2015 was an interesting year for me as a wrestling fan. Three things shook my fandom and completely changed how I view our great sport over the last twelve months. The first was attending an ROH taping the night before the Royal Rumble, there my eyes were opened to everything great about smaller companies. The second was after travelling from Montreal to Philadelphia to see my first Royal Rumble live, watching every single person the crowd cared for in the match be tossed after a few paltry minutes. It was in this moment that my investment in WWE programming disappeared for the remainder of the year. The third was taking a chance on listening to JR call WrestleKingdom. I had always thought that the language barrier would deter me from enjoying the product but JR cinched me in. The branding of WWE is strong man. Out of loyalty or perhaps sheer brainwashing I had always avoided other promotions which is why this year was so exciting. It was about discovery, and it was fantastic.
Which brings us to the best wrestlers of the calendar year. Earlier in the year I put together a piece called the Scientific Ranking of Summerslams which was as contentious as it was egregious. Please don’t be put off by those two last words as I assure you I had to look up both to see if I was using them right. That being said I decided to use my limited knowledge of science and my outright disdain for math to decide who the best wrestlers of 2015 truly were. Here’s what I did:
Every wrestler who had a four star or higher match was placed into a database. This was way more to juggle than what I was expecting as I counted 90 four plus star matches across seven promotions and had a whopping 70 wrestlers on my final list. Each wrestler was given one (1) point for each match he/she participated in.
The individual star ratings were then added up for each wrestler and the sum was added to their total.
Then I averaged out every wrestler’s four plus star matches and that average was added to the total.
Lastly any wrestler that had a five star match during the calendar year was given five (5) points for each five star match. Call it five for five if you will, I sure don’t.
So the formula is:
(# of 4*+ matches) + (Total sum of stars in said matches) + ( Average of all 4+* matches) + (# of 5 * matches x5) = TOTAL
Complicated enough???? Alienating enough?????? One last note to give you the opportunity to turn back: I try to rate matches based on the full experience of the match rather than strictly on workrate. With me you’ll get the usual ***** ratings for things like Austin/Hart and Steamboat/Savage but I also try to look at everything else that goes into the match. For example I don’t believe that Hulk Hogan needs to be doing moonsaults to make his match against Andre at Mania 3 a ***** experience. I’ll take the build, feel and general fear I had while watching Hogan attempt to conquer the giant over an above average Ric Flair match any day. So sit back, relax, and let’s take a look at the twenty best wrestlers of 2015!
Honorable Mentions
Ricochet/Prince Puma, Fenix
If there’s one hole in my game this year it’s Lucha. I’m convinced if I had watched more Lucha Underground both of these men may have ranked in the top twenty for the year. It’s not even that I don’t love Lucha Underground, I do, there’s only so many hours in the day and so many minutes I can tolerate Matt Striker trying to sound smart.
#20
Matt Sydal
Total Points: 30.25
Matches: *****w/ ACH/Alexander vs AJ Styles/Bucks (ROH TV 15-2-14), **** vs Kushida (ROH TV 15-9-30) **** vs Kenny Omega , IWGP Jr. Title (King of Pro Wrestling 15-10-12), **** vs Fenix (PWG BOLA Night 1 15-8-29)
Total Stars: 17
Star Average: 4.25
5 * Matches: 1
Remember this guy???The guy doomed to receiving flying RKOs and teaming with Kofi Kingston? In fairness I have no idea how he’d fit into the current landscape of the WWE but boy am I sure glad he’s gone. For years I would say to myself “Boy it’d be great if (wrestler x) made it to WWE” but now I’m finding myself more and more content to see these guys busting their ass on the indies. When you look at Sydal he doesn’t seem like much but he throws some of the stiffest knees this side of Bolo Yeung and his standing moonsault is a thing of beauty. He thrived this year in multiple promotions and his future only looks brighter with many more NJPW bookings on the horizon. This is a guy who’s definitely worth a second look if you only know him from his WWE stint. He shows a tremendous propensity for violence for a guy who shouts “Peace” in the middle of his matches despite the fact that for most of the year he sported the most spectacular of man-buns. So if you think WWE was right for firing him for synthetic pot (all the while employing men who have beaten their wives, raped people in the shower etc.) then this may not be the wrestler or life for you. For everyone else, check out the excellent work Sydal did against opponents of every style and enjoy him for the fantastic performer that he’s grown into.
#19
Brock Lesnar
Total Points: 30.875
Matches: ***** vs Cena vs Rollins, WWE Title (Royal Rumble 15-1-25), ****1/2 vs Roman Reigns WWE Title (WrestleMania 15-3-29), **** vs The Undertaker, Hell In A Cell (Hell In A cell 15-10-25), **** vs The Undertaker (Summerslam 15-8-23)
Total Stars: 17.5
Star Average: 4.375
5 Star Matches: 1
I’m not sure there’s ever been a person who’s better at professional wrestling than Brock Lesnar. Sure he doesn’t have the longevity or the great catalogue of matches that the all time greats posses, but if you took a snapshot of him I think you’ll see someone who truly rivals the best of the best. He just gets it. From the moment you see him you are intimidated, and the plethora of little things he infuses into each match put almost everyone else to shame. It was the year he made “suplex city” something cool before the WWE and their marketing ran it into the ground. Watch him. Watch the little ticks and facial expressions that everyone else seems to miss. His offense is believable (probably because it’s real) and his selling gets nowhere near the credit it deserves for its realism. I can’t help but imagine that Brock would be waaaaaaaay higher on the list had he just been more active. The real shame is that the Seth Rollins match didn’t quite hit the height of its potential. They banked way to heavily of the catharsis of Seth Rollins taking a beating that just wasn’t there, and as a result the match fell a bit flat. As it stands we have a classic at the Rumble, a very solid WrestleMania main event (where the catharsis was on full display) and two great little matches with the Undertaker. Despite the tie I placed him behind bthe next two on the list as they both provided a pile of other great little matches while Brock gave us quality with little quantity. Usually I’d go with the former but he was just way off the latter. Please don’t murder my family Brock.
