The Best And Worst Of Wrestling In 2016

Match of the Year: Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (NXT TakeOver: Dallas)

This was Nakamura’s first WWE match, and it was so good they were chanting his and Zayn’s name at WrestleMania

Runners-Up: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada (Wrestle Kingdom X), DIY vs. The Revival (NXT TakeOver: Toronto), A.J. Styles vs. John Cena (SummerSlam 2016)

This was difficult to determine, especially given the number of good matches during the 2016 calendar year. New Japan’s roster delivered several five-star classics, including a jaw-dropping performance from Tanahashi and Okada at Wrestle Kingdom X, which set the tone for the latter’s rise to legendary status in the months that followed.

Cena and Styles delivered the best match on the SummerSlam card, which proved that Cena still had enough in the tank and that Styles deserved to be in the main event. Finally, the spectacular tag team match between DIY and the Revival brought tears to many fans’ eyes at NXT TakeOver: Toronto.

Being there in person, I, along with most in attendance, cheered DIY’s victory for a very long time, and all four wrestlers received a standing ovation afterwards.

But there wasn’t a single match this year better than the match that stole the show in Dallas. Sami Zayn, who had been considered the heart and soul of NXT, put on a valiant performance while defending his turf against new arrival Shinsuke Nakamura.

And for 20 minutes, the two of them put on an insane match that had everyone on the edge of their seats. All it took was one single match for the WWE Universe to see that Nakamura was a true star. Small wonder, then, that fans were chanting both these guys’ names at WrestleMania 32 two days later.