My Favorite Posts of 2016
At least, it was a pretty good year for wrestling. The list below features 100 posts on 103 matches that made me want to wrestle (my one and only criterion for inclusion in this retrospective). You can't get more subjective than that. For me, as a fan and blogger, these matches (new and old) were the most inspirational.
JT LaMotta vs Ryan Sorensen (XCW Wrestling)
25 January
Brad Armstrong vs Dale Veasey (Georgia Championship Wrestling)
26 January
Damian Dunne vs Drew Parker (Shropshire Wrestling Alliance)
27 January
Justin Gabriel vs Cody Rhodes (WWE)
29 January
Dave Markus vs Ivan Karamazoff (Movimus)
30 January
Antonio Inoki vs Jack Brisco (Japan Wrestling Association)
31 January
Will Ospreay vs James McPhail (TNA)
2 February
Corey Hollis vs Shaun Tempers (NWA Chattanooga)
8 February
Axel vs Derrick Cole (UCW)
9 February
Flash LaCash vs Van Skyler (BG East)
10 February
Ricky Starks vs Sammy Guevara (Inspire Pro Championship)
12 February
Asskickin4u vs LS Powerhouse (Rec Pro Wrestling)
13 February
Jake Jenkins vs MJ Vergara (BG East)
14 February
Lino Di Santo vs Horst Hoffman
15 February
Ace Perry vs Hakim Zane (White River Wrestling)
21 February
Guido Genatto vs Dolph Danner (BG East)
23 February
Krush vs Stan Torum (Krushco)
26 February
Ace Perry vs Cole Radrick (Emerge Wrestling)
1 March
Jonny Firestorm vs Nick Naughton (BG East)
2 March
Dave Markus vs Tito Marones (Movimus)
6 March
Johnny the Bull vs Race Steele (Heartland Wrestling Association)
9 March
Lio Rush vs John Silver (Beyond Wrestling)
11 March
Steven Walters vs Billy Brash (Premiere Wrestling Xperience)
17 March
Krush vs Gaz (Krushco)
26 March
Jessy Sorensen vs Joey Ryan (Paragon Pro Wrestling)
29 March
Ian McGregor vs Richie Brooks (World of Sport)
31 March
Tyson the Hammer vs Kenny Star (UCW)
2 April
Matt XStatic vs Marc Anthony (All Star Wrestling)
5 April
Dave Markus vs Dario Espinosa (Movimus)
9 April
Billy Santoro vs Jessie Colter (Naked Kombat)
10 April
Derrick Cole vs Max Ryder (UCW)
20 April
Leo Sun vs Steve Mason (Movimus)
24 April
Doug Acre vs Landon Conrad (Naked Kombat)
30 April
Alex Waters vs Chad Daniels (Rock Hard Wrestling)
6 May
Chris Ridgeway vs CJ Banks (Just Do Wrestling)
11 May
JT Dunn vs Jesse Vane (Beyond Wrestling)
13 May
Jonah Marx vs Brandon Blake (Naked Kombat)
16 May
Zack Johnathan vs Austin Cooper (Rock Hard Wrestling)
20 May
Jerry Lynn vs Terry Daniels (World Championship Wrestling)
26 May
Danny Duggan vs Thomas Walton III (Elite Wrestling Initiative)
31 May
Stan Torum vs Krush (Krushco)
1 June
Minoru Suzuki vs KENTA (Pro Wrestling NOAH)
9 June
Ken Doane vs Brent Albright (Ohio Valley Wrestling)
14 June
Frey vs Scrappy (Thunder's Arena)
26 June
Krush vs Gaz (Krushco)
30 June
Frey vs Jake Jenkins (Thunder's Arena)
2 July
Jake Jenkins vs Steel (Thunder's Arena)
7 July
Jesse Vane vs Stockade (Beyond Wrestling)
10 July
Scissorboy Alex vs Tomas (Fightroom)
11 July
Bryen Douglas vs Papa Dingo (Mid Ohio Wrestling)
12 July