#18
Sasha Banks
Total Points: 30.875
Matches: ***** vs Bayley, NXT Women’s Title (NXT Brooklyn 15-8-22), **** 1/2 vs Bayley, NXT Women’s Title (NXT Respect 15-10-7), **** vs Becky Lynch NXT Women’s Title (Takeover Unstoppable 15-5-20) **** vs Charlotte, Bayley+ Becky Lynch, NXT Women’s Title (Takeover Rivals 15-2-11)
Total Stars: 17.5
Star Average: 4.375
5 Star Matches: 1
It’s only the most special of heels that will make a little girl cry in the front row at a wrestling event. When Sasha Banks stole the headband off of Bayley’s superfan (I want to say her name is Punky? Junky?) she heeled her way into my heart, surely there to stay until the end of time. If 2015 was a great year for women’s wrestling it’s thanks in large part to the efforts of The Boss. One can only wonder where she’d end up on this list if she wasn’t banished to twerking on the main roster for half the year. As it stands she has probably the best four women’s matches I’ve ever seen. This coming from someone who has seen ALL of Kelly Kelly’s matches. What Kelly Kelly added to the industry in term of smiling and standing with the title belt straight up in the air, Banks doubles with intensity and little touches that we never seemed to get from women before. The comparison to Trish Stratus is a major stretch; Sasha destroys her. Trish would never stomp the shit out of someone’s hand as they were reaching for the ropes. Trish was good. Lita was solid. Sasha is tremendous. She’s so good she transcends gender and is just a great wrestler. I sincerely hope that going forward they stop telling us how great the “Divas” are and start showing us by letting people like Sasha just go out there.
#17
Bayley
Total Points: 30.875
Matches: ***** vs Sasha Banks, NXT Women’s Title (NXT Brooklyn 15-8-22), **** 1/2 vs Sasha Banks, NXT Women’s Title (NXT Respect 15-10-7), **** vs Nia Jax, NXT Women’s Title (NXT London 15-12-16), **** vs Charlotte, Banks + Becky Lynch, NXT Women’s Title (Takeover Rivals 15-2-11)
Total Stars: 17.5
Star Average: 4.375
5 Star Matches: 1
I don’t think there’s ever been a wrestler who garners sympathy as quickly as Bayley. I remember when I first saw her: I thought to myself, “What in the blue hell is wrong with her hair?” Now when I see her I wonder how I’m going to get through the match without getting emotional. I am invested in every single thing that she’s in, be it against Sasha Banks or even god damn Eva Marie. She’s just so good at connecting with the crowd, and while I just lauded Sasha Banks making her fans cry, I can’t help but smile at the special connection she has with them. I just want Bayley the character to succeed. I want her to win, and when she does I’m happy. To me that seems like the purest form of pro wrestling. I’m not worried about her push or wondering who the company wants to be on top of the division, I am engrossed in this sweet, kind-hearted girl’s journey. Does the fact that she seems like the nicest person on earth mean that she’s a raging douche bag in real life? I sure hope not, but it feels like that’s way too profound a question for the likes of a wrestling list. Her match with Banks at NXT Brooklyn is the very definition of a five star experience for me. Sure the match was great but the build, the emotion and the sheer catharsis of the finish push it up to the stratosphere. Though she tied with Sasha Banks and Brock Lesnar, I placed Bayley higher because while the others were constantly facing the best of their peers, Bayley had good to great matches with people like Nia Jax and Eva Marie. That and I’m possibly in love with her. But not in the same way I’m in love with Taryn Terrell and Mandy Leon, it’s a more innocent love. Like I want to punch her in the arm and maybe play GI Joes with her. I selfishly want her to stay in NXT forever but when the eventual call up happens I hope that the WWE capitalizes on this new type of character. There has never been another Bayley and she could be the key to a whole new market for the company. She could also be the key to inflatable whacky arm guy salesmen around the world, who clearly were stunned when someone came into their showroom and despite not being a car dealership offered to buy four models.
#16
Tetsuya Naito
Total Points: 34.58
Matches: ****1/4 vs Katsuyori Shibata (Destruction Kobe 15-9-27), ****1/4 vs Kota Ibushi (New Japan Cup Final 15-3-15), **** vs Katsuyori Shibata (G1 Night 3 15-7-24), **** vs AJ Styles (Wrestlekingdom 15-1-4), **** vs Hiroshi Tanahashi (G1 Night 5 15-7-26), **** w/EVIL vs Honma/Makabe (World Tag League Final 15-12-9)
Total Stars: 24.75
Star Average: 4.125
5 Star Matches: 0
I’m so happy I get to write about this guy. He started out the year as a guy with a weird haircut wearing too many colors. He morphed into the most disinterested wrestler I’m ever seen. I had never seen a bored wrestler before, and had you tried to sell me on it I’d laugh and say “We already have Randy Orton,” or “Goldberg doesn’t care about the business,” or maybe “I never knew me father,” but I digress. Naito’s entrance alone should get him on this list. If you’ve never seen this man saunter his way to the ring, and you feel that the Undertaker’s entrance is way too quick then you will truly love Tetsuya Naito. Picture it: Dance music blaring. Blaring. To the point where you have an instant headache. Out walks a man in a full suit wearing some kind of death mask/helmet. He walks, and I mean walks down the ramp, gets in the ring in the slowest possible fashion before removing his mask to reveal a man who’d clearly rather be anywhere else. He then proceeds to take off his suit at the same rate as the man who has to sleep with the elderly for money. It’s tremendous. I’m not sure there’s ever been a guy I was so bored with as a face, who completely turned me around with his heel work. Heel work mind you in a promotion where it must be very challenging to be a bad guy. To give you some context: Okada and Nakamura are part of a heel stable and yet elicit some of the biggest reactions on the roster. Naito on the other hand enrages the fans with his preposterous antics. I know I’ve talked a great deal about his character but it’d be nothing without the solid in-ring work he brings to the table each and every match. Naito had a tremendous G1 tournament and never really had a bad match all year. He suffers a bit from not having any tippy top notch matches but is consistently excellent and drastically different than anyone I’ve ever seen.
