AEW presents Full Gear this Saturday, November 18 from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. In addition to a stacked lineup of matches, Tony Khan is promising another one of his trademark huge announcements concerning a new signing to the company.
AEW Full Gear 2023 date, start time
AEW Full Gear will air live on Saturday, November 18. It will begin at 8pm ET.
How to watch AEW Full Gear 2023
AEW Full Gear will be available to purchase from traditional pay-per-view, the Bleacher Report app in the United States, and FiteTV elsewhere. It will cost $49.99.
AEW Full Gear 2023 card and predictions
MJF (c) and TBA vs. The Gunns for the ROH World Tag Team Championship
Darius: If the story here was still fully insistent on MJF defending the ROH Tag Titles by himself in honor of Better Than You Bay-Bay, I’d assume that MJF was losing. The Gunns are the perfect ROH Tag Team Champions for Tony Khan’s current version of ROH: two young guys who probably aren’t winning the AEW Tag Titles again for a while but are really good in the ring and could easily carry AEW’s stand-in for a developmental brand. However, with Samoa Joe’s role increasing in the overall MJF story, plus the ending of Dynamite seeing Bullet Club Gold decimate MJF, I could certainly see Max finally invoking Joe’s name and finding himself a tag partner for Saturday. And with both Joe and MJF as opponents, I simply don’t see the Gunns making it out of that one in one piece, let alone with belts around their wastes.
Winners: MJF and Samoa Joe
Jason: I’m with Darius on this one. In a perfect world there would be a more interesting option to pop in as MJF’s partner at the 11th hour, but given Cole’s injury and the next most interesting left-field option within the company being maybe Wardlow, the only real option here is to have Joe come in and win with Max, and then Joe choking the champ out after their successful defense. The numbers don’t lie, and they spell disaster for the Ass boys at Sacrifice Full Gear.
Winners: MJF and Samoa Joe
Shane: I have to agree with my colleagues here. MJF and Samoa Joe winning is the safest option and and is the option I think we’re heading in on Saturday night.
Winners: MJF and Samoa Joe
Hikaru Shida (c) vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship
Darius: I sometimes feel like Tony Khan likes spotlighting Shida simply so that he can give her devastating losses again, but even though this is the perfect set-up for another Shida L to go with losing her past two untimely title losses (one in front of a rabid, pandemic-era-ending crowd and the other at one of the biggest shows in wrestling history), I think she takes it here. Toni Storm isn’t going to lose her spot on TV with a loss here, and I think both of their characters work better with a Shida win. Toni can’t gain her sanity back by regaining her lost prize, and Shida can look dominant by beating a bonafide top star in the women’s division to solidify this early stage of her reign. Does Shida need to be champion forever? Certainly not; that being said, a loss here would just feel rude. How much more do Shida and her fans need to suffer in 2023?
Winner: Hikaru Shida
Jason: Both of these ladies flopped as champions, but only one is even remotely interesting at this point in time. As such, I think Timeless Toni takes it thanks to her new buddy Mariah May, so add some intrigue to their story. I can see Butler Luther polishing the belt in picture-in-picture already.
Winner: (and new) Toni Storm
Shane: “Timeless” Toni Storm might be the best women’s wrestling character currently in any wrestling promotion. And I think the entire purpose behind Shida’s most recent title win is to serve as a transition between Saraya and Toni. Where the Women’s Championship goes after this, I really don’t know, but it’s a much more interesting story with Toni Storm as champ. Chin up, tits out, and watch for the shoe.
Winner: Toni Storm
Sting, Darby Allin, and Adam Copeland vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, and Nick Wayne
Darius: Sting is in this match, so his team is winning. It also helps that Copeland beating Cage would give Christian at least some reason to consider teaming with his former partner, as Copeland is already sold on the idea, but none of that matters because Sting is winning.
Winner: Sting, Darby Allin, and Adam Copeland
Jason: Yeah, as fun as the Patriarchy is, this is the Sting farewell tour. Dude’s not losing until his final passing of the torch match with his stepson Darby.
Winner: Sting, Adam Copeland, and Darby Allin
Shane: Sting never loses. But I would like to see the IWC melt down seeing Edge, I mean Adam Copeland, being pinned by Christian.
Winners: Sting, Darby Allin, and Adam Copeland
Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW International Championship
Darius: I think there was a plan for Moxley’s reign that didn’t come to fruition, and I also know that Tony Khan has a way of getting things back to his original vision (e.g., Moxley eventually turning heel and fighting both Hangman Page and Orange Cassidy in 2023 after both being teased in 2021 pre-rehab). That being said, I personally don’t see anything in a Moxley reign that would legitimize the belt any more than Orange already has, especially since Moxley’s name is already in the history books as a “former AEW International Champion.” Orange gets a lot out of beating Moxley, and it also opens the door for an eventual, hyped-up “Cassidy vs Moxley III” that can and should happen way down the road. If TK can hold off from being TK for just a second, there’s a lot to be gained from completely forgoing Mox’s lost title reign and seeing what happens with this uninjured, already angry Orange Cassidy as champion.
