10 Best Wrestling Matches Of 2019
8. Cody Vs. Dustin Rhodes - AEW Double Or Nothing
People might say it was nothing without the blood, but the blood wasn't everything.
Cody is the best, purest storyteller in pro wrestling right now, and he set the tone for this epic, emotional masterpiece with just one display of body language. One obnoxious cartwheel sent a message to his older brother: Cody was the younger man, in his prime, and he was physically equipped to defeat him. In a sublime tables-turned moment, Dustin roared back with a somersault senton off the apron. Dustin's body was willing, and his mind was sharper, more learned. Cody had to drain him of his spirit, which manifested as a gory, harrowing bloodbath fought in a f*cking furnace.
This compelled Brandi to attack Dustin behind the referee's back. That compelled Diamond Dallas Page to drag her ass out of there. Even before Dustin broke the Muta/Eddie Scale, this was immersive, throw-back drama of stunning build and pacing.
And then the blood started to flow.
This was the pinnacle of Dustin's multi-decade career; his selling here was so authentic that, across the entire arena, fans threw their hands to their mouth. The gross drama was unbearable, but with two wonderful spots, unifying the entire spectrum of age, Dustin made the ultimate babyface comeback. He spanked his brat brother's bare ass with a switch, and proving he had the energy all along, he dropped Cody with the Code Red.
A special match, impossibly rich in emotion and drama, they didn't make 'em like this anymore.
Until they did.