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Mathew’s Top Matches of 2019: Honorable Mentions

Mathew brings us over 250 honorable mentions. Another action packed year, if these just missed the cut, what made his Top 25?

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It’s around that time of year again where all of us write down our top matches of the year.

Just like last year, I would do my honorable mentions first before I do my actual countdown. It’s been a great year for professional wrestling and too many great matches but I can, unfortunately, pick 25 as my favorites.

Down below will be a list of matches from various promotions and which ones I enjoyed but didn’t make the cut. If you don’t see a certain match on here, that means that it either made it to my list, I didn’t get a chance to watch it, or just I didn’t like it.

These are my honorable mentions, in no particular order.

WWE:

  1. Pete Dunne vs. Joe Coffey (NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool 1/12/2019)
  2. Johnny Gargano vs. Ricochet (NXT Takeover: Phoenix 1/26/2019)
  3. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Aleister Black (NXT Takeover: Phoenix 1/26/2019)
  4. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch (Royal Rumble 1/27/2019)
  5. AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan (Royal Rumble 1/27/2019)
  6. Velveteen Dream vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT 1/30/2019)
  7. AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton vs. Samoa Joe (Smackdown 2/12/2019)
  8. Akira Tozawa vs. Buddy Murphy (Elimination Chamber 2/17/2019)
  9. AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton vs. Samoa Joe (Elimination Chamber 2/17/2019)
  10. Daniel Bryan vs. Kevin Owens vs. Mustafa Ali (Fastlane 3/10/2019)
  11. Adam Cole vs. Aleister Black vs. Matt Riddle vs. Ricochet vs. Velveteen Dream (NXT 3/13/2019)
  12. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair (Smackdown 3/26/2019)
  13. Dominik Dijakovic vs. Harper (Worlds Collide 4/4/2019)
  14. Matt Riddle vs. Velveteen Dream (NXT Takeover: New York 4/5/2019)
  15. WALTER vs. Pete Dunne (NXT Takeover: New York 4/5/2019)
  16. Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT Takeover: New York 4/5/2019)
  17. AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton (Wrestlemania 35 4/7/2019)
  18. Tony Neese vs. Buddy Murphy (205 Live 4/9/2019)
  19. Buddy Murphy vs. Velveteen Dream (NXT 4/17/2019)
  20. AJ Styles vs. Seth Rollins (Money in the Bank 5/19/2019)
  21. Roderick Strong vs. Matt Riddle (NXT Takeover: XXV 6/1/2019)
  22. Chad Gable vs. Gentleman Jack Gallagher (205 Live 6/11/2019)
  23. Io Shirai vs. Shayna Baszler (NXT 6/12/2019)
  24. Chad Gable vs. Gentleman Jack Gallagher (205 Live 7/16/2019)
  25. Candice LaRae vs. Io Shirai (NXT Takeover: Toronto 8/10/2019)
  26. Pete Dunne vs. Velveteen Dream vs. Roderick Strong (NXT Takeover: Toronto 8/10/2019)
  27. Ricochet vs. AJ Styles (Summerslam 8/11/2019)
  28. Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar (Summerslam 8/11/2019)
  29. Roman Reigns vs. Buddy Murphy (Smackdown 8/13/2019)
  30. Daniel Bryan vs. Buddy Murphy (Smackdown 8/20/2019)
  31. Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews vs. James Drake & Zack Gibson vs. Mark Coffey & Wolfgang (NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff
  32. 8/31/2019)
  33. Baron Corbin vs. Chad Gable (Raw 9/16/2019)
  34. Adam Cole vs. Matt Riddle (NXT 10/2/2019)
  35. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks (Hell in a Cell 10/6/2019)
  36. KUSHIDA vs. WALTER (NXT 10/9/2019)
  37. Dominik Dijakovic vs. Keith Lee vs. Roderick Strong (10/23/2019)
  38. Adam Cole vs. Daniel Bryan (Smackdown 11/1/2019)
  39. Angel Garza vs. Lio Rush (NXT 11/13/2019)
  40. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson (NXT 11/20/2019)
  41. Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong vs. Dominik Dijakovic, Keith Lee, Kevin Owens & Tommaso Ciampa (NXT Takeover: Wargames 11/23/2019)
  42. Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, Kay Lee Ray & Shayna Baszler vs. Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Rhea Ripley & Tegan Nox (NXT Takeover: Wargames 11/23/2019)
  43. Braun Strowman, King Corbin, Mustafa Ali, Roman Reigns & Shorty G vs. Damian Priest, Keith Lee, Matt Riddle, Tommaso Ciampa & WALTER vs. Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, Ricochet & Seth Rollins (Survivor Series 11/24/2019)
  44. AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Roderick Strong (Survivor Series 11/24/2019)
  45. Adam Cole vs. Pete Dunne ( Survivor Series11/24/2019)
  46. Angel Garza vs. Lio Rush (NXT 12/11/2019)
  47. Humberto Carrillo vs. Andrade (TLC 12/15/2019)
  48. Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy (TLC 12/15/2019)
  49. Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole (NXT 12/18/2019)
  50. Rhea Ripley vs. Shayna Baszler (NXT 12/18/2019)

NJPW:

