So now that we have gotten the accolades out of the way (go read part one if you haven't), I wanted to make an entirely separate article strictly for the matches of the year. This is mostly because I think this will end up being a very long read (like most of my other articles :D), but I will try to keep my thoughts on each match relatively concise. I would like to point out that there are a handful of matches that I just could not get around to (especially over the last month) because... life... but I tried to watch as much as I could to keep my list packed with different promotions. As usual, my rankings (and ratings) of each match is almost entirely based on personal enjoyment amongst other things such as match quality and story (though, these are still major factors). My ratings may also seem quite high and out of wack, but these are also the matches I consider the very best amongst those I have watched and kept track of (thank you to whoever gave me the idea to make a spreadsheet). So without wasting anymore time, here are my personal top ten matches of 2023 so far. But first...
Honorable Mentions:
Kenny Omega vs El Hijo del Vikingo (March 22; AEW: Dynamite)
Calvin Tankman vs Bojack (May 21; DPW: No Pressure)
Gunther vs Sheamus vs Drew McIntyre (April 2; WWE: Wrestlemania 39)
Kazuchika Okada vs Shingo Takagi (February 8; NJPW: The New Beginning in Osaka)
KAIRI vs Mercedes Mone (February 18; NJPW: Battle in the Valley)
Syuri vs Chihiro Hashimoto (April 23; Stardom: All Star Grand Queendom)
#10: Kaito Kiyomiya vs Kenoh (January 1; NOAH: The New Year)
Rating: 4.75/5 Stars
I don't think there is a much better way to start this list than with the very match that got me invested in Pro Wrestling NOAH for the first time ever. NOAH's rising star and future "ace", Kaito Kiyomiya, was riding high after taking the GHC Heavyweight Championship off of his upcoming opponent just a few months prior to their next matchup. Essentially dubbed the future of the promotion, Kiyomiya had a lot riding on him and he was setting out to prove he could handle the weight of expectation. Kenoh, however, did not believe he was ready and saw him as too unseasoned a performer to carry this company. Add to that the disappointment at being placed second to last (the first of a "double main event") on the card while a much older Great Muta and Shinsuke Nakamura headlined the show, Kiyomiya wanted to prove to Kenoh and everyone else watching what he is capable of. The pair put on a fantastic match as Kiyomiya once again went to the well of his predecessors and wrestling idols in an attempt to beat Kenoh once more. Kenoh had it all scouted, though, and did everything in his power to avoid Kiyomiya's cheap imitation. The match would climax with that falcon arrow spot onto the apron before Kiyomiya would later hit Kenoh with a modified (?) Shining Wizard to get the victory. A magnificent match that was certainly capable of headlining a show in its own right. Though I still am sporadic in my attempts to keep up with Pro Wrestling NOAH, this match definitely made me a fan and will have me keeping my eyes on Kenoh and Kiyomiya as he prepares for NJPW's G1 Climax later this year.
#9: Bishamon vs Aussie Open (April 8; NJPW: Sakura Genesis)
Rating: 4.75/5 Stars
2023: the year of Aussie Open (please come back soon Dunkzilla). What kind of list would this be without having two of the best tag teams in the world duking it out for the top tag team prize in their promotion? Having been tied with a win a piece for each team in competition against each other, this match was quite significant in seeing who is truly worthy of being the top team in New Japan. Aussie Open, riding high off of a stellar 2022, wanted to finally solidify themselves as the best tag team in the world. Bishamon, seemingly finally getting the respect they have earned and deserved, set out to retain the titles that they had only won three months prior at Wrestle Kingdom 17. The Ryogoku Kokugikan was treated to a great match as these two teams battled it out for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. This is a match that would see Kyle Fletcher put it all on the line as, relatively early on in the match, he would bust his head open after hitting the guardrail when he performed a moonsault to the outside. The powerhouse, Mark Davis, would take point while Fletcher got bandaged up on the outside. The two teams would go all out for just over 15 minutes, hitting an amount of lariats that should be considered illegal. Fletcher would fight through the pain and blood spilling from his head as Aussie Open eventually hit Goto with the Coriolis for the victory. Bishamon is a truly excellent pairing and, though short, had a very fun reign with the tag titles. Though Aussie Open would eventually have to drop the titles due to Mark Davis' injury, I'm very excited to see the pair in action upon his return and hopefully a rematch with FTR for the AEW Tag Titles.
#8: Anarchy in the Arena (May 28; AEW: Double or Nothing)
Rating: 4.75/5 Stars
If there is one word that can describe Anarchy in the Arena, it would be "pandemonium". Explosions, blood, and shocking betrayals, Anarchy in the Arena 2023 would once again provide a fun viewing experience for all who were watching. As "Wild Thing" was performed on loop for the second year in a row (this time by the live band), the Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite would brutalize each other for nearly 30 minutes across the T Mobile Arena. Claudio piledriving Matt Jackson in the back of a pickup truck, Matt hitting Jon Moxley with an exploding superkick, and Konosuke Takeshita's shocking betrayal on The Elite to help the Blackpool Combat Club win, this match was loaded with action. Personally I didn't find it as good as the first incarnation of the match, but, it was still a great match nonetheless. As we are now entering the middle of the summer, these two factions are still embroiled in their war. However, it seems the conclusion is near with Blood & Guts taking place on July 19.
