Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Wrestling Observer 5-Star Ratings List

The following is a list of matches that were given the ***** rating by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The list was compiled by Sean Hathaway.

Please visit http://www.wrestlingobserver.com for more information on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

JCP/Territories/World Championship Wrestling

* 4/19/86 Sheepherders vs. Fantastics (Bobby Fulton/Tommy Rogers)
* 4/11/87 Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham
* 2/20/89 Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair (NWA Chi-Town Rumble)
* 4/2/89 Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair (2/3 falls, NWA Clash of the
Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun)
* 5/7/89 Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA WrestleWar '89: Music City
Showdown)
* 11/15/89 Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk ("I Quit" Match, NWA Clash of the
Champions IX: New York Knockout)
* 2/24/91 Ric Flair, Larry Zbyszko, Barry Windham, & Sid Vicious vs.
Sting, Brian Pillman, Rick Steiner, & Scott Steiner (WarGames Match, WCW
WrestleWar 1991)
* 5/17/92 Sting, Nikita Koloff, Ricky Steamboat, Barry Windham, &
Dustin Rhodes vs. Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, &
Larry Zbyszko (WarGames Match, WCW WrestleWar 1992)

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment

* 3/20/94 Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (Ladder Match, WrestleMania X)
WWF Intercontinental Championship
* 8/29/94 Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (Cage Match, SummerSlam 1994) WWF
Championship
* 3/23/97 Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (Submission Match, WrestleMania
13)
* 10/5/97 Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker (Hell in a Cell Match, In Your
House: Bad Blood) WWF Championship
* 7/17/11 John Cena vs. CM Punk (Money in the Bank) WWE Championship
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)

* 9/11/05 AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels (TNA
Unbreakable 2005)

Ring of Honor

* 10/16/04 Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk (ROH Joe vs Punk 2)
* 10/1/05 Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi (ROH Joe vs Kobashi)
* 3/31/06 Dragon Kid & Genki Horiguchi & Ryo Saito vs. CIMA & Naruki
Doi & Masato Yoshino (ROH Supercard Of Honor)
* 3/31/12 Davey Richards vs. Michael Elgin (ROH Showdown in the Sun Day 2)

Pro Wrestling NOAH

* 3/1/03 Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa
* 7/10/04 Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama

All Japan Pro Wrestling

* 12/08/84 Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody vs. Dory Funk & Terry Funk
* 03/09/85 Tiger Mask II vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi
* 06/06/89 Jumbo Tsuruta vs Genichiro Tenryu
* 06/08/90 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
* 10/19/90 Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu
Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi
* 05/22/92 Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu
Misawa & Kenta Kobashi & Toshiaki Kawada
* 05/25/92 Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas vs. Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi
Kikuchi
* 04/14/93 Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi
* 07/02/93 Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Mitsuharu
Misawa & Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama
* 07/29/93 Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi
* 08/31/93 Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi
* 12/03/93 Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta
Kobashi
* 02/13/94 Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, & Giant Baba vs. Masanobu
Fuchi, Toshiaki Kawada, & Akira Taue
* 05/21/94 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira
Taue
* 06/03/94 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada
* 01/19/95 Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada
* 01/24/95 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira
Taue
* 03/04/95 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Steve Williams & Johnny
Ace
* 04/15/95 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue
* 06/09/95 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira
Taue
* 05/23/96 Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira
Taue
* 06/07/96 Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams & Johnny
Ace
* 12/06/96 Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun
Akiyama
* 06/06/97 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada
* 10/31/98 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi
* 6/11/99 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi
* 10/23/99 Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari
Ogawa
* 04/20/91 Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo
Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi
* 07/05/92 Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Kenta Kobashi &
Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
* 06/30/95 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi & Satoru Asako vs. Toshiaki
Kawada & Akira Taue & Tamon Honda
* 12/05/97 Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun
Akiyama

New Japan Pro Wrestling

* 04/23/83 Tiger Mask I vs. The Dynamite Kid for the NWA Junior
Heavyweight Title
* 04/16/94 "Wild Pegasus" Chris Benoit vs. Great Sasuke (Super J Cup
'94)
* 07/08/94 Jushin Liger vs. Great Sasuke
* 06/05/97 El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto (Best of the Super Jr. IV)

* 10/08/12 Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
* 04/07/13 Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
* 08/04/13 Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Climax)

Asistencia Asesorà a y Administración

* 11/06/94 Los Gringos Locos vs. El Hijo del Santo & Octagon AAA When
Worlds Collide; (hair vs. masks)

All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling

* 08/15/92 Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada
* 04/02/93 Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori
* 04/02/93 Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue vs. Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki
* 04/11/93 Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki vs. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo
Yamada
* 12/06/93 Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi
Ozaki
* 08/24/94 Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue
* 11/20/94 Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota

Universal Wrestling Federation

* 12/05/84 Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Nobuhiko Takada

Japan Women's Pro Wrestling

* 07/31/93 Dynami Kansai & Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki & Hikari Fukuoka
vs. Aja Kong & Sakie Hasegawa & Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue

204 comments:

  1. You need to add the following:

    AJPW 1/28/86 - Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu vs. Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Yatsu ("*****, if not, more")

    NWA 3/18/89 - Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (He actually rated it six stars, the only time he has ever done that with the exception of the potential 1/28/86 Jumbo/Tenryu vs. Choshu/Yatsu and 6/5/89 Jumbo/Tenryu matches that he said could possibly deserve more than five stars.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue from 5/18/92 isn't on the list but it was rated "*****+++". It's rated in the 6/8/92 Observer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We need Undertaker v.s. Shawn Michaels from Wrestlemania 25 and 26

    ReplyDelete
  4. Why? They were ****3/4.

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  5. hey what about shawn michael vs undertaker at wrestlemania25?

    ReplyDelete
  6. How about Toyota vs Inoue from 5/7/95? ***** and MOTY IIRC.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Unless Meltzer rated it *****, it shouldn't be on the list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Because Meltzer = the be all end of wrestling ratings? Weak.

      Delete
    2. No, because this is called "Wrestling Observer 5 star ratings list" you goober

      Delete
  8. Can anyone give the observer's match rating for these matches?
    1.Bob Backlund vs. Ken Patera Texas Death Match 1980
    2.Pat Patterson vs. Sgt. Slaughter Alley Fight 1981
    3. Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham 1986, battle of the belts II
    They all won the match of the year award, but aren't included in this list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There was no Wrestling Observer in 1980-81, so there are no ratings for matches 1 & 2. The Observer wasn't published until 1982.

      Delete
  9. I recently discovered a listing for a DVD set of 5 star matches of the 1980's compiled by Keith_H of the Death Valley Driver Video Review Message Board. There are 10 matches on the set that aren't included on this list.

    "As you may notice some of the matches on the set do not appear on the lists of WON five star matches that currently exist online, because the lists that are currently online are incorrect. This list of matches has been verified as correct, and for that I owe a great deal of credit to cmax member TravJ1979, who went through his collection of every Wrestling Observer issue from the 80's and verified all of these matches as having been rated five stars by Meltzer himself."

    Here are the matches that aren't on the list:

    Lioness Asuka vs. Jaguar Yokota (All Japan Women 8/22/85)***** - Dave called this his 3rd favorite match of the 80's.

    Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichrio Tenryu vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (All Japan 1/28/86)***** - To quote Dave "Ranks with the best Japanese matches in mat history."

    Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (NWA Battle of the Belts 2 2/14/86)***** - This was the Wrestling Observer MOTY for 1986.

    Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (NWA World Wide 1/20/87)***** - Dave's quote "I can only think of two U.S. matches worth considering for MOTY, the January television match between Ric Flair and Barry Windham which went 40 minutes to a draw (which was actually better than their match-of-the-year winner last year in Orlando) and the Ricky Steamboat v. Randy Savage match at Wrestlemania." For the record he gave Savage/Steamboat ****1/2

    Chigusa Nagayo vs. Lioness Asuka (All Japan Women 2/26/87)***** - Dave's quotes "The battle of the Crush Girls on 2/26 was another of their annual 5 star matches." "Chigusa Nagayo v. Lioness Asuka on 2/26 is as good as wrestling can possibly get."

    Keiji Mutoh & Shiro Koshinaka vs. Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada (New Japan 3/20/87)***** - Dave's quote "This match was sensational and a candidate for MOTY." This is one of the matches that I have never seen on a list of Dave's five star matches before.

    Lioness Asuka/Mika Komatsu/Kazue Nagahori/Mitsuko Nishiwaki/Etsuko Mita/Sachiko Nakamura vs. Chigusa Nagayo/Yumiko Hotta/Mika Takahashi/Mika Suzuki/Yachiyo Hirata/Yumi Ogura (About 17:30 of 50:00 Shown - All Japan Women 12/6/87)*****- Dave's quote "The main event was by far the greatest match I've ever seen live. In fact, I'd say without question it was better than any match ever held in the United States in the history of this business." As you can see Dave really, REALLY loved this match, and what is shown is indeed awesome. This match was by far the most difficult to track down for the set. About 17:30 of 50 minutes is shown, the VQ is what I would call FAIR-GOOD, but this is the only version that exists.

    Toshiaki Kawada & Genichiro Tenryu vs. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy (All Japan RWTL 12/16/88)***** - Dave's quote "the best match in Japan in many moons, in fact probably the best match I've seen in 1988."

    Genichrio Tenryu, Toshiaki Kawada & Samson Fuyuki vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Yoshiaki Yatsu/Masanobu Fuchi (JIP - All Japan 1/28/89)***** - This is another one of the matches that is always over looked when people post Dave's list of Five Star matches. Hell when TravJ1979 dug it up it was the first time I had ever heard of the match. Match is joined in progress a few minutes in.

    Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (WCW/NWA - Landover, MD 3/18/89)****** - Dave's quote "This match was significantly better than their Chicago match (2/20) and deserved something like 5 1/2 to 6 stars as a fair grade. Those in the know were amazed at how good this match was, particularly when they realized they had another match later that night in Philadelphia (which wasn't as good, but was still a fantastic match)" Dave gave the Philly match from the same day ****3/4.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I own the Landover, MD match and I agree, it's absolutely fantastic!!!! It's a bootleg but I thought it was better than the Chicago & their 2/3 falls match in New Orleans.