#15
Jay Lethal
Total Points: 35.75
Matches: ****1/2 vs Kyle O’Reilley, ROH TV Title (ROH TV 15-5-23), ****1/2 vs Jay Briscoe, ROH/ROH TV Titles (Best in The World 15-6-19), ****1/4 vs Roderick Strong, ROH Title (ROH TV 15-9-9), ****1/4 vs AJ Styles, ROH Title (Final Battle 15-12-18), **** vs Roderick Strong, ROH Title (Death Before Dishonor 15-7-24), **** vs Roderick Strong, ROH TV Title (ROH TV 15-11-25)
Total Stars: 25.5
Star Average: 4.25
5 Star Matches: 0
Jay Lethal is a star. From the moment he comes through the curtain until he hits that god damn finisher he carries himself like the most important wrestler of all time. It would all be moot if he didn’t bring it in the ring, but that is far from the case in 2015. Sure he may owe a great deal of success this year to his feud with Roderick Strong, but he also had fantastic showings against AJ Styles, Jay Briscoe, and a completely under the radar gem with Kyle O’Reilly for the TV title back in May. I just wish he’d change that fucking finisher. The Lethal Injection is fine as a concept but the fact that his opponents have to stand there like they’re in a Mortal Kombat game while he sets it up only holds him back. It also helps his case for 2015 that he stands out as a great character in a promotion that at times sorely lacks solid characters. He’s a credible and interesting world champion. The way ROH as a promotion handled his crowning is what truly sets them apart from WWE as the best in North America. Going into the match world champ Jay Briscoe hadn’t been pinned in two years and Lethal himself had been TV champ for over 52 weeks himself. You can book yourself into a corner with those kinds of records or you can, like ROH did, create a true aura of intrigue as you can’t see either guy losing. The match of course delivered in spades, and it was shocking and satisfying to see Lethal beat Briscoe clean as a sheet. I think most would have that as his greatest moment of the year but I’ll always remember Kyle O’Reilly taking Lethal to a time limit draw more. This was a filler match in the midst of Lethal’s feud with Briscoe, but both guys just busted ass and had a mini classic. The choreography for the finale where O’Reilly caught Lethal out of the GD Lethal Injection and trapped him in the arm bar was sublime and as the time ran out, despite the non finish I felt completely satisfied with the match. The after match though is where Lethal truly shined. As Lethal pondered granting the crowd’s request for “five more minutes,” the rowdy ROH faithful began to chant “Man Up.” Not only apropos to the situation but also a chant usually reserved for Jay Briscoe, Lethal’s heated foe. Without skipping a beat Lethal retorted, “I was going to, but you ruined it.” Surely an ad-lib. A simple ad-lib, but an ad-lib that just made everything feel real for that one moment. I know it’s a small thing, but small things are what makes good wrestlers great. Jay Lethal had a great year.
#14
Kazuchika Okada
Total Points: 36.04
Matches: ****3/4 w/RPG Vice vs Bullet Club (ROH TV 15-6-20), ****1/2 vs Shinsuke Nakamura (G1 Night 18 15-8-15), ****1/2 vs Roderick Strong (Field Of Honor 15-8-22), **** vs Hirooki Goto (G1 Night 8 15-8-1), **** vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, IWGP Title (Wrestlekingdom 15-1-4), **** vs AJ Styles, IWGP Title (King of Pro Wrestling 15-10-12)
Total Stars: 25.5
Star Average: 4.25
5 Star Matches: 0
I want to like this guy more than I do. There’s no doubt that he has great matches but I just have such a hard time getting invested in anything he does. He’s such a mystery! One minute he looks completely aloof and disconnected to what he’s doing, which leads me to believe he doesn’t give a shit; the next he’s openly weeping after losing the WrestleKingdom main event to Tanahashi, which is such a tremendous character moment that I don’t have enough words in this article to describe it. I’ll say this for Okada, he may be the best finishing sequence wrestler I’ve ever seen. The last five minutes of his matches are always excellent and I’m curious how many extra stars he’s earned from reviewers on those sequences alone. I joked above that he’s the Japanese Randy Orton, who in my eyes is someone who is a good wrestler but not necessarily good at professional wrestling; I don’t actually believe that though. I know there’s more to this guy, I just haven’t seen it yet. As it stands he’s got a bunch of great matches this year so it’d be impossible not to include him in a list like this, I just wish I was more connected to his stuff as I’m sure it’s me the problem and I’m missing something great.
