Omega & Jericho vs. Young Bucks stipulation match added to AEW Full Gear

Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho will team against The Young Bucks with a Tag Team title shot and more in the balance at AEW Full Gear.

Omega & Jericho as The Golden Jets will face Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks at Full Gear with The Bucks’ guaranteed AEW Tag Team title shot at stake. Additionally, Omega & Jericho must disband as a team should they lose. The Young Bucks earned the Tag Team title shot with a victory in a four-way match at WrestleDream on October 1. 

The Full Gear bout was agreed to in a backstage promo segment on Wednesday’s Dynamite. 

Seven matches are now set for the Full Gear event, with six currently set for the main card and another announced for the Zero Hour pre-show. 

The current lineup: 

AEW Full Gear, Saturday, November 18, 8 p.m. Eastern time on pay-per-view —

  • AEW World Champion MJF defends against Jay White
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Toni Storm
  • AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Jon Moxley
  • Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland
  • Sting, Darby Allin & Adam Copeland vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne
  • The Golden Jets (Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) — Winner gets an AEW Tag Team title shot, Golden Jets disband if they lose

AEW Full Gear Zero Hour, Saturday, November 18, 7 p.m. Eastern time on AEW’s YouTube & social media channels —

  • ROH World Tag Team Champion MJF & a mystery partner defend against The Gunns (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn)

Wrestling Observer Live: Dynamite, Tony’s announcement, Full Gear, ratings

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Tony Khan’s big announcement and a better way to have done it, a very baffling edition of Dynamite on Wednesday, NXT ratings — and AEW ratings, turns out — hold up well versus baseball, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Three new matches announced for AEW Full Gear

Three new matches have been announced for AEW Full Gear set for Saturday, November 18 on pay-per-view. 

It was made official during Wednesday’s Dynamite that Adam Copeland will team with Sting & Darby Allin at Full Gear in a trios match against TNT Champion Christian Cage, Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne. 

Copeland had teased not wanting to fight Cage in the build to the contest, but said that Sting had convinced him otherwise during his in-ring interview on Dynamite. Copeland then laid out Cage with a spear. 

The International Championship will also be on the line at Full Gear. 

Orange Cassidy will defend the International title against former champ Jon Moxley in a rematch from September’s All Out pay-per-view main event. Cassidy retained his title on Dynamite with a win over Moxley’s BCC teammate Claudio Castagnoli, but was attacked by Moxley after the match. 

Also set for Full Gear, Hangman Page will take on Swerve Strickland in a rematch from WrestleDream. 

Page left the ring during an ROH Six-Man title defense on this week’s Dynamite to go after Strickland a week after Strickland invaded Page’s home in a pre-taped segment. 

The updated Full Gear card: 

AEW Full Gear, Saturday, November 18, 8 p.m. Eastern time —

  • AEW World Champion MJF defends against Jay White
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Toni Storm
  • AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Jon Moxley
  • Adam Copeland, Sting & Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne

Zero Hour pre-show, 7 p.m. Eastern time —

  • MJF & a mystery partner defend the ROH Tag Team Championship against The Gunns

Tony Khan announces AEW WrestleDream PPV, Full Gear date & location

A tribute to Antonio Inoki has been announced for the anniversary of his passing. 

Tony Khan revealed during the All In media scrum that AEW will hold a pay-per-view on Sunday, October 1 in Seattle titled WrestleDream. The date falls on the one-year anniversary of Inoki’s passing. 

“I can announce here for the first time that on October 1 at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, it will be the first-ever WrestleDream,” Khan said. “WrestleDream, one-year anniversary of the passing of wrestling’s greatest dreamer. I thought it would be very fitting and after All Out, you won’t have to wait for Full Gear in November.”

Khan told our own Dave Meltzer that he hopes for NJPW wrestlers to take part in the show. 

“I’m hopeful, I’ve talked to them about it. I think they want to participate in the show and send people and they are very supportive of it and that I want to do something for him,” he said. 

Khan also confirmed that AEW Full Gear will take place on Saturday, November 18 from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. It will be the promotion’s third time in the venue and the first on pay-per-view. 

AEW Full Gear reportedly taking place in Los Angeles

AEW’s traditional final pay-per-view of the calendar year is reportedly heading out west.

According to a report in Fightful, AEW Full Gear will take place for the first time ever in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, November 18th at the Kia Forum — a venue they have previously ran.

While the report also states that the previous Wednesday’s Dynamite is tabbed for Ontario, California, it’s unclear how that Saturday’s edition of Collision will be handled. This will be the first time since Collision kicked off that AEW will be dealing with that time conflict.

This will be the fifth-ever Full Gear — an event that, unlike Double or Nothing or All Out, doesn’t have a traditional fixed home location.

The debut in 2019 emanated from Baltimore, Maryland; followed by 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida; 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and last year’s in Newark, New Jersey.

Last year’s location and date was announced during All Out, confirmed a report from earlier in that week.

Wrestling Observer Radio: The Rock, UFC insider betting, William Regal

Dave Meltzer and I are back on Wrestling Observer Radio going over the news in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Topics include:

  • WWE’s pie-in-the-sky idea for The Rock
  • WrestleMania and who may be there
  • Who runs creative for the Bloodline story
  • Survivor Series and Full Gear business numbers
  • News out of Rampage
  • Update on William Regal
  • UFC insider betting story
  • Listener questions

The video version of this show is available for video subscribers at video.f4wonline.com.

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December 5, 2022 Observer Newsletter: AEW Full Gear & WWE Survivor Series WarGames recaps, Royal Rumble breaks records

In 1987, Jim Crockett Promotions and booker Dusty Rhodes were looking for an attraction for the July 4 show at the Omni in Atlanta.

In the 70s, depending on where you lived, cage matches, Battle Royals, a long-built-up unique world title program, or Texas death matches were that attraction you could put on a major show and draw people who may only come to a show once, or a few times a year.

In time, they were starting to lose their juice. Rhodes took a series of concepts. There was the gang warfare, a coin toss from football, the cage match but with a top to it to prevent people from climbing out, and the finality of top guys submitting which at the time was very rare (so rare that fans would still chant “You quit” at Tully Blanchard for his submitting in a match three years earlier) the two-rings from the two-ring Battle Royals that Paul Boesch and Verne Gagne used to add juice to the typical Battle Royal, and staggered entrances that was the impetus for Pat Patterson’s creation of the Royal Rumble a few months later.

Subscribers can read this week’s issue here.

AEW Full Gear notes: Main event finish, early PPV number, trios best-of-seven series

Some notes from last night’s Full Gear show:

The main event finish with William Regal handing MJF Brass Knux was Tony Khan’s idea and you can look back at the last several weeks of the build-up and see the signs leading to it. It appears from the press conference that MJF and Regal will be a heel champion pairing not unlike Kenny Omega and Don Callis.

There was another finish brought up by several of the most influential wrestlers. We don’t know what it was although I presume MJF winning was not the question and it was just a different way to get there. It was an alternative way of getting there. Khan was strong on his finish that the direction this goes.

Regarding the PPV number, Khan noted to us regarding his comments last night that it was based on what they have now. It looks to be similar to All Out, which I’d consider to be a success if it ends up in that realm without C.M. Punk. All Out was 140,000 buys. It was below last year’s Full Gear, which did 155,000 buys. Most did not expect this year’s show to have a shot at beating last year’s numbers. The two other Full Gear shows were about 90,000 and 100.000 buys.

The numbers he had last night were very preliminary and based a lot on advance order numbers, but the company would have a better idea today or tomorrow on streaming numbers. Television PPV numbers don’t come in for 90 days but we usually get very strong estimates later in the week. With Thanksgiving that could be delayed a little.

