2023 was an absolutely insane year for professional wrestling, we had some history making moments and truly tragic losses. The drama in 2023 in and out of the ring made this year made everyday a little interesting as a fan. Whether the conversation is over TV deals, Ticket attendance, or if CM Punk just really needs therapy. No matter how many bad opinions I saw, I loved the discourse. So please take some time out of your day and read the objectively correct opinions of who I believe carried 2023 on their backs. If you disagree with any of these feel free to fight me on them!
Wrestler of the Year
Swerve Strickland
Swerve signed with AEW in 2022, and had some great matches alongside and against Keith Lee. Yet when 2023 started for Swerve, his character felt a little lost, forming the Mogul Affiliates with Parker Boudreaux and Trench. Swerve went from a character who was ready to jump to the front of the line, to suddenly carrying some uninteresting lackeys. His feud with Orange Cassidy was exciting, but fell short in my excitement as I felt it was time for Swerve to hold gold. It wasn’t until his rivalry with Nick Wayne where we got to see Swerve’s violent side shine through. Wrestler of the Year might not be the most accurate title, it should be Menace of the Year. Strickland assaulted Nick Wayne in his late fathers gym, leaving him in a pool of blood. This part of the year for Swerve feels like a warning for the remainder of the year in retrospect. The last quarter of the year Swerve was by the far the most interesting and engaging character on wrestling television. From the moment he confronted Adam page, I knew we were in for something truly special. As 2023 comes to a close Swerve is performing phenomenally in AEW’s Continental Classic Tournament. Already defeating the likes of Jay White, Mark Briscoe and Jay Lethal. Swerve is white hot right now, and even got Jon Moxley a couple of boos when he cheated to win in their Contenintal Classic match. I can't wait to see them mix it up again, and Swerve can get his win back. I'm hoping Swerve gets to head into 2024 as the Triple Crown Champion, which is what he truly deserves right now.
Womens Wrestler of the Year
Iyo Sky
When I look for who I consider to be the best of the year, I look for some who had many standout performances. Iyo Sky has done just that, the first half of the year I was frustrated with the booking of women in the major American promotions as a whole, which WWE has since rectified. Iyo came into 2023 as tag team champions with Dakota Kai, but lost them in february to Lita and Becky Lynch. Alongside Dakota and Bayley Iyo fought Lita, Becky and Trish Stratus at Wrestlemania in such a fun match. What placed Iyo at the forefront of my short list, was actually her match against Bianca Belair at Backlash in Puerto Rico. She felt electric going to the ring and while watching I was convinced she was taking the gold. Unfortunately it was not her time, and WWE seemingly had something else in mind. Her faction member Bayley and she both earned spots in the Money in Bank, which Iyo won, after handcuffing her teammate to the ring post. Iyo then went on to cash in her briefcase and steal the world title off of Bianca Belair at Summerslam, then had a fantastic triple threat to retain the championship against Charlotte Flair and Asuka. At Crown Jewel she ended up avenging her loss in Puerto Rico at Crown Jewel thanks to the returning Kairi Sane. Damage Cntrl competed in a wargames match with new additions of Asuka and Kairi, making Iyo the only women to have competed in every War Games match so far. She even went a bit viral from her trashcan dive off the top of the cage. Iyo’s stellar year absolutely wouldn’t have been possible without the great cast of talent who have been putting interesting angles throughout the whole year. When looking back at the most interesting moments for me, Iyo was always at the center, and I hope we get to see her walk into Wrestlemania 40 as champion.
Men’s Wrestler of the Year
Adam Page
Adam Page actually tied swerve in Match of the Year contenders for 2023, Adam was tangled with Jon moxley going into 2023, after both he and mox suffered injuries against each other, there was a story of anger, revenge and defense of family for each of them. March 5th at AEW’s Revolution was Texas Death for Hangman and Moxley. Which became an incredibly strong match of the year contender. Even in ultraviolet matches Page’s performances this year have been so consistent, every time he was on screen he was radiating charisma and urgency. Hangman even competed in Blood and Guts this year, so many marquee matches that his name showed up as many times as Swerve’s. AEW used hangman to their fullest, making sure he was in all their big multiman matches like Anarchy in the Arena. He was even a part of the ROH trios tag champions for a brief period. I’m not sure if Hangman will hold any singles gold in 2024, I hope I am wrong. As the year is wrapping up Adam Page is setting his sights on MJF and his world championship, which I am greatly looking forward to.
