a hard time competing with. The match itself was really good as well.

New Day/AJ made my list at 20. I hadn't even orginally considered it but when I started my rewatching process there were a few matches that others went nuts for that I knew I should take a look at it. And it impressed. That's just a great tv tag match.

[RFF Champ]

Wow. #5 ranking by a member. Surprising. I liked this match but didn't consider it when compiling my list. It was good, but nothing special. I grew tired of seeing these two wrestle after a while.

I couldn't make a convincing argument for anyone other than AJ that has had a better year than Charlotte. She is the complete performer and everything she has touched has been fantastic. I say that disliking how much the title has been tarted about.

[Andy]

Y2AJ/ND is superb. It serves its purpose wonderfully and then goes and delivers a hell of a lot more. There's a few matches I just couldn't put it above but I could've easily made an argument for it being top 5.

[Honey_Badger]

I went back and watched this match again, Y2AJ versus New Day, and I definitely did not appreciate the match enough the first time around. I believe I had 3 tag team matches ranked higher. After a second viewing, I would have ranked this match a bit higher upon the second go around. AJ stole the show.

[Psycho666Soldier]

#21

RAW Women's Championship
Charlotte(C) vs. Sasha Banks
RAW 7/25


Earlier I stated that there is much debate over what was the best of the Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks series. But of all the matches they crafted, this is the defining one that every single fan will remember forever. After months of Sasha battling with injury and rumored doubt from higher-ups, many wondered if we would ever see The Boss get her time to shine on the main roster. Finally, we were given the title match for which we waited the better part of a year. Charlotte, by this point, was truly starting to grasp her role as the "Queen," and the little mannerisms and comments she makes in this and subsequent matches always makes the result feel like a bigger deal. Never before has a woman in WWE truly felt like the woman to beat and personified it so effortlessly. Sasha's wily tenacity bleeds through, having a counter for much of Charlotte's offense and even performing an ode to her inspiration, Eddie Guerrero, to cleverly eliminate Dana Brooke from the equation. Her offense is at times reckless, but it does add to the feeling that she's going all out, and it proves too much for Charlotte to handle.

I can not pay enough tribute to the way these ladies pay special attention to every spot, utilizing every detail to milk the most out of one move or gesture. A simple neckbreacker becomes more when it starts as a counter to a suplex and takes another counter struggle to finally drop a move. That's why the fundamentals of chain-wrestling are so important. It gives you the entertaining transitions to reach a more impactful goal, and gets you thinking how to craft a good counter sequence for bigger moves. Sasha and Charlotte show that understanding powerfully here and any time they square off, and it builds the anticipation to a boiling point. And when the moment comes that Sasha and Charlotte and trading their signature submissions, the crowd are chomping at the bit for that relief - that moment when the tension releases, and ideally their hero comes out victorious. And when Charlotte finally does tap to the Bank Statement in a heart-wrenching struggle, the catharsis causes the arena to explode, and fans worldwide to feel all gooey and feely.

For some, there might have been better matches between the two, but there's no denying that this one had this highest stakes and the most emotions packed into it. And that feeling will last longer than a collection of awesome spots ever could.

Points: 88
Highest Rank: #4(Cewsh)
5 lists total

[Andy]

Just missed out for me. Much preferred the other one that's made the list so far.

[Ringo]

Just made my list at number 25. It was an impressive start to their big main roster rivalry but I think they would better it a few times in the months that followed.

[Cewsh]

Easily the most emotional and satisfying match in the series.

[Tainted Eclipse]

none of their matches made my list, but this is the one i wish i'd remembered to put on.

[Sasori]

Didn't like this very much until the last 5 min. or so and Sasha nearly broke her neck with the suicide dive. Winning the title for the first time is definitely a great moment for the Boss, but the match isn't one of my favs.

[Murphy]

Yeah, what Cewsh said. Made my top 10. Loved it.

