Top 10 pro wrestling matches on this day in history: August 14

There have been a lot of classic matches that have taken place on this date historically (August 14), and here we’ll be listing the Top 10, according to Cagematch ratings, whilst also giving some context on the top star rated match in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Top 10 Pro Wrestling matches August 14

Below are the top 10 pro wrestling matches to watch on this day in history according to Cagematch (and some influence from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter star ratings):

AJ Styles vs Hiroshi Tanahashi Star Rating

Here is what our own Dave Meltzer had to say about AJ Styles vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi from 14.08.2015:

“Hiroshi Tanahashi pinned A.J. Styles in 27:56 to win the A block. They teased going 30 in a match where it didn’t matter, because with identical records, with a draw, they’d have to go into overtime anyway. It started slow but built to a match of the year candidate. Tanahashi shoved him off the top and did the high fly flow to the floor. Styles barely got up to beat the 20 count, and in a clever spot, tripped on purpose so it looked like he wasn’t going to beat the count but did at the last second.

“It really picked up from there. Styles did came off the apron into the ring with a springboard quebrada into a reverse DDT, and he’s even smoother than before with that move. Tanahashi did a cross arm German suplex. Ref Red Shoes got squashed in the corner on a Tanahashi crossbody, and with the opening, Styles used a low blow. As Styles went to follow up, Tanahashi came back with a low blow of his own. Tanahashi did a great sell spot when Styles got him in the calf killer. Tanahashi went for the Styles clash the first time (notable that he stopped using it as a regular move when Styles came to the promotion, but brought it back here), but Styles reversed into an ankle lock.

“Tanahashi hit the Styles clash, but Styles kicked out. Tanahashi went for the high fly flow, but Styles got his knees up. Styles then hit Tanahashi with a high fly flow for a near fall. So the story is each couldn’t beat the other using the others’ big move. Styles hit the Bloody Sunday DDT, went for the Styles clash, but Tanahashi escaped by twisting his knee like a dragon screw. Styles went for a Pele kick but Tanahashi caught him with a dragon screw, a crossbody off the top and finally hit the high fly flow for the pin. ****3/4”

You can find our own Dave Meltzer’s review of the matches above via the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (which you can read in full with a subscription).