AEW WrestleDream 2023 Preview

Date: October 2nd, 2023

Time: 10am AEST Zero Hour, 11am AEST Main Show

Location: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington

How to Watch: YouTube (Zero Hour only), FITE TV

Match Card:

Zero Hour:

• AEW World Trio’s Championships: The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Castor) and Billy Gunn (c) vs TMDK (Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls and Bad Dude Tito)

• Singles Match: Luchasaurus vs Nick Wayne

• Eight Person Mixed Tag Team Match: Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty, Diamante and Mercedes Martinez vs Satoshi Kojima, Keith Lee, Athena and Billie Starkz

• Singles Match: Josh Barnett vs Claudio Castsgnoli

Main Card:

• Dream Match: Bryan Danielson vs Zack Sabre Jr.

• Singles Match: “Hangman” Adam Page vs Swerve Strickland

• AEW World Tag Team Championships: FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) (c) vs Aussie Open (Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher)

• ROH World Tag Team Championships: MJF (c) vs The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch)

• Six Man Tag Team Match: Chris Jericho and The Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) vs The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Sammy Guevara and Will Ospreay) (with Don Callis)

• AEW TNT Championship 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match: Christian Cage (c) vs Darby Allin

• ROH World Championship and Strong Openweight Championship: Eddie Kingston (holds both Championships) vs Katsuyori Shibata

• AEW TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (c) vs Julia Hart

• Four Way Tag Team Match for a future AEW World Tag Team Championship shot: The Young Bucks (Nick Jackson and Matt Jackson) vs The Gunns (Austin Gunn and Colton Gunn) vs The Lucha Bros (Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo) vs Orange Cassidy and Hook

• Singles Match: Ricky Starks vs Wheeler Yuta

The very first edition of WrestleDream comes to you on October 2nd as a tribute show to Antonio Inoki, who Tony Khan calls one of wrestling’s biggest dreamers.

Zero Hour:

1. AEW World Trio’s Championships

The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Castor) and Billy Gunn (c) vs TMDK (Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls and Bad Dude Tito)

The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn haven’t really entered any real rivalries since winning the titles. This match SHOULD deliver. I have my money on the champs retaining

Winner: The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn

2. Singles Match

Luchasaurus vs Nick Wayne

This is part of the Christian vs Darby feud. Luchasaurus should dominate Nick Wayne easily. It could very well influence the outcome of the TNT Championship match. The big man wins

Winner: Luchasaurus

3. Eight Person Mixed Tag Team Match

Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty, Diamante and Mercedes Martinez vs Satoshi Kojima, Keith Lee, Athena and Billie Starkz

A throwaway match. Chaos and confusion will ensue. I have Shane Taylor and co. winning

Winner: Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty, Diamante and Mercedes Martinez

4. Singles Match

Josh Barnett vs Claudio Castagnoli

This should be a good match. Claudio always puts on a good match. I don’t know much about Josh Barnett. Claudio is my winner

Winner: Claudio Castagnoli

Main Card:

5. Dream Match

Bryan Danielson vs Zack Sabre Jr.

2 of the best technical wrestlers in the game today, Bryan Danielson and Zack Sabre Jr are set to face off in what’s being dubbed as a dream match. They were originally supposed to face off at Forbidden Door 2022, but Danielson was injured. This should be match of the night. Bryan Danielson is my winner

Winner: Bryan Danielson

6. Singles Match

“Hangman” Adam Page vs Swerve Strickland

This match came about after Swerve confronted Page about the opportunities the latter had received that he hasn’t been afforded, claiming he’d be the companies first black World Champion if given the shot, and tied off facing to wait his turn. This should be a decent match, but I think the Mogul Embassy will make their presence felt. For that, I have Swerve winning.

Winner: Swerve Strickland

7. AEW World Tag Team Championships

FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) (c) vs Aussie Open (Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher)

FTR have been on a roll, defending the titles against anyone and everyone, except Aussie Open…. until WrestleDream. All of FTRs defences have been good to great, and that won’t end at WrestleDream. FTR get the win.

Winner: FTR

8. ROH World Tag Team Championships

MJF vs The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch)

MJF and Adam Cole have been great Tag Team Champions since winning them All In. The Righteous won a Fatal Four Way to become the #1 contenders. I can see this as the match that really tests the friendship of Cole and MJF. On the go home Dynamite, it was announced that Adam Cole had broken his ankle and tore some ligaments and wasn’t medically cleared to wrestle at WrestleDream. MJF mentioned that he didn’t wrestle 2 matches in one night and win the tag titles to relinquish the Championships, this said he’ll defend the titles in a handicap match. I have a feeling The Righteous picks up the win here.

Winner: The Righteous

9. Six Man Tag Team Match

Chris Jericho and The Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) vs The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Sammy Guevara and Will Ospreay) (with Don Callis)

Talk about bad blood. Don Callis has done a top job turning in those he built strong relationships with in Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega. Jericho has an issue with Sammy, after Sammy turned on him. Jericho also wants to get his win back from Ospreay. Takeshita is the man that helped Don Callis turn on Omega, and Ibushi is just the man to help him get the win back from Takeshita. The Golden Sex God Lovers will win this match.

Winner: Chris Jericho and The Golden Lovers

10. AEW TNT Championship 2 out of 3 Falls Match

Christian Cage (c) vs Darby Allin

Christian is now officially the TNT Champion. For real this time. And he is set to have his first title defence against Darby Allin, much to the dismay of the champ. Tension is also building between Cage and Luchasaurus as Cage pinned Luchasaurus to win the title, who hadn’t even held the title his whole reign, thanks to Cage claiming to be the champion the whole time. This tension will be the deciding factor in the match. Darby Allin wins.

Winner: Darby Allin

11. ROH World and Strong Openweight Championship Match

Eddie Kingston (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata

Eddie Kingston is defending both Championships on the show, in what should be the sleeper match of the night. Eddie Kingston has been on a roll since winning the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship, going on to win the ROH World Championship from main rival Claudio Castsgnoli. Eddie will continue his roll, retaining against Shibata.

Winner: Eddie Kingston

12. AEW TBS Championship

Kris Statlander vs Julia Hart (with Brody King)

Look, Julia Hart doesn’t wrestle much. She’s settled into her role as House of Blacks valet/manager/whatever her role is with the group. But since joining House of Black, her character work had been on another level. And the limit ring time she has had, she’s been dominant. On the other hand, Kris Statlander had been a decent champion. She’s taken on all challenger. My money is on the champ retaining.

Winner: Kris Statlander

13. Fatal Four Way match to determine #1 contendership of the AEW World Tag Team Championships

The Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson) vs The Gunns (Austin and Colton Gunn) vs The Lucha Bros. (Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo) vs Orange Cassidy and Hook

Who doesn’t love a good multi team match? This match shows the depth of the AEW tag division (plus Cassidy/Hook) that they can book 2 tag title matches AND book a multi team match on the same card. I’m expecting some chaos given the sheer number of bodies in the match. I reckon we’ll be in for a surprise here with OC and Hook getting the win.

Winner: Orange Cassidy and Hook

14. Singles Match

Ricky Starks vs Wheeler Yuta

Ricky Starks seems to be on a “let’s take on BCC one member at a time.” He’s lost 2 matches brutal matches in a row against Bryan Danielson, now Wheeler Yuta has challenged Starks to a match. I wouldn’t be surprised if Starks wins here just to get some momentum back on his side.

Winner: Ricky Starks

Final Thought:

This show has been decently built and I’m genuinely keen for this show. Hopefully, AEW can continue their steak of putting on a great show, but only time will.