Pro Wrestling Love vol. 65: Best of Puroresu 2010-2014 (Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura)

  Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 65:

The Best of Puroresu 2010-2014

Objective:  Break up the Greatest Match Ever Project (hosted at http://gweproject.freeforums.net/) into more manageable chunks to help me build my Top 100 List for the project.

Motivation: Contribute to the discussion around these matches to enrich my own understanding of pro wrestling and give a fresh perspective for old matches and even hopefully discover great pro wrestling matches that have been hidden by the sands of time.

Subject: This sixty-fifth volume of Pro Wrestling Love is the conclusion of the Top 12 countdown of the best pro wrestling matches to take place in Japan between 2010-2014. I covered 2005-2009 in an earlier edition of Pro Wrestling Love. I decided to do the next five year chunk. Originally, I was thinking of covering New Japan from 2012-2016 separately as that covers the rise of Kazuchika Okada, BUT the Puroresu scene from 2010-2011 does not really have much meat on the bone to warrant its own coverage so we will look at Puroresu as a whole from 2010-2014. The last two years are very New Japan heavy as their resurgence was completed with the New Three Musketeers: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada and Shinsuke Nakamura leading the charge and also the gaijin-faction The Bullet Club renewing Western interest in the product. 2010-2011 saw FUTEN (Daisuke Ikeda's Shoot-Style Promotion) and Dick Togo's run in DDT holding down the fort while New Japan was recharging. After reigning supreme in terms of match quality in the first decade of the 21st Century, NOAH spiraled out of control due to the tragic death of Mitsuharu Misawa and the retirement of top star, Kenta Kobashi. By 2011, Jun Akiyama was the All Japan Triple Crown champion and in 2012 he officially defected with many of NOAH's top stars to All Japan. NOAH was left with KENTA as the only viable main event star. All Japan with the signings of Akiyama & Co, Masakatsu Funaki and the rise of SUWAMA & Kento Miyahara had a mini-resurgence of their own in the front half of the 2010s garnering some buzz for their matches for the first time in a decade. All Japan was still dwarfed in regards to ticket sales and critical acclaim compared to New Japan Pro Wrestling, but they offered refreshing alternative.  You can revisit past Pro Wrestling Love Volumes at ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com. You can check out the full version of these reviews in ProWrestlingOnly.com by going to the forums and finding the folders associated with the date of the match.

Contact Info: @superstarsleeze on Twitter, Instagram & ProWrestlingOnly.com.

Top Six Matches of Puroresu 2010-2014

#6. Dick Togo vs Antonio Honda - DDT 1/30/11

I don't know who Antonio Honda is, but he was a fucking star in this. He was like best possible Japanese combination of Arn Anderson/Jerry Lawler in this. Hyper focused arm work and then amazing Lawler style comeback complete with one of the best damn punch-based comebacks I have ever seen (like right up there with Lawler in the Bock match). Dick Togo sold his ass off here just like in the match with Sato, but the work from Honda matched his and this is was a stellar match. 

Honda gains the upper hand by tangling him into a deathlock. The selling by Togo is incredible especially verbal and Honda rolls expertly and quickly so that he can settle into a hammerlock. This becomes the crux of the beginning of the match with Honda working these hammerlock into great old school pinning combinations. Really feels like the best possible Arn Anderson match being match with it being paired by the superb selling. A good example about how Togo has been affected is when he goes for his backslide/Pedigree spot that he cant do it due to his bad arm. Togo is able to hit a desperation kneelift and then a senton. He is targeting the midsection, but does not seem to be making in-roads. I really liked Honda grabbing a double wristlock to break a bodyscissors with Togo releasing the hold immediately and really selling it. Honda goes for the kill with a cross armbreaker, but Togo rolls on his belly, but still a painful armbar. Togo makes the ropes, his only saving grace. Togo ends up on the outside and Honda wants to finish Togo off and hits a big suicide dive, BUT HE HURTS HIMSELF!!! I love it! Really puts over the SUICIDE in Suicide Dive. He is busted open and Togo actually gets control due to Honda overextending himself. Very cool. Togo rakes the forehead by boot and is working the cut with punches. Beautiful. Honda's selling here is all time great and he is matching Togo and maybe he is exceeding Togo. Then HONDA JUST EXPLODES!!! JERRY LAWLER-ESQUE PUNCH COMEBACK! Just absolutely fires you up!!! Dragon Suplex! Never seen The King or Double A do that, but he is Japanese. :) Perfect Arn Anderson-style DDT. But misses the Jerry Lawler middle rope fist drop. Togo gets desperation crossface because Honda is wrestling like a man possessed, but he loses strength in his arm!!! Tries Pedigree, but cant hood arm settles for Diamond Cutter. Was Togo gimmick that he loved the Attitude Era??? He hits Pedigree, but then crashes & burns on Senton. Enforcer DDT and HITS THE FIST DROP! Kick out. He is toast. But he goes down swinging with one of the all time best punch exchanges. It is like two Jerry Lawlers punching each other. Some of the best simultaneous punches ever. Togo gets the better of the exchange and wins with Pedigree/Senton.

Simple, elegant and just so damn Southern, but in Japan. Selling was superb. Honda wrestled the match of his life against Togo first attacking the arm then having to make a comeback from his own move in spectacular fashion! I loved the build to end with each man hitting their set up move then missing the finish. Only to go back to that well and when Togo finally wins it; it is through the punch exchange to earn him his finish sequence. Really incredible matches. One of those matches you can watch completely in a vacuum (hell I have seen like 5 Togo matches and never seen a Honda match) and just be totally blown away by it. A Southern Classic in 2011 Japan is just awesome. 

#5. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW G-1 Climax 8/2/13

Tanahashi was born to play cocky heel douche role. It is when he is at his best. He knew the crowd would love the underdog in Ishii and he just hammed it up to great effect. I think the Tanahashi naysayers would be way bigger Tanahashi fans if this was how he always wrestled. Just a pitch perfect beginning. I am a mark for really well-done beginnings to matches. There is so much emphasis on the finish, but without a good beginning to set the table then it is all meaningless. This was a great beginning. Tanahashi crowding on the ropes to get a cravat. Then showboating. Trying to go toe to toe with the hard-hitting Ishii only to get his ass kicked was great. There is a great moment where Ishii is beating the piss out of Tanahashi's chest so he tries to fire back. The crowd is having none of it and is booing and Ishii is no selling like that all you got chump and then rifling back. It sets up the story perfectly. Ishii has come to fight and is going to kick ass. Tanahashi is going to have step up his game. Then we see Tanahashi just start hurling his body at Ishii full speed in an attempt to make up what he lacks in striking ability. Eventually he catches Ishii with patented death combo the dropkick to the knee/dragon screw leg whip. This is where Tanahashi really turns it up, baseball slide and just because he can, he skins the cat and then crossbodies him to the floor. It is that really touch of hot dogging that makes it! He goes for his somersault off the middle rope, but first takes time to taunt the crowd. Ishii makes him pay by moving. Perfect! Just an absolutely great beginning to the match. It makes you want to see the Ishii Cinderella story really come true.

Everything comes to head in a strike exchange again where Tanahashi stupidly thinks he can go toe to toe with Ishii and gets the taste slapped out of his mouth and then powerbombed to hell. This is exactly what every Tanahashi hater wants to see. That's what Tanahashi so great is that he can change it up and has different variations of his match to fit his opponent. What they don't want to see the Sling Blade! As a Tanahashi fanboy, I am ready for Tanahashi to crush some dreams as he cycles through his finish sequence. Ishii backs into the ropes on the High Fly Flow. No biggie, you knew he never just straight runs through this. Monster superplex by Ishii! He goes for his finish, the Brainbuster, but Tanahashi reverses into Dragon Sleeper (I forgot he had that in his arsenal!). Ishii hits a NASTY headbutt & big time lariat! Ishii cant put him away needs that Brainbuster and again Tanahashi reverses into Dragon Sleeper and then drops an elbow. Ishii got a stinger! He is flexing his arm! He is writhing in pain! I forgot Ishii's bread and butter is selling the neck. Tanahashi drops him on that bad neck with a Sling Blade and TWO Dragon Suplexes and kick out?!?! I am actually kinda annoyed at this point. I am like why are they going for the bloated finish run. Ishii is selling the neck great it is perfect for the finish with the Dragon Suplex. Ishii put up a great fight, but a bad break caught him. Oh well here is the High Fly Flow to end the match WAIT Tanahashi missed it?!?!? La Magistral Cradle gives Ishii one more nearfall. Ishii cant even stand. He stumbles and collapses. Strike exchange, fer fucks sake. Ishii blitzes him with elbow combos, SICK NASTY TANAHASHI HEADBUTT! Dragon Suplex->Ishii hits back headbutt. Tanahashi SLAPS him. Ishii enziguiri. NO WAY! This is not happening. Brainbuster -> kick out. Oh cmon! No! NO! NO! STEINER SCREWDRIVER! ISHII WINS!

