This Saturday is the penultimate AEW PPV of 2024, Full Gear! Like last year's November spectacular, this lineup isn't the most stacked, but as always I'll give this company the benefit of the doubt when it comes to PPV. In addition to the eight main card matches we'll finally get that Mariah May Championship Celebration she's been teasing for three months. I guess Toni Storm wasn't ready to come back until now? As of now there is at least one sin of omission on this lineup, a match they were seemingly building over the last few weeks. I suppose it could still be announced at the eleventh hour, but how is Konosuke Takeshita vs. Ricochet not on here?
Anyway, let's look at what IS on here....
Zero Hour: "Big Boom" AJ vs. QT Marshall
This is just a cross-promotional thing and if this YouTuber guy I've never heard of before now gets more eyes on the AEW product I'm fine with it as a pre-show deal. AJ was apparently an indie wrestler 20 years ago so someone, maybe QT himself, figured let's bring him in to draw some casual viewers. Problem is they didn't really do much with it on AEW television. But whatever, AJ will get a feelgood win.
Pick: AJ
TNT Championship: Jack Perry vs. Daniel Garcia
Finally Danny's getting a title match on PPV. He really should've beaten MJF a few months ago but hadn't signed his new deal yet, not sure why. This feud has been lowkey pretty interesting, with Garcia easily manhandling Perry but unable to get to him psychologically. Like a Batman-Joker dynamic. I hope if Garcia wins (and I think he will), Perry continues to turn him into a monster like they've been teasing. Hell, even Daddy Magic was uncomfortable with how far Danny went. The followup will be key here. Match should be very good.
Pick: Garcia
AEW Tag Team Championship: Private Party vs. The Outrunners vs. The Acclaimed vs. Kings of the Black Throne
This should be a very fun party match that will hopefully continue to build PP as champs but also up the credibility of The Outrunners and Malakai & Brody. Both of the latter teams could use a run with the titles at some point.
Pick: Private Party retains
Hangman Page vs. Jay White
These two had a helluva contest last month and they're doing it again. Hangman is mad as hell and ain't gonna take it anymore. I expect him to even the score this time.
Pick: Hangman
MJF vs. Roderick Strong
This is just weird to me. How was Adam Cole not added to make this a three-way match? Are they saving MJF-Cole for World's End so it can be a full year in the making? Also why is Kyle O'Reilly trying to discourage Cole from settling this feud? I need answers. Match should be really good but the build has been odd.
Pick: MJF
Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher
This will undoubtedly steal the show, as their Dynamite match early this year rocked and now there's an actual story behind this. Betting odds favor Will but I think that's a mistake. Kyle needs a big win to define his early career as a Don Callis guy. Will can stand a loss and can always get a revenge win later. The Callis Family needs some credibility (another reason Takeshita-Ricochet should be on this show - I know Ric is still new but a loss to the International Champ won't kill him).
Pick: Kyle
TBS Championship: Mercedes Moné vs. Kris Statlander
The lone women's match on the show pits the AEW original vs. the superstar import. Statlander has been pretty great in the ring this year and should be able to give Mercedes the signature match Britt and Shida couldn't. I hope this gets a good amount of time to stand out. Kamille is on her way to a babyface turn, clearly, but based on her match with Kris I'm not sure she's ready yet. Regardless, Moné is keeping the title.
Pick: Mercedes retains
Swerve Strickland vs. Bobby Lashley
The build for this has been solid and the match should be as well. Lashley really hasn't had a meaningful singles match since Royal Rumble 2022 I think, and even that was another one-dimensional Brock Lesnar squash. His last really memorable singles match was against Drew McIntyre the year before. It's really astounding how quickly WWE went from making Bobby a world-beater to feeding him to Goldberg and turning him into an also-ran. And then Triple H just didn't have anything for him to do. Anyway Swerve will make Lashley look like a million bucks.
Pick: Lashley has to win the first round
AEW Championship: Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy
This is the rubber match for these two. They had a classic at All Out 2023 and good-but-not-great match at Full Gear 2023. This one should be much closer to the former. It's pretty obvious the Death Riders angle will culminate in Darby Allin finally unseating Mox for the title, but I like the idea of a series of AEW originals challenging him in the meantime. Cassidy always delivers and Mox is a great monster heel. There's no suspense in the outcome but this will be a "chapter match" so to speak. You have to get through the obvious stuff to make the climax of the feud mean something.
Pick: Mox retains
It's a solid show on paper but not a calendar year highlight. Still there are a lot of stories playing out and most of the card should deliver. But can we add Takeshita-Ricochet so we get another guaranteed banger?
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