One of the most stacked PPVs of the year is finally here. AEW’s Full Gear had tons of fantastic matches on paper, culminating with a two-year rivalry between “Hangman” Adam Page and Kenny Omega. During the Buy-In, Hikaru Shida and Thunder Rosa defeated Nyla Rose and Jamie Hayter. As for the full card, it’s time we jumped right into it.

MJF vs Darby Allin W/ Sting

MJF went for a few side headlock takeovers, but Allin got straight out of them. There was some fantastic back and forth between them, both perfectly synchronised in reversals and takedowns. MJF punched Allin to the mat as the ref tried to split the lock-up in the corner. MJF talked trash to the fans at ringside which allowed Allin to hit a Tope Suicida like a bullet. Allin launched MJF into the steel steps, then struck him with forearms on the apron. Allin went for a coffin drop onto the apron, but MJF moved out of the way. MJF drove his elbow into Allin’s back and got a two-count. He hit a backbreaker and went for another pin, but Allin kicked out. MJF whipped Allin into the corner, then did the same on the opposite side of the ring. He tried it again, but Allin reversed and whipped MJF into the corner.

MJF hit a backbreaker and threw Allin into the mat, then connected with another backbreaker. The assault on Allin’s back continued, with MJF biting his face. Alling bit him back as the two sat on the top turnbuckle. MJF went for a piledriver off the turnbuckle, but Allin turned it into a stunner. Allin slapped MJF and headbutted him, then went for a Coffin Drop, but MJF moved out the way. MJF caught Allin and nailed a powerbomb onto his knee. MJF punched Allin, but he kept getting back up. After taking a thumb to the eye, Allin dropkicked MJF in the knee. He went for the Code Red, but MJF countered into a powerbomb, almost getting the win. MJF locked in a Sharpshooter, but Allin got out and attacked the injured knee. MJF jumped off the turnbuckle and stomped Allin’s arm.

Allin put the Figure-Four in place, with MJF struggling to break free, managing to apply pressure to Allin’s legs instead. They fought on the apron until MJF hit a piledriver. Allin only just managed to get back in the ring before the count of ten. Both men kept reversing an inside cradle into another. Allin hit Code Red, but MJF kicked out at the last second. MJF rolled outside the ring, and Allin hit a Coffin Drop from off the top turnbuckle. Back inside the ring, Allin hit a Coffin Drop as MJF raised his knee. Both men struggled in the ring, as Sting took out Shawn Spears and Wardlow on the ramp. Inside the ring, Allin and MJF reversed more pin attempts. MJF grabbed Allin’s skateboard and gave it to him, asking Allin to hit him with it. Allin went to do it, then passed it to the referee who took it outside. With the referee distracted, MJF put on some brass knuckles and hit him with them, pinning Allin to pick up the win.

Thoughts: A superb start to Full Gear. Both men were phenomenal. The story these guys told throughout was excellent. It’s a shame Allin couldn’t defeat MJF, but that’s why he’s better than us, and we know it. ****½

AEW World Tag Team Championship Match: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) W/ Tully Blanchard vs The Lucha Brothers (C) (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fénix) W/ Alex Abrahantes

All four men went at it as the bell rang. Wheeler was tossed to the outside by Penta as Harwood stood toe-to-toe with him. Harwood and Penta traded blows until Harwood went for an early pin. Fénix tagged in as did Wheeler. Wheeler hit an uppercut and a chop, but Fénix jumped on the rope and hit an arm drag. FTR bailed to the outside. Penta went to dropkick them but got tossed into the barrier. Fénix flew over the top rope, but FTR caught him and tossed him into Penta. Harwood tossed Fénix back in the ring where Wheeler choked him on the rope. Harwood tagged back in and locked in an abdominal stretch. Fénix jumped off the second rope and hit a spinning kick on Harwood. After some nice offence, The Lucha Brothers hit an assisted cannonball and stereo thrust kicks to FTR, but Penta couldn’t get the pin.

