AEW All In London 2023 was a massive success. It was a night that delivered an enjoyable show from top to bottom in front of a Wrestlemania sized crowd. 1 star for the matches, 1 star for the atmosphere. One Star for the storytelling from the matches and what was done to look forward too. The only thing i can say is I feel the show was weirdly ordered and felt front heavy and the pacing felt different throughout the show. So the structure wasn’t perfect to me at all.
AEW All In London 2023 Live from Wembley Stadium plans to be the biggest event in AEW and Independent Professional Wrestling! MJF and Adam Cole fight for the ROH World Tag Championships and look to Main Event the PPV for the World Championship. Saraya has a homecoming with Britt Baker, Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida in a fatal four way. FTR Vs Young Bucks 3 for the World Tag Team Championship. Stadium Stampede and a tag team coffin match! All this and much more.
The Buy In
AMAZING MJF and Adam Cole Vs Aussie Open, Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis – ROH World Tag Team Championship Match:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 0.50
For the first full on match of the show, the crowd did in fact show up and was firmly behind Better Than You Bay Bay. With the face team being so over Aussie Open came into this match not getting a hot reaction but was able to successfully work as the heels. We saw the crowd chanting for a Double Clothesline multiple times as well as the Kangaroo Kick. Solid tag psychology and nothing looked bad within the match. The hot tag was built nicely as well.
Results: Adam Cole and MJF by Pinfall via Double Clothesline
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.00 Stars
GREAT Hook Vs Jack Perry – FTW Championship Match:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 0.75
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 0.75
Innovation: 0.75
This was the first time, HOOK felt watchable. Hookhausen was what it was, but he was able to be taken seriously. I enjoyed Jack Perry coming out in the Limo and the match starting there. I thought the spots on the Limo were nice and the windshield spot looked good. The in ring action was good as well. I enjoyed the transitions between the two. And the finish was solid.
Results: Hook by TapOut Submission Via Red Rum / Tazzmission
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
Main Show
AMAZING CM Punk Vs Samoa Joe – Real World Championship:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 0.75
By far a step up from what was given to us in July. This match was just a really solid opener. Had a great crowd that got behind Samoa Joe with every Cena and Hogan tease from Punk. Samoa Joe had the intensity that Punk can give with people he can work easier with. Match was fine and the finish was solid. I assume this is the blow off match between them and I am fine with that.
Results: CM Punk by Pinfall via Pepsi Plunge
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
GREAT Jay White, Juice Robinson and Konosuke Takeshita Vs Kota Ibushi, Hangman Page and Kenny Omega:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 0.75
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 0.75
Innovation: 0.75
I think this was one of the more alright matches of the show. The action was fine but aside from Kenny Omega most of the stars didn’t get great reactions. Kota Ibushi did look better in this match than the Blood and Guts match. I feel the match struggled to tell the story in the best way to build up for the finish we got. Mostly everything was good within the match but the finish felt flat.
Results: Konosuke Takeshita by Pinfall via Roll Up On Kenny Omega
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
PERFECT FTR Vs The Young Bucks – AEW World Tag Team Championship Match:
Fundamentals: 1
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 1
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 1
This was the hardest match to rate because while it didn’t feel on the same level as their second match, this had a bigger crowd. A different card placement and different stakes. But this match didn’t have anything wrong with it. I think everything was well done within the match and the second half was really good. Not my favorite tag match of the year by far but it was a perfectly done match.
After the match, FTR tried to shake the Bucks’ hands. The Young Bucks walk away to the crowd booing them.
Results: FTR by Pinfall via Shatter Machine / Big Rig
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 5.00 Stars
GREAT Best Friends, Eddie Kingston and Penta El Zero Miedo Vs Mike Santana, Ortiz and The Blackpool Combat Club – Stadium Stampede:
Fundamentals: 0.50
Atmosphere: 0.75
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 0.75
Innovation: 0.75
A number of rough spots including a ladder giving out and some slipping on the ropes this match is a mixed bag. You are either a fan of this style of match or you aren’t. Was the crowd entertained for most of the match yes. There were pops for Eddie Kingston’s tribute to Terry Funk, Penta returning to the fight as Penta Oscuro. Sue comes out in a van and giving cookies. I very much loved the welcome back chants for Mike Santana and Ortiz since we know the current situation. Ratings aside, I enjoyed this match more than Blood and Guts and Anarchy In The Arena.