The point is the number is a very early estimate and could vary significantly but right now the best info is a positive.

The show was announced on the air as a sellout and standing room only. It was actually a near sellout, about 600 shy of what would have been a full sellout for the PPV set up at the Prudential Center. As noted, the show just topped $1 million, hitting that mark the morning of the show and ending at $1,040,000.

WWE tops this on every PPV show as well these days, and greatly topped it for shows like Clash at the Castle and WrestleMania that topped $8 million. But historically, aside from the five AEW seven figure gates this year, there has only been one other non-WWE $1 million gate in U.S. pro wrestling history. That was the 2019 MSG show that New Japan and ROH put on,.

Adjusting for inflation there are others, including a few WCW shows during the glory period of that company in 1998 and January 1999, and a few of the most historic matches in the early days of the business.

Just for confirmation since there have been a number of questions about it, the trios titles are not up every match in the best-of seven series. It’s been confirmed that Death Triangle will be champions until or unless The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega win a fourth match from them. A number of people thought it would be up in all seven matches based on consistency, in the sense last night’s match was for the title and was the first match of the later announced best-of-seven.

Jim Ross only doing the first half of the show was a decision made before the show. Tony Khan decided to use Ross for the first half and Tony Schiavone for the second half.

The song “Wayward Sun” by Kansas that the Elite used last night will be their trios entrance music. If won’t be used if they are in regular tags or singles matches.

The Young Bucks have wanted to use the song for a long time as they and their father were big fans of that song and that style of music. The thoughts by people that it had to do with the situation of the past two months was something that they were aware of but the decision to use that song preceded that and in actuality has nothing to do with it.

The Young Bucks actually used that song as their entrance music when they did their own backyard wrestling as teenagers.

AEW Full Gear press conference notes: Tony Khan on PPV buys, The Elite’s return, Colt Cabana

While there were no long diatribes or fights as part of the AEW Full Gear post-event press conference, there were a few interesting bits of news that came out of it.

Arguably the biggest is that AEW’s next pay-per-view has a date and location as Revolution will emanate from San Francisco’s Chase Center on Sunday, March 5th.

Tony Khan was also asked point blank if CM Punk had anything to do with Colt Cabana not being on the roster to which Khan replied that Punk never asked for Cabana to be removed from the AEW locker room.

He justified the use of Cabana in the recent ROH title challenge of Chris Jericho and thought it made a lot of sense given the other champions Jericho has faced. He said Cabana was 2-0 in ROH so the booking made sense. 

Khan said PPV buys for tonight were trending similar to other shows this year and could be in the 140,000 range or better.

Khan was interrupted by new AEW World Champion MJF who launched into a full expletive-laden promo, ripping on the media, fans and even Tony Khan for believing him over the past few weeks. He wouldn’t talk about William Regal’s action and said he is on his way on a jet tomorrow morning to a movie set and didn’t answer any questions. This is worth a watch for the intensity.

Here are some additional news bits from Khan:

  • Khan talked about having The Elite back. 
  • Khan still hasn’t got exact deals on their London debut, but are working on it. He said it could be really great revenue for the company and used tonight’s revenue as a comparison/goal.
  • Khan said he considered different options with weekly ROH TV (namely YouTube) but doesn’t want to jump into something when there are a lot of options out there. “It deserves something better,” he said. He is still optimistic about getting a weekly ROH tv show.
  • Khan said The Elite never considered changing their names to the  Wayward Sons. He thought the use of the Kansas song “Carry On My Wayward Son” was a great idea and compared the licensing conversations to a trade with two sides when it comes to negotiating. He is very open to using the song again and it’s very likely that will happen.
  • Khan said The Elite have come back in previous roles and have assumed responsibilities like with the video game and backstage. He said it’s great to have them back on-screen and behind the scenes.
  • Khan has been in contact with Hangman Page and Adam Cole but has no update on their return. He also didn’t answer on the status of Miro or Andrade, saying they have a deep roster and use a lot of different people.
  • Khan has had conversations with NJPW about talent appearing at Wrestle Kingdom. He’s optimistic they will have some presence there, but the top stars won’t be going.

The Best of the Rest

  • The most notable quotes from AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed were from an odd exchange with Fightful’s Will Washington who is cousins with Swerve Strickland. Washington asked them about some quotes from a recent rap and Max Caster said they will not align with the media or plant stories in the media that they are great like Strickland. Caster said, “The United States media are not my favorite.”
  • Saraya put over Britt Baker for carrying her through this program and said she’s a star. She praised Khan for being understanding with her process in returning. She said she did some training in the UK and in California as well, but didn’t do heavy bumping until she was 100% cleared. She didn’t answer how active she will be. She said there was a lot of prep and check-ins today and everyone was great. 
  • New interim AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter talked about her friendship with Baker and that the best rivals are friends. “I am totally open to wrestling her at any time. If she wants it, we can do it.”
  • “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry’s face resembled a UFC fighter in a post-event press conference. He said the Luchasaurus chapter is done and that he expects to finish with Christian Cage when he recovered. He talked about having to adjust on the fly when jumping off the cage due to Luchasaurus’ positioning. He said he heard rumblings on Friday that the match might kick off the PPV and got some extra sleep just in case. As a way to “stick it to Luchasaurus,” he said he wore Shawn Michaels inspired gear similar to the 1997 Hell In A Cell match because Luchasaurus always said it was his favorite match.

Saraya returns to in-ring action at AEW Full Gear, defeats Britt Baker

Saraya made a triumphant return to in-ring action at Saturday’s AEW Full Gear pay-per-view, earning a victory in her first match in nearly five years. 

Saraya defeated Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. at Full Gear after hitting two cradle DDTs in her first bout since a neck injury forced a pause to her career at a WWE house show in December 2017. 

Saraya signed with AEW and made her first appearance for the company at Dynamite Grand Slam on September 21 of this year. She engaged in physicality in an angle with Baker on the October 5 Dynamite, then revealed that she had been fully medically cleared to return to the ring on the November 9 Dynamite, announcing the Full Gear match with Baker. 

As Paige in WWE, Saraya was the first-ever NXT Women’s Champion, as well as a two-time WWE Divas Champion. After the neck injury paused her in-ring career, she served as an on-air authority figure on the SmackDown brand. Later, she worked as a panelist on FS1’s WWE Backstage alongside Renee Paquette. 

The Elite return at AEW Full Gear, lose Trios title match

The Elite are back in AEW — but Death Triangle are still the Trios Champions.

In their first match in more than two months, Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks unsuccessfully challenged for the AEW Trios titles at Saturday’s Full Gear pay-per-view. PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix retained after Fenix gave in and cheated to get the win.

After initially refusing to use a hammer when PAC wanted him to, Fenix struck Omega with the hammer and pinned him to get the victory. Omega was going for the One Winged Angel, but PAC put the hammer in Fenix’s hand. When Omega lifted Fenix up, Fenix hit him with the hammer.

Death Triangle became AEW Trios Champions after The Elite were stripped of the titles this September. The Elite were crowned the inaugural champions at All Out, but they had to vacate the titles following their involvement in the post-All Out brawl.

AEW’s investigation into CM Punk and The Elite’s backstage fight concluded last month with The Elite being brought back but CM Punk expected to exit the company.

At Full Gear, The Young Bucks & Omega entered to the song “Carry on Wayward Son” by Kansas. The Young Bucks filed a trademark for “The Wayward Sons” on November 3, but they recently abandoned the trademark application.

