New Japan Cup 2019 Review

This is LATE, I know. I was trying to catch up before Mania weekend, but I literally got to the final round match and ran out of time so I had to wait til after I finish this series up. But here's the top matches from the NJCup with thoughts and star ratings <3


Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yuji Nagata - First Round Match - Night One - 3/8/19

Main event of the first night of NJCup action and the first stand out match of the tournament here. This has a lot of his history behind it as Ishii has lost in the first round of the cup to Nagata twice in years past. Plus, in more recent memory, they've been brawling ever since the night after Wrestle Kingdom at New Year's Dash and it has been boiling ever since. So, with that in mind, the fighting spirit/strong style display we got here made perfect sense. It wasn't even a minute or two in before the stiff strikes began to be thrown and it was only 8 or 9 minutes before Nagata was bleeding from the mouth. From top rope exploders to breathtaking forearm battles in the middle of the ring, this ruled on every front if you like this style of wrestling and it was super well built.

Match rating - ****

Kazuchika Okada vs. Michael Elgin - First Round Match - Night Two - 3/9/19

Any time Okada & Elgin step foot in a ring together, I think we pretty much know what to expect. A barnburner. This was no different with the action being heated as you got down the stretch. Many people didn't fuck with this match because it didn't feel believable and Okada matches like this tend to have a similar formula (as do Elgin matches, if we're being honest *power move* *nearfall* repeat) and a year or two ago, I probably would've felt the same, but I've admittedly become an Okada mark as of late so everything he does, I enjoy to some extent plus the action here wasn't bad at all and kept myself and the crowd invested. Okada comes out on top after a bunch of back and forth.

Match rating - ***3/4

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shota Umino - First Round Match - Night Three - 3/10/19

Huge coming out party for the young lion, Shota Umino. Even though he was the obvious underdog and had likely no chance to win, it didn't always feel like it and they did a good job of making him look like a believable opponent for the Ace without pushing it too far. Really simple, but amazingly executed stuff here.

Match rating - ***1/2

Zack Sabre Jr vs. EVIL - First Round Match - Night Three - 3/10/19

Quick Six w/ Barrington Hughes (1/31/19)

The Quick Six consists of six question mini interviews with pro wrestlers from around the world. A fast series meant to be a quick and enjoyable read. Full of relevant and fun questions from “where do did you get your start in pro wrestling?” to “if you could beat up a celebrity and get away with it, who would it be?” and everything in between.

Welcome to the Quick Six Interviews.

Our first guest is the Caramel Colossus, leader of the #NahFam Movement, Mr. Barrington Hughes. 

Now let’s get into some questions!

Q: What is on the agenda of the Colossus this year?

A: The agenda this year is just like last year. Travel the world, compete against the best wrestlers and raise my stock in the eyes of the fans. 

Q: Let’s say you have to represent for the big boys in a tag team. If you could pick one super heavyweight throughout pro wrestling history for a massive man tag team, who would it be?

A: This is a tough question. It's a tie breaker between Great Kokina (pre-WWE ﹰYokozuna) or Gary Albright. 

Q: If you had to be a part of a 1990’s pro wrestling faction, which one would you choose and why?

WWE: Royal Rumble 2019 Panel Predictions

Getting back into the swing of things this year. My 2019 match ratings tracker is already up & going and can be found HERE. Plus Donnie (@donnie2sweet) will now be joined by my friend Mike (@mikexklinsky) to feature on some columns and some other cool things we have planned for the next few months that will be announced later. But for now, we're all gonna throw out our predictions for the Rumble and see how things shake out!

Donnie:

Men's Rumble - Braun Strowman

Women's Rumble - Charlotte

Styles/Bryan (WWE Title) - Daniel Bryan

Lesnar/Balor (Universal Title) - Finn Balor

Sheamus & Cesaro/Shane & Miz (Tag Titles) - Sheamus & Cesaro

Rousey/Banks - Ronda Rousey

Asuka/Lynch - Asuka

Rusev/Nakamura - Rusev

Cruserweight 4 way - Buddy Murphy

Ethan:

Men's Rumble - Braun Strowman

Women's Rumble - Alexa Bliss

Styles/Bryan (WWE Title) - Daniel Bryan

Lesnar/Balor (Universal Title) - Brock Lesnar

Sheamus & Cesaro/Shane & Miz (Tag Titles) - Shane McMahon & The Miz

Rousey/Banks - Ronda Rousey

Asuka/Lynch - Asuka

Rusev/Nakamura - Rusev

Cruserweight 4 way - Hideo Itami

Mike:

Men's Rumble - Seth Rollins

Women's Rumble - Charlotte

Styles/Bryan (WWE Title) - Daniel Bryan

Lesnar/Balor (Universal Title) - Brock Lesnar

Sheamus & Cesaro/Shane & Miz - Sheamus & Cesaro

Rousey/Banks - Ronda Rousey

Asuka/Lynch - Becky Lynch

Rusev/Nakamura - Shinsuke Nakamura

Cruserweight 4 way - Hideo Itami

Ethan's 2019 Match Rating Archive/MOTY TRACKER (Best Matches of 2019)

Will be updated as the year goes on.

JANUARY:

Masashi Takeda & Yuki Miyamoto vs. Takayuki Ueki & Toshiyuki Sakuda - 1/2/19 - BJW: New Year - ***1/4

Daisuke Sekimoto (c) vs. Hama - BJW Strong World Heavyweight Title Match - 1/2/19 - BJW: New Year - ****

Masaya Takahashi (c) vs. Takumi Tsukamoto - BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Title Match - 1/2/19 - BJW: New Year - ***3/4

Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Will Ospreay - NEVER Openweight Title Match - 1/4/19 - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom 13 - ****

Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr - RPW British Heavyweight Title Match - 1/4/19 - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom 13 - ***1/2

Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White - 1/4/19 - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom 13 - ***1/2

Chris Jericho (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito - IWGP Intercontinental Title Match - 1/4/19 - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom 13 - ****

Kenny Omega (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - IWGP Heavyweight Title Match - 1/4/19 - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom 13 - ****

Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, & Will Ospreay vs. KUSHIDA, Jeff Cobb, & Yuji Nagata - 1/5/19 - NJPW: New Year Dash - ***3/4

Strong Hearts (CIMA, El Lindaman, Duan Yingna, & Seiki Yoshioka) vs. Kaz Hayashi, Andy Wu, Jiro Kuroshio, & Jun Tondokoro - 1/5/19 - Wrestle-1 - ***1/2

Shotaro Ashino (c) vs. T-Hawk - Wrestle-1 Championship Match - 1/5/19 - Wrestle-1 - ***3/4

Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. PAC - Rev Pro Heavyweight Title Match - 1/6/19 - Rev Pro: Live From the Cockpit - ***1/4

Samoa Joe & Andrade vs. Rey Mysterio & Mustafa Ali - 1/8/19 - WWE: Smackdown Live - ***1/4

Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami - 1/9/19 - WWE: 205 Live - ***3/4

Moustache Mountain (Bate & Seven) (c) vs. Zack Gibson & James Drake - WWE NXT UK Tag Team Title Match - 1/12/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover UK Blackpool - ****

Finn Balor vs. Jordan Devlin - 1/12/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover UK - ***

Dave Mastiff vs. James Dennis - No DQ Match - 1/12/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover UK - ***1/4

Bandido vs. PJ Black - 1/13/19 - ROH: Honor Reigns Supreme - ****

The Briscoes & Silas Young vs. Marty Scurll, PCO, & Brody King - 1/13/19 - ROH: Honor Reigns Supreme - ****

Shuji Ishikawa & Suwama (c) vs. Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi - BJW Tag Title Match - 1/13/19 - BJW: To Was Gat Early - ****1/4

Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley - Intercontinental Title Match - 1/14/19 - WWE: Raw - ***1/4

Finn Balor vs. John Cena vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Barin Corbin - 1/14/19 - WWE: Raw - ***1/4

Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade - 1/15/19 - WWE: Smackdown - ****1/4

Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre - 1/21/19 - WWE: Raw - ***3/4

Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade - 1/22/19 - WWE: Smackdown - ****

Gran Metallik vs. Humberto Carrillo - 1/22/19 - WWE: 205 Live - ***1/2

Kyle O'Reilly & Roderick Strong (c) vs. War Raiders - NXT Tag Team Title Match - 1/26/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover Chicago - ****

Kassius Ohno vs. Matt Riddle - 1/26/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover Chicago - ****

Shayna Basler (c) vs. Bianca Belair - NXT Women's Title Match - WWE: NXT Takeover Chicago - ***3/4

Ricochet (c) vs. Johnny Gargano - NXT North American Title Match - 1/26/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover Chicago - ****1/2

Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Hideo Itami vs. Kalisto vs. Akira Tozawa - WWE Cruserweight Title Match - 1/27/19 - WWE: Royal Rumble - ***1/4

Asuka (c) vs. Becky Lynch - Smackdown Women's Title Match - 1/27/19 - WWE: Royal Rumble - ****

Sheamus & Cesaro (c) vs. Shane McMahon & The Miz - WWE Tag Team Title Match - 1/27/19 - WWE: Royal Rumble - ***1/2

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles - WWE Title Match - 1/27/19 - WWE: Royal Rumble - ***3/4

Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Finn Balor - WWE Universal Championship Match - 1/27/19 - WWE: Royal Rumble - ***3/4

Men's Royal Rumble Match - 1/27/19 - WWE: Royal Rumble - ****

Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, Sanada, Shingo Takagi, & BUSHI vs. Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr, El Desperado, Kanemaru, & Taichi - Elimination Match - 1/28/19 - NJPW: Road to New Beginning - ***1/2

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KUSHIDA - 1/29/19 - NJPW: Road to New Beginning - ***1/2

FEBRUARY:

Drew Gulak vs. Jordan Devlin - 2/2/19 - WWE: Worlds Collide - ***1/4

Adam Cole vs. Tyler Bate - 2/2/19 - WWE: Worlds Collide - ***1/4

Velveteen Dream vs. Jordan Devlin - 2/2/19 - WWE: Worlds Collide - ***1/2

Velveteen Dream vs. Tyler Bate - 2/2/19 - WWE: Worlds Collide - ***1/2

Minoru Suzuki vs. SANADA - 2/2/19 - NJPW: New Beginning in Sapporo Night One - ***1/2

Zack Sabre Jr vs. EVIL - 2/2/19 - NJPW: New Beginning in Sapporo Night One - ****

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale - NJPW: New Beginning in Sapporo Night One - ****

BUSHI & Shingo Takagi (c) vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Title Match - 2/3/19 - NJPW: New Beginning in Sapporo Night Two - ***1/4

Dragon Kid, Masato Yoshino, Genki Horiguchi, & YAMATO vs. Masaachi Mochizuki, Naruki Doi, Ryo Saito, & Susumu Yokosuka  - 2/10/19 - Dragon Gate: Truth Gate - ***3/4

PAC (c) vs. Kzy - Open the Dream Gate Title Match - 2/10/19 - Dragon Gate: Truth Gate - ****1/2

Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title Match - 2/11/19 - NJPW: New Beginning in Osaka - ***3/4

Kazcuhika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale - 2/11/19 - NJPW: New Beginning in Osaka - ***3/4

Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Jay White - IWGP Heavyweight Title Match - 2/11/19 - NJPW: New Beginning in Osaka - ****

The Miz & Shane McMahon (c) vs. The Usos - WWE Tag Team Title Match - 2/17/19 - WWE: Elimination Chamber - ***1/4

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston vs. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy - WWE Title Match - 2/17/19 - WWE: Elimination Chamber - ****1/2

Ricochet vs. Eric Young - 2/19/19 - WWE: Smackdown - ***1/4

Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, & Randy Orton vs. Kofi Kingston, AJ Styles, & Jeff Hardy - 2/19/19 - WWE: Smackdown - ***3/4

MARCH:

