Voices of Wrestling 2023 Match of the Year: #1 (Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega – January)

Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega’s all-time classic from Wrestle Kingdom tops the Voices of Wrestling 2023 Match of the Year.

VOICES OF WRESTLING 2023 MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• Introduction & Honorable Mentions
• Matches #100-76
• Matches #75-51
• Matches #50-26
• Matches #25-11
• Match of the Year Statistical Analysis & Top 10 Early Reveal (FlagshipPatreon.com)
• Match #10: Bryan Danielson vs. Ricky Starks
• Match #9: Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Kento Miyahara
• Match #8: Fuminori Abe vs. Takuya Nomura
• Match #7: Tetsuya Naito vs. Will Ospreay
• Match #6: “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Jon Moxley
• Match #5: Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
• Match #4: MJF vs. Bryan Danielson
• Match #3: Swerve Strickland vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
• Match #2: Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega – June

#1
Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega
01/04
NJPW

Overall Points: 1724
Total Votes: 159
% of Ballots: 71.95%
81 First-Place Votes

“An outstanding work of art from two of the very best to ever do it” -Stephen Coriander

“After watching this, I knew that nothing was going to beat it. I was right about it. Non of the matches in 2023, was good enough to beat that spectacular masterpiece. Sure there were some that were close, but it was not enough. The reason why it was so special is, this was Omega’s return to NJPW after losing to Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 13. This match gave us the real Omega we all missed. The real Best Bout Machine. Ospreay on the other hand, gave us his best performance ever. I can easily say that, this was the best match of his career. Ospreay was heel, Omega was face. But during the match, things turned upside-down. Ospreay was a babyface, and Omega was a monster heel who wanted to punish Ospreay. But Ospreay was fighting back, no matter how hard the beat down was. It was something that was on another level. I am never going to forget what I saw saw. Every second, I felt like my heart was going to stop. ” -Kaan

“Like it was going to be anything else. A reminder that whenever you can get Kenny to wrestle in Japan he becomes a force unlike anybody else.” -Jamie O’Doherty

“Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay’s WrestleKingdom encounter impacted me in a way I haven’t experienced since before the pandemic. The story, the crowd, the wrestling were all as close to perfect as you can get. I will remember this match for the rest of my life.” -Ry Harrison

“Past, present and future combined in a match that exceeded any expectations. Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay showed why they are among the best to ever do it. Synergy, spatial vision, footwork, control, selling. They danced a superb waltz in and out the ring.” -Alejandro Gomez

“I’m not sure there was a runaway Match of the Year this year, but there were a ton of great matches. Every year it gets more and more difficult to select the number one overall. You can’t go wrong, though, in selecting Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay. They have a generational level of chemistry in the ring together, and it has shown multiple times in 2023, going all the way back to the Tokyo Dome on January 4th.” -Greg Parks

“This match was dirty, bloody, nasty, brutal…hell any adjective you can think of this probably had. The image of a bloody, battered, demoralized and destroyed Will Ospreay at the feet of Kenny Omega is this lasting image of 2023 for me. Kayfabe wise it was a teaching moment from the former “Best Bout Machine” to the new one. My match of the year and one of my favorites of the decade.” -Markeem Graham

“The term “Dream Match” gets thrown around far too frequently in wrestling. Kenny Omega returning to a New Japan ring for the first time in years to challenge Will Ospreay, who had replaced him not only as New Japan’s top foreign wrestler but also as the best wrestler in the world, more than lived up to the “Dream Match” billing. Omega and Ospreay combined their spectacular athleticism with an in-ring story that rewarded long-term fans by referencing events dating back to Omega’s time in New Japan 4 years earlier. The closing stretch of the match turned into a battle of wills where neither man would let go of the other’s wrist. This lead to a number of innovative counters which culminated in a beaten but defiant Ospreay swearing and spitting at Omega, before falling to a Kamigoye and One Winged Angel that put him down for the count. The Kamigoye was of particular significance, not just because it was the finishing move of Kenny’s former tag team partner and best friend Kota Ibushi, but because of Will Ospreay’s history with Kota Ibushi. Prior to this encounter, Omega’s last match in New Japan was Wrestle Kingdom 2019 where he lost the IWGP Championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi. During interviews Omega had mentioned he was distracted during that match because Kota Ibushi was unable to accompany him to the ring for his title defense. Why was Kota unable to second his friend? Because Will Ospreay had injured him earlier on the show. That was Omega’s last night in New Japan, and because of Will Ospreay he didn’t have his best friend to support him through the experience. While Kota Ibushi was able to recover and go on to become IWGP Champion himself, it was Will Ospreay that ended Ibushi’s reign. Hitting the Kamigoye on Ospreay was Omega getting revenge for Ibushi. Beating Will Ospreay in the Match of the Year was Omega reminding the world that no one is better than “The Best Bout Machine.”” -Adam Berger

