The John Report: AEW Full Gear 2024 Review

AEW Full Gear featured Jon Moxley battling Orange Cassidy for the World Title, Will Ospreay against former friend Kyle Fletcher, and more.

This show took place on Saturday night and I’m reviewing it on Monday morning. I wasn’t home on Saturday evening and Sunday was busy, so here I am on Monday doing it.

Here are the Zero Hour Pre-Show match results that aired on AEW’s Youtube channel so it was free for anybody to watch:

Here are the ZERO HOUR pre-show results.

* Anna Jay defeated Deonna Purrazzo (w/Taya Valkyrie) by pinfall after countering an armbar submission into a pinning move. Taya was ejected from ringside due to interfering in the match.

* Buddy Matthews defeated Dante Martin, Komander (w/Alex Abrahantes) and The Beast Mortos by pinfall. Buddy hit The Stomp on Dante and pinned Dante for the win.

Paul Wight was on commentary for the next match.

* “Big Boom!” A.J. (w/Big Justice and The Rizzler) defeated QT Marshall by pinfall. QT hit a Diamond Cutter. When Marshall approached The Rizzler, who is a child, Wight got in his face, so QT backed away. After Aaron Solo tried to interfere, the referee was looking at him leading to Big Justice hitting a spear on QT. AJ hit a Power Boom (powerbomb) for the pinfall win.

The TBS Champion Mercedes Mone told Kamille to watch her match from backstage.

As a reminder, I have reviewed every AEW PPV in company history over the last five-plus years. Let’s get to it.

AEW Full Gear
Saturday, November 23, 2024
From the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey

It’s Saturday and you know what that means. It was Excalibur on commentary with Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness. They went right to the action.

AEW World Tag Team Championships: Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) vs. The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd), Kings of the Black Throne (Malakai Black & Brody King) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster)

The first pinfall wins here. Two guys are legal and the other six guys are supposed to be on the apron, but it’s AEW, so you know how that goes in terms of rules.

Black started with Quen doing a routine that led to Black sitting in the ring followed by each man going for takedowns. Quen avoided Black’s spin kick. Kassidy tagged in with armdrags for Bowens, who came back with a Fameasser. Truth and Turbo got some offense going with a body slam, which drew a pop since they did flexing like older wrestlers. The ring was cleared until King faced off against Turbo with punches along with King hitting a forearm. I had no idea who was legal at this point as the other wrestlers were out of the ring and King nailed Turbo with a clothesline King gave Bowens a superplex while Black hit a diving foot stomp off the top. Black hit a moonsault onto a pile of guys on the floor. Black and King beat up Quen followed by an attack on Kassidy. There were five guys beating up King leading to Bowens doing his Scissors Me Timbers leg drop to the leg. The Acclaimed and Outrunners were in the ring together with Caster hitting Turbo. Bowens hit a neckbreaker on Truth. Kassidy was in the ring with a facebuster. Turbo knocked down Kassidy. Quen hit a spin kick on Truth. Quen and Kassidy went up top with each of them hitting 450 Splashes. The referee counted Kassidy’s pin attempt while Quen was also pinning for some reason. The Outrunners did a double elbow drop on Private Party. Truth tagged in against Kassidy and King tagged in leading to a spinning slam on Bowens. The Outrunners hit their double team powerslam on King for a two count because Caster broke up the pin. Max hit a springboard dropkick and fans were chanting “f**k you Caster” at Max. Caster was booed when he tagged in. The fans chanted for Bowens. Caster and Bowens superkicked a guy off the apron. Caster laid down and Bowens tried to pin him, which led to the referee counting (what?) and it was broken up. Kassidy and Bowens exchanged pin attempts so that meant they were legal as if it matters. Caster tagged in and Bowens went for a pin attempt, but Bowens didn’t realize Caster tagged in. The fans booed. Bowens hit The Arrival slam on Kassidy, but Caster was interrupted while on the top rope by Turbo. Quen went into the ring and hit the Gin N Juice with Kassidy on Caster. Kassidy pinned Caster for the pinfall win at 13:23.

Winners by pinfall: Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen)

Analysis: **3/4 It felt like a random tag team match to get Private Party a win. They won the titles recently and rather than get them a storyline, AEW just decided to throw them in there with three other teams. The match was typical of AEW tag team matches where you have no idea who the legal men are for most of the match. I don’t know why the people who produce these matches are okay with the chaotic nature instead of trying to have a more organized match that actually makes sense. Why even do a spot where Bowens tried to pin Caster? It makes no sense. They are obviously teasing a split between The Acclaimed, so I guess having them lose was a way to further that story. Other than that, this felt very average.

Orange Cassidy was interviewed backstage by Lexy Nair. Orange said tonight, AEW sends a message back to Jon Moxley and the Death Riders. Orange said that Private Party is AEW just like him. Orange said that Moxley didn’t need AEW while Orange and Private Party wouldn’t exist without AEW. Orange said he’ll show that AEW doesn’t need Moxley. Orange said he’ll take the power that comes with the AEW World Title and put it in his backpack.