Penta stomped Harwood’s knee into the mat. They locked in a double submission on FTR, gaining momentum against the challengers. Wheeler tied Penta’s mask to the bottom rope as Harwood stomped his head. FTR catapulted Penta into the second rope after mocking him. Wheeler hit a couple of harsh uppercuts before tagging in Harwood. Fénix wiped out Wheeler as Penta made the tag, however, the ref didn’t see it. Penta took out FTR and DDT’d Harwood. Fénix finally tagged in and took out FTR with a double cutter and some kicks. He walked the ropes and kicked Harwood in the head, only getting a two-count. Wheeler smashed Fénix in the head with one of the AAA belts, but he managed to kick out of the pin. Fénix superkicked Harwood and Wheeler, but they stopped him in his tracks.

Penta tagged in and was about to finish off Harwood, but Blanchard grabbed his leg. Harwood punched Penta and connected with two suplexes. Penta then hit the three amigos successfully, as Fénix hit a frog splash, but they couldn’t get the pin. Fénix hit a roundhouse and attempted an assisted Fear Factor, but Wheeler knocked him off the turnbuckle. Harwood landed an assisted piledriver, but Penta kicked out. Fénix rolled up Harwood, but only got a two-count. Penta tagged in and they hit Fear Factor as Fénix bounced off Harwood and landed on Wheeler, however, FTR kicked out. Wheeler put on his ‘Superanas’ mask and attempted a pin, but the ref spotted his feet on the ropes. Lucha Brothers spiked Wheeler and picked up the victory.

Thoughts: Oh wow. What a match. I had high hopes for this one, and I wasn’t disappointed. FTR were strong throughout, showing great teamwork, but Penta and Fénix were phenomenal. Happy they managed to retain. ****

AEW World Championship Eliminator Final: Miro vs Bryan Danielson

Danielson went for some kicks to Miro’s legs, but the Bulgarian Brute threw him like a ragdoll. Danielson hit a rising knee strike and an uppercut, following up with some chops in the corner. Miro knocked Danielson to the outside, continually mocking the American Dragon. Miro drove his shoulder into Danielson’s body. Danielson attempted to take Miro down but got shoulder-blocked to the mat. Miro stomped his head but got clotheslined to the mat. Danielson dropkicked Miro to the outside and went for a Tope Suicida, but Miro countered it with a strike. Outside the ring, Miro suplexed Danielson and launched him into the barrier, then into the steel steps. Back inside, Miro hit a couple of snap suplexes, then tried to wear Danielson down with a headlock.

Miro landed a succession of kicks to Danielson in the corner, then choked him with his boot. He sent Danielson into the corner with a hammer throw, once again mocking him. Danielson kicked and chopped Miro in the corner, then landed a couple of running dropkicks until Miro countered one with a Samoan drop. Miro threw Danielson into the ring post with great power, sending him to the outside. Danielson launched Miro into the ring post, then connected with a running knee off the apron. Back in the ring, Danielson landed a shotgun dropkick off the top turnbuckle, following it up with his signature kicks. Danielson locked in a kneebar, but Miro countered with a deadlift gutwrench suplex and nailed a release German suplex.

Danielson grabbed Miro’s wrists and stomped his head, then Miro countered Danielson’s offence with a powerbomb. Miro locked in Game Over, but Danielson managed to get to the ropes. Miro stomped the lower back of Danielson and locked it in again, but he countered and applied the LeBell Lock. Miro managed to get out and drive elbows into Danielson’s head, but Danielson locked in the triangle sleeper. Miro gouged his eyes and the two men were finally separated. Danielson hit uppercuts, but Miro wasn’t affected and hit Danielson to the mat. Miro took kicks from Danielson, then booted Danielson off his feet. Danielson hit a DDT off the turnbuckle and locked in the triangle submission to get the victory.