“A mega dream match that beat the insurmountable hype. This was one of the most thorough executions of a pro wrestling ass whooping I’ve ever seen. Omega was absolutely brutal in his offense as he unleashed a performance that stands up with any in the history of that building. This felt like the biggest match ever from just the entrances alone. In his first time back in New Japan since his departure to AEW, Omega walked in the Dome like he was god himself coming back to reclaim his position that was filled by Will Ospreay. Ospreay was always the successor to Omega. Throughout every great match, Ospreay got closer to getting people to live and die with him. I believe this match put Ospreay in another class to where people could connect with him beyond his physical gifts. I feel Ospreay later took this blueprint with him to his match with Shota Umino. My mouth set agape for the last 20 minutes of this match. We never got to see Kobe vs Lebron in the NBA finals, but we did see Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay in 2023. This felt like the sliding doors of generational greatness separated by a decade. We caught this as Will was walking into his zenith, while Omega was still at his. Some dream matches never quite get there, and really should stay dreams. I’m glad we got to wake up and see this one for real.” -Rich Latta

“Well shit. They did it. Honestly, I thought it would be good-great but, like a lot of highly touted matches, wrestled like a match trying to be the greatest match unlike what this was, which was them going out there, following the story they were actually telling and wrestling the match and not the moment. There was no gratuitous let’s soak in the crowd moment, or something similarly manufactured. They simply tried to win. Both wrestled with intent, aggression and with follow through. Omega was aggressive from the off, hurting Ospreay quickly with his approach and spent the whole match following up on that with some of the most dangerous stunts he could think of. In classic Kenny fashion, there were some call backs to his previous matches, like the table spot with Okada, but in this case, they linked into the story of the match in a natural way. Omega put the table on the injured back of Ospreay, after he just crashed into the edge of the ring. Exactly the right thing for the right moment. Moreover, Ospreay proved that his best self is him selling for his opponent and working from beneath. His selling was great at times, playing into the blood extremely well and the effect it should have on you, while still providing some excellent offence when he could. This match was Omega heavy however, but luckily, this was the best Kenny Omega performance since 2018. I’ve never been in love with Omega’s work during his AEW. He was usually good but rarely great and NEVER this good. And he showed up big time in this match. This was nothing short of amazing. A quality dome match. MOTY ****1/2″ -Bailey Mowatt

“Not counting their comedy-laden indie schtick from PWG in 2015, which seems like lifetimes ago respectively, this was the first entry in what could be a feud of a generation. They have both excelled with the god-level talent that is Okada for matches that redefined greatness, but finally the former Western Ace of NJPW met the best wrestler in the world 1 on 1… and it was astounding. These 2 have always been crazy with the spots they will pull off, but their talent, class, and storytelling acumen was on full display to give us a match that will live on forever. There isn’t much more you can ask for within the sport of pro wrestling.” -Jake Nelson

“Few times in my wrestling fandom have I seen a match that made me redefine what I like about this hobby that I have been following most of my life. Okada vs Omega IV was the latest one until I watched Omega vs Ospreay in Wrestle Kingdom. It felt like an epic encounter from the entrances until the bell rang. They redefined what is amazing pro wrestling by having one of the best matches I have seen in my life. There was the story before and throughout the match, the oh glorious violence, and Omega felt at home. There is something about Omega in Japan that still has not been replicated in the United States in my eyes. I don’t know what it is, but his matches feel extra special in Japan. Ospreay proved why he is one of the best wrestlers in the world. I don’t care if this sound gatekeepish, but if you don’t like this match, I don’t think pro wrestling is for you. This is one of those matches that you can say that maybe it’s not your style, maybe you can say that it went a little overboard with the violence or the selling, all fair points, but if you say that this is a bad match or not entertaining, I won’t take you seriously. This is my match of the year, and only their second match came close.” -Abraham Delgado