A video package aired about the MJF storyline with Adam Cole and Roderick Strong, which led to this MJF match against Strong.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Roderick Strong

The bell rang leading to MJF doing a promo. MJF told Strong he is white trash like the New Jersey fans. MJF said he’s been away making millions shooting movies while Strong’s momma was shooting his daddy.

Strong went after MJF with chops and MJF ran away up the ramp. Strong brought MJF back to the ring. When Strong went for a chop, MJF avoided it and Strong’s left hand hit the ring post. MJF bent Strong’s fingers on his left hand against the steel turnbuckle. MJF gave Strong a Powerbomb on the apron. MJF grounded Strong in an armbar while shouting that the fans don’t care about Roddy. Strong got a boot up followed by a jumping kick to the head. Strong hit a half-nelson backbreaker. Strong hit a jumping sidekick along with a running lariat. Strong had MJF on his shoulders and he sent MJF into the turnbuckle. Strong hit a version of the Olympic Slam for a two count. The crowd was silent as MJF wrenched Strong’s left arm into the mat. Strong countered a Heatseeker DDT attempt and Strong dropkicked MJF into the commentary table. Strong gave MJF a back suplex onto the top of the barricade. Back in the ring, Strong went for a running kick, but MJF avoided it. MJF countered a charge leading to back heel kick. MJF mocked Adam Cole on the turnbuckle, so Strong hit a backbreaker for two. The crowd was still dead silent yet Tony Schiavone put over how good the crowd is. MJF came back with a cradle DDT for a two count. Strong tried a kick, MJF did a thumb to the eye and Strong came back with a dropkick. Strong applied a Texas Cloverleaf submission, but MJF powered out of it while Strong was selling a left hand/arm injury. MJF tried a suplex, then he sold a back injury and Strong hit MJF with an elbow to the face.

Strong hit the End of Heartache slam onto the double knees for two because MJF’s right foot was on the bottom rope at the two count. It was obvious based on where they were in the ring. Strong and MJF each got cradles for two. Strong kicked MJF in the back. My feed cut out for a few seconds and Strong hit a Sick Kick. MJF came back with a suplex. MJF applied the Salt of the Earth armbar on the left arm while pulling on the fingers and Strong tapped out. This went 13:40.

Winner by submission: Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Analysis: *** It was a solid technical wrestling match to put over MJF as a crafty heel who worked on the left arm/hand throughout the match and used it to get the win. The crowd was dead silent for a lot of the match, which is rare for a MJF match. I don’t think anybody watching this thought that Strong would win this match.

After the match, MJF brought a steel chair into the ring and MJF stomped on the chair that was on Strong’s left arm. Adam Cole and The Kingdom’s Mike Bennett & Matt Taven went into the ring to check on Strong while MJF left. Kyle O’Reilly was also in the ring and he shoved Cole down saying it was Cole’s fault. Kyle helped Strong out of the ring and they went to the back.

Analysis: Why was Cole so late to help Strong? Was he playing video games? Anyway, this is obviously going to lead to MJF facing Cole at some point.

A video package aired about the Mercedes Mone-Kris Statlander match up next.

TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone vs. Kris Statlander

Statlander was the second TBS Champion in AEW history. Kris was also a heel who randomly turned face because I guess the creative team, if they have one, thought she would make a good opponent for Mone.

Mone was in control with a kick followed by a sunset flip. Kris used her power to lift Mone leading to press slam into the mat. Kris hit a senton splash followed by a standing moonsault press. They battled on the apron where Mone did an eye gouge to the face followed by Mone doing a hurricanrana off the apron to the floor. Mone broke the referee’s count followed by a double knee attack off the apron onto Kris on the floor. Mone sent Kris into the steel steps followed by double knees onto Kris against the steps. Mone stomped on Kris a few times followed by the double knees again. Mone sent Kris into the turnbuckle followed by double knees off the turnbuckle for two while Mone put her hand on the ropes, which the referee saw. Mone loves the double knee offense. Kris tried a lifting move, but Mone countered with a neckbreaker. Mone was screaming mad while the crowd was quiet. Mone hit a sunset flip Powerbomb into the turnbuckle and Mone hit double knees Meteora for two. Mone tried a DDT off the turnbuckle, but Kris shoved her down to the mat. Mone hit two boots to the chest. Mone went for double knees again, Kris caught her and Kris hit a Powerbomb into the turnbuckle. Both women were down selling.

