Here it is! The final Matches of the Month for 2024! December has come and gone (hard to believe, eh?) and it was full of great matches. A real treat for the holiday season. You could almost include the whole Continental Classic in this list, as it was a fantastic tournament all around, but these matches in particular stood out amongst the pack.
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Giulia vs. Wren Sinclair vs. Zaria vs. Sol Ruca - Iron Survivor Challenge - WWE Deadline 2024 - 12/07/2024
"This was really, really fun and all five women showed out for this
match. Wren Sinclair was the scrappy underdog in this match, sort of a
similar role to Trick in last years match, except it was pretty obvious
she wasn't just going to sweep the match in the last 30 seconds. She was
in the ring with 4 stars of the womens division, with Sol Ruca, Zaria,
Gulia and Stephanie Vaquer putting on a fantastic match that turned into
a crazy sprint at the end. Kudos to all involved, this was great." - Excerpted from Weekly Watchlist 026 Weekly Roundup
The WorkHorsemen vs. The Motor City Machine Guns - DPW 2nd Anniversary - 12/10/2023
One of the best tag teams on the indies today against one of the greatest tag teams in the history of the indies. Shelly and Sabin were as innovative as ever, and Drake and Henry were powerful and dominant. The tag scene in DPW is one was one of the best in the world even before MCMG came through, their time with the company as champs has only made it better. This is a prime example.
Kevin Blackwood vs. Titus Alexander - DPW Live 4 - 01/20/2024
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 026
Undertaker vs. The Rock vs. Kurt Angle - WWE Vengeance 2002 - 07/21/2002
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 026
Pete Dunne vs. WALTER - NXT TakeOver: New York - 04/05/2019
WALTER's debut TakeOver match and one of his first while in WWE sees him dethrone the longest reigning champion in WWE's modern era. Hard hitting, dominant, an absolute mauling from WALTER. Dunne is in peak form here and is able to fend off WALTER multiple times and put up a good fight, but in the end WALTER is able to come out on top and establish himself as one of WWE's most successful wrestlers ever.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Daniel Garcia - AEW Collision - 11/30/2024
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 028
Claudio Castagnoli vs Brodie Lee - Steel Cage Match - CHIKARA Style and Substance - 09/07/2008
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 027
Eddie Kingston vs. Brodie Lee - CHIKARA It's How You Play The Game - 03/25/2012
Brodie Lee's final match with CHIKARA sees him challenge for Eddie Kingston's Grand Championship. It's very clear, and even a part of the matches story, that Brodie will be with WWE soon and it establishes him as the heel figure against Kingston. Brodie even goes so far as to tell Eddie "just like the rest of these people, soon you'll be buying a ticket to see me." Really loved the action between these two. Neither main afraid to hit the other and give it their all.
Harley Race vs. Terry Funk - Houston Wrestling - 07/01/1977
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 027
Hazuki vs. Mercedes Mone - NJPW Strong Style Evolved 2024 - 12/15/2024
A real slow burner of a match that saw Hazuki trying to get her mojo back after an unsuccessful challenge against Mone early last year, losing confidence in herself until she was able to build herself back up again to the point of challenging for the NJPW Strong Womens championship. I knew people were going crazy for this match and had to seek it out. I really enjoyed everything between these two, but I didn't personally love it. Hazuki was fantastic in getting more and more confident and resilient as the match went on, and Mone got more and more desperate the further we got from the first bell. Amazing match.
The Beast Mortos vs. Daniel Garcia - AEW Rampage - 12/06/2024
Garcia found himself against the biggest opponent in his league, with Mortos staying in control for most of the match and looking like a true beast. Mortos was able to bring out the best in Garcia, forcing the TNT champion to fight from beneath and use his grit and tenacity to stay alive and come out with the victory. Garcia is nothing if not resilient and that quality shone through here against Mortos.
Darby Allin vs. Komander - AEW Collision - 12/07/2024
Darby is able to keep pace with the lucha speed and skills of Kommander, not outclassed in any way from someone who's entire offence is based around agility. Darby still finds a way to punish his body, crashing through a chair set up at ringside as Kommander avoids the dive. Kommander happily sends Darby flying about and Darby is able to fend off the attacks and get the win in a really exciting, high paced match.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kyle Fletcher - AEW Collision - 12/07/2024
Fletcher seems to have Okada's number right from the bell, smothering Okada and keeping him down at every opportunity he gets. Eventually Okada is able to start getting some momentum, fendin Fletcher off as he starts to show sighs of a struggle and frustration, being fairly composed and slow paced for much of his Continental Classic matches. Fletcher is able to avoid some of Okada's best moves, eventually picking up the win with a brainbuster to upset the champion.
Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher - AEW Collision - Winter Is Coming 2024 - Day 3 - 12/14/2024
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 028
Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin - AEW Dynamite - Holiday Bash 2024 - Day 1 - 12/18/2024
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 028
Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher - AEW Worlds End 2024 - 12/28/2024
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 029
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Powerhouse Hobbs - AEW Worlds End 2024 - 12/28/2024
Takeshita does it again. An unreal blend of agility and power, especially for a man of his size. He's able to match (almost) power with "Powerhouse" Hobbs and not back down from some of his hardest, meanest offence. Takeshita dismantles Hobb's previously injured leg but Hobbs manages to fight out of the pain time and time again. Hobbs needed a really good match under his belt to help give him some more credibility, and Takeshits continues to extend his reign with a really great match.
Will Ospreay vs. Kazuchika Okada - AEW Worlds End 2024 - 12/28/2024
Featured in Weekly Watchlist 029
There we have it! The final Matches of the Month for 2024! 2024 has been a fantastic year for wrestling, and I can't wait to see what 2025 has in store! Feel free to shoot me an email at cliffmorganwstl@gmail.com if you want to recommend matches for me to check out in the new year.
Until then, take it easy.
Cliff Morgan
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