2021 Match of the Year
Beyond the Top 10: Separating the VOW MOTY Poll Into Tiers of Greatness
S. Dakota Jones brings his unique perspective to the VOW 2021 Match of the Year poll breaking down the list in cleverly-named tiers.
Analyzing the Results of Voices of Wrestling’s 2021 Match of the Year Poll
Analyzing the results of VOW’s 2021 Match of the Year poll looking at dominant matches, individual debuts, top individuals & more!
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #1 (The Lucha Brothers vs. The Young Bucks)
An emotional and physical rollercoaster of a cage match, The Lucha Brothers vs. The Young Bucks top our 2021 Match of the Year list.Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #2 (Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega)
Kenny Omega welcomes “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson back to professional wrestling with an all-time classic TV wrestling match.Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #3 (Adam Page vs. Bryan Danielson)
A 60-minute masterclass in professional wrestling between “Hangman” Adam Page and Bryan Danielson.Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #4 (Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi)
Two all-time greats in Will Ospreay and Shingo Takagi put together the best NJPW match of 2021.Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #5 (Utami Hayashishita vs. Syuri)
The highest-ranked Joshi match in the history of our poll is a well-deserved nod to incredible performances from Utami Hayashishita and Syuri.Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #6 (WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov)
Two lifelong rivals—WALTER and Ilja Dragunov—hold nothing back in this brutal classic.Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #7 (Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White)
One of the most emotionally charged matches of the year sees bitter rivals Kota Ibushi and Jay White face off in the Tokyo Dome.Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #8 (Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay)
Four days into the year, Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay battle it out in one of 2021’s best matches.Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #9 (Thunder Rosa vs. Dr. Britt Baker)
A bloody, brutal and now iconic lights-out match between Thunder Rosa and Dr. Britt Baker.Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #10 (Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shingo Takagi)
#10 in VOW 2021 Match of the Year: Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shingo Takagi battle in a classic NEVER Openweight Title match.Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #25-11
The top 25 countdown in Voices of Wrestling’s 2021 Match of the Year begins!Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #50-26
Some of the year’s standout matches just miss the cut of the top 25 in Voices of Wrestling’s 2021 Match of the Year!Â
VOW 2021 Match of the Year: #75-51
Deathmatches, cage matches, tournament finals and so much more highlight matches 75 through 51 in Voices of Wrestling’s 2021 Match of the Year!Â
2020 Match of the Year
VOW Match of the Year 2020: Wrestler Breakdown
A breakdown of the wrestler data coming out of the VOW 2020 Match of the Year poll. Who was the Wrestler of the Year in 2020?
VOW 2020 Match of the Year: Promotion Breakdown
A look at our 2020 Match of the Year poll and how the results shook out for various promotions around the world.
VOW 2020 Match of the Year: Graps in the Time of COVID
A look at how our 2020 Match of the Year voting shook out a bit different than normal, largely due to COVID-19 and its effects on wrestling.
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (Matches #10-1)
Here are the matches that finished in the Top 10 of Voices of Wrestling’s 2020 Match of the Year countdown.Â
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (#1: Hangman Page & Kenny Omega vs. The Young Bucks)
The AEW Revolution tag match of The Young Bucks vs Hangman Page & Kenny Omega tops the VOW 2020 Match of the Year list.Â
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (2: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito)
After years of disappointment and heartbreak, Tetsuya Naito finally reaches the top of the NJPW mountain.Â
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (3: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi)
Okada and Ibushi duel in Night 1 of NJPW’s two-night Wrestle Kingdom spectacular.Â
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (4: WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov)
One of the most brutal, hard-hitting matches in pro wrestling history.Â
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (5: Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi)
Hiromu Takahashi completes his miraculous comeback by tearing the house down with Will Ospreay.Â
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (6: Go Shiozaki vs. Takashi Sugiura)
The highest-ranking Pro Wrestling NOAH match in the nine-year history of our MOTY is 2020’s most brutal encounter.Â
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (7: Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado)
The emotional Best of the Super Juniors Final years in the making.Â
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (8: Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Go Shiozaki)
Wrestler of the Year candidate Go Shiozaki and former partner Katsuhiko Nakajima go to war in Pro Wrestling NOAH’s first Top 10 match ever.
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (9: RED vs. Toryumon Generation)
After nine years, Dragongate finally makes it into the Top 10 with this historical multi-man tag.Â
VOW 2020 Match of the Year (10: Kenny Omega vs. PAC)
Just days before AEW Revolution, Kenny Omega and PAC battle in a televised 30-minute Iron Man Match.
