VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #25-11

The top 25 countdown in Voices of Wrestling’s 2021 Match of the Year begins!

2021 MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• Introduction & Honorable Mentions
• 100-76
• 75-51
• 50-26

VOICES OF WRESTLING MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012

#25
Shingo Takagi vs. Will Ospreay
3/21
NJPW

Overall Points: 81
Total Votes: 14
% of Ballots: 8%
Highest Vote: 2nd

“The chemistry between these 2 top 5 wrestlers in their world and their generations is extraordinary.” -Jacob Nelson

“This match was just all-out action. Both men played to their strengths with Shingo being the straightforward warrior going right into the fight while Opsreay tries to use his mind to work smarter. Some amazing chemistry as always from these two as the match goes back and forth. Shingo looks to have the match in the bag before Ospreay nails him with a Hidden Blade to rock the big man and a Stormbreaker ends it.” -Alex Kalil

“Another day, another dollar, another fantastic match between Shingo and Ospreay. Ospreay emptied the clip to try to put Shingo away, including a wild 450 Splash to the outside through a table, but Shingo kept coming back for more. The visual of a stone-faced Shingo rising up from the mat like a zombie and slowly advancing towards a panicking Ospreay was as cool as any of the highspots they pulled off (and there were many). The Wrestling Dontaku match may have overshadowed this one, but this was still one of the best matches I saw in 2021.” -Andrew Rich

#24
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shingo Takagi
9/18
NJPW

Overall Points: 85
Total Votes: 19
% of Ballots: 10.8%
Highest Vote: 2nd

“I mean, just those two names and “G1” tells you all you need to know.” -Kevin Ely

“This was the best match of this year’s G1. Not saying as much this year but this match would stand out in any year.” -Dave Musgrave

“The clear best match of the G1 Climax tourney. This was that go-for-broke performance we’ve come to expect from Ishii in this tournament while Shingo solidified his Wrestler of the Year candidacy. A well-paced slugfest packed tight with heavy strikes and urgency. Lariats, suffering, bravado, brutality. A simple stew that hits the spot as only a bonafide slobberknocker can do.” -Ryan Dilbert

#23
Shun Skywalker vs. YAMATO
8/1
Dragongate

Overall Points: 101
Total Votes: 14
% of Ballots: 8%
2 First-Place Votes

“Without the burden of having to be the main event, YAMATO and Shun chopped all the fat off of the Dream Gate title match. In a swift 18 minutes, they brutalized each other in a perfect crystallization of what the Dragongate style can offer. Capping off a masterclass in high-paced pro wrestling, things intensify for a bitter closing stretch – the veteran ace clawing the title from the exhausted and desperate grip of the younger stud.” -Jon Hernandez

“A young superstar vs the face of the company. A tired trope but these two men had a fantastic match in the shadow of the retirement of Masato Yoshino.” -Jack Murphy

“A fast-paced sub-20 minute match that keeps you enthralled the whole way. Very different to a lot of puro world title matches” -Rene Martinez

#22
Syuri vs. Momo Watanabe
9/25
Stardom

Overall Points: 103
Total Votes: 17
% of Ballots: 9.7%
2 First-Place Votes

“Momo Watanabe vs Syuri was an excellet finale to one of the best 5STAR Grand Prix’s in Stardom’s history. Not only do their styles mesh perfectly well as both are adept at throwing stiff kicks and dropping an opponent on their head, but this match had so much tension and emotion. This FELT like Momo Watanabe’s final to win, the moment where she would re-find her top form and stake her claim at the top of Stardom. I lived and died by each near fall and each strike as both women went to war.” -Alex Richards

“An ungodly stiff match and solidified Syrui as the wrestler of 2021. Essential viewing.” -Mark

“Momo vs Syuri and Bryan Danielson vs Minoru Suzuki were my 2 favorite G1 matches of 2021. That neither match took place in the G1 seems a trivial detail. In a year where clap crowds and the attendant listlessness that pervaded New Japan really bogged down the usual brilliance of the G1 Climax tournament for me, it was so exciting to check in on the 5 STAR Grand Prix and find all the energy and aggression and brutally satisfying strike exchanges and the ENERGY I usually get from the G1 right here. Both women had other great matches in the tournament but the final contest really had that extra level of desperation and determination and dare I say fighting spirit to make this match one of my 10 best of the year.” -Casey Fiore