  1. Will Ospreay vs. Kota Ibushi (Wrestle Kingdom 13 1/4/2019)
  2. Tetsuya Naito vs. Chris Jericho (Wrestle Kingdom 13 1/4/2019)
  3. Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada (Wrestle Kingdom 13 1/4/2019)
  4. Taiji Ishimori vs. KUSHIDA Wrestling Kingdom 13 1/4/2019)
  5. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KUSHIDA (Road to New Beginning 1/29/2019)
  6. Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi (New Beginning in Sapporo 2/3/2019)
  7. Jay White vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (New Beginning in Osaka (2/11/2019)
  8. Will Ospreay vs. Jay White (47th Anniversary 3/6/2019)
  9. Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Taiji Ishomori (47th Anniversary 3/6/2019)
  10. Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito (New Japan Cup 3/10/2019)
  11. Tomohiro Ishii vs. Taichi (New Japan Cup 3/13/2019)
  12. Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii (New Japan Cup 3/23/2019)
  13. SANADA vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (New Japan Cup 3/23/2019)
  14. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr (G1 Supercard 4/6/2019)
  15. Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito (G1 Supercard 4/6/2019)
  16. Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White (G1 Supercard 4/6/2019)
  17. Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA (Wrestling Dontaku 5/4/2019)
  18. Shingo Takagi vs. SHO (BOSJ 5/13/2019)
  19. Rocky Romero vs. Will Ospreay (BOSJ 5/16/2019)
  20. Will OSpreay vs. El Phantasmo (BOSJ 5/22/2019)
  21. Dragon Lee vs. Shingo Takagi (BOSJ 5/23/2019)
  22. Will Ospreay vs. Bandido (BOSJ5/23/2019)
  23. Rocky Romero vs. El Phantasmo (BOSJ 5/24/2019)
  24. Will Ospreay vs. Robbie Eagles (BOSJ 5/26/2019)
  25. Taiji Ishimori vs. Shingo Takagi (BOSJ 5/31/2019)
  26. Will Ospreay vs. Ryusuke Taguchi (BOSJ 6/3/2019)
  27. Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson (BOSJ 6/5/2019)
  28. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White (BOSJ 6/5/2019)
  29. Shingo Takagi vs. Satoshi Kojima (Dominion 6/9/2019)
  30. Will Ospreay vs. Dragon Lee (Dominion 6/9/2019)
  31. Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito (Dominion 6/9/2019)
  32. Will Ospreay vs. Robbie Eagles (Southern Showdown 6/29/2019)
  33. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada (G1 Climax 7/6/2019)
  34. Zack Sabre Jr vs. SANADA (G1 Climax 7/6/2019)
  35. Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer (G1 Climax 7/6/2019)
  36. Jay White vs. Hirooki Goto (G1 Climax 7/13/2019)
  37. Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb (G1 Climax 7/13/2019)
  38. Shingo Takagi vs. Juice Robinson (G1 Climax 7/13/2019)
  39. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA (G1 Climax 7/14/2019)
  40. Kota Ibushi vs. EVIL (G1 Climax 7/14/2019)
  41. Kazuchika Okada vs. Zack Sabre Jr (G1 Climax 7/14/2019)
  42. Will Ospreay vs. SANADA (G1 Climax 7/14/2019)
  43. Jay White vs. Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Climax 7/15/2019)
  44. Will Ospreay vs. Kota Ibushi (G1 Climax 7/18/2019)
  45. EVIL vs. SANADA (G1 Climax 7/18/2019)
  46. Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jon Moxley (G1 Climax 7/19/2019)
  47. Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi (G1 Climax 7/19/2019)
  48. Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay (G1 Climax 7/20/2019)
  49. Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Climax 7/24/2019)
  50. Jon Moxley vs. Shingo Takagi (G1 Climax 7/24/2019)
  51. Lance Archer vs. Kota Ibushi (G1 Climax 7/27/2019)
  52. Kazuchika Okada vs. KENTA (G1 Climax 7/27/2019)
  53. Tetsuya Naito vs. Jon Moxley (G1 Climax 7/28/2019)
  54. Jay White vs. Shingo Takagi (G1 Glimax 7/28/2019)
  55. Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr (G1 Climax 7/30/2019)
  56. EVIL vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (G1 Climax 7/30/2019)
  57. Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA (G1 Climax 8/3/2019)
  58. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi (G1 Climax 8/3/2019)
  59. Jay White vs. Jon Moxley (G1 Climax 8/4/2019)
  60. Tetsuya Naito vs. Shingo Takagi (G1 Climax 8/4/2019)
  61. Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL (G1 Climax 8/7/2019)
  62. Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr (G1 Climax 8/7/2019)
  63. Will Ospreay vs. KENTA (G1 Climax 8/7/2019)
  64. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Will Ospreay (8/10/2019)
  65. Lance Archer vs. EVIL (G1 Climax 8/10/2019)
  66. Hirooki Goto vs. Shingo Takagi (G1 Climax (8/11/2019)
  67. Taichi vs. Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Climax 8/11/2019)
  68. Tetsuya Naito vs. Jay White (G1 Climax 8/11/2019)
  69. Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White (G1 Climax 8/12/2019)
  70. Will Ospreay vs. Amazing Red (Super J Cup 8/22/2019)
  71. SHO vs. Will Ospreay (Super J Cup 8/24/2019)
  72. El Phantasmo vs. Dragon Lee (Super J Cup 8/25/2019)
  73. KENTA vs. Tomohiro Ishii (Royal Quest 8/31/2019)
  74. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr (Royal Quest 8/31/2019)
  75. Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki (Royal Quest 8/31/2019)
  76. KENTA vs. Kota Ibushi (Destruction in Kagoshima 9/16/2019)
  77. Hirooki Goto vs. Shingo Takagi (Destruction in Kobe 9/22/2019)
  78. Tetsuya Naito vs. Jay White (Destruction in Kobe 9/22/2019)
  79. Kazuchika Okada & Kota Ibushi vs. EVIL & SANADA (New Japan Road 10/7/2019)
  80. Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Minoru Suzuki (Kings of Pro Wrestling 10/14/2019)
  81. Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA (Kings of Pro Wrestling 10/14/2019)
  82. Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (Super Junior Tag League 10/16/2019)
  83. KENTA vs. Tomohiro Ishii (Power Struggle 11/3/2019)
  84. Will Ospreay vs. BUSHI (Power Struggle 11/3/2019)
  85. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer vs. Zack Sabre Jr & Taichi (World Tag League 11/17/2019)
  86. EVIL & SANADA vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay (World Tag League 12/8/2019)

AJPW:

