VOW 2019 Match of the Year (10-1)

The ten best pro wrestling matches of 2019.

2019 MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• Introduction & Honorable Mentions: voicesofwrestling.com/2020/02/03/vow-match-of-the-year-2019-introduction-sadness-village/
• Matches 100-76: voicesofwrestling.com/2020/02/04/vow-2019-match-of-the-year-100-76/
• Matches 75-51: voicesofwrestling.com/2020/02/04/vow-2019-match-of-the-year-75-51/
• Matches 50-26: voicesofwrestling.com/2020/02/05/vow-2019-match-of-the-year-50-26/
• Matches 25-11: voicesofwrestling.com/2020/02/06/vow-2019-match-of-the-year-25-11/
• Analysis of Top 10 (Audio): voicesofwrestling.com/2020/02/07/vow-2019-match-of-the-year-top-10-reveal-patreon-exclusive-audio/

VOICES OF WRESTLING MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• 2018: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2018-match-of-the-year/
• 2017: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2017-match-of-the-year/
• 2016: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2016-match-of-the-year/
• 2015: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2015-match-of-the-year/
• 2014: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2014-match-of-the-year/
• 2013: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2013-match-of-the-year/
• 2012: voicesofwrestling.com/2012/12/20/top-10-matches-of-2012/

#10
Blue Demon Jr. vs. Dr. Wagner Jr.
8/3
AAA

Overall Points: 170
Total Votes: 19
7 First Place Votes

“The most memorable match of the year. Demon spent his career being a mediocrity and somehow in 2019 reinvented himself as a dead-eyed psychopath. He was incredible here, bringing violence in ways that I had never seen before. I think 2019 is a year in which there were a punch of matches that blended together, as almost every good wrestling has a recorded match every week. But those matches fade. I couldn’t tell you the difference between the three or four different Ospreay matches that will inevitably finish highly. I will remember this match spot for spot for years. It had a fucking hammer.” JR Goldberg

“This was one of the most viscerally violent matches I can remember seeing. Demon was a wandering dead-eyed psychopath in this match, with Wagner doing a great job as a charismatic babyface fight back against a horror movie villain. I have seen plenty of matches with big weapons shots over the years, and this match was a great example of making each weapon shot a memorable moment. Demon opens up the match with by breaking a bottle over the head of Wagner, who had come into the match wearing his mask, which maybe stretched the rules a bit, but did allow for a bloody white mask which is always a great visual. The second huge moment came when a sickeningly bloody Demon goes out of the ring and grabs a claw hammer, and attacks Wagner like he was Richard Speck. He slams Wagner in the back of the head and spine, and hammers his hands like his knuckles were penny nails. It was a great bit of close magic by Demon, it really looks like an attempted murder, and I have no idea how you gimmick a hammer to the back of the head. The final huge moment comes at end of the match, after Wagner gets a bunch of close near falls with nasty Wagner Drivers, Demon’s kid runs into with a cinder block, he awkwardly stands around a bit before getting bums rushed by Wagner’s seconds. Demon Jr. gets his hands on the cinder block and smashes in over Wagner’s head, in a pretty gross tribute to Angel o Demonio, KOing him and winning his hair. Hell of performance by two guys in their 50s as they just milked every bit of drama out of everything they did with Demon leaving puddles around the ring like an un-house broken puppy.” Phil Schneider

“Brutal bloody lucha exactly how it should be. Triplemania is becoming one of the best shows of the year every year.” leon noel

“The most unexpected late-career effort of the last 20+ years, Demon’s bizarre turn from grandfathered in legend to Lucha Zandig has been incredible, with this match standing up against every other MOTY this decade.” Eric Ritz

#9
Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
8/8
NJPW

Overall Points: 177
Total Votes: 34
1 First-Place Vote

“The kind of match that appeals to primal brains of anyone, no matter what kind of wrestling they’re a fan of, or a fan at all. Two little brutes battering each other until one can’t get up. Pure, brutal artistry.” Matt McEwen

“One of the best possible versions of a Soul Food match. Everything you expect and want from the two names involved and a great alternative to the “epic” Ospreay or Okada styles that dominated NJPW throughout the year. It was brutal but beautiful. Brutaful.” Dylan Fox

“Wrestling is about cool moves and acting like a badass and this is the perfect example of acting like a badass.” Mongo Underscore Ebooks

“Ishii is the best at his certain style. Shingo has impressed me more than any other wrestler in 2019. If I wasn’t trying to be fair I would put 10 Ishii matches on this list.” DJ Rothenbecker

#8
Daniel Bryan vs Kofi Kingston
4/7
WWE

Overall Points: 195
Total Votes: 37
3 First-Place Votes

“What can I even say? This was a masterful display of professional wrestling by the greatest who has ever done it. I don’t want to say it was a carryjob, as Kofi definitely brought the goods & his whole story + connection with the fans added a TON, but this really was Daniel Bryan’s masterpiece through & through. Everything from his facial expressions, selling, perfect timing of the cutoffs, to his vicious attack on the mid-section — EVERYTHING he did was just about perfect. One of the greatest single match performances ever anywhere by anyone & one of the greatest matches I’ve had the pleasure of watching.” Heikki Oinonen

“The emotional that came in the build-up transitioned into the match itself as the conclusion to Kofi’s WWE title journey was done perfectly.” Steven Wilson

“A match that was never supposed to happen. My first live Wrestlemania. And watching the fulfillment of career-long journey that most assumed had already peaked. I am not the biggest Kofi Kingston fan, but his run leading up to Wrestlemania was nothing short of amazing. I had skipped the match prior to go meet up with camp friends I hadn’t seen in 25 years who were seated in the top tier of Metlife Stadium. As the pre-match videos began to play, I ran as fast as I could back to me seat halfway across the stadium and made it back in time for the opening bell.

