Top US Independent matches of 2003 so far

[Guest Stevie Franchise]

my top ten are as follows

 

1. ROH 4/12: Paul London vs "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson *****

 

2. IWA MS 2/7: Chris Hero vs CM Punk

****1/2

 

3. IWA MS 4/11: CM Punk vs BJ Whitmer

****1/4

 

4. ROH 1/11: Samoa Joe vs "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson

****1/4

 

5. ROH 2/8: "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs Samoa Joe

****

 

6. ROH 2/8: Jay Briscoe vs Mark Briscoe

****

 

7. IWA MS 2/21: AJ Styles vs Ace Steel

***3/4

 

8. ROH 1/11: Paul London vs Homicide vs BJ Whitmer vs Colt Cabana

***3/4

 

9. ROH 2/8: Paul London vs Low Ki vs AJ Styles

***3/4

 

10. ROH 2/8: Xavier vs Paul London

***1/2

[Guest Sandman9000]

Homicide vs. Trent Acid from the past CZW show is said to be a ***+ match as well, which might crack that list.

[Guest ShooterJay]

I'd rank the Briscoes' 8/24 match instead of 2/8. but other than that your list is pretty right on.

[Guest Sandman9000]

2003 bud, we haven't hit August yet.

[Guest ShooterJay]

yeargh

[Guest Tim Cooke]

London v Danielson is easily the best US match this year and the best US match that I have seen in the past 4 years or so (since the 4/11/99 Raven/Saturn v Benoit/Malenko tag match).

 

It's amazing what smart work, crisp execution, good selling, and not relying on a million indy innovation moves can do for a match.

 

Tim

[Guest IndyGirlDani]

Thus far, I gotta say London/Dragon from Epic Encounter (4/12)... I was at the show and that match was AMAZING! the fans were really into the entire 43 minutes of the match!

 

Dani

[JustJoe2k5 0]

I'm getting Ring of Honor's 2/8 show so I'm glad a lot of matches from that show made your list. Is the rest of the Epic Encounter card good or should I buy it just for Danielson vs. London?

[Guest Stevie Franchise]

The London vs Danielson match is worth the 25 alone. Other than that there was nothing special except Reckless Youth debut. I orginally gave that match ***1/2 but me being as high as I was didn't realise it was clipped because they didn't clip the commetary which is some weird shirt. That match on second viewing gets ***. As a whole tape its one of ROH's weaker releases but still freaken awesome

[Guest Stevie Franchise]

Homicide vs. Trent Acid from the past CZW show is said to be a ***+ match as well, which might crack that list.

I heard it was an awesome match and i'm going to order it after I order all of my ROH and IMA MS tapes i need

[Guest Stevie Franchise]

London v Danielson is easily the best US match this year and the best US match that I have seen in the past 4 years or so (since the 4/11/99 Raven/Saturn v Benoit/Malenko tag match).

finally their's someone else that belives that that tag match at Spring Stampede 99 was the MOTY in the US and not the freaken No Mercy Ladder Match. Thats only if I never see a full version of Bret Hart vs Chris Benoit on the 10/4/99 Nitro

[Guest wildpegasus]

To anyone who's seen the London vs Dragon bout: I've seen 5 stars being thrown around. Is this match really on the level of Hokuto/Kandori, Misawa/Kobashi or Toyota/Kong?

 

I've seen the complete Bret vs Benoit match. What happens during the commercial breaks does add to the match. One other note about this match. Watch the 1st and 3rd bout Bret and Benoit have on Nitro. These two bouts add tremendously to the Owen Hart tribute match.You'll appreciate it all the more.

 

My match of the Spring Stampede tag is in horrable condition to the point where it's really unwatchable. Does anyone want to give any analysis on why they like it so much?

[Guest Galactic Gigolo]

I wouldn't say *****. **** - **** 1/2 sounds good, though. I absolutely loved the match, as I was there live. Being there live, it's difficult to garner a concrete rating because of the crowd's energy during that awesome, awesome match.

[Guest Phoenix Fury Legdrop]

I haven't seen London/Danielson yet, though I'm hoping to eventually getting around to getting a tape of it.

 

In no particular order (mainly because I haven't reviewed a few of these, and I don't want to give much away) :

 

C.M. Punk vs. Chris Hero (When Hero Met Punk)

C.M. Punk vs. Jimmy Rave (Ultra Styles Clash Weekend: Night One)

David Young vs. Tony Mamaluke (Wildside TV taping; aired on TV episode 178)

 

I do have a bunch more coming in the next week or two (BotB3, both nights of Wildside's Hardcore Hell, IWA-MS's Quote the Raven), and I've been told that there's some stuff on those tapes on the level on the stuff I've seen thus far.