Fuck it this is excess done right. They totally had me fooled. Totally. Ishii selling the neck, I was all in on the Tanahashi win. I was like Ishii put in a nice little blue chipper performance. If he had hit the Brainbuster he might have won, but Tanahashi countered and a bad landing fucked him. That would have been great. But Ishii would not be denied. They went in a different direction and I think they covered for it well. Tanahashi missing High Fly Flow gives Ishii the opening. He hits the desperation headbutt to stop the Dragon Suplex that would have killed him and then hits the enziguiri on the rocked Tanahashi to set up his two big bombs. You really cant do a better job of transitioning from he is fucking dead to winning a match. The beginning of this is excellent. There is some stuff in the middle with people no selling shit and my general distaste for strike exchanges that keep this from *****, but off the top of my head this is the third best New Japan match I have seen from this era (2012-2015), only behind Tanahashi/Nakamura Invasion Attack & AJ/Minoru Suzuki. Really incredible.

#4. AJ Styles vs Minoru Suzuki - NJPW G-1 Climax 8/1/14

Minoru Suzuki is pissed. He is pissed that some arrogant, punk outsider just waltzed in here and is now the champion. This is not time to stick out tongue and play mind games. That shit is reserved for those who earned it. He is here to teach a lesson in respect. Minoru Suzuki walking tall is the best thing ever! I would say this is probably the greatest heel vs heel match ever, but I would hear the argument that Suzuki is just a babyface using violent heel tactics to kick some ass. AJ Styles proves he is here to stay. He can take a lickin' and keep in tickin'. He is going to earn his stripes. Even if that means losing the use of his right arm, he is going to earn the respect of Suzuki and the New Japan crowd. It is amazing that the two biggest heels in New Japan basically play babyfaces in this match because they believe in what they are doing. Minoru Suzuki is going to send this Johnny Come Lately a message and AJ Styles is here to make a statement he won't back down. It just depends on your own sensibilities who your root for and on this night the crowd was 100% behind Minoru Suzuki.

Minoru Suzuki slaps the taste out of AJ's mouth early, but AJ scores a dropkick to retaliate. AJ uses his jump over the railing offensively by hitting a springboard forearm from the railing. I love Suzuki's angry selling. He is pissed that he is getting his ass kicked by Styles right now and there is nothing he can do. There is just a real sense of struggle to everything. Suzuki sees his opening and pounces. He trips up AJ on a springboard move and applies a hanging armbar and then kicks ever loving shit out of that arm. Suzuki is out to rip that arm off and beat him with it. I love him whipping AJ into the railing and then trying to pry the arm off while this Japanese girl just screams the entire in the background. AJ's verbal selling was so good in this. His yelps of agony really took this to another visceral level. AJ is able to roll through a couple arm drags to snap off a suplex into the turnbuckles to stop the bleeding. At this point one of Suzuki-Gun jumps AJ and here comes the Bullet Club. I like the heel gang vs heel gang warfare in the middle. AJ is so committed to selling his right arm, he hits all his strikes with his left hand and they look damn good! I love how quick and explosive this strike exchange was. There was no waiting out, goading people to hit each other. They just both desperately wanted to knock the other out and they ended up knocking each other out.

Then the match goes from excellent to instant classic in one simple moment. AJ does the Bullet Club Gun signal and puts it to Minoru Suzuki's head. Suzuki did not like that. Not one bit and AJ you aren't going to like Minoru Suzuki when he is angry. Minoru Suzuki grabs that finger and tries to wrench it off of AJ's hand, who is screaming in pain. The ref is even trying to tell Suzuki to watch the fingers. Styles tries to come back with springboard forearm, but that is caught into an armbar and Suzuki is going to snap that finger off. AJ is trying to everything and Suzuki just has an answer for everything. It feels almost hopeless for AJ. Suzuki goes for the piledriver, but AJ blocks. AJ knows it is Styles Clash or bust. Suzuki counters into a heel hook and Suzuki sniffs out AJ's second counter and grabs a cross armbreaker. AJ is dead to rights. Oh shit! Oh Shit! OH SHIT! STYLES CLASH OUT OF THE CROSS-ARMBREAKER!!! The kid may just got it. Suzuki spits at him. You feel like they are about to enter into Mortal Kombat. AJ is totally relying on left handed slaps as his right arm is fucked. Suzuki punches him in the face and thinks he has him. PELE~! Suzuki is knocked loopy. Go AJ GO! AJ wastes no time, he fights through the pain, hoists Suzuki up and STYLES CLASH! AJ wins!

AJ did not just win a G1 Climax match. He won the respect of the New Japan fans worldwide with that performance. Both wrestlers were wrestling on a out of this world level. Styles felt overwhelmed. His arm was toast and he could not get anything going. Suzuki was just ripshit the entire match and had every intention of beating AJ into submission. Then just like that a desperation Styles Clash while in a cross-armbreaker and AJ salvages his match. The selling from AJ was off the charts. His desperation in trying to survive was something most of wrestlers could never convey. The true anger of Minoru Suzuki is something you also do not see. This was not hatred. It was anger. It was amazing. Every move felt huge, consequential and urgent. It is a coin flip between Shield/Wyatts Elimination Chamber in this. It does not really matter because at the end of the day, wrestling fans win! 

#3. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Minoru Suzuki - NJPW 10/8/12

Puroresu Match of the Year, 2012

Another one of those matches that I have seen know that I absolutely loved but didnt get a chance to review way back when so now I get to watch it and enjoy it all over again. 

Tanahashi's left arm comes in bandaged and at one time I knew why but now I cant remember. Tanahashi does his best to play keep away. He even employs an Unorthodox stance to keep his left arm behind his right arm. I really enjoyed that touch. Tanahashi busts out a double wristlock, side headlock and an abdominal stretch to mix it up, he did not go straight for the knee. He gets cocky. He plays air guitar on Suzuki. How did I forget that? I popped for that. That drew a chorus of boos and also the ire of Suzuki. A scuffle breaks out and Suzuki ends up on the apron and then drops down with his patented top rope-assisted dangling armbar on Tanahashi's bad arm. As JR would say, "Business has picked up.". Suzuki tortures Tanahashi's bad wing. Cranking it around the railings and the steel post. Stomping on it, kneeing, twisting it. He was brutal. It looked like he was going to make short work of the champion until Tanahashi caught a kick. You know what happens next. Dragon Leg Screw! Suzuki's selling is top-notch. He really sells the pain from the dragon leg screws really well. Tanahashi goes into full 2001 Mutoh mode with the Dragon Leg Screws and Basement Dropkicks. Tanahashi  lackadaisically leaves his arm out on the top rope as Suzuki is on the ground. He goes to grab Suzuki who then kicks his bad arm. More kicks to the bad arm and then rips him down with a double wristlock takedown as he bites the bandage to rip it off. Suzuki grabs a sleeper to sap Tanahashi of his energy. CROSS-ARMBREAKER! That could have been it! Big nearfall. Tanahashi responds in kind, but turns it into a Sling Blade. From there Tanahashi goes back to work on the knee. He even hits High Fly Flow on the bad leg. Suzuki's selling of this by scurrying away with all that pain on his face was exquisite. Tanahashi goes for his customary Texas Cloverleaf, but Suzuki blocks and Tanahashi settles for the Figure-4. The struggle in this over 2 minute Figure-4 is great Suzuki especially does a great job telling the story with his face. They has established the story of dueling limb psychology. Suzuki had targeted the bad arm tearing the bandage with this teeth and looking to break in two. While, Tanahashi has gone to his tried and true strategy of working the knee. Who will prevail?   

My favorite part of the match is next. Tanahashi signals for Sling Blade. Suzuki evades the first attempt. He goads Tanahashi into trying another by hobbling away and as Tanahashi is coming he explodes into a dropkick, but immediately clutches the knee. The ruse was so convincing because he actually was in so much pain. Suzuki slaps Tanahashi around and grabs a sleeper. Tanahashi has a bloody mouth now and this becomes important later. Epic struggle but with a last gasp, Tanahashi lunges to the ropes. Suzuki proceeds to SLAP THE SHIT out of Tanahashi. He slaps him until he blows himself up. Now he wants the Piledriver, Tanahashi drives a desperation dragon leg screw but Suzuki steps through it and blocks! Damn that was cool. Sleeper again all of Tanahashi's energy is gone. Piledriver but Tanahashi resists twice and drops down into a Dragon Screw! Tanahashi has one burst to really wrench him down with a Sling Blade. It is not done with the usual vigor but here comes High Fly Flow but it eats knees. Suzuki is in pain but Tanahashi looks toast. It looks like that took everything out of the champ. Suzuki slaps the shit out of him some more. Tanahashi is on the apron. Suzuki steps through the ropes. DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi  with his mouth bloodied and exhausted looks like he has been through sheer hell, but he wills himself to hit not one but two High Fly Flows for the win!

