Best indy matches 2004-now?

[Guest kebab]

Yeah, so I'm looking to put together a comp of the best indy matches from the past two years on a comp - ROH, TNA, IWA-MS, PWG, CZW, you name it. Any recomendations?

[JustJoe2k5 0]

You would want to include all three of the C.M. Punk vs. Samoa Joe encounters. I've also heard that the Briscoe Brothers, Jimmy Rave, and John Walters vs. Generation Next match from the "Generation Next" show is really good.

[Just John 0]

Low Ki vs. KENTA from Final Battle 05.

 

And definitely Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi as well.

[Garth 0]

I think Bryan Danielson vs Homicide from Reborn Stage Two is pretty spectacular.

[Cuban Linx 0]

The Generation Next eight man is good, though i don't feel it really holds up as anything overly special, personally i preferred the Gen Next tags/6 man tags from the World Title Classic and both Death Before Dishonor 2 shows.

 

Other 2004 ROH matches that come to mind other than the Joe/Punk series & Danielson/Cide; Samoa Joe vs Austin Aries (Final Battle), Samoa Joe vs Bryan Danielson (Midnight Express Reunion), Low Ki vs Jay Lethal (Midnight Express Reunion), Ki/Danielson vs Liger/Joe (Weekend of Thunder Night Two) and Samoa Joe vs Jay Briscoe (At Our Best) are all very good stuff.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

I've heard that the three-way between A.J. Styles / Christopher Daniels / Samoa Joe in TNA is a great match.

[Garth 0]

I second Aries/Joe and the Joe/Styles/Daniels 3 way.

 

BJ Whitmer/Jimmy Jacobs vs Roderick Strong/ Jack Evans from Manhattan Mayhem is heaps of fun, especially if you're looking for something a little bit different to the usual crop of anwers.

[World's Worst Man 0]

1 CM Punk vs. Samoe Joe (10/16/04, ****3/4)

3 CM Punk vs Samoa Joe (12/4/04, ****1/2)

5 Bryan Danielson vs Samoa Joe (10/2/04, ****1/4)

9 Low Ki & Bryan Danielson vs Samoa Joe & Jushin Thunder Liger (11/6/04, ****1/4)

10 Mark Briscoe vs Colt Cabana vs Austin Aries vs Homocide vs Bryan Danielson vs Samoa Joe (6/24/04, ****1/4)

13 Austin Aries vs Samoa Joa (12/26/04, ****)

15 Austin Aries vs Bryan Danielson (8/7/04, ****)

16 Jay and Mark Briscoe & Johnny Rave & John Walters vs Alex Shelley & Jack Evans & Austin Aries & Roderick Strong (5/22/04, ****)

18 CM Punk vs Samoa Joe (6/12/04, ***3/4)

21 Bryan Danielson vs Jushin Thunder Liger (11/5/04, ***3/4)

23 Low Ki vs Bryan Danielson (12/26/04, ***3/4)

4 Bryan Danielson vs. James Gibson (9/17/05, ****1/4)

5 AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe (12/11/05, ****1/4)

7 Kenta Kobashi vs. Samoa Joe (10/1/05, ****)

8 Kenta Kobashi & Homicide vs. Low Ki & Samoa Joe (10/2/05, ****)

11 James Gibson vs. Austin Aries (4/16/05, ****)

13 Chris Daniels vs. James Gibson vs. Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk (8/12/05, ****)

15 Chris Daniels vs. CM Punk (7/23/05, ****)

16 CM Punk & Spanky vs. Samoa Joe & Jay Lethal (3/12/05, ****)

22 Colt Cabana vs. Austin Aries (2/19/05, ***3/4)

23 Spanky vs. Bryan Danielson (4/2/05, ***3/4)

27 Low Ki & Homicide vs. Samoa Joe & Jay Lethal (8/13/05, ***3/4)

29 James Gibson vs. Homicide vs. Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe (7/8/05, ***3/4)

 

Dat's what I got. There was some good stuff on the ROH Reborn shows (April '04). I remember Homicide vs. Danielson and Punk/Cabana vs. Briscoes were real good. There was also another good Briscoes vs. Punk/Cabana match a month later. I don't know exactly how good any of that stuff is, as it's been 2 years since I've seen them and I don't have access to the matches now.

[The Mandarin 0]

From PWG- Joey Ryan vs. Super Dragon in an Iron Man. Great stuff there. Sick bumps, good story. I would get that.

