Predictions: AEW Full Gear
It’s November, you know what that means. We are all going to get together, stuff our faces with delicious food and try not to think about how the Pilgrims’ relationship with the Native Americans went real south, real fast. Also, it’s time for AEW’s annual fall pay-per-view Full Gear.
It’s been a while since the last wave of Talent Alone wrestling predictions. The main reason is, that WWE’s recent premium live event was funded by violating basic human rights, so we prefer to not give it the time of day. However, as far as I know, there is no blood money involved in the funding for Full Gear and the host city of Inglewood California seems to have a decent reputation. Meaning, the competition between Adam and myself is back on with this latest round of spicy hot take predictions.
Our last round of crystal ball reading was back at the end of September for the inaugural AEW WrestleDream PPV. It came down to the wire, and my correct prediction of Christian Cage winning the main event helped me force the 5-5 tie, which keeps us tied on the year at 49-49 apiece. Adam still holds the tiebreaker, so he will get us started.
AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:
MJF (c) vs. Jay White
ADAM: You know they really want us to get stoked for the whole “MJF defends two belts in one night” but didn’t we do this like last pay-per-view? Anyways, Jay White seems like the most legit challenger for MJF’s belt since that one really bad guy. I’m sure we see the cumulation of the person behind the MJF devil mask. Me personally, I’m hoping that it’s Tom DeLonge. Despite the almost certain interference, I still think we see the Champ walk away retaining his stolen belt.
MJF
MIKE: This has definitely been the best job AEW has done building a word title match in a while. Hold on, Better Than You Bay Bay stans are at my door with pitchforks and torches. My only bugaboo is the tired stealing the belt gimmick. That’s possession of stolen property. Jay White is committing a Class A misdemeanor. Other than that, it’s been a fun build with some fun layers mixed in such as MJF needing to find partners to help him while Adam Cole is gone.
It would be a huge surprise if MJF dropped the belt. Speaking of surprises, who is the person behind the devil’s mask? I’ll answer that question with a question. Has anybody seen Pac lately?
MJF
ADAM: I was real excited about your devil mask theory until I realized you said Pac and not Tupac.
MIKE: If they find another wrestler who looks just like Pac and their team name is TwoPac would you be back in?
AEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:
Hikaru Shida (c) vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm
MIKE: A lot of TV time has been invested in the “Timeless” Toni Storm character, and it’s been nice to see AEW put effort into an aspect of the women’s division. I’m also glad someone came out of the failed Outcasts gimmick on their feet. With all that said, I’m expecting some sort of shenanigans will lead to Shida retaining
HIKARU SHIDA
ADAM: It’s kind of funny to look back on Toni Storm’s title run and consider how much more over she would have gotten if they had gone weird the whole time. A part of me thinks the move here is to let the hot character take the belt and see how the women’s division would do if it was headed by a Toni Storm who… actually talked this time?
“TIMELESS” TONI STORM
Sting, Darby Allin, and Adam Copeland(w/ Ric Flair) vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, and Nick Wayne
ADAM: Wouldn’t it be great if Sting came out to Roxanne? Listen I could have said more here but Sting is on his way out and Edge Adam Copeland is finally in action. Vegas took this one off the board before it even started.
STING, DARBY ALLIN, AND ADAM COPELAND
MIKE: I’ve typed and deleted roughly 20 snarky, and somewhat harsh, comments about Tony Khan signing Ric Flair. I’m just going to let it go… for now.
What a horrible friend Adam Copeland is. He’s given up on his alleged best friend and resorted to violence. He’s sat by as Sting and Allin talk shit about Christian Cage like they think they know him. Hopefully, Copeland sees the light at Full Gear. Then spears Sting, and that kid he sponsors from the Big Brother program, into oblivion.
CHRISTIAN CAGE, LUCHASAURUS, AND NICK WAYNE
AEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Jon Moxley
MIKE: The seriousness in which Cassidy has talked about this match has been great. He’s really driven home the point of why this one is important to him. Despite Mox losing the belt after suffering a concussion forced an audible, I think this is actually where we were headed anyway. OC gets his win back by climbing the violent main event level opponent, Moxley.
ORANGE CASSIDY
ADAM: I actually think the build to this match has been a little confused. Heel Mox never really does it for me, he should be more like fire. Not malicious but always dangerous. He’s out here cutting promos like Orange Cassidy said Jefferson Starship is better than whoever sings the cover of Wild Things he comes out to. I think we see Cassidy walk away with the belt he made legit but I think it’s time to separate these two for a little bit.
ORANGE CASSIDY
The Golden Jets (Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson)
ADAM: I know I’m a hater, but I could have thrown a dart in the AEW locker room and got a more interesting partner for Kenny Omega. That being said, Jericho is the master of getting himself in the main event picture one way or another and since the stipulations mean that if JerichOmega wins they’re in the title picture….
