Since the other topic will be primarily WWE and probably TNA (since that national label has been granted), this can be used for all you Puro, Lucha and everything else that most people don't watch fans. Have fun. :D

KENTA/Marufuji from 1/22 was damn fun, but I get the feeling that as more and more people see it, it will get shit for KENTA not selling the leg. Didn't really bother me that much though, awesome match. ***3/4

No selling an injury is hardly a giant offense. Sure, it sucks, but it doesn't knock a **** match down to something like ** because the leg isn't being sold. 9 out of 10 times, every match is like that.

Well, KENTA totally blew off the leg work by Marufuji. That actually really hurt the match, but soon enough the great finishing sequence saved it from being just above average. I have it at ***1/4. Akiyama/Taue was another really fun match only it has an anticlimatic finish, but I'd put that at ***.

I'm guessing the leg work was good enough that it should've crippled him? Okay, that's more like it. :)

Well, what really bothered me was how KENTA still used his leg. It's one thing when you no sell a body part but not use it, but it's another when you use it. Especially since KENTA's offense is mostly kick-based too. So that makes it's even worse, all in all, there's a ton of incredible spots in this by Marufuji, who's the best spot money in the world probably. And KENTA does add the stucture by giving Marufuji a ton of near falls and he sold fatigue really well. Those are the things that pretty much saved this match as KENTA's no selling his leg and naturally being on offense fucked this up. I gotta say though, all in all, without the selling problems, this is still probably the best match of the year so far.

Yeah I gotta agree, best match so far this year. Marufuji was really the star of the match which is somewhat ironic, and his legwork was awesome, especially the dragon screws. KENTA's selling had been awesome in his 7/18 match with Kanemaru (although not long term), so I wonder what happened here. Like you said though, the finishing sequence was great, and really saved what had been a disappointment up to that point.

Shibata/Nakajima from BML in April was great. Best Puro match I've seen this year so far. ***3/4.

I loved KENTA v Kobashi on March 05 from the NOAH show.

Akiyama v Suzuki was also pretty good.

This was weird to me. I'm a huge fan of both guys, but the match to me was nothing special. Loved the first part of the match up until the slapfest, which lasted way too long I think. Finish was sorta out of nowhere too. Probably about **1/2 from me.

Suzuki vs. Nakajima from 4/16 was pretty great. Suzuki's a fucking prick and Nakajima's the best babyface going this side of Mysterio, and this was played out to perfection. A guy like Jay Lethal should start watching more Nakajima, it would take him to another level. ***1/2

Low Ki vs. Necro Butcher from IWA-MS earlier this year.

Just a fun as hell match in front of a small but energetic crowd. Like many Necro matches, this just had that "fight" feel with Low Ki bringing the stiff kicks and Necro doing his best to stay in it with punches and forearms, but eventually getting his ass handed to him anyway. ***

Roderick Strong & Jack Evans v Briscoes - ROH Best in the World. 3/25/06

Just finished this one. Awesome hot match with some great heat spots on Evans by the Briscoes. This was better than Daniels/Styles v AMW, which everyone was pretty happy about. Very good match.

I'll add KENTA/Marafuji v Joe/Danielson from that same show, even though I felt the previous tag team match was better.

KENTA & Joe's heat was off the charts. Did I miss something? I'm not sure whats up with the hatred. Everyone shook hands before the match, but Joe blew off KENTA, and from there, it only escalated.

Great moment after the match where KENTA grabbed the ROH Title, and Joe flipped out, throwing his water bottle at him and taking it back. I don't think there is legit heat, but they were playing this GREAT. KENTA then said in broken english that he would be back. Joe took the mic and cut a little mini promo on him, saying KENTA can't beat either of them, and Joe left. KENTA then grabs the mic and says "Joe, I don't understand english". Awesome.

Okay, holy SHIT.

I just finished Do Fixer v Blood Generation from ROH Supercard of Honor.

I don't care what anyone thinks. That was the hottest, fastest, best spotfest in wrestling history. For me, HBK-Taker HIAC is a ***** blood brawl. Flair-Steamboat from Clash is a ***** wrestling match. And this right here, is THE ***** spotfest.

I'm still on a high from that match, and thats a feeling I haven't had in a long time. I can't even count the false finishes. And for the difficulty of spots, and the speed they were going at, amazingly, not a SINGLE blown spot of any kind.

Awesome.

Damn. Just finished Supercard of Honor.

Strong v Danielson was REALLY f'n good also. I wasn't feeling this for the first 10 minutes or so, until I really got into the work Danielson was doing. Loved the early story of Danielson running from Strong's chops. And awesomeness at the blood on Danielson's chest. I loved him being like a Shark smelling blood. Strong tweaks the knee, and Danielson kills it. This thing just got very old school, and in alot of spots, I was totally seeing Steamboat-Flair from Clash.

It was good, and going along, and then it just hit another gear. When Strong missed the chop and chopped the ringpost, it just got awesome. Danielson just kills him, stomping the wrist, slapping on a wristlock and telling Strong to tap to a wristlock. The announcing was GREAT and better than any of the shit in the big 2. They contributed so much to the match by helping focus. Danielson took out the knees, so Strong couldn't use his backbreakers. He goes after the arm, and is constantly on the neck and back for the Cattle Mutilation.

