10 Best Wrestling Matches Of 2023 (So Far)

7. Jon Moxley Vs. Hangman Page - AEW Revolution

Rhea Ripley
AEW

AEW overdoes a lot: stipulation matches, blood, almost everything. It's difficult, however, to say that the promotion has ruined the allure of violence. AEW is still capable of conjuring feelings of terror and anxiety when promoting and delivering plunder spectacles.

AEW has experienced mixed success when promoting gimmick matches. Everything with a 'Casino' prefix is generally a bit weird, and strangely, given the lack of limitations, the multi-man ladder matches don't hit their ceiling. In Anarchy In The Arena, Tony Khan has created his signature, drawing attraction - but he has also revived the true, definitive violence of a Texas Death match. Its two best practitioners, Hangman Page and Jon Moxley, constructed something horrifying and unforgettable at Revolution.

The commitment to violence was unreal, but it wasn't a boneheaded plunder brawl. There was a working magic to more than one set piece, particularly the spot in which Page drilled Mox with a top-rope power bomb onto two standing chairs. They just missed the most brutal point of impact, but arranged it in such a way that it was better (and far safer) for being that bit less "clean". They didn't short-change fans on the violence; everything looked disgusting, but was linked together beautifully. In a fabulous bit of continuity, Mox, recognising that Page's Buckshot lariat is a death blow in a Death match, put Page's hand between two bricks and stamped down hard.

The poetic finish was incredible; Page, who doesn't like violence but had to resort to it, didn't need the Buckshot.

A desperate Mox glorified violence and wrapped chain around his own neck, and Page punished him via hanging, tying a bow around the story and inciting the next arc of Mox's character.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!