[Psycho666Soldier]

#20

WWE Women's Championship
Charlotte(C) vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks
WrestleMania 32 4/3


It's crazy to think that little more than a year ago, women were being called Divas and were lucky to get 5 minutes of ring time. And now we see the Women's Championship defended in the main event of RAW and we don't bat an eye at it. A lot sure has changed in the Women's Division, starting with the name. And while it was a bumpy road to get here, and the "Diva's Revolution" took a while to actually mean anything, this was the official turning point in everything changing. Before the bell even rings, the presentation is absolutely different. They get a lengthy video packaged succeeded by three extravagant entrances, including guest stars Snoop Dogg and Ric Flair. And this is the final match that will be fought for the Divas Championship, as they are officially christening the new WWE Women's Championship. And all throughout the months coming up to this, this has been built as one of the marquee matches of the entire show. To say we are in a new era is an understatement.

They blaze into a red-hot start with a quick pace, and with tiny botch aside, the action is non-stop. In fact, the pace never slows down, as it stays lightning-hot from beginning to end. This creates an atmosphere of necessity: the necessity of victory. Whomever wins this match will be recognized as the first official Women's Champion in over half a decade, at the biggest stage of them all, and they will be known as the best of what is becoming the greatest era in women's wrestling. The colliding storylines coming in help fuel that atmosphere, with Becky having come so close to taking Charlotte's arm away with her championship, and Sasha being left out in the dark while the division began to flourish. So every spot, every slam, every limb twisted feels important. The insane creativity of these women does a lot to help as well, as they execute spots in inventive or forgotten ways, like the somewhat botched, yet cleverly saved Double Sunset Flip. Or how about in the way they create drama, such as when Becky and Charlotte lock each other with their finishing submissions respectively, and Sasha remains tenacious in breaking both up - capping it off with a Frogsplash to boot. And they're never shy to bring in high-risk spots, like Sasha's hesitation senton to the outside or Charlotte with her trademark Moonsault off a high elevation. And while Sasha and Charlotte are expected to be the star attractions here, this is perhaps Becky Lynch's best showing yet. She shows off her "straight fiyah" with an amazing array of Suplexes and a viciousness that bleeds through her pores.

The match builds into a grueling struggle: heavy blows being hurled, every lady bringing out their best maneuvers, including some hidden gems we didn't know they were all capable of. Linking into submissions off each other and tossing each other off turnbuckles. They pull out all the stops and cement their legacy for the entire world to see. And it is so wonderful to see. The match could have easily fallen short of expectations and ruined the division for years to come. But instead, we had all women at their highest caliber pushing the bar farther for an entire culture with a stand-out match that would impress any body. Most clamored for the Queen to finally be vanquished here, but her victory was not only an incredibly hot finish. It was the woman who worked that much harder to stake her claim and cement her own legacy as the greatest female wrestler of all-time, and when the dust settles, Charlotte will be at the forefront of that discussion.

Points: 91
Highest Rank: #6(Alex, Dr_Seldon)
8 lists total

[Honey_Badger]

Had this at #16 - excellent match. Best woman's bout of the year.

[Rancid_Planet]

I had this at number 12 on my list which I'm sure seems a little high to some who might just be judging based on the ring work alone. But this wasn't just a match it was a moment. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work by the WWE to bring women's wrestling back to prominence. It was the three key faces of this new movement battling each other in the same match. It was the moment that a serious title was first introduced and given to the women to eliminate any silly undetones of the previous incarnation.

It was a good match and a HUGE moment.

[Sasori]

This is the only match I felt guilty about leaving off my list (It just barely missed the cut at #21). While I don't think it was quite as good as the ones that did make my list, I think it was the most important Women's match that took place last year. It was the Culmination of the Women's Revolution and the debut of the new Women's Title. A complete 180 from the year before

[Andy]

Had it at 18. Best womens match of the year for me and certainly the best Mania match.

[Badger]

Did consider it for my top 10, but it barely missed out.

[Ringo]

#20 for me too. The whole presentation of this match was just perfect - pre-match and post-match included. One of the few things that was in 5+ hours. Legitimately stole the show, did a lot for Charlotte and a good deal for the other two as well. I did have three women's championship matches higher, however.

[Dr_Seldon]

Great match, best one on the Wrestlemania 32 card. While the action might not have been really crisp enough to validate my ranking of 6, at least compared to some matches I had below it, there are things that more than make up for it. It just felt important and fresh. And there was genuine emotions involved. You could see it on the girls in the match, and I could feel it in myself.