There were “F*ck CM Punk” and “Colt Cabana” chants by the crowd during Death Triangle vs. The Elite.

AEW Full Gear live results: Jon Moxley vs. MJF, The Elite return

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will defend against MJF in the main event of Saturday’s AEW Full Gear from Newark, New Jersey.

The Elite (Young Bucks & Kenny Omega) will make their first appearance since being stripped of the AEW Trios titles as they face Death Triangle for the titles.

In the trilogy, AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed defend against Swerve in our Glory.

Interim AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm will defend against Jamie Hayter while TBS Champion Jade Cargill will defend against Nyla Rose.

ROH Champion Chris Jericho defends against Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson and Sammy Guevara in a four-way while TNT Champion Wardlow defends against Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs in a three-way.

In her first match in five years, Saraya returns to the ring against Britt Baker while Jeff Jarrett makes his AEW in-ring debut, teaming with Jay Lethal against Sting & Darby Allin.

“Jungle Boy” Jack Perry faces Luchasaurus in a cage match to round out the main card.

**********

Zero Hour

Excalibur welcomes us to the pre-show alongside Taz & Tony Schiavone and runs down the card.

AEW All-Atlantic Champion Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta, Chuck Taylor, Rocky Romero & Danhausen defeated QT Marshall, Aaron Solo, Nick Comoroto, Lee Johnson & Cole Karter

(Party match kicked things off, as this was a way to really introduce a more serious demeanor to Danhausen.)

The very mysterious, very evil mystery partner of Best Friends didn’t show up in the early going of this one. Taylor & Trent took turns having their way with Solo and Johnson suffered the same fate with Roppongi Vice. Romero hit his forever clotheslines in the corner, as Marshall was ping ponged around with punches. The Factory robbed Excalibur of hitting his line for a Best Friends group hug, as Taz stole it, while The Factory hugged Marshall.

Trent was isolated momentarily until he got knees up to avoid a Karter frog splash and laid out Marshall with a back suplex. Cassidy lit up Comoroto with his little kicks. Used his speed to thwart Karter, Solo & Johnson and delivered ten buckle shots to Marshall. Cassidy tried a satellite DDT, but Marshall put on the brakes into a pop up punch. Trent countered a Cutter into a Tornado DDT, as everyone took turns hitting their big moves until Cassidy starched Johnson with a satellite DDT. Karter wiped out all three of his teammates on a dive, as Rocky, Taylor & Trent hit triple dives. Marshall countered Orange Punch into a Cutter and was about to piledrive Cassidy on the ring steps.

Before Marshall could do it, Danhausen, with new ring gear, entrance and has a jar of teeth and spike. A slingshot German on Marshall, release Northern Lights on Karter, lariat to Solo, snap German to Johnson led to Cassidy hitting a Orange Punch on Comoroto. Danhausen poured the loose teeth into Comoroto’s mouth and hit a pump kick for the win.

-Backstage Renee Paquette is with the newest member of the AEW roster, Konosuke Takeshita. He was happy with his performance last night on Rampage and happy to be back in America. He thanks Tony Khan & the fan, as this is his dream as he’s officially moved to America.

**********

Ricky Starks defeated Brian Cage (w/Prince Nana) to advance in the Title Eliminator Tournament

(A good semi-final match that really had Cage in control for a majority of this, as Starks was selling his ribs almost the whole time. Starks has had to go through two monsters in two days, so the toll is being taken on his body.)

Ethan Page joined commentary for this match, as Cage attacked at the bell, but Starks turned it into a slug fest that spilled outside. Cage hit a superplex from the ring apron back inside and posed for the crowd. Starks tried a comeback, but was quickly beaten down in the corner. Cage really zoned in on the ribs until Starks got a boot up in the corner and followed up with leaping back elbows and a clothesline. Starks tried a cross body off the top, but Cage caught him into a back breaker for two. Starks countered a reverse DDT into a Tornado DDT of his own, tried Roshambo, but the ribs were injured. Cage tried Weapon-X, but Starks got a roll up for a super close two. Starks answered with a Spear for a near fall of his own. Cage hit a powerbomb, buckle bomb and discus lariat, but again Starks kicked out. Starks avoided a top rope elbow, Cage looked for a F-5, but Starks countered into a Destroyer then Roshambo for the win. Page stared down Starks from the ramp, as the finals for the Title Eliminator Tournament is set for Dynamite.

**********

A video package on Saraya’s return to the ring in 5 years is shown ahead of her match with Britt Baker tonight.

**********

-Backstage Renee Paquette is with Eddie Kingston, who is moments away from his dream match. He tells Renee he doesn’t want to talk right now, but he was 18 when he saw Akiyama and can’t put into words how he feels about this match. You can hear the crowd chanting for Eddie.

Eddie Kingston defeated Jun Akiyama

(A fantastic back and forth battle only strengthened by Kingston’s respect and admiration for Akiyama.)

Massive ovation for Kingston, as Akiyama ran through a chop, while Kingston blocked a high knee to start. Both men jockeyed for position before Kingston got a full nelson, Akiyama got the ropes and ate a Kingston chop that echoed. A chop & forearm exchange rang loud as Akiyama’s chest is beat red. Akiyama was sent outside, as Kingston went after, looking for a half & half on the apron, but Akiyama countered into a DDT and guillotine knee on the apron. With the arms locked, Akiyama hit a violent curb stomp and piledriver for two.

Akiyama again was cut off in the ropes, as Kingston bit him and nailed a superplex. Machine gun chops from Kingston, as Akiyama absorbed them and hit machine gun forearms. Kingston answered with more chops and hit a half and half. Both men popped up to deliver Exploder suplexes before Akiyama hit a charging knee for the double down. Kingston avoided another Exploder and hit a perfect DDT of his own. Spinning back fist crumbled Akiyama, who blocked a second one into an Exploder and charging exposed knee for a close two. Kingston fought back with a Northern Lights Bomb and hit another spinning back fist to put away Akiyama for three. Kingston was brought to tears, as this was the biggest win of his career with the amount of respect he has for Jun Akiyama. Kingston bowed and shook hands with Akiyama, as he gave Akiyama the ring to cheers in a very classy move.

Kingston took the mic post match and said not to thank him, it’s about thanking the fans for showing up and thanking Jun Akiyama. Kingston shows respect to Giant Baba, Rikidozan, Mitsuharu Misawa, Jumbo Tsuruta & Antonio Inoki and hopes he made them all proud. He went to run down the PPV card himself, but got cut off, so he just said bye and left, which was pretty hilarious.

**********

AEW All Out

Excalibur & Taz are joined by Jim Ross to comprise the announce team for the show.

“Jungle Boy” Jack Perry defeated Luchasaurus (w/Christian Cage) in a Steel Cage Match

(A war of an opener that led to one of Perry’s biggest wins of his career. This was an excellent opening contest.)

Excalibur informs us pinfalls or submissions only in this cage match. Perry used his speed in the early going to avoid the clutches of Luchasaurus, springing off the cage and hitting a missile dropkick. Luchasaurus got his grips on Perry and lawn darted him into the cage and already busting him open. Luchasaurus picked Perry apart, launching him into the cage repeatedly and delivered a Razor’s Edge into the cage for two. Perry countered a corner chokeslam into an arm bar, but was cut off on the top with a massive choke slam by Luchasaurus, who followed with the Cutthroat for two.

