Punk/Cena vs Richards/Edwards: Updating the Top Ten Matches of the Year Rankings

Let me start off with this. I am not a fan of Ring of Honor (ROH), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), or Total Nonstop Action (TNA). I am a fan of good, solid wrestling. I am not a blind mark that thinks anything one company does is perfect, nor am I a hater. I try to buy every pay-per-view I can from all three and catch as many shows as possible.

A few days ago I created a list called "The Best Wrestling Matches of 2011…so far". I ranked in my opinion the best matches from ROH, TNA, and WWE. You could say I was one week early.

"Money in the Bank" was by far the WWE’s best pay-per-view so far this year, maybe even better than ROH’s "Best in the World" or TNA’s "Destination X". The SmackDown Money in the Bank match will definitely find its way somewhere on the list, probably around the seven to eight range that’s for sure.

Then we have the major question between two 5-star matches. Which do I award the ranking of current Match of the Year?

In one corner you have Davey Richards vs. Eddie Edwards for the ROH Title at "Best in the World".

In the other you have CM Punk vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship at "Money in the Bank".

Both were great matches, but which deserves to be on top of the list right now.

Richards/Edwards was probably the best face to face match I have seen in years. It had high flying moves from both guys, great blows, excellent storytelling, and an absolute roller coaster of a match that left me exhausted after watching it.

Cena/Punk was easily the WWE’s best match of the year and deserves to be in this discussion. It was Punk doing what he does best with Cena playing every bit the heel he was back in his match vs. Rob Van Dam at "One Night Stand".

It also proved the seemingly impossible by showing to the average WWE fan that Cena can actually wrestle. This match kept you on your toes as classic finishers and signature moves were countered and kicked out of for a solid 40 minutes. The ending in particular was one of the smartest, most unpredictable things I have seen the WWE do in years.

That being said, only one of these two can top the list, and here is where I reach an impasse.

Which should I choose?

To decide, I have chosen to break it down into categories and go in-depth to try an award a winner this way.

Build

Edwards/Richards was a feud that had building for months. They were former tag team champs but once one of them won the belt, you knew the other one was coming. Add to that one of the best hype videos ROH has ever done and you have some good build.

But sadly it pales in comparison to the build of Cena/Punk. Easily my most anticipated match in a long time and the sole reason I threw money down on this pay-per-view. Between Punk’s outstanding microphone work and Cena’s solid performance, this wins the category no doubt.

Winner: Cena/Punk

In-Ring Storytelling

Edwards/Richards told a great story of two guys that knew each others moves, and what the other guy was going to do next. It also told the story of one man trying to desperately climb the mountain and obtain the prize that had always eluded him, claiming that this would be his last run at the title ever. There was a part in the match where Edwards got caught in the ropes by Richards, but Richards hesitated to pull a move. Edwards then looked at him, slapped him, and yelled “Do it!!!”. I was probably one of the coolest things I have seen done in years.

Cena/Punk also told an outstanding story of two wrestlers that love what they do and love putting on a show. It was about one man being the voice of independent wrestlers around the world that have dreamed about one day getting on the big stage. There was also the tale of another man who was going out there and doing what he loved for the fans. Lastly, a tale of role reversal as Cena put on his heel face and Punk gave his town a show.

Overall however, I have to give the edge to Edwards/Richards based on how they took a match with little build up and made a classic out of it.

Winner: Edwards/Richards

Spots

While both matches had some great spots, from Punk’s "Anaconda Vice" counter to Richards looking at a dazed Edwards before landing the KO kick, I have to lean towards Edwards/Richards on this one. They just seemed to go out of their way to one-up every move, from a table Y2K bomb to a chain submission clinic.

Winner: Edwards/Richards

Ending

While the ending of the Edwards/Richards match was touching and truly an amazing, emotional moment, this one to me is easy.

Cena saying no to the screw job only to get caught by a "Go-To-Sleep", Vince sending Del Rio down to the ring to try and get the belt back only for Punk to take him out while exiting the arena before it could happen. All this made the match truly exceptional.

Winner: Cena/Punk

Enjoyment

To me this may be the hardest category so far. I honestly cannot pick a winner here as they were both just that good. Cena/Punk was so good that I gave it a 5-star rating even with the botches and the hiccups, but Edwards/Richards was easily the match that reminded me most of why I became a wrestling fan in the first place.

I can’t pick a winner here.

Winner: Push

Moves Used

While Punk/Cena showed an array of moves from both wrestlers, Edwards/Richards had the advantage of being an independent match, where they do not have to use a limited move-set.

Despite being closer than it looks on paper (thank Cena for that), I have to go Edwards/Richards on this one, simply for the sheer fact that they used more moves and went slightly longer then Cena/Punk.

Winner: Edwards/Richards

Pace

I am a guy that likes high-paced matches. I have enjoyed them ever since I was a little kid watching Extreme Championship Wrestling (on that note, what in the world was a 6-year-old kid doing watching ECW back in the mid-90’s, there’s something to be said about that).

The fast paced style is actually the reason I started watching ROH in the first place.

That being said, the roller coaster of momentum in the Punk/Cena match gives it the nod here.The match would build back-and-forth and you never knew which move was going to end it until the last count.

Winner: Cena/Punk

And so we come to the last category I can think of dead even.

Technical Wrestling

There is one thing that separated these two matches in my mind. One big difference between 1A and 1B, and that is the technical aspect of the match.

Punk/Cena was by no means flawless, but the flaws did not overshadow the match.

Edwards/Richards however, was flawless. There were no botches, no missed spots, no standing around doing nothing. For 45 minutes these two men did perfect wrestling.

Winner: Edwards/Richards

That to me is the only difference in these two matches and sadly why in the end, I have to give the ever so slight nod to Edwards/Richards.

That being said, Punk/Cena was a hell of a match on a card that was outstanding to me. In the end I have to choose one and in the match-up of two titans, one proved to be ever so slightly better.

Current Match of the Year: Eddie Edwards vs Davey Richards (ROH Best in the World)

#2: John Cena vs CM Punk (WWE Money in the Bank)

Now look, I know many of you will disagree with me and that’s fine, my opinion is by no means the Word of God. However, if you truly are a fan of both companies as I am, and not a blind mark (or hater) for either, you will see that at the end of the day I am right.

Both matches were 5-star and deserving of the Current Match of the Year Title, but at the end of the day I feel that Edwards/Richards was just a little better.

New Rankings

#1 Davey Richards vs. Eddie Edwards (ROH Best in the World)

#2 John Cena vs CM Punk (WWE Money In The Bank)
#3 Charlie Haas/Shelton Benjamin vs. Kings of Wrestling (ROH Honor Takes Center Stage)
#4 Christian vs Alberto Del Rio (WWE Extreme Rules)
#5 Austin Aries, Zema Ion, Low Ki and Jack Evans (TNA Destination X) 
#6 Eddie Edwards vs. Christopher Daniels (ROH 9th Anniversary)

#7 Smackdown Money in the Bank Match (WWE Money in the Bank)
#8 HHH vs. The Undertaker (WWE Wrestlemania 27)
#9 El Generico vs. Christopher Daniels (ROH Best in the World)
#10 Jeff Jarrett vs. Kurt Angle (TNA Lockdown)

Off The List

CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio (WWE Capitol Punishment)

Immortal vs. Fortune (TNA Lockdown)

(For the list of all the honorable mentions, click here)