AEW Full Gear 2025

AEW Full Gear 2025

Newark, NJ - November 2025

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, the AEW Men's World Champion (as he makes sure to always note) was "Hangman" Adam Page, the TNT Champion was Kyle Fletcher, the AEW Unified Champion was Kazuchika Okada, the AEW Women's World Champion was Kris Statlander, the TBS Champion was Mercedes Mone, the World Trios Champions were held by The Opps (Shibata, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Samoa Joe), and the World Tag Team Champions were Brodido (Brody King and Bandido).

Like the previous AEW PPV, Full Gear 2025 began with a match "in media res" with the CMLL Trios Championship being defended by Mistico, Mascara Dorado, and Neon taking on Okada, Takeshita, and Hechicero. I didn't see the full match so I'm not going to rate it, but I liked what I saw and am amped up for the eventual Takeshita/Okada match. 

The "proper" opening match was Darby Allin vs. PAC in a match that was billed as a "straight-up wrestling match." As one might expect, this was very good with Allin taking two especially nasty bumps to the outside from a military press slam and then an Irish whip into the post that sent him out of the ring. My biggest criticism, though, would be that several minutes later, Allin willingly delivered a missile dropkick from the ring to PAC on the floor (who was seated in a steel chair), essentially taking a third back bump onto the thin protective padding around the ring. Obviously, Allin being a daredevil and being "unkillable" and tough as nails is a huge part of his deal, but this sorta undercut the previous bumps he'd taken, which were rightfully treated as big deals. I liked the finish, which saw Wheeler Yuta cause just enough of a distraction for PAC to connect with a shot using the Stinger bat. Weapon strikes should absolutely be protected more than they often are in AEW and the finish took nothing away from Allin's aura. (3/5)

A four-way tag match was next with "Timeless" Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa, Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron, Marina Shafir and Megan Bayne, and Julia Hart and Skye Blue facing off in a "preview" of the upcoming semi-finals of the AEW Women's Tag Team Championship tournament. Not much to say about this aside from the fact that they squeezed a whole lot of action into their 13 minutes. Storm, Shirakawa, and Bayne were the highlights in terms of performance, but Marina Shafir looked better here than I recall her ever looking and I liked her 619-into-a-head-scissors slam on the apron. Not a bad match at all and the crowd was into it, but nothing special. (2.5/5)

Brodido - Brody King and Bandido - defended the AEW World Tag Team Championships against FTR in the next match. This felt "paint-by-numbers" before Brody King launched himself to the outside and took Stokely out of the match, but that's not necessarily a knock against it; This was a smartly-worked, well-executed "classic" tag team match that stuck to a winning formula for its first half and then continued to raise the suspense as it built towards a series of false finishes and then actual conclusion. One really has to wonder, after a match like this and some of their other work in 2025, if Brodido is the best "two singles guy randomly paired up" teams in history. As an FTR fan, I'm happy with the finish, though I am hoping we get at least one rematch because these two teams work really well together. The best match on the show up to this point, but not one I'd consider "must see." (3.5/5)

