AEW Full Gear 2023 was a show of the year contender that missed out on getting a full 5 star rating off of us because it was hindered by one thing, an unnecessary story throughout the show that resulted in the main event being slightly overbooked. Adam Cole decided he was going to step in for an injured MJF, and somehow despite being injured himself this almost was allowed to happen, with AEW showing nothing from Britt Baker or Roderick Strong trying to convince him not to. But AEW does what they do very well, present very entertaining and high quality wrestling. The crowd was very strong for the majority of the night and gave AEW's newest signing Will Ospreay a great pop. The storytelling throughout the night was very solid with results that made sense with all of the matches. Including highlights in the TBS championship and the Texas deathmatch. We also saw more growth within the Young Bucks and more development between Mariah and Timeless Toni. Despite the main event not quite delivering to the level it could due to the overcomplicated booking, AEW Full Gear 2023 will go down as one of the best shows of the year, and one AEW fans won't quickly forget about.
AEW Full Gear 2023 is not the last pay per view event in this year’s calendar, but its a loaded one. With the World Champion pulling double duty once again as he teams with world contender Samoa Joe to defend the ROH tag team championships. The AEW International championship is defended in an All Out 2023 rematch. Swerve and Hangman prepare to go to war under Texas Deathmatch rules. Timeless Toni Storm has her Hollywood homecoming against Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander defends against Julia Hart and Skye Blue. In the main event, MJF is scheduled to face Jay White for the triple B, the AEW World Championship.
The Buy In:
Eddie Kingston Vs Jay Lethal – ROH World Championship Match:
Results: Eddie Kingston by Pinfall via Spinning Back Fist
Buddy Matthews Vs Claudio Castagnoli:
Results: Claudio Castagnoli by Tap Out Submission via Sharpshooter
MJF and Samoa Joe Vs The Gunn Club – ROH World Tag Team Championship Match:
Results: Samoa Joe by Tap Out Submission via Coquina Clutch
AEW Full Gear 2023 Main Show:
AMAZING The Patriarchy, Christian Cage, Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus Vs Adam Copeland, Sting and Darby Allin: AEW Full Gear 2023 Opening Match
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 1
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 0.50
From start to finish, this match was unlike most of the other trios matches that AEW have done. This had really good pacing, and great psychology because Darby Allin is a mad man. The hot tags were thoroughly built throughout the match including the eventual face off between Christian Cage and Adam Copeland. I feel while making sense of the story of Sting’s retirement, Ric Flair getting involved is something that is very odd and puzzling. Cage gave Flair a low blow causing the referee to tend to the legend. There wasn’t anything particularly innovative about this match and that Darby apron bump is definitely rough.
Results: Edge by Pinfall via Darby Allin’s Coffin Drop
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
GREAT Orange Cassidy Vs Jon Moxley – AEW International Championship Match:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 0.75
Storytelling: 0.50
Psychology: 0.75
Innovation: 0.75
The rivalry itself didn’t have the juice it had before All Out. Did this deliver to the extent that All Out did, No. But this was a solid match. Orange Cassidy and Jon Moxley had a lot to do to get myself into this match, and the action did succeed. From Moxley doing his own Cassidy kicks, to having Cassidy use the red rum. This was a technical sound match but nothing more than that. I do have a slight issue with the fact that Moxley took six orange punches and the beach break to lose. This is going to make whoever loses with one orange punch look very weak.
Results: Orange Cassidy by Pinfall via Beach Break
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
ABOVE AVERAGE Hikaru Shida Vs Timeless Toni Storm – AEW Women’s World Championship Match:
Fundamentals: 0.50
Atmosphere: 0.75
Storytelling: 0.50
Psychology: 0.50
Innovation: 0.50
Toni Storm had ripped up the script when the bell rang before Shida had early control, targeting Toni’s bruised chest. This was a match that relied on the actions that Toni’s character has. From her doing crazy wind ups for her punches and needing Lutha to protect her. Toni used a steel spoon rest in her gear to hit the hip attack. While the spots made sense, they were performed in a clunky manner. The only thing that kept this from being in the middle was the crowd was very into it. There was also Mariah May watching the match feeling Toni’s pain and also adoring when Toni was in control. Mariah May ended up giving Toni a bouquet of flowers after Toni won.
Results: Toni Storm by Pinfall via Steel Spoon Rest Assisted Hip Attack
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 2.75 Star
MUST WATCH FTR Vs Kings Of The Black Throne Vs La Faccion Ingobernables Vs Big Bill and Ricky Starks – AEW World Tag Team Championship Ladder Match:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 1
I believe this is AEW’s first multi team ladder match aside from supercard’s reach for the sky ladder match. From start to finish this was well timed and had a strong match structure. There was a lot of really intense spots from the action, and for being a ladders only match it had those moments of shock. Were there a few spots that were rough, yes. But overall this was the strongest match of the show at the time.