Also nice with a match where you feel sympathy for the faces, and hope that they win, and even get annoyed when the heel prevails.

[Psycho666Soldier]

#19

Kota Ibushi vs. Brian Kendrick
Cruiserweight Classic 8/31


The Cruiserweight Classic produced many of the best matches this year. Let's get that part out of the way right now.

With this match, the story is simple. It's the crafty veteran vs. the talented, younger high flyer. It's the favorite of the tournament vs. the Cinderella story of the tournament. You have Kota Ibushi, who is trying to cement his legacy as one of the best in this weight class in the World. Then you have The Brian Kendrick, a man who has been given one final chance to prove himself to us, but maybe even more importantly to the higher ups in the WWE. Kendrick needed this match to prove that he still had it, and Ibushi needed this match to prove he was the best in the World.

From the beginning of this bout, Kendrick set out to try and force Ibushi to make a mistake: he tries goading him to the outside to start the match, he blows him a kiss to try to get into his head, then tries to head out again. Ibushi isn't having it. He starts on fire with some huge kicks followed by his golden triangle moonsault only minutes into the match. It seems at this point it may be a wash.

Kendrick rolls to the other side and even traps Ibushi onto the outside, but Kota is resiliant. Then after stiff kicks it would seem Kota has this back into his wheelhouse. He ends up on the apron and gives Kendrick a hard shot to the face. Both men on the apron on either side of one of the ring posts. Ibushi goes for Kendrick, but Brian tears off one of the covers and delivers a neckbreaker right onto it. The tide has turned.



The storytelling here is really outstanding with Kendrick digging into his bag of tricks to try and stop the juggernaut that is Ibushi. Credit goes to Daniel Bryan and Mauro Renallo as well for helping tell the story of the neck problems Ibushi had before the tournament.

Some incredible sequences with Kendrick getting the Sliced Bread into a choke on the top rope to one of the most amazing Pele kicks to ever be done. That would lead to a huge German suplex to Kendrick from the outside back in. Both guys doing some tricky spots to pull this one out.



Ibushi can't finish him off. Kendrick is so crafty.

This next spot turned people off of the match, but for me it put this one over the top.



The Burning Hammer. One of the most devastating moves in wrestling from Kendrick onto Ibushi who must be in such paint at this point. Still not enough.

Ballsy move to go for, but I literally jumped out of my seat when I first saw it. Incredible.

The crescendo into the finish is amazing. Add on the fanboy like commentary from Daniel Bryan, which I loved, you have an amazing match. The crowd bought into every false finish. Ibushi missed the Phoenix Splash and Kendrick had him in the Bully Choke. Finally, one last kick to the head and the Golden Star Powerbomb ends this journey for Kendrick.

Kendrick worked his ass off to show everyone that he was still a threat in this tournament. He pulled out all of the stops. Ibushi has a name that I feel makes his opponents want to step up, and that happened. Ibushi sold his ass off for Kendrick and Kendrick did the same.

They had the live crowd in the palm of their hand, and I was there as well. Every time I see this match, I have goosebumps at the end. Any match that gets me to feel that way deserves to be included as one of the best matches of the year. The emotional journey of Kendrick and the aftermath with the handshake and hug, "Brian Kendrick" chants, Daniel Bryan getting emotional along with Kendrick, and then the hug between Daniel Bryan and Brian Kendrick was the cherry on top of this glorious sundae that these two competitors made.

Thank you Bryan.

Thank you Ibushi.

Thank you WWE



-kdestiny

Points: 103
Highest Rank: #4(Tainted Eclipse)
6 lists total

[Cewsh]

You don't do the fucking burning hammer.

Other than that, it was a very good match.

[Kdestiny]

You don't do the fucking burning hammer.

Other than that, it was a very good match.

I guess since I am not as well versed in NJPW or much Japanese Wrestling at all, I saw it as a holy shit moment where Kendrick was truly doing whatever it took to win. I jumped out of my seat because I thought it was a crazy spot.

[Cewsh]

It's hard for me to get past the history of the move, which was designed over YEARS to be a kill move above and beyond any other, and which was only used less than 10 times ever by the guy who invented it to protect it and because it was dangerous, and enjoy seeing it used as a fucking transition move in a crusierweight match.