“Not only is this my match of the year, it is currently my favourite match ever. The four years away from New Japan helped give Omega a different aura from the last time he was in the promotion. The last time he was in New Japan he was one of the top guys in the promotions, on this day he felt like one an actual legend. This match had a violent spirit to it that even the most weapon heavy deathmatch couldn’t equal, and afterwards Ospreay was clearly shaken by what he had been through. He certainly wasn’t humbled by the experience though, as he spent the rest of 2023 pushing himself to be as big of a legend as Omega had been that night. Will Ospreay on January 5th was a different man than he was on January 3rd.” -Chris Gannon

“Sometimes you were the top gaijin (I guess we’re not supposed to use that term anymore and instead use the less negatively charged gaikokujin, but the only people who care are dorks like me that have a couple of semesters of Japanese under their belts; I’m guessing native Japanese speakers couldn’t care less) and you come back to your break out promotion, looking for the crown you set down. Sometimes you come back and you show the world exactly who you are and this terrifying spectacle was all about that. Omega came in after a long lay off and was somehow the equal of his former self. It’s stuff like this that we stay up until 4 o’clock in the morning watching Wrestle Kingdom for.” -Justin Harman aka DJ Convoy

“A Tokyo Dome level match between Ospreay and Omega that told a very simple but great story with Omega being the outsider that comes into New Japan to defeat Ospreay. The Cleaner dominated the first half of the match and destroyed the Champion with vicious moves to build up a grand opening for Ospreay. The comeback was well done and added the extra level of drama needed to make this match an all-timer.” -Yannik Peps

“Looking back, it’s amazing to see this match went wire-to-wire for my match of the year. Re-watching, though, it’s easy to see why.

All the ingredients were here for Ospreay and Omega, two of the most dynamic wrestlers of any generation, to put on a showcase of pure spectacle. Instead, it was a wrathful Omega using his highly anticipated return to the Tokyo Dome to destroy Ospreay, rip the IWGP U.S. title out of Ospreay’s hands and deliver an emphatic statement. In what was supposed to be a meeting of the best of both worlds, there was only this message, written in the language of unrelenting brutality: there’s only one world, and it was still ruled by Kenny Omega.” -TDE

“Sometimes the reality does live up to the hype. A genuine contender for the greatest match ever. From the hard as hell Cheeky Nandos kicks, that insane DDT on the exposed turnbuckle and the V Triggers which Will finally figured out a counter for, everything was perfect. It was a babyface performance from Ospreay that would set the pace for his 2023 which could go down as one of the GOAT years and Kenny as the heel who took Will’s proclamation as the Best Bout Machine very personally showed that he still is one of the best when given a chance. Just perfect.” -Peter Edge

“From the moment this match ended it was always going to be tough to beat for MOTY. This match combined the intense all action sequences that characterize the best of Japanese style main event wrestling with great storytelling and sheer violence. Ospreay’s selling is one of his most underrated abilities and it was on show here as it looked like he was being dominated and would soon be defeated numerous times only for him to come back a number of times until it was clear that all the fight he could muster was finally gone and at that moment Omega delivered a devastating knee as set set up for the awesome one winged angel finish.” -Jason Turner

“For many people Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay was a matchup of two of their absolute all time favorites that they couldn’t wait to see get in the ring together. For me, it was not- it was simply two high level wrestlers who I’ve also never considered myself to be much of a fanboy of. And yet, when it came time to select the 2023 Match of the Year, this was still really no contest for me- there was simply no match that stood out above this one. The usual amazing spots you’d expect from these two were there of course, but it was the sheer brutality that ultimately put it above all others.” -John Carroll

“It’s one thing to deliver on a cross-promotional dream match which had been teased by both participants for months. Even without the extra element of Kenny Omega’s first match in NJPW since he and the Bucks gambled on themselves and headed back to North America, Omega and Will Ospreay’s duel at the Tokyo Dome was likely viewed as a fait accompli MOTY contender by most of the people voting in this poll before the bell had even rung. Anything less would have been a massive disappointment, especially with a somewhat lukewarm Kazuchika Okada/Jay White contest in the actual main event.