Luchasaurus got in the face of referee Bryce, which allowed Christian to pick the pocket of referee Mike Posey, who had the keys to the cage door. The door is open, as security went to escort Christian away, but Luchasaurus cleared them away. Perry nailed a dive from the ring to the floor, but Luchasaurus blocked another dive and slingshot Perry into the cage. Luchasaurus threw a table, two chairs and Perry himself into the ring. Luchasaurus took too long and Perry hit a series of dropkicks and kicked Luchasaurus’ face into the cage. Perry was backdropped on the apron, as Luchasaurus tried a chokeslam through a chair, but Perry countered into a step up Destroyer off the chair and Killswitch onto the chair for two.

Perry went for another launch off the chair, but this time Luchasaurus blocked it into a chokeslam through the chair. While in the corner, Perry fought free and hit an avalanche Sliced Bread, as both men sat up like the Undertaker that led to a slug fest., as Perry refused to stay down, as he dropped Luchasaurus with a stalling piledriver for a near fall. Perry got a sleeper, but Luchasaurus countered into multiple Tombstone’s, but Perry wouldn’t quit. Luchasaurus tried a Cutthroat through the table, but Perry got a sleeper, sat Luchasaurus on the table and swung a chair at his face. Perry climbed the cage, gave a kiss to his late father and hit a huge elbow drop through the table. Snare Trap was applied and Luchasarus submitted. Post match, Perry climbed over the cage and hugged his mother and sister ringside.

**********

The Elite’s entrance had a video shown that ended saying “Carry On” that led to Kansas ‘Carry on Wayward Son’ playing to an amazing entrance from Omega & The Bucks. The crowd sang along, Taz did the guitar riffs; this was a sight to see.

Death Triangle (PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) defeated The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) w/Don Callis, Michael Nakazawa & Brandon Cutler) to retain the AEW Trios Titles

(My goodness, I tried to cover as much as I could in this match, but this was unreal action, which is exactly what you expected out of these six men. You also had a great call back to PAC constantly wanting Fenix to use the hammer. This was one of the most action packed matches I’ve seen in quite a while.)

Don Callis joined commentary, as the crowd immediately did a F*ck CM Punk and Colt Cabana chant. Omega & PAC started fast with Omega trying his jump over face buster, but PAC landed on his feet and spat in the face of Omega. Fenix & Nick jumped in and went a mile a minute with their offense before trading high kicks until Penta & Matt joined and we had a crazy series of kicks that led to a face off. The crowd went nuts, as The Bucks hit superkicks on everyone to stand tall. Penta was taken out with corner kicks from the Bucks and hurricanrana by Omega, who dished one out to Fenix as well. Nick hit a twisting dive on PAC and took a sip from a fans soda ringside, as he asked it if was diet.

Omega went for You Can’t Escape on Penta, but his leg was wiped out by PAC, who pounced on the downed Omega. Death Triangle hit a triple dropkick on Omega for a near fall. PAC, whose nose was busted open from the dive by Nick Jackson, missed a dive and Omega pie faced him down. Matt did locomotion Northern Lights on the Lucha Bros, but Fenix did a cazadora and Penta did a double stomp off the top to the groin. Matt remained isolated until he hit a cazadora face buster to make the Nick hot tag.

Nick did a subtle Punk reference by doing a step up corner knee and running bulldog out of the corner as Omega tagged in, hit a Snap Dragon on Penta & PAC and wiped them both out with his Terminator dive. Fenix & Nick had a back and forth, but led to Matt hitting a springboard DDT on the apron, as Fenix took a gnarly neck bump. Nick & Penta fought up to the top and Nick hit a super hurricanrana and wiped out everyone on the floor. Back inside, Omega hit a leg trap neckbreaker on the knee for two on PAC. Omega signaled for V-Trigger, but PAC countered into a snap German. The Elite went for a Tombstone on PAC, but Lucha Bros stopped it and Death Triangle hit triple Tombstone’s.

Fenix hit a splash off his brother’s shoulders out of the corner, hit a diving Destroyer, while PAC hit Black Arrow into the Brutalizer on Omega. The Bucks made the save, as the Lucha Bros wiped out The Bucks outside yet again. Fenix hit a spin corner kick, spinning arm drag and double stomp on Omega’s ribs. PAC tossed the ring hammer to Fenix, who refused again to use it, as Omega laid him out with a V-Trigger. Omaga hit a Tiger Driver 98, but Fenix kicked out to the sound of Fight Forever chants.

Sling Blades dished out to everyone by Penta, but he ran into triple superkicks. Nick hit Fenix with a Poison Rana and laid out by BTE Trigger, but PAC broke it up. PAC went for the hammer shot on Omega, but ate a superkick. Nick wiped out PAC with a dive, Matt hit a moonsault off the top, while Omega hit Fenix with V-Trigger. PAC slid Fenix the hammer, as Omega raised him up for One Winged Angel, but Fenix had no choice, used the hammer and rolled up Omega for the win. Fenix was upset with himself; while PAC was proud he finally used the hammer.

**********

Jade Cargill (w/Kiera Hogan & Leila Grey) defeated Nyla Rose (w/Vickie Guerrero & Marina Shafir) to retain the TBS Title

(Well, these two had the death spot following an insane six man tag. They tried their best, but the crowd was dead for a majority of this one, really only reacting to the Beast Bombs and Jaded finish.)

Nyla made her entrance in a low rider with Vickie & Marina joining her, while Jade’s gear is inspired by Cheetara. Before the bell, Rose attacked Hogan outside, who had possession of the TBS title. Cargill took the fight to Rose for the match to officially begin as she hit a pump kick that sent Rose over the barricade. Rose was able to regain control in the ring and hit a leaping splash for two. Cargill got a boot up in the corner, leapt off the second rope, but Rose got a boot up of her own. Rose blocked a pump kick, both tried suplexes and Rose hit the knee drop to a hung up Cargill for two.

Cargill avoided a Beast Bomb into a forearm for a double down. Cargill was able to power Rose up into a Beast Bomb of her own for a close two. Rose rolled through Jaded and hit one of her own for a near fall. Rose went up top, but missed a senton, as Cargill hit a pump kick and Jaded to retain her title and go 42-0.

**********

Bobby Cruise is doing ring introductions, while Ian Riccaboni joined commentary for our upcoming ROH Title match.

Chris Jericho defeated Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson & Sammy Guevara to retain the ROH World Title

(This was an excellent four way battle, with the crowd on their feet for a majority of this match. They played off the stable mates fighting each other, giving everyone near falls, while really cranking up the action towards the second half.)

Jericho & Castagnoli began outside, while Danielson & Guevara paired off in the ring before Guevara was sent outside and Danielson hit a dive. Jericho quickly rammed Danielson into the steps. Back inside, Jericho ate some Danielson chops and ping ponged with uppercuts by the Blackpool Combat Club before Guevara made the save. Castagnoli & Danielson hit charging corner attacks, shook hands and started swinging at one another. Rolling arm bar by Danielson, but Castagnoli powered up into a series of near falls. Jericho fought off both men, but was planted with double flapjack into a double single leg crab. Guevara put a stop to it with a double cutter and tried stealing the pin. Jericho & Guevara posed for the crowd, dispatched of Castagnoli and delivered a delayed suplex on Danielson, as both went to the bad eye.

Jericho & Guevara took turns lighting Danielson up with chops before the tables were turned and Danielson dished out kicks aplenty. Guevara landed on his feet after a super hurricanrana by Danielson and hit his standing Spanish Fly. Jericho nailed a Lionsault and landed on both men as a result. Castagnoli returned and hit a charging double stomp on Jericho for two. Castagnoli tried a springing uppercut, but Jericho countered into a Code Breaker. Guevara broke up the pin attempt and Jericho couldn’t believe it. Both men shoved one another and led to a strike exchange with Guevara getting a two off a Code Breaker.

