Figure a lazy New Years day afternoon is as good a time as any to throw together a quick MOTY list. For the sake of keeping things fresh and not just listing a bunch of New Japan matches, I kept it to 1 match per promotion.
10. Daniel Bryan vs. Kofi Kingston
WrestleMania 35, 4/7/19
The term "WrestleMania moment" has been made absolutely meaningless by the WWE but this was an actual true and earned WrestleMania moment. Plenty of criticisms can be made of everything that happened before and after this match concerning Kofi and his title reign but for one night at least, it was pretty much perfect.
GCW Joey Janela's Spring Break 3 Part 1, 4/5/19
A couple hundred unsuspecting wrestling fans loaded into the White Eagle Hall Mania weekend for what they thought would be another fun, goofy night of Joey Janela fun. Instead they got one of the most violent deathmatches of the year. At under 10 minutes, this was simply two insane motherfuckers throwing everything they have at each other. Not for the faint of heart.
8. Tribe Vanguard (KAI & YAMATO) vs. R.E.D. (Big R Shimizu & Eita) vs. Kaito Ishida & Naruki Doi
Dragon Gate Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, 7/21/19
A chaotic near 30 minute sprint, this is the kind of match that Dragon Gate made famous. An incredible display of cardio and speed, this is Dragon Gate at its absolute finest.
AAA Triplemania XXVII, 8/3/19
A match that starts with a cherry picker stare down and ends with a fucking rock to the head. This was the exactly the kind of melodramatic lucha libre bloodbath between two legends in their 50s that you want in the main event of Triplemania.
6. Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes
AEW Double or Nothing, 5/25/19
Though it was far from the best in-ring work of the year, this match was proof that all you need to create a great wrestling match is a good story, genuine emotion and a fucking ton of blood. Wrestling at its simplest and its best.
STARDOM Big Summer in Tokyo, 7/24/19
There are a number of Arisa Hoshiki matches that could easily be on this list. It seemed like every time she defended the Wonder of Stardom title this year, it was must see. But while her defenses against Tam Nakano and Jungle Kyona were also great, her violent and intense hatred filled match against Hazuki is the one that resonated the most.
NXT TakeOver: WarGames III, 11/23/19
NXT's version of WarGames have been enjoyable matches but failed to really capture of the spirit of WarGames instead mostly turning into fun but fairly trite WWE spotfests. That was until the first women's WarGames match this year. A masterclass of storytelling that easily stands up next to the very best WarGames matches of the past, this was a match that the Dangerous Alliance and Sting's Squadron could be proud of.
OTT Fifth Year Anniversary, 10/26/19
David Starr repeatedly made his case for the best wrestler in the world this year and he was no better than in the culmination of his years long feud with Jordan Devlin in OTT. The atmosphere of this match is nearly unprecedented. You'd be hard pressed to find a crowd as ravenous and intensely invested in a wrestling match not just this year but any year. Blurring the lines between heel and babyface and between kayfabe and reality, this was a phenomenal display of the independent vs. corporate story that defined wrestling in 2019.
NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff, 8/31/19
Simply one of the best David vs. Goliath matches ever. Without very many high spots and with a fairly methodical pace, both wrestlers keep the crowd completely invested for over 40 minutes. Calling to mind some of the great King's Road All Japan matches of the 90s, WALTER is merciless, brutalizing Bate, who could not be a better foil. A perfect monster and a perfect hero and an incredible wrestling match.
NJPW Best of the Super Juniors XXVI, 6/5/19
It doesn't get much better than this. Two of the best in the world at the top of their game going all out on a big stage. What else could you ask for? At its core a simple strength vs. speed encounter, this is a beautifully paced 30 minute match between the ace of the junior heavyweight division and the undefeated new threat to the throne. Its got everything you can ask for in a match in 2019. Thrilling high spots, excellent storytelling, brutal stiff strikes and an easy choice for match of the year.
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