Voices of Wrestling 2022 Match of the Year (Introduction & Sadness Village)

Welcome to the eleventh annual Voices of Wrestling Match of the 12 months Ballot.

Origins of Voices of Wrestling’s Match of the 12 months Countdown

The brainchild of VOW proprietor Wealthy Kraetsch, Voices of Wrestling Match of the 12 months began in 2012 with a modest four-person panel of Wealthy, Joe Lanza, VOW’s PWG reviewer “Boxing Robes” Larry, and Billy Carpenter of 4 Corners Radio.

We every chosen our ten finest matches of the 12 months, wrote brief blurbs on why every match was chosen, and combined the lists to create a collaborative top ten.

The inaugural Voices of Wrestling Match of the 12 months produced an excellent checklist of matches, however a product of 4 voters who principally had very comparable tastes in wrestling. There was a ton of crossover on the 4 lists. Whereas a powerful number of 5 completely different promotions in the end ended up being represented in our collaborative prime ten, we handled a tiny pattern measurement of voters who basically watched and loved the identical pool of matches over the 12 months.

In 2013, Joe approached Wealthy about increasing upon his authentic thought by extending invitations to different wrestling critics. Annually on this planet of movie, there are media/critic polls rating the 12 months’s prime films. Nothing like these critics polls that had ever existed for wrestling matches. With that in thoughts, we despatched ballots to dozens of journalists, bloggers, radio hosts, podcasters, historians, reporters, and critics whom we knew cherished wrestling, had a fame for having a stable base of data and robust opinions and had high quality endeavors that we may assist expose to our readers in alternate for collaborating.

The outcomes of the 2013 Voices of Wrestling Match of the 12 months ballot have been precisely what we needed, as our checklist now featured the big variety of matches and wrestling types we sought: 25 voters responded by voting for over 90 matches from 23 different promotions.

The expansion continued in 2014, with 67 voters voting for 156 matches from 35 different promotions.

The 2015 ballot featured 97 voters voting for 199 different matches from 42 different promotions.

We once more shattered all earlier data for the fourth consecutive 12 months in 2016, when 117 voters checked in and accounted for the broadest selection but, with 239 matches emanating from 49 worldwide promotions.

The 2017 ballot noticed the range develop once more, with 54 different promotions represented.

2018 noticed a file 68 different promotions represented across 282 total matches. Higher but, our voter base grew to 122, representing 25 United States and 16 international locations.

For 2019, 136 different voters resulted in 290 unique matches throughout a record-tying 68 promotions.

In 2020, regardless of a pandemic and wrestling, trying, feeling, and sounding completely different than ever: we shattered data with 170 voters representing 29 United States and 18 international locations. Match-wise, our balloters voted for 287 unique matches from 66 different promotions.

Our tenth annual ballot occurred in 2021, and but once more, we had a record-breaking Match of the Year vote with 176 voters representing 27 United States and 17 countries — 24% of voters have been first-time Voices of Wrestling Match of the 12 months voters. Collectively, that group nominated a record-breaking 310 distinctive matches from 63 completely different promotions worldwide.

As we launch the eleventh Voices of Wrestling Match of the 12 months ballot, we’re honored to announce that we’ve set a number of new data! 

This 12 months, 208 voters representing 23 international locations (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Eire, Kuwait, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay) voted on a record-setting 372 matches throughout 70 completely different wrestling promotions worldwide. 

In line with our custom of development, 23% of Voices of Wrestling 2022 Match of the 12 months voters have been first-time voters. 

Thanks to everybody who has helped us proceed to develop and evolve the Voices of Wrestling Match of the 12 months ballot. The ballot continues to broaden and develop and grow to be acknowledged by followers, wrestlers, and promoters because the world’s most prestigious Match of the 12 months survey.

Voices of Wrestling Match of the 12 months Archives

For a full archive of our previous Match of the 12 months countdowns, go to voicesofwrestling.com/match-of-the-year/.

Voices of Wrestling 2022 Match of the 12 months Voters

Right here is the distinguished panel of wrestling media who selected to vote in Voices of Wrestling’s 2022 Match of the 12 months ballot.

(Observe: some voters selected to not embody web sites/affiliations and/or Twitter handles)

How Voices of Wrestling 2022 Match of the 12 months Voting Works

Every voter was despatched a poll and requested to vote for the ten finest matches of the 12 months, rating them from 1-10.

We use the identical weighted balloting system utilized by Main League Baseball for his or her Most Precious Participant voting, with a first-place vote price 14 factors, and a descending 9-8-7-6… scale from there, a system that locations heavy emphasis on every voter’s alternative for finest total match of the 12 months.