The Casino Gauntlet Match for the brand new AEW National Championship was next with Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin of the Hurt Syndicate being the first two entrants. I was wondering why being #1 and #2 would be a good thing in a Gauntlet Match but the rules of this match are a bit different from your typical Gauntlet as the match can end at anytime - first to get a pin or submission - meaning that it could even end before all participants had entered (though I'm not sure that has ever actually happened in one of these). Danielson joined the commentary team for this. The 3rd man in was Ricochet, who cut a promo before he joined the match, distracting Lashley and Benjamin so that The Gates of Agony could attack them. Lashley got hip-attacked into the steps by the bigger of the Gates of Agony guys (which brought out a gaggle of referees). 4th in was Claudio, who got a bit of a face pop because Rico had been breakdancing in the ring like a prick. Castagnoli beat the hell out of him but couldn't secure the victory, even after his stablemate, Daniel Garcia, came out at #5. Speaking of Garcia, he teased his trademark dance in the corner but didn't deliver it. The 6th entrant was Orange Cassidy. We got a fun spot with Claudio pulling OC off of Rico by his jeans and then a strong sequence between him and the rest of the participants before Wheeler Yuta came out at #7 and the heels beat up on Cassidy in the corner. Kevin Knight came in at #8. All the while, the Hurt Syndicate seemingly disappeared under the ring (it would've made much more sense for them to be taken to the back after the GOA run-in). #9 was the always-impressive Roderick Strong followed by Mark Davis at #10, who hit an awesome piledriver on Orange Cassidy but was thwarted in his effort to get the pinfall by Yuta. #11 was "Speedball" Mike Bailey, who had a mini-conflict with his tag partner when they both went for a cover at the same time. Garcia locked Bailey in a Sharpshooter as the click ticked down and we got the return of Garcia's longtime bud, Matt Menard! This wasn't at the level of Nigel's return some years back, but it did get a nice pop for what it was. Back in the ring, Davis and Claudio seemed like they were set to square off but got interrupted by Benjamin and Lashley, who had seemingly regrouped and re-strategized. The Syndidate essentially cleared the competition with suplexes and throws and spears and a Dominator to OC after he attempted a crossbody. Ricochet tried to get the jump on them but ended up getting tossed back and forth across the ring for his effort. From there, we got a flurry of signature moves and all-around-mayhem, ending with Kevin Knight hitting a frog splash on Yuta only to immediately get caught with a Ricochet running clothesline to end the match and make Rico the inaugural AEW National Champion. A solid Gauntlet match with the right man coming out on top, though I do wish TK had maybe been a bit more creative with some of the entrants and the pairings as this felt very much like a continuation of multiple stories that really should be wrapped up by now (the Hurt Syndicate vs. The Demand, OC vs. Death Riders). (3/5)

Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O'Reilly in a No Holds Barred Match was next. O'Reilly went right for Mox at the bell and a strike exchange ensued followed by some MMA-inspired sparring on the mat. O'Reilly landed some stiff kicks in the corner that Moxley essentially no-sold and then fish-hooked O'Reilly's cheek with his finger (which Danielson noted was legal in a No Holds Barred match). Mox took a powder to regroup and then pulled a fork out. O'Reilly tried his best to fight it out of Mox's hand but Mox was able to get him on the ground and jab it in his head repeatedly (and then dig it into his back). It was gnarly. Mox continued to torture O'Reilly with blows across the face, bites, and more fish-hooking on the ropes. O'Reilly was able to grab hold of Mox's foot and then apply a headlock, but Moxley dumped him with a back suplex and then pried into his chest with the fork, seemingly attempting to carve out his nipple. Again, gnarly. Mox punished O'Reilly on the apron but KOR managed to slip out, dragon-screw him, and then attempt an armbar. To the floor they went, where O'Reilly catapulted Moxley into the post (cue a Moxley bladejob). O'Reilly delivered some more kicks and set Moxley up on a chair near the barricade and then drilled him with a running dropkick off the apron. Back in the ring, Mox attempted a cutter but couldn't snag O'Reilly, who then applied an ankle lock. Mox turned it into a Triangle Choke but O'Reilly countered it into a "straight ankle" leglock. Mox went for another strike with the fork but O'Reilly caught him in a choke of his own, grabbed the fork, and stabbed him in the head, opening him up even more. If there was any doubt where the blood was coming from, the camera caught it trickling out of Mox's wound and the crowd groaned in disgust. O'Reilly grabbed a chain from under the ring and brought it inside. O'Reilly and Mox managed to wrap the chain around each other's necks and both men attempted suplexes with O'Reilly landing one that brought both men to the mat. They each wrapped some of the chain around their fists and we got a forearm exchange culminating with Mox applying a chain-assisted bulldog choke! O'Reilly rolled through, though, and got in the mounted position and we got another series of counters and reversals with Moxley applying the STF but O'Reilly using the fork to stab Moxley's hand! Mox hit the Curb Stomp onto the chain and then grabbed a chair. Mox "Pillmanized" O'Reilly's arm and it looked nasty on the replay. Mox hit the Death Rider DDT and then went for another armlock but O'Reilly resisted by grabbing his own trunks. O'Reilly managed to apply an ankle lock and then re-applied it with the chain, forcing Mox to once again tap out just like he had done at Blood and Guts. This was ultra-violent, ultra-physical and told a great story that is consistent with the "downfall" of Moxley that was set in motion at All In: Texas so many months ago. After the match, Mox attacked O'Reilly again, getting some of his heat back, though, as I wrote in my review of the Blood and Guts match, I question the "boomerang" booking of Moxley since that loss as the one-time "ace" of the company has now lost pretty much every high profile match he's had over the past 5 months. (3.5/5)

Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe for the TNT Championship was next, another No DQ match (this would technically be the third match in a row where outside interference and weapons were legal, for anyone keeping track) with the added stipulation that if Briscoe were to lose, he'd be forced to join the Don Callis Family. Fletcher and Briscoe had quite a challenge in front of them as the previous match had had plenty of gore and the show was past the 2-hour mark (not counting the pre-show, which featured at least 2 other matches?). They wasted little time busting out the chairs, ladders, and tables (and eventually thumbtacks and even some barbwire too), getting a ton of "color," and hitting some seriously dope brainbusters and splashes. This was about as good a TLC match as we've seen in ages and a large part of that had to do with the emotion more than the spots themselves. Kyle Fletcher's anguished screams and overall performance were excellent. I loved Mark Briscoe toning down any of the comedic elements of his character to make it clear how personal this was. The use of the screwdriver, while certainly not new, felt more dangerous in this match than in previous bouts just because of far they had gone over the course of the preceding 20 minutes. It did not feel at all impossible that someone might actually get impaled, which is absurd. I'm not always a superfan of hardcore matches filled with crazy dangerous spots and blood, but this one hooked me because of the charisma of the performers, the pacing, and the escalation of violence. An instant classic. (4/5)

Josh Alexander and The Young Bucks took on The Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus and Jack Perry) with Kenny Omega in the next match with the winner receiving $1 million. In the early going there was some teasing of the Bucks not going "full force" against their former Elite stablemate, but this soon turned into the exact type of match one would expect between these six guys. I liked Omega's longterm selling of knee damage as the match wore on with him being noticeably "off" and unable to capitalize or execute some of his signature offense. The Young Bucks continue to show why, between bells, they are undeniably one of the best tag teams of all time as their tandem offense, timing, and ability to put a twist on the expected outcome of every sequence leads to great things. Jack Perry had the best overall outing he's had in quite some time too, which is no surprise because he and the Bucks have always had strong chemistry. All that being said, for guys that are known for being pretty overwrought with the histrionics and drama, this was a touch underwhelming as we got your usual very good match followed by a Young Bucks face turn that was predictable, inevitable, and bland all at once. If this was supposed to be some big emotional moment, I don't think many in the audience in NJ or at home were reaching for the tissue box. It deserved a more nuanced build. (3/5)

The AEW Women's Championship match was next as Mercedes Mone, who holds a dozen or so other titles (including the AEW TBS Championship), challenged Kris Statlander. There was some really good action in this match, but the audience seemed a little restless and unimpressed at times. Statlander having the size advantage makes watching her fight from underneath as the sympathetic babyface a difficult thing to sell to the audience, especially as Mone is also the undeniably bigger star who routinely draws the biggest reactions of any woman on the roster (save for maybe Toni Storm). They worked hard to establish that Statlander's forearm was limiting her offense and making her incredibly vulnerable, but as the match wore on, it almost reminded me of the Mox/O'Reilly match from earlier in the show where the heel was so dominant for so many stretches that the comeback felt forced and inorganic. That being said, there were some really cool moments and highlights all throughout this 20+ minute contest including Mone delivering a dozen or so consecutive suplexes, a brillaint rib-breaker off the top by Statlander (a nod to Dean Malenko as they noted on commentary), and some nifty counters and reversals as Statlander tried her best to hit her finish. Also, credit where its due - nobody can say Mone has not put anyone over in her time in AEW as she lost clean here, further establishing Statlander as an equal to herself and Toni even if I'm not sure the general audience fully sees or responds to her as that. (3/5)

