AEW Full Gear 2020

By Steve Ward

All Elite Wrestling returned to pay per view this evening as Full Gear emanated from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. As has been the case for the past couple months, AEW continued to make WWE look bad as they allowed a limited number of fans to attend - whereas WWE continues with their dystopian virtual fans. Aside from the impressive card for this evening’s event where five titles were defended, rumors have also run rampant as of late that “The Villain” Marty Scurll and/or the legendary Sting could make their presence known. This is yet another reason why AEW has continued to build momentum - they have successfully maintained a strong blend of veteran stars while still developing younger talent all while treating fans to the element of surprise, something that is quite difficult today with everything spoiled on social media.

The Buy-In Pre-Show

NWA Women’s Championship

Serena Deeb (c) vs. Allysin Kay

Winner: Serena Deeb via submission

Following Serena Deeb’s shocking victory over Thunder Rosa in a non-televised event a couple weeks ago, AEW again elected to have the NWA Women’s Title showcased on pay per view. Deeb’s challenger this evening was former Impact Wrestling Women’s Champion and recent NWA star Allysin Kay (formerly known as Sienna). It was noted by the commentators that Kay recently parted ways with the NWA hence providing her with a strong platform to put her in place for a potential signing with AEW. Kay put forth a solid showing in this contest, however, Deeb was able to cinch in the Serenity Lock allowing her to walk away with the submission victory.

Following the match, former champion Thunder Rosa made her way to the ring for a face to face with Deeb as one would expect an eventual rematch between the two.

Main Card

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Finals

Kenny Omega vs. “Hangman” Adam Page

Winner: Kenny Omega via pinfall

As was expected when the bracket was released for this tournament with these competitors on opposite sides, they made their way through the field of eight to face one another in the finals. The stakes were high in this contest as the one to emerge victorious between the former co-tag team champions would earn a future world title opportunity. In a phenomenal opening match to the main card, Adam Page gave Kenny Omega everything he could handle. As the match approached it’s conclusion, Page hit the Deadeye and then attempted the Buckshot Lariat. Unable to connect on the Buckshot proved to be his fatal flaw as Omega countered with the One Winged Angel to seal the victory.

Orange Cassidy vs. John “4”Silver

Winner: Orange Cassidy via pinfall

In what has become a newly budding rivalry the past couple weeks, “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy was pitted against John Silver of Brodie Lee’s Dark Order faction in a huge spot on pay per view for #4. John Silver put on what was quite possibly his best match in his AEW career but it wasn’t enough as Cassidy finished him off with the Orange Punch and Beach Blast to earn the pinfall victory.

TNT Championship

Cody Rhodes (c) w/ Arn Anderson vs. Darby Allin

Winner: Darby Allin via pinfall

These two men met each other this evening for the fourth time with Cody prevailing in each of their previous three encounters. This time was different, however, as it was for Cody’s newly regained TNT Championship. Cody also hoped to not only retain his title but also silence Allin’s claims that he could never be the face of TNT. Prior to the beginning of the match there were two significant occurrences. First, Mike Chioda was introduced as the referee - making his second appearance for AEW since falling victim to WWE’s budget cuts in April (despite being with them since the late ‘80s). Second, Cody was finally able to be introduced as Cody Rhodes as WWE finally dropped their trademark on his name. Cody absolutely dominated this bout, however, he was unable to put away the relentless Allin. Rhodes allowed Darby to hang around too long and it ended up costing him in the end. The final moments of the match saw a series of back and forth rollup pin attempts that finally saw Allin shock the fans in attendance and win the title.

Following the match, Rhodes presentation of the title to Allin was interrupted by Taz. As Taz belittled Rhodes and Allin, Brian Cage and Ricky Starks of Team Taz ambushed them from behind and laid waste to the men until Will Hobbs came to their rescue with a steel chair in tow.

AEW Women’s Championship

Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Nyla Rose w/ Vickie Guerrero

Winner: Hikaru Shida via pinfall

These two women finally met again this evening following Shida leaving victorious with Rose’s title in a no holds barred match months ago. Hikaru Shida put forth an impressive display against The Native Beast. After overcoming a kendo stick strike to the knee at the hands of Vickie Guerrero early on, Shida demonstrated exceptional strength headlined by not one, but two, Falcon Arrows - one of the avalanche variety off the top turnbuckle. After executing the second Falcon Arrow, Shida finished off Rose with several knee strikes to the head.

