Match of the Year! Match of the Year! Match of the Year! It’s a cheer that resounds throughout stadiums, arenas, bingo halls, armories and concert venues as loudly it does from the words and mouths of the media and the chorus of Tweets, Facebook and Instagram posts.
Pop Break has assembled a panel of staff writers and friends of the site to contribute their thoughts as to what they thought was the match of the year for 2020 (and some people, like our editor-in-chief decided to have multiple entries).
Match of the Year: Kenny Omega vs. PAC – 30 Minute Iron Match
The Show: AEW Dynamite in Kansas City (2/26/20)
Chosen by: Bill Bodkin (Editor-in-Chief)
This match was the beginning of Kenny Omega’s amazing run in 2020. This match happened literal days before he, Hangman Page and The Young Bucks put on an all-time classic at Revolution in Chicago and it’s a surprise Omega could walk let alone put on a masterpiece after this match. PAC and Omega put on a 40 minute, non-stop, high impact match that was filled with drama, suspense and tension. It’s absolutely breathtaking to see these two go at it and to be honest, it might be one of their top matches of all-time as performers.
Match of the Year: Keith Lee vs. Dominic Dijakovic
The Show: NXT Takeover Portland (2/16/20)
Chosen By: Rob Crowther IV (Senior Editor, Host The Bob Culture Podcast)
This match already had the unfair advantage of both a live crowd and Mauro Ranallo on the call unlike the majority of matches this year. That being said, I did not expect such an epic bout in what one might think would be a straight up heavy hitting hoss fight. Yet, this match was more than that.
From Lee’s jumping hurricanrana to his Next Level leaping CorkScrew plancha, the tone was set early. Not to be outdone Dijakovic also showed tremendous agility with his running backwards leap over the top rope comparable something out of Ricochet’s arsenal, a springboard flipping senton AND a corkscrew moonsault prompting the obligatory “NXT” chants from the live crowd. Every single move meant something. The powerhouses would continually try to chop one another down until they both fell to their knees in an embrace telling the story of this epic battle.
The crowd would relish every spot as Lee was even able to silence the entire live crowd as he hit a pair of massive chops. You think this match would’ve ended with the massive avalanche “Feast your Eyes” off the top, but Lee would kick out! In fact these two would kick out of everything. Ultimately Lee would get the W with a massive Big Bang Catastrophe.
The icing on the cake was the show of respect post match as Lee would lift his opponent to the to the top rope and give him center stage. The perfect ending to the perfect match.
Match of the Year: The Young Bucks vs. FTR for the AEW Tag Team Titles
The Show: AEW Full Gear (11/7/20)
Chosen By: Steve Miller (Media Instructor, Rutgers University)
In a year where Vince McMahon thought it would be very cool to spend big bucks creating fake arenas and forcing world class athletes to act as if a real audience was sitting in what is nothing more than an empty, expensive, former warehouse, Tony Kahn managed to usurp the king’s throne. AEW not only put on the best U.S. shows and matches in 2020, it destroyed the aura of WWE as the only game in town. While it’s true, Kahn’s Wednesday night show sometimes wreak of an overindulgence in the memory of the 1998 version of WCW, his wrestlers truly know how to innovatively entertain its audience with top-notch, sometimes unpredictable entertainment.
This was never more evident that in the two biggest and best American matches of the year, the singles encounter between Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley, and the tag match between the Young Bucks and FTR (aka: F&*k the Revival or Fear the Revelation). Both of these told great stories, had superior interaction, and didn’t let the viewer down for one minute. The Omega/Moxley showpiece is a slight hair behind the other in quality, but rises to that level because it was on live TV. McMahon, who stays stale by booking the same way he did in 1985 and 1995, would never allow a match of this quality to be shown for free.
The Young Bucks/FTR match, from all accounts, was a move-by-move tribute to all of those tag teams that came before them. The Jackson Brothers, Harwood, and Wheeler used all of the moves and finishes that their heroes used and did them even better. The finish in itself told a great story within the overall story, something that added layers to what will continue to be a great rivalry No one was supposed to be able to top the Omega/Page tag title victory match from last year, but this one did and sets the bar even higher moving forward.
