So I'm watching the Okada-Osprey Match. Fantastic contest, despite my disdain for Okada using the Money-clip (i can appreciate it in a resthold/waredown move though). The match however showcased what has been an ongoing annoyance for me in matches for decades, spanning all promotions, and all talents, from the low-carders on WCW's Power Hour to the main eventers at WM. The fucking going for a pinfall after a move that, in kayfabe, 99% of wrestlers should damn well know isn't putting anyone away, and the crowd isn't buying it either. Surprise roll-ups/funky pin moves no included here.
Okada & Osprey are meeting for finals of a grueling tournament, Okada hits a neck-breaker minutes in and thinks that's going to win him the trophy.
WWE's going for the “shocked look” on a 2 count that no one was buying.
The biggest example for me though is UT/Michaels HITC. This match was built on UT finally getting his hands on Shawn to beat him senseless from all over. Minutes in he casually hits a clothesline and goes for the pin for a meaningless 1-count.
Old Man Yells at Wrestling Ring
Strongly disagree on every level. Going for a pinfall is ALWAYS the answer for several reasons:
Reason #1: The point of the match is to win. If you're not trying to win at all times, what are you even doing there?
Reason #2: The act of holding someone down for a pinfall, even if not successful, forces them to exert energy in order to fight gravity and get to their feet again. I LOVE when someone works the count and forces the wrestler to kick out repeatedly from the same attempt, in fact.
Reason #3: Sometimes it DOES work. Wouldn't you look stupid if you hit a neckbreaker 1 minute into a match and the guy wouldn't have been able to kick out but you didn't take that pin and went on to lose the match? What if, god forbid, he broke his neck in kayfabe accidentally? Then he's not kicking out of a simple neckbreaker and you get an easy night and cash the winner's purse at the pay window, daddy.
In summary, ABP: ALWAYS BE PINNING.