Csonka’s Top 26 Matches of March 2018: NJPW, WWE, wXw, ROH, More

WELCOME back, back to the column that makes lists and hopes that you enjoy them. This week’s column will look back and the month of March 2018 and the top 26 matches I have watched for the month. I always hear a lot of people saying that they can’t decide what to watch because they do not have enough time to follow everything, so maybe this will help those of you short on time find some stuff to check out. Have fun, and always, thanks for reading. Also, if you saw matches from companies I do not regularly catch; feel free to share them with the others. The more wrestling we share, the more fun we can have. Thanks for reading! As always, consider this my playlist of great matches, and recommendations for the month. It’s wrestling, we love it and will disagree. The only rules are “have a take, be respectful, and don’t be a dick.” FYI: I have started omitting results after requests from readers.

26. From WWE 205 Live 3.13.18 – Cedric Alexander vs. Roderick Strong [****]
25. From NJPW New Japan Cup 3.09.18: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taichi [****]
24. From NJPW New Japan Cup 3.16.18: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Juice Robinson [****]
23. From The ROH 16th Anniversary Show – Champions The Hung Bucks (The Young Bucks and Hangman Page) vs. SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, and Scorpio Sky) [****]:
22. From The NJPW 46th Anniversary Show – IWGP IC Title Match: Champion Minoru Suzuki vs. Togi Makabe [****]
21. From Bar Wrestling 3.08.18 – EYFBO vs. The Lucha Brothers [****]
20. From wXw 16 Carat Gold 2018 (Night 1) – Mike Bailey & WALTER vs. Bobby Gunns & Bad Bones [****]
19. From wXw 16 Carat Gold 2018 (Night 1) – Absolute Andy vs. Marius Al-Ani [****]
18. From wXw 16 Carat Gold 2018 (Night 2) – Timothy Thatcher vs. Lucky Kid [****]
17. From wXw 16 Carat Gold 2018 (Night 2) – Mike Bailey vs. vs. Bobby Gunns [****]
16. From CMLL Homenaje a Dos Leyendas – Luchas de Apuestas: Angel de Oro vs. El Cuatrero [****]
15. From wXw 16 Carat Gold 2018 (Night 3) – David Starr vs. Keith Lee [****]
14. From wXw 16 Carat Gold 2018 (Night 3) – Ilja Dragunov vs. Matt Riddle [****]
13. From wXw 16 Carat Gold 2018 (Night 3) – Absolute Andy vs. Davis Starr [****]
12. From NJPW Strong Style Evolved – Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr. [****]
11. From wXw 16 Carat Gold 2018 (Night 3) – Rise vs. Ringkampf [****]
10. From AJPW Dream Power Series 3.25.18 – Joe Doering vs. Kento Miyahara [****]

9. From ROH Manhattan Mayhem 2018 – Ultimate Mayhem Match: The Kingdom (Taven, O’Ryan, & Vinny), & Shane Taylor vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks, Adam Page, & Marty Scurll) [****¼]: This was an absolutely wild and crazy main event and a great match that the show desperately needed. They made great use of the stipulation, kept a great pace and delivered some really wild and memorable spots. Also, considering the last minute change with SoCal Uncensored not being able to be here, they did a really great job of delivering a great main event, that was a ton of fun and had the crowd engaged the entire time. Everyone got time to shine, and this was probably the Kingdom & Shane Taylor’s best ROH match ever, as they looked good even in defeat. The match delivered on the stipulation and was easily the best thing on the show by a long margin.

