AEW Full Gear results: Powell’s live review of Chris Jericho vs. Cody for the AEW Championship, Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley, Hangman Page vs. Pac, Riho vs. Emi Sakura for the AEW Women’s Championship, The Young Bucks vs. Santana and Ortiz

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By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

AEW Full Gear
Aired live November 9, 2019 on pay-per-view
Baltimore, Maryland at Royal Farms Arena

The Buy-In Pre-Show

The pre-show broadcast team of Excalibur, Taz, and Goldenboy checked in… A video package set up the Bea Priestly vs. Britt Baker pre-show match… Justin Roberts was the ring announcer…

1. Bea Priestly vs. Britt Baker. Taz spoke about the locker room code that you don’t try to injure opponents and said that Priestly has crossed that line more than once. Priestly threw her jacket at Baker and then ducked between the ropes while referee Aubrey Edwards blocked Baker from going at Priestly before the bell.

Baker went for her Lockjaw finisher early, but Priestly avoided it. Priestly wrapped Baker around the ring post by pulling on her arm and leg from the floor. Darby Allin was shown watching the match from a seat at ringside. A short time later, Priestly hit a high knee in the corner and followed up with a sling blade clothesline. Priestly came back and went to the ropes. Baker cut her off and performed a superplex. Baker sold a back injury when she tried to set up Priestly for another suplex.

Priestly performed a suplex into a bridge for a two count. With Baker on the apron, Priestly went up top and performed a double stomp, then brought her into the ring and covered her for a two count. Taz said Priestly may not be popular in the locker room, but he loves her killer attitude. Baker rallied and hit a Canadian Destroyer for a near fall. A short time later, Baker went for her finisher again, but Priestly grabbed her hair and rolled her into a pin for a two count. Baker connected with a superkick and applied the Lockjaw for the win.

Britt Baker beat Bea Priestly in 11:35.

Powell’s POV: The video package did a nice job of setting up the match. That’s the type of brief video that I would like to see before AEW (and other promotion’s) television matches, as they set the table quickly and make it easy for new fans to follow along. The match was solid and both wrestlers did a nice job of working a physical style that matched the grudge match feel created in the video package. It was nice to hear Taz on commentary again. It’s crazy that there’s so much wrestling content on television these days and yet Taz isn’t working full-time for anyone. Then again, he has his radio show, so perhaps that’s his choice.

After the match, the arena lights went out, then a spotlight shined on Awesome Kong. Brandi Rhodes stepped out from behind Kong and then the duo walked to the ring. Kong entered the ring and hit Bea Priestly with a spinning back fist. Kong pulled out a knife and handed it to Rhodes, then performed a double under hook into a face-plant slam. Rhodes gave the knife back to Kong. Rhodes grabbed Priestly’s hair, then Kong cut some off. Kong smelled the hair and then tucked it into her gear. Excalibur said she was keeping it like a trophy…

A video package set up the Young Bucks vs. Santana and Ortiz match that will open the main show… Justin Roberts introduced Jim Ross, who came out to the Oklahoma Sooners’ fight song and a nice ovation. Ross joined Excalibur at the broadcast table, which was located at the side of the stage. The duo discussed the AEW Heavyweight Championship. Ross worked in a reference to LSU upsetting Alabama in college football (that’s not nearly as significant to me as the Minnesota Golden Gophers beating Penn State, but I’m definitely biased)…

AEW Full Gear Pay-Per-View

A video package opened the main card… A small round of pyro shot off on the stage, then Jim Ross and Excalibur welcomed viewers to the show. Ross noted that Tony Schiavone was “on assignment” with his Georgia Bulldogs responsibilities. They turned things over to Justin Roberts, who delivered the introductions for the opening match…

1. “The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson vs. “Proud & Powerful” Santana and Ortiz. “The Rock & Roll Express” Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson were in the front row and were greeted by the Bucks. The Jacksons got off to a quick start and dumped Ortiz over the barricade and into the front row. Santana went for a tag and then noticed his partner was absent. Ortiz returned to his corner and tagged in. The referee didn’t allow Santana to enter the ring when he tagged Ortiz’s foot. He also didn’t allow a tag that he didn’t see, which led to some boos even though Santana and Ortiz were the heels in the match.

