Top ten wrestling matches of 2021
By: Justin Hopkins
It is that time of year, where we sit back and recollect on the past. Thinking about the excellent movies, shows we got to experience over the past 12 month. Which we will soon be getting to, but lets kick the countdowns off right, with the best wrestling matches of the year, and was it no easy feet. In some cases, felt like there was a new candidate nearly every week, especially where a certain Bryan Danielson was involved. Who threatened to take over the entire list by himself. Now, this list will contain matches from AEW, NXT, and WWE, because those were the three I followed most. I promise I will change that next year, cause I just know the like of Impact, NJPW, and so many others put on bangers as well. Just need to make the time to check them out. With that said lets jump right in with…
HONORABLE MENTION
Christian Cage Vs Kenny Omega Impact Championship
This is a compromise to myself. How much I wanted to put this on my top ten list, because I was there for it. Had a fantastic time and this match was so good. Didn’t think for a moment Christian was walking away with the victory either. Figured no way they would have an Impact title change on AEW, but was wrong in the best of ways.
10. Pac vs Orange Cassidy vs Kenny Omega AEW Heavyweight Championship Double or Nothing
At some point, going to stop rolling my eyes when Triple Threat Matches are announced. I am proven wrong nearly every time, and this match blew away every expectations. Three completely personalities and styles and they knocked it out of the park. Knew that Kenny wasn’t losing that belt, but they sucked me in and made a believer that both Pac and Orange had a chance, and that moment where Pac had Orange locked in the Brutalizer and Kenny is kicking him but Pac is laughing off the blows. Forcing a Panicked Omega to take out the Ref to save the match will live on in my head forever.
9. Bianca Belair Vs Sasha Banks Smackdown Women’s Championship Wrestlemania Night 1
For the moment alone, this would have made the list. Two of the best going in WWE today, in Bianca and Sasha. Two of the most deserving women, who have worked so hard to be where they are. Such a feel good moment to see them bath in the Crowd reaction to them Main Event Night 1 of Mania. Then they had a stellar match. Cementing this is the place of history and with Mania going to two nights. will hopefully open the door to more women’s matches in the Main Event Slot.
8. Pete Dunne vs Finn Baylor XXT Championship Vengeance Day
As someone who really likes slow build technical based matches, these two guys ticked all of the boxes. Finn can go against anyone and make something magical and Pete Dunne is fantastic when it comes to working over his opponents, Together they made something magical and I hope Dunne finally gets that belt in 2022.
7. MJF vs Darby Allin Full Gear
I knew this match was going to be good going in, but was not ready for just how good it turned out to be. They opened the show and could make the argument that they had the match of the night. Highlighting both of their strengths and brought out the best in one another. Looking forward to see what happens next, in what I am sure will be a storied rivalry between the two and I am willing to be next time will involve a championship.
6. CM Punk vs Eddie Kingston Full Gear
Now this is how a blood feud is done. Two guys who don’t like each other and wanted to fight. Punk didn’t do his normal routine on the ramp. Eddie starting things off with the spinning back fist and they just went from there. Flipping each other off and went at it till Punk hit the final blow, but even in defeat, Kingston felt so important cause on another night. Could swing his way and with how Kingston’s year went. Think that might be sooner then later.
5. Bryan Danielson vs Kenny Omega Grand slam
This is a match I have been looking forward to, even when this was a pipe dream. Would talk about this with Co-Workers who would wish I would talk about anything else, and was thrilled to see that we were not only getting it, but weren’t wasting time. The match was everything that I wanted. Even knowing they would probably run the time limit draw, was still so entranced by everything they did, and the way they ended it. Suggested this is just an appetizer for things to come.
4. Bryan Danielson vs Hangman Adam Page AEW Heavyweight Championship Winter Is Coming
From a time limit draw we saw coming to one we did not. We get this gem from deep into the year. They had set the match up perfectly going in and Bryan almost toying with Hangman as the match went on. Proving more and more that he is less human and more actual wrestling machine. From someone who never yells at the tv, when it was under a ,minute, I was out of my seat yelling for Hangman to get up. Part 2 can’t get here soon enough.