  1. Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa vs. Dylan James & Joe Doering (New Years Wars 1/2/2019)
  2. Kento Miyahara vs. KAI (New Years Wars 1/3/2019)
  3. Kento Miyahara vs. Suwama (Excite Series 2/24/2019)
  4. Kento Miyahara vs. Naoya Nomura (Dream Power Series 3/19/2019)
  5. Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa vs. Yuji Okabayashi & Daisuke Sekimoto (Dream Power Series 3/19/2019)
  6. Shuji Ishikawa vs. Yuji Okabayashi (Champion Carnival 4/4/2019)
  7. Yoshitatsu vs. Suwama (Champion Carnival 4/10/2019)
  8. Dylan James vs. Yuji Okabayashi (Champion Carnival 4/20/2019)
  9. Zeus vs. Yuji Okabayashi (Champion Carnival 4/21/2019)
  10. Jake Lee vs. Suwama (Champion Carnival 4/21/2019)
  11. Kento Miyahara vs. Yuji Okabayashi (Champion Carnival 4/25/2019)
  12. Zeus vs. Shuji Ishikawa (Champion Carnival 4/25/2019)
  13. Naoya Nomura vs. Suwama (Champion Carnival 4/28/2019)
  14. Naoya Nomura vs. Jake Lee (Champion Carnival 4/28/2019)
  15. Kento Miyahara vs. Jake Lee (Champion Carnival 4/29/2019)
  16. Kento Miyahara vs. Shuji Ishikawa (Super Power Series 5/20/2019)
  17. Kento Miyahara vs. Yoshitatsu (Dynamite Series 6/30/2019)
  18. Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa vs. Odinson & Parrow (Dynamite Series 6/30/2019)
  19. Kento Miyahara vs. Zeus (Summer Action Series 7/28/2019)
  20. Kento Miyahara, Naomichi Marufuji & Yuma Aoyagi vs. Shuhei Taniguchi, Shuji Ishikawa & Suwama (Atsushi Aoki Memorial 8/11/2019)
  21. Hitoshi Kumano & Naoya Nomura vs. Jun Akiyama & Takashi Sugiura (Atsushi Aoki Memorial 8/11/2019)
  22. Kento Miyahara vs. Jiro Kuroshio (Royal Road Tournament 9/18/2019)
  23. Kento Miyahara vs. Jake Lee (Royal Road Tournament 9/23/2019)
  24. Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi vs. Shuji Ishikawa & Suwama (Real World Tag Team League 11/11/2019)
  25. Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi vs. Naoya Nomura & Jake Lee (Real World Tag Team League (12/9/2019)

 

Dragon Gate:

  1. Naruki Doi vs. YAMATO vs. Kzy (Truth Gate 2/5/2019)
  2. Susumu Yokosuka vs. U-T (Dead or Alive 5/6/2019)
  3. Big R Shimizu vs. Kzy vs. Naruki Doi vs. Shun Skywalker vs. YAMATO (Dead or Alive 5/6/2019)
  4. PAC vs. Dragon Kid (Dead or Alive 5/6/2019)
  5. Ben-K vs. YAMATO (King of Gate 5/9/2019)
  6. Shun Skywalker vs. Masaaki Mochizuki (King of Gate 5/9/2019)
  7. Dragon Kid, Masato Yoshino & Ultimo Dragon vs. Masaaki Mochizuki, Shuji Kondo & Takuya Sugawara (Kobe Festival 7/21/2019)
  8. Kzy vs. Shun Skywalker (Kobe Festival 7/21/2019)
  9. Susumu Yokosuka vs. Flamita (Kobe Festival 7/21/2019)
  10. PAC vs. Ben-K (Kobe Festival 7/21/2019)
  11. Big R Shimizu & Eita vs. KAI & YAMATO vs. Kaito Ishida & Naruki Doi (Kobe Festival 7/21/2019)
  12. Susumu Yokosuka vs. Kaito Ishida (Gate of Destiny 11/4/2019)
  13. Ben-K vs. Masato Yoshino (Gate of Destiny 11/4/2019)
  14. Ben-K vs. Naruki Doi (Final Gate 12/15/2019)

NOAH:

  1. Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Kenou (Navigation for the Future 1/6/2019)
  2. Minoru Tanaka vs. Daisuke Harada (Great Voyage in Yokohama 3/10/2019)
  3. Takashi Sugiura vs. Go Shiozaki (Spring Navigation 3/17/2019)
  4. Go Shiozaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Takashi Sugiura & KAZMA SAKAMOTO (Global Tag League 5/4/2019)
  5. Naomichi Marufuji vs. Go Shiozaki (Misawa Memorial 6/9/2019)
  6. Go Shiozaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Takashi Sugiura & KAZMA SAKAMOTO (Global Junior Tag League 6/13/2019)
  7. Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima (Global Junior Tag League 7/27/2019)
  8. Naomichi Marufuji vs. Kotaro Suzuki (Departure 8/4/2019)
  9. Go Shiozaki vs. Alexander Hammerstone (N-1 Victory8/18/2019)
  10. Masaaki Mochizuki vs. Kenou (N-1 Victory 8/29/2019)
  11. Naomichi Marufuji vs. Takashi Sugiura (N-1 Victory 9/7/2019)
  12. Takashi Sugiura vs. Go Shiozaki (N-1 Victory 9/15/2019)
  13. Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Kenou (N-1 Victory 9/15/2019)
  14. Takashi Sugiura vs. Kenou (N-1 Victory 9/16/2019)
  15. Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Kenou (The BEST 11/2/2019)
  16. Shuhei Taniguchi vs. Kazyuki Fujita (The BEST 11/2/2019)
  17. Michael Elgin vs. Takashi Sugiura (The BEST 11/2/2019)
  18. Atsushi Kotoge vs. Daisuke Harada (Starting Over 11/16/2019)
  19. Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Go Shiozaki (Starting Over 12/3/2019)

Stardom:

