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AEW presents its Full Gear PPV Saturday night in Newark, NJ at the Prudential Center. Here's our take on what will happen at the show.
AEW Champion Jon Moxley with William Regal vs. MJF.
Dave: Well, I hope Mox remembers the show is Saturday and shows up. He didn't know what day the card was on Dynamite! What should happen here is that MJF should win and Tony Khan can see if by making him the top guy, MJF can turn around the faltering AEW business. Houses are way down. The go home rating this week was the lowest number since June. And we will see about the buys that the show does but we know All In was way down. AEW needs a spark so they might as well try a new champion. To be clear, I don't blame Moxley for the malaise around the company but Tony Khan isn't giving up the book any time soon so the main problem won't be addressed. Also, I am wondering what the buyrate will be now that it's clear that CM Punk lost out in "the investigation" and most probably won't be back. Also to be clear, when I say "lost out" I mean where working for AEW is concerned. I think he wins big when it comes to getting paid, either by Khan's choice or in the court system, for the decision Tony made when he chose The Elite over him.
Mike: Anything but MJF getting the pin clean is a mistake. The Firm runs in and interferes? Mistake. CM Punk shows up? Mistake. Regal turns on Moxley? Mistake. Mox hits him with the belt while the ref is bumped? Mistake. They have been teasing that MJF will be something of a tweener going forward and for this to get over the strongest, he has to shock the world and pin Moxley. No excuses. No foot on the ropes. This needs to be a strong first chapter for MJF.
Richard: This is an interesting match to discuss. You have the man who held this company together through upheaval and childish behavior from some people in the company facing a man who caused upheaval and exhibited childish behavior (on a much smaller scale than the Mayan Apocalypse actions that took place in Chicago). MJF has been strong on the mic leading into this match but he has only had one match since Double or Nothing. MJF has also made this quest for the title about William Regal as much as the man he faces in the ring. Is that a sign that there is an alliance between the two or is it the motivation for MJF to win the title. MJF has said that he wants to win the title without any of the means he has used in the past to win, but wouldn't that be what the 'devil' would say to placate the masses and lull them into a false sense of security? MJF will not use the diamond ring, but a pair of brass knuckles to beat Jon Moxley for the title. I do not think Regal turns on the BCC on Saturday, but the alliance between MJF and Regal will be revealed soon. And it is fitting that MJF, as the 'devil' will win the title in the building that the New Jersey Devils play in.
AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed with Billy Gunn vs. Swerve Strickland & Keith Lee.
Dave: There is no world where the belts should be taken off of The Acclaimed. Along with MJF, they are one of the few bright spots in the promotion right now.
Mike: Anthony Bowens tweeting in a sling worries me, but if he's healthy, The Acclaimed need to retain. They are far and away the most fun part of AEW at the moment and their work has been great. They need to be a strongly positioned going forward. I don't think a switch back, even to set up future rematches, would serve them or AEW well.
Richard: The Acclaimed might be the most over act in the company, maybe even the business and it would be a mistake for the titles to be taken off them at this time. With the issues between Lee and Strickland, I feel like I should be on retainer from one of them. This will be the end of the union between Lee and Strickland, but it will be Keith Lee who dooms his team to defeat by turning on Strickland.
AEW Interim Women's Champion Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter.
Dave: I hate the "interim" title. If Thunder Rosa can't come back in 30 days, the Interim title holder should become the champion. I would think Khan will want to get Saraya in the Title mix as soon as possible so I see him putting the belt on Hayter so that she will go against a heel.
Mike: Storm should already be champion. I expect this to be a lot of fun. Hayter always puts on strong performances and has had some momentum behind her. That said, I don't see Storm losing.
Richard: The new car smell might be off Toni Storm and it is time for the Women's division to go in a new direction with Hayter on top. To add more intrigue to this match, do you have Britt Baker at ringside for the match to try to help Hayter win through illegal means? Does Hayter accept the bait or does she show that she is honorable and wants to win the title honestly? Hayter becomes the new Interim champion. Jamie may have surpassed her 'mentor' in the eyes of the fans and it is time for her to be on top and start a feud with Baker over the title (as faces).