      Delete
  10. Bryan vs Batista on RAW should top this list

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just watched that out of sheer curiosity, and was blown away.

      One of, if not the best 5 minute or less match I've EVER seen...Batista gave Bryan an amazing rub and sold well for a guy who had a ways to climb up in terms of the WWE totem pole.

      Delete
  11. Rey Misterio Jr, Winners and Super Calo vs Psicosis, Heavy Metal and El Picudo (AAA - 1-29-93) has also been listed as a *****

    ReplyDelete
  12. From the 2/15/93 Observer:

    "The 1/29 match with Psicosis & Heavy Metal & El Picudo vs. Rey Misterio Jr. & Super Calo & Winners which ended in a double DQ (Misterio and Metal simultaneously dropkicked each other and caught each other in the groin and couldn't continue) was probably the best Lucha match I've ever seen. This is a five-star must-see match with great spots, some of the best dives you'll ever see in one match, great crowd heat, great ring entrances and even good dancing. I felt it was considerably better than the Santo & Guerrero tag match against Espanto Jr. & Jerry Estrada from the previous week's show or last February's Huracan Sevilla vs. Bestia Salvaje match that was generally considered the best lucha match of 1992."

    ReplyDelete
  13. Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue (AJW 4/25/92; aired 5/18/92)

    6/8/92 Observer:

    "These two are probably a decade ahead of their time when it comes to putting together a match. It was so good, in some ways too good, in that the people were just in awe of it to the point they could barely react. The moves were all new so people had no idea what was coming next. Toyota's performance in this match, and for 1992 in general, can't even be given words to describe it although she is the outstanding wrestler of 1992, male or female. The only way I can describe this match is to say that it had the same impact as the first time I saw Tiger Mask vs. Dynamite Kid's match in 1982, in that they were years ahead of their time. Toyota won with a Japanese Ocean suplex, which is a new kind of german suplex. *****+++"

    Jushin Thunder Liger vs. El Samurai (Best of The Super Jr. Final - NJPW 4/30/92)

    6/8/92 Observer:

    "Incredible match due to Liger, who had one of his best performances ever carrying Samurai to a level well beyond his ability. Samurai took the early advantage hitting Liger over and over with a beer bottle. He also worked the neck over with piledrivers. Liger made a comeback by unmasking Samurai and giving him a power bomb on the floor. With Samurai on the floor, Liger came off the top rope head-first like a missile and landed on Samurai's chest. Liger did one great move after another including an Orihara-like moonsault off the top rope to the floor. Samurai made a comeback and did Liger's own signature dive over the top rope with a mid-air flip. The moves here were far more spectacular than the Liger-Pillman match even though Samurai isn't in Pillman's league. But Liger did every hot move invented before winning with a Frankensteiner off the top rope. *****"

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  14. so 2006 was his last 5 star match anywhere? He said he will give his official rating to Black-Richards after he watches the DVD but it is it least **** 3/4, which was the rating for Taker-HBK last year. I'm not dissing that match by any means but if he stays with the **** 3/4 for Black-Richards then Taker-HBK should have been **** 1/2. I'm not going to argue the rating he gave it but then Black-Richards should be ***** then because it was slightly better.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bull Nakano vs Devil Masami from 4/18/93 in JWP is also 5 stars. From the June 8, 1993 Newsletter:

    "Got a chance to see the April Bull Nakano vs. Devil Masami match from Korakuen Hall, which went 37:36 and was easily five stars. Both did tons more than usual as you could see they were out to do a match of the year, and these two have more understanding of the ring psychology than the younger and faster women."

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  16. "his official rating to Black-Richards after he watches the DVD but it is it least **** 3/4"

    This was addressed in the ROH section. He never said he was rewatching it; he said it would probably be better with DVD production as opposed to Internet streaming. Not the same thing. The rating was also "****3/4 range" not "at least ****3/4". Not the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. The 1995 and 1996 WON Awards issues states the following as *****:

    Manami Toyota & Sakie Hasegawa vs Double Inoues (8/30/95)
    Manami Toyota vs Akira Hokuto (9/2/95)
    Rey Misterio Jr vs Psicosis (9/22/95)
    Rey Misterio Jr vs Juventud Guerrera (3/9/96)
    Hamada, Delfin, Tiger Mask, Naniwa, & Yakushiji vs. Teioh, Togo, Funaki, TAKA, & Shiryu (10/10/96)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I know it's a difficult question but did Meltzer rate any matches of the Toryumon promotion (1999-2004)? I especialy search the rating of a Ultimo Dragon vs CIMA match on Toryumon 51
    Sorry for the research

    ReplyDelete
  19. Rey Misterio Jr vs Juventud Guerrera (3/9/96)

    ecw have a ***** match?????

    ReplyDelete
  20. On the matches listed in the 1995 and 1996 Awards issues: does it say if the matches are rated by Meltzer? There's ratings in some of those old issues of what matches were "said to be" but which Meltzer didn't actually watch and rate.

    I found a new one recently:

    JWP
    8/7/93 Hikari Fukuoka, Cutie Suzuki, Mayumi Ozaki & Dynamite Kansai vs. Sakie Hasegawa, Takako Inoue, Kyoko Inoue & Aja Kong (Iron Team Match) *****

    It was reviewed in the 8/30/93 Observer. I'm not sure if the date is the date the actual match took place or the TV air date though.

    ReplyDelete
  21. 8/7/93 is the air date. It's the JWP vs. AJW Thunderqueen Battle from 7/31/93.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Excellent. Thanks for the info.

    ReplyDelete
  23. 5/9 Knoxville, TN (SMW Volunteer Slam II - 1,100):

    Robert Gibson b Tazmaniac 1/2*

    Killer Kyle b Robert Fuller-DQ 1/4*

    Brian Lee b Stan Lane 1/2*

    Kevin Sullivan b Jimmy Golden **1/4

    Tom Prichard b Ricky Morton 1/2*

    Coward waves the flag match for SMW title:

    Tracy Smothers b Dirty White Boy-DQ ***

    Rage in a cage War Games rules:
    Rock & Roll Express & Fuller & Golden & Lee b Lane & Prichard & Kyle & Tazmaniac & Sullivan *****

    Wrestling Observer Newsletter - 05-17-93
    ------------------------------------------

    i looking for ecw star ratings non-ppv shows

    ReplyDelete
  24. Will, the 95-96 Awards issues are rated by Meltzer, with comments:

    - Manami Toyota & Sakie Hasegawa vs Double Inoues (8/30/95). Meltzer rated it 5 stars and called the show itself "perhaps the best single card of the year".
    - Manami Toyota vs Akira Hokuto (9/2/95). ***** "in a battle of perhaps the two greatest women wrestlers of all-time"
    - Rey Misterio Jr vs Psicosis (9/22/95). "Perhaps the match of the year"
    - Rey Misterio Jr vs Juventud Guerrera (3/9/96). Meltzer says it "may have been the best match in the United States in 1996"
    - Hamada, Delfin, Tiger Mask, Naniwa, & Yakushiji vs. Teioh, Togo, Funaki, TAKA, & Shiryu (10/10/96). "...in one of the best matches of the year..."

    ReplyDelete
  25. Another one is Misawa & Kawada vs Tsuruta & Taue from 9/30/90. The August 21, 1991 issue stated when referring to the 9/4/91 match that "magazines in hyping the match continually bring up the 45 minute draw these two teams had at the Baba anniversary show last September (a five star match) and the match they had in the semifinals of the tag team tournament in December (4 1/2 stars)."

    ReplyDelete
  26. 12/9/10 Anonymous post:

    Thanks a ton for the info!

    ReplyDelete
  27. wil u have some star ratings of ecw shows??

    ReplyDelete
  28. I've recently got some issues from around the mid-90s. Probably 30-40 issue total so it's going to take me a while to get through them all. I know there's going to be at least a few ratings in there. So far I have found the full ratings for The Night The Line Was Crossed show (or what I believe is the full show) from 2/5/94. Ratings as follows:

    911 vs. Chad Austin DUD
    Mr. Hughes vs. Sal Bellomo DUD
    Sandman & Tommy Cairo vs. Pit Bull Spike & Rockin Rebel (Dog Collar Match) ***
    Public Enemy vs. The Bruise Brothers (Falls Count Anywhere Match) ****1/4
    Jimmy Snuka vs. Tommy Dreamer *3/4
    The Sheik & Pat Tanaka vs. Kevin Sullivan & The Tazmaniac ***1/4
    JT Smith vs. Mike Awesome **1/4
    Terry Funk vs. Sabu vs. Shane Douglas ****1/2

    ReplyDelete
  29. oh thanks and yes is the full show

    which is the date from that WON??

    ReplyDelete
  30. It's the 1/16/95 issue. It's included in a year end history portion of the newsletter.

    ReplyDelete
  31. No problem. I'm getting together the main show ratings (and holy crap did WCW ever have some BAD shows in 1995) in a document on my comp and will hopefully post them periodically on here. I'm trying to get through a couple of issues a week.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Witch of the Flair / Steamboat from 3/18/89 was the 5.5 to 6 stars? Because I got two different videos but non of them indicates the place/ venue, so I don't know witch of the 2 matches of that day I'm watching.

    ReplyDelete
  33. 4/3/89 Observer:

    3/18 Landover, MD - Capital Centre

    "Steamboat pinned Flair in 32 minutes of a match which blew the top off the five star scale. This match was significantly better than their Chicago match and deserved something like 5½ to 6 stars as a fair grade. Those in the know were amazed at how good this match was, particularly when they realized they had another match later that night in Philadelphia (which wasn't as good, but was still a fantastic match)"

    3/27/89 Observer:

    3/18 Philadelphia, PA - Civic Center

    "Steamboat pinned Flair in just over 30 minutes with the same finish they are doing everywhere--Flair gets the pin using the ropes, Luger tells the ref what happens, Windham comes out, they start brawling and Steamboat gets a quick pin ****¾"

    ReplyDelete
  34. Are these ratings by Meltzer? In a lot of those older issues, there's ratings of non-TV matches based on live reports, not his actual viewings of the match?

