Minimum Wage Nerd

AEW Full Gear 2025 has come and past and, in spite of what some on social media may claim, people are actually talking about the show.

Heading into the 2025 edition of Full Gear, there was talk that the show felt thrown together out of circumstance. Multiple rematches up and down the card and a match for an active tournament that was for a match stipulation, not any advancement in the actual tournament, all held together by narrative threads that felt more convenient than planned. It did not hold this show back from delivering, though, and it certainly did in match quality and surprises.

Let’s get this talking point out of the way first, though – the crowd.

Much has been said about the noise, and lack thereof, the crowd in attendance at the Prudential Center made for most of the night. One factor was likely show length, as this was another 4+ hour AEW pay-per-view, which is a whole separate conversation in itself. That said, there were still moments early in the evening where the crowd would react much despite the work in the ring.

It can happen to any wrestling show, no matter the size, on any given night and may not ultimately be worth any hassle.

Now, on to the rest of the show.

Tailgate Brawl

As with the last two pay-per-views, fans could tune in early on HBO Max and TNT for the Tailgate Brawl. It featured four tag matches, though like the WrestleDream Tailgate Brawl the last match would bleed into the start of the main pay-per-view.

First was the $200,000 four-way tag match that saw Austin Gunn and Juice Robinson beat The Outrunners, Big Bill and Bryan Keith, and Max Caster and Anthony Bowens. QT Marshall and Big Boom AJ then beat RPG Vice, followed by Eddie Kingston and HOOK defeating The WorkHorsemen. To close out the Tailgate Brawl, Konosuke Takeshita, Hechicero, and Kazuchika Okada challenged El Sky Team for the CMLL World Trios Titles.

The trios match would ultimately lead off the main pay-per-view as Takeshita and Hechicero jumped El Sky Team while Okada hadn’t arrived yet. The two Don Callis Family members seemingly injured Mistico and turned this trios match into a normal tag match against Mascara Dorada and Neon. However, Okada arrived promptly and made his full entrance while Hechicero and Takeshita fought Dorada and Neon.

The three Don Callis Family members would dominate this portion of the match, but was unable to land a pinfall. Dorada and Neon began to regain some ground thanks to rising tensions between Okada and Takeshita and Mistico rejoined the match to even off the teams. Mistico would ultimately win the match to retain the titles for El Sky Team after isolating Hechicero and forcing him to tap to La Mistica.

Rating – 3/5

It is a fun, but forgettable opening to the pay-per-view, especially since nearly all of the most worthwhile match takes place on the pay-per-view, itself, meaning anyone who didn’t pay for the show misses it.

PAC vs. Darby Allin

This leads us into the true “opening match” for Full Gear as PAC, representing the Death Riders, took on Darby Allin.

PAC challenged Allin to a match at Full Gear the week previously after the Death Riders were defeated in Blood and Guts. The Bastard believed in spite of the team’s loss, he walked out the true winner after inflicting the damage he did to Darby. This included Darby being thrown through a flaming table from the top of one of the entrance tunnels.

PAC made his entrance first, coming through the crowd as the Death Riders typically do. Allin then made his entrance heavily bandaged as a result of the Blood and Guts match. Many of his burns from going through the flaming table were still visible across his body.

The match began slow, with the two feeling each other out and trading locks. As time passed, though, the match became much faster and more physical, which isn’t a surprise given the two involved.

Darby would eventually manage to catch PAC and lock in the Scorpion Death Lock in the center of the ring. However, Wheeler Yuta would run out to distract the ref while Allin broke the hold to try and deal with the Death Rider. PAC would grab a bat planted by Yuta in one of the corners and hit Darby, which was enough to get PAC the pinfall.

Rating – 3.75/5

Darby and PAC started the show off on the right foot with a well-built match that ramped up the physicality at a steady pace. However, it definitely felt like the two were holding back and have a better match just waiting in the chamber.

AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament Semi-Finals Stipulation Match

Second on the show was the Timeless Love Bombs (Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa) vs. Babes of Wrath (Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron) vs. Sisters of Sin (Skye Blue and Julia Hart) vs. Marina Shafir and Megan Bayne in a match where the winner would get to pick the stipulation for the semi-final match in the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament.

Sisters of Sin would make their entrance first, followed by the Babes of Wrath then Megan Bayne and Marina Shafir. Toni and Mina made their entrance last, doing their second full entrance as a team.

The match got underway and was what most would have thought this would be. Megan and Marina would use their mix of power and technique to isolate an opponent, while Julia and Skye used more underhanded tactics. Harley and Mina would be the one’s isolated most often while Willow or Toni would tag in to swing the momentum back for their teams.

It ultimately came down to Toni and Harley in the ring, trading pin attempts back and forth before Toni was able to catch Harley in a package pin to win the match. It means the Timeless Love Bombs will get to pick the stipulation for their upcoming AEW Women’s World Tag Team Title semi-final match against Marina Shafir and Megan Bayne.

Rating – 3/5

It was a fun four-way match to follow the opener, but wasn’t anything special either since this was effectively a bonus match for the ongoing tournament.

AEW Men’s World Tag Team Championship – Brodido vs. FTR

Third on the card was Bandido and Brody King, aka Brodido, defending the AEW Men’s World Tag Team Championship against FTR.

Stokely gave FTR’s entrance a little extra with an opening video of Stokely walking up on the clip of Brodido pinning FTR to win the tag titles at AEW Forbidden Door in August. Meanwhile, Brodido got some extra pyro for their pay-per-view entrance to reflect their success during the summer and fall.

As fans suspected with the four wrestlers involved, it was the first truly great match of the evening.

FTR have proven time and time again that when they are on pay-per-view, they deliver. It is to say nothing of the incredible chemistry between Brody and Bandido, who have been able to use a decade-long friendship as the foundation of their in-ring success. It doesn’t hurt that there may be no wrestler having a better year than Bandido in terms of sheer match quality.

It was the typical back and forth fair, with FTR working to isolate the smaller Bandido before he would give them the slip and tag in Brody, who would throw his weight around quite literally.

The match would end with Brody being taken out by a Cash Wheeler dive to the outside, isolating Bandido. FTR proceeded to land every big finisher in their arsenal, but to no avail as Bandido continued to kick out. This included the spike piledriver, eliciting the biggest reaction from the crowd to that point in the night. FTR then hit one more Shatter Machine to synch the match and their third AEW Men’s World Tag Team Title reign.

Rating – 4.25/5

As mentioned, FTR and Brodido delivered big time on pay-per-view that capped off Brodido’s reign which has helped breath new life into the tag division.

It was, more importantly, a masterclass on how to make someone in a loss and that is exactly what FTR did at Full Gear for Bandido. The reigning Ring of Honor World Champion felt like his stardom was solidified in this match, which seems to be par for the course when it comes to FTR. It is another star for the luchador in what has been a career year with two potential matches of the year, one against Konosuke Takeshita and the other against Hechicero.

AEW National Championship Casino Gauntlet

The second title match of the evening followed with the Casino Gauntlet match to crown the first AEW National Champion.

The belt, itself, was presented onstage on a pedestal for everyone to see. It is the most retro design AEW has used for one of its belts with a design reminiscent of the NWA World Television Championship.

Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin started off the match after winning one and two, respectively, on the previous episode of Dynamite. Ricochet entered third and distracted the Hurt Syndicate, allowing Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona to jump Lashley and Benjamin.

Ricochet enjoyed a moment of peace before the countdown clock appeared, believing he was ready for the next challenger. His mood quickly changed when the entrant was revealed to be Claudio Castagnoli. Daniel Garcia, Claudio’s fellow Death Rider, followed before Orange Cassidy made his entrance. Wheeler Yuta then completed the Death Riders in the match so the three could isolate Orange Cassidy. The next two entrants, Kevin Knight and Roderick Strong, helped stop the Death Riders and break things up.

