2019 Ongoing MOTY List: Demon vs. Wagner

1. Blue Demon Jr. vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. AAA 8/3

PAS: This was one of the most viscerally violent matches I can remember seeing. Demon was a wandering dead eyed psychopath in this match, with Wagner doing a great job as a charismatic babyface fight back against a horror movie villain. I have seen plenty of matches with big weapons shots over the years, and this match was a great example of making each weapon shot a memorable moment. Demon opens up the match with by breaking a bottle over the head of Wagner, who had come into the match wearing his mask, which maybe stretched the rules a bit, but did allow for a bloody white mask which is always a great visual. The second huge moment came when a sickeningly bloody Demon goes out of the ring and grabs a claw hammer, and attacks Wagner like he was Richard Speck. He slams Wagner in the back of the head and spine, and hammers his hands like his knuckles were penny nails. It was a great bit of close magic by Demon, it really looks like an attempted murder, and I have no idea how you gimmick a hammer to the back of the head. The final huge moment comes at end of the match, after Wagner gets a bunch of close near falls with nasty Wagner Drivers, Demon’s kid runs into with a cinder block, he awkwardly stands around a bit before getting bums rushed by Wagner’s seconds. Demon Jr. gets his hands on the cinder block and smashes in over Wagner’s head, in a pretty gross tribute to Angel o Demonio,  KOing him and winning his hair. Hell of performance by two guys in their 50s as they just milked every bit of drama out of everything they did with Demon leaving puddles around the ring like an un house broken puppy.

ER: Just a couple years ago it was the safest bet possible that Blue Demon Jr. would spend the rest of his days in lucha casually making money off his established birthright while also doing the exact level of work that legacy sons can get away with, and not an ounce more. And then for reasons I'm not sure I've seen anyone properly explain, he turned 50 and just decided to hit the ground running and take terrifying death match beatings. It's the 2nd most unexpected plot twist for a 50+ year old wrestler this decade, and it's only 2nd because somehow David Arquette happened. But even that seems up for debate, as we'd have to weigh which was more unexpected between a) shocking return to wrestling *period*, before the near throat slashing vs. b) long time coasting legacy act deciding to suffer for his art and achieve genuine greatness. Blue Demon Jr. just might be the most intriguing wrestling story of the decade, and that makes this match even more special, makes it feel even more historic. The action is perfectly paced and the whole match is spiked with crazy violence. Demon smashes a bottle on Wagner's head and later smashes his hand with a freaking hammer like he caught Wagner counting cards for a buddy. This match really announces what the hell it's going to be and it never veers from that violent promise. I still don't know how Blue Demon Jr. can suddenly be Satanico, but here he is punching Wagner in the chin all over the ring, and Wagner gets absolutely nuclear reactions with fast schoolboy rollups, fast counted by Hijo del Tirantes. Blood spurts like mad, both guys covered, huge puddles on the mat, Demon ripping at Wagner's arm and hand, Wagner spiking him with some savage Wagner Drivers for more great nearfalls; the whole thing is impossible to pull your eyes from. It's amazing how high they kept the drama throughout; this was a huge match on paper and even more huge in execution. This match is the sweetest kind of wrestling gift, the kind of all time great match that nobody could have predicted, bloated in the best ways, shocking in even better ways, just a total classic.


2019 MOTY MASTER LIST