    ReplyDelete
  35. [IMG]http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz105/wwxwce/IMG_0008.jpg[/IMG]

    [IMG]http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz105/wwxwce/IMG_0006.jpg[/IMG]

    a guy upload issues of 1984 to 1991

    ReplyDelete
  36. 2/25/91 Observer about 1/4/91 Bull Nakano vs Akira Hokuto match: "I will be surprised if there is a better match on television anywhere in the world in 1991. *****"

    ReplyDelete
  37. 9/8/92 Observer (the one where Dave goes to a lot of Tokyo house shows) gives the 8/15/92 Toyota v. Yamada hair vs hair match *****.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I recently watch the 2/24/91 war games match, and don't k now why meltzer gave it 5 star, it was almost horrible, I mean good but far from a 5-star rating in fact 4 stars will be too much for that match. In my view ***1/2 and that's comparing to that time standards, by today standards it will be less.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, that match is way overrated. **** at best, probably ***1/2 by today's standards.

      Delete
  39. ***1/2 for "almost horrible" eh?

    That match has received fair criticism for Sid & Rick Steiner audibly calling spots, the reckless powerbomb on Pillman and for Sid generally sucking throughout the match.

    Despite those flaws, it's among the top three Wargames that I've seen. It was hate-filled, violent, bloody and had TONS of heat. This had the best opening 5 min period and perhaps the most memorable finish in Wargames history.

    Regarding the match being less by today's standards, if anything, were this match to occur in 2011, it would have support for MOTY in some circles. It probably isn't something the majority of Observer subscribers would vote for because it's not a "workrate" match, as that award would likely be bestowed on some poorly structured Davey Richards match that features a mind numbing amount of spots and false finishes, lots of "fighting spirit" and awful selling, but I digress.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Nov. 23 1992

    Texas death match: Terry Funk b Eddie Gilbert when Gilbert failed to answer bell for 12th fall 26:58 *****

    ReplyDelete
  41. JAPANESE TELEVISION RUNDOWN
    8/18 ALL JAPAN

    Hansen pinned Kobashi in 23:00 with a
    lariat while Kobashi was on the top rope. This was the match everyone was raving about. For psychology
    and brutality, it's as good as they come. Some matches are faster paced and have more hot moves.
    Kobashi dominated the first eight minutes until he missed a tackle and got caught with such a stiff boot
    that his eye swelled up immediately and was shut by the end of the match. Hansen gave him a splash
    from the apron to the floor, a power bomb on the floor, an elbow drop off the apron onto the floor.
    Kobashi's entire face was a mass of welts by this point. Kobashi made a comeback and kept getting near
    falls until Hansen got the lariat for the win. *****

    ReplyDelete
  42. I fully back Lariat's comments on the War Games 1991 match. I saw the match when it occured and, put in context of the time, it was nothing under ****1/2.

    "Texas death match: Terry Funk b Eddie Gilbert when Gilbert failed to answer bell for 12th fall 26:58 *****"

    Are you sure this is a rating from Meltzer? There's a lot of star ratings in older issues which are just the star ratings sent in from live reports of the show, just Meltzer himself. If that's literally how it reads in the Observer (no details on the match or anything), I doubt it's from Meltzer himself.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Some more ECW ratings for whoever asked:

    November to Remember 1996
    Stevie Richards vs. David Tyler Moore *1/4
    Axl Rotten vs. Hack Myers 1/4*
    Buh Buh Ray Dudley vs. D-Von Dudley 1/2*
    The Eliminators vs. Sabu & Rob Van Dam ***
    Chris Candido vs. Mikey Whipwreck **3/4
    The Gangstas vs. Sabu & Rob Van Dam vs. The Eliminators ***1/4
    Too Cold Scorpio vs. Devon Storm, J.T. Smith, Hack Myers & Louie Spicolli (all singles matches in a row) NR
    The Sandman vs. Raven -* (that's NEGATIVE one star)
    Terry Funk & Tommy Dreamer vs. Shane Douglas & Brian Lee ****

    Ratings are from the 11/25/96 issue.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Undertaker and Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 25 was 5 stars, not 4 3/4, but 5 stars its a disgrace that it wasnt given it, that match was considerably better then their hell in a cell which got 5 stars, so the lack of a 5 star rating has diminished the rating system somewhat....

    ReplyDelete
  45. ~DISCLAIMER~!:

    The opinions expressed by Dave Meltzer are not necessarily shared by the entire Internet Wresting Community.

    ReplyDelete
  46. "Undertaker and Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 25 was 5 stars, not 4 3/4, but 5 stars its a disgrace that it wasnt given it, that match was considerably better then their hell in a cell which got 5 stars, so the lack of a 5 star rating has diminished the rating system somewhat..."

    What was a five star match in 1998 wouldn't necessarily be in 2010 though. That's the main problem with using ratings from a decade earlier to justify or argue against ratings made today. There's plenty of matches from years past that would likely have lower (sometimes radically lower) ratings today.

    ReplyDelete
  47. that lariat guy is a joke
    doesn't have a clue what he's talking about

    ReplyDelete
  48. I sincerely hope that I won't be disparaged by any other cowardly anonymous trolls :-)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Toyota/Yamada vs Kansai/Ozaki from 11/26/92 isn't listed as 5 stars, but Meltzer gave the full version of the 12/6/93 match 5 stars...and included on the 1/10/94 Observer that it "wasn't as good as the two previous matches the teams have had, but they were both 2/3 falls and went in excess of 30:00 and were worked a lot stiffer with more high-risk moves and were two of the best matches ever."

    So I would think the 11/26/92 match is 5 stars.

    ReplyDelete
  50. A couple matches I was wondering about:

    Summerslam '92 Bret Hart vs. Davey Smith. This is my favourite match of all time, in any organization.

    Also the Iron Man match from WM 12. For WWE it doesn't get any better than that.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Anyone know what the runner ups and/or honorable mentions were for best match from 2000 and 2001?

    ReplyDelete
  52. 8/29/92 Davey Boy Smith vs. Bret Hart ****1/4
    3/31/96 Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart (Iron Man) ****1/4

    http://indeedwrestling.blogspot.com/2007/03/wrestling-observer-moty-runner-ups.html

    The full list of MOTY & Runner-Ups for 2000 & 2001 are located near the bottom of this page:

    http://starratingslist.blogspot.com/2009/09/wwe-observer-star-ratings-1986-present.html?commentPage=2

    ReplyDelete
  53. When will the WM27 ratings be posted?

    ReplyDelete
  54. Can somebody update this to an actual and define 5-stars list?

    ReplyDelete
  55. There's a new match to be added to this list after today's Observer came out...

    ReplyDelete
  56. Punk vs Cena MITB was given 5 stars.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Why haven't the other confirmed 5 star matches listed in the comments section here been added?

    ReplyDelete
  58. Wasn't Savage-Steamboat from Wrestlemania III 5 stars?

    ReplyDelete
  59. Savage vs. Steamboat was given ****1/2.

    Dave Meltzer had a bias against the WWF during the 1980's and basically underrated everything. The fact that he didn't even rate the Sgt. Slaughter vs. Iron Sheik Boot Camp match from 6/16/84 is a pretty good indication of that (which absolutely smokes Cena vs. Punk and is easily among the top WWE matches ever).

    2/15/87 Savage vs. Steamboat (Toronto) ***3/4? That match isn't far off their WM match in terms of quality and is easily among the top 30 matches in company history IMO.

    There were several programs that come to mind that featured numerous great matches during the mid to late 80's in the WWF that he didn't even bother to rate:

    Sgt. Slaughter vs. Iron Sheik
    Tito Santana vs. Greg Valentine
    Randy Savage vs. Tito Santana
    Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase

    It wasn't until the early 90's that Meltzer began rating anything in the WWF above **** when Vince began pushing Michaels and Bret as top guys.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I may come off as ignorant but the Michaels/Undertaker from HITC is not deserving of 5 stars. With that idiotic finish with Kane, I would knock it down to ****1/2. Still a fantastic match and we all have our opinions. But I don't see how a screw job, especially of the idiotic proportions of that one, can make this a perfect match.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was given 5 stars because at the time it revolutionized wrestling in the United States. Nobody had seen anything like it before. It set the standard for the time period. I think it's more disappointing that Taker/Mankind was only given 4.5 given its standing in wrestling history.

      Delete
  61. the Wrestlemania 20 triple-threat deserves *****

    ReplyDelete
  62. This list deserves an update.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Didn't you used to have sections for New Japan and All Japan? I swore I saw them years ago. Anyway thanks for posting the ratings.

    ReplyDelete
  64. http://puroratings.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  65. "as that award would likely be bestowed on some poorly structured Davey Richards match that features a mind numbing amount of spots and false finishes, lots of "fighting spirit" and awful selling, but I digress."

    So I'm guessing you dont like Manami Toyota?

    ReplyDelete
  66. From the 11/27/89 Observer: "Saw Jushin Liger vs Naoki Sano from 9/21 in Osaka and easy five star. Reminded me of the old Tiger Mask vs Kobayashi bouts in 1985. Best of the three."

    ReplyDelete
  67. Toyota has been in some of the greatest women's matches ever. Her best work smokes anything Davey Richards has been involved in. I've heard people criticize Toyota for her lack of selling and psychology, although I don't see how it's anywhere near the level of shit that Richards does. Toyota is probably more comparable to Kurt Angle.

    Maybe somebody will try comparing Richards to Kenta Kobashi, since Richards tries to work King's Road style anyway, although I think it would be even more preposterous.

    ReplyDelete
  68. 12/17/90 Observer stated that the ***** AJPW six-man from 10/19/90 was technically better than anything that year except for Liger vs Sano "which was in another league." Liger vs Sano hadn't been rated, but with that kind of praise, saying it's better than a match given *****, I'd say Liger vs Sano from 1/31/90 is *****.