It was almost perfect to have Daniel Bryan, who himself had had his Wrestlemania moment of glory following months of adversity, be the one who gave Kofi his moment. And in his more than capable hands, the match delivered as well as it possibly could.

There are few things in wrestling that can top a WWE storyline that peaks perfectly. This was exactly that and after two straight days of new matches of the year, this topped my list for several months.” Michael Levy

“Daniel Bryan may well be the greatest professional wrestler to have ever walked the earth. To have the emotional return he had, and within one year have me begging for him to be beaten at Wrestlemania is a testament to that. This match with Kofi is easily the best of Kingston’s whole career and was a perfectly crafted World Title match. It told an emotional story, made Bryan look every inch the once in a lifetime talent he is, and elevated Kofi to the extent that the final moment of triumph for him was one of the most genuinely satisfying things that the WWE main roster has pulled off in many years.” Dave Ryan

#7
Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White
8/12
NJPW

Overall Points: 215
Total Votes: 33
3 First-Place Votes

“This felt like the night the rest of wrestling twitter, incredulously, came around to respecting what the Switchblade character is trying to do and be. Classic Heel v Babyface stuff that had a building, and a worldwide fan base, hoping to see a true babyface in Ibushi overcome and conquer a true heel in Jay.” Josh Creighton

“Not only was this match phenomenal from start to finish, but it was also, the climax of the month long G1 Climax. Ibushi and White both started the tournament slow. While Ibushi’s slow build and final win over Okada set him up to be the tournament’s hero, White made good on his proclamation to win out and looked poised to ruin everyone’s night by winning the tournament with Bullet Club by his side. The crowd’s desperation to see their hero victorious could be felt through the broadcast. After some early shenanigans to make the hero’s hopes look bleak, these two played to and used the emotions of the crowd to create a match the left them in tears as Ibushi lifted the G1 trophy. Jay White is an amazing heel, and Ibushi played the part of hero perfectly!” Melanndy

“I am an unapologetic fanboy of Switchblade Jay White. The ironic thing about that is I couldn’t stand the guy until 2018. Something happened in 2018, he found his swagger. I believe that man is the greatest employee on this planet. The New Japan office(Gedo specifically) tell him to go out there and garner heat, and nobody does it better than Jay White. Never was this more on display than the G1 Final against Kota Ibushi. New Japan took a chance and went full sports entertainment with that final match and it paid off immensely. A nuclear crowd took this to unbelievable heights with the classic heel vs face dynamic. Ibushi played his role beautifully while Jay put on a masterclass of heel work. This is the company in Japan full of the “unsafe head drops” showing everyone how sports entertainment should be. This was far and away my match of the year and one of my favorite matches of the last decade.” Markeem Graham

“The G1 Climax Final is always special. This felt like the perfect set up of good vs evil; and the pay off to all of Jay White and Bullet Club’s shenanigans throughout the year. Kota’s victory felt important, like the crowning of his spot as a Top 4 level talent in NJPW.” Kevin Chiat

“Jay White gets a lot of shit and I didn’t hold back with criticism about his character, but the main of this is that I’m frustrated with some of the stereotypical and bad heel work he or rather Gedo does. I think Gedo is a huge detriment to Jay White, but sometimes it all works out perfectly when the shenanigans play into the match in a good way much like they did here with Gedo and Rocky Romero. White was a fantastic heel in dominating Kota Ibushi in this match and whenever White goes to work on a babyface, holds them to the ground, puts them in grueling submissions or – even better – when he cuts of their offense with joy he’s just great. On this day White had a perfect foil in Ibushi who the crowd was behind like in few japanese main event matches. Usually you have fans chanting for either guy or even changing their support fittingly to the match situation. This was much different. Jay White with his black gear and Kota Ibushi with his usual white gave the Budokan crowd a simple division in colors that reflected the story of the match. It was all about the odds Ibushi had to overcome to win his first G1 Climax and he overcame those odds in an almost perfect way with a fiery babyface comeback. This was, without a doubt, my favorite match from Japan.” STRIGGA

#6
Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
7/20
NJPW

Overall Points: 232
Total Votes: 45
Highest Vote: 2nd

“What happens when the Wrestler of 2019 faces off against the greatest wrestler alive in a tournament that features the very best pro wrestling of the year? Exactly what one would expect to happen.” Kentucky210

“Obvious dream match of sorts of the two divisional flag bearers of NJPW. To get this as a block match in the G1 was nothing short of awesome. The finishing sequence of reversed finishers ending in Osprey taking the rainmaker like death was the perfect punctuation on this clash.” Nick Davidson