The Golden Jets (Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho)
MIKE: The Young Bucks’ greatest match ever was when they faced the Golden Lovers at NJPW Strong Style Evolved in 2018. That has nothing to do with my prediction, I just felt like randomly planting that flag.
Nick Jackson pulled the double kicks to the ding ding in their match on Dynamite, so I guess the Bucks are heels again. I hate when wrestlers seem to turn yearly, but if this is an actual turn for the Bucks I’ll allow it. They’ve always been better as heels. I really want this Golden Jets business to be short-lived. My hope is a Young Bucks win here will be the stepping stone to another showdown with the Golden Lovers. I guess my earlier comment did have something to do with my prediction.
THE YOUNG BUCKS
ADAM: Classic Chekhov’s Golden Lovers
TEXAS DEATH MATCH:
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana)
MIKE: This company is just overrun with crime. I hope Prince Nana’s lawyers informed Swerve that unlawful entry is a crime that can range anywhere from a misdemeanor to a felony. If Hangman decided to press charges, Strickland would be looking at fines, citations, or even potential jail time. Lucky for us, Page didn’t and we’ll get this match at Full Gear instead. I really enjoyed their match at WrestleDream where Swerve got the win. I expect this is where he gets his comeuppance.
Hangman telling Prince Nana that after he kicks Swerve’s ass, he’s going to kick his ass and steal his weed really popped me. Wait, would that constitute petty theft? Along with a potential battery charge?! Hangman, nooooo
“HANGMAN” ADAM PAGE
ADAM: Mike, I hate that this always falls to us. Wrestling media fails time and time again to ask hard questions when morality and story do not line up. The “journalists” in the wrestling space refuse to do what is right and put Tony Kahn on the stand to answer for this. Why are you having a Texas Death Match in LA?
“HANGMAN” ADAM PAGE
AEW TBS CHAMPIONSHIP:
Kris Statlander (c) vs. Julia Hart vs. Skye Blue
ADAM: I’m split between a few routes here. First, Kris Statlander is the best worker in the Women’s division full stop (although she used to have an argument for best worker in the galaxy). Second, Julia Hart was someone I started shouting out as a much improved pro wrestler months ago, so I get to be the smart guy if she wins. Third, Sky Blue is from Chicago. I think we should all just let out a collective sigh of relief that this match didn’t end up with Red Velvet in it.
JULIA HART
MIKE: We are 100% getting a power spot where Statlander has both Hart and Skye on her shoulders. Rack’em, Stack’em, and Pin’em. Statlander over.
KRIS STATLANDER
AEW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:
Ricky Starks and Big Bill (c) vs. La Facción Ingobernable (Rush and Dralístico) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) vs. Kings of The Black Throne (Malakai Black and Brody King)
MIKE: Imagine if Tony Kahn actually did something with Malakai Black, wouldn’t that be wild?! Anyway, this being a 4-way makes me believe FTR won’t be winning. There are a lot of things you can do to protect them and keep them out of the finish. I love Ricky Starks but I hope he drops the belts and gets back into more solo feuds. So I’m going to give TK the benefit of the doubt, that for once, he won’t have a faction return only to book them into the background three weeks later.
LA FACCIÓN INGOBERNABLE
ADAM: I think we see the breakthrough here. I think we have spent enough time slaving over a hot keyboard since Johnny Kick ‘em in the Ding Ding hit Malakai Black with a car or whatever that feud was. It’s time for Tony Kahn to make The Black Parade (editor’s note: don’t leave nickname in the final draft, it’s only a placeholder) a champion. NO MAN IS EVER TRULY GOOD. NO MAN IS EVER TRULY EVIL.
KINGS OF THE BLACK THRONE
MIKE: I DO THE THINGS YOU NEVER COULD. AND WE WILL NEVER BE EQUAL
BONUS: WHO IS SIGNING WITH AEW AT FULL GEAR?
AEW has agreed to terms with one of the world's best wrestlers, a pro who is known + respected by virtually every @AEW fan! They'll come to LA to sign their contract THIS SATURDAY 11/18 on ppv at #AEWFullGear!
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) November 15, 2023
See you TONIGHT on TBS for the final #AEWDynamite before Full Gear!
ADAM: I’m gonna cheat off the smart guy’s homework for this one.
Flip fucking Gordon.
— Maxwell Jacob Friedman™️ (@The_MJF) November 15, 2023
MIKE: The “respected” line is a swerve bro. It’s Matt Riddle. As we’ve learned with the Ric Flair signing, it just has to be two years since your last sexual assault allegations and Tony Khan will sign you. What? Earlier I said I would let it go “for now”.
MATT RIDDLE
ADAM: Classic Chekov’s Repeated Sexual Assult Allegations
