As we kick off 2019, Sporting News takes a look back at the best of 2018 and give out our combat sports awards for Fighter of the Year (MMA), Fighter of the Year (Boxing), Fight of the Year (MMA), Fight of the Year (Boxing), Knockout of the Year (MMA), Knockout of the Year (Boxing), Submission of the Year (MMA), Match of the Year (Pro Wrestling) and Wrestler of the Year (Pro Wrestling).
2018 was a year that gave pro wrestling fans a plethroa of great matches to choose from. But one stood head and shoulders above the rest.
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And the winner is...
Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada (NJPW Dominion)
Few matches, if any, have ever had the heavy expectations put on it like this one. It was just a year before when Okada and Omega met three times in what were unique yet each scintillating, thrilling matches with each worthy of being named match of the year. Even with the pressure mounting, they raised the bar even further by making it a no time limit, 2-out-of-3 falls match, a stipulation that rarely happens in the confines of New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Once the bell rang, Okada and Omega played out a magnificent symphony of pure strong-style professional wrestling, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats for nearly 65 minutes as they weaved an incredible story of heart and perseverance until Omega planted "The Rainmaker" in the center of the ring with his One Winged Angel to ultimately score the historic victory.
Not only had Omega become the first Canadian to become the IWGP heavyweight champion, but he did so by ending Okada's epic 720-day title reign in an era-defining match and one that is arguably the greatest in wrestling history. -- Brian Fritz
Runner Up: Andrade "Cien" Almas vs. Johnny Gargano
What makes a great wrestling match?
It is athleticism combined with great storytelling, perfect execution of moves combined with the biggest factor of them: getting the crowd behind you. Without that, you just two talents having a match.
Andrade “Cien” Almas and Johnny Gargano put on a classic in the main event of NXT Takeover: Philadelphia on Jan. 27. Almas was 2-0 over Gargano heading into the match.
Almas and Gargano had great chain wrestling early on, giving the indication they would be going awhile.
The drama of Gargano kicking out with neck and back issues after Almas caught him trying to spear him through the ropes leading to the inverted tornado DDT for a long two-count to the admiration of the crowd as it brought the crowd roaring to their feet in admiration of their hero wanting to win the title for the first time.
Almas and Gargano ramped it up from here on out. The crowd was chanting “This is Awesome” after every signature spot. You had the crowd erupting in unison with “YES” chants and then “Johnny Wrestling” after every time it appeared Gargano was done. With every near fall, the match reached new heights. And the clever inclusion of Zelena Vega and Candice LeRae only pushed the match into unique territory.
By the time Almas spiked Gargano with his Hammerlock DDT, everyone realized that they witnessed a classic match. And it may have topped the list had it not been for a match that would likely have won Match of the Year in just about any year. -- Steven Muehlhausen