AEW Full Gear Review 23/11/24

Hello everyone, I am one half of your Irn Bruiserweights bringing you your AEW Full Gear Review. So let's get into it.

Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard (Zero Hour), Nigel McGuinness (Main PPV)

Match 1 Zero Hour: Deonna Purrazzo (w/ Taya Valkyrie) vs Anna Jay.

Flipping the breaker from Anna gets a 2. Taya gets involved and grabs the leg as Anna tries to climb the turnbuckle. Purrazzo takes control with a short-arm lariat and gets a 2 count. Pump kick connects and a flat liner, but Anna reverses a submission into a pin attempt for 2. Flying elbows from Jay, a heel kick in the corner and an Iconoclasm connects for 2.

Side Russian legsweep from Deonna, Fujiwara armbar attempt, but Anna reaches the ropes. Hanging neckbreaker over the middle rope from Anna, but Taya is right there and spears her. Referee Mike Posey saw it and ejected Taya, happy for the match to continue I guess. Armbar cranked on by Deonna, but Anna rolls into a cover, 1, 2, 3.

Winner: Anna Jay

Time: 7:22

Rating: **1/2 – Fine stuff from these women, and good to see Deonna back on our screens as she’s been rather sidelined on AEW TV as of late.

*Lexy Nair is with Billie Starkz backstage! Billie will be competing for a spot at Wrestle Dynasty, but here comes Red Velvet to ruin the parade, she’ll be in the match too. Here comes Leyla Hirsch…and Athena, as they’ll both be in the qualifying four-way too. Athena gloats that she’s beaten all of them.

*Lexy Nair is now with QT Marshall, asking if he’s going to lay out Big Boom AJ tonight. Marshall runs down New Jersey, despite being from here, and promises that he will be the one to bring the boom.

Match 2 Zero Hour: Dante Martin vs The Beast Mortos vs Komander vs Buddy Matthews

Buddy and Mortos try to face off, but the smaller guys interfere while they’re distracted. Mortos overpowers both Komander and Dante with a test of strength until Komander assists Dante with a boost on a moonsault. Dante helps Komander with a crossbody too.

Buddy brings Komander to the top rope but gets tossed outside. Tijeras on Mortos from Martin, thrust kick as well, but Buddy kicks him to the floor. Mortos with a tornillo to take out Martin on the outside! Matthews meets them with a dive too…and here comes Komander with the Salute the Spaceman rope walk dive. He misses the rope walk SSP though, but nails a hurracanrana on Mortos.

Tilt-a-whirl lungblower by Mortos on Komander, and a Samoan Drop on Martin – Mortos is going wild! Matthews catches him with a draping DDT. Matthews lawn darts Komander into Martin and follows up with a jackhammer for 2, broken up by Mortos.

Rising knee in the corner, Matthews shoves Komander to the floor. Pump handle is reversed into a pinning combo by Martin. Nice pin on Komander gets a 2. Meteora on Martin, Komander with a satellite DDT on Matthews, but Mortos meets him with the sling blade crucifix bomb!! Mortos headbutts Matthews, tiger feint sweep to Mortos by Komander and a reverse hurracanrana. Dante tries to pin Mortos, but Buddy Matthews comes in with a curb stomp and steals the pin for the 1, 2, and 3.

Winner: Buddy Matthews

Time: 10:33

Rating: ***1/4 – Fun as hell and a great selling point for the PPV. Matthews was over with the crowd, we’ve got to give him more of a spotlight, ASAP.

Match 3 Zero Hour: Big Boom AJ w/ Big Justice From Costco Guys vs QT Marshall

I am not a Costco Guys fan, but I saw a great Reddit thread earlier from a NJ indy worker, extolling the virtues of AJ and how much of a nice guy he is. On guest commentary for this match is Paul Wight…and the timekeeper is the Rizzler. I literally have no idea what this is going to be like, I can’t even manage to set expectations.

Snapmare takes over from Marshall and he instantly gloats about outclassing AJ. AJ responds with a fireman’s carry takeover. Powerslam by AJ gets 2, and the crowd is into it. Back body drop and a lariat sends Marshall to the floor. AJ heads out after him and gets into it with Marshall’s security detail, allowing QT to make the dive…but AJ ducks, and Marshall wipes out the security guards with a tope con hilo. Back in the ring, a Marshall DDT potentially spells DOOM for AJ.