Mark Davis of the Don Callis Family then joined the match, wrestling like he had something to prove. It included hitting massive piledrivers to Knight and Ricochet.

‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey entered next to complete JetSpeed, though the tag partners would not hesitate to throw down during the match.

Garcia would manage to get Bailey in a sharpshooter when his former mentor, ‘Daddy Magic’ Matt Menard, joined the match. The two didn’t hesitate getting in each other’s face and begin brawling, eventually taking their fight out into the crowd and backstage.

The closing moments of the match saw Yuta hit Cassidy with a busaiku knee and attempt a pin only for Knight to break it up. Knight would then hit the UFO on Yuta, but would get caught with a Spirit Gun from Ricochet to see The Demand’s leader become the first AEW National Champion.

Rating – 3.5/5

At this point, AEW has the Casino Gauntlet down to a science and scales it appropriately to match whatever the match is for. While Full Gear’s Casino Gauntlet likely won’t be remembered as one of the better editions of the match, it still delivered and managed to give Menard and Garcia a major pay-per-view moment to continue their feud.

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jon Moxley – No Holds Barred

O’Reilly and Moxley were up next in the third of their recent string of singles matches, with this one being a no holds barred match.

Coming into the match, Moxley was out to prove that the struggles he’s faced in matches against O’Reilly and ultimately submitting to O’Reilly in the Blood and Guts match was all a fluke. He was set to remind everyone why he started the Death Riders, why he is their leader, and why he will remain on top.

The match truly leaned into a more literal version of no holds barred as Moxley and O’Reilly leaned more on their MMA training for much of the match. Given the two involved in the match, this likely did not surprise many fans come match time.

This also proved to be the first match where the crowd was very noticeable. It was quiet for much of the match, though they did come alive for some weapon spots and the closing sequence of the match.

By the end of the match, O’Reilly and Moxley were both bloody and tired thanks to trading everything from submission holds to forks in the head. The two began trading locks once again, with Moxley Pillmanizing O’Reilly’s arm and wrenching on it. O’Reilly would manage to maneuver out of it and catch Moxley in an ankle lock. Moxley would try pulling on the ropes but O’Reilly would release the hold only to drag Moxley back and stop on his ankle. O’Reilly then wrapped a chain around Moxley’s ankle and use it for some extra wrench on a Muta Lock, ultimately forcing Moxley to tap out.

Frustrated, Moxley would give a nod of respect to O’Reilly before going to leave. O’Reilly then collapsed in the ring, prompting Roderick Strong and AEW’s medical team to rush to him. Moxley noticed this and seemingly took offense, prompting him to come back and attack O’Reilly more before Claudio Castagnoli got Moxley to back off. The Death Riders followed their leader, though not without some noticeable hesitation in their faces.

Rating – 4.25/5

The third match in O’Reilly and Moxley’s latest series of matches delivered on exactly what these two do best – grapple. Don’t let the crowd fool you, it is some of O’Reilly and Moxley’s best mat work that managed to integrate some weapon spots that didn’t feel out of place or over-do it, which ended up being for the best given the match that followed.

TNT Championship No DQ Match – Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe

Following the grappling showcase came, arguably, the match of the night for the TNT Championship. The champion, Kyle Fletcher, was putting the title up one more time against Mark Briscoe who agreed to join the Don Callis Family if he lost.

The sixth match in this singles series, Fletcher and Briscoe managed to one-up their show-stealing match from WrestleDream thanks to the No Disqualification stipulation. It allowed these two to up the violence noticeably, which they did and then some. It was also helped from the previous match not overdoing it with weapon and high spots.

As with their previous matches, Briscoe and Fletcher would trade control back-and-forth. Briscoe would typically get ahead by being a little more violent before over-committing on something, offering Fletcher an opening to take advantage of.

