It’s a new year – and a fresh list of our Match of the Year Contenders. All of these matches either got ****¼ and above in our reviews, our would have (if we reviewed it, for shows we don’t fully cover).

  • Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay (New Japan, WrestleKingdom 17, January 04, 2023)
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White (New Japan, WrestleKingdom 17, January 04, 2023)
  • Adam Priest vs. Anthony Henry (ACTION, Lords of Chaos, January 20, 2023)
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI vs. TJP & Francesco Akira (New Japan, The New Beginning in Sapporo – Night One, February 04, 2023)
  • Taichi vs. Will Ospreay (New Japan, The New Beginning in Sapporo – Night One, February 04, 2023)
  • YOH vs. Hiromu Takahashi (New Japan, The New Beginning in Sapporo – Night Two, February 05, 2023)
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Kazuchika Okada (New Japan, The New Beginning in Osaka, February 11, 2023)
  • Tristan Archer vs. Will Ospreay (Rixe Catch, Episode 12, February 25, 2023)
  • Dan Moloney vs. Shigehiro Irie (Rev Pro, Live in London 71, March 05, 2023)
  • Trey Miguel, Arez & Fuminori Abe vs. Komander, Senza Volto & Aigle Blanc (wXw, 16 Carat Gold 2023 – Night Three, March 12, 2023)
  • Black Taurus vs. Komander vs. El Hijo del Vikingo (WrestleCon, Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow 2023, March 30, 2023)
  • Komander vs. El Hijo del Vikingo (ROH, Supercard of Honor, March 31, 2023)
  • Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto (New Japan, Sakura Genesis, April 08, 2023)
  • Gabriel Kidd vs. Luke Jacobs (Rev Pro, Live in London 73, May 07, 2023)
  • Mike Bailey vs. Hiromu Takahashi (New Japan, Best of the Super Junior 30 – Night One, May 12, 2023)
  • Lio Rush vs. Hiromu Takahashi (New Japan, Best of the Super Junior 30 – Night Three, May 14, 2023)
  • Taiji Ishimori vs. Mike Bailey (New Japan, Best of the Super Junior 30 – Night Seven, May 19, 2023)
  • TJP vs. Hiromu Takahashi (New Japan, Best of the Super Junior 30 – Night Seven, May 19, 2023)
  • Mike Bailey vs. Ryusuke Taguchi (New Japan, Best of the Super Junior 30 – Night Eight, May 21, 2023)
  • Dan Moloney vs. Robbie Eagles (New Japan, Best of the Super Junior 30 – Night Eight, May 21, 2023)
  • Francesco Akira vs. El Desperado (New Japan, Best of the Super Junior 30 – Night Eight, May 21, 2023)
  • Mike Bailey vs. Lio Rush (New Japan, Best of the Super Junior 30 – Night Nine, May 23, 2023)
  • Master Wato vs. Mike Bailey (New Japan, Best of the Super Junior 30 – Night Eleven, May 26, 2023)
  • Luke Jacobs vs. Shigehiro Irie (wXw, We Love Wrestling #46, May 27, 2023)
  • Titan vs. Master Wato (New Japan, Best of the Super Junior 30 – Night Twelve, May 28, 2023)