The Best Matches, Year By Year

Here's every 4 1/2 star+ WWF PPV match, not ranked, year after year. I'd like to get 10 matches each year, so I'll add my NWA/ECW/TNA matches as needed.   Past that, I'll go IRL and those matches will be italicized.  

For your tape trading and whatnot.  Okay, 10 matches a year.  Here we go. 

1986

AJPW New Years Wars Super Battle: Tenryu/Jumbo d. Choshu/Yatsu

CWF Battle of the Belts 2: Barry Windham d. Ric Flair

AJPW Exciting Wars: Genichiro Tenryu d. Yoshiaki Yatsu

Wrestlemania 2 WWF Title: Dynamite Kid d. Ricky Steamboat

Crockett Cup: Sheepherders d. Fantastics

NJPW IWGP Champion Series: Akira Maeda d. Tasumi Fujinami

NJPW IWGP Champion Series: Nobuhiko Takada d. The Cobra

NJPW Challenge Spirit: Shiro Koshinaka d. Nobuhiko Takada

Starrcade: NWA Title: Ric Flair d. Rick Rude

Starrcade: NWA Tag Titles: Rock n Roll Express d. Midnight Express

1987

NJPW New Years Dash: Muta/Fujinami d. Maeda/Fujiwara

AJW Kawasaki Show: Lioness Asuka d. Chigusa Nagayo

NWA Fayettville: Ric Flair d. Barry Windham

CWF War of Words: Bruiser Brody d. The Sheik

Crockett Cup: Ric Flair d. Barry Windham

Wrestlemania 3: Hart Foundation d. Rougeau Brothers

Survivor Series: IC Title: Randy Savage d. Rick Rude

Starrcade: NWA Title: Dr. Death Steve Williams d. Ric Flair

Starrcade: US Title: Barry Windham d. Tully Blanchard

AJPW Excite Series: Hara/Tenryu d. Hansen/Gordy

1988

Wrestlemania 4: IC: Bret Hart d. Randy Savage

Clash of the Champions: Ric Flair d. Sting

SNME: Cage: Randy Savage d. Ted DiBiase

Great American Bash: NWA Title Steve Williams d. Ric Flair

Great American Bash: US Title: Barry Windham d. Mike Rotundo

Summer Slam: IC Bret Hart d. British Bulldog

Survivor Series: Mr. Perfect d. Owen Hart

Survivor Series: IC Bret Hart d. British Bulldog

Starrcade: NWA Title: Ric Flair d. Steve Williams

AJPW Real Tag League: Hansen/Gordy d. Kawada/Tenryu

1989

Royal Rumble: IC Title: Mr. Perfect d. Bret Hart

NWA Chi Town Rumble: Ricky Steamboat d. Ric Flair

NWA Landover Ricky Steamboat d. Ric Flair

Wrestlemania 5: WWF Title: Randy Savage d. Bret Hart

NWA Wrestlewar: Ric Flair d. Ricky Steamboat

Great American Bash: NWA Title: Ric Flair d. Ricky Steamboat

AJPW Power Series: Genichiro Tenryu d. Jumbo Tsuruta

Summer Slam: Tag Titles: The Rockers d. The Brainbusters

Summer Slam: WWF Title: Randy Savage d. Bret Hart

NWA Clash of the Champions: Ric Flair d. Terry Funk

1990

NJPW Gold Series: Jushin Liger d. Naoki Sano

Wrestlewar: NWA Title: Ric Flair d. Lex Luger

Wrestlewar: NWA Tag Titles: Steiner Brothers d. Road Warriors

Wrestlewar: Rock n Roll Express d. Midnight Express

AJPW Budokan Hall: Mitsahuru Misawa d Jumbo Tsuruta

AJPW October Giant Series: Taue/Jumbo/Fuchi d. Kobashi/Misawa/Kawada

AJPW October Giant Series: Misawa/Kawada d. Taue/Jumbo

NJPW Dream Tour: The Fantastiks d. Joe Malenko/Kikuchi

Starrcade: NWA Title: Sting d. Ric Flair

AJPW Budokan Show: Misawa/Kawada d. Taue/Jumbo

1991

AJW Tokyo Show: Bull Nakano d. Akira Hokotu

Wrestlewar: NWA Title: Sting d. Vader

Superbrawl: NWA Title: Sting d. Ric Flair

Wrestlemania 7 WWF Title: Mr. Perfect d. Randy Savage

AJPW Fan Appreciation: Kobashi/Misawa/Kawada d. Taue/Jumbo/Fuchi

Summer Slam: Bret Hart d. Ricky Steamboat

NJPW G1 Climax Keiji Mutoh d. Vader

Starrcade: NWA Title: Jushin Liger d. Sting

Starrcade: US Title: Ricky Steamboat d. Arn Anderson

Starrcade: Vader d. Cactus Jack

1992

Superbrawl: NWA Title: Brian Pillman d. Jushin Liger

Superbrawl: US Title: Ricky Steamboat d. Rick Rude

Wrestlewar: NWA Title: Brian Pillman d. Steve Austin

Wrestlewar: Cactus Jack d. Sting

