Coming off AEWAll In, what is now undeniably one of the biggest pro wrestling shows of all time, All Elite Wrestling would march into Chicago for their annual All Out event. However, instead of riding the increasingly positive waves from that show, AEW would instead face the massive controversy of firing CM Punk the day before.
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With Punk now gone from AEW, this would prove to be a tall task for Tony Khan's company, putting on their first PPV in the era after Punk. In short, AEW looked to make a statement with All Out 2023, presenting a new era of the company, showcasing life after Punk, as they delivered not only one of the best shows of the year but one of the best AEW PPVs ever.
10 Samoa Joe (c) vs. Shane Taylor - ROH World Television Championship
Prior to this match happening, a huge moment would occur with MJF & Samoa Joe getting into it after a shoulder brush on the ramp following the opening bout. This got a huge reaction from the crowd, meaning this is probably a program coming down the line... which is very exciting.
However, Joe would have Shane Taylor on his plate following this meeting with MJF. This would be a back-and-forth match, more than expected, though Joe would ultimately retain.
9 Kris Statlander (c) vs. Ruby Soho - AEW TBS Championship
In recent weeks, Kris Statlander has taken center stage for the women's division on AEW Collision, beefing with the likes of Taya Valkyrie and Mercedes Martinez before finding her challenger for AEW All Out in the form of Ruby Soho of The Outcasts. Despite the issues with the AEW Women's division, these two would go out and put on quite a great match, showcasing some strong chemistry as they went counter for counter.
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With Saraya & Ruby trying to cheat at the end of the match, Toni Storm would appear from under the ring, preventing the usage of the signature spray paint, as Storm would seemingly turn on The Outcasts, allowing Statlander to retain in a good bout.
8 Luchasaurus (c) vs. Darby Allin - TNT Championship
Looking to continue his hot streak in 2023 of great matches, Darby Allin would face off against Luchasaurus for the TNT Championship. This would be a brutal assault from the champion to start, with Allin getting bloodied up by the big man, just unleashing extreme violence against Darby from the start.
This broke down into utter insanity with these two going to war, with Darby coming so close, though thanks to a distraction from Christian, Luchasaurus would retain.
7 Eddie Kingston & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta
A special tag-team match would be set for All Out, playing off the heated rivalry between Eddie Kingston and the ROH World Champion, Claudio Castagnoli, while adding ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata & Wheeler Yuta to the mix. This feels like a set-up for ROH Final Battle at the end of the year, with singles matches pitting the men against each other.
This served more as a buffer for things, coming before the final big three bouts, but was enjoyable in its own right, thanks to the caliber of performers in the match. Castagnoli would pin Eddie, preventing Kingston from scoring a win over his bitter rival once more.
6 MJF & Adam Cole (c) vs. Dark Order - ROH World Tag Team Championship
Coming off the historic main event of All In, which saw MJF face off against his best friend, Adam Cole, the two men would defend their ROH Tag Team Championship for the first time at All Out. Opening the show, Better Than You BayBay would put their belts on the line against Dark Order.
This would start things off with a bang, with the crowd coming to life early for MJF & Cole, with some surprisingly strong heel work from notable goofballs Silver & Reynolds. The match would play off Cole & MJF's main event at All In, with MJF selling his neck injury throughout. After being taken to the back after an attack on his neck, MJF would make the huge babyface comeback late into the match to even the odds, with the champions retaining in a very fun opener.
5 Miro vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
One of the matches on All Out that has seen the most build for it over the past weeks has been the super heavyweight feud between Miro and Powerhouse Hobbs. Taking place exclusively on Collision, this would see both guys fighting in order to secure an important big-time, PPV win.
This initially started out slow but was elevated by the crowd getting very into the big meaty men slapping meat, with "SLAP THAT MEAT" and "MEAT" chants as the crowd got behind both guys. This wound up being arguably one of the best matches of either man's career if we're being honest, with Miro coming out on top, his first huge win since returning to AEW in June. CJ Perry would make her debut after the match, helping Miro fight off Hobbs after the match.
4 FTR & Young Bucks vs. Bullet Club Gold
Following All In last weekend, FTR & The Young Bucks would make history with their third meeting. With FTR coming out on top, the two teams would then face the challenge of Jay White's Bullet Club Gold, with the rivals being forced to team up against their shared enemies at All Out. The company made it until the semi-main event without the crowd attempting to hijack the show, though the Young Bucks proved to be the breaking point, with chants of "CM PUNK", "YOUNG BUCKS SUCK", and alternatively, a portion of the crowd singing "OH CRY ME A RIVER", creating an interesting dynamic early on.
Thankfully, the wrestlers would work through it to a great degree, with Bullet Club Gold proving to be one of the best new acts in AEW this year, while The Bucks & FTR remain the pinnacle of tag team wrestling. This was longer than it needed to be, but it kept the crowd hooked through its entire length, a testament to all eight men, with the crowd chanting "AEW" loudly by the end, celebrating the company in its new era. Jay White & BCG would stand tall, pinning Cash Wheeler in a thrilling finale.
3 Bryan Danielson vs. Ricky Starks - NO DQ Strap Match
With Ricky Starks having been in the midst of a feud with CM Punk, one can argue that nobody on the AEW roster was going to be hurt more by Punk's firing than Starks. Instead of sitting around and doing nothing at All Out, however, Starks would score a No DQ Strap Match against the returning Bryan Danielson.
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This was violent. This was bloody. This was phenomenal. Without a doubt, this will go down as one of Ricky Starks' best matches of his entire career, while it marked a great return for Danielson after his arm injury at Forbidden Door. In the end, Bryan would wrap the strap around Starks' neck, choking him out for the win in a sensational match.
2 Orange Cassidy (c) vs Jon Moxley - AEW International Championship
With no AEW World Championship to main event All Out this year, the company would instead look to their own workhorse champion to close tonight's PPV, as Orange Cassidy, in the midst of an all-time great title reign, would face his biggest task; Jon Moxley. Out of the gate, Cassidy would get bloodied up from Moxley, being slotted in as the underdog against one of the final bosses of AEW. This will likely be looked at as an instant classic main event for AEW, with these two going to war against one another.
For those still denying Cassidy, you simply cannot anymore. He has arrived as one of the best active pro wrestlers alive, and despite losing this match, he looked incredible in defeat, with his reign as AEW International Champion going down as one of the best in AEW history.
1 Kenny Omega vs Konosuke Takeshita
Arguably the feud on All Out with the most heat behind it, Kenny Omega and Konosuke Takeshita would finally face off face-to-face in singles action. After months of back and forth between Omega, Takeshita, and Don Callis, things would come to a head at All Out in Chicago. This was just an incredible wrestling match, with some of the best ring work of the year. This was another coming-out party for Takeshita, who seems like a major project for AEW.
Having pinned Kenny last weekend, Takeshita would do it again, pinning Omega for a huge win. It was clear as it was happening that this is one of the best matches of 2023, which could be argued for Cassidy vs. Moxley and Danielson vs. Starks, capping off an incredible night of wrestling.