Ring of Honor Champion Chris Jericho vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Sammy Guevara vs. Claudio Castagnoli.
Dave: Given the horrible way that the ROH Title has been booked, the next step in the progression of putridness would be to put it on Sammy. Me? I would put it on Claudio. Then again, I would have never taken it off of Claudio, especially for someone who has an AARP card. The ROH Title should be revered, not a clown prop.
Mike: I don't think Dave is wrong with Sammy Guevara. The way Jericho acted like he was an afterthought, my first thought was Sammy is getting the title. But, my gut is Sammy has someone beaten but Jericho picks the bones and steals the win. No sense is changing the title here.
Richard: Claudio got Jericho to tap out on Wednesday night so that means he is probably not going to win on Saturday. It is sad to say that I think Bryan Danielson is beyond the point where he is perceived as a champion in this company the way he is booked. Does Chris Jericho have what it takes to beat his trusted student or will the student show that he can stab his mentor in the back and win the ROH Title. Jericho and Guevara will have a discussion during the match over which one of them will win, but Aubrey Edwards will miss Jericho using the bat and it will allow Jericho to pin Sammy. It is time for Sammy to get out of a faction to see if he can be successful on his own (with his wife by his side). This could set up Sammy and Jericho for Final Battle.
AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill vs. Nyla Rose.
Dave: The booking here has been pretty insipid as well, to the point I don't even care about this match. I would think Jade will win. She should.
Mike: Jade smashes Nyla and gets her title back. As a secondary story, I personally thought this was fine.
Richard: Jade Cargill has a world of potential, but is this the night that she has the match that will propel the potential into an exceptional ring performance? I am not sure, but her opponent might be one of the best options for it to happen. Is Nyla the one who should end the undefeated streak that has the Frank Dux credibility? I don't think so. The question is, who is the one to beat Jade, and will they have the confidence to put Jade on television on a regular basis? Is Saraya the one to do it?
AEW TNT Champion Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Samoa Joe.
Dave: Remember how hot Wardlow was when he broke away from MJF? It seems like forever ago. Khan just can't book someone well once they get over so what the hell, Hobbs goes over here and then Tony can book him badly once he gets over, just like he did to Wardlow.
Mike: After that performance at Grand Slam, this should be Hobbs' moment. Finally. Please.
Richard: Wardlow has fallen into the 'They are popular and win a title and then fall off the face of making you care' vortex and it has been a steep drop. Joe attacked Wardlow because no one in professional wrestling can be friends for longer than 4 weeks, unless you are part of a Chris Jericho storyline or are related. Powerhouse Hobbs has been on a roll and he seems poised to beat Wardlow to become the TNT champion. After you get that title put around your waist, do not fall into the vortex.
AEW Trios Champions Death Triangle vs. The Elite.
Dave: Ah, here it is. I love the logic here. Let's bring back the EVPs, over Punk, and then put them on the PPV as a surprise draw! Let's forget the fact that hundreds of thousands of fans turned off free TV for Kenny's return in the Trios tournament. That doesn't matter. People may turn off free TV but that doesn't mean they won't PAY to see him, right? RIGHT? Brilliant. Anyway, with Dynamite in Chicago next week, I want The Elite to win so that they can go on TV and get booed when the fans there assume that Tony chose them over CM Punk. Speaking of Chicago, good seats are still available, and lots of them.
Mike: The Elite shouldn't win here. Everyone will expect it, so Death Triangle should go over clean.