Ortiz put Nick in a Boston Crab. Santana put Matt on his back and then applied a Camel Clutch on Nick while the Boston Crab was still locked in. Santana taunted Morton and Gibson while working over Nick in the ring. Matt tagged in and hit a top rope elbow drop on Santana for a two count. At 9:00, Ortiz tossed Nick over the ringside barricade, then Santana tossed Matt at Morton and continued to taunt the legends.

At 11:00, Santana and Ortiz placed Nick on the ropes and set up for a double team move. Nick shoved them both off and leapt at them, but they caught him. P&P both dropkicked Nick’s legs out from under him. Ortiz performed a dragon screw leg whip and then covered Nick a few times and couldn’t pin him. Ortiz and Nick traded slaps. Ortiz headbutted Nick low, but Nick came right back with a superkick and made a hot tag to Matt.

Matt performed three suplexes on Santana, then Ortiz charged and he suplexed both opponents twice for a big pop. Matt powerbombed Santana into the corner and Nick hit him with a boot and then winced to sell his knee injury. The Bucks hit a double team move on Santana for a two count. Nick sold his right shin and tagged out again. Ortiz pulled Nick to the floor. Ortiz caught Matt with a cutter moments later. P&P performed a series of moves for a near fall at the 15:00 mark. Excalibur noted that the match had a 30-minute time limit. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.

Matt tagged in Nick at 16:40 and Nick continued to sell leg pain. Ortiz bit the ropes to pull himself up and was hit from behind with a double superkick. The Bucks hit a move on Santana, then performed a powerbomb and cutter combo on Ortiz that resulted in a two count. Nick limped to sell his injury. The Bucks went for the Meltzer Driver, but Nick went for a springboard and fell to the mat to sell his injury. Matt placed Nick on the top rope and wanted to go for More Bang For Your Buck, but P&P broke it up.

Matt ended up in the Bucks’ corner. Nick tagged himself in while Santana taunted him and then pie-faced him. Nick spat gum at Santana, who picked it up off the mat and put it in his mouth. A “you sick f—” chant broke out. Santana spat the gum at Nick, who miraculously recovered and threw a series of kicks at both opponents, then went back to selling the injury before throwing a high knee in the corner at 20:00.

Ortiz powerbombed Nick and then Santana threw a kick at him and covered him, but Matt shoved Ortiz into the pin to break it up. Santana and Ortiz teamed up for the Street Sweeper (Doomsday Blockbuster) on Nick and got the pin.

Santana and Ortiz defeated The Young Bucks in 21:00.

After the match, Sammy Guevara came out shooting video with his phone and hugged his Inner Circle matches Santana and Ortiz, who put the boots to the Bucks. P&P pulled out a loaded sock. Morton and Gibson climbed onto the apron and ended up helping the Bucks clear Guevara and Ortiz from the ring. Matt and Gibson slingshotted Morton over the top rope and into a Canadian Destroyer on Santana. Morton performed a suicide dive onto Guevara and Ortiz at ringside, then joined the post match celebration with the other babyfaces…

Powell’s POV: A strong tag match to open the show. They didn’t work at the frantic pace that both teams are capable of, which is smart considering that this is the opening match. I was a little worried about the crowd not popping big when Morton and Gibson first came to the aid of the Bucks, but they popped big once Morton hit his two big spots and chanted “you’ve still got it” at the duo during the celebration. That was a nice followup to Santana and Ortiz leaving the legends lying on a recent edition of Dynamite. By the way, I like the call of going with a two-man booth while Tony Schiavone is away. Goldenboy and Taz are good at what they do, but I’m all for Ross and Excalibur getting a chance to click together.

