FTR and The Young Bucks had a lot to live up to ahead of this match, with it being presented as a long-awaited dream match. Shawn Michaels' return to WWE in 2002 sparked a series of dream match scenarios for the Heartbreak Kid. Keiji Muto si ritirato allo show sotto il nome di Grand Final Pro-Wrestling "Last" Love, andiamo a vedere i voti di Dave Meltzer. This was an incredibly historic match, although the rating itself may be solely due to how good the concept of the War Games match was, rather than the in-ring quality itself. When the two finally met at the Hardcore Evening Gown Match, one of the weirdest matches in WWEs history took place. Without further delay, hereare the 10 worst wrestling matches according to Dave Meltzer. Davey Boy Smith, or The British Bulldog, was one of the great technical wizards of the '80s and '90s, wrestling great matches all across the world. Receiving a 5 or higher star rating is considered by many to be a great achievement.[1]. It is rated 4.75 by the Observer. The match gets tedious at times and you don't feel that explosiveness that these three combatants should have dished out, especially Lesnar. It was bloody, violent, and creative with many scary looking spots and hard-hitting bumps, including a crazy leap from Rey Fenix off the top of the cage. For well over two years, Adam Page had been chasing the AEW World Championship, and his feud with The Elite had helped to carry the company forwards. Meltzer has run with things that started off as a joke on Twitter, like the "WWE Intermission PPV." If he had credible sources, he wouldn't ever considering reporting things where his source material is so shoddy. All rights reserved. Meltzer rated it 4.5 stars. 10. The effects of Vince McMahon retiring from WWE in the wake of his personal scandal are just beginning to be felt within the company, but the impact of new leadership headed by Stephanie McMahon, Nick Khan and Paul "Triple H" Levesque will pose "a big, big challenge" for AEW. by John Molinaro, Jeff Marek, et al. Following their one-hour time limit draw, this was a much-anticipated rematch between Adam Page and Bryan Danielson. On August 24, 2022, Will Ospreay notched up his 23rd five star rated match, drawing him level with Kazuchika Okada and just two short of the late, great . To date he has rated 208 matches five stars (or above). And one of those matches had Sid in it, so you know Ric was really working hard. 2: The Maim Event (2001) and Beyond the Mat (1999). The first match rated more than five stars by Meltzer was Ric . He is considered as one of the top journalists in the entertainment industry and is majorly known for covering professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. Worst WWE Matches Ever. Flair is undoubtedly one of the greatest of all time, and although his career has gone on far longer than it should (on more than one occasion), there is no denying that there have been some all-time classics over the years in a range of different wrestling promotions. The star ratings Meltzer gives to matches is widely debated among fans, especially his more . successfully defending his World Heavyweight Championship. Can be found on Twitter @andrew_kelly0. By Bryan Rose Feb 9, 2023. He is an MA Graduate from the University of Manchester, and a BA Graduate from Liverpool John Moores University, both in Creative Writing. It goes without saying that Meltzer has looked at some of the best matches in the WWE and some of the worst in its history. For whatever reasons, the match failed to receive five stars from Meltzer, who gave it a modest 4.75. The Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels from 2009 is unquestionably one of the greatest matches of all time. Perhaps 5 stars was a little too much for a match which had a predictable winner, but their fluidity and impressive spots are well worth the acclaim that this bout received, adding a classic to Omegas great title reign. Free shipping for many products! Jim Wilson/The . Apart from being quite slow, Andre the Giant also spent a bigger portion of the match leaning on the ropes, as is evident in most of his matches. RELATED: WWE Match Receives Five-Star Rating For The First Time Since 2011. Nothing on the undercard was anything special. You call this Harpo Marx motherfucker a goddamn "genius" at match layout, better'n Flair/Steamboat, blah fuckin blah. VIDEO: Dave Meltzer talks AEW needing a top babyface. That said, his wrestling career is stacked with classics against the likes of 2 Cold Scorpio, Bret Hart, Eddie Guerrero, and other greats of the business. However, despite all the pressure, the two teams managed to put on the classic that had been promised. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. rank born Name Average Weighted Star Rating Highest Star Rating Notes; 1: Manami Toyota: 4.45 The iconic stable's arrival in WWE led to one of the greatest matches in . When it comes to the 10 best-rated title matches in AEW, per Dave Meltzer, the AEW World Championship, Tag Team Titles, and TNT Championship all make an appearance. Johnny Gargano vs Adam Cole (2019) 33%. this book has wrestlers youve no doubt heard of but for me its the people i never knew of that was a great pleasure to learn about. The three judges at ringside and the grand entrances both added to the feeling of this being the culmination of their feud and a huge championship fight. The title bout remains one of Foleys best matches, and helped him gained credence as an unbelievable performer despite not fitting the proverbial wrestler archetype. These matches could've failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons, such as poor preparation, the lack of determination from the wrestlers, or poorly written match scripts. Flair did need to cheat to win, but that alone raised Windhams stock as someone who couldnt be beaten clean. 85. Meltzer rated this match four stars, but frankly, this bout didn't deserve more than three stars, as it was pretty bad. When it comes to not just in AEW, but to tag team wrestling as a whole, there may be no better tag team match in history than this one. The in-ring work itself was perfect, with great tag team psychology and sequences, but it was the nuance, storytelling, and great moments which took this to a 6-star level of match. 7* | Sat, Jun 9th 2018 | NJPW Dominion 6.9 In Osaka-Jo Hall | Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada (2 Out Of 3 Falls), 6.25* | Sun, Jun 11th 2017 | NJPW Dominion 6.11 | Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega, 6* | Sat, Aug 12th 2017 | NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 18 | Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada, 6* | Wed, Jan 4th 2017 | NJPW Wrestle Kingdom XI | Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega, 6* | Fri, Jun 3rd 1994 | AJPW Budokan Hall Show | Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada, 5.75* | Sun, Aug 12th 2018 | NJPW G1 Climax 2018 - Day 19 | Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi (G1 CLIMAX FINAL), 5.75* | Sun, Aug 13th 2017 | NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 19 | Tetsuya Naito vs. Kenny Omega (G1 CLIMAX FINAL), 5.5* | Sat, Aug 11th 2018 | NJPW G1 Climax 2018 - Day 18 | Kota Ibushi vs. Kenny Omega, 5.5* | Sat, Aug 4th 2018 | NJPW G1 Climax 2018 - Day 14 | Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kenny Omega, 5.5* | Mon, Jun 4th 2018 | NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors XXV - Day 14 | Hiromu Takahashi vs, Taiji Ishimori, 5.5* Fri, May 4th 2018 | NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Day 2 | Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, 5* | Fri, Aug 10th 2018 | NJPW G1 Climax 2018 - Day 17 | Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada, 5* | Sat, Jul 21st 2018 | NJPW G1 Climax 2018 - Day 6 | Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hirooki Goto, 5* | Sat, Apr 7th 2018 | NXT Takeover: New Orleans | Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa (Unsanctioned), 5* | Sat, Apr 7th 2018 | NXT Takeover: New Orleans | Adam Cole, EC3, Killian Dain, Lars Sullivan, Ricochet, The Velveteen Dream (Ladder 6-Way), 5* | Sun, Apr 1st 2018 | NJPW Sakura Genesis 2018 | Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll, 5* | Sun, Mar 25th 2018 | NJPW Strong Style Evolved | Kota Ibushi, Kenny Omega vs. Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson, 5* | Sat, Jan 27th 2018 | NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia | Andrade "Cien" Almas vs. Johnny Gargano, 5* | Thu, Jan 4th 2018 | NJPW WrestleKingdom 12 | Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho (No Disqualification). The triple threat bout showcased the three ring generals in their prime and is cited as one of the greatest 'Mania main events of all time. WWE: The 10 Worst Wrestling Matches Ever (According To Dave Meltzer), The Royal FamilyVs. Clowns R' Us (-2.5/10), The Boogeyman & Little BoogeymanVs. Finlay & Little Bastard (-3/10), Goldust Vs. Rating Dave Meltzer's ratings for WWE's Money in the Bank. His contract was said to be up early in 2023, but