Top 5 Match of the Year Candidates

Top 5 Match of the Year Candidates

It seems that WWE has given us countless MOTY candidates over the course of 2016, spanning from NXT Takeovers to Smackdown/Raw shows to of course the PPVs. This article will go over what I believe are the top 5 of seemingly 20+ MOTY quality matches over 2016.

5) Extreme Rules

Sami Zayn v. Cesaro v. The Miz v. Kevin Owens Fatal 4 Way Intercontinental Title

The second this match was announced for the card, we knew it'd be a match to remember and we were not disappointed. It's almost impossible to not have a classic match with these 4 superstars and the type of athleticism they posses. Great storytelling was at the forefront of this one. The Miz trying to desperately hold onto his title. Sami Zayn trying to win the title that the WWE Universe so badly wanted him to claim (the Yes Chants he received after picking the belt up off the ring on a prior episode of Raw says it all). Kevin Owens trying to win the belt he felt was always his (if you don't believe me you can hear him obnoxiously scream "that's my title!!" multiple times throughout the match). And Cesaro, as talented in the ring as he is, trying to win his first singles title since his forgettable US Title run years ago during his "I can speak 5 languages" gimmick. The action was high octane from the very beginning, as soon as the bell rang Zayn Helluva Kicked Owens right out of the ring (literally, he wasn't seen again for minutes). There were many amazing sequences, each superstar had at least one near fall. In the closing moments of the match Zayn takes out Cesaro with a Helluva Kick and goes for the cover only to be pulled out the ring by KO. The enraged Zayn then goes after Owens leaving Miz to crawl to cover Cesaro for the pinfall and barely retain his title. WWE did a good job with this match continuing the Zayn/KO feud and setting Cesaro up for a singles title shot (Cesaro had made Miz tap out ealier to the Sharpshooter but Maryse had the referee distracted). This match solidified the chemistry all 4 of these superstars have with each other and was instantly in the MOTY discussion. It was definitely the best Fatal 4 Way of 2016, and believe me there were enough of them.

Link to highlights of the match: https://youtu.be/gVBUT2W9tUE

4) Battleground

Sami Zayn v. Kevin Owens

The primary goal of Pro Wrestling is to create moments with a great story, and they really hit it out of the park with KO/Zayn rivalry. Zayn was fed up with Owens after he had cost him the IC Title in their Fatal 4 Way, on top of everything else he had done to him since betraying him in NXT. Owens had claimed that Zayn will never get past him while Zayn came to the realization that if he is ever going to get where he wants to go in WWE, he needs to be rid of Kevin Owens. KO was aggressive as was Zayn, showing much of that same no nonsense attitude he had when he faced Neville for the NXT Title back in 2014. The match was move for move, counter for counter with the two knowing each other so well going as far back as their El Generico/Kevin Steen Ring of Honor days. The biggest pop in in this match was when Zayn hit Owens with back to back half-and-half suplexes following up with two Helluva Kicks for the win. Zayn showed compassion towards his former friend, him holding the unconscious KO in his arms before blasting him with the final Helluva Kick is a moment we'll all remember most in 2016. Sami Zayn exorcised his demon and looked prime for a big push in WWE, proving to be one of the best wrestlers in the world. He's been severely underutilized since that bout but that's a conversation for another time. This is a feud that will never go away as Zayn and Owens ALWAYS put on high quality matches and their story will always make for compelling television, but WWE shouldn't revisit it for awhile.

Link to highlights of the match: https://youtu.be/BVd7EWPtGAQ

3) Cruiserweight Classic

Kota Ibushi v. Cedric Alexander

The summer showcase that was the Cruiserweight Classic was a wild success. 32 of the most talented wrestlers under 205 pounds from all over the globe vying to be known as the #1 cruiserweight in the world. As much talent as there was, there was one odds-on favorite known as the Golden Star, Kota Ibushi (honestly how can you not be a favorite with a nickname like that). The Japanese striker has had incredible matches with the likes of arguably the 2016 MVP and current WWE Champion AJ Styles and current NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura in NJPW, so I didn't see Cedric Alexander putting up much of a fight. I was very wrong. Alexander was holding his own against the dangerous Ibushi in the striking and grappling game, giving Ibushi a very nasty chop to the face early on that echoed around the arena. Ibushi never lost control though, kicking Alexander down every chance he got. Highlight of the match was when Alexander hit Ibushi the brainbuster and Ibushi kicking out of that move. Immediately following the near fall Alexander landed a vicious turnaround kick to the head of Ibushi and the Golden Star somehow kicked out of that. I remember my jaw almost coming in contact with the floor, that's how shocked I was that Kota lived through that. Kota eventually recovers with a roundhouse to the head of Cedric, ending the match with the Golden Star Powerbomb. Cedric Aledxander blew me away as well as the fans, chanting "please sign Cedric" and having Triple H coming out to give his admiration as well. The very engaging commentary of Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo made this bout even better. This was the very best match of an utterly amazing tournament that shattered expectations. If you haven't seen the Cruiserweight Classic, you'd be doing yourself a huge favor by checking it out on the WWE Network. As the old chant goes, "This is wrestling".

