The John Report: AEW Full Gear 2022 Review

It’s AEW Full Gear with Jon Moxley putting the AEW World Title on the line against MJF, Chris Jericho’s ROH World Title against three opponents, and plenty more.

This is the last AEW PPV of 2022. I’m watching it on FITE TV here in Canada as usual. Check out my past AEW PPV reviews right here on TJRWrestling.

I am not going to write reviews of the Zero Hour pre-show matches. I usually don’t review pre-show matches because AEW shows usually run for about four hours, so it’s a lot of writing as I do my best to cover the action. Here are the pre-show match results:

* Best Friends (Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta and Chuck Taylor), Rocky Romero and Danhausen defeated The Factory (QT Marshall, Aaron Solo, Lee Johnson, Nick Comoroto and Cole Karter)

* Ricky Starks defeated Brian Cage in the semifinals of the World Title Eliminator tournament. Starks faces Ethan Page in the finals of the tournament on Dynamite.

* Eddie Kingston defeated Jun Akiyama.

It’s onto the main show.

AEW Full Gear
Saturday, November 19, 2022
From the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey

It’s Saturday night and you know what that means. The commentary team was Excalibur, Taz and Jim Ross. There was an impressive pyro show to start along with a shot of some other announcers and a plug for Draftkings as well since they are a big sponsor of AEW. The Steel Cage Match was up first.

Steel Cage Match: “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry vs. Luchasaurus (w/Christian Cage)

Perry did an impressive move early on holding onto the cage while on the top rope and hitting a dropkick. Perry ran the ropes leading to a boot to the face by Luchasaurus, who launched Perry into the cage. Perry was bleeding after that, so it took two minutes into the first match for the first blade job. The camera didn’t show Perry for a while after he was sent into the cage, so that’s the right way to do it. Luchasaurus worked over Perry with punches and a sidewalk slam. Luchasaurus launched Perry into the cage a few times. Perry bounced off the ropes with a clothesline that was no sold by Luchasaurus, so Luchasaurus gave Perry a Powerbomb into the cage. Five minutes into the match, JR said that the referee should consider stopping the match. That’s a bit much with the cliched commentary. Perry applied an armbar against the ropes as they showed Perry’s mom and sister at ringside. Luchasaurus launched Perry off the top rope with a slam. Luchasaurus hit a Cutthroat slam off the shoulders for two. Christian stole the key from the ringside referee, so Christian opened the door and three security guys made Christian leave. Luchasaurus punched a security guy, then Perry left the cage and hit a dropkick. Luchasaurus came back with a catapult into the cage. Luchasaurus grabbed a table and two chairs, which be put into the ring.

They went back into the ring with Perry kicking the middle rope while Luchasaurus was going back in the ring. Luchasaurus with a boot to the face, Perry with two dropkicks sending Luchasaurus to the apron and Perry kicked the head of Luchasaurus into the cage. Luchasaurus hit a back body drop on the apron. A steel cage was opened up in the ring, Perry jumped off it and hit a Destroyer for just a one count. Perry hit a Killswitch (Christian’s move) onto a chair for a two count. Perry tried a charging move, but Luchasaurus caught him and hit a Chokeslam through the chair that was opened up in the ring. Ouch. Rough landing. They were on the turnbuckle fighting, which led to Perry hitting a Sliced Bread slam. Luchasaurus sat up first, so Perry sat up too. Luchasaurus hit a headbutt to knock Perry down followed by punches. Perry got some of his blood on his hand and slapped Luchasaurus with it. Perry with punches that knocked Luchasaurus down leading to Perry hitting a piledriver for two. Good spot for a two count, but you know with a table in the ring that wasn’t going to end the match. The table was set up, Luchasaurus drove Perry into the turnbuckle and Luchasaurus hit a Tombstone. He stole the sit up so might as well hit a Tombstone too. Luchasaurus hit a reverse powerbomb style slam for a two count. The fans chanted “this is awesome” for them. Luchasaurus tried a move onto the table, but Perry applied a sleeper to tire out the big guy. Perry put Luchasaurus followed by a chair shot that put Luchasaurus on the table. Perry went up to the top of the cage, he jumped off with the elbow and it hit Luchsaurus in the chest while Perry did not go through the table with Luchasaurus. Perry applied the Snare Trap submission and Luchasaurus tapped out. The fans loved it. It went about 19 minutes.

Winner by submission: “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry

Analysis: **** That was a great match that went the right way with Luchasaurus getting a lot of offense, Perry surviving all the punishment and finding a way to come back to get the win. The elbow drop off the top was an impressive leap, but there wasn’t a big bump through the table. That’s not a big criticism because I was impressed by the leap. I just think the spot could have been bigger. What they did was safe, though, so I get why it was done that way. Anyway, you don’t see Luchasaurus tapping out in AEW, so it’s a big win for Perry. I think it was Jungle Boy’s biggest win of his career.

After the match, Perry climbed over the cage and hugged his mom & sister at ringside.

A video aired about the Trios Tag Team Title match between Death Triangle and The Elite. The AEW talking heads spoke about how big of a match it is.

AEW Trios Tag Team Championships: Death Triangle – Pac, Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero Miedo vs. The Elite – Kenny Omega, Matt & Nick Jackson

The announcers keep talking about The Elite being back without mentioning where they were or what happened to them. Just assume people know, I guess. We certainly wrote dozens of stories about it on TJRWrestling over the last two months. Speaking of that, loud “FUCK CM PUNK” chant by the crowd.