  1. Kagetsu vs. Jungle Kyona (8th Anniversary 1/14/2019)
  2. Kagetsu vs. Hazuki (8th Anniversary in Osaka 1/27/2019)
  3. Mayu Iwatani vs. Konami (New Years Stars 2/24/2019)
  4. Momo Watanabe vs. Andras Miyagi (Dream Slam 3/28/2019)
  5. Bea Priestley vs. Kagetsu (QQ Produce 5/4/2019)
  6. Arisa Hoshiki vs. Momo Watanabe (Gold May 5/16/2019)
  7. Hazuki vs. Bea Priestley (Gold May 5/16/2019)
  8. Arisa Hoshiki vs. Tam Nakano (Shining Destiny 6/16/2019)
  9. Jungle Kyona & Konami vs. Momo Watanabe & Utami Hayashishita (Big Summer in Nagoya 7/15/2019)
  10. Hazuki vs. Arisa Hoshiki (Big Summer in Tokyo 7/24/2019)
  11. Arisa Hoshiki vs, Jungle Kyona (Stardom x Stardom 8/10/2018)
  12. Momo Watanabe vs. AZM (5Star Grand Prix 9/7/2019)
  13. Mayu Iwatani vs. Tam Nakano (5Star Grand Prix 9/7/2019)
  14. Kagetsu vs. Arisa Hoshiki (Champion Wars 10/14/2019)
  15. Mayu Iwatani vs. Bea Priestley (Best of Goddesses 11/4/2019)
  16. Arisa Hoshiki & Tam Nakano vs. Jungle Kyona & Konami (Goddesses of Stars 11/24/2019)
  17. Jungle Kyona & Konami vs. Riho & Starlight Kid (Goddesses of Stars 12/14/2019)
  18. Kagetsu vs. Hazuki (Goddesses of Stars 12/14/2019)

AEW:

  1. Chris Jericho vs. Kenny Omega (Double or Nothing 5/25/2019)
  2. Cody vs. Darby Allin (Fyter Fest 6/29/2019)
  3. Kenny Omega vs. CIMA (Fight for the Fallen 7/13/2019)
  4. Adam Page vs. Chris Jericho (All Out 8/31/2019)
  5. Kenny Omega vs. PAC (All Out 8/31/2019)
  6. Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley (Full Gear 11/9/2019)
  7. Cody vs. Chris Jericho (Full Gear 11/9/2019)

Misc:

  1. Shotaro Ashino vs. T-Hawk (W-1 Sunrise Tour 1/5/2019)
  2. Jiro Kuroshio vs. T-Hawk (W-1 WRESTLE WARS 3/21/2019)
  3. Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Shotaro Ashino (W-1 WRESTLE WARS 3/21/2019)
  4. Shuji Kondo vs. T-Hawk (W-1 Triumph Tour 5/3/2019)
  5. Shotaro Ashino vs. Seigo Tachibana (W-1 Outbreak Tour 6/2/2019)
  6. Daiki Inaba vs. T-Hawk (Love in Yokohama 9/1/2019)
  7. Mizuki & Yuka Sakazaki vs. Riho & Shoko Nakajima (TJP Tokyo Joshi Pro ’19 1/4/2019)
  8. Miyu Yamashita vs. Shoko Nakajima (TJP Yes! Wonderland 5/3/2019)
  9. WALTER vs. Jordan Devlin (OTT Scrappermania 5 3/16/2019)
  10. Ilja Dragunov vs. Jordan Devlin (PROGESS Chapter 91 7/6/2019)
  11. Ilja Dragunov vs. Brian Cage (wXw Road to Superstars of Rising 5/31/2019)
  12. Timothy Thatcher vs. Hideki Suzuki (Josh Barnett Bloodsport 2 4/4/2019)
  13. Bobby Gunns vs. Timothy Thatcher (wXw World Tag Team Festival 10/5/2019)
  14. Giulia vs. Saori Anou (AgZ Act in Osaka 7/21/2019)
  15. Giulia vs. Maya Yukihi (Ice Ribbon: New Ice Ribbon #962 5/25/2019)
  16. Sareee vs. Chihiro Hashimoto (Sendai Girls Big Show in Niigata 6/8/2019)
  17. Sareee vs. Chihiro Hashimoto (Sendai Girls Joshi Puroresu Big Show in Sendai 10/13/2019)
  18. Maria, Mei Hoshizuki, & Mikoto Shindo vs. Nanae Takahashi, Sareee, & Takumi Iroha (Marvelous 7/22/2019)
  19. Maya Yukihi vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto (Ice Ribbon: New Ice Ribbon #974) 8/3/2019)
  20. Nick Aldis vs. Marty Scurll (NWA Crockett Cup 4/27/2019)
  21. Nanae Takahashi vs. ASUKA (SEAdLINNNG Luckiest 3/20/2019)
  22. Nanae Takahashi vs. Takumi Iroha (SEAdLINNNG Stay Tune 5/29/2019)
  23. Jushin Thunder Liger vs. TAKA Michinoku (JTO Go 11/14/2019)
  24. Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Kohei Sato (Zero1 Happy New Year 1/1/2019)
  25. Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Yuji Hino(Zero1 9/14/2019)
  26. Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa vs. Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi (BJW To Was Gat Early 1/13/2019)
  27. Masashi Takeda vs. Toshiyuki Sakuda (BJW Death Match Survivor 2/28/2019)
  28. Isami Kodaka vs. Masashi Takeda (BJW Death Match Survivor 4/14/2019)
  29. Michael Elgin vs. Daisuke Sekimoto (BJW 8/24/2019)
  30. Yuji Okabayashi vs. Kohei Sato (BJW Death Mania VII 8/25/2019)
  31. Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Yuji Hino (Zero1 Dream Series 2/2/2019)
  32. Blue Demon Jr vs. Dr. Wagner Jr (AAA Triplemania XXVII 8/3/2019)
  33. Kenny Omega vs. Dragon Lee (AAA Triplemania Regia 12/1/2019)
  34. Kento Miyahara &Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yoshitatsu (Giant Baba Memorial 2/19/2019)
  35. Hideki Suzuki & Minoru Suzuki vs. Masato Tanaka & Naomichi Marufuji (TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 2 8/26/2019)
  36. Shuji Kondo & Suwama vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taiyo Kea (The Destroyer Memorial 11/15/2019)
  37. Kento Miyahara, Jushin Thunder Liger, & Keiji Mutoh vs. SANADA, BUSHI, & KAI (The Destroyer Memorial 11/15/2019)
  38. Mistico vs. El Barbaro Cavernario (CMLL Super Viernes 5/24/2019)
  39. Michael Elgin vs. Brian Cage (Impact Slammiversary XVII 7/7/2019)
  40. Sami Callihan vs. Tessa Blanchard (Impact Slammiversary 7/7/2019)
  41. Naomichi Marufuji vs. Michael Elgin (Impact Bound for Glory 10/20/2019)
  42. Sami Callihan vs. Brian Cage (Impact Bound for Glory 10/20/2019)
  43. Tessa Blanchard vs. Gail Kim (Impact Rebellion 4/28/2019)
  44. Bandido vs. Dragon Lee (PWG Battle of Los Angeles 9/22/2019)
  45. HARASHIMA vs. Konosuke Takeshita (DDT Ultimate Party 11/3/2019)
  46. Masato Tanaka vs. HARASHIMA (DDT D-Ou Grand Prix 12/15/2019)