VOW 2020 Match of the Year: Top 10 Reveal
The exclusive reveal of VOW’s 2020 Match of the Year Top 10 is live on our $5 tier! Joe & Rich break down the MOTY poll, fun stats/facts, reveal their top 10 matches of the year then reveal for the first time ever the matches that finished in the top 10! Listen:...
2019 Match of the Year
Comparing 2019 Match of the Year Top 10 Lists
Comparing six prominent 2019 Match of the Year Top 10 lists to spot trends and see what matches stood out above the pack.
The State of U.S. Wrestling: A Breakdown of the 2019 VOW MOTY Poll
U.S. Wrestling is dominated by two major companies but there are plenty of other promotions who made a name for themselves this year.
The State of Women’s Wrestling in 2019: A VOW MOTY Poll Breakdown
An analysis and breakdown of how women’s wrestling matches fared in the 2019 VOW MOTY Poll.
VOW 2019 Match of the Year (Match Stats Breakdown)
A look at some statistics from the Match of the Year poll and how our voters compare to the man himself, Dave Meltzer, and the GRAPPL users.
Creating Separation: A Tiered Breakdown of the 2019 VOW MOTY Poll
Why stick with the arbitrary round Top 10 list when we can separate VOW’s 2019 Match of the Year countdown into tiers?
VOW 2019 Match of the Year (Wrestler and Promotion Breakdown)
A look at some wrestler and promotion stats and graphs from the Voices of Wrestling 2019 Match of the Year poll. Who came out on top this year?
VOW 2019 Match of the Year (10-1)
The ten best pro wrestling matches of 2019.Â
VOW 2019 Match of the Year: Top 10 Reveal (Patreon Exclusive Audio)
An exclusive first look/listen at the Top 10 for VOW’s 2019 Match of the Year countdown.Â
VOW 2019 Match of the Year (25-11)
VOW’s 2019 Match of the Year countdown enters its final stages with the first batch of top 25 matches as voted by our panel of experts.
VOW 2019 Match of the Year (50-26)
The 2019 Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year countdown continues with the first batch of our Top 50 matches.
VOW 2019 Match of the Year (75-51)
The 2019 MOTY continues with matches 75 through 51 featuring deathmatches, Joshi, mainstream American wrestling and everything in-between!
VOW 2019 Match of the Year (100-76)
The 2019 Match of the Year countdown begins with matches ranked #100-76 including our infamous one vote, one first-place vote matches!
VOW 2019 Match of the Year (Introduction & Sadness Village)
Welcome to the eighth annual Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year Poll.
2018 Match of the Year
Voices of Wrestling 2018 Match of the Year: Stats Breakdown
A detailed look at the statistics, fun facts and more from this year’s Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year countdown.
VOW 2018 Match of the Year: Breaking Down the Wrestlers
Let’s pick through Voices of Wrestling’s 2018 Match of the Year wrestler data and see what interesting tidbits we can find.
VOW 2018 Match of the Year: #10-1
It’s finally here. The Top 10 in Voices of Wrestling’s 2018 Match of the Year countdown.
VOW 2018 Match of the Year: #25-11
We have finally reached the top 25 in this year’s Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year countdown — see what matches just barely missed our Top 10.Â
VOW 2018 Match of the Year: #50-26
The top 50 begins as we draw closer to the final few matches in the Voices of Wrestling 2018 Match of the Year countdown.Â
VOW 2018 Match of the Year: #75-51
Our 2018 Match of the Year countdown rolls on as we quickly approach our Top 50.
VOW 2018 Match of the Year: #100-76
The next batch of our 2018 Match of the Year countdown sees the first appearance of first-place matches and more great wrestling from across the world.
VOW 2018 Match of the Year: #150-101
The first true installment of our 2018 Match of the Year countdown looks at matches that just missed the Top 100.
VOW 2018 Match of the Year Introduction & Honorable Mentions
Welcome to the seventh annual Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year Poll.
THE EXTENSIVE GUIDE TO EUROPEAN MATCH OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS 2018 (Part 3)
Part three of the series taking you through the European Match of the Year Contenders which took place in Continental Europe and Ireland.
2017 Match of the Year
2017 Match of the Year: WWE vs. Voices of Wrestling
Jeff Martin compares Voices of Wrestling’s Match of the Year list with WWE.com’s top WWE matches of the year to see how different the voters reacted to WWE in 2017.
2017 Match of the Year: Statistical Analysis
Analysis of Voices of Wrestling’s 2017 Match of the Year countdown including what promotion with the most matches represented, which wrestler appeared in the most matches, which wrestler had the most overall points, highest average as well as analysis on which month reigned supreme and much more.Â
2017 Match of the Year: #10-1
The wait is over and it is time to reveal the matches that finished in the Voices of Wrestling 2017 Match of the Year Top 10 and of course, name the 2017 Match of the Year.