Kris was back up with a powerslam along with a running uppercut and a running knee. Kris hit a rolling German Suplex for two. Mone countered a move with a Crucifix Bomb for two. Mone went for the Mone Maker submission, but Kris rolled out of it. Mone hit a backstabber double knees to the back. Mone went to the middle turnbuckle and she hit the double knee Meteora yet again for a two count. Kris came back with a backbreaker onto the knee followed by a discus lariat for two. Kris tried a lifting move and Mone countered it for a two count. Kris hit a spinning Michinoku Driver slam for two. Mone countered a move leading to a spinning DDT for two. Mone was screaming about how it was only a two count. Mone hit the Three Amigos suplexes for her hero Eddie Guerrero. Mone went to the top rope, jumped off with nothing, Kris caught her and Kris hit a spinning slam off the shoulders for two. That was like an F5. Mone barely got her shoulder up. Kris went up top, she took a long time and jumped off with a 450 Splash, but Mone moved to avoid it. Mone hit a running knee. Mone elbowed the injured right knee of Kris repeatedly. Money jumped off the top rope with a Frog Splash on the outside of the right knee for a two. Mone was visibly frustrated about it. Mone hit a backstabber double knees to the back two times in a row. Mone put Kris on her back leading to the spinning slam off the shoulders for a two count. Mone was shocked by the kickout. Mone went for a slam again, but Kris countered it with a backslide pin for two. Kris had Mone on her shoulders and she slammed Mone down. Kris picked up Mone for a move, but Mone punched the right knee and even bit the knee. Mone sent Kris throat-first into the middle rope and Mone covered while holding onto the legs for the pinfall win. It went 19:25.

Winner by pinfall: Mercedes Mone

Analysis: ***1/2 That was a very good match that was the toughest match that Mone has had in AEW so far. Kris is a talented worker who knows how to be a power wrestler when needed and she bumps well for her opponents as well. I enjoy Statlander matches. With that said, I expected a Mone win here. I assume the person she loses to is Kamille when she’s sick of Mone bossing her around. It’s like how Toni Storm lost to Mariah May after May was by her side.

The “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Jay White match was next. White beat Page at WrestleDream, so they get to have their rematch now.

Jay White vs. “Hangman” Adam Page

White beat Page at WrestleDream, so here’s the rematch. I like White more as a heel, but he’s in a face role now.

They started out brawling and Page dumped White over the top to the floor. White was selling a left ankle injury, so Page punched the left ankle repeatedly. Page rammed White’s left foot into the ring post. Page worked on White’s left ankle by slamming it into the mat. White chopped Page a few times and then Page hit a belly-to-belly slam for a two count. White dropkicked Page’s left knee followed by White driving Page’s knee into his shoulder. White worked over Page with chops followed by White hitting a DDT for two. Page hit a back body drop to counter a White attack, so White went back to selling the left ankle injury. Page hit a fallaway slam into the turnbuckle. Some fans tried starting chants, but it wasn’t that loud. Page hit a fallaway slam off the top rope for a two count. White tripped up Page and rammed Page’s left knee into the ring post two times. White gave Page a superplex off the top for two, so they each hit slams off the top. Page hit a chop block to the left leg of White and White came back with a chop block to the back of the left knee. Page was selling the left knee while White was selling the left ankle while the fans tried to get into it.

White and Page did the “stand and throw strikes” spot that AEW wrestlers love doing. White and Page each hit clotheslines at the same time. Page charged right into White hitting a flatliner. White hit a waistlock German Suplex for two while White also sold the left ankle injury. Page came back with a sitout Powerbomb for a two count. They went to the apron where White gave Page a Full Nelson Suplex on the apron, so Page sold that by collapsing to the floor. White hit another Full Nelson Suplex on the floor. The referee Paul Turner was on the floor with the wrestlers instead of counting them out of the ring, which is what should have been done. Page shoved White into the barricade and White was selling the left ankle injury. Page attacked the left ankle against the barricade. Page applied an Ankle Lock submission. The referee went into the ring to initiate a count, which is dumb because why didn’t do that for the previous three minutes? Anyway, they got back in the ring before the ten count. Page went for the Buckshot Lariat, White caught him, Page slipped out and Page went for an Ankle Lock. It wasn’t a great Ankle Lock, but White sold it at least. White wrenched Hangman’s left leg against the ropes for a dragon screw leg whip. White hit a uranage slam for two. White applied a heel hook on the injured left leg and Page got his hand no the bottom rope to break the hold. White pulled down Page by the leg again. Page hit the Deadeye slam that always makes me feel bad for Hangman’s knees more than the guy on his back. Page hit a second Deadeye for two. That’s a move that Page usually gets a two count with, but he has won some matches with it so it drew a reaction. Page went for a Buckshot Lariat, White caught him and Page went for an Ankle Lock again. White got out of it and hit a Bladerunner for the pinfall win at 19:54.

Winner by pinfall: Jay White

Analysis: **** It was a great match as usual from two of the best wrestlers in AEW. They got 20 minutes, they each sold injuries for most of the match and White managed to hit his finisher first for the win. I loved the finish. It may have got a higher rating, but the inept referring spot hurt another match on this show. They need to learn how to book countout spots better. What I like about these two guys is they sell moves well and work at a slow pace, which is the right way to do it. The story is that White continues to have Page’s number, which has infuriated Page, who will likely try to get revenge in the weeks ahead. I’m wondering if either guy will be going after a title any time soon or if they’ll just keep fighting eachother.

After the match, Page attacked White with a forearm to the back. AEW interim EVP Christopher Daniels tried to get Page to stop, so Page punched Daniels to knock him down. Page went to the back at that point.

Analysis: This feud must continue…apparently.

