Dan White's List of ACW's Top 20 Matches List*

[Dan White]

*Authorised and agreed upon by moderators.

Basically, there was a top 20 ACW Matches list promised. However due to other commitments, certain people were unable to compile the list. I offered to do it and it was accepted. My list is based off a few criteria. The best matches, I feel, are the matches that are not only fantastically written, but also matches that held great significance during the time and over the course of time. So don't go assuming this is the top 20 well-written matches of all time, because it's not. It's purely the top 20 matches based on match writing, significance and importance.


20. Seven Deadly Sins 2004 (Writer: Alicia Kitsune)
5 on 5 Elimination Match - Winning Team Earns Rights to ACW
-Team CJayC (Gingerdude, 004, Latino, Alicia Kitsune & Bladeshadow) def. Team WCW98 (WCW98, Ridley, White Rose, Kain, Commissioner RDK)
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8677&page=2#97382

ACW has had many multiman elimination matches, but this one rises above the rest. Whilst it may have not been the most well-written match of all time, the sheer importance of this match stands above the rest. ACW was only two months old, and yet the fed was able to come together and unite in this match, filled with many great competitors. It led to the cumulation of ACW's first great storyline, the battle between Pain Inc. and Latino & DJ Blaze, the latter of which would rise into Alicia Kitsune in this very match. This, along with Ridley's death and dramatic resurrection, which led into not only the first stage in the Ridley/White Rose feud, but also into the storyline involving himself and Alicia Kitsune, which remains one of the greatest storylines ACW has ever seen. Not only that, but this match also witnessed the transition of RDK, from a heel Commissioner ready to do whatever the Chairman ordered, into a charismatic, crowd-loving superstar.


19. Bloody Valentine's 2006 (Writer: Hunter)
Ladder Match - ACW Entertainment Title
-Kudo Yasuda (c) def. "The Welsh Dragon" Dan White
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8696&page=2#98733

This match remains one of the most finely written ladder matches ACW has ever seen. Whilst not known for his match writing skills and moreso his excellent storylines, Hunter provided a match which truly gave the essences of what a good ladder match is. He didn't overdo the spots, he tried to focus as much on the characters as much as the match gimmick, and he included standard wrestling into the match. I genuinely believe that if I was able to see that first paragraph played out in a real pro wrestling match I would heavily mark out. This match came at the very end of Kudo's huge Entertainment Title reign (which, to this day, remains ACW's longest ever title reign), as he lost his title 5 days later (in a match White was also involved in), and this was a fine book end to one of the finest reigns we have ever seen.


18. Samhain 2005 (Writer: Alicia Kitsune)
30-Minute Iron Man Match
-BK London def. Kudo Yasuda 3-2
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8692&page=3#98483

Similarly to the previous entrant, it is so easy to make an Iron Man match and make it the most clichéd match of all time. I have seen it in many an ACW match, where every spot is thrown into the match. You'll have the “chair shot to get yourself DQ'd, but then pin them to earn an extra point” spot, or the “lock them in a submission when the clock is ticking down” spot, or a dramatic last-minute situation where a pin is made with 2 seconds left. Okay, this match had the latter, but it still doesn't take it away from this match. There was clearly passion here; BK was effectively running the show and making the International Title his own, but this newcomer Kudo was doing the same but with the Entertainment Title. It was a great concept for the duo to come together in such a match, and even more for BK to allow a new person to come out of the match at BK's level, despite actually losing the match. This great match helped propel the career of Kudo, and it helped ACW during what was a tricky Autumn period.


17. Genocide 2007 (Writer: Senator)
ACW World Championship
-Senator Steve Phillips def. Chance "Tiger VII" Emmerson (c)
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8710&page=4#99955

Possibly one of the greatest mark-out moments of all time. Chance had been World champion for three months, and despite Senator having always been a top contender, especially after Omega Effect 2006 when he declared his retirement it looked like he was destined never to win the belt. Of course, at Genocide 2007, he was able to win the title. I distinctly recall the chat for that night and believe me, it was totally crazy. Never before have I seen so many people be so happy about a title change. And not because Rose was disliked, but because Senator must be one of the most well-liked people in ACW. And even though his reign would only last one month, the actually title win is regarded as a great moment. Indeed it showed, as the match was voted the best match for 2007. And that's important. You cannot take the moment away from the match. Senator was one of the best when it came to writing matches, and he wrote an expertly constructed match, fit for a main event.