 

You also need Roderick Strong vs. Danielson II from Vendetta. Holy shit was that amazing.

[keith6601 0]

James Gibson/Roderick Strong from Unforgettable 10/2/05 is amazing.

[Hawk 34 0]

1 CM Punk vs. Samoe Joe (10/16/04, ****3/4)

3 CM Punk vs Samoa Joe (12/4/04, ****1/2)

5 Bryan Danielson vs Samoa Joe (10/2/04, ****1/4)

8 Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (8/15/04, Final, ****1/4)

9 Low Ki & Bryan Danielson vs Samoa Joe & Jushin Thunder Liger (11/6/04, ****1/4)

10 Mark Briscoe vs Colt Cabana vs Austin Aries vs Homocide vs Bryan Danielson vs Samoa Joe (6/24/04, ****1/4)

13 Austin Aries vs Samoa Joa (12/26/04, ****)

15 Austin Aries vs Bryan Danielson (8/7/04, ****)

16 Jay and Mark Briscoe & Johnny Rave & John Walters vs Alex Shelley & Jack Evans & Austin Aries & Roderick Strong (5/22/04, ****)

18 CM Punk vs Samoa Joe (6/12/04, ***3/4)

21 Bryan Danielson vs Jushin Thunder Liger (11/5/04, ***3/4)

23 Low Ki vs Bryan Danielson (12/26/04, ***3/4)

4 Bryan Danielson vs. James Gibson (9/17/05, ****1/4)

5 AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe (12/11/05, ****1/4)

7 Kenta Kobashi vs. Samoa Joe (10/1/05, ****)

8 Kenta Kobashi & Homicide vs. Low Ki & Samoa Joe (10/2/05, ****)

11 James Gibson vs. Austin Aries (4/16/05, ****)

13 Chris Daniels vs. James Gibson vs. Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk (8/12/05, ****)

15 Chris Daniels vs. CM Punk (7/23/05, ****)

16 CM Punk & Spanky vs. Samoa Joe & Jay Lethal (3/12/05, ****)

22 Colt Cabana vs. Austin Aries (2/19/05, ***3/4)

23 Spanky vs. Bryan Danielson (4/2/05, ***3/4)

27 Low Ki & Homicide vs. Samoa Joe & Jay Lethal (8/13/05, ***3/4)

29 James Gibson vs. Homicide vs. Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe (7/8/05, ***3/4)

 

Dat's what I got. There was some good stuff on the ROH Reborn shows (April '04). I remember Homicide vs. Danielson and Punk/Cabana vs. Briscoes were real good. There was also another good Briscoes vs. Punk/Cabana match a month later. I don't know exactly how good any of that stuff is, as it's been 2 years since I've seen them and I don't have access to the matches now.

 

This is a strong list but here's more recent matches as of late 2005 to present

 

1. Bryan Danielson Vs Roderick Strong-This Means War

2. Claudio Castagnoli Vs Alex Shelley-This Means War

3. Austin Aries Vs AJ Styles-This Means War

4. Bryan Danielson Vs Roderick Strong- Vendetta

5. Generation Next Vs The Embassy-Steel Cage Warfare

6. KENTA Vs Low Ki-Final Battle 05

7. Matt Sydal Vs AJ Styles-Hell Freezes Over

8. Shelley, Abyss and Rave Vs Evans, Sydal and Yang-Tag Wars 06

9. Aries and Strong Vs Lethal and Danielson-Tag Wars 06

10. Bryan Danielson Vs AJ Styles-Dissension

11. Low Ki Vs Christopher Daniels-Dissension

12. Bryan Danielson Vs Jimmy Rave-4YA

13. Austin Aries Vs Matt Sydal-Arena Warfare

14. KENTA and Marufuji Vs Samoa Joe and Danielson

15. Blood Generation Vs Generation Next-Dragon Gate Challenge

16. Blood Generation Vs DO-Fixer-Supercard of Honor

17. Bryan Danielson Vs Roderick Strong-Supercard of Honor

[JustJoe2k5 0]

This Means War must've been a hell of a show.

