The wrestling I am pro

[Craig]

1. Ou Kobushi vs. Fujita "Jr" Hayato, (M-Pro, September 5th)
2. Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli vs Jigsaw/Mike Quackenbush (CHIKARA, September 13th)
3. Christian vs. Jack Swagger (ECW on Sci-Fi, February 24th)
4. Yuko Miyamoto & Takeshi Sasaki vs Isami Kodaka & Mashashi Takeda, (Big Japan, March 26th)
5. Fujita "Jr" Hayato vs. The Great Sasuke (June 19th, M-Pro)
6. Christian vs. William Regal (ECW on Sci-Fi, August 25th)
7. Christian vs. William Regal (Breaking Point, September 13th)
8. Alexander Otsuka vs. Yujiro Yamamoto (BattlArts, February 15th)
9. Black Terry/Cerebro Negro/Dr Cerebro vs. Negro Navarro/Trauma I/Trauma II (IWRG, April 23rd)
10. Bryan Danielson/Claudio Castegnoli/Dave Taylor vs. Johnny Saint/Mike Quackenbush/Skyade (CHIKARA, March 28th)
11. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue vs. KENTA/Jun Akiyama (NOAH, October 3rd)
12. Black Terry/Cerebro Negro/Dr Cerebro vs. Hijo del Pirata Morgan/Pirata Morgan Jr/Barba Roja (IWRG, August 10th)
13. Zatura vs. Trauma II (IWRG, June 18th)
14. KENTA vs. Jun Akiyama (NOAH, May 17th)
15. Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio (The Bash, May 17th)
16. Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio (Smackdown, July 10th)
17. Solar vs. Negro Navarro (AULL, May 16th)
18. Batista/Rey Mysterio vs. Big Show/Jericho (Hell in a Cell, October 4th)
19. Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker (Wrestlemania, April 5th)
20. Black Terry/Cerebro Negro/Dr Cerebro vs. Negro Navarro/Trauma I/Trauma II (IWRG, April 16th)
21. Kea/Suzuki vs. Suwama/Kondo, (All Japan, March 14th)
22. Katsumi Usuda vs. Yuta Yoshikawa (BattlArts, February 15th)
23. Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio (Extreme Rules, June 7th)
24. Yuko Miyamoto & Takeshi Sasaki vs. Ryuji Ito & Shuji Ishikawa, (Big Japan, January 2nd)
25. Hirooki Goto vs. Giant Bernard (New Japan, March 22nd)
26. Christian vs. Zack Ryder (ECW of Sci-Fi, July 28th)
27. Christian vs. Jack Swagger (Backlash, April 26th)
28. Ryuji Walter vs. Yuki Ishikawa (Battlarts, July 5th)
29. Goldust vs. Sheamus (Superstars, August 13th)
30. Munenori Sawa & Fujita "Jr." Hayato vs. Tiger Shark & Akifumi Saito, (Battlarts, April 12th)
31. Christian vs. Paul Burchill (ECW on Sci-Fi, May 19th)
32. Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Keiji Mutoh (All Japan, April 5th)
33. Fit Finlay vs. Jack Swagger (ECW on Sci-Fi, January 6th)
34. Fit Finlay vs. Jack Swagger (ECW on Sci-Fi, February 3rd)
35. Christian vs. William Regal (Superstars, July 23rd)
36. Raw Elimination Chamber (No Way Out, February 15th)
37. Masashi Takeda & Isami Kodaka vs. Katsumasa Inoue & Kankuro Hoshino, (Big Japan, March 12th)
38. Christian vs. Jack Swagger (Judgement Day, May 17th)
39. John Cena vs. Big Show (Smackdown, February 27th)
40. Yuko Miyamoto & Takeshi Sasaki vs Isami Kodaka & Mashashi Takeda, (Big Japan, January 4th)
41. Black Terry/Cerebro Negro/Dr Cerebro vs. Negro Navarro/Trauma I/Trauma II (March 28th)
42. Matt Hardy vs. Jack Swagger (ECW on Sci-Fi, January 13th)
43. Togo/Yoshitsune/Rasse vs. Kei Sato/Shu Sato/Ooma (M-Pro, March 1st)
44. John Morrison vs. Evan Bourne (ECW on Sci-Fi, April 14th)

Doing an on-going match of the year list appealed to my more obsessive-compulsive side. The list is above (see above). The thoughts are below.

