‘AEW: Revolution 2023’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of 2023’s AEW: Revolution pay-per-view, which emanates from the Chase Center in San Francisco, California and features nine matches across the Zero Hour pre-show and the main PPV itself – including a 60-minute Iron Man match main event. Can’t say you don’t get your money’s worth with AEW!
ZERO HOUR
Match #1: Mark Briscoe & The Lucha Bros (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) def. Ari Daivari & The Varsity Athletes (Josh Woods & Tony Nese)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Penta El Zero Miedo and Tony Nese began for their respective teams. But it quickly broke down as both teams entered the ring and began to brawl, three against three. Mark Briscoe hit a flipping neck breaker off the apron on Josh Woods. Mark Sterling jumped on the apron to distract Penta El Zero Miedo. Woods, Nese, and Daivari utilized quick tags to trap Penta El Zero Miedo in their corner of the ring. Rey Fenix made the tag, but Woods countered the tornillo with a rising knee strike. Chicken got the tag and used his redneck kung fu on Ari Daivari. Using a chair, Mark Briscoe launched himself over the top rope onto Woods and Nese. Mark climbed to the top rope but Nese disrupted Mark’s balance. Mark chopped Nese off the turnbuckles. Nese came back with a 450 splash on Mark but the Lucha Bros broke up the tag. The Lucha Bros crunched Ari and then Mark splashed Ari with the Froggy Bow to score the pin!
My Score: 3 out of 5
REVOLUTION
Match #1: Ricky Starks def. Chris Jericho
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The Jericho Appreciation Society were banned from ringside. Starks planted Jericho with a DDT off the ropes for a near fall. Ricky went for a spear but Jericho had Starks scouted and countered with a Code Breaker. Jericho and Starks slugged it out in the center of the ring. Starks clocked Jericho with a thrust kick. Starks put Jericho in a single leg crab. Sammy Guevara ran to ringside but Action Andretti came out of nowhere and neutralized Sammy. As the ref was distracted by Sammy and Action brawling at ringside, Jericho cracked Ricky with the baseball bat. Jericho tried for the Judas Effect but Ricky blocked it! Starks nailed Jericho with the Roshambo and pinned The Ocho!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: The Last Burial Match – Jack Perry def. Christian Cage
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The only rule is you have to shove your opponent in the casket and shut the lid to win. Jack Perry grounded and pounded Christian Cage. Jungle Boy was looking for a tope but Christian Cage retreated through the crowd. Jack Perry stalked Christian up the stands and through the fans. Jack Perry tackled Christian Cage on the ramp. Jack Perry’s mother and sister were watching from the front row. Jack Perry connected with the tope and sent Christian Cage crashing against the ringside barricade. Christian Cage grabbed Jack Perry’s legs and swept him off the ring steps. Christian Cage pulled Jack’s belt off and began to whip him with it. Christian Cage opened the casket and pulled a steel chair out of it. Perry was there and attempted a piledriver on the ramp but Christian Cage countered with a backdrop. Christian was about to go for the Kill Switch on the ramp but Jungle Boy shoved Christian off the ramp and onto the cold, hard floor! As Jack Perry was about to swing a chair at Christian Cage, Cage kicked Perry with a low blow. Christian Cage threw dirt into Jungle Boy’s eyes, temporarily blinding him. Christian swung a chair at Perry, looking for the conchairto, but Perry defended himself with a shovel. Jack Perry locked in the snare trap, using the shovel for extra leverage. Jack Perry cracked Christian Cage with a chair, hitting him with a conchairto of his own! Jack rolled Christian Cage into the casket and closed the lid to win the match.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: AEW World Trios Championship Match – The House of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews, & Malakai Black) def. The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks – Nick & Matt Jackson)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Omega and Matthews began for their respective teams. Buddy grabbed a wristlock but Kenny countered. Malakai Black tagged himself in. Omega blocked a leg kick from Black. Omega used an arm drag. Black tried for a back heel kick but Omega ducked it. Matt Jackson tagged in and called out Brody King. Matt hit the ropes and then tagged out to his brother Nick. The Young Bucks nailed Brody with a double dropkick. Nick spiked Buddy with a facebuster. Matt jumped over the post with a crossbody press on Black and Matthews. Omega took down Brody King with a hurracanrana. Omega went over the top with the Terminator Dive, wiping out the House of Black on the arena floor. The momentum shifted in favor of the House of Black. Brody splashed Nick Jackson in the corner and then tossed him half way across the ring. Kenny Omega tagged in and crumbled Brody with a basement dropkick. Matthews tagged in and blasted Kenny with a John Woo dropkick. Omega was looking for a snapdragon suplex but Brody King nearly decapitated Omega with a short arm lariat. Malakai Black tagged in and clocked Kenny with a leaping knee strike. Matt Jackson superkicked Black and Buddy. Omega and Black exchanged strikes. Nick Jackson had his ankle pulled by Julia Hart. Brody grabbed Nick but Matt was there to help his brother with a superkick to Brody. Omega wiped out Brody with a V-Trigger. Kenny Omega drilled Malakai Black with snapdragon suplexes. Julia Hart jumped on the apron in an attempt to distract Kenny. Kenny inadvertently knocked Julia off the apron with a V-Trigger. The House of Black grabbed Kenny and spiked him with Dante’s Inferno. The House of Black had Omega surrounded in the ring. The Bucks pulled Buddy and Brody out of the ring, landing superkicks on the House of Black. The Elite smashed Black with the BTE Trigger but Matthews was there to break up the subsequent pin attempt. Matt called for the Meltzer Driver but Matthews countered and the House of Black finished off Matt Jackson with Dante’s Inferno! Malakai Black grabbed the pin and became the new AEW World Trios Champions!