Great American Bash: Ricky Steamboat d. Brian Pillman

Great American Bash: Vader d. Hashimoto

AJPW Super Power Series: Kobashi/Kikuchi d. Furnas/Kroffat

Summer Slam: WWF Title: Bret Hart d. British Bulldog

Starrcade: NWA Title: Vader d. Ricky Steamboat

Starrcade: US Title: Great Muta d. Jushin Liger

1993

Royal Rumble: IC Title: Iron Man: Shawn Michaels d. Owen Hart

Superbrawl: NWA Title: Vader d. Sting

Superbrawl: Cactus Jack d. Chris Benoit

AJPW Summer Action: Steve Williams d. Kenta Kobashi

AJPW Budokan Stan Hansen d. Kenta Kobashi

AJPW Summer Action: Akiyama/Misawa/Kobashi d. Taue/Ogawa/Kawada

Fall Brawl: NWA Title: Ric Flair d. Vader

Starrcade: NWA Title: Ric Flair d. Ricky Steamboat

Starrcade: NWA Tag Title: Sting/Cactus Jack d. Nasty Boys

AJPW Budokan Misawa/Kobashi d Taue/Kawada

1994 

Superbrawl US Title: Steve Austin d Brian Pillman

Superbrawl Tag Titles: Nasty Boys d. Sting/Cactus Jack

Wrestlemania 10 IC Ladder: Razor Ramon d. Shawn Michaels

Wrestlemania 10 WWF Title: Owen Hart d. Bret Hart

NJPW Super J Cup: Chris Benoit d. Great Sasuke

AJPW Budokan Mitsuharu Misawa d. Toshiaki Kawada

NJPW Summer Struggle: Jushin Liger d. Great Sasuke

Slamboree: Sting d. Cactus Jack

Summer Slam: WWF Title: Cage: Owen Hart d. Bret Hart

Survivor Series: WWF Title: Shawn Michaels d. Owen Hart

1995 

Superbrawl: NWA Title: Sting d. Vader

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: No DQ: Shawn Michaels d. Diesel

AJPW Excite Series: Misawa/Kobashi d. Williams/Ace

Wrestlemania 11: WWF Title Bret Hart d. Shawn Michaels

AJPW Budokan Hall: Kawada/Taue d. Misawa/Kobashi

AJPW Budokan Hall Mitsaharu Misawa d. Akira Taue

Summer Slam: IC Title: Ladder: Shawn Michaels d. Razor Ramon
Survivor Series: WWF Title: Bret Hart d. British Bulldog

November to Remember: Rey Mysterio d. Psichosys

Starrcade: Chris Benoit d. Koji Kanemoto

1996

Royal Rumble: IC Title: Vader d. Shawn Michaels

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Owen Hart

Wrestlemania 12: WWF Title: Iron Man Match: Shawn Michaels d. Bret Hart

Slamboree: NWA Title: Chris Benoit d. Sting

Slamboree: Dean Malenko d. Steve Regal

Summer Slam: IC Title: Vader d. Cactus Jack

Summer Slam: WWF Title: Shawn Michaels d. Owen Hart

Survivor Series: Steve Austin d. Owen Hart

Survivor Series: IC: Cage: Cactus Jack d. Vader

Survivor Series: WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Shawn Michaels

1997

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Lumberjack Match: Bret Hart d. Shawn Michaels 

Superbrawl: NWA Title: Chris Benoit d. Chris Jericho

Superbrawl: US Title: Rey Mysterio d. Juventud Guerrera

Superbrawl: Dean Malenko d. Eddy Guerrero

Barely Legal: Taka Michinoku d. Dick Togo

Wrestlemania 13: WWF Title: Steve Austin d. Bret Hart

Fall Brawl: NWA Title: Dean Malenko d. Ultimo Dragon

US Title: Eddy Guerrero d. Chris Benoit

Survivor Series: WWF Title: Montreal Match: Owen Hart d. Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels

November to Remember: ECW TV Title: RVD d. Jerry Lynn

1998 

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Owen Hart d. Steve Austin

Superbrawl: Chris Jericho d. Eddy Guerrero

Slamboree: NWA Title: Chris Jericho d. Chris Benoit

Slamboree: US Title: Dean Malenko d. Bret Hart

Slamboree: DDP d. Randy Savage

Summer Slam: WWF Title: No DQ: Cactus Jack d. Owen Hart

November to Remember: ECW Title: Taz d. Masato Tanaka

November to Remember: TV Title: RVD d. Jerry Lynn

Starrcade: NWA Title: Eddy Guerrero d. Chris Jericho

Living Dangerously: Tajiri d. Super Crazy

1999

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Barbed Wire: Owen Hart d. Cactus Jack

