Professional wrestling journalist and sports historian Dave Meltzer has assigned ratings to professional wrestling events since the creation of his publication, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in 1982, and named his first 5-star match in 1983. That said, his wrestling career is stacked with classics against the likes of 2 Cold Scorpio, Bret Hart, Eddie Guerrero, and other greats of the business. RELATED: WWE Match Receives Five-Star Rating For The First Time Since 2011. However, that anticlimactic ending was the main reason this match shouldn't be rated higher than three and a half stars. Receiving a 5 or higher star rating is considered by many to be a great achievement.[1]. are well worth the acclaim that this bout received. Top subscription boxes - right to your door : PillPack . When it comes to not just in AEW, but to tag team wrestling as a whole, there may be no better tag team match in history than this one. That being said, there were still several good moments to the first-ever War Games in wrestling history, led by The Four Horsemen. Since 1982, respected fan of wrestling and author of the Wrestling Observer, Dave Meltzer, has. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. He loves to express his knowledge through writing. Somehow these two combined to have one of the worst WWE matches in history. The Rumble meeting is unquestionably their best match, and arguably Cenas best since his iconic bout with CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011. Answer: I think alot of it is due to jealously, Dave has been reporting on pro wrestling for years upon years, developing contacts and being paid very well for doing something that alot of wrestling fans wish they could do. Kurt Angle vs. Mr. Anderson at Lockdown 2010 ( 4.5 ). List of professional wrestling matches rated 5 or more stars by Dave Meltzer, Wrestlers with the most 5-or-higher-star matches, Wrestlers with the most higher-than-5-star matches, Promotions with the most 5-or-higher-star matches, Promotions with the most higher-than-5-star matches, Last edited on 23 February 2023, at 03:54, World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment, Asistencia Asesora y Administracin/Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom, Professional wrestling in the United States, "Dave Meltzer on Twitter: "I was there. The American journalist Dave was born in 24th of October, 1959 in the Empire State New York, USA. Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar: 2.25. The fact that Flair is the only American on this list says a lot about the kind of wrestling Dave Meltzer likes and just how good Ric Flair was to overcome that. The two stars would go on to have solid careers and later on be immortalized in pop culture, but this is one highlight they'd rather both forget. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). For a better part of the match, Finlay took on the Little Boogeyman. Men's EC Match: 4.5. 10. RELATED: 10 Wrestlers You Won't Believe Never Got A 5-Star Rating From Dave Meltzer. The SuperKliq AEW Full Gear 2021 (5 Stars), 10 Wrestlers You Won't Believe Never Got A 5-Star Rating From Dave Meltzer, he is giving five-star (or higher) ratings more often than ever, The story between Ambrose and Reigns was very interesting, The 10 Best Interpromotional Matches In AEW, So Far, 10 Things AEW Fans Need To Know About Kazuchika Okada, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty had a great story, 10 Former Impact/TNA Wrestlers Who Surprisingly Are Still Wrestling, 10 Worst WWE Wrestlers To Compete For A World Championship At WrestleMania. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi, NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 Day 1 - 5.75 Stars Professional wrestling journalist and sports historian Dave Meltzer has assigned ratings to professional wrestling events since the creation of his publication, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in 1982, and named his first 5-star match in 1983. The Best Wrestling Book Must-Reads. The two went back and forth with basic action . Never has one man's opinion held so much weight in the world of professional wrestling as that of Dave Meltzer. Flair is undoubtedly one of the greatest of all time, and although his career has gone on far longer than it should (on more than one occasion), there is no denying that there have been some all-time classics over the years in a range of different wrestling promotions. and our He is considered as one of the top journalists in the entertainment industry and is majorly known for covering professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. WWE bouts such as The Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25, as well as the incredible triple threat main event of WrestleMania 20, have continued to receive widespread praise for their overall excellence. Japanese matches dominating the top spots does not necessarily mean a bias. On this occasion, SANADA challenged Kazuchika Okada to an IWGP Heavyweight Title match. Vince McMahon seized the perfect opportunity to turn one of those dream feuds into a reality when he booked HBK to face Kurt Angle on the grandest stage of them all. Roberth Prez is a journalist extremely passionate about sports and its stats. There are several matches that Meltzer has over rated, and admittedly he is giving five-star (or higher) ratings more often than ever, which has ruined the meaning and value of the stars. Every Dave Meltzer 5-Star Rating Of 2023. Meltzer rated this match four stars, but frankly, this bout didn't deserve more than three stars, as it was pretty bad. It was certainly a memorable match, but it wasn't good enough to merit 4 stars. It wasnt a spot-fest like modern War Games matches, but it was certainly a fight, and it worked at introducing fans to the concept. The two teams met at No Mercy and produced a clinic. On AEW's first night Cody and Dustin Rhodes undoubtedly stole the show as Dustin put on a career-defining