“Top class stuff. Already an atmosphere in the building before the match even starts due to the Chaos links. Ospreay’s athleticism is unmatched and I loved him reversing the rainmaker twice and using it to set up moves of his own. I bit on the near falls in this match but at the same time they weren’t over the top spammed. The fact that Ospreay did not get to hit Stormbreaker was great too as the match didn’t need that move unless it was to provide Ospreay with the win. Great things again from a G1 tournament match involving Will Ospreay.” Brian1zvx

“What do you except from two of the best wrestlers in the world. These two had a great match in G1 Climax. Ospreay proving to Okada that he is on his level and along with Okada’s selling and Ospreay’s offence this is why this match is so great. There is still the story in the future of Ospreay trying to get a win over his Okada.” Filip Pejic

“Another example of an incredible match built around a simple story, the student and the master. Will still chasing the elusive victory against his mentor in Japan Okada. Two of the best in the world in a match that is a potential Wrestle Kingdom main event down the line.” Gary O’Donoghue

#5
Johnny Gargano vs Adam Cole
4/5
WWE (NXT)

Overall Points: 233
Total Votes: 33
4 First-Place Votes

“Best match I’ve ever seen live on an amazing card” Arya Witner

“I was in attendance for this match and in the building Cole was way more over with the crowd than Gargano was. In the finishing stretch, people in my section were getting very upset every time Gargano kicked out, and to be honest he kicked out of so many killer Cole moves that it felt like overkill. On rewatch, it didn’t feel like overkill at all. Here you have Cole, and arrogant prick leader of a group that isn’t afraid to get involved in one another’s matches, who has told his opponent that his Takeover milestones and his teammates will help carry him to victory. Then you have Gargano, whose months-long plan to get another title shot against his arch-nemesis went up in flames when said nemesis went down with a possible career-ending injury. Those two stories crashed together here spectacular fashion, as Gargano absorbed everything that Cole threw at him, caught on to Cole’s patterns, and tapped him out twice to win the title. What makes his title win here all the more satisfying is that he didn’t have to sacrifice his ethics to do it. After months of cheating and losing or cheating only to win the secondary title, he won like a man and got the biggest prize of all (while Cole lost even though he cheated as much as he could). The spectre of Tommaso Ciampa hung heavy over this match, with both Gargano and Cole using moves from the former champ’s arsenal to play mind games and get an advantage. While this wasn’t the ending to the Gargano/Ciampa story we were expecting, it was very satisfying given the circumstances.” Brad Garoon

“Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole are incapable of having anything less than stellar matches at TakeOvers. This match was the cap on a night that had at least three match of the year contenders between NXT and NJPW.” Slyguy46

“One of the best WWE moments of the last decade, as Gargano completes his fairytale-like rise to the top of NXT. A rare long term WWE story that paid off that is also a sad reminder of how good this company could be if they really cared.” Paco Silva

“I was lucky enough to be in the building for this one. The energy in the building during this match is something I’ve never felt at a wrestling show before. A+ stuff from these two.” Brett Miles

#4
Kenny Omega vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
1/4
NJPW

Overall Points: 364
Total Votes: 48
7 First-Place Votes

“I love this match. There’s the emotional build; with Kenny being forced into a villain role he doesn’t want to be in, the feeling of genuine dislike between the two men and then the exquisitely crafted story of Tanahashi compromising his ideals in pursuit of victory. As a Tanahashi fan, his (perhaps final) victory in the Tokyo Dome main event was emotional. As a Kenny Omega fan, I hope it isn’t his final match in NJPW (I still crave the narrative closure of him and Ibushi having their big match) but if it is then this was a hell of a match to end things on” Kevin Chiat

“Kenny’s boo-boo face during his entrance to his heavily-edited ‘Kenny’s Tale’ video was worth the price of admission alone. The crowd had no idea what it was supposed to be and the video ended before Kenny made his comeback so it looked like Tanahashi had beaten him. And so he did! The cherry on top of the Elite Purge that was WK13.” Joel Abraham

“When I first jumped into New Japan, Hiroshi Tanahashi was already a legend. Although I had never watched one of his matches, he was so big that his name was always around my then WWE-fandom. On the other hand, Kenny was a junior heavyweight with overwhelming charisma that completely changed my view of the business. I am not going to lie: Omega was one of the responsible for making New Japan my favorite company on the planet. His matches against Okada, Ishii and Naito showed me what professional wrestling should be. But Tana was always there, performing strong, offering great matches to watch, with a completely different style. So, when these two clashed at the main event of Wrestle Kingdom, I sat down and watched in silence, and I saw a masterpiece being painted in front of my eyes. To me, in a perfect wrestling match, every move matters. And this was a perfect wrestling match. The body movements, the face expressions, the way they hit each other; everything mattered to the story. This was a clash of styles and generations, and it was the perfect closure for that chapter of Omega’s career.” Evandro Furtado

“I think this match will go under-appreciated, but it represents the best of professional wrestling. The story heading into the match was that Tanahashi didn’t respect Omega as a wrestler, and said that he was just an athletic guy that does high-spots and didn’t know how to put on a real show. Sound familiar? So they meet in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom and tell that story.

