Top Moments That Defined AEW in 2023
AEW has had a roller-coaster ride through 2023. There were plenty of highs as well as a few lows throughout the year. In this article, we”re going to be walking through the most significant moments defining the company”s journey through 2023. We couldn”t prioritize them because, well, all of these moments were impactful. Therefore, we mixed it up and put them down here. If you disagree, feel free to let us know. Of course, there were plenty of moments that defined AEW in 2023.
If there”s something that should have been included, let us know, and we may feature it in an upcoming article. With that said, let”s get started and dive into some of the biggest moments that defined AEW in 2023.
Bryan Danielson Announces His Retirement From Full-Time Wrestling
In September 2023, Bryan Danielson announced that his days as a wrestler were ending. Well, not his overall pro wrestling career at least. The AEW superstar clarified later clarified his statement. In the next year, he”ll stop wrestling full-time but might never hang up his boots. As he told Sports Illustrated:
“I don’t think I’ll ever reach a point where I declare I’m absolutely done,” said Danielson. “I want the ability to show up when I want to show up. Terry Funk is someone I always admired. He retired a million times, but he loved it so much he couldn’t help but keep doing it. And he did it when he wanted. For me, it might be a couple of times a year, or it might be years between matches.”
Bryan”s one of the greatest wrestlers of this generation, or any generation. Danielson wants to protect his health and spend more time with his wife and young children. Who can blame him for that? The entire wrestling world will miss seeing The American Dragon wrestle weekly. Let’s hope he doesn’t take too much time between matches. We feel this was one of the top moments that defined AEW in 2023 because Danielson choosing to be part-time for the first time will make “2023” relatively historic.
Will Ospreay Vs Kenny Omega At “AEW Forbidden Door”
Nobody questioned if Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay could put on a classic at AEW Forbidden Door in June 2023. Two of the greatest wrestlers to ever step foot in the ring have a long history of making magic. Their classic at Forbidden Door added another chapter to their rivalry. Omega took the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship from Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom 17. At Forbidden Door, Kenny lost a 40-minute match that was the best in the series.
Every second of the match was crisp. The striking was stiff and, at times, looked dangerous. The Tiger Driver 91 went viral, demonstrating the sheer brutality of the match. Ospreay got the pin and evened the score. We cannot wait until these two incredible talents lock horns again. This match was iconic. Due to that, we felt it was deserving of being considered one of the top moments that defined AEW in 2023.
With Ospreay signing on the dotted line with AEW, he will start working roughly full-time with AEW in February 2024. We”re sure to see these two battle a lot over the next few years. There aren”t many pro wrestling fans complaining about that.
Jade Cargill Leaves AEW
Rarely does a young and talented superstar leave the promotion that gave her a shot. Yet that’s exactly what happened when Jade Cargill announced she was done with AEW and signed with WWE in late 2023. It was only November 2020 when Cargill first appeared on AEW TV. In January 2022, Cargill was crowned the inaugural TBS Champion, defeating Ruby Soho. Cargill then went undefeated for 2022 and most of 2023 until she lost to Kris Statlander in a squash match.
Cargill”s look and presence are impressive but lack some polish. Still, she had so much room to grow. Her contract expired the day she lost to Statlander. A couple weeks later she was at WWE”s Performance Center. How significant the loss is will be up to AEW. Can AEW build new stars? What will WWE do with their new talent? Cargill”s departure is a big deal. Thus, it is most certainly one of the moments that defined AEW in 2023.
Adam Copeland Joins AEW
Adam Copeland, formerly known to WWE fans as “Edge,” jumping to AEW was reported the moment he had his last match on WWE Smackdown. Christian Cage, Copeland”s long-time best friend, was doing his best work for AEW. It seemed like a logical next step. Sure enough, at AEW’s WrestleDream 2023, his music hit. While Copeland couldn’t bring over the name “Edge,” he brought over almost everything else. The “You Think You Know Me” intro and the iconic Alterbridge theme song.
While Copeland is on the back nine of his career, this move opens up a world of possibilities and opponents for AEW fans. They”ve already started with a Copeland and Cage feud. They”ll get a reunion down the road, we”re sure. Then there will be a collection of dream matches for Tony Khan to book. That includes opportunities against Omega, Danielson, Jon Moxley, Ospreay, and more. That”s only the beginning.