#7: Eddie Kingston vs Claudio Castagnoli (March 31; ROH: Supercard of Honor)
Rating: 4.75/5 Stars
It ain't over until I say so. At least that seems to be the motto that Eddie Kingston lives by, especially when it comes to Claudio Castagnoli. A rivalry stemming all the way back to the late 2000s, Kingston's hatred for Castagnoli is nothing new. Though he was able to squash it temporarily upon Castagnoli's arrival in AEW (as Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz would ally with the BCC against the JAS in Blood & Guts), it seems Kingston would not be able to tame his hatred forever. Kingston promised to try and keep the match as civil as possible seeing as Ring of Honor has a certain style and lineage to it; but, Kingston would also say: "at some point, [he is] going to have to gouge his eye”. This match was brutal. It was two men who truly seem to resent each other going at it with everything they have. On top of that, for how rough and tough as he is, Eddie Kingston is so damn good when he is the babyface with his back against the wall. Eddie Kingston is a guy you want to cheer for, maybe because some relate to him or maybe because he keeps everything 100. Either way, AEW/ROH would be foolish not to see what they have with him. Anyways, these two beat the snot out of each other in a match that would shockingly see Kingston kick out of the Neutralizer at one. Claudio would also kick out of Kingston's signature Uraken before eventually clinching a pin (after trading attempts with Kingston) for the victory. With the match's ending as well as what we are seeing on current AEW television, this feud is far from over. How it ends can only be guessed by us for now, but hopefully this rivalry's conclusion will see Eddie Kingston finally get his moment in the sun.
#6: Tam Nakano vs Giulia (April 23; Stardom: All Star Grand Queendom)
Rating: 5/5 Stars
At about 7am on April 23, tears streamed out of my eyes as I watched Tam Nakano finally climb to the top of Stardom and claim the World of Stardom Championship. There's not enough I can say about how much I love Tam Nakano and how vital she has been in pulling me back into the wrestling vortex over the last year and half (but I will save that for another article), so seeing her finally claim the Red Belt was a very special moment. To add a cherry on top, it was her longtime rival, Giulia, that she would beat for the title. Another deep and hateful wrestling rivalry, Giulia and Tam Nakano go back quite a ways as they have something of a storied history. Though this doesn't do their rivalry any justice, essentially these two hate each other and they have hated each other for years. Even after defeating Giulia for the White Belt years prior, Tam claims it was Giulia who still got all the recognition and glory. Even after avenging her vow to Arisa Hoshiki, it seemed that no matter what Tam did she was never the company's biggest star or priority. This match was basically the culmination of such a rivalry in that it was now for the top prize of the promotion. Giulia, who came into Stardom along with the formation of her new faction and swift push to the top of the promotion, was seeking to show Nakano once and for all that she is superior and put this rivalry to bed. Tam Nakano, on the other hand, was hoping to truly beat Giulia and claim her spot as Stardom's #1. This match brought a tear to my eye. Much like Claudio and Eddie, these two laid everything they had into one another (please stop doing shoot headbutts, Giulia). Suplexes, forearms, headbutts, and some pretty hefty punches, Giulia and Tam would go to war for nearly 25 minutes before Tam Nakano hit a Violent Screwdriver for the win. There's not much to say about this match besides "wow". A fantastic, yet ugly feud culminating in a brutal matchup such as this was a joy to experience. If you can, brush up on this feud and check the match out (or the entire All Star Grand Queendom show), I promise you will not be disappointed.
#5: Pillars 4 Way (May 28; AEW: Double or Nothing)
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Not too long after the inception of AEW Dynamite, one Maxwell Jacob Friedman would dub himself, "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry, Darby Allin, and Sammy Guevara the Four Pillars of AEW. For someone who's character seems to be very unimpressed with Japanese pro wrestling, MJF is quite the puro geek for ripping the name given to AJPW's Four Pillars of Heaven. Alas, these four men would go on to have quite successful and budding careers in AEW with each man holding at least one title within the company before this match had taken place. With MJF now being the first of the four men to hold the World Title, it seemed that it was finally time to strike on this story. Though the build started well, it did fizzle out a bit in the last week or two leading to the show. However, this was no big deal as anyone familiar with the talent involved in this match knew we would witness something special. High flying spots, MJF's over-the-top adlibbing, and callbacks to each member's mentors, this was a very well crafted and entertaining match. Of course it ultimately ended with "The Devil" standing tall, but there were a few seeds planted for the future of the other members throughout this feud that would come to fruition quite soon. Sammy attempting to tap into his inner babyface while Jack Perry goes from "jungle boy" to "Hollywood" (well, not officially at least), it seems that the holder of the Triple B executed his plan to perfection en route to retaining his title.