This isn’t a match full of crazy moves; there is a lengthy exchange early in the match where both men just trade forearms to the lower back, but it works because of the story they are telling. The match is wrestled at Tanahashi’s pace and Omega is trying to prove something to Tanahashi. On the contrary, Tanahashi attempts one major high spot, a frog splash to the outside through a table and he fails spectacularly. In the end, Tanahashi wills himself to probably his last IWGP Heavyweight Championship win of his career and Omega is vanquished from NJPW, perhaps forever.” Jesse Collings

“The match had the best storytelling of the year and it had the creative story of clashing philosophies between Omega and Tanahashi. Overall a bittersweet end for the run of Omega in NJPW and one last amazing WK main event for Tana.” Juan Carlos Reneo

#3
Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes
5/25
AEW

Overall Points: 387
Total Votes: 55
6 First-Place Votes

“The best story all year, hands down. Attitude vs now, brother vs brother, and it proved Dustin could still go. Dramatic in all of the right ways, and it left us with several great visuals, including Dustin getting color, the two hugging at the end and Cody’s ‘I need my brother’ speech.” Bill Pritchard

“In prior years I often bounced back and forth between my top matches and I didn’t always have that clear number one, but this year is different. When I sat down to put together my top 10 this match went to the top right away. To me Cody vs. Dustin still is the best AEW has done to this day and nothing comes even close. It’s funny, between all the stuff we get to see on Dynamite and on Dark it seems like the Rhodes (at least the male side) is on a completely different page. There’s a lot of good, but also a lot of goofy, some ironic and some plain bad stuff, but whenever Cody comes out to do a promo or wrestle you know the segment will be on point and you know the segment will touch your emotions. You can talk about all the blood in this match and Dustin looking like he was brought to slaughter, but what really mattered here were the emotions. Key to this was that these weren’t only two guys studying Dusty Rhodes, it were to guys studying the American Dream while being his kids. There’s wrestlers that learned a lot from Dusty, but Cody’s interpretation of the elements that made Dusty great comes across so much better than with anyone else and why wouldn’t it? Another reason why I loved this match so much comes along with the point I made before: Because Cody and Dustin had control about the story and the match they wanted to have – much in contrast to what they were used to in WWE.” STRIGGA

“What better way to announce an alternative to WWE by producing a match with emotion (and blood) that hasn’t been seen in WWE in years! The Rhodes sibling rivalry is no secret and with the fantastic road-to specials as a supplement, it was hard to see this match living up to the hype. But not only did it deliver, it was my match of the year.” Corey

“Not a technical classic but the passion, emotion and storytelling took this one to another level.” Jamie Apps

“If you have a brother, you know his weird kind of relationship that involves love and hate at excruciating levels. You cannot be in the same room for more than 20 minutes without getting into a fistfight, but you miss the hell out of him when he is away. Thus, for those who say professional wrestling is fake, you don’t understand anything about it, and you know even less about life. I challenge anyone to present any form of athletic activity that will present this level of emotional involvement. There is none like wrestling. Cody and Dustin told the perfect family tale within the squared circle drawing tears even from the toughest wrestling fan. It was beautiful, it was emotional, it was real!” Evandro Furtado

“This is a prime example of what pro wrestling is. It’s hard to believe that after a bloodbath like this, I could get choked up at the reunion of Dustin and Cody as brothers rather than opponents. For me, this is the defining match for AEW.” Kelly Harrass

“It’s too easy to use terms like “operatic” or “Shakespearean” to describe this battle of brothers rooted in ancient patrilineal grievance and generational conflict. But that’s because it really was operatic and Shakespearean, because it happened on the level of blood feuds and crossed stars and ill omen. A masterpiece in a classic key.” Dean Buckley

“This match just felt important to the future of professional wrestling in the United States. Double or Nothing was a defining show for AEW and Cody vs. Dustin defined AEW as something different from the professional wrestling we had seen in the US over the previous 20 years. Even if this is the top of what we could expect going forward from AEW, it was grounds for excitement for where they were headed.” Chris Samsa

#2
David Starr vs. Jordan Devlin
10/26
OTT

Overall Points: 529
Total Votes: 58
19 First-Place Votes

“Quite simply, the perfect culmination of a nearly 18 month sprawling storyline that was one of the best in this era of independent wrestling. The final chapter in the Starr/Devlin/WALTER OTT feud had absolutely everything you wanted from a match worthy to sign the whole story off: a molten hot Dublin crowd, a pitch-perfect hype package to set the context, and a fantastic and physical pro wrestling match. It captured the big match feel from minute one, and rewarded keen viewers with callbacks to the matches that preceded it. A truly special experience I will remember for years to come.” Dave Ryan

