2023 proved to be a fantastic year across the board for Deathmatch Wrestling. Talents received opportunities to compete all around the globe. Names both established and up-and-coming alike put their best feet forward to provide some unforgettable matches and moments. And the genre even received some representation amongst the big leagues and recognized World Champions of Professional Wrestling. All of this has made today’s article that much harder to boil down. With things still running on the slower side in the new year, it’s time to take a look back at Deathmatch Wrestling’s top talents of 2023. For the sake of simplicity, the Evaluation Period will cover the whole of 2023: from New Year’s Day to New Year’s Eve. To give you all an idea of how this list was narrowed down, here are the parameters used to rank these talents:
Accomplishment: Tournament wins, Championship wins, major debuts, etc.
Spectacle: Major matches.
Activity: How active a Deathmatch Wrestler they were.
Example: Tomoya Hirata held both the KFC World & Tag Team Championships during the evaluation period. However, due to injury sidelining him in the Summer, he fell further back in the rankings over other active competitors.
As one last measure, with this being a list-based article, I would like to issue a warning:
This list and article are the opinions of one person. This list and article are by no means meant to be taken or presented as the definitive matter of fact. If you would like to cry about it, please cry into your pillow on whatever shitty Facebook groups you subscribe to.
#10: Tommy Vendetta
Accolades: RPW King of the Kill Winner, RPW Deathmatch Champion, H2O Tag Team Champion
Notable Matches: vs Crowbar (ICWNHB), vs Mance Warner (GCW), vs Abdullah Kobayashi, Atticus Cogar & John Wayne Murdoch (RPW)
At the start of 2023, I put Tommy Vendetta on my list of ones to watch through the year, and I’m happy to say that Tommy crushed it in 2023. Most notably, Tommy would win his first ever Deathmatch Tournament with Ruthless Pro Wrestling’s King of the Kill, all the while wearing a shirt and not giving a fuck what you think about it. Tommy would also pick up a couple of titles at the end of the year; winning the RPW Deathmatch Title in October, and winning the H2O Tag Team Titles with fellow Michigan Pillar: Malcolm Monroe III in December. Above all, Took full advantage of big match opportunities presented to him. Whether it was showing out on the GCW stage against Mance Warner, or being thrown in a four way clash with John Wayne Murdoch, Atticus Cogar and Abdullah Kobayashi. Or even facing former WCW star Crowbar in a Deathmatch.
#9: John Wayne Murdoch
Accolades: Finalist in GCW’s TOS VIII & NGI VIII, Participant in 1st Ever Exploding Deathmatch in GCW History, Tours in UK, Japan & Mexico
Notable Matches: vs Jun Kasai (GCW), vs Drew Parker (GCW), vs Rina Yamashita (GCW)
The Duke of Hardcore has had an interesting year. Despite not having any major Tournament or Championship wins under his belt this year, John Wayne Murdoch has put on a consistently strong body of work across the year. His performances were in fact so strong, he landed himself Finalist positions in both of GCW’s major tournaments: Tournament of Survival and the Nick Gage Invitational, in the same year. John has also made the rounds competing around the globe; wrestling to the UK, Japan and Mexico, where John would go on to make history with GCW as he was part of the company’s first ever Exploding Deathmatch. Above all, John solidified himself as 10th overall with big performances against the likes of Rina Yamashita, Drew Parker, Violento Jack, and Jun Kasai.
#8: AKIRA
Accolades: Circle 6’s Sic(est) of the Six Winner, Defended MLW World Middleweight Title in a Deathmatch, Debut for Big Japan Pro-Wrestling
Notable Matches: vs Masashi Takdea (BJW), vs Bobby Beverly (Circle 6), vs Drexl (Prestige)
This year was definitely different for the former Death Samurai. Aside from picking up the mantle of the Death Fighter and signing with Major League Wrestling, AKIRA has shown much more of his wrestling acumen. That being said, AKIRA really exemplified the phrase “quality over quantity” over the course of the year. This includes engaging in an Ultraviolent Kumite with Bobby Beverly, as well as facing Drexl in a No Canvas No Ropes Barbed Wire Deathmatch. In the area of accomplishments, AKIRA did quite well for himself as he won Circle 6’s inaugural Sic(est) of the Six Tournament. Just as big, he finally made his debut in Japan for Big Japan Pro-Wrestling, making a big splash against Masashi Takeda. And possibly most interestingly, AKIRA would become the first ever MLW World Middleweight Champion to defend the belt in a Deathmatch.
