The Reality of Wrestling: Top 10 Matches of 2006 (Awards Pt. 5)
By Phil Clark & J.D. Speich
Note: The voting period for these awards was December 1, 2005 to December 1, 2006
Before we get to the wrestling matches, we’re debuting two new awards, both in the MMA world. Both J.D. and myself are big MMA fans and will recognize MMA in our awards from now on.
Shootfighter of the Year
P.C. Says: Mirko Cro Cop (Pride)
2nd Place: Tim Sylvia (UFC)
3rd Place: Mark Hunt (Pride)
Anyone who follows shootfighting will not disagree with me on this one. Despite losing to Mark Hunt on last year’s 12/31 show, Cro Cop responded by running right through Pride’s Openweight tournament in a fashion that was nothing less than incredible; he took out Ikuhisa Minowa in just over a minute, injured Hidehiko Yoshida’s leg so bad he had to quit, demolished and then knocked out Wanderlei Silva, and demolished Josh Barnett injuring his eye en route to an easy win. These were four capable and good fighters (Yoshida & Silva are still known as two of the best) and Cro Cop barely broke a sweat in beating all four. Hunt had easily the best year of his MMA career defeating Cro Cop, young star Yosuke Nishijima, sent Tsyoshi Kohsaka into retirement before losing to Josh Barnett. Sylvia started the year with a win over Assuerio Silva, won back the UFC Heavyweight Title in a very entertaining match, and made two successful defenses against Andre Arlovski (the man Sylvia took the title from) and Jeff Monson. Despite going 4-0, only the first Arlovski match this year was entertaining while the other three matches ranged from boring to extremely boring.
J.D. Says: Mikro Cro Cop (Pride)
2nd Place: Chuck Liddel (UFC)
3rd Place: Wanderlei Silva (Pride)
Pretty obvious choice here, Cro Cop proved himself as the best in the MMA when he successfully ran the gauntlet in Pride’s Openweight tournament beating such worthy opponents as Wanderlei Silva and Josh Barnett in a dominate fashion.
Shoot Match of the Year
P.C. Says: SHOOT MATCH OF THE YEAR: Kazushi Sakuraba Vs. Kestutis Smirnovas, K-1 Hero’s 6
What makes a great fight? Some people will say styles and some will say brutality. In this case, brutality won. While the fight only lasted just under seven minutes, it was non-stop action from bell-to-bell. A very good fight that saw Sakuraba’s mat ability bring him to victory. I haven’t seen a lot of UFC this year and I’m sure that any number of matches from that promotion could’ve taken this award. However, the fact that Sakuraba collapsed during training and had to miss Hero’s 7 because of injuries suffered in this fight may give it historical significance.
J.D. Says: SHOOT MATCH OF THE YEAR: Tim Sylvia Vs. Andre Arlovski, UFC 59
Although it might not have been the greatest match this year, the overall aspect of the match and the finish left it as the best fight of the year. This match had me on the edge of my seat with anticipation for Arlovski to win for a second time against Sylvia, only to be brought down when Sylvia somehow managed to work his way back up from a knockout punch and finish only to hit Arlovski with a no-look punch right in the chin, dropping Arlovski for the win. The finish itself was just an incredible and disbelieving sight in itself and made this match one of the greats of the year.
Now to the wrestling…
J.D.’s Top 10 Matches of 2006
10th Place: John Cena Vs. Edge, Unforgiven, 9/17 ****1/2
This match comes in at number ten on my list and not higher just because 2006 was year
full of high quality matches. The Cena/Edge feud throughout 2006 was intense and full of
hostility, and both men laid it all out on the line what has since been the final match in
their feud. The matches overall quality was good and the finish was good enough to put it over the four star rating, kudos to the best heel of 2006, in my opinion, to pull out a great match like this against Cena of all wrestlers.