It was time for Will Ospreay to face Kyle Fletcher, so there was a video package for that. They were best friends, the younger guy Kyle turned on his buddy and now they have a match. It’s a classic pro wrestling heel turn leading to a PPV match.

Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher (w/Don Callis)

Will had kinesio tape around his neck and shoulders to sell the idea of a neck injury. Don Callis joined commentary for the match to support his client Kyle.

They attacked eachother with strikes and then the taller Kyle got a shoulder tackle. Will hit a hurricanrana that sent Kyle out of the ring. Kyle sent Will hard into the barricade. They left the ring where Kyle tried to send Kyle into the steel steps, but Will jumped over the steps to avoid them. Will hit an impressive hurricanrana on the floor. Back in the ring, Kyle sent Will hard into the turnbuckle followed by a DDT. Kyle worked over Will with punches. They battled on the turnbuckle where Kyle sent Will’s head into the top turnbuckle. Kyle gave Will a brainbuster on the floor. Back in the ring, Kyle worked over Will with stomps on the body to keep Will down. Will tried to get going with a handspring move off the ropes, but Will collapsed to sell the neck injury. Kyle kicked Will in the head followed by a draping DDT off the ropes for two. Kyle had Will locked in with a triangle choke and then he hit a sitout Michinoku Driver for two. Kyle took way too long to go for a running kick, so Will avoided it and kicked Kyle to the floor. Will hit an incredible Sky Twister Press onto a standing Kyle on the floor. That was impressive. Will sent Kyle back in leading to a springboard forearm that some people say was phenomenal and that got a two count. Will worked over Kyle with short kicks to the head followed by multiple chops to the chest. Kyle hit chops of his own. They exchanged chops so it was another match with the “stand and throw strikes” spot as Kyle hit a superkick to the head while dumbass Will put his hands behind him. Will came back with a superkick of his own against the turnbuckle. Will hit a spinning Powerbomb off the shoulders for a two count. Will charged, but Kyle got a boot up to stop. Will hit a roundhouse kick followed by a hook kick. Will sent for an Oscutter off the ropes, but Kyle countered it with a neckbreaker. Kyle hit a sitout Powerbomb for a two count. That was a great sequence of moves.

Kyle hit a running kick to the head, but Will came back with a counter neckbreaker. Will used his legs to pick up Kyle by the apron and that led to Will giving Kyle a Tombstone piledriver on the floor. I think they were going to try that Tombstone off the apron in one motion, but Will couldn’t hold onto Kyle. Anyway, it was still a good spot. Kyle got back in the ring at the count of nine, so Will hit a springboard kick. Will hit a twisting splash off the top for two. The fans chanted “this is awesome” for the great action. They each went for moves and there were counters. Kyle hit a superkick, but Will came back with a Spanish Fly slam. Will charged right into a clothesline by Kyle. Will came back with a running Hidden Blade elbow smash. Both guys were down selling so the fans chanted “AEW” for them. Will tried going to the top for a move, but Kyle shoved him to crotch Will on the top rope. Kyle hit a jumping kick to the head. Will did a flip over Kyle from the top rope and Will hit a Styles Clash for two. Will hit a running Hidden Blade elbow for a two count. Will covered by laying on top of Kyle and Will was shocked that it was just a two count. Will kicked and punched Kyle a few times while on the apron. The steel steps were on the floor below them as Will set up for a move. Kyle countered Will, he held him on the apron and Kyle gave Will a Tombstone Piledriver on the top of the steel steps. Kyle’s knees hit the steps hard while he protected Will. Kyle told Will he wanted to prove he was better than him and Kyle tossed Will back into the ring. Kyle hit a running side kick. Kyle hit a piledriver type move called the Grimstone for a two count. Will countered a move and got a pin attempt for two. Kyle ran at Will, who hit an elbow and Kyle barely sold it so the idea is that Will had lost power. Kyle pulled on the right arm across the shoulder and he did it to the left arm too. Kyle nailed Will with a clothesline. Kyle hit a running kick to the back of the head. Kyle hit another running kick to the head. Kyle gave Will a brainbuster on the top of the top turnbuckle. Kyle covered for the pinfall win at 24:15. Nigel: “The biggest win of his career.” Correct.

Winner by pinfall: Kyle Fletcher

Analysis: ****1/2 It was an excellent match to put over Kyle Fletcher in a big way. Will Ospreay had no problem putting over his buddy, which was the right way to book this match. No surprise that Will had the best match on the show because that’s what usually happens for him. Will took some massive bumps in this match to put over Kyle. Will was selling the neck injury throughout the match, so having Kyle hit him with a Tombstone Piledriver on the steel steps was a huge spot. That finish was wild because Kyle hit a brainbuster on the turnbuckle and that was a believable way for him to win the match. It puts over Will as a guy who is tough to beat. Also, it was clear that the crowd was into this match a lot more than the other matches before it because of how they view Will as a big star. Great booking to have Kyle win the way he did. It’s easy to be excited about Kyle as a wrestler because he’s a taller guy in his mid-20s with a bright future.

After the match, Kyle Fletcher’s former tag team partner Mark Davis went into the ring to check on his friend Will Ospreay. Fletcher backed out of the ring while Davis tried to help Ospreay back to his feet.