#21
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi
1/4
NJPW

Overall Points: 110
Total Votes: 20
% of Ballots: 11.4%
Highest Vote: 2nd

“Though I understand why many would rate Ibushi’s match the next night against Jay White higher, the poetry of Ibushi finally claiming the IWGP heavyweight championship from his longtime rival Naito on night 1 of Wrestle Kingdom 2021 was for more emotionally satisfying to me.” -Liam Renner

“Naito has been broken down but felt like the company’s most over act for years – thus leading to him feeling like a well-deserving champion who was probably in his last major top of the card push with his work being at a top-level. Kota Ibushi has spent a career doing things his way – whether it’s teaming with Kenny Omega or wrestling at a campsite, no one has quite had a career in the modern industry like him.

Ibushi’s mission was always to be the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. His end goal was always in sight, but it never felt like it was meant to be. He was in and out of New Japan throughout the past decade and seemed destined to be a nomad that they would push – but not past a certain level. Kota Ibushi and Naito delivered a classic match that felt even more special in a year filled with crowds only being able to clap and yet still delivering something that felt on-par with Wrestle Kingdom matches in the past.” -Jeremy Peeples

“This match is unique in that I feel it truly showcases just how much of a negative impact the clap-rowd era has had on NJPW, because in contrast, the fans seem comparatively raucous during this match. In reviewing my matches for the top 10 – the crowds do sound audibly louder during this match than other matches on the card, and during other NJPW matches through the year in general, and this year’s Wrestle Kingdom in particular. The silver-lining is that the crowd response in this match does help feed the match somewhat overall, and there’s a few moments one even forgets the this match is taking place amid fans that can’t cheer.

The sheer insanity that Naito and Ibushi are capable of is something unique to the two of them – and when they meet on a grand stage, you can always count on a spectacle that makes you wonder for their safety. Watching these two work together made it feel like this was the standard that would be set for the remainder of the year. Sadly, this match would be the high-water mark for both athletes as both Naito and Ibushi would be both beset by injury during 2021, and in the case of Naito, is certainly not competing to the level he did a year ago, pre-injury.” -Reuel Castillo

#20
Bryan Danielson vs. Minoru Suzuki
10/15
AEW

Overall Points: 115
Total Votes: 28
% of Ballots: 15.9%
Highest Vote: 2nd

“Bryan Danielson had a lot of great matches since he signed with AEW but what made this match special to me (aside from it being a dream match that the fans wanted to see for a long time) is that it was different than the rest of his in matches there. In almost every match he had in AEW he was always the dominant competitor, but in this match he faced someone who was much more dangerous. Watching Bryan trying to survive Suzuki was awesome and his injury history added a lot of drama to the match. A dream match that didn’t disappoint in the slightest.” -Saud Al-Rasheedi

“Sometimes wrestling is simple, you have 2 men in the ring who just want to beat each other up so they do. You have a dream match years in the making where every single person wants a forearm exchange spot so you give them a 5-minute forearm exchange spot and have the crowd go wild. You have a match where people dream about submissions so you give them multiple unique submissions and transitions. You do all of this and then you decide to air for FREE on Youtube. A match that just leaves you telling yourself “Man, wrestling is pretty freakin sweet” when it finishes” -Kentucky210

“While it may not have gotten in my top five this year, AmDrag vs. Suzuki absolutely ruled… and for free on YouTube! The second Danielson dream match of 2021, it did not disappoint. Two men went to war, and the only things that kept it from being much higher on the list was how short it was and the lack of stakes at play. Had this match been longer, and for a title, I imagine it could have blown away all of its competition this year.” -James “NuclearConvoy”

#19
Giulia vs. Tam Nakano
3/3
Stardom

Overall Points: 118
Total Votes: 21
% of Ballots: 11.9%
1 First-Place Vote

“Wow. What a match. I think what made this click so highly for me was how both women played their roles perfectly in this. Tam had one of the best babyface performances I have even seen and Giulia looked like a world-beater.” -Liam Jones