Richard: I would not have had the Elite return to the ring until after the PPV (maybe do it Wednesday in Chicago) so they would miss the PPV as a result of what happened after All Out. If they are not going to be forced to miss a PPV, maybe they are working for free and their payday is being donated to charity. As for the match, I don't know what to expect, other than a lot of flips, double and triple team moves that will pop the crowd but not make any sense for storytelling, and a lot of false finishes. Does this open the show? I am hoping for some type of 'brawl' between Alex and Cutler to take the referee's attention away from some cheating in the ring. I would not take the titles off Death Triangle yet, but you could throw the return of the House of Black into the mix so The Elite don't have to lose clean on their first match back. If The Elite do win the titles, instead of confetti, will they shoot muffins out of the confetti cannons?
Saraya vs. Dr. Britt Baker.
Dave: I just hope Saraya wrestling doesn't end up being a huge mistake. After his run here, I already wish Bryan Danielson hadn't come back. I hope I don't feel the same way about Saraya in the future. If she doesn't win here, Tony needs to fire himself as booker.
Mike: There's zero way Saraya comes back and does the job here. I expect she goes over and then goes on to beat Jade and Toni Storm, too. Just kidding.
Richard: If they wanted to turn Britt face, mission accomplished. Just like with Edge, Bryan Danielson, or any wrestler who has had significant injuries and returns to the ring, people will be hoping that nothing happens. If only the doctor's letter was signed by Britt (she is a doctor). Do you waste a big return by having Saraya lose the match? Does a loss by Britt hurt her in terms of her position on the women's hierarchy? Does Britt losing and Jamie winning cause some tension between them and maybe start Britt's quest to regain the women's title? Saturday night, the Prudential Center will be Saraya's house.
Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal with Sonjay Dutt vs. Sting and Darby Allin.
Dave: The babyfaces get revenge on the heels here. Pretty cut and dried.
Mike: I expect a rare AEW DQ here where Jarrett hits someone with the guitar. I don't see the point in having him come in and immediately lose.
Richard: The biggest question in this match is whether Darby or Sting will do some crazy dive during the match (and my money is on the kid with the full face of paint to do the crazier spot). Jarrett isn't taking the pin in this match so Sting pins Jay Lethal. Darby gets some revenge on Jarrett by hitting J-E-Double F with a S-K-A-T-E-B-O-A-R-D at some point in the match.
Steel Cage Match: Jungle Boy vs. Luchasaurus.
Dave: Ah, the feud that has made no logical sense comes to its end (hopefully). Jungle Boy has to win after all of the chicanery that has gone against him.
Mike: Jungle Boy needs to go over here and get into the hunt for the AEW or TNT titles,
Richard: Is the proper term 'ironic' or 'inappropriate' to have a steel cage match involving wrestlers with a dinosaur and 'feral' gimmicks? If they can have Peter Avalon and Brandon Cutler's feud last more than 3 years, then we are only in chapter four of this one. I just want one point in the match where Luchasaurus is dominating Jungle Boy and Christian shows some compassion and he holds out his hand like Chris Pratt in the Jurassic World movies to get Luchasaurus to stop the attack. Wasn't Jungle Boy supposed to be one of the breakout stars for this company? Jungle Boy should win this match, but what is next for him?
AEW Championship Eliminator Tournament Semifinals: Brian Cage vs. TBA (Lance Archer or Ricky Starks) on Zero Hour
Dave: It's gotta be Starks here. Well, it should be anyway.
Mike: I am in agreement here. Starks wins. Then goes on to beat Ethan Page. I don't see Page vs. MJF being as compelling right now as Starks vs. MJF.
Richard: With things pushed back due to Starks' not being cleared last week, we are getting the semifinals on Saturday with the winner moving on to Dynamite to face Ethan Page in the finals to see who faces the champion at Winter is Coming. I think Starks wins on Friday night to set up the Team Taz One Night Only Match. Starks seems to be the man who Tony has tried to push hard, but whenever that time comes up, Starks has an unfortunate injury. Starks should win this match, but if the winner of the Eliminator is facing the new champion in a few weeks, should Starks go into a title match he will most likely lose?
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