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #4: AEW Women’s World Championship Match – Jamie Hayter def. Ruby Soho and Saraya
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Saraya, Soho, and Hayter brawled through the crowd. Saraya and Hayter returned to the ring where Saraya stomped a mudhole into Jamie Hayter. Hayter planted Saraya on the ring apron. Ruby jumped in and dished out a suplex to Saraya. Jamie grabbed Ruby and rocked her with the Hayter Breaker. Ruby drilled Saraya with Destination Unknown but Hayter was there to break up the pin. Ruby went for a kick up Hayter ducked it, rolled up Ruby and pinned her! Storm jumped in the ring after the match and began to kick Hayter. Baker came in to even up the odds but Saraya and Storm swarmed Baker. Ruby Soho joined Saraya and Storm in beating down Hayter and Baker!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Texas Death Match – “Hangman” Adam Page def. Jon Moxley
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Page jumped Moxley as Mox was making his entrance. Hangman and Moxley chopped each other in the ring. They upgraded to forearms and then punches! Moxley plastered Page with a punch to the jaw. Moxley grabbed barb wire and was about to wrap it around Adam Page but Page blocked it. Page raked the barb wire against Moxley’s forehead. Moxley grabbed more barb wire, wrapping it around his fist and clocking Page with it. Moxley pulled a fork out of his boot. Moxley trapped Page in a triangle and stabbed Page in the forehead repeatedly. Moxley grabbed a steel chair that was wrapped in barb wire and propped it in the corner. Page got to his feet and charged at Moxley but Moxley dodged Page, sending Page crashing into the barb wire chair. Moxley placed Page in a single leg crab on top of the chair wrapped in barb wire. Page popped up and powerbombed Moxley on two chairs that were wrapped in barb wire! Both wrestlers were up before the ten count. Hangman Page wrapped his torso in barb wire and launched himself onto Moxley on the arena floor with a moonsault! Page returned to the ring but Mox baited him in and rocked Page with a cutter. Moxley pulled out a chain and two bricks from beneath the ring. Moxley placed Page’s hand in between the two bricks and stomped on it. Moxley spiked Page with a piledriver onto a steel chain! Moxley began to hogtie Page with the chain. Page bit on Moxley’s hand out of sheer desperation. Moxley escaped the ring and set up a plank wrapped in barb wire across two chairs. Moxley went to grab Page in the ring but Page jacked Moxley with a clothesline. Page hurled Mox with a fallaway slam onto the steel chair wrapped in barb wire. Page followed up with the Dead Eye onto the barb wire-wrapped chair! Page and Moxley clawed one another on top of the turnbuckles. Moxley shoved Page off the top, sending Page crashing through the barb wire-wrapped plank on the arena floor. Page got to his feet and back in the ring in the nick of time, but Moxley was there waiting with the King Kong Lariat! Page rallied back with a lariat of his own! Page went for the Buckshot but Mox countered with the Death Rider! Moxley curb stomped Page onto the bricks! Page managed to get to his feet but Mox wrapped up Page in the bulldog choke. Hangman faded and Mox let go, letting Page crumble. Moxley grabbed the chain, just in case Page got to his feet. Mox shouted, “Stay down!” Page grabbed one end of the chain, pulled Moxley toward him and threw everything he head into a lariat at Moxley. Page smashed a brick against Moxley’s head! Page connected with the Buckshot Lariat! Moxley was knocked over the top rope, the chain wrapped around his neck! Page pulled on the chain and Moxley had no choice but to tap out!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #6: TNT Championship Match – Wardlow def. Samoa Joe
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Samoa Joe connected with an elbow suicida. Back in the ring, Wardlow steamrolled Joe with a running clothesline in the corner. Samoa Joe connected with powerful jabs to Wardlow. Samoa Joe kicked out Wardlow’s leg. Somehow Wardlow found the strength to get up and drop a senton atomico on Samoa Joe, right on target. Samoa Joe popped up and put Wardlow in a sleeper. Wardlow managed to get to the bottom rope to force the break. Samoa Joe was searching for a Muscle Buster but Wardlow countered with a powerbomb out of the corner! Samoa Joe came back with a haymaker lariat on Wardlow. Wardlow headbutted Samoa Joe and then grapevine Samoa Joe with a sleeper. Wardlow choked out Samoa Joe and became the new TNT Champion!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: AEW World Tag Team Championship Match – The Gunns (Austin & Colten) def. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster), Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett and Danhausen & Orange Cassidy