Belly-to-belly from AJ creates some space however. QT walks into some lariats and a spinebuster, and AJ seems blown up. He heads to the top though and hits a diving…fist? Running powerslam connects, 1, 2, no. Handspring enziguri from Marshall, followed by a cutter! 1, 2, no. QT heads out of the ring to go over to the Rizzler, but Paul Wight gets up from the desk and gets in his face.

Marshall to the top rope, cut off by AJ. Superplex by Big Boom. He looks for a powerbomb but here comes Aaron Solow. The distraction allows QT to hit a pump kick. But here comes Big Justice with a SPEAR! PowerBOOM connects, 1, 2, 3.

Winner: Big Boom AJ

Time: 11:46

Rating: ** – The crowd were pretty hot for it which made it a lot more watchable than it might have been. I don’t know if this brings new eyes to the product, but it’s harmless fun, and Marshall is a fine choice to take the fall here.

*Mercedes Mone and Kamille are WALKING backstage. Mone says this past month has been embarrassing, and Kamille’s actions have been pathetic. Kamille briefly gets in the face of Mone, but Mone reminds her of what she’s done in the business. Tonight, Kamille can watch the match from catering instead, and she can watch how a real woman gets the job done.

Match 4 AEW Tag Team ChampionshipsPrivate Party (c) vs The Outrunners vs Kings Of The Black Throne vs The Acclaimed

Live version of the Kings of the Black Throne theme as Brody and Black are played to the ring by the band, good stuff. Caster isn’t a fan, making a reference to it in his rap. Caster says “Everybody loves the best wrestler alive” and then throws the mic at Bowens. Caster also fails to scissor Bowens as more dissension is teased.

First pinfall/submission to a finish, so the champs don’t have to be pinned to lose the titles. Black and Quen start this out with some arm work from Black. Black sits in front of Quen but Quen demands he gets up. Stalemate from both men, Black misses The End as Quen ducks out of it. Black is backed into the corner, and Bowens tags himself in.

Zay too, receives a Fameasser. Caster is flexing to the crowd and misses Bowens’ call for a tag. Magnum in and the Outrunners get a little double teaming in on Zay. Body slam and a pose off! Floyd takes on all comers, sends Black to the outside and flexes again…but Brody is right behind him. Floyd hulks up and absorbs some chops…and runs right into a HUGE lariat. Brody sends Turbo into the corner of the barricade, and then works over Bowens along with Black. Superplex/double stomp combo connects, and Black hits the triangle moonsault to the outside.

Zay in, gis ets his legs swept out from under him, and a senton by Brody connects. Acclaimed and Outrunners all target King and Black now, and with Black sent to the outside, EVERYONE piles on Brody. Scissor me timbers! Bowens wants to scissor with Floyd, but Caster takes out Floyd, boo! Bowens suplexes Floyd, walks into a lungblower from Zay. Quen enziguris

Magnum as Private Party ascend opposite buckles. Stereo 450s on the Outrunners, 1, 2, no! Back elbows from the Outrunners connect…SUNNAVABITCH ELBOW! Total Recall is avoided though and Bowens runs into a Boss Man Slam from King. Cannonball/running boot combo from the Kings, again in the opposite corner but Caster takes Black out on the apron.

Total Recall on Brody King!! 1, 2, no, broken up by the Acclaimed. Springboard dropkick takes out Black. Bowens and Caster tag themselves in and are both legal. Caster drops to the mat and asks Bowens to pin him, which he obliges, but Zay comes in with a swanton to break it up. Roaring elbow from Bowens! Crucifix from Bowens, but Caster tagged himself in again so Bowens isn’t legal. The Arrival, but the Mic Drop is interrupted. Gin and Juice on Caster! 1, 2, 3.

Winners and STILL AEW World Tag Team Champions: Private Party

Time: 13:29

Rating: ***1/2 – Fast-paced action from the get-go, and the story of Caster being a dick and causing friction within the Acclaimed was a nice little throughline to create some added drama and intrigue.

*Lexy Nair interviews Orange Cassidy backstage. The Death Riders sent him a message on Wednesday, but tonight they send a message back, AEW sends a message back. It started with Private Party just then, who equally started 5 years ago here.

AEW means everything to them, as it does for OC, and all these fans here. None of this exists without AEW. Tonight, OC shows that AEW doesn’t need Jon Moxley. He will become the new AEW World Champion.

