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Join 411’s Live AEW Full Gear 2025 Coverage
Image Credit: AEW
Hello and welcome! It’s Saturday night, it’s 411mania, it’s Theo Sambus…and it’s AEW pay-per-view time! Full Gear has arrived, and the finalized card is low-key pretty juicy.
It’s currently not entirely clear which match will actually main event tonight, but presumably the Steel Cage match for the Men’s World Championship between Hangman Adam Page and Samoa Joe is the frontrunner. That feud has been simmering away nicely and steadily building heat…plus we all know what kinds of violence Page is capable of exacting inside a steel cage, so that could get wild.
Personally, I think I’m most looking forward to FTR vs Brodido, as I am expecting QUITE the tag team affair there. High potential to steal MOTN, which is a true testament to them as the rest of the card is certainly no slouch.
A new championship debuts tonight, as the AEW National championship will be up for grabs in the Casino Gauntlet match. We know Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin will start it out in the number 1 and 2 spots respectively, but we’re bound to see a number of surprises along the way before the new champ is crowned.
Elsewhere, what have we got? Moxley vs O’Reilly, No Holds Barred. Fletcher vs Briscoe for the TNT title. Young Bucks & Alexander vs Omega & Jurassic Express. Pac vs Darby. Statlander vs Mone! For anyone in that arena tonight, good luck finding the time to grab a drink or take a piss, because that is all absolutely can’t miss.
Up first though, we have the latest Tailgate Brawl, featuring El Sky Team (Mistico, Mascara Dorada & Neon) against the Don Callis Family’s Okada, Takeshita and Hechicero. I mean…WOW, the talent in that ring…on a pre-show! That is sure to be the kind of match to sell anyone on the PPV who may be on the fence.
Well, it’s bound to be a long night, so strap in folks. Let’s have some fun!
Location: Newark, NJ
Venue: Prudential Center
Commentators (revolving): Excalibur, Bryan Danielson, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness
Saturday Tailgate Brawl: Full Gear
*The Tailgate Brawl is live, not that we’d know on Triller as apparently it isn’t receiving signal from the venue. WHEY we eventually join the action, with the four-way tag already under way.
[$200,000 Tailgate Brawl Four-Way] Max Caster and Anthony Bowens vs Bang Bang Gang (Austin Gunn and Juice Robinson) vs Big Bill and Bryan Keith vs The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd)
Big Bill and Magnum go at it, chops in the corner, Turbo to the outside and Keith and Caster stomp Magnum down. Back in the ring, Bill attempts a splash in the corner but Magnum moves and makes the tag to Floyd. Body slams to everyone.Double team take down, body slam to Juice. SUNUVABITCH ELBOW to Bryan Keith! Bowens in from behind with a Fameasser. Caster and Bowens work together, body slam to Magnum, Caster has the legs…Bowens goes up top…is he thinking Scissor Me Timbers?! Keith cuts them off though. Elbow drop by Caster. Caster calls for the scissor! Big Bill with a big boot cuts that off though. Bowens with a series of kicks, Juice comes in from behind, rolls him up, 1, 2, 3.
Winners: Bang Bang Gang
Time: 6:08+ seen (joined midway through, thanks Triller)
Rating: N/R – I’ll withhold the rating as Triller didn’t show us the full match, but what we saw was fine. Most notable was the team dynamic between Caster and Bowens, with both guys showing a willingness to work together for double teams and Acclaimed signature moves, despite being broken up by opponents.
*Paul Wight makes his way to ringside for commentary for this next match.
*Samoa Joe is backstage with the Opps Dojo and says Page will find out exactly how alone he is. Tonight Joe walks with a movement, an army behind him, of wayward soldiers. Tonight, Hangman learns the extent of what this movement encapsulates.
*Yeah, the Triller stream is AWFUL tonight, constantly crashing and having to reload. People are not happy in the comments.
Boom & Doom (“Big Boom!” A.J. and Q. T. Marshall w/ Big Justice & The Rizzler) vs RPG Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta)
Beretta takes Marshall to the outside and holds him for a suicide dive from Rocky. Tornado DDT from Trent on Marshall, sets up for a running knee but QT comes back with a lariat. Romero in, grounding Marshall with a headlock. The Rizzler goes over to tend to Marshall, and Rocky gets in his face! Big Justice squares up to Rocky, until Trent pie faces him! Paul Wight gets up from his seat to scare them off.
Handspring enziguri from QT turns the tables, tag to Big Boom AJ. Right hands, powerslam to Rocky, running powerslam to Trent. Gorilla press slam to Rocky! Full Nelson slam connects, 1, 2, Rocky makes the save. Rocky gets thrown overhead to the floor, but Trent knocks AJ with a superkick, only to run into a spinebuster. Don Callis gets on the apron, Trent takes the opportunity to smack AJ with the cast, and hits the running knee, 1, 2, kickout. Trent sets up for the Crunchie, Rocky with the stomp for the assist! 1, 2, AJ breaks it up with an elbow drop. Sliced bread from Azucar, and now Rocky delivers lariats in both corners. Rocky has the cast but in comes Big Justice to hit him with a diamond cutter! Trent grabs him from behind so Paul Wight knocks him out with a punch. AJ and Marshall hit a doomsday blockbuster to pick up the 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Boom & Doom
Time: 9:18
Rating: **1/4 – I’m not into the Costco Guys shtick but there was no harm here, and everyone worked hard.
*Alex Marvez catches up with Don Callis, the Young Bucks & Josh Alexander, and Don seems confident that the Bucks are joining the family. Matt Jackson looks forward to being back in the big time with all that money. Alexander is looking forward to ending Kenny Omega. Marvez informs us that Okada isn’t here today. Matt and Nick wonder if it’s because Callis teamed him up with Takeshita. Callis says we’re all professionals here, he’ll be here. Callis has a gift for the Bucks. He hands them a big box and says it’s ‘money’. New gear?
Eddie Kingston & HOOK vs WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry)
Kingston and HOOK meet the WorkHorsemen on the ramp and start brawling before making their way into the ring for the official start. Elevated kick from Henry, slingshot senton from Drake as they target HOOK in the early goings. Chop from Drake, HOOK ducks a blow and shoves the WorkHorsemen together for a meeting of the minds. Exploder! Kingston in, DDT on Henry, and HOOK enters the ring to lock in a Redrum on Drake. Eddie pins Henry, 1, 2, 3.
Winners: Eddie Kingston & HOOK
Time: 1:49
Rating: N/R – Time was surely cut here because the WorkHorsemen barely got a look in after that early offense on HOOK, and the finish kinda came out of nowhere.
*Takeshita and Hechicero along with Don Callis make their way to the ring, and as Alex Marvez mentioned, Okada is nowhere to be seen.
[CMLL World Trios Championships] El Sky Team (Místico, Máscara Dorada, Neón) (c) vs The Don Callis Family (Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, and Hechicero)
Takeshita and Hechicero tackle Sky Team from behind as they pose during their entrances, with Hechicero smacking a steel chair across the arm of Mistico on the floor. He shoves Mistico shoulder first into the ringpost and wraps a chair around the arm, whipping it back! Medical staff tend to Mistico, while Takeshita grounds Dorada in the ring.
Hechicero drops Neon on the barricade, and now the bell rings as Mistico is taken backstage. Neon with a diving hurracanrana to Takeshita, Dorada with a tijeras to Hechicero, and both Sky Team guys hit suicide dives to the outside. We see a car pull up backstage and it is the Rainmaker Kazuchika Okada, already in his ring gear despite driving haha. Takeshita and Hechicero are wailing away on their opponents as the Tailgate Brawl comes to an end and we switch over to the pay-per-view.
AEW Full Gear 2025
Back at ringside, pyro goes off while we see Takeshita and Hechicero still beating up their opponents. Takeshita gets Dorada down in the corner and we hear the coin drop. Okada is here! Takeshita has stopped what he’s doing and is solely focused on Okada right now. Dorada rolls Takeshita up! 1, 2, no. Hechicero plays peacemaker between his partners…but Okada flips Takeshita off! Neon and Dorada with stereo dropkicks. They go up top, look for dives but Okada and Takeshita are up and cut them off. Mistico has made it back to the ring! Springboard tijeras to Hechicero, double back elbow to Okada and Takeshita. Tiger feint kick to Takeshita, springboard crossbody to both Okada and Takeshita. Wrist control, Mistico with a flipping armdrag off the top rope. Huge spinning tijeras from Mistico sends Hechicero to the outside, and he nails a suicide dive as a follow up. La Mistica to Takeshita, Okada breaks it up but then keeps smacking Takeshita on the canvas! Neon in, handspring evasion but gets rocked with an Okada dropkick. Rainmaker avoided, Neon with a fancy armdrag off the ropes. Takeshita tries something, Neon counters but Takeshita counters back and hits the wheelbarrow German! Okada misses a Rainmaker, tries to clothesline Takeshita instead but misses. Raging Fire attempt, Okada puts a stop to it. They get in each other’s grill…RAINMAKER TO TAKESHITA, ‘by accident’. Dorada and Neon focus on Hechicero, diving hurracanrana, incredible hurracanrana from Dorada, and we get stereo moonsaults to the floor. Good Lord!
Mistico hurracanrana and a rollup to Hechicero, 1, 2, no. Tiger feint kick connects, la mahistral, 1, 2, no. Running knee in the corner from Hechicero, he may be thinking buckle bomb, but a poisonrana connects from Mistico! La Mistica, and Hechicero instantly taps!
Winners and STILL CMLL World Trios Champions: El Sky Team
Time: 13:25
Rating: ***3/4 – What a ton of fun! The Takeshita/Okada dynamic is golden, especially with Okada milking every moment of comedy out of it, and I love that they’re stretching it out so when Takeshita finally loses it, it’s gonna be so big. El Sky Team do insane things in the ring and they were on form here.
Pac vs Darby Allin
Great choice for the ‘official’ opener. For Darby’s entrance, we see him waking up in the Burns unit before stumbling out, presumably towards the ring. Yep, here he comes, bandaged across the right arm, the back and the ribs, which will surely be a target for Pac tonight. Arm drag from Darby, mahistral cradle, not enough though. Pac with a clean break in the corner. Shotgun dropkick from Darby knocks Pac John Woo style into the buckles. Pac takes a moment to walk around the ringside area, regrouping. Arm drag again but Pac vaults out of it. Pac tries to bridge out of a cover but Darby grabs him into another nearfall, very nicely done. Pac applies a head scissor, Darby extricates himself and locks in a Scorpion Death Lock, but Pac quickly grabs the ropes. Pac military presses Darby on the apron and throws him straight to the floor. Darby manages to make it back to the ring at 8.
