We’re so spoiled. After giving us month after month of incredible wrestling all across the globe, 2015 finally gave us a dud. September 2015 was a deflating dud in the sense that only 10 matches received the minimum of three nominations to be voted in this month’s poll. That’s not to say the 10 represented below are bad matches (it’s quite the contrary), but after a year that saw such a high volume of great wrestling in multiple promotions, multiple countries — September was just kind of there. With that said, we and our voting community still made the most of a down month to name our #1 Match of the Month: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto from NJPW’s Destruction in Kobe show.

New Japan Pro Wrestling has now accounted for seven of the nine Matches of the Month. Nakamura specifically notched his second consecutive Match of the Month crown and his third overall this year.

Previous Match of the Month Winners (2015)

  • January: Kota Ibushi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
  • February: Tomoaki Honma vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • March: Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins
  • April: AJ Styles vs Kota Ibushi
  • May: Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch
  • June: KUSHIDA vs. Kyle O’Reilly
  • July: Kazuchika Okada vs. A.J. Styles
  • August: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto

[expand title=”H2H Analysis: 165-63 (72.3%)” tag=”h4″][easytable tblsorter=”true”]
Overall,H2H Opponent,W,L,Pass,Win%[attr sort=”desc”]
7,NJPW: Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi,24,3,2,89%
9,ROH: Moose vs. Cedric Alexander,24,3,3,89%
6,NJPW: Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi,18,3,1,86%
10,AJPW: Xceed vs. Burning Wild,19,5,6,80%
4,PROGRESS: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Haskins,15,7,8,69%
5,NJPW: reDRagon vs. Time Splitters,20,10,1,67%
8,WWE: Josh Cena vs. Seth Rollins,19,10,0,67%
2,ROH: Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong,15,11,2,58%
3,CMLL: La Sombra vs. Atlantis,12,13,3,48%
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Match Analysis: I felt bored about this match going on, pretty much because I felt they went to the well one time too many with this feud, and to be honest, they did. By the middle of the match, they were doing some really fun spots and the crowd (which had been pretty good all night) were getting into the match. Both of these guys are fantastic workers and are always able to take it up a notch whenever they’re headlining a show — exactly what they did that here. The armbar Nakamura’s been doing since last year’s G1 is never not amazing to see him execute. Goto’s nearfalls were great. I was a bit upset that they went with a title change (Nakamura defeating Goto), but that’s irrelevant to the match itself, which was awesome. I wouldn’t say it was a match of the year candidate, but it certainly holds it’s own as one of the top matches of the month. -Bryan Rose (@br26)

Jay Lethal vs Roderick Strong

[expand title=”H2H Analysis: 136-72 (65.2%)” tag=”h4″][easytable tblsorter=”true”]
Overall,H2H Opponent,W,L,Pass,Win%[attr sort=”desc”]
9,ROH: Moose vs. Cedric Alexander,14,3,6,83%
8,WWE: Josh Cena vs. Seth Rollins,23,6,5,80%
6,NJPW: Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi,18,6,2,75%
5,NJPW: reDRagon vs. Time Splitters,18,7,3,73%
10,AJPW: Xceed vs. Burning Wild,10,5,5,69%
7,NJPW: Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi,16,8,3,67%
3,CMLL: La Sombra vs. Atlantis,15,12,4,56%
4,PROGRESS: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Haskins,10,12,5,45%
1,NJPW: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto,11,15,2,42%
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Match Analysis: The second go around for Lethal and Roddy was miles ahead of their widely panned 60-minute draw. From the opening bell these two went straight at each other. Strong did everything possible to dethrone Lethal but wasn’t able to overcome the numbers game from the HOT. This is another excellent match in what has been a career year for both men. -Warren Taylor (@WarrenETaylor)

