Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Lost and never posted, we’ve finally unearthed John Philapavage’s Match of the Year - just missed list. The first half of the year can be found here. The second half, for the first time, is below

Bryan Danielson vs. Go Shiozaki
Live In Tokyo- Tokyo, Japan 7/16/07

Maybe my favorite match of the Japanese tour for the match story and the potential of Go Shiozaki. simple stuff. Danielson is a respected American worker the NOAH fans are aware of, and Shiozaki is the young babyface native who must be tested by the gajin heel. The match is an excellent display and test, with Shiozaki displaying the correct amount of fighting spirit, while Danielson was in control for most of it. Good comebacks and Danielson sells well, and the right man wins under the correct circumstances.

Takeshi Morishima vs. Nigel McGuinness (ROH World Title Match)
Live In Tokyo- Tokyo, Japan 7/16/07

Much better then their April meeting, and the setting does help. Nigel has a habit of being amazing when ROH goes overseas. Alot of people dislike the outcome, but I like that he got closer without winning. Haven’t seen the match where he wins the belt, but it’s going to have to be well thought out to beat this match. Tricky deal where Morishima is almost a heel and a face at the same time, yet the pressure seemed to be on Nigel to carry this any further then ’shima beating him until a hope segment and big time finish. Nigel does, strong final minutes, and it’s a 3 1/2 star match.

Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (Boston Street Fight)
Death Before Dishonor V Night 1- Boston, MA 8/10/07

After the 90s and subsequent WWE-owned early part of this decade, I never thought I’d enjoy another hardcore match. Higher end hardcore was not something you’d see in a national promotion. Even when ROH was founded, I don’t think anyone would have guessed they’d be doing decent hardcore five years down the road. Well, happy to say ROH produces it and I’m liking it. Sure, it gets a bit much at times with the Briscoes, but what a spectacle. And honestly, not only is it appropriate in the feud itself, but taking away the CZW feud, it’s the Briscoes involved in all the good hardcore in ROH. Wish they’d take care of their bodies.

Mark Briscoe vs. El Generico (Falls Count Anywhere)
Jay Briscoe vs. Kevin Steen (Lights Out Match)
Death Before Dishonor V Night 2- Philadelphia PA 8/11/07

I grouped these together, and really they should be grouped with the match from the night before. Intense brawls with great moves and a crowd that really understood the fueds and matches. These aren’t matches for everyone, but they do tell a story effectively with bodies, and the right men win to further the overall script.

Austin Aries, Delirious, Erick Stevens, & Matt Cross vs. Roderick Strong, Rocky Romero, Davey Richards, & Matt Sydal (Philly Street Fight)
Death Before Dishonor V Night 2- Philadelphia PA 8/11/07

Got caught up in this when checking the DVD to make sure it worked. Really good storyline for that point in the faction war, and for the overarching Aries vs Strong portion. What really helps is not only the violence being appropriate for the situation, but the guys acting like they feel the need to go further, and the spotlighting of Cross and Stevens. This match may have taken Stevens from newbie to regular in many fan’s eyes.

Chris Hero vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Manhattan Mayhem II- New York, NY 8/25/07

Any match that starts as sports entertainment and builds to a true competition level gets my vote. This was one. I also love that people enjoyed the entertaining back-and-forth to start, then were quiet but appreciative for the middle, but realized and reacted to the greatness as it came to the end. a 3 1/2 star affair.

Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico (World Tag Team Title- 2 Out Of 3 Falls)
Manhattan Mayhem II- New York, NY 8/25/07

Close to being “that Briscoe spotfest” people will roll their eyes at when told about, but the opponents make the match. While I wasn’t in love with the other 2/3 falls matches, I did enjoy the Briscoes in them and the gimmick itself. It’s with the team of Steen/Generico that the gimmick makes the most sense and is elevated. Not only is it elevated because of the NYC crowd heat, but because of the summer-long feud and the work of the heel side in the match/matches. No match is truly self contained unless we watched one ROH match and quit watching, but I think this one would be pretty good if you took away all the outside stuff I talked about that helped make it great.

Also a key, the decision not to let Steen/Generico take a fall. i know alot of people thought they were the team to do it, especially with the coming ladder match, but it ended up being good.the good kind of heat. I wasn’t sold then, but in time I’ve come to see the positives of them not ending the Briscoes 2 fall streak.

Chris Hero vs Claudio Castagnoli
Honor Nation - Boston, MA 10/5/08

A great mid-feud match where the heel dog-and-pony show thwarts the superior babyface again. Alot of extended heel heat segments, long comebacks, and back and forth action. It works 80-90% of the time. This is even better than their NYC match in August.

Jay Briscoe vs Necro Butcher
Honor Nation - Boston, MA 10/5/08

I hate to give credence to the Briscoe brothers destructive high risk style, especially in the face of all that natural talent they possess. Unfortunately I have to after viewing this match. A massive brawl from these two in an example of compelling “garbage” wrestling. Everything here made an impact and even if I hate chair shots, they were over here. Not a match I’d want to see every week, but Necro played a great evil monster heel. Jay getting screwed in the end was a great story as gutsy Mark Briscoe is carried away by the heels while his brother lay defeated in the ring.

Bryan Danielson vs. Austin Aries (3rd Mach In The Best Of Three Series)
Glory By Honor VI Night 1- Philadelphia, PA 11/2/07

(We could add the first two to this list, but I just went with the finale) These guys have had better matches, but this one was great for this year. Fitting end to the three match series in terms of the winner, not only for booking Aries into the title picture, but the idea that in the big picture, Aries has always had Dragon’s number in big matches (sans the two title matches in Dragons reign, I think overall the feeling is accurate). The wrestling was great and the knowledge of each others signature stuff was awesome. The layout worked like a charm as Austin came back and we were dead even with he crowd going bonkers down the stretch. When Austin Aries goes over the whole building gave them a standing ovation for the workmen like efforts. I heard a few complain this was “on it’s way to MOTY”. Not every match SHOULD be worked to that point, especially with Misawa limited, but a legend in the main event. This list was MADE for a match like this. 3 3/4 but I haven’t seen a DVD version, only live.

Naomichi Marufuji vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Glory By Honor VI Night 2- New York, NY 11/3/07

I literally want you to re-read my comments about Claudio-Hero from 8/25. same exact thing. Marufuji was again the king of solid mid card matches that made you feel like the card wasn’t a main event or two match show. these two need a PROPER re-match.

Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima
Glory By Honor VI Night 2- New York, NY 11/3

Act 3 was great because how often do you enjoy a DQ finish. This was the most charismatic Danielson yet. He owned the big man in a match fit for the overall story involving the eye injury. He owned the crowd and Morishima and made this match as he brawled and beat the bigman all the way to a satisfying DQ ball stomp. 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 snowflakes for a 12 minute match with a DQ finish. Only Danielson.

I’m going by the Wrestling Observer Dec 1st to Dec. 1st year. If I’d added the rest I’d say go looking for Nigel McG. vs Austin Aries from Rising Above (probably should be on a real MOTY list), and for Final Battle look out for Roddrick Strong vs Erik Stevens and the four way main event. That’s my just missed cream of the crop people.