Top 10 Best AEW matches of 2023
The world of professional wrestling boomed in 2023, especially with the consistency of AEW with their earth-shattering matches.
Follow Us
(Clockwise from Top) Adam Cole vs. MJF, Bryan Danielson vs. Ricky Starks, Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kenny Omega and Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page (via AEW)
All Elite Wrestling, under the leadership of Tony Khan, did an impressive job this year. The promotion soared this year and solidified their position in the professional wrestling business. Getting superstars from their sister promotion, NJPW, and their rival WWE, filled 2023 with excitement all over. Whether it was the year-starter Revolution or the company’s own ‘WrestleMania’, All In London, AEW delivered their absolute best.
Unfortunately, the company suffered in the latter half due to the termination of CM Punk. AEW did face setbacks on their weekly shows, but a few negatives do not conceal the quality of the product they offered this year. It was their exceptional talents and engaging storylines that gained eyeballs all over the world.
From the multiple five-star (and more) matches to the sports entertainment-oriented storyline of MJF-Adam Cole, AEW fans were on their toes. The brutal matches exceeded their maximum potential and saw the sheer determination of all these AEW talents. The following are the top 10 matches of 2023:
10. MJF vs. Adam Cole – AEW All In London
AEW reached their peak leading into their first-ever PPV in London, All In. The iconic Wembley Stadium, being the venue for the show, was expected to have a ground-breaking main event. But a fairly simple yet entertaining bout between frenemies MJF and Adam Cole also delivered the greatest of wrestling.
Earlier in that event, Max and Cole together won the ROH Tag Team Championship. They went to the main event of the show to square off for the AEW World Championship. Going into the bout, fans were sold on the fact that one of them would turn heel. But AEW’s clever decision to end with the happy faces in the Biggest Event in Wrestling History was a game-changer.
9. Blackpool Combat Club vs. The Elite – Double or Nothing
The eight-man tag-team bout between Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite was a five-star brawl. In the main event of Double or Nothing, Anarchy in the Arena match was a sight to behold at the T-Mobile Arena. For the second year in a row, BCC walked into the stipulated match with bloodshed and brutality.
The Young Bucks continued their shoe-based warfare with explosive superkicks. Jon Moxley was, as always, hungry for blood and went all out with the perfect use of weapons. The ending was refreshing for the AEW Universe, with Konosuke Takeshita’s heel turn on The Elite culminating their BCC saga.
8. Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr. – WrestleDream
When the best of AEW and NJPW’s technical wrestlers collided at WrestleDream, the result was a piece of art. A dream match that lived up to the hype was Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr. The prolonged bout from last year came out as a five-star match of the night with proven physicality.
Everything that happened in the match was engrossing, along with the finish. The end left the crowd wanting more of the battle and created a leeway for Bryan and Zack to lock horns again. It was Danielson who emerged victorious, but with his knee strike, questioning him of his technical wrestling ability.
7. “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Jon Moxley – Revolution
The personal rivalry between “Hangman” Adam Page and Jon Moxley started a few years ago for the AEW World Championship. But fate brought them against each other to go through hell at the Revolution. Barbed wire, chairs, and tacks were only some of the artilleries used in the Texas Death Match.
Hangman stayed true to his name and choked out Moxley with a chain for the win. This could have been the match of the night, if not for an hour-long battle awaiting in the main event. But on the positives, the overall stakes for upcoming Death Matches were leveled up by Adam and Jon in the ferocious clash.
6. Bryan Danielson vs. Ricky Starks – All Out
One of the most unexpected matches on this list was Bryan Danielson‘s bout with Ricky Starks. The match wouldn’t have happened if not for CM Punk‘s firing. The story was built around The Second City Saint facing Starks at AEW All Out, just a week after his bout at All In. But Danielson was seen as a replacement for Punk, and oh boy, he did deliver the deadliest match of the night.