    ReplyDelete
  69. There are a lot of Metlzer's 5 star matches I don't agree with it. I didn't think the Shawn-Razor matches were 5 stars. I didn't think some of Flair's matches were 5 stars. I didn't think the Shawn-Taker HIC was 5. I definitely didn't think the Kobashi-Joe chop fest was 5. I also didn't think the Gringo Loco-Santo/Octagon match was 5 as they botched too many moves. Then there's a bunch of 43/4 stars that I think have a strong case for being 5. I mean, the Benoit-Angle Rumble match was better than Sasuke-Benoit (which got 5). Also, Bret-Owen at Mania was better than the Shawn-Razor match. I don't know. He's overall very good at rating matches but I've noticed I have a lot of issues with how he rates 5 stars.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Which Flair matches did you feel were undeserving of 5 stars?

    Which matches besides Bret/Owen and Benoit/Angle do you think were deserving of 5 stars?

    ReplyDelete
  71. I love how people argue star ratings when these are STRICTLY SUBJECTIVE. I saw Meltzer rate Kobashi's tag match with Mutoh this year *1/2 when I thought it was ****+. If anything, I do find star ratings helpful when it comes to finding great matches, even if I would rate a certain match a fraction of a star lower/higher (and sometimes more, as noted with the mentioned Kobashi/Mutoh vs Yano/Iizuka tag from 8/27/11).

    ReplyDelete
  72. "I mean, the Benoit-Angle Rumble match was better than Sasuke-Benoit (which got 5)."

    Regardless of "unfair" it may seem to some, expectations evolve over time and that results in matches we think are "better" today being rated lower than matches in the past.

    ReplyDelete
  73. I went and compiled them:

    All Japan Pro Wrestling
    * 12/08/84 Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody vs. Dory Funk & Terry Funk
    * 03/09/85 Tiger Mask II vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi
    * 01/28/86 Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu vs. Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Yatsu
    * 12/16/88 Genichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy (All Japan RWTL)
    * 01/28/89 Genichrio Tenryu, Toshiaki Kawada & Samson Fuyuki vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Yoshiaki Yatsu/Masanobu Fuchi (JIP)
    * 06/06/89 Jumbo Tsuruta vs Genichiro Tenryu
    * 06/08/90 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
    * 09/30/90 Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada
    * 10/19/90 Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu
    Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi
    * 05/22/92 Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu
    Misawa & Kenta Kobashi & Toshiaki Kawada
    * 05/25/92 Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas vs. Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi
    Kikuchi
    * 04/14/93 Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi
    * 07/02/93 Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Mitsuharu
    Misawa & Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama
    * 07/29/93 Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi
    * 08/31/93 Steve Williams vs. Kenta Kobashi
    * 12/03/93 Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta
    Kobashi
    * 02/13/94 Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, & Giant Baba vs. Masanobu
    Fuchi, Toshiaki Kawada, & Akira Taue
    * 05/21/94 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira
    Taue
    * 06/03/94 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada
    * 01/19/95 Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada
    * 01/24/95 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira
    Taue
    * 03/04/95 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Steve Williams & Johnny
    Ace
    * 04/15/95 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue
    * 06/09/95 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira
    Taue
    * 05/23/96 Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira
    Taue
    * 06/07/96 Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams & Johnny
    Ace
    * 12/06/96 Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun
    Akiyama
    * 06/06/97 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada
    * 10/31/98 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi
    * 6/11/99 Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi
    * 10/23/99 Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari
    Ogawa
    * 04/20/91 Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo
    Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi
    * 07/05/92 Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Kenta Kobashi &
    Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
    * 06/30/95 Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi & Satoru Asako vs. Toshiaki
    Kawada & Akira Taue & Tamon Honda
    * 12/05/97 Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun
    Akiyama

    All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
    * 08/22/85 Lioness Asuka vs. Jaguar Yokota
    * 02/26/87 Chigusa Nagayo vs. Lioness Asuka
    * 12/06/87 Lioness Asuka/Mika Komatsu/Kazue Nagahori/Mitsuko Nishiwaki/Etsuko Mita/Sachiko Nakamura vs. Chigusa Nagayo/Yumiko Hotta/Mika Takahashi/Mika Suzuki/Yachiyo Hirata/Yumi Ogura
    * 01/04/91 Bull Nakano vs Akira Hokuto
    * 05/18/92 Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue
    * 08/15/92 Manami Toyota vs. Toshiyo Yamada
    * 04/02/93 Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori
    * 04/02/93 Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue vs. Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki
    * 04/11/93 Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki vs. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada
    * 12/06/93 Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki
    * 08/24/94 Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue
    * 11/20/94 Aja Kong vs. Manami Toyota
    * 05/07/95 Manami Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue
    * 08/30/95 Manami Toyota & Sakie Hasegawa vs Double Inoues
    * 09/02/95 Manami Toyota vs Akira Hokuto

    Asistencia Asesorà a y Administración (AAA)
    * 01/29/93 Rey Misterio Jr, Winners and Super Calo vs Psicosis, Heavy Metal and El Picudo
    * 11/06/94 Los Gringos Locos vs. El Hijo del Santo & Octagon AAA When
    Worlds Collide; (hair vs. masks)

    ReplyDelete
  74. Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW)
    * 9/22/95 Rey Misterio Jr vs Psicosis

    Michinoku Pro Wrestling
    * 10/10/96 Gran Hamada, Super Delfin, Tiger Mask, Gran Naniwa, & Masato Yakushiji vs. Dick Togo, MEN’s Teioh, Shiryu, TAKA Michinoku & Sho Funaki

    New Japan Pro Wrestling
    * 04/23/83 Tiger Mask I vs. The Dynamite Kid for the NWA Junior
    Heavyweight Title
    * 03/20/87 Shiro Koshinaka & Keiji Mutoh vs. Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada
    * 09/21/89 Naoki Sano vs Jushin Liger
    * 01/31/90 Naoki Sano vs Jushin Liger (unrated but “in another league” from AJPW’s ***** 10/19/90)
    * 04/30/92 Jushin Thunder Liger vs. El Samurai (Best of The Super Jr. Final)
    * 04/16/94 "Wild Pegasus" Chris Benoit vs. Great Sasuke (Super J Cup
    '94)
    * 07/08/94 Jushin Liger vs. Great Sasuke
    * 06/05/97 El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto (Best of the Super Jr. IV)

    National Wrestling Alliance/World Championship Wrestling (NWA/WCW)
    * 2/14/86 Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (NWA Battle of the Belts 2)
    * 4/19/86 Sheepherders vs. Fantastics (Bobby Fulton/Tommy Rogers)
    * 1/20/87 Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (NWA World)
    * 4/11/87 Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham
    * 2/20/89 Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair (NWA Chi-Town Rumble)
    * 3/18/89 - Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (“5 ½ to 6 stars”)
    * 4/2/89 Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair (2/3 falls, NWA Clash of the
    Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun)
    * 5/7/89 Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (NWA WrestleWar '89: Music City
    Showdown)
    * 11/15/89 Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk ("I Quit" Match, NWA Clash of the
    Champions IX: New York Knockout)
    * 2/24/91 Ric Flair, Larry Zbyszko, Barry Windham, & Sid Vicious vs.
    Sting, Brian Pillman, Rick Steiner, & Scott Steiner (WarGames Match, WCW
    WrestleWar 1991)
    * 5/17/92 Sting, Nikita Koloff, Ricky Steamboat, Barry Windham, &
    Dustin Rhodes vs. Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, &
    Larry Zbyszko (WarGames Match, WCW WrestleWar 1992)

    Japan Women's Pro Wrestling
    * 04/18/93 Bull Nakano vs Devil Masami
    * 07/31/93 Dynami Kansai & Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki & Hikari Fukuoka
    vs. Aja Kong & Sakie Hasegawa & Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue

    Pro Wrestling NOAH
    * 3/1/03 Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa
    * 7/10/04 Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama

    Ring of Honor
    * 10/16/04 Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk (ROH Joe vs Punk 2)
    * 10/1/05 Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi (ROH Joe vs Kobashi)
    * 3/31/06 Dragon Kid & Genki Horiguchi & Ryo Saito vs. CIMA & Naruki
    Doi & Masato Yoshino (ROH Supercard Of Honor)

    Smokey Mountain Wrestling
    * 5/9/93 Rock & Roll Express, Fuller, Golden & Lee vs. Lane, Prichard, Kyle, Tazmaniac & Sullivan (War Games Rules)

    Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)
    * 9/11/05 AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels (TNA
    Unbreakable 2005)

    Universal Wrestling Federation
    * 12/05/84 Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Nobuhiko Takada

    World Wrestling Association
    * 11/14/92 Terry Funk vs Eddie Gilbert (Texas Death Match)
    * 09/22/95 Rey Mysterio Jr vs Psicosis

    World Wrestling Federation/World Wresting Entertainment (WWF/WWE)
    * 3/20/94 Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (Ladder Match, WrestleMania X)
    WWF Intercontinental Championship
    * 8/29/94 Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (Cage Match, SummerSlam 1994) WWF
    Championship
    * 3/23/97 Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (Submission Match, WrestleMania
    13)
    * 10/5/97 Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker (Hell in a Cell Match, In Your
    House: Bad Blood) WWF Championship
    * 7/17/11 John Cena vs. CM Punk (Money in the Bank) WWE Championship

    ReplyDelete
  75. Also the AJPW 91 Six Man

    ReplyDelete
  76. "I mean, the Benoit-Angle Rumble match was better than Sasuke-Benoit (which got 5)."

    Sasuke-Benoit was easily the better match.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Matter of opinion and what style of wrestling you prefer, it's not 'easily' anything. Two completely different styles, so it's a matter of preference.

      Delete
    2. I love puroresu and i think Sasuke-Pegasus should have been rated 4.75, not 5 stars

      Delete
  77. 1994 MOTY results always struck me as being odd.

    http://indeedwrestling.blogspot.com/2007/03/wrestling-observer-moty-runner-ups.html

    I voted for Misawa vs. Kawada in the WON that year. Best singles match ever IMO.

    Always felt Sasuke vs. Benoit was overrated. Enjoyed Liger vs. Sasuke more.