So no, the actual quality of this match could in no way be considered a surprise. What was a surprise was the particular path this match took to greatness. While delivering exactly the sort of high-workrate cardio test we all knew this would be, Omega and Ospreay’s first singles encounter since 2015, years before either was in the Best In The World conversation, was a decidedly one-sided affair. Sure, Ospreay was given moments to show off his heart and offense, which from a purely technical and athletic perspective had likely passed Omega’s by this point in both men’s careers, and this wasn’t a Brock/Cena style squash, but overall Omega simply pilloried and brutalized his younger opponent with a frenzied mania which was far more sinister than anything we’d seen from Omega since he left New Japan.

Omega’s in-ring character work, criticized by some (though not me) as melodramatic or cartoonish, was uniquely suited to this sort of match and story. That the sickening DDT to the exposed turnbuckle could be of a piece with Kenny’s Jack Nicholson pantomime which happens just moments afterwards seems somewhat paradoxical, but that defiance of convention is replicated in the story of the elder gaikokujin usurping the throne he effectively abdicated to Ospreay. Much like the abomination of Goya’s Saturn or the father in Kafka’s “The Judgment”, the sadistic glee with which Omega rends apart his would-be successor seems a crime against nature itself. It’s the way of things for the young to replace the old, and to watch Omega gibber and cackle as he spits in the face of that primal law is deeply unsettling in a way pro wrestling rarely is.

To put it less pretentiously, this is the sort of one-sided upset, or defeat of an heir apparent by their equivalent from the previous generation which Gedo, for all of his current flaws, knows exactly when to utilize, putting money down for a long-term payoff (see Okada/Tanahashi at WK 9). Say what you will about the glacial pace of some NJPW booking, but with this chilling, bloody, and entirely thrilling display, Omega and Ospreay gave depth and subtlety to the beginning of a feud which could be providing dividends for all involved, including those of us who simply watched it, for years to come.” – Bruce Lord

“This. Match. This one will always be one of my favorite matches of all time because it carried a lot of weight for me and signified NJPW returning to it’s glory days, even if only for one night. The return to packed houses of cheering fans. The pandemic clap crowd era of NJPW was rough but now we are finally free and Wrestle Kingdom is Wrestle Kingdom once again. Only Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay could put on a match of this caliber in this situation on this big a stage. This match is everything we love about pro wrestling. Pageantry via extravagant entrances; Omega’s Sephiroth entrance marking the return of the “Best Bout Machine” and Will Ospreay’s entrance marking the return of the Aerial Assassin. Immediately our perceived face and heel situation was switched up. Brilliant. Athleticism by way of insane spots like Omega attempting the dreaded “top rope dragon suplex” only for Ospreay to land on his feet. Or Omega actually hitting “Croyt’s Wrath” off the top rope, ridiculous. Brutality by way of violence and Omega’s desire to destroy Ospreay by smashing his head into a table. Or Ospreay repaying violence with violence through a series of “cheeky nandos” kicks that defined the word “stiff” and caused Omega’s eye to swell shut. Ospreay’s comeback was electric; the story of the young hotshot who had sworn he’d surpassed and replaced the absent legend only for him to return and remind the world that he is still the best. This match was violent, it was athletic, it was dramatic, it was incredible. Omega and Ospreay never “kind of” hit their moves, everything is so precise which is wild, considering the athleticism that is on display here. One of my favorite matches of all time and my definite MOTY for 2023.” -Noveliss

“The dream match of NJPW’s two biggest Western successes of this generation finally met and MY GOD was it a greater classic than we could have possibly imagined. THE example of building intensity to a fever pitch. This is how you do it.