#13
KUSHIDA
Total Points: 36.3333
Matches: ****3/4 vs ReDragon,The Young Bucks+ Forever Hooligans, IWGP Jr. Tag Titles (Wrestlekingdom 15-1-4), ****1/2 vs Ricochet, IWGP Jr. Title (G1 Finals 15-8-16), ****1/2 vs Kyle O’Reilley (Best Of Super Juniors 15-6-7), ****1/4 w/Shelley vs reDragon, IWGP Jr Tag Titles (Destruction Kobe 15-9-27), **** w/Shelley vs ReDragon+ The Young Bucks IWGP Jr. Tag Titles (New Beginning Osaka 15-2-11), **** vs Matt Sydal (ROH TV 15-9-30)
Total Stars: 26
Star Average: 4.3333
5 Star Matches: 0
Now this guys is spectacular. Very few guys have the ability to fly through the air and the stiffness to kick the living shit out of you so thoroughly blended as KUSHIDA. He works as a tag wrestler with Alex Shelley, he works as a junior heavyweight and I have no doubt that he could seamlessly transition to the heavyweight division and not look a step out of place. If there was a flaw in his game I would say it was attention to details while selling but I imagine that will come with time. It’s a shame; had that been more present we’d have at least one more match on the list as his match at Dominion against Kenny Omega (and his broom) was very good but ultimately marred by him ignoring that his leg had been pulverized by the self-proclaimed cleaner. It will be interesting to see going forward of the Timesplitters are done for the moment as he really felt at his best when teaming with the aforementioned Shelley. I’m hoping for big things from KUSHIDA this year, and there’s no better place to start than against Omega again, this time at WrestleKingdom. If you’ve never seen KUSHIDA perform before think of him as a quicker but less sinister version of Tajiri. And please don’t let the strange Marty McFly fetish fool you, this guy is the real deal.
#12
Hirooki Goto
Total Points: 40.42
Matches: ****1/2 vs Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Night 14 15-8-9), ****1/2 vs Shinsuke Nakamura IWGP Intercontinental (Destruction Kobe 15-9-27), ****1/4 w/Shibata vs Ishii/Nakamura (Wolrd Tag League D1 15-11-21), **** vs Kazuchika Okada (G1 Night 8 15-8-1), ****vs Kota Ibushi (New Japan Cup Finals 15-3-15), **** vs Michael Elgin (G1 Night 16 15-8-12), **** vs Shinsuke Nakamura (G1 Night 10 15-8-4)
Total Stars: 29.25
Star Average: 4.17
5 Star Matches: 0
I feel like I would pay good money to watch this guy fight Brock Lesnar. I remember being pissed off when he dethroned Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Title, but after watching a few more matches he quickly grew into one of my favorites for his toughness and brutality. I guess in the end the G1 makes it a little unfair for wrestlers from the rest of the world as it allows the NJPW stars the opportunity to have a slew of great matches with each other. Goto had a phenomenal tournament, killing it in every match and even earning a pinfall over Heavyweight Champion Okada. I get excited when I see this guy come out now (his epic music probably helps) as I know I’m in for some smash mouth (football?) action. His finish is also incredible as he holds you up for a suplex before swinging you forward into a urinage for the pin. Strange the company also goes out of its way to protect the finish which might appear strange to you if you’re only accustomed to WWE programming. Goto also made the trip to ROH this year to face off with a rejuvenated Michael Elgin. A very solid year from a guy hopefully on the rise.
#11
John Cena
Total Points: 40.45
Matches: ***** vs Lesnar, Rollins, WWE Title (Royal Rumble 15-1-23), ****1/4 vs Kevin Owens (Elimination Chamber 15-5-31), **** vs Kevin Owens (Money In The Bank 15-6-14), **** vs Seth Rollins WWE/WWE US Titles (Summerslam 15-8-23), **** vs Cesaro WWE US Title (Raw 15-6-29), **** vs Cesaro, WWE US Title (Raw 15-7-6)
Total Stars: 25.25
Star Average: 4.2
5 Star Matches: 1
Really great year from America’s favorite son. For me though it’s a year that could have been infinitely better had he bothered to pay attention to details. Why does he not give a shit about details? For me the perfect picture of John Cena’s 2015 is the moments that immediately follow his shocking loss to Kevin Owens at Elimination Chamber. Watch him after the three count. He’s out of that ring faster than a burning man trying to extinguish himself. Why does he just roll out as if nothing happened? Why does he jump up and down on legs that have been obliterated for ten plus minutes? It’s just plain scary how good this guy could be if he just paid attention. How many four star matches would be five? How many people would stop booing him and respect him for the tremendous athlete that he is? And I thought he had a great year. The US title challenges were a godsend to his character and genuinely a joy to watch for the most part. Cena had a year that could have been an all-timer but instead turned out to be just great. WHELP! Da da da daaaaaaaaaaaa!