    Never understood what people saw in Funk vs. Douglas vs. Sabu.

    Flair vs. Vader was dramatic, but some of the work was pretty sloppy. I wouldn't say that it was complete shit like others have, but it hasn't aged well.

    -Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue 5/21
    -Kong vs. Toyota 11/20
    -Williams vs. Kobashi 9/3

    All three were vastly superior to Flair/Vader and the ECW match.

    -Bret vs. Owen 8/29 Cage Match

    Some readers hated this at the time because it didn't have any blood and there were numerous escape attempts. I enjoyed it. Haven't watched it in years though.

    Bret vs. Owen 3/20 finishing with the fewest votes was pretty bizarre.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Another 5 star match:

    12/19/94 Observer said that the AJW 2/3 Falls Double Inoues vs Toyota/Yamada from 10/9/94 "that went about 40:00 was *****, one of the best womens matches of the year."

    ReplyDelete
  79. "Anyway, here is a list of all matches since December 1, 1991 that were rated 4 1/2 stars or better either in the Observer, Japanese Wrestling Journal or from videotapes Muse has seen:

    Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman 12/27/91 Meadowlands ****1/2

    Liger vs. Pillman 12/28/91 Baltimore ****1/2

    Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Yoshinari Ogawa
    1/10 Kumamoto ****1/2

    Misawa & Kawada & Kobashi vs. Tsuruta & Taue & Masa Fuchi 1/24 Tokyo ****1/2

    Bestia Salvaje vs. Huracan Sevilla 2/14 Mexico City ****1/2

    Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas 2/22 Tokyo ****1/2

    Liger vs. Pillman 2/29 Milwaukee ****3/4

    Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Suzuka Minami & Yumiko Hotta 3/7 Yokosuka *****

    Toyota & Yamada vs. Aja Kong & Bison Kimura 3/20 Tokyo ****1/2

    Toyota vs. Kyoko Inoue 4/25 Yokohama *****

    Liger vs. Samurai 4/30 Tokyo *****

    Big Van Vader & Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Hiroshi Hase & Keiji Muto 5/1 Chiba ****1/2

    Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto & El Hijo Del Santo vs. Negro Casas & Horace Boulder & Tim Patterson 5/16
    Los Angeles *****

    Sting & Nikita Koloff & Dustin Rhodes & Barry Windham & Rick Steamboat vs. Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko & Rick Rude & Steve Austin &
    Bobby Eaton War Games 5/17 Jacksonville *****

    Tsuruta & Taue & Fuchi vs. Misawa & Kawada & Kobashi 5/22 Sapporo *****

    Steamboat vs. Rude cage match 5/30 Baltimore ****1/2

    Mickey Doyle vs. Punisher Rock Stevens 5/30 Fraser, MI ****3/4"

    WON June 8, 1992

    ReplyDelete
  80. "The Fantastics (Bobby & Jackie Fulton) won the SMW tag team titles beating The Heavenly Bodies in a barbed wire cage match the same night in which three different correspondents all rated as five stars."

    WON September 1, 1992

    "Prichard pinned Gibson after kicking him with his loaded boot in 9:43 for the third title switch in three days. For those of you who have seen the "Fire on the Mountain" tape of the Bodies vs. Fantastics in a street fight, which is one of the five best matches I've seen in this country this year, this was just a tad below it, but definitely a must-see item. ****1/2."

    WON December 7, 1992

    ReplyDelete
  81. Why is it that everyone rates the Akiro Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori from Dream Slam I as a 5 stars when Dave clearly gave it 4.75 on the 5/31/93 obsever? Can anybody check on that??

    ReplyDelete
  82. Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori was indeed given ****3/4 in the 5/31/93 issue. However, in 1993 WON awards issue (1/17/94), there is a recap of the biggest shows of the year with results and star ratings:

    ALL JAPAN WOMEN DREAM SLAM I - APRIL 2
    Site: Yokohama Arena
    Live attendance: 16,500 sellout (all-time Japanese womens record) Live gate: Est. $1.2 million (all-time world womens record)

    1. Plum Mariko & Hikari Fukuoka b Sakie Hasegawa & Kaoru Ito 16:31 ****1/4; 2. Yoshika Maedomari &
    Eriko Tsuchiya b Terri Power (Terri Polk) & Saemi Numata 7:42 *; 3. Kaoru (Kaoru Maeda) & Ultima Tigrita
    (Esther Moreno) b Tomoko Watanabe & Mima Shimoda 14:41 ***3/4; 4. Rumi Kazama & Miki Handa b Suzuka Minami (Mika Suzuki) & Etsuko Mita 22:27 ***1/2; 5. WWWA martial arts title: Bat Yoshinaga (Eriko Yoshinaga) b Susan Howard; 6. Devil Masami (Tenjin Masami) b Chigusa Nagayo 17:28 ***3/4; 7. Kyoko Inoue & Takako Inoue b Cutie Suzuki (Yumi Suzuki) & Mayumi Ozaki 16:44 *****; 8. Bull Nakano (Keiko Nakano) & Aja Kong (Erica Shishedo) b Eagle Sawai (Tomoko Sawai) & Harley Saito (Sayori Saito) 14:08 ****; 9. Dynamite Kansai (?) b Yumiko Hotta 16:42 ***3/4; 10. Akira Hokuto (Hisako Uno) b Shinobu Kandori 30:27 *****; 11. WWWA tag title: Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada (Toshinori Yamada) b Megumi Kudo & Combat Toyota 28:14 ****

    ReplyDelete
  83. WM28 ratings? Taker vs. Triple H, Naito vs. Okada, Elgin vs. Richards - did any of these matches recieve 5 stars??? Anyone still subscribed to the Observer Newsletter???

    ReplyDelete
  84. WM28 should be out tonight, but Meltzer gave Naito vs Okada ****3/4, and stated on the Observer Radio that Richards vs Elgin was *****.

    ReplyDelete
  85. What rating did he give the Atlantis vs. Villano III from CMLL in 2000?

    ReplyDelete
  86. Richards/Elgin receives 5 stars.

    ReplyDelete
  87. I know no one is asking my opinion, but I just wanted to share what matches I think I five star worthy (from the promotions I watch).

    WWE/WWF (chronological order):

    1. Shawn Michaels/Razor Ramon (Wrestlemania X)
    2. Bret Hart/Steve Austin (Wrestlemania 13)
    3. Shawn Michaels/Undertaker (In Your House: Bad Blood 1997)
    4. Shawn Michaels/Undertaker (Wrestlemania XXV)
    5. Shawn Michaels/Undertaker (Wrestlemania XXVI)
    6.John Cena/CM Punk (Money in the Bank 2011)
    7. Undertaker/Triple H (Wrestlemania XXVIII)


    And for RoH they'd be:

    1. Samoa Joe/Kenta Kobashi
    2. Do Fixer vs. Blood Generation

    I also enjoyed the Punk/Joe matches, but not quite five stars in my opinion.

    And finally, Pro-Wrestling Noah:

    1. Kenta Kobashi/ Mistuhara Misawa
    2. Kenta Kobashi/Jun Akiyama

    Yeah, the same two Meltzer gave five stars. Unfortunately I can't watch Noah nearly as much as I'd like, and have to rely on recommendations to track down...

    And yeah, so those are my five star matches. I really should go back and watch some AWA and NWA (not to mention the other Japanese promotions). I've never really watched WCW or ECW that much though, and I just can't stand TNA...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Replying to my previous comment to throw in the Mitsuhara Misawa/Kenta Kobshi classics from AJPW in 1998 and 1999 under my list of five-star matches.

      Also, I watched Joe/Punk 2 again, and I have to ask...does anyone else think this match is overrated? I mean, its certainly a great match, but I don't think it's ***** worthy. Especially considering it was the first US match to get the rating after a seven-year absence. Am I the only one who think Taker/Michaels 1 and 2 were more deserving of *****? I can name a few other matches as well that I think trump Joe/Punk 2.

      Delete
  88. This list is missing the Toyota/Inoue match from May 7, 1995

    ReplyDelete
  89. Is there anywhere that lists 5 star matches as selected by Wade Keller and James Caldwell? I know Meltzer is supposed to be the best at this stuff, but I'd like to know the professional opinions of other critics as well.

    ReplyDelete
  90. I second that: Lists of Keller & Caldwell ***** matches would be most interesting just for comparison. I would also love to see a list of the matches that Bryan Alvarez gave the full boat, since he seems to be even more picky than Meltzer.

    ReplyDelete
  91. question, even though Im sure im an idiot for asking but when something is rated DUD..meaning that the whole match was a DUD and didnt need a rating cause of how blah it was correct?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah that's a DUD. But it gets confusing since he also dubiously awards "negative star ratings" (though I think only negative whole numbers, but I'm not sure).

      So I don't know what's worse between a DUD and negative-five star....

      Delete
    2. Negative five star would be worse.

      -*****
      -****
      -***
      -**
      -*
      DUD
      *
      **
      etc

      Delete
  92. I know Dave watches a lot of lucha, does anyone have any of his ratings for it? I'm particularly interested in CMLL circa 1996-97.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Does anyone else think the Bret/Shawn Iron Man Match and Bret/Bulldog SummerSlam matches deserve more than 4 1/4 stars?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would personally say Bret/Michaels Iron Man would be 4 1/2. It really picks up later, but it starts a bit basic (with that said, "basic" for Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels is considerably better than most wrestlers' A-game). I also think it was an odd choice for WWE/F's first Iron Man match to not have a single fall by the time the clock ran out. It's a great and interesting finish, don't get me wrong, but when people were seeing the "first" Iron Man match, I think it would have been better to tie both men with one or two pinfalls apiece (the live audience really would have benefitted. Watch the match again, the live crowd doesn't know how to react to the lack of pinfalls).

      A great match for the most part, and I would rate it better than Meltzer, but I wouldn't bump it to the prestigious 4 3/4 or 5-star ranks.

      Delete
    2. I love both Hart's and Michaels' work. With that said, although this was a good match, I wouldn't give it near five stars. About fifteen minutes in I knew they were going to go the time limit without a fall.