Match of the Year
TEXAS DEATH
Adam Page vs Swerve Strickland
As if this is surprising, as November was closing out, I was fully planning to make their first encounter at Wrestledream in October my Match of the Year. That was until Texas Death. Following their first match, Swerve and Hangman were not done with each other. To go to war with someone like this changes you, and according to both of these men, they are forever connected now. Hangman drank his blood, how can they not be? AEW has been saving death matches for when they are justified, keeping them special and anticipated. Swerve invaded Page’s house and even threatened his baby still in their crib. A death match was earned for these two. This fight had some horrifying visuals, from Hangman stapling his child's drawings onto swerve’s face. Swerve pouring blood and stapling himself. This match also had some scary moments that made me cringe and fear an injury, like the barbed wire whipping around hangmans head and landing around his eye. Swerve walked out of this match being the scariest dude in all of AEW. Swerve came out on top in both of their matches, priming him for a huge run, presumably winning the Continental Classic. This is a match that should be talking about in a decade.
Tag Team of the Year
Better than you Baybay
Where do I even begin? Someone once said wrestling is a love story, this tag team is proof. Starting from a goofy “randomized” tag team tournament which forced these two rivals to earn each other's love and trust. Allowing one of wrestling's greatest heels today, to open up, and to show his true self to not only his new best friend but to us the audience. Every single segment since the very beginning of this story has been pure camp. At the time this angle felt like an awkward comedy bit that was just to hold out time for something bigger for MJF. I’ve always been a big fan of Adam Cole, his runs in NXT are legendary to me, but when he came to AEW he got lost in the shuffle, and then suffered a serious concussion which put him out of action for around 9 months. Adam then earned a Championship eliminator match against MJF which astoundingly went to a 30 minute draw. Adam called for five more minutes which MJF refused. After that match I was certain we were on the cusp of something great, I couldn’t have guessed what we actually got. This team won the whole blind eliminator tournament. MJF promised Adam a shot at the world title if they beat FTR for the tag team championships. Unfortunately they did not defeat FTR. Yet during that match, something changed. MJF and Adam Cole were best friends, they even went on to become ROH tag team champions. The icing on the cake for this tag team was their main event match at Wembley Stadium. Two best friends fighting each other one on one, in AEW’s largest show in history. Throughout the contest both men had opportunities to backstab the other, yet neither man could bring themselves to do that to their best friend. The match ends.. Both men pinned… a draw. “Five more minutes” begged Adam, which MJF refused. It feels like your about to watch this romance crumble to pieces until MJF turn to adam and screams
“WE’RE GOING TIL WE HAVE A WINNER IN FUCKING WEMBLEY.”
The match finally ended and MJF was still champion, but MJF did not gloat and mock Adam. This is not the same MJF from a few months ago. MJF picks up Adam and the two celebrate their moment together. There was never any other tag team this year that was as narratively engaging to me, turning one of the most rotten scumbags in wrestling to our scumbag.
Faction of the Year
Bullet Club Gold
There was never any other choice, Bullet Club Gold is by far the most fun faction to watch. Starting with just Jay White and Juice Robinson, the two NJPW refugees made their own Bullet Club since they left Japan. Their work was engaging and fun, how could it not be? The faction really took off when Austin and Colton Gunn joined. A perfect balance of chaos and seriousness. When the Gunns are with Juice they can be as unhinged as possible. When they are with Jay, they can be just as cerebral and menacing. The group has the coolest entrance in AEW by a long shot. Arguably the most important member of the bang bang gang is Cardblade, a small cardboard cutout of Jay White for when he was not at a taping. Which AEW sold replicas of at their live events and seemingly sold very well. As a group Bullet Club Gold hasn't won any titles in 2023. Although the Gunns were Tag Team Champions from May to August. Jay White was in a huge program with MJF that culminated at Full Gear this year in what was in my opinion a great match. In 2024, I hope that Bullet Club Gold can actually hold some gold. The current trios champions are The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn, Austin and Coltons father. I think to reignite that feud with the Bang Bang Gang twist could be really exciting.
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My excitement for Wrestling in 2023 was a lot of peaks and valleys, overall I've been very frustated with how the 2 major american promotions have handled their women's divisions, which WWE has made some strides in correcting. I've explored STARDOM more, and I've enjoyed every minute. I got to attend the premier show of SUKEBAN, I sat next to Emi Sakura, and even got quoted by the Wall Street Journal. I was fortunate enough to attend AEW's Grandslam at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and saw Adam Cole blow out his ankle within moments of coming out. I don't know what 2024 has in store for me and Pro-wrestling, I hope it carries good shows and great memories.
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