Don Callis joined commentary for the match. Omega started with Pac leading to spot with Omega trying a bulldog, but Pac landed on his feet and hit a headbutt. Nick tagged in against Fenix leading to their routine where they miss some moves on eachother, but then they connected with kicks. Matt and Penta tagged in with kicks on eachother, then Nick and Fenix did kicks on eachother as well, then they all popped back up and the crowd cheered. Pac went into the ring with the Bucks hitting him with a double superkick. It was hard to keep track of the action because there were random guys going into the ring doing their spots. Nick hit a twisting dive over the top onto Pac on the floor. Nick waved to the camera and a fan gave him a drink, so Nick had a sip. Omega had Penta on his shoulders, but Pac went into the ring with a running kick to the outside of the left knee. All three Death Triangle guys were in the ring doing kicks and dropkicks on Omega. Pac was bleeding from the nose. Penta chopped Omega in the chest, Pac tagged in and hit a body slam. Omega avoided a leaping Pac and palmed his head into a slam. Matt tagged in against Fenix with Matt hitting three straight Northern Lights suplexes on Fenix while hitting one on Penta at the same time for the third one. Penta tagged in with a dropkick to the groin (yambag as Taz calls it) of Matt. Pac tagged in and knocked Omega off the apron. Fenix chopped Matt, but then Matt came back with a sitout slam on Fenix. Nick tagged in with a running knee in the corner, then a bulldog and Nick hit a double headscissors takedown on Fenix/Penta at the same time. Omega tagged in against Pac with punches, then a kick and a Snapdragon Suplex on Penta as well as one of those for Pac as well. Omega ran the ropes leading to a somersault dive onto Pac/Penta on the floor since they were nice enough to stand there. Nick charged, Fenix grabbed him and Matt jumped off the turnbuckle with a DDT on the apron on Fenix. The fans were chanting “this is awesome” for them. Nick gave Penta hurricanrana onto a bunch of guys standing on the floor. After about two minutes of chaos, Omega and Pac remembered to go back into the ring since there are supposed to be rules to this stuff. Omega hit a cradle suplex onto the knee. Pac hit a German Suplex on Omega. Pac with kicks to the gut, then the Bucks in illegally and tried a triple team move, but Penta and Fenix also got into the ring. Triple Tombstone by the three Death Triangle guys. Fenix went on Penta’s shoulders leading to a dive, then a Destroyer and a Cutter. Pac jumped off the top with a Black Arrow splash on Omega followed by a Brutalizer submission by the ropes, but Nick made the save. Fenix and Penta each hit somersault dives over the top onto both Bucks. Fenix tagged in with a spinning kick on Omega, then Fenix jumped off the top and hit a stomp to the abdomen. Pac gave Fenix the ringside hammer while the referee was looking at Penta, but Fenix refused to use it. Omega hit a V-Trigger knee on Fenix and Omega hit a Tiger Driver 98 for a two count. The fans chanted “fight forever” for them.

Penta hit a running Slingblade on all three opponents. Triple superkick on Penta after that. Nick with a reverse hurricanrana and then more superkicks on Fenix. Pac saved Fenix from being pinned. Pac got the hammer while the referee (who is useless anyway) was distracted and Pac was stopped from using the hammer. Nick and Matt each hit dives onto Pac on the floor. Omega hit the V-Trigger knee on Fenix, but Pac gave Fenix the hammer again. Omega went for the One Winged Angel, but Fenix hit Omega with the hammer to the head and pinned Omega for the win. It went about 17 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Death Triangle – Pac, Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero Miedo

Analysis: ****1/4 A great match as you would expect here. It’s the usual Death Triangle and Elite style match where they just randomly do a bunch of moves, don’t sell enough and ignore any kind of rules. That’s just what you expect by these guys at this point. It’s fine I guess, but I think they could have a better match if it was more of a traditional tag team match. Anyway, the key thing was that Fenix finally used the hammer that Pac gave him, so it was a cheap win. It will probably lead to a rematch at some point in the future. Omega looked very sharp and so did the Bucks, so it’s good to see them back in action.

A video aired for Jade Cargill vs. Nyla Rose with Nyla stealing the TBS Title that belongs to Cargill.

TBS Championship: Jade Cargill (w/Kiera Hogan & Leila Grey) vs. Nyla Rose (w/Vickie Guerrero & Marina Shafir)

Cargill was cheered for this entrance and it was a Thundercats-inspired look for her. Rose still had the TBS Title that didn’t belong to her. Good luck following the matches before this.