Match of the Year: The Young Bucks vs. Kenny Omega & “Hangman” Adam Page for the AEW Tag Team Titles
The Show: AEW Revolution (2/29/20)
Chosen By: Julian Dimagiba (Bassist, Young Rising Sons)
They built. And built. And built. And built. And just when you didn’t think it go build anymore: kick out at two and keep building.
Match of the Year: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace for the Impact Wrestling Knockouts Title
The Show: Impact Wrestling Slammiversary (7/18/20)
Chosen By: Bill Bodkin (Editor-in-Chief)
Women’s wrestling has been absolutely incredible in 2020. Just think about Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley, Asuka vs. Becky Lynch, Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler, Bayley vs. Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair vs. Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley, Hikaru Shida vs. Thunder Rosa, Women’s War Games, Serena Deeb vs. Thunder Rosa …. and there’s so many more that I’m absolutely missing.
However, there’s one match I can keep going back to over and over and over again — and that’s Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace from Impact Wrestling’s Slammiversary PPV. While that show was built around what released WWE talents would surface in Impact, the story of this show was this match. Deonna Purrazzo had debuted and it felt in many ways that she would be used as another notch in Grace’s impressive title reign. However, this match shocking as we got to see The Virtuosa show out in a big way. She had something to prove after years of sparing use (and that’s being kind) in WWE and NXT. This match showed why the Virtuosa moniker isn’t just a clever nickname it’s the absolute truth. She built this match around working a body part (Grace’s arm) and it was thrilling to watch. Grace, easily one of the best women in the world right now, did an excellent job playing the heroine in danger despite her obvious strength advantage. This and their excellent Iron Woman Match from Impact on AXS in August is just two examples of why no one should be sleeping on Impact, their tremendous Knockouts Division and one of the biggest breakout stars of 2020 — Deonna Purrazzo.
Match of the Year: Randy Orton vs. Edge in “The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever”
The Show: WWE Backlash (6/14/20)
Chosen By: Christian Wagner (Pirates Press)
“The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” had a name that no one thought could live up to the hype, and while it wasn’t the greatest match of all time, it was certainly the best match of 2020. Edge and Orton have always had a great chemistry and mutual respect which is evident in this match. Add in a storyline and the ability to get creative with post-production editing and you’ve got a classic match that will probably go under-appreciated because it was done in an empty room because of the pandemic.
The modern wrestling scene has been inundated with this new style of big move after big move, spots, dives, and a bevy of false finishes with no flow and little psychology. Some liken it to “video game wrestling.” This style was popularized by younger, typically smaller “wrestlers” who were working their way up through bingo halls, VFWs in Southern California, and barns 50 miles from the nearest town to incorporate much more choreography and gymnastics into their styles which many internet fans and “journalists” have warmed up to. Unfortunately, this style also pushes the boundaries of what can be “believed” and diminishes the quality of what is supposed to be a sporting event where there is a suspension of belief. It’s less about telling a story and more about who has the coolest and most dangerous looking move set.
Orton and Edge deliver the antithesis of this modern trend with an old school match filled with psychology, flow, and believability. Coming off of their lackluster WrestleMania “Falls Count Anywhere” match, the bar was expectedly set low by fans. However, these two veterans showed that they still have the ability to “go” without doing high spots, dives, and neck bumps to make their match great. What transpired was a 45 minute mat classic of storytelling by picking and working a body part, slowing it down, and selling to create a believable narrative that allowed for peaks in the match with false finishes.
In particular, it should be noted that Orton is still a Top 5 wrestler in the world when he chooses to be. Yes, that is a sad statement, but we all know for all of Orton’s lack of charisma and sometimes “bland” style, he’s still the smoothest and perhaps most technically sound wrestler of this era. This match spotlights Orton at his very best – a classic heel who picks and chooses his spots in a match and still pulls off the cocky and arrogant S.O.B. he’s been for so many years.
Unfortunately, this match also led to a tricep injury for Edge who has been out of action since this match.
