Click here for part 1 of this list, where we listed the top 50 through 26 free women’s matches of last year. Before going through the top 25, we want to share a few honorable mentions. These matches all come from promotions that deserve to be on the list for the free content they’ve put out in 2018, but just barely missed out.
HM: KC Spinelli vs. Tessa Blanchard, SMASH Wrestling Canusa Classic (10/27/2018)
This match is a standout from Smash Wrestling’s excellent CANUSA Classic event, which brought together top talent from both Canada and the US for competition. It’s one of the most star-studded cards of last year for an all women’s event in North America.
HM: DASH Chisako vs. Jordynne Grace, Over the Top Wrestling Defiant (1/4/2018)
This bout is another headline-grabber from Over the Top Wrestling’s first all-women card of 2018. OTT decided to stream its second all-women show, Defiant 2, for free while WWE’s controversial Crown Jewel show was on. This generous move allowed many viewers who were uncomfortable with Crown Jewel to watch great wrestling elsewhere.
HM: Kay Lee Ray vs. Viper, Insane Championship Wrestling Fear & Loathing XI (12/2/2018)
Wrestling matches that involve barbed wire and thumbtacks certainly aren’t for everyone. However, Insane Championship Wrestling should be praised for making it available to as many eyes as possible. Viper has had a rich feud with Kay Lee Ray for many years, so she saw this as “the only match” that could be a climax to their story. Thankfully ICW agrees that when one’s art takes them in this direction, it would be a pity if only a few people got to see it.
Top 50 FREE Women’s Matches of 2018 (Part 2)
25. Kylie Rae vs. Santana Garrett, Battle Club Pro Malice at the Palace (6/7/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: Two very evenly matched, athletic competitors
Best Moment: Kylie and Santana mirroring each other’s kicks, leading to a double knockdown
My Rating: **** 1/4
24. Shoko Nakajima vs. Yuu, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling How Do You Like Narimasu? (11/24/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: Catch wrestling
Best Moment: Yuu reversing Shoko’s diving crossbody into a powerslam
My Rating: **** 1/4
23. Kylie Rae vs. Lacey Lane vs. Thunder Rosa (Elimination Match), Capital Wrestling Alliance Raven Black Memorial Tournament (1/27/2018)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohovEE0tV5E
Watch This Match If You Like: Quick moves and gymnastic ability
Best Moment: Lacey hitting her signature springboard top rope armdrag
My Rating: **** 1/4
22. Ivelisse vs. Kiera Hogan (Steel Cage Match), Reality of Wrestling Ladies Night Out 3 (8/18/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: A tense, passionate brawl
Best Moment: Ivelisse cutting Kiera’s escape off with a belly-to-back superplex
My Rating: **** 1/4
21. MiraClians vs. Mizuki and Riho, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (1/4/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: A healthy balance between great wrestling and light-hearted entertainment that doesn’t take itself very seriously
Best Moment: Mizuki and Riho’s excellent sequence of double footstomps
My Rating: **** 1/4
20. Deonna Purrazzo vs. Karen Q (No Disqualification Match), Ring of Honor (1/10/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: A cocky heel working a crowd, innovative weapons spots, and great brawling
Best Moment: Deonna catching Karen’s running corner kick and turning it into a powerbomb
My Rating: **** 1/4
19. Bea Priestley vs. Kanji vs. Kay Lee Ray vs. Lana Austin vs. Little Miss Roxxy vs. Millie McKenzie (Gauntlet), Defiant Wrestling Loaded 2 (12/3/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: Multi-woman action with a rich story and a variety of styles and tactics
Best Moment: Watching the twists and turns of Lana’s plotting
My Rating: **** 1/4
18. Women’s Royal Rumble, WWE Royal Rumble (1/28/2018)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-uVb_OMg5Y
Watch This Match If You Like: Nostalgia, big moments, and multiple converging narratives
Best Moment: Trish Stratus returning and having a moment alone with Mickie James, to the audience’s delight
My Rating: **** 1/4
17. AQA vs. Hyan, Reality of Wrestling Episode 221 On the Line (7/14/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: The story of a resilient, athletic babyface against a crafty, experienced heel
Best Moment: The high-stakes, emotional finishing sequence
My Rating: **** 1/4
16. Ivelisse vs. Thunder Rosa, Reality of Wrestling Ladies Night Out 4 (11/17/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: A back and forth between two wrestlers who always have an answer for each other
Best Moment: An excellent series of reversals leading to a sunset flip powerbomb
My Rating: **** 1/4
15. Kylie Rae vs. Thunder Rosa, Inspire Pro War O’Clock High (3/25/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: Two beloved wrestlers working a very hot crowd and having a blast
Best Moment: When the action spills directly into the audience’s lap
My Rating: **** 1/4
14. Kikyo vs. Leva Bates, Prestige Wrestling 6: Reality Unfolds (6/8/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: A David and Goliath story with fun character work
Best Moment: When Leva hits her animated power-up section
My Rating: **** 1/4
13. Indi Hartwell vs. Kylie Rae, Zelo Pro (10/28/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: Excellent heel work and great wrestling with an attention on ring psychology
Best Moment: Kylie going out of her way to high-five the same fans that Indi flipped off
My Rating: **** 1/4
12. Ivelisse vs. Kiera Hogan, Reality of Wrestling Ladies Night Out 2 (5/19/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: An absolute grudge match
Best Moment: Ivelisse countering Kiera’s baseball slide dropkick by trapping her in the apron skirt
My Rating: **** 1/4
11. Bea Priestley vs. Toni Storm, Frontline Wrestling Build Me an Empire (6/28/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: A stiff match that keeps you second guessing who’s going to win
Best Moment: Toni reversing Bea’s attempted hanging double foot stomp into a spider suplex
My Rating: **** 1/4
10. Mia Yim vs. Tessa Blanchard, Battle Club Pro May the Queen Reign (5/25/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: A very hard hitting brawl that spills into the crowd
Best Moment: Tessa’s reaction to being brought something from the concession stand, mid-match
My Rating: **** 1/4
9. Nyla Rose vs. Takumi Iroha, Marvelous/Warriors of Wrestling (8/5/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: Watching a strikes and submissions expert take on a raw powerhouse
Best Moment: Nyla powering through Takumi’s sleeper hold by hitting a sidewalk slam, only for Takumi to immediately reapply the hold
My Rating: **** 1/4
8. Kay Lee Ray vs. Millie McKenzie, Defiant Wrestling Road to No Regrets (3/26/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: Two wrestlers with absolutely no quit in their bones throwing all their big moves at each other
Best Moment: A very impressive and painful looking move to close the match
My Rating: **** 1/4
7. Lacey Lane vs. Tessa Blanchard, Pro Wrestling 2.0 Valentine’s Crush (2/13/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: A lovable underdog, a suspenseful match, and great technical ability
Best Moment: The moment after Lacey finally gets her draping neckbreaker finisher set up
My Rating: **** 1/4
6. Deonna Purrazzo vs. Madison Eagles (Submission Match), SHIMMER 101 (4/14/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: Mat wrestling, ring psychology, and technical mastery
Best Moment: Madison’s reaction to Deonna’s repeated forearm strike blitz
My Rating: **** 1/2
5. Kay Lee Ray vs. Meiko Satomura, EVE WrestleQueendom (5/5/2018)
https://youtu.be/ETBcUtaO7uY?t=5538
Watch This Match If You Like: A hot crowd, stiff strikes, craftiness, and resilience
Best Moment: Kay Lee Ray hitting Meiko with a gory bomb on the apron
My Rating: **** 1/2
4. Kylie Rae vs. Tessa Blanchard, Zelo Pro Arrival (4/20/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: Big and loud character work, a strong match narrative, and great athleticism
Best Moment: Tessa hitting the wrong nerve and turning Kylie all the way up to 10
My Rating: **** 1/2
3. Jessicka Havok vs. Su Yung, Battle Club Pro Welcome to War (3/3/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: A hardcore match with nasty bumps
Best Moment: Jessicka reversing Su’s dive into an apron powerbomb
My Rating: **** 1/2
2. Holidead vs. Roni Nicole (Falls Count Anywhere Match), The Resistance Chapter 2: Revelations (5/4/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: A no holds barred BRAWL that goes all over the place
Best Moment: Roni slamming Holidead through a door
My Rating: **** 1/2
1. Hyan vs. Su Yung (No DQ Match), Reality of Wrestling Ladies Night Out 4 (11/17/2018)
Watch This Match If You Like: Brutality, weapons, big bumps, crowd work, and some overt campiness.
Best Moment: Su’s miraculous aim as she hits Hyan with all the chairs she tosses into the ring
My Rating: **** 3/4
I hope this list of the best free women’s matches of 2018 will help you find even more wrestling that you will enjoy! Let me know what you think. What did you like? What didn’t you like? What’s missing? And don’t forget, these are only the free women’s matches of 2018; please consider extending financial support to the wrestlers and promotions responsible for making these matches happen.