Pac rips off the bandages around Darby’s arm and twists the skin around the burns! Ouch. Damn, on a close-up, those burns looks bad! Pac whips Darby back-first into the corner and he FLIES STRAIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE ROPES to the floor. Nearly took out the camera man! Back in the ring, Pac goes up top and hits a shotgun dropkick for 2. The two get into a slugfest, before Darby traps Pac in the ring skirting. Tope suicida! Darby sets up a chair at ringside, drags Pac over to it. Uh oh. Darby goes up top…dropkick from the top, sending Pac (and the chair) flying backwards. Darby on the apron, sunset flip, baits him in and Darby locks in a guillotine! Pac to his feet though, muscles him up, Darby over the top. German from Pac! Overhead belly to belly into the buckles! Pac runs in, Darby fires back with a lariat, and both men are down! Coffin drop attempt is countered straight into a German! Running lariat connects, Pac covers, 1, 2, NOOOO.
Brutalizer locked in, center of the ring. But we all know Darby won’t quit! Darby scoots and gets his feet on the ropes. Pac pulls him to his feet, pump kick in the corner. And again. Pac climbs the ropes, Black Arrow but Darby moves! Scorpion Death Lock applied! Pac signals for someone to come out, and it’s Wheeler Yuta. The ref deals with Yuta, while Pac grabs the black baseball bat and smacks Darby with it. 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Pac
Time: 16:58
Rating: **** – It’s great seeing Darby take a more technical approach as he’s such a capable wrestler. Pac wanted the ‘wrestling match’ so it’s a neat twist that of course he had to cheat and use a weapon to win, especially when it seemed like Darby was indeed out-wrestling him.
[4-Way Tag, Winners pick semi-final stipulation] Babes of Wrath vs Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue) vs Timeless Love Bombs (Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa) vs Marina Shafir & Megan Bayne (w/ Penelope Ford).
To expand on the stipulation here, the winning team get to pick the stipulation for their upcoming Women’s tag team tournament semi-final match. All four teams go at it, until Marina is left in the ring with Toni Storm and the bell rings. Knees to the midsection from Shafir, elbows in the corner, and Bayne comes in. Both Shafir and Bayne strike at Storm while she’s tied up in the ropes. Storm looks for a Louise Thesz Press but gets caught and Bayne tosses her overhead instead. Tornado DDT connects for Storm and she tags out to Mina. Storm lifts Mina and assists her with a tornillo splash. Rope-assist kick from Mina, and Bayne responds with a Samoan Drop for 2. Marina in, raking the eyes across the ropes. Marina with a tiger fient kick into a headscissors to choke Mina out over the middle rope, that was nice! Skye Blue tags in now, Mina fights back and hits a slingblade. She goes to tag out to Storm but Julia pulls Toni off the apron, so Mina tags in Willow instead. 10 count punches, Harley in. Body slam, booty bump, and Willow assists Cameron with a splash on Blue.
Sole Food from Harley and a backstabber connects, misses a big boot though. Handspring forearm from Blue, tag to Hart and a DDT follows. Julia traps the arm and hits the top rope walk clothesline. Bayne in, as is Blue, and they pie-face each other. Cameron in, gets shoulder thrusted in the corner. The Lovebombs are going at it with the Sisters on the floor. Meanwhile, Marina and Bayne target Harley. Tornado DDT from Harley counters Bayne. She kicks Marina away too and gets the tag to Willow. House of fire clotheslines, hip attack, and a stampede powerslam connects. Blind tag by Julia, double gourdbuster to Willow. Hart covers, Bayne in and bulldozes Blue into the cover to break it. Mina takes on the Sisters, DDT on Hart while hitting the Indian deathlock on Blue. Bayne with the Fates Descent on Mina, with Mina dropping straight into Mother’s Milk!! Storm makes it into the ring for the save!
Shirakawa with a backfist, tag to Toni! Shotgun dropkicks to Shafir, DDT, looks for Storm Zero but Marina escapes. Harley with a blind tag on Marina. Crossbody to Storm! 1, 2, no. Sky High bomb from Toni, 1, 2, no. Double thrust kicks from the Sisters of Sin…and Bayne is there for a double German suplex! POUNCE from Willow! Marina gets kicked away, Willow to the apron and nails a canonball off the apron to take out a few of the women. Toni launches Mina to the outside! Harley with a jacknife on Storm, gets 2, they trade pinfalls back and forth. Small package, tight cover from Toni! 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Timeless Love Bombs
Time: 13:08
Rating: ***1/4 – Good stuff from these teams; I particular like the double team offense from Bayne and Shafir, showing nice chemistry there. Storm and Mina will be facing Shafir & Bayne in the semi-final, so they will pick the stipulation for that contest.
*A ‘Big Stoke Production’ message flasges up. We see Stokely walking through a club in a stylized video package. I dunno, Nicholas Winding Refn reference maybe?!
[AEW World Tag Team Championships] Brodido (c) vs FTR
Here we go! It’s Bandido and Cash to start us off. Feeling out process, with Bandido getting arm drags on Cash, as well as Dax upon him illegally entering the ring. Brody and Dax are legal now, chopping the SHIT out of each other. King chops Dax to the floor but continues the assault, chopping him around the ringside area. Body slams to FTR. Brody tags in Bandido…and it’s Bandido who body slams Brody on top of Dax!! Bandido goes for a dive but Stokely gets on the apron…Bandido dives OVER Stokely but FTR catch him and dump him face first into the announce table.
Leg drop from Dax. Gory Special applied to Bandido, Bandido escapes, FTR block him from making the tag but he hoists them up and hits…possibly a double flatliner? Didn’t hit flush. Bandido makes the tag, but the referee didn’t see it, so FTR capitalize and double team Bandido again. Suplex countered, Bandido kicks Cash away and now Brody is in legally! Sidewalk slam on Cash, running senton to both members of FTR! King splashes both guys in opposits corner. Cash dives on the back of King but he muscles him back up, Brody with a Death Valley Driver on Cash into the corner on Dax! CANONBALL! 1, 2, NO.