Cargill was aggressive right away. The action spilled to the floor with Cargill hitting a pump kick that sent Rose over the barricade. Cargill gave Rose a back body drop on the floor. The referee wasn’t counting them when they first left the ring because it’s AEW. There was a really slow count after that, but it wasn’t close to a countout. Rose got some offense going with a splash and a corner cannonball attack. Rose charged, Cargill got a boot up and Rose bumped to the mat to set up the next spot. Cargill jumped off the middle rope with nothing, so Rose got the boot up. Rose hit a neckbreaker for two. Rose set up Cargill on the top rope so that Cargill had to hold onto the rope to keep balance and Rose hit a knee drop for a two count. That spot looks too contrived every time I see it. Rose tried a Beast Bomb, but Cargill got out of it and hit a forearm. Cargill off the ropes with a kick followed by a Beast Bomb of her own for a two count. That was an impressive move. Cargill went for Jaded, Rose rolled through and Cargill got a two count. JR called it “bowling shoe ugly” and then Rose hit a Jaded slam on Cargill for two. Rose was shocked by it. Rose went up top, she jumped off with a senton bump that missed by a lot and Cargill hit a pump kick. Cargill hit Jaded for the pinfall win after about nine minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Jade Cargill

Analysis: **1/4 It was a weaker match with a really slow start, but the last couple of minutes were okay. They hit some big moves and had some nearfalls that worked pretty well. Cargill hitting Jaded on Rose looked impressive and was the right way to end this. Maybe if it was a few minutes shorter it would have been better.

After the match, Cargill finally got her TBS Title back. Cargill is 42-0 in her AEW career. Cargill gave Rose a middle finger salute as well. No replays of the action. Ouch.

A video package aired about the ROH World Championship four-way match.

Claudio Castagnoli was up first followed by Bryan Danielson and Sammy Guevara was next. Chris Jericho, the biggest heel in the match, was cheered when his music hit because the crowd likes singing the “Judas” song of the ROH World Champion. ROH ring announcer Bobby Cruise did the introductions while Ian Riccaboni joined commentary for it. The announcers figured out it was a good idea to go silent during the “Judas” singalong entrance.

ROH World Championship: Chris Jericho vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Sammy Guevara

There are no disqualifications and no countouts in a four-way match.

It was a chaotic start to the match with Bryan hitting a suicide dive onto Sammy on the floor. Jericho sent Bryan into the steel steps. Claudio and Bryan took turns rushing Jericho with uppercuts, then Sammy went into the ring so Claudio/Bryan hit Sammy with uppercuts as well. Bryan and Claudio took turns hitting running attacks in the corner with Claudio doing uppercuts while Bryan did dropkicks. Bryan and Claudio shook hands, then they looked at the crowd and exchanged uppercuts with eachother. Bryan’s chest was read as Claudio kept doing uppercuts. Bryan did an armbar on the mat, then Claudio got back up and Bryan got a rollup leading to a pinfall sequence until Jericho was back in with a boot to the head. Jericho went into the ropes, but Claudio/Bryan hit a double flatliner into a double single-leg crab submission. Even though Bryan and Claudio saw Sammy, they had to stand there in the hold as Sammy hit the Cutter off the top. Jericho hugged Sammy to thank him for saving Jericho from that submission. Sammy knocked down Claudio followed by a pose by Jericho/Sammy. A double clothesline by Jericho/Sammy sent Claudio out of the ring. Jericho and Sammy hit a double suplex on Bryan followed by punches as Excalibur mentioned Bryan’s detached retina from over a decade ago, which Excalibur talks about all the time. Jericho hit an Attitude Adjustment on Bryan and told Sammy to stand back as Jericho got a nearfall. Sammy with a running clothesline on Bryan, then Bryan fought back with forearms for Sammy/Jericho and that led to Bryan’s kick to the chest routine. Bryan hit Jericho with roundhouse kicks for Jericho and Sammy leading to a two count on Sammy. Bryan gave Sammy a hurricanrana off the top, Sammy landed on his feet and Bryan ran the ropes leading to Sammy hitting a Spanish Fly on Bryan. Jericho hit a Lionsault on Bryan/Sammy at the same time for a two count on Bryan. Claudio went back in after his break on the floor leading to a gutwrench suplex on Jericho. Claudio with a double stomp to the chest for two. Claudio jumped off the ropes with nothing leading to Jericho hitting a Codebreaker for two because Sammy broke up the pin. Jericho was not happy about it while the crowd reacted to it in a big way with a “you fucked up” chant for Sammy. Jericho shoved Sammy, so Sammy shoved back and Sammy hit some chops to the chest along with an elbow. Jericho got a boot to the face on Sammy, but Sammy hit a Codebreaker on Jericho for a two count. Jericho blocked a submission attempt leading to Jericho applying his own Walls of Jericho submission. Bryan jumped off the top, Jericho caught him and applied the Walls of Jericho on Bryan. Claudio charged at Jericho with a boot to the face, that was no sold by Jericho, then Claudio hit another boot and Claudio hit a suplex. Claudio applied the Sharpshooter on Jericho and Jericho tried to cover Bryan, but Bryan turned it into a LeBell Lock on Jericho. Sammy broke that up with superkicks on Claudio and Bryan back to back. The fans booed Sammy for that.

