9 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW All Out 2023 (Results & Review)

4. Bryan Danielson Vs Ricky Starks

When, by the end of Wednesday's All Out go-home edition of Dynamite, it was zero percent clearer if CM Punk would be on this show or such a thing as a "suitable replacement" even existed, the only person more aggrieved than the AEW fanbase was most likely Ricky Starks himself.

Set to pay his 1-1 series off with the former Real World Champion, Starks was seemingly cost the shot of a lifetime to conclude his rehabilitation as one of AEW's hottest prospects until Collision brought about the surprise return of Bryan Danielson and the first sign that Tony Khan understood the magnitude of his big decision.

Bryan did what Bryan does and contributed more than his half to another stone cold classic encounter, but the two deserve the highest credit for finding a 24 hour grisly blood feud underneath the dried scab of CM Punk's departure. The men were whipping each other in the face with a strap at one point; the level of hatred - ostensibly with hardly any even booked! - was as remarkable as it was palpable. 'The American Dragon' defending Ricky Steamboat was neat on paper and electrifying in practice too, particularly when he took to the skies to deal with Big Bill late in the game.

The origin story may forever be fuzzy, but this purred with all the violent verve of a 2023 Match Of The Year, and if AEW have it in them to fuel both of these men with solid new stories on the other side, it likely won't be the last time they feature in that conversation.