10 Best Wrestling Pay-Per-Views Of 2018
4. ALL IN
Ironically, timing issues almost contrived to ruin the defining pay-per-view event of our times.
Still, while Kazuchika Okada Vs. Marty Scurll went too long, to the detriment of the match itself and to an extent the show, those last five minutes represented one of the Rainmaker's greatest achievements. He made you believe, with a twisting finishing sequence loaded with character work, that a Junior Heavyweight had his number. The main event suffered in its wake, but it feels almost obnoxious to quibble over a breathtaking spot sprint that, when you did manage a breath, you could only use it to shriek or swear your f*cking head off.
The tonal range of Hangman Page Vs. Joey Janela - a match as hilarious as it was terrifying - climaxed in a sensational, unforgettable parody of sports entertainment. Kenny Omega survived Penta El 0M in a sickening, thrilling war all the better for its unvarnished ugliness. Cody's uplifting NWA World's Heavyweight Title win was a very heated, gratifying throwback to an old-school big match feel. Really, beyond a strange, unscheduled opener, nothing disappointed on a night both eclectic and electric. Against all the odds, ALL IN drew 10,000+ punters, and it rocked them all.
ALL IN wasn't just superb; it was vital.