Mariah May & Mina Shirakawa’s AEW Women’s Title Champagne Celebration

The AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May was introduced by her friend Mina Shirakawa. Both women were wearing black dresses and they looked great as usual. May said that it has been a fun four months while claiming there’s not a single woman alive who can touch her. May claimed she couldn’t have done this without Mina, her one true friend. Mina and May had some champagne together. They did some dancing on the stage. May tried to attack Mina with a champagne bottle, but Mina was ready for it. Mina tackled May off the stage and they went crashing through a table on the floor. Mina’s mouth was bleeding, and she kissed May on the forehead.

Analysis: That sets them up for an AEW Women’s World Title feud. I thought this might be where Toni Storm made her comeback to ruin May’s celebration, but instead, it was May trying to turn on Mina just like May turned on Toni Storm in the past. The crowd likes Mina, so I think she’ll do well in a babyface role.

A video package aired about Jack Perry defending the TNT Championship against Daniel Garcia.

TNT Championship: Jack Perry vs. Daniel Garcia

There was barely a reaction to Jack Perry, who has had a forgettable TNT Title reign. Matt Menard joined the commentary team for this match since he’s a friend of Garcia and he does commentary on other shows.

Garcia aggressively went after Perry, who did a lot of stalling for a few minutes to get heat. Garcia finally got a hold of Perry on the floor leading to a boot that sent Perry out over the barricade. AEW’s most inept referee Rick Knox wasn’t even counting, but Garcia went into the ring to break the count. Garcia went back into the ring, so Perry grabbed him and hit a DDT on the floor. Perry sent Garcia hard into the barricade. Perry gave Garcia a DDT on the floor. The referee wasn’t counting again. They were back in the ring with Perry hitting a missile dropkick off the top for two. Perry came back with a clothesline. No reaction from the crowd. Nigel said that the crowd was “stunned” as his way of saying the crowd was asleep. Garcia hit a backdrop driver. Perry tripped up Garcia leading to a Snare Trap submission and once again the crowd didn’t seem to care as Garcia got out of it by reaching the ropes. Perry gave Garci a belly-to-back suplex on the apron. Perry went over to Menard and shoved him in the chest. Perry gave Garcia a Powerbomb through a table at ringside and dumped garbage on Garcia as well. The referee once again was not administering a count. The referee went back into the ring to start a count, which is not the right way of refereeing. Menard urged Garcia to get back up. The referee’s count was ridiculously slow, so Garcia managed to crawl in under the ten count, which didn’t even get a reaction from the crowd.

Perry was kicking and shoving Garcia in the face, so Garcia fired up with a boot to the face along with a lariat. Garcia stomped on Perry a few times followed by a running kick to the head. Garcia tossed Perry across the ring and Garcia gave Perry a butterfly suplex into the turnbuckle. Garcia hit a running dropkick and tried to play to the crowd, but there was no reaction again. Perry managed to send Garcia face first into the turnbuckle followed by a slam off the shoulders for two. Perry grabbed his TNT Title from ringside and brought it into the ring. Garcia teased using the title, then he handed it to the referee and Perry hit a low blow uppercut that the referee didn’t see. Perry hit the running knee to the head for two. The crowd barely reacted to that nearfall. Perry stepped toward Garcia, who collapsed in the center of the ring. Perry tried again, Garcia flipped over and got a jackknife pin attempt for two. Garcia got a hold of the foot followed by a piledriver for two. Garcia chopped Perry in the chest about a dozen times and Perry was smiling about it. Garcia hit a jumping piledriver. Garcia applied the Dragon Tamer submission, Perry nearly got to the ropes and Garcia pulled Perry to the center in the ring. Garcia leaned back some more, so Perry tapped out. The crowd did pop for that. It lasted 18:25.

Winner by submission AND NEW TNT Champion: Daniel Garcia

Analysis: **3/4 It was a solid match, but nothing special about it. The fans were quiet for the match until the finish. They certainly weren’t at the same level as the match before it. Did the fans pop because Garcia won or they are just bored of Perry as the champion? I don’t know. I couldn’t get into this match. Just because a match goes nearly 20 minutes doesn’t mean it’s going to be good. One of the problems with AEW is matches go on too long. They should have had Garcia win more decisively in about 10-13 minutes instead of taking that long to win. I get it that it’s AEW and they like to give wrestlers time to have great matches, but sometimes it’s okay to have a shorter match. Garcia winning was the right move since Perry’s title reign sucked.

After the match, Daniel Garcia celebrated with the TNT Title and with the fans. The fans were happy for him.

Analysis: I’m happy that Garcia got the win because Perry was a forgettable TNT Champion. He is a guy who held a title, but I couldn’t tell you much about his title reign because it bored me. Garcia has a bright future, so maybe he’ll have a better reign.

A video aired about the Konosuke Takeshita-Ricochet match up next.

AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (w/Don Callis) vs. Ricochet

Takeshita won the title at WrestleDream in a triple threat with former champion Will Ospreay and Ricochet. Since joining AEW, Ricochet hasn’t been pinned or submitted. Don Callis was on commentary again.