[Craig]

Turns out, all I've watched from 2009 so far is WWE. I've a folder of lucha building up, and a bunch of puro shows, but until I'm finished with 2008, both of those will just have to wait. WWE, I'm up to date with. Here we go:

1. Christian vs. Jack Swagger (ECW on Sci-Fi, Febraury 24th)

Yeah, much better than their first go. This is the sort of match that suits Christian. He'll take a beating, and bump for a bigger guy - the flat back bump of the apron looked hurty. The armwork, selling, and relevance of both to the finish is good. The pacing, hot finish, and back and forth action is good. But the thing for me here was that this is the first good Swagger singles match that didn't feel at all like a carry job. He uses his obvious power advantage a lot more here, and he looks impressive doing it. The final powerbomb had a kind of wild upswing, and actually looked like the high impact finisher it's being sold as. He's versatile as well, allowing his moveset to fit the beatdown in the middle. He's done leg work, upper body work and arm work, and each time he remains focused on the body part and finds new stuff to use - the Oklahama Stampede shoulder breaker, and the northern lights spring to mind this time.

Placed over the Raw elimination chamber because, while that had Rey's great performance, and a bunch of other stuff that shouldn't be overlooked, I just don't like the gimmick. I'm always going to watch the excellent TV wrestling match over it every time.

2. Raw Elimination Chamber (No Way Out, February 15th)

The main event was the best match on the card. Plenty of people have pointed out how great Rey is here, and they aren't wrong. He works for six men, bumping, leaping, constantly moving or doing something. It didn't feel like the same Rey who has been coasting along these past two years. He makes Kane and Knox look interesting. Jericho is fine here - I enjoyed him spending a lot of time out the outskirts while Rey does all the work, then sneaking in and hitting about a hundred Codebreakers during the whole match.

Oh, and Edge was in this thing. Cena's elimination was actually shocking, because I'm an idiot and can't work out then when Edge turns up somewhere he's not expected, it's normally because he's going to sneak a title victory. Whatever you say about Cena beating everyone prior to his 2007 injury, he has put over everyone since coming back. The final stretch was exciting, as Rey sold all of Edge's pretty weak offense, and almost everyone believes (or wants to believe) that Rey might win. The final pod bump looked amazing, as did the spear. Despite my reservations about the chamber I liked this, certainly much more than the first one. It's mainly Rey's effort, but it also felt better booked. The final two finisher stretch was better because it's a crowd favourite vs a hated heel. The high spots are better. Even the slower middle part was more interesting, with Rey working working with two guys who has recently feuded with, and making their short exchanges mean something.

3. Fit Finlay vs. Jack Swagger (ECW on Sci-Fi, January 6th)
4. Fit Finlay vs. Jack Swagger (ECW on Sci-Fi, February 3rd)

These Jack Swagger matches usually open with some nice matwork, but this was all Finlay schooling his younger opponent. I liked Finlay controlling the match to frustrate his less experienced opponent into making mistakes, and I really liked the desperate hurling of Finlay into the second buckle to finally turn the tide. Finlay did a great job selling his rib injuries, and Swagger is certainly someone who is comfortable controlling the middle of the match with some meaningful body part work. The finish kept Swagger looking strong, while allowing for some crowd pleasing revenge from Hornswaggle, and it all means we get a PPV match, which works for me.

I couldn't decide which one of these to put first - there were elements of each that I liked. I went with the January match, which could likely have been for the cleaner finish as much as anything.

