10 Best Wrestling Matches Of 2020 (So Far)

3. The Elite Vs. The Inner Circle Stadium Stampede - AEW Double Or Nothing

Matt Jackson Kenny Omega
AEW/Lee South

Embracing a heightened quasi-canon amid the ongoing global crisis, AEW indefinitely postponed the Blood & Guts WarGames match.

The tone wasn't right for an event of that magnitude, and so AEW devised a brand new stipulation match to meet it: Stadium Stampede, essentially a 100 yard canvas on which the most creative minds of the modern generation could paint a masterpiece of distraction and relief.

This was an attraction necessary to sell a pay-per-view, and AEW justified the expense by sparing none of their own. This felt as big and as spectacular as this era of no fans can possibly dream to achieve, and it was so entertaining that, for 35 glorious minutes, the wider depression of all of this lifted. Without falling into tedious arguments, this is the only time professional wrestling has felt vaguely essential to the mood and the pulse. It wasn't essential, at all, but it felt that way.

N64 wrestling video game references; the absurd visual comedy of Chris Jericho in full priceless jackass mode smashing a mascot with his finish; Matt Jackson cheekily pretending to pull off 100 yards of consecutive suplexes with a winking nod to the taped format; Matt Hardy presenting the fourth wall to an hysterically mystified Santana and Ortiz: the comedy was exceptional.

But the wrestling is what got this comedy wrestling match over. Omega's unhinged bumping; moonsaults off crossbars; Hangman Page's intensely physical battering at the hands of Hager and the airtight space in which he pulled off a backflip: this was a new context, perfected, that retained more than enough of the old to get over with the same, inimitable thrill of pure pro wrestling.

Midway through the match, Omega and Hangman Page shared a drink after months of tension.

A beautiful moment in and microcosm of a beautiful match, it was even touching.

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!