Main event time - Samoa Joe challenging "Hangman" Adam Page in a steel cage match for the AEW World Championship. Coming into this match, most fans viewed it as a guaranteed victory for Page due to the feud being a bit paint-by-numbers. Page won their previous encounter and while Joe turned heel immediately after, giving their storyline a much-needed boost of conflict and animosity, most fans still saw Joe and The Opps as just another somewhat generic heel stable in a company that also features quite a few of those (most notably the Death Riders and the Don Callis Family). Despite the show featuring plenty of gore, Samoa Joe managed to break "The Muta Scale" in this one, suffering a deep gash in the middle of his forehead that would not stop bleeding and turned the mat into a murder scene. It was nasty, nasty stuff and they milked it for all it was worth. I'm not sure this match would've been as great without Joe bleeding buckets, but this was an excellent "old school" cage match where the cage itself was the weapon. If you were someone who didn't see the purpose of having a multitude of weapons and furniture wreckage in the Blood and Guts matches a few weeks ago, someone who craves a cage match where the danger of the setting is what is highlighted most, this match was for you. No barbwire. No thumbtacks. No tables. Just guys getting sent into the cage, getting cut open, and then slugging it out. The only other weapon that either guy used was Page's boot, which also felt very much like something you'd have seen an NWA cage match from the 80s. I'm curious if they have may have cut the match short due to Joe's blood loss, but even if that is the case, this delivered what it needed to. The finish also felt like a bit of a throwback, but not to classic NWA as much as peak-Attitude Era WWE with Shibata making a run-in, Kingston making the save, the ref going down and Page getting a visual pin, Hobbs breaking into the cage by pulling off the chain, Page fighing him off and getting a second visual pin, and then HOOK showing up and turning heel to screw the Hangman out of the title. I think HOOK still has lots of improving to do, but storyline-wise, it does make at least a little sense that HOOK would be the ace in Joe's sleeve, a one-man sleeper cell who purposefully gained the trust of Kingston - and, more importantly, Page - in order to strike at the exact right moment. Would I have been happier had it been someone like a returning MJF or Jay White? Sure...but I'm not sure it would've made any more sense aside from those two striking a deal with Joe to help him win the title in exchange for a title shot and I'm not sure that's more exciting than HOOK being the chickenshit heel for The Opps the way Wheeler Yuta is for the Death Riders, a role that is probably more fitting for him now than the "cool shooter" gimmick. I thought the screwy finish was also something of a change-up as, in AEW, they're not as commonplace (on a show with 9 matches, this one and the opener being the only ones with screwy finishes is a clear example of that, though they do tend to happen in the main event more than elsewhere). After Joe was declared the winner, we also saw the return of Swerve Strickland, who got a huge response and looked like a mega badass. Again, from a production level, they knocked this out of the park and Swerve looked like a killer, taking out a bunch of extras before staring down Joe with Page at his side. The show ending a bit like an episode of Nitro in 97' basically meant that, within this single 25-minute block of wrestling, we got moments that reminded me of the most entertaining eras in US wrestling. An excellent way to cap off the show. (4.5/5)

Earning a very strong 3.33-out-of-5 Kwang Rating (the second best score I've given an AEW show so far and probably among the top 25-30 I've reviewed from any promotion), Full Gear 2025 was a consistently great show that offered a ton of variety and excellent performances out of the company's biggest stars, especially Kenny Omega, Hangman, the Bucks, Kyle Fletcher, Brodido, FTR, Ricochet, Darby Allin, and Mercedes Mone. Even the weakest match of the card was no worse than "average" and at least featured some good work out of Megan Bayne and helped raise the stakes for the impending semi-finals of the Women's Tag Team Championship tournament. 

FINAL RATING - Watch It All