ZAIAH MELTZER'S TOP 100 MATCHES OF 2019: #4 AND #3!

4. Toshimi Minami vs Sakura Hagiwara *****, ACW Glamor X Element Tournament Quarterfinals 03/03/19 +23

- Here’s a match that goes under everyone’s radar when it comes to everyone’s MOTY. Maybe that’s because it happened so early in the year or some other reason, but for what ever that reason is, you owe it yourself to rewatch this match. Some of the best pure wrestling in a virtual wrestling match in a long time. I loved how Toshimi seemingly had an answer for Sakura at almost every turn. Sakura got in her suplexes, sure, but when it came to the ground game and reversing, Toshimi was clearly the better wrestler throughout. This was as close to a perfect Joshi match you could ask for on the 2K system and the amount of work going into, whether it be gameplay or editing based, can not be overlooked. This played up to everyone’s strengths and didn’t overstay it’s welcome in the slightest. It also kept the energy it was trying to convey throughout most of the match, which can also be very hard to do. This is a pure technical classic that you should go out of your way to watch and then watch again. It is that damn good. 

Watch Match Here

3. Matt Pharaoh vs Monkey D Luffy *****, UCWL Testing the Limit 02/24/19 +24 

- The story of how Matt Pharaoh became the first ever original CAW to compete in a UCWL ring is quite the…Confusing story to say the least. However, I am glad that he did otherwise we would’ve never gotten the underrated rivalry between him and V, and we would’ve never gotten this spectacular match. I don’t know how V-Pac keeps doing it, but somehow, he keeps getting the most entertaining AI matches out there and this one is no exception. When I first heard about this match, I did not expect it to make it this far on my list and I think that’s the thing with UCWL in general. So many variables and decisions where you go “that can’t possibly work” and it just does in the end. Pharaoh and Luffy put on one of the most exhilarating contests of 2019. With false finishes, hope spots, and just overall crazy action. I never got bored once watching this thing and it had me on the edge of my seat while trying to figure out who was possibly going to walk away from the match with the victory. Monkey D Luffy was pretty much on par with the likes of Cena and Tanahashi with his performances in UCWL. That classic “never say die attitude” is what has mostly made Luffy a household name in the world of UCWL. Meanwhile, Pharaoh having this match not only stamped himself as not only one f the biggest names in Original CAW wrestling, but in all of virtual wrestling. It was pretty much a win win situation for everyone involved including the fan’s watching at home. 

Watch Match Here