AEW Tag Team Championship

FTR (c) vs. The Young Bucks

Winners: The Young Bucks via pinfall

The Young Bucks earned their shot this evening after prevailing in a four way dance with The Butcher and The Blade, The Lucha Bros, and Private Party on a recent edition of Dynamite. The Young Bucks, who have yet to taste championship gold in AEW, proclaimed they would never challenge for the titles again if they could not win this evening. Another substantial factor in this bout was the banning of Tully Blanchard from the corner of FTR as he often serves as a significant distraction, if nothing else. This match started slow but certainly didn’t end that way. In the closing moments, The Young Bucks overcame the Mindbreaker as Nick Jackson first executed a 450 splash and then Matt Jackson avoided a subsequent springboard 450 splash from Cash Wheeler and answered with a super kick to earn the pinfall and the tag team titles.

Elite Deletion Match

Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara

Winner: Matt Hardy via pinfall

After months of feuding between these two men, including their match at All Out where Hardy took an ugly bump, this evening should prove to be the climax of their rivalry. What is an “Elite Deletion Match?” Your guess would have been as good as mine as no details were divulged in advance of this encounter. The match kicked off at the Hardy Compound in Cameron, North Carolina as Sammy drove his golf cart onto the grounds only to have it run over by a monster truck driven by Hardy. This then immediately turned into hardcore, backyard brawl before it spilled into the wrestling ring in Hardy’s yard. The bout quickly turned to a three on three melee as Sammy’s Inner Circle cohorts Santana and Ortiz came to his assistance, however, Hardy’s protégés Private Party soon assisted him. As Hardy appeared primed to put away Guevara, he was distracted by a masked man attacking The Hurricane! The masked man was then revealed as Gangrel - make it a four on four affair as The Hurricane sided with Hardy and Gangrel with the Inner Circle.

Hardy and Guevara then found themselves segregated from the other men inside the shed on the Hardy Compound which contained yet another ring with a ladder and table set up within. Guevara found himself in control briefly as he laid Hardy out on the table. Sammy then proceeded to scale the ominous ladder and propelled Matt through the table with a Swanton Bomb. This couldn’t put Hardy away as he got back to his feet and hit the Twist of Fate. Sammy also kicked out of this so Hardy proceeded to brutalize Sammy with several chair shots before he finally covered him for the pinfall.

Chris Jericho vs. MJF w/ Wardlow

Winner: MJF via pinfall

This match held significant implications as the stipulation indicated if MJF were to come out victorious, he would earn membership in Jericho’s Inner Circle. Jericho pulled out all the stops and then some as he continues to amaze in the ring at age 50. Jericho executed a perfect Lionsault and Frankensteiner, however, MJF was able to cheat his way to victory in the end. MJF had Wardlow make his way to ringside and distract the referee as he attempted to strike Jericho with the Dynamite Diamond ring. After MJF missed, Jericho was tossed a baseball bat by Jake Hager who emerged at ringside. MJF saw the strike coming and preemptively dropped to the canvas to make the referee believe Y2J struck him. As Aubrey Edwards reprimanded Jericho, MJF rolled him up for the pinfall to become a member of the Inner Circle.

AEW Heavyweight Championship “I Quit” Match

Jon Moxley (c) vs. Eddie Kingston

Winner: Jon Moxley

In arguably the biggest match of his 18 year career, Eddie Kingston found himself in the main event of the evening vying for the AEW Heavyweight Championship against Jon Moxley. This match became personal due to the extensive history between the two dating back to the independent scene and Kingston’s claim that he never gave up in their previous encounter (as he passed out from the submission hold applied by Moxley) - hence it’s evolution into an “I Quit” match. This was a brutal, bloody affair complete with barbed wire, tacks, and chairs - Kingston even poured a full bottle of rubbing alcohol on the back of Moxley after it was punctured with tacks as the result of a suplex into a pile of them. The conclusion of the match saw Moxley wrap his forearm in barbed wire and proceed to cinch in a chokehold that prompted Kingston to utter the words, “I Quit.”

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AEW ALL OUT 2020

By Steve Ward

All Elite Wrestling returned to pay per view this evening from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. The outdoor, stadium seating venue, attached to TIAA Bank Field, the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, has been the residence of all of the promotion’s programming for the past few months and recently has been permitted to welcome real fans (unlike WWE’s virtual Thunderdome) with an operating capacity of 10% - which translates to about 500 spectators. This evening’s stacked card was headlined by Jon Moxley defending the AEW Heavyweight Championship against MJF in addition to the 21-man Casino Battle Royale to determine the future number one contender for the Heavyweight title.