9th Place: Chris Benoit Vs. Finlay, WWE, 5/21 ****1/4
This was a dream match for the fan who loves psychology and technical ability in a wrestling match. It was a pure vintage 1970’s style match that didn’t totally win over the crowd but still was a nice reminder of what wrestling used to be, and should be, about to this day.
8th Place: Ultimate X Match: A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels Vs. LAX, No Surrender, 9/24 ****1/4
What a match that these two tag teams put on for the crowd. Three out of four of the competitors in the match are in the prime of their career and made this match a spectacle. The fact that they were able to involve Hernandez as much as they did in a light heavyweight atmosphere was amazing enough. This match had all of the right spots and had an awesome ending with Daniels making a desperation jump to get the “X.”
7th Place: ROH Title Match: Bryon Danielson Vs. Roderick Strong, ROH, 3/31, ****1/2
This match earned its rating for the stiffness it brought to the table. In one of the stiffest moves I have ever seen Roderick Strong completely chopped a ring pole, just missing Danielson, and left a clink sound that was heard around the world. This was another top quality match from the boys at Ring of Honor.
6th Place: X Division Title Match: Samoa Joe Vs. A.J. Styles Vs. Christopher Daniels, Against All Odds, 2/12, ****1/2
Although the time limit on the match wasn’t as long as it should have been, these three men showed what good chemistry can do in a semi-short amount of time and put on one of TNA’s best matches of the year. I strongly believe that this was as good, if not better, than the triple threat they had in 2005.
5th Place: X Divison Title Match: Samoa Joe Vs. A.J. Styles, Turning Point, 12/11/05, ****1/2
Short and simple, this was another stupendous match between Styles and Joe and they made it very entertaining, to say the least. This was another tough match that put Joe’s undefeated streak to the test, but he wound up prevailing in the end to overcome A.J. Styles.
4th Place: Edge Vs. Mick Foley, Wrestlemania 22, 4/2, ****1/4
This was the match that stole the show this year at Wrestlemania and left many fans jumping out of their seats with the incredible finish of Edge spearing Foley through a flaming table on the outside. This match set the turning point for another big push for Edge and made Foley look like the God that he is. Aside from the Lita interference, this match had hardly any flaws and was one of the best hardcore matches I have ever seen.
3rd Place: World Heavyweight Title Match: Kurt Angle Vs. Undertaker, No Way Out, 2/19 ****1/2
What an amazing match that had no right of being an amazing match. When people first found out about Kurt Angle/Undertaker they were marking it down as a worst match of the year candidate, as I stated earlier in a separate piece to this article, and the match did a full 180 degrees as it turned out to be over a four star quality. Who could have foreseen Angle and Undertaker having a 30-minute match that was worth the full time limit? If there was an award for surprise match of the year, this one would take the cake.
2nd Place: GHC Junior Heavyweight Title Match: KENTA Vs. Low Ki, ROH, 12/17/05 ****3/4
I’m speechless when it comes to talking about this match. Not only did it involve one of my favorite wrestlers in Low Ki, but also it was a flawless match that has every aspect a great match should. This match had spots, a little psychology, an intense atmosphere, and a good finish. If it hadn’t been for the six-man Dragon Gate match that ROH put on Wrestlemania weekend, this would be my match of the year.
1st Place: Blood Generation Vs. Do Fixer, ROH, 3/31 ****3/4
No real surprise here, this has to be the number one match for a lot of Internet writers this year. This was a pure Japanese style match, full of spots and a continuous fast pace. There was numerous times throughout this match that I thought it was going to be over, and yet the wrestlers kept kicking out and kept the fans wanting more and more as the match continued. What made this match even more significant was that it took place during Wrestlemania weekend and anything that showed up on the Wrestlemania card paled in comparison to this match, proving that the Indy circuit might just be better than the mainstream one. In 2007 it might not be a bad move for companies to bring in more Japanese wrestlers, or at least put on more Dragon Gate matches in order to up their overall quality on the wrestling perspective.