Superbrawl: NWA Title: Chris Benoit d. Eddy Guerrero

Superbrawl: US Title: Rey Mysterio d. Chris Jericho

Slamboree: NWA Title: Chris Benoit d. Dean Malenko

Heatwave: ECW Title: Tajiri d. Super Crazy

Summer Slam: WWF Title: Career v. Career: Cactus Jack d. Steve Austin

AJPW Budokan Hall Mitsaharu Misawa d. Kenta Kobashi

Fall Brawl: US Title: Dean Malenko d. Rey Mysterio

November to Remember: ECW Title: Masato Tanaka d. Tajiri

Starrcade: Bret Hart d. Chris Benoit

2000

Living Dangerously: ECW Title: Masato Tanaka d. Mike Awesome

Royal Rumble: IC Title: Cage: Chris Jericho d. HHH

Wrestlemania 16: WWF Tag Title: TLC: Hardys d. Dudleys/Edge&Christian

Wrestlemania 16: IC Title: Eddy Guerrero d. Chris Jericho

Wrestlemania 16: WWF Title: Chris Benoit d. Cactus Jack

Summer Slam Tag Titles: TLC Edge&Christian d. Hardys/Dudleys

Summer Slam: IC Title: 2 of 3 Falls: Chris Jericho d. Eddy Guerrero

Survivor Series: Eddy Guerrero d. Dean Malenko

Survivor Series: WWF Title: Chris Benoit d. Steve Austin

Starrcade: NWA Title: Rey Mysterio d. Kaz Hayashi

2001

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Chris Benoit d. Chris Jericho

NJPW Wrestling World: Kensuke Sasaki d. Toshiaki Kawada

No Way Out: 3 Stages of Hell: HHH d. Steve Austin

Wrestlemania 17: Chris Jericho d. Eddy Guerrero

Wrestlemania 17: WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. Chris Benoit

AJPW Super Power Series Keiji Muto d. Genichiro Tenryu

AJPW Super Power Series: Toshiaki Kawada d. Hiroyoshi Tenzan

APW King of the Indies Bryan Danielson d. Brian Kendrick

No Mercy: Steve Austin d. Kurt Angle/Rob Van Dam

No Mercy: Chris Jericho d. The Rock

2002

The First Show: TNA Title: Low Ki d. AJ Styles

ROH Era of Honor Begins: Low Ki d. Bryan Danielson/Christopher Daniels

Noah Navigate for Evolution: Jun Akiyama/Yuji Nagata d. Kenta Kobashi/Mitsaharu Misawa

ROH A Night of Appreciation: Low Ki d. AJ Styles

AJPW Excite Series: Toshiaki Kawada d. Keiji Muto

AJW Zenjo Turbulence: Manami Toyota d. Kaoru Ito

AJPW Summer Action Series Genichiro Tenryu d. Satoshi Kojima

The 8th Show: Low Ki d. AJ Styles/Jerry Lynn

Summer Slam: WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. Rey Mysterio

The 25th Show: TNA Title: Low Ki d. Red

2003 

Royal Rumble: TLC: Hardys d. Dudleys, Edge&Christian

Royal Rumble Tag Titles: Charlie Haas/Shelton Benjamin d. Chris Benoit/Eddy Guerrero

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. Shawn Michaels

Noah Navigate for Evolution: Kenta Kobashi d. Mitsaharu Misawa

Wrestlemania 19: Eddy Guerrero d. Chris Benoit

First Anniversary: TNA Title: AJ Styles d. Paul London

Noah Navigation over the Date Line: Kenta Kobashi d. Yuji Nagata

Survivor Series: WWF Title: Eddy Guerrero d. Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit

Noah Navigation Against the Current: Kenta/Marufuji d. Guerrera/Marvin

75th Show: TNA Title: AJ Styles d. Low Ki

2004

Wrestlemania 20: Hell in a Cell: Chris Jericho d. Christian

Wrestlemania 20: Falls Count Anywhere: Shawn Michaels d. HHH

Wrestlemania 20: WWF Title: Chris Benoit d. Kurt Angle

Noah Encountering Navigation Kenta Kobashi d. Yoshihiro Takayama

Noah Departure Kenta Kobashi d. Jun Akiyama

Summer Slam: WWF Title: 2 of 3 Falls: Chris Benoit d. Kurt Angle

ROH Joe v. Punk II Samoa Joe d. CM Punk

Noah Navigation Against the Current: Kenta/Marufuji d. Marvin/Suwa

AJPW The Unchained World Toshiaki Kawada d. Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Noah Navigation Uprising Spirit: Yoshinobu Kanemaru d. Takashi Sugiura

2005

Royal Rumble: Paul London d. Rey Mysterio

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Chris Benoit d. Shawn Michaels

