WrestleDream 2023: Danielson-Sabre and Christian-Darby Launch a Strong New AEW PPV

Athena, Billie Starkz, Keith Lee and Satoshi Kojima defeated Shane Taylor's eight-person team after Kojima pinned Lee Moriarty with a lariat. Athena had struck Moriarty with the O-Face and Keith Lee planted him, leaving the veteran Kojima to close the action with the final fall. Moriarty earlier came close after trading fast tags with Diamante, Mercedes Martinez and Taylor, but the opposition's size advantage dissolved under coordinated offense from all four winners. C- (5.5) records an Antonio Inoki tribute-card opener that gave Kojima a meaningful moment while distinguishing the eight legal wrestlers from their managers and promotional affiliations.

Claudio Castagnoli pinned Josh Barnett with a countered crucifix after shifting out of Barnett's octopus submission, a finish that highlighted both wrestlers' technical background. Barnett had attacked the inside of Castagnoli's leg and attempted a kneebar, but Castagnoli countered with European uppercuts, hammer-and-anvil elbows and the Giant Swing. The exchange stayed grounded in their grappling rivalry rather than interference by Jon Moxley, who joined commentary rather than becoming a competitor. B- (7.2) rewards an unusually focused showcase; Barnett's respectful challenge for a rematch after the fall did not rewrite the result.

Luchasaurus pinned Nick Wayne after countering Wayne's World with a violent shot to the back of the head. Wayne had threatened an upset with two thrust kicks and a moonsault that took the much larger wrestler to the floor, but Luchasaurus had already slammed him neck-first and chokeslammed him over the ropes onto the apron. Wayne's mother observing from ringside gave the short Zero Hour fight a personal context without being part of the finish. D (4.8) reflects a one-sided match whose notable move was a brutal counter, not a competitive title change or a long-running championship rivalry.

The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn retained the AEW World Trios Championship after Max Caster pinned Bad Dude Tito with the Mic Drop, following Anthony Bowens' Arrival. The champions had faced real resistance from TMDK's Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls, including a German suplex on Gunn and a double-team assault while the referee looked away. Caster's save prevented a Tito pin, and Gunn's eventual comeback let the champions set their usual tandem finish. C (6.3) recognizes an efficient pre-show defense with a specific pinning wrestler; there was no ROH title switch or fourth legal champion.

MJF defended the ROH World Tag Team Championship without his injured partner Adam Cole by pinning Dutch in a two-on-one handicap match against the Righteous. Dutch and Vincent had worked together to overwhelm the isolated champion, and Vincent even attempted to bring a steel chair and wooden block into the finish. MJF escaped with a low blow, surprised the challengers by bodyslamming Dutch and connected with a double kangaroo kick. He then used the Heat Seeker and kept his feet on the ropes while covering Dutch. D+ (5.4) recognizes the character work and a very specific cheating finish while not implying Cole competed or that MJF defended his separate AEW World title.

Eddie Kingston retained both the ROH World Championship and NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship by pinning Katsuyori Shibata with a powerbomb after consecutive spinning backfists. Shibata had repeatedly caught Kingston in painful leg submissions, then shifted into a ground octopus hold until Kingston reached the ropes. Kingston survived the technical struggle long enough to answer with hard chops and a Northern Lights Bomb before closing the fall. Shibata's ROH Pure Championship was not transferred in this defense. B+ (8.3) credits a compact, physically taxing meeting of different styles with a clear championship result rather than a generic exchange of hard strikes.

Kris Statlander retained the AEW TBS Championship by pinning Julia Hart with Sunday Night Fever after physically lifting the challenger out of her Heartless submission. Hart had nearly won with a spider German suplex and a moonsault, but Statlander found the bottom rope before the three-count. Earlier, when Hart tried to spray black mist, Statlander slapped it away, denying a shortcut. Brody King stood at ringside, but he wasn't another legal opponent. C+ (6.7) rewards a crowd-pleasing escape and decisive finish while recognizing that this was a single TBS title defense, not a multi-belt contest.