Link to highlights of the match: https://youtu.be/LeINMAJ4yAI 

2) Summerslam
John Cena v. AJ Styles

AJ Styles. John Cena. Two names we never ever thought would step in the same ring together. Two names that have been the biggest stars in their respective industries for over a decade. Two names that have had THE rivalry of 2016 (Sorry Sasha and Charlotte). The story was simple, Cena is the face of the company, Styles is the indy star who believes Cena would've never been the face of WWE if he had been there. He may have been right. Styles has already beaten Cena months prior, albeit with controversy, and this match was to solidify that Styles was the new face of WWE, without any help from the former Bullet Club, on the biggest stage of the summer. The notion that "John Cena can't wrestle" needs to stop here because he put on one of the best matches with the best wrestler in the world. Cena had hit Styles with two Attitude Adjustment in which Styles kicked out. Cena then proceeded to hit Styles with another AA, this time from the top rope, and how AJ kicked out of that one I'll never know. That makes AJ Styles only one of two people to kick of Cena's "Super" AA, the other superstar being Kevin Owens. The look John Cena had on his face when AJ kicked out of that I cannot even put into words. Cena kicks out of a Styles Clash but is finally defeated with a Phenomenal Forearm, thus appointing himself as the new Face That Runs The Place and starting his road to the WWE Title (which he took from Ambrose a month later). Cena leaves his "Never Give Up" armband in the ring leaving many to speculate if he was done with the WWE. We have since learned that he is still very much involved in the WWE as he and Styles are set for battle yet again at this year's upcoming Royal Rumble, this time for the most prestigious title in sports entertainment. Styles has been on an amazing run since his debut in the Royal Rumble last year and is now the #1 heel on the SmackDown brand. His days as a heel may be numbered though seeing as he's so good at what he does fans cheer him regardless.

Link to highlights of match: https://youtu.be/iVFXHdrqY0U

1) NXT Takeover: Dallas

Sami Zayn v. Shinsuke Nakamura

This is was match of the night. The match of WrestleMania weekend. The match of the year. Sami Zayn defending his home turf of NXT, newcomer Shinsuke Nakamura showing up in a WWE ring after a wildly successful career in Japan. The King of Strong Style erupted into Dallas with his charismatic entrance and the crowd was on fire. The action was intense out of the gate, Zayn and Nakamura one upping each other as if Zayn was saying "this is my house" (shoutout to Paige). Early on there was one sequence where Nakamura threw down Zayn, proceeded to stomp on his head and give a swift kick to the temple and Zayn just barely got out the way of it. Let me just say any of those kicks would've ended Sami's career if they made contact and I was legit scared for his safety at that point. Sami didn't back down, hit him with a Blue Thunder Bomb and Nakamura kicked out. Nakamura and Zayn then just decided to slug it out and punch each other in the face until one gave up (this went on for the better part of 7 minutes). Neither man gave in and we were at stalemate yet again, until Nakamura gives a sickening knee off the ropes to the back of Sami's head. This was followed up with his devastating knee strike finisher called the Kinshasa (formely known as Bomaye in Japan but the move had to be renamed for WWE considering it's meaning is "kill him" in English). This was the perfect sendoff for Zayn, who's given so much for NXT and is one of the big reason why it is so big today. Shinsuke immediately forged his spot in the company, leaving any doubt if his style would translate in America behind. Nakamura is now NXT Champion and is primed for a call up to the main roster (I pray it's Smackdown) any day now. As for Zayn (who knows if he'll ever wake up after the Braun Strowman beatdown), he will forever be one if the biggest stars they ever had in NXT and the "Thank You Sami' chants were rightly justified.

Link to highlights of match: https://youtu.be/MYsPI2_5ZbM

Honorable Mentions

• NXT Takover: Toronto, DIY v. The Revival 2/3 Falls Match NXT Tag Team Titles
• NXT Takeover: Dallas, American Alpha v. The Revival NXT Tag Team Titles
• No Mercy, Dolph Ziggler v. The MIz Career/Intercontinental Title Match
• Extreme Rules, Roman Reigns v. AJ Styles Extreme Rules Match WWE World Heavyweight Title
• Royal Rumble: Kevin Owens v. Dean Ambrose Last Man Standing Match Intercontinental Title
• WrestleMania: Charlotte v. Sasha Banks v. Becky Lynch Inaugural Women's Title
• Raw: Big Cass v. Kevin Owens v. Roman Reigns v. Seth Rollins Fatal 4 Way Universal Title
• Battleground: Roman Reigns v. Seth Rollins v. Dean Ambrose Triple Threat WWE Title
• Raw: Charlotte v. Sasha Banks 1 Women's Title
• Cruiserweight Classic Semi-Final Kota Ibushi v. TJ Perkins