“When I first began compiling my top 10 for this year’s awards a few weeks back, this match hadn’t even made it off my “watch later” list on YouTube. The buzz surrounding it was tremendous but I wasn’t familiar with the story leading to the match, which was kind of a factor in letting it sit on that “watch later” list. To be honest, I’d only watched a handful of matches from OTT…well, ever.I stumbled upon an article from this very site (‘Following the Feud’ by Robin Reid) and after checking it out, went down the proverbial rabbit hole and quickly found myself engrossed in one of my favorite stories in a very, very long time. Thanks to the blueprint in the above referenced article, my Highspots Network sub & YouTube, I was able to watch the entire story unfold and it was absolutely fantastic. David Starr, Jordan Devlin & WALTER–along with others–crafted this amazing story with the crescendo being this magnificent piece of professional wrestling. From the breathtaking video package (which were amazing through the entirety of the storyline), the insane crowd reactions and the match itself, there was nothing that was going to top this for me in 2019. My kind of pro wrestling.” Billy Carpenter

“I can’t even begin to explain what it felt like to watch this match live. It was more than a just technically brilliant match by two masters of the art working at the height of their powers. It wasn’t just the rich political subtext built into the match by Starr’s incredible promo work and Shaun Ryan’s masterpiece hype video, which foresaw the eventual loyalties of the crowd, changing the match’s title in its final frame to “Devil vs. Starr”. It was the first time in my life I’ve experienced a match as a living, breathing thing. The crowd and the performers in perfect sync, working toward a conclusion that shocked and electrified everyone in the room. I’m not sure I’ll ever see anything like it again.” Dean Buckley

“There is no single promotion on earth that can tell a professional wrestling story quite like OTT. It opens with a long video package explaining the backstory of the conflict. Friends divided. One allied to Indie Wresting and fighting for the rights of all competitors; the other allied to the WWE, and fighting for himself and his corporate masters. The foreign crusader vs. the native son. Good vs. Evil. Black vs. White. Who is the hero? Who is the villain? The stakes are set and you’re ready for a showdown. The video ends and out comes Jordan Devlin, sheathed in the clock of the Grim Reaper, The Import Killer. Only it isn’t. It’s David Starr. Now he is the Import Killer and he’s dressed in glorious holy white. Strings of Marilyn Manson’s Four Rusted Horses begin to play and the crowd erupts. As he steps towards the ring the course proclaims, “”Everyone will come, everyone will come, to my funeral to make sure that I stay dead””. He is the savior of Indie wrestling and the forces of evil are here to make damn sure he stays dead. Devlin enters and the atmosphere changes. He was the hero of the Irish people, but in his black trunks he is cast in the role of viliain. Selfish, egotistical and hated. There is no ambiguity in the crowd’s allegiance. If Devlin wins, we riot.

What follows is a 30 minute war. No mercy, no breaks, just brutal mortal combat with everything on the line. When the final blow lands and the ref’s hand slaps the mat for the third and final time, only one man is left standing. David Starr. After a brief moment of elation, he lifts up Devlin. Is he going to offer a ceremonial handshake or to extend an olive branch? No. With his final act lets loose a lariat and drills Devlin right back down. These men went to war and their brotherhood has been shattered. Like the Irish people themselves, there is a deep division that will not be easily healed. This is not wrestling. This is not sport. This is art. This is culture. A glorious battle of good and evil performed by the finest of players and no match in all of 2019 can come close.” Jason Westhaver

“Huge fight feel going into this match where David Starr is challenging the “Import Killer” Jordan Devlin for the top prize in OTT Wrestling. The build and hype videos going into this match were incredible and the match lives up to the build. Unlike their match back in February, it was now independent wrestler vs. the signed talent and Starr went into this match as the crowd favorite against the hometown wrestler. Plenty of callbacks to their previous OTT match. Incredible match that you can watch for FREE on YouTube.” Luis Perez

“I don’t think I’ll ever experience a match quite like this in my life. The hottest crowd in European Wrestling and the hottest angle to grace the European Scene since the heyday of Progress and the Jimmy Havoc V Will Ospreay feud. While technically not a perfect match, this match was as close to perfection from an emotional point of view. The easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given a match.” Gary O’Donoghue

“If art is meant to reflect the times then this match was the perfect mirror. This embodied many of the narratives inside and around pro wrestling in 2019. The mouth of the independent worker usurping the throne of the hometown kid made King. In his own domain, no less. The same fans who carried Devlin on their shoulders when he conquered the invading monster WALTER now carried David Starr for felling their would be heroic Irish Ace. This kind of story we see captured rarely so well, and the aggression and hatred that Starr and Devlin worked with the whole match took it to the next level. In my opinion, this match is in contention for match of the decade.” Lawson Leong

“”The atmosphere was palpable for this match. The story told by both Devlin and Starr in this match was next level and had the crowd hanging on every move. A fitting ending to a highly engaging feud and a new beginning for OTT. The live experience for this match is something that I will never forget.” Sarah Flannery

“From the start of this video package the energy changed in the building from a standard good OTT crowd to a pack of wild dogs baying for their dinner. I will admit that I didn’t know which of these two I would support in the match until about 5 minutes beforehand. All week the discussion amongst regulars had been about not knowing what way the crowd would go. I was a little nervous this split might harm the atmosphere a bit as I had seen how great a crowd could be when fully behind one guy. Then Jordan Devlin’s music hit and there was booing. I was shocked, it had been 2 years plus since he was last booed in OTT and this was deafening. So many moments in this match out stand out, from Starr leading the crowd section by section to rise, to the now-infamous strike exchange that I felt was perfect.