It would continue this way, ultimately leading to the two fighting for control on top of a turnbuckle to try and put the other through a barbed wire-wrapped table. Briscoe managed to catch Fletcher, hitting a super-Razor’s Edge through the barbed-wire-wrapped table. Briscoe then hit a Jay Driller for extra measure to secure the win and the TNT Championship.

Rating 4.75/5

My personal match of the night, Fletcher and Briscoe know how good their chemistry is and take full advantage of it in this match. This was meant to help Fletcher in a similar way to Randy Orton’s Hardcore Match against Cactus Jack at WWE Backlash 2004 or Triple H vs. Cactus Jack in a Street Fight at the 2000 Royal Rumble. While Fletcher had shown he had no problem getting violent, it means more to be able to meet Briscoe in the way Orton and Triple H were able to with Mick Foley. In doing so, it provided a great feel-good moment and frees up Fletcher to move on to bigger and better things.

$1,000,000 Match – Kenny Omega and Jurassic Express vs. Josh Alexander and the Young Bucks

Following the No DQ came the evening’s “PWG party match” that saw Kenny Omega and Jurassic Express take on the Young Bucks and Josh Alexander for $1,000,000.

In the lead up to the match, the Don Callis Family had been trying to woo the Young Bucks to their side by getting them “money matches” and their entrance back after being mocked for months following All In Texas. Matt and Nick Jackson seemed receptive to what Callis was offering, especially when it came to the financial gains they would get after losing their EVP status.

It still was not clearly known where things stood between the Bucks and Kenny Omega.

Josh Alexander would regularly target Omega during the match, even prompting the Bucks to attack Omega, specifically, at multiple points. Jurassic Express would intervene when it could, though it usually resulted in Jack Perry getting cut off from his team. Perry would manage to hit some big offense on the Bucks and Alexander so he could tag in Luchasaurus, who wasted no time clearing the opposition from the ring.

The Bucks would eventually find themselves in the center of the ring, hitting Superkicks on almost anything that moves. They would kick Omega, Perry, and Luchasaurus multiple times before inadvertently kicking Alexander, who was then hit with a One-Winged Angel by Omega on the floor. Perry attempted to roll up Matt Jackson, followed by a bridge that was rolled into a BTE-Trigger by the Bucks and Matt Jackson scoring the pin.

After the match, Don Callis entered the ring alongside Family members Rocky Romero, Hechicero, Mark Davis, and Clon to celebrate the Bucks seemingly joining the Don Callis Family. Alexander then led the other family members in attacking Omega and Jurassic Express, which caught the Bucks’ attention. Callis attempted to convince the Bucks to leave, but Matt and Nick ultimately threw down the money and ran back to save their former-friends. The Bucks and Jurassic Express would shake hands in a show of respect before Matt and Nick embraced Omega, reforming the original Elite for the first time since 2023.

Rating – 3.75/5

It is worth remembering this is the Kenny Omega of 2025, not 2021. Omega can still deliver big matches, though has scaled back the overall number of matches he does from previous years due in large part to his bout with diverticulitis.

In the Bucks case, though, they can still deliver on the big stage without an issue. Jurassic Express and Josh Alexander made for welcome additions to things, offering some extra variety within the match itself to help it flow. However, much like PAC vs. Darby it felt like there was a better version of this match out there.

AEW Women’s World Championship Match – Kris Statlander vs. Mercedes Mone

This takes the semi-main spot on the show and saw AEW Women’s World Championship Kris Statlander defending against the TBS Champion Mercedes Mone. It was Mone’s second attempt at the AEW Women’s World Title after failing to defeat then-champion Toni Storm at All In Texas.

Mone and Statlander stole the show at AEW Full Gear in 2024, where Statlander challenged for Mone’s TBS Championship. Statlander would lose and challenge again at World’s End 2024, but lost again. It was this history Mone played on to try and keep Statlander off balance, while the defending champion warned Mone that she was not the same person she beat in 2024.