Ross and Excalibur ran through the pay-per-view lineup. They noted that Pac vs. Adam Page were up next and that this was the rubber match in their series of matches…

2. Pac vs. Adam “Hangman” Page. Page went for an early standing shooting star press, but Pac put his knees up. Page sent Pac to ringside and then hit him with a suicide dive. Back inside the ring, Pac blasted Page with a couple of kicks. Page sold an eye injury. Pac worked over Page and hit him with several kicks. Page motioned for more and Pac obliged. Ross praised referee Bryce Remsberg for putting himself in positions to see the shoulders of both wrestlers and not “half-assing it” like other referees.

At 8:00, Pac went for a Phoenix Splash from the middle rope, but Page rolled out of the way. Page hit a spinebuster for a near fall. Page set up for a Buckshot Lariat at 11:20, but Pac rolled to ringside to avoid it. Page followed him to the floor, but Pac kicked him and then gave him a brainbuster onto a chair next to the barricade. Page’s back was scraped from the chair, and he barely beat the referee’s ten count to keep the match going.

Pac performed a missile dropkick for a two count. Pac threw kicks to the chest of a kneeling Page, who called for more. Pac delivered two more and then played to the crowd for heat. At 15:00, Pac went up top for his finisher, but Page crotched him. Page performed a fallaway slam from the ropes. Page went for the Buckshot Lariat, but Pac caught him with a kick. Page came right back with a powerbomb. Page set up for the Deadeye, but Pac countered into the Brutalizer submission hold. “That’s wrestling magic,” Ross said. Page fell into the ropes to break the hold.

Pac went up top and went for the Black Arrow, but Page rolled out of the way. Page went for the Buckshot Lariat, but Pac avoided it. Page ran Pac up by the ropes and Pac stopped short of hitting him. Pac went for a low blow, but Page blocked it and then hit a discus lariat and a clothesline. Page hit the Deadeye and scored the clean pin…

Hangman Page beat Pac in 18:30.

Powell’s POV: Both wrestlers will be feeling that match in the morning. It was a good, physical match and the finish was well done. I was surprised to see Page go over if only because I thought they might be setting up Pac for a match with Jon Moxley. Then again, it’s not like they it will mean less just because Pac lost here.

Excalibur recapped footage of Awesome Kong and Brandi Rhodes working together and taking a lock of Bea Priestly’s hair… The lights in the building went out. When they came on, Shawn Spears was seated on a chair with a hood over his head. Spears revealed that he was wearing a “no more garbage wrestling” t-shirt and he was accompanied to the ring by Tully Blanchard. Joey Janela made his entrance…

3. Shawn Spears (w/Tully Blanchard) vs. Joey Janela. Earl Hebner was the referee. Janela charged at Spears early on, but Spears moved and then whipped Janela over the top rope to ringside. Back inside the ring, Spears put Janela in the corner and then used a tag rope to tie his hair. Janela threw punches at Janela. Hebner warned Spears, who then ran into a couple of boots from Janela, who eventually pulled his hair free. Spears avoided a missile dropkick and applied a Sharpshooter until Janela reached the ropes at 6:50.

A short time later, Spears went to ringside and called for a timeout, then Janela dove onto him from the ropes. Janela went to the ropes again, but Spears rushed up and suplexed him into the ring and covered him for a two count. Spears performed a suicide dive onto Janela at ringside. Janela was in offensive control at 10:00. Blanchard climbed onto the apron. Janela flipped him off and then went to the ropes, but Spears cut him off and dropped him back first onto the top turnbuckle.

Blanchard distracted Hebner while Spears removed a turnbuckle pad. While Hebner fixed the pad, Spears set up Janela in piledriver position, then Blanchard spiked him from the ring steps. Spears brought Janela inside the ring, executed a Death Valley Driver, and scored the pin…

Shawn Spears pinned Joey Janela in 11:45.

Powell’s POV: Spears needed the win more than Janela. He just hasn’t meant much since he lost the match to Cody. Before that match, it seemed like fans were accepting him as an upper tier heel, especially with Blanchard as part of his act. Hopefully this win is a sign that the creative forces are committed to getting him back to that level.

