By Michael Klink (@michael_klink)

December 28, 2018

2018 Match of the Year Awards

We’re awarding a Multi-Person Match of the Year award, which takes into consideration Royal Rumbles, Money in the Bank, Elimination Chamber, Triple Threats, Fatal Four-Ways. Mostly, it’s an opportunity to acknowledge all of these great matches that will (honestly) never measure up to the beauty of a one-on-one contest.

We are also awarding a Weekday Match of the Year. This is an award that can’t be won on a Pay-Per-View or a TakeOver event. These are usually a surprise when they happen, but we do get quite a few contenders with 52 weeks of programming.

We’ll also be awarding an NXT Match of the Year. This is important because there is a unique atmosphere and distinct vibe at NXT shows that RAW, SmackDown Live and Pay-Per-View will never be able to live up to.

Main Roster Match of the Year is also an important distinction, due to the differences in direction and programming. This includes every match on the main roster. There are no qualifiers. If you did it on RAW, SmackDown Live, 205 Live, or a Pay-Per-View then you can win this award.

With that, let’s get down to it!

Brothers of Discussion - Main Roster Match of the Year

When looking for the best match of the year for the main roster, it’s hard to not pick “AJ Styles vs. Fill In The Bank”, because the Phenomenal One delivers every single time (you’ll just have to imagine the clap emojis between the “every single time”). Whether AJ was getting his balls punched by Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe, or Daniel Bryan, Styles and his balls were able to steal the show at every Smackdown and PPV he participated in.

Since his balls were such a focal point in his feuds, I’m going to remove him from “Match of the Year” consideration and just acknowledge him as an A++ player that will have a hard time adding to his listed offspring tattoos in the future.

The other match I had in mind for my main roster match of the year (or MR MOTY) occurred at Survivor Series when Daniel Bryan nearly did the unthinkable in defeating Brock Lesnar. Where larger peers like Cena, Orton, (and up until recently) Roman Reigns failed, Daniel succeeded.

WWE booking dictates that every Lesnar opponent is an underdog, and Bryan, listed at a generous 210 (likely to avoid a 205 Live affiliation) is the most underdoggiest of all the underdogs.

Bryan was able to make the underdoggiest story work because he didn’t bother with punishment endurance or table spots to look credible against the Beast, he used his wrestling smarts and a well-timed low blow to seize control of the fight.

The kick to the Lesnar’s groin, combined with Daniel’s running knees and Labelle lock put the “New” Daniel Bryan seconds away from shocking the world. Again, because the fight relied on genital attacks, I’m staying away from crowning this match the victor.

On a second watch, however, note how effectively Daniel was able to garner even more sympathy by wheezing 25% through the fight, to further exaggerate the destruction Lesnar had brought upon his body.

Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair (Last Woman Standing)

Which brings us to this year’s winner: the Evolution match between Smackdown Champion Becky Lynch and her challenger, Charlotte Flair. The MR MOTY appropriately goes to The Man and her greatest rival, The Queen, for taking female wrestling to the next level.

In the past, we’ve seen WWE’s female wrestlers finally get a chance to participate in Money In The Bank matches, Royal Rumbles, and Hell In A Cell matches. This match was important because it wasn’t booked to adhere to September’s yearly chain link fence demands, or December’s need to bust tables in half, this match was scheduled because the two women involved had built a blood feud that needed settling.

Becky and Charlotte poured every ounce of their wrestling creativity into this match: with ladder leaps onto announce tables, steel chair stack-ups, and roaring, blood smeared, tear-streaked countenances to express their emotions.

In my opinion, a truly great match should make you believe that the characters care about the outcome, that the violence looks real, and that you want to revisit the contest in the future. The Man’s boil over moments in this match connected because of the excellent build up on social media as well as the factual statement that Charlotte...does seem to get more than her fair share of opportunities.

Charlotte’s a multiple time Smackdown and Women’s Champion, with Wrestlemania victories over Sasha Banks, an undefeated Asuka, and Becky Lynch herself.

Without that build up of The Queen, would we even have a The Man? A large percentage of WWE wrestlers are 2nd and 3rd generation performers (looking at you Tamina, Natalya, Bret Hart, and The Rock, among others).

Charlotte has been given opportunities, but she’s done everything possible to make the most of those opportunities, displaying an incredible work ethic, wrestling resume, and ability to tell a story like very few of her peers can. Give Charlotte respect for boosting Becky’s relevance and like me, look forward to their next pay per view encounter.

Hats off to The Man and The Queen for their sacrifice on October 28th, 2018, and thank you for 25 minutes of perfection.