This was the next match where the crowd silence was extremely noticeable, though it could have also been due to how late in the night it was, It didn’t stop Mone and Statlander from picking up where they left off in December of 2024. The two continued to lean on the size differences for their latest match, with Mone being the sneakier, faster opponent to catch Statlander off in between Statlander imposing her will on the match through sheer stregth,

Mone eventually found herself in control but unable to put Statlander away for good. Mone would let enough time pass that Statlander would be able to counter a Mone Maker, leading to the two fighting for control. The two would capture each other’s arms or trade piledriver attempts before Statlander was able to catch Mone and hit the Staturday Night Fever to defeat Mone.

Rating 4.5/5

If the TNT Title match was the match of the night, the Women’s Title Match is a very close second at least. Mone and Statlander are two of the very best AEW has in between the ropes and delivered another great match in a banner year for the AEW women’s division.

AEW Men’s World Championship Steel Cage Match – ‘Hangman’ Adam Page vs. Samoa Joe

It is time for the main event, which saw Samoa Joe challenge AEW Men’s World Champion ‘Hangman’ Adam Page for the title in a steel cage match.

A rematch from WrestleDream in September, Joe made his intention clear to take back the AEW Men’s World title and would do so however he could. Page did not take this sitting down, instead taking the fight to Joe multiple times including a notable segment where Page caught Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata with their guards’ down by disguising himself as Tony Schiavone. Page then challenged Joe to a steel cage match at Blood and Guts, which Joe quickly accepted.

The steel cage allowed Page and Joe to give the match the extra physicality it needed after their first match at WrestleDream. Page has regularly found himself in these more violent stipulation main event matches and delivers every time. Fans know if Page is in a match that doesn’t use DQs, it will be a bloody and violent affair and that’s just what they got.

Joe didn’t look out of place, either, given his history across promotions including TNA, Ring of Honor, and WWE.

As Hangman took control of the match at a crucial point, the other members of The Opps sprung into action. Shibata first attempted to climb over into the cage but was stopped by Eddie Kingston, who ran down to stop Shibata. The two proceeded to brawl their way to the back.

In the midst of this, the referee gets taken out after Joe charged at Page, who managed to avoid most of the contact. Page then hit a Deadeye on Joe, but with the ref out there was no one to count the pin.

Hobbs would then appear, ripping off the chain keeping the door locked. He charged at Page, who sidestepped Hobbs and let run into the cage. Joe attempted a coquina clutch, but Page was able to break it using an exposed turnbuckle before hitting the Buckshot Lariat since the door was open.

HOOK came out to try and wake the ref as Joe and Page lay in the middle of the ring, but then reached for the AEW Men’s World title. He then hit Page with the belt before removing his jacket, revealing HOOK was indeed a member of The Opps. Joe then followed with a Muscle Buster to secure the win, making him a two-time AEW Men’s World Champion.

Rating – 4/5

Another strong main event performance by Page and Joe, alike, capping off a briefer reign as Men’s World Champion than his first. It also adds some much needed intrigue to the Men’s world title scene when it was needed as 2025 comes to a close.

The show wasn’t done there, though, as AEW had one more surprise in store.

As Joe celebrated his win in the ring with The Opps and The Opps Dojo students, the lights shut off. A spotlight then came up to reveal Prince Nana at the top of the ramp before “Whose House? Swerve’s House” plays over the speaker system. What followed was a new entrance theme for Swerve Strickland, returning to AEW after taking time away to address a torn meniscus he has been dealing with since 2019.

Swerve would enter the ring, with The Opps clearing the way to a bloody and beaten Page. Swerve, instead, began attacking Joe’s students as The Opps fled back up the ramp. Swerve would take out one of the last students with the House Call kick, followed by Page hitting a Buckshot lariat to the last student. Full Gear then went off the air at the image of Page and Swerve, once the most bitter of enemies, now standing shoulder-to-shoulder against Joe and The Opps.

It brought a very notable end to a show that, ultimately, served as a stop-gap pay-per-view before the start of the Continental Classic. AEW now has its focus set on one of its major annual tournaments to close out 2025.