Sammy helped Jericho back up, then they hugged again and Sammy followed that with a GTH knee to the head. Sammy went up top, Sammy jumped off the top and hit a Shooting Star Press on Jericho for just two. Great nearfall there. Sammy did some weak elbows on Bryan, who no sold them and Bryan slapped Sammy in the face followed by Claudio tossing Sammy over the top onto Jericho on the floor. Bryan hit a Busaiko Knee to Claudio for one…two…no! The crowd thought that was it. Bryan hit Claudio with elbows to the head, but Claudio captured the arm and Claudio hit some elbows of his own. Bryan did some more elbows, Claudio lifted Bryan up and Bryan got a backslide for two. Claudio with a running lariat for two. Claudio wanted a superplex on Bryan, then Sammy got over there and hit a Cutter on Claudio off the top. Sammy hit a Spanish Fly on Bryan off the top, but Bryan didn’t sell it and Bryan applied a LeBell Lock submission on Sammy leading to Jericho making the save. Jericho hit a springboard dropkick on Bryan on the apron. Claudio clotheslined Jericho out of the ring followed by some tosses into barricade. Bryan jumped on Claudio, who caught him and Claudio hit a Neutralizer on the floor. Sammy hit an SSP off the top on a standing Claudio on the floor. Sammy jumped onto Claudio in the ring, but Claudio caught him leading to an uppercut. Sammy countered a Claudio move with a rollup using the ropes for two. Claudio gave Sammy the Giant Swing for about 15 spins, but Jericho hit a jumping back elbow on Claudio. Jericho hit Claudio with a Judas Effect elbow for the pinfall win after 22 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Chris Jericho

Analysis: ****1/2 That was an excellent match full of nearfalls and moments where all four guys looked like they might win. Sammy really stepped up in this match with a lot of great highspots while the other three veterans were terrific as usual. I think the finish was supposed to happen on the swing, but Jericho didn’t hit the Judas Effect smoothly on Claudio, so that’s why Jericho did it a second time and that really put Claudio down for the count. Bryan had a few moments where it looked like he might win as well. That’s why the match worked so well because all four guys had moments where they were in control. The spots with Jericho/Sammy were very interesting as well with Jericho trying to control, but Sammy wanted to get the win and nearly did a few times. I thought Jericho would retain, so the result didn’t surprise me that much.

Chris Jericho celebrated with his ROH World Title while the other three guys were down selling.

A video aired about Saraya’s comeback match against Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. up next.

Saraya made her entrance to a big ovation from the crowd. They showed her brother Zak Zodiac at ringside supporting his sister. Saraya looked emotional as she got into the ring. Britt Baker D.M.D. was up next as the opponent. Baker didn’t have her allies with her.

Saraya vs. Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D.

This is Saraya’s first match in nearly five years and you could tell she was emotional getting into the ring. Baker got a shoulder tackle knockdown, Saraya sold it like she was grabbing her neck and Saraya was just playing mind games while doing that move. Baker got a hold of Saraya by the apron, Baker elbowed Saraya a few times and Baker hit a neckbreaker on the floor. Baker grabbed Saraya in front of Saraya’s brother at ringside with Zac supporting his sister. Baker hit a neckbreaker in the ring while JR was doing the BS commentary line about the winners making more money than the losers. Sure. Baker put the glove on her hand teasing her finish, Saraya hit her with punches and Baker ran the ropes leading to a neckbreaker. Baker did some blatant choking. Saraya was on the floor, she had Baker on her shoulders and Saraya sent Baker into the apron. Saraya hit a cross body block on Baker on the floor. Back in the ring, Saraya got a two count. Saraya hit a few clotheslines leading to a two count. Saraya hit an elbow in the corner followed by some stomps in the corner. Baker sent Saraya face first into the middle turnbuckle and Saraya came back with a neckbreaker for two. Baker hooked the arms going for the Lockjaw, but Saraya got her foot on the bottom rope to break a submission. Baker hit the Air Raid Crash slam for two. Baker hit The Stomp for a two count. The fans were chanting “Let’s Go Saraya/DMD” for both women. They did a spot out of the corner with Saraya doing a sunset flip Powerbomb for a two count. The move was not done perfectly. Saraya picked up Baker for a lifting DDT for two. I thought that was the finish, but it continues. Saraya went for a submission, but Baker got to the ropes and sent Saraya into the turnbuckle again. Baker countered a move leading to a Lockjaw submission with Baker putting the hand into the mouth and they exchanged pin attempts for two counts. Saraya with a superkick followed by a running knee for two. Baker hit a ripcord elbow strike along with a neckbreaker and Baker hit The Stomp for a second time. Saraya countered a move leading to a running knee. Saraya lifted up Baker with a cradle DDT two times in a row. Saraya covered Baker for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Saraya

Analysis: *** It was a pretty good match. There were a few spots where they were off a bit, but it’s understandable. Baker worked on the neck throughout the match, which was the right move logically due to Saraya’s injured neck history. That’s what the heel Baker should do. Baker was on offense for most of the match and got about 80% of the nearfalls, but Saraya kept coming back. It took a lot for Saraya to win because she hit that lifting DDT three times, including two in a row for the finish. Saraya winning was what I expected.

After the match, Saraya hugged her brother at ringside. Saraya was in near tears and that’s understandable.

Analysis: I’m genuinely happy for Saraya getting through that match okay. I don’t blame her for nearly crying a few times. After all she went through with a broken neck and coming back after five years, Saraya should be proud of that performance.

They showed MJF getting ready in his locker room and Jon Moxley training with William Regal and Wheeler Yuta backstage.

A video aired setting up the TNT Title match between Wardlow, Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs.

TNT Championship: Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Samoa Joe

It’s another match with no disqualifications and no countouts, so the bad refereeing won’t hurt a match like this.

