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PWTORCH YEAR-END VOTING 12/25: Torch readers submit nominations for WWE Match of the Year Dec 25, 2008 - 11:16:09 AM
WWE presented the Slammy award for its Best Match of 2008 to the Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair match from WrestleMania 24. We know that match will be a top contender for WWE Match of the Year when the Torch year-end polls are created in January.
Torch readers, here's your chance to nominate other matches that stood out in your mind or were historically significant and should be included on the year-end polls for readers to vote on.
Submit a pick for WWE match of the year and briefly explain yourself either by emailing pwtorch@gmail.com (recommended for PWTorch App and Mobile users) or adding your response in the "Comment" section below.
Year-End Awards Voting schedule
12/26 - TNA Match of the Year nominations open
12/27 - ROH Match of the Year nominations open
12/28 - MVP of 2008 nominations open
12/29 - Wrestler of the Year nominations open
12/30 - Best PPV/Event of the Year nominations open
12/31 - Best Feud of the Year nominations open
1/1 through 1/4 - Readers submit nominations for each category
I have been an avid wrestling fan for the past 22 years. I try to watch
all four shows everyweek, but don't always get to ECW or TNA. I've watched
all the WWE and TNA ppvs this year, and have only missed RAW or smackdown a
few times (thank you DVR) that's a lot of wrestling to think about. If i
had to pick one match to be my favorite...i couldn't. i would have to pick
two. One from each of the two major brands. From RAW, Shawn Micheals vs.
Chris Jericho- Unsanctioned match from Unforgiven 2008. this was the feud
of the year IMO, and this was the best match from the feud. this was the
first match after Jericho popped Micheals' wife, and this match really
capitalized on the emotion that was caught up in the feud. Perfect ten
match. I remember being intensely caught up in this match while watching
it. It reminded me of the Angle v. Benoit match from the Rumble 03 in that
in was flawless in execution.
my other pick would have to be Undertaker v. Edge- TLC match from One Night
Stand. This match really had it all, and if a call Jericho/Micheals the
feud of the year, then Taker/Edge would be a very close second. This was
my favorite match between the two, although i was torn between this and the
Backlash match. I choose this match because of the ending. It was truly
shocking at the time, and had me "marking" out hard, which is the test of a
great match over all these years. Undertakers in ring story telling is
never in question, and Edge has been absolutely on top of his game this
year. Every match he's in these days has a big match feel. So, any way,
the quality of wrestling in this feud, particularly this match, was only
rivaled by Jericho/Micheals.
Trojan Man
25 Dec 2008, 09:39
I've got to go with the obvious Slammy-award winning match, Ric Flair vs.
Shawn Michaels. The drama in this match was incredible. Wrestlemania XXIV
was there show and the week-end was so dramatic. I teared up Saturday and
Sunday, and then finally, just totally lost it on Monday and I was bawling.
Ric Flair is the greatest wrestler of all time, and he passed the torch to
the second greatest wrestler of all-time. Just a beautiful beautiful
match. I love the part where Michaels won't hit the Sweet Chin Music, so
Flair gets him into the Figure Four, theres Michaels' moonsault where he
lands on the table, and finally the famous line, "I'm sorry. I love you."
Eric Gall
25 Dec 2008, 09:59
Jericho Vs. Michaels - Ladder Match - any match in their feud would
qualify, but the risk involved in the ladder match (not something I'm
usually a fan of) and the toll they were willing to pay combined with their
usual greatness together made this a great match.
Flair vs. Michaels - If for nothing else, Ric Flair's final match has more
historical significance than just about anything. The drama of the final
moments will be remembered and replayed forever. Even if Flair does step
into the ring again, and let's face it, who really stays retired the first
time around, this match was the period in the greatest wrestling story ever
told.
povo
25 Dec 2008, 10:24
I would agree with the other comments here, it seems like MOTY for 2008
will be a short list. I would have to go with Flair - Michaels from WM, as
it was not only the Match of the Year for me, but the greatest wrestling
match and story I have ever seen. The Jericho - Michaels ladder match would
come in second for me for all of the stated reasons. I'd put Edge - Taker
Hell in a Cell on the list, as well as the Money in the Bank match at a
distant fourth (as it wasn't a standard match). Oh, and no TNA match would
come close to the top five. Thank you, WWE.
Mohammad Rahman
25 Dec 2008, 10:32
I'm going with Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho, Ladder Match because it
was the culmination of the perfect feud. They had every match under every
circumstance possible, but this was their first title match ever. The
ending with Jericho coming out on top (and later on Raw as well) left the
door open for the feud to continue later on down the road as well. The
match featured two master storytellers doing what they do best. Ric Flair
vs. Shawn Michaels is second place for me only for the drama in the match.
The match quality itself wasn't spectacular, but the emotion was there.
baminks
25 Dec 2008, 10:34
The matches listed in these comments were the best. I probably couldn't
list them in a particular order.
