8 Most Intense Beatdowns In AEW History

AEW is a fairly new company, having been established only in 2019, and yet it may have already accumulated a lifetime's worth of noteworthy moments, both good and bad, comic and tragic, and cathartic and despairing.

And depending on the situation, the beatdown is one of its favorite tools of showing either overpowering emotion or the eerie lack thereof. Whether it be a hero finally unleashing his pent-up rage on a mortal foe or a hot new faction declaring its desire for dominance, these are some of the biggest and baddest attacks to have emanated from the programming of the Jacksonville-based promotion...

8 Assaulting Ricky Steamboat

Once upon a time, Ricky Starks could have been the next great big face in AEW. With an uncanny resemblance to The Rock back when he was fleshing out his star-making gimmick, he seemingly solidified this when Powerhouse Hobbs shockingly betrayed him after he lost the FTW title to HOOK.

But while it was a decent run, highlighted by a World title challenge against MJF, he failed to gain traction after. So when he was put into a program with CM Punk, it was only a matter of time before his dark side returned, and it did on Collision when he assaulted Ricky Steamboat, who was the special guest referee in their match.

7 The Factory Breaks Away

For quite some time, QT Marshall had been quite close with the Rhodes brothers, but then in March 2021, that bond ended.

Marshall and Cody Rhodes were doing an exhibition match, but just as the former was about to lose cleanly, he suddenly attacked special guest referee Arn Anderson. The entire Nightmare Factory rushed in to confront the traitor as he fled the ring, but then he stopped midway through.

And that was when Anthony Ogogo, Nick Comoroto, and Aaron Solow turned their coats as well and initiated a violent secession - blindsides, chair shots, power moves - even Marshall attempting to cripple his former partner before Brandi intervened.

6 Chris Jericho Sends A Message

It was 2019 - the inaugural episode of Dynamite. Cody Rhodes was set to fight for the AEW World Championship against Chris Jericho, with a major stipulation: if he lost, he could never, ever pursue it again.

As a warmup, the American Nightmare had a tuneup against Sammy Guevara that he eventually won, and it was good while it lasted. But what happened afterward was the real story. Jericho came guns blazing and ambushed Cody, beating him from pillar to post. Codebreakers, steel chairs, even selfies - Le Champion truly wanted his message to be as elaborate as possible.

5 MJF Destroys Jon Moxley

In August 2020, MJF was still regarded as a wrestling prospect with a massive chip in his shoulder. That came in the form of wanting to win the AEW World Championship from Jon Moxley, and he showed his cold-blooded determination on the go-home show before All Out.

After Moxley won a tuneup match, he was suddenly waylaid by MJF's bodyguard Wardlow. Then the Salt of the Earth himself appeared, neck brace and crutch with him... only to shed them and his coat and shirt, before unleashing a volley of punches and foot and leg chokes on the champion, releasing a stream of blood from his face.

4 Brodie Lee's TNT Championship Mayhem

Cody Rhodes' August 2020 TNT title defense against Brodie Lee was a shocker. After a competitive start, the Dark Order's leader proceeded to just have his way with the champion, winning in a minute and a half after multiple powerbombs and a spinning lariat.

But the chaos did not end there. After the match, as Cody was being stretchered out of the arena, Arn Anderson attempted to oppose the Dark Order and got waylaid. The Order then removed Cody from the stretcher, then Brodie knocked him out with a duffel bag. Anna Jay then choked Brandi, after which the bag was revealed to contain the remains of the old championship belt.

3 The Inner Circle Is Born

Chris Jericho AEW World Champion The Inner Circle Cropped

Speaking of Chris Jericho and the premiere episode of Dynamite, something bigger happened later that night.

Jericho, Santana and Ortiz defeated Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks in the main event, but they would not stop their assault afterward. So Cody Rhodes came to save his Elite partners, only to be met by a lo blow from Sammy Guevara. Dusty Rhodes then came to seemingly clean house, only to be blindsides by Jake Hager. Then all five heels destroyed Cody and company to massive boos and shock - such was the birth of the Inner Circle.

2 Goodbye, Inner Circle; Hello, Jericho Association Society

From their inception, The Inner Circle had been one of the premier stables in AEW, even if their association with each other had become looser after Blood and Guts. But as they say, all good things come to an end, and they did in March 2022.

Chris Jericho and Eddie Kingston were having a major confrontation when Daniel Garcia and 2point0 attacked them. Jericho's Inner Circle stablemates Santana and Ortiz came to even the odds, and they had Garcia at their mercy... and then Jericho attacked Santana with Floyd, revealing that it was all a ruse. Jake Hager then rushed into the ring... to join the bad guys as well. And so from the IC's cadaver rose the Jericho Appreciation Society.

1 Welcome To The Pinnacle

The Pinnacle. MJF's shot at emulating the Four Horsemen. There was so much potential in this faction, as evidenced by their explosive reveal.

For months, the Salt of the Earth had been infiltrating the Inner Circle in an attempt to destroy it from within, but Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara exposed his scheme, and he was facing imminent destruction. Then the lights went out...

And behind the IC were Wardlow, Shawn Spears, and FTR. What ensued was a brutal dismantling of AEW's longest-tenured stable, culminating in Jericho being powerbombed off the stage. Too bad they eventually failed to reach the lofty heights promised.