Posted May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846516 I was looking through my top rated matches from this decade and noticed some recurring names. A really, really rough draft: 1. Black Terry 2. Brock Lesnar 3. Minoru Suzuki 4. Daniel Bryan 5. Kazuchika Okada 6. Jun Akiyama 7. AJ Styles 8. Negro Casas 9. Io Shirai 10. Dick Togo Honorable Mentions: Tetsuya Naito, Sasha Banks, Asuka, Rey Hechicero
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846524 10 Ken oh 9 Kimura Hana 8 KAORU 7 Suzuki Hedeki 6 Fujiwara 5 Black Terry 4 Golden Magic 3 Bryan 2 Suzuki Minoru 1 Nakajima Arisa Honorable Mentions Brock Io Togo Nakamura Joe Doring Miyahara Suigura Tanahashi Shibata Naito Takashita[ i hate DDT ] Ishikawa Ishii Carvanario
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846574 In no order: Daniel Bryan Virus Negro Casas Sami Callihan Cesaro AJ Styles Timothy Thatcher Chris Hero Will try to expand on some of these folks. Admittedly, while I probably wouldn't have AJ as my #1 for any single year, he's active and very good-great throughout the entire decade. A lot of the other top contenders disappear for awhile.
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846576 Re: Casas: Based on footage, who else can be one of the best in the world in four decades?
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846577 In no particular order: Kento Miyahara AJ Styles Hiroshi Tanahashi Masaaki Mochizuki Daniel Bryan/Danielson Shuji Ishikawa Katsuori Shibata Brock Lesnar, even though he has had some very poor recent performances Those are the guys who came to mind first, some I was unsure about or have only seen a small amount fron would be: John Cena Io shrai KANA/Asuka
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846578 Re: Casas: Based on footage, who else can be one of the best in the world in four decades? Does Casas really have that much of a case in the 1980s?
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846579 Re: Casas: Based on footage, who else can be one of the best in the world in four decades? Does Casas really have that much of a case in the 1980s? Based on footage? Probably not until 87, no. I suppose "touching four decades" would be more accurate.
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846582 Wasn't meant to dismiss Casas as he's a legit contender for 90s and 2010s (could be 2000s but haven't seen the footage) and has one of the great matches of the 80s. The more I think about it, the more I think Liger is at least an honorable mention for this decade.
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846587 Okada, Tanahashi, Shuji Ishikawa, Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles and Io Shirai are the names that immediately come to mind.
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846611 In no order and the first ones that come to mind: A.J. Styles Daniel Bryan Tomohiro Ishii Tetsuya Naito Hiroshi Tanahashi Kazuchika Okada Chris Hero Kota Ibushi
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846613 Cesaro and Hero are the two that come to mind to me, right off the bat. Both have been great the entire time and have had years as the best in the world.
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846614 I think Roman Reigns comes into consideration as well. Doesn't really have anything until end of 2013, but lots of great Shield tags from then till 2014, two great singles matches in 2015, and tons of bangers in 2016 and 2017.
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846616 Virus Dr. Cerebro Bryan Danielson CM Punk (yes...I think his 2011-2014 run is good enough for this list) Aerostar Ultimo Guerrero Tanahashi (he's been in far more good than bad...and his good has been good enough to break into a list that really isn't top heavy at all) AJ Styles Black Terry Negro Navarro
May 2, 20187 yr comment_5846642 Io Shirai is an awesome call. This could be recency bias, but is there a case for WALTER? I know his most pimped stuff has come in the last few years but he's been quietly working top matches in Europe since the beginning of the decade. I have a feeling a deep dive could reveal a lot more great stuff for him. I also think, if he continues on his current path, the next two years will make an even stronger case.
May 3, 20187 yr comment_5846694 Would anyone count Rey Mysterio? with him being outside the WWE bubble and hitting a ton of places and a variety of opponents along with his experience I'd say I'd throw him in.
May 3, 20187 yr comment_5846696 Having basically nothing of value in 2012-14 hurts his case (correct me if I'm wrong, anyone) but if he continues having high quality bouts for the next two years then I could see him in the conversation.
May 3, 20187 yr comment_5846699 In no order and the first ones that come to mind: A.J. Styles Daniel Bryan Tomohiro Ishii Tetsuya Naito Hiroshi Tanahashi Kazuchika Okada Chris Hero Kota Ibushi I don't know if it was this decade but Ibushi got an almost *** match out of a blowup doll in DDT. I could see an easy argument for him being worker of the decade when all is said and done.
May 3, 20187 yr comment_5846715 No love for John Cena? Great decade for matches and promos from the guy.
May 3, 20187 yr comment_5846722 Kenny Omega deserves some love. Forget the whole 6 stars deal, he's a very ballsy and creative worker who's been involved in a number of great matches in a wide variety of settings throughout the decade. Meiko Satomura has also quietly assembled an impressive resume of low-key MOTYC's throughout the decade.
May 3, 20187 yr comment_5846740 Would anyone count Rey Mysterio? with him being outside the WWE bubble and hitting a ton of places and a variety of opponents along with his experience I'd say I'd throw him in. Rey's a tough one as his post-WWE run probably doesn't net him too many points for this discussion. Has some bangers in Lucha Underground but not enough where he's a top 10 or so wrestler for the past few years. I don't think that's going to be improving anytime soon. Cena should probably be mentioned but hard for me to realistically think that someone that has not been the best wrestler, or in the top 3, in his company for a single year makes it sort of hard to justify in my eyes. Granted, someone might say his 2011 deserves that rub. Sekimoto hasn't been included cause he's not that good.
May 3, 20187 yr comment_5846741 I feel like Cena sort of fell off a cliff when he started to "adapt" to the second wave of former indy guys becoming the norm as his opponents. That said, he still gets points for adapting and it did pretty much win over the crowd. You suddenly can't be making a "not enough movez" argument against the guy who's doing springboard stunners.
May 3, 20187 yr comment_5846743 Kenny Omega deserves some love. Forget the whole 6 stars deal, he's a very ballsy and creative worker who's been involved in a number of great matches in a wide variety of settings throughout the decade. Meiko Satomura has also quietly assembled an impressive resume of low-key MOTYC's throughout the decade. I haven't seen enough of Kenny's DDT or early NJPW stuff to say one way or the other, but if he keeps delivering like he did last year I think he'll have an argument.
May 3, 20187 yr comment_5846744 No love for John Cena? Great decade for matches and promos from the guy. Cena's tough because I'd wager the majority of his best stuff was around 2007. He still delivered some great matches here and there, but being a part-timer also hurts him compared to more consistent wrestlers.
May 3, 20187 yr comment_5846747 From what little I've seen, I'd go with MiSu. Legit MOTYCs this decade vs Tanahashi, Sugiura, Styles, Yano... best match on this year's Jan 4th card vs Goto... and I have heard good things about the Riddle match as well.
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