AEW WrestleDream 2023

AEW WrestleDream 2023 is a PPV event from All Elite Wrestling. The event took place on October 1, 2023, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA. The event honored the Legend Antonio Inoki, taking place on his Death Anniversary.

Bryan Danielson took on Zack Sabre Jr. in a singles match. FTR defended AEW Tag Team Championship against Aussie Open. A 2-out-of-3 falls match between Christian Cage and Darby Allin headlined the match for AEW TNT Championship.

MATCH CARD

• Pre-show: Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty, Diamante & Mercedes Martinez vs Satoshi Kojima, Keith Lee, Athena & Billie Starkz
  • Winner – Satoshi Kojima, Keith Lee, Athena & Billie Starkz
• Pre-show: Claudio Castagnoli vs Josh Barnett
  • Winner – Claudio Castagnoli
• Pre-show: Luchasaurus vs Nick Wayne
  • Winner – Luchasaurus
• Pre-show: The Acclaimed(Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Billy Gunn(c) vs TMDK(Shane Haste, Mickey Nicholls & Bad Dude Tito – AEW Trios Championship
  • Winner – The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn
• MJF(c) vs The Righteous(Vincent & Dutch) – Handicap match for ROH Tag Team Championship
  • Winner – MJF
• Eddie Kingston(c) vs Katsuyari Shibata – NJPW Strong Openweight Championship and ROH World Championship
  • Winner – Eddie Kingston
• Kris Statlander(c) vs Julia Hart – AEW TBS Women’s Championship
  • Winner – Kris Statlander
• Hook & Orange Cassidy vs The Young Bucks(Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs Lucha Bros(Penta El Zero Meido & Rey Fenix) vs The Gunns(Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) – #1 Contender match for AEW Tag Team Championship
  • Winner – The Young Bucks
• Swerve Strickland vs Hangman Adam Page
  • Winner – Swerve Strickland
• Ricky Starks vs Wheeler Yuta
  • Winner- Ricky Starks
• Bryan Danielson vs Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Winner – Bryan Danielson
• Konosuke Takeshita, Will Ospreay & Sammy Guevara vs Kota Ibushi, Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho
  • Winner – Konosuke Takeshita, Will Ospreay & Sammy Guevara
• FTR(Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood)(c) vs Aussie Open(Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) – AEW Tag Team Championship
  • Winner – FTR
• Christian Cage(c) vs Darby Allin – 2 out of 3 falls match for AEW TNT Championship
  • Winner – Christian Cage

NOTES & STORYLINES

AEW President Tony Khan announced during All In 2023 post-show media scrum that AEW would hold a PPV on October 1, 2023, in honor of Japanese Wrestling Legend Antonio Inoki on his death anniversary. Inoki passed away on October 1, 2022. Khan also announced that NJPW would send some of its stars to compete at the event.

The tickets went on sale on September 7 with pre-sale. More than 3000 tickets were sold in the first two days of the sale. A total of 6089 tickets out of 6859 available were sold.

Edge made his AEW debut as he came out after the main event to save Darby Allin and Sting from an attack from Christian Cage, Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus.

Bryan Danielson vs Zack Sabre Jr.

Bryan Danielson challenged Zack Sabre Jr. to show off his skill, as he calls himself the best technical wrestler in the world. The match was confirmed shortly afterward by AEW. This match was earlier supposed to take place at Forbidden Door 2022 event but Bryan suffered an injury and was replaced by Claudio Castagnoli.

Swerve Strickland vs “Hangman” Adam Page

Swerve Strickland interrupted Hangman Page’s interview with Tony Schiavone on AEW Dynamite September 6 episode. Swerve pointed out how he was the World Champion in 2022, but has since slacked up for the past year and was playing second fiddle to the Elite. Page did not react to this and left the ring. However, Swerve then brought in Page’s wife and kids which led to Page return to the ring. Brian Cage attacked Page from behind. Page defeated Cage on September 13 episode after which Swerve revealed that he would face Page in his hometown in Seattle at WrestleDream 2023 PPV.

FTR(Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood)(c) vs Aussie Open(Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) – AEW Tag Team Championship

After they defeated The Young Bucks at AEW All In, FTR revealed on Collision September 9 episode that they would give opportunities to new tag teams and defend the title against them as they already defeated all the legendary teams. After their defense against Iron Savages on September 16 Collision, Aussie Open issued them a challenge for the title match at WrestleDream. They also said that even if FTR lost their title before WrestleDream, they would clash in a non-title match.

MJF(c) vs The Righteous – Handicap Match for ROH Tag Team Championship

Adam Cole and MJF won ROH Tag Team Championship at All Out event. The Righteous won a 4-way tag team match at Rampage Grand Slam 2023 event to become the #1 contenders for ROH Tag Team titles, and set up the match at WrestleDream. Adam Cole suffered an ankle injury at Dynamite Grand slam which required surgery. He wanted to relinquish the titles but MJF stopped him and said he would defend the title against The Righteous in a handicap match.

