Boss Rock

NJPW Dominion is ultimately my number 1 pick.

Controversial pick, but Kenny Omega. Thought the Okada trilogy was the best in-ring feud this year. The first two were indeed padded but featured some of the most amazing stretches of action I've ever seen in a wrestling match. The G-1 match took the best parts of the first two matches while condensing it to 25 minutes and telling a great story of Okada being unable to overcome the injury to his neck suffered earlier in the tournament. I also loved the trilogy with Ishii which hasn't gotten as much love as the Okada matches but were really spectacular in their own right (the Long Beach match in particular). The same criticisms thrown at the Okada matches can be thrown at these ones as well, but there were some truly incredible offensive sequences. He had a great run in the U.S. Heavyweight Championship Tournament, a very good run in the G-1, and a MOTYC with Naito. I get that he's not the most fundamentally-sound guy and often relies on big flashy stuff to get a match over, but I can't think of a better big match wrestler in the world today. Not to mention he managed to elevate much less-good talent like Jay Lethal and Trent Barreta. A friend of mine once described him as a spiritual successor to Kenta Kobashi and I sort of agree. Sounds crazy I know, but hear me out. Offensive dynamo and great seller at times, but prone to excess and a flair for the over-dramatic. My number 2 would be Kazuchika Okada.

NJPW Arguably the best in-ring company this year and for the most part, really good booking focusing on popular and younger talent.

NJPW Dominion NXT Takeover: WarGames NJPW King of Pro Wrestling Wrestlemania Royal Rumble NXT Takeover: Chicago Wrestle Kingdom Great Balls of Fire Ultima Lucha Tres (taped in 2016 but aired this year) NJPW Power Struggle NXT Takeover: San Antonio

Barely watched any of this show as what I saw was pretty dull. I will say that I while I had been all-in on a Mojo face push, he's been terrific as a heel. He was one of the biggest missed opportunities this year and hopefully they rectify that next year. A.J.-Jinder wasn't as good as their match on SDL but was still solid. A.J. continues to make his case as one of the greatest of all-time by getting the most out of any mediocre act. I give Jinder credit for really trying to make his run as champ work, but I'm so happy we're done with this main event run.

The press conference brawl was also really good. Apart from Goto getting another shot at the NEVER title as opposed to Juice, really digging this WK card.

I like the idea of having a couple of bigger moves that could possibly end a match even if it's not all the time. Effective when wrestling lower-card opponents and can create drama when working an opponent higher up the card. I still support the use of an actual "finisher" which would 98% of the time be a match-ender. Basically, save your biggest shot for last. But at the same time, I think It would be cool to see a match end as a result of accumulated damage separate of the finisher. In so many indy matches you see a guy take an apron piledriver, a move off the top rope, and then some other big move and that STILL doesn't end the match. But as soon as that finisher is hit, boom over. I'm not necessarily against that style and think it CAN be done right, but not when it happens in every single match on a card in so many different promotions. And I'm not even opposed to finisher kick-outs if it's necessitated or fits the story. My only issue is when you get to the point when you're surprised John Cena actually wins with just one AA as opposed to two or three. I dunno, I feel like I'm rambling here.

For some of us, yeah. But I'd guess there are more fans out there who mark out far bigger for the sick moves. I like violent looking strikes as much as anyone but I don't think it's that simple. Context is important. Sometimes a dragon suplex on the apron is necessary over an elbow strike so in that situation, the sick move is better. Also, I'm not a fan of stiffness for the sake of stiffness but I think the punches that actually land are usually better than worked punches. Not many people do worked punches well, the obvious exception being Lawler. Even Satanico (the GOAT puncher for me) punches seem like actual strikes to me based on the fact the you can actually hear the impact. Great call on Satanico.

For some of us, yeah. But I'd guess there are more fans out there who mark out far bigger for the sick moves. One of the reasons I love A.J. Styles. Can throw a good strike and still do all the cool moves.

Watching CMLL and Negro Casas still has terrific kicks and chest slaps.

Danielson-McGuiness totally slipped my mind. Another great one.

The Bryan-Authority run from about late 2013 to Wrestlemania 30, late 2016-early 2017 Smackdown Live, and the first season and a half of Lucha Underground really stand out.

I was under the impression he was still working with them under WWE Studios.

Question about Sangre Chicana. I've only delved into his stuff a bit and I agree he's great but I don't know much about him beyond that. Does he meet any other requirements for the WON HOF besides in-ring work? What's his status as a draw or influence on lucha in general? Is he like a Fujiwara to Japanese wrestling?

Would have certainly thought TNA would try!

Surely, me being in Chicago is good for at least a dozen tickets sold, but whatever dude. Same!

As far as current NJPW goes and the guys on the ballot, Naito is definitely someone who will have a case in a few years if he remains a top draw and high-level wrestler. And as controversial as Kenny is, he could be another guy in a few years with a better case. Okada will inducted his first year eligible and unless he absolutely tanks from here on out, he will deserve it.

Amen.

I do love the Lawler-Funk stuff. Funk calling Lawler a "lover of chickens" has to be one of my favorite promo lines ever.

Maybe not MOTYC stuff, but the two Ibushi matches and most of the Okada matches were great. He was also regularly delivering bangers in the G1. Was really one of the most if not the most consistent volume + peak worker in the world the year and-a-half he was there.

Punk is talking with Dana this weekend about his future in UFC. Even if UFC passes on him I could easily see Bellator scooping him up leading to another year or two of promoting a fight.

Punching has seemingly become sort of a lost art. Not a ton of wrestlers today have good-looking punches. Mostly the territory folks back in the day. Dutch Mantell is another guy who stands out to me.

Some other favorites: Bryan-the Authority: Never have been more invested in a feud than this one. The literal WWE machine trying to hold back Bryan made for excellent TV and had the most satisfying conclusion of any feud I've seen. Misawa-Kobashi: Some incredible matches and an amazing multi-year story of Kobashi FINALLY besting him in a 1-on-1 match after years of falling oh so short. Misawa-Kawada: Great matches and odyssey for Kawada even if he ultimately fails in the end. Hansen-Kobashi: Another great multi-year story of Kobashi coming closer and closer every time to beating Hansen (Kobashi is one of if not the greatest underdog of all time). Hansen-Colon: Tremendous brawls and violence. Hansen was great as the despicable heel and Colon was a terrific fired-up face. Okada-Tanahashi: While I wouldn't go as far as some who say it's the best feud of the 21st century, had some great matches and was an awesome battle for supremacy. Kamaitachi/Takahashi-Dragon Lee: Match for match might be the best feud I've seen, at least when it comes to the 21st century. Flair-Steamboat: Classic series of matches. Flair-Funk: All-time great brawls and showed Flair's range as a fired-up face. Funk was also terrific. Tenryu-Hansen: Violence. Pure, unbridled violence. Satanico-Dandy: Arguably the best lucha feud and best aspuestas match of all time.

Not sure if it's my absolute favorite, but I loved the Matt Hardy-MVP feud of 2007-2008. Maybe the last slow-burn midcard feud WWE has ever done. Lots of twists and turns with Hardy first chasing him in title matches, then needing to overcome ridiculous challenges like basketball, burger eating, and boxing (Evander Holyfield!), then joining together as a tag team, then MVP turning on him when he realized Matt was getting too close to the U.S. title. Matt costing him MITB at Mania and then finally beating for the title the following month was super satisfying.

If it ends up being Chicago I will definitely try to attend.