Great finish with Strong refusing to tap, and then hitting the top rope Gutbuster and hesitating before trying to make the final cover. Great touch, and this match was full of subtle nuances, including them going to the elbows finish from their previous encounter.

One thing it didn't have was a super hot crowd. I think they were finally getting burnt out, but they came back alive by the end. When I heard this was 56 minutes, I didn't think it could handle it, but it was magnificent.

Above all, this show, as a whole, just destroyed anything I've see on one broadcast in forever, if not always. So much goodness and a little bit of everything on this show.

Kaz Hayashi vs. Shuji Kondo from AJPW 8/27/06 is up there as one of the best Puro matches I've seen all year. Great stuff.

The ROH vs. CZW Cage of Death match is WAAAY up there on my MOTY list after seeing it only once. Really great.

Believe it or not, my current MOTY is Cage of Death, at ****3/4.

Second place is probably Colt Cabana vs. Homicide (Better Than Our Best). ****1/2

I still have some vital ROH shows I need to catch up on though. I didn't see Danielson/Strong from Supercard of Honor, now the DoFixer/Blood Gen match. Also, I'm waiting to order some of the Danielson/McGuinness series, as well as Saturday's Glory By Honor show.

Glory by Honor night two sounds like something I definately need.

You watch that Kondo/Kaz match Rowe?

No, but I did download it. I'll probably have time to watch it tonight, I'll have my thoughts on it later.

I'll bring the Lucha Libre to this board.

Zorro/Charly Manson from TripleMania 06. These two have been in a real blood feud. Zorro is the Teen Idol babyface while If you have seen him in NOAH, you probably know Charly Manson. This is a Cage Hair vs Hair match. A great blowoff bloodbath.

I also Suggest getting any Lardeo Kid/Nemisis/Super Fly/ Rey Cometa vs La Secta matches. Lardeo and Rey are the new Rey Jr.'s of AAA. They are way better than Mistico.

Just watched KENTA/Marufuji from 10/29. Better than everything I've seen this year besides Cage of Death. Holy shit.

I take that back, KENTA/Danielson is even better. I'd go like this right now as far as indy/lucha/puro is concerned for MOTY:

1.) Cage of Death
2.) KENTA/Danielson
3.) KENTA/Marufuji

Still have Marufuji/McGuinness, Danielson/Joe, and Danielson/McGuinness to watch yet...

Aries/Strong vs. KENTA/Richards from 11/3 has got to be a high choice for me B)

What is everyone's list looking like now ?

I'll let you know once I get through the four dvds I bought at the 11/3 show.

My top 10 so far, including WWE/TNA is:

1.) CZW vs. ROH Cage of Death - ROH 7/15
2.) Danielson vs. McGuinness - ROH 8/12
3.) Danielson vs. KENTA - ROH 9/16
4.) Benoit vs. Finlay - WWE 5/21
5.) KENTA vs. Marufuji - NOAH 10/29
6.) Danielson vs. Joe - ROH 8/6
7.) Benoit vs. Regal - WWE 10/8
8.) Briscoes vs. Aries/Strong - ROH 8/12
9.) Marufuji vs. McGuinness - ROH 9/16
10.) Mysterio vs. Finlay - WWE 3/20

ROH Supercard of Honor was simply amazing. I haven't gotten to watch Glory by Honor night 2 yet, but I must say that out of everything I've seen this year, this was the absolute best show.

Do Fixer vs. Blood Generation was the most effortless ****3/4 match I've ever seen. Strong/Danielson was also quite wonderful, probably about ****1/4 or more. I strongly recomend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

Finally got to finish ROH Unified. It was another very satisfying show.

Aries and Strong vs. Briscoes was about ****.

Danielson vs. McGuinness was about ****3/4. It was so good that I was tempted to go all the way and dish out ***** but the finish didn't exactly click 100% with me (or the crowd for that matter) so I think I'm satisfied with my rating. Still though, what an amazing match it was.

KENTA vs. Marufuji from 10/29/06. I can't decide if it's ****3/4 or *****. Someone make a case for me. B)

***** for me. I definitely enjoyed it more than Danielson/Nigel Unified. Something rubbed me wrong about alot of that match. It could be Nigel's wreckless style that I still have trouble identifying between intent and fuckups. Hard to explain.

I mean, I liked the match. ****1/2 or so for me. Loved the headbutt spot and the ending sequence was hot as hell. And I personally loved the finish.

And stuff. (double post)

You know what, if I have to compare KENTA/Marufuji to matches that I've rated ****3/4 recently, I do realize that I liked this one more. What the hell, it gets a ***** rating from me too!

Let's celebrate!

Kobashi/Tenyru vs Nakajima/Sasaki is my match of the year in japan. It's from Kensuke Office.

Finally finished up Glory by Honor Night Two.

Awesome show, with some noteworthy MOTYC.

McGuinness vs. Marufuji: ****1/2
Danielson vs. KENTA: ****3/4

Also, Aries and Strong vs. KOW was about ***1/2-***3/4.
Briscoes vs. Homicide and Joe was also in the ***1/2-***3/4 region.
Jacobs/Cabana/Daniels was about ***.

In reality, there were no bad matches. Awesome show, if you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for?