Thoughts: Yet another incredible match. I love Miro so much, and I was really hoping he picked up the win. Still, Danielson has been nothing short of magnificent since his debut, so he deserved the victory. Are we going to get a bad match tonight? I highly doubt it. ****

Falls Count Anywhere Match: The Young Bucks (Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson) & Adam Cole W/ Brandon Cutler & Michael Nakazawa vs Christian Cage & Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus)

The bell rang and all six guys started to brawl in the ring. Luchasaurus booted Nick to the outside, then hit a moonsault on both members of the Bucks. Cole and Cage both attempted their finishers on each other. Jungle Boy hit an arm drag off the ropes on Cole, followed by a dropkick. The Young Bucks took out Jungle Boy, then Luchasaurus clotheslined them. Cole threw a chair at Luchasaurus. Jungle Boy threw the chair at Cole and attempted to powerbomb him through it, but the Bucks stopped him. He sat down on the chair as Cole hit a knee strike on him. Cage hit a reverse DDT on the chair to Cole but only got a two-count. Luchasaurus connected with a double German suplex on the Bucks, but Cole smashed a trash can over his head. Jungle Boy hit two Tope Suicida on Cole. He attempted a Tope Con Hilo, but the Bucks hit him with the trash can.

Luchasaurus smashed the trash can on Matt and went for a pin, but it was only a two-count. Jurassic Express dropped Cole face-first into the steel chair at ringside and set up a table. Jungle Boy launched Cole into the ring post who was bleeding from his forehead. Back in the ring, Jungle Boy was going for the Con-Chair-To, but Nick stopped him. Cage and Nick fought towards the back of the arena as Luchasaurus stomped down Matt and Cole. Jungle Boy connected with head scissors on Cole into the table, and Matt landed an elbow drop on Luchasaurus who was lying on another table. Cage battled Nick, then took out Nakazawa and Cutler in the rafters. Cage dived high up in the arena and crossbodied all three of them. Back at ringside, Cole smashed Jungle Boy’s back on the apron. The Bucks put thumbtacks in Jungle Boy’s mouth as Cole locked in the camel clutch. They kissed Cole, then superkicked Jungle Boy in the head.

The Elite set up a ladder in the corner of the ring and threw Cage onto it. Cage got up and hit a swinging DDT on Nick onto the ladder. Luchasaurus attacked the Bucks in the corner, then ate a pump kick from Cole. He then sent Cole into the ladder and chokeslammed Nick into the ladder. He went to pin Nick, but Matt smashed him in the face with the trash can. Luchasaurus got angry and went after Matt Jackson who walked to the back. Jungle Boy attacked him and locked in the Snare Trap, but Cole ran over and broke it up. All six guys started fighting on the ramp. Cage catapulted Nick into the stage area. Matt flipped off the stage onto Luchasaurus. Jungle Boy climbed the scaffolding, but Cole pulled him down and climbed up, then hit Panama Sunrise off it. The Elite hit superkicks on Luchasaurus and Cage, then they put knee pads with thumbtacks attached to them. They hit a three-way BTE Trigger on Luchasaurus and went for the pin, but Jungle Boy broke it up. Jungle Boy suplexed Nick on the ramp as Cage speared Matt. Luchasaurus then chokeslammed Cole off the stage onto Nick, Cutler, and Nakazawa. He followed up with a shooting star press off the stage onto their bodies below. Jungle Boy hit a Con-Chair-To on Matt on the ramp and picked up the victory.

Thoughts: I have no words. Everything about the match was just mind-blowing. The tables, the shooting star press, the Con-Chair-To. Well played, gentlemen. That was insane. *****

Andrade El Idolo W/ Jose Garcia & Malakai Black vs Pac & Cody Rhodes W/ Arn Anderson

Pac and Andrade finally started things off after some tags between Cody and Pac. Andrade got caught with a headlock, but got to his feet and tagged in Malakai. Pac arm-dragged Black as Cody tagged Pac’s back. Andrade tagged in and the two fought on the apron. Jose grabbed Cody’s boot as Andrade punched him to the outside. Back inside, Andrade hit a Tope Suicida on Jose, then a slam on Andrade. Pac tagged himself in as Black entered the match. Black knocked Pac down with an elbow strike, then took him towards Andrade who began to attack him. Black tagged in, as did Cody, who hit a cutter on Black. Black hit a spinning heel kick after Pac blind tagged him. Pac connected with a moonsault on Black and Andrade off the apron to the outside. Arn punched Jose and began to beat him down around the ring.