I’ll always remember my reaction to watching Ospreay’s head crash down onto the exposed turnbuckle, the way he amped himself up after as the blood trickled down his head. Then the violence of the Hidden Blade he delivered straight to Omega’s face later on was brutally fitting, beat-for-beat a perfect amplification of what came before.

I’m not speaking hyperbole when I call this the bar of excellence for this style of intensity. A god-tier performance that we’ll be referencing for years to come.” -Matt Maher (aka Imp)

“This match lived up to the sky-high expectations all of us put on it. Omega’s aggression was my favorite part and Ospreay was his usual brilliant self.” -George Atsaves

“This epic showdown brought together two of the world’s greatest wrestlers on one of the grandest stages of professional wrestling. It marked Kenny Omega’s triumphant return to NJPW after a hiatus since January 4th, 2019. As Omega departed, he entrusted the task of elevating NJPW to Jay White and his Wrestle Kingdom 17 opponent, Will Ospreay. Ospreay seized the opportunity and established himself as one of the top international stars in the promotion. However, this clash wasn’t just about determining the best wrestler; it was deeply personal. Omega held Ospreay accountable for the decline in attendance and subdued crowds, disregarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Omega sought to settle a score with Ospreay, who had knocked out his best friend and tag team partner, Kota Ibushi, during Wrestle Kingdom 13, which turned out to be Omega’s farewell night in NJPW.

Both competitors engaged in intense shoot style interviews, openly criticizing each other. The tension peaked during the Wrestle Kingdom 17 Press Conference on January 3rd, where fiery words were exchanged. The following night, it was time to let their actions speak louder than words. Omega and Ospreay delivered a breathtaking display of athleticism and brutality that will be etched in my memory forever. Omega strategically targeted Ospreay’s head and neck, subjecting him to a vicious DDT on the exposed turnbuckle, leaving his face drenched in a crimson mask. However, Ospreay proved his resilience, fighting back with moves like the Hidden Blade, Oscutter, and the Styles Clash. Yet, even with Ospreay’s best efforts, he couldn’t overcome the sheer brilliance of the Best Bout Machine.

In a climactic finale, Omega sealed Ospreay’s fate with a devastating Kamigoye followed by the One Winged Angel. This match, which took place just four days into 2023, set the bar impossibly high for the rest of the year.” -Jeremy Donovan

“An impossible standard set at the beginning of the year and nothing, not even the rematch, got close to dethroning them.” -Jameshova

“After 7 years of loving NJPW, this was the first time I woke up early (3:45am CST) to watch some of Wrestle Kingdom live, and this match was the reason. I didn’t regret a single second of it. To experience that match at the same time everyone else in the world did was truly special, and I’ll never forget how hard I was buzzing for the rest of the day.” -Elliot Imes

“In modern professional wrestling, where every great match makes tape, it is very difficult for a match to be so great it stays in your mind all year. This match was than and then some. An all-timer match, which successfully melts the brain and gets the blood pumping.” -Josh R. Hoxha

“Two of the best wrestlers in the world giving a fight that became violent and personal as the minutes passed. Omega bringing out his most brutal side to destroy Ospreay and show that even if he is not in the company, he is still important there.” -Fede Fromwell

“This one set the bar for 2023 four days in, and to me, nothing else surpassed it though several matches came close.” -Eric Krol

“A match-up that was eagerly awaited by many fans, that was teased for many months and that absolutely didn’t disappoint.

The chemistry between the two was exceptional, with Will Ospreay at the top of his game and Kenny Omega showing us that he’s not the same at Tokyo Dome (K.Omega 17′ vibes).

Memorable entrances, an intense and violent match that held fans spellbound from start to finish.” -Traff

“Wrestling may never get any better than this. In a year filled with outrageously great wrestling there was never any doubt what my #1 was going to be” -Lee Malone

“When it comes to main event wrestling on the biggest stage, this is as good as it gets. A match so grueling that you question if they are giving too much of themselves to their craft. I honestly didn’t know Omega still had a match at this level left in him, but I was happy to be wrong. And then they did it again in June.” -Kevin Ely