      Delete
  94. Punk Bryan over the limit

    ReplyDelete
  95. Punk vs Bryan (Over the Limit 2012) ****1/2

    ReplyDelete
  96. Is that his official rating or just speculation? Where are Meltzer's ratings for Extreme Rules and Over the Limit anyway?

    ReplyDelete
  97. "I know Dave watches a lot of lucha, does anyone have any of his ratings for it? I'm particularly interested in CMLL circa 1996-97."

    I don't think he's rated anything from that era, which is a shame because it would have done a lot to turn people onto the style.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Here is a list of Wade Keller WWE PPV matches over 4 stars (he started star rating in 1990)

    WRESTLEMANIA VI - Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior - 4.25

    ROYAL RUMBLE 1991 – The Rockers vs. The Orient Express - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA VII – Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage (Retirement Match) - 4
    SUMMERSLAM 1991 – Mr. Perfect vs. Bret Hart - 4.25

    ROYAL RUMBLE 1992 – Royal Rumble Match - 4.75
    SUMMERSLAM 1992 – Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior - 4
    SUMMERSLAM 1992 – British Bulldog vs. Bret Hart - 4

    ReplyDelete
  99. KING OF THE RING 1993 - Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect - 4.5
    KING OF THE RING 1993 – Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Bret Hart - 4

    WRESTLEMANIA X - Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart - 4.25
    WRESTLEMANIA X – Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (Ladder Match) - 5

    IN YOUR HOUSE 2 – Jeff Jarrett vs. Shawn Michaels - 4.25
    IN YOUR HOUSE 3 – Bret Hart vs. Jean Pierre Lafitte - 4
    SURVIVOR SERIES 1995 – Shawn Michaels Team vs. Yokozuna’s Team (Elimination Match) - 4
    IN YOUR HOUSE 5 – Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog – 4

    IN YOUR HOUSE 6 – Shawn Michaels vs. Owen Hart - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA XII – Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (Iron Man Match) - 4.25
    IYH 7: GOOD FRIENDS, BETTER ENEMIES - Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels (No Holds Barred) - 4.75
    IYH 8: BEWARE OF DOG – Steve Austin vs. Savio Vega (Strap Match) - 4
    KING OF THE RING 1996 - Steve Austin vs. Marc Mero - 4
    KING OF THE RING 1996 – Shawn Michaels vs. British Bulldog - 4.75
    SUMMERSLAM 1996 – Shawn Michaels vs. Vader - 4
    IYH 10: MIND GAMES – Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind - 4.25
    SURVIVOR SERIES 1996 – Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin - 4.5

    IYH 13: FINAL FOUR – Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin vs. Undetaker vs. Vader - 4.5
    WRESTLEMANIA 13 – Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart (Submission) - 4.75
    IYH 14: REVENGE OF THE TAKER - Undertaker vs. Mankind - 4
    IYH 16: CANADIAN STAMPEDE – Hart Foundation vs. Austin, Shamrock, Goldust & LOD - 4
    IYH 17: GROUND ZERO - Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker - 4.25
    IYH 18: BADD BLOOD – Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker (Hell In A Cell) - 4.75




    ReplyDelete
  100. IYH 22: OVER THE EDGE - Steve Austin vs. Dude Love (Falls Count Anywhere) - 4.25
    KING OF THE RING 1998 - Undertaker vs. Mankind (Hell In A Cell) - 4.5
    SUMMERSLAM 1998 – The Rock vs. Triple H (Ladder Match) - 4
    SUMMERSLAM 1998 – Steve Austin vs. Undertaker - 4

    IYH 27: ST. VALENTINES DAY - The Rock vs. Mankind (Last Man Standing) - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA XV – Steve Austin vs. The Rock (No DQ) - 4
    IYH 28: BACKLASH 1999 – Steve Austin vs. The Rock (No DQ) - 4.5
    FULLY LOADED 1999 – Steve Austin vs. Undertaker (First Blood)- 4
    NO MERCY 1999 - Edge/Christian vs. Hardy Boyz (Ladder Match)- 4
    NO MERCY 1999 - Triple H vs. Steve Austin (Anything Goes) - 4
    SURVIVOR SERIES 1999 – The Rock vs. Triple H vs. Big Show - 4

    ROYAL RUMBLE 2000 – Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (Street Fight)- 4
    NO WAY OUT 2000 – Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (Hell In A Cell) - 4.5
    WRESTLEMANIA 2000 – Dudley Boyz vs. Edge/Christian vs. Hardy Boyz (Ladder) - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA 2000 – Triple H vs. Mick Foley vs. The Rock vs. Big Show (Elimination) - 4
    BACKLASH 2000 - Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho - 4.25
    JUDGEMENT DAY 2000 – Triple H vs. The Rock (Iron Man) - 4.75
    FULLY LOADED 2000 – Triple H vs. Chris Jericho (Last Man Standing) - 4.5
    FULLY LOADED 2000 – The Rock vs. Chris Benoit - 4.25
    SUMMERSLAM 2000 - Dudley Boyz vs. Edge/Christian vs. Hardy Boyz (TLC) - 4.25
    SUMMERSLAM 2000 – Triple H vs. The Rock vs. Kurt Angle - 4
    UNFORGIVEN 2000 - Edge/Christian vs. Hardy Boyz (Steel Cage) - 4
    UNFORGIVEN 2000 – The Rock vs. Chris Benoit vs. Undertaker vs. Kane - 4
    NO MERCY 2000 - The Rock vs. Kurt Angle (No DQ) - 4.25
    ARMAGEDDON 2000 – Kurt Angle vs. Triple H vs. Steve Austin vs. Rikishi vs. Undertaker vs. The Rock (Hell in a Cell) – 4.25

    ROYAL RUMBLE 2001 – Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho (Ladder) - 4.5
    ROYAL RUMBLE 2001 - Royal Rumble Match - 4.25
    NO WAY OUT 2001 – Steve Austin vs. Triple H (3 Stages of Hell) - 4.75
    NO WAY OUT 2001 – Kurt Angle vs. The Rock - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA X-7 - Dudley Boyz vs. Edge/Christian vs. Hardy Boyz (TLC) - 4.25
    WRESTLEMANIA X-7 – The Rock vs. Steve Austin (No DQ) - 4.5
    KING OF THE RING 2001 - Shane McMahon vs. Kurt Angle (Street Fight) - 4.25
    KING OF THE RING 2001 – Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho vs. Steve Austin - 4
    INVASION 2001 - Jeff Hardy vs. Rob Van Dam (Hardcore Match) - 4
    SUMMERSLAM 2001 – Kurt Angle vs. Steve Austin - 4.5
    UNFORGIVEN 2001 – Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Jericho - 4
    UNFORGIVEN 2001 – Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle - 4
    NO MERCY 2001 - Chris Jericho vs. The Rock - 4.5
    VENGEANCE 2001 – The Rock vs. Chris Jericho - 4.5

    ReplyDelete
  101. ROYAL RUMBLE 2002 – Royal Rumble Match - 4.25
    NO WAY OUT 2002 – Triple H vs. Kurt Angle - 4
    NO WAY OUT 2002 – Chris Jericho vs. Steve Austin - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA X-8 – The Rock vs. Hollywood Hogan - 4
    SUMMERSLAM 2002 – Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (Street Fight) - 4.5
    UNFORGIVEN 2002 – Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit - 4.5
    ARMAGEDDON 2002 – Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit - 4
    ARMAGEDDON 2002 – Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (Three Stages of Hell) - 4

    ROYAL RUMBLE 2003 – Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit - 4.25
    WRESTLEMANIA XIX – Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho - 4.25
    WRESTLEMANIA XIX - The Rock vs. Steve Austin - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA XIX – Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar - 4.5
    VENGEANCE 2003 - Haas/Benjamin vs. Mysterio/Kidman - 4
    VENGEANCE 2003 – Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesner vs. Big Show - 4.25
    SUMMERSLAM 2003 – Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar - 4.5

    ROYAL RUMBLE 2004 – Royal Rumble Match - 4.25
    NO WAY OUT 2004 – Eddie Guerreo vs. Brock Lesner - 4.5
    WRESTLEMANIA XX – Eddie Guerreo vs. Kurt Angle - 4.25
    WRFESTLEMANIA XX – Triple H vs. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels - 5
    BACKLASH 2004 – Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley (Hardcore Match) - 4.5
    BACKLASH 2004 – Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels - 4.75
    BAD BLOOD 2004 – Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (Hell In A Cell) - 4.25
    VENGEANCE 2004 – Chris Benoit vs. Triple H - 4.25
    SUMMERSLAM 2004 – Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton - 4

    ReplyDelete
  102. NEW YEARS REVOLUTION 2005 – Batista vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Triple H (Elimination Chamber) - 4
    ROYAL RUMBLE 2005 – Royal Rumble Match - 4.75
    WRESTLEMANIA 21 – Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho vs. Christian vs. Edge vs. Kane vs. Shelton Benjamin (Money in the Bank) – 4.5
    WRESTLEMANIA 21 – Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels - 4.5
    JUDGEMENT DAY 2005 - Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio - 4
    JUDGEMENT DAY 2005 – John Cena vs. JBL (I Quit) - 4.25
    VENGEANCE 2005 – Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle - 4.5
    VENGEANCE 2005 - Batista vs. Triple H (Hell In A Cell) - 4.25
    SUMMERSLAM 2005 – Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerreo (Ladder Match) - 4.25
    SUMMERSLAM 2005 – Hulk Hogan vs. Shawn Michaels - 4.25
    UNFORGIVEN 2005 - Edge vs. Matt Hardy (Steel Cage) - 4
    TABOO TUESDAY 2005 – Kurt Angle vs. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels - 4
    SURVIVOR SERIES 2005 - Triple H vs. Ric Flair (Last Man Standing) - 4
    ARMAGEDDON 2005 – Chris Benoit vs. Booker T - 4

