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Since its foundation in 2002, Ring of Honor has amazed viewers with their incredible matches, producing a litany of the biggest modern stars today such as Bryan Danielson, Samoa Joe, Seth Rollins, CM Punk, and many, many more. A staple of professional wrestling that continues to impress today under Tony Khan with their most recent Pay-Per-View, Death Before Dishonor, a truly fantastic showing from all involved.
Receiving six five-star ratings from Dave Meltzer at the ‘Wrestling Observer Newsletter’ throughout the years, Ring of Honor have held host to some true classic encounters. Which bouts rank as Ring of Honor’s greatest matches ever, according to Dave Meltzer and his star-rating system?
10 Bryan Danielson Vs. Takeshi Morishima, ROH World Heavyweight Championship, ROH Manhattan Mayhem II, 4.75*
NOTE*: The following 4.75* rated matches are ranked according to the highest rated on Cagematch.net.
This was an amazing match in this David vs Goliath battle for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship, as Bryan Danielson challenged champion Takeshi Morishima. The storytelling was masterful with Danielson looking to bring Morishima down by targeting the legs, as Morishima powered back with his monstrous offense.
The crowd was white-hot chanting for both men but behind Danielson in particular, with an incredible final third featuring spectacular counters, near falls, and atmosphere. A war of attrition with Morishima emerging victorious to retain in an instant classic.
9 Austin Aries Vs. Nigel McGuinness, ROH World Heavyweight Championship, ROH Rising Above 2007, 4.75*
An absolutely sensational clash between Nigel McGuinness and Austin Aries for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship here at 2007s Rising Above event. Although infamous for a brutal concussion that busted open McGuinness after a suicide dive into the barricade by Aries, this was incredible with McGuinness soldiering on in a tremendous effort. Incredible technical wrestling, stiff strikes, a red-hot crowd, and awesome selling led to a classic unfolding as both men went to war. A scintillating closing stretch led to a perfect climax as McGuinness retained in a legendary performance, in an ROH classic.
8 Bryan Danielson Vs. KENTA, ROH World Heavyweight Championship, ROH Glory By Honor V – Tag 2, 4.75*
An incredible match here with Bryan Danielson defending his ROH World Heavyweight Championship against KENTA in a dream first-time meeting. The two stars lived up to the hype and then some with a tremendous match top to bottom. Awesome spots, fantastic technical wrestling, brutal striking, and a blistering closing stretch led to an instant classic unfolding. With nail-biting near falls and a red-hot atmosphere, this was epic in every sense as Danielson retained with the Cattle Mutilation.
7 Bryan Danielson Vs. Nigel McGuinness, ROH World Heavyweight Championship & ROH Pure Championship Unification Match, ROH Unified, 4.75*
An instant classic in this Championship Unification match at 2006s ROH Unified event, with ROH World Heavyweight Champion Bryan Danielson battling ROH Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness in an absolute war of attrition.
Fantastic technical wrestling, brutal striking, and an electric atmosphere with the crowd red-hot for hometown hero McGuinness. The final third was utterly amazing as McGuiness was busted open the hard way, with the two men throwing bombs at one another in a beautiful display of violence. Danielson would prevail after elbowing McGuiness to oblivion in a classic ROH battle.
6 Samoa Joe Vs. CM Punk, ROH World Heavyweight Championship, ROH Joe Vs. Punk II, 5*
This was an absolutely legendary 60-minute time-limit draw for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship between Samoa Joe and CM Punk, in their second meeting. The pace kept for such a long bout was utterly amazing as the two went to war, with Punk looking to play mind games and disarm the monstrous Joe. The in-ring action was superb throughout with a scintillating final third as both stars desperately tried to put the other away. These two had unbelievable chemistry and this was a very deserving 5* from Dave Meltzer, in his first 5* match in America for seven years.
5 Samoa Joe Vs. Kenta Kobashi, ROH Joe Vs. Kobashi, 5*
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An all-time classic here between the legendary Kenta Kobashi and Samoa Joe in 2005 for Ring of Honor, with the two stars going to war in this electric dream meeting. The crowd was white-hot for this for obvious reasons as Kobashi and Joe brutalized one another with chops, suplexes, and strikes to viewers’ ecstasy.
This was simply unbelievable and is one of those matches which encompass everything legendary about professional wrestling at its finest. A 5* classic, undoubtedly.
4 Do FIXER (Dragon Kid, Genki Horiguchi, Ryo Saito) Vs. Blood Generation (CIMA, Masato Yoshino, Naruki Doi), Six-Man Tag, ROH Supercard Of Honor, 5*
This was an insane six-man tag spot fest featuring six Dragon Gate competitors that tore the house down at ROH’s Supercard of Honor event. An unbelievable pace, awe-inspiring spots, and riveting sequences led to one of the most exciting, scintillating tag team matches viewers have had the pleasure of witnessing. The crowd was white-hot once the bout kicked into full gear, with a magical atmosphere being captured in this unbelievable six-man tag. Easily one of the greatest six-man tag matches of all time and an instant classic here from Do FIXER and Blood Generation.
3 Davey Richards Vs. Michael Elgin, ROH World Heavyweight Championship, ROH Showdown In The Sun – Day 2, 5*
An unbelievable ROH World Heavyweight Championship clash between Davey Richards and Michael Elgin at 2012s Showdown in the Sun event, with the two stars tearing the house down in an ROH classic. While some viewers feel this match was the epitome of a ‘forced epic’ with lots of kick outs and big maneuvers with little psychology, there is no denying this was a barnstormer. A slower first half led to an other-worldly second half after Elgin delivered a brutal guardrail power bomb, with both men throwing bombs at one another in a magnificent array of spots, sequences, and near falls. Not every viewers’ cup of tea but certainly an understandable 5* rating from Dave Meltzer for this 2012 Match of the Year contender.
2 FTR Vs. The Briscoes, ROH World Tag Team Championship, ROH Supercard Of Honor XV, 5*
This was an absolute epic tag team clash at this year’s Supercard of Honor PPV, stealing the show in a truly sensational display of tag team wrestling. Incredible atmosphere, brilliant, intense in-ring action, and unbelievable drama and intensity with the blood only enhancing the war. A dream match that lived up the hype and then some, this was a tag team classic in every sense as FTR captured the ROH World Tag Team Championship.
1 FTR Vs. The Briscoes, ROH World Tag Team Championship, Two Out Of Three Falls, 5*
Another absolute classic from these two teams in this much-anticipated Two out of Three Falls rematch, in a rare case where the sequel managed to maintain the quality of the first encounter and arguably exceed it. A war of attrition here with the crowd red-hot for FTR, with excellent pacing and utilization of the stipulation. The match did not feel rushed in the slightest and built to the final third to perfection, with incredible intensity, spots, and drama as the crowd roared for the incredible carnage unfolding. FTR would retain after a brutal Piledriver from the second rope from Dax Harwood, with an emotional post-match speech the icing on the cake in this 5* classic.