Guevara tried the Walls of Jericho, but Jericho countered into his own. Danielson tried to break it up with a dropkick, but got locked in the Walls himself. Jericho no sold Castagnoli big boots, so he dropped Jericho with a suplex and sank in a Sharpshooter. Jericho tried to pin Danielson while in the hold, but Danielson locked on the LeBell Lock. Guevara broke it up with superkicks and instead of going for Castagnoli or Danielson, Guevara opted to help Jericho up and drop him with the GTH and Shooting Star Press for two.

Anvil elbows just pissed off Danielson, who no sold and slapped the taste out of his mouth. Castagnoli pressed Guevara over his head and launched him down to the floor onto Jericho. Castagnoli turned around into a Busaiku kneeto give Danielson two. Castagnoli & Danielson took turns with anvil elbows, as Castagnoli tried a pop up uppercut, but Danielson got a backslide for two. Guevara hit a springboard cutter on Castagnoli and Spanish Fly off the ropes on Danielson, who quickly locked on the LeBell Lock. Jericho broke it up and everyone spilled outside, where Danielson was planted with a Neutralizer. Guevara hit a Shooting Star outside, tried a springboard back in the ring, but Castagnoli hit a pop up uppercut for two. Giant Swing to Guevara was broke up, as Jericho hit a leaping Judas Effect to stop the move and another proper one to pin Castagnoli and retain.

**********

Saraya defeated Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D.

(Overall, this was a solid return to the ring for Saraya, who looked very good for not being in the ring for 5 years. My sole complaint would be this went maybe longer than one would expect and Saraya kicked out of a lot of Baker’s offense. The question now is where do both ladies go in the women’s division?)

The first bump Saraya took, the referee had to check on her, she took her time getting up, but smiled at Baker. Saraya hit a thrust kick that sent Baker to the floor to regroup. Baker avoided a baseball slide and dropped Saraya with a spinning neckbreaker on the floor. Baker applied a cravat and got in the face of Saraya’s brother ringside. Back inside, Baker really zoned in on the neck, hitting a misdirect neckbreaker and sent Saraya outside again. Baker talked too much trash and was dropped face first on the apron, as Saraya answered with a cross body.

Both ladies traded forearms until Saraya hit a series of short clotheslines for two. Baker blocked a corner boot and sent Saraya face first into the buckle, but Saraya hit the Paige Turner, which Excalibur called the Knight Cap for a near fall. Baker nearly surprised Saraya with Lock Jaw, but Saraya got the ropes. Air Raid Crash dropped Saraya to give Baker two. Baker hit the Curb Stomp, but Saraya wouldn’t quit. Baker went for an avalanche Air Raid Crash, but Saraya countered into a sunset flip powerbomb for two. Fisherman Driver got Saraya two and she couldn’t believe it.

Saraya tried a full nelson, but Baker spun out into Lock Jaw. They traded a series of roll ups, as Baker tried a rip cord, but Saraya hit a knee strike for two. Baker was able to hit the rip cord elbow, spinning neckbreaker and Curb Stomp, but again, Saraya kicked out. Saraya hit another charging knee and hit the Fisherman’s Driver twice to get the victory.

**********

ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe defeated Powerhouse Hobbs & Wardlow to win the TNT Title

(Action packed battle of three hosses, as this was a smart way to get the title off Wardlow without being pinned.)

Wardlow immediately went at Joe on the floor, posting him before Hobbs steamrolled the TNT champion. Hobbs controlled both early on, delivering clubbing blows on Wardlow and dropping Joe with a T-Bone suplex. Wardlow scurried up the ropes and hit a twisting dive to wipe out both Joe & Hobbs to gain control. A crushing senton delivered to Hobbs, but Joe hit a running senton of his own. Wardlow was dispatched, as Joe raked the face of Hobbs and hit a charging boot. Wardlow jumped back in and was quickly planted with a snap powerslam. Joe locked Hobbs in a guillotine, but Wardlow mowed them down.

Hobbs was lit up with Wardlow corner strikes, as Joe ran into a spinebuster for two. Hobbs & Wardlow spilled to the floor, where Joe wiped both out with a dive. Joe tried a powerbomb on Wardlow, but Hobbs hit a Pounce on Joe so destructive it’d make Monty Brown & Willow Nightingale proud. Back inside, Hobbs flattened Wardlow with a spinebuster for a close two. Wardlow & Hobbs jockeyed for position, Wardlow fired off two powerbombs, but as he went for a third, Samoa Joe wiped him out with the TNT Title. Joe locked on the Kokina Clutch on Hobbs, who passed out and Joe wins the title.

-Backstage Tony Schiavone interviewed Chris Jericho & Jake Hager about Sammy Guevara’s actions in their match. Jericho said he respects Guevara and he’ll be a future World Champion. Orange Cassidy & Danhausen interrupts and said that a former ROH TV Champion, Tomohiro Ishii, wants a title shot on Dynamite. Jericho said Ishii used to carry his bags and shine his shoes in Japan and grants Ishii’s request. Hager asks what’s in Cassidy’s bag; Cassidy showed the All-Atlantic title and says he can try to take it from him next week.

**********

Tony Schiavone rejoined commentary for the upcoming match.

Darby Allin & Sting defeated Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett (w/Sonjay Dutt & Satnam Singh) in a No Disqualification & No Count Out Match

(This was certainly chaotic, as Sting continues to baffle me at the bumps he takes at 63 years of age.)

Jarrett brought out 4 guys dressed in Sting masks for his entrance. A bodybag was shown at the ramp, as Lethal & fake Stings went up to check it out, as smoke fired up, Allin flew through the smoke and wiped them all out. The real Sting was behind Jarrett in the ring as the bell sounded and Jarrett got his ass kicked to TNA chants from the crowd. Lethal was launched off the top and took a Flair Flop onto the edge of the apron that looked gnarly.

All four men spilled into the crowd to brawl until Allin set up a ladder on the stage. He tried a Coffin Drop off of it and the stage, but landed into Satnam Singh’s clutches. Singh threw Allin like a sack of potatoes clear up the ramp as Taz giggled on commentary, questioning what is wrong with himself. Singh saved Lethal in the crowd from a fall, but Sting leapt out of the crowd onto Singh & Lethal. The action went to the ring where Jarrett did his strut and Lethal isolated Allin. Sting was able to make a hot tag and dish out Stinger Splashes and got the Scorpion Death Lock on Jarrett. Sting no sold Dutt trying to break it up, so Singh stepped in and delivered a vicious choke slam to Sting.

Allin & Lethal tagged in as a Lethal Combination got a two count on Allin. Jarrett wanted a guitar shot, nearly hit Lethal, but pulled it, as Jarrett was knocked down and Lethal at a float over stunner. Allin went for a Coffin Drop, but leapt right into a Jarrett guitar shot to the back. Allin kipped up and no sold it, delivering Sting-esque back hands, as Sting wiped out Dutt. Singh came back in, missed a splash, as Sting did a Scorpion Death Coffin Drop with Allin. Jarrett was wiped out by an Allin dive, while Lethal tried a Lethal Combination, but fell into a Death Drop in mid air. Allin hit a Coffin Drop on Lethal to get the win.

**********

Jamie Hayter defeated Toni Storm to win the AEW Interim Women’s Title

(By hook or by crook, Jamie Hayter needed to win the title here tonight and she did. This was a really fun battle, even with the interference. I’m genuinely interested in seeing where they go now that Baker’s running buddy is at the top of the AEW Women’s mountain.)