“It’s been a long time since a Joshi match felt as important as this one did: A Budokan Hall main event for the first time in 24 years. A year-long feud, brimming with hate. Hair vs Hair. A popular challenger feeling like it was her final chance. Everything about this match felt big and important. From Giulia piledriving Tam through a table right in front of Akira Hokuto at commentary (Who had a similar fate vs Manami Toyota at the same spot in 1995), to an intense slap battle that left both competitors faces’ swollen, to Tam Nakano pulling out a disgusting Steiner Screwdriver that had Haruo Murata and Milano Collection AT shrieking in horror on commentary, and Tam finally winning the big one after a career of coming up short. This was the culmination of everything Stardom had built to in the first 10 years of its existence.” -Niagara Driver

“Tam finally beat Giulia. Giulia got her head shaved and still looked like an absolute star. The match was incredible too.” -Doug Fowler (Skeach101)

#18
Bryan Danielson vs. Eddie Kingston
10/29
AEW

Overall Points: 118
Total Votes: 21
% of Ballots: 11.9%
2 First-Place Votes

“One of the best matches I have ever seen live.” -James Lascuola

“Perhaps the finest match Eddie Kingston has ever been in, and one of the many notches in Bryan Danielson’s belt this year. Bryan Danielson may not make wrestler of the year, but he definitely made the Fall his bitch and reminded anyone who forgot WHO HE WAS. This match was awesome, filled with drama and heartbreak. You could feel the loss devastate Eddie in the end, and it devastates you as well. Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston danced a brutal dance that you were mesmerized and locked in at everything done. Eddie Kingston was on a level some may have fooled themselves into thinking he couldn’t achieve. Eddie Kingston rules, Bryan Danielson rules, this rules. WRESTLING RULES!” -Jeri L. Evagood

“This was great and a perfect response from Kingston after his match with Archer ended in a wet fart. He was fired up and everything he did looked like it was brutal. Sometimes Eddie can go for these Kings Road tribute spots and they come off both forced and lacking sizzle, but every chop connected like a gunshot and the suplexes hit hard too. This was his best AEW performance up to this point in time, even better than the Miro one. Bryan was Bryan, took the beating like a champ and all his strikes were great too. Love the ongoing story with Bryan being able to win with numerous submissions.” -Ed Mills

#17
Syuri vs. Utami Hayashishita
12/29
Stardom

Overall Points: 143
Total Votes: 22
% of Ballots: 12.5%
4 First-Place Votes

“Their incredible June match went viral, and will likely get talked about more in MOTY season. But in this match, the setting, story, and stakes boosted this to check so many more boxes outside of the bell to bell (which was fantastic in its own right):

The main event at one of the biggest shows in Stardom’s history (and in joshi wrestling over the last 15 years). A year and a half feud that was finally settled. Syrui, in what felt like her last chance, taking down an unbeatable ace and finally reaching the pinnacle of women’s wrestling after 12 years of her career. And when it was all said and done, Syuri celebrating with her protege Konami (who could have just finished her career earlier in the night due to health concerns), ranks as one of the most emotional moments in Stardom’s history.

In my time as a wrestling fan, I can probably count on one hand the number of times the in-ring, story, emotion, booking, and sense of importance came together as well as it did here.” -Niagara Driver

“A match built off a major Summer classic which got worldwide buzz on the in-ring alone. Over the next 6 months, Syuri would win the 5 Star Grand Prix and Utami would retain the World of Stardom title with great defense after great defense. These two had the build, the anticipation, the booking behind them, and a major show to climax it all. When a promotion and wrestlers pique right, everything hits right in-ring and for the fans. Syuri got her happy ending and succeeded in reaching the goal of defeating the seemingly unbeatable champion of the promotion in Utami.” -Jacob Woolley

“You could make the case for either title match between these two for match of the year. Syuri was the best in ring talent of 2021 and the year’s best wrestler. Utami being as good as she only three years in defies everything. This was the combination of someone on a career run and one of the best promising young talents coming together.” -BlastoSTG

#16
Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Kenou
10/3
Pro Wrestling NOAH

Overall Points: 163
Total Votes: 31
% of Ballots: 17.6%
1 First-Place Vote

“Once again Nakajima and Kenou prove why they’re the perfect wrestlers for the “clap crowd” era. This match was so full of brutality and intensity that you barely noticed the inaudible crowd. Two dudes beating the piss out of each other for a chance at the GHC Title. Whats not to like?” -Ed Kody