The factors for every match are then totaled, with any ties damaged within the following order:

1.) Most whole votes

2.) Match which obtained the very best singular vote on any poll

For instance, if two matches are tied in whole factors, with one match showing on extra whole ballots, it is not going to require the second step tiebreaker. The match showing on extra whole ballots would place increased.

If two matches are tied in whole factors and stay tied by showing on the identical variety of ballots, the match with the very best singular vote wins the tiebreaker.

Every voter was additionally inspired so as to add brief write-ups explaining why they voted for every match. These write-ups give our panel a voice to clarify why they voted for every match, and as we transfer deeper into the outcomes, give the reader a number of views of why a given match was nice.

Our panel was free to vote for any labored match on this planet that occurred between January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022.

Our long-term objective is to grow to be probably the most complete and revered Match of the 12 months ballot in all of wrestling whereas persevering with to cross-promote the nice ventures of our voter pool whereas exposing followers to matches that they in any other case by no means would have found.

We’ll start right now with a take a look at the honorable mentions (dubbed “Unhappiness Village” by VOW contributor John Carroll), with a brand new chunk of matches launched every day (schedule beneath) till we reveal the Prime 10 on Friday, January 27.

Early Entry to Voices of Wrestling 2022 Match of the 12 months Prime 10

Early entry to the Prime 10 shall be accessible in audio and written type on Flagship Patreon’s $5 tier on Thursday, January 26. Subscribe right now at flagshippatreon.com.

Be a part of the Dialogue! 

An ongoing dialogue of the VOW 2022 Match of the 12 months ballot will happen on our official Discord at voicesofwrestling.com/discord. Look from the particular match-of-the-year channel.

Voices of Wrestling 2022 Match of the 12 months Launch Schedule

(Topic to vary)

• Introduction & Unhappiness Village/Honorable Mentions (Tuesday, January 24)
• Matches #100-76 (Tuesday, January 24)
• Matches #75-51 (Wednesday, January 25)
• Matches #50-26 (Wednesday, January 25)
• Matches #25-11 / Top 10 Early Access (Thursday, January 26)
• Matches #10-1 (Friday, January 27)

The next matches ranked exterior our Prime 100 and are a part of our Honorable Mentions/Unhappiness Village. Remember these nonetheless symbolize a few of the finest matches of the 12 months, worthy sufficient to rank within the Prime 10 matches of the 12 months on somebody’s poll.

1-3 Factors

“This was probably the most enjoyable I had watching wrestling all 12 months. This was a match that on paper, I’m undecided how it might go, nevertheless it delivered large time. First off, Hashimoto managed to take down Suwama whereas grappling in the beginning of the match. In a while, she gave him a German Suplex that obtained this clap crowd in Korakuen Corridor to erupt with noise. I’ve plenty of not good issues to say about Suwama, however he’s to be recommended right here for a way a lot he bought for the ladies and in addition made certain you knew his associate Ozaki was a joshi legend. This match additionally had stuff I don’t often like in wrestling together with blatant dishonest and brawling across the ring with weapons. However I favored all of that right here. Why? As a result of when professional wrestling is completed effectively, any variation of it will possibly convey a smile to your face. And so they managed to do that with a wild intergender brawl.”

-Gerard Di Trolio on Maya Yukihi, Mayumi Ozaki & Suwama vs. Crew 200kg & Shuji Ishikawa

“An AMW match is eligible for match of the 12 months. I merely should vote for it.”

-Garrett Kidney on America’s Most Wished, Heath & The Good Brothers vs. Honor No Extra

“AEW Girls’s title (and champ) took a visit to Japan to go to TJPW and begin a feud with Miyu, the meanest kicker within the recreation. Arduous to overlook with these two within the combine.”

-Kristen Ashly on Miyu Yamashita vs. Thunder Rosa 

“Loopy match, this has every thing you’ll count on from a bunch of insane guys combating in a automotive cementery, there are spots that needs to be seen to be believed. The spotfest of the 12 months for me.”

-Jorge Romo on Lunatik Xtreme, Ovett Jr., Tremendous Boy Jr. & Venganza vs. Amnesia, Chucho el Roto, Lunatik Fly & Osiris 

“An unimaginable exhibiting from two prime tier athletes attempting to at least one up one another.”

-Slyguy46 on Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricochet

4-7 Factors

“Prime notch match, two essential eventers staff as much as tackle an excellent tag staff nearly all the time works effectively.”

