Brian Pillman vs. Jushin Thunder Liger for the WCW Light Heavyweight Championship, from WCW Superbrawl II (1992)

This used to be the high water mark of outstanding opening matches, and nearly thirty years later, I’ll still argue it deserves a place in the top ten. There’s nothing here more complicated than a crossbody block and the first half is filled with working over limbs (by wrestlers who don’t have submission finishers), but what makes this stand out is the pace it cuts, making sure the next big spot is better than the last they threw out there. Also, Pillman’s consistent selling of his leg is a thing of beauty. Sting and Luger couldn’t hope to better this.

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