10 Best British Wrestling Matches Of 2016
America and Japan weren't the only countries who had a great year, you know...
British wrestling hasn't been as hot as it is today since World of Sport started falling apart in the mid-1980s. There's an incredible buzz coming out of the United Kingdom at the moment, and with promotions like PROGRESS and RevPro churning out quality shows every single month, it's easy to see why.
The UK has created three of the global independent scene's biggest stars in Marty Scurll, Zack Sabre Jr., and Will Ospreay, and there are countless others waiting in the wings. Guys like Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate are just waiting to explode, and when you add well-travelled veterans like Drew Galloway and El Ligero to the mix, British wrestling's 2017 looks very healthy indeed.
Scotland's ICW drew an astonishing 6,193 fans to Glasgow's SSE Hydro in November, Word Of Sport returns to ITV on December 31st, and WWE's United Kingdom Championship will bring British wrestling to the masses in January. Combine this with the ongoing success of PROGRESS, RevPro, WCPW, and countless others, and you have one of the most dynamic wrestling scenes in the world.
2016 has been particularly excellent in terms of match quality. Britain's big promotions have continually delivered the goods between the ropes, and with most now offering their own video on-demand services, the scene has never been so accessible. The past 12 months have provided dozens of must see matches, and the best of the best compare favourably with anything you'll anywhere else in the world.
Here are the 10 best British wrestling matches of 2016.
10. Kurt Angle Vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (RevPro Angle Vs. Sabre)
Zack Sabre Jr. has had an enviable year, and if you were to compile a list of 2016's best independent wrestlers, his name would be somewhere near the top. From working the WWE Cruiserweight Classic to wowing audiences in PWG and EVOLVE, ZSJ has earned all kinds of plaudits for a stellar 12 months, but most of his best work has been done on foreign shores.
That's not to say the Isle of Sheppey's most famous son has completely forgotten his homeland, however. Sabre put on a number of great matches around the country in 2016, and while this bout with Kurt Angle definitely wasn't the cleanest from a workrate standpoint, nothing felt as special as this match in 2016.
Nowhere else creates an atmosphere quite like York Hall, and the building was buzzing for Sabre vs. Angle. Serving as the night's main event, this was a trans-generational clash of master technicians, with Angle using his superior size and experience to wear ZSJ down throughout. RevPro's reigning British Heavyweight Champion fought valiantly, but just when he looked to have won with an Armbar, Angle countered into his famous Ankle Lock, and the Brit had no choice but to tap.