“For me there will never be a match like this ever again. In 2017 I’ve watched Ospreay vs. KUSHIDA and that match made me buy a plane ticket for the upcoming WK. Elevated was the first entrance theme for the opening match for that WK. I do not have words to describe the how hard my heart was pounding when I recognized that it will be Elevated playing for the Ospreay’s entrance. The only cheering show of my trip as well. And I cheered my soul out. Me and the older Japanese guy sitting on my left, we both cheered for Ospreay, while the four younger Japanese guys on my right cheered for Omega. I do not really remember what happened in this match, I only remember the emotional high I was on for the duration of the match, one of most engrossing matches I have ever seen. We lived and died for the two maniacs in the ring and they gave us back everything we gave them. If it was possible, this match would have ended the pandemic. Thank you Omega, thank you Ospreay for this piece of art, I spend too much on my trip to Japan, but it was more than worth it just for this match alone.” -Velkej Bracha

“The best match seen in my life time.” -Jacob Woolley

“It wasn’t just the wrestling, which was excellent. It was the timing and the crispness of everything they did that made this match so memorable. The measuring stick for 2023 was set on January 4, and while there were plenty of close calls, nothing made an impact quite like this match.” -Bryan Rose

“Mitsuhara Misawa
Kenta Kobashi
Bryan Danielson
Kazuchika Okada
Kenny Omega

Barring accident, injury, or act of god, by the time Will Ospreay retires he’s going to surpass each and every one of them. At 30 he’s already been the best active wrestler for most of the past 5 years, he’s created a hall of fame worthy resume, and if this match is any indication, he still hasn’t reached his peak. Despite all the glory and success, when put in the ring with someone like Omega, Ospreay can still be the underdog, still hold the crowd on every near-fall, and still make you believe in the magic of pro wrestling.

For nearly 35 minutes, Will Ospreay, the defending champion, gets the shit beat out of him. This isn’t a suplex city squash, Ospreay often finds a way to sneak in a counter and hit a few flashy or violent maneuvers, but he can never really take control of the match. He’s always stuck responding. For every Oscutter or Robinson Special, Omega has a DDT on the exposed turnbuckle, friendly table to drive Ospreay’s face through, or an avalanche Croyt’s wrath. Kenny is the final boss and Ospreay is fighting for his life. It’s a beautiful journey, filled with emotion that only pro wrestling can produce.

Forget 2023, this is easily one of the greatest matches of all time. It’s clearly the best match of Ospreay’s career, and shockingly, I think he’s still holding back. Undoubtedly these two are going to meet again, but for now they’ve restored a lot of lost glory to Wrestle Kingdom, the Tokyo Dome, and New Japan Pro Wrestling.” -Jason Westhaver

“While Tears of the Kingdom is probably a technically better game than its predecessor, I still prefer Breath of the Wild purely because of my reaction to it at the time. Similarly, while their rematch at Forbidden Door was probably (just about) a better match, I have enormous affection for their Wrestle Kingdom show down. Coming out of the traps in 2023, 4 days into the new year and putting on the match of the year was a flex only Omega and Ospreay could pull off. Incredible in ring storytelling and hard hitting action just seething with bitter animosity, this was incredible” -Martin Hearty

“Match of the year? Yes. Match of the decade? TBD. Arguably the greatest match of all time.” -Corey Grech

“The ground for waxing lyrical about this match has been so well-trodden that it’s almost a cliche to heap praise on everything it does right. Omega returning to the Dome as the imposing, endgame final boss battle. Ospreay’s chance to ascension into the highest kayfabe echelon as the emergent babyface, eager to quell any question that this is now his turf. The slow escalation from tit-for-tat showcase to sheer brutality. Callbacks. Shock spots. Nearfalls that you believe in your heart of hearts while still leaving each guy’s finisher well protected. To call this a masterclass would be underplaying it and to call it a return to truly great dome matches of the mid-2010s would be too simplistic. This match is many things to many people, but the one knowable constant is that this is 2023’s Match of the Year.” -SOM

“Emblematic of the product that makes New Japan Pro Wrestling such a beloved promotion, this match delivered and even exceeded expectations. The action was apocalyptic and when one man seemed defeated, hidden strength would always resurface. This is the wrestling that elevates the medium.” -Corey Michaels