Hobbs hit Wardlow with a delayed vertical suplex. Joe was back in with punches, but Hobbs stopped him with a back elbow. Hobbs worked over Wardlow with forearms to the chest. Hobbs hit an overhead suplex on Joe. Hobbs sent Joe into the turnbuckle, then Wardlow was sent into the turnbuckle and Wardlow walked up the ropes leading to a twisting dive onto both guys. That was cool. Wardlow with kicks, headbutts and a wind-up lariat on Hobbs. Wardlow jumped off the top with a Senton Bomb on Hobbs, but Joe hit a splash onto Wardlow’s back after that. Joe tossed Wardlow out of the ring followed by corner splash and jumping kick on Hobbs in the corner. Joe with a running kick on Hobbs, then an atomic drop on Wardlow, a boot and a backsplash for two. Wardlow knocked both guys down, then Wardlow unleashed on Hobbs with uppercuts and a spinebuster by Wardlow on Hobbs. Joe charged, but Wardlow hit him with a spinebuster for two. Wardlow exchange punches with Hobs on the floor, so Joe hit a suicide dive on both guys. Joe tossed Hobbs into the barricade. Joe tried a move on Wardlow, but Hobbs hit a running attack on Joe to send Joe into the barricade. Hobbs sent Wardlow into the ring leading to Hobbs hitting a spinebuster for two. Hobbs and Wardlow tried moves, but Wardlow managed to hit the Powerbomb. Wardlow hit Hobbs with a second Powerbomb. Wardlow hit a third Powerbomb. Joe went back into the ring and hit Wardlow with a title belt to the head. Joe applied the rear naked choke submission on Hobbs for the win. It went 11 minutes.

Winner by submission AND NEW TNT Champion: Samoa Joe

Analysis: ***1/4 A pretty good power match. Wardlow had it won with the Powerbomb Symphony sequence on Hobbs, but then Joe capitalized with the belt shot to the head and Joe was able to make Hobbs pass out for the submission loss. I didn’t know if they would do a title change, so it was a bit of a surprise. When they made it a triple threat, that opened the possibility of Wardlow losing without getting beat and that’s exactly what happened.

That win by Joe meant that he was the TNT Champion and ROH TV Champion. Wardlow and Hobbs nodded at eachother as a sign of respect.

Chris Jericho with Jake Hager was interviewed by Tony Schiavone. Jericho said he understood Sammy Guevara going after him and Sammy is going to be a future World Champion. Jericho said he was still the greatest ROH World Champion of all time. Orange Cassidy (and Danhausen) walked up to Jericho saying his friend, a former champion in ROH, Tomohiro Ishii wants to fight Jericho for the ROH World Title on Dynamite. Jericho said that Ishii used to get him coffee and shine his shoes in Japan. Jericho said he still thinks of Ishii as that little young boy. Jericho said Ishii will get his shot. Jake Hager asked Orange what was in the bag, Orange showed him the All-Atlantic Title and challenged Hager to a match. Hager accepted while Orange told Jake he liked his purple hat. Jake likes his hat too.

A video package aired for the Sting-Darby Allin vs. Jay Lethal-Jeff Jarrett match up next.

Tony Schiavone joined commentary to replace Jim Ross for the final four matches.

No Disqualification Match: Sting & Darby Allin vs. Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett (w/Sonjay Dutt & Satnam Singh)

I missed the entrances and the first few minutes of the match. At some point it was announced as a No Disqualification match. I came back to Allin trying a dive onto Jarrett off the apron onto the floor, but Singh caught Allin. Singh did a spinning slam on Allin on the ramp. Sting was fighting Lethal into the crowd Sting jumped off a barricade onto Singh and Lethal about ten feet below. Jarrett tossed Allin into the steel steps at ringside. The referee was walking with Sting and Lethal in the crowd. Jarrett hit a running splash onto Allin against the ropes. For some reason they were back to regular tag team match rules even though they were fighting for ten minutes earlier. Taz even questioned, but then he stopped. Allin and Lethal did a collision spot to knock them both down. Sting, who was wrestling in a black sweater and pants, tagged in against Jarrett with a Stinger Splash on both guys along with a clothesline. Sting applied the Scorpion Deathlock, Dutt went into the ring with the weakest worked punch in wrestling history and it had no effect. Singh went into the ring and hit a Chokeslam on Sting leading to Jarrett getting a two count on Sting. Lethal and Allin exchanged strikes, then Lethal hit the Lethal Combination into a flatliner for a two count. Jarrett grabbed the guitar, Allin avoided it and Allin hit a flipping Stunner on Lethal. Allin went for a Coffin Drop, looked back to see Jarrett and jumped anyway as Jarrett hit the guitar on Allin’s back. Allin kipped up while yelling like a madman and punched both opponents. Allin hit a Coffin Splash on both opponents. Sting knocked Dutt off the apron. Singh tried an attack, Sting avoided it and Sting/Allin did a Coffin Drop/Scorpion Death Drop on Singh at the same time. Allin hit a dive onto Jarrett on the floor. Lethal went for the Lethal Injection on Sting and Sting was supposed to do a Scorpion Deathdrop, but they just collapsed. Oops. Allin jumped off the top with a Coffin Drop off the top on Lethal for the pinfall win after about 12 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Sting & Darby Allin

Analysis: *** A solid tag team match with some weird rules because it was No DQ, which led to chaos at the start and then they were doing regular tags for some reason. Even Taz questioned the logic of it, but then he stopped probably because the AEW announcers have to be cheerleaders on commentary. The predictable win by Sting & Allin here. I think Sting was supposed to hit that Scorpion Deathlock properly, but it didn’t hit and just looked like a stumble. At least Lethal was smart enough to sell it. I like and respect Sting a lot, but he’s showing his age out there. Wrestling in your 60s isn’t easy and he missed some things in there. I think Sting should probably retire soon although he only does a few matches a year, so that’s why he keeps going.