Jake Atlas vs. Jungle Boy vs. Trey Miguel - 3/1/19 - PWG: 200 - ***1/2

Puma King vs. Laredo Kid - 3/1/19 - PWG: 200 - ***1/4

Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent) vs. Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) - 3/1/19 - PWG: 200 - ***1/2

Darby Allin vs. Brody King - 3/1/19 - PWG: 200 - ***3/4

Jonathan Gresham vs. David Starr - 3/1/19 - PWG: 200 - ***3/4

The Rascals (c) vs. Lucha Bros (Penta & Fenix) vs. LAX - PWG World Tag Team Title Match - 3/1/19 - PWG: 200 - ***1/4

Jeff Cobb (c) vs. Bandido - PWG World Title Match - 3/1/19 - PWG: 200 - ****

R-Truth (c) vs. Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade - United States Title Match - 3/5/19 - WWE: Smackdown - ***1/2

BUSHI & Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Roppongi 3k (Sho & Yo) - IWGP Jr Tag Title Match - 3/6/19 - NJPW: 47th Anniversary Show - ***1/2

Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Jushin Liger - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title Match - 3/6/19 - ***1/2

Jay White vs. Will Ospreay - 3/6/19 - NJPW: 47th Anniversary Show - ****1/4

Fenix vs. Rey Horus - 3/8/19 - WXW: 16 Carat - Night One - ***1/4

Timothy Thatcher vs. Lucky Kid - 3/8/19 - WXW: 16 Carat - Night One - ***1/2

WALTER vs. David Starr - 3/8/19 - WXW: 16 Carat - Night One - ****

Kazuchika Okada vs. Michael Elgin - 3/9/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 2 - ****

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shota Umino - 3/10/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 3 - ***1/2

Zack Sabre Jr vs. EVIL - 3/10/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 3 - ***1/2

Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi - 3/10/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 3 - ****1/2

The Usos (c) vs. The Miz & Shane McMahon - WWE Tag Team Title Match - 3/10/19 - WWE: Fast Lane - ***1/4

Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade vs. R-Truth - United States Title Match - 3/10/19 - WWE: Fast Lane - ***1/2

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kevin Owens vs. Mustafa Ali - WWE Title Match - 3/10/19 - WWE: Fast Lane - ****

Minoru Suzuki vs. Satoshi Kojima - 3/11/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 4 - ***3/4

Hirooki Goto vs. SANADA - 3/11/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 4 - ***1/2

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Taichi - 3/13/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 5 - ***3/4

Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer - 3/14/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 6 - ****

Zack Sabre Jr vs. Kota Ibushi - 3/16/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 7 - ***3/4

Minoru Suzuki vs. SANADA - 3/17/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 8 - ****

Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi (c) vs. Shuji Ishikawa & Suwama - AJPW World Tag Team Title Match - 3/19/19 - AJPW: Dream Power Series Day 6 - ****

Tomohiro Ishii vs. YOSHI HASHI - 3/20/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 9 - ***1/4

Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay - 3/20/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 9 - ****

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr - 3/21/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 10 - ****

Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii - 3/23/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 11 - ****1/2

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA - 3/24/19 - NJPW: New Japan Cup Day 12 - ***1/2

APRIL:

Yuji Okabayashi vs. Shuji Ishikawa - 4/4/19 - AJPW: Championship Carnival Tournament - ****

War Raiders (c) vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black - NXT Tag Team Title Match - 4/5/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover Brooklyn - ****

Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Matt Riddle - NXT North American Title Match - 4/5/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover Brooklyn - ****

Pete Dunne (c) vs. WALTER - NXT UK Title Match - 4/5/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover Brooklyn - ***3/4

Shayna Basler (c) vs. Io Shorai vs. Kairi Sane vs. Bianca Belair - NXT Women's Title Match - 4/5/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover Brooklyn - ***1/4

Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano - NXT Championship Match - 4/5/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover Brooklyn - ****1/2

Will Ospreay (c) vs. Jeff Cobb (c) - NEVER Openweight & ROH TV Title Match - 4/6/19 - NJPW/ROH: G1 Supercard - ***1/2

Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Dragon Lee vs. Bandido - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title Match - 4/6/19 - NJPW/ROH: G1 Supercard - ***3/4

Guerillas of Destiny (c) vs. PCO & Brody King (c) vs. The Briscoes vs. EVIL & SANADA - ROH & IWGP Heavyweight Tag Title Match - 4/6/19 - NJPW/ROH: G1 Supercard - ***3/4

Zack Sabre Jr (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - Rev Pro British Heavyweight Title Match - 4/6/19 - NJPW/ROH: G1 Supercard - ***1/4

Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Kota Ibushi - IWGP Intercontinental Title Match - 4/6/19 - NJPW/ROH: G1 Supercard - ****1/2

Jay Lethal (c) vs. Matt Taven vs. Marty Scurll - Ladder Match for the ROH World Title - 4/6/19 - NJPW/ROH: G1 Supercard - ****

Jay White (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada - IWGP Heavyweight Title Match - 4/6/19 - NJPW/ROH: G1 Supercard - ****

Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Tony Nese - WWE Cruserweight Title Match - 4/7/19 - WWE: WrestleMania 35 - ***1/2

Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins - WWE Universal Title Match - 4/7/19 - WWE: WrestleMania 35 - ***1/2

AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton - 4/7/19 - WWE: WrestleMania 35 - ***1/4

The Usos (c) vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black vs. Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev - WWE Tag Team Title Match - 4/7/19 - WWE: WrestleMania 35 - ****

Shane McMahon vs. The Miz - Falls Count Anywhere Match - 4/7/19 - WWE: WrestleMania 35 - ****1/4

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston - WWE Title Match - 4/7/19 - WWE: WrestleMania 35 - ****1/2

Triple H vs. Batista - No Holds Barred Match - 4/7/19 - WWE: WrestleMania 35 - ***3/4

Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch - WWE Women's Title Match - 4/7/19 - WWE: WrestleMania 35 - ***1/4

Kento Miyahara vs. Shuji Ishikawa - 4/14/19 - AJPW: Championship Carnival Tournament - ****

Yuji Okabayashi vs. Dylan James - 4/20/19 - AJPW: Championship Carnival Tournament - ****1/4

Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr - IWGP Intercontinental Title Match - 4/20/19 - NJPW: Sengoku Lord - ****1/4

Yuji Okabayashi vs. Zeus - 4/21/19 - AJPW: Championship Carnival Tournament - ****

AJ Styles vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Samoa Joe - 4/22/19 - WWE: Raw - ***1/4

BUSHI & Shingo Takagi vs. Sho & Yo - 4/26/19 - NJPW: Road to Dontaku - ****

Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Kota Ibushi, & Roppongi 3k vs. Testuya Naito, EVIL, Sanada, Shingo Takagi, & BUSHI - 4/29/19 - NJPW: Road to Dontaku - ***1/4

Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. Baron Corbin & Drew McIntyre - 4/29/19 - WWE: Raw - ***

MAY:

Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Daniel Bryan - WWE Championship Match - 5/6/19 - WWE: Raw - ****

Marty Scurll vs. Jonathan Gresham - 5/13/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night One - ***1/4

Shingo Takagi vs. SHO - 5/13/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night One - ****3/4

Dragon Lee vs. Taiji Ishimori - 5/13/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night One - ***1/2

Will Ospreay vs. BUSHI - 5/14/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night Two - ***

Bandido vs. El Phantasmo - 5/14/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night Two - ***1/4

Dragon Lee vs. SHO - 5/15/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night Three - ****

Bandido vs. YOH - 5/16/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night Four - ***1/4

Will Ospreay vs. Rocky Romero - 5/16/19 - NJPW BOSJ Night Four - ****1/4

Shingo Takagi vs. Yoshinobo Kanemaru - 5/18/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night Five - ***1/2

Will Ospreay vs. YOH - 5/19/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night Six - ***3/4

Bayley vs. Carmella vs. Dana Brooke vs. Naomi vs. Mandy Rose vs. Natalya vs. Ember Moon vs. Nikki Cross - MITB Ladder Match - 5/19/19 - WWE: Money in the Bank - ***1/4

Seth Rollins (c) vs. AJ Styles - WWE Universal Title Match - 5/19/19 - WWE: Money in the Bank - ****1/4

Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Kevin Owens - WWE Title Match - 5/19/19 - WWE: Money in the Bank - ***1/2

Brock Lesnar vs. Ali vs. Andrade vs. Ricochet vs. Randy Orton vs. Finn Balor vs. Baron Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre - MITB Ladder Match - 5/19/19 - WWE: Money in the Bank - ***1/2

Shingo Takagi vs. Marty Scurll - 5/22/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night Seven - ***1/4

Will Ospreay vs. El Phantasmo - 5/22/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night Seven - ****

Will Ospreay vs. Bandido - 5/23/19 - NJPW BOSJ Night Eight - ****1/4

Shingo Takagi vs. Dragon Lee - 5/23/19 - NJPW BOSJ Night Eight - ****1/4

Dragon Lee vs. Titan - 5/24/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night Nine - ***3/4

Rocky Romero vs. El Phantasmo - 5/24/19 - NJPW: BOSJ Night Nine - ****1/2

JUNE:

Roderick Strong vs. Matt Riddle - 6/1/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover XXV - ****

Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish vs. The Street Profits vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs. The Forgotten Sons - Ladder Match for the NXT World Tag Team Titles - 6/1/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover XXV - ***3/4

Johnny Gargano (c) vs. Adam Cole - NXT Title Match - 6/1/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover XXV - ****

Juice Robinson (c) vs. Jon Moxley - IWGP US Title Match - 6/5/19 - NJPW: BOSJ 26 Finals - ****1/4

Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi - Best of the Super Juniors Finals - 6/5/19 - NJPW: BOSJ 26 Finals - *****

Jon Moxley vs. Shota Umino - 6/9/19 - NJPW: Dominion - ***1/4

Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito - IWGP Intercontinental Title Match - 6/9/19 - NJPW: Dominion - ****

Chad Gable vs. Jack Gallagher - 6/11/19 - WWE: 205 Live - ***1/2

Akira Tozawa vs. Oney Lorcan vs. Drew Gulak vs. Humberto Carilllo - 6/11/19 - WWE: 205 Live - ****

Seth Rollins vs. Daniel Bryan - 6/17/19 - WWE: Raw - ***1/2

Ricochet vs. AJ Styles - 6/24/19 - WWE: Raw - ***3/4

Cody Rhodes vs. Darby Allin - 6/29/19 - AEW: Fyter Fest - ***3/4

Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Pentagon Jr, Fenix, & Laredo Kid - 6/29/19 - AEW: Fyter Fest - ****1/4

Jon Moxley vs. Joey Janela - Unsanctioned Match - 6/29/19 - AEW: Fyter Fest - ****

JULY:

Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer - 7/6/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Night One - ****1/4

Kota Ibushi vs. KENTA - 7/6/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Night One - ***3/4

Zack Sabre Jr vs. SANADA - 7/6/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Night One - ***3/4

Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - 7/6/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Night One - ****

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb - 7/13/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Night Two - ****1/4

Shingo Takagi vs. Juice Robinson - 7/13/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Night Two - ***1/2

Darby Allin, Joey Janela, & Jimmy Havoc vs. MJF, Shawn Spears, & Sammy Guevara - 7/13/19 - AEW: Fight for the Fallen - ***1/2

Pentagon Jr & Fenix vs. Christopher Daniels & Kazarian - 7/13/19 - AEW: Fight for the Fallen - ****

Kenny Omega vs. CIMA - 7/13/19 - AEW: Fight For the Fallen - ****1/2

Bobby Lashley vs. Braun Strowman - 7/14/19 - WWE: Extreme Rules - ***3/4

Daniel Bryan & Erick Rowan vs. Big E & Xavier Woods vs. Heavy Machinery - 7/14/19 - WWE: Extreme Rules - ***3/4

Will Ospreay vs. SANADA - 7/14/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Night Three - ***1/2

Kazuchika Okada vs. Zack Sabre Jr - 7/14/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Night Three - ****

Kota Ibushi vs. EVIL - 7/14/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Night Three - ***3/4

