10 Best Wrestling Matches Of 2020

2. FTR Vs. The Young Bucks - AEW Full Gear

Daniel Bryan AJ Styles
AEW

In a phenomenal spot that illustrated the dynamic and how much we wanted to see it, Cash Wheeler - the king of the cutoff - recognised that Nick Jackson - the king of the hot tag - was in position. He could not sanction it. He knew of the danger, and so he neutralised it emphatically by exploding across the breadth of the ring and spearing him to the outside.

They bettered that phenomenal spot deeper into the match.

Building on one of several compelling narrative layers - FTR cycled through the chronology of wrestling to put over the idea that the Bucks had advanced the form, after all - Cash grew more desperate. He launched into another sprint, in a relentless performance, and smashed the very top of Nick's back through a ringside table in one of the best, most dangerous-looking safe spots you'll ever see.

Cash Wheeler attempted the spear again deeper still, but Nick was wise to it. This was their night. He sidestepped the charge. Wheeler tumbled out of the ring with a wicked bump.

Matt Jackson and Dash Wilder meanwhile worked the core of the story and restored dramatic parity. Injured in the build, Matt couldn't do the Superkick. Dash couldn't use his fists; he cracked his hand against the ring post in an awesome reckoning of a spot on the night. This thread was developed magnificently in an all-time classic settled when Cash betrayed himself.

Deserted by his old school curriculum, he attempted a springboard 450 - losing a match more than he was defeated in it, leaving scope for the sequel - before Matt did execute the Superkick. His ankle was f*cked. This was powered by nothing more than pure babyface resolve at the apex of his long journey.

The 1,000 distanced fans were so into it that they felt like 10,000 packed in.

A masterpiece.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!