AEW: Ranking every 2020 Pay-Per-View from worst to best
2. Full Gear
Now, we get to a show that many people actually consider AEW’s greatest ever PPV.
Now, I obviously don’t believe that, which is why it’s no. 2 on this list, but I have to admit, if there were fans in the audience, this could very well have been the best show in AEW’s short but illustrious history.
Every single match on the show delivered or over-delivered. It was a stacked card from top to bottom.
In the pre-show, Serena Deeb retained her NWA World Women’s title against Allysin Kay via submission in what was a pretty decent match.
The main card opened with an absolute banger in the form of “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Kenny Omega in the final of the AEW World Championship Eliminator tournament. The atmosphere in this match was tense from the start, with Page refusing to shake Omega’s hand. This was another chapter in this Page vs. everyone storyline and it was 16 minutes of Omega and Page proving they’re two of the very best on the planet. Page hit a powerbomb to Omega on the ramp, Omega hit a scary looking Tiger Driver, among various chops in what was a hard-hitting affair. But, in the end, Page was no match for Omega as he hit the One-Winged-Angel for the win.
Up next was Orange Cassidy vs. John Silver. It started off with the usual comedy stuff, as you’d expect. However, once Silver ripped out Cassidy’s pockets, the match kicked into high gear. Silver showed off his strength with a one-armed Gorilla Press. Both guys went 100 miles an hour and finally, Cassidy pinned Silver to cap off another entertaining match.
After that, Darby Allin went up against Cody on his quest to become the face of TNT. This match highlighted the contrasts between the two characters brilliantly. Both of them babyfaces, Cody, the EVP, had a grand entrance with his entourage, while Darby, the underdog, silent and alone. Cody played the aggressor in this match.
What I like about Cody, is that even though he’s one of the biggest, purest babyfaces in the company, he isn’t afraid to play the de-facto heel in matches when it comes to telling great stories.
Cody ragdolls Darby, and Darby takes one of his staple awful bumps when Cody hurls him back-first on the ramp. Cody then targets Darby’s shoulder, wears him down, Darby fights back with babyface fire. It’s David vs. Goliath!
In the end, Darby pins Cody after a series of roll-ups. After the match, Cody handed Darby the belt, but they were then attacked by Brian Cage and Ricky Starks. They’re about to break Darby’s arm by the door of the car that Darby made his entrance in.
Yeah, Darby made his entrance in a car that had “Face of TNT” written on it, and then smashed a skateboard on the windscreen that also had “Face of TNT” written on it. Keep up, people.
Darby was saved by Will Hobbs and then we got a stunning visual of Darby lying unconscious with the TNT title in his arms on the hood of a car that said “Face of TNT”, and don’t forget the skateboard. *Chef’s kiss*
Then, we had the AEW Women’s title match between Hikaru Shida and Nyla Rose who was accompanied by Vickie Guerrero. This wasn’t the best match these two have had but it was alright. Nyla dominated Shida at the start, Shida made her comeback and then hit Nyla with repeated knee strikes to retain the belt. And then Vickie slapped Nyla for some reason.
And then, and then.
Young Bucks vs. FTR for the AEW tag titles. An instant classic and a Match of the Year contender.
Simply put, this match is a love letter to tag team wrestling, to the new and the old. The two teams use a lot of classic tag-team finishers, the Bucks do the Dudley Death Drop and the Twist of Fate and Swanton Bomb combination, they honor the teams they were inspired by. Similarly, FTR hit the Hart Attack and Steinerizer as a nod to teams that they looked up to, they even hit DIY’s finisher from NXT, which literally made me jump. Honestly, it’s one of those matches that words can’t do justice to, so I’d recommend you watch it for yourself.
As much as we can criticize the buildup to this bout, the match itself was beautiful and intense with an ingenious finish. Cash Wheeler, who always preached “No Fists, Just Flips”, when for a springboard 450, missed, and ate a superkick from Matt Jackson, who then pinned him. *Bigger chef’s kiss*
Up next was the Elite Deletion match between Matt Hardy and Sammy Guevarra. It was the conclusion of their seemingly cursed feud. Thankfully, no one got hurt. It was actually quite entertaining and over the top, featuring cameos from Santana and Ortiz, Private Party, Hurricane Helms, and Gangrel. There was a roman candle shootout. Matt hits Sammy on the head with the chair to get the win, finally avenging every horrible thing Sammy did to him.
The penultimate match of the night was MJF vs. Chris Jericho, another great match, especially since the heel vs. heel dynamic is not very easy to pull off. This was a story of MJF out-heeling Jericho.
I like how Inner Circle, at the moment, are constantly feuding with each other. It’s very unique and entertaining. It also highlights the fact that a group is made up of individuals that all have their own massive egos.
Jericho was cheered in this match because anyone against MJF is a white meat babyface. MJF did the Eddie Guerrero spot where he fell down as Jericho had a bat in his hand, and rolled him up as Jericho was reasoning with the referee. Jericho hugged MJF afterward and welcomed him into the Inner Circle.
Finally, the main event. Eddie Kingston vs. John Moxley in an “I Quit” Match for the AEW World Championship. This match had an incredible buildup, and it managed to live up to the hype. It was a brutal, emotional, and bloody war between two borderline psychopaths. It had thumbtacks, barbed wire, and also some rubbing alcohol that Kingston poured over Moxley’s wounds.
Eddie’s so damn good at his job that even though he’s a heel, you can’t help but feel sympathy for him. And the way he cried while slowly saying “I Quit”, a masterful performance.
It was a brilliant conclusion of a brilliant show, and we haven’t even talked about the best of the bunch yet…