Bandidogets low bridged to the outside, FTR hoists Brody to the top rope and weaken him down with chops. Powerplex attempt connects,…no, Brody grips Cash on the splash in a goozle, double chokeslam! Bandido with a splash to Dax! Lunging lariat to Dax. King looks to take flight, Stokely pushes Dax out of the way and he eats the suicide dive instead! Tornado DDT from Cash! Bandido dives in to Dax, Dax catches him, rebound powerbomb. Bandido rolls through on a sunset flip, 1, 2, no. Shatter Machine attempt, NO, Dax goes for the rebound powerbomb instead as Bandido was flying high. Straight into the Power and the Glory! 1, 2, NO. Wow.
FTR are going for the spike piledriver, can’t get it. Bandido with a one-armed press slam to Cash on Dax on the floor below. Bandido up top, diving crossbody to the floor takes out both FTR members. Shatter Machine attempt, NO, DDT from Bandido!! 21-Plex attempt, Cash holds onto Dax’s hands! 21-Plex to Cash, Dax is waiting though, SHATTER MACHINE! 1, 2, BRODY KING breaks it up at the very last second!
King has Cash positioned at ringisde by the barricade, MISSES the big running splash. Cash grabs one of the tag titles, brings it into the ring, Brody grabs the other end though. Bandido rolls up Dax, gets pushed off into a BELT SHOT! 1, 2, Bandido kicks out!!! King hits the running splash against the barricade now and Cash is down. Brody in the ring, whips Dax into the ropes…SHATTER MACHINE BY BRODIDO!!! 1, 2, NOOOO! Dax kicks out of his own move. Cash crotches Bandido on the ringpost. SUICIDE DIVE by Cash. Bandido on the shoulders, Doomsday device but BANDIDO TRANSITIONS INTO A SLAM! 1, 2, NO! King chokes out Dax, but Cash climbs and chokes out Brody too! King backs Cash into the buckle. Oh God. SPIKE PILEDRIVER ON THE APRON TO BRODY KING! Bandido hoisted, double flatliner. SPIKE PILEDRIVER on Bandido! 1, 2, HE KICKS OUT! The arena is going nuts.
Bandido flips off both members of FTR before they give him one last Shatter Machine, pinning him for the 1, 2, 3.
Winners and NEW AEW World Tag Team Champions: FTR
Time: 20:11
Rating: ****1/2 – My God! A couple of exchanges in the early goings that didn’t hit snug can’t detract from this being an absolute epic. Tremendous tag team action, all four men shining…the way they put these matches together is a thing of beauty. Multiple nearfalls that everyone bought into, I was on the edge of my seat for pretty much the last 10 minutes.
*Nigel McGuinness has tagged out of commentary, and here’s Bryan Danielson in his place.
[AEW National Championship] Casino Gauntlet Match
Entrant #1 is Bobby Lashley, with entrant #2 being his Hurt Syndicate partner in Shelton Benjamin. Little handslap to start as they get into a friendly grapple, Lashley muscling Benjamin up…and the countdown starts already! Entrant #3 is Ricochet. He has a microphone. He says people didn’t pay to see this wrestling crap, they want to see them throwing hands. Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona attack the Hurt Syndicate, and Ricochet takes out MVP with the mic. Haha “Another one!” Ricochet tells people to throw ’em up. Gates of Agony continue the assault as there is no DQ in this match. TKO on a steel chair from Kaun on Benjamin. Liona with a running hip attack into the steel steps on Lashley. Referees rush down to tend to the Hurt Syndicate, helping MVP to the back and escorting the Gates out.
Entrant #4 is Claudio Castagnoli! Ricochet tries to run and dive through the ropes on him but Claudio DESTROYS him with a European uppercut!! He tosses Ricochet back in the ring and hits the Giant Swing. 1, 2, kickout. Claudio tosses Ricochet to his feet, Ricochet manages a tijeras before the countdown starts again…and it’s another Death Riders member! Entrant #5 is Daniel Garcia. Claudio is all smiles. Choke to Ricochet on the apron, and now Garcia with a double leg takedown, raining down right hands. Garcia teases the dance but doesn’t follow through. Running European uppercut from Claudio. Ricochet climbs the buckles, Garcia runs into the ropes to crotch him. Entrant #6 is Orange Cassidy. OC climbs onto the apron and slaps the bald head of Ricochet before Garcia suplexes Ricochet off the buckles. Claudio picks OC up by his pants and plants him back down. Tornado DDT is countered but OC flips through into a hurracanrana. Suicide dive to Garcia. Sunset flip, Claudio keeps his balance and lifts OC. Stundog Millionaire counter. Satellite DDT, 1, 2, Ricochet kicks out. Entrant #7 is Wheeler Yuta. It’s a conspiracy! Yuta and OC come face to face, but Claudio and Garcia attack from behind, and now the Death Riders start the assault on Cassidy. Locomotion from the Death Riders, hahah Ricochet joins in, only to get uppercutted by Claudio. Entrant #9 is Kevin Knight! He takes out Yuta, Garcia tries a choke but a leaping lariat takes him down. Up top, Knight launches for a hurracanrana, Claudio holds on, powerbombs him to the outside but Knight holds onto the ropes. Knee strike from Ricochet , dropkick in response by Knight. 1, 2, Yuta breaks it up.
Entrant #10 is Roderick Strong. Garcia is ready for him, but Strong backbreakers him into the apron. Chops to Claudio, Knight is caught in a backbreaker too. Olympic slam to Claudio. Pendulum backbreaker to Ricochet. Sick kick to Ricochet! 1, 2, NO. Entrant #11 is Mark Davis. Strong and Davis strike each other, enziguri connects. Double clothesline to Yuta and Garcia. Piledriver to Knight! Gonzo Bomb by Davis!! PK avoided. Hoists OC up into a spike piledriver too!! 1, 2, Yuta breaks it up. Entrant #12 is Speedball Mike Bailey. Bailey with kicks to Davis, Knight is in to help him out, both go for the cover and come face to face. Davis takes on both men. Bailey and Knight on opposite aprons, Bailey moonsaults to the outside, Knight springboards in to take on Davis. Now Bailey and Knight go face to face…Knight with a rollup for 2. They know each other so well, avoiding each other’s offense. Garcia shoves Knight to the floor, kicks Speedball low. Dragon Tamer! Entrant #13 is Matt Menard! Garcia is panicked. Menard and Garcia get into it, with rights flying everywhere. They fight out to the ringside area, Menard tossing him out into the crowd now.
In the ring, it’s Claudio and Davis as the ‘Meat’ chants start. But wait, the Hurt Syndicate are back up! They both get in the ring, and it’s Meat Madness! German by Benjamin. Flatliner by Lashley. Spear to Strong. OC dives, caught by Lashley, powerslam! Bailey on the apron knocked off, Ricochet is poised but they see him skulking and he tries to retreat but is caught and bieled across the ring. Rising knee! Chokeslam from Lashley. Dominator set up but Claudio in to break it. Orange Punch to Claudio! One to Davis. Benjamin and Davis spill to the floor. Lashley tries a spear but Claudio moves and he hits the barrier. Busaiku Knee from Yuta! 1, 2, KNIGHT BREAKS IT UP. UFO Splash, Ricochet with the Spirit Gun on Knight! 1, 2, 3!
Winner and FIRST EVER AEW National Champion: Ricochet
Time: 22:53
Rating: ***1/2 – No real surprises in terms of entrants, but this was a great showcase for the upper midcard, and Ricochet is a good choice of first champion. He played his weasely nature to perfection here, and can gloat even more now that he has gold. Davis looked particularly good here too, even if his segments were pretty short.
[No Holds Barred] Jon Moxley vs Kyle O’Reilly
O’Reilly goes immediately for Moxley before the bell rings, taking out the legs and grounding him. They work to some standing switches, Moxley ducks a roundhouse kick, Moxley picks the leg, O’Reilly tries to roll into an armbar but Moxley rolls out of it. Mox offers his chin, hands behind his back. O’Reilly with a headbutt but Moxley gouges the eyes. Both men fishhook each other’s mouths, before O’Reilly applies an adbominal stretch. Ankle lock! Moxley kicks him away and escapes to the outside. Back inside, Mox has the fork, O’Reilly tries to disarm him but can’t. Moxley is on top as O’Reilly desperately tries to struggle away from the fork…but NO, Moxley stabs O’Reilly repeatedly with the fork in the forehead…and then rakes it across the back!
O’Reilly is instantly a bloody mess. Mox paintbrushes O’Reilly across the face with the forearn and then bites the open wounds! Judo toss, Moxley with a straight armlock, and he bites the fingers of O’Reilly. Full Nelson applied, relents and kicks the spine of O’Reilly. Ankel pick from O’Reilly, ankle lock cinched in! Transitions to the facelock, Moxley counters with a backdrop suplex. Moxley with the fork…he drives it into the NIPPLE of O’Reilly! Moxley has O’Reilly on the apron, O’Reilly reverses and locks in a stranglehold. Dragon screw by O’Reilly, jujigatame applied. Moxley to the floor, O’Reilly tries the diving knee but gets shrugged off. O’Reilly catapults Moxley face first into the ringpost. O’Reilly with a dropkick into the barricade and Moxley does indeed appear to be bleeding now.
Back in the ring, an ankle lock catches Moxley off-guard. He gets O’Reilly in a triangle choke! No, O’Reilly switches into a straight ankle. Triangle choke from O’Reilly, Moxley is poised with the fork but O’Reilly grabs it! He forks Moxley right in the head as we see blood ooze down Moxley’s face. O’Reilly goes under the ring and pulls out a chain. He wraps it around his neck and fist, and then ties it around Moxley’s neck, locking in a guillotine! Mox similarly uses it against O’Reilly. Both men try suplexes…O’Reilly gets it, but both men are linked by the neck by that chain. To their knees, both guys wrap the chain around their fists. Axe kick from O’Reilly…Moxley brings him over into a bulldog choke with the chain, but O’Reilly rolls right through it! O’Reilly tries for a cross-armbreaker, Moxley gets an ankle lock now. STF! O’Reilly stabs the hand of Moxley with the fork! STOMP INTO THE CHAIN! Moxley leaves the ring to grab a chair, wrapping it around the arm of O’Reilly. Running stomp to the arm in the chair!! Moxley looks for a Kimura, no, Death Rider! O’Reilly grabs his own tights to prevent Moxley from bending it too far. Moxley rolls, O’Reilly counters, ankle lock! He stomps the ankle, wraps a chain around it and applies the grapevine!! MOXLEY TAPS AGAIN!
Winner: Kyle O’Reilly
Time: 19:16
Rating: ****1/4 – I liked that this felt very different to the usual hardcore affair of Moxley matches. Rather than just blood-thirsty crazy spots, this felt like they used the No Holds Barred stip as something ‘different’, still focusing on submission-based offense, all the way making it feel like an absolute war. Both guys put each other through a ton of punishment, and I loved how fresh this one felt. Big time Bloodsport vibes.