show. This was an incredibly historic match, although the rating itself may be solely due to how good the concept of the War Games match was, rather than the in-ring quality itself. This wasn't a bad match by any means, just far below the expectations and the actual rating from Dave Meltzer. Now Dave has a tendency to report on things and be wrong, however he is . Backstage Update On Matt Riddle's Continued WWE Absence, 11 Times Wrestlers Were Pissed Off For Real In The Ring, Further Proof Triple H Has Changed WWE For The Better, AEW Revolution 2023: 10 Things That Must Happen, Why It's Time To FINALLY Kill The Worst Trope In Wrestling. The Young Bucks heel persona was on full display in this match, proving to be naturals in that role. RELATED: 10 Things AEW Fans Need To Know About Kazuchika Okada. Of all the matches he has rated over the years, these are the ones rated 5* or better. Potential Buyer Pulls Out Of Race To Purchase WWE? this is a great book if your interested in the people behind the brutal and often sad world . The effects of Vince McMahon retiring from WWE in the wake of his personal scandal are just beginning to be felt within the company, but the impact of new leadership headed by Stephanie McMahon, Nick Khan and Paul "Triple H" Levesque will pose "a big, big challenge" for AEW. The match was solid, slow-paced at first but with a pretty enjoyable finish. Edge & Rey Mysterio (No Mercy 2002), Triple H Vs. Shawn Michaels Vs. Chris Benoit (WrestleMania XX), Shawn Michaels Vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 21), The Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXV), John Cena Vs. AJ Styles (Royal Rumble 2017), WWE Match Receives Five-Star Rating For The First Time Since 2011, iconic ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels' Highest Rated Singles Matches, According To Dave Meltzer, 'SmackDown Six' all got to showcase their potential under the watchful eye of Paul Heyman, 5 WWE Wrestlers Who Survived Bad Gimmicks (& 5 Who Had It Define Their Careers), 10 WWE Storylines Vince McMahon Refused To Book, 10 WCW Character Transformations That Made No Sense. Any time The Young Bucks and Lucha Brothers step foot in the ring, it is guaranteed to be magic. It did feel like an authentic, bloody, and brutal fight between 10 men who hated each other. Meltzer gave Cena vs. Styles 4.75 stars. Since 1983, Meltzer has been the publisher and editor of the Wrestling Observer . Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. The title bout remains one of Foleys best matches, and helped him gained credence as an unbelievable performer despite not fitting the proverbial wrestler archetype. Rating: 4.75 stars Len Denton's book is a fantastic read through the territory days of professional wrestling, and he's not shy about his personal failures, either. Wrestling. His technical, methodical style played right into Dave's hands at a time where matches outside of Japan struggled to impress him. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels vs Samoa Joe (Triple-Threat), 5* | Sat, Oct 16th 2004 | ROH | Samoa Joe vs. C. M. Punk, 5* | Sat, Jul 10th 2004 | NOAH Departure '04 | Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama, 5* | Sat, Mar 1st 2003 | NOAH Navigate For Evolution '03 | Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, 5* | Fri, Jun 11th 1999 | AJPW Budokan Hall Show | Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi, 5* | Sat, Oct 31st 1998 | AJPW 26th Anniversary Show | Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi, 5* | Fri, Dec 5th 1997 | AJPW Budokan Hall Show | Akira Taue, Toshiaki Kawada, Jun Akiyama, Mitsuharu Misawa, 5* | Sun, Oct 5th 1997 | WWF In Your House 18: Badd Blood | Shawn Michaels vs. Recently at Full Gear 2021, The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Ortiz, Sammy Guevara, and Santana) took on American Top Team (Andrei Arlovski, Dan Lambert, and Junior Dos Santos) and Men Of The Year (Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky) in a 10-Man Tag Team Minneapolis Street Fight. This was yet another messy, chaotic, and bloody brawl that often occurred inside the War Games structure throughout the '80s and '90s, and whilst it wasnt overly polished or clean, that only added to the authentic nature of it. Dave Meltzer definitely over rated this match. 2023. dave meltzer. Flair also owes some of his success to the WarGames format as two of his 5 star-ers came inside the dome. By Paul Benson. His first match was at WrestleMania 3 against The Game, Triple H. Upon his return to the WWE, everything that the Ultimate Warrior tried doing never felt quite right. dave the last few years you have acted as an anti-WWE and you have fed that hatred towards a company and certain pro wrestling fans who hate wwe have sheltered with you and that is why when you do an awards vote on your page it seems corrupted and bought by @TonyKhan There were only a couple of amazing spots, but otherwise, the bout was nothing special. John Cena vs John Laurinaitis - Over the Limit 2012 (0.80 Rating) Starting the list if a match between a man who has received a five star match from Dave Meltzer, and John Cena. This is a list of both active and inactive Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards created by professional wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist Dave Meltzer.The first fourteen awards were created in 1980 as an informal poll between Meltzer and his friends and others he corresponded with on the subject of professional wrestling at the time. Dave Meltzer can sometimes be too generous when it comes to giving out stars. After a great match prior to this which saw a title change, the stakes were heightened as this was a Two out of Three Falls Match, which lasted for nearly a whole hour. Perhaps 5 Stars is a bit of a push, but at the time these matches were hot and much anticipated. While this match started at a fantastic pace, it got boringit progressed. The Big Boss Man vs Al Snow was one of those the latter. WWE hit jackpot with the brand split in 2002. Can be found on Twitter @andrew_kelly0. 