One reviewer noted there was only one cover in the match and I didnt even notice. It was just that gripping. In a way the cross-armbreaker, Figure-4 and sleeper were used as nearfalls. Excellent minimalistic match where the match built organically and logically. Tanahashi never used his Capture or Dragon Suplexes or his reverse crossbody or somersault senton High Fly Flow to the floor or Texas Cloverleaf (there was an attempt). My point is this is a vast departure. It was not a formula match or check the boxes match or a Greatest Hit Match. Suzuki got pissed by the air guitar and targeted the arm. Tanahashi went all in on the leg strategy. Suzuki moved to a sleeper/slap the piss out of him strategy that left Tanahashi looking destroyed. Tanahashi cashed in on his strategy late when all those Dragon Leg Screws eventually gave him a chance to hit High Fly Flow. Terrific match and great selling performances, another ***** classic for my man, Tanahashi! 

#2. IWPG I-C Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shinsuke Nakamura - Invasion Attack 2014

Puroresu Match of the Year, 2014

When I watched this in 2015, I thought it was ***** and the MOTY and I know my good buddy, Shoe agreed with me, but I didnt write a review at the time. My procrastination is my reward because I am watching this 5 years later and falling in love all over again. 

Tanahashi and Nakamura should start an air band. Nakamura can be the lead singer and Tanahashi can be on guitar. I feel like Gedo would rule on air drums. Now who should we get for bass?

Tanahashi always has a dickish air to him, which is one of the many reasons why I like him, but as the match progresses he tends to play it straight. The only time I have seen him go full heel is when he participated in the Champions Carnival 2008 as an invader. His match with Suwama was awesome, it felt like Flair vs Luger but in Japan. In this match, Tanahashi fully embraces his heelishness and it is glorious. He uses Nakamura's stupid taunts against him. He does that stupid head on the belly button thing. Then he grabs the leg and wont let go on the clean break. He drops the elbow down on the leg to a chorus of boos. I love that he does the air guitar and then air throws the air guitar into crowd. I wonder if anyone air caught it? Nakamura shoved him in the ass with his foot on Tanahashi's reverse crossbody attempt. I loved that as a receipt for the dickishness of Tanahashi. Then Tanahashi was able to trip Nakamura up near the post and crack his injured across the post to more boos. This is great. Nakamura whips Tanahashi into the railing. Nakamura charges, KNEE TO THE RAILING! Now it is over. Nakamura is fucked. He is writhing in pain and Tanahashi literally shuts the gate on his knees multiple times. This is the Tanahashi I have always wanted in my life. The leg work in the ring is ferocious and the best of Tanahashi's career. He is slapping Nakamura with a left hand as Nakamura is trying to make a comeback. This is such a fuck you. Then he just kicks Nakamura straight in the kneecap. I am loving this. The cherry on top, piece d'resistance, is Tanahashi doing Good Vibrations on the injured knee. Yes! Yes! A Million Times Yes!

Of course all good things must come to end as Nakamura takes back over. He uses a lot of knees which I am not wild about but it is Nakamura's staple. He kinda sells. It is relatively short-lived comeback mostly just to remind people he is alive. Nakamura goes for that tail whip and Tanahashi catches it and hits a Dragon Leg Screw! I love this so much! Nakamura powders from the pain! HIGH FLY FLOW TO THE FLOOR! Where are "This is Awesome" chants? :P Back in Nakamura avoids a Sling Blade with a lung blower but his knees are fucked. Tanahashi aggressively and urgently chop blocks the knee. Then this part is so damn great. Tanahashi wryly slaps Nakamura. So Nakamura responds with a punch right to the face. BOM-BA-YE! WOW! I love it. 1-2-NO! What an amazing nearfall. Thats how you turn a match on a dime. Nakamura is struggling to capitalize. Tanahashi is flying around dropkicking the knee. HIGH FLY FLOW INTENTIONALLY TO THE KNEES! WOW! Tanahashi is selling his ribs. Great Texas Cloverleaf nearfall! Tanahashi hits High Fly Flow to standing Nakamura. He leaps over the ropes, Go Ace Go! HIGH FLY FLOW...TO THE KNEES! Tanahashi is in pain. Nakamura cant capitalize. Tanahashi is struggling with what to do next. He has so tenaciously worked over the knee, he wants to go to back to the Texas Cloverleaf, smart idea, but Nakamura is an excellent counter wrestler and traps the arm into the Cross Armbreaker. Great struggle on breaking the clasp. Watch how Tanahashi bridges his neck initially to relieve the press and then also how he contorts his body in all sorts of shapes to avoid the pain. This is great. He makes the ropes. His arm is fucked. He is in a lot of pain. The ref is checking on him. His back is to Nakamura. BOM BA YE! HOLY SHIT! OUT OF NOWHERE! That was brutal! Nakamura just pours it with a MERCILESS ONSALUGHT OF BOM BA YE'S TO THE HEAD! 1-2-3!

This match is everything! I always say the most effective comeback from limb psychology is to go head-hunting. Youre in a deep hole and you need dig yourself out, as Anita Ward says Ring Their Bell! Nakamura does just that.I loved the closed fist/Bom Ba Ye combo. Then the use of the Cross Armbreaker to set up that no look Bom Ba Ye was sick! I already extravagantly praised Tanahashi in this match. If it was not for the Ultimate Feel Good moment of Daniel Bryan beating HHH at WrestleMania, this is the best match of 2014. As it stands, this is the best Puroresu Match of 2010-2014 and in the top three in the world from that timeframe (along with HHH/Bryan, Cena/Lesnar 2012). I love this match. 

#1. IWGP Champion Hiroshi Tanhashi vs Kazuchika Okada - Invasion Attack 2013

Puroresu Match of the Year, 2013

Okada missed his true calling in life as a chiropractor. 

Definitely the best match they had together that I have seen so far. I agree with NJPW faboys that this is indeed ***** and the MOTY 2013 (sorry Tanahashi/Ishii). It was superb and the match they needed to have for this feud to ever be considered great. It is no Flair/Steamboat, but this match does launch them up because the previous matches were great, but now they have that big time classic. I liked the character work in the beginning of the match. It adds to the chippiness. Okada has Tanahashi's leg work (dropkick, dragon leg) scouted, but Tanahashi thinking on his feet gets an armbar takedown and wrenches the arm. The refrain of the match is definitely Tanahashi destroying Okada's arm and it is his Rainmaker arm using that to save himself and set up his offense. You see Tanahashi going back to that repeatedly. This adds a new wrinkle because it is usually Tanahashi looking to attack the leg, but he had to adapt because Okada had it scouted. The other major story of the match is that Okada has lost two matches in a row to Tanahashi and he really cant afford to lose a third. I think Okada does wrestle with more urgency because of this.

They end up on the apron and Okada wins the battle with a DDT on the apron. Okada is able to be in his zone working on his body part of choice, the neck. He pulls out some gnarly submissions the coolest one was the seated Crucifix hard to explain need to see. Tanahashi was trying hope spots like a reverse crossbody and body punches, but Okada was going back to the neck. Big time running dropkick to a seated Tanahashi's neck sends him to the floor. Okada wants to finish this with a tombstone. He who hits a tombstone first wins the matches in these series. Tanahashi counters by attacking the arm and then sending into hard metal objects. High Fly Flow to the floor cements his control. Loved the dragon arm screws from Tanahashi and great selling from Okada. An interesting subplot as while this weakens Okada considerably, Tanahashi really does not have much in his arsenal to take this to victory so he still will have to rely on his usual finish sequence, but that is something Okada has scouted. 

Okada hits a flapjack, my least favorite Okada move to transition into the long finish stretch that is very well done. The highlights here are Okada switching the elbow pad to the bad elbow so he can hit his elbow drop (and selling the arm during the Rainmaker pose), but he still sells. Debuting a new submission crossface, but not quite getting it due to a bad arm. Of course, the big shot was the use of the dropkick to squelch any Tanahashi's comebacks (normal dropkick and the dropkick to the floor). Okada hits a Hangman's DDT from the railing. I felt like this was taking the place of the Tombstone to the floor as the final turning point in Okada's favor. They milk the count all the way to 19. We do see Tanahashi working the arm to avoid the Rainmaker, but really selling the effects of this DDT as he is very woozy. After much wrangling, Okada hits the Rainmaker, but is in too much pain to cover immediately. His inability to capitalize cost him at this moment. This was a great nearfall to accompany all the strong arm work from Tanahashi and at the same time really puts over how much damage Tanahashi has taken with his deadweight selling. Okada is still in charge, but you really feel in the home stretch.

Okada goes for the coup d'grace, Tombstone, but Tanahashi wiggles out, but Okada puts him in that nasty crossface. The ref makes this spot! You really believe Tanahashi may submit based on his reactions. It is very dramatic, but Tanahashi does make the ropes. Okada wants the dropkick to the top rope, but Tanahashi has it scouted and Okada leaves his arm prone and Tanahashi dives on it. You knew we would get it. Here comes the Tanahashi run! Can Okada survive? Standing HFF, Sling Blade, Dragon Suplex, HFF on the back and High Fly Flow EATS KNEES!!! OH SHIT! Okada has to dig down deep. Dropkick to back of the head, that's Okada's bread and butter. Smart move. Tombstone reversals you can feel the drama whoever hits this will win the match. I LOVE SPOTS LIKE THIS! Tanahashi attacks the arms and he is going to hit it NO Okada reverses TOMBSTONE! BALL GAME! RAINMAKER SEALS THE DEAL! 1-2-3! NEWWWWWWW IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!