Match 5 MJF vs Roderick Strong

MJF spills to the floor as the bell rings and grabs a mic. He says people like Strong because he’s white trash just like them. While MJF is out shooting movies, Strong’s mama is shooting his dad. Yikes. Strong fires up on him and chops him all over the ringside area. MJF gets the fingers of Strong INSIDE the turnbuckle and wrenches back. Doctor bomb on the apron! MJF continues to work the arm, stomping on the hand and then whipping him shoulder first into the turnbuckles.

Half nelson backbreaker from Strong evens things up, but Strong’s hand is already in bad shape. Leaping leg lariat and a running sick kick connect, before Strong gets MJF on the shoulders and launches him into the buckles. Olympic slam, 1, 2, no.

Divorce court from MJF as Strong struggles to the apron now. Heatseeker attempt is shrugged off, Strong sends MJF to the floor and comes back with a basement dropkick, before whipping him into the barricade and delivering a back suplex across it. Mule kick from MJF in the corner, and he mocks Cole with an “MJF Bay Bay!” but Strong pulls him off the middle rope into a spinning backbreaker.

Diving double stomp to the outstretched arm of Strong, followed by the hammerlock DDT into a cover, 1, 2, no! Eye poke by MJF, but Strong hits a dropkick and locks in a Texas Cloverleaf. He can’t clasp his hands together and has to relinquish the hold. Right hand from MJF which Strong appeared to be waiting for. Forearm smash by Strong, MJF headbutts the arm, but Strong with the End of Heartache! 1, 2, MJF gets the foot on the ropes.

MJF bails to the floor, Strong brings him back inside, but it allows MJF time to roll him up for 2. Strong with a torture rack backbreaker! Stomach breaker to follow and the sick kick connects once more. End of Heartache attempt again but MJF reverses and hits a brainbuster, leaving both men down and out on the canvas. MJF rolls over into the Salt of the Earth and Strong has to tap.

Winner: Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Time: 13:35

Rating: ***1/2 – MJF is a master at limb work, and this was no different, working over the arm of Strong in the opening moments in order to soften him up for the Salt of the Earth. Smart stuff

MJF grabs a steel chair after the match, and traps Strong’s arm in it, before hitting a running stomp! YOU KNOW IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BOOM! Adam Cole is here but it’s too late.

MJF hightails it into the crowd while the Undisputed Kingdom and Kyle O’Reilly tend to Strong. O’Reilly shoves Cole, livid at the situation. Taven and Bennett offer to help Cole up, but Cole indicates it’s fine.

Match 6 AEW TBS Championship Mercedes Mone (c) vs Kris Statlander

I don’t think I’m alone in being severely underwhelmed by Mone’s offerings in AEW so far, but Statlander performs very well on PPV so this could turn things around for Mercedes.

Statlander with a double choke lift, tossing Mone into the corner. Mone grounds Statlander with some mounted punches, goes for a suplex but can’t lift her. Statlander hoists Mercedes onto her shoulders and delivers a gorilla press slam. Flipping senton, moonsault press, 1, 2, no. Mercedes heads to the floor for a breather. Statlander looks to suplex Mone to the outside, but Mone puts the brakes on. Hurracanrana on the apron, sending Statlander to the floor.

Meteora off the apron, and now Mercedes looks like she’ll happily take the count-out win. Stat sits by the steel steps, and Mone runs in for a Meteora into the steps! Back in the ring, more double knees in the corner, cover for 2.

One more running Meteora, 1, 2, no. Mone with a middle rope Meteora, we’re up to 5 now? Neckbreaker to escape a powerbomb from the champion gets a 2. Sunset flip bomb into the corner, ANOTHER running Meteora, and another 2 count.

Straitjacket submission applied, Mercedes tries a tornado DDT but Statlander throws her off. Mone goes for ANOTHER frickin Meteora but Statlander caught her and delivers a buckle bomb. Running uppercut and a knee lift from Statlander, followed by a wheelbarrow German! 1, 2, Mone gets the foot on the ropes. Crucifix bomb into a cover from Mone, 1, 2, no.

Bank Statement applied! But Statlander rolls over. Mone on her shoulders, they reverse each other until Mone gets a backstabber. 1, 2, no. Another diving Meteora connects for Mone but just gets a 2. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a discus lariat get a 2 for Statlander. She lifts Mone into an inside hook but Mone rolls through.