16. Fallen Heroes 2005 (Writer: Alicia Kitsune)
Leather & Lace Match
-Ridley def. Alexandra "White Rose" Kaesar
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8686&page=3#98011

An S&M fetishist's dream. I'm not sure how AK must have felt when she received the spots for this match, but she still managed to write one of the mos peculiar, shocking, and intriguing matches ACW has ever seen. The concept was simple: Rose had to make Ridley submit, Ridley had to pin Rose. But take into consideration the relationship between the two characters, Rose the sadist and Ridley the masochist, and the fallout the duo had following Yoko's title win the month before, and you had a very risque match. Add a box o' tricks filled with items that even a Dutch fetish porn star squirm. You essentially had a match that would require you to press a button citing that you were over the age of 18 to read it. And, in fairness, some people hated the match. Some people thought that it shouldn't be what ACW was about. Personally, I think that it epitomises the fed. The sheer idea that such a match could be so necessary that it is used in one of ACW's greatest ever feuds pretty much speaks for itself. I suggest that if you have a couple of days to kill, you look up everything in regards to Ridley and Rose from June 2004, all the way up until the end of their story.

[Dan White]

15. Monday Night Warfare, 3rd February 2005 (Writer: Alicia Kitsune)
Tag Team Ladder Match - Tag Team Championships
-G-Unit def. BK London & TNT (c)
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Mondaymassacre&action=display&thread=7229&page=3#75273

This tag team ladder match is not only the only tag team match on this list, but it's also the only non-PPV match. And what a match it was. Whilst the quality may have not been up to the scratch of many matches omitted on this list, it was very much an important match, and one that may well have been the epitome of the Tag Team Boom of early 2005. At the time, for a period of about a month or so, BK and TNT pretty much got whatever they wanted. They had both become champions, World and International respectively, and they were getting on a lot of people's nerves when they earned themselves a Tag Titles shot. Even though they were the favourites, winning the titles just made a lot of people feel more angry about the situation. It was very much like the Power Trip from early 2001 with Triple H and Steve Austin. But in this rematch, G-Unit proved that not only were they one of the greatest tag teams ACW has ever had, but also that surprises can and do happen in ACW. And to the very few people who are still here from that time (except for BK): tell me you didn't mark out when they won the belts back.


14. Heatwave 2004 (Writers: Skurai & Alicia Kitsune)
Mayhem at the Mall
-Skurai def. Kain
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8679&page=2#97478

Well, there are many words that can describe this match. But my honest opinion? Just read it. I must have read it about 20 times since I came here, and every single time I watch it I always laugh, without fail. It's an excellently written match, and in a rather different style to the way matches were written at the time, but fantastic nonetheless. I really do not have much else to say about this match apart from that it goes down as one of the funniest things I've ever read.


13. Uncensored 2004 (Writer: Alicia Kitsune)
Industrial Revolution - TV Title
-Ridley (c) def. Alexandra "White Rose" Kaesar and Skurai
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8676&page=2#97350

The match that started it all. Whilst most early e-feds start out with a maximum of a 600-word Main Event at their first PPV, ACW had to be different. And from someone who'd only started writing matches just a month previously, AK pulled out a cracker. I know very little of the GFWCW era, but I do know that this match established the place as a genuine e-fed, that didn't look at all likely at falling apart during the first month like most feds do. The story of this feud was simple enough, as most things were back then. Ridley and White Rose had conspired against Skurai and had started their partnership that would last until March 2005 (see entry 3). And the trio would then fight in a match that would pan out the first true Don of ACW, which ultimately proved to be Ridley. But the feud wouldn't end here, and led to a series of matches later in the year, including Rose winning the World title off Skurai. As a match it showed great innovation and a great advancement from the first shows GFWCW was doing. It was the first sign of ACW having a true future in the e-fedding world.


12. Spring Into Hell 2008 (Writer: BK London)
Russian Chain Match
-BK London def. "Astonishing" Adrian Flamingo
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=9103&page=3#105359

The BK London/Adrian Flamingo feud will go down as the best feud ACW has had to offer in the past couple of years, if not longer. Well planned out and expertly timed, it set the bar for how to do a long-term feud, and how to do if well. In all, they had three matches (four if you consider their altercation during the Fallen Heroes Battle Royale), but it was this, their second one-on-one match, that makes this list. Although I have never been a fan of the “count the turnbuckle” stipulation given to chain matches, BK wrote this match extremely professionally, and in a manner that represented the feud. A man who not only suffered a broken ankle at the hands of this man, but also lost to him on PPV and THEN got eliminated by him in the Battle Royale a month later, you couldn't help but feel that throughout the match, BK deserved a win. And he ultimately got it. The match isn't a BK-style match, as BK often prefers the old school method of paragraphs with no commentary or bold parts or elongated pinfalls, and that's often the style I like as well. But his experiment into “Kudoism” was well done.