Goldenboy interviewed “Superbad” Kip Sabian, who was in heel mode. Goldenboy asked him why he’s changed. Sabian said he sees alliances here and there. Penelope Ford entered the picture and kissed his cheek. Ford asked why be bad when you can be superbad…

A video package recapped the AEW Tag Title tournament…

4. Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian vs. “Private Party” Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen vs. “Lucha Brothers” Pentagon Jr. and Fenix in a three-way for the AEW Tag Titles. Justin Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Two wrestlers were legally allowed in the ring at a time. At 6:30, Pentagon hit a Backstabber on Quen and went for the pin, but it was quickly broken up by the others. Quen came back with a cool dropkick. He wanted to tag in his Kassidy, but he was down on the ramp, so Quen tagged in Sky instead. Sky performed a double stomp onto the back of Fenix, then mocked Pentagon’s gesture, which Penta had taunted him with earlier, and received some boos.

At 9:00, Kazarian leapt over the top rope and performed a huracanrana on Penta at ringside. Quen performed a Fosbury Flop dive over the top onto both opponents. Sky set up for a dive, but Fenix hit him with a high knee to the head and sent him under the ropes to ringside, Kassidy performed a corkscrew dive onto the pile, then Fenix performed a rope to rope springboard corkscrew dive onto the pile for a big pop. Back in the ring, Fenix performed a springboard cross body block onto Sky and covered him for a near fall. Kazarian tagged into the match and performed a DDT from the middle rope on Fenix and had him pinned, but Penta broke it up with a kick.

Private Party dumped Penta to ringside, then dragged Fenix to their corner so that they could tag in. Both Private Party members worked over Kazarian. Kassidy held Kazarian down and then Quen performed a shooting star press that led to a near fall. Private Party set up for their finisher, but the SCU duo avoided it. Sky held up Kassidy and then Kazarian hit him with a kick and pinned him.

Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky defeated Private Party and The Lucha Brothers in 13:00 to retain the AEW Tag Titles.

Afterward, Pentagon and Fenix attacked Kazarian and Sky. Penta grabbed a chair and laid it down in the ring and set up for his Penta Driver. The lights went out. When the lights turned on, there was a second person dressed as Pentagon in the ring. They both did the Cero miedo hand gesture, then the imposter Penta tackled the real Penta and slammed his head into the mat. Fake Penta performed an Angel’s Wings suplex on Fenix and threw him onto Pentagon. Fake Penta unmasked and revealed himself to be Christopher Daniels…

Powell’s POV: This was the big spot tag match with all the dives, so it was different from the opener. It was a little off at times early, but they found their groove and delivered a crowd pleasing match. The finishing spot felt a little soft considering all the other big spots the teams did. The storyline was that Penta and Fenix injured Daniels, so this was his revenge moment and it was well received by the live crowd.

A video package set up the AEW Women’s Championship match… Emi Sakura did her odd Freddie Mercury tribute entrance while Excalibur explained that she’s a big fan of Mercury and Queen. Riho made her entrance…

Powell’s POV: I’m a big fan of Guns N Roses, but I don’t do live pay-per-view reviews while sitting shirtless in a kilt. Or do I?

5. Riho vs. Emi Sakura for the AEW Women’s Championship. Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Ross noted that all the title matches had 60-minute time limits. Riho performed an early double stomp onto Sakura, who was hung up in the ropes and hanging over the apron. Back inside the ring, Riho performed a double knee strike and got a two count, then rolled into a single leg crab. Sakura reached the ropes and broke the hold.

Sakura dug her nails into the back of Riho, then mocked the referee by wiping nonexistent tears from her eyes. Sakura came off the ropes and double stomped the arm of Riho, then performed a middle rope senton for a near fall. Ross got tongue tied and admitted as much. Riho came back with a leaping double stomp at 8:50.