Tanahashi changes his game plan because Okada knows what's up. The constant refrain of Tanahashi attacking the arm to save himself and set up his moves is repeated throughout the match right up until the end. We see how Okada uses headrops (DDT on apron, from railing and Tombstone) & his dropkicks to gain control and ultimately win. There are great payoffs like first Rainmaker ending with Okada writhing in pain. There is awesome drama like the Okada submission, Tanahashi's last gasp and of course the Tombstone struggle. It is a cool match where Okada felt in control since the DDT on apron, but had a weak link in his arm that Tanahashi could attack, but Tanahashi never really could gain full control. That dynamic made for a dramatic, high tension match.

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 35: Greatest TNA Wrestling Matches 2002-2009 (AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels)

Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 35:

The Best of TNA Wrestling 2002-2009

Objective:  Break up the Greatest Match Ever Project (hosted at http://gweproject.freeforums.net/) into more manageable chunks to help me build my Top 100 List for the project.

Motivation: Contribute to the discussion around these matches to enrich my own understanding of pro wrestling and give a fresh perspective for old matches and even hopefully discover great pro wrestling matches that have been hidden by the sands of time.

Subject: This thirty-fifth volume of Pro Wrestling Love is the Top 6 countdown of the best matches to take place in TNA Wrestling from 2002 to 2009. TNA Wrestling was founded by Jeff & Jerry Jarrett in 2002 as a response to closing of WCW and ECW in 2001. It began with a weekly PPV model on Wednesdays from TNA Asylum (Nashville Fairgrounds). Being on PPV only, it was supposed to be edgier pro wrestling and Vince Russo could realize all his perverted fantasies. Even though Jarrett & Russo dominated the main event scene, the X-Division (aka the workrate division) carried the show thanks to AJ Styles, Low-Ki and Amazing Red among others. AJ Styles, who I consider the greatest American wrestler of the 21^st century, was booked as Mr. TNA showing that Jarrett and Russo did have some brains. He captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 2003. In 2004, they switched over to the weekly Free TV/Monthly PPV model. They had an amazing 2005 with the arrival of Samoa Joe and the push of Christopher Daniels to accompany the Phenomenal AJ Styles. My peak TNA fandom was from 2005-2007. In October of 2006, Jeff Jarrett needed to take leave to tend to his dying wife who ultimately passed away from cancer. I believe in 2008/2009 he lost complete control of the company to Dixie Carter. The reason this countdown stops in 2009 is because the arrival of Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff completely shifted the TNA landscape in January of 2010 thus 2009 is a reasonable stopping piint. You can revisit past Pro Wrestling Love Volumes at ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com. You can check out the full version of these reviews in ProWrestlingOnly.com by going to the forums and finding the folders associated with the date of the match.

Contact Info: @superstarsleeze on Twitter, Instagram & ProWrestlingOnly.com.

The Three TNA GOATs

Honorable Mentions

AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe – Sacrifice 2005

X-Division Champion Christopher Daniels vs AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe – Unbreakable 2005

Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels – Final Resolution 2006

X-Division Champion Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels vs AJ Styles – Against All Odds 2006, TNA Match of the Year 2006

X-Division Champion Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels vs AJ Styles – Destination X 2006

TNA World Champion AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels vs Samoa Joe – Turning Point 2009

The Unbreakable Triple Threat is probably the most famous match in TNA history and is the most usual choice for best TNA match ever. I think it is a great spotfest, but AJ Styles & Co. out did themselves in plenty of singles matches. I think a lot of people forget that they ran the same triple threat three more times, twice in early 2006 and once in 2009. The other three are great too in fact I think you can make the argument that the Against All Odds triple threat is the best version of this trio because of how smartly it is worked with Daniels & AJ working together to try to defeat the unstoppable, undefeated Samoa Joe, but ultimately coming up short. In addition, this trio had three more classics that make the top 6 list, but AJ vs Joe Sacrifice 2005 (their first TNA encounter) and Joe vs Daniels Final Resolution 2006 (the marquee Joe vs Daniels encounter) should be watched.

X Division Champion AJ Styles vs Amazing Red – NWA-TNA 10/30/02

AJ Styles vs Amazing Red – NWA-TNA 12/11/02, TNA Match of the Year, 2002

AJ Styles is obviously the TNA GOAT and was pretty much the best wrestler on the roster from the very first show to his very last show. I love his matches with Low-KI, but his matches with Amazing Red in 2002 were his best output from that year. We don’t get to see AJ against a smaller opponent often so this a great change of pace and AJ is at his cocky heel best against Red.

AJ Styles vs Low-Ki – NWA-TNA 9/25/02 2 Out of 3 Falls

NWA World Champion AJ Styles vs Low-Ki – NWA-TNA 8/13/03 TNA Match of the Year, 2003

AJ & Low-Ki were two of the best wrestlers in the world in 2002 & 2003 and it is no shock they had some great matches. The only thing holding them back from that classic status is how TNA was run they just didn’t have the time and storyline that really allowed to put on a stone cold classic.

Alex Shelley vs Chris Sabin – Genesis 2009 Vacant X-Division Championship

I thought this was a terrific, avant-garde pro wrestling match. I love babyface vs heel dynamics, but I thought they wrestled this fantastically without babyface vs heel dynamics. It was not face vs face with a subtle heel. It was just two wrestlers who were friends and tag team partners that respected each other that were fully invested in winning the match and it never degraded into a spotfest. I definitely recommend this one.

TNA World Champion Kurt Angle vs Samoa Joe – Lockdown 2008, TNA Match of the Year 2008

Oh what could have been! The idea of this match is for the bout to resemble a shoot fight. What makes it different from RINGS or other Japanese shoot-style is this incorporates a lot more Jiu-Jistu. At the time of RINGS & other Shoot Style, Catch Wrestling & Judo were the kings of Martial Arts. However, due the success of the Gracies in the UFC, Jiu-Jitsu caught as the premiere Martial Art. This match is wrestled shoot-style but very different from in Japan as there is a lot more guard positioning, full mounts and ground & pound. They do work pro-style moves, but there are no Irish Whips and no rope running. So it feels really distinct and I think this would be a great way for a pro wrestling match to stand out in today’s landscape. I would love to get more people’s take on it because I think it is a really unique match in American pro wrestling.

TNA Knockouts Champion Gail Kim vs Awesome Kong – Turning Point 2007

TNA Knockouts Champion Gail Kim vs Awesome Kong – Final Resolution 2008

It pains me to leave these two matches off. If you believe the WWE, women’s wrestling didn’t get good until 2014, but Gail Kim and Awesome Kong prove them wrong having two amazing back to back matches on PPV. Really great David vs Goliath stuff. Kong is the female Vader, hard-hitting, athletic and fearsome. Kim to her credit never dies. He is always scrappy and always fighting back. These matches are the last cuts and I implore everyone to watch them it is really great stuff!

Top Six Matches of TNA Wrestling, 2002-2009

#6. America’s Most Wanted vs XXX (Christopher Daniels & Elix Skipper)

 Turning Point 2004 Six Sides of Steel

TNA Match of the Year, 2004

There have been a lot of crazy spots in the history of pro wrestling, but I still think this one is the craziest. Skipper really could have died in the spot that made this match iconic and I think everyone knows the spot I am talking about: the tight rope walk across a top of the cage into a hurricanarana. I mean that was a narrow pipe we was walking across. I dont blame TNA one bit for constantly replaying that for the next five years. That was truly incredible and insanely dangerous. If he lost his balance, it was over man. They were chanting "Please Dont Die" and you know what it was earned. Probably the single most iconic spot from TNA. It is funny the match is so known for that spot that you forget there is a great match going on before and after the spot. I thought this was a great combination of spotfest and bloodbath. Daniels gets busted open early during the shine. AMW take him to task. Skipper ends up saving him and they work over Harris. Nice little mini-comeback for AMW where they go for the Death Sentence (badass name for the move)n but settle for the high crossbody. The match goes to the next level when they use AMW's handcuffs to cuff Harris to the turnbuckle. I have seen this match before and my recollection was that this kinda drags, but it was shorter than I remember. I really love Daniels jabbing the key into Storm's head. AMW are both bleeding at this point. Good heel miscommunication and then spear by Storm to get the key. Then it is a lot of great double team moves and cage spots. XXX hits both the crossbody/suplex spot and the Death Sentence. When that does not work, Daniels wants Skipper to go all the way up and this leads to the iconic spot. After that, Daniels hits a top of the cage elbow drop which would be insane if it was not for what just happened. Nice barrage of highspots and nearfalls ensue. They cuff Daniels in retribution and then XXX's finish to pin Skipper, win the match and XXX can never team again. One of the best non-AJ Styles TNA Matches of all times and a great confluence of blood & guts with highspots and of course it will never be forgotten due to that insane Skipper spot.