Winner: Orange Cassidy
Jason: My interest in this matchup has waned pretty significantly in recent weeks, and I’m not sure why. Mox matches all kind of look alike at this point, and Cassidy works more interesting bouts with dudes that allow him to show off his deceptive agility rather than big bruisers for him to bounce off of. All that said, Mox has been on a losing steak of sorts, and Cassidy doesn’t need a title to stay over. I’m giving it to Moxley.
Winner: Jon Moxley
Shane: I’m torn on who’s going to win this match pretty much for the reasons that Darius mentioned. AEW does tend to find its way back to original creative plans eventually following hiccups that cause plans to change. But, I don’t know if having Moxley beat Orange again is a good idea. I’m more curious to see what another lengthy Orange Cassidy reign looks vs another Moxley reign.
Winner: Orange Cassidy
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland (Texas Deathmatch)
Darius: Swerve would be a star if he beat Hangman on two shows in a row, especially if he did so by beating Hangman in the same match that Hangman beat Moxley in this past spring. However, I think the prospective homegrown ace of AEW that is Hangman needs this win. Having a guy go into your house and cut a promo on your baby, then having him beat you in YOUR match type? Especially after all of this murder talk? Unlike Orange and Mox, I don’t envision this just being a trilogy, but rather something that can potentially be revisited lots in the future, as both of these guys are THE future, both of them being in their early 30s and in prime position to run the 2020s. As for this match, I have to say I don’t think Hangman is in a position to hand out huge losses for free. He’s not Jericho or Danielson or Moxley. Hangman needs to keep his name around world title level, and as big of a win as this would be for Swerve, Hangman is AEW’s Guy. Sometimes, you just have to let The Guy win.
Winner: “Hangman” Adam Page
Jason: This one has the most interesting build on the card and both guys need the win, but I feel like convention says that Hangman needs to take it. Swerve messed with his child, that’s the lowest heel move we’ve seen from AEW in some time. The thing is, I would prefer that Swerve win so we can build him as a more legitimate challenger for the big belt, but you don’t threaten a baby and get to win.
Winner: “Hangman” Adam Page
Shane: 50/50 booking be damned, I’m going with another Swerve victory here. A victory for Swerve here not only gives him two up on a former AEW World Champion, but it helps to build further credibility for Swerve as a main event level talent, and would help him become arguably the biggest heel in the company. Swerve winning feels like a bigger deal than Hangman tying things up.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
The Golden Jets vs. The Young Bucks (If Golden Jets win, they get the Young Bucks’ tag title opportunity. If they lose, the Golden Jets must disband)
Darius: Between NJPW and AEW, this is the third time I’ve had to watch Kenny and Some Guy fight clearly angry Young Bucks while Kenny seems oblivious about handling his toxic friend group. The Golden Lovers beat the Young Bucks in 2018. Kenny and Hangman beat the Young Bucks in 2020. History shows that the Bucks are getting washed by the leader of the Elite, but the Golden Jets are more “Y2AJ” than “Golden Lovers.” I actually really liked their chemistry in the Like A Dragon street fight on Dynamite, but having the Young Bucks win a tag title shot at WrestleDream, not wrestle for the tag titles at the next pay-per-view, and instead lose to Omega and Jericho? That’s more than a little goofy. Let these toxic Bucks be the Elite’s tag team for once, Kenny.
Winners: The Young Bucks
Jason: Why is Jericho here? No, he shouldn’t win. Have I not been paying close enough attention to Dynamite to understand this match? What?
Winner: Young Bucks
Shane: I’m getting Y2AJ flashbacks here. If you know you know. Also, when and why did the Young Bucks turn heel? I’m assuming they’re heels here?
Winners: The Young Bucks
Kris Statlander (c) vs. Julia Hart vs. Skye Blue for the TBS Championship
Darius: Second time’s the charm for Julia. For my money, she was supposed to beat Kris Statlander one-on-one at WrestleDream, but when you add Skye Blue to the mix, Kris Statlander’s chances of winning drastic go down. Julia is in both women’s heads, but the opposite isn’t true. Julia has the mental edge in this bout and the shenanigans to boot. I think Julia pins Skye in California, then heads to New York to put hometown girl Kris Statlander down for good. Or, silly me, Kris simply retains and defends the belt in her home state, but I just think it makes sense to give Julia this women’s midcard belt since she kind of single-handedly runs the women’s midcard division in AEW.