Copeland is a superb storyteller and an excellent locker-room presence. Ospreay might be AEW”s most prominent signing, but Copeland will provide the most total value overall. His signing was certainly one of the biggest moments that defined AEW in 2023. We”ll remember this move for years to come!
Who Is The Devil?
MJF has enough to worry about with guys like Jay White and Samoa Joe on his tail, trying to take his title. Enter The Devil.
MJF, at the time of this writing, has spent weeks terrorized by “The Devil” and his minions. We still don’t know who the devil is (as of now). AEW is bringing us back to old-school wrestling with this story. The weeks of anticipation and the eventual reveal. Storylines like this walk a fine line between a climactic conclusion and a fart in church. Is it Adam Cole? The least likely of all possibilities. Cole”s legit injury makes it unlikely unless his injury was indeed a work. We”re guessing that”s not the case.
Is it Britt Baker? A name thrown around online at times. While it would be a bit of a shock, it lacks the payoff you’d want to see. Revealing a heel who is unlikely to get the receipt for their evildoings seems like a wasted effort.
Is it Wardlow? It’s possible but begs the question: why the need to hide? He’s a massive man and has already powerbombed MJF to hell. Why the need to torture MJF and terrorize him for weeks with the help of others? When you’re as powerful as Wardlow is, you should be able to take what you want. There”s a lot to this story that will want to see more of. Either way, the presence of “The Devil” and his story will be discussed as one of the top moments that defined AEW in 2023.
AEW All-In At Wembley Stadium
For those who don’t remember, the original All-In was the show that gave birth to what would later become AEW. The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Cody Rhodes took their moonshot by attempting to sell out a 10,000-seat arena for an indie show. The result? A smashing success. It made sense for Tony Khan and the company to take another moonshot. The company then announced that AEW All-In will take place inside Wembley Stadium in 2023!
There was skepticism that AEW couldn”t pack a stadium that size. The company had shown difficulty selling out smaller arenas for AEW Dynamite shows.
Skeptics were proven wrong. AEW pulled in an impressive 81,035 people for the event, the most paying fans Wembley ever saw for a pro wrestling event. The show, though not without controversy, was a massive success both in the ring and for business. In fact, AEW recently announced they’d be heading back to Wembley for All-in 3 in the Summer of 2024. Ticket sales are already off to a great start, and AEW has proven time and time again, they know how to put on a hell of a show.
Will Ospreay is “All Elite”
The last couple of years have proven to be an arms race between AEW and WWE. Every free agent and released wrestler has been subject to intense speculation. Names like Copeland, Adam Cole, Danielson, Mercedes Mone, and CM Punk have been in constant rumors. Will Ospreay might have been the biggest future free agent of them all.
The British superstar is one of the best wrestlers in the world today. He’s capable of putting on near-perfect matches every time out and is a must-see on every card he”s on. After it became public that his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling was ending after January 2024, the rumors started. Both AEW and WWE were eager to bring him in.
WWE offered him a new stable of talent, most of which he has never worked with, and the exposure of a worldwide brand. AEW offered him fewer dates at a company known for its incredible in-ring product. Additionally, they could offer him a bridge to continue his work with NJPW as well as TNA and his beloved RevPro back in the UK.
In the end, Ospreay decided to become “All Elite,” and announced his impending deal with AEW in November. Now fans can start booking Ospreay into dream matches with the likes of Bryan Danielson, MJF, and a host of others. Not every free agent signing is a home run but this one likely will be. That said, this is clearly one of the big moments that defined AEW in 2023.
MJF Becomes The Longest-Reigning AEW World Champion In History
It was understandable when AEW decided to make Chris Jericho its inaugural AEW World Champion. In its very infancy, the company needed some star power and credibility. Jericho was the most decorated wrestler on the roster. He was the kind of ambassador that the company needed. In the long term, the company needed to find a homegrown star to take up the mantle of “top guy.”
Enter MJF.
The evolution of MJF has been nothing short of fantastic. Once a promising up-and-comer, he transformed into one of the business’s best all-around talents. During his record-breaking title reign for AEW, he remained the company”s best talker. He also became one of the best in-ring workers anywhere.