Hook & Orange Cassidy vs The Young Bucks vs Lucha Bros vs The Gunns – #1 Contender match for AEW Tag Team Championship

Tony Khan announced a 4-way match to find a new #1 contender for AEW Tag Team Championship. As a preview to this match, a fatal 4-way took place on Dynamite September 27 episode between Orange Cassidy, Penta, Austin Gunn & Matt Jackson.

Christian Cage(c) vs Darby Allin – 2 out of 3 falls match for AEW TNT Championship

The rivalry between Christian Cage and Darby Allin started when Darby Allin became the #1 contender for AEW TNT Championship which was held by Christian’s stablemate Luchasaurus. Christian then became part of a Coffin tag team match at All In to team up with Swerve Strickland to take on Darby and Sting. Darby and Sting won the match at All In. However, Luchasaurus was successful in retaining the title over Darby at All Out. Christian then called for another tag team match against Sting and Darby with Luchasaurus as his partner.

At Dynamite Grand Slam, Christian announced a triple threat match at Collision September 23 episode between him, Luchasaurus and Darby for TNT Championship, which he wanted to treat as a 2-on-1 handicapped match. Darby & Sting won the tag team match once again at Rampage Grand Slam on September 22 episode. Christian won the triple threat match at Collision after Darby had hit Luchasaurus with a coffin drop but Christian threw him out of the ring and pinned Luchasaurus himself. As Christian was celebrating his win, he was told that AEW President Tony Khan had announced a 2-out-of-3 falls match for his first title defense against Darby Allin.

Kris Statlander(c) vs Julia Hart – AEW TBS Women’s Championship

Julia Hart was on an unbeaten streak in AEW in 2023 in 10 matches. On September 23 Collision episode, Hart defeated Keira Hogan in a singles match. After the match, she called out Kris Statlander to defend AEW TBS Women’s Championship against her. AEW made the match official at WrestleDream.

Konosuke Takeshita, Will Ospreay & Sammy Guevara vs Kota Ibushi, Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho

Don Callis Family was having rivalries on multiple front. Callis turned on Kenny Omega in May. His client Konosuke Takeshita attacked Omega during his matches while also teamed up with Blackpool Combat Club and Bullet Club Gold against Omega in different matches. Kota Ibushi came in to team up with the Elite at Blood & Guts match. Takeshita teamed up with Blackpool Combat Club in that match. Takeshita, with Bullet Club Gold, pinned Omega at All In in a tag team match with Kota Ibushi in Omega’s team. Takeshita also defeated Omega in a singles match at All Out.

Meanwhile, Callis tried to recruit Jericho to his stable. Jericho contemplated about it for weeks before deciding to join him. However, Callis already had a painting of Jericho’s head being cut off. When got a glimpse of the painting, Callis got him attacked by Will Ospreay and Takeshita. Ospreay defeated Jericho at All In. Sammy Guevara tried to get the crowd to cheer Jericho after his loss at All In. But, Jericho got upset at Sammy over it.

The issues only escalated further in the coming weeks before they decided to have a fight to resolve their feelings. At Dynamite Grand Slam, Jericho defeated Sammy in a singles match. Post-match, Sammy hit Jericho with a low blow before joining Don Callis. Jericho confronted Sammy and Callis on Rampage Grand Slam. When Sammy and Takeshita attacked Jericho, Omega came out to his aid. AEW then announced a tag team match with Sammy, Takeshita and Ospreay facing Jericho, Omega and Ibushi at WrestleDream.

Eddie Kingston(c) vs Katsuyari Shibata – NJPW Strong Openweight Championship and ROH World Championship

ROH Pure Champion Katsuyari Shibata teamed up with NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston to beat Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta at AEW All Out. Later, Eddie Kingston defeated Claudio to win ROH World Championship also. AEW then announced that Kingston would defend both of his titles against Shibata at WrestleDream.

Ricky Starks vs Wheeler Yuta

Ricky Starks lost to Bryan Danielson at AEW Collision September 23 episode in a last man standing match. This was his second loss to Danielson in one-on-one matches. Starks later cut a promo saying that he lost via countout, but he pinned Danielson in a tag team match previously. So, his loss was less effective. Wheeler Yuta confronted him and said Starks did not get up while he go through the same beating everyday at the hands of BCC and get up everytime. Starks then challenged him to a match which was set up at WrestleDream.

Nick Wayne vs Luchasaurus

Nick Wayne has been assisting Darby Allin against outside interruptions during his rivalry with Christian Cage and Luchasaurus. Both Wayne and Luchasaurus were banned from ringside at WrestleDream for Christian vs Darby match. Wayne then called out Luchasaurus for a match at WrestleDream, recalling how Luchasaurus chokeslammed him at All In.