VOW 2020 Match of the Year (Introduction & Sadness Village)

Welcome to the ninth annual Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year Poll.

Origins

The brainchild of VOW co-owner Rich Kraetsch, it all started in 2012 with a modest four-person panel of myself (Joe Lanza), Rich, VOW’s PWG reviewer “Boxing Robes” Larry, and Billy Carpenter of 4 Corners Radio. We each selected our ten best matches of the year, wrote short blurbs on why each match was selected, and combined the lists to come up with a collaborative top ten.

This produced a fine list of matches, but a list that was the product of four voters who for the most part had very similar tastes in wrestling. There was a ton of crossover on the four lists, and while an impressive variety of five different promotions ultimately ended up being represented in our collaborative top ten, we were dealing with a tiny sample size of voters who essentially watched and enjoyed the same pool of matches over the course of the year.

For 2013, I approached Rich about expanding upon his original idea by extending invites to dozens of other wrestling critics. Each year in the world of film, there are media/critic polls ranking the top films of the year. There was nothing like those critics polls that had ever existed for wrestling matches. With that template in mind, we sent ballots to dozens of journalists, bloggers, radio hosts, podcasters, historians, reporters, and critics who we knew loved wrestling, had a reputation for having a solid base of knowledge and strong opinions, and had quality endeavors that we could help expose to our readers in exchange for participating. We knew not everybody would respond, but we were quite pleased with who did, and the results did bear out the variety of matches and wrestling styles that we were seeking. 25 total voters responded by voting for over 90 matches from 23 different promotions.

The growth continued with the 2014 poll, with 67 voters voting for 156 different matches, from 35 different promotions. 

The 2015 poll featured 97 voters voting for 199 different matches from 42 different promotions. 

We once again shattered all previous records for the fourth consecutive year in 2016, when 117 voters checked in and accounted for the widest variety yet, with 239 matches emanating from 49 different worldwide promotions. 

The 2017 poll saw the diversity grow again, with 54 different promotions represented. 

2018 saw a record 68 different promotions represented across 282 total matches. Our voter base grew to 122 with voters representing 25 different US states and 16 countries. 

For 2019, 136 different voters resulted in 290 unique matches, across a record-tying 68 promotions. 

This year, we are proud to announce a record-shattering 170 voters representing 29 different United States and 18 countries voted for 287 unique matches from 66 different promotions. The poll continues to expand, recognized by fans, wrestlers, and promoters as one of the most prestigious Match of the Year surveys in the world. 

For a full archive of our past Match of the Year countdowns, visit voicesofwrestling.com/match-of-the-year/.

We’ll get to the matches in a bit. But first, here is your panel of voters for the 2020 Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year Poll, followed by an explanation of how the results are tabulated (note – some voters chose to not include websites/affiliations and/or Twitter handles):

How the Voting Works

Each voter was sent a ballot and asked to vote for ten best matches of the year, ranking them from 1-10. We use the same weighted balloting system used by Major League Baseball for their Most Valuable Player voting, with a first-place vote worth 14 points, and a descending 9-8-7… scale from there, a system that places heavy emphasis on each voter’s choice for best overall match of the year.

The points for each match are then totaled, with any ties broken in the following order:

• 1.) Most total votes
• 2.) Match which received the highest singular vote on any ballot

For example, if two matches are tied in total points, with one match appearing on more total ballots, it will not require the second step tiebreaker. The match appearing on more total ballots would place higher.

If two matches are tied in total points and remain tied by appearing on the same number of ballots, the match with the highest singular vote wins the tiebreaker.

Each voter was also encouraged to add short blurbs explaining why they voted for each match. These blurbs give our panel a voice to explain why they voted for each match, and as we move deeper into the results, give the reader multiple perspectives of why a given match was great.

Our panel was free to vote for any worked match in the world that took place between January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020.

Our long term goal is to become the most comprehensive and respected MOTY poll in all of wrestling while continuing to cross-promote the great ventures of our voter pool while exposing fans to matches that they otherwise never would have discovered.

Please note that in cases of taped matches, some dates may reflect air dates while others may reflect the day the match was taped.

We’ll begin today with a look at the honorable mentions (dubbed “Sadness Village” by VOW contributor John Carroll ), with a new chunk of matches released each day (schedule below) until we reveal the Top 10 on Friday, January 29.

Early access to the Top 10 coming in audio and written form for VOW Patreon $5 subscribers on Thursday, January 28.