Crowd is really behind Hayter here to start, as the opening grappling exchange got Storm boos whenever she was in control. Both ladies tried their finishers, but the other had it countered into the face off. Shotgun dropkick sent Hayter to the apron where Storm hit Sweet Cheek Music to the floor. Hayter gained the advantage and launched Storm into the guard rail, but Storm posted Hayter multiple times to answer. Storm hit two chops against the post, but missed the third and chopped the steel.

Hayter controlled the action inside and used a nonchalant cover to get into the mind of the champion. Storm mounted a comeback, used another Sweet Cheek Music and top rope cross body for two. Both traded counters until Storm hit a step up Tornado DDT. Forearm exchange ensued before Storm hit a headbutt and both ladies collapsed with Storm on top for two. Rebel snuck down to ringside, as Hayter & Storm traded blows. Storm’s nose is busted open and as Hayter took the ref, Rebel smacked Storm with the title belt. Hayter hit a sliding lariat for a close two.

Referee Paul Turner saw Rebel on the apron and threw her out, as Storm leveled Hayter with a ripcord lariat of her own for two. Storm tried the hip attack the third time, but was sent outside. Storm fell down by the title belt and we saw someone zoom in with a Curb Stomp on the gold, which was Britt Baker. Hayter planted Storm with Storm Zero in the ring for a near fall. Hayter-ade missed, but Storm Zero hit for the champ, as Hayter kicked out at two. Baker distracted Storm long enough to turn into the Hayt-breaker for yet another close two for the challenger.

Baker removed a corner buckle pad, but Storm sent Hayter into her, knocking Baker to the floor. Storm charged, but ran into the exposed corner, as Hayter finally hit Hayter-ade to win the title.

**********

The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) defeated Swerve in Our Glory (Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland) to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles

(This was quite the match with the wheels finally coming off the partnership between Swerve in Our Glory, as Strickland pushed his luck one too many times with Keith Lee.)

Caster delivered an extended rap that had Kanye, Twitter, Jay & Silent Bob, Monster’s Inc & Blind Side references. Excalibur said no Billy Gunn tonight since he wants to control his emotions and not possibly cost The Acclaimed the titles. We’re told Bowens had been walking around with his arm in a sling following Wednesday’s match with Strickland.

Lee tried a powerbomb on Bowens, but Caster turned it into a hurricanrana. The Acclaimed clotheslined Lee over the top, as Lee really smacked his shin against the edge of the ring. Scissor Me Timbers leg drop to the groin delivered to Strickland, who fought back and isolated Bowens. Strickland went into the crowd and grabbed a barricade, as Lee told him to stop and Strickland told him to worry about Bowens, who Lee clobbered with an overhand chop. Strickland tried to suplex Bowens on the barricade, but Bowens reversed it. Lee kept Bowens isolated inside, as he & Strickland took turns picking Bowens apart until Bowens hit a reverse hurricanrana on Lee.

Caster made the hot tag and ran wild with a dive on Strickland outside, but tried to lift Lee and that wasn’t happening, so he settled for a hurricanrana off the second rope. Caster was cut off in the corner, fought Lee off and hit a super Fame-Asser off the top for two. Bowens nearly dropkicked Strickland onto the barricade, but Lee saved his partner. Caster went up top and hit a crazy cross body onto Lee off the apron through the barricade. Bowens hit a DDT off the ropes on Strickland for two. Roll through Flatliner from Strickland planted Bowens, as four Killshot kicks followed by Strickland, but Bowens kicked out. Strickland went for a Swerve Stomp, missed, as Bowens hit The Arrival. Caster reappeared and hit the Mic Drop, but Lee broke up the count.

Strickland fought off a double team and dropped Caster with a brain buster. Lee bealed Caster clear across the ring as Lee & Strickland hit the Fall From Glory, but Caster somehow kicked out at two. Caster made a blind tag off a powerbomb attempt, but it resulted in Lee powerbombing Caster onto Bowens. Caster was launched into the ring attendant table and Strickland pulled out pliers. Daddy Ass made the save, but never actually hit Strickland, who booted Gunn and he was held back by referees. Strickland wanted Lee to use the pliers, but Lee threw them away, so Strickland slapped his partner.

Lee helped Bowens up and left his partner high and dry, as Bowens got a school boy on Strickland for two. Bowens reversed a JML Driver into a blind tag to Caster, as The Acclaimed hit their finish to put away Strickland and retain the titles.

**********

-Excalibur informs us Tony Khan has made Death Triangle vs. The Elite into a Best of 7 series with Death Triangle up 1-0 following their win tonight.

· Match 2 happening on Dynamite this Wednesday

· Match 3 will be November 30

· Match 4 at Winter Is Coming December 14

· Match 5 (if necessary) at Holiday Bash on December 21

· Match 6 (if necessary) at New Years Smash December 28

· Match 7 (if necessary) on January 11 at the LA Forum

Also on Dynamite this Wednesday

· Ricky Starks vs. Ethan Page in the Finals of the Title Eliminator Tournament

· Chris Jericho defends the ROH Title against Tomohiro Ishii

· Orange Cassidy against Jake Hager for the All-Atlantic Title

**********

MJF defeated Jon Moxley (w/Lord William Regal) to win the AEW World Title

(This was a fantastic main event, with the crowd really into it the entire time. Moxley did a great job playing the heel and the finish was something I had a feeling might happen in my Dynamite recap a few days ago. I can’t wait to see where they go coming off of this.)

Regal left before the start, the crowd is firmly behind MJF, who I should mention, motorboated a fan during his entrance.. Moxley quickly fired off strikes early until MJF did a Fargo Strut to avoid a drop down. MJF teased a dive to the floor, but just did a little cardio and hit the ropes a bunch. Moxley bit MJF and flipped off the crowd saying he loves this as he battered MJF in the ropes. Suplex slam into the STF by Moxley, as MJF bit free at Moxley’s hand. Moxley did the deal and got a Falcon Arrow into a cross arm breaker, but MJF scurried to the ropes. Moxley grabbed the title ringside and held it high, but MJF misted Moxley with a drink, as Moxley sent him into the steps.

MJF fired off jabs inside the ring, sent Moxley into the corner ten times and went to the floor to set up the time keepers table, kissing the title belt in the process. MJF took too long; Moxley fired off a Cutter and stomped onto the face repeatedly to loud boos. Moxley teased a Gotch piledriver through the table, but MJF blocked and hit a Tombstone on the apron, as MJF clutched his knee. MJF went for it again, but Moxley countered and hit a piledriver off the apron through the table. MJF barely beat the count and rolled right into a Paradigm Shift for two.

Moxley locked on a figure four on the bad leg, but MJF wouldn’t quit, as he reversed the submission and Moxley grabbed the ropes. Moxley spilled to the apron, as MJF hit the Heatseeker for two. MJF went for it again, but this time Moxley chop blocked the bad leg out. Moxley got crotched in the ropes, as MJF cut him off, but Moxley hit anvil elbows. Moxley connected with an Avalanche Paradigm Shift, but MJF got his fingertips on the ropes. Moxley jaw jacked with the fans, which allowed MJF to recover and spit in the face of Moxley, who had dared MJF to hit him.

Forearm battle with the yay-boo chants led to MJF pulling the ref into a charging Moxley. MJF pulled the Dynamite Diamond Ring out from his trunks, contemplated using it, as Lord William Regal made his way to the ring told him not to use it. MJF flipped off Regal and threw the ring down, but Moxley locked on the rear naked choke. MJF nearly got a near fall out of a corner kick out, but replacement referee Paul Turner got sent to the floor also. Bulldog choke by Moxley had MJF tapping out, as referee Bryce, the original ref was recovering. Regal told Moxley to revive the ref, as Regal tossed MJF a pair of brass knucks and he laid out Moxley for the three count to win the title. Regal smirked at MJF from the ramp and gave a nod, as Tony Schiavone said Regal just sold his soul to the devil.