P.C.’s Top 10 Matches of 2006
Before my list, I’m just going to remind those reading that THIS LIST IS BASED ON MATCHES THAT I’VE SEEN.
The Ones That Missed The Cut
Hardcore Match: Mick Foley Vs. Edge, WWE, 4/2 ****1/4
Probably the best hardcore match I’ve ever seen; and that’s saying something. This was an example of how less can be more as they laid out great spots, but didn’t overdo things and it turned out to be a great match. I mean, countering Edge’s spear with barbed wire wrapped around your own chest, how does Foley think up this shit?
Why it missed the cut: My own prejudice against hardcore matches and the fact that there were simply matches that were better enough to make the list.
A.J. Styles Vs. Christian Cage, TNA, 11/19 ****1/4
This is an example of a rejuvenator. Cage’s career in TNA had been in a holding pattern since he lost the belt in June despite the Rhino feud turning out better than it had any right to. Styles’ singles matches had been on the downslide throughout 2006 and this match showed that he hadn’t lost his touch; he was just picking his moment.
Why it missed the cut: Time. Because it was on a PPV of one of the big two in the U.S., there was going to be time constraints and with matches from Japan and ROH on the list with at least ten minutes more than this one to work with, they were likely going to turn out better.
Kensuke Sasaki & Kenta Kobashi Vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima & Genichiro Tenryu, Sasaki 20th Anniversary Show, 2/12 ****1/4
What Kensuke Sasaki wanted for his 20th anniversary in wrestling was apparently to kill his protégé Nakajima as the majority of this match saw Sasaki and Kobashi just kill this poor kid in what may turn out to be his badge of courage in the long run. Despite the dream team of Sasaki & Kobashi, this was Nakajima’s show as Tenryu didn’t play much of a role, but still gave Nakajima the rub from being his partner, but the young lion showed that he may just be the future.
Why it missed the cut: A really slow start killed this match from getting on the list. This match was incredibly good after the first 10-12 minutes and had it not been for the almost gratuitous beating that Nakajima took in that time, this one may have made it.
10th Place: ROH Title Match: Bryan Danielson Vs. Samoa Joe, ROH, 8/5 ****1/4
As main-event from the “Fight of the Century” show for ROH, this one fit the title. Despite not being match of the century or match of the year, this one was still very good (as would be expected from these two). The crowd heat and stiffness were awesome and the only thing that kept this match from being higher was that execution wasn’t 100% what I expected out of these two, but the last 10 minutes of this one is must-see stuff.
9th Place: Chris Benoit Vs. Finlay, WWE, 5/21 ****1/4
This one earned extra points for being so drastically different than what The E was doing at the time. Not only that, but this was a bit of dream match for yours truly and started Finlay’s rise to the top of SmackDown! This is the one that proved that Benoit can still have a great match at any time and showed what these two can truly do when left alone from The E’s booking constraints.
8th Place: ROH Title Match: Bryan Danielson Vs. Roderick Strong, ROH, 3/31 ****1/2
The “spot from hell” is what this match is and will be known for, but it was still fantastic stuff. When you’re dealing with these two, you know it’s going to be brutal; these two didn’t stray from that in the least. Fantastic stuff all the way through, all 56 minutes of it.
7th Place: X Division Title Match: A.J. Styles Vs. Samoa Joe, TNA, 12/11/05 ****1/2
Talk about longevity. Despite taking place just after the voting period started, this one managed to get on the list after the ENTIRE year. Easily the stiffest match TNA could’ve put on at the time and has put on since (minus Low-Ki’s stuff). The code of honor storyline was borrowed here and played to perfection by both of these guys. The stories on Joe’s blog and website about him and Styles the day after this match are priceless and did show just how brutal and brilliant it was.