Ricochet was in control early on with a springboard cross body block for two. Takeshita blocked a spinning kick and sent Ricochet throat-first into the top rope. Takeshita hit a running kick that sent Ricochet off the apron to the floor. Takeshita sent Ricochet hard into the barricade. Takeshita slammed Ricochet’s spine onto the corner of the barricade. Back in the ring, Takeshita hit a spinning backbreaker onto the knee. Ricochet got a rollup for two, but Takeshita came back with a spinning sidewalk slam for two. Takeshita whipped Ricochet hard into the turnbuckle two times in a row. Takeshita hit forearms to the lower back to continue the offense against the back. Ricochet punched Takeshita and wanted a springboard move, but Ricochet sold the back injury. Takeshita tossed Ricochet off the top rope across the ring. Takeshita sent Ricochet against the turnbuckle and Ricochet came back with an elbow followed by a dropkick. Ricochet hit the handspring back elbow to knock Takeshita down. Ricochet hit a running forearm followed by two hard whips into the turnbuckle. Ricochet hit a shoulder tackle to the ribs along with a springboard clothesline. Ricochet sent Takeshita to the apron leading to an enziguri kick that knocked Takeshita off the apron to the floor. Ricochet hit a handspring into a twisting splash over the top onto Takeshita on the floor. Ricochet hit a springboard 450 Splash for a two count. Don Callis left commentary to go ringside and encourage Takeshita.

Ricochet worked over Takeshita with kicks to the body. Ricochet hit a back kick to the head. Takeshita hit a spinning Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. They exchanged strikes leading to Takeshita hitting Ricochet with an elbow smash to the jaw. Takeshita kicked Ricochet in the head, but then Ricochet landed on his feet and Ricochet got a two count. Takeshita hit a wheelbarrow suplex, Ricochet hit a knee and Ricochet hit a jumping elbow strike. There was some light cheering by the fans for that sequence. Ricochet went up top, Takeshita hit him with a forearm to the back and Takeshita hit a release German Suplex off the top. Takeshita hit a running lariat for just a two count. Takeshita hit a running knee. Ricochet came back with a top rope hurricanrana and a Reverse Rana. Ricochet went up top and hit a Shooting Star Press off the top for two. The crowd barely reacted to such a great move. Ricochet went for a running strike, but Takeshita ducked to avoid it. Ricochet went for Vertigo, but Takeshita countered it into a jumping Tombstone Piledriver move for two. Takeshita charged, Ricochet avoided it and Ricochet hit an enziguri kick. Ricochet hit a spinning kick to the head. Ricochet had Takeshita on his shoulders leading to a jumping kick for two. Another match with a dead crowd that barely reacted to these nearfalls. Ricochet went up top, Takeshita tripped him up and Takeshita hit a knee to the back. Takeshita hit a Falcon Arrow slam off the top rope for the pinfall win. No reaction for the finish. This match lasted 19:16.

Winner by pinfall: Konosuke Takeshita

Analysis: ***1/4 It was okay as a PPV match although I expected a better match. I am a big fan of both guys. However, this is another example of a match going 20 minutes that didn’t have to go that long. This was Takeshita’s first time defending the International Title on PPV, so I expected him to keep the title. I thought the selling could have been better since Ricochet was selling a back injury earlier and then it went away as he did his acrobatic spots. The crowd wasn’t into this match even though a title was on the line and they did a lot of cool moves. It was Ricochet’s first pinfall loss in AEW, which means they have booked him well even though he’s not a champion.

The video package aired for the Swerve Strickland-Bobby Lashley match.

Bobby Lashley (w/MVP & Shelton Benjamin) vs. Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana)

Lashley decked Swerve with a clothesline followed by a body slam. Lashley continued the attack with a neckbreaker. Lashley did a spinning slam off his shoulders and then Lashley pulled up Swerve after a two count. The quiet crowd didn’t even react. Lashley hit a delayed vertical suplex. Swerve got some offense with a headbutt to the jaw along with punches. Lashley sent Swerve into the ring post and Lashley hit a running powerslam. Lashley charged, Swerve hit a boot to the face and then Lashley punched Swerve off the apron to the floor. Lashley hit a running double forearm attack on Swerve on the floor. Lashley sent Swerve into the barricade at ringside. Lashley shook hands with MVP, which allowed Swerve to recover with some offense including a jumping knee smash off the apron. Benjamin tripped Swerve, but the referee Stephon Smith caught it and Shelton was ejected from ringside. Swerve tried jumping onto Lashley, who caught him and Lashley gave Swerve a spinebuster on the apron. Lashley whipped Swerve into the barricade. Swerve countered a Lashley move on the floor and Swerve shoved Lashley into the steel steps. Swerve rammed Lashley’s head into the steps a few times. They battled on the apron where Swerve gouged the eyes of Lashley and Swerve gave Lashley a DDT on the apron, so Lashley bumped to the floor. Lashley was standing in front of the Spanish announce table, so Swerve jumped off the steps and Swerve did a double foot stomp on Lashley through the table. Nice job by Lashley going onto the table before taking the bump.

