BritWres Matches Of the Year: #30-26

Another year of wrestling is in the books and we here at Grapple Theory have ended our first year as a business covering the best in BritWres.

One of our writers and regular reviewers, Iwan Mackenzie has been to LOADS of shows this year and has compiled his own list of the best matches he’s seen. So, with all that being said, over to you Iwan…

2021 is in the books and what a crazy and wild year it has been. From Lockdowns to the easing of restrictions in July to the death’s of some our most beloved entertainers, England finally reaching the Euro Finals to Meghan Harry’s Interview with Oprah, #FreeBritney to Emma Raducanu winning the US Open, Netflix’s Squid Game to Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United to Spider-Man: No Way Home dominating the Box Office; 2021 hasn’t been short of moments.

Wrestling isn’t immune from this either with big moments across the year with crowds coming back, AEW being on top for most wrestling fans and importantly to this list, British Wrestling properly returning,

It hasn’t been a smooth ride this year with the return of wrestling to this country with COVID restrictions and the aftermath of the Speaking Out movement alienating a lot of fans.

A lot of talents opting to sign for NXT UK, which is completely understandable for having that steady income. PROGRESS returned with empty arena shows from Peckham on the WWE Network. The company, in my mind, failed after the first show, with a lack of transparency from the promotion regarding the involvement of Paul Robinson in a backstage role (Robinson has subsequently returned to Wrestling with RCWA based out of Rainham).

RevPro also ran empty arena shows and streamed them on YouTube and Twitch with not many viewers on either stream.

A lot of promotions went out of business during the year as well as hiatuses, it wasn’t looking good for the scene. However, eventually live shows made a return and people started returning and overall, this year has been good for the scene.

I do want to make you aware that this list does feature Will Ospreay, now this is not me ignoring his actions and behaviour that was brought up during Speaking Out and I do not condone his actions and behaviour at all.

I personally can separate myself from the character and the person of Will Ospreay. If you don’t feel comfortable reading about Ospreay, then I do understand and respect your decision.

It may not be the hot scene it once was, but there has been a lot of highlights with word of mouth of certain talents helping the scene in the bubble we all live in, there has been a lot of great matches over the year and I’ve complied them all here as I give you my Top 30 Best Live Matches of 2021.

30. United Empire (Will Ospreay, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) vs RKJ & Sunshine Machine (TK Cooper & Chuck Mambo) – RevPro “British J Cup 2021” (06/11/21)

Credit: Rev Pro

We start off the list, with the semi-main event from RevPro’s fourth annual tournament in a six-man tag team match that originally featured Young Guns teaming with RKJ, but due to Ethan Allen’s knee injury, The Sunshine Machine was drafted in instead.

This ended up being a blessing in disguise for this match as Sunshine Machine ended up being perfect babyfaces for a mostly family friendly audience,

This contest combined the worlds of holiday camp fun with the familiar Indie style of wrestling that features in RevPro.

RKJ and Ospreay’s exchanges here are electric as they meet for the first time since York Hall, and a shoutout needs to be given to Chuck Mambo for mostly being the babyface in peril in this match, a role he exceeds in.

29. Alex Windsor vs Debbie Keitel: RevPro British Women’s Championship Match – RevPro “Uprising 2021” (21/11/21)

Credit: Rev Pro

An emotional match for the right reasons, as on the same night as her late husband, Ryan Smile was inducted into RevPro’s Hall of Fame, Alex Windsor made her first defence of the Women’s Championship against Debbie Keitel.

Originally looking to be Debbie against Gisele Shaw in this slot, I feel that having Windsor in there was better stylistically for Debbie, as she was able to show off all her best qualities as a wrestler and character up against Windsor who complimented it with her style so well. 

Major credit needs to go to Debbie’s heel work here as she got the crowd hating her here, and Windsor’s tribute spots to Smile were very heartfelt and added to the match as opposed to taking away from it.

A match that exceeded everyone’s expectations and impressed me a whole lot.

28. Destination: Everywhere (The OJMO, Connor Mills, Oisen Delaney & Charlie Carter) vs David Francisco, Nino Bryant, Jordon Breaks & Solomon Lamb – Purpose Wrestling “Puppies are Forever” (10/12/21)

Credit: Purpose Wrestling

A match that was the culmination of a turbulent year for new promotion, Purpose Wrestling. This was a perfect way to end their year, in a match where a lot of storylines were concluded, new ones were started and most importantly, it was jammed full of action.

Major standouts here included Bryant, who’s being pegged for a massive year in 2022, OJMO for his heel work and selling for the babyfaces, and Mills & Breaks who have brilliant chemistry. Also love the pin that gets the win for D:E as it’s such a petty dig but something that an arrogant heel would do.

27. TWA (Mark Trew & Kieron Lacey) vs Jay Joshua & Billy Haze: WrestleForce Tag Team Championship Match – WrestleForce “Live in Chelsea” (23/10/21)

Credit: Wrestle Force

Four young lads with something to prove went out there and had a cracker of a tag match, with Billy Haze riling up the crowd, Joshua acting like the big bully, Kieron as a brilliant babyface in Peril and Trew as the hot tag that the crowd desperately wanted.

A hell of a tag match between four guys that might be as well known in BritWres, but definitely deserves more eyes on. Now this whole show is in strong contention for my Show of the Year and this main event was the cherry on top.

26. Alex Windsor vs Gisele Shaw: RevPro British Women’s Championship Match – RevPro “Live at not the Cockpit 55” (07/11/21)

I felt for these two as they had to follow a fantastic match before this (more on that later), but credit to both Alex Windsor and Gisele Shaw as they went out there and by the end of this match everyone was invested.

When Alex Windsor submitted Gisele Shaw to win the title people were on their feet. These two worked really well together, by telling a really well told story with limb targeting and submission work and blending in some high spots (Shaw’s Spanish Fly and Windsor’s Coast-to-Coast) to give the match a big feeling to this. 

Just need to mention as well, the grip that Windsor had on her Sharpshooter and the fact that she never once refused to let go of it even with Shaw’s continues attempts to get out, I loved that little detail.

Stay tuned for the rest of the list coming later this week…