#10
Kyle O’Reilly
Total Points: 41.86
Matches: ****3/4 w/Fish vs The Young Bucks, Time Splitters+ Forever Hooligans, IWGP Jr. Tag Titles (Wrestlekingdom 15-1-4), ****1/2 vs Jay Lethal, ROH TV Title(ROH TV 15-5-23), ****1/2 vs KUSHIDA (Best Of Super Jrs 15-6-7), ****1/4 w/ Fish vs Young Bucks, IWGP Jr Tag Titles (G1 Finals 15-8-16). ****1/4 w/Fish vs Time Splitters, IWGP Jr Tag Titles (Destruction Kobe 15-9-27), ****1/4 vs Adam Cole (Final Battle 15-12-18), **** w/Fish vs The Young Bucks + The Time Splitters, IWGP Jr. Tag Titles (New Beginning Osaka 15-2-11)
Total Stars: 30.5
Star Average: 4.36
5 Star Matches: 1
This man will kick you into oblivion. To me Kyle O’Reilly is possibly the most exciting wrestler on this list going into 2016. He’s the strongest part of one of the best teams in the business, fantastic in Japan in the Jr. Heavyweight division and also a perennial contender for the ROH title. He made me appreciate the time limit draw for the first time since 9/11. The more I watched him the more I fell in love with his endless armbars and commitment to honoring Demolition in the form of stomps and forearms. On top of all the great matches against a variety of opponents (across the globe mind you) there’s one moment that sticks in my mind: The Addiction had won the ROH tag titles be nefarious means and had taken out Bobby Fish before reDRagon’s sanctioned rematch. The Addiction refused to move the date of the match so they forced O’Reilly to challenge by himself. As he made his way to the ring I believed, BELIEVED he was going to destroy the champions by himself. That’s exactly what he did as he beat both men from pillar to post until they inevitably got themselves disqualified. O’Reilly’s the real deal and I’m not sure I see any outcome other than O’Reilly becoming ROH champion in the next year or so. Oh wait… He could always go to WWE and be Sheamus’s new leprechaun.
#9
Tomoaki Honma
Total Points: 46.28
Matches: ***** vs Tomohiro Ishii, NEVER Title (New Beginning Sendai 15-2-14), ****3/4 vs Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Night 16 15-8-12), ****1/4 vs Tomohiro Ishii, NEVER Title (Power Struggle 15-11-7), **** vs Kota Ibushi (New Beginning Osaka 15-2-11), **** vs Shinsuke Nakamura (G1 Night 14 15-8-9), ****vs Michael Elgin (G1 Night 8 15-8-01), **** w/Makabe vs Naito/EVIL (World Tag League Final 15-12-9)
Total Stars: 30
Star Average: 4.28
5 Star Matches: 1
Is this what the WWE has been going for with all the “losing streak” gimmicks they’ve ever done? How can I be so attached to a guy who never wins a fucking match? I remember seeing him for the first time at WrestleKingdom, buried in a multi-man tag match and I thought “Who’s the coked up guy in the yellow and pink tights and the toxic bleach head?” Little did I know that a month later he would have an absolute classic with Tomohiro Ishii which would catapult him close to the very top of my favorite wrestlers. I don’t speak Japanese or think yellow and pink go together but I am completely invested in every match this guy’s in. I want him to win. I NEED him to win. The constant disappointment doesn’t even dull my love for him, I just need it more. MORE! MORE! MORE! I even pop when he hits that damn head butt he’s so obsessed with hitting. Why does this man elicit such tremendous catharsis out of me? I swear had I not had the finals of the World Tag League tournament spoiled for me I may screamed tears of joy as he and Makabe stood triumphant. He seems best placed against Ishii in the NEVER division but he managed to have great outings against everyone this year. Perhaps it’s his in-ring work or perhaps it’s just the strangest babyface charisma I’ve ever seen. Is he the best face in the world?
#8
Roderick Strong
Total Points: 47.375
Matches: ****3/4 vs Shinsuke Nakamura (ROH TV 15-6-20), ****1/2 w/ Mt Rushmore 2.0 vs Ricochet, Fenix, Angelico+ Rich Swann(PWG BOLA Night 3 15-8-30), ****1/2 vs Zack Sabre Jr. (EVOLVE 45 15-7-10), ****1/2 vs Hiroshi Tanahashi (WOTW Night 2 15-5-13), ****1/2 vs Kazuchika Okada (Field Of Honor 15-8-22), ****1/4 vs Jay Lethal ROH Title (ROH TV 15-9-9), **** vs Jay Lethal ROH Title (Death Before Dishonor 15-7-24), **** vs Jay Lethal ROH TV Title (ROH TV 15-11-25)
Total Stars: 35
Star Average: 4.375
5 Star Matches: 0
I wonder how all the critics of this guy’s charisma would fare when being pummeled by the best offense in the wrestling business. Strong just looks like he’s killing his opponents and every match he’s in is elevated as a result. His matchup with Nakamura from June was the highlight for me, even more impressive in that these guys probably haven’t worked together much in the past. Again for the critics of his charisma he plays a pretty convincing babyface in ROH (for the most part) while playing a dirt bag heel in PWG. He’s just so crisp and deliberate in everything he does. His series with Jay Lethal was fantastic and he even managed to make EVOLVE feel like a big deal every time he set foot in that nightclub/living room. He falls a bit short on the list as he doesn’t quite have the all time classic matches to compliment the pile of great matches that comprised his 2015. Roderick Strong knows how to wrestle, knows how to piss off a crowd and comports himself like the big deal that he is. I can’t say that I’m enamored with the idea of him swaying heel in ROH as the year closed out, but we’ll see where that particular coin lands going forward. All the same Roderick Strong had a tremendous year and his matches are worthy of any hunting you have to do to find them.
