Introduction
(February 14th, 2026)
Last year, I half-heartedly compiled a list of my personal favorite/best wrestling matches of the year. By half-heartedly, I mean I didn’t think to create the document until 5 months into the year, and I didn’t do well to pay the attention necessary to analyze my wrestling intake, in regards to the 2025 list. The results were a measly 65 total matches spanning a small scope of wrestling companies, and not properly representing 2025 pro-wrestling in its entirety.
The goal of this project is to increase, expand, and document my wrestling intake in 2026 and beyond. For comparison, as of writing the 2026 list consists of 54 matches spanning 15 companies (17 counting AAA and NXT as separate from WWE) My regular intake pre-2026 consisted only of AEW and various New England based independent companies. Added to my regular intake in 2026 is AAA on Fox, ChocoPro, and additional independent companies and matches (per recommendation, and not limited to New England)
The top 25 of my 2025 list was published as a TikTok slideshow on January 1st, 2026. As of now, the 2026 list is on track to surpass 400 matches, and I hope to publish it in its entirety in January of 2027. The 2025 list in its entirety is attached on this page. I also plan to continue adding entries on this page to further document this project.
Some important notes on the contents of the full 2026 list: Firstly, not every match I watch all year will be added to the list, I can only, in good faith, account for matches I feel strongly about, and, therefore, only matches that I like. Simply collecting my most disliked matches at the bottom of the list would be unfair to any matches I choose not to include. Also, I cannot reduce my own personal bias in putting together this list. This will certainly result in, for example, matches I saw in person, or matches featuring my favorite wrestlers, being favored, but this project would be impossible if I cannot enjoy watching wrestling.
Match Of The Year 2025 List
Continental Rules - Jon Moxley vs Kyle Fletcher (AEW Worlds End)
Bring Your Own Weapons Death Match - Davienne, Gabby Forza, Little Mean Kathleen and Spike Nishimura vs Bobby Orlando, Dan Barry, Gabriel Skye and Jake Gray (Beyond RSP’s Death Day)
Lights Out Steel Cage - Darby Allin, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Will Ospreay vs Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Young Bucks, Gabe Kidd (AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door)
Bandido vs Hechicero (ROH Death Before Dishonor)
Continental Rules - Kazuchika Okada vs Mike Bailey (AEW Double Or Nothing)
Best Two Out Of Three Falls - Dustin Waller vs Matt Magnum (PWS March Mayhem)
Sareee vs Syuri (Sareee-ISM Chapter VII)
Kyle Fletcher vs Mike Bailey (AEW Dynamite Winter Is Coming)
Bear Bronson vs Donovan Dijak (Beyond Prince Of The Rodeo)
Bandido vs Konosuke Takeshita (ROH Supercard of Honor)
Anarchy in the Arena (AEW Double or Nothing 2025)
Kazuchika Okada vs Mascara Dorada (AEW Collision, November 19th)
Mercedes Mone vs Riho (AEW All Out)
Post Game vs Shot Through The Heart (Focus Pro All The Way Up)
Texas Death Match - Adam Page vs Christopher Daniels (AEW Collision, January 18th)
Ricochet vs Zach Gowen (AEW Dynamite, May 14th)
Kazuchika Okada vs Konosuke Takeshita vs Mascara Dorada (AEW All Out)
Willow Nightingale vs Mercedes Mone (AEW Dynamite, December 31st)
Iron Man Match - Dustin Waller vs Matt Magnum (PWS Jingle Brawl)
Adam Page vs MJF (AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door)