#4: Jon Moxley vs Hangman Adam Page (March 5; AEW: Revolution)
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Violence, violence, and more violence. There is not much else to describe what took place in the matchup between Jon Moxley and Hangman Adam Page at AEW Revolution. This was truly not a match for the faint of heart. What seems to be the spark that would lead to the eventual war between the BCC and The Elite, Hangman and Mox would be engaged in their own turmoil for the early part of 2023. After being knocked out and concussed by Mox in their first encounter, Hangman would come back and enact his revenge on Moxley in a rematch. Moxley would eventually get his win back which would lead to this match to settle things between the two (or so we thought). Barbed wire, bricks, and chains (oh my... I've used this joke before, I'm sorry), Mox and Hanger absolutely battered each other for the duration of this very bloody match. In (somewhat) eyebrow raising fashion, Hangman would defeat Moxley by... hanging him with a chain... Well I guess he had to beat him by any means necessary. Beyond that, though, this was a fantastic match that allowed the building tension between these two to be released in the most violent, chaotic way possible. Personally, I wouldn't say I'm the biggest fan of death matches, but this was done to perfection and truly delivered far better than I would have imagined at the first bell. As we would come to find out, this would not be the end of these two in the ring together but on this night they would collide in arguably AEW's best deathmatch yet.
#3: Will Ospreay vs Kenny Omega (June 25; AEW/NJPW: Forbidden Door)
Rating: 5.5/5 Stars
Yes, this match is above 5 stars (I told you my rating system was out of wack). And yes, I think that these two's first encounter was better (please do not kill me). The second (or third, check the PWG tapes if you don't know) encounter between Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega would finally see Ospreay knock off the "One Winged Angel". After suffering an embarrassing defeat to Omega at WK17 and suffering an injury during the New Japan Cup, it was quite a tough start to 2023 for Will Ospreay. Ospreay would then bounce back from injury by beating Hiroshi Tanahashi and Lance Archer en route to securing a #1 contender opportunity against Omega for the IWGP United States Championship at Forbidden Door. There was not much story left to be elaborated upon; Will Ospreay was simply looking to come back stronger and enact his revenge on Kenny Omega to reclaim his title. There is simply too much that took place across the 40 minute duration of the match for me to think of listing off here, so do yourself a favor and go watch this masterpiece of a match if you haven't (and if you have... go rewatch it). Though interference from Don Callis (that bald bastard) would prove relatively futile, Kenny Omega would still fall short to the Aerial Assassin by the end of the night. A nasty Tiger Driver '91 that Mitsuhara Misawa himself would be proud of, eventually followed by a Hidden Blade and Storm Breaker would see Ospreay pick up the win and reclaim his gold. Arguably one of the best matches I've ever seen and one that is very likely to jump up another one or two positions by the end of the year, Ospreay and Omega somehow delivered a match that was worthy of being the second part of this amazing series of matches. There is only one place where this feud could possibly be blown off at once and for all... a certain Wembley Stadium if you will...
#2: Bryan Danielson vs MJF (March 5; AEW: Revolution)
Rating: 5.5/5 Stars
When the lights are the brightest, "The Devil" will always perform. MJF came into this match hoping, no, knowing that he could prove he is the best wrestler in the world against the man who is widely considered one of the greatest of all time: Bryan Danielson. After putting Danielson through the typical MJF "gauntlet" style story, it was finally time for these two's 60 minute Ironman match at AEW Revolution. Would MJF be able to finally silence the doubters and prove he is worthy of being considered one of the best in the world against a man who is notorious for his catalogue of 30+ minute matches dating back to his ROH days and beyond? To answer that question, yes... yes he would. After going back and forth for about 25 minutes, MJF hits a low blow on the American Dragon before rolling him up and securing two pinfalls to tie the match up 2-2. From this point on is where the match seems to really kick into gear. Danielson attempts to battle through a badly damaged arm while MJF is fighting through a damaged knee. This match was excellent on all fronts as MJF would continue to play into his usual heel role to work up his opponent and the crowd, while this match would see Danielson embrace the "yes" chants for (I believe) the first time since he has been in AEW. These two would duke it out for the next 40 minutes, eventually tying the score up 3-3. The two competitors, bloodied and battered, would make one of my favorite visuals of the year as MJF is left crying in the dying moments of the match as Danielson begins to laugh as he is very much in his element. The match would end in a draw and see it go to sudden death overtime, where MJF would eventually hit Danielson with an oxygen tank and lock in the LeBell Lock for the victory. As many others have already stated, I don't think it is outlandish to call this the best Ironman match of all time which heavily lends to the reason why I placed it over Omega/Ospreay II. Once again Danielson showed that he is a wrestler that will go down in the history books as arguably the greatest to ever lace a pair of boots, while MJF further solidifies his status as one of the best in wrestling today.
#1: Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay (January 4; NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom 17)
Rating: 6/5 Stars
Well you just knew this would be number one, right? There isn't much more that I can say about this match that I have not already said before, so I will once again shamelessly plug this article. The God of Professional Wrestling vs The Aerial Assassin in not only the current best match of 2023, but one of the greatest matches of all time.
Go check out part one of this two part series if you haven't already, and thanks for reading!