Final Resolution: TNA Title: Chris Daniels d. AJ Styles

Wrestlemania 21: WWF Title: Iron Man: Eddy Guerrero d. Chris Benoit

Slammiversary: TNA Title: AJ Styles d. Chris Daniels

Summer Slam: IC Tournament: Kurt Angle d. Shawn Michaels

Summer Slam IC Tournament: Chris Benoit d. Chris Jericho

Summer Slam: WWF Title: 2 of 3 Falls: Rey Mysterio d. Eddy Guerrero

Survivor Series: IC Title: Chris Benoit d. Kurt Angle

Turning Point: TNA Title: Samoa Joe d. AJ Styles

2006

Final Resolution: AJ Styles d. Hiroshi Tanahashi

ROH Supercard of Honor: Dragon Kid/Horiguchi/Saito d. CIMA/Yoshino/Doi

Wrestlemania 22: WWF Title: Rey Mysterio d. Chris Benoit 

Slammiversary: TNA Title: Samoa Joe d. AJ Styles

Noah Summer Navigation Kenta/Marufuji d. Morishima/Rikio

ROH Fight of the Century: Bryan Danielson d. Samoa Joe

ROH Unified: Bryan Danielson d. Nigel McGuinness

ROH Glory by Honor: Bryan Danielson d. Kenta

Noah Autumn Navigation: Marufuji d. Kenta

ROH Final Battle Homicide d. Bryan Danielson

2007

ROH 5th Year Festival: Samoa Joe d. Takeshi Morishima

Slammiversary: TNA Title: Samoa Joe d. Kurt Angle

Bound For Glory: TNA Title: Samoa Joe d. Kurt Angle

ROH Domination: Bryan Danielson d. Nigel McGuinness

Noah Summer Navigation: Kenta/Ishimori d. Ibushi/Marufuji

ROH Manhattan Mayhem Takeshi Morishima d. Bryan Danielson

ROH Man Up: Takeshi Morishima d. Bryan Danielson

ROH Rising Above: Nigel McGuinness d. Austin Aries

ROH Undeniable: Austin Aries d. Roderick Strong

Noah Winter Navigation: Akiyama/Misawa d. Kobashi/Takayama

2008

Lockdown: TNA Title: Kurt Angle d. Samoa Joe

Lockdown: AJ Styles d. Chris Daniels

ROH Take No Prisoners: Nigel McGuinness d. Tyler Black

ROH New Horizons: Bryan Danielson d. Tyler Black

Noah Great Voyage: Nakajima/Sasaki d. Kenta/Kobashi

Slammiversary: TNA Title: AJ Styles d. Kurt Angle

Bound for Glory: TNA Title: AJ Styles d. Chris Daniels

ROH Rising Above: Nigel McGuinness d. Bryan Danielson

ROH Rising Above: I Quit: Austin Aries d. Jimmy Jacobs

No Mercy: Ladder: Chris Jericho d. Shawn Michaels

2009 

Noah The Second Navigation: Kenta d. Nakajima

Wrestlemania 25: WWF Title: Chris Jericho d. Shawn Michaels

Slammiversary: TNA Title: Samoa Joe d. AJ Styles

Bound for Glory: TNA Title: Samoa Joe d. AJ Styles/Chris Daniels

Bound for Glory: Alex Shelley d. Chris Sabin

Final Resolution: TNA Title: Nigel McGuinness d. Samoa Joe

ROH Taping: Edwards/Richards d. Young Bucks

Dragon Gate USA Untouchable: Naruki Doi d. Bryan Danielson

Dragon Gate USA Open the Freedom Gate: Yoshino/Doi d. Dragon Kid/Shingo

Dragon Gate USA Open the Freedom Gate: Yamato d. Davey Richards

2010

Royal Rumble: Cage: Christian d. CM Punk

Dragon Gate USA Mercury Rising: BBHulk/Yoshino/Doi d. CIMA/Dragon Kid/Gamma

ROH Death Before Dishonor: Tyler Black d. Davey Richards

ROH The Big Bang: Tyler Black d. Austin Aries/Roderick Strong

ROH The Big Bang: Kings of Wrestling d. Briscoe Brothers

Slammiversary: TNA Title: Kurt Angle d. Nigel McGuinness

ROH Glory By Honor: Kings of Wrestling d. Haas/Benjamin

Summer Slam: Bryan Danielson d. CM Punk

Survivor Series: Bryan Danielson d. Low Ki

ROH Final Battle: Mask v Career: El Generico d. Kevin Steen

2011

ROH Best in the World: Davey Richards d. Eddie Edwards

ROH Honor Takes Center Stage: Briscoes d. King/Titus

ROH Honor Takes Center Stage: Davey Richards d. Roderick Strong

ROH Honor Takes Center Stage: Eddie Edwards d. Christopher Daniels

Slammiversary: Cage: Kurt Angle d. Jeff Jarrett

Bound for Glory: TNA Title: AJ Styles d. Samoa Joe

Final Resolution: Kurt Angle d. Austin Aries

AJPW Pro Wrestling Love: Akiyama d. Suwama

NJPW Destruction: Hiroshi Tanahashi d. Naito

ROH Death Before Dishonor: Eddie Edwards d. Roderick Strong

2012

ROH Showdown in the Sun: Davey Richards d. Michael Elgin

Lockdown: Austin Aries d. Kurt Angle

Slammiversary: TNA Title: Austin Aries d. AJ Styles

Bound for Glory: TNA Title: Austin Aries d. AJ Styles

NJPW Dominion: Tanahashi d. Okada

Final Resolution: Lumberjack Match: Kurt Angle d. Samoa Joe

NJPW King of Pro Wrestling: Hiroshi Tanahashi d. Minoru Suzuki

NJPW King of Pro Wrestling: Low Ki d. Kota Ibushi

ROH Glory by Honor: Kevin Steen d. Michael Elgin

ROH Glory by Honor: Jay Lethal d. Davey Richards

2013

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom: Hiroshi Tanahashi d. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom: Prince Devitt d. Kota Ibushi/Low Ki