*Moxley returns to the ring after the match while O’Reilly is being tended to by the medical staff, knocking them away and stomping O’Reilly’s arm even further. The Conglomeration’s Strong and Orange Cassidy head to the ring to help O’Reilly, as Claudio, Yuta and Garcia equally join the fray, with the Death Riders heading to the back promptly.
[AEW TNT Championship – No DQ] Kyle Fletcher (c) vs Mark Briscoe
As stipulated a few weeks ago, if Briscoe loses, he must join the Don Callis Family. Briscoe squares up to Fletcher, who slaps him. Briscoe of course slaps him back. It breaks down into a slugfest, until Fletcher knocks Mark down with a big boot. Jay Driller attempt is shrugged off, another big boot in the corner knocks Briscoe to the floor. Fletcher to the apron, running PK is caught and Mark tosses him. Chair thrown right into the face of Fletcher! Briscoe sends Fletcher into the steel steps, grabs a chair and smacks him in the back. Briscoe to the apron, dives for the canonball but gets caught…BRAINBUSTER ONTO THE STEEL CHAIR on the outside! Running knee into the steps, and now Fletcher repositions the steps. He hoists Briscoe up but Mark sweeps the legs and Kyle lands back-first on the steps. Briscoe pulls out a ladder and props it up against an upright chair. He leans Fletcher against it, re-enters the ring…and goes for the tope con hilo through the ropes, only for Fletcher to move, sending Briscoe crashing tbrough the ladder!
Fletcher LAUNCHES that crumpled ladder directly at the face of Briscoe. Back in the ring, Kyle body slams a bloody Briscoe, and tosses a new ladder on top of him. Fletcher sets it up in the corner, whipping Briscoe HARD into it, with Briscoe taking another flip bump into the ladder. They set up a ladder bridge, Briscoe knocks Fletcher back, and now Briscoe tosses the ladder to him, dropkicking it into him. Briscoe is pouring blood at this point.
Ladder shot to the head of Fletcher, and the TNT champion is equally busted open. Briscoe pulls out a table and sets it up at ringside. Mark levels Kyle with a chair and lays him out on the table. Briscoe climbs the buckles but Fletcher rolls off out of harm’s way. Briscoe goes in pursuit, Fletcher catches him, half-and-half suplex ON THE FLOOR. Kyle sets up six chairs at ringside now, before Briscoe launches another chair at him. Briscoe lays him out on the chairs now and heads back up top. Don Callis distracts him, Kyle jumps up and shoves Briscoe off the top through the previously set-up table. Fletcher embraces and kisses Callis at the announce table before pulling out another table and sliding it in the ring.
Running boot connects in the corner. Fletcher may be thinking lawn dart, can’t get it. Half and half into the table? No, enziguri by Briscoe. Mark goes for the Jay Driller, Kyle holds on, running backpack into the table! Last Ride powerbomb, 1, 2, NO! Kyle pulls out a bucket from under the ring….and it’s thumbtacks. Kyle places tacks into the mouth of Briscoe and superkicks him. Another powerbomb attempt, Briscoe counters, fisherman buster into the tacks!! 1, 2, NO.
Briscoe pulls out a barbed wire table now, another table, and an even bigger ladder. Briscoe places the table over the tacks with the ladder set up in the ring too. They roll to the apron, Fletcher with superkicks. He looks for a brainbuster, Kyle gets knocked back, BLOCKBUSTER INTO THE PILE OF SIX CHAIRS! Back in the ring, Briscoe lays Fletcher on the table, climbs the ladder…Kyle rolls off it and climbs too. FROGGY BOW OFF THE LADDER THROUGH THE TABLE! 1, 2, NOOOOO!! Crazy!
Briscoe brings in that barbed wire table, but Kyle has been handed the screwdriver by Don Callis. Briscoe sets the barbed wire table up….and catches the screwdriver shot! But no, lowblow by Kyle, and he drives the screwdriver repeatedly into the head, licking the blood off the end! He misses a shot in the corner, Briscoe with a brainbuster into the tacks. 1, 2, no. Briscoe back up top, Fletcher shoves the referee into the ropes to crotch Briscoe. Fletcher shoves the screwdriver upright poking out through the top buckle, and looks for the BRAINBUSTER! NO, Briscoe counters, but Fletcher still has the screwdriver and stabs Briscoe once more. Running screwdriver shot, brainbuster! 1, 2, NO! Briscoe gets the arm up. Fletcher brings Briscoe to the other corner, looks for the brainbuster but no, Mark counters. RAZOR’S EDGE THROUGH THE BARBED WIRE TABLE!!! JAY DRILLER CONNECTS! 1, 2, 3!!!
Winner and NEW AEW TNT Champion: Mark Briscoe
Time: 24:48
Rating: ****1/4 – ALL THE FEELS. It was a choice to have this directly after the No Holds Barred match, but all the added PLUNDAH helped differentiate it (although probably not wise so soon after Blood & Guts). The Fletcher/Briscoe series has not disappointed, and it’s so great that it built to this huge moment with Briscoe getting an AEW singles title; very well deserved at that! These guys are as insane as each other, so of course they went nuts in this one. Wild stuff.