At 11:10. Riho performed a top rope double stomp and covered Sakura, who bridged out. Sakura performed a wicked suplex and performed a move that even Excalibur didn’t seem to know the name off (that doesn’t happen often) and got a two count. Riho slipped out of another move and performed a knee strike. Sakura came right back and rolled up Rhio for a near fall. They had a lightning quick exchange of pin attempts that resulted in Riho double stomping Sakura’s head. Riho rolled her into a pin and got the three count.

Riho defeated Emi Sakura in 13:20 to retain the AEW Women’s Championship.

After the match, Riho hugged her title belt close to her chest. Sakura raised Riho’s hand before leaving the ring…

Powell’s POV: A good match that just didn’t have the live crowd fully engaged. The women’s division could use its own Chris Jericho. Fans seem to genuinely like Riho, but she could use a strong heel foil. It looks like they are going with the title match next. That’s probably a tell in terms of the outcome not being a crowd pleaser, and it makes sense to have the “lights out” match last.

A video package aired on the AEW Championship match… Justin Roberts introduced Dean Malenko, Arn Anderson, and Great Muta as the judges who will determine the winner if the match goes to a 60-minute draw.

A video package aired on the AEW Championship match… Justin Roberts introduced Dean Malenko, Arn Anderson, and Great Muta as the judges who will determine the winner if the match goes to a 60-minute draw. Cody had pyro during his entrance and was accompanied by MJF. Cody hugged his mom, who was in the front row. Ross noted the history in Baltimore that included Ron Simmons beating Vader and Superstar Graham beating Bruno Sammartino. Chris Jericho and Jake Hager entered to Fozzy’s “Judas” and it was mentioned by Excalibur that Jericho was celebrating his 49th birthday…

6. Chris Jericho (w/Jake Hager) vs. Cody (w/MJF) for the AEW Championship. Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Aubrey Edwards was the referee. A “happy birthday” chant broke out. The bell rang and Jericho, who was wearing his own weightlifting belt, rolled to ringside. Dot Net staffer Jake Barnett noted on Twitter that there was a “f— your birthday” chant (so I misheard or there were two chants). Cody sent Jericho to ringside and performed a suicide dive at 5:30.

Back inside the ring, Cody hit a missile dropkick and covered Jericho for a one count. Cody targeted the left arm of Jericho. Cody caught Jericho with a powerslam for a two count at 7:30. Cody clotheslined Jericho over the top rope and onto the ramp that was nearly level with the ring. Cody performed a dive over the top rope and took a header onto the ramp when Jericho moved. Cody came up bleeding from a gash on his forehead. A trainer treated Cody while Jericho gloated in the ring. Cody said something to the trainer and then rolled under the bottom rope and back into the ring.

Powell’s POV: Insert your own joke here about UFC’s BMF Title and the New York State Athletic Commission.

Hager slid a chair into the ring. Jericho set the chair up and sat down on it to taunt Cody. They replayed the footage of Cody taking the header on the ramp. Ouch. Jericho tossed Cody to ringside where Hager ran him into the barricade while the referee was distracted. Cody returned to the ring and threw some punches, but Jericho cut him off again. Jericho worked over Cody with punches to the gut in the corner, then whipped him to the opposite corner and ran into Cody’s boot. Cody went for a moonsault, but Jericho moved. Cody crashed and burned and was covered by Jericho for a two count at 13:30.

Jericho went for a Lionsault, but Cody put his knees up. Cody hit a springboard cutter and got a two count. Cody worked over Jericho hit him with ten punches in the corner. Jericho went to the apron. Cody knocked Jericho to ringside with a Disaster Kick. A “Cody” chant broke out. Cody rolled to ringside and ran into a kick from Jericho, who scooped him up and ran him back first into the ring post. Jericho approached Cody’s mom, who slapped him. The production team missed Cody spearing Jericho. Cody rolled Jericho back inside the ring and hugged his mom before following.

Cody catapulted Jericho into a slam. Ross asked what Bob Holly called the move. Excalibur couldn’t remember at first, but they eventually figured out that it was an Alabama Slam. Cody applied a figure four. Jericho rolled it over. Cody reached the ropes. Hager shoved Cody’s head from the floor, then climbed onto the apron and jawed at him. Cody ran Jericho into Hager to knock him to the floor, then rolled up Jericho for a two count. Jericho kicked out and sent Cody near the ropes where Hager punched him from the floor. The referee ejected Hager.