Andrade pushed Pac off the turnbuckle into Black’s boot. He then hit a tornado into Pac who was outside the ring. Andrade threw Pac throat-first into the barricade, then got back in the ring and tagged in Black. Black hit a barrage of kicks to Pac’s sternum and chest. He powerslammed Pac and went for a pin. Andrade tagged himself in again and suplexed Pac into the turnbuckle. He hit a split-leg moonsault, but only got a two-count. Pac hit a release German suplex on Andrade and went to tag Cody who was at ringside. Andrade then hit a high boot on Pac, followed by a pendulum DDT on the apron. Black made yet another blind tag but ate a thrust kick from Pac. Cody got back on the apron and Pac made the tag. He dropped Andrade with his father’s signature strikes, then landed a reverse suplex on him off the turnbuckle.

Cody hit a clothesline on Black outside the ring. Back in the ring, Cody locked in the figure-four on Andrade as Pac tagged himself in and hit the 450 Splash, but Andrade got his hand on the ropes. Pac flew over the ropes and intended to hit Black, but he pulled Cody in the way. Back inside, Cody got back in and broke up Black’s pin on Pac. Cody suplexed Black over the ropes and landed on his feet. Black kicked Cody over the barrier. In the ring, Pac suplexed Andrade into the corner, then hit a Poisonrana. He hit Black Arrow and picked up the win. After the match, Cash Wheeler ran down and attacked Pac and Cody.

Thoughts: The weakest match so far, but still enjoyable. The blind tags became a bit repetitive, and the mistake by Pac on Cody never got any payoff. ***½

AEW Women’s World Championship Match: Tay Conti vs Britt Baker D.M.D. (C) W/ Rebel & Jamie Hayter

Baker went for a quick roll-up, but Conti kicked out. Both women went for their finishers, but neither was successful. Baker whipped Conti into the corner but got caught with a big boot. Baker landed a butterfly suplex and a pin, but Conti kicked out. Baker landed some knee strikes into Conti’s head then some forearms to her chest. She choked Conti on the bottom rope with her foot and continued to wear her down with a fishermen’s neckbreaker. Conti hit a running knee strike and a couple of clotheslines, followed by three pump kicks in the corner. She hit a flying crossbody off the ropes, but Baker kicked out the pin at two. They traded blows, but Conti hit a leaping kick and a German suplex. Baker hit a neckbreaker and a curb stomp, but couldn’t get the pin.

Rebel put the glove on Baker. Conti hit a stunner, but Baker kicked out the pin. Baker hit an air raid crash on the apron and rolled her back inside, failing to get the pinfall victory. Conti hit TayKO, but Baker kicked out the pin. Baker landed a thrust kick and Conti hit a pump kick followed by a gut style piledriver. Hayter threw Conti into the steel steps as the ref was distracted. Baker hit a curb stomp on Conti right on top of the steel steps. Baker hit another curb stomp in the ring and attempted the Lockjaw, however, Conti got to the ropes. Conti hit a pump kick on Baker as she stood on the apron, then landed a moonsault off the top turnbuckle onto Rebel and Hayter who were outside. Conti hit a DDTay, but Baker kicked out again. Conti hit multiple kicks to Baker, but Baker went for Lockjaw. Conti countered with a roll-up, but Baker reversed to gain the victory.

Thoughts: A strong performance by both women with some nice spots. Conti put in a great performance, but Baker did enough to deserve the win. ***½

Eddie Kingston vs CM Punk

The bell went and Kingston hit a spinning elbow, knocking Punk to the mat. Kingston hit multiple headbutts on Punk and wrenched at his ear outside the ring. Back inside, Punk drove his knees into Kingston. Kingston hit an exploder, then landed a ton of strikes into Punk’s stomach in the corner. Punk mounted Kingston and punched the hell out of him. He followed up with some kicks until Kingston poked him in the eye. Punk hit an Enzuigiri on the apron, then kicked him in the head. Kingston sent Punk into the ring post and climbed back in the ring. He rolled back out as Punk was shown with his head busted open. Kingston took some of Punk’s blood and wiped it over his face. Punk flew off the apron into Kingston. They got back in the ring where Punk took him down with a couple of shoulder barges and a slam.