    NO WAY OUT 2006 – Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker - 4.5
    WRESTLEMANIA 22 – John Cena vs. Triple H - 4
    BACKLASH 2006 – John Cena vs. Edge vs. Triple H - 4
    UNFORGIVEN 2006 - DX vs. Vince/Shane/Show (Hell In A Cell) - 4.25
    UNFORGIVEN 2006 – John Cena vs. Edge (TLC) - 4.25
    ARMAGEDDON 2006 – Paul London/Brian Kendrick vs. William Regal/Dave Taylor vs. Hardy Boyz vs. MNM (Ladder Match) - 4.25

    ROYAL RUMBLE 2007 – Royal Rumble Match - 4.25
    WRESTLEMANIA 23 - Batista vs. Undertaker - 4
    WRESETLEMANIA 23 – John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels - 4
    BACKLASH 2007 - Undertaker vs. Batista (Last Man Standing)- 4
    BACKLASH 2007 – John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton - 4.5
    NO MERCY 2007 - Randy Orton vs. Triple H (Last Man Standing) - 4.25
    CYBER SUNDAY 2007 - Batista vs. Undertaker - 4
    ARMAGEDDON 2007 – Jeff Hardy vs. Triple H - 4

    ReplyDelete
  103. ROYAL RUMBLE 2008 – Royal Rumble Match - 4.25
    NO WAY OUT 2008 – Batista vs. Big Daddy V vs. Finlay vs. Great Khali vs. MVP vs. Undertaker (Elimination Chamber) - 4
    NO WAY OUT 2008 – Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy vs. JBL vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H vs. Umaga (Elimination Chamber) - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA XXIV – Carlito vs. Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk vs. John Morrison vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin (Money in the Bank) - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA XXIV - Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels - 5
    WRESTLEMANIA XXIV – Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Triple H - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA XXIV - Edge vs. Undertaker - 4.5
    BACKLASH 2008 – Triple H vs. Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. JBL - 4
    ONE NIGHT STAND 2008 - Undertaker vs. Edge (TLC) - 4
    NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 2008 – Triple H vs. John Cena - 4
    SUMMERSLAM 2008 - Edge vs. Undertaker (Hell In A Cell) - 4
    UNFORGIVEN 2008 – Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels (Unsanctioned Street Fight) - 4.25
    NO MERCY 2008 - Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy - 4.25
    NO MERCY 2008 – Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels (Ladder Match) - 4.25
    ARMAGEDDON 2008 – Jeff Hardy vs. Edge vs. Triple H - 4.25

    ROYAL RUMBLE 2009 - Jeff Hardy vs. Edge - 4
    ROYAL RUMBLE 2009 – Royal Rumble Match - 4
    NO WAY OUT 2009 – Big Show vs. Edge vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Triple H vs. Undertaker vs. Vladimir Kozlov (Elimination Chamber) - 4.5
    NO WAY OUT 2009 – Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. John Cena vs. Kane vs. Mike Knox vs. Rey Mysterio (Elimination Chamber) - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA XXV – Christian vs. CM Punk vs. Finlay vs. Kane vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Mark Henry vs. MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin (Money In The Bank) - 4.25
    WRESTLEMANIA XXV - Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels - 5
    BACKLASH 2009 – John Cena vs. Edge (Last Man Standing) - 4.25
    EXTREME RULES 2009 - Edge vs. Jeff Hardy (Ladder Match) - 4.25
    THE BASH 2009 - Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho (Mask vs. Title) - 4
    NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 2009 – Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Triple H - 4
    NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 2009 – Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk - 4
    SUMMERSLAM 2009 – CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy (TLC) - 4.25
    BRAGGING RIGHTS 2009 - Randy Orton vs. John Cena (Anything Goes Iron Man) - 4.25
    SURVIVOR SERIES 2009 – John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H - 4.25

    ROYAL RUMBLE 2010 – Royal Rumble Match - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA XXVI - Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels - 4.75
    MONEY IN THE BANK 2010 – Big Show vs. Christian vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Drew McIntrye vs. Kane vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Matt Hardy (Money in the Bank) - 4.25
    MONEY IN THE BANK 2010 – Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. Evan Bourne vs. John Morrison vs. Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton vs. Ted Dibiase vs. The Miz - 4
    SUMMERSLAM 2010 – Bret Hart/Chris Jericho/Daniel Bryan/Edge/John Cena/John Morrison/R-Truth vs. Nexus (Elimination Match) - 4
    HELL IN A CELL 2010 – Randy Orton vs. Sheamus (Hell In A Cell) - 4
    BRAGGING RIGHTS 2010 - Dolph Ziggler vs. Daniel Bryan - 4

    ELIMINATION CHAMBER 2011 – Big Show vs. Drew McIntrye vs. Edge vs. Kane vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Wade Barrett (Elimination Chamber) - 4.5
    ELIMINATION CHAMBER 2011 – CM Punk vs. John Cena vs. John Morrison vs. R-Truth vs. Randy Orton vs. Sheamus (Elimination Chamber) - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA XXVII - Undertaker vs. Triple H (No Holds Barred) - 4.5
    OVER THE LIMIT 2011 – Randy Orton vs. Christian - 4
    MONEY IN THE BANK 2011 – Cody Rhodes vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Heath Slater vs. Justin Gabriel vs. Kane vs. Sheamus vs. Sin Cara vs. Wade Barrett (Money in the Bank) - 4
    MONEY IN THE BANK 2011 – CM Punk vs. John Cena - 5
    SUMMERSLAM 2011 - Christian vs. Randy Orton (No Holds Barred) - 4.25
    SUMMERSLAM 2011 – CM Punk vs. John Cena - 4.25

    ELIMINATION CHAMBER 2012 – Big Show vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Great Khali vs. Santino Marella vs. Wade Barrett (Elimination Chamber) - 4
    WRESTLEMANIA XXVIII - Undertaker vs. Triple H (Hell In A Cell) - 4.75
    WRESTLEMANIA XXVIII - The Rock vs. John Cena - 4.25
    EXTREME RULES 2012 – CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho (Chicago Street Fight) - 4.25
    EXTREME RULES 2012 – Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena (Extreme Rules) - 4.5
    OVER THE LIMIT 2012 - CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan - 4
    MONEY IN THE BANK 2012 – CM Punk vs. Bryan (No DQ) - 4.25

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What the hell are these?

      Delete
    2. Here is a list of Wade Keller WWE PPV matches over 4 stars (he started star rating in 1990)

      Delete
  104. http://wrestling.insidepulse.com/2012/08/27/the-wrestling-backfire-the-major-problems-with-summerslam-john-cena-cm-punk-vince-mcmahon-hulk-hogan/

    ReplyDelete
  105. Hey guys, I've started a wrestling blog and am rating a lot of stuff Meltzer and Alvarez don't seem to cover. I'd really appreciate it if you could all check it out. The address is http://akirafukuzawascream.blogspot.co.uk/ Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  106. Anyone know if he officially gave Tanahashi vs. Suzuki 5 stars from the NJPW show?

    It sounds like it's an easy 5 based on his review, said it was one of the greatest matches he has seen and blows away Elgin/Richards.

    ReplyDelete
  107. I just finished watching the Tanahashi vs. Suzuki match from the 10/08/12. Great storytelling. I personally had it about ****1/2. It was nearly perfect. From Dave's comments on Wrestling Observer Radio, it sounds like he deems it a 5 star. There's undeniably an argument for it being a 5*, I think it lacked enough near falls to truly make the drama perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  108. Meltzer did rate the Tana-Suzuki ***** in the latest WON.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Can you give all the rating from King of Pro Wrestling?

    ps: I need opener and Naito-Takahashi match. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  110. Kevin Steen vs Michael Elgin from last Saturday's ROH Glory By Honor was better than Elgin vs Richars earlier this year. Steen vs Elgin = ***** in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  111. Steen vs Elgin was truly awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  112. Rating for Steen vs Elgin at ROH GLORY BY HONOR X?

    ReplyDelete
  113. I'm gonna be honest, don't think Steen vs Elgin was quite five star. CM Punk vs John Cena definitely wasn't. Suzuki vs Tanahashi was decnt, but nowhere near five star, Okada vs Naito was a superior match earlier in the year. I would say match of the year so far is Volador jr vs La Sombra from CMLL Fantasticamania, I wonder what that got?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CM Punk vs John Cena MITB 2011 was the best match of the year in most people's eyes.

      Delete
  114. I thought Masato Tanaka vs Mike Awesome from ECW One Night Stand 2005 should've earned more than a 4 1/4 star if not a 5.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can also find any star ratings for a match on a particular card or wrestler at http://www.profightdb.com

      Delete
  115. Could you please tell me the star rating for Super Smash Brothers vs Young Bucks vs Future Shock at PWG Threemendous III?

    ReplyDelete
  116. this match at 3Mendous III was fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  117. Kobashi retirement match next year = 5-star match rated by Meltzer! FOR SURE!

    ReplyDelete
  118. Manami Toyota vs. Mima Shimoda 7/23/1995 was rated five stars by Meltzer.
    From WON 10/23/1955:
    "After seeing the Grand Prix tape, the latest AJW commercial video, I'm convinced that the best worker in the business today is Toyota. She puts out every night (no pun intended), does tons of (probably too many considering she's doing them 250 nights a year) wild moves, has great execution and psychology. Her off nights are better than good workers best nights and great workers good nights. I'd rather watch Misawa, Kobashi and Kawada at Budokan in a big singles or Michaels on a PPV or Misterio Jr. in a singles title match than Toyota's run-of-the-mill matches, but her best matches are on the same level and she's closer to that level every night than anyone else. She did a 30:00 draw with Mima Shimoda that was *****."

    ReplyDelete
  119. this guy must be on something if he doesn't consider Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 25 and 26 to be 5 star matches but CM Punk vs Cena at MITB 2011 is. Such a shame

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. neither of the 3 deserves it

      Delete
    2. The Taker vs Michaels series are NOT 5 star matches, they are not that great

      Delete
  120. Add Tanahashi/Okada from Invasion Attack. Think it was announced today or yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  121. I don't have a problem with that rating. It was a lot better than their Dome match in January, my least favourite match of the feud.