Wrestlemania 29: WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Bryan Danielson

NJPW Invasion Attack: Okada d. Tanahashi

NOAH Ark New Chapter: Kenta d. Sugiura

Summer Slam: WWF Title: Cage: Bryan Danielson d. Brock Lesnar

NJPW G1 Climax: Ishii d. Shibata

NJPW G1 Climax: Nakamura d. Ibushi

NJPW G1 Climax: Ishii d. Tanahashi

NJPW King of Pro Wrestling: Okada d. Tanahashi

2014

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Montreal Match: Bryan Danielson d. CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, Jack Swagger

Lockdown: X Title: Davey Richards d. Samoa Joe

Slammiversary: X Title: Samoa Joe d. Davey Richards

Wrestlemania 30: WWF Title: Claudio Castagnoli d. Bryan Danielson

NJPW Destruction in Kobe: Tanahashi d. Shibata

NJPW G1 Climax: Okada d. Nakamura

NJPW G1 Climax: Nakamura d. Ishii

NJPW Dominion Ibushi d. Ricochet

NJPW Dominion: Time Splitters d. Young Bucks

Survivor Series: Tag Titles: TLC: The Shield (Black/Ambrose/Langston) d. The Usos (Jimmy/Jey/Roman)

2015

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom Nakamura d. Ibushi

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Claudio Castagnoli

NJPW New Beginning: Ishii d. Honma

Wrestlemania 31: WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Claudio Castagnoli

Wrestlemania 31: Kenta d. Bryan Danielson

NJPW G1 Climax: Tanahashi d. Nakamura

NJPW G1 Climax: Nakamura d. Okada

NJPW G1 Climax: Tanahashi d. AJ Styles

Dragon Gate: The Gate of Destiny: Shingo d. Mochizuki

NJPW Power Struggle: Ishii d. Honma

2016

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom Okada d. Tanahashi

Royal Rumble: Mask vs Mask: Kalisto d. Pac

NJPW New Beginning: Omega d. Tanahashi

Wrestlemania 32: IC Title: El Generico d. AJ Styles

NJPW BOSJ: Will Ospreay d. Ricochet

NJPW G1 Climax: Kenny Omega d. Naito

NJPW G1 Climax: Ishii d. Okada

NJPW G1 Climax Tanahashi d. Okada

PWG BOLA: Ospreay/Sydal/Ricochet d. Bucks/Cole

NJPW King of Pro Wrestling: Omega d. Goto

2017

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom: Okada d. Omega

Royal Rumble: Tag Titles: Kevin Steen/El Generico d. Trash (Pac/Claudio)

Wrestlemania 33: WWF Tag Titles Ladder Wars: Trash (Pac/Claudio) d. Kevin Steen/El Generico

NJPW Dominion Okada d. Omega

Summer Slam: Loser Leaves Town: Kevin Steen d. Pac

NJPW BOSJ Kushida d. Ospreay

NJPW G1 Climax Omega d. Okada

NJPW G1 Climax Naito d. Omega

PWG All Star Weekend: Walter d. Sabre

NJPW/Rev Pro Global Wars Sabre d. Ospreay

2018

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom: Kenny Omega d. Chris Jericho

Royal Rumble: Number One Contenders: 2 of 3 Falls: The Revival d. American Alpha

NJPW Strong Style: Golden Lovers d. Young Bucks

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Okada d. Tanahashi

Wrestlemania 34 AJ Styles d. Bryan Danielson

NJPW Dominion Omega d. Okada

NJPW G1Climax Tanahashi d. Ibushi

NJPW G1 Climax: Ibushi d. Omega

NJPW G1 Climax: Ishii d. Omega

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome: Golden Lovers d. Ospreay/Tanahashi