After the match, Sting was talking to Allin about something. I don’t know what he said. We couldn’t hear it.

A video aired about the Toni Storm/Jamie Hayter match for the Interim AEW Women’s Title. They used to be friends. Now they are not.

Interim AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter

The crowd was behind Hayter even though she’s supposed to be the heel. It was a bit of a stalemate early on. They were fighting on the floor within a few minutes with Storm doing some chops, then Hayter moved and Storm chopped the ring post. Hayter sent Storm into the barricade. Back in the ring, Hayter hit a snap suplex followed by Hayter putting her boot against Storm by the turnbuckle. Hayter sent Storm into the ropes leading to a shoulder tackle for two. Hayter grabbed a chinlock, Storm with elbows and Hayter did a hair pull takedown followed by Hayter touching the referee’s head. Hayter apologized and shook referee Paul Turner’s hand. Storm hit a Thesz Press followed by punches leading to boos from the crowd even though Storm is supposed to be a face. Storm hit the hip attack in the corner followed a cross body block off the top for two. Storm hit a Tornado DDT for two. They did a headbutt spot with Storm landing on top for a two count. Storm was bleeding by the nose. Rebel went down to the ring to support her friend Hayter. Storm and Hayter exchanged strikes including some running knees/elbows by both women. Rebel hit Storm with a weak belt shot that the referee didn’t see. Hayter slammed Storm onto the knee followed by a running lariat for a two count. Turner ejected Rebel from ringside leading to some overacting. Storm hit a lariat for a two count. Hayter sent Storm out of the ring, the title belt was on the mat and Britt Baker was there to hit Storm with The Stomp on the title. Hayter hit a piledriver in the ring for a two count. The crowd wanted that to be it. Storm avoided a clothesline, Storm hit a German Suplex and a Storm Zero for a two count. Baker was on the apron, Storm punched Baker down and Hayter hit a Hayt-breaker that was like a backbreaker for a two count. Hayter with a lariat in the corner, then back elbows, forearms and Baker took a turnbuckle pad off. Storm sent Hayter into the turnbuckle where Baker was. Hayter sent Storm into the exposed steel turnbuckle and Hayter hit the ripcord Hayterade lariat for the pinfall win after 12 minutes.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW INTERIM AEW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Jamie Hayter

Analysis: ***1/2 It was a very good match by the end. Storm took a beating because that bloody nose looked pretty bad by the end of the match, so kudos to Storm for working through it. I thought it was the right time for a title change because Storm really wasn’t catching fire as a champion, so it was the right time for a title change. Even though Hayter cheated multiple times, the fans didn’t care and were happy that Hayter got the win. That finish was pretty good with Storm bumping into the exposed steel post leading to the finish. Good for Hayter getting the win.

Jamie Hayter celebrated with Baker and Rebel. Tony Schiavone said Hayter earned it even though it was a cheap win.

They showed Jon Moxley and MJF warming up in separate parts of the building. Cheers for MJF while it was a mixed reaction for Mox.

A video aired about The Acclaimed defending the AEW Tag Team Titles against Swerve In Our Glory. Keith Lee made it clear that they don’t need to cheat because they’re unique while The Acclaimed were confident champions.

Swerve In Our Glory were up first with Keith Lee a bit reluctant to touch knuckles with Swerve, but Lee did do it.

The Acclaimed were up next as the AEW Tag Team Champions. Max Caster did a rap including Adidas dropping Kanye, Twitter ending, he referenced a Trump speech and kept on going with some insults about their challengers. Anthony Bowens did the hype promo to end it. No sign of Billy Gunn this time with the announcers talking about how Billy didn’t want to ruin the match since he hated Swerve based on the story in the past.

AEW Tag Team Championships: The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) vs. Swerve In Our Glory (Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland)