Regardless, “The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” should be seen as a modern-day barometer for great wrestling. There was nothing fancy or over-the-top that happened in this match but what it did have was unparalleled psychology and flow that younger wrestlers should take note of.
Match of the Year: Best Friends vs. Santana & Ortiz – Parking Lot Fight
The Show: AEW Dynamite (9/16/20)
Chosen By: Melissa Jouben (Staff Writer, Co-Creator of Warm Things)
What kid who grew up daydreaming about becoming a professional wrestler didn’t also fantasize about making their parents proud by wrestling? Not only can we unequivocally say that Trent made his mom proud with one of the most entertaining and ruthless matches of 2020, but he helped make her a pro wrestling star in the process. She even has official “Sue” merch on Pro Wrestling Tees to prove it.
There are so many things that AEW has gotten right this year, and all of them are showcased in this match. For one, the care AEW puts into building and showcasing their tag team division is currently unrivaled. To have a storyline where Best Friends seek revenge on Santana and Ortiz for wrecking Trent’s mom’s van by having a bloody parking lot fight is the perfect encapsulation on how creative and fun AEW can be while still delivering on their promise to keep the show sports focused. There is so much genuine carnage in this match that I watched the whole thing with my jaw dropped, which is something that so rarely happens when watching wrestling on TV these days.
This year we saw the landscape of televised pro wrestling change dramatically thanks to COVID-created setbacks, but it seems that AEW is in the lead when it comes to turning these setbacks into innovation. And if a segment like Le Dinner Debonair can be recognized by the New York Times as “Performance of the Year,” I really think a cinematic match like this one – where you can almost pull back the curtain and see how much work goes into creating storylines and producing a match from beginning to end – creates a solid argument for future Emmy consideration.
Match of the Year: Lee Moriarity vs. Wheeler Yuta
The Show: Beyond Wrestling “Two Weeks Notice in Atlantic City (7/26/20)
Chosen By: Kenny Pete (Dummer of Dub Proof, Hype Man for The Mystery Men)
Much like for everyone else, 2020 was a strange year for professional wrestling. Events cancelled, TV shows running with no fans to fulfill network contractual obligations creating a lifeless atmosphere for the product, indie shows running outside (and inside) doing all they can to do so “safely,” it was all very strange. Despite this unprecedented atmosphere, few talents were able to cut through the noise and make the best of it.
The best wrestling match for my money featured two of those talents on the boardwalk of Atlantic City, New Jersey on a show called Two Week’s Notice presented by New England independent company Beyond Wrestling. In a technically heavy exhibition put on by two of the best young and up and coming wrestlers today as “Taiga Style” Lee Moriarty battled the “Steel Drum Sensei” Wheeler Yuta in a 5 to 7 to 9 star match depending on what part of planet earth you happen to reside.
I predict both of these talents will be locked up to big money contracts for major television wrestling companies in 2021. I’m also not going sell you on how Awesome this match was, Im just going to challenge you to watch this match below & tell me, legitimately, Who did it better in 2020.
Match of the Year: Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston for the “I Quit Match” for the AEW World Title
The Show: AEW Full Gear (11/7/20)
Chosen By: Michael Dworkis (Senior Editor)
I’ve never had such a difficult time deciding on a candidate for “Match of the Year.” It’s obvious this year I am picking one from AEW, even with colossal matches between Keith Lee and Johnny Gargano, as well as Finn Balor vs. Kyle O’Reilly in NXT. Even Street Profits vs. New Day was a MOTY candidate in my opinion.
But AEW has blown me away this year with so many memorable matches. Orange Cassidy vs. Brodie Lee was special to me, as they worked so well together despite their wrestling differences. I almost picked Brodie Lee decimation of Cody Rhodes to win the TNT Championship, simply because of how unexpected the match and result came to be. Darby Allin winning the TNA Championship came to mind. Of course, how many matches with Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Penta El Zero M, Rey Fenix, and one of my favorite wrestlers, “Hangman” Adam Page.
But, I took my pick in a different direction. I’m sure not many will agree with my decision, but here it is.