Statlander rolls through that one and hits the Saturday Night Fever! 1, 2, no! Stat looks for something in the corner but a spike DDT from Mercedes counters. Three Amigos, and now Mone heads to the top rope…frog splash but Statlander is up and she catches her, F5!! 1, 2, NOOO! Damn good nearfall.

Statlander heads to the top rope, 450 splash misses! Mone instantly goes after the knee like a shark smelling blood. Mone up top, frog splash onto the knee! 1, 2, NO, Stat kicks out. Backstabber delivered twice, followed by the Mone Maker, 1, 2, STATLANDER GETS THE ARM UP. Mone slaps Statlander, goes for a backslide, but Statlander gets one of her own.

Mahistral cradle denied…Statlander gets Mone on her shoulders! Electric Chair face drop! She tries for the Saturday Night Fever but Mone attacks the knee while upside down! Momentum carries her into a pinning position, 1, 2, 3!

Winner and STILL TBS Champion: Mercedes Mone

Time: 19:23

Rating: **** – Well damn, this was MUCH better stuff from Mone than what we’ve seen in recent months, although what was up with Mercedes SPAMMING the Meteoras? I get they went with the ‘went to the well one too many times’ trope, but that was overkill.

Outside of that though, this was a great offering which kept building and building. The kind of match where both women come out of it looking tremendous. The finish was a bit of a damp squib but not enough to take away from the match itself. Statlander really solidifying herself as easily one of the best in the division.

Match 7 Jay White vs Hangman Adam Page

White builds early momentum with repeated chops, but Page delivers an overhead belly to belly suplex to dump White to the floor. He whips the leg/ankle of White across the ring apron, and then smashes it into the ringpost.

Elbow drop to the ankle, Page starts punching it before delivering a leg DDT. Belly to back suplex, White kicks out before 1. Hangman stands on the ankle of White, bending it to the side. White tries to target Hangman’s legs in response, before nailing a snap DDT for 2.

Fall away slam into the buckles, with White’s ankle hitting the corner posts for added damage. Page sets him up on the top rope, biting the forehead…fall away slam from the top, 1, 2, no.

White manages to capitalize by whipping the leg of Page into the ringpost. He takes Page to the top rope for a superplex and nails it. 1, 2, no. Hangman boots him away and White tries a suplex but the ankle bothers him, giving Page a chance to fire off a chopblock to the leg.

White does the same to Page in return. Both men are struggling on one leg now as they trade strikes. Page goes for a lariat but White uses the momentum and follows through with a beautiful snap flatliner. Uranage attempt denied, Page with a Ligerbomb! 1, 2, no.

They work to the apron, where Page looks for the Dead Eye. HALF NELSON SUPLEX on the apron from White! And another one on the floor, good Lord. White returns to the ring to break the count. They both head up onto the ramp, where White attempts a kneebreaker but Page counters and tosses him into the barricade.

Page traps the ankle of White between the barricades and stomps it. Ankle lock! They’re on the outside so referee Paul Turner shouts at him to get him back in the ring. White claws his way towards the ring, but Page pulls him back at 9. White still makes it in, somehow.Page looks for the Buckshot but Jay catches him, uranage? No, Page gets the ankle lock again, and stomps the head for added measure.

White gets Page on the apron and hits a dragon screw in the ropes. Uranage finally connects, 1, 2, no. Jay is thinking Blade runner, but Hangman rolls him through into the ankle lock again…but now it’s White who reverses into an inverted figure four.

Hangman inches his way to the ropes and makes it, forcing White to break the hold. Page stomps the ankle, but White grabs the leg and hits another dragon screw. DEAD EYE out of nowhere. And AGAIN! 1,2, NO!

Page skins the cat out to the apron for the Buckshot, countered into a Blade runner, no reversed again. Another reversal of the Buckshot, and White catches him with the Blade runner! 1, 2, 3! 5 career victories for White over Hangman.

Winner: Jay White

Time: 19:52

Rating: **** – Some complained about this being on consecutive PPVs, but these guys always deliver. The legwork was tremendous, and all the counter wrestling was insanely well pulled off. I don’t think I’d get bored of this combination.

Page attacks White as he exits up the ramp as this clearly isn’t over between them. Christopher Daniels comes out to remonstrate with Hangman, but Hangman DECKS him with a right hand!