#5. X-Division Champion AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels 

 Against All Odds 2005 Ironman Match 

There is no doubt in my mind that AJ Styles was Wrestler of the Year in 2005. He had three match of the year contenders including this one and was really good in every role he was called upon in TNA.  

First Fall: They did a great job building to the first fall in the opening 15 minutes of this classic. I really liked how Daniels made AJ earn his dropkick. Leapfrog->nope Daniels Rollup. Dropkick -> nope Daniels holds the ropes. Then AJ just nails one when Daniels is unaware. Shows they really know each other. Good chain wrestling early and strong quick covers. AJ Gets a couple big highspots. AJ's balance on the ropes is so good! When Daniels pulls in the ref, AJ is able to pause on the rope and come back down. Daniels uses the momentary hesitation to knock AJ off the apron onto the railing. Daniels works a clinic on AJ's ribs. AJ sells so well sucking for air and bumping in such a way that he lands on his ribs. The Split Leg Moonsault was a good nearfall. AJ gets a mini-comeback where he hits a lot of his low-grade signature spots. However, when AJ goes for 450 splash he eats knees. "Where?" Mike Tenay asks, "RIGHT ON THE RRRRRIBBBBBSSSSS" - Don West exclaims! I loved it. AJ did a full layout on this because he is All Man and he takes the Angels Wings full layout too. Great stuff. Daniels goes up 1-0 in a super tight 15 minutes. 

Second Fall: Daniels continue his work on the ribs. I like how he has added taunting and trash talking to each move now that he is up 1-0. Lots of great gutbusters and selling by AJ. I loved the abdominal stretch as a cutoff against one of AJ's comebacks. It was sudden and tight. AJ never died and kept fighting. The Phenomenal Forearm was a good nearfall. I love the Pele Kick. It is just a great transition. It comes from out of nowhere and it is a head kick so it stuns the opponent and really feels like a momentum change. They throw out a little too much stuff here. The takeaway is AJ hits the Angel Wings to get two. AJ wants the Styles Clash, but thats reversed and he reverses into a rollup for three to tie it up. 

Third Fall: I love Daniels reaction to Styles' pin. He very forcefully shoves AJ out of the ring. He has snapped and wants the title. He drives AJ's head hard into the ringpost busting him wide open. Daniels works the cut great lots of punches and headbutts. That one headbutt was a great nearfall. AJ shows some fire under a minute, but Daniels plants him into the Koji Klutch. Great visual with clock winding down and the blood pouring from AJ's head like a faucet. The match goes to a draw or does it...Daniels feels like he would have won the match if he just had one more minute. He calls for Sudden Death and Dusty Rhodes agrees! Daniel beats AJ down and crosses himself with AJ's blood. Cool visual but the follow up move was pretty lame. He should have hit Angel Wings or the Best Moonsault Ever. AJ throws him off the top rope and then hits a rana to set up the Styles Clash and win. 

Awesome match from an awesome year from AJ Styles! Not quite as good as his matches with Abyss and Samoa Joe, but this still ruled. Great ribs work that was sold well and Daniels did a great job working on top. I thought the third fall was awesome in its urgency and a great comeback for AJ

#4. Chris Harris vs James Storm – Sacrifice 2007 Texas Death Match

TNA Match of the Year, 2007

To me, this epitomizes the power of pro wrestling. Take two guys I dont care about. I am not being mean. I dont have positive or negative feelings about the Wildcat or Cowboy. Great pro wrestling transcends that. You invest when the wrestlers are invested. I have generally enjoyed James Storm during my strong TNA fandom from 2005-2009. My memories of Chris Harris are fainter. This is a hellacious bloodbath stands up there with some of the best Southern brawls of the 80s. Two plot points is all you need to know they were a tag team called America's Most Wanted and James Storm turned heel and blinded Chris Harris in one eye. Bang! Im sold. Lets do this. I thought the early brawling through the crowd was great and heated. Chris Harris as the babyface dominated, he was pissed and his emotion was carrying the day. My two favorite parts of the shine were Storm throwing the drink in the face, but Harris responding with a hard Irish Whip. Then Harris guzzling a beer before doing a top rope splash over the railing onto Storm for the first fall. That was totally unexpected! Harris' nonchalant demeanor worked there. Traditional Death Match rules here as it is a pinfall that precedes the 10 count. I actually prefer this to current Last Man Standing rules. We will get into this later in the match. Wildcat gets hung up in a tree of woe and Storm blasts him with a chair. Harris gigs himself. Wildcat is a really cool nickname for a pro wrestler. Harris tries to valiantly fight back. He catapults Storm into the underside of the table in wicked spot and Storm is busted too. Double juice! Storm has a five alarm bladejob. Storm punts him in the balls as his only recourse to stem the metaphorical bleeding and Harris succumbs to the Eye of the Storm through a table! I thought the table bumps were great in this match. Well setup and use for maximum impact. Believe the hype, match has been absolutely tremendous thus far. Hate-filled, blood, punches, big time spots. Storm is looking to add weapons to meter out more punishment. He wants to hurl Harris over the top rope through a table, but that is blocked and instead Harris goes all Big E and spears Storm off the apron through the table! HOLY SHIT! Wow! Jacqueline (in a Confederate Cowboy Hat I might add) stops the Wildcat from getting a pin. Now this is the part of the match where I think traditional Death Match rules shine. They trade nearfalls. Storm hits a wicked desperation Van Daminator (Harris was about to take his head off with  a chair) and Harris hits the Catatonic on a trash can. Both cases both men kickout at two out of pride. This is saves the audience for another long 8-9 count. Also, the pinfalls give a clear delineation of when a knockdown count should begin. It also saves us from the silly double knockout finish. I had never given much thought to this before, but I think traditional Death Match rules are superior to today's Last Man Standing. Jacqueline tries to save Storm after that Catatonic and thats when Gail Kim comes down and drags her out. If I remember correctly, Gail Kim was AMW's manager in late 2005/early2006 so good callback there. The finish is short and sweet, both men have a beer bottle. It is back to the OK Corral who has the quicker draw. Storm goes to spin Harris around, but BANG! Harris cracks him with the beer bottle for the pinfall and knockout victory. DAMN! Thats how you do a Southern-Fried, Revenge Bloodbath match! I love the efficiency of this match. Every highspot is so meaningful and so sticky. Hate, efficiency and blood you cant beat that! I think I am kinda underrating this right now, but just doesnt feel Top 100, but its damn close. Definitely a contender for best TNA match ever!

#3. TNA World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels – Final Resolution 2009

TNA Match of the Year, 2009

Daniels puts on a career performance and AJ puts on a performance that is on par with his best. It is very rare I think someone outshines AJ, but I thought Daniels was doing so many of the little things so well and suffocating AJ that I have got to give the nod to Daniels as the better wrestler in this match.  This match is worked so much differently than most TNA matches as they let spots breathe, use strikes effectively to set up spots and has psychology that actually follows the angle surrounding the match. I was really floored how friggin good this match was both when I watched it initially in 2013 and now in 2019. The story is how AJ would overcome Daniels' combination of ruthlessness and familiarity with his moves.

Daniels takes advantage of two early rope breaks to take cheap shots at Styles. He also rushes in after each cheap shot and cinches in a hold on AJ. He is not gloating. He is here to win. I love his attitude. He takes advantage of AJ's good nature, who still has a soft spot for his friend. There are two really good spots that I just loved from Daniels they showed he was not going to give AJ anything in this match and AJ was going to have to earn every bit of offense.  The first one  is Daniels is able to counter an AJ kip up by sitting down on an armbar and the second is he is able to pick an ankle on a criss-cross spot because he knows AJ just that well. When the hell do ever see those two spots absolutely quashed. Nothing should ever be taken for granted and I like that Daniels turns the tables.  They really work the mat effectively I wish they would work this way more often. I liked the dueling dropkicks. Daniels tries to hit AJ's signature dropkick combination, but AJ is too wise for that and sets up his own and nails it.  When AJ does take control because Daniels gets cocky he really lets the fists fly and talks some trash to Daniels. Hate in a TNA match??? Whaaaaaattttttt? They do a great job climaxing AJ's shine. Daniels powders because he is a coward. So AJ baits Daniels by coming out to the apron causing Daniels to charge, but AJ evades and Daniels runs into the post and then as Daniels is selling AJ catapults himself over the top rope crashing down on Daniels. 

