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    2016 Contenders

    Since this was getting way too long to contain on the right hand side of the page, here’s our ever-expanding list of “really good matches from 2016” that you should go out of your way and see!

    • Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (WrestleKingdom 10 – Jan 4, 2016)
    • Dragon Lee vs. Kamaitachi (New Japan: FantasticaMania Day 6 – Jan 24, 2016)
    • Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H (Roadblock, Mar 13, 2016)
    • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn (NXT Takeover: Dallas, Apr 1, 2016)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Will Ospreay (EVOLVE 58, Apr 1, 2016)
    • Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay (EVOLVE 59, Apr 2, 2016)
    • Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch (WrestleMania 32, Apr 3, 2016)
    • KUSHIDA vs. Will Ospreay (New Japan Invasion Attack, Apr 10, 2016)
    • The Origin vs. FSU (PROGRESS Chapter 28; Apr 10, 2016)
    • Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Payback, May 1, 2016)
    • Yuji Nagata vs. Katsuyori Shibata (New Japan Wrestling Dontaku, May 3, 2016)
    • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito (New Japan Wrestling Dontaku, May 3, 2016)
    • Kyle O’Reilly vs. KUSHIDA (New Japan, Best of Super Juniors 23 – Night 1, May 21, 2016)
    • Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro vs. Miz (WWE Extreme Rules, May 22, 2016)
    • Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet (New Japan, Best of Super Juniors 23 – Night 6, May 27, 2016)
    • Chris Hero vs. Mark Andrews (PROGRESS, Chapter 30: Super Strong Style 16, Day 1, May 29, 2016)
    • Chris Hero vs. Tommy End (PROGRESS, Chapter 30: Super Strong Style 16, Day 2, May 30, 2016)
    • Will Ospreay vs. Volador Jr (New Japan, Best of Super Juniors 23 – Night 13, June 6, 2016)
    • Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Will Ospreay (New Japan, Best of Super Juniors 23 Final/Night 14, June 7, 2016)
    • KUSHIDA vs. Will Ospreay (New Japan, Dominion, June 19, 2016)
    • Katsuyori Shibata vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan, Dominion, June 19, 2016)
    • Michael Elgin vs. Kenny Omega (New Japan, Dominion, June 19, 2016)
    • Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada (New Japan, Dominion, June 19, 2016)
    • Pollyanna vs. Dahlia Black (PROGRESS, Chapter 31, All Hail the New Puritans, June 19, 2016)
    • Chris Hero vs. Marty Scurll (PROGRESS, Chapter 31, All Hail the New Puritans, June 19, 2016)
    • AJ Styles vs. John Cena (WWE, Money in the Bank, June 19, 2016)
    • Money in the Bank Ladder Match (WWE, Money in the Bank, June 19, 2016)
    • Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa (WWE Cruiserweight Classic, episode 4, taped June 23, 2016)
    • Johnny Gargano vs. Mark Haskins (PROGRESS, Chapter 32, 5000 to 1, June 26, 2016)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Travis Banks (Fight Club Pro: Rage Against The Death Machine, July 8, 2016)
    • Will Ospreay vs. Pete Dunne (Rev Pro, Summer Sizzler, July 10, 2016)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Katsuyori Shibata (Rev Pro, Summer Sizzler, July 10, 2016)
    • Pete Dunne vs. Zack Gibson (NGW, 8th Anniversary Show, July 16, 2016)
    • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 1, July 18, 2016)
    • SANADA vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 1, July 18, 2016)
    • Naomichi Marufuji vs. Kazuchika Okada (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 1, July 18, 2016)
    • Daisuke Harada vs. Ryusuke Taguchi (New Japan, Super J Cup, Round 1, July 20, 2016)
    • Kenny Omega vs. YOSHI-HASHI (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 2, July 22, 2016)
    • Tetsuya Naito vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 2, July 22, 2016)
    • Tomoaki Honma vs. Katsuyori Shibata (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 2, July 22, 2016)
    • Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Katsuyori Shibata (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 4, July 24, 2016)
    • Tetsuya Naito vs. Michael Elgin (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 4, July 24, 2016)
    • Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Battleground, July 24, 2016)
    • Naomichi Marufuji vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 5, July 25, 2016)
    • Michael Elgin vs. Katsuyori Shibata (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 6, July 26, 2016)
    • Naomichi Marufuji vs. Tomohiro Ishii (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 7, July 28, 2016)
    • EVIL vs. YOSHI-HASHI (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 8, July 30, 2016)
    • Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 8, July 30, 2016)
    • Kenny Omega vs. Michael Elgin (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 8, July 30, 2016)
    • Tetsuya Naito vs. Katsuyori Shibata (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 8, July 30, 2016)
    • Zack Gibson vs. Jack Gallagher (PROGRESS, Chapter 33, Malice in Wonderland – July 31, 2016)
    • Mark Haskins vs. Will Ospreay (PROGRESS, Chapter 33, Malice in Wonderland – July 31, 2016)
    • Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. YOSHI-HASHI (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 10, August 1, 2016)
    • Michael Elgin vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 10, August 1, 2016)
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 11, August 3, 2016)