#7
Katsuyori Shibata
Total Points: 47.71
Matches: ***** vs Kazushi Sakuraba (Dominon 15-7-5), ****3/4 vs Kota Ibushi (G1 Night 7 15-7-29), ****1/2 vs AJ Styles (G1 Night 1 15-7-20), ****1/2 vs Hiroshi Tanahashi (G1 Night 13 15-8-8), ****1/4 vs Tetsuya Naito (Destruction Kobe 15-9-27), ****1/4 w/ Goto vs Ishii/Nakamura )Wolrd Tag League Day 1 15-11-21), **** vs Tetsuya Naito (G1 Night 3 15-7-24)
Total Stars: 31.25
Star Average: 4.46
5 Star Matches: 1
His finishing maneuver is that he chokes you down until you’re almost unconscious and then runs and kicks you in the face as hard as he can. It’s the greatest finisher I’ve ever seen in its brutality and simplicity. He had an excellent G1 tournament having wonderful, competitive contests against everyone he faced. Don’t be fooled by his docile acoustic entrance, when you see this man in his black boots and tights you should really be singing “Somebody’s going to get their ass kicked,” in your head. Would Mark Henry be angry? Who cares. Shibata would beat Henry so soundly he’d be arrested for hate crimes. Through all the great matches one moment stands out as particularly awesome. In his match with Sakuraba from Dominion, Sakuraba caught Shibata in some form of octopus hold. As Shibata reached for the ropes, Sakuraba trapped his arm. As he reached with his other arm, Sakuraba grabbed both and mounted Shibata’s back. Shibata with no other options decided to reach out to the ropes in the only way left open to him: with his teeth. Of all the matches at WresleKingdom coming up I think I’m most looking forward to his bout for the NEVER title against Ishii. It’s going to be an all out war. And someone’s going to get kicked in the face.
#6
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Total Points: 47.71
Matches: ***** vs Shinsuke Nakamura (G1 Finals 15-8-16), ****3/4 vs Kota Ibushi (G1 Night 1 15-7-20), ****1/2 vs AJ Styles (G1 Night 17 15-8-14), ****1/2 vs Katsuyori Shibata (G1 Night 13 15-8-8), ****1/2 vs Roderick Strong (WOTW Night 2 15-5-13), **** vs Kazuchika Okada IWGP Title (Wrestlekingdom 15-1-4), **** vs Tetsuya Naito, (G1 Night 5 15-7-26)
Total Stars: 31.25
Star Average: 4.46
5 Star Matches: 1
Imagine a John Cena that sold, cinched in submissions and cared about all the little details that make wrestling great. Now open your eyes on the land of the rising sun and take in all that is Hiroshi Tanahashi. If not for the G1 I’m not sure that he would have made my list. Going in I was buying into the internet rhetoric that he was “no good” or “past his prime” or “A terrible wrestler.” I’ve since discovered that anyone who thinks this man is “terrible” is “out of their fucking minds.” Tanahashi killed it in the G1 having outstanding matches against AJ Styles, Kota Ibushi, Katsuyori Shibata and Tetsuya Naito before tearing the house down with Shinsuke Nakamura in the finals. He is so, so smooth in the ring so it’s easy to forget that when he wants to he can just unleash a destructive flurry on your legs that would make Bret Hart sell for 18 months. The man even took the time to build a somewhat convincing feud with Toru Yano, frustratingly losing to him a bunch of times before finally killing him dead for good. Tanahashi had a very solid year around an superlative tournament. It’s no surprise he was also able to have success stateside competing in ROH as well. What was surprising is how quickly he stepped into a heel role when needed in ROH. His team with Tetsuya Naito was about as white bread a baby face team you’ve ever seen yet when he brought the viciousness the crowd hated him despite his impeccable hair. I can always see someone not liking someone because they’re not their cup of tea, but anyone who claims Tanahashi sucks after this year is either a miserable mope of a man or a giant fan of sadness. Point finale.
#5
The Young Bucks
Total Points: 52.65
Matches: ***** w/AJ Styles vs ACH/Matt Sydal + Cecric Alexander (ROH TV 15-2-14), ****3/4 vs reDragon, The Time Splitters + Forever Hooligans (Wrestlekingdom 15-1-4), ****3/4 w/AJ Styles vs Kazuchika Okada + Roppongi Vice (ROH TV 15-6-20), ****1/2 w/ Mt Rushmore 2.0 vs Ricochet, Rich Swann, Fenix + Angelico (PWG BOLA N 3 15-8-30), ****1/4 vs reDRagon IWGP Jr Tag Titles (G1 Finals 15-8-16), ****vs reDragon + Time Splitters IWGP Jr Tag Titles (New Beginning Osaka 15-2-11), **** w/ Super Dragon vs Biff Busick, Andrew Everett + Trevor Lee (PWG BOLA Night 2 15-8-29), **** vs Andrew Everett/Trevor Lee PWG Tag Titles (PWG Mystery Vortex 15-6-26)
Total Stars: 35.35
Star Average: 4.4
5 Star Matches: 1
My personal favorite act in all of wrestling were the driving force behind me seeking out and buying into promotions not owned by a psychopath. The big complaint I hear regarding the Bucks is that they stick to their formula. Here’s the thing: Every single wrestler I’ve ever seen compete in the squared circle has a formula. Ric Flair had a formula, Hulk Hogan had a formula, John Cena certainly has a formula, hell even Mr. “Everybody Knows” Bret Hart had a formula. Formulas in wrestling are like Ice Cream and cold. The thing that sets the Bucks apart is that they are clearly the best in the world at their formula and they deliver EVERY time. Do they superkick too much? Probably, but the audience eats up every one. Do they flip and fly around every match? Absolutely, but they create an atmosphere where you never know where they’re going to land next and they never miss. They never miss. They’ve got this Young Bucks thing down and I’ll be damned if I’m not excited every single time I see them. Not only did they kill it in six man matches with AJ Styles this year but they were also able to have fantastic matches against a wide variety of opponents. While it didn’t make the list their encounter with War Machine earlier in the year was a veritable “how to” of David versus Goliath matches. Their signing with ROH only means we’ll be treated to more Bullet Club business in the coming months which makes me a very happy camper. If you have the chance to see these two live run, RUN to the ticket booth and get yourself a seat. They will blow you away with their athleticism, style and complete understanding of the wrestling business and their place in it. In fact if the Young Bucks were better they’SUPERKICK!!!!! SUPERKICK!!!!! Man Steve Corino owes these guys a lot.
