10 Best Wrestling Matches Of 2021

3. Shingo Takagi Vs. Jeff Cobb - NJPW Wrestle Kingdom

Hangman Page Bryan Danielson
ROH

Most writers tend to use hyperbole to put an insight over.

This really isn't that: Jeff Cobb was so freakishly strong and powerful in this incredible match that he seemed to evolve into a frightening mythological creature after the opening bell.

Worked as a machismo-drenched bomb blast - in which Shingo and Cobb agreed upon a contest in which it was to be determined who was the best at f*cking up the other's sh*t - the collisions were nuclear. Shingo removed Cobb's soul from his body early by sending him across the ring with a shoulder tackle. Cobb, if you're not aware, is a house comprised of several brick walls. This was stupidly impressive, and it was the very first move.

Knowing he had to step it up, Cobb - again, a house comprised of several brick walls - leapfrogged over Shingo's next attempt and struck a seamless dropkick as high and as clean as anything executed by the more slender, famous practitioners of the move. He had just landed on his feet the second before he launched into midair, which is where he also launched his opponent with a ridiculous overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the outside. He made Shingo - a colossus of a boy himself - look like the baby that Snitsky punted. Everything was sold perfectly, too, between Shingo's understated shock and Cobb's slow-burn crumple.

When these two massive f*ckers started catching each other, holy sh*t: it evoked total fist-pumping adrenaline.

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!