AEW Full Gear preview & predictions: Devil worship

Editor’s Note: The following is an opinion-based preview and doesn’t reflect the views of our website.

Momentum is a funny thing. 

When it’s on your side, it feels like it has always been there, buoying your sails and propelling you forward. When momentum is lost, it’s deflating. And it’s so hard to get back.

AEW is losing, and has possibly lost, its momentum. Momentum was aided by the sorry state of WWE under Vince McMahon — one that had people yearning for an alternative. Wrestling fans were begging for something new and fresh, focused on wrestling and coherent stories and not the 77th consecutive Constable Corbin segment. 

That’s what AEW offered.

After a charmed first couple of years, the Tony Khan-led company is going through its first real non-Covid moments of challenge. If something was going wrong, or was out of sorts in AEW, you could always rely on the McMahon version of WWE to do something disgusting and take over the news cycle. Those days are, mercifully, gone. Now the Death Star in Stamford is firing on all cylinders, putting on great shows, getting rid of the outdated tropes, and most importantly, actually giving the people what they want. 

WWE is a juggernaut with an unmatched reach. They have the resources to do anything they want. Now their resources are all being invested in the right things. AEW used to be an alternative, but now they are at risk of becoming an afterthought.

The sky might not be falling, but the ceiling is certainly sagging. Viewership isn’t as strong as it once was. Live attendance is significantly down. They were in Boston last week and didn’t come close to selling out the building where it used to be a no doubt sellout and a tough ticket to get. Now you can walk to the box office, buy a ticket, and sit wherever you want. It’s not just Boston either as live event ticket sales are consistently down in all markets (check out Dave’s newsletter for some interesting data points. It’s all in there and a very good read!).

All this doom and gloom aside, the pay-per-views always deliver. This one should be no different. There’s really only one bummer of a match and the rest range from solid to excellent. 

Let’s run through the full card for Full Gear.

Saraya vs. Britt Baker

To have your dream and your livelihood taken away at age 25 is unimaginable. When most people are trying to figure out if they can afford to live on their own, Saraya had her entire existence shattered. It’s crazy to think that someone is making a comeback so soon after turning 30, but she’s out here doing it. The quality of what happens in the ring is inconsequential. A woman gets the chance to do what she never thought she’d do again and something she loves more than anything. What’s better than that?

This didn’t fully hook me until the Dynamite where Saraya announced she was cleared. There were some issues with the promo (mainly running down the entire women’s division for no reason), but it was her best presentation on the mic. It was the first time she felt like the star she was, and can still be. The flip switched when she got introspective. It’s easy to forget that Saraya has been around forever and has lived one hell of a life. Touching on her lifetime of wrestling, her public shame, and struggles with addiction added a much-needed human element to this program.

Before, it was two women beefing over who the house belongs to. Now, it’s a full fledged redemption story the audience can fully invest in.

Prediction: Saraya

Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal vs. Sting & Darby Allin

The arrival of good ol’ Double-J is illustrative of one of the many complaints about AEW: an overreliance on surprises for a one-time pop. If JJ showed up, kabonged someone with a guitar, and then faded away, that would be one thing. But for him to show up and immediately get a PPV match is something entirely different. Hopefully, this is just a one-time thing and not the start of a long on-screen role. Although, to be fair, he’s much, much, more interesting than his tag team partner.

The decision to feature Lethal week after week is certainly a curious one and this tweet from Ringer writer Cameron Hawkins says it better than I ever could. There are countless members of the AEW roster that would be better served in this spot. Just go into catering and pick one at random. I promise it will be more compelling. It would certainly be more fresh. The obsession with an exceedingly average performer whose best work is an admittedly incredible Ric Flair impression is fascinating.

This match means nothing, this is going nowhere, and I’m being told we’re out of time for this segment!

Prediction: Darby and Sting, begrudgingly

ROH Champion Chris Jericho defends against Sammy Guevara, Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli

There’s a strong argument that no one has been more vital to AEW’s success than Chris Jericho. He’s had a legendary career and is a wonderfully creative mind. He immediately gave a new company legitimacy. All praise is warranted, all honor The Ocho, etc. My question is this: why do all his feuds go on for so long?

Anarchy in the Arena was back in May, and Blood and Guts was in June. Those are two matches that blow off feuds, not extend them. Why is he still embroiled with the Blackpool Combat Club? How much blood can possibly be left in this stone?

This is a trend with Jericho. His feud with MJF lasted for almost a full year. The Inner Circle breakup took ages. If the programs were 20-25% shorter, they would be so much more effective. Some of this has to do with the pay-per-view cadence being what it is. Yes, a blow off means more on the biggest stage, but not every feud needs a big blow off. Sometimes they can just end.

Even though the ROH title feels like an afterthought, this match will be good because of the amount of wrestling talent involved. I can’t help but wonder if the seeds of a BCC shakeup are being planted. Danielson was so much more compelling when he was the lone dragon, stretching and chopping guys into oblivion. Since he joined up with Bill Regal’s gang, some of the edge is gone. I wonder if he will start to get it back on Saturday.

Prediction: It seems like Jericho is going to run through a list of former ROH champions. He needs the belt to do that. He keeps it, somehow.

“Jungle Boy” Jack Perry vs. Luchasaurus cage match

Again, this is a program that’s going on for far too long. There might be a theme here! Jungle Jack has been embroiled in another never ending feud with Christian Cage and his sometimes, part-time dinosaur lover. This has been going on since early June! Christian getting hurt threw a wrench into things, but the year is almost over but here we are, once again on an AEW hamster wheel.

It is one thing to see stories through to their conclusion, but it’s another to do that in the face of changing circumstances. What harm would there have been to revisit this when Christian is healed and ready to go? Surely he could just show up after a match and waffle young Jack with a chair to kick things off again. Surely? Surely! Yet here we are once again, slow marching into the sea of meaninglessness.

This program, somehow, still has a ways to go before it reaches its conclusion. It can’t fully end until Christian is healthy. If it’s going to keep going, Jungle Boy has to get the win. As much as I want this to end, there are still miles to go before it sleeps.

Prediction: Jungle Boy

TNT Champion Wardlow defends against Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs

Wardlow was the hottest thing going for quite awhile. Even before the Powerbomb Symphony™, the crowd was clamoring for him to give MJF what was coming to him. When it finally happened, the electricity in the building was enough to light the farthest reaches of the galaxy. One of the hardest things to do in wrestling is book a compelling monster. True domination is only fun for so long. 

There’s a reason people don’t love Superman like they do Batman. It’s not as fun to root for someone with no weaknesses. When someone is so dominant, they lose their humanity and become a special attraction. Sooner or later, the special part of the attraction loses its luster. Wardlow is still full of scary potential, but he needs something to sink his teeth into.

At first glance, the inclusion of Samoa Joe in this program was confusing. Weren’t Powerhouse Hobbs and Wardlow enough? Then I realized that Joe is the glue that’s going to hold this thing together. Who better than Joseph from Samoa to guide these two talented but inexperienced dudes to a PPV quality match? Triple threats are tough to hold together no matter who is wrestling in them. Joe is here to make that just a little easier.

That doesn’t mean he’s winning it though. There is still too much meat on the Wardlow bone for him to drop the belt here.