#7: Jun Kasai
Accolades: Returned to the US for the First Time in 4 years, Held a Deathmatch in New Japan Pro Wrestling
Notable Matches: w/ El Desperado vs Jon Moxley & Homicide (NJPW), vs Nick Gage (GCW), w/ Masashi Takeda vs Drew Parker & Abdullah Kobayashi (FREEDOMS)
One would think that after twenty-five years of wrestling, Jun Kasai would slow things down. However, the Crazy Monkey is still going strong, with some of his best work still coming as he faces his fifties this year. Arguably Jun Kasai’s biggest accomplishment this year was his unprecedented participation with New Japan Pro Wrestling. For the first time since 2000, New Japan would present a Deathmatch as Kasai teamed with El Desperado to face Homicide and AEW’s Jon Moxley. Just as unprecedented, Kasai would make three different returns to the United States; the first as a surprise following the ending of Tournament of Survival, and twice more in competitive fashion. These would include The Art of War Games Match, and legendary showdowns with both Matt Tremont and Nick Gage. Kasai would also have the pleasure of having one of Drew Parker’s final Deathmatches as Jun teamed with Masashi Takeda to face Drew and Abdullah Kobayashi.
#6: Violento Jack
Accolades: King of FREEDOM World Champion, Returned to the US After 5 Years
Notable Matches: vs Drew Parker (FREEDOMS), vs Tomoya Hirata (FREEDOMS), vs Rina Yamashita (GCW)
While he may be overlooked at times in the best in the world argument, Violento Jack is by no means never the lesser. Early in the year, Violento Jack would win his fourth King of FREEDOM World Championship in a violent spectacle against the undoubted best in the world at the time: Drew Parker. Despite only spending a month with the belt, Jack would go on to have another spectacular matchup as he passed the belt to Tomoya Hirata. Violento would go on to return to United States soil for the first time in five years as he would compete in GCW’s Tournament of Survival, The Art of War Games, and the Nick Gage Invitational. With great performances under him and continued Western exposure, I have no doubts that big things will continue to come for Violento Jack in 2024.
#5: Matt Tremont
Accolades: IWTV Independent Wrestling World Champion, GCW Tournament of Survival VIII Entrant
Notable Matches: vs Neil Diamond Cutter (H2O), vs Jun Kasai (GCW), vs Krule (IWTV)
The Bulldozer turned KillDozer left a bloodstained mark on 2023. Matt Tremont entered the year as the IWTV Independent Wrestling World Champion, making him a recognized World Champion according to PWI. Despite criticisms about the quality of his reign, Tremont holding the title would still make him the first ever Deathmatch Wrestler to hold this World Title. Tremont would even get to defend the belt in Deathmatches against the likes of Casanova Valentine and Malcolm Monroe III. World Champion status aside, Tremont would go on to have a slate of fantastic matches through 2023. These include his Buried Alive Match with Krule, his blockbuster GCW Fight Club matchup with Jun Kasai, and the absolutely chaotic 700 Lighttube Deathmatch against Neil Diamond Cutter; a match that is still amongst my favorites of 2023.
#4: Masashi Takeda
Accolades: King of FREEDOM World Champion, BJW Tag Team Champion, BJW
Soushi Sousatsu Deathmatch Tag Tournament Winner
Notable Matches: vs Mance Warner (GCW), vs AKIRA (BJW), w/ Jun Kasai vs Drew Parker & Abdullah Kobayashi (FREEDOMS)
With Masashi Takeda making a mid-year comeback to Wrestling in 2022, I was excited to see what the Crazy Kid would do with a full year ahead of him. Masashi Takeda would have a fantastic year in Japan, splitting his time having a slate of great matches working with both Big Japan Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS. Takdea would also make a big return to the United States in October for GCW’s Art of War Games, and for a stellar Deathmatch with Mance Warner that is a close contender for my favorite of the year. The end of 2023 for Takeda would cement his spot on this list as he’d find himself draped in gold over the holidays. On Christmas Night, Masashi Takeda would defeat Toru Sugiura for the King of FREEDOMS World Championship. And then, just five days later, Takdea and fellow Crazy Lover: Takumi Tsukamoto, coming off of winning BJW Soushi Sousatsu Deathmatch Tag Tournament, would capture the BJW Tag Team Championships to close out 2023.
