Joseph Montecillo
@josephweirdness.bsky.social
He/him | 1/2 BIG EGG | Writer | YouTuber | Ko-Fi: Joseph Montecillo | Logo by RNKF Shirts
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2026 Recommended Matches List - Joseph Montecillo
My recommended match lists featuring matches rated 3.75 or higher. Ratings and entries subject to change at any time.
www.josephmontecillo.com
2026 MOTY THREAD AND POST!
All ***3/4+ matches go in here
All ratings subject to change at any time. Rating changes may or may not be made public.
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/01/04/2...
All ***3/4+ matches go in here
All ratings subject to change at any time. Rating changes may or may not be made public.
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/01/04/2...
Jerry Lawler vs. Bill Dundee (CWA 12/30/85)
I don't know that there's pro wrestling as conceptually interesting and beautifully executed as Bill Dundee working over Lawler's bad eye, staying on his blindside, and picking away with some of the most evil punches ever.
I don't know that there's pro wrestling as conceptually interesting and beautifully executed as Bill Dundee working over Lawler's bad eye, staying on his blindside, and picking away with some of the most evil punches ever.
February 15, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Jerry Lawler vs. Bill Dundee (CWA 12/30/85)
I don't know that there's pro wrestling as conceptually interesting and beautifully executed as Bill Dundee working over Lawler's bad eye, staying on his blindside, and picking away with some of the most evil punches ever.
I don't know that there's pro wrestling as conceptually interesting and beautifully executed as Bill Dundee working over Lawler's bad eye, staying on his blindside, and picking away with some of the most evil punches ever.
I'll be honest, sometimes more dumb than disgusting but also just disgusting enough to just out and out rock.
Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe (AEW Grand Slam Australia 2/14/26)
****
****
February 15, 2026 at 6:50 AM
I'll be honest, sometimes more dumb than disgusting but also just disgusting enough to just out and out rock.
Bill Dundee vs. Jerry Lawler (CWA 12/21/85)
Look at this control work by Dundee here. Active while remaining deeply unlikable and vicious. Beautifully straddling the line of being malicious in nature and compulsively watchable. Some of the best heel control I've ever seen.
Look at this control work by Dundee here. Active while remaining deeply unlikable and vicious. Beautifully straddling the line of being malicious in nature and compulsively watchable. Some of the best heel control I've ever seen.
February 15, 2026 at 5:24 AM
Bill Dundee vs. Jerry Lawler (CWA 12/21/85)
Look at this control work by Dundee here. Active while remaining deeply unlikable and vicious. Beautifully straddling the line of being malicious in nature and compulsively watchable. Some of the best heel control I've ever seen.
Look at this control work by Dundee here. Active while remaining deeply unlikable and vicious. Beautifully straddling the line of being malicious in nature and compulsively watchable. Some of the best heel control I've ever seen.
Yuji Nagata vs. Tadao Yasuda (NJPW Strong Energy N3 4/23/03)
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/02/13/y...
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/02/13/y...
Yuji Nagata vs. Tadao Yasuda (NJPW Strong Energy N3 4/23/03) - Joseph Montecillo
This review was commissioned by OrphanStar over on my Ko-fi account. Last week, Tadao Yasuda passed away at the age of 62. Cards on the table, I don’t know his work all that much, hence why this commission has jumped to the front of the line. In the wake of his death, it’s a good […]
www.josephmontecillo.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Yuji Nagata vs. Tadao Yasuda (NJPW Strong Energy N3 4/23/03)
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/02/13/y...
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/02/13/y...
Nigel McGuinness vs. Kevin Steen (ROH Northern Navigation 7/25/08)
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/02/13/n...
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/02/13/n...
Nigel McGuinness vs. Kevin Steen (ROH Northern Navigation 7/25/08) - Joseph Montecillo
This review was commissioned by Ok_Awesome over on my Ko-fi account. The late 2000s for ROH are all about expansion. 2007 sees them earn a pay-per-view deal which ends up having a massive effect on th...
www.josephmontecillo.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Nigel McGuinness vs. Kevin Steen (ROH Northern Navigation 7/25/08)
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/02/13/n...
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/02/13/n...
Not in love with the finish of this, but 98% of this is an absolute masterclass in classic American pro wrestling with fantastic performances from both men. Great, great bout that everybody should check out.
youtu.be/Cg7VLsYBYKU
youtu.be/Cg7VLsYBYKU
Jerry Lawler vs. Bill Dundee (Hair vs. Car - 8/15/77)
YouTube video by David Bayens
youtu.be
February 12, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Not in love with the finish of this, but 98% of this is an absolute masterclass in classic American pro wrestling with fantastic performances from both men. Great, great bout that everybody should check out.
youtu.be/Cg7VLsYBYKU
youtu.be/Cg7VLsYBYKU
The Black Warrior apuesta in 06 is a fascinating one in Mistico's development, especially compared to Mistico/MJF from last year. In the 06 match, Mistico has a worse bladejob and does a worse job incorporating it into his standard match. Night and day from the MJF match.
February 10, 2026 at 2:24 AM
The Black Warrior apuesta in 06 is a fascinating one in Mistico's development, especially compared to Mistico/MJF from last year. In the 06 match, Mistico has a worse bladejob and does a worse job incorporating it into his standard match. Night and day from the MJF match.
Watching some of the Jersey J-Cup highlights, looking like JCW might be doing some more Kozone/Priest moving forward. Something to keep an eye on.
February 8, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Watching some of the Jersey J-Cup highlights, looking like JCW might be doing some more Kozone/Priest moving forward. Something to keep an eye on.
Just extremely good shit to top off a fantastic Dynamite that moves towards the big Australia show with a lot of forward momentum.