2019

Royal Rumble: Loser Leaves Town: Tyler Black d. Dean Ambrose

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Shinsuke Nakamura d. Kenta

Wrestlemania 35: Bryan Danielson d. Samoa Joe 

Wrestlemania 35: IC Ricochet d. Prince Devitt

Wrestlemania 35: WWF Title: AJ Styles d. Shinsuke Nakamura

NJPW BOSJ Ospreay d. Shingo

NJPW G1 Climax: Okada d. Ospreay

NJPW G1 Climax: Ibushi d. Okada

NJPW Dominion: Will Ospreay d. Dragon Lee

Summer Slam: AJ Styles d. Prince Devitt

2020

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom: Okada d. Ibushi

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom: Takahashi d. Ospreay

Royal Rumble: AJ Styles d. Bryan Danielson

AEW Revolution: Adam Page/Kenny Omega d. Young Bucks

Wrestlemania 36: Bryan Danielson/Kevin Steen d. AJ Styles/Sami Zayn

AEW Full Gear Young Bucks d. FTR

NJPW G1 Climax Okada d. Shingo

NJPW G1 Climax Ibushi d. Minoru Suzuki

NJPW G1 Climax Shingo d. Ospreay

Survivor Series: WWF Title: Ricochet d. Tyler Black

2021

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom: Okada d. Ospreay

Royal Rumble: Bryan Danielson d. Ricochet

NJPW New Japan Cup: Ospreay d. Shingo

Wrestlemania 37: WWF Title: Matt Riddle d. Bryan Danielson

Wrestlemania 37: Hell in a Cell: Sami Zayn d. Kevin Steen

NJPW Wrestling Dontkatu Ospreay d Shingo

Summer Slam: WWF Title: Carnage Match: Matt Riddle d. Edge

AEW All Out: Steel Cage Penta/Fenix d. Young Bucks

Survivor Series: Loser Leaves Town: Kevin Steen d. Claudio Castagnoli

Survivor Series: WWF Title: Sami Zayn d. Matt Riddle

2022:

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom Okada d. Ospreay

Royal Rumble: WWF Title: Sami Zayn d. Kevin Steen

Wrestlemania 38: IC Title: Ladder Match: Cody Rhodes d. Tyler Black/Shinsuke Nakamura/AJ Styles

ROH Supercard of Honor FTR d. Briscoes

ROH Death Before Dishonor 2 of 3 Falls: FTR d. Briscoes

AEW Rampage Young Bucks d. Penta/Fenix

NJPW G1 Climax Okada d. Ospreay

NJPW G1 Climax Shingo d. Ospreay

Survivor Series: Prince Devitt d. Pete Dunne

ROH Dog Collar: Briscoes d. FTR

2023 (through July)

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom Omega d. Ospreay

Royal Rumble: Falls Count Anywhere: Asuka d. Iyo Sky

Royal Rumble: IC Title: Prince Devitt d. Johnny Gargano

AEW Revolution: Iron Man: MJF d. Bryan Danielson

AEW Revolution: Texas Death Match: Adam Page d. Jon Moxley

Wrestlemania 39: Money in the Bank: Logan Paul d. Tyler Black, Sami Zayn, Kevin Steen, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso

Wrestlemania 39: IC Title: Ricochet d. Prince Devitt

AEW Forbidden Door: Ospreay d. Omega

AEW Collision: 2 of 3 Falls: FTR d. White/Robinson

Noah One Night Dream: Nakajima d. Miyahara

Wrestlemania 39

The Build

Wrestlemania 39 comes to you from Los Angeles.  It is the 145th WWF PPV

(Dark: Nakamura/Styles d. Riddle/Knight

            McDonagh d. Dunne/Alexander

            Dark Ride Title: Dragunov d. Dragon Lee)

The opening package is every wrestler who left the previous 38 Manias as a champion, lot of pinfalls, holding of belts, celebrations, etc...

1: Tito Santana/Brutus Beefcake

    Roddy Piper

    Ricky Steamboat

2: Bret Hart/Davey Boy Smith (w/Anvil)

    Randy Savage

    Dynamite Kid

3. Hart Foundation

    Randy Savage

    Ricky Steamboat

4. Rougeau Brothers

    Bret Hart

    Dynamite Kid

5. Brainbusters

    Rick Rude

    Randy Savage

6. Rick Rude/Marty Jannetty

    Bret Hart

    Mr. Perfect

7. Road Warriors

    Bret Hart

    Mr. Perfect

8. Money Inc.

    Randy Savage

    Bret Hart

9. Steiner Brothers

    Shawn Michaels

    Bret Hart

10. Lex Luger/Bam Bam Bigelow

      Razor Ramon

      Owen Hart

11. Smoking Gunns

      Razor Ramon

      Bret Hart

12. Steve Austin/Dustin Rhodes

      Vader

      Shawn Michaels

13. Davey Boy Smith/Owen Hart

      Cactus Jack

      Steve Austin

14. New Age Outlaws  

      Ken Shamrock

      Owen Hart

15. Hardys

      Al Snow

      Cactus Jack

16. Hardys

      Eddy Guerrero

      Chris Benoit

17. Dudley Boys

      Steve Austin

      Kurt Angle

18. Chris Jericho/Lance Storm

      Rob Van Dam

      Kurt Angle

19. Shawn Michaels/Triple H

      Rey Mysterio

      Kurt Angle

20  Ric Flair/Leviathan Batista

      Eddy Guerrero

      Chris Benoit

21. Randy Orton/John Cena

      Edge

      Eddy Guerrero

22. Paul Wight/Kane

      HHH-M

      Rey Mysterio

23. Juventud Guerrera/Super Crazy

      Randy Orton

      Fit Finlay

      CM Punk

      Booker T

24. John Cena/Leviathan Batista

      MVP

      CM Punk

25. Paul Wight/Kane

      Rey Mysterio

      Chris Jericho

26. Kingston/Killings

      Matt Sydal

      Chris Jericho

27. Wade Barrett/Justin Gabriel

      Sheamus

      Nic Nemeth

28. CM Punk

      Young Money

      The Rock

      Bryan Danielson

29. Tyler Black/Dean Ambrose (w/Langston)

      Nic Nemeth

      Brock Lesnar

30. The Shield

      Nic Nemeth

      Claudio Castagnoli

31. Bray Wyatt

      The Shield

      Brock Lesnar

32. Sasha Banks

      Jimmy Uso/Jey Uso (w/Reigns)

