2019 Pro Wrestling MOTY
- Shoko Nakajima vs Yuka Sakazaki 11/3- DDT
While this was on a DDT card, this was the biggest TJPW match in history and represented the culmination of the past 5 or so years of hard work from all involved. Sometimes derided as simply an ‘idol promotion’, TJPW’s cult following is more than simply aesthetics but an evolving house-style that combines mat grappling and impact moves with a fidelity towards match psychology and the idea that moves mean something. TJPW’s booking can often be predictable but going into this match it was impossible to predict a winner. As the pre match video showed, Yuka and Shoko have a long history as both partners and rivals and as two of the pillars of the promotion they were given the trust and the honour to represent TJPW at DDT’s show of the year, Ultimate Party. They more than lived up to expectations. This was smooth flowing and had the DDT audience on the edge of their seats by the climax. A treat.
2.Sami Callihan vs Tessa Blanchard, 7/7 — IMPACT
2019 has seen more intergender matches than perhaps ever before and there’s quite a few on my list, though this wasn’t a conscious choice, but perhaps because in my mind at least, they are novel without being a novelty.
Since this match, these two have gone on to have many more, and each time have had an amazing in-ring chemistry. Callihan is perhaps the best true heel in US wrestling right now and appears willing to sacrifice likeability for his desire to re-centre wrestling as the morality play that Bourdieu described. Blanchard, too, sells and emotes as if her life depended on the outcome of each punch. Impact’s Slammiversary was an incredibly strong card and although this wasn’t for a title, the decision was made to give it top billing. It’s a testament to both workers that they more than earned that spot.
3.Konosuke Takeshita vs Tetsuya Endo 15/7, DDT
Although this had it’s fair share of theatrics, this was mostly an incredible show of athleticism by two of the best and most underrated in the world. If you’re sick of the formulaic “big match” where the first 10 minutes is a somewhat meaningless plod through the motions, then this match is will be a refreshing change. The pacing was incredible, the movez were great. And it’s no wonder DDT fans were raving about this all year.
4. Mizuki vs Yuna Manase 7/7 TJPW
This was the perfect final to this years TJPW Princess Cup. Mizuki has been the strongest in ring performer for the promotion and is becoming the “one everyone has their best match with”. Yuna Manase has been on something of a journey too, searching for her place within wrestling that culminated in an affirming match against the ‘Poccharminator’ at August’s Ganbare show. This match was a lot more grounded in reality, but nevertheless was a great back and forth. Yuna took the role of senior but also had her chance to show fire. Mizuki impressed with a varied arsenal and spirit. It ended with some brilliant wrestlekino, as Mizuki perched on the top rope, her shadow was projected onto the back of the hall before she delivered the winning diving footstomp.
5. Meiko Satomura, DASH Chisako, and Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata, and Yuki Iino 6/24 DDT.
Some of my taste may be quite eclectic, but this was a match and a show that deserved more attention. Sendai Girls had won DDTs KoD 6-man belts earlier in the year and the stage was set for a supercard that featured Hashimoto vs Iino, DASH vs Shunma and Satomura vs Takeshita in three outstanding matches in their own right (there was also a hilarious comedy match between Sakura Hirota and Akito). That alone would have justified the card, but then they had a main event tag match that was worked at full pace. Brilliant stuff.
6. Konosuke Takeshita vs Yumehito Imanari 20/8 Ganbare Wrestling
The actual wrestling is this match was ok, but perhaps not worthy of inclusion in a MOTY list. However it was the story of the match that somehow elevated this to high art. Please bear with me. The angle leading into this was that Imanari was obsessed with Takeshita’s mother, Keiko, and in short he wanted a relationship with her. So yes, it was basically seemed like your average “I want to bang your mom” angle so beloved of American Pie and Ace Austin. During the match Keiko was at ringside and scolded Takeshita for being too violent with Imanari. As Takeshita was about to execute a german suplex, we began to hear Imanari’s inner monologue and a video played on the screen of him as a child and images of his own mother. We learned that Imanari’s mother passed away when he was 20 years old and never got the chance to see him as a wrestler. His obsession with Keiko is because he wanted to know what it was like to have a mother watch him from ringside. The match restarts and Imanari, with tears in his eyes valiantly tries to win but Takeshita ends up pinning him. Emotions run high in the post match as Takeshita, no longer angry but understanding, says that whenever Imanari feels lonely, he can call Keiko to talk anytime. It sounds a bit kooky, but it really did work on a higher level.
7. Riho, Sayaka Obihiro and Mitsura Konno Vs Yuna Mizumori, Mei Suraga and Emi Sakura. 6/24 Gatoh Move.
link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOoGrQQZHao
A wrestling promotion whose homeground is a room so tiny it doesn’t even have a ring, first-time viewers of Gatoh Move are often brought out of their comfort zone and it often takes some adjustment that this is not the “bottom” of the wrestling hierarchy, but among one of the best pure wrestling promotions in the world. Helmed by Emi Sakura who is building a reputation as one of the best trainers, Gatoh Move’s house style is twisting and frenetic with a unparalleled workrate and a big helping of comic timing. This match was the perfect showcase of that style with the six wrestlers quite literally bouncing off the walls in what can only be described as choreographed mayhem.
8. Akito vs ASUKA Fluorescent Lighttube Death, 7/15 DDT
When you think about light tubes in relation to wrestling, you might imagine one of those crusty indie hardcore matches with guys smashing the tubes against each other to ever dwindling pops and growing clouds of toxic dust. This was something entirely different and wouldn’t have been out of place at the Edinburgh fringe. the stipulation was the winner was the one who didn’t break the tube. The stipulation thus gave the match a sense of continuous sense of tension that worked both in and out of kayfabe. Artisanal wrestling.
9.Antonio Honda vs Anchamu 6/24. Gatoh Move
link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x0xPriwE98
This will definitely not be to everyone’s tastes, but I can’t help but add it to my list because it’s brilliant physical comedy and the stipulation (UFO Death Match) is ridiculous and comes with it’s own alien (Gatoh Move alumni Aoi Kizuki) bringing the weapons dressed as Winnie the Pooh while doing a dance based on a 70s Japanese pop song.
10. Brian Cage vs Michael Elgin, 7/7 Impact
GYSI: the match.