[Hawk 34 0]

It was, you also had a very fun Curry Man Vs Lethal match up along with decent comedy from Kituaro(Ebessan) and Nosawa in a 4 way with Nigel and Whitmer. I would probably rank TMW, somewhere in the bottom of the top ten roh over-all shows. Remind me to do a ranking of ROH shows sometime. I'll probably do it after I get 100th show and then try to properly rank the shows.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

It was, you also had a very fun Curry Man Vs Lethal match up along with decent comedy from Kituaro(Ebessan) and Nosawa in a 4 way with Nigel and Whitmer. I would probably rank TMW, somewhere in the bottom of the top ten roh over-all shows. Remind me to do a ranking of ROH shows sometime. I'll probably do it after I get 100th show and then try to properly rank the shows.

 

I'll look forward to it. I've needed someone with some knowledge to fill me in on the best recent RoH shows.

[Man Who Sold The World 0]

Samoa Joe vs Ebessan vs Delirious vs Jack Evans OWNS ALL. There is your match of the tape my friend.

 

"KO NICHI WA BITCH"

[Cuban Linx 0]

If you enjoy comedy in your wrestling, the CM Punk/Delirious trilogy in IWA Mid-South is top of the line stuff. 4/9/05 (Simply The Best 6), 5/6/05 (Dedication) and 7/2/05 (No Blood No Guts No Glory 2005) are the dates/shows for anyone interested.

 

I haven't seen a great deal of PWG, but from what i have seen the 30 minute Samoa Joe/Bryan Danielson match from The Musical stands out, not quite on the level of their '04 ROH match but still a very strong match. Joe/Super Dragon 1 from Secret of the Ooze is another favorite of mine as well.

[King Cucaracha 0]

Bah, beat me to it on Punk/Delirious.

 

Arik Cannon vs. Chris Hero from the IWA:MS Ted Petty Invitational 2005 needs to be on there. Also, Styles/Danielson/Joe from the 2004 TPI is a great match. I hear good things about AJ Styles vs. Matt Sydal at Simply The Best 5. Also, you can't have an indy clip tape without Joe/Necro at Something To Prove.

 

Claudio vs. Mike Quackenbush, either CHIKARA Negative Balance or CHIKARA Running In The Red. There's the CHIKARA Torneo Cibernetica from The Cibernetica Returneth, but it's in the 100 minute range, so not ideal for a comp tape.

 

From PWG, I personally like Super Dragon vs. Quiksilver from Zombies Shouldn't Run.

[Hawk 34 0]

I went ahead and ranked the shows by year because it's a little easier and it's not fair to compare 2002 with 04/05 because the highest ranked '02 show wouldn't make the top overall 25.

 

Ring of Honor 2002

Unscripted

Glory by Honor

All Star Extravaganza

Era of Honor Begins

Round Robin Challenge

Road to the Title

Honor Invades Boston

Final Battle 02

Crowning a Champion

Night of the Butcher

Night of Appreciation

Scramble Madness

 

Ring of Honor 2003

Death Before Dishonor

Expect the Unexpected

The Epic Encounter

War of the Wire

Main Event Spectacles

Night of Champions

Final Battle 03

Bitter Friends, Stiffer Enemies

Night of Grudges

RRC2

Revenge on the Prophecy

Empire State Showdown

Wrath of the Racket

The Conclusion

Beating the Odds

One Year Anniversary

Do or Die

Wrestle Rave 03

Glory by Honor 2

Tradition Continues

Frontiers of Honor

 

02 and 03, were loaded with one match shows, and only a small handful felt like complete shows from top to bottom.

 

Ring of Honor 2004

 

All Star Extravaganza II

Final Battle 04

Death Before Dishonor 2 Part 2

At Our Best

Glory by Honor III

Generation Next

Midnight Express Reunion

Testing the Limit

Joe Vs Punk II

Reborn Stage One

Survival of the Fittest

Weekend of Thunder Night 2

Death Before Dishonor 2 Part 1

Battle Lines Are Drawn

GOLD

Weekend of Thunder Night 1

Reborn Completion

World Title Classic

Round Robin Challenge 3

Reborn Stage 2

2YA

Scramble Cage Melee

The Last Stand

 

Ring of Honor 2005

Punk: The Final Chapter

Manhattan Mayhem

3YA Night 2

Nowhere to Run

Redemption

Joe Vs Kobashi

This Means War

The Final Showdown

Final Battle 05

Steel Cage Warfare

Death before Dishonor 3

3YA Night 3

SOTF 05

Escape From New York

Sign of Dishonor

Unforgettable

Stalemate

Back to Basics

3YA Night 1

Glory By Honor IV

It All Begins

Fate of An Angel

Dragon Gate Invasion

Vendetta

Enter the Dragon

The Homecoming

BOASJ

The Future is Now

New Frontiers

Showdown in Motown

Night of Tribute

Buffalo Stampede

Night of Grudges 2

Trios Tournament 05

 

04 & 05 were pretty hard to rank compared to the other two years because the quality was significantly higher each year.

