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After the debacles of All Out, All Elite Wrestling needed a good performance at Full Gear. The organization did not hit a home run, but it departs New Jersey with a renewed emphasis on what’s occurring in the ring, new champions, the return of The Elite, and the individual everyone feels the industry needs at the top.
Saturday at Prudential Center, the 26-year-old MJF defeated Jon Moxley in the main event to become the inaugural AEW world champion. The native of Plainview, Long Island feels he is the next wrestling superstar and will get the opportunity to show it. Here are six lessons learned from AEW Full Gear.
To the limit
With MJF’s ascent to the top of the promotion as world champion, one of the youngest in pro wrestling history, AEW has a multitude of plot options. After many babyface leans, they decided to maintain him as a heel with a new ally. Friedman may thank William Regal for turning Moxley, his fellow Blackpool Combat Club member, against him.
MJF wrestled the bulk of the main-event-worthy battle as a babyface, yelling “Come on!” and pounding the mat to rally the crowd, while Moxley’s arrogance earned him boos. When MJF dragged the referee in front of him, he knocked him unconscious. Friedman then proceeded to utilize his Dynamite Diamond ring despite having stated he wouldn’t. Then, Regal appeared to hold him to his word.
After MJF dropped the ring, Moxley put him in a bulldog choke and he tapped out, but the referee did not notice it. Regal seized the ring and threw MJF his brass knuckles as Moxley instructed Regal to wake him awake. He utilized them against the champion to obtain 1-2-3. Friedman celebrated by making snow angels on the ramp and delivering a foul-mouthed diatribe to the media in the aftermath of the event. MJF has returned to his former glory, is the champion, and has a fresh tale to share with Regal.
Welcome Home!
If this is where Saraya begins after a five-year sabbatical from the ring due to a neck injury, then we are in for a thrilling trip. Saraya, formerly known as Paige in WWE, had a successful debut in AEW, with Britt Baker providing outstanding assistance. After consecutive Rampaiges, Saraya pinned the former AEW women’s world champion in the center of the ring. It wasn’t flawless, but she looked like she belongs at the top of the category. However, she’ll need a better tale around her given the crowd’s lukewarm response at moments during the match.
On Saturday, Saraya fought Dr. Britt Baker at AEW Full Gear.
AEW
Saraya rose carefully from her first live bump in five years and performed a playful, sassy swagger to demonstrate that she was okay. Baker worked Saraya’s neck early and repeatedly in the obvious narrative of this fight, which began appropriately slowly. After such a lengthy absence due to her neck injury, Saraya began to regain her footing in the middle of the process. There was one clumsy powerbomb from Saraya in which he recognized it wasn’t fantastic and forgot to immediately pin Baker, but other than that, she appeared to still belong.
Seven Heaven
The Elite returned to a standing ovation while performing “Carry on Wayward So.” AEW went two months without providing an on-screen reason for their absence, but the crown explained why by chanting “F—k CM Punk!” and “Colt Cabana!” The events surrounding the All Out news conference and the subsequent punishment made Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson into babyfaces.
These six never fail to wow, as they engaged in yet another gloriously frenetic battle. As he had been in the past, Rey Fenix was first hesitant to wield a hammer handed to him by PAC. Fenix fend off a One-Winged Angel by striking Kenny Omega in the head with a hammer and rolling him up for the pin, allowing Death Triangle to retain their belts.
After the match, AEW announced that it will be the first of a best-of-seven series that will likely finish on January 11 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, Young Bucks’ home territory.
As wonderful as this team’s relationship is, it remains to be seen if they can produce six more captivating stories.
Friends become Foes
The story of the Ring of Honor world championship bout was which partners were able to assist and rely on one another the most. In one of the evening’s matches, none of them prevailed in the end. Sammy Guevara and Chris Jericho’s alliance did not last long, as Guevara landed a Spanish Fly on Bryan Danielson, but Jericho immediately executed a Lionsault to capitalize. It caused Guevara to remove Jericho from Castagnoli’s pin. Guevara completely turned on Jericho after an embrace, but he was unable to obtain the three-count after a shooting star press. Danielson then executed a Flying Knee on Castagnoli after his Blackpool Combat Club teammate had thrown Guevara out of the ring.