“There’s been much talk about NOAH’s heavyweight style this past year. Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kenou have been on the forefront of popularizing this style leading to its tentative culmination with their two matches in October and November. To me, the first match of these embodied the spirit of the NOAH heavyweight style the most while the second suffered from some of the most obvious criticisms: Length paired with repetitiveness. I am by no means against long matches because any match of any length can be captivating. However, I felt the N1 Final proved that the condensed version of Nakajima vs. Kenou is superior to the longer version. With both wrestlers limiting themselves to some core signature moves and strikes, they were able to tell a captivating story from start to finish that was greatly enhanced by both of their incredible facial expressions.” -STRIGGA

“This was, quite simply, one of the most brutal and hard-hitting matches I have ever seen. It is brilliantly refreshing to reach a point when you think you have had your fill of stiff wrestling matches and still find one that can take you by surprise and make you wince. It perfectly exemplifies NOAH’s attritional house style in how the two men are relentless in their slaps and kicks until one of them can no longer keep getting up. Not just a display of striking, it is also a very strong character piece. Its great strength is how it highlights the similarities and differences between Kongo’s earnest leader and its most charismatic star. Everything that makes the competitive rivalry between Nakajima’s impish arrogance and Kenou’s direct fury is on display. This structure is ideal for countering Japan’s current crowd noise restrictions. Compact, violent, credible.” -Jack Groom

#15
Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Kenou
11/28
Pro Wrestling NOAH

Overall Points: 178
Total Votes: 24
% of Ballots: 13.6%
5 First-Place Votes

“This match was a mesmerizing display of toughness, heart and desire that only felt like it lasted a fraction of its actual run time. These two men usually set out to try to kill each other as quickly as possible, but this particular contest was about more than enmity between individuals. Both wanted to represent Pro Wrestling NOAH as it symbolically stepped into a new era at the Nippon Budokan in 2022. Kenou dreamed of headlining the Budokan as double champion, while Nakajima wanted to protect his legacy-defining championship reign. In their quests to realize their ideals, Kenou and Nakajima took each other to their absolute limit.” -Chuck Hodgin

“The two top wrestlers of 2021 engaged in a brutal battle here. No silly stuff, no cartoonish bs, just two lads beating the hell out of each other. Everything you want from a professional wrestling match.” -Evandro Furtado

“If the N1 Victory final was the short film, then their history-making GHC Heavyweight vs GHC National title match was the feature film. This was a battle of attrition between two of the best wrestlers anywhere in the world right now. It delivered to an immense degree, with more strikes, kicks, lariats (YES, Nakajima threw a lariat!) and chops than you could reasonably ask for. The result wasn’t what intrigued – almost all realised the direction this was going before the bell even rang in Tokyo – but instead it was the journey of emotion, physicality and psychology that this match showcased perfectly that intrigued. No metaphor is too excessive. No description is too hyperbolic, because this is the Match of the Year.” -Jamie Johnson

#14
Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair
4/10
WWE

Overall Points: 180
Total Votes: 32
% of Ballots: 18.2%
3 First-Place Votes

“This was a historical match even if you take gender out of it. Two African American wrestlers in the main event of WrestleMania. These two told a great story and was Bianca’s coming out moment on the main roster. Sasha smiling at the end of the match was just the cherry on top.” -Ja’ Von York

“Not many other matches I can think have created this level of overall feeling at happiness from me especially in 2021 than my match of the year! I am so just happy even thinking about this match again writing this. Their is footage of the wrestler who lost this match smiling sitting down near the ring after the match as the happy winner celebrates with the champion. I was smiling all the way throughout! It so wonderful! The smile crying opening face off between both with Micheal Cole saying how important this is.
This match has super hero like strength, speed, athleticism, personality, and emotion!! The medium of pro wrestling can be wonderful, amazing, and magical! The WrestleMania main event of Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair is wonderful, amazing, and magical!” -Henry/HeadCheese

“A landmark wrestling match with fantastic action, thrilling spots, and grit between its competitors. It was not only the first WrestleMania event in history to feature two Black women in the main event, but also one of the best headlining matches of all-time. I adored the storytelling for this matchup, as well as the connection Banks and Belair shared in the ring. Wincing at the marks that were left on Sasha’s body from Belair’s hair, I knew that this was an intense, fun match that deserves every accolade it gets. Truly, a match that will be revered in wrestling history for generations.” -Caro