 

Right now it's too early but BITW is the #1 show of 2006 right now but that will probably change with Better then our Best or the 5/13 show.

[Kardo 0]

Vendetta is wayyyy lower then it should be.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

Thanks alot for the list. I think Night of Champions would be a little higher on your '03 list. It had a very solid top-to-bottom card, whereas a show like Epic Encounter was pretty much Bryan Danielson vs. Paul London and not much else. Would you say that the best '05 show, Punk: The Final Chapter, is better than the best '04 show, All Star Extravaganza II? "Better Than Our Best," sounds like a jab to CZW's "Best of the Best."

[Hawk 34 0]

Thanks alot for the list. I think Night of Champions would be a little higher on your '03 list. It had a very solid top-to-bottom card, whereas a show like Epic Encounter was pretty much Bryan Danielson vs. Paul London and not much else. Would you say that the best '05 show, Punk: The Final Chapter, is better than the best '04 show, All Star Extravaganza II? "Better Than Our Best," sounds like a jab to CZW's "Best of the Best."

 

I think BTOB was playing off "At Our Best", which was also the night before WM.

 

You might be correct about NOC, but I enjoyed Danielson/London and AJ/Red Vs Briscoes and I was digging Punk/Whitmer, while I wasn't big on Joe/Xavier. I liked the formation of SCS. I just seem to recall EE more easily then I do for NOC. To be honest, I don't often go back to 2002/2003 shows, maybe I should re-watch NOC and see if it holds up better then I remember.

 

That's a tough question between P:TFC and ASEII

It's Joe/Punk III, Low Ki/Aries and Danielson/Homicide Vs Punk/Cabana, Joe/Lethal Vs Homicide and Low Ki and Hardy/Strong. I have the say the upper hand goes to ASEII. However, that whole 8/12 and 8/13 weekend for ROH, was incredible. Only the recent WM Triple-Shot weekend could match. Those two weekends, are ROH's stand-out weekends in their histories.

[DCMaximo 0]

Haven't seen much recent stuff, but AJ Styles vs Matt Sydal from IWA-MS Simply The Best 5 was pretty great. Hero/B-Boy from the same show is also pretty good, as was Excalibur/Super Dragon vs Steen/Generico form Cage of Death 6. Dann Maff vs Arik Cannon from CZW Retribution was also good.

[The Mandarin 0]

Oh yeah, UWA Hardcore Wrestling (Toronto-area promotion) had a ****+ match in Josh Prohibition (yes, him) vs. Austin Aries last March. It's really quite excellent; give it a look if possible.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

I've always liked Josh Prohibition and M-Dogg 20, both are among the better spot-fest workers you'll find on the independent circuit. They had some great matches against one another in CZW.

[King Cucaracha 0]

The Aries/Cabana Cage Match at 3YA Night 1 is one of my favourite Cage Matches ever. Joe vs. Ebessan Jack from Night 1, botched powerslam aside, is great comedy. Cabana/Nigel on Night 2 is quite short but an excellent European style match and the Joe/Danielson vs. Aries/Evans tag match is all sorts of fun too.

[Kardo 0]

Gibson vs. Spanky from that night is great too.

[tigeraid 0]

I may be repeating some, but here's a bit of a list for me:

 

1. Aries/Danielson 70whatever minute match

2. Whitmer/Jacobs at Dragon Gate Challenge (just a personal fav, what can I say)

3. Joe/Kobashi

4. Joe/Punk II

5. Low Ki/KENTA at Final Battle 05

6. Rave/CM Punk Steel Cage Match from 2005

 

EDIT: 7. Oh, and the first Strong/Danielson match where Danielson knocked out Strong. Fantastic start to a feud, one that had no real buildup but came off like two guys who genuinely hated each other.

[King Cucaracha 0]

Something different.

 

Yago and Miyawaki vs. KUDO and Mikami from CHIKARA Tag World Grand Prix 2006, Night 1.

 

If you need a spotfest, the 9 Man TLC Gauntlet from IWA:MS We're No Joke.