While his year-plus run hasn’t been perfect, it has been successful and necessary. The face of the company doesn’t belong to an ex-WWE guy. It doesn’t belong to someone likely to jump ship soon. Rather, it belongs to the company’s homegrown talent, which is how it should be. MJF”s record-breaking reign will be remembered for years to come. Thereby making this reign one of the biggest moments that defined AEW in 2023.
“Timeless” Toni Storm
AEW is often criticized for its misuse of women on the roster. They have a relatively deep talent pool, with several great in-ring workers. Many are often hidden and rarely used on AEW weekly programming. This is why when Toni Storm became a feature of AEW TV, we felt it deserved special recognition.
Fans knew that Toni Storm was special. Her transformation into an old-school Hollywood starlet has become a very popular move. The decision to add a butler named Luther only solidified it. Let’s hope that Storm is the first of many women to capture the attention of AEW fans. This roster is stacked with great female talent who deserve consistent AEW TV time.
Storm”s transformation has been beloved, which makes it deserving of being one of the top moments that defined AEW in 2023.
The AEW EVPs Extend Their Contracts
You might want to file this in the “who cares” category. For most AEW and WWE fans, this felt like a foregone conclusion. For a company still finding its footing in the wrestling world this was, indeed, a very big deal. The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, along with Cody Rhodes, are AEW”s foundation. The fact that The Bucks and Omega had never spent a day on the main roster in WWE holds special meaning to the fans of AEW.
It’s proof that there is more than one way to make a name and legacy for yourself in professional wrestling. WWE, despite its size and reach, is no longer the only option to make a career in wrestling. When Cody Rhodes left in early 2022, some were concerned that the Bucks and Omega would follow suit. WWE would have entertained the idea of bringing in the EVPs of AEW had they wanted to jump ship.
Ultimately, they decided to keep building what they started. Their decision to re-sign means they will be with AEW for the foreseeable future. This should come as welcome news not only for AEW fans but also for all wrestling fans.
MJF & Adam Cole Become Best Friends
The best part of wrestling is the moments and the angles that become way more than they intended to be. When Adam Cole took a shot at MJF’s AEW World Title and lost, many thought that was it. It’s a simple wrestling story: the challenger loses and moves on. This is pretty simple, right? Everything changed when the two were forcibly paired in a tag team tournament.
Their friendship formed quickly. Of course, it started uneasy. Both competitors are waiting for the other to turn on them. They never did, and a friendship blossomed from there, to the delight of fans everywhere.
AEW managed to stumble upon one of the best storylines they’ve ever had. This even made AEW Dynamite a must-see show weekly. The story hit a snag when Adam Cole was legitimately injured, but AEW has done its best to continue the story while he heals. Let’s hope when he’s ready to go, we can finish off one of the company’s most entertaining stories. It”s clear to most that this angle has given us some of the best moments that defined AEW in 2023.
Adam Cole Gets Injured
Pro Wrestling can surprise you with unexpectedly entertaining storylines. It can also break your heart as quickly. Adam Cole was on a roll when he sustained an ankle injury at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam. Things like ankle injuries are often freak accidents, and the same can be said here. Cole charged to the ring to help MJF in his match against Samoa Joe. He jumped off the ramp and landed on his ankle.
Cole had only recently returned to the ring after battling post-concussion syndrome for close to a year. Sadly, it’s unclear when Cole will be able to return to action. Cole is one of the best workers on the AEW roster. There are seemingly endless stories he can still help to tell as a competitor. Let”s hope when he returns, he can manage to stay healthy for a long time!
“AEW Collision” Debuts On Saturday Night
In the battle for eyeballs and live TV, wrestling is in the middle of a boom period. Companies have realized that, unlike “real” sports, pro wrestling does not have an off-season. Fans will tune in 52 weeks out of the year. While the company already had Dynamite as its flagship show, it also had a few shows that were broadcast on its YouTube Channel. Such as AEW: Dark & AEW: Dark Elevation.
To help talent get more television time, they would then launch AEW: Rampage, a one-hour show on Friday nights that conveniently aired right after WWE SmackDown went off the air, just on another network. This year, already two shows deep with Warner Bros Discovery, AEW launched a third show to air on Saturday nights. Called AEW Collision, it”s a two-hour show with the design of being similar to SmackDown for WWE. Essentially its own, separate brand with its own roster.
