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AEW Full Gear was the wrestling promotion’s first pay-per-view since starting their weekly episodes on TNT, and the card was headlined with two main events, Jon Moxley versus Kenny Omega in a non-sanctioned Lights Out match, as well as Chris Jericho defending his AEW World Championship against Cody. On top of that, the AEW Tag Team and Women’s Championships were defended on the card.
With the expectations for this card elevated by many wrestling fans, did AEW’s biggest PPV deliver?
Let’s take a look at AEW Full Gear 2019, from the high to the low points:
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article belong to the writer and doesn't necessarily represent Sportsleeda's stand.
#1 High: Rock N Roll Express Get Revenge on Santana and Ortiz
After a good opening tag team match between The Young Bucks and Proud-n-Powerful to start off the pay-per-view, the Rock N Roll Express made an appearance from the crowd to get their revenge on Santana and Ortiz.
Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson of the Rock N Roll Express are known as one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling history, and were recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Both are still active wrestlers today, despite being in their 60’s, and are known for wrestling in all the major promotions for the last 30 years.
Morton and Gibson made their AEW debuts a week ago, on an episode of AEW Dynamite, to show off the new AEW Tag Team Championships. But they were attacked by Santana and Ortiz, ending with Morton taking a double powerbomb through the stage.
Fast forward to Full Gear, the Rock N Roll Express saved Matt and Nick Jackson from further punishment at the hands of Santana and Ortiz, evening the score with Proud-n-Powerful. Much to the delight of the audience, the 63-year old Morton hit a Canadian destroyer and an outside dive to the two Inner Circle members.
#1 Low: Shawn Spears vs. Joey Janela
The Shawn Spears versus Joey Janela match at AEW Full Gear was probably the worst match on the entire card. As amazing as every other match on the PPV was, Spears and Janela did not have the same chemistry as the others, and the match seemed off at times.
The match was still decent but it would have been better off at the pre-show or on a regular episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT. The fans were also not emotionally invested in this match since this was a new feud with only a week of build to it. Having to follow the great match between Hangman Adam Page and PAC did not help matters either.
#2 High: Triple Threat Tag Team Championship Match with the return of Christopher Daniels
AEW has the strongest tag team division in all of professional wrestling, and it showed in the Triple Threat Tag Team Championship Match at AEW Full Gear.
All three tag teams competing for the gold (SoCal Uncensored, Private Party, and the Lucha Brothers) put on a show to prove why they are the best tag team in the world, showing off their entire high-flying arsenal, to the delight of the fans. Although this was one of the shorter matches on the card, it was also one of the most entertaining.
Following the successful defense of the tag titles by SCU, Pentagon Jr. and Fenix of the Lucha Brothers attacked Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian of SoCal Uncensored, only to see the return of Christopher Daniels, the third member of SCU.
Daniels had been out of action for nearly a month after taking a piledriver at the hands of the Lucha Brothers and suffered a neck injury in the process. Dressed as a second Pentagon, The Fallen Angel got payback on the Lucha Bros, dropping them both and celebrating with the world tag titles.
#2 Low Point: Finish to Jericho vs. Cody for the AEW World Championship
The most anticipated match on this wrestling card was the main event between Chris Jericho and Cody for the AEW World Championship. For a match so important for the history of All Elite Wrestling, the finish was lacklustre.
The feud between Jericho and Cody has been ongoing for months, with both attacking each other, alongside their factions, The Inner Circle and The Elite, until they finally had a one-on-one match at Full Gear for the World Title.
On top of that, Cody announced an added stipulation that if he did not walk out as the World Champion, he would never challenge for the AEW World Title again.
Both competitors put on a great wrestling performance but the finish will be the talk of the match. After a gruelling struggle for 30 minutes, Jericho finally gained the upper hand, applying his submission move, The Liontamer, on a fading Cody. Instead of having The American Nightmare tap out, Maxwell Jacob Friedman (who accompanied Cody to the ring) threw in the towel to save Cody and end the match, leaving many fans confused what happened.
#3 High: MJF turns on Cody
Following the finish to his match with Jericho, Cody was visibly distraught at losing his only chance at becoming world champion.
MJF entered the ring to explain his actions and to console his friend and mentor, when the biggest shocker of the night occurred. Friedman kicked The American Nightmare low and shoved his face to the mat, ending their friendship, and creating a new feud.
The angle was brilliantly done and not expected by many fans, leading to MJF getting booed by the crowd. MJF is arguably the top heel in all of AEW following these actions, and was even hit by water on his way up the ramp by a fan. Friedman, at the age of 23, is one of the best workers on the mic in all of wrestling and it will be intriguing to see how this new feud develops between him and Cody.
#3 Low: Brutality of Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega
While the match between Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega was incredible, it was equally as violent. Moxley and Omega put on a classic that was easily the match of the night but might have turned away the casual wrestling fan because of the sheer recklessness and brutality that the bout showed.
Both Moxley and Omega risked life and limb in this match, using barbed wire baseball bats and brooms, broken glass, chains, and an ice pick, among other weapons, trying to end each other’s careers. By the finish of the match, they had destroyed the set of Full Gear and the ring itself, removing the padding to reveal only the wood panels.
The gimmick and unsanctioned matches are unnecessary and dangerous for these two AEW Superstars. It is ridiculous that both these wrestlers have to resort to these types of matches considering how good they both are in the ring without weapons.
Overall, AEW Full Gear was one of the best wrestling PPV’s of the year, and a step in the right direction for All Elite Wrestling.
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