Bowens had tape on his right shoulder due to an injury. The Acclaimed hit a double clothesline to knock Lee out of the ring. Caster with a body slam on Swerve leading to Bowens tagging in with a leg drop to the leg of Swerve. After Lee got the tag, he hit Bowens with a body slam. Swerve sent Caster into the barricade a few times. Swerve went into the crowd and brought a steel barricade that he put against the ring apron. Bowens used his left hand for chops, Lee no sold it and Lee hit a two-handed chop to the chest. Lee sent Bowens into the ropes. Swerve tried a suplex on Bowens on the barricade, but Bowens countered into his own suplex on the floor. Lee lifted up Bowens while grabbing the right arm leading to a shoulder tackle and Lee hit a splash on the right arm for a two count. Swerve tagged in with a running kick to the right shoulder of Bowens. Lee was back in, Caster clotheslined Swerve and Bowens was on Lee’s shoulders leading to Bowens hitting a reverse hurricanrana on Lee. That looked awkward, but it was effective enough. Caster tagged in against Swerve with a back body drop, a clothesline over the top and a kick on Lee. Caster jumped onto Swerve on the floor. Caster tried a lift on Lee, but that didn’t work as Lee fought back and Caster hit a headscissors to take Lee down. Lee with a double chop to the chest. Swerve was back in and Caster got a nearfall. I missed it. Bowens tagged in with a running knee on Swerve followed by Bowens running the ropes leading to a Cutter/slam combo. Bowens tried a lift on Swerve, but he couldn’t do it and Swerve sent Bowens into the ribs of Caster. Swerve got a rollup for two. Bowens with a dropkick on Swerve, Lee saved Swerve from hitting the barricade, Bowens kicked Lee and Caster hit a splash off the top onto Lee through the barricade. Bowens hit a DDT off the ropes for a two count. Swerve came back with a jumping flatliner on Bowens. Swerve hit a running kick to the head three times in a row on Bowens as the fans booed Swerve for it. Swerve hit a fourth kick to the head for a two count. Swerve went up top, but Bowens went to the turnbuckle to try to stop him and Swerve kicked Bowens down. Swerve went for the Swerve Stomp, Bowens moved and Bowens hit The Arrival slam. Caster got the tag and jumped off the top with the Mic Check top rope elbow for a two count because Lee broke up the pin. Swerve kicked Bowens in the right arm to stop a double team move and Swerve hit a brainbuster on Caster. Lee tagged in with a clothesline, a corner splash and a toss across the ring. Lee hit a running shoulder tackle on Caster. The fans were distracted by somebody in the crowd. Lee held up Caster and Swerve did a stomp off the top for a Stomp/Powerbomb combo that was just a two count because Caster kicked out. Bowens tagged back in, Lee kicked him and swung Caster into Bowens. Lee hit a Powerbomb on Caster onto Bowens. Swerve tossed Caster over the commentary table at ringside. Swerve got the pliers from ringside and tried to use them on Swerve, so Billy Gunn made the save. Billy didn’t touch Swerve while Swerve hit Gunn and the referees made Gunn go to the back. Swerve wanted Lee to use the pliers, but Lee tossed them down. Swerve slapped Lee in the face. Lee patted Bowens on the back and Lee walked out on his partner. Bowens got a rollup on Swerve for two. Bowens with a combo leading to a superkick. Bowens countered a Swerve move for two. Caster tagged in and hit a springboard dropkick. The Acclaimed double team flipping Powerbomb move on Swerve and Bowens covered Swerve for the pinfall win after 19 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: The Acclaimed

Analysis: ***1/2 A very good tag team match, but not as great as the All Out tag team match was. Bowens sold the right shoulder really well even when he was on offense. Caster was fine in his role as well. This was more about the story with Swerve slapping Lee, which led to Lee walking out on his partner and it was over shortly after that. The Acclaimed winning is what I expected for this match.

The Acclaimed celebrated with their titles while the announcers talked about the end of the Lee-Swerve team.

This coming Wednesday on AEW Dynamite:

* Death Triangle vs. The Elite will be in a Best of 7 Series for the Trios TagTeam Titles. That’s the second match in the series now because Death Triangle won the first match.

* Ethan Page vs. Ricky Starks in the World Title Eliminator Tournament Final.

* All-Atlantic Championship: Orange Cassidy vs. Jake Hager.

* ROH World Championship: Chris Jericho vs. Tomohiro Ishii.

The video package aired for the main event for the AEW World Title with Jon Moxley defending the gold against MJF.

AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (w/William Regal) vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

MJF with a hard slap to the face. Moxley came back with some hard chops. They did a rope run, MJF avoided him and did a Flair strut. MJF ducked a charging Moxley, who bumped to the floor. MJF ran the ropes instead of doing a dive like some wrestlers do. The fans cheered that. Moxley was back with some face-biting. Moxley was giving a double middle finger to MJF followed by a stiff clothesline. It sounded like the fans were chanting “fuck you Moxley” at the champion. Moxley hit a suplex into a slam. When Moxley tried an STF submission, MJF bit Moxley on the hand to break free. MJF came back with chops as well as forearms. Moxley with a forearm along with a hard chop to the chest. Moxley hit MJF with a Falcon Arrow leading into an armbar, but MJF got his feet on the bottom rope. Moxley hit a corner clothesline two times in a row leading to MJF bumping to the floor. Moxley held up his AEW World Title leading to boos from the crowd. MJF spit some water into Moxley’s face and Moxley came back by sending MJF into the steel steps. The fans were booing Moxley again. When MJF was back in the ring, Moxley whipped MJF into the turnbuckle and MJF came back with a running clothesline to get some offense going. MJF delivered a punch combo to the head followed by MJF sending Moxley’s head into the turnbuckle ten times. Moxley avoided a charging MJF, but MJF yanked on the arm leading to MJF sending Moxley into the turnbuckle. MJF set up the ringside table beside the ring. When MJF got back into the ring, Moxley popped back up with a Cutter. Moxley stomped on MJF’s head repeatedly while the fans booed it. Moxley did a mocking bow toward the fans, so they booed him.