MJF taunted Hager with the goodbye song. Hager roughed up MJF. While the referee was distracted, Jericho hit Cody with the AEW Championship belt. Jericho threw the belt out of the ring and then laid down before covering Cody for a near fall. Cody came back with CrossRhodes for a good near fall that the crowd bought into. A “this is awesome” chant followed. The wrestlers got to their knees and traded punches while the crowd did the “yay/boo” bit. Cody got the better of it and threw a bionic elbow that led to a near fall. A “Dusty” chant broke out.

Cody went for a Disaster Kick, but Jericho caught him with a Codebreaker for a good near fall. Jericho removed the “Le Champion” weightlifting belt and whipped Cody with it. The referee watched the whipping until Jericho appeared to tell her to take the belt, which she did before throwing it to ringside. Cody came back and went for a huracanrana from the ropes, but Jericho brought him into the ring and applied the Walls of Jericho. Cody reached the ropes to break it. Jericho and the ref had a pushing moment and Cody rolled him into an inside cradle for a two count.

Jericho applied a Liontamer. MJF stood in the corner holding a white towel. Jericho stomped the head of Cody. MJF eventually threw in the towel to end the match. The fans booed loudly.

Chris Jericho defeated Cody via corner forfeit in 29:35 to retain the AEW Championship.

After the match, MJF entered the ring and checked on Cody. Jericho went to the stage where inner circle members Hager, Santana, Ortiz, and Guevara came out. The IC members put Jericho on their shoulders and he opened a bottle of champagne. In the ring, Cody got to his knees and wasn’t pleased. MJF said he was sorry repeatedly. Cody got to his feet. MJF was emotional and remained on his knees.

A “f— him up, Cody” chant broke out. Cody pulled MJF to his feet and indicated that he forgave him. MJF kicked Cody in the balls. MJF smiled. A loud “asshole” chant broke out while MJF yelled at Cody. MJF wiped his feet toward Cody and then left the ring. A fan threw a drink at MJF, who smiled. “I wouldn’t encourage that, folks,” Ross said. Cody sat in the ring looking dejected…

Powell’s POV: A good match that started slow and built nicely. The finish was underwhelming. I’m surprised they didn’t have Cody on the verge of winning rather than being on the verge of losing when MJF threw in the towel. Nevertheless, MJF drew great heat and we know what Cody’s next feud will be. Does Jericho move into a feud with the winner of the main event?

An AEW Dynamite ad aired… Ross noted that the main event would not be sanctioned… A video package set up the main event…

7. Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega in an unsanctioned, lights out match. Omega entered first, then Moxley came through the crowd while Excalibur explained that Moxley said he would never be blindsided again. Paul Turner was the referee and the broadcast team noted that Moxley gave him a Paradigm Shift and has been warned that he’ll be significantly fined if he gets physical with referees again. Ross questioned why Turner was assigned the match, which is a logical question given the history. Moxley performed an early Sidewalk Slam. Ross said that might be the most scientific thing Moxley does in the match.

Moxley rolled to ringside and cussed while saying it was time for some garbage. Moxley pulled a trashcan out from underneath the ring and threw it into the ring. Moxley hit Omega with the trashcan lid. They tumbled to ringside a short time later. Omega threw Moxley over the barricade, then got a running start, leapt over the barricade, and dropkicked Moxley. Omega hit Moxley with a chair. Omega ran Moxley into the wall of seating off the main floor. Omega threw a trashcan onto Moxley, then went onto the handrail of the first level of seating off the main floor and performed a double stomp onto Moxley. Omega threw Moxley over the barricade and then climbed onto the barricade for a move, but Moxley shoved him down.