5. Matt Hardy vs. Jack Swagger (ECW on Sci-Fi, January 13th)

A lesser carry job that the Finlay matches, but only in small ways. Hardy isn't Finlay on the mat, for example. Hardy is in his preferred role working from below, and does a grand job selling the arm work. I would have put the Royal Rumble rematch on this list as well just below, but the list is getting embarrasingly Swaggercentric, and I can't imagine it would still be on the list by December, so four Swagger matches will do for now.

[Craig]

Missed this one:

3. John Cena vs. Big Show (Smackdown, February 27th)

I hear the Sting vs. Vader comparisons, but they're unfair, because Cena wrestles the sort of match he made his own during 2007. His selling and bumping here are superb - the missed bulldog bump was particularly nice. He's the only guy in the WWE who can be that sympathetic against a bigger opponent, yet entirely credible on his comebacks, and he makes use of that. Plus, you have the fact that Big Show is not Khali, doesn't need carrying, and understands about being charismatic and engaging throughout the slower heat sections. The knockout punch is avoided repeatedly throughout, thus making it seem conclusive when it is hit, leading to a satisfying conclusion. Good stuff all round.

[Craig]

Added:

4. Togo/Yoshitsune/Rasse vs. Kei Sato/Shu Sato/Ooma, March 1st, M-Pro.

The most noteworthy thing here is Dick's performance, which is terrific. From the first fast exchange across the ropes, his wild swinging lurches during the heat section, through to the diving opportunistic somersault off the apron and his impassioned comeback, he brought a tremendous energy to the whole match and rallies the crowd behind the face team. They may pop for Yoshitsune's acrobatics, but it's Togo that makes you want to see them win.

After a first watch, I wasn't sure whether the match was just Togo, or whether there was more to it. Second time around, I felt surer. The heels are absolutely fine here - they do their shctick, take shortcuts, use weapons, taunt the crowd, boot Togo in the face, and triple team little Rasse. I like how Yoshitsune was kept out of the match for the most part, as the heels went for either the bleeding Togo or the smaller Rasse - a story paid off at the end by Yoshitsune's winning series of big moves. Yoshitsune's limited involvement is also a big plus for a match uilt around heel beatdown, because he's not the guy to do that. Increasingly, I find I prefer 15 minutes stuff like this, with a coherent story and a sense of purpose, to a 35 minute back-and-forth juniors epic.

[Craig]

Added:

2. Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker, Wrestlemania, April 5th

The best version, thus far, of this epic clash of icons WWE style of match. First ten minutes are OK, both guys going through their low end spots, Michaels does his submission stuff that I never really care about. Taker's not going to take a submission loss within the first ten minutes, if at all, and certainly not without any build, so it lack credibility.

The two dives are where this all kicks off, and I change where my opinion was going. Michaels tribute to Terry Funk missed moonsault was immediately superceded by the landing on Taker's missed tope. But the reason this match gets this high is because everything from that point is sold perfectly and paced really well. This starts with the amount of time Taker is given to recover from that dive, with Michaels doing an excellent job building up the drama of the countout. Only blip is the DDT, which looked weak. Taker reaction to the kickout of the tombstone is great. Nice finish too.

Under Swagger vs. Christian because that was excellent from start to finish, and did much more with much less available to work with.

[Craig]

Added:

4. Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Keiji Mutoh, All Japan, April 5th

Ostensibly, this is a template Mutoh match, with the endless repetition of his only remaining effective weapons. This time, its delivers a surprisingly great, coherent wrestling match, as Mutoh is relentless in attacking Takayama's leg with dropkicks and figure fours, completely cutting his offence out of the match. Takayama has bursts of fighting back, but Mutoh keeps on going with until Takayama gives up. Great performance here from Takayama, selling every blow to the leg like he's been shot in the thigh and made the final figure four look like agony. A good example of taking something formulaic and making it really work.