But yeah, if you're not familiar there's no reason for that to be a hang up. And it was a very good match all around.

[Rancid_Planet]

Didn't make my list. Granted I don't think I'm as in love with the CW style as much as many others are. Still a good match. Ibushi is in my top 25 twice but this just wasn't one of them.

[Honey_Badger]

I actually missed this match. I meant to get around to it, but never did.

[Andy]

I started reading the review and couldn't remember why it didn't make my list. Then I remembered it was the Burning Hammer match. Fucking stupid.

[Honey_Badger]

Why is everyone shitting on this "burning hammer" move so much? Is it because the move didn't finish off Ibushi, or just the move in general?

[Psycho666Soldier]

Why is everyone shitting on this "burning hammer" move so much? Is it because the move didn't finish off Ibushi, or just the move in general?

It's a mixture. Some people feel both, some people feel strongly about one or the other. I'm only bothered by the fact that it didn't finish the match, but I don't mind it being used otherwise, as long as it's not overdone.

[Andy]

The move itself for me.

[Sasori]

The Burning Hammer pissed me off, but not enough to outright exclude the match. It made my Top 10.

[Rancid_Planet]

Slept with the wrong chick.

Gave me the burning hammer.

[Psycho666Soldier]

#18

John Cena vs. AJ Styles
Money in the Bank 6/19


It feels so natural that sometimes its easy to forget that has been a legendary match in the making. But John Cena and AJ Styles more than live up to that hype whenever they lock-up. And while a questionable finish keeps this one from being the true classic that it should be, everything before that is the definition of a dream match between the star of TNA who was rejected by WWE, and the poster boy of WWE for the last decade. And WWE must have seen the dollar signs when their first face-to-face was met with a raucous chorus of "AJ STY-LES! LET'S GO CE-NA!" It was a moment that sent chills down my spine, and it's recreated organically when they finally step inside the ring at Money in the Bank.

Once the intial buzz quells...relatively...we get a taste of the typical WWE formula of which Cena is a veteran: heel dominates most of the match while the babyface gets a big comeback. But here, they play it up to make it a true mechanic of the match. Instead of AJ Styles having complete control the entire time, John Cena keeps trying to push through AJ's offense. Styles outwrestles John Cena, and even attempts to literally run circles around him. Whenever Cena does seem to get a chain of offense, Styles reverses the momentum before Cena can hit anything with lasting impact. To his credit, Cena is quick to show he's now slouch in the ring these days, as he busts rare moves like his monkey flip and a belly-to-belly suplex early on. But again, this only plays to the narrative that's being told here: AJ Styles is on a level of performing that Cena has never dealt with since he was fighting stars before his time. AJ Styles is a complete equal, and Cena is so flustered by this that he pulls out oddities from his arsenal before he can even think about a flying forearm. It's like no one informed him that he was facing the second coming of Shawn Michaels.

And while the narrative and the wrestling fueled by it might be the bread and butter, another key element of this match is the atmosphere. The crowd were electrified the entire time, eating up every single strike, slam, and especially every tease of a finish. When Cena locks in the STF before he even landed one Attitude Adjustment, the crowd boo furiously in fear that AJ might actually tap. And they cheer wildly in kind when Styles slips on a Calf Crusher soon after. But not only is the atmosphere palpable thanks to the crowd. There is just a different vibe captured between these two. When they go for a spot, it feels different than your normal spot. Everything is transitioned smoothly or properly saved if there was a mistake. Styles manner of countering Cena's signature spots is astounding, while Cena makes every run of offense feel like a powerhouse rush. And when John Cena does finally go for an AA, the finish is incredibly believable. Even on rewatch, when Styles kicked out, I rejoiced knowing the match would continue, and in that single moment AJ was made a star. Again, labeling AJ Styles as an equal to John Cena.

The match goes on to greater heights before ending with the aforementioned questionable finish, where Gallows and Anderson interfere despite being booked in a contract where they could not. And the ending does deflate what otherwise could have been THE match of the year. But the impact of everything that they achieved in the ring, on top of the fact that AJ did at least win, resonated strong enough to push this match ahead of the rest, firmly at #18 in the matches of 2016.