2017 Match of the Year: #25-11
And then there were 10. We reveal the matches that finished #25-11 including some surprising matches from the world of BJW, a SummerSlam main event and two Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii matches.
2017 Match of the Year: #50-26
The 2017 Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year countdown continues with our look at matches #50-26 as we draw closer to the final 10 and the 2017 Match of the Year.Â
2017 Match of the Year: #75-51
The 2017 Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year countdown continues with our look at matches #75-51 including the first batch of matches to receive first place votes.Â
2017 Match of the Year: #100-76
Voices of Wrestling’s Match of the Year rolls on with matches #100-76!
2017 Match of the Year: #150-101
The 2017 Match of the Year list rolls on with a look at the matches that finished #150 through #101.
2017 Match of the Year: Introductions & Honorable Mentions
Welcome to the sixth annual Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year Poll! Today we’ll introduce the project, meet our esteemed panel and find out what matches ended up in Sadness Village.
Best of Europe: the Extensive Guide to European Match of the Year Contenders
With the deadlines for numerous award ballots rapidly approaching Robin takes you through on a guide of all of 2017’s European Match of the Year Contenders.
2016 Match of the Year
2016 Match of the Year: #10-1
It’s all come down to this. The final 10 of our 2016 Match of the Year countdown.
2016 Match of the Year: #26-11
The Top 100 countdown continues with matches 26 through 11 including a brutal Wrestle Kingdom bout, two heated Joshi battles, the CWC final and more!
2016 Match of the Year: #50-26
We continue our Top 100 countdown with a look at the matches #50-26 including TNA’s Final Deletion, Dragon Gate’s Losing Unit Disbands match & more!
2016 Match of the Year: #75-51
Voices of Wrestling’s 2016 Match of the Year countdown continues with look at the matches that ranked #75-51.
2016 Match of the Year: #100-76
Voices of Wrestling’s 2016 Match of the Year countdown begins proper with a look at the tail end of the Top 100 – matches that ranked #100-76.
2016 Match of the Year: Intro & Honorable Mentions
Welcome to the fifth annual Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year Poll! Learn about the poll’s origins, this year’s voter base and our honorable mentions.
2015 Match of the Year
2015 Match of the Year In Numbers
A statistical breakdown of our 2015 Match of the Year poll — a look at what promotions, regions and individual wrestlers dominated the field.
2015 Match of the Year: #10-1
It’s finally here, the Top 10 Matches of 2015 as voted by our esteemed panel.
2015 Match of the Year: #24-11
Voices of Wrestling’s 2015 Match of the Year countdown continues with a look at matches #24-11.
2015 Match of the Year: #49-25
Voices of Wrestling’s 2015 Match of the Year continues with a look at matches #49-25.
2015 Match of the Year: Matches #100-50
Voices of Wrestling’s 2015 Match of the Year countdown continues with a look at matches #100-50.
2015 Match of the Year: Voting & Honorable Mentions
Welcome to the fourth annual Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year Poll.
2014 Match of the Year
2014 Match of the Year: #10-1
2014 was a great year for professional wrestling — these are the best of the best.
2014 Match of Year: #25-11
Major show main events, more G1 and a lot of CMLL — it’s #25-11 in the Voices of Wrestling 2014 Match of the Year countdown.
2014 Match of the Year: #50-26
We’re finally into the top 50 as we reveal matches #50-26 in the Voices of Wrestling 2014 Match of the Year countdown.
2014 Match of the Year: #121-51 (Part Two)
The list goes on as we present the 2nd part of matches #121-52
2014 Match of the Year: #121-51 (Part One)
We’re past honorable mentions out of the way and now it’s time to begin our countdown proper with the top 120
2014 Match of the Year: Voting & Honorable Mentions
Welcome to the third annual Voices of Wrestling Match of the Year Poll.
2013 Match of the Year
2013 Match of the Year – #15-1
The moment you have all been waiting for, the final 15 in the Voices of Wrestling 2013 Match of the Year countdown!
2013 Match of the Year – #25-16
The countdown continues with a look at matches 25 through 16 on the Voices of Wrestling 2013 Match of the Year poll.
2013 Match of the Year – #50-26
The Voices of Wrestling 2013 Match of the Year countdown officially begins with a look at matches 50-26 in the voting.
2013 Match of the Year: Voting & Honorable Mentions
We kick off the Voices of Wrestling 2013 Match of the Year project with a look at honorable mentions, the history of the project and our voters.