Anthony Greene vs Ichiban (LIVE Pro Wrestling Fan Appreciation Night)
Willow Nightingale, Mark Briscoe and Tomohiro Ishii vs Taya Valkyrie and MxM Collection (Mason Madden and Mansoor) (AEW Collision, June 11th)
Portuguese Royal Rumble (LIVE Pro Wrestling Wrestle Festa)
Bobby Lashley vs Ricochet (AEW Dynamite, November 19th)
Symphony of Destruction - Jake Gray vs Rex Lawless (Beyond Blacktop Bloodbath)
Young Bucks vs Jurassic Express (AEW WrestleDream)
Tables N’ Tacks - Mark Briscoe vs MJF (AEW All Out)
Sidney Bakabella vs Tony Atlas (Limitless Wrestling Vacationland Cup)
Texas Death Match - Adam Page vs Jon Moxley (AEW All In Texas)
Donovan Dijak vs DJ Powers (PWS End of Summer Bash)
Shelton Benjamin vs Mike Bailey (AEW Dynamite, November 19th)
Sareee vs Alex Windsor (ROH on HonorClub, October 9th)
Battle Riot Match (MLW Battle Riot VII)
JetSpeed vs FTR (AEW WrestleDream)
Women’s Casino Gauntlet (AEW All In Texas)
The Young Bucks vs Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey (AEW Dynamite, April 23rd)
Three Way - Kenny Omega vs Mike Bailey vs Ricochet (AEW Dynasty)
Josh Alexander and The Young Bucks vs SkyFlight (AEW Dynamite, November 19th)
Bear Bronson and Ryan Clancy vs Aaron Rourke and Marcus Mathers (Wrestling Open Rhodes Island November 17th)
Men’s Casino Gauntlet (AEW All In Texas)
Steel Cage - Will Ospreay vs Kyle Fletcher (AEW Revolution)
The Closers vs Waves & Curls (PWS March Mayhem)
Will Kroos vs Bear Bronson vs Gabby Forza vs Andy “The Butcher” Williams (Mystery Wrestling 19)
Chad Gable vs Vikingo (Worlds Collide, June 7th)
Kazuchika Okada vs PAC (AEW Dynamite, December 3rd)
Street Fight - Jon Moxley vs Adam Copeland (AEW Dynamite, March 19th)
Unsanctioned “I’m Sorry” Match - Nico Silva vs Brett Ryan Gosselin (PWS New Year’s Bash)
National Championship Casino Gauntlet (AEW Full Gear)
Emi Sakura vs Alexia Nicole (Mystery Wrestling 18)
Mixed Tornado Tag - Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir vs Swerve Strickland and Willow Nightingale (AEW Dynamite, April 2nd)
Ladder Match - Brodido vs Young Bucks vs Callis Family vs JetSpeed (AEW All Out)
World’s Longest Match (Mystery Wrestling Fighting Back)
Starstruck vs Shooter Boys (Wrestling Open Rhode Island November 17th)
Steel Cage Warfare - “Team Victorious” vs “Team World Class” (PWS Steel Cage Showdown)
Mystery Bag Match - Cecil Nyx vs Jake Manning (Mystery Wrestling 18)
Ethan Page vs Je’Von Evans vs Rey Fenix vs Laredo Kid (Worlds Collide, June 7th)
Gabby Forza vs Liviyah (LIVE Pro Wrestling Man Of Steel)
Jon Moxley vs Mike Bailey (AEW Dynamite, August 6th)
Beach Brawl - Little Mean Kathleen vs Davienne (LIVE Pro Wrestling CiscoSlam 4)
Relaxed Rules - Brian Bayside vs Charles Mason (Focus Pro All Of The Lights)
Call Your Shot Four Way - Brett Ryan Gosselin vs Gabriel Skye vs TJ Crawford vs Conan Lycan (Limitless Warpath)
Blindfolded Referee Iron Man Match - Cecil Nyx vs HADDY (Mystery Wrestling #17)
La Copa Bardahl (AAA Triplemania XXXIII)
Evil Uno vs Stu Grayson (Mystery Wrestling 19)
Championship Melt Gauntlet (Wrestling Open Rhode Island Opening Day)
Everything is Subjective
(February 24th, 2026)
Wrestling is subjective. Everything is subjective. No wrestling fan will agree with my own list of best matches for the year, just like I won’t agree with your favorite movie, sports team, ice cream flavor. In this way, I should refrain from referring to this list as the “best” matches of 2026, or as a definitive longlist for the match of the year, but, rather, as Jack’s favorite matches of 2026.