      El Generico

      AJ Styles

33. Becky Lynch

      Hardys

      Brock Lesnar

      AJ Styles

34. Asuka

      The Revival

      Shinsuke Nakamura

35. Asuka

      Brock Lesnar/Kurt Angle/Shelton Benjamin

      Ricochet

      AJ Styles

36. Street Profits

      Asuka

      Angel Garza

      Tyler Black

37. Randy Orton/Damien Priest/Apollo Crews

      Rhea Ripley

      AJ Styles

      Matt Riddle

38. Ronda Rousey

      The Usos

      Cody Rhodes

      Roman Reigns

     

The Announcers are Michael Cole (4) Corey Graves (6) Wade Barrett (6)

1. STREET PROFITS d. VIKING RAIDERS

-Standard opening tag, fast paced, quick tags - babyfaces get the win and everyone starts off happy.

2. LEGENDS MATCH: LOGAN PAUL d. JOHN CENA (special guest referee-Pat McAfee)

-The big spot here is McAfee turning heel, quick counting Cena, Paul gets the win and he and McAfee are once again aligned, they leave the ring together with a joint livestream as they head up the ramp.

3. BAYLEY/NATTY NEIDHART/TRISH STRATUS d. LIV MORGAN/RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ/CHELSEA GREEN

-The long war between Clique and Harts may have reached its end, Natty and Trish aid each other and Bayley gets the fall on one of the members of the heel trio.

4. EMANCIPATION MATCH: DOMINIC MYSTERIO d. REY MYSTERIO

-The finish comes when Defiance interferes, Priest distracts the official, Solo spikes Rey - Dom gets the fall - postmatch, he joins Defiance, ripping off his mask (one of Rey's legendary masks). Rey gets wiped out with finishing moves and Defiance poses above his body.  

5. SHEAMUS d. THE MIZ

-McDonagh gets his redemption, running down to stop the Miz from some type of outside skullduggery, Sheamus gets the fall and he and McDonagh shake hands postmatch.

6. 2 of 3 FALLS: IYO SKY d. ASUKA

-A real step up for workrate - this might be the best bell to bell womens match in the history of the promotion.  Asuka gets the first fall - then intentionally draws a DQ in the second fall by working Sky over with a chair - Sky bravely battles through it, defeating Asuka in the third fall for the biggest win of her career.

7. MONEY IN THE BANK: LOGAN PAUL d. KEVIN STEEN/SAMI ZAYN/TYLER BLACK/JIMMY USO/JEY USO

-Paul, recall, was not announced, the 6th man was a mystery opponent.  And he doesn't appear until the end of the match.  

-Black gets knocked out midway, taking whatever level of giant ladder bump he's able to take

-The tag spot that was teased on TV happens, they toss the ladders out of the ring and do a few minutes, Usos v. Steenerico.  

-That ends with a big bump, like if the Usos were stacked on a tables and Steen hit a senton off of a ladder on the outside.  All 3 men, dead.

-That leads to Defiance running in.  Priest/Dom/Solo -- they attack the Usos/Steen; or rather, they start with Steen but then Priest and Dom move to the Usos - Solo steps in, shakes his head - he and Priest have a moment where it looks like they might go at it....but then they don't - all 3 men turning their attention to Steen.

-As that was happening, Zayn was grabbing a ladder, putting it up, and starting to slowly climb - so what we're looking at is the Usos, dead, having been put through the tablestack - and Steen being attacked by 3 members of Defiance.  Zayn can win this match - he can climb the ladder and win this match.   

-But he doesn't.  The storyline is Zayn has never stepped up to aid Steen in this period where their rivalry is not as intense as it had been  - that Steen, multiple times, had "saved" Zayn, in a clear attempt to repair their broken friendship, but Zayn had not returned the favor, clearly holding onto the much discussed offenses Steen committed.

-Instead - Zayn, hopefully at the urging of the fans, makes the decision to aid his teammate - he leaves the ladder - diving out of the ring atop Defiance -- saving Steen, but because Steen is not able to stand with him, it's 3 on 1 essentially.

-And thats when Logan Paul appears (with McAfee).

-The 6th entrant was a mystery - and that mystery is solved, Paul runs to the ring - McAfee behind, doing the streaming -- Paul climbs the ladder - and Logan Paul wins Money in the Bank, he can challenge for any title any time in the next year.  He and McAfee exit in celebration

-Attention now returns to the outside, Defiance stomping Zayn - Steen is aroused - Steen and Zayn now fight together, running off Defiance.  

-Steen and Zayn return to the ring, trying to put together what happened.