That goes the list for the honorable mentions! I know it’s a lot of matches but, so much happened this year that I had to give these matches credit.

Happy Holidays and I hope you look forward to my Top 25 Matches of 2019!

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Chairshot Staff Picks: WrestleMania 41 Las Vegas

Time for The Chairshot personalities to put their money where their mouths are! WreslteMania 41 predictions from the “expert” staff at TheChairshot.com and Chairshot Radio Network.

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Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Chairshot Staff Picks. And what better setting than WrestleMania for this article to return! This 41st edition has one of the most stacked rosters in WWE history. So, without further ado, let us get to the predictions and prognostications…

  • AJ – The New Day
  • Andrew – The New Day – No one seems to hold tag titles long anymore.
  • Dave – The New Day – They have earned it.
  • DJ – The New Day – Feel tha Powah!
  • DPP – War Raiders – Big E distraction.
  • Jason – The New Day – We are not getting E in a working capacity though everyone wants it.
  • Patrick – The New Day – WWE doesn’t care about this match, so why should I?
  • Rey – The New Day – Its a New Day, bruh.
  • Rob – The New Day – New Day rocks and wins!
  • Greg – The New Day – New. Day wins. New. Day wins!

Tunney’s Take: War Machine – Yes, WAR MACHINE. I have personally had the pleasure of throwing back a few cold ones with these guys on more than one occasion. Not only being tag champs in WWE but defending the titles at Mania and against The New Day is really cool for me as a long-time fan. Would it be fun to see The New Day have another title run.. YES. I think it’s smarter to give the War Raiders a big Mania W.

Chairshot Pick: THE NEW DAY 9-2

  • AJ – Jade Cargill
  • Andrew – Jade Cargill – She needs to stay a dominant force.
  • Dave – Jade Cargill – Gotta gear her up for the long term.
  • DJ – No contest – Naomi puts another beat down on Jade.
  • DPP – Jade Cargill – Nervous for how this match will go.
  • Jason – Naomi – Way more runway with Naomi as a bad guy. Keep it going!
  • Patrick – Jade Cargill – Jade gets her revenge.
  • Rey – Jade Cargill – Best non-title feud going. Naomi should win but Jade sneaks by.
  • Rob – Naomi – Naomi gets help to win.
  • Greg – Jade Cargill – They ain’t beating Jade here.

Tunney’s Take: Jade Cargill – I imagine WWE sees Jade’s ceiling much higher than Naomi’s. What better way to keep Jade climbing the ladder towards a World Title than to pick up a decisive victory in Vegas!

Chairshot Pick: Jade Cargill 8-2-1

  • AJ – Jacob Fatu – “AJ does a pretty good LA Knight impersonation” – PC Tunney
  • Andrew – Jacob Fatu – I’m biased, Jacob for President.
  • Dave – Jacob Fatu – Getting gold back in the Bloodline is smart.
  • DJ – Jacob Fatu
  • DPP – Jacob Fatu
  • Jason – Jacob Fatu – Thanks for coming pal, YEAH!
  • Patrick – Jacob Fatu
  • Rey – Jacob Fatu – C’mon cuz! All gas no brakes with it. Yadadamean??
  • Rob – LA Knight – Solo costs Jacob.
  • Greg – LA Knight – Solo screws Jacob.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – It has been quite the journey for the Samoan Werewolf. I feel like that journey and the positive turn around it has taken deserves to be rewarded. Let’s see what Jacob can do on his own. Plus, LA Knight is ready to challenge for a World Title.

Chairshot Pick: Jacob Fatu 9-2

  • AJ – Tiffany Straton
  • Andrew – Tiffany Straton – I hate Charlotte Flair, no objectivity here.
  • Dave – Charlotte Flair – Tiffy might be the future, but she kinda failed the litmus test.
  • DJ – Charlotte Flair – The Queen crowns the freshman.
  • DPP – Tiffany Stratton
  • Jason – Charlotte Flair – Tiff wasn’t ready for this spot. Charnos is inevitable.
  • Patrick – Charlotte Flair – Lol Charlotte wins.
  • Rey – Charlotte Flair – Tiffany SHOULD win but, if Charlotte can squash, she will.
  • Rob – Charlotte Flair – Charlotte gets number 15.
  • Greg – Tiffany Stratton – Lol Charlotte wins. (Actually she doesn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Charlotte Flair – Charlotte needs the title for the first time in her career. Tiffy has had a nice run but now needs to take that all important step of not losing momentum after losing the title. Despite the drama and lackluster build here, I see a really good match coming this weekend from these two.