The Young Bucks won the four-team AEW World Tag Title number-one-contender match when Nick Jackson pinned Penta El Zero Miedo after the BTE Trigger. The Gunns and the pairing of Orange Cassidy with HOOK had each threatened to escape the chaotic four-way tags, including a RedRum attempt on Austin Gunn interrupted by Nick's own tag. Lucha Brothers nearly won after Penta's Made in Japan, but the Bucks broke up the offense with superkicks before hitting Penta with their decisive move. B (7.6) recognizes an energetic qualifier with a precise losing wrestler; no championship changed hands on this match alone.

Swerve Strickland pinned Hangman Adam Page after the JML Driver, ending a dramatic singles feud chapter in front of Swerve's Seattle-area supporters. Page had nearly finished Swerve with a Buckshot Lariat, but Prince Nana placed Swerve's boot on the ropes and was ejected. With the referee diverted, Strickland struck Page with Nana's crown, then survived another comeback to land repeated House Calls and the JML Driver. A- (8.9) credits both wrestlers' calculated attacks on injured arms and hands, but identifies Nana's interference instead of treating this as a straightforward clean victory.

Ricky Starks defeated Wheeler Yuta with the Rochambeau after setting it up with a spear, stopping a close exchange of submissions and power moves. Yuta almost caught Starks with the seatbelt pin and knocked him from the apron, only for Big Bill to catch Starks outside. Moxley watched from commentary while Starks answered the Blackpool Combat Club's technical offense with heavy strikes and a powerbomb. C+ (6.8) credits a brisk rivalry-building bout and an identifiable finish; Yuta's near fall and Big Bill's involvement don't turn the match into a tag encounter.

Bryan Danielson won his long-awaited technical duel with Zack Sabre Jr. by pinning him after the Busaiku knee rather than forcing a tapout. Sabre attacked Danielson's arm through submission reversals and a PK, and Danielson responded with leg work and head stomps before neither wrestler could hold the other in a lasting submission. Even Cattle Mutilation did not end the bout. The eventual knee strike provided a dramatic alternative to a submission finish in a match advertised as a technical masterclass. A+ (9.8) recognizes the layered counters and the rare spectacle of two elite grapplers finding an outcome through a strike.

The Don Callis Family won the six-man grudge match when Sammy Guevara pinned Chris Jericho after Don Callis struck Jericho with Jericho's baseball bat. Will Ospreay had kept the referee occupied and Konosuke Takeshita prevented Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi from breaking up the pin. The three opponents had threatened victory through their own tandem offense, and Jericho's near submission on Guevara was broken up before the illicit bat blow. B+ (8.4) credits the chaotic movement across all six competitors while distinguishing Guevara's actual fall from Ospreay's outside-the-rules assistance; no individual title changed hands.

FTR retained the AEW World Tag Team Championship when Cash Wheeler pinned Kyle Fletcher after a Super Shatter Machine. Aussie Open had nearly won with their own version of FTR's Shatter Machine followed by the Coriolis, but Dax Harwood broke up the cover. Earlier, Fletcher and Mark Davis isolated Wheeler with a double-team attack, and Harwood's slingshot powerbomb gave the champions a brief opening. FTR regained control by landing a spiked piledriver on Davis on the apron before finishing Fletcher from the top rope. A- (8.6) reflects the escalating tag-team counters, the challengers' credible near fall and a precise title-retaining finish, not a championship change.

Christian Cage retained the AEW TNT Championship two falls to one against Darby Allin, but Nick Wayne's betrayal decided the last fall. Allin stole the opening fall with a jackknife pin after pulling Christian's turtleneck over his head. Christian evened the score by countout after driving Allin into the steel steps, then removed the ring padding and hit a Kill Switch onto the exposed boards. Allin survived and landed a Coffin Drop for a near fall. After Christian collided with the referee, Wayne seized the TNT belt and struck Allin instead of the champion, allowing Christian to pin him. A (9.1) credits the escalating three-fall story; Adam Copeland's dramatic debut came after the decision, not as part of the match.