Two-thirds of 2017 is done. Wrestling fans have been spoiled this year with great matches. I've compiled all matches rated 4.75 or higher by WON's Dave Meltzer. 26 matches in all. To put it into perspective, 2016 had 16, 2015 had 10, 2014 had 13, 2013 had 9, 2012 had 5 and 2011 had 2. We still have 3 months to go.
Quoting Big Dave, "I feel bad for wrestling fans who don't realize just how great they have it (this year)."
rating
date
card name
winner(s)
loser(s)
match type
+6.25
Sun, Jun 11th 2017
NJPW Dominion 6.11
Kazuchika Okada
Kenny Omega
+6
Sat, Aug 12th 2017
NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 18
Kenny Omega
Kazuchika Okada
+6
Wed, Jan 4th 2017
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom XI
Kazuchika Okada
Kenny Omega
+5.75
Sun, Aug 13th 2017
NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 19
Tetsuya Naito
Kenny Omega
G1 CLIMAX FINAL
+5
Fri, Aug 11th 2017
NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 17
Tetsuya Naito
Hiroshi Tanahashi
+5
Sat, Jun 3rd 2017
NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors 2017 - Day 14
KUSHIDA
Will Ospreay
+5
Sun, Apr 9th 2017
NJPW Sakura Genesis 2017
Kazuchika Okada
Katsuyori Shibata
+5
Sat, Feb 11th 2017
NJPW The New Beginning In Osaka 2017
Tetsuya Naito
Michael Elgin
+4.75
Sun, Aug 20th 2017
WWE SummerSlam '17
Brock Lesnar
Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns, Samoa Joe
Fatal 4-Way
+4.75
Tue, Aug 8th 2017
NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 16
Kazuchika Okada
Minoru Suzuki
+4.75
Tue, Aug 1st 2017
NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 11
Kota Ibushi
Hiroshi Tanahashi
+4.75
Thu, Jul 27th 2017
NOAH Summer Navigation 2017 ~ 11th Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League - Day 8
Katsuhiko Nakajima
Brian Cage
+4.75
Thu, Jul 27th 2017
NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 8
Michael Elgin
Kenny Omega
+4.75
Sat, Jul 22nd 2017
NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 4
Kazuchika Okada
Michael Elgin
+4.75
Thu, Jul 20th 2017
NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 2
Kenny Omega
Minoru Suzuki
+4.75
Mon, Jul 17th 2017
NJPW G1 Climax 2017 - Day 1
Tetsuya Naito
Kota Ibushi
+4.75
Sun, Jul 2nd 2017
NJPW G1 Special In USA - Day 2
Kenny Omega
Tomohiro Ishii
+4.75
Sat, Jul 1st 2017
NJPW G1 Special In USA - Day 1
Kenny Omega
Michael Elgin
+4.75
Sun, Jun 11th 2017
NJPW Dominion 6.11
KUSHIDA
Hiromu Takahashi
+4.75
Sat, May 20th 2017
NXT TakeOver: Chicago
Pete Dunne
Tyler Bate
+4.75
Thu, May 18th 2017
NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors 2017 - Day 2
Will Ospreay
Ricochet
+4.75
Wed, May 3rd 2017
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2017
Kenny Omega
Tomohiro Ishii
+4.75
Sat, Mar 18th 2017
PWG Nice Boys (Don't Play Rock N' Roll)
Penta El Zero M, Rey Fenix
Ricochet, Matt Sydal, Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson
Three-Way Tag
+4.75
Sun, Mar 12th 2017
NJPW New Japan Cup 2017 - Day 2
Tomohiro Ishii
Kenny Omega
+4.75
Sun, Feb 5th 2017
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2017
Kazuchika Okada
Minoru Suzuki
+4.75
Sun, Jan 29th 2017
WWE Royal Rumble '17
John Cena
A.J. Styles
It's absurd that most 4.75 matches won't even make it to 2017's top ten matches as we've already witnessed four 5 star matches and another four that broke the ratings system, all delivered by NJPW. They are having their best year ever in terms of match quality as they also own 13 out of 18 matches rated 4.75 stars. Call Meltzer biased, but the NJPW roster and booking never/rarely disappoints unlike WWE, GFW and AAA that constantly displeases and disrespects their audience.
NXT cracks it's second 4.75 match, first one was Zayn vs Neville 3 years ago. If you count NXT under WWE, they would tie their 1994 record with three 4.75/5 star matches delivered. WWE arguably has the best roster ever in terms of ring work, all they need is to book smart and develop characters that fans, both hardcore and casual, can invest in.
PWG is currently having it's premiere event (2/3 days done, September 1-3), Battle of Los Angeles, so expect to hear new MoTY contenders later this week.
Kayo naman. Haha! What's your favorite match of the year so far?
Bonus Toni Storm: