Ok, update on the update issues:
I could not migrate VMs from the older backup server which was upgraded to 8.3 RC1 back to 8.2 install, so I'm forced with having to continue troubleshooting it.
Today I tried to start a CD install from efi shell and I finally got an error / output as to why install fails silently:
"This build of Xen requires NX support"
I guess I had it disabled in the BIOS, just wish the install would have output the error with a wait prompt or something, rather than a silent failure.
Edit: Confirmed; after enabling execution disable option within bios, installer booted without issues and the install is currently ongoing.