11. Omega Effect IV (2008) (Writers: Senator & Dan White)
Unsanctioned Match
-"The Welsh Dragon" Dan White def. Senator Steve Phillips
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=9350&page=5#107861

It was written by both Senator and I, but Senator was the one who chiefly came up with the spots for this match, as I was occupied with the Main Event. I took the first half and he took the second, and whilst it may sound big-headed, we both have great confidence in our match writing skills enough to produce a classic match. And I thought that we delivered a true, Omega Effect match. It came off Senator winning Fallen Heroes, but that I crippled him in a charity football match, prompting him to demand revenge, and he had to prove that he was fit enough to face me at OE. He was, and the rest is history. Admittedly, I was a little bit apprehensive about winning such a match sheerly by a countout, but upon reflection, I really believe that we made winning by countout just as good of a win as winning via pinfall or submission. It was considered as one of the matches of the year, which was also a great achievement for me, as I'd gotten a similar reaction for another OE match I'd written the year before. And on Senator's part, he often always manages to pull out his own weight of gold out of a hat (mixed up metaphors for the win), and he did it for the fourth year in a row with this effort.

[Dan White]

10. Heatwave 2007 (Writer: Senator)
Hell in a Cell
-Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune def. Alexander Starkweather
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8715&page=5#100390

Now the Hell in a Cell match is a match that is so often reserved for the most intense feuds. But so often in the e-fedding world, the match is misused. I think we can all remember (who were around at the time) when Rena tried to make a 6 way Diva HIAC match for a Warfare once. But proper HIACs have only happened five times in ACW's history, and this was the best of the bunch. You had two characters, one who had won the King(/Queen) of the Deathmatch in 2004, and another who was a demented psychiatrist. So you basically had the Irresistible Force meeting a man who could manipulate you in any way you wanted. And it led to a great feud, which in turn inevitably led to this match. The match its was simple enough. It didn't focus too much on the dramatic spots or anything that you always hope to see in a Cell match, rather focusing on the symbolism of the Cell itself and how brutal things can get inside it. That was until the latter moments of the match, where AK threw Starkweather off top of the cell. It was a fine way of finishing the match, timed perfectly, and didn't spoil the concept of the Hell in a Cell. And what's more, it cumulated one of the finest feuds ACW has ever seen.


9. Omega Effect I (2005) (Writers: The Senator & Latino)
-Senator Steve Phillips def. Victor "Latino" Laureno
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8688&page=5#98205

Omega Effect I is a rather underrated PPV, when looking at Omega Effects. And considering the feud behind this match, that had stemmed right back to the early GFWWE days and was one of the most publicised feuds ACW had at the time, people were expecting great things from this match. And to me, it epitomised the true beauty of Omega Effect, and the fanfare and the “larger than the Earth” show it was meant to be. When you had all of Senator's 'guests' being listed out, it just gave a great sense of the big match spectacle, even though it was only fourth highest on the card. The match itself had everything. Close falls, Latino 'winning' only for it to be overturned, and then the “Nuclear Option” spot that to this day remains one of ACW's most dangerous moves. And the best thing about this match was that it was the last time that these two would fight against each other for a very long time. In the e-fedding world especially, it's always easy for two people in a long term feud to fight each other so constantly. Senator and Latino wouldn't fight each other until December 2006, which showcases how special it was to have a match like this, because evidently it wasn't a match that happened very often.


8. Omega Effect IV (2008) (Writer: BK London)
-BK London def. Victor "Latino" Laureno
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=9350&page=6#107872

Similarly to the previous entry, this match showcases what Omega Effect is about. Even though BK had spent the better part of the previous 6 months feuding with Adrian Flamingo, he chose not to have a match against him at OE, instead choosing Latino. Now even though it was pretty clear that Latino wasn't going to have the calcs to beat BK, so that whatever the result it was going to be a fixed result, they showed what Omega Effect is about by remembering the roots and bringing people into the fray, people who had previously made OE so great in the first place. I mean if it was up to me, every OE should have the likes of Yoko, BK, Wyvern, Latino, AK and more on the card, regardless of how little they had written prior to the event. I always think it's important to have these big names from the past featured on the card, and this match helped give that great, historical feeling. It was also the final chapter in the long, long BK/Latino feud, which made it even more important. The match itself, written by BK, was marvelously written and a great example of how a match of this magnitude should have been written.