I'd like to see one category added. Best FREE TV match of the year, include
all WWE and TNA programming. Which match was the best not at a PPV?
Jeff
25 Dec 2008, 17:37
Chris Jericho is the MVP for 2008. He really did save us with his
consistency behind the mic and in the ring. He showed this past monday that
he can deliver the best match on any given card.
graves9
25 Dec 2008, 18:03
Flair vs Michaels is about as overrated as it gets. It had great drama but
it was no more than a 3 star match. Flair has had thousands of better
matches and hell Michaels has had hundreds of better matches. I would go
with Michaels Vs Jericho at No Mercy as the best WWE match of '08.
Learnl Jones
25 Dec 2008, 20:15
A short list? I don't know what you've been watching over the last year,
but I think there was plenty to choose from this year. The matches that
have been suggested so far were great. No oposition here.
But I would also put Jeff Hardy vs. HHH from No Mercy on the list. There
were so many near falls in that match that it could have gone either way.
I'd also put the triple threat match from Armageddon on that list as well.
What a great match that was and a perfect capper to '08 with Jeff Hardy
finally winning the big one.
Pat W
26 Dec 2008, 06:55
I like the idea of the Free Match of the Year, as I no longer pay to watch
this stuff. That in mind, I'd nominate the recent CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
bout on Raw, or the eight-man tag from ECW featuring Punk, Kofi Kingston,
Evan Bourne, and Ricky Ortiz against The Miz, John Morrison, and Priceless.
BK
26 Dec 2008, 11:43
My vote for match of the year goes to Speed Muscle vs. The Machine Guns.
Nothing else really got me excited this year. Wrestler of the year is easy
as Jericho has been as good this year as anyone I've ever seen in 27 years
of watching.
James
26 Dec 2008, 14:21
There is not a doubt in my mind that Undertaker vs. Edge in the Hell in a
Cell match at SummerSlam was the match of the year. I loved the
Michaels-Jericho feud as much as everyone, but I felt that it was ruined
slightly when Jericho won the title. Taker-Edge had some of the best
buildup I've seen in a while, thanks entirely to Edge being the best he has
ever been, beginning with the unbelievable Cutting Edge with Mick Foley.
That match gets my vote.
James
26 Dec 2008, 14:23
Oh, and as for free match of the year: Finlay vs. Matt Hardy on ECW. Two
years in a row Finlay has had IMO one of the best free matches of the year
(his match vs. Rey Mysterio last September was second only to Michaels-Cena
in April).
JPM
27 Dec 2008, 14:17
I am going to say the WWE match of the year was Chris Jericho vs. Shawn
Michaels on one of the pay per views because their feud was on of the best.
Bobby Grande
27 Dec 2008, 15:18
The Match of the year should go to at WWE WM 24 Shawn Michaels Vs Ric Flair
and WWE
Armageddon
WWE Championship Triple Threat Match
Edge Vs Jeff Hardy Vs Triple H
TheGuy
27 Dec 2008, 20:28
Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair at WM for obvious reasons listed above.
I like the idea of a free TV MOTY category as well. I would definitely
throw in Rey Mysterio vs. Evan Bourne from Raw as my nomination.
Andrew
28 Dec 2008, 11:24
Bourne vs. Mysterio. Exciting action, clean finish, restored my faith in
legitimate wrestling action on Friday nights.
Jay P.
29 Dec 2008, 06:48
Edge vs. Undertaker (TLC Match)
Great build and a finish no one saw coming when the stipulation was
announced that Undertaker's career was on the line. Great drama, great
match.
Tommy
29 Dec 2008, 10:48
My nomination for Match of the Year would have to be hands down, Flair vs
Micheals from Wrestlemania XXIV. If I remember correctly, the great and
wise Wade Keller rated it *****. After viewing the match a few times in
the past months I still have trouble viewing the incrdibly emotional finish
to the match.
Brockington
29 Dec 2008, 12:31
I'll take Matt Hardy vs Finlay on ECW.
VR
29 Dec 2008, 12:34
EDGE/UNDERTAKER (WM 24) - this match was done so incredibly well and the
best part of it was edge's performance. The booking made him look like he
had been studying and scouting the undertaker's moves. He countered all of
taker's classic finishers until the deadman had to bring out the gogoplata
at the end to finally get the win. Awesome.
Dusty Robinson
30 Dec 2008, 20:19
Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels Wrestlemania XXIV.Great story telling like when
Shawn couldn't pull the trigger on Sweet Chin Music at first & Flair turned
it into the Figure-4 to the five words Shawn said to Flair before he beat
him that I will remember forever,I'm sorry,I love you.
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WWE presented the Slammy award for its Best Match of 2008 to the Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair match from WrestleMania 24. We know that match will be a top contender for WWE Match of the Year when the Torch year-end polls are created in January.