The Buy-In Pre-Show

Joey Janela w/ Sonny Kiss vs. Serpentico w/ Luther

Winner: Joey Janela via pinfall

The pride of Asbury Park, New Jersey, “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela, opened the evening with a match against the enigmatic Serpentico. This entertaining opening bout concluded with the delivery of a devastating top rope elbow drop solidifying the victory.

Private Party vs. The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds and John Silver)

Winners: Private Party via pinfall

Following a very physical display from The Dark Order, Private Party were able to execute Gin and Juice to escape with the pinfall victory.

Main Card

Tooth and Nail Match

Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. w/ Rebel vs. Big Swole Winner: Big Swole The opening contest pit Dr. Britt Baker appearing in her first match in several months against Big Swole in the confines of what was allegedly Dr. Baker’s dentist’s office. I interpreted this match as a way to ease Dr. Baker back into action as she is an outstanding in-ring performer who didn’t have the opportunity to display her abilities in this contest. The underwhelming bout ended as Big Swole pinned Dr. Baker down on a dentist’s chair and placed the mask to administer knock-out gas on her face until she was unconscious for the win.

Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy) w/ Marco Stunt vs. The Young Bucks

Winners: The Young Bucks via pinfall The first match of the main card to be held in the ring pit two of the top five ranked tag teams in AEW against each other. Blink and you would’ve missed some of the fast and furious action in this contest. The final moments left Jungle Boy exposed after Luchasaurus vaulted into the collective of wrestlers at ringside. The Young Bucks solidified the victory after they executed the BTE Trigger on “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry.

Casino Battle Royale

Winner: “The Murderhawk Monster” Lance Archer

This 21-man battle royale presented extremely high stakes as the winner would earn a future shot at the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. This star studded match included “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels, Jake Hager, Brian Cage, Lance Archer, The Lucha Bros, The Butcher and the Blade, Frankie Kazarian, Billy Gunn, and Darby Allin to name a few. The match also featured the debut of Matt Sydal (also known as Evan Bourne from his WWE days) as he drew the wild card for the match. The final four participants in the bout were The Butcher (also known as Everytime I Die guitarist Andy Williams), Matt Sydal, Lance Archer, and Eddie Kingston. The Butcher was the first to be eliminated by Archer. Kingston eliminated Sydal as the two battled on the apron. Finally, Archer and Eddie Kingston found themselves fighting on the ring apron while Kingston’s cohorts, The Butcher and the Blade, attempted to pull Archer to the floor. Archer’s manager Jake “The Snake” Roberts distracted Kingston enough with his trademark snake in the bag so The Murderhawk Monster was able to propel Kingston into Butcher and the Blade for the victory.

Broken Rules Match

Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara

Winner: Matt Hardy

Following several weeks of feuding between Hardy and Guevara, the two competed in a Broken Rules Match this evening. Essentially, this was a last man standing match which meant the winner would be declared after he could incapacitate his opponent to the point where he could not answer the referee’s ten count. This contest held potentially severe repercussions as Matt Hardy declared he would end his AEW career if he were unable to defeat The Spanish God. The match started near the football field and quickly proceeded to the backstage area of Daily’s Place. It appeared the match was cut prematurely short as Hardy took an ugly fall through a table and bounced his head off the concrete floor after which referee Aubrey Edwards called for the bell. Hardy then stalked Guevara back to the ringside area where the match was restarted at the ringside doctor‘s discretion. The two men then battled to the top of the ring entrance scaffolding where Hardy launched Guevara through the stage below. Guevara was unable to respond to the referee’s ten count hence proclaiming Hardy the victor.

AEW Women’s Championship

Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Thunder Rosa

Winner: Hikaru Shida via pinfall Hikaru Shida put her 105 day reign on the line this evening as she squared off with the current NWA Women’s World Champion, Thunder Rosa. On a side note, Thunder Rosa may have one of the best billings upon her entrance to the ring as Justin Roberts announced her from the graveyards of Tijuana, Mexico. This match was absolutely phenomenal and was quite possibly the best women’s match I’ve seen in a while. They displayed excellent technical prowess as old school moves such as The Pendulum used by Thunder Rosa and the Stretch Muffler by Shida were on display in this match, as well as, some proficient striking. Shida finally put Thunder Rosa away with a devastating sliding knee strike for the pinfall.