Match 8 Kyle Fletcher (w/ Don Callis) vs Will Ospreay

It’s Dark Ospreay tonight as he is all in black with Punisher-inspired attire. Looks pretty cool. Great presentation for Kyle Fletcher too who has been presented as a huge deal since turning on Ospreay last month.

They immediately come to blows as the bell rings. Tieras from Ospreay, tries to springboard to the outside but Fletcher sidesteps and runs him into the barricade. Kyle moves the steel steps out and tries to send Ospreay into them, but Ospreay leaps over them, comes back and hits a diving hurracanrana off them! Back in the ring, a short DDT from Fletcher, and he rains down lefts and rights as Ospreay tries to cover up.

To the apron, Ospreay counters the apron brainbuster, maybe looks for the Tiger Driver, but Kyle avoids it. SHEER DROP BRAINSBUSTER on the floor! Cover in the ring gets 2. Kyle takes control with a flurry of strikes until Ospreay intercepts. He tries a handspring but immediately crumples from the shoulder impact.

Fletcher hits a draping DDT, cover for 2.

Kyle locks in a dragon sleeper, Ospreay uses his legs to knee his way out of it. Tornado DDT attempt is blocked by Fletcher and countered into a Michinoku Driver Kyle charges into the corner for a big boot, Ospreay dodges it and boots Kyle to the floor instead.

Sky twister press to the floor! Phenomenal Forearm gets a 2 for Ospreay. Chops traded now, and Ospreay puts his hands behind his back, waiting for the next chop…so Kyle superkicks him instead! Ospreay responds with a Cheeky Nandos and a Blue Thunder Bomb for 2.

Half and half suplex denied, Ospreay looks for the Oscutter but Kyle meets him with a neckbreaker counter instead. Last Ride powerbomb! 1, 2, NO. Stundog Millionare from Ospreay, goes for an Oscutter but Kyle tosses him to the floor…nope, Ospreay skins the cat, gets the legs around the neck and Kyle and pulls him over too. Ospreay with a tombstone piledriver on the floor!

Back to the ring, Ospreay connects with the Spiral Tap! 1, 2, NO. Hidden Blade avoided, they counter each other a fair bit, until Ospreay hits a Spanish Fly! But a lariat cuts off the Hidden Blade again. Fletcher runs in, Hidden Blade connects this time! Both men are down as the crowd go nuts.

Ospreay goes for a top rope move but Fletcher crotches him. Ospreay with a back headbutt, Fletcher with an enziguri though. He is thinking turnbuckle brainbuster, but Ospreay counters into the Styles Clash! 1, 2, no. Hidden Blade to the FACE! 1, 2, Kyle gets the arm up. Ospreay starts kicking the downed body of Fletcher, closed fists to the face too.

Both men return to the apron, where Ospreay positions Fletcher between the legs. Tiger Driver? Fletcher reverses, he dives off the apron with a TOMBSTONE ONTO THE STEEL STEPS! JEEZUS!

Kyle screams that he’s better than Ospreay as he slides him back in the ring. Leaping leg lariat, and a spike piledriver, the Grimstone, connects! 1, 2, NO! Fletcher now looks for the Tiger Driver again, but Ospreay flips him into a pin for 2. Strikes from Ospreay, Kyle grabs the arm and wrings it, then the other.

Lariat almost takes Ospreay’s head off. Leg lariat in the corner, and Ospreay looks out of it. Leg lariat to the face, and now Fletcher sets Ospreay up in the corner. TOP ROPE BRAINBUSTAHHHH! 1, 2, 3.

Winner: Kyle Fletcher

Time: 24:13

Rating: ****1/4 – It’s really something when they managed to make all those highly athletic high spots look so vicious, and it was all down to the intent behind them. These guys remembered they were in a blood feud, and it just hit on every level. Fantastic win for Fletcher too, and of course Ospreay made him look like a million bucks. The company is clearly behind Kyle Fletcher, and if it stays that way, he could be a huge star if efforts like this are anything to go by.

Mark Davis runs down after the match to check on Ospreay. Fletcher scoffs and backs off as Davis helps Ospreay to his feet.

It is now time for the Champagne Championship Celebration! Mina Shirakawa is here to introduce the AEW Women’s World Champion, Mariah May.