Tomas vs Josh and Cody vs Josh and Aaron vs Matt and Scissorboy Alex vs Matt (Fightroom)
13 July
Ivan Gromov vs Vladimir Kulakov vs Alexei Schukin (IWF Russia)
25 July
Ben vs Aaron (Nicky's World and Web)
28 July
Steel vs Chase (Thunder's Arena)
30 July
Beast vs Billy the Kid (Thunder's Arena)
2 August
John Silver vs Keith Lee (Beyond Wrestling)
3 August
Eli Black vs Quinn Harper vs Derrick Cole (UCW)
6 August
Josh vs Scissorboy Alex (Fightroom)
7 August
Shane Haste vs Daisuke Sekimoto (Pro Wrestling NOAH)
10 August
Krush vs Donald Jay (Krushco)
11 August
Axel vs Eli Black (UCW)
12 August
Jesse Sorensen and Wes Brisco vs Caleb Konley and Drew Donovan (Paragon Pro Wrestling)
13 August
Talon vs Beast (Thunder's Arena)
20 August
Ace Perry vs MV Young (Vicious Outcast Wrestling)
2 September
Chris Andrews vs Chris Masters (Pro Wrestling Pride)
7 September
Buzz Sawyer vs Tommy Rich (World Championship Wrestling)
14 September
Alex Reynolds and John Silver vs Tony Nese and Jesse Vane (New York Wrestling Connection)
16 September
Shane McCall vs Rob Mullen (BG East)
18 September
Chase Michaels vs Axel (UCW)
19 September
James Riley vs Caleb Konley (Paragon Pro Wrestling)
28 September
Bob Orton vs Hans Schmidt (Chicago Wrestling)
3 October
Tristan Archer vs Peter Fischer (Fédération Française de Catch Professionnel)
5 October
Jimmy Snuka vs Kevin Von Erich (Georgia Championship Wrestling)
10 October
Derrick Cole vs Chase Michaels (UCW)
17 October
Hans Schmidt vs Verne Gagne (Chicago Wrestling)
20 October
Duke Russo vs Dave Markus (Movimus)
21 October
Jesse Adler vs Colby Corino (CWF Mid-Atlantic Wrestling)
22 October
Dezmond Xavier vs Daniel Winchester (Rockstar Pro Wrestling)
24 October
Jeetu Pahalwan vs Aabid Pahalwan
30 October
Krush vs Stan Torum (Krushco)
3 November
Lou Thesz vs Buddy Rogers (Chicago Wrestling)
4 November
Dolf vs Marco (Thunder's Arena)
14 November
Scissorboy Alex vs Justin (Fightroom)
17 November
Colby Corino vs Jefferson Early (Vanguard Championship Wrestling)
21 November
Johnny Mundo vs Garza Jr. (Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide)
23 November
Austin Tyler vs Quinn Harper (UCW)
27 November
BRAM vs Doug Williams vs Chris Andrews vs John Harding vs James Baker vs Eddie Ryan (Pro Wrestling Pride)
28 November
Jeetu Pahalwan vs Akash Yadav Pahalwan
30 November
Krush vs John Henry (Krushco)
2 December
Falcon vs JJ (LDN Wrestling)
3 December
Dean Bly vs John Watson (NHB-Battle / Movimus)
6 December
Van Skyler vs Payton Meadows (BG East)
9 December
Antonino Rocca vs Karl Von Hess (NWA Chicago)
11 December
Rick Gillette vs Maxx Danno (BG East)
12 December
Dario Espinosa vs Ray Mousi (Movimus)
13 December
Jake Jenkins vs Brad Barnes (BG East)
14 December
Buddy Rogers vs Pat O'Connor (NWA Chicago)
19 December
Jeetu Pahalwan vs Ashish Pahalwan
30 December
Flash LaCash vs Van Skyler |
JT LaMotta vs Ryan Sorensen (XCW Wrestling)
25 January
Brad Armstrong vs Dale Veasey (Georgia Championship Wrestling)
26 January
Damian Dunne vs Drew Parker (Shropshire Wrestling Alliance)
27 January