The show was reportedly designed to give CM Punk a place to work without interacting with the EVPs. Whether or not that’s true, we know that CM Punk was the centerpiece of the show”s debut. In fact, AEW pitched it to WBD by telling them Punk would be one of the main stars of the show. Saturday nights are rough for any TV show, and Collision hasn’t been immune to those challenges.
Ratings continue to go up and down. Still, more time on TV means more exposure for casual fans and more money in the pockets of the performers. Everyone should feel good about that. The move to have another two-hour show was a big move and will be one of the moments that defined AEW in 2023.
Sting Announces His Retirement
In 2015, Sting was injured in a match with Seth Rollins at WWE Night of Champions. Many figured that was the end of Sting”s in-ring career. One of the industry’s legendary characters, he had done nearly everything one can do in a pro wrestling career. This is why it was surprising when he made his in-ring return in March 2021 for AEW.
Sting finally announced he would hang up his boots at AEW Revolution in March 2024. Few wrestlers will ever be able to say they have had the career Sting has. The Stingers” career spanned over 35 years and he won over 20 titles. He’s a Hall of Famer for both TNA and WWE and is now a legend in AEW. Congrats to Sting, on a remarkable career.
While he has not retired just yet, the announcement coming out this year was a big deal and will be remembered. Making this one of the big moments that defined AEW in 2023.
Bryan Danielson & MJF In The Ultimate Iron Man Match
Danielson is regarded as one of the best wrestlers of his generation. MJF is one of the best young talents in wrestling today. This match had fans excited to find out what he had in store. AEW rarely disappoints bell-to-bell, and this match was no exception. What fans were given was one of the greatest Iron Man matches in the history of the art form.
The match went an hour plus, with MJF retaining in sudden death. He put Danielson in his own finisher, the Labell Lock, to get the win. Iron Man matches are hard to make compelling and fun. Early pinfalls don’t mean as much, given the time the competitors have left in the match. You risk having 50 minutes of uninterested fans followed by ten intense minutes as they work to a winner. This is one big reason WWE cut their version down to 30 minutes.
That wasn’t the case for MJF and Danielson. These two put on a show of shows. They gave us captivating action from the opening bell to the sudden death. It was all well worth the hour-plus of anyone’s time. It also made both competitors look awesome.
For MJF, the match proves he’s one of the best big-match workers in the world. You cannot remember a big match he didn’t deliver in. His ring work gets overlooked at times, but it shouldn’t. For Danielson, he didn’t need his in-ring work validated. Bryan showed us, yet again, that he’s a top-level talent capable of elevating whomever he’s in the ring with.
On that night, he helped make MJF look like a star. Mission accomplished for both men. Giving us one of the best moments that defined AEW in 2023.
The Rise Of Swerve Strickland
When WWE made roster cuts in November of 2021, diehard WWE NXT fans knew the mistake they had made in cutting the man then known as Isiah “Swerve” Scott. He was one of the most talented wrestlers on the roster, and he was a superstar waiting to happen. AEW saw what the fans saw and decided to sign him almost immediately after his 90-day non-compete clause was up.
Swerve’s pairing with Keith Lee was necessary to establish him and give him a spotlight. He made it clear to the AEW fanbase that he could wrestle with the best of them and be dangerous on the mic.
It wasn’t until late 2022 that Swerve and Lee parted ways, and he began the “Mogul Affiliates.” Upon doing so, he”d start on a winning streak. A merge with The Embassy and the birth of AEW’s newest superstar. His recent feud with “Hangman” Adam Page catapulted him to a main event-level guy. At the time of this writing, the AEW Universe is waiting for Swerve to lock horns with the current AEW World Champ, MJF.
Could he be the one to dethrone Friedman? We know that if he does, he will have earned it completely. The rise of Strickland has been a pleasure to see. His run is most certainly deserving of being referred to as one of the moments that defined AEW in 2023.
Swerve Strickland & Hangman Adam Page Have A Death Match for The Ages
Death Matches, in this writer”s opinion, can be very hit or miss. When they fail, they feel like a prop fest rather than a blood feud meant to settle things. For the WWE: think of a Hell In A Cell match. It is often used for a rivalry with moments to justify such enormous stakes. That’s a Death Match at its worst.