VOW 2020 Match of the Year Schedule

• Introduction & Sadness Village/Honorable Mentions (Monday, January 25)
• Matches #100-76 (Tuesday, January 26)
• Matches #75-51 (Tuesday, January 26)
• Matches #50-26 (Wednesday, January 27)
• Matches #25-11 / Top 10 Early Access (Thursday, January 28)
• Matches #10-1 (Friday, January 29)

1-3 points

“A very late MOTY contender. Two men putting their all into their final match of the year; a recognition of how important but fleeting pro-wrestling has been in 2020. Davis Storm of course busted himself open because that’s what you have to expect in a Davis Storm main event.” -Kevin Chiat on Davis Storm vs. Gavin McGavin

“A great surprise from Final Battle as Taylor and Briscoe trade bombs and it ends in a huge win for Taylor.” -Matt Carlins on Shane Taylor vs. Jay Briscoe 

“Lulu Pencil once again reminded us of why she is one of the most beloved members of the Gatoh Move roster as this match was all about her trying to defeat the outsider Kaori Yoneyama who had blazed a trail thorugh the Gatoh Move roster. Pencil is so easy to root for and she’s always evolving which makes her matches some of the most interesting in all of wrestling, she fought harder in this match than any followe thought possible against the veteran Yoneyama.” -Alex Richards on Lulu Pencil vs. Kaori Yoneyama

“Easily the best match in the rebooted NWA’s short history. With both women having a background in MMA, it’s no surprise that they began with a slugfest. The intensity never dampened, as Thunder Rosa targeted the arm and Allysin Kay overpowered her. Going nearly 20 minutes and keeping the crowd hype the whole time, this showstealer put Thunder Rosa on the map.” -John Corrigan on Thunder Rosa vs. Allysin Kay

4-7 points

“This one is short. We all have a certain match that hits us at the right place at the right time, and with the right feel. This was such a match. Covid had such an impact on wrestling and literally changed the environment that made wrestling special. No crowds, a cavernous echo of nothing, and people going through motions in the ring. However, then came DDT and their tv show filled with comedy and a strongly booked champion with a rising challenger. Tanaka gave us all the hits, and Endo overcame some limb work and wowed with his athleticism. This was the first big-time match that truly made me forget there was no crowd, no reactions, no nothing. A wrestling match that caught me and pulled me into the ring story, and delivered to what I long for in my wrestling.” -Jacob Woolley on Masato Tanaka vs. Tetsuya Endo

“Sometimes great matches don’t have to be big matches. This was match 2 of their 3 match Program but Ivan Black and Ricky Rembrandt put on a 12 minute technical gem, going hold for hold counter for counter to set up the payoff match the following month.” -Matt McQueen on Ivan Black vs. Ricky Rembrandt

“I was not interested in this match going into it. To me, Undisputed Era seemed to be plateauing, and there was no reason to expect Pat McAfee to exceed expectations. The match, and the pure skill inside the ring, proved me incredibly wrong. It’s not easy for me to pay complete attention to a full-match, but this show from WWE’s best kept me quite literally glued to my computer screen.” -Kristen Ashley on Men’s War Games

“This wasn’t the Greatest Wrestling Match Ever, but it was really good as WWE experimented with a lot of stuff. Edge doing this with a severe injury and still pulling it off, taped or not, is impressive.” -Sean Ross Sapp on Edge vs. Randy Orton

8-11 points

“Earlier in the night we got an awful Harada performance that saw him selling his back as if he were trying out for Godspell. I was dreading seeing that against Togo, but Togo is a master of crafting matches to opponent’s strengths, and Harada got to shine. Togo dominated with nice leg work, baiting Harada into throwing strikes and merely sidestepping to kick his leg out. It all set up a very convincing Harada comeback, love his fakeout punch into nasty shoulderblock to the ribs, and I thought Harada’s knee selling down the stretch was actually nuanced, a much more interesting performance than his Ohara match. Dick is in his 50s and still able to craft juniors main event epics with the best of them.” -Erik Ritz on Daisuke Harada vs. Dick Togo

“Really good main event that features an interesting clash of styles. Syuri can go with the best of them when given the opportunity, and she was given so with one of the best in Mayu as the two delivered for Stardom in their biggest show of the year.” -Jason Oun on Mayu Iwatani vs. Syuri 

“A slow burning match of stylistic opposites that knew exactly when to turn on the gas and bring the fire. Young continues to be one of the pro wrestling world’s most underrated performers and was the perfect wall for Swann to climb.” -Ewan Cameron on Rich Swann vs. Eric Young

“It’s not easy, when your name is not Tetsuya Naito, to make me reach levels of emotion where I end up shedding tears as I watch a wrestling match. The context, Kagetsu’s willingness to go above and beyond to beat, and prove to her teacher her worth one last time was quite fascinating to watch, compelling to no ends. The last hurray of one immense wrestler, the prime minister herself. Many would wish to end their career on such a high note.” -Valentin Humez on Kagetsu vs. Meiko Satomura

Voices of Wrestling 2020 Match of the Year
(261-101)

Voices of Wrestling 2020 Match of the Year
(Archives)

Visit voicesofwrestling.com/match-of-the-year to view our Match of the Year archives.