These two guys knew what this 18-month storyline needed as a ‘conclusion’ and there was no wasted moment in the match. This match is why I spend money to attend and watch wrestling. Engrossing action from start to finish, 2000 people eating up every little detail all cheering for who they ‘need’ to win. It’s 3 months on and I’m still not recovered.” Brian1zvx

“For the past several years, Over The Top Wrestling has been the Casablanca to a war-torn European wrestling scene. As WWE lays waste to the continent with predatory business practices, Dublin, Ireland has been the “safe-zone” for refugees, as well as a place for Ireland’s best to showcase themselves in a way that few other European promotions have been able to do so. The hero of our story is the outspoken Marxist labor organizer and savior of the oppressed, David Starr. American himself but living abroad to hone his craft, one might see him has the Rick Blaine of our story. However, as David is the political activist willing to standing up against the anti-labor policies of WWE that ravaged the wrestling landscape around the world at great personal cost and risk to himself as he is blackballed from working for WWE and ROH due to his beliefs, David is really the Victor Laszlo of this story. The Villian of this story isn’t a Nazi General trying to keep him from leaving the country. His antagonist is one of the sons of Ireland…the Import Killer… The Irish Ace, Jordan Devlin. However, Jordan has reason for shame. Jordan turned his back on his countrymen for money and empty promises of fame and fortune…much like Captain Louis Renault. In this proxy war taking place in Dublin, The “Irish Ace” is conquered and sent to go cash his piggie paychecks while the Irish crowd cheer on their American hero as he demonstrates his passion and willingness to fight against fascism. Also, Eddie Kingston is Ingrid Bergman.” Doug Fowler

“Go watch this match for yourself. It is indescribable how this match will make you feel.
THE CROWD, THE MATCH, THE ENERGY!!!!!!!” Danny Kuchler

“The conclusion to arguably the greatest feud in Indie wrestling. An unbelievable atmosphere that can never be replicated and it just happened to have two of the best wrestlers in the world. A night and a match I will treasure for the rest of my life” Lee Malone

“Absolutely no fear with my top pick – you perhaps need to have been fully on board with the entire story to put it at #1, but this was the goddamn peak of this storyline, highlighted with the mixture of rapturous Starr fans and the dejected Devlin supporters at the end. They mastered doing a double-turn and going back again throughout the storyline (and afterwards), this was a fantastic way to wrap up the storyline.” Ian Hamilton

#1
Shingo Takagi vs. Will Ospreay
6/5
NJPW

Overall Points: 1023
Total Votes: 93
47 First-Place Votes

“This was Ospreay’s year, and his match against the then undefeated Takagi was a war. This match had an unpredictable outcome which helped me believe the near falls. Ospreay had to throw it all in to be able to take down Shingo, a Jr. that can take it as well as give it. Both men showed why they are two of the best in the world at the moment in an unforgettable match.” Abraham Delgado

“A perfectly paced, heavy-hitting, drama filling match between two “juniors” that, for me anyway, will go down as one of the best matches I’ve ever seen. Will’s 2019 will go down as one of the greatest in-ring years ever, but not far behind him was Shingo. I had been aware of him and seen a few matches of his, but through this tournament and this match, he became one of my favorite wrestlers going today. Watch this match and tell me there’s two better wrestlers in the world. I dare you.” Steve Case

“In a Twitter Q&A, Kassius Ohno recently described Japanese pro wrestling as “struggle through sport.” I can’t think of a match this year that embodied that phrase quite like the finals of this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament. This was Shingo’s first singles tournament in New Japan since coming over from Dragon Gate, and to no one’s surprise, he knocked it out of the park. Will Ospreay’s incredible 2019 peaks here despite the valleys not being much lower than this. An incredible showcase from two of the ten best wrestlers on the planet.” Suit Williams

“Wrestling doesn’t get better than this, not really. Shingo Takagi’s first Best of the Super Juniors was a delight and this was the perfect final. My expectations were inevitably high but the match shot right through and went into the stratosphere.” Andrew Sinclair

“Will Ospreay, in my opinion, has become the best wrestler in the world 2019 was his year and this match was absolutely phenomenal from the time the opening bell rang until red shoes made that final three count which ended the match. It was an hour long, I used to love long matches as a kid but as an adult with more responsibilities I usually have no time for this kind of stuff in modern-day wrestling. However, I watched this match live and as slow starting as it was any smart wrestler will tell you that if you’re going to an hour you have to do it the right way. The first part of the match was Ospreay and Takagi pacing themselves long enough to be able to feel each other out. Once they got going this match turned into pure insanity. Whenever I watch these shows live at the stupidest times possible I have to contain my reactions but sometimes things happen and you just can’t contain your excitement and this was one of those matches. I don’t often react loudly to spots in wrestling it’s rare that I’ll yell holy shit once let alone multiple times as I’m watching a match unfold before my very eyes. This match was the exception to my own personal rule, we as NJPW fans always have high expectations for tournament final matches like these and they almost always deliver on their promise but this match went along way to exceed my expectations for it. Ospreay kicked out of everything that Takagi gave him and Takagi kicked out of everything that Ospreay did to him in response, I didn’t want it to end but by the end of the match I was left speechless because I had just witnessed a masterpiece of a match unfold before my very eyes. The people who watch wrestling will understand this it’s why I became a fan and why I still watch this stuff at 34 years old, wrestling is drama it’s an art form and on this night both Will Ospreay and Shingo Takagi painted a masterpiece on a ring canvas.” Nathan Neumann