The Dark Order (Brodie Lee, Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, & Colt Cabana) vs. The Natural Nightmares (Dustin Rhodes & QT Marshall), Matt Cardona, & Scorpio Sky

Winners: The Natural Nightmares (Dustin Rhodes & QT Marshall), Matt Cardona, & Scorpio Sky

This match came to fruition after Brodie Lee decimated Cody Rhodes on Dynamite a few weeks ago to become the new TNT Champion and the rest of the Nightmare Family rallied for him. In the closing moments of this frenetically paced match, Colt Cabana begged for a tag back into the ring from Brodie Lee. Cabana then ascended to the top turnbuckle and attempted a moonsault, however, Dustin Rhodes rolled out of the way and quickly captured Colt in a rollup pin for the victory.

AEW Tag Team Championship

Kenny Omega & “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. FTR w/ Tully Blanchard
Winners: FTR via pinfall

Following FTR’s (better known as The Revival in WWE so one could speculate that FTR stands for F&ck The Revival but I digress) shocking debut on Dynamite earlier this summer, they immediately solidified themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the tag team division and set their sights on the champions, Page and Omega. One had to wonder entering this match how Omega and Page would co-exist after weeks of failing to remain on the same page despite managing to retain their titles. The descent within The Elite finally culminated recently as The Young Bucks kicked Page out of The Elite on Dynamite. Late in the contest, Page received a V Trigger from Omega after half of FTR ducked out of the way. Omega was then rewarded with a chop block that incapacitated him for the remainder of the bout. Page finally fell victim to the number’s game as he suffered a pair of spike piledrivers labeled The Mind Breaker as new tag team champions were crowned.

Mimosa Mayhem Match

Chris Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy

Winner: Orange Cassidy

Following a quite entertaining feud between two of the most charismatic wrestlers in the industry, Chris Jericho and Orange Cassidy’s rubber match would be in the form of a Mimosa Mayhem Match where the winner would be declared by pinfall, submission, or submerging his opponent in a mimosa-filled vat. The closing moments of the match saw Chris Jericho teetering on the middle turnbuckle with the mimosa vat just beneath him as Orange Cassidy executed two consecutive superman punches - the second launching Le Champion into the vat.

AEW Heavyweight Championship

Jon Moxley (c) vs. MJF w/ Wardlow

Winner: Jon Moxley via pinfall

The undefeated MJF spent the past several weeks “campaigning” his way into this contest for his first title shot in AEW. During his campaigning, he did manage to implement one key stipulation for this bout where Moxley would not have the luxury to utilize his signature finisher, The Paradigm Shift. In the closing moments, Wardlow distracted the referee and tossed the Dynamite Diamond ring into MJF, however, this created the window of opportunity that Moxley needed. With the referee still engaged with Wardlow, Moxley executed his patented Paradigm Shift allowing him to pin the bloodied MJF to retain his title and solidify his future date with Jake Roberts’ Murderhawk Monster, Lance Archer.

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AEW Revolution

By Steve Ward

After storming onto the scene in 2019, All Elite Wrestling sought to continue their meteoric rise as they made their way to the Windtrust Arena in Chicago for their first pay per view of 2020, Revolution. With arguably their most impressive card to date, the eight match card featured all three AEW titles defended including Chris Jericho vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW Heavyweight Championship.

The Buy-In Pre-Show

The Dark Order vs. SCU (Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky)

Winners: The Dark Order via pinfall

Much speculation entered this match as to the identity of “The Exalted One” who is the shot caller behind the Dark Order. For weeks there had been growing suspicion that “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels would reveal himself as their leader and this notion was reinforced by his glaring absence at ringside for the duration of this contest. Following Stu Grayson’s pinfall victory over Kazarian, the entire Dark Order proceeded to lay waste to SCU until Colt Cabana made his way to ringside in an attempt to even the odds to no avail. Just moments later, the Dark Order’s music resonated throughout the arena as a cloaked individual made his way onto the entrance ramp. The individual proceeded to reveal himself as “The Fallen Angel,” however, Daniels proceeded to rush the ring and vault over the ropes knocking Evil Uno to the canvas solidifying his allegiance to SCU in the process. This will surely continue the speculation as to the identity of “The Exalted One” leading many to believe it may indeed be Matt Hardy who’s contract with WWE expires March 1st or perhaps even Luke Harper who’s supposedly on his way to the promotion.