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA - 7/14/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Night Three - ****

Will Ospreay vs. Kota Ibushi - 7/18/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax - ****

Jon Moxley vs. Tomohiro Ishii - 7/19/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax - ****1/4

PAC (c) vs. Ben-K - Open the Dream Gate Title Match - 7/21/19 - Dragon Gate: Kobe World 2019 - ****1/4

AUGUST:

Tetsuya Naito vs. Shingo Takagi - 8/7/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax - ****3/4

Will Ospreay vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - 8/10/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax - ****

Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr & Minoru Suzuki - 8/13/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Finals - ***1/2

Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White - 8/13/19 - NJPW: G1 Climax Finals - ****



OCTOBER:

Cody Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara - 10/2/19 - AEW: Dynamite - ***1/2

PAC vs. Hangman Page - 10/2/19 - AEW: Dynamite - ***1/2

Adam Cole vs. Matt Riddle - 10/2/19 - WWE: NXT - ****1/4

The Young Bucks vs. Private Party - 10/9/19 - AEW: Dynamite - ****

Roderick Strong vs. Isaiah Scott - 10/9/19 - WWE: NXT - ***1/2

WALTER vs. KUSHIDA - 10/9/19 - WWE: NXT - ****

Kenny Omega vs. Joey Janela - 10/15/19 - AEW: Dark - ****

Chris Jericho (c) vs. Darby Allin - Street Fight for the AEW Championship - 10/16/19 - AEW: Dynamite - ***1/2

Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr & Fenix) vs. Private Party - 10/23/19 - AEW: Dynamite - ****

Jordan Devlin (c) vs. David Starr - OTT Title Match - 10/26/19 - OTT: 4th Anniv show - ****1/2


NOVEMBER:

Adam Cole (c) vs. Daniel Bryan - NXT Title Match - WWE: Smackdown - 11/1/19 - ***1/4

Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega - Unsanctioned Match - 11/9/19 - AEW: Full Gear - ****1/2

Shayna Basler, Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, & Kay Lee Ray vs. Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, & Dakota Kai - War Games Match - 11/23/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover War Games - ***3/4

Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Donovan Dijakovic, & Kevin Owens vs. Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish - War Games Match - 11/23/19 - WWE: NXT Takeover - ****

AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Roderick Strong - 11/24/19 - WWE: Survivor Series - ***1/2

Adam Cole (c) vs. Pete Dunne - NXT Title Match - 11/24/19 - WWE: Survivor Series - ****

Seth Rollins, Ricochet, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, & Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, Baron Corbin, Shorty G, & Mustafa Ali vs. Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Matt Riddle, WALTER, & Damian Priest - 11/24/19 - WWE: Survivor Series - ***3/4

DECEMBER:

Lio Rush (c) vs. Angel Garza - Cruserweight Title Match - 12/11/19 - WWE: NXT - ****1/4

Finn Balor vs. Keith Lee vs. Tommaso Ciampa - 12/11/19 - WWE: NXT - ***1/2

Adam Cole (c) vs. Finn Balor - 12/18/19 - WWE: NXT - ***1/2

Kenny Omega & Hangman Page vs. Lucha Bros - 12/18/19 - AEW: Dynamite - ***1/2

2018 Match Rating Archive

I rarely have the time to write full reviews anymore so I am keeping my archive of star ratings here. I am still catching up on stuff so this will be updated periodically with a link posted to Twitter (@ThePWTruth) when I do. New additions will be in ITALICS.

JANUARY:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Samoa Joe - Intercontinental Title Match - WWE: Raw - 1/1/18 - ****1/4

The Young Bucks vs. Roppongi 3k (Yo & Sho) - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom - 1/4/18 - ***3/4

Kota Ibushi vs. Cody Rhodes - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom - 1/4/18 - ***1/2

EVIL & Sanada vs. Killer Elite Squad - NJPW: WrestleKingdom - 1/4/18 - ***1/2

Minoru Suzuki vs. Hirooki Goto - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom - 1/4/18 - ****1/4

Marty Scurll vs. Will Ospreay vs. KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom - 1/4/18 - ***3/4

Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom - 1/4/18 - ****1/2

Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Darby Allin - Evolve Title Match - Evolve 98 - 1/13/18 - ***3/4

Jay Lethal vs. Will Ospreay - ROH: TV - 1/15/18 - ***3/4

The Young Bucks vs. Dragon Lee & Titan vs. Best Friends - ROH: TV - 1/22/18 - ****

Aleister Black vs. Adam Cole - WWE: NXT Takeover Philly - 1/27/18 - ***3/4

Andrade Almas vs. Johnny Gargano - WWE: NXT Takeover Philly - 1/27/18 - *****

Royal Rumble Match - WWE: Royal Rumble - 1/28/18 - ****3/4

Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane - WWE: Royal Rumble - 1/28/18 - ****1/4

FEBRUARY:
Roderick Strong vs. Hideo Itami - WWE: NXT - 2/6/18 - ***3/4

Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi - NJPW: New Beginning in Osaka - 2/10/18 - ****1/4

Akira Tozawa vs. Mark Andrews - WWE: 205 Live - 2/13/18 - ***1/4

Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins - WWE: Monday Night Raw - 2/19/18 - ****

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins - Gauntlet Match - WWE: Raw - 2/19/18 - ****1/2

Jack Gallagher vs. Mustafa Ali - WWE: 205 Live - 2/20/18 - ***3/4

KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Flip Gordon - ROH: Honor Rising - 2/23/18 - ***1/4

Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, & Chase Owens vs. Cody Rhodes, Marty Scurll, & Adam Page - ROH: Honor Rising - 2/23/18 - ****1/4

Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Cody Rhodes & Marty Scurll - ROH: Honor Rising - 2/24/18 - ****

Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley vs. Mickie James vs. - WWE: Elimination Chamber - 2/25/18 - ***3/4

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins vs. Braun Strowman vs. Finn Balor vs. The Miz vs. Roman Reigns vs. Elias - WWE: Elimination Chamber - 2/25/18 - ***1/2

Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, & Nia Jax vs. Asuka, Sasha Banks, & Bayley - WWE: Raw - 2/26/18 - ***1/2

Seth Rollins vs. The Miz - WWE: Raw - 2/26/18 - ***1/2

AJ Styles vs. John Cena - WWE: Smackdown - 2/28/18 - ****

MARCH:
Juice Robinson vs. Yujiro Takahashi - NJPW: NJ Cup Night One - 3/9/18 - ***3/4

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Michael Elgin - NJPW: NJ Cup Night One - 3/9/18 - ****1/2

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taichi - NJPW: NJ Cup Night Two - 3/10/18 - ****

Kota Ibushi vs. YOSHI HASHI - NJPW: NJ Cup Night Three - 3/11/18 - ****1/4

Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr. - NJPW: NJ Cup Night Three - 3/11/18 - ****

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev - WWE: Fast Lane - 3/11/18 - ***3/4

AJ Styles vs. John Cena vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler - WWE: Fast Lane - 3/11/18 - ***1/2

Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor - WWE: Raw - 3/12/18 - ***1/4

Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr - NJPW: NJ Cup Night Five - 3/15/18 - ****

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre - NJPW: NJ Cup Finals - 3/21/18 - ****1/2

The Young Bucks vs. Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi - NJPW: Strong Style Evolved - 3/25/18 - *****

APRIL:

Will Ospreay (c) vs. Marty Scurll - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW: Sakura Genesis - 4/1/18 - ****3/4

Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Cody Rhodes & Hangman Page - NJPW: Sakura Genesis - 4/1/18 - ****

Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr - IWGP Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW: Sakura Genesis - 4/1/18 - ****3/4

WALTER & Timothy Thatcher vs. Daisuke Sekimoto & Sawa - Evolve 102 - 4/5/18 - ***3/4

Rey Fenix & Rey Horus vs. Bandido & Flamita - Wrestle Con Super Show - 4/5/18 - ****1/4

Matt Riddle vs. Minoru Suzuki - GCW: Bloodsport - 4/5/18 - ***1/2

Will Ospreay, Rocky Romero, & Chuck Taylor vs. Kota Ibushi, Shane Strickland, & Flip Gordon - RPW: Live in New Orleans - 4/6/18 - ****

Zack Sabre Jr (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii - RPW Title Match - RPW: Live in New Orleans - 4/6/18 - ****1/2

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Punishment Martinez - ROH: Supercard of Honor - 4/7/18 - ***1/2

Kota Ibushi vs. Adam Page - ROH: Supercard of Honor - 4/7/18 - ****1/4

Adam Cole vs. Ricochet vs. Velveteen Dream vs. Lars Sullivan vs. Killian Dain vs. EC3 - WWE: NXT Takeover New Orleans - 4/7/18 - ****1/2

Ember Moon (c) vs. Shayna Basler - NXT Women's Championship Match - WWE: NXT Takeover New Orleans - 4/7/18 - ****

Adam Cole & Kyle O'Reilly (c) vs. Pete Dunne & Roderick Strong vs. Authors of Pain - WWE: NXT Takeover New Orleans - 4/7/18 - ***1/2

Andrade Almas (c) vs. Aleister Black - NXT Championship Match - WWE: NXT Takeover New Orleans - 4/7/18 - ****1/4

Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa - Unsanctioned Match - WWE: NXT Takeover New Orleans - 4/7/18 - ****3/4

The Miz (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor - Intercontinental Championship Match - WWE: WrestleMania 31 - 4/8/18 - ***1/4

Charlotte (c) vs. Asuka - Women's Title Match - WWE: WrestleMania 31 - 4/8/18 - ****

The Young Bucks, Adam Page, & Flip Gordon vs. Christopher Daniels, Kazarian, Shane Dawson, & Scorpio Sky - ROH: Masters of the Craft - 4/15/18 - ***3/4

Jay Lethal vs. Jonathan Gresham - ROH: Masters of the Craft - 4/15/18 - ****

Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Juice Robinson - NEVER Openweight Title Match - NJPW: Road to Wrestling Dontaku - 4/27/18 - ****1/4

MAY:

The Young Bucks & Marty Scurll vs. Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, & Tanga Loa (c) - IWGP Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Title Match - NJPW: Wrestling Dontaku Night One - 5/3/18 - ***

Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay vs. Hiroshi Tanhashi & KUSHIDA - NJPW: Wrestling Dontaku Night One - 5/3/18 - ***3/4

Kenny Omega vs. Hangman Page - NJPW: Wrestling Dontaku Night One - 5/3/18 - ***3/4

Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - IWGP Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW: Wrestling Dontaku Night Two - 5/4/18 - ****3/4

Seth Rollins (c) vs. The Miz - Intercontinental Title Match - WWE: Backlash - 5/6/18 - ****1/4

The Young Bucks vs. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI - ROH: War of the Worlds - 5/9/18 - ***3/4

The Young Bucks vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs. Roppongi 3k (Sho & Yo) - ROH: War of the Worlds Royal Oak - 5/12/18 - ***3/4

ACH vs. Flip Gordon - NJPW: BOSJ Night One - 5/18/18 - ****

Will Ospreay vs. Taiji Ishimori - NJPW: BOSJ Night One - 5/18/18 - ****

KUSHIDA vs. Chris Sabin - NJPW: BOSJ Night Two - 5/19/18 - ***1/4

Dragon Lee vs. SHO - NJPW: BOSJ Night Two - 5/19/18 - ***3/4

ACH vs. Will Ospreay - NJPW: BOSJ Night Three - 5/20/18 - ****

SHO vs. Chris Sabin - NJPW: BOSJ Night Four - 5/22/18 - ***3/4

Daniel Bryan vs. Jeff Hardy - WWE: Smackdown Live - 5/22/18 - ***

Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Buddy Murphy - Cruserweight Title Match - WWE: 205 Live - 5/29/18 - ****

JUNE:


EVIL & SANADA (c) vs. The Young Bucks - IWGP Tag Title Match - NJPW: Dominion 6.9 - 6/9/18 - ****1/4 

Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Chris Jericho - IWGP Intercontinental Championship Match - NJPW: Dominion - 6/9/18 - ****1/4

Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Kenny Omega - 2/3 Falls - IWGP Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW: Dominion - 6/9/18 - *****

Kyle O'Reilly vs. Pete Dunne - WWE: NXT - 6/13/18 - ****

Kyle O'Reilly & Roderick Strong (c) vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch - NXT Tag Team Championship Match - WWE: NXT Takeover Chicago - 6/16/18 - ****1/4

Ricochet vs. Velveteen Dream - WWE: NXT Takeover Chicago - 6/16/18 - ****

AJ Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura - WWE Championship Match - WWE: Money in the Bank - 6/17/18 - ***3/4

British Strong Style (Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) vs. Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, & Roderick Strong) - WWE: NXT UK Title Special - 6/25/18 - ****1/4

JULY:

Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki - RPW Heavyweight Title Match - Revolution Pro - 7/1/18 - ***3/4

Kazuchika Okada vs. Zack Sabre Jr - RPW - 7/1/18 - ****

Hiromu Takahashi vs. Dragon Lee - NJPW: Strong Style Evolved - 7/7/18 - ***3/4

Juice Robinson vs. Jay White - NJPW: Strong Style Evolved - 7/7/18 - ****

Buddy Murphy vs. Mustafa Ali - No Disqualification Match - WWE: 205 Live - 7/10/18 - ****

Tyler Bate & Trent Seven (c) vs. Kyle O'Reilly & Roderick Strong - NXT Tag Team Championship Match - WWE: NXT - 7/11/18 - ****1/2

Zack Sabre Jr vs. Kota Ibushi - NJPW: G1 Night Two - 7/15/18 - ****

Kenny Omega vs. Tetsuya Naito - NJPW: G1 Night Two - 7/15/18 - ****1/2

Hangman Page vs. Michael Elgin - NJPW: G1 Night Three - 7/16/18 - ***3/4

Akira Tozawa vs. Lio Rush - WWE: 205 Live - 7/17/18 - ***1/4

Zack Sabre Jr vs. Toru Yano - NJPW: G1 Night Four - 7/19/18 - ***1/4

Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW: G1 Night Four - 7/19/18 - ****1/4

Kota Ibushi vs. Juice Robinson - NJPW: G1 Night Four - 7/19/18 - ***1/2

Kenny Omega vs. Hirooki Goto - NJPW: G1 Night Four - 7/19/18 - ***1/2

Kazuchika Okada vs. Hangman Page - NJPW: G1 Night Five - 7/20/18 - ****1/2

Zack Sabre Jr vs. SANADA - NJPW: G1 Night Six - 7/21/18 - ***1/4

Tetsuya Naito vs. Juice Robinson - NJPW: G1 Night Six - 7/21/18 - ****

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hirooki Goto - NJPW: G1 Night Six - 7/21/18 - ****1/2

Michael Elgin vs. YOSHI HASHI - NJPW: G1 Night Seven - 7/22/18 - ***1/4

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Adam Page - NJPW: G1 Night Seven - 7/22/18 - ***

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr - NJPW: G1 Night Eight - 7/26/18 - ***1/2

Kenny Omega vs. Juice Robinson - NJPW: G1 Night Eight - 7/26/18 - ***1/4

Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI HASHI - NJPW: G1 Night Nine - 7/27/18 - ****

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kota Ibushi - NJPW: G1 Night Ten - 7/29/18 - ****1/2

AUGUST:

Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki - NJPW: G1 Night Thirteen - 8/2/18 - ****1/2

Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW: G1 Night Fourteen - 8/3/18 - *****

Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito - NJPW: G1 Night Fourteen - 8/3/18 - ****1/2

Minoru Suzuki vs. Adam Page - NJPW: G1 Night Fifteen - 8/5/18 - ***1/2

Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL - NJPW: G1 Night Fifteen - 8/5/18 - ***3/4

The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) vs. Cesaro & Sheamus - WWE: Smackdown - 8/7/18 - ***3/4

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Juice Robinson - NJPW: G1 Night Sixteen - 8/8/18 - ***3/4

Kenny Omega vs. Kota Ibushi - NJPW: G1 Climax Day 18 - 8/11/18 - ****3/4


SEPTEMBER:

Kenny Omega vs. Pentagon Jr - ALL IN - 9/1/18 - ****

The Young Bucks & Kota Ibushi vs. Rey Mysterio, Fenix, & Bandido - ALL IN - 9/1/18 - ***1/2

Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Will Ospreay - NJPW: Road to Destruction - 9/7/18 - ****1/2

Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler vs. Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins - WWE Tag Title Match - WWE: Hell In A Cell - 9/16/18 - ****1/4

The Young Bucks vs. Guerrillas of Destiny - NJPW: Fighting Spirit Unleashed - 9/30/18 - ***3/4

Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll - NJPW: Fighting Spirit Unleashed - 9/30/18 - ****

Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW: Fighting Spirit Unleashed - 9/30/18 - ****1/2

OCTOBER:

WALTER vs. Will Ospreay - OTT - 10/13/18 - ****1/4

BUSHI & Shingo Takagi vs. SHO & YO - NJPW: Road to Power Struggle - 10/16/18 - ****

BUSHI & Shingo Takagi vs. KUSHIDA & Chris Sabin - NJPW: Road to Power Struggle - 10/17/18 - ***3/4

Meiko Satomura vs. Toni Storm - WWE: Mae Young Classic - 10/24/18 - ****

BUSHI & Shingo Takagi vs. Taiji Ishimori & Chase Owens - NJPW: Road to Power Struggle - 10/26/18 - ***1/4

NOVEMBER:

The Young Bucks vs. KUSHIDA & Chris Sabin - ROH: Global Wars - 11/11/18 - ****

Shayna Basler (c) vs. Kairi Sane - NXT Women's Title Match - NXT: War Games - 11/17/18 - ***1/2

Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano - NXT: War Games - 11/17/18 - ****1/4

Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Velveteen Dream - NXT Title Match - NXT: War Games - 11/17/18 - ****1/2

Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong, & Bobby Fish vs. Ricochet, Pete Dunne, & War Raiders - NXT: War Games - 11/17/18 - ****1/4

DECEMBER:

Masato Yoshino (c) vs. PAC - Open The Dream Gate Championship Match - Dragon Gate: Fantastic Gate - 12/4/18 - ****1/4

The New Day vs. Cesaro & Sheamus vs. The Usos - WWE: TLC - 12/16/18 - ***1/4

Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax - WWE: TLC - 12/16/18 - ***1/2

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles - WWE Championship Match - WWE: TLC - 12/16/18 - ****

Charlotte (c) vs. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch - Women's Title Match - TLC Match - WWE: TLC - 12/16/18 - ****1/2

2017 Match Rating Archive

I rarely have the time to write full reviews anymore so I am keeping my archive of star ratings here. I am still catching up on 2017 stuff so this will be updated periodically with a link posted to Twitter (@ThePWTruth) when I do. New additions will be in ITALICS. 

JANUARY:

Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman - Last Man Standing Match - WWE: Raw - 1/2/17 - ****

Neville vs. TJ Perkins - WWE: 205 Live - 1/3/17 - ***1/4

Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom - 1/4/17 - *****

Tyler Bate vs. Pete Dunne - WWE: UK Tournament - 1/15/17 - ****1/4

Katsuyori Shibata vs. Matt Riddle - RPW - 1/21/17 - ****1/4

AJ Styles vs. John Cena - WWE: Royal Rumble - 1/29/17 - ****

FEBRUARY:
Braun Strowman vs. The Big Show - WWE: Raw - 2/20/17 - ****1/4

APRIL:
The Young Bucks vs. The Hardy's - ROH: Supercard of Honor - 4/1/17 - ****

AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon - WWE: WrestleMania 33 - 4/2/17 - ***1/2

The Hardys vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows vs. Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Big Cass & Enzo - WWE: WrestleMania 33 - 4/2/17 - ****

New Japan Cup 2018 - Night One Review (3/9/18)

March 9th, 2018 
NJ Cup - Night One

I sorta lost track with NJPW in February, but March is now upon us which means New Japan Cup season is here. I missed last year's so I'm looking forward to watching this one unfold. Kevin Kelly is on commentary with Chuck Taylor as his special guest (after the opening bout) so let's dive right into this.

1) CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano, & Chuckie T) vs. Tomoyuki Oka, Shota Umino, & Testsuhiro Yagi

First off, Chuck Taylor being in NJPW straight up rules. Long time coming for him. Second, Oka straight stood up to Goto from the get go of this opener and that also ruled. CHAOS, as you would more than likely guess, really took it to the Young Lions trio in this match and put them away in under seven minutes, but it was a lot of fun while it lasted. Chuckie gets the win for his team with the awful waffle which I think was needed to establish him in this tournament since he is Trent's replacement.

Match rating - **1/2

2) Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer) vs. Bullet Club (Tanga Loa & Bad Luck Fale) 

The more time goes on, the more I grow to love Bad Luck Fale. It took me a good minute, but I'm a straight mark for him, at the moment. KES comes out and Lance Archer is still doing his spit on all the fans gimmick. That is probably the most obnoxious thing in wrestling right now, dear lord. KES looked really strong here, basically dominating the whole thing after taking Fale out of the equation. Archer antagonized Fale the entire match which gives some build towards their first round meeting later on in the cup. 

Match rating - **1/2

3) Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, & BUSHI vs. Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr, El Desperado, & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) 

This was another pretty quick one that accomplished a lot. ZSJ and Naito face off later in the cup tournament and they got their first exchange with each other here with Sabre targeting the previously targeted shoulder of Naito. Sabre is presented so so well in NJ thus far in 2018 and I wouldn't be surprised if he takes this whole tournament. He gets the win for his team here with a brutal hold that forces BUSHI to tap almost immediately.

Match rating - **1/2

4) Hiroshi Tanahashi, David Finlay, & Toa Henare vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzki, Takashi Izuka, & Taichi)

This was my least favorite of the multi-man's of the night. Still was not bad at all, though. Suzuki-gun takes the match to the crowd early on. Suzuki's interactions with Tanahashi ruled. They also did some build towards Tanahashi & Taichi's upcoming first round match. In the end, Suzuki locks Henare in a sleeper hold and tosses him into a superkick from Taichi which earns Suzuki-gun their second victory of the night.

Match rating - **

5) Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI HASHI vs. Kota Ibushi & Chase Owens

Ibushi & Owens is such a weird team, but aye. Everyone here rules so this was solid for what it was, they never really got out of first gear there. Ibushi & YOSHI HASHI are first round opponents so we got that teaser and that was about it. Okada taps out Chase to the chicken wing for the win. YOSHI taunts Ibushi after the match whilst Okada fist bumps Chuckie T at ringside. HELL YEAH.

Match rating - **1/4

6) Juice Robinson vs. Yujiro Takahashi - New Japan Cup First Round Match

Finally into the tournament matches for the night and HOLY HELL what a way to kick this thing off. I have no clue how this was so good. Maybe I've just been sleeping on Juice Robinson or something, but he ruled as a babyface here. And even though Takahashi has always been sorta hit or miss, his cocky, aggressive demeanor played perfectly against Juice. He threw Juice into chairs in the crowd on multiple occassions thus cutting his back open. They proceed to get back in the ring and trade big moves which led to some awesome false finishes. Takahashi literally dropped Juice on his head at one point in a spot that will make your jaw drop. But in the end, Juice hits pulp friction to end it and advance.

Match rating - ***3/4

7) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Michael Elgin - New Japan Cup First Round Match

Revisiting the 2015 G1 Climax here and these guys arguably had just as good or better of a match as they did there. It's literally insane. They beat the dog shit out of one another and then some. At some points, it felt like it may be too much, but then they bring you right back to into it with dramatic exchanges and near falls. Wild ass main event to kick off the first night of the NJ Cup. You'll definitely have to take a breather after this one. Elgin wins after nearly 25 minutes of brutality and Ishii refuses to shake his hand.

Match rating - ****1/2