#3: HoodFoot
Accolades: ICW American Deathmatch World Champion, SPO’s Battle of the Tough Guys Winner, AWR Asylum Tournament Winner
Notable Matches: vs Abdullah Kobayashi, Krule & Tank (ICWNHB), vs Reed Bentley (ICWNHB), vs Matt Tremont (ICWNHB)
If 2022 was all about HoodFoot making a statement as a player in the Deathmatch world, then 2023 would be the exclamation point on the end of that statement. After establishing himself with a win over Abdullah Kobayashi to close 2022, HoodFoot would climb the top of the mountain in ICW No Holds Barred and dethrone Brandon Kirk as American Deathmatch World Champion. Since that victory, HoodFoot has gone on to have a fruitful reign with a staggering eighteen defenses since winning the belt back in April. These defenses have not at all been against pushovers as he’s defended successfully against the likes of Bobby Beverly, Pagano, John Wayne Murdoch and Reed Bentley. While HoodFoot would add AWR’s Asylum Deathmatch Tournament to his accolades, he would also make history at SPO’s Battle of the Tough Guys. During Wrestival Weekend, HoodFoot would win the tournament, defending his belt all the way through his run, and become the first ever back-to-back winner of the Battle of the Tough Guys Tournament.
#2: Toru Sugiura
Accolades: Simultaneously held GCW Tag Team Titles and King of FREEDOM World & Tag Team Titles, GCW TOS Semi-Finalist
Notable Matches: vs Rina Yamashita (GCW), vs Daisuke Masaoka (FREEDOMS), vs Jun Kasai (FREEDOMS)
Toru Sugiura saw another year of showcasing every reason why he is one of the best Deathmatch Wrestlers in the world today. Having already been the longest reigning King of FREEDOM World Champion, Sugiura would add a second reign to his resume as he spent much of the back-half of 2023 as Champion. Sugiura’s reign would see him defend against the likes of Jun Kasai, Daisuke Masaoka, and even the US’ John Wayne Murdoch. At his absolute peak of the year, Toru Sugiura would hold the King of FREEDOM World & Tag Team Championships, as well as the Game Changer Wrestling Tag Team Championships; being a triple champion. Of course Toru would also find himself on American soil, passing to the Semi-Finals of GCW’s Tournament of Survival, as well as representing Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS in The Art of War Games Match.
#1: Rina Yamashita
Accolades: GCW Ultraviolent Champion, GCW Tournament of Survival VIII Winner
Notable Matches: vs Kasey Kirk (GCW), Art of War Games (GCW), vs Daisuke Masaoka (FREEDOMS)
It has been an absolute runaway year in the wrestling career of Rina Yamashita. Not only did she enter the year as Game Changer Wrestling Ultraviolent Champion, but she managed to add accolades to her reign. Despite fewer defenses before the mid-year marker, Rina defended the belt thirteen times, and in this period, defended the belt in the United States, England, Germany and Japan. Japan in particular would see Rina defending the belt for the first time ever in Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS. And just as big as being the longest reigning Champion, her reign of over 500 days has gone longer than all the previous title reigns combined. Yamashita also made history in other facets, becoming the first Woman to ever win GCW’s Tournament of Survival by successfully running the gauntlet of TOS VIII. The next night, Yamashita would go on to have the first ever Cage of Survival Match to feature all Women as she’d face then GCW World Champion: Masha Slamovich. It’s been fantastic to see Rina get the acclaim and accolades she deserves in 2023. And I look forward to seeing how much further she’s going to go through 2024.
With this list and 2023 in the books, the slate has been cleaned. With it being only January, it could be quite literally anybody’s year. Who will step up for that Number 1 spot? Which up-and-comers will step up and make their name? You can keep up with it all with This Week in Death; covering the latest in top Deathmatch headlines every Monday morning on Top Rope Writing.
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