-Joe Towner on CM Punk & Jon Moxley vs. FTR

“That is a kind of matches that we’ll look again on in 20 years and be amazed at what we had. In right now’s indie scene, that’s form of uncommon, so we should cherish it when we’ve it.”

-Skeach101 on Will Ospreay vs. Nick Wayne

“DOUKI has been a essential occasion stage expertise for a few years now, and this match helped cement the concept he had far more potential than he has obtained in NJPW let off the leash with a extremely inventive associate in El Lindaman whose G Rex title run has been a delight. DOUKI wasn’t made on this match, however he confirmed he had outgrown Suzuki Gun and will stand as his personal man.”

-Mr James Truepenny on El Lindaman vs. DOUKI

“It’s insane {that a} rookie with barely 4 months below his belt can ship a match this nice. Takuma Fujiwara entered Dragongate as a clean slate after which skyrocketed previous his friends to a can’t miss prospect. Whereas Fujiwara was a spotlight of each DG card till his departure for slimy Mexican indies, this match was the clear standout. Quick-paced opener that also retains the all the time pleasurable rookie vs “veteran” (Dia himself being 4 years in) dynamic that makes younger boy undercard matches really easy to look at. You see this child just about invent elements of his moveset on the fly. It’s equal elements scary as it’s thrilling. If that is Takuma Fujiwara 4 months in, what is going to he be like 4 years in?” 

-Semi Salmikannas on Dragon Dia vs. Takuma Fujiwara

“All the pieces on this match is completed with the concept Mayu can not grasp on the prime. The night time earlier than, when Mayu had a comparatively simple tag match, Syuri had a 26-minute battle with Giulia that left her in a weakened state for this title match with Mayu. But to start with, it’s Mayu who’s the opportunistic one, capturing in for takedowns behind Syuri’s again and hitting some low-cost pictures within the early going. It’s Mayu whose personal physique offers out on her, when her left knee collapses within the early goings and whose results linger on for all the period of the match. And even within the exchanges that she wins, she all the time finally ends up collapsed on the canvass from the hassle and it’s Syuri that might be the primary to rise. So as to add insult to damage, not solely did Syuri have most of Mayu’s offense scouted, leading to Mayu needing a number of makes an attempt to hit her signature strikes, however Syuri did extra 1-count kick outs and no-sells than ever earlier than, demoralising Mayu that little bit additional, and when Syuri lastly faucets Mayu out after near 30-minutes, there’s this crushing sense of unhappiness at simply how far off the tempo Mayu had grow to be.”

-Kas on Syuri vs. Mayu Iwatani

“Of all of the insane mashups Tony Khan has delivered since AEW first began, this one may take the cake. Sting, teaming with Shingo Takagi, taking up The Younger Bucks in El Phantasmo. Forbidden Door is finest remembered as a relentlessly enjoyable occasion that made followers be ok with professional wrestling, and greater than every other match, this unimaginable assortment of expertise working arduous, and Sting because the nostalgic kicker, was the embodiment of that form of ambiance.”

-Jesse Collings on BULLET CLUB vs. Dudes With Attitudes

8-11 Factors

“What to say? This was one hell of an expertise with the gang being perhaps the most well liked, most excited crowds of the 12 months. I can nitpick sure elements like Mistico whiffing his end with Tiger Masks IV however that might be wasteful in the end because the magical moments have been issues like Ultimo elevating the roof with the row upon row of followers, who have been doing it with him. Plus the person brilliance of fellows like Titan, Soberano Jr, Volador Jr, and Oraculo (and extra). However extra particularly, Oraculo actually impressed me together with his charisma and character. Plus he was as fluid within the ring as the remainder of them. He had some nice spots with Soberano on the apron and he rubbed that onto his staff mates throughout the triple staff sequences. 56 minutes of pure unadulterated leisure. And whereas it’s not MY CMLL MOTY, it’s one of many nice ones.” 

-MC on El Mesias, Kenny King, Lince Dorado, Matt Taven, Oraculo, Robbie Eagles, Rocky Romero & Tiger Masks vs. Atlantis Jr., El Soberano Jr., Mistico, Stuka Jr., Templario, Titan, Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr.

“I’m most likely the most important fan of this match on the planet and that’s tremendous. I simply suppose it stunned me with how a lot chemistry these two guys had and the methods with which they each labored so arduous to win the drained crowd again to life. And it labored! I watched it once more, considering I used to be simply on a bizarre wrestling excessive that night however I did actually find it irresistible. Their different match on 2022 felt a bit superfluous however I believe this feud did its half in cementing Web page as champion and Cole as one of many prime heel prospects (in addition to a future babyface in the event that they need to go there).”

