10 Absolute WORST Wrestling Moments Of 2023
Buried world titles, the AEW Women's Division, and Cody Rhodes' rubber chicken...
The world is an ugly place.
Not to dig much deeper than that - you presumably arrived here for an escape of some kind from thinking about that - but the world's an ugly place, wrestling and wrestlers are part of the world, and some of the things some people within wrestling have said and done in 2023 are the actual worst moments for the industry. But that's the case every year, and regrettably in every industry, so rather than looking at gross facts, how about instead enjoying some grim fiction?!
Professional wrestling can be absolutely anything, which is great because the boundaries of creativity are wider than in just about any other medium. Couple that with the drama of sport and there's a reason why it's the best thing you've chosen to invest your time and money into. Unfortunately, stretching of premises, breaking of in-universe rules and the playing of politics can result in any number of on-screen calamities and callbacks.
Though the peaks were sky high in 2023, the valleys were as low as always. As the year draws to a close, it's time to relive some of the depths...
10. WWE Bury The Lede & The New Title
With vibes around the company's top title already damaged by Roman Reigns' victory over Cody Rhodes and Triple H struggling to shake off a reputation as Vince McMahon/TKO's corporate puppet, the introduction of the World Heavyweight Championship brought about a feeling that the Power was well and truly gone.
'The Game' looked a sorry figure during his April presentation of the new belt, simultaneously trying to bury Roman Reigns for being a part-timer and put him over for being the smartest guy in the company. It was impossible to receive the title as anything other than a compromise and consolation prize, even though inaugural holder Seth Rollins began his quest to legitimise it in earnest over the summer months.
As 2023 draws to a close, the jury remains out on its inherent value while Reigns and also Gunther sit atop their respective thrones, but its reveal was yet another dank moment in the darkest tunnel of Paul Levesque's current run.