Mariah has quite the shiner! She says it’s been quite the few months but it’s all been worth it to kill this entire division. There is not a single woman alive who can touch her. Mina is her one true friend, and she couldn’t have done this without her. Mina grabs the champagne and they cross arms with glasses in hand. Mina says ‘Long may she reign!’ They drink their champagne, and May says ‘Mina, let’s celebrate!’

They dance…but May creeps up behind her and has a bottle. She goes to crack it over the head of Mina! Mina sees it coming though and ducks. Mina kicks the bottle out of her hands…and then spears Mariah off the stage through a table! Mina is up, bleeding from the mouth, and she smears the blood over the forehead of May as medical staff attend to the champion.

We get a cool Daniel Garcia video package, looking at his childhood, mixed in with AEW highlights. Pushing for that big Garcia win tonight!

Match 9 AEW TNT Championship Jack Perry (c) vs Daniel Garcia

Matt Menard rejoins the commentary desk for this one. We lockup at the bell, and Garcia gets Perry in the corner. Clean break from Garcia, but Perry pie-faces him and storms to the outside to stall for time. Perry evades Garcia for a bit, raising the ire of the challenger until Garcia finally gets his hands on him and tosses Perry into the guard rail.

Big boot takes Perry over the barricade into the crowd. Back at ringside, Perry hits a draping DDT from the apron to the floor, turning the tables and whipping Garcia into the barricade now.

In the ring, a comeback lariat from Perry connects, keeping Garcia off his feet. Rear chinlock applied but Garcia escapes with a Saito suplex. Drop toe hold from Perry, now looks for the Snare Trap but Garcia reaches the ropes.

They head to the apron, where Perry hits a back suplex onto the edge of the ring. And he proceeds to powerbomb Garcia through the timekeeper’s table! Garcia is in danger of being counted out but barely beats the count. Garcia fires himself up and nails a lariat.

Running forearm and stomps in the corner, followed by the running boot slide. Butterfly suplex into the buckles! He wraps the hair of Perry around the middle rope to hold him there and then hits a running dropkick. Perry chops Garcia and gets him on the top rope, before hitting a lawn dart and a sitout faceplant for 2.

Perry brings in the TNT championship and falls to his knees, asking Garcia to take the shot. Garcia thinks about it but hands the title to the referee, allowing Perry to low blow Garcia and hit a running knee for 1, 2, NO.

Perry looks for another knee strike but Garcia flops to the mat. Jackknife from Garcia who was possibly playing opossum, 1, 2, no. Garcia with the foot capture piledriver, 1, 2, no. They trade strikes on their knees, working to their feet, where Garcia unleashes a flurry of overhand chops to the chest. Piledriver! Garcia grabs the legs and turns Perry over into the Sharpshooter. Perry gets his fingers on the ropes but the hold isn’t broken. Garcia leans back and Perry has to tap!

Winner and NEW AEW TNT Champion: Daniel Garcia

Time: 18:16

Rating: *** – For where this feud has gone in recent weeks, this didn’t feel as heated as it probably should have. A nice feel-good moment for Garcia who has certainly earned his moment after a lot of stop-starts, but the match slightly fell below expectations.

Match 10 AEW International Championship Match Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs Ricochet

Lockup, Takeshita forces Ricochet back towards the ropes and breaks aggressively. Ricochet with a nice arm drag takedown, tries another but Takeshita puts a stop to that. Dropkick from Ricochet connects. Springboard crossbody gets a 2, tiger feint kick is caught though and Takeshita boots Ricochet to the floor.

He whips Ricochet into the barricade and then back drops him spine-first into the corner of the barricade, that had to suck. Back in the ring, a backbreaker ensues from Takeshita followed by repeated knees. Ricochet tries for a suplex but his back gives out. Spinning side slam from Takeshita gets 2, and the champion seems to be comfortably in control.

Takeshita shrugs off some chops and whips Ricochet hard into the corner. The assault on Ricochet’s back continues with kidney shots and elbows to the back of the ribs. Ricochet creates an opening and goes for a springboard but again the back seizes up.

He tries to climb the buckles instead but Takeshita catches him and tosses him off the top. Rolling dropkick by Ricochet, handspring back elbow connects this time and a flying forearm. Springboard lariat connects, and he tries to get Takeshita on his shoulders, but his back won’t allow it. Enziguri sends Takeshita to the floor…Sasuke Special! Springboard 450 back in the ring, gets a 2 count, and now Don Callis leaves commentary to get involved.