[Craig]

Added:

3. Hirooki Goto vs. Giant Bernard, New Japan, March 22nd

Leg work makes an effective background to the big man-little man story. Really good performance from Goto, probably the best I've seen him - he found a good balance between consistent selling and maintaining an exciting pace - and Bernard works well in this role. I like it when matches with an obvious size difference look credible, and for the most part this did (the powerbomb counter on the outside is an obvious counter-example, but not a major one). Slick finish - Goto countering another powerbomb with a headscissors, but second time around turning it into the arm submission. Smart match, good story, lots of effort, absolutely no complaints.

I moved the Elimination Chamber down the list. I tried to be objective about this, and there's clearly good stuff and one excellent performance here. But I really dislike the gimmick, and I can't imagine a time I would ever choose to rewatch it.

[Craig]

Added:

4. Christian vs. Jack Swagger (Backlash, April 26th)
Not quite as good as the TV match, but not far off, which is a pleasant surprise as the PPV version of great TV matches often disappoints (especially when they have less time, and open a show). The story here is Swagger's dominance - Christian barely gets a run of two moves before he's back on the mat. Swagger's developing a huge range of different ways to control the middle of the match - here, he focuses on the torso, and has a load of interesting ways to do this - the bearhug pin looked good, as did the stomp after blocking Christian's corner kick. I don't think I know anyone who has as successfully combined amateur stuff, both on the mat and throws, into the WWE style as he has. Christian demonstrates again that he is a great seller, which is needed in what is essentially a very one-sided match. Actually, its nearly a squash with an upset victory, but they make it work.

The finish is a bit cheap, though it makes sense given the story and Swagger's dominance. Less time and less drama at the end move this below the TV match, but this is still great stuff.

(I rewatched this, to place it, realised it was better than I originally thought, and now I need to edit my blog review. Will do that later)


8. John Morrison vs. Evan Bourne (ECW on Sci-Fi, April 14th)

Another good Bourne TV match, in the same mould as the Chavo one last year. Morrison has some nice offence during the heat section, the running knee with Bourne on the apron in particular, but also his surprise uppercuts. Bourne is one of those guys that is so much better for being in the WWE - the limitations on craziness makes each exciting spot seem more meaningful, and he's a good seller to boot. Clean Morrison victory is pleasing.

[Craig]

Added:

3. Black Terry/Cerebro Negro/Dr Cerebro vs. Negro Navarro/Trauma I/Trauma II (IWRG, April 23rd)
4. Black Terry/Cerebro Negro/Dr Cerebro vs. Negro Navarro/Trauma I/Trauma II (IWRG, April 16th)
8. Black Terry/Cerebro Negro/Dr Cerebro vs. Negro Navarro/Trauma I/Trauma II (March 28th)

Detailed reviews on the blog soon. Needless to say, Black Terry fandom is in full swing. The first match has a great opening fall of matwork, but the rest of the match is just glimpses of something more awesome, especially the brief Terry/Navarro brawl segments.

The second one has twice as many matwork falls, and it's all good stuff. Massive fan of the little bits of selling Terry does in these sections. Enjoyed the incredimental rudoisation of Terry's trio, which leads nicely onto the rematch the following week, which featured the best elements of all the preceding matches - matwork to start, breaking down into a brawl and more triple team work than in earlier matches. Terry's selling of the superkick was exceptional, especially his noticeable reluctance to re-enter the match when demanded by an unimpressed Navarro. Their exchanges in the third fall, both the mat stuff and the strikes were great. Dives cleared the floor for Navarro to get revenge for the previous week. Top drawer.

[Craig]

Added:

2. Alexander Otsuka vs. Yujiro Yamamoto (BattlArts, February 15th)
8. Katsumi Usuda vs. Yuta Yoshikawa (BattlArts, February 15th)

February 15th show reviewed on Spin Fly Kick.

[Craig]

Added (temporarily forgotten, copied from Purotopia votes):

6. Kea/Suzuki vs. Suwama/Kondo, March 14th, All Japan - YES

Really fun tag match. GURENTAI are pretty slick. The spot where they fake out a hidden tag, and Suwama spins around expecting Kea to be running in, only for Suzuki to sneak in a rear naked choke is really clever. Have they done that before? Kea and Suzuki play the smarter team to Kondo and Suwama's more explosive and impulsive team. Both men's bursts of power offence works well in small measures. The finish is fine, with Kondo taking headdrops until he doesn't kick out again. Maybe one move to many, but that's nitpicking. No obvious flaws, and lots to enjoy. Well played, All Japan. Well played.

