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While there has been a lot of negatives surrounding pro wrestling in 2019, there have been an immense amount of positives, and one thing that continues to improve is the quality of in-ring work. From New Japan to WWE to the newly created All Elite Wrestling, the in-ring work is at an all-time high. And just 6 months into the year 2019, there have been countless matches that could appear on this list.
Unfortunately, we can't spend all of our time watching smaller promotions, so this list today will feature bouts from the biggest companies in the world, but that's not to say that there isn't great wrestling going on across the globe. So without further ado, sit back and read along as we look back on the first 6 months of 2019, and analyze the 5-best matches from the world of professional wrestling.
Author's note: This is purely an opinion piece, as the quality of such a subjective topic like wrestling will never be fully agreed upon, so feel free to leave your favorite matches in the comments below.
#5 Kota Ibushi vs. Will Ospreay - Never Openweight Championship (Wrestle Kingdom 13)
When Ospreay and Ibushi set this match up with a simple handshake and an iconic spot (the flip into the stare), it confirmed that one of wrestling's biggest dream matches was going to take place on the biggest stage in New Japan Pro Wrestling. And like we knew they would, The Golden Star and The Aerial Assassin delivered, with a fast-paced, high-risk encounter that had the Tokyo Dome rocking.
We'd love to see them go at it again, but these are two men ready for the spotlight and the main event in New Japan, and it's safe to say that the main event of Wrestle Kingdom would be an appropriate place to one day hold this rematch.
#4 Dustin vs. Cody (All Elite Wrestling 'Double or Nothing')
The majority of the bouts on this list feature fantastic athleticism with great back and forth wrestling, and while both of these men are capable of such things, it was the storytelling that shone through here. The build to the bout was absolutely fantastic, and with the 'Dusty' chants ringing through the MGM Grand Arena before the match began, the entire world knew that they were in for something truly special.
From the outset, this one broke down into an old school fight, and soon enough, Dustin was busted open as his blood covered the canvas, but like the old Lion refusing to go down, he continued to fight. After some back and forth drama, Cody eventually put him down, and while many enjoyed different bouts on AEW's opening show, this is undoubtedly the one that fans will remember from Double or Nothing forever.
#3 Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi (BOSJ Finals)
Will Ospreay has been one of NJPW's fastest rising stars for years now, and while Shingo Takagi isn't as well known, this one shaped up to be a massive clash. Takagi went through Block A undefeated, and many worried that Ospreay's reckless style would cost him against 'The Dragon', but as always, he backed himself and his risk-taking style for victory.
Both of these men seem destined for bigger things in New Japan, so they had something to prove on this night, and they went out and delivered a physical, dramatic contest that is simply 'must see'. It would be Ospreay to claim his second BOSJ win on this night, but both men became bigger stars in the process, and with the G1 Climax in sight for both stars, this could be the start of New Japan Pro Wrestling's future as we know it.
#2 Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole - 2 out of 3 Falls (NXT Takeover: New York)
NXT TakeOver have become a spectacle in wrestling these days, and each seems to top the last, but Takeover New York may have been the best of them all. From top to bottom the card was great, but it was yet another classic involving Johnny Gargano that finds its way onto our list. Johnny TakeOver been stealing the show in NXT for years now (especially as of late, where he's had several 5-star classics).
The match was a storytelling masterpiece, and while people will criticize the ending for being 'finisher spam', it was fantastic. And the moment Johnny finally captured the NXT Championship will live forever. Cole would go on to dethrone Johnny Wrestling at the following Takeover, but this one was what main event wrestling is all about, and may very well be the greatest match in NXT's short history.
#1 Will Ospreay vs. Dragon Lee - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (NJPW Dominion)
This is the final of 3 Will Ospreay matches on this card, and while you can re-arrange them in any order you want, it's safe to say that 2019 has been the year of The Aerial Assassin. This one came off the back of an incredibly hot Best of Super Juniors for Ospreay, and after that grueling tournament, he managed to come through and have an absolute classic with the criminally underrated Dragon Lee.
There wasn't much of a story to be told, just two incredible performers fighting for the richest prize in New Japan's Junior Heavyweight Division, and it was an absolute spectacle from beginning to end. It went back and forth and had all of the high-flying action you'd expect from Ospreay and Lee, and while some will criticize it for being too flippy, it's exactly what you'd want and expect from them.