Chairshot Pick: Charlotte Flair 7-4

  • AJ – El Grande Americano
  • Andrew – El Grande Americano – I’d like to see Gable gain some momentum. Rey is Teflon.
  • Dave – El Grand Americano – He needs a marque win much more than Rey.
  • DJ – Rey Mysterio
  • DPP – El Grande Americano – Grande wins with the switcheroo to prove he is not Gable.
  • Jason – Rey Mysterio – Unmask Grande at the end. It is fun but has a shelf life.
  • Patrick – El Grande Americano – TOTALLY NOT CHAD GABLE
  • Rey – Rey Mysterio – Someone’s mask is coming off and it ain’t Rey.
  • Rob – El Grande Americano
  • Greg – Rey Mysterio – Hall of Famer wins but doesn’t take the mask.

Tunney’s Take: Rey Mysterio – Go listen to DWI 471. DP, Greg and I lay out exactly what this match should be, FUN! Multiple Americanos!!!

Chairshot Pick: El Grande Americano 6-5

  • AJ – Jey Uso
  • Andrew – Jey Uso – Kinda booked themselves into a corner here.
  • Dave – Jey Uso – It just makes sense.
  • DJ – Jey Uso – Jey YEETS all over The Ring Genreal.
  • DPP – Jey Uso – Jey wins after normal Gunther beating.
  • Jason – Jey Uso – Land the plane man. YEET
  • Patrick – Jey Uso – Jey has earned this one.
  • Rey – Jey Uso – YEEEEEEEEEEEET!
  • Rob – Jey Uso – YEET
  • Greg – Jey Uso – If Jey loses we riot. We don’t cause he wins.

Tunney’s Take: Jey Uso – ‘Til sweat drop down my balls, ‘Til all these bitches crawl, ‘Til all… YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chairshot Pick: Jey Uso 11-0

  • AJ – Roman Reigns
  • Andrew – Seth Rollins – I can see Rollins being the last piece of Team Rock.
  • Dave – Roman Reigns – I can’t see Roman losing two years in a row.
  • DJ – Seth Rollins – Paul Heyman is a Seth Freakin Rollins guy.
  • DPP – Seth Rollins – The Rock helps Rollins.
  • Jason – Roman Reigns – Seth’s favor is a red herring. Make-A-Wish Brooks got his main, now look at the lights.
  • Patrick – Seth Rollins – Seth Rollins… Paul Heyman guy.
  • Rey – Seth Rollins – I smeeeeellllllll a new soul to sell.
  • Rob – Roman Reigns – Paul Heyman helps Roman win.
  • Greg – Seth Rollins – Brock Lesnar returns to help Seth win.

Tunney’s Take: CM Punk – I really have no idea here. I picked Punk because nobody else did. This is going to be professional wrestling cinema at its finest. The story is thick and neatly woven. All the participants are legends and so are the potential party crashers. Will The Rock stick his nose in here? Will Brock Lesnar return to play a factor? Obviously, Paul Heyman has a Plan A… but what is it? All these questions and more will be answered Saturday as night 1 will definitely go out with a bang!

Chairshot Pick: Seth Rollins 6-4-1

  • AJ – Iyo Sky
  • Andrew – Iyo Sky – Rhea vs Bianca doesn’t need a belt to be compelling.
  • Dave – Rhea Ripley – Going with Rhea barely, hoping Iyo wins.
  • DJ – Iyo Sky – Unfinished business.
  • DPP – Iyo Sky – Rhea and Bianca are too consumed with each other.
  • Jason – Iyo Sky – More layers to Rhea/Bianca. Iyo rules.
  • Patrick – Iyo Sky – Iyo stole the build and gets the win.
  • Rey – Iyo Sky – Smart money is on the underdog champ.
  • Rob – Iyo Sky – Iyo survives.
  • Greg – Bianca Belair – Naomi helps Bianca win and turn heel.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – Rhea is the best women’s wrestler in the world. Give her the biggest win on the grandest stage of them all!!! Bianca needs to go full heel. Iyo has been amazing in this build.

Chairshot Pick: Iyo Sky 8-2-1

  • AJ – Dominik Mysterio
  • Andrew – Finn Balor – I can see a Judgement Day meltdown incoming.
  • Dave – Bron Breakker – Bron is about to become a MegaStar.
  • DJ – Bron Breakker – Judgement Day implodes.
  • DPP – Dominik Mysterio – Finn take the pin.
  • Jason – Penta – I literally do not care because the winner is us, the fans.
  • Patrick – Bron Breakker – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
  • Rey – Dominik Mysterio – Only match without a clear winner. I choose chaos.
  • Rob – Bron Breakker – Finn and Dom cancel each other out.
  • Greg – Dominik Mysterio – Dom steals the pin from Bron, on Finn.

Tunney’s Take: Bron Breakker – The case can be made for any of these four to walk away with the most prestigious non-World title in pro wrestling history. The short of it is though that the Main Event picture isn’t really readily accessible for Breakker right now. Let this IC reign go through the summer, to SummerSlam.

Chairshot Pick: Bron Breakker 5-4-1-1

  • AJ – Damian Priest – “AJ does a pretty good Drew impersonation” – PC Tunney
  • Andrew – Drew McIntyre – Priest has not been interesting in this face incarnation.
  • Dave – Drew McIntyre – Time for Drew to get that win back.
  • DJ – Fuck finish – To be continued at Backlash.
  • DPP – Drew McIntyre – Physical matchup!
  • Jason – Drew McIntyre – Either one is fine here.
  • Patrick – Drew McIntyre – With two eyes, Drew turns the tide.
  • Rey – Drew McIntyre – Low key match of the weekend.
  • Rob – Damien Priest
  • Greg – Damien Priest – Priest wins, Drew tweets about it half hour later.