At its potential best? That’s Swerve Strickland and Adam Page.
This feud felt real from the first promo between the two AEW superstars. Swerve claimed that Page was handed everything, and it felt like he was speaking from the heart, the cornerstone of a good promo. The two battled in the ring and on the microphone for weeks before the AEW Full Gear Texas Deathmatch. The match itself was incredible. Thirty minutes of brutality and violence from two men who felt like they hated one another.
The moment of the night is Page cutting Swerve”s head open and then drinking his blood. Disgusting but effective. It is a moment fans will remember for a long time. The match elevated Swerve to a main event level and pushed Adam Page back into a solidified spot as a top guy on the roster. The emotion and storytelling in this rivalry are ones that AEW should replicate. Without the blood-drinking, hopefully. That said, it”s clear this match gave us some of the best moments that defined AEW in 2023.
Jay White Signs With AEW
While it”s not as impactful as Will Ospreay, the man known as “Switchblade” Jay White is still one of the best wrestlers in the world. There is a main event star here that AEW can build a ton of storylines around. The NJPW staple and former Bullet Club leader debuted as a signed wrestler for the company in April of 2023. Since then, he’s tangled with everyone from Ricky Starks to Kenny Omega to MJF.
Jay White is a top opponent for AEW’s already-established stars. He”s someone the company can use as their champion. He has a persona and a reputation that AEW needs as it continues to establish its stars and legacy. White is a former IWGP World Champion & IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He also won the NEVER Openweight Title, IWGP Intercontinental Title, and IWGP United States Title. This made him New Japan”s first and only grand slam champion.
This signing will turn out to be huge. This is why we consider it to be one of the biggest moments that defined AEW in 2023.
CM Punk Returns To AEW TV
Where to begin? AEW Brawl Out will live in infamy amongst wrestling fans. It derailed some good momentum AEW was having at the time. It also coincided with CM Punk missing nine months due to an injury he suffered during his match that night.
Punk”s return was a constant topic of conversation amongst all wrestling fans. Would he bring his backstage feud with the EVPs onto TV? Would they work the same shows? Was Tony Khan ever going to comment on this in any way, shape or form? The answer to these questions would be “no.” When Collision debuted on June 17 in Chicago, it was the perfect return date for CM Punk. He”s a local icon there.
It was also reportedly a reason for WBD”s enthusiasm for the Saturday Night show. They believed that Punk could carry that show and keep the ratings strong on a weak night of television. What we didn’t know then was how short-lived his return to AEW TV would be. Less than three months later, Punk was terminated for “just cause” due to an incident at All In involving “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry.
Punk has since returned to WWE. This entire night will be remembered for a long time. Giving us some of the big moments that defined AEW in 2023.
Christian Cage Has A Career Year
On the premiere episode of AEW Collision on June 17, Christian Cage started a new storyline. He was the TNT Champion….well, sort of. He wasn’t, but he claimed he was and started carrying around the championship. This started what most feel is the best work of his career. Cage has always been a great performer but lived under the shadow of his best friend, Adam Copeland.
With Copeland working in WWE at the time, Cage had a chance in AEW to forge his path. Finding his groove took a little time, but what he’s done since is incredible.
Three months later, Cage became the legitimate TNT Champion. His alliance with Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus formed the Patriarchy. This began a months-long feud with Darby Allin and Sting. From his arrogance to the insults hurled at wrestlers” dead fathers, Cage has been on one for months.
With Copeland in AEW and the feud between the two in motion, we can”t wait to see what happens next. Christian”s amazing year will be remembered for years to come, and he gave us so much. There are countless moments that will define AEW in 2023 that he”s directly responsible for.
Adam Page Vs. Jon Moxley – Texas Death Match
CM Punk, Kenny Omega, and the Young Bucks were all suspended due to their involvement in “Brawl Out.” Adam “Hangman” Page might have suffered the most in the aftermath. Not only did he lose to Punk in the main event of All Out but he was also run down in the press conference afterward. Punk accused Page of going into business for himself, alluding to Punk”s alleged treatment of Colt Cabanas in AEW.