For clarity, the list consists of 84 matches as of writing, with several on the list to watch or rewatch. Also, as a general rule, I try to stay away from WWE. In part as an act of morality, but also because I personally don’t connect very strongly with the product they put out. Any WWE matches you see on this list will be matches available for free online. These matches are limited to selected AAA on FOX, Main Event, and Evolve matches, as well as televised matches uploaded later to Youtube. (My Youtube watchlist playlist includes 19 matches across WWE, TNA, ROH, and others)
Obviously my list is subjective, just as anybody else’s would be. I am trying, however, to put in the effort to represent professional wrestling in its entirety, to not only diversify my own wrestling intake, but to inspire others to do the same. For regular week-to-week wrestling, apart from the major companies, I would most highly recommend ChocoPro and Wrestling Open (and Wrestling Open Rhode Island). For monthly indie supershows, I recommend Pro Wrestling Supershow, LIVE Pro Wrestling, and Focus Pro, but I would encourage you to find a great indie company close to you, to experience it up close, and to better support the wrestlers and the company. Like with anything, I’m sure my preferences of wrestling will change. I will try to provide a complete list of recommendations as I continue with this project.
Opportunity
(March 20th, 2026)
Tonight, for the first time, I will be backstage at a wrestling event. I have been in communication with the promoter, and he is mentoring me in booking wrestling shows. I don’t know yet if I’m going to be helping set up or if he just wants me to shadow him throughout the night, but I am always excited and grateful for opportunities to learn more about professional wrestling!
Also, I will try to add more entries to this document when I have the chance. With changes to my work schedule, it makes more sense to focus on updating my actual list of matches instead of logging this document. Currently, the list stands at 147 total matches, and the number one ranked match thus far is FTR vs The Young Bucks from AEW Revolution.
Reflection on “Opportunity”
(March 29th, 2026)
My experience on the 20th was absolutely incredible. I was able to witness the entire process of putting on a wrestling show. Not only the booker/promoter’s process, but also the process of the wrestlers. Seeing other people as passionate as they are about pro-wrestling massively recontextualizes what I am working toward. I want to especially name GK Durant and Channing Thomas as two people who welcomed me very openly on the night, and the booker/promoter Ryan Waters for his trust and kindness to allow me to be there in the first place. I also want to generally shout out all of the independent wrestlers who work their butts off daily to become 1% better. From the moment I walked in the door, and for another 45 minutes to an hour after, Tyler Brooks and Koosh Bandicoot were consistently rolling around in the ring and going over spots. They didn’t have to tell the internet, or make sure any fans saw; they did it out of the pursuit of improvement.
I hope I will be in contact with Ryan again soon, and will update here if I am fortunate to have similar experiences in the future. As it stands, the 2026 match of the year list has hit 175 total matches. Additionally, I have removed the embedded Google Docs from this site, and converted these passages to textboxes, which should make this page a lot easier to follow.
Hiyori Museum
(March 30th, 2026)
As I have previously stated in this journal, I am a new fan of ChocoPro. Still, it is bittersweet to witness Hiyori's graduation road. From failing to become Asia Dream Tag Team Champion, failing against Emi Sakura, failing against Shoko Nakajima, failing to win the Asia Dream Championship, and, finally, failing in her final ever match, Hiyori represents never quitting, despite the result. Now, Hiyori leaves wrestling to pursue a career in the arts, and we are left with her final speech at ChocoPro 512 to remember her. Her journey was short, and the time that I was watching her was even shorter, but her passion and her energy is extremely impressive, and I will miss her enthusiasm every time I watch ChocoPro now. Thank you to Hiyori for entertaining me since I started watching ChocoPro very recently, I hope that ChocoPro continues to find happiness and success like Hiyori will in her career.
Wrestler of the Year ? (& an update)
(April 27th, 2026)
Since the entry on March 29th, I have logged an additional 98 matches, totalling 273 as of writing. I have since started thinking about rating wrestling in other ways. Not just considering the best matches of the year, but also shows, companies, and wrestlers themselves. If you had to ask me right now, AEW and ChocoPro would be my frontrunners for company of the year, AEW Revolution for show of the year, and a few wrestlers come to mind so far for WotY.