Thrust kick from the challenger, handspring back elbow again but this time Takeshita catches him and spins him into the Blue Thunder Bomb for 2. Windup elbow strike from the champion, and another with some mustard. German escape, Ricochet reverses into a rollup, Takeshita counters that with a wheelbarrow German. Running elbow strike by Ricochet, and both men are down.

Running dropkick in the corner, Ricochet heads up top as Don Callis approaches. Takeshita with a shot to the back, heads up top with him…German SUPLEX from the top! Running lariat, 1, 2, NO. Power drive Knee! 1, 2, Ricochet still kicks out.

The champ stomps the back of Ricochet, then delivers a precise senton. He climbs to the top again, but Ricochet is up and hits a top rope hurracanrana, followed by a poisonrana, and then heads up for a Shooting Star Press, picture perfect. 1, 2, no.

Ricochet looks for the Spirit Gun, misses. Looks for Vertigo, denied. Takeshita with the Bastard Driver! 1, 2, NO. Twisting brainbuster from Ricochet, gets Takeshita on his shoulders and hits the Benadriller, 1, 2, no.

Ricochet up top again, but Takeshita is up too. Power drive Knee to the back. Avalanche Falcon Arrow connects! 1, 2, 3.

Winner and STILL AEW International Champion: Konosuke Takeshita

Time: 19:12

Rating: ***1/2 – Surprisingly slower than expected in the first half, which picked up immensely with some decent near falls, but that finish felt weak after Ricochet had kicked out of seemingly bigger, more definitive moves.

Match 11 Swerve Strickland vs Bobby Lashley

Woah, Swerve had some serious pyro tonight. Swerve avoids the first blow but turns into a lariat and a scoop slam. Lashley chokes Swerve in the ropes and hits a neckbreaker. Dominator connects, 1, 2, he pulls Swerve up to continue the assault. Stalling vertical suplex, now with one-hand! Swerve comes out of the corner with a rising headbutt but Lashley quickly takes back control. Running powerslam connects, 1, 2, no.

Lashley keeps Swerve grounded with a side headlock, then charges at him in the corner and is met by double boots. Shelton Benjamin gets up on the apron, distracting Swerve, allowing Lashley to boot him to the outside.

Back in the ring, Swerve meets Lashley with a rising knee, sending him right back to the floor. Swerve goes for a dive but Shelton Benjamin sweeps the legs. The ref saw it, so ejects Benjamin from the ringside area. Swerve makes the springboard crossbody dive to the floor, but Lashley catches him and arranged him on the apron! Lashley pulls the steps out and places them near the announce tables.

Running powerslam is blocked, and Swerve sends him into the post instead. DDT ON THE APRON and holy shit Lashley almost landed on the floor. Lashley pulls himself up by the Spanish Announce Table…and Swerve runs up the steps and dives into a double stomp THROUGH THE TABLE! Perfectly pulled off.

House Call back in the ring, Swerve jumps to the top rope looking for another stomp. Connects! 1, 2, NO. MVP tries to get Lashley back to his feet, but Swerve gets in his face. That allows Lashley to recover and toss Swerve with an exploder.

And he spears Strickland through the ringside barricade! Lashley brings Swerve back into the ring and is poised for another spear. It connects! Hurt Lock applied, and Swerve passes out.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

Time: 13:22

Rating: ***1/2 – At first I thought they might go for the squash route, but this was effectively done, with Swerve getting some nice hope spots. He dished out his best offense, but it simply wasn’t enough for someone the calibur of Lashley. Lashley looked like a beast, so it’s a job well done here.

Post-match, Lashley puts Prince Nana in the Hurt Lock! What a dick move.

Match 12 AEW World Championship Jon Moxley (c) vs Orange Cassidy

Orange Punch while Moxley is being introduced by Justin Roberts! Another Orange Punch, and a suicide dive on the outside! Cassidy means business tonight. Moxley and OC fight on top of the announce table, OC raining down punches before biting the forehead.

Moxley rakes the eyes and crotches OC on the edge of the barricade. They spill out into the crowd now, where Mox delivers some knee shots. Back to ringside, Moxley sits OC on a steel chair and boots him in the face. Curb stomp into the steel steps!