Justin Gabriel vs Cody Rhodes (WWE)
29 January
Dave Markus vs Ivan Karamazoff (Movimus)
30 January
Antonio Inoki vs Jack Brisco (Japan Wrestling Association)
31 January
Will Ospreay vs James McPhail (TNA)
2 February
Corey Hollis vs Shaun Tempers (NWA Chattanooga)
8 February
Axel vs Derrick Cole (UCW)
9 February
Flash LaCash vs Van Skyler (BG East)
10 February
Dave Markus vs Ivan Karamazoff |
12 February
Asskickin4u vs LS Powerhouse (Rec Pro Wrestling)
13 February
Jake Jenkins vs MJ Vergara (BG East)
14 February
Lino Di Santo vs Horst Hoffman
15 February
Ace Perry vs Hakim Zane (White River Wrestling)
21 February
Guido Genatto vs Dolph Danner (BG East)
23 February
Krush vs Stan Torum (Krushco)
26 February
Ace Perry vs Cole Radrick (Emerge Wrestling)
1 March
Jonny Firestorm vs Nick Naughton (BG East)
2 March
Dave Markus vs Tito Marones (Movimus)
6 March
Krush vs Gaz |
Johnny the Bull vs Race Steele (Heartland Wrestling Association)
9 March
Lio Rush vs John Silver (Beyond Wrestling)
11 March
Steven Walters vs Billy Brash (Premiere Wrestling Xperience)
17 March
Krush vs Gaz (Krushco)
26 March
Jessy Sorensen vs Joey Ryan (Paragon Pro Wrestling)
29 March
Ian McGregor vs Richie Brooks (World of Sport)
31 March
Tyson the Hammer vs Kenny Star (UCW)
2 April
Matt XStatic vs Marc Anthony (All Star Wrestling)
5 April
Dave Markus vs Dario Espinosa (Movimus)
9 April
Billy Santoro vs Jessie Colter (Naked Kombat)
10 April
Doug Acre vs Landon Conrad |
Derrick Cole vs Max Ryder (UCW)
20 April
Leo Sun vs Steve Mason (Movimus)
24 April
Doug Acre vs Landon Conrad (Naked Kombat)
30 April
Alex Waters vs Chad Daniels (Rock Hard Wrestling)
6 May
Chris Ridgeway vs CJ Banks (Just Do Wrestling)
11 May
JT Dunn vs Jesse Vane (Beyond Wrestling)
13 May
Jonah Marx vs Brandon Blake (Naked Kombat)
16 May
Zack Johnathan vs Austin Cooper (Rock Hard Wrestling)
20 May
Jerry Lynn vs Terry Daniels (World Championship Wrestling)
26 May
Danny Duggan vs Thomas Walton III (Elite Wrestling Initiative)
31 May
Frey vs Jake Jenkins |
Stan Torum vs Krush (Krushco)
1 June
Minoru Suzuki vs KENTA (Pro Wrestling NOAH)
9 June
Marco vs Steel (Thunder's Arena)
11 June
Ken Doane vs Brent Albright (Ohio Valley Wrestling)
14 June
Frey vs Scrappy (Thunder's Arena)
26 June
Krush vs Gaz (Krushco)
30 June
Frey vs Jake Jenkins (Thunder's Arena)
2 July
Jake Jenkins vs Steel (Thunder's Arena)
7 July
Jesse Vane vs Stockade (Beyond Wrestling)
10 July
Scissorboy Alex vs Tomas (Fightroom)
11 July
Tomas vs Josh |
Bryen Douglas vs Papa Dingo (Mid Ohio Wrestling)
12 July
Tomas vs Josh and Cody vs Josh and Aaron vs Matt and Scissorboy Alex vs Matt (Fightroom)
13 July
Ivan Gromov vs Vladimir Kulakov vs Alexei Schukin (IWF Russia)
25 July
Ben vs Aaron (Nicky's World and Web)
28 July
Steel vs Chase (Thunder's Arena)
30 July
Beast vs Billy the Kid (Thunder's Arena)
2 August
John Silver vs Keith Lee (Beyond Wrestling)
3 August
Eli Black vs Quinn Harper vs Derrick Cole (UCW)
6 August
Josh vs Scissorboy Alex (Fightroom)
7 August