Tunney’s Take: Drew McIntyre – With the addition of the Street fight rules, these two behemoths have a really good chance to have one of the best matches of the entire weekend (winks at Rey Ca$h-A-Mania)! I do wonder what is next for both of these talents moving forward. Priest has staled since leaving the Judgement Day and Drew seems stuck in the same cycle for a while now. Very interested to see what the summer holds for this pair.

Chairshot Pick: Drew McIntyre 7-3-1

WHO WILL BE RANDY’S OPPONENT?!?

  • AJ – Nick Aldis – Orton wins
  • Andrew – Orton and Aldis vs Solo and Tama – Orton and Aldis win
  • Dave – Someone is getting an RKO!
  • DJ – A segment w/ the Wyatt s6cks.
  • DPP – Rusev – Aldis introduces Rusev who defeats Orton.
  • Jason – Nick Aldis – You got one more in ya, bubba. Aldis wins!
  • Patrick – Nick Aldis
  • Rey – Solo then Rusev – Solo in a squash and Rusev MATCHKA(wins)
  • Rob – Nick Aldis – Aldis proves himself, Orton wins.
  • Greg – Nick Aldis – Orton beats Aldis, they shake after.

Tunney’s Take: I would really love to see a singles match between Orton and Aldis. More likely this is some type of involvement with Solo and Tama. Rusev as a surprise challenger would be cool but, I feel that would be better left for RAW. An impromptu Goldberg retirement match would be crazy and fun, yet highly unlikely and illogical. Whatever happens, best believe exactly what Dave Ungar said, “Someone is getting an RKO!”.

  • AJ – Logan Paul
  • Andrew – AJ Styles – Logan doesn’t need the rub and should stay upper mid card.
  • Dave – Logan Paul – It’s the smart move and would be a statement win for Paul.
  • DJ – Logan Paul – Kross gets involved somewhere.
  • DPP – AJ Styles – AJ wins a great high-flying match.
  • Jason – AJ Styles – Just enjoy it or get a beer, nerds.
  • Patrick – Logan Paul – Logan Paul will main-event Mania sooner than later…
  • Rey – Logan Paul – Pass the torch, my wily vet.
  • Rob – Logan Paul – Kross helps Paul win.
  • Greg – AJ Styles – Styles wins after Paul’s cheating backfires.

Tunney’s Take: Logan Paul – Logan seems to really have dedicated himself to becoming great in this business. Anyone with that type of goal must have a World title on their mind. Beating AJ at Mania will be a great springboard for Logan into the Main Event sooner than later (winks at Patrick O’Dowd).

Chairshot Pick: Logan Paul 7-4

  • AJ – Liv & Raquel
  • Andrew – Liv & Raquel – Not really a fan of Lyra, she needs more work.
  • Dave – Liv & Raquel – This Bayley and Lyra team makes no damn sense.
  • DJ – Liv & Raquel – Bayley crashes out.
  • DPP – Liv & Raquel – Bayley continues a potential heel turn tease.
  • Jason – Bayley & Lyra – Finish the story!
  • Patrick – Bayley & Lyra – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
  • Rey – Liv and Raquel – Bayley want a title but it ain’t the ones in this match.
  • Rob – Liv & Raquel – Champs retain.
  • Greg – Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel retain thanks to Carlito and maybe JD.

Tunney’s Take: Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel need to be kept as the cornerstone of the women’s tag division for a lengthier period of time. Building tag teams in this division is difficult enough, let alone without a North Star.

Chairshot Pick: Liv & Raquel 9-2

  • AJ – Cody Rhodes
  • Andrew – Cody Rhodes – They are mentioning it so much, I don’t think 17 happens.
  • Dave – Joh Cena – Record falls and we head to summer with a built-in storyline.
  • DJ – John Cena – Some kind of Final Boss involvement.
  • DPP – John Cena – Cena wins and retires on RAW.
  • Jason – John Cena – Story’s over, “Captain” BIG MATCH JOHN.
  • Patrick – John Cena – A record breaking night for Cena.
  • Rey – John Cena – They’d be really stupid to turn John just to lose. (Post-Mania: Rock, Cena, T Scott, Seth & Drew, TEAM Corporate)
  • Rob – Cody Rhodes – Cody surprises us with the W.
  • Greg – Cody Rhodes – Cody wins to piss off Rock and set the table for Cena to turn back face. Crowd is behind Cena all the way through.

Tunney’s Take: Cody Rhodes – They had me until the threat of retirement. Been there. Done that. Didn’t fall in love with it back then. I love John Cena. I love this final run. John will get his 17th just not here. I expect nothing less than an absolute GEM of a match here to close WrestleMania 41. This has all been, is, and will continue to be about Cody Rhodes. WM40 defeats Roman Reigns. WM41 defeats John Cena. WM42 defeats The Rock (The Final Boss).

Chairshot Pick: John Cena 6-5

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We wait all year for this so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

  • AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
  • Andrew – @IWCWarChief
  • Dave – @AttitudeAgg
  • DJ – @TheMindlessPod
  • DPP – @itsmeDPP
  • Jason – @JediFett
  • Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
  • Rey – @itsreycash
  • Rob – @rbonne1
  • Greg – @gregdemarco44
  • PC – @PCTunney
  • TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

For the latest, greatest and up to datest in coverage, opinions, and podcasts ALWAYS #UseYourHead and visit TheCharishot.com

Prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot plenty of GREAT t-shirt designs! Makes an awesome gift!!

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 MONDAY – Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY – Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY – The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling) 

THURSDAY – POD is WAR 

FRIDAY – DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY – The Front and Center Sports Podcast / The Oddity… Keeping the news ridiculous!

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS…IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

 


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About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling) 

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast 

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR


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DeMarco: Top 5 Non-Title WrestleMania Matches In WWE History

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show & defined legacies. #WrestleMania #WWEHistory

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Shawn Michaels Kurt Angle WrestleMania 21

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show and defined legacies.