3. IIja Dragunov vs WALTER NXT U.K Championship NXT Takeover 36
The best match WWE put on this year, was easily, Dragunov vs WALTER 2. These two guys went out there and beat each other like a bongo drum. WALTER being the prominent monster for 800 plus days and IIja being a smaller guy, but refused to being defeated on this day. Returning fire with everything that he got and getting the win by submission felt like a massive feather in the cap for him.
2. Thunder Rosa vs Dr. Britt Baker Unsanctioned Lights Out St. Patrick’s Day Slam
For me, this was monumental. Sure other places have let the Women’s Wrestlers go like this, but I had never seen it. Let alone on National Television like this. They made it feel like a big deal and solidified that Lights out matches will be brutal no matter who will be in them, and Baker and Rosa set the bar incredibly high. The match complimented the rivalry, paving the way for the two of them to go tooth and nail against one another and in the end. Both walked away bigger stars for it and was so close to being my match of the year.
1.Bryan Danielson vs Minoru Suzuki on a buy in for a Rampage on freakin YouTube!
Let that sit in for a moment. This was a dream match on YouTube. A counter to what WWE was trying to do to them. No one would have faulted them for going half speed and taking it easy. Nope, they beat each other within an inch of their lives. So, many moments they went toe to toe, throwing punches and kicks and every time was more exciting then the last. Concern every time Bryan hit the ground like a safe and felt like he only got 9the win, cause for a single moment. Was able to outsmart the murder grandpa. I don’t normally share matches with my non-wrestling friends. Last time was Shield vs Wyatt Family. I shared this one though. They treated a free match on YouTube like it was a Main Event of a Big PPV and will love it forever.
As always, I hope you enjoyed and….
Thank You For Reading!
NXT Stand and Deliver Predictions
By: Justin Hopkins
While the Wrestlemania build has been rather lacking across the board. At least we have the warming comfort of NXT to look forward to. I was a little surprised when they announced that it would be over two nights. Certainly stacked both nights with with some gold standards Championship Matches and blood feuds that can rank among best of the year by the end of it all. So, lets jump in and try and big brain our way to some predictions shall we.
Night 1
Kushida vs Pete Dunne
This is going to be fun. A match based around who is the best technical wrestlers. Going to be a different style that will fit perfectly between some of the matches to come and while each of them kind of need the win here. Going to go with Dunne for the win. To try and get some of his momentum back following the loss to Baylor.
Winner-Pete Dunne
NXT Triple Threat Tag Team Championship match – MSK vs Grizzled Young Veterans vs Legado Del Fantasma
Building off their recent vacancy to crown the new Tag Team Champions. We can drop Legado del Fantasma, I think this is coming down to the Vets and MSK and I so want to say MSK. Do to the time of the year and the heels normally losing, but this might be an exception. See the Grizzled Young Veterans pick up the win here and building to the third match down the line. Which I want to see happen.
Winners and new NXT Tag Team Champions – Grizzled Young Veterans
Gauntlet for the number 1 contender for the North American Championship – Isiah “Swerve” Scott vs Leon Ruff vs Bronson Reed vs Cameron Grimes vs L.A Knight vs Dexter Lumis
So, the winner of this will go on to face Johnny Gargano of night two. Now, any one of these guys can go on and tear it up with Gargano, would love to see Cameron, that would be hysterical. There is only one will winner here. Lumis has been tormenting The Way for weeks. Barring a really shock win. Can only really go with Lumis for the win.
Winner – Dexter Lumis
U.K Championship Match – Tommaso Ciampa vs WALTER (Champion)
This match is just going to be brutal. They are just going to beat the snot out of one another in all of the most wonderful of ways. WALTER throwing chops that will echo throughout the surrounding area and Ciampa doing everything he can imagine to take him down. It’s be grueling and devastating and done to perfection but when the fighting is over, I don’t exoect the title to change hands.
Winner and still Champion – WALTER
NXT Women’s Championship – Raquel Gonzales vs Io Shirai (Champion)
This is the match I am looking forward to the most. Io wanting to face the best and with her constant attack on Raquel last week. Raquel looks like an absolute world beater right now. Give them the time they need and believe they can steal the night and maybe even the week. As much as I have loved the matches Io has had with the belt. Time to put the belt of someone new and Raquel has been set up perfect and on Wednesday, Io’s time has come.
