The Mighty Return of the 2018 Match of the Year Project

[jsnnmk]

Welp, let's see if this holds up.

For those familiar with this project, it needs no introduction. For those unfamiliar, these forums were most known several years ago for the extensive MOTY Projects done by the esteemed Hunter Golden. Then, people got busier and this project, despite other reboots, screeched to a halt.

Well, I'm here to try one last gasp at bringing it back.

The guidelines are simple. Nominate a match from any wrestling promotion (WWE, NJPW, Impact, ROH, US or UK Indies, etc.) from the 2018 Calendar Year, with at least one sentence following to back-up why you made that choice (gets some good, fun discussion going rather than just nominations and votes). If its gets seconded by another forum member, then it becomes official with a +2 vote tally and can be then voted on YES or NO by other forum members.

With the WWE and NJPW being the top two promotions in terms of the amount of likely matches nominated, they will see a higher cut line to make the final ballot than the rest of the field, we'll start with a +8 for them and see if it needs to increased. For ROH, Impact and the rest of the field, we'll start their cut-off to make the final ballot at the end of the year at a +5.

So, with that being said, I will get things started from the first RAW of 2018 with the following two matches.

Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe for the Intercontinental Title - 1/1 WWE RAW

These two have such good chemistry with each other. Reigns is primed ready for Wrestlemania, Joe is on the best run of his career and they got the Miami crowd rockin' at the end.

Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka - 1/1 WWE RAW

Very nice pilot match for what will surely be future title matches down the road this year between these two. Asuka looked great at getting the decisive non-title win over the champ, while Bliss worked her tail off to make Asuka look like a million bucks.

Now that is out of the way, LET'S GET VOTING!!

[isrs4life]

I agree with Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe for the ic belt from the first raw of 2018 was awesome!

[Red_And_Yellow]

Nominated:

NJPW - 1/4 - Chris Jericho vs. Kenny Omega

NJPW - 1/4 - Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW - 1/27 - Jay White vs. Kenny Omega

NXT - 1/27 - Alestair Black vs. Adam Cole

NXT - 1/27 - Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas

[Big slim]

Go ahead and count me in for Reigns vs Joe, those two have such great chemistry together!

I will also second the Almas vs Gargano, easily the match Almas has had in WWE.

[jsnnmk]

NOMINATION: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki (IWGP IC Title) - NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo Night 1 1/27

Masterclass in storytelling and psychology by one of the best of the modern era in Tanahashi and how to decisively put over a deadly badass in Suzuki. Unbelievable stuff.

NOMINATION: Men's Royal Rumble - WWE Royal Rumble 1/28

One of the better Royal Rumbles in recent memory. Was structured to perfection, especially the final 10 minutes.

NOMINATION: Timothy Thatcher vs. WALTER - PROGRESS Chapter 62 1/28

The first UK indie scene match of the list will go down as one of the most brutal and hard-hitting for the year. The Ringkampf teammates put on a display of old-school physicality that will make you cringe, while keeping you invested from bell-to-bell.

SECONDED: Jericho/Omega, Naito/Okada, Cole (BAYBAY)/Black

VOTING YES: Almas/Gargano

[isrs4life]

John Cena vs. Goldust from Raw 3/5/2018