The end of the year (and the decade!) is rapidly approaching. So it’s time to look back over the past year and pick out some of my favorite matches. 2019 was a fantastic year for wrestling with so much great content and so many great performers. In fact, cutting the list down to ten was a bit of a challenge. This is a personal list so there wasn’t any strict grading criteria…other than how much I liked the match.
Honorable Mention: Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre-WWE WrestleMania 35
This match definitely isn’t the best one on the list. It wasn’t even the best one on the card. But this was Reigns’ first singles match since his second battle with Leukemia. This was a story that went beyond the ring, with a triumphant return that made many of us emotional.
10. Charlotte Flair vs Trish Stratus-WWE SummerSlam
At this point, I’ve been watching wrestling for about twenty years. I’ve watched the evolution of the women’s division in real-time. Both of these women are icons of their respective eras and this match really played up that story. I felt that it was one of those “passing of the torch” moments we sometimes see in WWE and while the ring work wasn’t the best, I found myself drawn to the story behind it.
9. Jon Moxley vs Juice Robinson for the IWGP United States Championship-NJPW Best of the Super Juniors
Mox had done a few other indie shows around this time, but this was one of the first matches I saw of his since he left WWE. The fact that I got up at zero dark thirty to watch it just shows how much I love Mr. Good. I quite enjoyed this match, it kept me engaged, and Mox has great thighs. Oh, and Mox won the title!
8. Rosemary vs Su Yung “Demon Collar Match”-Impact 5/17/19
I know some people don’t care much for super gimmicky characters or matches, but I’m a sucker for it if done correctly. And done correctly, this was. I commend both Rosemary and Su Yung for their commitment to their characters and Impact for the special effects and booking of the match.
7. Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch vs Sasha Banks and Bayley-WWE Smackdown 10/4/19
I love the Four Horsewomen! They all have great chemistry when working together and usually crank out some fine matches. In this particular match, we had the precarious tandem of Flair and Lynch along with the freshly-turned heel Bayley and her bestie Sasha. Not to mention, this took place right before the Hell in a Cell match between Lynch and Banks.
6. Adam Cole vs Johnny Gargano 2/3 Falls Match for the NXT Championship-NXT Takeover: Toronto
A little long and overdone, but it was a fantastic match that left me emotionally spent at its conclusion. I have watched the third fall bout several times since the event.
5. El Phantasmo vs Will Ospreay-NJPW King of Pro Wrestling
ELP is someone I have been watching for a little bit but with his recent addition to the Bullet Club, I’ve become even more invested. Ospreay is gold with pretty much anyone he wrestles with. It was a bit of a dark horse match, but ultimately ended up being my favorite.
4. The Shield vs Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, and Baron Corbin-WWE Stomping Grounds
One word describes this match: chaotic. It was so chaotic, fast-paced, and there were bodies everywhere. It really hearkened back to the old Shield days. Add in the emotions of Ambrose’s imminent departure and Reigns’ recent return to the ring and you get this car crash of a match.
3. Team Rhea Ripley vs Team Shayna Baszler War Games Match-NXT War Games III
The first-ever women’s war games match! The dramatic Dakota Kai heel turn! I literally could not stop watching once this match started. I’m so proud of and happy for every women who competed in this match.
2. Private Party vs Young Bucks-AEW Dynamite 10/9/19
If you didn’t know, I’ve become one of the biggest Private Party fans ever. I think this match came off as a bit of a spot-fest to some but I absolutely loved it and came away with an even bigger love for Private Party. Also, they won so there’s that.
- Jon Moxley vs Kenny Omega “Lights Out Match”-AEW Full Gear
This match earns its spot because I was there in Baltimore to see this one live. There was so much going on. I can’t believe they fell onto a table lined with barbed wire. It was fantastically violent and the subject of much controversy after the fact.