#4
AJ Styles
Total Points: 53.22
Matches: ***** w/The Young Bucks vs ACH, Cedric Alexander +Matt Sydal (ROH TV 15-2-14), ****3/4 w/ The Young Bucks vs Kazuchika Okada + Roppongi Vice (ROH TV 15-6-20), ****3/4 vs Kota Ibushi (G1 Night 5 15-7-26), ****1/2 vs Hiroshi Tanahashi (G1 Night 17 15-8-14), ****1/2 vs Katsuyori Shibata (G1 Night 1 15-7-20), ****1/4 vs Jay Lethal ROH Title (Final Battle 15-12-18), **** vs Tetsuya Naito (Wrestlekingdom 15-1-4), **** vs Kazuchika Okada IWGP Title (King of Pro Wrestling 15-10-12)
Total Stars: 35.75
Star Average: 4.47
5 Star Matches: 1
The man who was no doubt deemed “too uninteresting” by WWE and “too expensive” by TNA did pretty good for himself in 2015. He spent a few months as NJPW champion all the while killing it wherever he plied his trade. Obviously his title matches with Okada were stellar and his work in the G1 tournament were sublime but my favorite AJ Styles was the asshole who teamed with the Young Bucks to kick people in the face in ROH. I really love that in his singles matches he’s a “safe “performer. He sticks to a more mat based style and is somewhat conservative in the ring. The Bucks though seem to bring out a wild side in him as he morphs into an indyriffic sensation blending smoothly into their tag team move set. I can’t really say much more about Styles than what’s already been said. He’s excellent and if you’re not checking out his work you’re truly missing something special. I absolutely love the killer instinct and urgency he puts in towards the end of his matches. When he decides to put you away he hits you with move after move until you’re dead. You can tell he’s trying to win…you know….like it’s an actual athletic event. It certainly helps that all his signature moves look like they could easily put you in a body bag. When AJ decides you’re done it’s bloody Sunday (which breaks your neck), a reverse tombstone (which re-breaks your neck) and finally the Styles Clash. (Which places your rotting husk in a position to be pinned.) It’s insane to me that this guy was balked at by the two biggest promotions in North America. If they don’t know how to use a performer of his caliber what hope do they have with guys like Mojo Rawley and the big guy who used to be Khoya? AJ Styles is the man.
#3
Kota Ibushi
Total Points: 53.22
Matches: ***** vs Shinsuke Nakamura IWGP Intercontinental Title (Wrestlekingdom 15-1-4), ****3/4 vs AJ Styles (G1 Night 5 15-7-26), ****3/4 vs Katsuyori Shibata (G1 Night 7 15-7-29), ****3/4 vs Hiroshi Tanahashi (G1 Night 1 15-7-20), ****1/4 vs Tetsuya Naito (New Japan Cup Finals 15-3-15), ****1/4 vs Togi Makabe NEVER Title (Destruction Okayama 15-9-23), **** vs Hirooki Goto (New Japan Cup Finals 15-3-15), ****vs Tomoaki Honma (New Beginning Osaka 15-2-11)
Total Stars: 35.75
Star Average: 4.47
5 Star Matches: 1
What’s this you say? A ladies wrestler so high on the list not named Sasha Bayley Banks? If not a lady then a ladyboy perhaps? Keep thinking that until he first kick hits you. The force is great but the foot seems to stay stuck to your face almost mocking your weakness. The next kicks land but you feel nothing until you are a quivering mess of jelly and the prettiest wrestler in all of Japan’s feet. Ibushi had such an incredible year top to bottom. He had my favorite match of the year four days into 2015 as he tried to wrest the IWGP Intercontinental title away from the King Of Strong Style. Sure he came up short but his wry smiles as he was getting his head kicked in painted the perfect picture of the “never say die” babyface. He doesn’t need to tell us he’ll never give up or never surrender, he just does it. He lives it. If you forced my hand I’m not sure I could tell you there’s a “better” wrestler in the world today. His strikes are criminal, his wrestling tight and his flying magnificent. You can’t help but get behind the guy. He’s another grappler who benefitted from the G1 allowing him to go out and tear it up with the best wrestlers in the world. His opening match with Tanahashi raised the bar for the whole tournament and his contests with AJ Styles and Shibata each raised it in turn. Couple that with a fun run in the New Japan Cup earlier in the year and you have a guy who I stop everything to watch. It’s a shame he went down to injury before WrestleKingdom as I have no doubt he would steal the spotlight again. Here’s hoping to a quick recovery and maybe a run stateside so that next year he’s the best “Scientific” wrestler in the world. If you’ve never seen him, or Japanese wrestling for that matter spend whatever it takes to watch his match with Nakamura from WrestleKingdom, it’s worth every penny/drop of blood.