Moxley got a hold of MJF on the apron with the table beside the ring. MJF with a chop to the throat, then MJF picked up Moxley and MJF hit a Tombstone piledriver on the apron. That’s a popular move on this show. MJF was grabbing his left knee after he delivered that move. MJF went for a move by the table on the apron, Moxley kicked the left knee of MJF and Moxley gave MJF a piledriver through the table at ringside. The referee called for the DQ there…nope. It’s okay. I’m not saying it should be a DQ. Since it’s a World Title match, it’s easy to see why it was allowed. The referee Bryce Remsburg did a very slow countout (while not doing it at other times in the match – a big problem with AEW refereeing is they are not consistent) and MJF got back in before ten. MJF hit a double-arm DDT for a two count. Moxley kicked MJF’s left knee repeatedly and applied the Figure Four Leglock while the fans booed it. After about a minute in the Figure Four Leglock, MJF was able to turn it to put pressure on Moxley, who grabbed the rope to break the hold. Moxley was on the apron, so MJF hit the Heatseeker DDT for a two count. Moxley blocked another attempt at the move with Moxley doing a chop block and then Moxley stomped on the left knee of MJF. The fans were chanting “fuck you Moxley” as Moxley went up top, but MJF tripped up Moxley to crotch Mox on the turnbuckle. MJF went after Mox on the turnbuckle leading to Moxley hitting some elbow smashes to the head. Moxley hit MJF with a Paradigm Shift off the top for a two count because MJF grabbed the bottom rope during the pin attempt.

Moxley told MJF: “Hit me motherf**ker” and MJF spit in his face so Moxley slapped MJF in the face. Moxley and MJF exchanged forearms with the fans chanting “yay” for MJF and “boo” for Moxley. Moxley charged off the ropes, so MJF pulled referee Bryce Remsburg in front of MJF and Moxley ran over the referee. MJF grabbed the Dynamite Diamond Ring from his trunks. William Regal walked down to ringside and told MJF not to use it. MJF put it down and gave Regal a middle finger salute. Moxley went for a sleeper, MJF kicked off the ropes and second referee Paul Turner counted a two count. Moxley went for the sleeper again, they bumped into the referee again and you could see Moxley’s arm hit Turner out of the ring. Moxley took down MJF with the Bulldog Choke submission. MJF was tapping out, but the referee was down in the corner. Regal told Moxley to get the referee. While Moxley did that, Regal slipped MJF the brass knuckles while Moxley was trying to get the referee Bryce Remsburg to get back up. Moxley turned around and MJF punched Moxley in the face with the brass knuckles.

MJF covered Moxley with one arm on the chest for the one…two…and three to become the new AEW World Champion! It went 23 minutes.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW AEW WORLD CHAMPION: Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF)

Analysis: ***3/4 I’d call it a very good match for the most part. It had a cheap ending that was fitting for a heel like MJF, who only won because of two ref bumps and Regal helping MJF by giving him the brass knuckles to use. Even though the fans were solidly behind MJF, I really don’t think we should consider him a babfyace because that was a very cheap win with Moxley getting screwed out of the title by Regal. They worked hard, there were lots of counters and good psychology throughout the match with MJF hurting the knee and trying to fight back. I think the result was the right call because Moxley has been champion several times now and it was the smart thing to put the AEW World Title. I’m happy for MJF and I’m not worried about Mox because he’ll continue to be featured properly in AEW. How they booked this could be questioned for sure, but I think it was the right guy at the right time as the new AEW World Champion.

Wait, what just happened?

Watch #AEWFullGear LIVE on PPV right now
🔗https://t.co/ufkkXQTkk6pic.twitter.com/YnqHgrmS3J

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) November 20, 2022

Post match, MJF had a big smile on his face while Regal smiled at him. Tony said that William Regal sold his soul to The Devil. MJF held up the AEW World Title with a big smile on his face.

Analysis: Here’s what I wrote in our AEW Full Gear preview: “It’s also important to note that MJF has said he’ll win without using the Dynamite Diamond Ring, so maybe something happens where William Regal even turns on Moxley by giving MJF the dreaded brass knuckles and MJF uses that to win.” I’m not saying I was the only one that called it, but I did get it right. You’re welcome.

MJF celebrated with the AEW World Title with the fans cheering him some more. MJF had a security guy help him due to MJF selling his left knee injury, but then MJF pushed the guy away. MJF did some snow angels on the ramp to mock CM Punk I think. MJF had a big grin on his face while holding the World Title. That was the end of the show.

Analysis: Sadly, my Fite TV feed stopped working during the main event after working fine for the first 3 hours, 30 minutes after the show. I had to load the replay after the show to fill in what happened in the main event.

AEW Full Gear had a runtime of 3 hours, 55 minutes.

Five Stars of the Show

1. MJF
2. Saraya – Happy for her being back in the ring after five years.
3. Chris Jericho
4. Jungle Boy
5. Death Triangle

Final Thoughts

It gets an 8.25 out of 10 from me.

This was a long show so I’ll keep it brief by saying I really enjoyed most of it. I’m happy that MJF won the AEW World Title and I don’t mind that it was cheap because I expected it. Saraya having a match for the first time in nearly five years was great to see and I’m glad it went well for her. I think the Steel Cage Match to start, the Trios Tag Team Match after that and the ROH 4-Way match were the three best matches on the show. Plenty of other good matches too.

Overall, I thought they put on an enjoyable event with a hot crowd that was into most of it. I had a good time watching and writing about Full Gear.

===

Thanks for reading this review. My contact info is below.

Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter: @johnreport