[$1,000,000 Match] The Young Bucks & Josh Alexander vs Kenny Omega & Jurassic Express
Man I would not want to be the ones following that succession of matches, but here we are! Nick Jackson and Jack Perry are the members to start the match, and they quickly spill to the floor, avoiding each other’s rapid offense. They work to an Indy Standoff, with Nick getting right in the face of Perry. Matt and Luchasaurus tag in now. Luchasaurus takes Matt down with a clubbing blow to the chest, tags Perry back in for an armdrag-dropkick combo. Kenny tags in, and he hits the axe handle from the second rope. Alexander gets a cheap shot in on Omega before tagging in. Running back elbow connects, Omega with a slingshot crossbody to the outside. Back inside Josh targets the ankle of Kenny. The Bucks in, Omega with basement dropkicks and facebusters to both of them. Terminator claps, Omega goes for the dive but Alexander comes in early to put a stop to it. Hurracanrana from Omega, and now Omega is clear for the dive, and he nails it.
Luchasaurus with a body slam, Perry with the shoulder-assisted senton, but Josh catches Perry and slams him on the apron. Nick Jackson goes for a dive to the outside, Luchasaurus completely misses him on a catch and Nick eats shit on the floor. Matt with a crossbody to Omega on the floor, Risky Business connects on Perry. 1, 2, no. Perry with a rebound lariat to Alexander, followed by a leaping DDT, and both men are down. Matt tags in, as does Luchasaurus, who tosses the Bucks around easily. Double clothesline takes them down once more. Alexander in, chokeslam by Luchasaurus, and a chokeslam to Matt on top! One to Nick, moonsault by Luchasaurus gets 2. Goozle to both Bucks, they sweep the legs but he kips up, only to get superkicked. Luchasaurus and the Bucks all go down with stereo clotheslines. Alexander in, Luchasaurus kicks him away, tag to Omega. Josh wants to tag out, the Bucks hop off the apron through. Faceplant by Omega, Finlay Roll into the moonsault, moonsault misses though. Wheelbarrow countered by Matt. Nick stomps Perry but Perry reverses the following powerbomb with a headscissors! DESTROYER by Nick, Omega with a running knee! All six men down.
Josh and Kenny get into a boo-yay strikefest. Snapdragon from Omega to…everyone! V-Trigger is avoided, Josh picks the ankle, ankle lock applied! With the ankle lock still applied, the Bucks hit the BTE Trigger! They take out Jurassic Express, Kenny is fading…but Omega somehow makes the ropes. TK Driver is interrupted, Luchasaurus shoves Matt and Josh to the floor. Omega and Jurassic Express hit their own TK Driver on Nick! Perry in, countdown to extinction is avoided. Omega with a knee to Alexander, Perry hurracanranas Matt to the floor. Countdown to Extinction connects, 1, 2, Alexander breaks up the pinfall! Omega and Luchasaurus get the Bucks on their shoulders, double doomsday by Perry but the Bucks counter! Superkick Party! They accidentally superkick Alexander! One Winged Angel on the floor on Alexander. Backslide attempt by Perry reversed, BTE Trigger on Perry, 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Josh Alexander & The Young Bucks
Time:19:06
Rating: ***3/4 – Very good action, just had a harder time with the crowd after that run of awesome matches. I enjoyed seeing Alexander get a fair bit of the spotlight here, he’s pretty under-utilized in my eyes.
*Don Callis on the mic says they’re rich one more time. They’re now part of the family, let’s go celebrate. The Bucks take their money in the satchel and head off with Callis.
Alexander and the rest of the family attack the leg of Kenny Omega. The Bucks turn back to see the 5-on-1 attack. The Bucks are conflicted…but they still choose to leave with Don Callis. WAIT, no they charge back to the ring and they take on the Don Callis Family, clearing the ring. The Young Bucks stand opposite Jurassic Express as Perry and Luchasaurus extend their hands…and they shake! Matt and Nick extend a hand to Kenny Omega, but he slaps their hands away. THEY HUG INSTEAD! Excalibur gives us a ‘You’ve got to give the people what they want!’
[AEW Women’s World Championship] Kris Statlander (c) vs Mercedes Mone
Statlander gets a pretty cool ‘alien rocket ship crash landing’ intro. Quick start, Statlander with a back suplex to Mone. Mone tries for the Statement Maker but Statlander prevents it. Standing moonsault press, 1, 2, no. Mone tosses Stat to the floor, basement dropkick to follow and a tope suicida but Stat holds on, rolls through and lifts her in a fireman’s carry, bringing her back to the apron. Statlander suplexes Mone back inside the ring, drags her nearer to the corner and looks for the 450 but Mone moves. Statlander is clutching her wrist/forearm as Aubrey checks on her, she may be legit injured here. METEORA out of nowhere, and Mone throws her wrist-first into the steel steps. Phew, not a legit injury then haha. Mone stomps the wrist of Stat, then heads back into the ring where she hits a tornado DDT to the arm, wrenching the arm back. Knees to the arm, Statlander gets back to her feet, and Mone brings her face first into the middle buckle. Another Meteora connects, 1, 2, no.
Mone whips Stat shoulder-first into the buckles, but here comes Statlander with a lariat in response. Cross-armbreaker locked in, Statlander tries to join the hands but can’t. Waistlock by Stat, Mone gets her on the mat, hyper-extends the elbow with her feet. Tornado DDT from Mone, 1, 2, no. Three Amigos, but she keeps on going, Eight Amigos! Nine! Ten! Eleven! Twelve! Thirteen! Fourteen! One for each of her belts plus the one she hopes to win tonight. Mercedes heads up top, goes for a frog splash but an up-kick from Statlander catches her in the jaw. Both women to their feet, back body drop from Statlander. Statlander is fighting with one arm here. Spinning Michinoku Driver connects, can’t cover properly because of the arm but manages a 2 count. Mone tosses Statlander to the apron, wrenches the arm and stomps the hand. Mone dives off the apron, Statlander catches her with a Blue Thunder onto the floor! Mone makes it back into the ring at 9.