Moxley threw Omega over the barricade and into the ringside area where he suplexed him on the floor. Moxley pulled out his barbwire baseball bat and jabbed Omega with it. Moxley wound up to hit Omega, who elbowed him in the gut. Moxley came right back and slammed the barbwire bat over the back of Omega three times. Omega had small punctures all of his back. Moxley hit him with the bat again. Moxley grabbed Omega by the back of the head and told him to “talk some shit now.” Moxley put the bat on Omega’s back and pressed his foot on it, then stomped it.

Omega grabbed Moxley from behind. Moxley raked the barbwire bat over his arm. Omega released him, then came back with a trashcan to the head. Omega picked up the barbwire bat and tossed it aside. Omega rolled to ringside and leaned a table against the barricade. Omega pulled out his broom wrapped in barbwire. Moxley threw a trashcan at him. Moxley went for a suicide dive, but Omega hit him with the barbwire broom from the floor at 9:30. Moxley bled from the back of his head. Omega swept the back of Moxley with the broom, then did a double stomp onto it at 9:40.

Omega executed a drop toehold that sent Moxley face first onto the broom. A short time later, Omega pulled another trashcan out from under the ring. Omega placed the trashcan over the ring post and the ring post camera. Omega ended up grabbing it and performing a moonsault onto Moxley with it for a near fall. Omega pulled a board out from underneath the ring that had a bunch of mousetraps on it. Omega slid the board into the ring. Moxley and Omega traded punches. Omega caught him with a V-Trigger knee, then ran into a clothesline that turned Omega inside out. Moxley tossed Omega onto the mousetrap board. “That’s a first for ol’ JR, folks,” Ross said on commentary.

Moxley went to ringside and pulled out a small crate that contained what Excalibur described as anchor chains. Moxley placed the “awkward pile of steel” into the ring and then performed a side slam onto the chain. They cut to a shot of a woman looking disgusted in the crowd. Moxley covered Omega for a two count. Moxley performed a neckbreaker onto the chain and covered him, but he only got a one count. Moxley sat up, looked into the camera, and smiled. Moxley wrapped the chain around Moxley’s face and wrenched back on it. Omega grabbed a trashcan lid and threw it back at Moxley, which broke the hold. Moxley put Omega in a rear naked choke, but Omega hit him with the trashcan lid several times to break it at 17:20.

Moxley went to ringside and pulled out a screwdriver or a small icepick. Omega avoided it and Moxley stuck it into a turnbuckle pad. Moxley dropped Omega onto the chains again. Moxley wrapped the chain around the neck of Omega and tried to toss him over the top rope to hang him with it, but Omega countered into a snap dragon suplex. Omega hit the move a second time. Omega wrapped the chain around Moxley’s neck and threw him over the top rope to hang him with it. Omega released it, then knelt down and got the Terminator clap. Excalibur said the blood on Omega’s hands saved Moxley because he lost his grip on the chain. Omega performed a flip dive that sent both men crashing through the table that was leaned up against the barricade at 22:00.

Excalibur said the match was hard to watch and the fans weren’t sure who or what to root for. Omega went to ringside and brought a bag of broken glass into the ring with him. Omega pulled out a shard of glass and tried to use it on Moxley’s eye, but Moxley blocked it. Omega cut his hand instead and smiled. Omega smashed the glass in the back with his foot and then poured the rest of it into the middle of the ring. Moxley kicked Omega, who then slammed him onto the glass and covered him for a two count. Omega grabbed Moxley’s legs and pulled his back over the glass, then applied a Sharpshooter. Moxley crawled through the broken glass to get to the ropes to break the hold at 25:05. Excalibur noted that there were no rope breaks and that Moxley used the ropes to pull himself upright to break the hold. Great catch.

Omega picked up a handful of the glass and put some into the mouth of Moxley. Omega ran the ropes for a V-Trigger, but Moxley avoided it and suplexed Omega onto the glass. Omega came right back with a V-Trigger to the mouth. Omega hit a second V-Trigger. Moxley rolled out of the ring and onto the entrance ramp. Omega pulled the screwdriver out of the turnbuckle pad and followed Moxley (Excalibur noted that it was a screwdriver after calling it an icepick earlier). Omega jabbed the screwdriver into the forehead of Moxley.