    ReplyDelete
  122. If Meltzer were to rank all his five star matches, judging each on how much he adores each match, what does anyone think would be the top 10-20?

    ReplyDelete
  123. The Toyota vs. Inoue match from 8/24/94 is listed here as *****, but in the 9/26/94 Observer Dave give it ****1/2. Can anyone check on this?

    Dave comments:
    "Manami Toyota pinned Kyoko Inoue in the IWA (Toyota) vs. All-Pacific (Inoue) title unification match. About 11:00 of their 23:31 match aired. It would have been a five-star match as they did one incredible spot after another with great heat except that Toyota badly blew three spots where she fell off the ropes. She fell off on her first two spots of the match, but once they got going and they went for so long, by that point everyone forgot about it, but then she blew it again right at the finish which left the match on a flat note. Among the highlights were Inoue doing a german superplex; Toyota a springboard tope; Inoue having Toyota in superplex position and running up the ropes and doing a Frankensteiner without setting up; Both doing topes; Toyota with a dropkick off the top rope to the floor; Inoue with a belly-to-belly superplex throwing Toyota 2/3 of the way across the ring, practically launching her into orbit. Finish saw Toyota whipped to the ropes, jump off, and come off with a flying sunset flip for the win. ****1/2"

    ReplyDelete
  124. ^^^He gave it the same rating in the 1994 Record Book issue of the Observer(1/16/95)

    ReplyDelete
  125. I'm not sure anyone can help me find this, but I've seen every 5 star match listed except:

    The AJW 6 on 6 tag from 12/6/87. I am told a clipped 17 minute version exists but I can't find it. I would like to watch this just for semi-completeness sake. Anyone know?

    ReplyDelete
  126. Okada/Suzuki from Wrestling Dontaku was given ***** today.

    ReplyDelete
  127. NJPW Wrestling Dontaku ratings??

    ReplyDelete
  128. Okada/Suzuki got ***3/4 from Meltzer.

    ReplyDelete
  129. "The AJW 6 on 6 tag from 12/6/87. I am told a clipped 17 minute version exists but I can't find it. I would like to watch this just for semi-completeness sake. Anyone know?"

    http://BillionUploads.com/4vwojqyv60ra

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://180upload.com/t57e80rkd8yt

      Delete
  130. NJPW DOMINION ratings??

    ReplyDelete
  131. "The Misterio Jr. first title win over Psicosis and Aguayo vs. Nikosuna hair matches from 9/22 at Juan de la Barrera Gym aired this past weekend on Galavision. Misterio Jr. vs. Psicosis was ****3/4. I'd rate the Tijuana match only a hair better although the Mexico City match's third fall was probably the best fall of the year in Mexico as were the reports we received. It was a collection of amazing moves one after the other with super heat. For in-ring action, this has got to be feud of the year. I'd rate the Mexico City match on par with the Ramon-Michaels ladder match as the best singles match on television in the U.S. thus far this year."

    ReplyDelete
  132. The August 24, 1994 Toyota vs. Inoue match is not a 5 star match. Meltzer gave it ****1/2. Change it!

    ReplyDelete
  133. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  134. Five Star Luxury Villas. Reserve your Luxury VillaFive Star Luxury Villa Rentals from the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Aspen or Europe Today! Call 800-975-5569 for the Best Deals & Discounts.

    ReplyDelete
  135. I heard Shibata vs Ishii from G-1 got 5 stars from Meltzer. Is it true?

    ReplyDelete
  136. how about the tlc triple threat matches with the dudleys hardys and edge and christian those matches put the bar for the tag team titles so high that today no one can touch them. the belts became pretty much became meaningless after them three departed from the tag team division

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Watch TLC 2 the other day. I now understand why it's rated higher than Rock/Austin from the same card. Phenomenal. The best bit about it is they've structured the match so that the spots just keep getting bigger as the match goes on. Perfect booking for a match like that.

      And TLC 3 is serious underrated by so many people. Because they were crammed on TV time they just jammed as much in as possible but still made sense. Awesome match.

      Delete
  137. another 5 Star match from New Japan and another for Okada and Tanahashi! Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 10/14/13

    ReplyDelete
  138. One important thing I heard from Meltzer's review of NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling, Dave Meltzer still considers Misawa and Kobashi as having had the best series of matches. Second best was Tanahashi vs Okada. He said Tanahashi vs Okada was better than both Flair vs Steamboat and Dory Funk Jr. vs Jack Brisco. So I assume that these are according to him the best feuds ever in terms of in-ring quality.

    ReplyDelete
  139. Five Star Luxury Villas takes you from the trés chic avenues of Paris’ Five Star Luxury Villa Rentals Left Bank to the magical desert oasis of Los Cabos 1-800-975-5569

    ReplyDelete
  140. ECW's 3/9/96 Rey Mysterio vs. Juventud Guerrera was rated 5-stars on the 1/13/97 WON (1996 Year End Review). Meltzer initially gave it ****3/4.

    Please Update

    ReplyDelete
  141. What was the rating for Flair vs. Luger Great American Bash 1988? It's not listed here. Their Starrcade match from the same year is listed at 4 1/2 stars.

    ReplyDelete
  142. Flair vs. Luger 7/10/88 Great American Bash was rated **1/2

    ReplyDelete
  143. Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker WrestleMania 25

    ReplyDelete
  144. HOW THE HELL DOES MICHAELS VS RAMON 1994 BORING MATCH GET MATCH OF THE YEAR INSTEAD OF KAWADA VS MISAWA 6/3/94, THAT'S AN INSULT TO MY INTELLIGENCE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This x1000. Best match ever and yet not the MOTY??? WTF

      Delete
  145. That really says something about WCW when they never had another five star match after War Games 1992.

    ReplyDelete
  146. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Katsuyori Shibata was just listed at five stars in the 9/22/14 Observer.

    ReplyDelete
  147. 1. RAZOR RAMON VS. SHAWN MICHAELS 3-20 NEW YORK (125) 984

    2. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada 6-3 Tokyo (136) 945

    It was close. 6/3/94 had more first place votes. I represent one of those votes. I had Misawa/Kobashi vs. Kawada/Taue 5/22/94 in 2nd. Liger vs. Sasuke from the Super J Cup was in third.

    If you went back and watched any ladder matches that preceded WMX, then you may have some perspective as to why the match blew people away at the time.

    Bret vs. Owen from WM only received enough votes for an honorable mention! Never understood the huge disparity between the two best matches from WM X.

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  148. The WrestleMania 10 ladder match changed the whole wrestling industry (at least in the U.S.) in ways that few matches ever have. It led to the hardcore stuff of ECW and the Dudleys vs. Hardys vs. Edge and Christian matches, which were probably better, but they actually weren't as innovative because ladder matches had sort of been done to death at that point. I haven't seen a lot of the foreign matches on this list, but as far as matches that are innovative and really changed things the only ones I can really think of are The WrestleMania 10 ladder match, Steamboat vs. Flair at WrestleMania (everyone's style became quicker and more dramatic after that one), Bret vs. Austin at WrestleMania (seemed to lead to attitude era), and Funk vs. Flair I quit match (very early version of hardcore). Owen vs. Bret is just a notch below the ladder match in my opinion.

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    1. Flair v. Funk was an amazing match too. I don't think it gets the credit it deserves.

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  149. I meant Steamboat vs. Savage at WrestleMania in the above comment.

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  150. Does anyone have any idea where I could purchase a compilation of the initial Meltzer 5-star list at the beginning of the page? Any help is greatly appreciated, from a fellow wrestling fan.

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  151. I'm just curious, do you only list matches that are three stars or above? I only find matches rated lower than that on the complete WrestleMania listings you have here. You don't have most of the Saturday Night's Main Event matches listed here, for just one example. If I'm looking for a certain match and don't see it here, can I assume it was under three stars?

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  152. Yes, the promotion specific lists are *** and above. This is a great resource, but it's far from comprehensive.

    You can find most WON match ratings here:

    http://www.profightdb.com/

    Here are the results and ratings (if available) for SNME. No match ratings until SNME VI:

    http://www.profightdb.com/search.html?search-term=saturday+night%27s+main+event&submit=search

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  153. Here are a few others I found...apologies if some of these are in the comments...didn't read through them all...

    7/31/87 - Wargames II from Miami was *****, although not sure if that was Dave or a correspondent...assume a correspondent, since this was never televised although is on the GAB 87 cassette tape.

    8/3/91 - Cactus Jack - Eddie Gilbert stretcher match...again assume it was a correspondent. Believe this was from TWA.

    5/16/92 - Six man tag from house show - Onita / Goto / Santo vs. Casas / Patterson / Boulder. Handheld exists of this since I have it...

    10/10/96 and 12/16/96 - Michinoku Pro 10 man tags...I forget all the participants

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  154. What about Styles v. Suzuki from G1? Was it not a 5 star match?

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  155. Was the main event Tokyo Dome New Year 2015 match 5 stars?

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  156. Tanahashi vs. Okada ****3/4
    Nakamura vs. Ibushi *****

    http://www.profightdb.com/cards/njpw/wrestle-kingdom-9-20740.html

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  157. Latest 5 star match: Tomohiro Ishii vs Tomoaki Honma from NJPW The New Beginning in Sendai on 2-14-2015

    http://profightdb.com/cards/njpw/the-new-beginning-in-sendai-3915-21116.html

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  158. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  159. Lot of missing older matches on here. I have a bunch of old Observer's I'll have to go to, but here's one that needs to be added:

    El Hijo del Santo/Atsushi Onita/Tarzan Goto vs. Negro Casas/Horace Boulder/Tim Patterson in a 2/3 Falls match from FMW on May 16th, 1992. It's listed in the June 8th, 1992 Observer.

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  160. http://deathvalleydriver.com/forum/index.php?/topic/2528-the-definitive-observer-star-ratings-list/

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  161. WOW this was my first expression after reading this blog which really inspire me after the completion of reading this is really full of fun and information.pakistan news live is for the readers of urdu news.

    ReplyDelete
  162. I would personally say Bret/Michaels Iron Man would be 4 1/2. It really picks up later, Engagement rings Online

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