Ricky Starks‘ frustration was visible through his moves, as he was not paid off for his summer rivalry with Punk. A fantastic strap match was brutal for the wrestlers present in it but was heavily entertaining for the fans. Ricky was put through severe punishment, which he readily sold as being a heel star while showing Bryan as a more skilled wrestler. The result saw Danielson choke out Ricky with the strap for the win.
5. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kenny Omega – All Out
Coming from their six-man tag team match at All In London Konosuke Takeshita pinned Kenny Omega for the win. Omega was all in to avenge The Golden Elite’s loss as well as his pinfall, against Takeshita at All Out. The 22 minutes of stealth were something that everyone expected from them.
The Canadian star was phenomenal and continued his hard-hitting, speedy wrestling approach. While Konosuke was the one who shone out of it and proved his worth after aligning with Don Callis. The match was unpredictable until the last moment and saw false finishes to keep the AEW fans on their toes. But with the Callis family’s interruption and storyline need, Omega lost it clean against ‘The Future’ of the sport.
4. Swerve Strickland vs. “Hangman” Adam Page – Full Gear
2023 made “Hangman” Adam Page the King of Death Matches with yet another gory bout against Swerve Strickland. Missing the podium due to its heavy brutality, the Texas Death Match at Full Gear remains a prime example of the horrors AEW can bring onto the plate. The spot where Page drank Strickland’s blood remains the most horrendous part of the bout, with even more gnarly spots.
The story in this match was carved in blood due to the knockout/submission rule of the match. Adam went all out here and was readily invested in avenging Strickland for his child’s honor. Considering all of this, the momentum that Swerve came in lacked down a bit but was restored later with his coolness. Giving both stars their moment to shine, AEW insisted on ending the feud with Swerve’s 2-0 lead, molding him into the main event scene.
3. FTR vs. Bullet Club Gold – Collision #5
Widely regarded as one of the best 2 out of 3 falls matches was FTR vs. Bullet Club Gold for the AEW World Tag Team Championship. On the fifth episode of Collision, the two teams locked horns and gave the most highly athletic television match so far. The Switchblade Jay White got a chance to display his stellar in-ring skills after his fresh signing.
2023 did not offer much incredible tag team wrestling, but this 58-minute bout brought down the house at Scotiabank Saddledome. White led the BCG with an advantage going 19 minutes into the match, but Cash Wheeler‘s redemption on Juice Robinson brought back FTR into the game. Even after suffering the Power & Glory spot, FTR won the bout with a submission on Robinson.
2. MJF vs. Bryan Danielson – Revolution
The year started with a massive Revolution PPV with MJF vs. Bryan Danielson. The main event was a 60-minute Iron Man Match for the AEW World Championship with added time, which ended in a draw. One could talk about it for the same duration it went on without a moment of it feeling stretched. Along with their wrestling skills, Max and Bryan sold their reactions perfectly and were on point in the visual storytelling.
The closing moments saw the wild crowd cheering, H20, feeling for the wrestlers’ hydration. Friedman outlasted Danielson in the hour limit and even took both to the absolute limits, with the former requiring oxygen to continue. The sudden death rule saw the undulating drama between them as Bryan was pumped to continue and looked down on MJF. After all this, The American Dragon tapping out on his finisher was a nail-biting finish.
1. Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega – Forbidden Door
The clash of titans happened at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door when Kenny Omega put his IWGP US Championship on the line against Will Ospreay. The top-notch wrestlers squared off for the second time in a year, coming in from their 6.25-star match at Wrestle Kingdom 17. The Don Callis family angle to it was something fans were hooked on.
Omega had a decent 2023, but the limited matches he poured his heart into were the classic wrestling battles. The extreme heel-ness of The Aerial Assassin carried the match and outshined The Cleaner’s babyface approach. The British star disrespecting the Canadian flag in front of the Toronto crowd was a gutsy booking by AEW. The match told the story amazingly and earned the best match award as it deserves.
In case you missed it:
Stay Updated!
Parth Agnihotri
(597 Articles Published)