[Craig]

Added, a couple of Christian matches:

10. Christian vs. Paul Burchill (ECW on Sci-Fi, May 19th)
13. Christian vs. Jack Swagger (Judgement Day, May 17th)

The Burchill match is a great TV match, and Christian is shaping up to be the top WWE guy on my WKO100 ballot. I would be surprised to find that there was a better seller in the US at the moment, or a smarter one. The picks from this were the couple of turnbuckle moves he did off one leg - allowing him to hit trademark moves without compromising the overall performance and story. Burchill looks good here, he just needs to find a role in the show. He's a bigger, athletic nominal heel who is more than competent technically, on a show with Jack Swagger.

The fourth Christian-Swagger match of their series (and third good one) I found myself not liking as much as the last PPV one, which given the constraints placed on ECW spots on PPVs compared to the TV show, is the only reasonable comparison. Slightly different style here - when Christian was chasing, it was a dominant Swagger leading a more mat based match and Christian selling and coming back. Now Swagger is chasing, it's more about Swagger's frustration as he gets continually frustrated by a smarter opponent in that chase. There's a bunch of spots all about that, including a pretty unique finish, and a lot more flying stuff. I'm in a position here where I like the evolution of the story, but don't think the resulting match is as great. I may even be overrating it here - blame that on personal bias towards both guys currently.

[Craig]

Added:

5. Solar vs. Negro Navarro (AULL, 16th May)

Put a full review on Spin Fly Kick. Great mat work and exchanges. Thought it suffered from not having much of a story, and while I get what happened at the finish, it feels a little flat. Still, could watch both guys grapple all day.

[Craig]

Added:

2. Yuko Miyamoto & Takeshi Sasaki vs Isami Kodaka & Mashashi Takeda, (Big Japan, March 26th)

I loved the distinct roles taken on by each of the four guys here. Sasaki is dominant, and really mean throughout, drawing actual heel heat by the end, such is the magnitude of the beating Isami and Takeda. Isami is borderline clinically insane - each of the two big bumps alone were crazy, but both together in a twenty minute match is another level entirely. He's the most sympathetic of the two and the best seller. He survives through a lot, and works in well placed hope spots to cement the crowds backing. Takeda, in contrast, is much more of a fighter - he is on the wrong end of lengthy heat section, but unlike his partner, is able to fight back. The spear into the lighttubes, for example, was a really nice lead in to the (short-lived) hot tag.

Miyamoto is the most interesting. He's a guy who has come up the BJW ranks as the underdog, but as champion, against these rookies, he is increasingly playing a more dominant role. What he brings to this match is an essential balancing act - great looking offence (his speed is notable, as are his lariats) but also enough vulnerability to allow the opposing team a credible path to victory - Sasaki looks too dominant throughout to achieve this. I don't think there is a junior heavyweight in Japan (outside of Battlarts) who is better than Yuko.

The key spots were used well. Aside from the big Isami bumps and Takeda's bumps (I jumped when he was thrown through the middle ropes, shattering four or five lighttubes), the biggest were used by the underdogs to turn the tide, and the match built really well to them. Firstly, the double suplex to Sasaki through the lighttube board was the logical way to stop Sasaki. Secondly, the samoan drop off the ladder onto Sasaki and the barbed wire board, which eliminated Sasaki and set up a weakened Miyamoto for the loss, came after a nice sequence of Takeda fighting back up the ladder, Sasaki ending the hope spot (drawing boos) and then Isami battling back in to finally set up the big spot.

9. Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio (Extreme Rules, June 7th)

Jericho starts his match giving a sermon through the crowd. ("Two weeks ago, I decided to become one of you...don't touch me") This was really good. This managed to be hard hitting, without going for silly elaborate weapons and furniture spots. Both guys bump into and off everything hard, and Mysterio hits some really hard kicks. The first half of this feels like a WWE-sanctioned lucha match - Jericho is in full rudo mode, and he's also a really great base for Rey's flying, who gets a lot of mini-comeback spots to showcase his moves. The corner tope, which might be the best tope I've ever seen in the WWE was a wonderful spot - Rey at full pace, Jericho catching perfectly. Jericho isn't without his own lucha-inspired offence, with an Atlantida style backbreaker. It transforms into a workrate undercard US match with nearfalls and counters off the finishers and trademark spots, and this is well paced, and builds to the spots that use the no-holds barred stipulation. The only bit I found annoying was the obvious way Jericho has of watching out for Rey's 619, but as this turned into a mask steal (the final lucha spot) and a pin, I ignore it.

24. Christian vs. Tyson Kidd (ECW on Sci-Fi, June 2nd)

Not the greatest Christian singles of the year, but there was plenty in this I liked. Opening bit of matstuff was nice, and I wish there could be a situation where they'd od this for longer. Really energetic back and forth stuff. Christian takes a nasty looking back bump into the stairs, leading to this week's episode of Christian Shows America What Selling Looks Like. The back injury doesn't get in the way of his comebacks as much as leg work does, but he still notes it throughout. They get time for a lengthy (and hot) nearfall stretch, before the run-ins. At the end, I particularly like how, just like Matt Hardy in 2007, Christian has speeded up his finisher.

[Craig]

Added:

6. Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio (The Bash, May 17th)
7. Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio (Smackdown, July 10th)
8. KENTA vs. Jun Akiyama (NOAH, May 17th)

I'm found it hard to pick a favourite out of these Jericho-Rey matches - they just work exceptionally well together, especially when they pick up the pace, leading to some of the most exciting stretches I can remember in a long time. Jericho has gotten really great at cutting Mysterio off during the middle section. I've liked how they've developed new spots in each match - Jericho finding new counters to the 619, which as been built into the match-winning move for Rey, for example. In the Smackdown match, Jericho pulls down the rope, sending Rey spinning to the outside. At the same time, they have built on spots from the previous matches, developing new counters for counters used earlier. JR actually references Atlantis when Jericho does the Atlantida backbreaker in the Smackdown match, which surprised me enough to warrant mentioning, I guess.

KENTA is someone I can only really enjoy in tags or singles with heavyweights. He has a fairly unique sort of junior vs heavy match, where he comes out with such speed and aggression he actually dominates the first seven or eight minutes. Eventually, Akiyama weathers the storm and begins a long assault on KENTA's neck following a brainbuster on the outside. I thought this was really well paced, making use of countout spots and slowly escalating to the finishing stretch. KENTA does a good job for most of this selling the neck injury, not least because a neck injury is much less of an obstacle to his moveset than an leg injury. I knock this down a bit because it was probably a little too long, and there is a kickout at one right at the end that had me screaming at the screen as I really thought they were going to do a whole match without any of that nonsense. Still, a really good title match.

[Craig]

Moved a couple of things around. Most notably, the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels match does not benefit from a second watch.

Added:

3. Hayato "Jr" Fujita vs. The Great Sasuke (M-Pro, June 19th)
9. Christian vs. William Regal (ECW on Sci-Fi, August 25th)
10. Christian vs. Zack Ryder (ECW of Sci-Fi, July 28th)
19. Goldust vs. Sheamus (Superstars, August 13th)
20. Sawa and Hayato vs Tiger Shark and Saito, (BattlArts, April 12th)
24. Christian vs. William Regal (Superstars, July 23rd)

Just catching up with a few puro matches I've enjoyed and WWE TV matches.

There's probably a bunch of lower end good TV matches I won't bother placing. I need to rewatch a couple of the Punk-Hardy matches. The TLC could place.

