AEW Full Gear 2019: Results, Grades, and Analysis

AEW Full Gear featured Cody vs. Chris Jericho for the AEW World Championship and Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley in a Lights Out, Unsanctioned match.

After six weeks of TV, AEW debuts with their first PPV since the beginning of AEW Dynamite. In the six weeks that preceded the PPV, we have seen Riho crowned the first AEW World Women’s Champion and SCU crowned the first AEW World Tag Team Champions. Tonight, every title is on the line, along with several grudge matches that will carry this PPV.

The Young Bucks will face the former LAX, Proud n’ Powerful, and SCU vs. Private Party vs. Lucha Bros, Joey Janela vs. Shawn Spears, Riho vs. Emi Sakura, Adam Page vs. PAC, and Bea Priestly vs. Britt Baker. Every match is set to deliver, with Spears and Janela kind of coming out of nowhere, but nonetheless, it should also be a good one.

The Buy-In

The show opened with Taz, Goldenboy, and Excalibur on commentary. A hype video aired for Britt Baker and Bea Priestly and Britt talked extensively about how Bea Priestly concussed her at Fight for the Fallen.

Bea Priestly (1-2) vs. Britt Baker (4-2)

Baker went right after Bea, but Bea fled to the outside of the ring. Bea couldn’t stay away though, and Baker hit a Thesz Press. Bea was unable to get offence early and Baker rolled through into a Lockjaw attempt, but Bea rolled out and stomped on Baker’s head. Bea whipped Britt into the corner and started working over Baker’s back and head, wrapping her around the ring post.

Priestly hit a diving back elbow to Britt Baker, driving her throat into the ropes. Baker kicked out at 2. Priestly started working over the back again, but let go when Britt made the ropes. Britt tried to pick up Priestly, but her back gave out and Bea kicked her in the head for a 2 count. Priestly is clearly trying to concuss her again with all the attacks to the head.

Both women exchanged forearms and hit the ropes, but Baker hit a clothesline, shoulder block, a back elbow, and then a running knee in the corner. Bea was whipped to the other side and jumped off the top rope over Britt, but Britt responded with the sling blade and a swinging Fisherman’s Neckbreaker for a 2 count.

Baker ran at the corner, but Bea elbowed her in the face and climbed the top rope. Britt cut her off and climbed up with her. Baker hit a superplex off the middle rope and floated through into another suplex, but her back gave out again. Priestly went for a clothesline, but Baker hit a cutter and got a 2 count. Bea turned it into a crucifix, but Baker kicked out.

Priestly hit a German suplex and a Capture back suplex for a 2 count. Priestly locked on a chin lock that worked over the arm and back of Baker. Baker made the ropes. Baker rolled to the apron, but Bea ran up the ropes and hit a springboard double stomp to Britt on the apron for a 2 count! Bea put Britt on her shoulders and went for the Ocean Cyclone Suplex, but Britt fought out and hit a Canadian Destroyer for a 2 count!

Baker responded by getting up and hitting the Paige Turner and going for Lockjaw, but Priestly rolled out. Baker hit a superkick to Bea’s face and then went right back to Lockjaw and after a battle for the submission, she finally locked it on and Bea immediately tapped out. Very solid opening match here on the preshow.

Result: Britt Baker (5-2)

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Britt Baker is clearly still green, but she has good chemistry with Bea Priestly, and Bea worked very well within Baker’s limitations and helped get the best out of her on this one.

A video started on screen with a bunch of tea candles being blown out. A gong hit and Awesome Kong was on the entrance ramp with Brandi Rhodes! Kong hit a spinning backfist on Bea. She took her glove off and took out a knife that she handed to Brandi Rhodes before hitting the double chickenwing facebuster. Brandi handed the knife back to Kong and they cut some of Bea’s hair off.

This was weird, but I liked it. Kong wrapped the hair around her waist as a trophy, next to the other hair on her belt, and she left the ring with Brandi Rhodes.