Winner and new Champion – Raquel Gonzales
Night 2
Cruiserweight Unification Ladder match – Santos Escobar vs Jordan Devlin
Having Shawn Micheals to set this ladder match up was perfect. A match set up thanks to Jordan not being able to travel thanks to travel restrictions. While I feel bad that Jordan didn’t get his full run with the belt. Kind of want to see Escobar keep the belt here. Keep it going for a bit longer and really feel like someone has to ascend to a whole new level to take the belt from him.
Winner and Cruiserweight Champion – Santos Escobar
NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship Match – The Way vs Shotzi Blackheart vs Ember Moon (Champions)
I can tell you about how excited I am for this match and point out the possibility of The Way winning, but I can’t. I love the tag team of Shotzi and Ember and think they have one of the coolest entrances going. The belts are new and they need to do a better job on them. Which means keeping the belts were they are.
Winners and still NXT Women’s Champions – Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon
NXT North American Championship – Dexter Lumis vs Johnny Gargano (Champion)
Since I am going with Lumis figure we will keep it going. It’ll be a good match and at the end of the day, think they are going with Lumis. If he doesn’t win they are going to have to go back to the drawing board cause I don’t think he can take a loss at the moment.
Winner and new North American Champion – Dexter Lumis
Unsanctioned Match – Kyle O’Reily vs Adam Cole
Oh, this is going to be so good and perfect counterpart to the likes of Walter vs Ciampa. While that match is going to be brutal within the ring. Kyle and Cole is going to be the outrageous destruction of former friends turned bitter enemies in all of it’s glories. This match is just going to be great. Storytelling and production at its finest and I don’t know who to pick and pretty sure the aftermath Roderick is going to pick the bones, but I am gfoing to go with Cole for the win.
Winner – Adam Cole
NXT Championship Match – Karrion Kross vs Finn Baylor (Champion)
It is weird, this is the top title of NXT and feels like just another match. Nothing against either guy. match is going to be good. Just what it has to go up against. I am going to go with Kross. To get him back on pace before his injury.
Winner and new NXT Champion – Karrion Kross
As always, I hope you enjoyed and….
Thank You For Reading.
The Main Event Review
By Paul Anthony
In This review will be going over a little movie called The Main Event which is made by WWE Studios and released on Netflix. Now currently Netflix is making headlines by a another movie I which we will review at a later date. now that film is a hardcore action film, so when I describe this film I am truly saying it in a good way. When I first saw the previews I have to admit I thought this film was kind of dumb. In part the trailer showed a kid beating a and lifting a pro wrestler. Now Wrestling is already under the light because of it being staged and etc, so I figured it would hurt that sport even more because they did in fact use real wrestlers. Then I did watch the film and it explain why he was able to do what he did. Now at this point this blog does contain spoilers so you have been warn!
The movie is about an eleven year boy named Leo who gets picked on by bullies and begins to lose his confidence. Leo lives with his grandmother and father and the film reveals not only does he get picked on but also his mom left them behind forcing his dad to work two jobs to keep the house running. But one day when Leo is getting chased by bullies he stumbles a crossed a wrestler’s mask but this mask is special which when Leo puts it on he has a strength and personality of a confident wrestler. At this point he learns that WWE NXT is coming to town for a tournament and the winner gets 50,000 dollars and a WWE contract. The money is the important part because Leo’s dad needs 20,000 dollars in order to keep the house and return to working one job and can spend time with Leo. As the tournament goes on Leo becomes the talk of the town and favorite to win, which causes him to do promos and sign autographs which takes him away from his friends, which then Leo goes back to having low confidence because he realizes he loves his friends and family more than anything. In The final match his opponent steals his mask before their match, which is something he should have noticed beforehand but never mind that. When Leo learns that the mask is fake, he begins to get scared which at this time his father shows up and guides him through the cage match where he tells Leo that everyone has a weakness and his opponent’s weakness is height which Leo coaches him to climb the cage and look down which basically causes the guy to pass out and fall allowing Leo to go for the pin and the win. When they discover that Leo is just a kid which means he can not get the contract but passes it to another wrestler, Leo keeps the money and saves his family’s home.
The movie was a good family over the top film with nice feel good story which I know we all need right now. Some things were over the top even for that type of film. The comedy did fall flat and I only caught myself giving a giggle here and there. Even the acting was stiff at moments but in the end I would say this was decent family movie. With that being said I giving this film a C for a grade yes it had it’s moments but it just felt like an average film.
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