La Sombra vs Atlantis

[expand title=”H2H Analysis: 138-84 (62.1%)” tag=”h4″][easytable tblsorter=”true”]
Overall,H2H Opponent,W,L,Pass,Win%[attr sort=”desc”]
10,AJPW: Xceed vs. Burning Wild,11,0,6,100%
8,WWE: Josh Cena vs. Seth Rollins,22,8,2,73%
7,NJPW: Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi,19,9,2,69%
6,NJPW: Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi,16,9,4,65%
9,ROH: Moose vs. Cedric Alexander,18,11,3,62%
5,NJPW: reDRagon vs. Time Splitters,14,9,4,61%
1,NJPW: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto,13,12,3,52%
4,PROGRESS: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Haskins,13,12,5,52%
2,ROH: Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong,12,15,4,44%
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Match Analysis: A match with less than a month booking surely cannot get anyone emotionally invested. Someone must not have told that to either Sombra or Atlantis. Both men pulled out all the stops, Atlantis possibly even more so than Sombra. This was a spectacle, as it should have been and that’s not including the post match. Once both Rush and Volador Jr. were ejected, this got immensely serious and undeniably personal.

Atlantis bumped like a madman and pulled out multiple highspots. Sombra was on a whole different level than many of his peers not just in CMLL but the world. Beautifully timed near falls, brilliant submissions and the greatest pro wrestling crowd in 2015-no debate whatsoever. In a match with high stakes and barely any build these two modern masters had grown men, women and children visibly weep. Wrestling can be beautiful and art, Sombra and Atlantis proved it in one of the greatest apuesta matches of all time. -Robert Barry (@RobsBrutalWorld)

Will Ospreay vs Mark Haskins

[expand title=”H2H Analysis: 96-72 (57.1%)” tag=”h4″][easytable tblsorter=”true”]
Overall,H2H Opponent,W,L,Pass,Win%[attr sort=”desc”]
6,NJPW: Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi,13,4,8,76%
10,AJPW: Xceed vs. Burning Wild,7,3,8,72%
9,ROH: Moose vs. Cedric Alexander,13,6,8,68%
5,NJPW: reDRagon vs. Time Splitters,11,7,7,62%
7,NJPW: Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi,12,8,7,62%
8,WWE: Josh Cena vs. Seth Rollins,10,8,5,56%
2,ROH: Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong,12,10,5,55%
3,CMLL: La Sombra vs. Atlantis,12,13,5,48%
1,NJPW: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto,7,15,8,31%
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Match Analysis: Two of the best British wrestlers on the scene today having a clean main event match against each other in front of a red-hot PROGRESS crowd. The high-flying champion up against the no-nonsense expert striking & submission challenger. How could you not love it?

Were there perhaps one or two too many top rope moves? Probably. Was there one or two instances where I’d have liked a little more selling? Sure. Plain and simple, this match was full of excitement and a hell of lot of fun. If you’re a fan of the high paced go-go-go indie style then you should totally check this one out. – Rob Reid (@TheRDouble) 

reDRagon vs Time Splitters

[expand title=”H2H Analysis: 120-102 (54.0%)” tag=”h4″][easytable tblsorter=”true”]
Overall,H2H Opponent,W,L,Pass,Win%[attr sort=”desc”]
10,AJPW: Xceed vs. Burning Wild,15,3,8,83%
9,ROH: Moose vs. Cedric Alexander,23,7,4,77%
6,NJPW: Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi,19,9,2,68%
7,NJPW: Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi,17,11,3,61%
8,WWE: Josh Cena vs. Seth Rollins,15,10,2,59%
3,CMLL: La Sombra vs. Atlantis,9,14,4,39%
4,PROGRESS: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Haskins,7,11,7,38%
1,NJPW: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto,10,20,1,33%
2,ROH: Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong,7,18,3,27%
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Match Analysis: reDRagon vs. Time Splitters is a testament to what can be achieved when a IWGP Junior Tag Title match is given time and broken away from the tired & mundane multi-team troupe. The placement of this match on NJPW’s Destruction in Kobe show (third from the top) was a tell-tale sign that this wasn’t going to be our run-of-the-mill Junior Tag Title defense. The match received over 16 minutes which allowed these two to tell a more profound story than what these men usually have to pack into 10 minutes, at the beginning of the show and with another team in the mix. What is normally a flimsy spotfest where everyone “gets their shit in” finally had time to coalesce, resulting in a fantastic back-and-forth, punch-for-punch affair that saw reDRagon narrowly defeat the reunited Time Splitters. – Rich Kraetsch (@VoicesWrestling)