“We will look back at this match years from now as one that inspired and influenced a generation much the way Tiger Mask vs. Dynamite Kid did in the early ’80s. Takagi and Ospreay pushed the limits of the art form to new heights. The rivals put on a masterclass in reversals with a smooth and awe-inspiring winner-take-all tournament bout.” Ryan Dilbert

“This match was not only the best match that I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing live, it was the easiest five star rating that I’ve ever given. Two of the absolute best wrestlers alive went to war in this Best of the Super Juniors Final and left everything in the ring. I try not to make claims like this due to recency bias, but I have no doubt that Ospreay vs. Shingo will go down as one of my all-time favorites.” Kelly Harrass

“Take away the hyperbolic (and ultimately inconsequential) match rating from Dave Meltzer, and you still have the best match of the year, a showdown between Shingo Takagi, undefeated in NJPW at the time, and Will Ospreay, the wrestler of 2019. Takagi is charitably a power junior, while Ospreay dabbled with competition out of the junior heavyweight scene with his NEVER Openweight reign. Because they’re barely juniors, this match was able to live in both the junior and the heavyweight main event NJPW style, and it made for a captivating combination. It was hard-hitting, action-packed, and it’s hard to believe that this is their first match against each other.” Kim Wong

“This was the BOSJ 26 Finals, a Tuesday match at Ryogoku Kokugikan. Takagi’s story as a junior heavyweight ended here, while Ospreay’s move to the heavyweight heavyweight division began a month later. Both character narratives were elevated. The in-ring craftsmanship here was superb. Takagi’s ability to adapt to what the crowd needs him to be was impressive in this, and here was they needed him to play heel to Ospreay, who in June was receiving superhero-esque babyface receptions from crowds. It was innovative but hard-hitting, well-practiced but always organic, so fast to where even the hardcores like us stop analyzing and watch in awe, the way it should be.” Justin M. Knipper

“It’s very rare that dream matches actually have stakes involved. This was the perfect combination of the two best wrestlers in the world wrestling on one of the biggest stages possible for one of the most prestigious trophies in all of wrestling. I was floored at how great this was.” Case Lowe

“What else can be said about this match that hasn’t already been said? These two had a 35-minute sprint that was a collection of great spots that made sense and told a good story. This match built up Ospreay and Shingo simultaneously with Ospreay ending Shingo’s undefeated streak and Shingo having to take essentially 3 consecutive finishers to be beaten.” Tyler Forness

“As soon as this match was finalized on the last BOSJ B Block day, I was expecting a MOTY contender; it ended up being my MOTY winner. Ospreay was in the midst of his greatest in-ring year to date and one of the best in-ring years of any wrestler ever. Shingo was undeniably stellar, which he’s been for well over a decade. Put them together and you’ve got a certified dream match, but add that it’s a tournament final in Sumo Hall and Shingo’s undefeated streak was on the line? OOOOH BABY you got a stew going. This was the perfect mix of talent, emotion, drama, high stakes, and a big stage to craft an all-time classic that I’ll be remembering for many years to come.” Andrew Rich

“The definitive pro wrestling match of 2019 that managed to merge in-ring drama and high stakes puroresu atmosphere with extraordinary storytelling, as the best wrestler in the world faced the undefeated dragon in the perfect ending to a historic Best of the Super Juniors.” Paco Silva

“It my be the bounce that came from being in the building for this match was head and shoulders above everything else this year. The two best wrestlers of the year were each at the very best in front of a passionate crowd. Takagi’s undefeated streak and Ospreay’s run of great performances combined to create something akin to a modern, superior version of Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels while also taking from recent classics such as Omega and Okada’s first encounter. Going into the match, the audience were heavily behind Takagi, with Dragon t-shirts everywhere, but Ospreay’s determination as he withstood his opponent’s fast-paced and powerful onslaught of strikes and throws, coupled with his own exhilarating offence drew ever-increasing numbers of people onside as the match wore on. His victory was met with cheers and tears of jubilation and served to not only set-up his challenge for Dragon Lee’s Jr Heavyweight title, but also future encounters with Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiromu Takahashi and the much anticipated Takagi rematch. Marvellous!” Jack Groom

“Sensational match in which Ospreay and Takagi played their roles masterfully. Ospreay as the embodied junior heavyweight overcoming the tank-like presence of Takagi kept me engaged throughout. I genuinely believed no junior heavyweight could stop Shingo in this tournament. To see Ospreay, the unquestionable ace of the division do just that, was awesome.” Nick Davidson

