AEW held its penultimate pay-per-view of 2023 on Saturday night with Full Gear, headlined by world champion MJF defending against “Switchblade” Jay White.
This blockbuster main event capped a show that saw every major title in the promotion on the line, the culmination of several celebrity feuds, and the unveiling of a new addition:
Who signed on the dotted line, which championships changed hands, and was MJF able to overcome recent adversity by retaining his title?
Find out with this recap from Full Gear, complete with scores and analysis for every game of the night.
In the run-up to Saturday’s show, the following were announced:
- AEW World Championship: MJF (c) vs. Jay White
- International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Jon Moxley
- AEW Tag Team Championship Ladder Match: FTR vs. La Facción Ingobernable vs. Kings of the Black Throne vs. Big Bill and Ricky Starks (c)
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm
- TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (c) vs. Skye Blue vs. Julia Hart
- Texas Death Match: “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland
- Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho vs. The Young Bucks
- Adam Copeland, Darby Allin and Sting vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne
- Ring of Honor World Championship: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Jay Lethal (Zero Hour)
- Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: MJF and Samoa Joe (c) vs. The Gunns (Zero Hour)
- Claudio Castagnoli vs. Buddy Murphy (Zero Hour)
Photo credit: All Elite Wrestling
Eddie Kingston defended the Ring of Honor World Championship against Jay Lethal to kick off the evening’s Zero Hour pre-show.
While Stokeley Hathaway watched from the commentary position, Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, Karen Jarrett and Sonjay Dutt made their presence felt ringside without causing any repercussions.
Lethal controlled the pace and dominated the action, but the courageous Kingston never gave up and fought his way back into the fight. Just when it looked like Jeff Jarrett’s trademark guitar would play a role in the final moments of the competition, Ortiz appeared and overwhelmed Dutt.
The distraction allowed Kingston to rock Lethal back with his fist and score the successful title defense.
It was a good enough match to open the show, as too much attention was paid to the ringside crowd, Hathaway’s revenge against the champion grew worse in the commentary, and Ortiz reunited with his friend after the clash.
Kingston deserved better than have his ROH title reign wasted in the opening match of the kickoff shows in front of half-empty arenas.
Result
Kingston defeated Lethal to retain
Degree
C+
Top moments and takeaways
- “What can I do?” Stokeley Hathaway of the Ring of Honor board said, at the urging of Tony Schiavone, that he would allow interference from Lethal’s teammates at ringside.
- Ortiz appeared, grabbed Jarrett’s guitar and hit Dutt with it. After the game, he appeared to reunite with Kingston.
- When Kingston provides a live microphone, it’s always a fun experience, regardless of the setting. He managed to do this here after his victory.
Photo credit: All Elite Wrestling
When you take two wrestlers of the caliber of The House of Black’s Buddy Matthews and Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli and put them in the ring with no frills or outside interference, you’re setting your show up for some damn good in-ring action.
Neither man disappointed on Saturday night, putting up a good, hard fight that left both men injured and welted, but in which Castagnoli ultimately won with the sniper.
The match did nothing to increase the discontent between the BCC and The House of Black, but it did give fans a preview of things to come later on the main show, with some great in-ring action and a quality win Castagnoli and Matthews could have used the win more.
Result
Castagnoli defeated Matthews
Degree
B+
Top moments and takeaways
- Cries of “We want mommy” aren’t exactly what you hope for when a guy as talented as Buddy Matthews is in the ring. This is an indictment of the creative for not giving fans a reason to care enough about Matthews outside of his role in House of Black.
- Matthews used a jackhammer. The mystery signing is definitely Goldberg.
- The physical toll of the game was evident on Castagnoli, who had cuts and abrasions on the right side of his head and left shoulder.
Photo credit: All Elite Wrestling
AEW World Champion MJF was eager to team with Samoa Joe to defend the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship against The Gunns on Saturday night, and that was evident on numerous occasions throughout the match.
