25 Worst Wrestling Moments Of 2023
The dirt worst in WWE, AEW and wrestling overall from 2023. Even WrestleMania wasn't safe!
2023 began with no creative involvement from Vince McMahon for the first time in the vast majority of fan's lives.
Those people could be forgiven for thinking this might mean that WWE would be a more shenanigans-free environment, but the disgraced billionaire himself would begin appearing behind the scenes again to cause his usual brand of destructive chaos. Throw in the fact that AEW was still healing and rebuilding their reputation in the aftermath of 'Brawl Out', and 2023 still had a healthy dose of nonsense for wrestling fans everywhere.
From Tony Khan "fearing for his life" following CM Punk and Jack Perry's backstage scuffle, to the world holding it's collective head in its hands at the end of an otherwise electrifying WrestleMania 39, the year was no less incident fuelled than any other in the wacky world of wrestling.
Join us for a stroll down 'Misery Lane' to relive some of the worst that WWE and AEW had to offer everyone in 2023. From Leatherface to Olympic-grade flops, it was a year that had more than its fair share of disasters. These are the 25 worst moments wrestling fans endured between January-December that year.
25. Cody Rhodes Fails To Finish The Story
Let's clarify something straight away: Cody Rhodes falling short at the final hurdle in his first match headlining a WrestleMania demands the caveat that this result was for the best in the long run. Nevertheless, that didn't stop people from being all kinds of disheartened in the direct aftermath of Roman Reigns successfully defending his title via shenanigans (once again) in the 'Mania 39 main event.
Furious, despondent, devastated and dismayed, the reaction from the crowd at LA's SoFi Stadium and fans all around the world was on full display as everyone felt ready to embrace Cody finishing his story and thus writing the final chapter in The Bloodline's saga. It wasn't to be though - nobody saw Solo Sikoa being the man who settled the biggest match of the year when he emerged from the crowd to hit the 'American Nightmare' with a Samoan Spike and help his cousin retain his championship.
WrestleMania 39 is one of the best WrestleManias in history though.
It was rammed with incredible in-ring action and satisfying endings. Even this match has aged excellently; all roads led to 'Mania 40, the immense ending to Cody and Roman's story (so far), and The Rock entering this saga as the 'Final Boss'. However, even all of that didn't stop fans from being really, really, really mad about it in the moment.