#2
Tomohiro Ishii
Total Points: 59.53
Matches: ***** vs Tomoaki Honma NEVER Title (New Beginning Sendai 15-2-14), ***** vs Togi Makabe NEVER Title (Wrestlekingdom 15-1-4), ****3/4 vs Tomoaki Honma (G1 Night 16 15-8-12), ****3/4 vs Michael Elgin (G1 Night 18 15-8-15), ****1/2 vs Shinsuke Nakamura (G1 Night 8 15-8-1), ****1/2 vs Hirooki Goto (G1 Night 14 15-8-9), ****1/4 vs Tomoaki Honma NEVER Title (Power Strugle 15-11-7), ****1/4 w/Shinsuke Nakamura vs Katsuyori Shibata/Hirooki Goto (Wolrd Tag League Day 15-11-21)
Total Stars: 37
Star Average: 4.625
5 Star Matches: 2
As much as I was wowed by all the great wrestlers from Japan this year I can’t help but think that it was Tomohiro Ishii who locked me in as a fan for life. People shit all over Togi Makabe, though I’m not sure I see the problem, but their match at WrestleKingdom was my first introduction to “strong style” or the NEVER title or whatever they’re calling it now and I was no less than blown away. When you watch WWE and to a lesser extent ROH (Unless Christopher Daniels is in the match) you see guys knap constantly. Knapping being the sound of them slapping themselves to sell the connection of a punch/kick/rape. There’s no knapping in these matches. They are just unloading on each other. Forearm after forearm. Head butt after head butt. Attempted murder after attempted murder, Ishii and his NEVER friends make every match they wrestle in look legit and dangerous. If that weren’t enough the screaming matches which accompany the combatants challenging each other to hit harder makes me proud on the inside to be a man. How did Ishii follow up the matchup with Makabe? By having a potential match of the year with Tomoaki Honma the very next month. Look at the average star ratings for his top matches. That’s an astronomical number every time this bulldog gets in the ring. He’s such a tremendous throwback to the days when you just didn’t mess with wrestlers. Look at that man. Look at him and tell me you’d rather fight him than Dolph Ziggler. I can’t even imagine a world where a Dolph Ziggler could wound this animal. The point is, when Tomohiro Ishii and his perpetually wounded shoulder get in the ring, take note because you’re about to be in for a war. And for God’s sake don’t let him chop you in the throat.
#1
Shinsuke Nakamura
Total Points: 79.69
Matches: ***** vs Kota Ibushi IWGP Intercontinental Title (Wrestlekingdom 15-1-4), ***** vs Hiroshi Tanahashi (G1 Final 15-8-16), ****3/4 vs Roderick Strong (ROH TV 15-6-20), ****1/2 vs Kazuchika Okada (G1 Night 18 15-8-15), ****1/2 vs Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Night 8 15-8-1), ****1/2 vs Hirooki Goto IWGP Intercontinental Title (Destruction Kobe 15-9-27), ****1/4 vs Yugi Nagata IWGP Intercontinental Title (New Beginning Sendai 15-2-14), ****1/4 w/ Tomohiro Ishii vs Hirooki Goto/Katsuyori Shibata (World Tag League Day 1 15-11-21), ****1/4 vs Karl Anderson IWGP Intercontinental Title (Power Struggle 15-11-7), ****1/4 vs Adam Cole (ROH TV 15-9-30), **** vs Tomoaki Honma (G1 Night 14 15-8-9), ****vs Hirooki Goto (G1 Night 10 15-8-4)
Total Stars: 53.25
Star Average: 4.44
5 Star Matches: 2
And it wasn’t even close. Nakamura counted twelve matches that I would rank as higher than four stars. TWELVE! One a month. I’m not sure if Jake Roberts has twelve four star matches in his career. If you peeked at the above picture without knowing what it was you may be flooded with many intriguing possibilities. A deranged king? An actor? A strange stature. Once you plowed your way through the obvious thoughts a clear snapshot would emerge: The single most bizarrely charismatic wrestler on the planet. I’m not sure how he does it (or sometimes what I’m watching) but I am riveted every time I see Shinsuke Nakamura on my television screen. Every tick, every nuance seems deliberate in a conceited attempt to make you fall in love with the man. It took him a mere twenty minutes at WrestleKingdom to go from “What is THIS guy now?” to “This is my favorite wrestler in the world,” during his match of the year with Kota Ibushi. I could list off all the great matches…hey I did…above…. But when the man can have a spectacular “old timer getting his last shot” match with Yugi Nagata which completely sucks you in he deserves some kind of special commendation. Everywhere he went he succeeded. He killed it with Roderick Strong, he murdered it with Adam Cole, he butchered it in a series with Goto, I am out of other words for killing. He even had an inspired match where he tapped out then IWGP champion Kazuchika Okada in the G1 Tournament. If I was Bobby Heenan I’d say “Just give him the title,” and perhaps ask for something to drink sitting through these contests. I will say I was disappointed when he didn’t win the G1 as I obviously want them to build the whole promotion around the man, but in the end, you know what: it doesn’t matter. Nakamura has elevated their secondary title to being practically on par with their world title. He headlines PPVs defending that title against Tag wrestlers. Imagine Dean Ambrose main eventing a “network special” against Kofi Kingston? I can’t even see them closing a Smackdown with that match. It’s all to do with the once-in -a-lifetime talent that Nakamura is. Scary to think that had he been healthy he probably would have had another great match with Michael Elgin of all people. He’d kick him so hard his robe would iron out.
So I guess that wraps up my list. I guess I’ve become one of those guys who annoyingly boasts that NJPW is the best wrestling on the planet. If you haven’t taken a chance to watch it give it a chance. Even if you don’t understand the commentary the guys are so good in the ring that you’ll get the story and fall in love with our great sport all over again. New Japan world is 8 bucks a month. Or just download the damn things, it will make you want to give them money. Give ROH a chance too, they’re a very solid promotion and their product is top notch. As for WWE what can I say, the athletes are as good as they’ve ever been but unfortunately the creative and the commentary ruin the whole experience for me. 2015 was the year I became a true wrestling fan again though. It was exciting and exhilarating and I can’t wait to see who gets kicked in the face in 2016!