Results: Ricky Starks and Big Bill by Object Retrieval
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
MUST WATCH Julia Hart Vs Skye Blue Vs Kris Statlander – AEW TBS Championship:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 1
Psychology: 0.75
Innovation: 1
Probably going to get a little bit of hate with this rating but I firmly believe this was not only the strongest built womens match on the show. Julia Hart as the princess of the black throne has truly put the pieces together to be someone special. Skye Blue debuted new music as well, along with stomping on her signature snapback. There was dynamics between each womens star in the match. Skye and Julia because of the mist, and Skye’s character direction. Kris and Julia from their match at Wrestle Dream. Kris and Skye because Kris has been an integral part in seeing the week character progression. There was a tease of Skye and Julia becoming a duo. Was everything done in the match perfect, not at all. But there was great sequences and spots including a perfect ending for the story they were telling. Congratulations to Julia Hart.
Results: Julia Hart by Pinfall via Kris Statlander’s Saturday Night Fever on Skye Blue
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
Will Ospreay is announced as the blockbuster signing. Signing the contract before saying that he plans to finish his contract with NJPW before coming to be full time with AEW.
PERFECT Hangman Page Vs Swerve Strickland – Texas Deathmatch: AEW Full Gear 2023 Match Of The Night
Fundamentals: 1
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 1
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 1
I understand not liking the match type, the match style or the brutality that AEW succeeds in giving during these matches. But this match was their biggest blood feud going into this event. Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland both bled for our enjoyment while telling a story of two guys that were determined to beat the “f*ck” out of each other. From a crowd on the edge of their seats, to both men selling like they were near death. The violence was there from start to finish, the tension was there. Swerve Strickland getting the victory makes it incredibly hard to think someone else deserves to dethrone MJF.
Results: Swerve Strickland By 10 Count Knockout via Chain Assisted Choke Hold
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 5.00 Stars
MUST WATCH The Golden Jets Vs The Young Bucks – If Jericho and Omega win, they get The Young Bucks championship match. If The Young Bucks win, Kenny and Chris must disband:
Fundamentals: 1
Atmosphere: 0.75
Storytelling: 1
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 0.75
This is a match that had the toughest placement in the show, especially after the deathmatch. Did they deliver a compelling and strongly worked tag team match? Yes, they did. There was a number of spots within the match that were really good and strong. While the psychology and rules of matches in AEW are different, that must be kept in mind. There was excellent selling from all the men involved, including the arm work by Jericho.
Results: Kenny Omega by Pinfall via One Winged Angel
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
AMAZING MJF Vs Jay White – AEW World Championship Match: AEW Full Gear 2023 Main Event
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 0.75
MJF matches since Revolution’s iron man match have involved MJF selling incredibly well. This match is no different, with MJF selling an injured leg based on the attack. This was well structured. Jay White demonstrated what kind of main event he can give us with his skills. There were great spots and I especially loved that everytime Adam Cole tried to do something, Jay would ruin the moment. There was one mess up as the announce table collapsed with Jay’s body weight only on it. Did this match have the best story, not exactly and nothing over the top for innovative spots either. But it was still a very solid main event, that was tasked with trying to top the texas death match.
Results: MJF by Pinfall via Dynamite Diamond Ring Knockout Punch
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
AEW Full Gear 2023 Overall Summary…
AEW Full Gear 2023 was a show of the year contender that missed out on getting a full 5 star rating off of us because it was hindered by one thing, an unnecessary story throughout the show that resulted in the main event being slightly overbooked. Adam Cole decided he was going to step in for an injured MJF, and somehow despite being injured himself this almost was allowed to happen, with AEW showing nothing from Britt Baker or Roderick Strong trying to convince him not to. But AEW does what they do very well, present very entertaining and high quality wrestling.
The crowd was very strong for the majority of the night and gave AEW’s newest signing Will Ospreay a great pop. The storytelling throughout the night was very solid with results that made sense with all of the matches. Including highlights in the TBS championship and the Texas deathmatch. We also saw more growth within the Young Bucks and more development between Mariah and Timeless Toni. Despite the main event not quite delivering to the level it could due to the overcomplicated booking, AEW Full Gear 2023 will go down as one of the best shows of the year, and one AEW fans won’t quickly forget about.
Matches: 1/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere…: 1/1 Stars
Storytelling: 1/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 1/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 4.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: AEW – November 18 2023
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