Omega started yelling for someone to bring it. The Young Bucks and Hangman Page came out and didn’t look like they were down with whatever Omega wanted. Omega spoke into the ear of Matt Jackson, who motioned to the others to make good on his request. They walked away and returned with a massive bed of barbwire. Omega put Moxley onto his shoulders. Moxley slipped away and they fought for position. eventually, Moxley suplexed Omega onto the bed of barbwire. A “holy shit” chant fired up. The Elite members and some security helped the wrestlers out of the barbwire. Moxley punched one of the security guards.

The wrestlers fought for position in front of a Full Gear Sign located below the stage. Eventually, Omega performed a V-Trigger that drove both men into the sign. A replay showed that Omega missed the V-Trigger, but his face crashed into the plexiglass sign. Both men got out of the sigh and then Omega hit Moxley from behind as they returned to the ring. Moxley hit Omega with a Paradigm Shift (Dirty Deeds) onto the glass for a near fall. Moxley pulled out a tool and cut the straps that tied the canvas to the ring. Moxley pulled the canvas and padding back to reveal the wood boards.

Moxley set up for a piledriver, but Omega countered into a back body drop onto the boards. Omega delivered a V-Trigger knee to the back of Moxley’s head, then set up for a One Winged Angel. Moxley slipped out, but Omega dropped him with a DDT onto the boards for a near fall at 37:00. A loud “AEW” chant broke out. Omega went to the top rope and went for a Phoenix Splash, but Moxley moved and Omega crashed onto the board. Moxley covered Omega and only got a two count. Moxley picked up Omega and hit an elevated Paradigm Shift onto the boards and scored the pin…

Jon Moxley defeated Kenny Omega in 38:45 in an unsanctioned, lights out match.

After the match, the Young Bucks and a trainer checked on Omega. Moxley looked into the camera and asked if that was four or five, then gave double birds and said, “F— you, that’s all we know.” Moxley sat in the corner while Omega remained down. Ross closed out the show by thanking fans and saying they would see them on Wednesday night on TNT from Nashville…

Powell’s POV: Well, Moxley more than lived up to his promise of delivering a type of violence that hasn’t been seen in the U.S. in years. It will be really over with some fans and too much for others. I hope they can find a good balance with Moxley, whose cool factor made him a big hit with fans of all ages in WWE. This level of violence is something that will be too much for parents to allow their kids to watch. I’m not calling for a shift to being a promotion aimed at children, but I think it’s smart business to be edgy without going overboard.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the show. It’s refreshing to see an event filled with matches that all felt like they mattered and weren’t just filling time. The crowd was hot and everyone went above and beyond in the ring. I will have more to say about this event in the audio review that Jake Barnett and I will be recording for Dot Net Members coming up shortly. Let me know what you think of the show by giving it a letter grade and voting for the best match in our post show polls available on the main page. Join Jake for his weekly AEW Dynamite reviews on Wednesday nights.

WE VALUE YOUR PRIVACY

Readers Comments (15)

  1. A win over Jelly Janela means nothing for Spears.

  2. Hyped that this means the AEW champion is putting over Tana at the Dome.

  3. I’m surprised Jon and Kenny didn’t kill themselves with some of the spots or seriously injure themselves. Hopefully they were able to protect each other enough during each spot, to make sure they weren’t hurt too bad.

    I definitely had Punk/Foley vibes from back in the day. I understand now why Vince doesn’t go too over the top with hardcore matches. They’re a tamer version, but at least nobody is going to seriously injure themselves in the process.

    • You sound so stupid for saying Vince protects his wrestlers when Gargano got spiked on his head and Balor got almost paralysed at MITB

  4. “It’s refreshing to see an event filled with matches that all felt like they mattered and weren’t just filling time.”

    Really? The entire PPV other than the last two matches felt like they were just filling time. Worst PPV of the year.

  5. I never thought we could get a worse team name than The Viking Experience, but… Proud and Powerful???

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