Best Matches of 2015

Stereomaniac

I didn't see that one, but I must say through this thread this year I have probably seen more Japanese wrestling than I have in other years. Is WrestleKingdom the show that is held in the Tokyo Dome each January? That's probably a really lame question to be asking. In WWE, for me the best match was John Cena vs. Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar. I know there were more popular choices from other people but that one gripped me the most.

Andersonisgod

Stereomaniac wrote: »

I didn't see that one, but I must say through this thread this year I have probably seen more Japanese wrestling than I have in other years. Is WrestleKingdom the show that is held in the Tokyo Dome each January? That's probably a really lame question to be asking. In WWE, for me the best match was John Cena vs. Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar. I know there were more popular choices from other people but that one gripped me the most.

It is, their annual Tokyo Dome show is held every year on January 4th and it is their biggest show of the year. It's been a pretty stellar year for puroresu, some fantastic matches, some development up and down the card and, in less than 2 weeks, we will get the culmination of, imo, the best pro wrestling feud of this generation, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada.

However that is 2016, if you are to watch any match from 2015 I'd strongly advise it being Nakamura vs Ibushi, it's probably in my top 3 favourite matches ever, wrestling doesn't get much better than it.

Stereomaniac

What is the easiest way of watching the show when it's on? Also re-watching Lucha Underground at the moment. Man it's so good. I didn't see the early episodes.

Andersonisgod

Stereomaniac wrote: »

What is the easiest way of watching the show when it's on? Also re-watching Lucha Underground at the moment. Man it's so good. I didn't see the early episodes.

The only way to catch it live is via New Japan World, which at something like €8 a month is pretty good value in January and February with Wrestle Kingdom and then the NJPW/ROH shows in February too. Also there's the New Years Dash show the day after Wrestle Kingdom which is always fun.

Stereomaniac

So do New Japan PW run monthly pay per views or weekly television or is their way of doing business anything similar to how the American companies have traditionally done things?

gnfnrhead

Stereomaniac wrote: »

So do New Japan PW run monthly pay per views or weekly television or is their way of doing business anything similar to how the American companies have traditionally done things?

They do tours. It can range from three or four shows (plus the road to shows which are essentially house shows) a month to fifteen or so if it's one of the tournaments. They do have a weekly show, but it isn't a TV taping like WWE, TNA, ROH etc. do. It features older matches with English commentary. Nearly always great matches too so it's a good starting point. You'd have to find it online as it doesn't air here.

As for matches, I'd be pretty confidant in saying you could name at least one match from each month of 2015 in NJPW and it wouldn't be out of place in Match of the Year contention. My votes are Nakamura vs Tanahashi from the G1, Nakamura vs Ibushi from Wrestle Kingdom IX and Ishii vs Honma from early in the year. Styles vs Okada deserves a mention too. In ROH, Strong vs Lethal for the TV title recently should be up there. Haven't seen Final Battle yet. PWG I get the digital download instead of the DVD and they are a lot slower to be released so I'm quite a bit behind there. ZSJ vs Hero from Mystery Vortex is definitely worth a watch at the least. Watched almost no WWE this year while TNA did their usual of good, not great but also not awful matches so I don't think anything really stands out. Maybe throw Angle vs Lashley in just so they have something. Don't think I have anything for CZW. WSU would have Hania vs Athena from the Anniversary show. At the end of the day, it has to be one of the NJPW matches.

Stereomaniac

You just reminded me that I haven't gotten around to watching Final Battle yet. I'd say that will be my own Christmas present to myself now! What is the NJPW weekly show called?

ERG89

Stereomaniac wrote: »

You just reminded me that I haven't gotten around to watching Final Battle yet. I'd say that will be my own Christmas present to myself now! What is the NJPW weekly show called?

I think they are on about the New Japan Pro Wrestling series on AXS TV. Mauro Ranallo the new smackdown announcer calls it with Josh Barnett. Off topic but I'd love if WWE got Bas Rutten with Mauro too
Think you can find most of the episodes on Dailymotion.

Stereomaniac

Sweet thanks. I'll try get some of them! What do people think was the best NXT match of the year? There's surely a few candidates from the women alone. Interested to see your opinions.

LeeJM

I just dont have the time to invest in New Japan. I try to watch some of the more pushed matches but they dont have that emotional invest from me that WWE and NXT have. Therefore my top 5 matches of the year are :

1) Sasha Banks v Bayley @ NXT Brooklyn

2) Sasha Banks v Becky Lynch @ NXT Takeover Unstoppable

3) Brock Lesnar v John Cena v Seth Rollins @ WWE Royal Rumble

4) Kevin Owens v John Cena @ WWE Elimination Chamber

5) New Day v The Usos v Lucha Dragons Ladder Match @ WWE TLC

Stereomaniac

Yeah it's hard to find time to watch everything. I tend to watch TNA weeks after it has aired. I was watching Ring Of Honor weekly but have slipped back considerably on that lately as well due to different things happening for me. The thing with me is that I'll probably always pick a WWE match as my match of the year anyway though because I always feel automatically more invested in anything they present over another company. As I said though, John Cena vs. Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble is the match that engaged me the most this year so it's probably my number 1 choice.

Palo Alto

gnfnrhead wrote: »

ZSJ vs Hero from Mystery Vortex is definitely worth a watch at the least.

This is my match of the year.

Stereomaniac

Opening triple threat tag match from Final Battle was pretty good. I really like all three teams.

gnfnrhead

From Final Battle, Adam Cole vs Kyle O'Reilly and AJ Styles vs Jay Lethal are great matches. Also forgot about Spud vs EC3 for TNA in my previous post.

beakerjoe

gnfnrhead wrote: »

From Final Battle, Adam Cole vs Kyle O'Reilly and AJ Styles vs Jay Lethal are great matches. Also forgot about Spud vs EC3 for TNA in my previous post.

An under rated gem if there ever was one, great story telling

Stereomaniac

I've been way behind on TNA lately. That World Cup style tournament really didn't capture me.

Bounty Hunter

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