Winner: Julia Hart
Jason: I 100% believe they added Skye Blue to eat the pin, but I don’t think it was to keep Stat strong, I think it was to avoid pinning Hart. I hesitate to say anyone is more over than anyone else in this match, but I think Statlander remains the biggest star here, and thus leaves the show with the title on her shoulder.
Winner: Kris Statlander
Shane: The TBS title should be treated like the TNT title in my opinion: short title reigns filled with title defenses on TV and PPV where the champ could arguably lose their belt each time they defend it. I totally understand why Jade Cargil’s reign was lengthier than it probably should have been, but on the other hand, Kris Starlander’s has already overstayed its welcome. I’m predicting a Julia Hart victory here so we can finally start adding a little bit of variety to the TBS Championship.
Winner: Julia Hart
Ricky Starks and Big Bill (c) vs. La Facción Ingobernable vs. FTR vs. Kings of the Black Throne for the AEW World Tag Team Championship
Darius: This match is impossible because I swear that if just one of the other three teams had a more legitimate case for the tag titles right now, they’d easily slide off of Starks’s and Bill’s shoulders. FTR just lost the belts, so giving them back doesn’t feel fresh. The Kings of the Black Throne are a little fresher, but they also just lost the trios belts, so it’s not too exciting to see them with belts, either. Rush and Dralistico are easily the freshest duo in this batch, especially after their dope match against the Workhorsemen on Collision last week, but they’re too new to this particular title scene to say they have a big shot — though I would have said the same thing about the current champs a few weeks ago. I guess I don’t think any of these teams SHOULD win, but if Starks and Bill win, at least they can claim to have beaten three big-named teams in their probably short reign.
Winners: Ricky Starks and Big Bill
Jason: Boy, I would love to see Kings of the Black Throne take it, because I feel like I haven’t seen them win in months. Yet I think multi-man matches almost always mean the champs retain, so my money is Mini Rock and the guy you can’t teach. I feel like AEW wants to invest in Starks but are afraid to go whole hog quite yet, so giving him and his 7-foot bodyguard a decent run with the tag belts is an okay consolation prize.
Winners: Ricky Starks and Big Bill
Shane: I really don’t see AEW playing hot potato with their tag team belts. There has to be a reason why they decided to pull the belts off of FTR and on to Pretty Ricky and Big Bill and I don’t think we’ve fully tapped into their potential just yet. This match will be a lot of fun and will end hopefully with the champs retaining.
Winners: Ricky Starks and Big Bill
MJF (c) vs. Jay White for the AEW World Championship
Darius: If you asked me who would walk out of this feud as champion when Jay first interrupted Max, I would have confidently stated that Jay was going to end MJF’s reign and replace him as top heel while MJF continued to be this super over babyface. Since then, however, Jay has consistently had the upper hand for the whole feud, beating MJF up and evading repercussions, taking MJF’s championship, and defending the right to hold onto the stolen world title by pinning MJF in the middle of the ring. For MJF to lose at the end of this feud would just be insane for someone who has been, up to this point, treated like a great competitor who happens to cheat. Plus, the next show being in New York really does affect the booking of this show (which is kind of why AEW’s booking style clashes with monthly pay-per-views). For various reasons, I think MJF HAS to win this one. Otherwise, I have no clue what Tony Khan is doing.
Winner: MJF
Jason: I think we all expect MJF to retain here. While I dig Jay White, he’s the leader of a group of geeks and we’re already setting up Samoa Joe’s rematch with Max, so it’s probable that our scumbag is walking home with the belt. My only hopes for this one are that a). It’s a good match, and b). We get a reveal on the devil stuff. I’m getting really tired of all the CM Punk rumors, and with Survivor Series leaving Chicago soon enough, that just leaves all the devil mask rumors that I’d love to see gone. So Max wins, and then we find out that the devil is…I dunno, Jon Cena? Honestly, it’s probably Roderick Strong.
Winner: MJF
Shane: In an earlier prediction I mentioned how AEW tends to stick to their original creative plans even when there are hiccups thrown their way. In the other prediction, I went against that logic and predicted that AEW will change course and have Orange Cassidy retain instead of giving the title back to Moxley. However, in this case, I think AEW will stick to their original plans and keep the title on MJF until Adam Cole is healthy enough to return. I fully believe that Adam Cole will be the man to defeat his best friend for the AEW World Championship and MJF is just keeping the belt warm until that moment comes into fruition. It doesn’t matter if it’s Jay White, Samoa Joe, Rodrick Strong, CM Punk, or John Cena – Maxwell Jacob Friedman will hold the title until Adam Cole takes it from him. Bay-Bay!
Winner: MJF
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