“The final of the Best of the Super Juniors is almost a lock to be a contender for match of the year, and with the esoteric talent in this match, it seemed even more certain. A common, outdated criticism of Ospreay is that he doesn’t understand the little details, that he’s the proverbial spot monkey. This match demonstrates that just isn’t true. The little moments where he stares at the ground, cogs whirring as he comprehends how to outsmart the barrel Shingo, make this match special. Every move he does is a clear step on the path to victory. Shingo was just as good, playing the veteran heel by pushing the rules wherever possible. Shingo has the best lariat in the world, and Ospreay sells them brilliantly. This match is never still. It’s a great example of a match wrestled at a thrilling pace that maintains the feel of two top class wrestlers desperately trying to outsmart the other. The dives in this match, spots that often feel cliched and tired, are delivered with such conviction it’s impossible not to be in awe of the bravery and dedication of these performers. There’s a lot of interesting talk about these men moving up to heavyweight and the possible booking implications of that, but as long as they put on matches like this I couldn’t care less. A perfect match, and an easy choice for my match of 2019.” Neil David

“The Best of the Super Juniors final between Shingo and Ospreay was absolutely incredible. Two of the best wrestlers in the world going head to head and having a match for the ages. The story of the match was great. Shingo came into the final as the undefeated juggernaut who decimated everybody in his block. Ospreay was the ultimate underdog which is a position he’s not often in. I knew that the match was going to be awesome, but I was expecting Ospreay to become just another victim for the Dragon. I lost my mind when Ospreay unleashed all of his top moves and defeated Shingo. This match checked all the boxes for me: hard-hitting moves, innovative spots, a great story, and a hot crowd. For me this is easily the best match of 2019.” Jeremy Donovan

“These guys are already stars so this wasn’t a star-making performance but a legend-making performance. And while I think Ospreay is the best in the world, he’s not perfect but Shingo manages to reign in Will’s excesses here to create an incredible build where the big moves actually mean something. The greatest match I saw in 2019.” Gerard Di Trolio

“It was another banner year for Ospreay in the ring. His inclusion in the G1 felt like a test-run of sorts, getting his feet wet in the heavyweight division. He could be a big star there in 2020 and beyond, provided his body can keep up. Takagi has been a great addition to New Japan for the last year-plus, really making up for some losses in the junior heavyweight division.” Greg Parks

“Two of the best wrestlers in the world in 2019 having an instant classic in Sumo Hall to decide the winner of the 26th Best of the Super Juniors Tournament. An unstoppable force who had demolished and destroyed everyone in his path vs. the once in a generation athlete who was looking to win the Best Of The Super Juniors for a second time. These two went to war for over thirty minutes, and the action from start to finish was simply superb. The final few minutes were simply outstanding, and Ospreay finally managed to slay to dragon to win this tournament for the second time in four years. It honestly doesn’t get much better than this.” Sean A. Sedor

“Fast paced, hard hitting action. These two left everything they had on the ring. Before this match, Takagi was undefeated, while Ospreay was trying to establish as the face of the division. It was the perfect storm, the clashing of two styles: the strength and intensity of Shingo versus the athleticism and speed of Ospreay. This was insane, they never had a filler moment and they told their story in a phenomenal way. Great spots and lots of creativity. What else could I say? Absolutely amazing, a must-see match.” Gin Malkâvar

“This is it. This is it! Modern, cutting edge, heart-pounding professional wrestling that should propel this ridiculous pseudo-sport safely into the next decade, and beyond. In the Wrestle Wipe 2019, where I rounded up all the years notable news, this match got given it’s own little section. It simply reads; “JUNE– WILL OSPREAY VS SHINGO HAPPENS AT BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS AND WE ALL REJOICE! PRO WRESTLING, BABY! PRO FUCKING WRESTLING!!!”. It sits at the very top of the 2019 pro wrestling mountain, and it earned every single fucking plaudit.” Shane Doyle

“Perfect combination of speed and aggression – doesn’t feel like a “dance” in the slightest. Really laying things in. Absolutely incredible counters – as good as I’ve ever seen, so fast and crisp. The sequences from about the 25 min mark where Ospreay pulls out his greatest hits, before Shingo doing his is as good as it gets. Both looked like they’d genuinely been to war at the end. Amazing stuff. And the GRAPPL match of the year as well!” Gareth Hodgson

“What else needs to be said about this match? It’s the easiest MOTY choice I’ve ever had, and will surely win by a massive margin. Ospreay and Shingo are the two most exciting wrestlers in NJPW today and their journeys into the heavyweight main event scene began right here. Just an effortlessly brilliant match that made you question just how two human beings could do some of the stuff that they did here.” Oli Court

“This was a battle of two of the very best in the world delivering in the main event spot and maybe even surpassing the lofty expectations many had for this. This was an amazing match, and if Shingo had to lose, this was the way to do it as Ospreay had to empty his entire arsenal and then some just to keep up with him and survive long enough to have a chance to win. They obviously have huge plans with Ospreay and Shingo loses nothing after that amazing effort. The pacing was tremendous, the drama was great and the crowd added a ton to this match. It was a match that had such high expectations that it could have disappointed in some way, but these two said not today and just destroyed each other in a beautiful war that constantly got better the longer it went along. This was absolutely off the charts and a more than fitting end to what is the best BOSJ tournament I’ve ever covered.” Larry Csonka

“This match had everything that I could want from a wrestling match. The pace. The storytelling. The monster that was Shingo at the time. The highlight of the year and for me, the highlight of both men’s careers.” Hunter McGaughey

VOW 2019 MOTY (Final Results)