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Orange Cassidy dropkicked Jeff Jarrett. Danhausen tagged in and charged at Jay Lethal in the corner with running forearms. Danhausen took down Lethal with a hurracanrana. Cassidy wiped out Colten with a flying body press. Orange was looking for the Orange Punch but Austin tagged out to Lethal. Jay Lethal nailed Orange with the Lethal Combination. Caster tagged in and scoop slammed Lethal. Sonjay jumped into the ring and Bowens dropped the Scissor Me Timbers on him. Austin dropped Bowens with a delayed vertical suplex. Bowens tagged out to Max. Caster countered the Stroke by Jarrett but Lethal was there to dish out a thrust kick. Danhausen had a face-off with Satnam Singh! Danhausen was about to curse Satnam when Sonjay interfered. Daddy Ass jumped in with the Fame-Asser on Satnam. The Gunns delivered double low blows to Daddy Ass. The Acclaimed hit tandem offense on Colten. Austin charged in but was met with the Arrival and then the Mic Drop! Colten saved his brother, breaking up the pin fall. Jarrett grabbed his guitar and swung it at Caster. Max stripped Jarrett of the guitar but before Max could use it, Aubrey yanked it away. Lethal cracked Max with the Golden Globe! Austin grabbed a blind tag and Danhausen tagged in too! The Gunns drilled Danhausen with the 310 to Yuma and pinned Danhausen!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #8: AEW World Championship 60-Minute Iron Man Match – MJF def. Bryan Danielson
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Danielson put MJF in a bow and arrow submission. MJF escaped and Danielson laughed at him and mocked him by doing jumping jacks. MJF and Danielson traded arm drags, going move for move. The fans gave both wrestlers a standing ovation. MJF drilled Danielson with a DDT. Fifteen minutes were down and neither man had the clear advantage. Danielson blasted MJF with a sunset flip powerbomb. Danielson tried for a hurracanrana but MJF countered with a powerbomb onto his knee. Danielson scored with a tope twenty minutes into the match. MJF and Danielson hit one another with lariats. Danielson scored the first fall after the running knee hit MJF right on target! MJF struck Danielson with a low blow. It cost MJF one fall as he was disqualified, but then MJF scored two falls in rapid succession. It was tied 2-2. Danielson wrapped MJF’s knee around the steel ring post. MJF writhed in pain. MJF was able to knock Danielson off the apron. MJF jumped off the top turnbuckle with a massive elbow drop, sending Bryan Danielson through the timekeeper’s table. Danielson made it back into the ring, barely beating the ten-count. MJF planted Bryan with a tombstone piledriver through the remnants of the timekeeper’s table. MJF stuck Danielson with the heat seeker and pinned the challenger. MJF was up 3-2 with just under twenty minutes remaining. Momentum shifted again as Bryan jumped off the top turnbuckle onto MJF on the arena floor. Danielson sent MJF flying with a spider superplex! Bryan Danielson walloped MJF with a diving headbutt. Danielson locked MJF into a submission and MJF tapped out! It was tied back up 3-3! MJF tried for the Salt of the Earth but Bryan rolled through and trapped MJF in the LeBell Lock! MJF transitioned and countered with the Salt of the Earth. Danielson managed to touch the bottom of the rope with his boot and force the rope break. MJF and Danielson exchanged headbutts with one another. There were less than five minutes remaining. Danielson smiled and hit MJF with a chop. MJF poked Danielson in the eyes. MJF nailed Bryan with a heat seeker but Danielson kicked out. With less than three minutes, MJF planted Danielson with a tombstone piledriver off the middle turnbuckle. MJF immediately clutched his knee upon the impact of landing. With sixty seconds, Danielson locked on a single leg crab! The time elapsed and MJF tapped out after! The match was announced as a draw!
Tony Schiavone received communication from Tony Khan over the headset. Schiavone walked down to the ring as MJF was being administered oxygen. Justin Roberts announced that Tony Khan would not allow this match to end in a draw. It would now be sudden death, with the next fall winning the match. MJF shoved the ref and the ref shoved back. Danielson cradled MJF for a near fall. MJF pulled the ref close and then low blowed Danielson with a back kick. MJF tried for the pin but Danielson kicked out. MJF was about to use the Dynamite Diamond Ring when Danielson connected with the reverse hurracanrana. Danielson waffled MJF with the running knee for a two-count! Danielson put MJF in a single leg crab submission. MJF grabbed the bottom rope and then tapped. Danielson didn’t see MJF grab the rope, only hearing the tap. MJF cracked Danielson with the oxygen tank, unbeknownst to the ref! MJF put Danielson in the LeBell Lock and Danielson finally tapped!
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
This was one hell of a pay per view, that promised a lot and delivered. There wasn’t a single bad match in the entire bunch, not even the Zero Hour opener – which was surprisingly great this year. The only downside to the whole thing was the Iron Man match which, for me, shouldn’t have reached a stalemate quite so early – the second half dragged once the match was 3-3. Thankfully the draw and restart elevated the end to a higher level and cemented MJF as a complete b*stard. Shame the use of the oxygen tank was so telegraphed – since when do the docs run in with oxygen tanks at the end of a match?! Even a Iron Man match…