-Sandra Berry on Adam Web page vs. Adam Cole

“A enjoyable match that evolves into an aggressive struggle. The beginning has a few of the weirder Joshi hijinks that performs out for a brief stretch in a complicated trend for a non-regular watcher, however rapidly will get settled into the stuff that makes Joshi wrestling so nice: violence.” 

-James “NuclearConvoy” Snelgrove on Arisa Nakajima & Hikaru Shida vs. Ibuki Hoshi & Tsukasa Fujimoto

“Chaotic, spontaneous, and nice ambiance with two actually charismatic wrestlers going quick. The IWTV World champion (on the time) AC Mack is totally beloved. Masha is a ball of ferocious power attacking AC Mack from all over the place taunting the children within the crowd and utilizing printed cutouts of AC Mack’s head towards him. An incredible and really rewatchable nice time.”

-Henry / HeadCheese on AC Mack (c) vs. Masha Slamovich

“In case you haven’t seen GENTARO go to work on the mat, this match is only a slice of what he has to supply besides, it incorporates so most of the trappings that make him nice. In case you admire revolutionary grappling and high quality limbwork, it is a must-watch.”

-Flae on GENTARO vs. Yasushi Sato

“A number of large strikes grounded in a brand new firm’s early storytelling and enjoyable. Whether or not it’s Jay Malachi leaping Fortunate Ali from the beginning in nearly blind anger, the staff of Holliday and Kemp attempting to carry their friendship collectively, Lando launching himself into some insane strikes or Fortunate Ali attempting each form of roll up below the solar to keep away from dealing with a bunch of fellows that hate his guts.”

-Sam Roberts on Shawn Kemp vs. Chase Holliday vs. Joe Lando vs. Fortunate Ali vs. Jay Malachi

12-14 Factors

“Simply an unimaginable match that I gave the total 5 stars. Each transfer they did made sense from the place that they have been in throughout the match. It jogged my memory of Hideki Suzuki vs. Josh Barnett from IGF in that means even when it was a really completely different type. There are plenty of nice matches the place you might not essentially perceive why somebody would select to do a sure transfer in a sure scenario. That was not the case right here. The cherry on prime was the gang turning on Moxley to cheer for Takeshita. That actually made it particular and is what skilled wrestling is all about.”

-Gerard Di Trolio on Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita

“I’ve been a fan of Ritchie for the previous couple of years so I had to verify I used to be there for his retirement match (that lasted for just a few months)
This was the primary time in perhaps endlessly that I obtained fully caught up within the power of the gang, cheering on Ritchie to get this remaining victory as if it counted on all of us prepared him on.
I’ll always remember the expertise of being within the room that night time.”

-Ben Wyatte on Joel Bateman vs. Ritchie Taylor

“An fringe of the seat thriller from starting to finish. Kasai and Takeda got here in as monsters from exterior the GLEAT consolation zone and ran the desk on Tamua and Kawakami serving to them set up themselves as large dumb lovable rogues laying the groundwork for the what was to come back with Black Technology.”

-Mr. James Truepenny on Jun Kasai & Masashi Takeda vs. BULK Orchestra

“When the gates to NOAH’s ark opened post-COVID, new expertise arrived within the promotion. Nobody took benefit of that as a lot as these three guys did on this match. They went on the market and determined to kill themselves in probably the most thrilling match of 2022. Just like the Deluge, they’ve destroyed every thing of their path. Positively a must-see match.”

-Evandro Furtado on Alpha Wolf vs. Dragon Bane vs. Ninja Mack

“Stay bias be damned, this was a match that I’d gone into wXw’s World Tag Crew Pageant weekend trying ahead to probably the most. A match that obtained a LOT of buzz from these there dwell, now that it’s up on the Community/Peacock, you can also see why everybody was quivering by the top of it. Not simply due to Kevin Ku getting juice courtesy of Fuminori Abe…”

-Ian Hamilton on Fuminori Abe & Shigehiro Irie vs. Violence Is Without end

“Of all of the critics on enhance the AEW Girls’s division, the one factor I hardly hear is time. Allow them to develop the division. This match felt just like the endurance paying off. The division has been scorching since. I needed to see these two former buddies battle and it dominated. Felt contemporary.”

-Frank DeJesus on Toni Storm (c) vs. Jamie Hayter (11/19 – AEW)

VOICES OF WRESTLING 2022 Match of the 12 months
(#101-329)