Punk got back on top of Kingston and landed some punches. Punk hit three amigos and climbed the turnbuckle, where Kingston snapped and smashed the hell out of him. He followed it up with a superplex on Punk. Both guys traded slaps. Kingston stuck his fingers up at Punk and hit an Enzuigiri. Punk hit GTS, but couldn’t capitalise on it. Punk landed various elbow strikes and knee strikes, then hit another GTS and pinned Kingston. After the match, Punk extended his hand, but Kingston refused to shake it.

Thoughts: I could’ve watched this match all night. So much emotion and passion involved in every second. Gutted Kingston couldn’t get the win. It was an absolute war between both guys filled with such violence and aggression. Great performance by both men. ****

Minneapolis Street Fight: American Top Team (Ethan Page, Scorpio Sky, Junior Dos Santos, Andre Arlovski, & Dan Lambert) vs Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana, & Ortiz)

Sky and Guevara started things off. Guevara hit a corkscrew dropkick and an arm drag but only got a two-count. Ortiz tagged in and got in some teamwork with Santana. Santana passed a hanging Sky to Hager who dropped him with a suplex. Arlovski tagged in and hit a Samoan drop, then tagged Dos Santos. Jericho tagged in and the two traded blows. Dos Santos caught Jericho and powerslammed him, then hit a delayed vertical suplex. He followed up with a standing moonsault press and tagged in Lambert. He slapped Jericho around, but Jericho got up and all ten men started to brawl. Inner Circle surrounded Lambert who ran away. Page hit a hockey stick across the spine of Jericho, and Guevara flew over the ropes to take out Page. Santana and Ortiz flew to the outside. Hager climbed the top turnbuckle and landed on everyone outside.

Hager knocked Dos Santos to the floor with an oil drum. Jericho hit Sky with a Prince symbol as fans chanted ‘Purple Rain.’ Page and Sky drove Santana’s spine into the barricades. Hager smashed Arlovski with a toaster, as Ortiz got thrown into the ring post with a chair around his neck. Sky and Page beat up Santana in the ring. Santana fought back as Ortiz appeared and helped his partner. Santana hit a rolling lariat on Sky. Santana and Ortiz hit Page with hockey sticks as a trash can was over his head. Santana and Ortiz locked in stereo submissions as Guevara threw an American football at them. Page was able to take out Santana and Ortiz. Arlovski got involved and hit a spinebuster. Hager attacked Arlovski with a toaster, but Page and Sky started to beat him down. Jericho hit Sky and Page with a water ski.

Jericho threw it at Page, but Lambert pulled him to the outside and ran off. Guevara hit a double cutter on Page and Sky off the ropes. Guevara hit a senton on Sky but only got a two-count. Guevara set up a table, but Arlovski attacked him. Page beat Guevara down on the table, but Jericho made the save. Santana and Ortiz hit a double superplex on Dos Santos. Guevara climbed a huge ladder and landed a senton on Sky who was lying on the table. Page hit an Ego’s Edge on Ortiz, then started talking to Hager’s wife at ringside. Baron von Raschke, who was shown earlier in the night, locked in the Claw on Page. Santana got a security guard to get on all fours, then jumped off his back onto Page with a cannonball into the crowd. Lambert was stood in the ring as Jericho got behind him.

Lambert turned round as Jericho beat the hell out of him. He went for the lionsault, but Dos Santos hit him from ringside. Lambert went for a pin, but only got a two-count. He went for the Walls of Jericho, but Jericho smashed him with a kendo stick. He continued to hit him with it after planting Dos Santos. Jericho looked to the skies in honour of Eddie Guerrero, then hit Lambert with the frog splash to pick up the win. After the match, Jericho pointed to the sky and got visibly emotional.

