Dave Meltzer has awarded two matches from AEW All Out 2023 the coveted five-star rating, making it one of the highest rated shows of the year.
In fact, of the final four matches on the show, the lowest rating awarded was 4.5 stars.
While many have argued that Orange Cassidy vs Jon Moxley in the main event could have earned a five-star rating, it was the two marquee singles matches that were ranked highly by the Wrestling Observer.
The strap match between Bryan Danielson and Ricky Starks was given a five-star rating, as was the grudge match between Kenny Omega and Konsuke Takeshita.
Ricky Starks vs Bryan Danielson (5 Stars)
The first five-star match awarded at AEW All Out 2023 was the clash between Bryan Danielson and Ricky Starks, in a brutal and bloody strap match.
Danielson was a late addition to the match, which went through a number of opponents for Starks.
At first, it seemed CM Punk would be his opponent. However, his firing saw Ricky Starks challenge Ricky Steamboat for the match, who deferred to the American Dragon to take his place.
Danielson and Starks had one of the hardest-hitting matches in AEW history. Kicks, forearms and simply whipping each other with the strap, nothing was off limits for these two.
Ricky Steamboat even got involved, hitting punches and chips onto Big Bill after he tried to get involved in the finish of the match.
At the end of a bloody war, Bryan Danielson made Ricky Starks pass out by choking him with the strap in the LaBelle lock, marking an incredible return to the ring after injury.
- Dave Meltzer’s Star Ratings – 5 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 9.39
- Atletifo Rating – 5 Stars
Kenny Omega vs Konosuke Takeshita (5 Stars)
People were expecting Kenny Omega vs Konosuke Takeshita to be a fantastic match, but it overdelivered for a fantastic 5-star experience.
Building on the grudge between Omega and Don Callis, it was a match where neither men held back, and truly convinced you that they hated each other’s guts.
Nobody in wrestling hits harder than Takeshita. Whether it is his forearms, his running clotheslines or his incredibly dangerous running knee strikers, every hit looked like death for Kenny Omega.
Omega seemed to kick out of everything, taking everything and giving back just as good as he got. However, Don Callis’ cheating and the incredible talent of Takeshita proved too much for him in the best match of the night.
This match earned the five-star rating, making it one of the best matches in AEW in 2023.
- Dave Meltzer’s Star Ratings – 5 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 9.24
- Atletifo Rating – 5 Stars