Points: 108
Highest Rank: #3(Hero!)
5 lists total

[Rancid_Planet]

Questionable heel booking at the end yes. But other than that, this match was perfect. And yes, the atmosphere was fucking insane. I still remember the feeling of adrenaline pumping through me as I watched this match. I guess the build was just perfect because I went in with very high expectations and just enjoyed the hell out of myself watching this match.

I had it at 4.

[Sasori]

Really liked this match. I was completely mesmerized from beginning to end. For two guys that never wrestled before, they tore the house down.

[takerson]

I actually missed this match. I meant to get around to it, but never did.

Get around to it ASAP. It's worth it.

Why is everyone shitting on this "burning hammer" move so much? Is it because the move didn't finish off Ibushi, or just the move in general?

People who know it's history as a once-every-few-years-kill-move tend to hate it. I'll tell you as someone that didn't know it's history, sitting next to someone who did know it live in the arena, that not everyone hated it. It totally added to the match for him. He jumped out of his seat "THE BURNING HAMMER?!?! THAT'S LIKE THE 7th TIME EVER THAT MOVE HAS HAPPENED HOLY SHIT!!!" and then the kickout and it made everyone in our section go even crazier.

Even the accidental finish halfway through the match didn't take the crowd out of it, which is a testament to how good it was....

You see, after the neckbreaker on the turnbuckle, Kota Ibushi was counted out accidentally. I guess he didn't realize it was a 10 count instead of 20, I don't know, but the bell rang and Brian looked confused and half-assedly celebrated while the referee frantically talked in his earpiece, before a disheveled and not TV ready William Regal came out and ordered the match restarted simply because "I will not have a countout in a match of this magnitude." and they picked up from the countout again. On TV it was expertly editted out. You would never know it happened.

Really liked this match. I was completely mesmerized from beginning to end. For two guys that never wrestled before, they tore the house down.

You see, I wanted to feel this way. I was so hyped for Cena vs. AJ. WWE's face vs. TNA's face. I wanted to be mesmerized. I was disappointed. HOWEVER. Their SummerSlam and Rumble matches far surpassed the MITB one and did what I hoped the first match would do.

[Hero!]

Why is everyone shitting on this "burning hammer" move so much? Is it because the move didn't finish off Ibushi, or just the move in general?

Because people forget this sport is fake

[Cewsh]

No no, it's cool. I hope the next time Darren Young needs a nice move for a near fall, he goes for a Tombstone. It's all just moves.

[Rancid_Planet]

I do kind of hope Darren Young starts using the Tombstone.

[Cewsh]

Me too. And the stunner, and the People's Elbow. Go all in.

[Badger]

For someone nicknamed "No Days Off", he's sure taken a lot of them!

Anyway Cena/Styles, had this at #7.Great match and I didn't mind the interference at the end. I think it actually added to it and sets up the Summerslam encounter nicely.

[Andy]

Before that match I'd never seen a burning hammer. It's a move that makes wrestling not wrestling anymore, where you're meant to give the illusion of hurting someone without actually doing so. The move is just dropping someone straight on their head. Stupid stupid stupid.

[MichaelC]

Back when I used to play WrestleMania 2000, I found that the Burning Hammer was in the game as a finisher (I forget under which name though). I gave it to my main CAW, and found that no matter how early in a match, you hit the opponent with it and it was a three count. Great move.

[Cewsh]

Before that match I'd never seen a burning hammer. It's a move that makes wrestling not wrestling anymore, where you're meant to give the illusion of hurting someone without actually doing so. The move is just dropping someone straight on their head. Stupid stupid stupid.

That would be true if it were an American wrestling move. It is not. It is a move influenced by, and designed for, an entirely different wrestling culture. But you do hit on a big reason why it's so stupid to have in this match. In its proper context it makes sense. To do it in WWE where fans have been carefully taught that head drops are taboo, it's fucking stupid.

[Slutty McWhoreface]

The burning hammer-- and super finishers of that nature should be utilized by WWE performers during blow-off matches...

that way they can stop kicking-out of each others' finishers... rendering them fucking useless.