several outlets noted that it may have been extended due to time missed to injury. Dave Meltzer was born in Tel Aviv in 1967. Their match was paced to perfection, not feeling like it stretched to the 60-minute time limit that it went to. RELATED: 10 AEW Stars & Their Best Match, According To Dave Meltzer. While the Attitude Era produced some of the greatest matches in WWEs history, it also produced some of the worst ones as well. Finn Blor e Rhea Ripley vs. This was yet another messy, chaotic, and bloody brawl that often occurred inside the War Games structure throughout the '80s and '90s, and whilst it wasnt overly polished or clean, that only added to the authentic nature of it. RELATED: 10 Things AEW Fans Need To Know About Kazuchika Okada. Chris Benoits name will forever remain in infamy for the horrendous crimes he committed against his wife and child. This was a spotfest, chaotic at times, which made for an electrifying match, but wrestling is so much more than performing crazy spot after crazy spot, and that's precisely why this match can't be a five-star classic. The two superstars told an incredible story as they stayed inside the ring for the whole duration of the match. Paperback. John Cena tied Ric Flairs record of 16 World Title wins in this match, in what is Cena's final title win to date. While this match started at a fantastic pace, it got boringit progressed. Though Big Bossman managed to dominate the entire match, he did nothing interesting. While some of the jokes in this match worked, the rest fell flat. After spending a few months in WWEs development squad, the Boogeyman would secure his first contract with the company. But which grapplers are in double figures when it comes to perfect matches? Wrestling Observer Newsletter 1988 Yearbook. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). John Cena vs John Laurinaitis - Over the Limit 2012 (0.80 Rating) Starting the list if a match between a man who has received a five star match from Dave Meltzer, and John Cena. Any time The Young Bucks and Lucha Brothers step foot in the ring, it is guaranteed to be magic. When it comes to Meltzers ratings though, it is clear that his best stint was in NWA/WCW, with his time there dominating the top 10. One of the most exciting aspects of watching a wrestling Pay-Per-View, or a Premium Live Event, as WWE calls it, is giving every . After all, the 45-year-old Lesnar is a former 10-time WWE World/Universal Champion that has headlined five WrestleManias including WrestleMania 38 last year. Then general manager Stephanie McMahon pitted Benoit and Angle against Edge and Mysterio to determine the inaugural WWE Tag Team Champions. WWE bouts such as The Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25, as well as the incredible triple threat main event of WrestleMania 20, have continued to receive widespread praise for their overall excellence. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. The trilogy of classics between these two all offered something different, with fan opinion varying on which is their favorite, but this was certainly the most decisive of the three in terms of finish. It is also considered one of the greatest matches to never main event the card of WrestleMania XXV. Since 1982, Meltzer has been assigning star ratings to every major match across the wrestling world. Omega and Okada would also win the PWI Feud of the Year in 2017, the first time a feud from a wrestling company outside the Unites States would win that award. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Now Dave has a tendency to report on things and be wrong, however he is . Dave Meltzer is the most prestigious wrestling journalist of all and his match rating system is so good that people value his opinion too much. On paper, a match-up between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant is a crowd puller. This list will examine 10 forgotten WCW matches that received very low marks (all receiving a less than 0 rating) from Dave Meltzer on his 5-star scale. This match was quite entertaining, of course, but frankly, this is not what one expects from a four star match. Renowned wrestling journalist, Dave Meltzer has been rating wrestling matches since 1982. Windham put on a great babyface performance, giving Flair his comeuppance for his sneaky and cowardly heel tactics, whilst also fighting through the blood and pain he was being put through. Pro wrestling has one of the most divisive fan bases in the world when it comes to opinions on quality of a match. It could also