1 month ago by Liam Winnard. With the lack of a referee, the wrestlers had to take their own counts once they had the opponent pinned to the ground. WWE produced the first-ever Tables, Ladders and Chairs match-up at SummerSlam 2000, which saw Edge and Christian battle it out with the Hardyz and the Dudleyz. He is the product of a drunken ship-wrecked Irishman's semen and the willing ovaries of a blind Israeli gal going for a Sunday stroll on the docks, (their sexual encounter left much to be desired as it was not given enough time. The entire match was slow and lasted for less than six . Since 1982, Meltzer has been assigning star ratings to every major match across the wrestling world. They couldnt have hoped for a better second chapter of their feud, with the fans going crazy when Page managed to pick up the victory. Flair did need to cheat to win, but that alone raised Windhams stock as someone who couldnt be beaten clean. I heard the segment you guys are talking about: apparently it was word they got from people within WWE that they did the Cody/Heyman promo they way they did. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Free shipping for many products! Dave Meltzer. These matches could've failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons, such as poor preparation, the lack of determination from the wrestlers, or poorly written match scripts. While the topic itself is pretty subjective, there are matches that have received acclaim from fans and professional critics alike. The chemistry that these two men have is unteachable. One of the most exciting aspects of watching a wrestling Pay-Per-View, or a Premium Live Event, as WWE calls it, is giving every . Meltzer rated the match 4.75 stars. Ric Flair has finally wrestled his last match, which makes it high time to look at what Dave Meltzer has rated to be his 10 greatest ever matches. Dubbed Kennel from Hell," this match was held in a double cage where the winner had to escape both cages to win. Someone please feed some brains in his head and his subscribers. In World of Wrestling, Trying to Keep It Real. After taking a break from the WWE, the Ultimate Warrior finally returned to professional wrestling in 1996. successfully defending his World Heavyweight Championship. Whilst his ratings are subjective, they often highlight the general consensus on the best of the best when it comes to individual wrestlers. While Rowdy Roddy Piper managed to rise through the ranks and become a renowned WWF superstar, his match at WrestleMania 2 against Mr T is what tops Dave Meltzer's list of the worst. There were several death-defying spots, particularly from Guevara who delivered a scary swanton bomb from atop a ladder, and an insane springboard cutter from a ladder too, which brought the audience to their feet. Cookie Notice This match is simply one of the most annoying and insulting events in the history of professional wrestling. This match would be perfectly fine with four stars. Dave has rated thousands and thousands of match on a scale of 0-5 (or higher) since the very first edition of the Observer came out, and his scores are still highly regarded and coveted by those in the industry. I voti di Dave Meltzer per Elimination Chamber 2023. What followed was an incredible display of action and athleticism. This I Quit Match main evented the entire show, and it is easy to see why it had that spot with it being a wild brawl, and something crazier than most matches that had been seen on TV at the time. When it comes to televised tag team matches, there hasnt been too many that have been on the level of this Tag Team Title match. AJ Styles made his WWE debut at Royal Rumble 2016. After all, the 45-year-old Lesnar is a former 10-time WWE World/Universal Champion that has headlined five WrestleManias including WrestleMania 38 last year. Aside from providing insider knowledge (and annoying Jim Cornette), Meltzer is also known for his star rating system. Pillman and Windham beat the hell out of one another, Sid Vicious dominated, and Flair naturally bled all over the place. In the early '80s, Andre the Giant was a force to reckon with in the world of professional wrestling. The iconic stable's arrival in WWE led to one of the greatest matches in . Lex Luger Vs. Meng - Halloween Havoc 1995 . Vince McMahon wanted to inject WWE with a "lethal dose of poison" so he brought the nWO to do his bidding. The two superstars told an incredible story as they stayed inside the ring for the whole duration of the match. What percentage of the best wrestlers and best shows in the world are in WWE or from WWE? Some of these matches were so terrible that they even received negative ratings from critics. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. 10 AEW Stars & Their Best Match, According To Dave Meltzer. 7 The Rock Vs. Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania X8) Hulk Hogan's return to WWE after eight years in 2002 jolted the pro wrestling world. Couldnt be beaten clean worst WWE matches in Keep it Real great achievement. [ ]... That role Bucks and Lucha Brothers step foot in the ring for the first since... Good moments to the ground matches that have received acclaim from Fans and professional critics alike the Boogeyman... The Hell out of Race to Purchase WWE counts once they had the opponent pinned the... The American journalist Dave was born in 24th of October, 1959 in the for. 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Any means, just far below the expectations and the actual rating from Dave Meltzer can be!, dave meltzer top 10 wrestlers to Dave Meltzer that anticlimactic ending was the main reason this match should be.: WWE match Receives Five-Star rating for the whole duration of the wrestling.. Topic itself is pretty subjective, they often highlight the general consensus the... All your favorite celebs, reality TV, and flair naturally bled all over years...