“It is an amazing experience to sit down after finishing a match and having literally nothing to say because you’re speechless. When this match was finished, it was one of those rare times where I could only think that I had just seen the greatest match ever. Today, I still believe this is the single greatest wrestling match that has ever happened. Both Will and Kenny completely unloaded everything they had physically and mentally for this match. Even to this day I have a hard time expressing what I had seen this night. The greatest wrestling match of all time.” -Skeach101

“For fans that fell in love with wrestling through Bushiroad’s New Japan, Sinclair’s Ring of Honor and AEW, this was their Shinbou Kandori vs Akira Hokuto. For older fans like myself, it was still a fantastic match that spawned a rematch in the summer. Kudos for Omega and Ospreay for making it as brutal as they could be on a big stage like Wrestle Kingdom while still incorporating the high flying they are known for.” -JML

“Not only is this easily the best match I saw all year, it might also be the best I have ever seen. Two of the greatest wrestlers of all time somehow, someway not just living up to the hype leading in to this match, but superseding it.

An absolutely captivating, enthralling match that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. A truly shocking, brutal display, executed to an impeccable standard.

This match has so many spots that just stick with me. Will anyone ever be able to forget Omega repeatedly bashing Ospreys already bloody head in to the notoriously stiff Japanese table until finally the barrier was breached.

Or the absolutely disgusting avalanche DDT on the exposed turnbuckle that busted Ospreys open in the first place, or the top rope reversal by Omega that drove Ospreay’s head in the exposed buckle once again.

Will’s selling was the star of the show for me here. The way his lifeless body was ragdolling around really brought home the relentless, stomach churning offence of Kenny; the way he was crumbling at times more reminiscent of a grainy video you’d see online of a street fight, than a professional wrestling match.

One of the last acts of Ospreay in this match was to defiantly spit in the face of Omega, knowing he is a defeated man before succumbing to the one winged angel. What a match!” -Steven Lehmann

“I’ll never forget Will Ospreay’s face as he was draped over the turnbuckle. Kenny was in the background, revving up a V-Trigger. In slow motion, Kenny started running before building momentum. I willed Ospreay to move. I begged him, sending my shouts to the other side of the world. Ospreay didn’t move, and I saw the light extinguish from his eyes. Will Ospreay sells perfectly, and I believed he was dead.

The pinnacle of the craft, from two of the greatest wrestlers of all time.” -Neil David

“The Best Bout Machine faces his shadow. Everything Ospreay wants to be, Omega did first, and this was the time to define Ospreay’s place in the hierarchy of professional wrestling. Filled with more violence than one would expect from two finesse workers, this match shocked even the most fervent of fans in the Tokyo Dome that evening.” -Marty Day

“The world turned up to see one thing from Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay only to get something completely different. This was a systemic dissection of the British man from a driven and vindictive Omega, building on their incoming story and one of the most shocking matches in quite some time. Every time Ospreay began to gain momentum it was swiftly cut off by the more experienced Omega, and somehow, in a more brutal way then the last. Double foot stomp through a table, a DDT into an exposed turnbuckle, spot after spot to make you cringe and worry about Will’s condition.

The finish, a kamigoye followed by a One winged Angel (after one final act of Ospreay defiance) was emphatic. It brought to a close both the most memorable match of the year and the one which left you feeling the most breathless. As beautiful as it was brutal, this was the perfect presentation of pro wrestling in the modern age and one that will be truly memorable for a long time to come.” -Trish Speirs

“The two best wrestlers in the world set a bar at the beginning of the year that the entire industry would be hard pressed to try to match, even by these same two performers later on in the year. It’s amazing how well they both blended the utmost levels of athleticism in the match, but also violent intensity in a year that would be known for its spectacular matches amid a backdrop of brutality. Will and Kenny provided one of those performances, in the ambience of the Tokyo Dome, that is a formula for true wrestling perfection.” -Reuel Castillo

“One of the absolute pro wrestling matches I’ve ever seen from two of the greatest to do it. And now with hindsight, it truly was the kickoff of a legendary year for Ospreay, as he both prepared his next move in pro wrestling while affirming with aplomb that he is one of the greatest to ever do it.” -Warren Hayes