Prediction: Wardlow retains

AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed defend against Swerve in our Glory

Everyone really does love The Acclaimed. They feed off the crowd and get more confident every week. In the ring, Bowens and Caster aren’t ever going to be mistaken for The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, The Hart Foundation or whoever your favorite tag team is. But their connection with the crowd is something special. They just keep getting better. This kind of organic growth doesn’t happen every day and is reflective of the work that both of them put in towards growing themselves. They are a real, homegrown success story for AEW. These are their flowers and are so richly deserved.

This looks like the well-telegraphed break up of Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee is coming to a head. It shouldn’t be surprising that two of the more talented wrestlers in AEW did so well as a team, but it still is. The whole thing felt thrown together but they really made it work. They took a pairing that just felt like ‘something to do’ and made it great. They had world-class tag matches up and down the roster. Now it’s time for it to end. There’s a lot of mileage in a singles program with these two. A program that could, and should, propel one (both?) of them into the main event scene.

There’s a void at the top that needs to be filled, and I’m hard pressed to think of any better than Swerve to fill it.

Prediction: The Acclaimed retain

TBS Champion Jade Cargill defends against Nyla Rose

Few things in wrestling are as good as a belt stealing story. There’s something about the challenger scooping the champion’s belt and declaring themselves the uncrowned champion that does it for me. Sometimes they throw a Smoking Skull belt into a river and make a legendary moment, and sometimes they get a PPV graphic that says TBS Champion in quotes. I don’t know which one is better, honestly. Rose is one of the funnier members of the AEW roster and giving her a chance to play a humorous antagonist like this hits all of her strengths.

Every four months, we run into the same challenge with Cargill as there doesn’t feel like there’s a credible challenger to her title. She has so much talent, so much physical presence and so much charisma that AEW is kind of booked into a corner. It’s very similar to the situation with Wardlow. Rose is fun, but is a stopgap until something else comes along. I’m not sure what that something is, or if it’s even on the roster. 

The best bet would be someone like Willow Nightingale, but that would take months of build to get there. It’s just still not time for a new, real, champion.

Prediction: Jade retains

AEW Trios Champions Death Triangle defend against The Elite

The boys are back and are absolutely buzzing. Everyone knows the recent history with The Elite. I don’t have the pixel space or patience to relitigate the last three months, but the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega coming back is massive for the AEW. I said earlier that they can’t keep relying on debuts and surprise returns to generate buzz, but I’m going to contradict myself a bit here. The buzz around this return can go a long way toward getting some of that elusive momentum back.

Regardless of what actually happened after All Out, The Elite are returning as heroes. They are returning as guys who fought for the company they started. Ride that wave of positivity and make something good out of it.

Death Triangle is great and has had incredible matches as champions. All three of them are world class, top of the card level talents. I just can’t see a way that The Elite come back and don’t regain the titles that were created for them. Everyone in this match is going to have their working boots on and there’s a chance we see a trios tag match that’s as good as any in history.

Prediction: The Elite win the titles

AEW interim Women’s Champion Toni Storm defends against Jamie Hayter

Put the title on Jamie Hayter. Next to The Acclaimed, no one has gotten themselves over more than she has in 2022. She did it both by being herself and by murdering anyone she is in the ring with. Her time in Stardom really shows in her in-ring style. She works fast and she works hard as hell. She is a star.

It’s going to be great seeing Hayter in the ring with someone who can fully keep up with her. Storm is considered an ex-WWE superstar, but she also cut her teeth in Stardom and well-versed in that style. The start of her run was a bit choppy. It was clear she was trying to see how much she could open up her engine and go full tilt. Good news: she can take the governor off the engine and just go nuts. 

Hayter can do more than keep up with her — she can push her to her best match in AEW. That, combined with their extended history, has me as fired up as I’ve been for an AEW Women’s title match in a long time.

Putting the belt on Hayter creates a whole bunch of really fun possibilities and none more so than a program with Britt Baker. Britt is going to need something to do after the Saraya program ends. What better than her seething with jealousy over the title win of her “best friend”?

Prediction: Jamie Hayter does the deal

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defends against MJF

Too often, AEW plays the role of the cooler. Wardlow was plunged into an ice bath right after winning the TNT title. FTR, to a lesser extent, met the same fate as they were scorching hot and then kind of just stopped being on TV. Credit where it is due for AEW pulling the trigger on The Acclaimed. 

The same trigger needs to be pulled on MJF. 

He and Roman Reigns are the two people in pro wrestling that always demand your attention. That’s a frightening thought about someone not yet 27 years old. All possibilities in all realities are open to him. He makes everything look easy because for him it is. That’s what a prodigy looks like, and that’s what a true generational talent is.

From day one in AEW, everyone knew it was only a matter of time before MJF became champion. Most of his feuds were so compelling that it was easy to forget there weren’t many with traditional stakes attached. Whether intentional or not, largely keeping him away from the World title makes this so much richer. He’s always wanted the title and what wrestler wouldn’t? But now he needs it and needs it desperately. Fortunately enough, him with the title is exactly what AEW needs.

It’s not the if that’s compelling here, it’s the how. How do we get to the end? There are a whole bunch of compelling ways this could go. By far the most interesting is the idea of William Regal siding with MJF. The man who broke his WWE dreams helps him get the top spot in AEW at the expense of his once prized pupil. 

MJF said there would be no Dynamite Diamond Ring, but he didn’t say anything about brass knuckles. Regal has always been clear about being a villain in the past and still is now. What villain wouldn’t love sidling up alongside the devil? 

I can’t wait for Saturday.

Prediction: MJF wins

AEW Full Gear surpasses $1 million in live gate revenue

For the first time in its four-year history, Saturday’s AEW Full Gear in Newark, New Jersey, has surpassed $1 million in gate revenue.

AEW head Tony Khan tweeted the news Saturday afternoon:

As indicated, the number continues a run of four straight $1 million live gates for AEW pay-per-views which includes May’s Double or Nothing (Las Vegas), June’s Forbidden Door with NJPW (Chicago), and September’s All Out (Chicago).

Double or Nothing marked the first time AEW hit the $1 million live gate number. The company also exceeded $1 million for September’s Grand Slam Dynamite/Rampage event in Queens, New York.

AEW will hope to exceed last year’s estimated 155,000 pay-per-view buys for the same show, headlined by then-AEW World Champion Kenny Omega vs. Hangman Page. The number was an increase from the estimated 75,000 the shows did in both 2019 and 2020.

Here’s the current lineup for Saturday’s show:

  • AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defends against MJF
  • Interim AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Jamie Hayter
  • AEW World Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed defend against Swerve In Our Glory
  • AEW World Trios Champions Death Triangle defend against The Elite
  • ROH Champion Chris Jericho defends against Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli and Sammy Guevara
  • TNT Champion Wardlow defends against Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs
  • TBS Champion Jade Cargill defends against Nyla Rose
  • Britt Baker defends against Saraya
  • Jungle Boy vs. Luchasaurus in a steel cage match
  • Sting & Darby Allin vs. Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett
  • Zero Hour: Jun Akiyama vs. Eddie Kingston
  • Zero Hour: Ricky Starks vs. Brian Cage in a World title eliminator tournament semifinal
  • Zero Hour: Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta, Chuck Taylor & Danhausen vs. The Factory (QT Marshall, Cole Karter, Nick Comoroto, Aaron Solo & Lee Johnson)

Wrestling Observer Live: Full Gear preview, Smackdown, Rampage, tons of news and more!

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including a huge weekend of shows, Smackdown, Rampage, Full Gear, Stardom X New Japan and so much more, plus we STRUGGLE to give away a free Rampage ticket! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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