His comment about “worker”s rights” set Punk off and opened the door for an on-screen feud to get personal.
For months after the incident, Page toiled on-screen. He hadn’t been banished nor suspended. Page was drifting along without a direction. He would take months to get back into the spotlight with a high-profile feud with Swerve. However, Page was given a shot in the arm in March at the AEW Revolution PPV when he took on Jon Moxley in a Texas Death Match.
The match culminated a months-long build, with Mox and Page trading wins leading up to the contest. The match itself was as brutal as expected. Mox is one of the most violent competitors on the roster. Page showed that he could go toe-to-toe with him, forcing Mox to tap out and give Page the win. It was the momentum he needed, re-establishing himself as a top guy and a building block for the future.
Eddie Kingston Becomes Double Champ
Few AEW stars are as beloved as Eddie Kingston. He”s one of the best on the mic in professional wrestling today. Kingston connects with the crowd and everything he says is believable. That connection to the fans hasn’t always resulted in wins for Kingston since he signed with AEW in 2020.
Versus Cody for the TNT Championship? Loss.
Versus Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship? Loss
“I Quit” Match vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship? Loss.
New Year’s Smash vs. Pac? Loss
Teaming with Moxley to challenge the Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championship? Loss.
Teaming up with Pentagon Jr. vs. TYB for the tag titles? Loss
Versus CM Punk? Loss.
You get the picture. Kingston’s role was to take pins for other superstars. That’s why 2023 was such a big year for Kingston. After countless title shots, he captured his first one. At AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam, he faced Claudio Castagnoli for the ROH World Championship and even put his NJPW Strong Openweight Championship on the line. He defeated Castagnoli to become a double champ. The honor was a coronation of a wrestler beloved by fans getting to carry two prestigious belts at once.
CM Punk Gets Fired
It wasn”t shocking or hard to believe that AEW would fire CM Punk. Punk had been suspended and out with an injury following the infamous “Brawl Out.”
He would reappear on the premiere of Collision in Chicago. While “Brawl Out” seemed to be well in the past, it wasn’t for Punk. In his first promo, he made it clear that this was not over. He said this was the “professional wrestling business,” and it was a place for ‘grown-ups.” This refers to his All Out press conference where he said he “worked with children.”
Weeks later, after Collision went off the air, Punk took shots at Hangman. Punk claims they call him “Hangman” because his toys are unsold in the toy aisle. It was clear that Punk didn”t want to forget about the incident. Yet it wasn’t the Bucks or Page that were the final straw for Punk. It was an incident with Jack Perry.
During a pre-show match, Perry had a spot involving a real glass car window. Perry looked into the camera and said, “It’s real glass, cry me a river.”
The comment stemmed from Punk’s objection to letting Perry use real glass on a recent episode of Collision. After the match, Punk and Perry exchanged words, and things became physical. Punk went out right after, had a great match with Samoa Joe, and then walked to the back.
Days later, the “disciplinary committee” and Tony Khan terminated Punk with “just cause.”
Was CM Punk’s firing deserved? Maybe. Perry did strike first and Punk defended himself. This is one of the biggest moments that defined AEW in 2023. Something we”ll remember for years to come.
The Passing Of Jay Briscoe
There is nothing more tragic than when someone young dies unexpectedly. That’s what happened to Jay Briscoe. Born Jamin Dale Pugh, one-half of “The Briscoes” died tragically in a car crash on January 17, 2023. Jay left behind a wife, Ashley, and three children. He was a brother, father, and husband first.
His death rocked the professional wrestling community. The Briscoes were long regarded as one of the greatest tag teams of their generation. They are potentially the greatest Ring of Honor tag team ever. AEW’s purchase of Ring of Honor created excitement about the Briscoe Brothers. More exposure and many new opponents to work with had endless possibilities. Yet it was over before it ever started.
Jay meant a lot to people…that much was clear. A flaw and checkered past, he grew as a person. He was a devoted father and husband during his life and was beloved by his peers. There”s no better compliment than praise for who you were when you passed. The wrestling world is worse off for his passing.
His brother Mark wrestled on AEW TV for the first time days after Jay’s passing. He defeated Jay Lethal in a tribute match. In February 2024, Mark will sign with the AEW brand.
