10 Best Wrestling Matches Of 2023 (So Far)

6. GUNTHER Vs. Sheamus Vs. Drew McIntyre - WWE WrestleMania 39

Rhea Ripley
WWE.com

Michael Cole's screaming is divisive, and accomplishes one of two things, depending on whether you like him or not.

A) He enhances the drama of a match, or

B) He makes you resent the match because he tries much too hard to make it feel epic.

Michael Cole did not shut the hell up during GUNTHER Vs. Sheamus Vs. Drew McIntyre, and with good reason. It was incredible, and he was as lost within it as everybody else.

The structure of the match was simple, but deliriously effective. The layout excused the usual turn-taking contrivance that is every WWE Triple Threat match ever because every time one of the wrestlers sold on the outside, it was easy to buy; they'd just been chopped into oblivion or booted several feet into the air.

In turn, the last-second saves worked to an unbelievable extent. Everything looked so blunt and wicked that even the most rudimentary strikes functioned as near-falls. The timing of the saves was so frantic and acute that every lariat felt like a protected 1980s finisher. This was a perfect fusion of genre and characters.

When the squelchers landed, the fans were on their feet, watching on with bloodlust a match they never wanted to end and could only end, it felt like in the moment, with a shoot decapitation.

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!