8. From wXw 16 Carat Gold 2018 (Night 3) – WALTER vs. Bad Bones vs. Ilja Dragunov [****¼]: The change of the match to a triple threat, and the long-awaited return of Ilja Dragunov, instantly gave this match an amazing atmosphere. Even though I am not a regular wXw follower, I didn’t have to be to realize what this return and moment meant to their fans. The reaction for Dragunov was amazing and made for an absolutely special moment, but it’s one thing to get a pop like that, and another to keep the crowd during the actual match. They kept the crowd, working a great match that seemingly accomplished the goal of delivering the special moment, giving us a great match, and linking three long-running feuds with almost no effort; this just worked. I believe that this match was extremely special for wXw diehards, but it was extremely easy to appreciate for an outsider. Dragunov is back and is the conquering hero, from everything I can put together, as an outsider; this came off as a hell of a moment, a great story, and simply delivered, but was again, was an extremely special moment for the wXw faithful.

7. From the ROH 16th Anniversary Show – Champion Dalton Castle vs. Jay Lethal [****½]: This was an excellent main event match. I have been praising Lethal as ROH’s most consistent big match performer for the past two years, and he delivered once again. Castle has been doing well as champion, but as a top guy had been lacking that really great match to hang his hat on, and he finally had it here, stepping up big time. This was laid out extremely well, from the Castle “knee injury” spot, Lethal’s aggression, the overall fire of both guys, and Castle turning into a counter punching babyface struggling to survive. Lethal was great working on top, and did it all with smart work, aggression, and not resorting to going heel to do it. This was an example of everything clicking, and both guys delivering at a top level; this was a big-time main event performance that Castle needed to move on as a top guy.

6. From NJPW New Japan Cup 3.09.18 – Tomohiro Ishii vs. Michael Elgin [****½]: This was an absolutely awesome main event, featuring two powerhouses kicking the shit out of each other for nearly 30-minutes. It was very basic back and forth for the first ¾ of the match, and smartly so as they kicked things up big time with an amazing closing stretch, and when they went into the bigger moves, the crowd treated everything like a big deal and were fully invested in what both guys were doing. I absolutely loved this, and they set the bar high on night one for the rest of the tournament with this one.

5. From NJPW New Japan Cup 3.11.18 – Kota Ibushi vs. YOSHI-HASHI [****½]: This was an excellent match, and as far as I can recall, HASHI’s best match and overall performance ever. HASHI has been a good performer, but also one that at times, just doesn’t click in big-time matches. He’s never bad, but at times the crowd doesn’t care and he lacks that big match fire. But this was the HASHI I have been waiting for, he was great here, working with aggression and a sense of urgency that made him feel as if he belonged in there with Ibushi. Ibushi was an awesome babyface here, never giving up, and continuing to battle back no matter what. When Ibushi is locked, in, few are better. You add all of that together and add in the hot homestretch, and a completely invested crowd on the near falls, and you get an excellent match that more than exceeded expectations. Make sure not to skip this one.

4. From NJPW New Japan Cup 3.11.18 – Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Kota Ibushi [****½] : In a shocking turn of events, these two guys are really good. They had a great G1 match but completely topped it here. Sabre is on a hell of a run and is making his case for the most outstanding performer of 2018 already, just delivering at an insanely high quality so far this year. This match was excellent, with Zack controlling with his grappling and counter style offense, while Ibushi was an amazing babyface here, with a hot crowd almost begging for him to win. The atmosphere was amazing, Zack looks like a world-beater once again, dominating another top guy and feels primed to win the whole thing. The work from both was so clean, and crisp, coming across as effortless from both guys. Zack is easily the best technical wrestler in the world and is making his case for best in the world, and he’s doing it in the US, UK, and Japan against a wide variety of opponents and it’s only March. This is another must-see match from the tournament.

3. From NJPW New Japan Cup 3.11.18 – Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tetsuya Naito [****½]: This was another excellent match, but in a completely different style that HASHI vs. Ibushi. Naito is a great big match wrestler, and he was in main event mode tonight, while ZSJ is one of the very best in the world right now, already putting together a ton of excellent matches so far in 2018. Naito was an amazing babyface here, with great selling, excellent fight spots, and doing an amazing job of making the crowd root for him with every desperate fight; it was an excellent performance in that regard. Work looks so fluid, so smooth and almost effortless. He dominated a former IWGO champion here, with amazing submission work and transitions out of Naito’s signature offense. This is a huge win for ZSJ, and also serves as payback for his 2017 G1 loss to Naito in a match that was even better than their first. This is a must-see match.