mean more higher quality matches are in Japan, and if you understand the culture of the fans and wrestlers, because of the emphasis on skills, that logically would be the case. Apart from lasting a mere 43 seconds, the match did not feature a professional referee - something that was weirdly allowed back then and something that would be unheard of today. The Lucha Brothers picked up the victory to a huge reaction too. RELATED: 5 Kenny Omega Matches Dave Meltzer Overrated (& 5 He Underrated). Dave Meltzer didn't give these WWE matches a five-star rating, even though they deserved it. After a great match prior to this which saw a title change, the stakes were heightened as this was a Two out of Three Falls Match, which lasted for nearly a whole hour. It did feel like an authentic, bloody, and brutal fight between 10 men who hated each other. Top three matches of 2021: SmackDown vs. Roman Reigns; Dynamite "Grand Slam" vs. Kenny Omega; Dynamite "Winter is Coming" vs. "Hangman" Adam Page. In this match for the World Heavyweight Championship, the pair fought to a stunning 45-minute time limit draw. This was another example of Flair and Windham not being able to get the better of each other in a World Heavyweight Championship match, with this one ending in a double count-out following an epic 41-minute battle. By Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Sep 27, 2021. Vince McMahon wanted to inject WWE with a lethal dose of poison so he brought the nWO to do his bidding. When he's not writing about pro wrestling, he's watching it. All credit goes to Meltzer for taking the time to make lists like this and please, if you haven't already, subscribe to the wrestling observer newsletter. It has previously been noted that Ronda Rousey would be challenging for the Women's Tag Team titles, so in the eyes of WWE, this makes that match even bigger. Dave Meltzer, who began watching professional wrestling at age 9, has been putting out The Wrestling Observer as a weekly since 1986. Ratings are from his Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscribe here). Everything about this match was perfect, with it wrapping their trilogy of wonderful World Title matches in 1989, spread across several big shows. Despite being the babyface, Steamboat brought out great aggression and a hard-hitting style in this match, doing what he needed to do to win, with him not being bothered about making it look pretty. Whilst there were some arguably slow portions, it helped create a flow to the match which sped up in some moments to get the audience hot, before slowing down again to allow the match to settle, and then exploding into action once again. Truth be told, Dave Meltzer should have seen another match, because this one didn't deserve four and a half stars. 10 Big Bossman Vs. Jim Duggan (-2.25/10) While this match started at a fantastic pace, it got boring it progressed. His technical, methodical style played right into Dave's hands at a time where matches outside of Japan struggled to impress him. WrestleMania X-Seven (2001 TV Special) The Rock defends the WWF Championship against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Shawn Michaels rose to solo prominence in an extremely competitive era that featured fellow greats including Razor Ramon and Bret Hart. Dave Meltzer has a top 10 when it comes to the best AEW matches. Also, this match was nothing like the fantastic match that Kota Ibushi and SANADA had the year before, and that's precisely why fans were a little disappointed in this one. 10 WWE Matches That Should've Been Given 5 Stars By Dave Meltzer, Shawn Michaels Vs. Mankind (In Your House 10: Mind Games), Triple H Vs. Cactus Jack (Royal Rumble 2000), The Rock Vs. Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania X8), Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle vs. However, when these two superstars finally met, the result was anything but pleasing to the eye since it involved Andre the Giant leaning on the ropes and Hogan doing what little he could with that. Weirdest matches in WWEs development squad, the Boogeyman & Little Bastard ( -3/10 ) Goldust. However, despite all the pressure, the Royal FamilyVs first contract with the company poison... All dave meltzer top 10 wrestlers favorite celebs, reality TV, and brutal fight between 10 men who hated each other s... 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Five WrestleManias including WrestleMania 38 last year hands at a time where matches of... Time limit draw by John Molinaro, Jeff Marek, et al match more.