They were back in the ring where Swerve hit a House Call kick to the head. Swerve went up top and hit the Swerve Stomp for just a two count, so Lashley kicked out of a finishing move for Swerve. Lashley left the ring, MVP encouraged him and Swerve got in MVP’s face on the floor. Lashley hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the floor. Lashley ran over Swerve with a Spear through the barricade at ringside. Back in the ring, Lashley hit another Spear. Lashley applied the Hurt Lock (Full Nelson) submission and Swerve passed out in the hold, so the referee called for the bell. It went 13:37.

Winner by submission: Bobby Lashley

Analysis: ***1/2 It was a competitive match at times that was also about making Lashley look dominant. It makes sense to want to have Lashley look strong in his first AEW PPV match because they paid a lot of money to get him and they are going to want to feature Lashley a lot moving forward. Swerve has had a great year, but he’s also suffered some recent PPV losses to Danielson, Page and now Lashley. I don’t think it hurts Swerve much since he had a great year as the AEW World Champion. It was the right call to have Lashley win the way that he did.

After the match, MVP tossed Prince Nana into the ring. Lashley gave Prince Nana the Hurt Lock submission as well. The fans woke up from their sleep to boo that a bit. Nana sold it like he was out. MVP spoke into the camera: “We hurt people.”

Analysis: It is some cheap heat to beat up a manager like that. Nana is a former wrestler, so he knows how to sell.

There was the video package for the main event with Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Title against pocket man Orange Cassidy.

Jon Moxley made his entrance looking like he was wrestling in his street clothes. Marina Shafir had the briefcase with her, which had the AEW World Title in it. Excalibur tried to put over the Death Riders group as being powerful because they also have the AEW Trios Tag Team Titles. If those titles are so important then why aren’t they on the line on one of the company’s biggest PPVs of the year? My point is that those titles don’t mean a lot.

Orange Cassidy made his entrance carrying his backpack because if he wins the title then he’ll put the title in that. The initial pop for Orange’s music was good, but then it wasn’t that loud. I don’t see him as a main eventer.

AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) vs. Orange Cassidy

Orange attacked Moxley with an Orange Punch before the introductions were down. Orange hit the Orange Punch three times in a row, Moxley went to the floor and Orange hit a suicide dive. Orange sent Moxley into the barricade. Orange punched Moxley while on the commentary table. The referee wasn’t counting them out of the ring because…AEW? I’m not saying I want a countout finish. I just think AEW matches don’t make sense. After Orange punched Moxley several times, Orange bit Moxley in the forehead. Moxley fought back by crotching Orange on the barricade. Moxley kept on punching Orange while out on the floor. Moxley hit a running kick to the head. Moxley nailed Orange with a forearm to the head along with a stomp to the head that sent Orange into the steel steps. Moxley taunted the crowd, which let Orange do a blade job so Orange had a bloody head even though his forehead didn’t touch the steel steps. After a few minutes, they finally got into the ring.

Moxley went Orange out of the ring again. Moxley gave Orange a double arm DDT onto the top of the steel steps. The referee was outside the ring again rather than administering a count. When the referee went into the ring to address Moxley, Shafir kicked Orange. Orange got back into the ring, so Moxley hit him with a clothesline along with some head biting. Moxley hit a cradle piledriver for two. The fans were silent like they were for most of the night. Moxley sent Orange out of the ring and cleared off the Spanish announce table that was broken in the last match, but it was reassembled for this match. Moxley bit Orange’s hands and then Orange put his fingers in the face. Moxley sent Orange hard into the steel steps. They were back in the ring where Moxley kicked Orange a few times in the body followed by a release suplex into a slam. Moxley applied a wrist lock submission, but Orange got his feet on the ropes. Moxley knocked Orange off the apron to send Orange crashing into the barricade. The referee was counting Orange out on the floor, but why didn’t he count earlier? That’s the problem with AEW refereeing, my friends. There is no consistency.

Orange was back in the ring throwing forearms, but Moxley nailed him with a forearm. Moxley did some fingernail grinding to the back and you could see Orange’s back was bleeding. Orange did his own nail grinding to the back. Orange jumped off the top, but Moxley nailed Orange with a forearm. Moxley teased a move off the turnbuckle, but Orange knocked him down. Orange hit a diving DDT off the top rope. Orange hit a leaping Tornado DDT. Orange charged, but Moxley hit a Cutter so Moxley didn’t really sell those DDT’s much at all. Orange and Moxley exchanged forearm strikes, so Orange sold a bit of pain there. Moxley hit some more punches, Orange did his stupid hands in the pocket thing along with comedy kicks. Orange hit the Orange Punch two times in a row. Orange rolled up Moxley and sat on top for two. Moxley hit a clothesline. Orange no-sold that leading to an Orange Punch again and Orange hit Beach Break for two. Excalibur was screaming while the crowd barely reacted to the two count. Moxley’s buddies Claudio Castagnoli and Pac arrived at ringside. Orange’s buddies in The Conglomeration showed up as Claudio beat up Rocky Romero and fought with Kyle O’Reilly. Pac was dealing with Tomohiro Ishii. Romero jumped off the top with a cross body block on the other wrestlers. Shafir went into the ring, so Willow Nightingale tackled Shafir out of the ring. Orange had the case that had the AEW World Title in it and Orange hit Moxley with it. Orange covered, the referee turned around and Moxley kicked out at two. Moxley grabbed referee Remsburg and Wheeler Yuta went into the ring with a Busaiko Knee on Orange. The referee couldn’t tell somebody else went into the ring. Moxley hit the Death Rider leaping DDT spike for the pinfall win at 19:22.