2. From NJPW New Japan Cup Finals: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi [****¾]: This was an excellent MOTY level main event match. Tanahashi was able to take it to Zack more than anyone else in the tournament, and they worked an excellent layout, with the crowd into everything. But Zack is such a great counter wrestler, he simply outlasted Tanahashi, waited for him to make a mistake and they capitalized on that and picked up the win. The layout was so good, the pacing was excellent, and the closing stretch kicked all the asses. While Tanahashi gave Zack his toughest fight, in the end, he submitted the quickest, due to the way that Zack constantly broke him down, picking him apart until there was no fight left. This was really next level work from both guys and a fitting end to a great tournament.

1. NJPW Strong Style Evolved 2018 – The Golden Lovers vs. The Young Bucks [*****]: First off, this match told an overall amazing story, building off of everything they’ve done up and to this point on NJPW shows, and on being the Elite. It started with the initial reluctance of Omega to fight Matt, and then Matt refusing Omega’s help when he checked on him. From there, Matt was wearing the team Cody weight belt, and Nick wasn’t. This plays into the recent Being The Elite episodes, when Cody has gone to the Bucks individually and trying to cause issues, by telling each of them that they are the real star or Shawn Michaels of the team, and the real break out star. And then there’s matt selling the back, which has been a constant story in their matches since January 4th. On top of that, there is Nick continually making or asking Matt do things his body can’t do, due to the back injury; until now they had overcome, but in the end, Matt was too weak and took the loss here. And in the end, it was Ibushi finally being the one to force Omega’s hand to finish things off. The expectations for the match were certainly high, but when you combine the amazing story of the match and combine it with the overall incredible action, I believe this was an absolutely spectacular match, and one of the very best of the year. The action was great, the pacing and overall layout wa awesome, and the slow breakdown of the friendship as the action escalated and became more extreme and violent was just about as perfect as you can ask for. This kicked all of the asses and is a must-see match in my opinion. Not only the match of the month but one of the very best of the year so far.

MY TOP MATCHES OF 2018 SO FAR (not a set order at this time)
– From NXT Takeover Philadelphia: Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Johnny Gargano [*****]
– NJPW Strong Style Evolved 2018: The Golden Lovers vs. The Young Bucks [*****]
– From NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo 1.27.18: Minoru Suzuki vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi [****¾]
– From NJPW New Japan Cup Finals: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi [****¾]
– From PROGRESS 62: Walter vs. Timothy Thatcher [****¾]
– From NJPW WK 12: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito [****¾]
– From NJPW New Beginning in Osaka: Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi [****½]
– From PROGRESS 63: Zack Sabre Jr vs. Tyler Bate [****½]
– From EVOLVE 99: WALTER vs. Zack Sabre Jr [****½]
– From NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo 1.28.18: Roppongi 3k vs. The Young Bucks [****½]
– From NJPW New Japan Cup 3.11.18: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tetsuya Naito [****½]
– From NJPW New Japan Cup 3.11.18 – Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Kota Ibushi [****½]
– From NJPW New Japan Cup 3.11.18: Kota Ibushi vs. YOSHI-HASHI [****½]
– From NJPW New Japan Cup 3.09.18: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Michael Elgin [****½]
– From the ROH 16th Anniversary Show: Dalton Castle vs. Jay Lethal [****½]
– From NJPW WK 12: Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho [****½]
– From EVOLVE 98: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Darby Allin [****½]
– From WWE Royal Rumble 2018: 30-Man Royal Rumble Match [****½]
– From ROH Honor Rising 2.24.18: Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Cody & Marty Scurll [****½]

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”