When you consider all the matches that take place in promotions all over the world and try to whittle that list down to just twenty-five matches that is a daunting task. However, I have put together the twenty-five must see matches of 2024.
This is my fourth annual best of the year list; my personal best matches of the month lists have led up to these 25 best matches of the year list. It was a lot of fun for me to put together the best matches of the month lists. Sometimes matches didn’t happen that exact month when I finally got around to seeing them. The one requirement that I stuck to was, it will not be considered for match of the month, because that would be unfair but could be on the list and make the end of the year top 25 matches list.
There are only so many hours in a day and only so much wrestling I can watch. Please keep in mind these are just my opinion of the best matches I saw this year and is not a definitive list and is not the official Wrestling Republic ratings and rankings.
I had to make a lot of tough choices with the list to narrow it down to a final 25 and I tried to be well rounded and impartial with the listings. Although, you may not agree with the order or the matches on this list or you think I should have included other matches; that is ok because again this is subjective. For me, I factor in not only the match itself but the storyline, the presentation (promo packages), storytelling in the ring as well as the finish (did it make sense, was it clean, was it believable, did it further the story along or conclude it), when determining whether to include it on my monthly or yearly list.
The rankings were determined as follows:
Winners of the Best of the Month lists – Guaranteed 12 Slots
The remaining slots will be made up of matches on the Best of the Month lists
The top 25-matches list is in order unlike the monthly that are in no particular order.
25) Owens vs Logan Paul vs Lashley vs McIntyre vs Orton vs Knight – WWE Elimination Chamber – Chamber for the Number One Contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
The Elimination Chamber match always has the potential to be a compelling and entertaining match each year. As four of the six competitors are all former multiple times world champions all competing for a World title match at WrestleMania 40 it was expected six men would bring out their best. From Kevin Owens and Logan Paul’s antics inside the pods to the overall competitive match it delivered. It showcased everyone in memorable spots and the match made sense and built to possible Mania matches. For a road to mania show this match was the best match of the night and for me the best match I saw in February.
24) Will Ospreay (c) vs PAC – AEW International Championship – AEW All Out
Just on paper this is a dream match for any wrestling fan. Ospreay, who is practically a constant on my best of the month and best of year lists and continues to showcase his greatness again this year. PAC is arguably one of the most underrated performers that can have a great match with pretty much anybody. So, these two UK based stars going at it on one of AEW’s biggest shows of the year, you knew this was going to be an absolute classic and it was for 20 plus minutes. As Ospreay picked up the victory and both men’s stock was raised because of this match.
23) Josh Alexander vs Alexander Hammerstone – TNA Hard to Kill
On the first show of the re-brand back to TNA from Impact Wrestling, this show absolutely delivered and was one of my favorite shows of the year as I wrote about at the time. This match right here is one of those reasons that I loved this show. I’m a strong proponent of storytelling being absolutely vital for this business, but that doesn’t mean dream matches aren’t marketable or great as well. Josh Alexander is truly the heart and soul of TNA and took up the mantle that future HOFamer, AJ Styles held in TNA. He made an open challenge and former MLW World Champion, Hammerstone answered that call as a free agent. For 15 minutes these men went to absolute war painting a masterpiece on that canvas with Josh coming out on top.
22) Willow vs Statlander – Chicago Street Fight – AEW All Out
The former on-screen friends and now bitter enemies, absolutely delivered on one of AEW’s biggest stages of their year. These women brought out the best in one another in a knocked down, dragged out street fight in front of one of the best wrestling crowds in the city of Chicago. This is without a doubt one of my favorite matches of the year as I think Willow is someone that you can just tell that she wants everyone to have a good time and truly loves what she does. Statlander is talented but doesn’t show the character promise that Willow does in my opinion. Statlander picked up the win and finished the year losing to the woman that beat Willow for the TBS championship, Mercedes Mone in a title match at World’s End.
21) Athena (c) vs Billie Starkz – ROH Women’s Championship – ROH Final Battle
For the second year in a row, Billie Starkz tried to stop the unstoppable champion in Athena and once again came up short. Billie Starkz has the potential to be a top star in this business and as someone that hasn’t seen much of her on a regular basis, I could see the considerable difference as a performer the year has made her. My personal guess is she wins it at Final Battle 2025. Athena has been someone that is beyond underrated as she has been ROH Women’s champion for over 2 years, but since ROH doesn’t have a strong platform for their content many people don’t realize this which is a shame. These women painted a masterpiece on ROH’s biggest show of the year and was the right choice to main event this show for sure.
