Top Rated Meltzer Matches 2012(outside of WWE)

[Papa Pillman]

As some of us anticipate the WON awards as the last reflection on what was a spectacular 2012 from a match quality perspective, I figured since there was a thread on Meltzer's top WWE matches it would only be fair to give the best non-WWE matches the same treatment. So here goes...

Top rated American pro wrestling matches of 2012 outside of the WWE according to Dave Meltzer at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

1) Davey Richards v. Michael Elgin @ ROH Showdown in the Sun Day 2 - *****
T2) Austin Aries v. Bobby Roode @ TNA Destination X - ****1/2
T2) Kevin Steen v. Michael Elgin @ ROH GBH XI - ****1/2
T2) Jay Lethal v. Davey Richards @ ROH GBH XI - ****1/2
T5) Jeff Hardy v. Austin Aries @ TNA Turning Point - ****1/4
T5) AJ Styles v. Christopher Daniels @ TNA Destination X - ****1/4
T5) Angle/Styles v. Kaz/Daniels @ TNA Slammiversary - ****1/4
T8) Kevin Steen v. El Generico @ ROH Final Battle - ****
T8) Kevin Steen v. El Generico @ ROH Showdown in the Sun Day 1 - ****
T8) Chavo/Hernandez v. Angle/Styles v. Kaz/Daniels @ TNA BFG - ****
T8) Austin Aries v. Jeff Hardy @ TNA BFG - ****
T8) Austin Aries v. Bobby Roode @ TNA Hardcore Justice - ****
T8) Kevin Steen v. Davey Richards @ ROH Best in the World - ****
T8) Adam Cole v. Kyle O'Reilly @ ROH Best in the World - ****
T8) AJ Styles v. Kurt Angle @ TNA Sacrifice - ****

This list coupled with the WWE list that also includes some amazing matches makes for an outstanding wrestling year in the US, and add in the nine New Japan matches that scored four or more stars(including the match between Tanahashi and Suzuki that Meltzer has at five stars) and it was a great year worldwide.

Also I couldn't find a complete list I trusted on how Meltzer rated this year's DGUSA/Evolve matches, so anyone who would like to add that here it would be greatly appreciated.

I want to know how everyone who followed TNA and/or ROH(or any other indy feds) scored their top matches and what's your feedback on the year in general as far as 2012's overall match quality??


My top ten non-WWE looked like this:
1) Richards v. Elgin @ ROH SitS2 - 5 stars
2) Steen v. Elgin @ ROH GBH XI - 4.75 stars
3) Super Smash Brothers v. Young Bucks v. Future Shock @ PWG Threemendous III - 4.5 stars
4) Roode v. Aries @ TNA Dest. X - 4.5 stars
5) Richards/O'Reilly v. Edwards/Cole @ ROH 10th Anniversary - 4.5 stars
6) Steen v. Generico @ ROH Final Battle - 4.25 stars
7) Styles v. Angle @ TNA Sacrifice - 4.25 stars
8) Cole v. O'Reilly @ ROH BitW - 4.25 stars
9) AJ/Angle v. Kaz/Daniels @ TNA Slammiversary - 4.25 stars

I also have three other Davey Richards matches as my only other ratings at over four stars, so I'll list them together;
T10) Richards v. Lethal @ ROH GBH XI - 4.25 stars
T10) Steen v. Richards @ ROH Border Wars - 4.25 stars
T10) Elgin v. Richards @ PWG BOLA Night 1 - 4.25 stars

I also had some other TNA matches at four stars; AJ/Daniels at Dest X, Aries/Ray at Sacrifice, Roode/Storm at BFG, the tag title match at BFG, and the ladder match at Turning Point. As for ROH I had the Steen/Davey match from BITW, the Steen/Generico match from showdown day one, and the Wolves comeback match at Final Battle all at four stars as well. Steen's PWG defense against Willie Mack, and the SSB/Bucks PWG tag title match were also four stars for me. I didn't get to see alot of the Puro stuff, but I did catch the Tanahashi/Suzuki match I mentioned, and I had it around 4.25-4.5 stars on just one viewing.