Thoughts: This match was a hell of a lot of fun. Dos Santos and Arlovski were pretty good, but the Inner Circle were on another level. A lovely moment for Jericho at the end as well, honouring one of his best friends, Eddie Guerrero. ***½

AEW World Championship Match: “Hangman” Adam Page vs Kenny Omega (C) W/ Don Callis

Omega and Page traded chops in the corner, then Page whipped Omega into the other corner. Callis grabbed Page’s boot which allowed Omega to hit him from behind. Omega thrust his boot into Page in the corner. Callis choked Page on the rope as the ref was distracted. Omega booted Page in the head, but Page jumped off the second turnbuckle to punch Omega off the apron, then followed up with a splash to the outside. Omega rammed Page into the barrier and ring apron, then back into the barrier. Page suplexed Omega onto the floor and threw him back inside the ring. Page hit a crossbody off the turnbuckle, but only got a one-count. Omega thumbed Page in the eye, then slammed his head into the mat. They traded blows, then Omega splashed Page in the corner.

Outside the ring, Callis stomped down Page when the ref was being distracted by Omega. Omega slammed Page’s head into the steel steps and got back in the ring. Hangman found some momentum but got caught with a hurricanrana. Omega landed a Terminator Dive onto Page outside. Back inside, Omega hit a rolling slam and climbed the turnbuckle, but Page got his knees up after the moonsault. Page booted Omega in the face and hit a fallaway slam. Page landed an Elbow Suicida on Omega, then a moonsault off the top turnbuckle. He dropped Omega with a brainbuster, but only got a two-count. Omega hit various palm strikes on Page, then connected with a springboard Liger Bomb off the turnbuckle. He hit a couple of snapdragons on Page in the ring, then landed one on the apron.

Omega landed a V-Trigger and attempted One-Winged Angel, but Page broke free and hit a release German suplex. Omega hit a tiger driver, but Page kicked out of the pin. Omega bit Page’s head and climbed to the top turnbuckle. Page pushed him off his feet and bit Omega, following up with an avalanche blockbuster. Hangman jumped off the ring post and clotheslined Omega into the table at ringside. Hangman thought about the Buckshot, but Omega dropped to his knees. Page went for a V-Trigger and missed, then hit a pop-up powerbomb. Page went for the Buckshot Lariat, but Omega pulled the referee in front of him. With the ref down, Callis went to smash Page with the title, but Hangman knocked him out. Page hit Deadeye, but there was no ref. Aubrey Edwards ran out, but it was only a two-count.

Omega and Page traded blows. Page hit a boot, but Omega landed a succession of punches as Page stuck his finger up at him. Omega went for a V-Trigger, but Page caught his leg. Page ran to the ropes as Omega hit a V-Trigger. Page hit a huge lariat that sent Omega spinning. The Young Bucks walked out from the back. Omega hit a backdrop driver, but Page hit one of his own. Page went for a Buckshot, but Omega hit a V-Trigger. Page nailed One-Winged Angel after Omega failed to hit it, but only got a two-count. Page hit a Buckshot from behind. Before he hit another Buckshot Lariat, he looked at Matt who nodded at him. Hangman connected with the Buckshot Lariat and pinned Kenny Omega to become the new AEW World Champion. After the match, The Dark Order came out to celebrate with him.

Thoughts: A phenomenal end to Full Gear. Page worked himself to the bone to pick up this victory. After a two-year build-up, Page finally got what he deserved. I’m so happy for Page. That nod from Matt got me really emotional. Fully deserved his win. Credit to Omega, though. He put on a great show as well. *****

What Else Went Down

It was announced that NJPW’s Tomohiro Ishii would be teaming with Orange Cassidy to take on The Butcher and The Blade on Dynamite this Wednesday.

Tony Schiavone was on the ramp to make a big announcement. He welcomed Jay Lethal to the stage. Lethal said he had found the forbidden door, and he was now All Elite. He also said there was an open challenge for the TNT Championship, and he said he’d like to face Guevara this Wednesday. Guevara walked out and said, “you’re on.”

Match of the Night: “Hangman” Adam Page vs Kenny Omega

Best in Show: “Hangman” Adam Page

Overall Rating: ****½

All images and videos courtesy of AEW – Very special thanks to Fite TV for the captures

Leave a Reply