Nick Jackson
Nick Jackson, I believe, has a great case for wrestler of the year. Alongside brother Matt, Nick holds 2 of my top 3 matches of the year thus far, those being The Young Bucks’ pay per view outings (against FTR at Revolution and against Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita at Dynasty). Beyond that, The Bucks have had consistently solid TV matches this year. The reason I point to Nick specifically and not both of the Jacksons is simply due to the intangibles Nick has that Matt doesn’t, particularly as babyfaces. Nick has an ability to control the crowd that Matt does not. Nick has athleticism in droves, and while Matt can work, I do believe he is better at taking heat than coming off a hot tag (both jobs are very important, it’s just that one is a lot more highlighted).
Tommaso Ciampa
Speaking of consistently solid TV matches, Tommaso Ciampa is probably the first name that comes to mind in 2026 on that topic. Matches with Kyle Fletcher, Mark Briscoe, Darby Allin, Mascara Dorada all stand out as great-to-near-perfect televised bouts. Additionally, when you look at what Ciampa has accomplished in that amount of time, it seems he is speedrunning through his career. Until the 21st of January, he was contracted to WWE. He left, debuted in AEW, won the TNT title in a great debut match, lost it not long after, turned heel, feuded with Mark Briscoe, and had an all-timer with Darby Allin for the World Title. Yes, all since late January.
Sidney Bakabella
Someone I have had the pleasure of seeing perform in person, and meeting, many times. One of the great managers in New England/Northeast indie wrestling, Sidney is also an incredible “comedy” wrestler. There are few people in the world happier that he has taken so many matches in 2026. And, in those matches, I believe he has built an impeccably strong case for Wrestler of the Year thus far. Matches such as the three-way with Brian Bayside and Heath Slater, the St. Paddy’s Day Street Fight with Hornswoggle, and the 1992 WWF Rulez match with Big Dave stand out as the most entertaining wrestling matches that I have seen- not just this year- ever. All of this plus what he has already done with the “Dave’s Hot Chicken” Championship (you read it correctly).
Currently, those are my three front-runners for Wrestler of the Year. I do think plenty of ChocoPro wrestlers have made decent cases for themselves based on what I’ve seen, and I will give another mention now to Hiyori Yawata’s retirement run. If the year ended right now, Hiyori would be undisputedly the Wrestler of the Year. I am excited to see more from Mei Suruga, Baliyan Akki, Dustin Waller, Liviyah, and more over the course of the year. I am a fan of NXT’s Kendal Grey, but I don’t think she quite hits Wrestler of the Year territory (perhaps she’ll be most improved of 2026).
I know I have had much to say in this entry, but I do wish to continue adding to this segment of the project, all while logging more and more matches. As a final update, I will say that Ryan welcomed me again to come early to PWS’s event on April 17th. I will be in contact with him again, and I hope to continue shadowing him and seeing the process of a wrestling show coming together. And I should thank him again for trusting me and allowing me to be a part of his night. He even walked me through putting together a lineup for a show, and he let me share my own input and thoughts. Ultimately I think I'll stick to just ranking matches this year, though, and not shows, wrestlers, etc.
Updates, Updates, Updates
(June 18th, 2026)
Long time, no update. Since the last entry I have attended another PWS event backstage, and I am continuing to learn. Ryan sent me a Facebook message the other day with the roster of an upcoming show. He wanted to know what matches I would book each wrestler in on that show. I might reveal my draft after the show occurs. The next PWS event is on June 26th. The event Ryan was asking me about is on July 3rd.
Mei Suruga vs Baliyan Akki has taken over the top spot as match of the year. The match happened at Apple Universe, the ChocoPro 526 event. My reaction to that show is here. I have done a handful of streams reacting to wrestling now, and they can be very fun. I plan to do more, but sometimes the stream can distract from the wrestling! I will eventually add another tab on this website for reaction videos and streams. I am also planning on making more video edits, and many of those will end up added to the edits tab.