Roaring elbow is countered with a lungblower. Backstabber follows! Code Red into the buckles from Mone. Discus lariat connects for Statlander! Cover, 1, 2, no, Mone locks in an armbar! Rolls through, kicks the arm, BAYLEY TO BELLY SUPLEX FROM STATLANDER! Now Statlander locks in the Statement Maker! Mone bends the wrist to escape it, locks in her own. Statlander hoists Mone onto her shoulders and climbs the buckles with her. Mone tries a sleeper, Statlander gets her back on her shoulders…RIB BREAKER OFF THE TOP! 1, 2, Mone rolls a shoulder up. Statlander tries for the Staturday Night Fever but cant get her up. Instead she uses the legs to muscle her up, but Mone counters into a seatbelt! 1, 2, NO. Statlander with the seatbelt, 1, 2, NO. Jackknife, rollthrough into a PACKAGE PILEDRIVER! 1, 2, Mone gets a hand on the ropes! Mone on the top rope kicks Statlander away, goes for a Meteora but is caught. Mone flips into a poisonrana. Meteora against the bottom rope, 1, 2, NOOO. Mone tries to compose herself. Mone Maker is reversed, Statlander with a tombstone position, no, Mone maker attempted again. Statlander backs Mone into the turnbuckle. Statlander with the Staturday Night Fever! 1, 2, 3!
Winner and STILL AEW Women’s World Champion: Kris Statlander
Time: 23:04
Rating: **** – They went big, and it was just a shame that the crowd were pretty burnt out, as this was genuinely a great contest with some fantastic limbwork, terrific selling from Statlander, building to a satisfying payoff. On any other night this would be getting a lot more traction, I’m sure of it.
*Lexy Nair is with the Don Callis Family, and Callis thinks things went pretty well as they have a million dollars to play with. Takeshita and Okada start to get into it, but Callis says let’s not do this right now. Okada will defend his Continental title in the Continental Classic…so Takeshita announces he will also be in the Continental Classic. Kyle Fletcher shows up. “Protokada, Proteshita?” Where were they? He lost his title, but he will ALSO be in the Continental Classic, so it won’t stay that way for long. Daaamn, the CC entrants haven’t been fully revealed, and already it feels STACKED!
[AEW Men’s World Championship – Steel Cage Match] Hangman Adam Page (c) vs Samoa Joe
New music for Hangman! I prefer his older one as that’s a bangerrrrr but it is pretty cowboy-esque.
Lockup, but Joe immediately goes to the ribs with knee strikes. Joe is the first to be sent into the cage and he’s busted open already. Moonsault off the top rope by Hangman, Joe kicks out just after 1. Face wash boots from Joe, Hangman back up with smack Joe in the side of his head with his boot. Joe is dripping blood from the gash in his forehead. Clotheslines from Hangman connect, but he takes one second too long and Joe sends him forehead first into the steel cage. Big back elbow from Joe, enziguri with Hangman trapped between the ropes and the cage. Joe rakes the face of Page into the cage wall. Powerslam by Joe gets 2. Hangman on his knees, Joe with jabs but Page absorbs it and gets to his feet. German evaded, Page with a roaring elbow and a backdrop suplex.
Hangman underhooks the arms of Joe, Joe counters. Coquina clutch from Hangman! Joe backs him into the corner. ST-Joe! Joe rips off the turnbuckle padding, sits Page on it and looks for the Muscle Buster but Page bites him instead. Joe climbs up with him…top rope Muscle Buster?! No, Page counters, sunset flip powerbomb! Joe back up to his feet, Page is thinking Deadeye but here comes Katsuyori Shibata! Shibata has the title belt and now scales the cage. But here’s Eddie Kingston to drag him back down! Paul Turner gets taken out amidst all the confusion. DEADEYE! But there’s no one there to count the pin. Powerhouse Hobbs is here and he rips the chain off the steel door. Page is there to target him and low blows Hobbs. Joe from behind locks in the Coquina clutch, only for Page to send him into the exposed buckle. Buckshot lariat! But still no referee. HOOK is here to wake up the ref. HOOK has the title…and clocks Hangman with it! HOOK takes off his jacket to reveal he’s wearing an Opps shirt! Joe with the Muscle Buster! 1, 2, 3! Holy crap, they did it!
Winner and NEW AEW Men’s World Champion: Samoa Joe
Time: 14:22
Rating: *** – Well it was bloody, but we quite quickly got into the whole shenanigans deal. Nothing bad per se, just a tad underwhelming. HOOK’s turn had been telegraphed for a while, but the result with Joe actually winning the belt was a surprise, so they kept us on our toes in that regard.
*Celebratory pyro goes off for Samoa Joe as he celebrates his World title victory.
*The LIGHTS GO OUT. We see a burning house….PRINCE NANA IS ON THE STAGE! It’s SWERVE STRICKLAND!! New music for Swerve tonight too. Swerve appears on stage and has he sights set firmly on Samoa Joe…or maybe the World title itself. Joe tells his Opps dojo team to back off. Joe presents the almost lifeless body of Hangman to Swerve. Swerve slowly walks towards Hangman but then turns and strikes one of the dojo guys. They pounce, but he fighrs them off, meanwhile Joe hightails it. Swerve takes on everyone, burning through all his offense, and he is looking good! House call! Page is back to his feet, takes down the last of the dojo guys, and now Swerve and Hangman stand side by side! Joe and the rest of the Opps head backstage while we linger on the image of Swerve and Hangman standing at each other’s side.
*And that’s all folks! Hope you enjoyed the show – it’s been a blast. See you next week for Collision! Peace.