The “I Quit” match between “Mad King” Eddie Kingston vs. Jon Moxley. Hear me out.
This year has completely sucked. AEW managed to pull together some great creative ideas with being limited early on, which translated into feuds and story arcs we might not have seen had the pandemic never happened. We got the elevation of one Eddie Kingston, who may very well be one of the best, running right behind Rabbi Paul Heyman for Maestro of the Microphone.
Eddie and Moxley’s feud built such fire, tension, hype, in a way which reminded me of the build between Taz and Sabu in ECW. When Kingston and Mox hit it at Full Gear and completely tore into each other, I felt the chill, the goosebumps of watching ECW all over again. The match was not a technical masterpiece or high-risk aerial mastery, but the elements of all types of wrestling was present, which all led to a brutal apex of chairs, barbwire, and more. It wasn’t trash wrestling or all about weapons, in the ring, they yelled, they taunted, they berated each other to hit harder and harder. The final chapter of this arc would unfold in the ring in all forms.
I wanted Eddie to win, I really did. Since this match, we’ve had Eddie on commentary, in more segments, and every time he speaks, I want to listen.
This ladies, gentlemen, and trolls of the internet wrestling community, is why I picked Eddie Kingston vs. Jon Moxley as MY Match of the Year.
Match of the Year: Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso for the WWE Universal Title
The Show: WWE Hell in a Cell (10/25/20)
Chosen By: Matthew Widdis (Staff Writer)
I’m on record as hating the idea of an annual PPV built around Hell in a Cell, something that used to come out once every 2-3 years for dramatic effect. An “I quit” match Hell in a Cell? Kind of a hat on a hat, right? A year (hell… a few months) before this match, the idea of Roman Reigns being Universal Champion and defending it against a tag team wrestler for an obvious win would elicit groans from the neckbeard nation. But this? This worked. It worked in all the ways that they tried to make Roman Reigns work for years. As a fan of his, I was relieved at the character change. No more cheesy winks or pretending he was some sort of plucky underdog. No more “sufferin’ succotash” and no more spending years trying to make up for it.
It wasn’t a 5-star match. It wasn’t Tully vs Magnum or Undertaker vs Foley. It was, however, the most important match narrative-wise in WWE (and maybe all of pro wrestling) this year. It was a character study between two men and their extended family. It was a shift in the dynamic of the entire upper card across the company. In something that flopped back-and-forth from “back yard” to “prison yard” with an epic twist ending, Roman Reigns threw on the red lei to cement himself as the top heel in the top company and did so to the delight of millions.
Match of the Year: Mr. Brodie Lee vs. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes in a Dog Collar Match for the TNT Title
The Show: AEW Dynamite (10/6/20)
Chosen By: Bill Bodkin (Editor-in-Chief)
Mr. Brodie Lee’s run in AEW was brilliant. He took the failing Dark Order faction and not pulled them out of the doldrums, but he made them stars. He showed not only his comedic brilliance on Being the Elite, but he proved time and time again in AEW that he was a main event player. Running through Cody Rhodes on a Saturday night in the summer was an audacious move but Brodie was the only person who could make it work.
His feud with Cody culminated with one of the best Dynamite matches ever — a vicious Dog Collar Match. AEW built it up by harkening back to the famed Roddy Piper/Greg Valentine match — even bringing Valentine in to watch the match. Brodie and Cody tore it up beyond belief. It was dramatic, it was violent, it was brutal and ultimate we were left breathless at the modern classic we beheld. It really crystallized why AEW works — old school wrestling philosophy told through a 2020 lens.
Sadly, this was Brodie Lee’s last match ever as he passed on Christmas Day. His passing was absolutely tragic, his tribute show did not leave a dry eye anywhere in the wrestling world as we all lost a truly wonderful human being — one many of us didn’t know, but the outpouring of love and respect shown towards him just lets you know this was one of the best.
I could not end this column without talking about Brodie Lee as he was one of the best big men to wrestle in the last 20+ years. He’s a man that not only should be studied by wrestlers for generation to come, but we as human beings should strive to be as a good of a person (or half as good) as Brodie Lee was.
