Last night, AEW returned to the Prudential Center in Newark for its seventh annual “Full Gear.”
Last Wednesday’s episode of “Dynamite” may have left a bad taste in my mouth, but there’s no denying that the road to “Full Gear” was rockier than recent pay-per-views. Broadly speaking, the monthly pay-per-view cycle has created growing pains for the adolescent promotion. Shoehorning “Blood and Guts” between two shows like “WrestleDream” and “Full Gear” only exacerbated those issues, halting whatever momentum the promotion had.
So, imagine my surprise when the show began in the midst of El Sky Team’s defense of the CMLL World Trios Championship, against The Don Callis Family. Admittedly, I didn’t tune into the Tailgate Brawl. I love professional wrestling, but nine matches sounds like more than enough for me to sink my teeth into.
In many ways, this pay-per-view felt like an opportunity for AEW to hit the reset button, before the “Continental Classic” begins next week. New champions were crowned, and the contestants for this year’s “C2” have begun to emerge. Still, “Full Gear” suffered from many of the same nagging issues that ail every AEW pay-per-view. Namely, its staggering runtime and average match length. This was 30 minutes longer than “Gone with the Wind,” and that was distributed on two VHS cassette tapes.
By and large, AEW still managed to deliver another solid pay-per-view – complete with one match of the year contender and a myriad of other solid performances.
Rating: ***¼
Darby Allin vs. PAC
Since his descent from the summit of Mount Everest, Darby Allin has consistently raised the bar in his war against the Death Riders. At “Blood and Guts,” his reckless abandon reached a tipping point – when PAC threw Allin onto a burning table. The stunt left Allin with legitimate second degree burns across his torso, back, and right arm.
This match presented Allin with an opportunity to reestablish a neutral ground and hit the reset button. PAC is the perfect canvas for such an occasion, but that didn’t prevent Allin from torturing himself. The daredevil absorbed four or five of the most nauseating bumps this year and still persevered. The beauty of this match was Allin’s malleability and sheer attrition, matching the breadth of PAC’s arsenal whilst broken and battered.
Rating: ****¼
Sisters of Sin vs. Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir vs. Babes of Wrath vs. Timeless Love Bombs
This was utterly asinine. Four-way tag matches rely on the most mind-numbing mechanic in pro wrestling: the blind tag.
I understand the importance of representation, but this felt woefully out of place. This wouldn’t even have been the featured attraction on an episode of Wednesday Night “Dynamite.”
Rating: **¾
Brodido [c] vs. FTR
FTR’s quest for their 11th world tag team championship led them to Brodido. In August, both teams squared off in a stellar 30 minute time limit draw. Here, Brody King and Bandido desperately tried to hold the line. For the latter, this was another opportunity to stake his claim as the best wrestler of the year – whose contributions were tremendous in the back half of this affair.
Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler are true masters of their craft, tethering Brodido’s unique combination of size and explosivity with classic Southern tag strategy.
Rating: ****
Casino Gauntlet Match
AEW has miraculously found a way to structure these Casino Gauntlet matches, without adhering to a strict formula. Without getting in the weeds, the focal point of this match was the winner and inaugural AEW National Champion, Ricochet.
For a wrestler who’s been defined by his otherworldly athleticism, Ricochet’s evolution is unreal. He’s become one of wrestling’s premier stooges, fueled by cowardice and opportunism.
Rating: ***½
Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reiily
Long live Jon Moxley.
In July, Moxley made “Hangman” Adam Page look like the biggest babyface in human history. Last month, he made Darby Allin seem like the prince who was promised. Last night, he helped consummate Kyle O’Reilly as a made man.
Ric Flair was the barometer for transcendent professional wrestlers, because he was a blank canvas. The “Nature Boy” could wrestle any opponent, in any far flung corner of the world, and still produce. Moxley has reached that state of wrestling nirvana. The question is, how long can he sustain it?
Tough to say, especially after his emissaries betray him for his multitude of failures.
Bro, they’re gonna fucking kill Moxley https://t.co/vM6yfkTRtq pic.twitter.com/UJdjzJ58NG
— Dylan 🐎 (@youngpunked) November 23, 2025
Rating: ***½
MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Kyle Fletcher [c] vs. Mark Briscoe
If the title were hanging from the rafters, this would have been the best TLC match in over two decades.
Mark Briscoe is the greatest babyface of our age—becoming both the moral conscience and beating heart of AEW. Kyle Fletcher may be the present and future of professional wrestling, but last night belonged to Briscoe.
Long may he reign.
Rating: ****½
Kenny Omega & Jurassic Express vs. Josh Alexander & Young Bucks
The winning team would receive a $1,000,000 cash prize.
Jack Dempsey generated boxing’s first million-dollar gate in 1921, against Georges Carpentier. It’s time we talk about remunerative discrepancies in combat sports.
Jokes aside, I’m not interested in the interpersonal dynamics of the Elite in the big 2025. Maybe that’s an emotional barrier of entry for this match, but it’s one I can’t hurdle. The Jurassic Express feel like emotionally stunted children, caught in the middle of their father’s bitter divorce. Josh Alexander is just… there – which perfectly encapsulates his tenure in AEW.
Rating: ***
Kris Statlander [c] vs. Mercedes Mone
The guy holding Mercedes Mone’s TBS Championship needs to be signed immediately.
There’s no entrance like a @MercedesVarnado entrance!
Watch #AEWFullGear on HBO Max PPV pic.twitter.com/RXxWDTftLJ
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) November 23, 2025
Mone has been batting a thousand this year, collecting championship belts like infinity stones. The AEW Women’s World Championship would be the crown jewel in her collection. Being the final match in a trilogy, this worked exceptionally well. I think it’s safe to say this is one of the better trilogies in American women’s wrestling history.
Rating: ***¾
“Hangman” Adam Page [c] vs. Samoa Joe
The “Hangman.” The “Samoan Submission Machine.” An unforgiving steel cage. The AEW Men’s World Championship hanging in the balance.
“Hangman” Adam Page was beckoned to the ring by “American Venom,” from “Red Dead Redemption 2.” At least that’s what Twitter said. I wouldn’t know, because I don’t play video games.
I try not to become overly preoccupied with wins and losses in professional wrestling. Least of all, who wins and loses championships. They’re not real, after all. Still, my kneejerk reaction was to feel as though AEW had failed “Hangman” Adam Page. We were only 133 days into his career defining second reign as men’s world champion and he lost a rematch to Samoa Joe?
Oh wait, I forgot – it’s Samoa Joe. I love Samoa Joe. If anyone were to “prematurely” end Page’s reign, I’m glad it was Joe.
Woah. Samoa Joe is AEW Champ!!! pic.twitter.com/5SSGZn9hYk
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) November 23, 2025
What I take umbrage with is HOOK’s role in the ordeal. Sure, the signs were there, but HOOK’s lack of progression is astonishing. Why he’s at the center of “Full Gear’s” biggest angle is beyond me.
For what it’s worth, Swerve Strickland’s return was epic. He looks like he ate Isaiah Scott, in the best way imaginable. Seeing Strickland and Page standing shoulder to shoulder was a triumphant way to end this pay-per-view, if nothing else.
Rating: ****
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