Bad Luck Fale vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

[expand title=”H2H Analysis: 82-120 (40.5%)” tag=”h4″][easytable tblsorter=”true”]
Overall,H2H Opponent,W,L,Pass,Win%[attr sort=”desc”]
10,AJPW: Xceed vs. Burning Wild,18,7,7,73%
8,WWE: Josh Cena vs. Seth Rollins,13,9,3,60%
9,ROH: Moose vs. Cedric Alexander,9,9,3,50%
7,NJPW: Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi,12,12,2,50%
3,CMLL: La Sombra vs. Atlantis,9,16,4,35%
5,NJPW: reDRagon vs. Time Splitters,9,19,2,32%
2,ROH: Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong,6,18,2,25%
4,PROGRESS: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Haskins,4,13,8,24%
1,NJPW: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto,3,18,1,14%
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Match Analysis: The result of this match was a foregone conclusion, but the quality of the work between the ever-reliable Tanahashi and the new master of the road block, Bad Luck Fale, gave me reason to believe and doubt my instincts. Plenty of long two counts added fantastic drama and Tanahashi brought the best out of Fale and made him look like a million bucks. This match definitely was a step up from their entertaining G1 match, and furthered my love for Bad Luck Fale, who has become a true guilty pleasure of mine. – Joey O’Doherty (@AwesomeOJoe) 

Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi

[expand title=”H2H Analysis: 84-132 (38.8%)” tag=”h4″][easytable tblsorter=”true”]
Overall,H2H Opponent,W,L,Pass,Win%[attr sort=”desc”]
8,WWE: Josh Cena vs. Seth Rollins,12,8,4,61%
10,AJPW: Xceed vs. Burning Wild,12,11,5,52%
6,NJPW: Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi,12,12,2,50%
9,ROH: Moose vs. Cedric Alexander,10,13,4,43%
5,NJPW: reDRagon vs. Time Splitters,11,17,3,39%
4,PROGRESS: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Haskins,8,12,7,38%
2,ROH: Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong,8,16,3,33%
3,CMLL: La Sombra vs. Atlantis,9,19,2,31%
1,NJPW: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto,3,24,2,11%
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Match Analysis: Ibushi’s continued rise in the ranks of NJPW has been well documented throughout 2015. Togi Makabe is either hit or miss with fans of modern-day NJPW. Some of us think Ibushi deserves better than he gets in NJPW. I say he’s doing quite well for a man who has a dual contract with DDT/NJPW. This match essentially sums up Kota’s year, he gets opportunities but cannot claim those important victories in title matches. This match also happens to have my favorite table spot of the year. Ibushi pulled a great match out of Makabe, no wonder fans are invested in this guy. One day Ibushi will reach the top of the mountain and we can all point to this match and 2015 and finally be rewarded for being patient with a slow burn climb. All in due time friends, all in due time. -Robert Barry (@RobsBrutalWorld)