Main Card

Dustin Rhodes vs. Jake Hager

Winner: Jake Hager via submission

The main card of Revolution kicked off with a bang as the ageless Dustin Rhodes (who turns 51 on April 11) squared off with Jake Hager (known for his current Bellator career where he is undefeated and as Jack Swagger in WWE). Hager definitely displayed no signs of ring rust as he made his AEW in-ring debut after serving as Chris Jericho’s enforcer for the duration of his tenure to date. In the closing moments, Hager landed a low blow as the referee’s back was turned and proceeded to cinch in a standing side headlock/sleeper hold fusion for the submission victory.

Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara

Winner: Darby Allin via pinfall

In what was projected to be a potential show-stealer, these two competitors gave us our first “holy shit” moment just minutes into the match as Guevara incapacitated Allin and laid him out across a table at ringside. Guevara then proceeded to execute a flawless 630 senton which drove Allin through the table. This high-flying encounter ended in phenomenal fashion as Darby Allin executed the Coffin Drop to earn the pinfall victory.

AEW Tag Team Championship

Kenny Omega & “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. The Young Bucks

Winners: Kenny Omega & “Hangman” Adam Page via pinfall

This bout constituted a battle within The Elite as The Young Bucks earned a title shot against their brethren by surviving a battle royal recently on Dynamite. This was a five star match if I’ve ever seen one and quite possibly the best match I’ve seen in years. The closing moments alone were unbelievable. After Matt Jackson kicked out of the Buckshot Lariat and V Trigger combo by Omega and Page, Omega attempted the One Winged Angel but could not finish the move with his injured shoulder. Page proceeded to tag his way back into the match and executed the One Winged Angel himself, however, it still was not enough to put Matt Jackson away. Page would not be denied as he proceeded to nail the Buckshot Lariat on Nick Jackson out on the entrance ramp and turned around to execute it again on Matt Jackson to earn the pinfall.

AEW Women’s Championship

Nyla Rose (c) vs. Kris Statlander

Winner: Nyla Rose via pinfall

After Nyla Rose decimated Riho recently on Dynamite to become the new women’s champion, she made her first title defense this evening against Kris Statlander - who’s billed from…The Andromeda Galaxy. Kris Statlander gave Nyla Rose all she could handle in this contest. It appeared for a moment that Statlander was going to abruptly end Rose’s title reign after landing a suplex/brain buster off the top turnbuckle, however, the champ kicked out of the pinfall attempt. In an effort to put her away, Statlander then attempted a top rope hurricanrana but The Native Beast simply overpowered her and proceeded to break her in half with a Beast Bomb from the top turnbuckle scoring an easy pinfall in the process.

Cody w/ Arn Anderson & Brandi Rhodes vs. MJF w/ Wardlow

Winner: MJF via pinfall

Following weeks of running through Maxwell Jacob Friedman’s gauntlet to earn a match with him this evening, this match became extremely personal for Cody. After Cody was double crossed by MJF in his shot at the heavyweight championship against Chris Jericho late last year, when Friedman threw in the towel from The American Nightmare’s corner. Cody seemingly had this bout in the books after he executed two Cross Rhodes to a bloodied Friedman, however, MJF countered the third with a knee to the head followed by a shot between the eyes with the Dynamite Diamond Ring which allowed him to steal a pinfall.

PAC vs. Orange Cassidy w/ Best Friends

Winner: PAC via submission

“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy made his debut as a singles competitor this evening against “The Bastard” PAC (formerly known as Neville) after he assaulted Cassidy multiple times the past few weeks. Cassidy certainly impressed in this contest especially with the fact he fought a great deal of the bout with his hands in his pockets. Late in the match it appeared Cassidy was going to pull off a monumental upset after he landed a diving DDT off of the top rope, however, PAC rolled out of the ring. Trent proceeded to toss PAC back into the ring but the Lucha Bros decided to intervene in the match drawing the Best Friends away from ringside and distracting Cassidy long enough for PAC to cinch in the Brutalizer from behind for the submission victory.

AEW Heavyweight Championship

Chris Jericho (c) w/ Santana & Ortiz vs. Jon Moxley

Winner: Jon Moxley via pinfall

The main event of the evening came to fruition after Moxley denied Jericho’s offer to join the Inner Circle by responding with a champagne bottle to the face sparking a bitter rivalry for the past several weeks. Moxley solidified his position in this main event after defeating PAC in a number one contender’s match on a recent edition of Dynamite. The odds were certainly stacked against Moxley as he has made it a point to establish himself as a loner in AEW. Moxley overcame outside interference from the entire Inner Circle and a bloodied face to thwart “Le Champion” Chris Jericho in the closing moments with back to back Paradigm Shifts allowing him to cover for the 1-2-3 and become the second heavyweight champion in the company’s short history.

 

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