Numerous false endings ensued, with the audience firmly supporting either Danielson or Castagnoli. The match concluded with Guevara executing a Big Swing and Jericho leaping over him to execute a Judas Effect on Castagnoli and then a second one to retain the championship. We will likely see a rematch between Chris Jericho and Claudio Castagnoli at the ROH Final Battle in December.
New victorious
Samoa In the biggest shock of the evening, Joe is your new TNT champion. Just as “Powerhouse” Hobbs had completed his Powerbomb Symphony, Joe, who had lately turned on his former tag team partner Wardlow, slapped him with the championship title. Hobbs passed out from the Coquina Clutch, giving Joe the TNT and Ring of Honor TV titles. I enjoyed this a lot. Taking the belt from Wardlow without really defeating him will likely spark a massive conflict between him and Joe. Wardlow will do considerably better if he pursues the belt once again.
On the women’s side, had Jamie Hayter not defeated Toni Storm for the interim AEW women’s world title, there may have been a riot in Jersey. Fortunately, her performance exceeded expectations.
All of the fake finishes were quite successful, beginning with Rebel hitting Storm with the championship belt, but the champion was able to raise her shoulder. Then, Baker, wearing a sweatshirt, stamped on Storm’s exterior, but she continued to kick. The audience booed until Hayter booted out of a Storm Zero, which prompted yells of “Jamie!” Storm was able to knock Baker over the top rope, but she took the turnbuckle pad with her. Storm may have fractured her nose in the process. Hayter released Storm into the uncovered turnbuckle. She struck Hayter-aide for 1-2-3 and a tremendous pop. It seems AEW is retaining Hayter as a heel for the time being and is dragging out any separation with Baker.
Other Suitor(s)
Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal are defeated by Darby Allin and Sting (No Holds Barred)
This was the most confused and chaotic bout of the evening, and it seems like Sting and Allin compete in one of these pure mayhem matches at practically every pay-per-view. When they returned to the ring after two-thirds of the bout spent brawling outside the ring, they began searching for tags once more. Jeff Jarrett’s greatest moment was when he nailed Allin with a guitar shot as he was doing a Coffin Drop. Satnam Singh got involved anytime he wanted. Sting countered a Lethal Injection into a Scorpion Death Drop, and Allin secured the victory with a coffin drop. The outcome had the effect of severing Jarrett and Lethal’s legs before they ever got started. It is also long past time for Allin to do more than this.
Jade Cargill defeated Nyla Rose to retain the TBS title.
Cargill never fails to wow with her PPV wardrobe, this time sporting a Cheetara-themed Thunder Cats suit after Rose arrived in an Eddie Guerrero-inspired automobile. When they attempted more technical wrestling, it was sluggish and clumsy, but the power moves were remarkable. Cargill was forced to kick out of Rose’s Jaded finisher against her. The champion ultimately executed the move to retain her title in a bout that was, at most, competent. With all the drama surrounding the TBS championship, it would have been good to see the belt play a role in the battle.
Jack “Jungle Boy” Perry against Luchasaurus (Steel Cage)
With the exception of a bizarre incident in which Christian Cage stole the key from the outside referee and opened the cage door, this bout did all that was necessary. It portrayed a compelling tale of babyface tenacity for Jungle Boy. He won with a diving elbow from the top of the cage into Luchasaurus, who was laying on a table, and then submitted him with the Snare Trap. Now the issue is whether or not AEW will pair Jungle Boy with Christian Cage when he is completely recovered.
The Celebrated Overturn in Our Glory (AEW tag team championships)
Swerve Strickland relentlessly assaulted Anthony Bowen’s “damaged” right arm for the entirety of the game, granting his team the most of the advantage. Despite Strickland’s request, Lee declined to use the clippers on Bowens’s finger. Strickland smacked his partner, and Lee abandoned him to be retained by The Acclaimed. This divorce was long overdue and necessary, since Strickland has the potential to become one of the top heels in the industry.
Zero Hour Results
Conversely, Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta, and Orange Cassidy Rocky Romero and Danhausen surpassed The Factory (QT Marshall, Aaron Solo, Cole Carter, Lee Johnson, and Nick Comorro)
Ricky Starks surpasses Brian Cage (World Title Eliminator semifinal)
Eddie Kingston over Jun Akiyama
Biggest Winners: MJF, Jamie Hayer
Biggest Loser: Darby Allin
The bout of the evening was the Ring of Honor world title.
Forecast: 7-3
Grade: B+