Winner by pinfall: Jon Moxley

Analysis: ***1/2 They worked hard and had a competitive match, but there wasn’t a point in the 20 minutes where I thought Orange might win. At least the shot to the head with the case was a good two count. I also think the shitty refereeing hurts matches like this. Just book a Street Fight if you want to let them fight on the floor for five minutes without counting them out. I did like the comeback that Orange made in the final few minutes before Moxley put him away, but I don’t think it was structured in a way that I would call it a memorable match or anything like that.

After the match, Moxley and Yuta had a bottle that was used to clean the ringside area and they poured it on Cassidy. “Hangman” Adam Page went to the ring and hit Yuta with a chair. Christian Cage showed up with his contract in a case, attacked Moxley from behind, and hit a Killswitch on Moxley. Page picked up the contract and handed it to Christian. It looked like Christian was going to “cash in” his contract, but Jay White showed up and hit Christian with the Bladerunner. Claudio Castagnoli & Pac attacked White and got Moxley out of there. White left the ring and went backstage after the Death Riders group.

Jon Moxley and the Death Riders group were shown trying to leave in their truck in the parking lot, but there was another car that crashed into the truck. The Death Riders stole and went into another car. They drove away. Darby Allin emerged from the car that hit the Death Riders truck and he was shouting expletives at the Death Riders wanting them to fight. That was the end of the show.

Analysis: That should set up Darby Allin as a future opponent for Jon Moxley. Moxley already beat Allin a few months ago to take his World Title shot, so Allin will try to get his win back. I don’t see Allin as the guy to take the title from Moxley, especially this early in Moxley’s title reign, but perhaps in a few months it will be Allin. If not him then maybe Kenny Omega when he returns to action and he can be the “face of AEW” again.

AEW Full Gear had a runtime of four hours on pay-per-view.

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Five Stars of the Show

1. Kyle Fletcher & Will Ospreay
2. Jon Moxley
3. Jay White
4. “Hangman” Adam Page
5. Mercedes Mone & Kris Statlander

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Final Thoughts

It gets a 7.25 out of 10 from me.

I thought it was a good wrestling show for the most part, but it was also an example of AEW’s product not being hot right now. The crowd was part of it and I’ll have more to say about that as well. Regarding the results, I think most of the matches had finishes that made sense. I liked Kyle Fletcher beating Will Ospreay and Bobby Lashley looking dominant over Swerve Strickland. There was only one women’s match on the main show, which is disappointing, but at least Mercedes and Kris had a very good match. The main event between Jon Moxley and Orange Cassidy wasn’t as good as their past matches, nor did it feel like a main event match.

This was one of the worst crowds I’ve ever heard for an AEW PPV. There were times when they came alive, but it was quiet for a lot of the show. Is it because the AEW product is “down” right now? I think so. It was a show full of singles matches and not much diversity. I thought they could have used a stipulation match or two to try to differentiate it from the others, but instead, it was mostly a bunch of singles matches. It felt like a long four hours. They had six matches go between 18-24 minutes. I understand wanting to give wrestlers a lot of time, but you don’t need that many matches going that long. When you go 4 hours on PPV, plus 90 minutes on the pre-show (which I don’t watch because the show is too long), it’s going to tire out the crowd. That’s what happened throughout this show.

I like the AEW roster. They are a talented group. I just think they’re struggling in terms of major stories. Your best babyfaces to oppose Jon Moxley are Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin? To me, that’s not very good. They need Kenny Omega back and probably some others have to step up in this storyline to “defend” the company from Moxley’s group. Anyway, I’m sure the people who love AEW and see no faults will love a show like this, but I don’t think it was on the same level as their best PPVs this year.

Here are my AEW PPV reviews of 2024 so far:

Revolution: 9 out of 10 – March 3 (Sting & Darby Allin vs. The Young Bucks)

All Out – 8.25 – September 7 (“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland)

All In London – 8.25 – August 25 (Bryan Danielson vs. Swerve Strickland)

Double Or Nothing 8.25 – May 27 (Anarchy In The Arena: The Elite – The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada & Jack Perry vs. Team AEW – Bryan Danielson, FTR & Darby Allin)

Dynasty: 8.25 – April 21 (Swerve Strickland vs. Samoa Joe)

WrestleDream: 7.75 – October 12 (Jon Moxley vs. Bryan Danielson)

Forbidden Door: 7.5 – June 30 (Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay)

Full Gear: 7.25 – November 23 (Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy)

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