I wouldn't anticipate Cena and company busting out Victory Star Drops or Burning Hammers anytime soon-- but I'm sure they could come up with something more compelling and less predictable by following in Japan's footsteps.

actually... they wouldn't even have to do that...

something like Brock's vicious Triple Powerbombs; Orton's head punt; Seth's Curb Stomp; Jericho's Lion-Tamer, and things of that nature can bring something different to the table; instead of the played-out 5-dozen AA's and other "finishers" that are now seemingly the norm in this day and age.

[Rancid_Planet]

Ultimate finishers. Rarely pulled out and never kicked out of.

I like it.

[Psycho666Soldier]

That's always been one of my favorite tropes in wrestling. Each wrestler having that Ace in the Hole when nothing else works, or they need to take out someone instantly.

Had a break on Sunday. #17 and #16 incoming.

[Psycho666Soldier]

#17

NXT Tag Team Championships
The Revival(C) vs. American Alpha
NXT Takeover: Dallas 4/1


The NXT Tag Team Division is a tale of possibility that, for a few years, could never be reached. Many good prospects were there, but between injuries, roster cuts, and call-ups, no true momentum could be sustained. After The Ascension dominated over an empty roster, things started to improve with the likes of Lucha Dragons, The Vaudevillains, and particularly Enzo & Cass. But the same problems as before persisted while lesser teams just couldn't seem to capture the audience. Enter American Alpha and The Revival, two teams that could carry a tag division on their own. The Alphas wrestling ability is nearly unmatched, both in move execution and putting together a story, and the crowd eats up their act with ease. Their debut was well built and hyped, while Scott Dawson toiled through different incarnations of what eventually became The Mechanics, his partnership with Dash Wilder. And while they were basically jobbers with a gimmick for a long time, they started getting more time to shine, and gaining traction with the crowd. And just when the act was starting to click, NXT took a chance and pulled the trigger on them by putting over how dangerous they can get in order to win their prize. And thus began the legend of The Revival. A legend that American Alpha sought to tear down.

Here we have American Alpha and The Revival on a big stage, proving why they are being dubbed the future of tag team wrestling. And it becomes immediately apparent with how well each team plays to the crowd. They are constantly invested while the tandems battle for control. And the battle is filled with awe-inspiring moments like the double german suplex after Jordan saves Gable from a vertical suplex. Those moments show excellent teamwork and makes the tag matches feel like they serve a different purpose in the ring. Revival fluidly work together to bend the rules and keep the Alphas divided, and the Alphas are constantly looking out for each other when they can outwit the cheeky Revival. Revival are truly running full force here, as they take every little opening to distract the ref or get a sneak hit in. Between all that, they are just laying heavy hands into the Alphas' flesh, and all these tactics keep Jordan and more so Gable from making frequent tags.

But despite all of The Revival's roughneck tactics, American Alpha are far too resilient. And all it takes is one kink in the well-oiled machine that holds the Tag Titles for Jordan and Gable to unleash a bided fury that The Revival can't seem to fight past. Jordan embodies this energy when he explodes in a hot tag and flings both of the Tag Champs around like sacks of potatoes. Gable is a master technician, though, which allows him to maintain control and momentum when on the mat. And the entire finishing stretch - from Gable and Dawson wrestling for a pinfall to Jordan sneakily landing a tag to set up the final Grand Amplitude - has so much energy that the crowd ignites with passion when new Tag Team Champions are crowned. The moment feels truly special, much like this match in general, for being a true example of what tag team wrestling should be in the modern era. And both teams would continue to demonstrate that style throughout the year, creating a couple new stars on the way.

Points: 117
Highest Rank: #6(MJH1986)
8 lists total

[Honey_Badger]

I had this at #12.

There were 4 tag team matches on my list. This was #3 of 4 total, in terms of rankings.

Excellent, excellent match and at the time, honestly on of the best tag matches I had seen in a while. I believe this is the match that put Revival on the map for guys like Austin, Foley and some other legends. Impressive performance from both teams, but truly excellent heel work and dynamic from Revival.

[Cewsh]

Fabulous match. Overshadowed a bit by the DIY tags, but right in the same class.