7. Omega Effect III (2007) (Writers: Dan White)
-Macho Man RDK def. Thunderkiss
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8713&page=5#100209

Leading up to Omega Effect IV, admittedly, the roster was somewhat thinning. There were only a couple of “big-match” matches on the card, in contrast to previous years, and it was a pretty poor showing. But one person who was determined not to break all barriers was the Worldbreaker himself, Thunderkiss. He managed to drag a long-retired Macho Man out of retirement, and fought him in a match you could only call “a dream match”, which is something that Omega Effect, to me, has always been about. And it was great, from a nostalgic point of view, to see RDK writing again. As for the match, as soon as I heard about it, I approached TK to ask if I could write it. He agreed, sent me a spot list and I went to work on it. Now they say that a great artist will always hate his work, but sack that, I was extremely pleased by the work I put into that match, and it echoed with the response everybody gave the match. I'm extremely happy that TK gave me that opportunity, because I really could not have worked harder on any piece of e-fed related writing than I had on that match.


6. Winter's Discontent 2004 (Writer: Alicia Kitsune)
Wargames From Hell - ACW World Championship
-Alexandra "White Rose" Kaesar (c) def. Yoko Satoshi, Macho Man RDK, Surion, BK London and Bladeshadow
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8682&page=3#97685

The fourth match on this list from the 2004 period, and probably the one everyone looks to when going back to that era. In the match, you had two former World champions, two future World champions, and in Surion somebody who was proving to be a big hit at the time. You then have a massive Hell in a Cell match involving not one, but two rings, and you're on for a massive winner. And I'll tell you what, you could have cut the tension with a knife. I don't think anybody outside of the match could have predicted who was going to walk out as World champion, although it was admittedly a shock when Rose retained the belt. But the match was sheerly masterful. I've had to deal with multiman matches before and they're utter hell to organise, but AK did this with a touch of class which proves that she is the still the greatest writer this fed has ever seen. For the pure magnitude of the match, combined with the excellent feud built behind the match, you just had something that deserves to be in this position. And to add to the drama, you had AK joining Pain Inc. after the match. What more could you want?

[Dan White]

5. Spring Into Hell 2006 (Writers: Latino & Torak)
Real Life Street Fight
-Victor "Latino" Laureno def. Torak
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8699&page=1#98986
(Note: This match continues throughout the show)

This match may come as a surprise on this list, but I feel that it is one of the most underrated matches ACW has ever seen. Indeed, it came not long after a similar match between the duo on a Meltdown, which was probably the greatest TV match of all time. But anyways, on with the story behind it. Torak and Latino had been feuding on and off for a very long time. Torak's return during Ragnarok 2006 must go down as one of the greatest shocks of all time. I distinctly remember the chat just going absolutely ballistic for about ten minutes when we found out Torak was back. This stemmed forward, to the match at Spring Into Hell 2006. With Latino having won Fallen Heroes, his title shot was on the line, along with Torak's mask. And this match was brutal. It went on for the entirety of the show, theoretically making it the longest ACW match ever, and was a match where technical ability was thrown out of the window. This was just a fully blown war. It was full of raw emotion, with Latino having been tormented by this man for 18 months, and Torak having acquired an unhealthy obsession with his foe. And indeed, this match (and the feud itself) was so powerful, that it eventually led to Torak leaving ACW shortly after this feud, unable to start a feud with anybody that would spark even half the intensity that this one did.


4. Omega Effect III (2007) (Writer: Senator)
ACW World Championship
-Wyvern (c) def. Senator Steve Phillips and BK London
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8713&page=6#100222

One of the most controversial main events in ACW's history happened to be one of the most well-written. I distinctly recall waking up in the morning UK time to see Senator still online, trying to finish this match, and when he finally finished it, he was absolutely shattered. And although it wasn't the result that everyone wanted, it was still merited as one of the best matches ACW had ever seen, and certainly the best match from that year. The match involved three magnificent writers in Senator, Wyvern and BK, and they'd all put a great amount of effort in, not just for OE but right back to when Senator won the title at Genocide earlier that year. It was a match that, on a card that lacked a lot of “big name” matches, needed something to prove to people that ACW had no intentions of dying, or of slowing down. It was truly dynamic, and it was fully deserving as the biggest match on the OE card. And it also had one of the greatest finishes to any match we've ever seen. All I can say is that with a different result, things could have been so different.