#13
CM Punk vs. Eddie Kingston
11/13
AEW

Overall Points: 199
Total Votes: 38
% of Ballots: 21.6%
4 First-Place Votes

“This felt more captivating than anything else I’ve watched all year and that’s why it was the easiest choice of what should be #1 on my list. The reason is simple, CM Punk and Eddie Kingston are two all-timer level talkers and personalities and they make wrestling feel like the coolest thing in the world, even in one of the bleakest years for wrestling globally. A non-wrestling fan could watch the promo set up, and this match and say ‘I get it’. This is pro-wrestling at it’s simplest and it’s finest. Two guys have beef with one another, so they brawl it out. And it was a hell of a brawl too with no second wasted and crammed full of easter eggs for nerds like us with the Cena tribute spots. Eddie Kingston was a cult hero on the indies for over a decade and nearly retired because he thought his chance at making it big would never come; to see him sign with AEW and have big matches like this on a big stage is a true joy. This might be as good as it gets for Eddie, but that is worth celebrating as it seemed a long way off 2 years ago.” -Ed Mills

“At this point, I’ve aired my grievances about unnecessarily long matches in wrestling enough and matches like this show exactly why going long isn’t what matters. They accomplished in 11 minutes what most wrestlers struggle to do in 30. In just two weeks of build up they telegraphed such immense hatred for one another that you couldn’t help but get HOOKed(see what I did there?! Lol). Eddie was an amazing babyface here and CM Punk ironically was the franchise player here that was he was fighting 10 years ago in John Cena. Usually, I refer to such short matches as sprints but there was nothing sprinty here. It was brutal, it vile, it was disgusting and it was emotional. What a wonderful match!!” -Ashutosh Dubey

“A tight, heated brawl that didn’t waste a single second. Filled with emotion as both men exorcise decades worth of pent-up resentment against each other. The blood adds so much to this as well as some of the choices these two make. Punk utilizing Cena’s five moves of doom was a neat little thematic tool to emphasize that Punk was in the elite slot now with Eddie being the beloved underdog. As with things that can feel so real, the conclusion is messy and maybe imperfect. Punk gets his win but Eddie refuses any kind of respect of resolution. It’s not neat, it simply is what it is.” -Joseph Montecillo

#12
Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb
1/5
NJPW

Overall Points: 206
Total Votes: 39
% of Ballots: 22.2%
2 First-Place Votes

“Insane heavy-hitting match that I can still remember having me on the edge of my seat. This match also set these two up for massive years within NJPW.” -ItChEE

“They tore the (clap crowd) house down. Two guys beating the ever loving shit out of each other for 15 minutes. Great wrestling” -Tyler Forness

“Not even a week into the year, and I already had a certified lock for my Top 10. Shingo had an incredible year in 2021, with some of the best matches in NJPW involving him, but it was this meeting with Jeff Cobb that was my favorite.” -Slyguy46

#11
Kenny Omega vs. Adam Page
11/13
AEW

Overall Points: 208
Total Votes: 32
% of Ballots: 19.3%
4 First-Place Votes

“I was at this match live and initially gave it ***3/4 stars. I deserve to be flagellated for this. Upon re-watch on the flight back from this show, it jumped all the way up to my match of the year. Everything about this match is perfect and is on my Mount Rushmore of matches, not just for the action, pacing, and performances of everyone involved, but for putting a cap on this excellent two year story and elevating Adam Page.” -Brady Childs

“The culmination of 2 year-long storyline with more twists and turns than my intestines saw the hard-fought and emotional pay off of not just Adam Page’s star-making fall and redemption, but the Elite’s break up and the Young Bucks friendship with Adam Page.” -/u/AKittyCat

“Just like Okada/Naito from last year and all of my moty choices in the past couple of years, my favorite match was the one that had the story that I was invested in the most. Hangman’s quest to win the big one kept me at the edge of my seat until the final moments of this match. Hangman winning didn’t just make sense in the context of the story, it also was the right call because he improved so much as an in ring worker in the last two years, and this match proved that he is genuinely one of the best in AEW’s stacked roster.” -Saud Al-Rasheedi

VOICES OF WRESTLING 2021 MATCH OF THE YEAR
(282-11)