[Craig]

Done more rearranging - the two Finlay matches were getting surprisingly low, as was the Usuda-Yoshikawa match. I demoted a few good Christian TV matches which were a little too high. I raised the position of the first Regal-Christian match - clearly better than the two best Rey-Jericho matches. Clearly.

Added:

5. Christian vs. William Regal (Breaking Point, September 13th)

I need to watch some more IWRG, catch up with Big Japan shows, watch the G-1 and NJ/NOAH matches. Then, this will feel like a more complete list. I also have a growing folder of 2009 CMLL which I keep meaning to watch. I also need to place the Uppercut vs. 1000 Holds trios, though I have no idea where yet. Busy busy.

[Craig]

Added:

8. Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue vs. KENTA/Jun Akiyama (NOAH, October 3rd)

This is all about the two great performances of Kawada and KENTA for me. Kawada brings great selling (right from the start, watch his sell of KENTAs slap) and plenty of glorious grumpiness. My favourite little bit was where Kawada first waits to break up a submission when the referee stops watching him, but after KENTA cheapshots him and attacks him on the outside, he doesn't even both waiting next time. KENTA was on a mission too, true to form not giving an inch to the All Japan legends. The jumping kick of Kawada's he ate at the end was awesome.

Only thing I didn't get into as much as other was the idea of Taue redeeming himself at the end, after being the weak link throughout. Felt more to me like he just happened to be in the right place to take the pinfall rather than he out-performed himself and made a great comeback.

9. Black Terry/Cerebro Negro/Dr Cerebro vs. Hijo del Pirata Morgan/Pirata Morgan Jr/Barba Roja (IWRG, August 10th)

http://spinflykick.blogspot.com/2009/10/bu...lack-terry.html

14. Batista/Rey Mysterio vs. Big Show/Jericho (Hell in a Cell, October 4th)

Great WWE tag match, playing to the strengths of all four. The Big Show vs. Rey segments are the highlights (especially that headscissor, which was stunning), but Batista as the hot tag works. Jericho and Rey rejoin their rivalry where they left off, and I thought their sequences were as smooth as earlier this year. Jericho generally bumps around at the beginning, but bumping is more or less all he does here. The knockout punch finish is great - its almost developed into a heel weapon finish it's that effective. I guess it is technically illegal, which is why the ref is usually out of sight when it happens.

20. Yuko Miyamoto & Takeshi Sasaki vs. Ryuji Ito & Shuji Ishikawa, (Big Japan, January 2nd)

http://spinflykick.blogspot.com/2009/08/bi...nuary-2009.html

24. Ryuji Walter vs. Yuki Ishikawa (Battlarts, July 5th)

http://spinflykick.blogspot.com/2009/09/ba...-july-2009.html

34. Yuko Miyamoto & Takeshi Sasaki vs Isami Kodaka & Mashashi Takeda, (Big Japan, January 4th)

From Purotopia:

Did this get slept on? Not quite the crazy level of the March match, but this is a good precursor. Loads of violent spots - I'm enjoying Takeda blending the suplexes with the deathmatch stuff. The suplex where Miyamoto landed headfirst on his partner and a barbwire board was nasty. Olympic slam to the ladder was too. I also like the tensions between Isami and Miyamoto. Their sections tend to feel a little more heated and personal. A very bloody Isami getting in Miyamoto's face at the end as if to say "I'm still here" was a nice touch.

[Craig]

Added:

1. Ou Kobushi vs. Fujita "Jr" Hayato, (M-Pro, September 5th)

http://spinflykick.blogspot.com/2009/10/mi...ember-2009.html

2. Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli vs Jigsaw/Mike Quackenbush (CHIKARA, September 13th)
10. Bryan Danielson/Claudio Castegnoli/Dave Taylor vs. Johnny Saint/Mike Quackenbush/Skyade (CHIKARA, March 28th)

13. Zatura vs. Trauma II (IWRG June 18th)
http://spinflykick.blogspot.com/2009/10/iw...-vs-zatura.html

36. Masashi Takeda & Isami Kodaka vs. Katsumasa Inoue & Kankuro Hoshino, March 12th