10 Most Underrated Wrestling Matches Of 2019

Chad Gable, after being wasted for years on the WWE main roster and just a few months out from a name change that has seemingly destined him for obscurity, turned up for a couple of shows on 205 Live with a new haircut, new gear, and proved to everyone that he is one of the best. Gentleman Jack Gallagher, one of the most underrated technicians in professional wrestling, was the perfect opponent for Gable to display his talents with.

The match was devoid of traditional big moments associated with WWE wrestling. It felt like a substantive alternative to the usual style - what 205 Live was designed to represent. Both men utilised their technical grappling skills and light weights to effectively work each other down with holds and limb targeting. Due to their smaller sizes, they're both increasingly quick and have high stamina, making it an elaborate waiting game for an open opportunity to capitalise on. Unlike a lot of modern WWE, there's never a substantial advantage from either man, both are positioned on equal ground for most of the contest, yet both look better as a result.

The match ending in a botched countout was upsetting at the time, but works in hindsight as a fitting conclusion to this fragment to the narrative. Neither man could outwork the other that night, Gable only picking up the victory due to circumstances on the ropes added fire to both men in their excellent rematch a few weeks later, which was more intense and less grounded than this encounter. The storytelling that they brought to this match was mesmerising enough to capture a notoriously burned out post SmackDown crowd, which is proof of the connection that Gable's able to create with audiences. It's evidence that 205 was a beautiful source for wrestling last year.