MJF vs. Brody King (AEW Dynamite 2/4/26)
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
(spiritual 4.5)
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
(spiritual 4.5)
February 5, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Just extremely good shit to top off a fantastic Dynamite that moves towards the big Australia show with a lot of forward momentum.
Andrade/Mistico this year would set the world on fire.
February 5, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Andrade/Mistico this year would set the world on fire.
To borrow Jallah Trophy's phrase, this is some real BIG BOY BUSINESS.
Oleg Boltin vs. Hartley Jackson (NJPW The Road to New Beginning N6 2/2/26)
****
****
February 3, 2026 at 3:31 AM
To borrow Jallah Trophy's phrase, this is some real BIG BOY BUSINESS.
Charming and tight in the way the best young lions stuff is in New Japan.
Katsuya Murashima vs. Shoma Kato (NJPW The Road to New Beginning N5 2/1/26)
***3/4
***3/4
February 3, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Charming and tight in the way the best young lions stuff is in New Japan.
Really great. Oiwa again does a lot with the early matwork, but it all very smoothly escalates into the bigger bombs where the kid finds himself outgunned by the veteran heavyweight.
Hirooki Goto vs. Ryohei Oiwa (NJPW The Road to New Beginning N6 2/2/26)
****
****
February 3, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Really great. Oiwa again does a lot with the early matwork, but it all very smoothly escalates into the bigger bombs where the kid finds himself outgunned by the veteran heavyweight.
I've talked in the past about Darby's wins being a struggle for him and I'm sort of being won over by this recent trend: go short and simple. Darby has some of the briefest comeback segments in the world, rarely burning nearfalls, and carefully protecting his biggest moves.
Darby Allin vs. Clark Connors (AEW Collision 1/31/26)
***3/4
***3/4
February 2, 2026 at 4:20 AM
I've talked in the past about Darby's wins being a struggle for him and I'm sort of being won over by this recent trend: go short and simple. Darby has some of the briefest comeback segments in the world, rarely burning nearfalls, and carefully protecting his biggest moves.
What a great way to start the world tour. See you soon, The Phenomenal AJ Styles TM.
AJ Styles vs. Gunther (WWE Royal Rumble 1/31/26)
****1/4
****1/4
February 1, 2026 at 1:10 AM
What a great way to start the world tour. See you soon, The Phenomenal AJ Styles TM.
Feeling like I'm gonna put a wrap on the 2025 catch-up and MOTY thread today. Year end video will be filled with disclaimers, but put simply, it's the least comprehensive and plugged in year end coverage I feel I've done this decade.
January 19, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Feeling like I'm gonna put a wrap on the 2025 catch-up and MOTY thread today. Year end video will be filled with disclaimers, but put simply, it's the least comprehensive and plugged in year end coverage I feel I've done this decade.
January 18, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Mistico watch on stream tonight, 8 PM ET! Join us at twitch.tv/josephweirdness!
January 17, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Mistico watch on stream tonight, 8 PM ET! Join us at twitch.tv/josephweirdness!
We're watching some wrestling today and you can help vote on what I'll watch today! Join us now on twitch.tv/josephweirdn...
January 11, 2026 at 12:49 AM
We're watching some wrestling today and you can help vote on what I'll watch today! Join us now on twitch.tv/josephweirdn...
Streaming tonight on Twitch to watch some wrestling and catch up on everything (one way or another)! See you at 8 PM EST.
January 10, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Streaming tonight on Twitch to watch some wrestling and catch up on everything (one way or another)! See you at 8 PM EST.
Reposted by Joseph Montecillo
Regular programming at BIG EGG has resumed with this new piece on Lightning Kid/Sabu!
New year, new essay over at @bigeggwrestling.bsky.social. Subscribe now!
www.bigeggwrestling.com/sabu-and-lig...
www.bigeggwrestling.com/sabu-and-lig...
Sabu and Lightning Kid Go Wild for Better and Worse
How fucking good was Sabu, man?
More than anything, I came away from this match just dazzled by that man. It's no wonder he became such a cult icon, and why Paul Heyman so smartly built so much aroun...
www.bigeggwrestling.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Regular programming at BIG EGG has resumed with this new piece on Lightning Kid/Sabu!
New year, new essay over at @bigeggwrestling.bsky.social. Subscribe now!
www.bigeggwrestling.com/sabu-and-lig...
www.bigeggwrestling.com/sabu-and-lig...
Sabu and Lightning Kid Go Wild for Better and Worse
How fucking good was Sabu, man?
More than anything, I came away from this match just dazzled by that man. It's no wonder he became such a cult icon, and why Paul Heyman so smartly built so much aroun...
www.bigeggwrestling.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:15 PM
New year, new essay over at @bigeggwrestling.bsky.social. Subscribe now!
www.bigeggwrestling.com/sabu-and-lig...
www.bigeggwrestling.com/sabu-and-lig...
An extended squash this long probably shouldn't work as well as it does by Jallah's so damn charismatic and sick that it does.
January 6, 2026 at 4:27 AM
An extended squash this long probably shouldn't work as well as it does by Jallah's so damn charismatic and sick that it does.
Reposted by Joseph Montecillo
You'll be reading a lot about Hiroshi Tanahashi's retirement in the Tokyo Dome yesterday. Here's my small contribution to all that. Go ace forever.
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/01/05/t...
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/01/05/t...
The more things change. - Joseph Montecillo
Featured image by @high_kkk Nothing stays the same. Take Kazuchika Okada. His ascent to the top of New Japan Pro Wrestling helped sparked renewed interest in the company, one that helped bring in grea...
www.josephmontecillo.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:47 AM
You'll be reading a lot about Hiroshi Tanahashi's retirement in the Tokyo Dome yesterday. Here's my small contribution to all that. Go ace forever.
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/01/05/t...
www.josephmontecillo.com/2026/01/05/t...