As 2021 draws to a close, the staff at NEARFALLS Media has a special Boxing Day gift for you – a rundown of some of our favourite lesser-known matches from the year. On top of that, I challenged each of them to cut down their reasons for picking their particular match down to only 50 words. It is Christmas after all, you shouldn’t have to do too much reading.
Kamille (c) vs Leyla Hirsch for the NWA World Women’s Title (NWA Empowerrr, 28/8)
Writer: Sam Roberts (@QuantumRoberts)
A match without a long-term story, but proved it didn’t need it. Full of big moves and the age-old story (perfect for NWA) of David vs Goliath – even if David could bully most Goliaths if she wanted. The picture-perfect leapfrog is possibly my favourite spot this year.
Tsukasa Fujimoto (c) vs Tsukushi Haruka for the ICEXInfinity Championship (Ice Ribbon New Ice Ribbon #1157, 11/13)
Writer: Ken Goberson (@DisgrunScholar)
Years’ worth of redemption piled into this near decade-long story between the best female wrestler of 2021 (fight me) Tsukasa Fujimoto and Tsukushi Haruka, who had absolutely everything to gain and lose to lead Ice Ribbon forward.
Lee Moriarty vs Solo Darling (Enjoy! Wrestling’s Canned Heat, 04/03)
Writer: Mavis Laith (@MavisXLaith)
Taking place weeks before Moriarty’s worldwide success, Enjoy! hosted two of today’s best stars. Moriarty could out-wrestle you, but Darling could out-punch-you-in-the-face, both smiling out of respect. The match showed two stars who respected the business, and were willing to help make Enjoy! a success.
Jay Lethal vs. Bobby Fish vs. Samuray del Sol vs. Bandido vs. El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Championship (AAA TripleMania Regia 2021, 06/12)
Writer: Luke Hickey (@PuroReviews)
Vikingo, Bandido and Samuray looked great throughout but the highlight of this match was the outcome. If you look at the way AAA book their main singles titles over the last while the result would have taken you aback – but in a good way!
Team Sendai Girls vs Team Marvelous (GAEAism Decade of Quarter Century, 13/06)
Writer: Tom (@hiromutmbmb)
A story built all year culminated in a 6-man tag that didn’t slow down. Everyone had their own rivalry from previous encounters and it all came down to Hashimoto vs Momono in the best ending stretch all year. You can feel the hatred, and it made for something captivating.
SAKI (c) vs Miku Aono for the AWG Championship (AWG Act 55, 6/11/21)
Writer: Greegor (@Greegors_AWrC)
Two of my favorite wrestlers who you could argue are having career years go at it for the top championship in my favorite promotion. Hard-hitting, aggression-filled, scrappy (in a good way) all wrapped up in a 15-minute parcel. All combining to make it my favorite match of the year.
We hope you enjoyed all the content NEARFALLS Media has put out in 2021, and can’t wait to hear what you think of our upcoming first magazine. Happy holidays!