John Cena vs Seth Rollins

[expand title=”H2H Analysis: 82-130 (38.6%)” tag=”h4″][easytable tblsorter=”true”]
Overall,H2H Opponent,W,L,Pass,Win%[attr sort=”desc”]
9,ROH: Moose vs. Cedric Alexander,14,9,2,73%
10,AJPW: Xceed vs. Burning Wild,9,8,7,60%
4,PROGRESS: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Haskins,8,10,5,50%
5,NJPW: reDRagon vs. Time Splitters,10,15,2,50%
6,NJPW: Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi,9,13,3,35%
7,NJPW: Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi,8,12,4,32%
1,NJPW: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto,10,19,0,25%
3,CMLL: La Sombra vs. Atlantis,8,22,2,24%
2,ROH: Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong,6,23,5,14%
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Match Analysis: Cena and Rollins have had terrific chemistry most of this year. One of their most memorable matches was the one where Cena busted his nose early in the bout yet still worked and ended up being a hell of a bout. SummerSlam, I would say, was even better. Those two went out there and busted their ass having a really stupendous match. I don’t know if it was as good as other bouts they’ve had throughout the year, but in terms of an in ring program it’s been one of my favorites all year. Say what you want about Cena as a character but man does he bust his ass giving us these kind of matches. Rollins may be booked as a nothing champion but in the ring he almost never fails to deliver. This match was a true representation of that. -Bryan Rose (@br26)

Moose vs Cedric Alexander

[expand title=”H2H Analysis: 67-132 (33.7%)” tag=”h4″][easytable tblsorter=”true”]
Overall,H2H Opponent,W,L,Pass,Win%[attr sort=”desc”]
7,NJPW: Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi,13,10,4,57%
10,AJPW: Xceed vs. Burning Wild,7,6,6,51%
6,NJPW: Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi,9,9,3,50%
3,CMLL: La Sombra vs. Atlantis,11,18,3,38%
8,WWE: Josh Cena vs. Seth Rollins,9,14,2,37%
4,PROGRESS: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Haskins,6,13,8,32%
5,NJPW: reDRagon vs. Time Splitters,7,23,4,23%
2,ROH: Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong,3,14,6,17%
1,NJPW: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto,3,24,3,11%
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Match Analysis: Teenage Rich loved himself some hardcore matches but after so many WCW “guy wheeling a shopping cart filled with shit to the ring” matches, they became passe. I began hating plunder matches with every fiber of my being. When this No DQ match between Moose and Cedric Alexander immediately inserted weapons into the fray, I rolled my eyes — don’t do this, let these guys have a good match!

I was wrong. Not only could these two utilize weapons perfectly in a blow-off to a blood feud but they had a fantastic match that didn’t focus on weapons but rather used them to accentuate the work around them. Moose is continuing to improve at a rapid rate and this may have been his official coming out party as he had the crowd engaged and on his side from the opening bell until he speared Cedric through an exploding table. -Rich Kraetsch (@VoicesWrestling)

Xceed vs. Burning Wild

[expand title=”H2H Analysis: 46-107 (30.2%)” tag=”h4″][easytable tblsorter=”true”]
Overall,H2H Opponent,W,L,Pass,Win%[attr sort=”desc”]
9,ROH: Moose vs. Cedric Alexander,6,7,6,49%
7,NJPW: Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi,11,12,5,48%
8,WWE: Josh Cena vs. Seth Rollins,8,9,7,45%
2,ROH: Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong,5,10,5,31%
4,PROGRESS: Will Ospreay vs. Mark Haskins,3,7,8,28%
6,NJPW: Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi,7,18,7,27%
1,NJPW: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto,5,19,6,20%
5,NJPW: reDRagon vs. Time Splitters,3,15,8,17%
3,CMLL: La Sombra vs. Atlantis,0,11,6,0%
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Match Analysis: This in my opinion is the best match All Japan has produced in 2015. Take one part lovable grump Jun Akiyama, the undeniable fighting spirit of Go Shiozaki and add in both Omori as well as Miyahara who take a backseat to no one. All four men swing for the fences with brutality and ferocity. One would think Akiyama already knew Shiozaki would be leaving AJPW by the way Akiyama was attempting to murder young Go. The crowd was absolutely molten for everything and that is a victory in itself in modern day AJPW. Do not sleep on this one people, this is an instant tag team classic. -Rob Barry (@RobsBrutalWorld)