-The video wall shows the finish - shows Paul's win, which is how Zayn and Steen see that - and also shows Zayn giving up the win to help Steen.

-So, we get the makeup moment - Steen sees that Zayn has sacrificed - it's emotional - the weight of all their years together and now apart evident in the ring - Steen extends his hand -- Sami shakes his head no -- and then offers a hug.  It's a reconciliation, Steen and Zayn, together again - here at Wrestlemania 39!

And that's the end of the first half of the show.

In Memorium

Antonio Inoki

Bobby Lane

Chelsey Love

Dave Hebner

Don West

Gil Hayes

Jaysin Strife

Johnny Powers

Katsuya Kitamura

Lasser

Masashi Ayoagi

Tarzan Goto

Tim White

Zebra Kid

Black Warrior

Charlie Norris

Lanny Poffo

Jerry Jarrett

Jay Briscoe

8. WOMENS TAG TITLES: FIGHT FOREVER (BECKY LYNCH/CHARLOTTE FLAIR) d. HORSEWOMEN (RHEA RIPLEY/SHAYNA BASZLER w/Tiffany Stratton)

-The first modern day WWF Women's Tag Champs are Lynch and Flair - Baszler takes the fall, there's attempted interference from Stratton to aid Ripley that backfires - Ripley clearly irritated with her stablemates with the loss.  Big celebration for Lynch and Flair - tag team champions of the world.

9. TAG TITLES: NO DQ: DANGEROUS ALLIANCE (WALTER/BROCK LESNAR w/Paul Heyman) d. HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE (DREW MCINTYRE/CHAD GABLE w/Bobby Lashley)

-We get a real ass kicking here; the superteam of Walter and Lesnar romp and stomp - it's No DQ, so Lashley gets involved - the 3 men in the Holy Roman Empire all here to take their beating at the hands of the tag champs.  

10. IC TITLE: RICOCHET d. PRINCE DEVITT

11. IC TITLE: LOGAN PAUL (w/Pat McAfee) d. RICOCHET

The 81st IC Champion is Ricochet - he takes from Devitt in a long workrate match, nearfalls, real main event style, every drop both men have sort of a match.  Ricochet takes Devitt's belt - the two shake hands postmatch and their feud has ended.

And then - to the ring comes McAfee with Logan Paul and the briefcase.  Paul's not gonna wait - he's gonna cash this in right now.  Ricochet is spent - and in a 8-10 minute match Paul catches him in a fall.

Logan Paul is the 82nd IC Champ - Logan Paul becomes the first man in history to win 3 Wrestlemania matches on the same night - and and McAfee wildly celebrate - doing an energy drink celebration like Austin's beer bash.

12. WOMENS TITLE: RONDA ROUSEY (w/Heyman) d. BIANCA BELAIR

The 16th modern WWF Womens Champ is Rousey, she regains from Belair - postmatch, Walter and Lesnar return - the Dangerous Alliance hitting the turnbuckles - standing atop Wrestlemania 39, all 3 holding title belts.  

Prior to the main event - a surprise - the return of Steve Regal - Regal is a long beloved figure in the WWF, considered the pivotal person in the developmental system - he joins the announce table for the main event.

13. WWF TITLE: CODY RHODES d. ROMAN REIGNS

The 65th WWF Champion, the 17th Triple Crown winner, is Cody Rhodes.  There's no one to help Reigns, his full group having been wiped out in the tag title match, Cody hits his finisher a couple of times -- and Roman's year long reign at the top comes to an end.  

Cody Rhodes, Dusty's son, Dustin's brother - the Undertaker's protegee, raised by Randy Orton, from the Bullet Club, ROH, AEW VP - Cody Rhodes is the new WWF Champion.  Fireworks, tears - the whole thing as Wrestlemania comes to an end.

Long journey toward that booking decision, as I take you behind the curtain given that we're about to start the final wrestling year of the Counterfactual.  

Initially - the Reigns spot was going to be Langston's.  Reigns puts together the stable of non-ROH guys to take control of the promotion, but Gable's spot was Langston's - Langston would wind up getting a title shot, probably via a number one contender's battle royal, and he gets the title - Reigns is fine with that for a while, but eventually its too much for him and tears the group apart.  

But - Langston got hurt, so Gable took that spot.  Gable was then positioned as the version of IRL Zayn, except with him going over Reigns at the end of that story to take the belt.  But - Gable hasn't worked a PPV since Summer Slam 2023 and so he can't get the belt.  

So then what?  Well - something that you know but the Counterfactual does not know yet is we're getting a pretty significant talent back at the end of 2023, and a title match between that guy and Reigns, given how Roman's entire narrative has used that guy long before that guy became available to be used, was impossible to pass up.  

But -- then that guy worked the Rumble and got hurt.  Meaning - were Roman to win that match, he'd be looking at a 2 year title run headed to WM 40.

Which was more than I wanted to do - so I backed all the way up here and did this switch.  Roman was over Cody for most of the past year on the booking sheet - but it didn't turn out that way and we pivot.

Back in May for a couple of filler months before we get to Summer Slam.