The Top 50 Matches Of The Year: 40-31

Before you check out the next ten in our list be sure to read matches 50-41 here.

40. Will Ospreay vs Tomohiro Ishii - RevPro “Uprising 2022” (17/12)

This was an exhibition match, which is a simple way of saying it, but when it’s two of the best wrestlers in the world then it’s great.

There was a good story here, with Ospreay wanting respect from Ishii but Ishii not giving it, Ospreay goes out of this way to try and knock down Ishii with big strikes and the Hidden Blade but Ishii’s kick outs were so fiery and really got me invested in this match, the pace these two held as well was awesome.

39. Sunshine Machine (TK Cooper & Chuck Mambo) vs RKJ & Zak Knight: RevPro Undisputed British Tag Team Championship Match - RevPro “Live in London 57” (07/01)

Now originally this was meant to be Ricky and his dad Roy but when Roy pulled out, his Uncle Zak stepped in and quite honestly, this was an improvement for the match and also a showcase for Zak Knight and he really did impress and gelled with everyone else in the match.

The action here was great, had spectacle and grit in equal measure, and when Sunshine Machine actually won, the roof blew off the 229; maybe the PROGRESS win is more prominent but for me, the RevPro win is special and kicked off a year of Sunshine Machine.

38. Nino Bryant vs Zander Bryant vs Smashing Mike vs Mark Trew: Breakout Tournament Final - Ignite Wrestling Pro “Curtain Call” (20/11)

Credit: Y2Grae Photography/Ignite Wrestling Pro

What I loved about this most was the fact that all four felt very distinctive from each other with personalities and what they brought to the table, there were some really inventive spots and good storyline progression leading into the new year.

The Bryants facing off against each other was pretty cool, having not been able to see them as a team live in the year was made up for here, hopefully this is revisited in 2023.

These four have big futures ahead of them in 2023, and matches like this are a great showcase for them all, the only criticism I’d have was that the show couldn’t match what this match did, and it was a good show as well.

37. Micheal Oku vs Connor Mills: RevPro Undisputed British Cruiserweight Championship Match - RevPro “Epic Encounter 2022” (22/05)

I’ve seen these two wrestle a lot over the years and in a variety of venue and crowd sizes, so to see these two have their style of match in front of a large audience was just great to see.

These two absolutely delivered here as well in a fantastic match which I’d say is one of my favourite performances from Connor Mills, he was truly great here and did have Oku’s number on many times, with Oku winning with a surprise headscissors pin combination that left Mills frustrated after.

If you add in the extra layer on top of Oku challenging Suzuki to the main event that night as well, it adds to this match that Oku’s mind wasn’t in it as he was already moving past Mills to face Suzuki, I love that.

36. Lio Rush vs Robbie X - RevPro “Live in London 66” (23/10)

Going into this match I wasn’t the biggest Lio Rush fan but I’m always happy to be proven wrong, and this match changed my mind about Lio as well.

This match was absolutely crazy from start to finish, this was a big PWG-Style kind of match that took out many chairs on dive and at one point, the bottom rope snapped as well which just added to the craziness.

Even though it had a small bit of interference from Will Kaven, for me it didn’t affect the match, definitely a highlight for the 229 this year.

35. Miyu Yamashita vs Millie McKenzie: #1 Contenders Match - EVE “WrestleQueendom V - Show 1” (13/11)

Millie came out and was in Gremlin mode after seeing her best friend Emily Read again, Miyu took that as disrespect and just battered her to start the match.

This forced Millie to be serious again as she went after Miyu’s legs so Miyu’s kicks become less effective, Millie also did use one of my favourite wrestling moves - The Chop Block! Loved seeing that.

Miyu was able to win this with her Spinning Back Heel kick to go through to the second show to challenge for the title and only in twelve-and-a-half minutes as well, proving you don’t need long to have a great match.

34. Demon Death Squad (Damien & Xander) vs The Rebellion (Jack Toreno & Taylor James): DKW Tag Team Championship Match - DKW Academy “Space Invaders” (21/08)

*Credit: Photography Creativity/The DKW Academy*

Every year there’s a match that’s off the beaten track, that only a few people get to see and deserves recognition, and this year it’s this Hidden Gem of a match from the Isle of Dogs.

The Rebellion are a fantastic tag team, and have been the highlights of shows in 2022, but normally as heels so it was nice to see them as spirited babyfaces here against Demon Death Squad with two guys in Xander and Damien who have charisma as well and showcased it well.

This was a match that had a blank canvas that all four were allowed to paint on and create something very truly special.

This match was full of laughs, hard strikes and great double team moves which is what I want when I watch tag team wrestling, this match does deserve more love and I really do hope I’m seeing Rebellion and Demon Death Squad more in 2023.

33. Man Like Dereiss vs Tim Lee - GOOD Wrestling “No Ring 2” (24/04)

We go from one unique match to another, GOOD’s No Ring shows this year have been some of the best work happening in BritWres with all the wrestlers announced but the matches aren’t meaning that you are walking into the complete unknown of what we had with this match.

Now what I’ve found out from both Dereiss and Tim after this match took place, is that this match was hugly improvised and called in the ring (well No Ring), and that just makes this even more impressive, I loved the creativity in this match as they have several little matches within one match which is awesome.

32. Shoko Nakajima vs Alex Windsor - EVE Wrestling “Global Women Strike 3” (23/04)

This was the first major international talent to come to EVE since they returned and Shoko delivered here against Windsor who has had a career best year in 2022.

The story of this of the strength vs speed was really well told throughout with Shoko as a very good underdog invoking the spirit of Rey Mysterio to take down Windsor. They went near the Time Limit as well, with the last few minutes feeling nail biting until the eventual end.

Not the last time I’ll be talking about Joshi against Alex Windsor…

31. Kanji vs Michael Oku: British Rounds Match - Head Drop “Wrestling Goes Fourth” (22/09)

Kanji has had a struggle to get back to the wrestler she was before, through her various injuries and having to adapt her in-ring style but this match I feel gave her a chance to just be herself again against an opponent in Oku who is so selfless and you can see goes out of his way just to make his opponents look good.

This went near thirty minutes and kept everyone in the venue engaged with the falls from Oku and Kanji before the deciding fall being absolutely brilliant, everyone was on their feet at the conclusion of this, the love for the match in the room was felt and I’m frustrated that this isn’t available to view online yet because I loved this match.

Check out entries 30-21 here

The Top 50 Matches Of The Year: 40-31

The Top 50 Matches Of The Year: 30-21

The Top 50 Matches Of The Year: 50-41