    • Kenny Omega vs. Katsuyori Shibata (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 12, August 4, 2016)
    • Hiroyoshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 13, August 6, 2016)
    • Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 13, August 6, 2016)
    • Naomichi Marufuji vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 13, August 6, 2016)
    • Pete Dunne vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (OTT Invasion Supershow, August 6, 2016)
    • EVIL vs. Tetsuya Naito (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 14, August 7, 2016)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Trent Seven (Rev Pro, Live at the Cockpit 11, August 7, 2016)
    • SANADA vs. Tomohiro Ishii (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 15, August 8, 2016)
    • Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 16, August 10, 2016)
    • Naomichi Marufuji vs. Hirooko Goto (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 17, August 12, 2016)
    • Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 17, August 12, 2016) *****
    • Marty Scurll vs. Chris Hero (Rev Pro, Uprising, August 12, 2016)
    • Trent Seven vs. Tommy End (Fight Club: PRO, International Tekkers, August 12, 2016)
    • Travis Banks vs. Sami Callihan (Fight Club: PRO, International Tekkers, August 12, 2016)
    • EVIL vs. Katsuyori Shibata (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 18, August 13, 2016)
    • Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Michael Elgin (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 18, August 13, 2016)
    • Kenny Omega vs. Tetsuya Naito (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 18, August 13, 2016) *****
    • Kenny Omega vs. Hirooki Goto (New Japan, G1 Climax 26 – Day 19, August 14, 2016) *****
    • Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa vs. The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) (NXT TakeOver Brooklyn II, August 21, 2016)
    • Asuka vs. Bayley (NXT TakeOver Brooklyn II, August 20, 2016)
    • Wild Boar vs. Eddie Dennis (ATTACK! (Thank God It’s Not) WinterSlam!, August 21, 2016)
    • AJ Styles vs. John Cena (SummerSlam, August 21, 2016)
    • Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor (SummerSlam, August 21, 2016)
    • Fenix vs. Will Ospreay (PWG Battle of Los Angeles, Stage One, September 2, 2016)
    • Tommy End vs. Zack Sabre Jr (PWG Battle of Los Angeles, Stage One, September 2, 2016)
    • Mark Andrews vs. Pete Dunne (PWG Battle of Los Angeles, Stage Two, September 3, 2016)
    • Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (PWG Battle of Los Angeles, Stage Three, September 4, 2016)
    • Kota Ibushi vs. TJ Perkins (Cruiserweight Classic Finals, September 14, 2016)
    • Gran Metalik vs. TJ Perkins (Cruiserweight Classic Finals, September 14, 2016)
    • Pete Dunne vs. Sami Callihan (Fight Club: PRO Project Mayhem V, September 23, 2016)
    • Tetsuya Naito vs. Michael Elgin (New Japan, Destruction in Kobe, September 25, 2016)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tommaso Ciampa (PROGRESS, Chapter 36, We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Room… Again, September 25, 2016)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. & Marty Scurll vs. JT Dunn & Chris Hero (wXw World Tag Team League, Day 2, October 1, 2016)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. & Marty Scurll vs. Shane Strickland & David Starr (wXw World Tag Team League, Day 3, October 2, 2016)
    • Pete Dunne vs. Rey Fenix (Southside, KirbyMania, October 2, 2016)
    • John Cena vs. AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose (No Mercy, October 9, 2016)
    • Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz (No Mercy, October 9, 2016)
    • Hirooki Goto vs. Kenny Omega (New Japan, King of Pro Wrestling, October 10, 2016)
    • Kazuchika Okada vs. Naomichi Marufuji (New Japan, King of Pro Wrestling, October 10, 2016)
    • Ryan Smile vs. Chris Hero (OTT WrestleCon Day 1, October 28, 2016)
    • Matt Cross vs. Mark Andrews (PROGRESS, Chapter 38, When Men Throw Men At Men, October 30, 2016)
    • Mark Haskins vs. Jimmy Havoc vs. Marty Scurll (PROGRESS, Chapter 38, When Men Throw Men At Men, October 30, 2016)
    • BUSHI vs. KUSHIDA (New Japan, Power Struggle, November 5, 2016)
    • EVIL vs. Katsuyori Shibata (New Japan, Power Struggle, November 5, 2016)
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA (New Japan, Power Struggle, November 5, 2016)
    • Chris Hero vs. Tomohiro Ishii (Rev Pro, Global Wars 2016 – Night One, November 10, 2016)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Katsuyori Shibata (Rev Pro, Global Wars 2016 – Night One, November 10, 2016)
    • Chris Hero vs. Katsuyori Shibata (Rev Pro, Global Wars 2016 – Night Two, November 11, 2016)
    • The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) vs. #DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) (NXT, TakeOver Toronto, November 19, 2016) *****
    • Samoa Joe vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (NXT, TakeOver Toronto, November 19, 2016)
    • Mike Bird vs. Eddie Dennis (ATTACK! Seriously? Another PPV Tie-In Event?, November 20, 2016)
    • Matt Riddle vs. Will Ospreay (PROGRESS, Chapter 39, The Graps of Wrath, November 27, 2016)
    • Jeff Cobb vs. Matt Riddle (EVOLVE 74, December 10, 2016)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Pete Dunne (PROGRESS, Chapter 40, Intercepted Angel, December 12, 2016)
    • Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet (OTT The Dream Before Christmas, December 17, 2016)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Matt Riddle (IPW: UK Supershow 5, December 18, 2016)