WrestleMania is the Showcase Of The Immortals, but it’s not always the championship matches that steal the show—or define careers. In fact, some of the most iconic, business-defining, and emotionally resonant contests at the Grandest Stage of Them All didn’t feature a title at all. These matches succeeded because of character work, in-ring execution, and the kind of storytelling that sells tickets and moves merch.

Here are the five best non-title matches in WrestleMania history—at least, according to me!


5. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan – WrestleMania X8 (2002)

This was never going to be a five-star technical clinic—but it was always going to be the moment. “Icon vs. Icon” was a tagline, sure, but it was also the reality: the biggest star of the ‘80s vs. the biggest star of the Attitude Era. And Toronto turned it into magic. Hogan walked in a heel but walked out immortal (again), with the SkyDome shaking on every punch, every look, every gesture.

What made this work was its self-awareness. Rock and Hogan read the crowd and flipped roles mid-match—Rock became the arrogant aggressor while Hogan Hulked Up to thunderous applause. It’s not often a non-title match headlines a card emotionally the way this one did, but it dominated every headline and highlight reel.


4. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart – WrestleMania X (1994)

Sibling rivalries don’t usually lead to technical masterpieces, but then again, this wasn’t your average family drama. Owen and Bret opened WrestleMania X with a wrestling clinic that stood tall over a night packed with title changes. Owen needed to prove he was more than Bret’s little brother, and he did it by out-wrestling the best wrestler in the company. Clean. One-two-three.

It wasn’t just a great match—it was perfect storytelling. Owen’s victory, contrasted with Bret’s later world title win, set the tone for an entire year of brother-vs-brother tension. Bret became champion, but Owen had the moral victory—and all the bragging rights. This is proof that opening matches can steal the show.


3. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25 (2009)

If WrestleMania moments could be trademarked, this match would be the reason why. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels wasn’t about championships—it was about legacy. Michaels wanted to be the man who ended The Streak. The build was steeped in biblical imagery: light vs. dark, heaven vs. hell. And the match? Pure perfection. Each man brought everything they had—near-falls, psychology, reversals that had 70,000+ people gasping in unison.

It was 30 minutes of generational storytelling that transcended pro wrestling. And here’s the kicker—it wasn’t even the main event. Yet it dwarfed everything that followed. Meltzer gave it 4.75 stars, fans gave it their hearts, and WWE gave it a sequel the next year. A match so good it forced the company to run it back—because lightning actually struck.

Now, if THIS MATCH is #3, what could possible be #2 and #1…


2. Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13 (1997)

This wasn’t just a match—it was the turning point of an era. The Submission Match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin was as violent as it was poetic, with Ken Shamrock enforcing the rules and the Chicago crowd growing more frenzied by the second. The brilliance? The shift. Bret Hart, the traditionalist hero, grew darker and more self-righteous by the second, while the disrespectful anti-hero Austin refused to quit, even when drowning in his own blood. There was no title on the line, but the stakes felt bigger than gold.

The infamous double turn changed the business. Austin’s defiance turned him into the voice of a new generation of fans—blue collar, anti-authority, Attitude Era. Meanwhile, Bret would go on to lead the heel Hart Foundation. WWE didn’t need a championship to create a moment that catapulted Austin into superstardom and ignited the company’s hottest era. This match is business-first booking at its absolute best.


1. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 21 (2005)

Dream matches often disappoint. This one didn’t. At WrestleMania 21, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle went hold-for-hold and spot-for-spot with Mr. WrestleMania himself, and together they delivered a masterclass in in-ring psychology. Every sequence had stakes, every near-fall had meaning. It was a stylistic war: Michaels’ heart vs. Angle’s intensity.

Angle forcing Michaels to tap was a statement—it told fans that pure wrestling, not just spectacle, could still main-event caliber storytelling without any need for a title. Michaels sold the ankle lock like death, and Angle’s post-match collapse sold the moment as a hard-fought war. This is the kind of match that keeps purists up at night, smiling, and leaves the storytelling fans like myself as happy as can be!


10 Honorable Mentions (Not Honorable, Just For The Heck Of It)

  • Edge vs. Mick Foley – WrestleMania 22 (2006)
    A hardcore war that solidified Edge as a top-tier main eventer. That flaming table spear is still played in every Edge highlight reel.

  • AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon – WrestleMania 33 (2017)
    Everyone expected smoke and mirrors—what they got was a surprisingly technical, high-energy opener that kicked off the show right.

  • The Undertaker vs. Triple H – WrestleMania 28 (2012)
    “End of an Era” wasn’t just a tagline. The Hell in a Cell match, with HBK as referee, was a brutal epilogue to a generation’s legacy.

  • Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho – WrestleMania XIX (2003)
    A student-teacher battle of wills. Jericho’s low blow post-match was the perfect heel punctuation to a career-defining contest.

  • Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins – WrestleMania 31 (2015)
    The greatest RKO of all time. That curb stomp reversal belongs in a museum.

  • Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show – WrestleMania XXIV (2008)
    More sports-entertainment than wrestling, but a crossover moment that made mainstream headlines and paid off with a great finish.

  • Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis – WrestleMania III (1987)
    A retirement match with big heat, a hot crowd, and Piper walking off into the sunset (for a minute).

  • The Firefly Funhouse Match – John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt – WrestleMania 36 (2020)
    Cinematic weirdness at its best. A meta masterstroke that broke Cena down in layers.

  • Bad Bunny & Damian Priest vs. The Miz & John Morrison – WrestleMania 37 (2021)
    Bad Bunny stunned everyone. He didn’t just belong—he elevated the show.

  • Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio – WrestleMania 39 (2023)
    Father vs. son in a grudge match that played perfectly off real-life drama and Hall of Fame weekend emotions.


Some of these matches shaped legacies. Others shifted eras. But all of them proved that the most memorable moments at WrestleMania don’t need a title—they just need truth in the storytelling and fire in the execution.

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling) 

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast 

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR


Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand


Powered by RedCircle


Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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