There is a great two spot combination that gets Daniels back in control. The first is a wicked monkey flip that sends AJ crashing into the corner causing a bad landing. The second is a rudimentary clothesline while AJ is on the apron. What makes this so special? Watch how AJ takes this bump. It is so gnarly. Yes, I said Daniels was the better wrestler on this night but if Daniels was wrestling at a A+ level then AJ was wrestling at an A level that's how high quality this match was. When Daniels regains control, he sets up AJ to get smacked with a chair and as the ref discards that chair he Rock Bottoms AJ through an chair (obviously silly as the mangled chair is left behind, but I am going to let it slide). This sets up the back psychology and a really damn good heat segment. AJ gets a hope spot and goes up top to capitalize, but Daniels wails on his back. Then Daniels manages to hoist AJ up and basically do a backbreaker but use the top turnbuckle as his knee. If you are going to do innovative spots, then at least make them violent and that fit in perfectly. Daniels continuing working the back with strikes and holds.

I like how AJ re-establishes control first it is by big time punches to the head but when Daniels throws him out of the ring AJ hits a nasty powerbomb on Daniels onto the floor when Daniels tries to hit a huricanrana. Up until that point, Daniels had almost no highspots. Everything was fundamental and ruthless and AJ made him pay. AJ follows up with more strikes and trash talk. This does not feel like a TNA match at all and the TNA crowd does not how to react. I hate to admit, but it was pretty heatless even though this was an insanely great match. There is a great moment when Daniels not only hooks the top rope, but has his foot hooked on the bottom rope too to ensure AJ will not be able to take him over.  Daniels uses AJ's own momentum against him crotches him on the ropes (AJ's bumpis great here). I really liked the suplex from this position. Now Daniels is using some wicked open hand palm strikes. They fuck up a super Franeknsteiner. They fight over a suplex and AJ hits a wicked brainbuster on Daniels' injured head. At some point, Daniels has this massive lump on his forehead that just looks gnarly. Phenomenal Forearm gets two when Daniels gets his leg on the ropes. I like that Daniels used this foot there. It showed that the Brainbuster/Forearm would have done him in. 

They struggle over Styles Clash; AJ hits him with the Pele which is usually the setup for the Styles Clash, but Daniels scrambles for the ropes where AJ hits him with a stiff kick to the back. Daniels throws a desperate open hand strikes. AJ is trying for the German suplex, but Daniels uses the ref and he rakes the eyes to hit an Urnage then hit the BME. Daniels takes his frustration out on AJ's head by punching his head repeatedly and then clawing the eyes. I love the hate and violence. AJ gets a catapult and then follows up with a Styles Clash kickout. AJ gets set up on top rope (maybe Spiral Tap); Daniels hits a big palm strike; goes for another super Frankensteiner this time he eats a super Styles Clash for the 1-2-3! 

This match unlike most TNA matches actually followed the story of the angle. It was two wrestlers pissed off at each other trying to prove they were better than the other. Daniels was great at heeling it up and he left most of the goofy moves at the door. He was out to use his guile and experience to best AJ. He started off really working the arm well before zeroing in on the back with ferocity rarely seen in TNA. AJ is such a great babyface at both selling and those fiery comebacks. His punches were really on point and he too did not work all his usual offensive spots and instead focusing on executing moves that fit the match and would finish his opponent. I liked the finish a lot because it combined smart escalation (Top Rope Styles Clash) with Daniels going to the well once too often (2nd attempt at Super Frankensteiner). I think this is one of the grossly underrated matches in the history of pro wrestling and easily the Match of the Year for 2009 

#2. X-Division Champion AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe – Turning Point 2005

I wrote in 2013: Greatest AJ Styles Performance Ever? I will say his performance against Bobby Roode in an ironman match at Final Resolution 2012 is his greatest performance of all time, but this is probably a Top Ten AJ Performance and thats saying a lot because he has had so many great ones.

My favorite moment when I watched in 2013 is the same as when I just watched it again: When Styles does a float-over off a Joe suplex attempt onto the apron instead of doing it fluidly he lands on the ropes to sell the exhaustion. I was in awe. He takes that extra couple seconds to really sell. Consequently instead of immediately following his forearm on the apron he sold more exhaustion before finally to trying to hit a springboard and ate a Joe powerbomb. Sublime. What I think stands out the most about this match compared to so many X-Division matches is the physicality. This match was a fuckin war and AJ got a nice busted up lip for it. Each wrestler earned everything they got.

AJ set the tone charging at Joe and manhandling him. You dont see Joe manhandled too often, but AJ was all piss & vinegar. AJ hits fucking hard and he was blasting Joe. I love how pumped AJ was after his snap suplex and his trademark dropkick. This does not get brought up enough, but AJ is so good at his dropdown. The whole point of the dropdown is trip your opponent while he running the ropes OR mess up his timing. Watch that Joe really has to step over AJ because AJ does his dropdown so tight. Since Joe is thinking about that, he does not think about the dropkick. Once Joe gets a hold of AJ the match really gets brutal. These are some of the sickest, stiffest kicks you will ever see. AJ did that sick bump off the apron onto the floor again and took Joe's offense like a champ. Joe kicked is leg out from under him and took a header on the apron. Then the real exclamation point is how Joe just slung him into the railing. This was a total shitkicking. Credit to AJ that he sold like a champ and bumped like a madman, but he never died. He always let us know he life left in his body. Thats huge. There is a great moment when AJ was looking to start a comeback but Joe just shoves him down and then hits a flying kick right to the face. I love how simple & brutal the match is. I loved the transition to AJ's comeback as it was Joe being overzealous and AJ having the presence of mind to back body drop outside the ring. Then he capitalized with a beautiful Fosbury Flop. I love how after each move AJ was going after pins because he knew he was weak and this was his shot. It really sold the urgency, you could feel that his time was fleeting and if he didnt capitalize now everything was lost. I loved the cat and mouse game they did late in the match with AJ duckin' and divin' not allowing Joe to get that full 100% impact. The busted lip happens here and it really had a big fight feel and that moment epitomized it. AJ continues back with flying kicks especially that wicked spinkick that rocks Joe. AJ needed those big bombs and head shots. Tenay & I think he going Styles Clash, but he hits a massive powerbomb for two. AJ tries to charge Joe, but it is a WICKED LARIAT (this lariat is insane; JBL would have creamed his pants for sure) and then a  wicked Tiger Driver, but each time AJ kicks out at one. FIGHTING SPIRIT~! There is a great vicious sequence, Joe hits a wicked slap and then AJ hits his Pele Kick. That's the head rocking, stun kick, AJ usually uses to set up the Styles Clash, but here AJ sets the big man up on the top rope. which I dont love. The one flaw is the fact that AJ tried twice to setup Joe for moves on the top turnbuckle, which seemed odd. The second time it led to an awkward sequence and a lame AJ powerbomb (more like a double leg takedown), which only existed to give AJ a way to hit the Styles Clash. It was a minor flaw. AJ goes for a victory roll, but Joe traps him in the clutch and it is Goodnight Irene for AJ. After the match, Joe beats up AJ and tries to give him a musclebuster on a chair, but Daniels saves. I liked this match a whole lot, but I think I liked AJ/Abyss a hair more (I wrote that in 2013 and still feel that way now), but both are neck and neck for Best TNA match ever at this point. I have no idea why the Unbreakable match is the more famous match. This match blows that match outta the water. Again, it is the finish that holds this match back from being *****. To me this combines BattlArts brutality with really awesome bumping from AJ and start of the art offense with a strong story of urgency from both men really wanting to win.

#1. AJ Styles vs Abyss – Lockdown 2005 Six Sides of Steel

TNA Match of the Year, 2005

So in a card full of cage matches, what do AJ and Abyss do to ensure differentiation they spend the first half brawling outside. I actually think that is pretty smart given the circumstances of the match, which Don West poignantly points out. This is actually one of the best Don West calls ever. His hyperbole is well-suited for a match as violent and as brutal as this and he actually does well to describe the strategy. AJ would find the cage restrictive as opposed to outside the cage where he would have more freedom to evade Abyss and create opportunities to attack. That's why AJ decided to start the match outside the ring by flying through the door wiping Abyss out. The spots AJ hits during the babyface shine are ridiculously awesome and breath-taking. It was the perfect way to establish AJ's speed as a threat to Abyss' unmitigated power. I loved how Abyss remained strong during this. AJ could not Irish Whip Abyss. He had not done enough to earn that. So when Abyss reversed the Irish Whip, AJ slid under the railing to avoid that shot and then hit the rana. In a similar moment, AJ avoided the stairs and flew into the stands soaring above the fans. He then went flying with a beautiful forearm on Abyss back over those same fans. That could be one of the single coolest spots in the history of pro wrestling. As Don West so eloquently describes, AJ goes to the well one too many times and ends up tumbling over the railing and crashing on the floor. AJ did such a fantastic job setting up his aerial maneuvers to make them plausible. Abyss sold them as exactly as they should with a register but not enough to do serious damage to the monster. 


