Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.
This week, Dallas Allsopp, Robert DeFelice and Tony Mango discuss the best and worst wrestling matches of 2021.
2021 has been an interesting year for wrestling, especially as fans have been able to return to arenas in their droves. But what were the very best and very worst matches that they witnessed?
Question 1: Which match do you consider to be the best of 2021?
ALLSOPP: It seems only appropriate that Roman Reigns had the best match of the year, as he is simply unstoppable as WWE Universal Champion. From a purely in ring perspective, his match against both Edge and Bryan Danielson at WrestleMania was perfection! I was genuinely excited for the climax, which was built to superbly with strong storytelling, crisp in ring action, in addition to severely intriguing use of weapons. This truly deserved to main event the biggest show of the year.
DeFELICE: I think as it stands, even without recency bias, Hangman Adam Page and Bryan Danielson had the match of the year. They kept everybody on a ride for 60 minutes, and not because it was the gimmick of the match. It was the match of the year, and it's not even close.
Over on the WWE side of things, Ilja Dragunov and WALTER at NXT TakeOver: 36 may have been the best men's match. Edge and Seth Rollins in their Hell in a Cell match in Saudi Arabia also deserve some praise, and you can't talk about greatest matches of the year without talking about Sasha Banks against Bianca Belair, but that will never get my Match of the Year vote because the build to it was so poor, and they really just over-relied on the talent to over-deliver.
MANGO: I haven't fully made my decision yet, but this page lists my options I've written down so far for WWE. I'm leaning toward the Triple Threat at WrestleMania as the best for WWE and for AEW, possibly the Falls Count Anywhere match from Full Gear. Tough calls.
Question 2: Which match do you consider to be the worst of 2021?
DeFELICE: Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt. There was no reason for a fight like that to be less than 10 minutes, and that was a terrible way for Bray Wyatt to go out. Just terrible all around.
MANGO: Anthony Ogogo vs. Cody Rhodes for my AEW pick. WWE's worst could be a couple options, like Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax from Raw, or the tag team turmoil match from WrestleMania. Orton vs. Wyatt, like Rob mentions, is definitely on that list.
ALLSOPP: Sonya Deville vs Naomi. This was simple bait and switch, highlighting one of the worst storylines of 2021. It seems only fitting this match would be a dumpster fire.
Question 3: Which television match more-than-exceeded your expectations this year? Was there a television match that disappointed you?
MANGO: I can't say Page vs. Danielson exceeded my expectations, as I thought it would be good, but I do have to shout that out. Instead, I'll say the Lights Out match between Thunder Rosa and Britt Baker meets this. I went into it expecting it to be fine and it turned out to be one of the Match of the Year candidates. As far as disappointments go, there are far too many to keep track of, so I didn't even bother, but most matches on television were lackluster in WWE and I don't remember any duds from AEW, but I'm sure there were some that were underwhelming.
ALLSOPP: Hangman Adam Page vs Bryan Danielson met my expectations, and then some! It was a true delight to see this at AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming, especially as I had no belief they would go for the full hour. Full of hard hitting action and superb storytelling, this was just perfect.
Unfortunately, the most disappointing television match this year was Zelina Vega and Carmella defeating Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H. for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. It was poor, offensive, and buried the legitimacy of the titles.
DeFELICE: Without mentioning the great match from Winter is Coming that I already mentioned, I'm going to say Meiko Satomura against Kay Lee Ray from NXT UK. That show is really a gem, and these two women provided a classic match whilst also providing a great transition of the NXT UK Women's Championship, as Kay Lee Ray moved onto NXT proper. You should really try to watch NXT UK, as even though it seems inconsequential, it's a great consistent television show, and that's not something most WWE programs can say.
Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?
Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!
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