Shane Haste vs Daisuke Sekimoto (Pro Wrestling NOAH)
10 August
Josh vs Scissorboy Alex |
Krush vs Donald Jay (Krushco)
11 August
Axel vs Eli Black (UCW)
12 August
Jesse Sorensen and Wes Brisco vs Caleb Konley and Drew Donovan (Paragon Pro Wrestling)
13 August
Talon vs Beast (Thunder's Arena)
20 August
Ace Perry vs MV Young (Vicious Outcast Wrestling)
2 September
Chris Andrews vs Chris Masters (Pro Wrestling Pride)
7 September
Buzz Sawyer vs Tommy Rich (World Championship Wrestling)
14 September
Alex Reynolds and John Silver vs Tony Nese and Jesse Vane (New York Wrestling Connection)
16 September
Shane McCall vs Rob Mullen (BG East)
18 September
Chase Michaels vs Axel (UCW)
19 September
Chase Michaels vs Axel |
James Riley vs Caleb Konley (Paragon Pro Wrestling)
28 September
Bob Orton vs Hans Schmidt (Chicago Wrestling)
3 October
Tristan Archer vs Peter Fischer (Fédération Française de Catch Professionnel)
5 October
Jimmy Snuka vs Kevin Von Erich (Georgia Championship Wrestling)
10 October
Derrick Cole vs Chase Michaels (UCW)
17 October
Hans Schmidt vs Verne Gagne (Chicago Wrestling)
20 October
Duke Russo vs Dave Markus (Movimus)
21 October
22 October
Dezmond Xavier vs Daniel Winchester (Rockstar Pro Wrestling)
24 October
Jeetu Pahalwan vs Aabid Pahalwan
30 October
Duke Russo vs Dave Markus |
Krush vs Stan Torum (Krushco)
3 November
Lou Thesz vs Buddy Rogers (Chicago Wrestling)
4 November
Dolf vs Marco (Thunder's Arena)
14 November
Scissorboy Alex vs Justin (Fightroom)
17 November
Colby Corino vs Jefferson Early (Vanguard Championship Wrestling)
21 November
Duke Russo vs Shon Tracy (Movimus)
22 November
22 November
Johnny Mundo vs Garza Jr. (Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide)
23 November
Austin Tyler vs Quinn Harper (UCW)
27 November
BRAM vs Doug Williams vs Chris Andrews vs John Harding vs James Baker vs Eddie Ryan (Pro Wrestling Pride)
28 November
Jeetu Pahalwan vs Akash Yadav Pahalwan
30 November
Van Skyler vs Payton Meadows |
Krush vs John Henry (Krushco)
2 December
Falcon vs JJ (LDN Wrestling)
3 December
Dean Bly vs John Watson (NHB-Battle / Movimus)
6 December
Van Skyler vs Payton Meadows (BG East)
9 December
Antonino Rocca vs Karl Von Hess (NWA Chicago)
11 December
Rick Gillette vs Maxx Danno (BG East)
12 December
Dario Espinosa vs Ray Mousi (Movimus)
13 December
Jake Jenkins vs Brad Barnes (BG East)
14 December
Buddy Rogers vs Pat O'Connor (NWA Chicago)
19 December
Jeetu Pahalwan vs Ashish Pahalwan
30 December
Great list, Joe and pleased to see Will Ospreay make it on as well as some links to the classic era. What we would all do for a modern version of the Von Erichs. And of course relating back to one of your recent posts, yet more acknowledgment for the legend that is Jake Jenkins.
ReplyDeleteBut on the subject of another of your recent posts regarding the preference of gay fans for the wrestler as young Adonis.... Wot no Scrappy?
But seriously, thanks for coming back and offering us the benefit of your knowledge and experience.
All the best for 2017.
Sid