I thought the arena brawling was good. I liked Abyss' response to AJ's defiance, goozling him and then hurling him back first into some steel fencing. The match really kicks into the next gear when AJ decides he will die for our sins. AJ takes like 8 million ridiculously awesome bumps in this match. First it is the crazy snap back bumps after Abyss whips the steel cage door into his face, which causes AJ to bleed. Then in the ring, AJ just get ridiculous elevation on all sort of bumps as Abyss hurls him. The best part of this match is AJ never dies. He keeps fighting back and he keeps letting us know he is there. I loved how AJ spun out of cover instead of kicking out. Great way to sell within a cover. Once in the cage, Abyss did some great power offense and a classic Southern-style, bloodbath cage match developed with AJ timing each hope spot for maximum effect. I loved how the hope spots were all about driving Abyss' head into hard metal objects and they were also a taste of his own medicine because Abyss was setting these spots up but AJ was countering them. Really good shit here. AJ was averting disaster but it looked like his nine lives ran out when Abyss finally wrangled him in the Black Hole Slam, which was a great nearfall from Abyss, the first really strong nearfall of the match. Abyss understands he needs to up the ante so he pours out the thumbtacks. Loved the struggle and drama of who would go into the thumbtacks. It is AJ hitting a Styles Clash into the thumbtacks! I love how both men sell. My only nitpick is that really should have been the finish. I thought the finish was a little overwrought. AJ realizes he needs to up the ante so he ascends to the top of the cage. Abyss throws the ref into the cage and this causes AJ to lose his balance, which by the way is insane. Like AJ could have killed himself there, he is a nut. What I didnt like was the whole hanging with the chain it didnt feel like much and didnt like how AJ was able to survive, climb back in and hit a sunset flip powerbomb on the tacks for the win. It was a literally perfect match up until the chain hanging spot.

If someone wanted to argue this is the greatest David vs. Goliath match, I would listen. AJ shined throughout this match. He came in with an excellent gameplan, he bumped like a madman, wrestled a smart counterwrestling match, hit two massive moves late. Really awesome performance. Credit to Abyss for not just being an imposing monster, BUT not wrestling small. He resisted the Irish Whips early and he did not let himself look vulnerable at all until he started having head bashed into steel. Abyss made himself a mountain to scale. That made AJ's victory all the sweeter. My pick for the best match of 2005 anywhere in the world (have watched Low-Ki vs KENTA since and now it is very close)! *****

XWA Xtreme Rumble '15: AJ Styles Rules The World

Hey yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Months ago in one of those rare times where I stood in line for the Phoenix Landing, I was looking as only I could look donning hot pink zubaz, decked out in jewlery and wearing Dolph Ziggler's "Stealing The Show & Your Girlfriend" shirt and lo & behold the guy in front of me was a wrestling fan. We got to talking and it was the usual wrestling fan chit chat until we got into the club. Except one thing stuck with me, he said there was a thriving hotbed for indy wrestling down in Rhode Island. At the time, I was knee deep in 2000s puroresu, but I always kept that in the back of my head.

SHOW YOUR TITS! SHOW YOUR TITS! SHOW YOUR TITS!

Now in January of 2015, I was looking to see if the best damn wrestler in the world of 2014 was coming my way. Wouldn't you know AJ Styles was coming to Rhode Island in January for XWA. Wild horses, baby, were not keeping me from this and it would double as a perfect way to get me introduced to the Rhode Island indy wrestling scene. I saw some familiar names like Paul London and The Spirit Squad. The name, besides AJ's, I was most interested in was Biff Busick, who has been raved about along with Timothy Thatcher and Drew Gulak for rejuvenating the US Indy Scene. Shooting a quick message to then man who watches more wrestling than anybody I know, Dylan Hales of Wrestling Culture Podcast and Pro Wrestling Only, he offered me a couple free recommendations for Biff. I came away very impressed with his Beyond Wrestling match with Thatcher which was a strong, intense fundamentals-based match that focused on making your opponent earn every inch. Without a doubt, it was a refreshing bout by making what was once old, new again. Going into last Saturday Night's XWA Rumble '15, I was now excited not only for AJ Styles, but to see one of the hottest up and coming acts on the Indy scene.

Let me say straight up front, I was not to be disappointed. I got more than my $20 and 150 minute roundtrip drive worth from this really fun and great indy wrestling show. AJ Styles just weeks prior wrestled in front of 36,000 people in the Tokyo Dome and could have easily phoned it in. Watching from the third row in a house of reportedly 650 XWA fans, AJ put in a strong effort, where never once you thought he was going through the motions. Biff Busick kicked some major ass during his comeback, which was one of the most magnetic babyface rallies I have seen in some time. On top of that, Paul London with a huge ass brace, came out of nowhere and opened my eyes to the fact he could still go as a gritty underdog babyface. I left before the main event (their version of the Royal Rumble, but I saw Carlito's entrance) so that I could back in time to strut and stroll at the Phoenix Landing. Overall, it was definitely I would recommend XWA to a friend and I would do it again. I just wish they came closer to Boston!

The above paragraph was for those who are intimidated by my verbosity and I wanted to make sure that I put over my positive experience before I start getting into the nitty gritty. The event was held in the West Warwick Civic Center right by the West Warwick High School, which seemed like a nice neighborhood.  I sat third row dead center looking towards the hard camera. I sat next to the typical indy wrestling fan class clown. It was hit and miss, but he never became annoying. The couple in front of me must have been in their earlier 50s and they were talking about how they had never missed a Beyond Wrestling show in Rhode Island, which is just the coolest thing ever. I can only hope to be that lucky. Lots of fathers with their kids, which was really awesome to see. Overall, it was a crowd that seems to really be invested in the product and was energetic, which only made the experience that much more fun.

I will never be overly harsh on an Indy promotion for their production values as long as I can see the ring and the wrestlers, I am cool. Yes, the sound was not all that great making it hard to hear anyone and the lighting of the arena made it hard to see their big screen TV until someone realized killing all the lights resolved that problem. Without any further adieu and as you can see I am prone to a whole lot of adieu, let's get on to the matches.

HE'S OUR SAVIOR!

Paul London vs "The Savior of Pro Wrestling" JT Dunn

JT Dunn is over with the XWA crowd and I won't begrudge him that. People chanted "You're our Savior". I try really hard to keep an open mind, but claiming to be "The Savior of Pro Wrestling" sets yourself up for high expectations especially when you are on the same card as AJ Styles and Biff Busick. Unlike indy production values, I hold indy wrestlers to the same standard as WWE, New Japan, ROH, you name it, wrestlers. I understand pro wrestling is a game of hyperbole and understand saving pro wrestling has been en vogue for the last decade or so, but if you are the "Savior of Pro Wrestling", there needs to be a hook or something special. I don't even think that necessarily means being a great "technical" wrestler or a stiff wrestler or a wrestler with lots of MOVEZ~! The modern industry is not exactly setting the world on fire in the promo department so maybe that's where the Savior shines (he was on the stick before the event and once again was just decent). Personally, the Savior of Wrestling seems way better suited for a heel because it is awfully persumptous and arrogant so maybe you are a throwback chickenshit heel, which modern pro wrestling needs in a bad way. Again, maybe it is something I would understand seeing more performances, but based on one performance nothing really stood out to me. It is just like the story Steve Austin always  relates in his podcast about how Dr. Tom asked Stunning Steve, "What makes Stunning Steve so Stunning?". JT Dunn needs to ask himself "What makes JT Dunn, the Savior of Pro Wrestling?"
Paul London had a really interesting way to get heel heat on himself before the match. He went throughout the entire arena, up to the bleachers & everything, to high five all the fans. He managed to miss my section, unfortunately. Then right before the match starts, he saunters out to take a picture with a family and the crowd began to grow restless. Dunn, finally gets sick of all this pussyfooting, leaping over the railing and tackling London. Somehow he managed not to wipe anyone out.

After this match was worked at a frenetic pace and felt a bit rushed. This is a perfect example of the difference between a match that feels urgent and rushed. Urgency is not the same as a fast pace. It is the sense of purpose that commands your attention because the wrestlers believe in the immediacy of their actions. There were some fun spots: I was impressed by London with a huge ass brace hitting a double stomp onto the floor and crashing and burning on a Shooting Star Press.  They were laying in their chops and I definitely felt the grittiness of London's attack. Dunn did not really conjure any emotions. The finish was inventive enough with London and Dunn chopping each other while on their knees before London rolled through on a snapmare and both men's shoulders were pinned.

The stipulation of the match was the winner would face Tommaso Ciampa for the XWA Championship that night so it was pretty obvious we would get the double pin. Apparently, this was London/Dunn III and I believe the rubber match. Another fan said the other two matches were better. It was high energy opener and set up the triple threat match. Totally fine for what it was.

The Spirit Squad (Kenny & Mikey) vs Heartthrobs

This was a really fun comedy match. I think I was the only one in my section who enjoyed it, but I was more entertained by this than the previous match. Mikey is just so committed to his Three Stooges/Cheerleader hybrid character and he is so funny. The criss cross segment with the Heartthrobs ending up doing the stereotypical indy wrestling chain sequence (complete with dropkicking each other at the same time) only to realize on the standoff that they were facing each other was fucking hilarious. The heat segment would have been sucky had Mikey not been in Ultimate Warrior Apron Beast Mode (to steal a line from Matt D)! The hot tag was great, short and to the point. The finish was the always funny "one tag partner happens to fall headfirst into the other's balls" and Mikey hitting a rocket launcher to win. Fun comedy and perfect for what it was.