Orange is busted open from that one. Moxley brings OC up on top of the steel steps and delivers a Paradigm Shift onto the steps! With the referee distracted by Moxley, Marina Shafir lays some kicks into Cassidy. OC has some serious color now as Moxley bites the wound to open it up even more. Delayed Gotch-style piledriver delivered in the center of the ring, just gets a 2 though. Mounted elbow shots as the canvas starts to get covered in the blood of the challenger.

Moxley lays out OC across the re-assembled Spanish Announce Table and bites the fingers. Cassidy pushes him off, but gets tossed into the steel steps. Moxley boots OC in the face repeatedly, but somehow this gets OC fired up as he just won’t stay down. Release vertical suplex gives Moxley a 2 count, then looks for a Kimura. OC gets knocked off the apron hard. He meets the count, re-entering the ring for more.

Moxley sits Orange on the top rope and rakes the back, LEGIT breaking his flesh as he does so. Cassidy responds in the same manner! Cassidy dives but Moxley just swats him down and covers for 2. Modified STF, grabbing the ankles, and hooking the face with his legs.

Mox transitions to a front guillotine, then goes back to the corner for a piledriver…but instead OC hits a diving DDT!

Tornado DDT connects, OC is thinking Orange Punch but runs into a cutter from Moxley. They paintbrush each other with slaps and strikes, getting harder and stiffer as they continue. Sloth style kicks from OC! Orange Punch connects! And again.

Pinning combination gets 2, and OC kips up into another Orange Punch. BEACH BREAK! 1, 2, NO. Pac and Claudio arrive, jumping over the barricade to surround the ring. They head to the apron, but here comes Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero and Kyle O’Reilly to take them out.

Romero with a splash off the top rope to take out the pile. In the ring, Shafir has the briefcase but here comes WILLOW NIGHTINGALE! She takes out Shafir. OC has the briefcase now and CLOCKS Moxley with it, 1, 2, NOOOO! Insanely close nearfall there. OC takes off the arm band, but in comes Wheeler Yuta with the Busaiku Knee. Death Rider from Moxley connects, 1, 2, 3.

Winner and STILL AEW World Champion: Jon Moxley

Time: 19:21

Rating: ***3/4 – Valiant effort from Orange Cassidy, fighting through the blood and all that punishment, but the Death Riders’ number’s game is the unseen battle any foe has to contend with. Moxley’s character work was on-point here as he constantly looks like a caged animal, giving an edge to the presentation of this match. As Cassidy was ragdolled and borderline squashed for a large proportion of it, it might have worked better with something else in between this and the Lashley/Swerve match, but the chaos towards the end puts this comfortably in its own category.

Wheeler Yuta has disinfectant and pours it all over the bloody face of Moxley. Hangman Adam Page has arrived with a steel chair and he smacks Yuta with it! Moxley and Hangman are face to face!

CHRISTIAN CAGE IS HERE! KILLSWITCH CONNECTS. Page is holding the contract…he passes it to Cage, Moxley is out, the stars are aligning. JAY WHITE IS HERE – Blade runner to Cage! Claudio and Pac attack White from behind while Cage skulks backstage. Marina Shafir carries Moxley backstage and the rest of the Death Riders exit the ringside area too.

Jay White grabs a steel chair and heads after them. Cameras catch up with the Death Riders backstage. A spray-painted car crashes into view. Death Riders dive into a different car and make their escape. It was Darby Allin in the car! He stands on top of the car screaming after Jon Moxley as tonight’s broadcast ends and we get mild Psycho Sid flashbacks. Goodnight everybody!

Overall thoughts

No gimmicks, no BS, this was a straight up WRESTLING show, and it delivered at almost every possible hurdle. I'm a HUGE fan of limb work and we were treated to some clinics in that regard, peppered throughout the night. That stretch in the middle of the show was S-tier, with Mone/Statlander running into White/Page, and then into the tremendous Ospreay/Fletcher encounter.

As I mentioned, it felt slightly questionable having Lashley/Swerve and Moxley/OC in back-to-back spots as they had a similar feel, but they were both great fun in their own right. The best part of having a show without hardcore spots or blood elsewhere is that it helped the main event feel a lot more grounded and gritty, and you really felt like Cassidy was being beaten to a pulp.

That was a smart move. The ending was very chaotic, likely to mixed results depending how invested you are in this whole angle, but again AEW has finished their PPVs with decent cliffhangers to make Dynamite next week feel must-see. TV may be up and down, but AEW doesn't miss on PPV.