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The world of pro wrestling in 2021 offers many options for fans of the sport. In the United States, options include the various brands within the WWE, the newly popular AEW, or smaller promotions like Ring of Honor. In Japan, NJPW, AJPW, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and DDT provide quality action on a weekly basis. These are just some of the promotions that delivered wrestling fans memorable matches during the month of March.
The top 10 must-watch pro wrestling matches will be listed in chronological order. Here are some honorable mentions to start things off.
Honorable Mentions
NJPW 49th Anniversary 3/3
IWGP Unification Match: Kota Ibushi d. El Desperado ****
WWE 205 Live 3/5
Mansoor d. Curt Stallion ****
AEW Revolution 2021 3/7
AEW Tag Team Title Match: The Young Bucks d. Chris Jericho & MJF ****
WWE Raw 3/8
No DQ Match: Drew McIntyre vs Sheamus (No Contest) ****
New Japan Cup 2021 3/9
SANADA d. Ishii ****1/4
NXT 3/10
Finn Balor d. Adam Cole ****
New Japan Cup: Semi-Final 3/14
Will Osprey d. Zack Sabre Jr. ****1/2
WWE Fastlane 2021 3/21
Roman Reigns d. Daniel Bryan ****
Pro Wrestling: Top 10 in March 2021
WWE Raw: 3/1
Drew McIntyre d. Sheamus
WWE Raw has often been criticized for focusing too much on entertainment and not enough on in-ring action. While that is typically a valid complaint, Drew McIntyre and Sheamus kicked off the month of March by putting on a hoss fight between two of the Raw’s toughest competitors. Must-Watch. ****1/4
NXT UK: 3/4
NXT UK Women’s Title Match: Kay Lee Ray d. Meiko Satomura
The best women’s match of 2021 was gifted to pro wrestling fans when Kay Lee Ray stepped up to the challenge of veteran Meiko Satomura. Must-Watch that you should check out ASAP. ****1/2
😲😲😲😲😲😲@satomurameiko is PUNISHING @Kay_Lee_Ray!
It's ALL about the #NXTUK Women's Championship right now! pic.twitter.com/rBcGjqovnr
— WWE (@WWE) March 4, 2021
Pro Wrestling: Land of the Rising Sun
New Japan Cup 2021 3/6
First Round: Shingo Takagi d. Kazuchika Okada
Kazuchika Okada has been suffering from serious back issues over the last few months, but that didn’t stop him from rising to the occasion in the New Japan Cup. Shingo Takagi has been making an early case for MOTY and matches like this are a good example why. The New Japan Cup had many good matches, with Takagi/Okada being one of the best. Must-Watch. ****1/4
NOAH: Great Voyage 2021 in Yokahama 3/7
GHC Tag Team Championship: Katsuhiko Nakajima & Masa Kitamiya d. Takashi Sugiura & Kazushi Sakuraba (New Champions)
Takashi Sugiura & Kazushi Sakuraba and veterans who have held the tag titles in Pro Wrestling NOAH for some time. Despite the respect they have among their peers and fans, it was only a matter of time before a younger team knocked them off. Katsuhiko Nakajima & Masa Kitamiya proved to be that team, with Kitamiya finishing off Sugura with a stiff headbutt that caused him to bleed the hard way in the tag team match of the year to date. Must-Watch. ****1/2
IMPACT’s Unification
Impact Wrestling Sacrifice 2021 3/13
Unification Title Match: Rich Swann d. Moose
In recent months, Moose had been carrying around the defunct TNA Title while Rich Swann was the holder of the legitimate IMPACT Wrestling Championship. At Sacrifice, both men went off and put on one of the best matches of the year that the company has displayed. Must-Watch. ****
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLoIoC_UsOw&t=7s
Pro Wrestling: NOAH’s rise
NOAH Great Voyage in Fukuoka 3/14
GHC Junior Heavyweight Title Match: Atsushi Kotoge d. Seiki Yoshioka (New Champion)
The NOAH juniors continue to be a hidden gem in the world of wrestling, which was evident during the title match at the Great Voyage in Fukuoka. In only his first title defense, Seiki Yoshioka dropped the belt to Atushi Kotoge in a match that is clear a Must-Watch for fans of the junior style. ****
NOAH Great Voyage in Fukuoka 3/14
GHC Heavyweight Title Match: Keiji Mutoh d. Kaito Kiyomiya
In the main event of the Great Voyage in Fukuoka, Keiji Mutoh fought off the challenge of the young and future ACE of Pro Wrestling NOAH. Kaito Kiyomiya gave it his all against the veteran champion, but Mutoh played to his strengths of using his intelligence and groundwork to his advantage. Mutoh pulled off an avalanche frankensteiner before also wearing down Kaito enough for the submission victory. Must-Watch. ****1/2
https://twitter.com/noah_ghc/status/1372522136158437377
DDT’s dazzling action
DDT Day Dream Believer 3/14
Universal Title Match: Yuki Ueno d. Yusuke Okada
I’ve become a more casual viewer of DDT due to many aspects of the promotion dealing with heavy comedy and unrealistic wrestling. However, DDT has also delivered good straightforward wrestling, which was on display during the Day Dream Believer show with Yuki Ueno defeated Yusuke Okada. Must Watch. ****1/4
Women steal the show in AEW
AEW Dynamite 3/17
Unsanctioned Match: Thunder Rosa d. Britt Baker
AEW is mostly miss than hit for me, so much so that I stopped doing recaps of the shows. Despite this, Thunder Rosa and Britt Baker got much-deserved attention during their Lights Out Unsanctioned Match that resulted in Baker busted open. Rosa got the win after a driver through a table on the outside. Must-Watch. ****
New Japan Cup Finale 3/21
Will Ospreay d. Shingo Takagi
A quarter of the year has gone by and my Wrestler of the Year to this point is Shingo Takagi. Matching his effort on this night was Will Ospreay who came together to put on arguably the MOTY in 2021 as of press time.
／
🏆NEW JAPAN CUP 2021 決勝戦🏆
＼NEW JAPAN CUP 2021 決勝戦は壮絶な死闘‼️
IWGP世界ヘビー級王者・飯伏幸太への挑戦権を手に入れたのはどちらだ⁉️🆚 @Takagi__Shingo × @WillOspreay
📲 #njpwworld で配信中📡
👀 登録＆視聴⏩https://t.co/CcdQ1XrpWA#njpw #njcupfinal pic.twitter.com/SUi1bHvKf1— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) March 21, 2021
After the match, Ospreay turned on his girlfriend by hitting a cutter, which caused debate and outrage among some fans. Regardless of where you stand on the post-match angle, the match itself reaches the GOLD STANDARD. *****