BIFF! BIFF! BIFF!

Biff Busick vs Treeeevvvvvvooorrrr Lee

Trevor Lee is a hot property from the Carolina indy scene that was making his XWA debut against one of the best indy wrestlers going today.  I should have mentioned this earlier, but a big Katy Perry fan was manning the sound booth to start the night. I am enjoy some Katy Perry club bangers when I am out and about, but as pump up music for a wrestling crowd it does leave something to be desired. I do like that they played music that was actually relevant in 2015 so kudos for that. So Trevor Lee came out to Katy Perry's ET, which was an odd selection for long-haired, bearded Trevor Lee. He was a better manicured looking version of Daniel Bryan and a bit taller. He loved to shout his name as Treeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvooooooorrrr, which actually was his best heat seeking tactic as it always got the callback "Sucks" from me and other fans. He definitely was going for odd and off-kilter, but at the same time, I don't think I know who Trevor Lee is after that match.

I know who Biff Busick is though BABY! Dude, looks about as much of a hard-nosed, blue collar Boston dude as you can look. I guess if he had some more hair that would be a bit more conventional, but the face was very Boston.  It is funny because Cena is a such a Boston bro and I can see why that is so polarizing among the nation. It is two sides of the same coin and I see Busicks and Cenas all the time. He came out meaning business. It was a little too much over the top intensity and anger, but hey that is Boston for you (Where do you think Cena gets it?)! By the end of the match, he had us all eating out of the palm of his hand. I was skeptical about name like Biff Busick, but Biff is a great name to chant. As my friends would claim it is an onomatopeia and I really don't know if I can argue with them anymore.

Trreeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvoooorrrrr was drinking from the Paul London kool-aid and figured stalling was the best way to get heat on the indy scene. When they did lock up, Biff was very snug and everything looked great from the third row. Biff really wanted a handshake goddamnit and Trevvor spit at him. Now you done gone made him angry, Trevor! We end up with the crowd brawling and trash barrels go flying from the bleachers. I am not a big fan of crowd brawling, until one fan mentioned "They are making sure everyone gets a front tow seat" and that is a really cool idea. It is not great from a kayfabe perspective, but that is actually a pretty good business practice in my estimation.

Trevor smokes Biff with a boot to the head as he is trying to get back in the ring. They tease the countout and Biff milks it well. Trevor's heat segment is pretty boring, but holy fuck what a comeback by Busick. His European Uppercuts, his interaction with the crowd, his energy and presence all made for a really exciting finish stretch. It really reminded me of those Daniel Bryan hot tags that really got Bryan over with the WWE crowd. It was really good shit. They did a cool spot which I think is a Trevor Lee spot (saw it in his video package) where they collide for hard on a cross body they flip mid air with Trevor on top, which made for nasty nearfall. Busick showed his love for my main man, Kenta Kobashi, hitting a Half Nelson Suplex/Burning Lariat to win the match.

As a Biff Busick showcase, this was great. Offense matters more than ever in American wrestling, for better or for worse and Busick has that down in spades. This comeback here sold me on coming back to Providence to watch Busick & Gulak vs Hero & Dunn just to see Busick again live (though Gulak & Hero are enticing). The finih stretch pushes this to ***, Trevor Lee did not show much.

BRING HIM BACK! BRING HIM BACK! BRING HIM BACK!

XWA Champion Tommaso Ciampa vs Paul London vs "Savior of Pro Wrestling" JT Dunn

This is going to sound weird and I don't even know how to explain this. If you give Ciampa a normal haircut, he looks like a guy that should be on The Bachelor. I even showed my mom a picture of him and she was like "Has he been on the Bachelor before?". So Ciampa if you are looking for some free publicity, don't say I never doled out some good advice. ;)

It was a triple threat clusterfuck. It was fun, fine and flew by. I thought London was the best and this was really where he shined. He was worked great as a sympathetic babyface from underneath. First, they were kicking on his knee with big ass brace on it and he would throw wild chops to beat them back. It was just a gritty performance just throwing everything he had to be the XWA Champion. It is funny Ciampa and Dunn are full-timers I believe, but yet I believed London wanted to win this match more than either one of them. The best spots were also London spots like the dropsault which landed as a perfect moonsault on one of his opponents. Seeing his Shooting Star Press and just missing his head on the turnbuckle was crazy. As for the other wrestlers, Ciampa had good strikes and has a really good look. I am not going out of my way to see more Ciampa, but I welcome seeing him again. As for Dunn, the "Savior of Pro Wrestler" uses a Candian Destroyer, ugh. I am trying to keep an open mind. I am going to see him team with Hero against Busick & Gulak so we will see. Ciampa retained, which I think shocked some people who thought Dunn would win. London gave a nice promo about how great this promotion is and he will be coming back. I hope so! I really enjoyed watching him live. In fact, coming out of the night, the thing I wanted to see the most was Paul London vs AJ Styles.

BEST IN THE WORLD! BEST IN THE WORLD! BEST IN THE WORLD!

AJ Styles vs Jason Blade

It is performerance like these that proves why AJ Styles is the best in the world. It is NOT the match of the year candidate that will get a lot of eyeballs on him, but it was an effort that shows no matter the situation that AJ Styles is so locked in at this point and that he cannot be denied. The opening matwork, which was really strong, looked like a real struggle because of how hard AJ was trying to gain any every advantage over his adversary. Jason Blade is a long time Indy Wrestler that stated before the match this was seven years in the making. You could feel how badly Blade wanted to win this match. The crowd responded in turn. Gone were all the jokes. You had fans cheering for the hometown boy. Then you had fans like me and other cheering for best damn wrestler in the world right now. The cheering was about exhorting the wrestlers on to victory. The match had a big match atmosphere and I did not even know who Blade was, but I was absorbed by the story because they told a story that anyone could pick up on even if they did not know Blade was.
I was enjoying the mat wrestling, but then I saw the sequence that every AJ fan knows by heart. Leapfrog, dropdown, BAM DROPKICK! I see the leapfrog and audibly exclaim "HERE WE GO!", but Blade counters it! Why? Because this is seven years in making and Jason Blade has AJ Styles scouted! That was the story of the match. Just when you thought Styles had the match in hand and would go for one of his signature moves, Jason Blade had that counter. It really made for a compelling match for an AJ fan because we are so used to those moves landing. Could this guy pull it off? Slowly, I started to believe for Blade and I became worried. I cared about the outcome because I invested in the characters and their motivations and the moves had consequences. Blade was mounting his comeback, but then his knee got wrenched. Right now, I wished I took better notes (I took them quickly on my phone, I am not a total loser), but I was into that could not be bothered. I just remember that I totally had forgotten AJ had the Calf-Slicer in his arsenal and when I saw him hook the leg and roll through, I leapt up and cheered. I will admit that eventually Blade did drop the leg selling, but he started pulling off some nearfalls, but you knew it was just a matter of time. We started getting those Styles Clash teases, but surely Blade had this scouted and he did. It does not matter how much scouting you do when you are knocked out and the out of nowhere Pele kick sealed his fate like so many before him. Styles Clash and the best wrestler in the world had his hand raised in victory. Styles much like London said he would be back OH HELL YES! And congratulated Blade on a hardfought effort.
My knee jerk reaction was to tweet it was the best non-ROH AJ indy match, which it may be, but I really have not seen enough to prove that. I still have a Matt Hardy and Cedric Alexander match to watch plus there is a Drew Gulak CZW match that may kill them all. Still on this night, I was impressed on how AJ and guy I had never even heard of worked a dramatic match with a big fight feel. AJ Styles worked all his stuff in a logical and progressive fashion. Everything made sense as they took you on a roller coaster. Blade played his role of hometown hero that is the same age as AJ, but his career took a vastly different direction well. It felt like a good NWA Title Defense and in a lot of ways that's the gimmick AJ is working. In fact, I loved to see AJ with the NWA World Title now defending it in New Japan and on the US Indy scene. ***1/2
Having seen exactly what I came to see, I was ready to head out and make my way back to Boston to hit up the club. The Rumble did not really interest me (Carlito is cool, I guess)  and it worked out perfectly that they gave AJ an early night. I stopped by the merch tables. I saw that Kevin Sullivan was still wrestling and marked out. Then I noticed it was called Original Sin Promotions. I flippantly said well that is not very kid-friendly. The woman behind the table said "Is wrestling very kid-friendly?" I did not know how to respond. "Do you not see all the kids here? It is literally superheros and supervillians come to life? It is probably the most kid-oriented form of entertainment that exists!" The fact that woman is behind the desk is plain scary.

All in all, it was a great show and I had a blast! My only inhibition to going again would be the drive, but if you made the card enticing enough (*hint* putting Busick, Gulak, Hero on the card *hint*) then I can definitely be stirred to make the trek down to Rhode Island for a fun night of wrestling action.

Next road trip to Philadelphia for the ROYAL RUMBLE BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!