“Only match in my opinion that has gotten even close to those classic Omega-Okada matches. I think this should be winning every MOTY award.” -Jon Rogers

“This match alone encapsulated a time when I loved pro wrestling like no other. It felt like I was back in 2017 and watching the rise of Kenny Omega again. Just seeing Omega in the dome again after so many years away from a NJPW ring. Decked out in style coming out to Final Fantasy’s Sephiroth’s theme. This match was pure magical, it had everything — violence, technical and spectacle. This match had lots of emotional attachment for me and I will forever love it.” -FAR5222

“Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega was the match to beat for the majority of 2023. I firmly believe their first match outclasses the second. Make the Tokyo Dome joke all you want. There was a different feel with Omega returning to NJPW and taking on Ospreay. A different level of physicality, spectacle, and match itself. It was the return of Omega to being the best and the continuation of Ospreay’s unbelievable run the last few years. It’s the best match of Ospreay’s career for my money.” -Scott Edwards

“The biggest stage in wrestling. The best wrestlers in the world. Over-the-top entrances befitting the Tokyo Dome. There was no way this was going to be anything short of spectacular. It was indeed spectacular, and also quite brutal. I did not expect the most impactful visual to be Omega repeatedly smashing Ospreay’s head through a table like Jason Voorhees. It really played up how this wasn’t just a dream match, there was a lot of emotion and backstory going into it: Ospreay and Omega’s shared time in NJPW, Ospreay KO-ing Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 13, Ospreay’s burning need to break out of Omega’s shadow once and for all. And as great as it was, they still left room on the table for a rematch, which we got later that year.” -Andrew Rich

“When this match was over, I was sure it would be the match of the year. And it would’ve been if not for the rematch.” -Paul Fontaine

“An absolute all-timer. Two of the best big-match performers ever drive each other to create something magical, something that reimagines what a wrestling match can be.” -Ryan Dilbert

“This was a reminder that Kenny Omega in a New Japan main event is something special.” -Jays Retro

“Not even Kazuchika Okada & Jay White could follow this.” -Ethan Renner

“A match that makes you feel like you’re watching the very cutting edge of what pro wrestling in this style can be. Add in the easily understandable story of the old foreign ace of New Japan coming back and brutalizing his successor? Pure, unfiltered art.” -Liam Renner

“Kenny Omega’s return to NJPW, facing the very man who took his place as the top gaijin in Japan. Ospreay proudly defended the title he carried for the past few months, and through his style in this match—a hybrid between what he did in the junior heavyweight division and the style he adopted upon transitioning to heavyweight—he appears to be very close, if not already at the peak of his career. However, Kenny Omega is a different kind of beast, showcasing it both in kayfabe and in the ring. An exceptional match that I didn’t think could be surpassed so quickly.” -Dan Duca

“Before their second match, this was the best match I’d ever seen. Kenny Omega is at his best in New Japan when he can be a little bit cartoonish and it fits like a glove. They delivered a match that everyone thought they could and then some.” -Tyler Forness

“I’m sure many people can put to words the excellence of this match better than I ever could. So I will state my thoughts simply. Only two other Dome matches have made me feel the same way watching live: Okada vs Omega from 2017 and Okada vs Naito in 2020. Pure magic of motion.” -Semi Salmikannas

“At the time I thought this was going to be impossible to beat for MOTY. It was pipped out…though only by their own rematch…” -Jarrett Seidler

“Kenny’s first match back under NJPW combined with the beginning of Ospreays insane 2023 stretch made this special. It’s a lot more physical than I thought it would get. Will taking the rope rope DDT onto the exposed turnbuckle was awesome.” -Brett Miles

“A stunning match to watch live that started off 2023 with a bang and was for the majority of the year my number 1 match of the year. Two of the all time greats having a long expected grudge match with the added drama of “Does Kenny still have it?” Yes. Yes he does. Kenny and Will go at each other at a ridiculous and Brutal pace and deliver a match that 90% of other years is my MOTY.” -Arturo Galletti

“The Greatest Match of All-Time. For five and a half months.” -Jeremy Sexton

Voices of Wrestling 2023 Match of the Year
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