6th Place: KENTA Vs. Davey Richards, ROH, 8/5 ****1/2
A showstealer and a starmaker all in one. Richards had been in ROH for just two months before he got to take on his mentor in the ring. What transpired was a match that overshadowed the Joe/Danielson title match and made it known that KENTA just might be one of the best wrestlers on the planet and the next Jushin Liger. Great stuff from both men, plenty of exciting nearfalls, and other great stuff that I can’t go into detail about for fear of rambling on.
5th Place: World Heavyweight Title Match: Kurt Angle Vs. The Undertaker, WWE, 2/19 ****1/2
The shocker of the year in wrestling. Kurt Angle, as good a wrestler as he is, was never able to have a classic match (by definition) with Taker despite having numerous matches with him since coming to The E back in ’99. This time around, Taker let Angle carry the ball instead of vice versa and what came of it was that classic that these two were never able to have. Undertaker, selling, and psychology were three things I never thought I’d see in a match together, but not only did they all take place here, they were all done exceptionally well.
4th Place: GHC Title Match: Naomichi Marufuji Vs. KENTA, 10/29 ****3/4
When the Tokyo Sports wrestling awards come out every year, the match of the year winner is usually either based on popularity or politics, not how good the match actually was. This year’s winner, Marufuji/KENTA from NOAH’s October 29 Budokan Hall show, was the exception. If anyone can find me a better main-event from a major Japanese wrestling show, send it my way because I don’t believe there was a better main-event from the land of the rising sun. Both of these guys laid it all on the line (literally) to prove that light heavyweights could put on main-events in the heavyweight division. They succeeded, as the Budokan crowd was on its feet most of the way through. The moves these two executed and the beatings they gave each other had me shouting “NO WAY!” at the screen numerous times throughout. That’s entertainment.
3rd Place: GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title Match: KENTA Vs. Low-Ki, ROH, 12/17/05
****3/4
Here’s the definition of stiffness. You’d think that a 25-minute matches with mostly kicks would get boring or repetitive; if you think that, you don’t know KENTA or Low-Ki. In ROH’s final match of 2005 (that’s right), these two killed each other for the benefit of the on looking crowd and to send KENTA’s title reign into high gear. They succeeded in both cases as the excitement, stiffness and overall quality of this match was off-the-charts good and sent 2005 out with a bang.
2nd Place: Blood Generation Vs. Do Fixer, ROH, 3/31 ****3/4
Unbelievable seems to be the only way to describe this one. The Internet hype after this match took place was overwhelming. The match lived up to it and then some overshadowing everything else that happened that weekend, including Wrestlemania! This match is worth seeking out for everything: innovative offense that you’ll probably never see again on American soil unless from Dragon Gate wrestlers, a pace that was ungodly fast (120 mph is an understatement), several near finishes that would fool anybody (even if you know the finish), and a finale that is must-see. This is as innovative a match as you’ll probably see anywhere and is a match that everyone will love preferences be damned!
WINNER: ROH Title Match: Bryan Danielson Vs. KENTA, ROH, 9/16 *****
ROH is famous for having great matches, especially great title matches, but this one takes the cake for 2006. KENTA’s working over of Danielson’s injured shoulder was brutal at worst, gruesome at best. Danielson, ever the professional, sold the damage the entire match and was still able to get his signature stuff out without losing that bit of psychology. What this match was was another example of ROH’s brilliance and why they’re the best wrestling promotion on Earth right now: storylines. KENTA had two clean wins over Danielsonâ€â€Âone in a tag match, and one in a triple threatâ€â€Âthat ROH played up the entire match in the announce booth and in the ring. The entire match was just ungodly the whole way and left me speechless and on the edge of my seat throughout. The “Can Danielson kick out of the Go 2 Sleep?” build to this match was one of the reasons it was the only match I’ve seen this year to get the full five and why it’s one that will hopefully go down as one of the truly great ones. “An incredible journey,” Dave Meltzer wrote to describe this one. I don’t think I could describe it better myself.