3. Genocide 2005 (Writer: Alicia Kitsune)
ACW World Championship
-Yoko Satoshi def. BK London (c)
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8685&page=4#97939

Yoko Satoshi and BK London have had one of the greatest feuds ACW has ever seen. You could argue that their feud has been THE authentic ACW feud. And their World Title bout at Genocide 2005 was a match that was not only a staple in their feud, but also a major event in the BK/Ridley feud, the Ridley/Rose feud and the Pain Inc. storyline. Simply put, there was an awful lot riding on this match. The fight itself was brilliantly written, and you had two people that were finally cumulating about 6 months of storyline into one grand match. Storylines that had included the infamous tampon incident. So AK would have had a lot to do, having to include all the emotions of both characters in the match. Not only that, but she also had to consider BK's growing paranoia that Ridley was going to smash him up. Despite all this, and also having to include Ridley and Rose's brawl during the middle of the match (stemming towards their Leather and Lace match, which is in this list), there was a match that really could have told a story of the entire PPV itself. And the best part of all was seeing BK London, the Corporate champion, who had had a title reign of controversy and lucky wins, was finally dethroned.


2. Omega Effect II (2006) (Writers: Senator & Kudo)
The Senator's Retirement Match
-Kudo Yasuda def. Senator Steve Phillips
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8700&page=7#99171

The fourth Omega Effect match that The Senator is involved in on this list, which says it all for who ACW's “big match competitor” is. And this being the cream of the crop, you can imagine that this match was something special. The story behid it was that Senator was to retire, and he had picked Kudo as the man to face him at Omega Effect. But Kudo had been going through a heel period, referring to himself as The Great KUDA. After a first fight at SIH, Senator asked for a rematch, hoping that the original Kudo would come, rather than his alter ego. His hopes were met as Kudo DID come to the match, and the match they had was a cracker. I've already spoke about Senator's match writing skills, but Kudo was arguably the most technically gifted match writer, and not just that but an innovator as well. He was the one who introduced elongated pinfall attempts, and made things like punching or kicks more than just “wrestler x kicks wrestler y 6 times”. Basically he made matches so interesting, at a time where matches were normally just paragraph after paragraph, that it caused a fed-wide change on the way most people wrote their stuff. And there was just something about this match. There was a lot of emotion there, and the commentary was marvelously put. It felt like those sort of retirement matches you've seen before, such as Flair vs. HBK. It was truly a wonderful match and for a very very long time I would have said, without hesitation, that this match was ACW's greatest ever match.


1. Omega Effect II (2006) (Writer: Alicia Kitsune)
ACW World Championship
-Victor "Latino" Laureno def. Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune (c)
-http://alphacw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=PPV&action=display&thread=8700&page=8#99193

For a long, long time, the Senator/Kudo match to me was number one. But upon careful deliberation, I came to the decision that this match, AK vs. Latino, is the greatest match ACW has ever seen.

The match topped a card stacked full to the brim of top class matches. Arguably at least 6 of the matches there could easily have headlined a Pay Per View Main Event. But very few could argue that this was probably ACW's dream match up. And for it to happen as the Main Event at OE, for the World Title, was incredibly fitting for the pair of them. The story behind it, to those not in the know, was that AK and Latino were husband and wife, but for their entire relationship they had suffered a lot of hardships. From old flames to lustful temptations, it appeared that the world was against their relationship. But they stood firm and managed to stay together through thick and thin. But although they'd had matches with each other in the past, they weren't ready for a match like this. Combine this with several hints suggesting that AK was having a fling with Chairman Gingerdude, and you had a match that was going to blow people's socks off.

The match itself brought together some extremely emotional moments. And I think that is something I extremely admire from the match. If you simply read the match alone, it would have been considered a classic anyways, but the red text, signifying the pair's thoughts and feelings throughout their bout was a classy touch, and it really benefited the match a lot. It made Latino's ultimate title win feel greater than when Triple H tapped to Benoit, or when Mankind won his first World title against The Rock. It was like an overwhelming sense of justification for Latino, and along with Senator's World title win in 2007, it was probably the biggest mark-out moment in ACW history. Nobody would deny that Latino would one day deserve that belt, and it was just brilliant that he was able to win it at Omega Effect. Easily the most emotional, intense, brilliant match in ACW's history.

[BK London]

Very very good list. I would've put Mayhem at the Mall a lot higher, such an awesome match. *sniff*

[Jake Steele]

Most definitely a solid list. I'm really looking forward to the next two list you'll be presenting.

[Thunderkiss]

A lot of work went into that list. Good job.

However, I do see a lot of the same names and faces showing up on the rankings and was saddened that only three matches are on it from 2008 up.

[Dan White]

Jun 20, 2009 18:41:33 GMT -5 Thunderkiss said:

A lot of work went into that list. Good job.

However, I do see a lot of the same names and faces showing up on the rankings and was saddened that only three matches are on it from 2008 up.

I went for as much diversity as I could, but it would have been unfair to strip certain people of matches that deserved to be there. You could argue that they deserve to be on the list many times because they've been in so many great matches. As for 2008, it wasn't a great year for matches, I felt.