He didn’t want to tag Joe, even turning his back on him at one point, but ultimately realized he would need The Destroyer’s support if he wanted to retain the titles.
Joe made sure to do just that as he took the fight to the challengers towards the end of the match. As Austin and Colten Gunn got the best of him, Adam Cole made a surprise appearance that caused a distraction and allowed Joe to score the win with a Coquina Clutch.
After the match, the heels beat MJF down and destroyed his knee with a steel chair, casting doubt on his ability to defend the AEW World Championship against “Switchblade” Jay White later that night and setting up a cliffhanger at the end of Zero Hour cared show.
A solid match, strong storytelling and a great angle helped make this the best part of the kickoff show.
Result
MJF and Samoa Joe defeated The Gunns to retain the title
Degree
B+
Top moments and takeaways
- MJF wore a purple and yellow robe to the ring with “365” written on the back. Excalibur accused him of being presumptuous, considering his 365th day as world champion isn’t until tomorrow and he still has a main event against Jay White scheduled for later in the show.
- “I don’t need your help,” MJF told Joe, then turned his back on the former ROH TV Champion as he went after Austin Gunn.
- Cole’s unexpected appearance caused a huge bang, which should allay any concerns that he would somehow lose popularity or momentum due to his injury.
Photo credit: All Elite Wrestling
Sting’s final match in the state of California was the opener of Full Gear and saw him team with Darby Allin and “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland to take on TNT Champion Christian Cage, Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne in trios action defeat.
The match featured a stunning punch from Allin and both character work and spectacle befitting the legendary competitors in this match. Was it a great game? Not at all, and especially not when Ric Flair got involved late.
Still, it was an entertaining opener with considerable energy and a fitting conclusion as the cowardly Cage left his teammates behind to fight his battle for him. Things didn’t go well and now the question is whether the feud between these two sides will continue.
Result
Copeland, Allin and Sting defeated Cage, Luchasaurus and Wayne
Degree
C+
Top moments and takeaways
- A children’s choir sang the heel team to the ring because Christian Cage is there for the children.
- It shouldn’t be lost on anyone that Wayne is in the ring with three legitimate Hall of Famers. What a time for this young competitor.
- Allin took a sickening fall over the rope and hit the apron on the way down as Jackass’ Steve-O watched at ringside.
- Luchasaurus looked strong as he survived a three-on-one attack and stood his ground.
- Cage ran through the crowd to avoid further blows, leaving his teammates to suffer defeat.
Photo credit: All Elite Wrestling
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defeated Jon Moxley more clearly than anyone else in the company’s nearly five-year history, retaining his title and leaving no doubt as to who the better man is.
Freshley Squeezed absorbed everything Moxley threw at him, bloodied his challenger and rocked him with six orange punches before pinning him after the beach break.
It was a fitting conclusion to a months-long story and a defining moment in Cassidy’s career.
Moxley doesn’t lose like that. He is so rarely on the losing side of a game, and certainly not so clearly that it means more. It’s more memorable. More than anything, it’s a sign of the former world champion’s respect for Cassidy that he would be willing to outwit him to this extent.
A big moment for Cassidy, a strong match with great storytelling and a red-hot crowd helped make this a huge win for this show.
Result
Cassidy pinned Moxley to retain the title
Degree
A
Top moments and takeaways
- Tony Schiavone announced in a pre-match promo segment that MJF was injured and would not be able to defend the AEW World Championship later that evening. Adam Cole interrupted him and agreed to do this in his place. This was despite the fact that he was injured and had recently undergone surgery. The booking makes no sense, no matter what major angle AEW has planned for the main event segment. A big mistake.
- On paper, Cassidy and Moxley shouldn’t have the in-ring chemistry that they do.
- Oh look, Moxley is bleeding. At least it makes sense in the context of the story, since he tracked down Cassidy at All Out in September and fired up Freshley Squeezed and returned the favor here.
- “Where’s the turnbuckle?!” Bryce Remsburg was heard asking, a rare referee not fully aware of his surroundings in a pro wrestling ring.