Results: Orange Cassidy by Pinfall via Taipei (Glass Covered Fist) Assisted Orange Punch
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
AMAZING Saraya Vs Toni Storm Vs Britt Baker Vs Hikaru Shida – AEW World Women’s Championship Match:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 1
Psychology: 0.75
Innovation: 0.75
Personally the length wasn’t an issue for me. I felt this match over delivered because we saw Saraya wrestling in London. Shida and Britt Baker getting good reactions. I do have to say Toni got the least during her entrance. We went from Saraya and Toni working together, to them being at each other’s odds. Storm was able to get the crowd against her and that was great. I enjoyed seeing Toni nearly hip attack Saraya into an exposed turnbuckle. It added to the match and the storytelling of the match was really well done. The stomp within Saraya’s submission looked brutal and the victory provided exactly what it needed too. A Heartwarming moment because Saraya had her career taken away and fought to get here. I enjoyed the match tremendously.
Results: Saraya by Pinfall via Knight Cap / Rampage
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
AMAZING Darby Allin and Sting Vs Christian Cage and Swerve Strickland – Tag Team Coffin Match:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 0.75
Innovation: 1
This match was really enjoyable. From the innovative spots regarding the coffin. To Nick Wayne being chokeslammed on a Skateboard. This was just a fun car crash. It was a good length and was intense. The bat being used to keep Sting in the match was definitely pop worthy. Sting getting Metallica for the entrance was awesome also. And it became Showtime!
Results: Darby Allin and Sting by Putting Swerve In The Coffin via A Coffin Drop
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
MUST WATCH Will Ospreay Vs Chris Jericho:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 1
I think this match was very well done. Will Ospreay being the hometown guy was also being presented as such a star in front of 81k+. Jericho and Will worked very well together and the build to the finish was very well done. The psychology of the match was great and Jericho is such a great heel when he needs to be.
Results: Will Ospreay by Pinfall via Hidden Blade and StormBreaker Combo
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
GOOD The Acclaimed and Bad Ass Billy Gunn Vs The House Of Black – AEW World Trios Championship No Holds Barred Match:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 0.75
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 0.50
Innovation: 0.50
An alright match, nothing tremendous about it but the moment was there. The biggest scissor party ever!!! Billy Gunn getting this moment was also and the House Of Black’s tribute was beautiful. Also popped for Julia Hart taking the Scissor Leg Drop.
Results: The Acclaimed by Pinfall via The Mic Drop On Brody King
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
MUST WATCH MJF Vs Adam Cole – AEW World Championship: Summary
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 1
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 0.75
A few rough spots including the brainbuster on the stairs and overall this match isn’t going to be remembered for how innovative it was. The psychology between both men is phenomenal. The storytelling surrounding the build up and the match was awesome. If you were invested in this story, you were invested in the match. The crowd was absolutely great despite it being hour 6 of a wrestling event. So many good chants and it was just a top main event!
Results: MJF by Pinfall via School-Boy Roll Up
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
After the match, a recovering MJF is sitting in the corner. MJF tries to consult Adam Cole as Adam is turning him away. Trying to show that they are both winners, MJF grabs the ROH tag team championships. Adam throws the title away, determined to show how much the friendship means to him, MJF offers Adam the triple B. Roderick Strong encourages Adam Cole to hit MJF, but Adam cannot. Adam drops the title and the show ends with MJF and Adam hugging it out.
Overall…
AEW All In London 2023 was a massive success. It was a night that delivered an enjoyable show from top to bottom in front of a Wrestlemania sized crowd. 1 star for the matches, 1 star for the atmosphere. One Star for the storytelling from the matches and what was done to look forward too. The only thing i can say is I feel the show was weirdly ordered and felt front heavy and the pacing felt different throughout the show. So the structure wasn’t perfect to me at all.
Matches: 1/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere…: 1/1 Stars
Storytelling: 1/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 1/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 4.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: AEW – August 27 2023For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
