Post by sethisthegoat on Nov 23, 2022 12:28:37 GMT -5
AEW Full Gear
Live from the United Center in Chicago, IL
Nov. 20, 2022
The show opens with a package showcasing the night’s biggest feuds and matches (click here for the full preview), then the camera pans around the crowd as Taz and Coach welcome viewers to the show. They hype up the UWA Womens’ Championship Match, Stadium Stampede and more. Coach asks Taz about what Hook is up to, and Taz says he doesn’t want to talk about it. They hype up the co-main events of the AEW World Championship and the Mox vs. Joe Barbed Wire match, which is closing the show as all of the ropes will be replaced with barbed wire.
Beth Phoenix’s music hits, and we’re starting with the UWA Women’s Championship match. She comes out holding the stolen championship, then hands it over to the ref in the ring.
Match 1 - UWA Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks © (2-0) vs. Beth Phoenix (1-0)
The match starts with the ladies nose to nose, and Banks yelling about Phoenix taking what doesn’t belong to her. Phoenix tells her to take it back, and they start tossing punches. Phoenix gets an early advantage after hitting a slingshot suplex and locking in a sleeper hold. Banks fought out of that and tried for an armdrag that Phoenix resisted. Banks had trouble getting past Phoenix’ power, as the challenger locked Banks in a double chickenwing, but doesn’t go for the Glam Slam yet.
Phoenix hits a Fisherman’s suplex that got a one count, and then the champion rolls out of the ring to gather herself. (On commentary, Taz questions why Phoenix doesn’t follow Banks out of the ring). Banks rolls back in and hits a dropkick to Phoenix in the knees and brings her down before hitting a roundhouse kick and then locking in a camel clutch. She lets go of the hold and runs to the ropes, springboarding into a tilt-a-whirl headscissors takedown, then Banks goes to the top. She goes for a diving crossbody as Phoenix stands, but Phoenix catches her! She lifts Banks up into the Beth Valley Driver! Pinfall…1…2…NO! The Champ kicks out!
Phoenix locks in the double chickenwing and goes to lift Banks up for the Glam Slam, but Banks wiggles out and rolls Phoenix up for a quick 2-count. Banks hits the Bankrupt (straight jacket neckbreaker slam) and heads to the top rope! Frog Slam! 1…2…NO! Phoenix kicks out and gets a second wind. She lifts Banks up in a Gorilla Press and then drops her straight to the mat. Now she goes for the Glam Slam again. And hits it! Pin for the 1…2…NO! Banks gets a foot on the ropes to break the count. Phoenix hooks the leg, but Banks kicks out at 2 again.
They both get to their feet and Phoenix goes for a clothesline. Banks ducks it and goes behind and hits a double knee backbreaker into the Bank Statement! She locks it in in the middle of the ring. Phoenix struggles for a long time and tries getting to the ropes, but Banks is able to roll her back toward the middle of the ring, and Phoenix finally has to tap at 17:10. Sasha Banks retains the UWA Women’s Championship!
—
Backstage, Riddle and his team are playing Rock Band - Cobb and Foley on guitar/bass, Sabu on drums and RVD with the mic. Riddle is playing a tambourine and talking strategy.
“Bros, we need to try to stick together tonight as much as possible. A Stadium Stampede match is wild stuff. And there’s power in numbers. By staying in contact with each other, we’ll achieve greater things. Like…like a contact high.”
RVD - “I’m not sure that means what you think that means.”
—
Match 2 - Natural Selection (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) w/ Cesar Duran (2-0) vs. Young Bucks (1-1)
Natural Selection and the Young Bucks have an athletic match, with the Bucks springboarding all over the place, and Benjamin and Alexander matching their athleticism. The Bucks hit the Meltzer Driver and the BTE Trigger, but couldn’t get the pinfall.
Natural Selection got the upper hand when Benjamin hit a low blow on Nick Jackson while Cesar Duran was distracting the ref. The match ended with Benjamin hitting a T-Bone Suplex on Matt Jackson for the win, while Alexander stops Nick from breaking up the pinfall at 14:45.
—
Match 3 - Raven’s Rules Match (no DQ, falls count anywhere): Raven (4-2) vs. Malakai Black (10-1)
Black goes straight for Raven, but the veteran slides out of the ring and reaches under the apron to pull out a stop sign. Black follows quickly and attacks before Raven can. They brawl at ringside. Black whips Raven into the stairs, then goes for a dropkick into the stairs that Raven rolls away from. They spill into the crowd, where Raven smashes a beer can onto Black’s forehead, spraying beer everywhere.
They come back to ringside, where Black finds a kendo stick. He smashes Raven over the head with it, then across his back, and again across the head, breaking the Kendo stick. Raven falls and Black goes for the cover. 1…2…no! After more fighting by ringside, they go into the ring and brawl. Black goes for the Black Mass, but Raven ducks it and hits the Evenflow DDT for a 1…2…No!
Hook’s music hits and he walks out holding a sledgehammer, as the two in the ring stand and look toward Hook expectantly. Taz goes up to Hook to ask him what is going on, but his son brushes past him and slides in the ring. He looks back and forth between Black and Raven, then hits the sledgehammer into Raven’s gut! He follows it up with an uppercut to a kneeling Raven, knocking him out. Black gets a huge smile on his face and extends his hand for a handshake. But Hook smashes Black in the face with the sledgehammer! Both Raven and Black are out cold, as Hook rolls out of the ring. The ref begins a 10-count, waiting for a competitor to stand. When he gets to 8, Raven and Black start to stir, but neither can make the count! The match ends in a double TKO at 14:39. Medics come out to check on both Raven and Black after the match, for concussion protocols.
—
Match 4 - AEW Tag Team Championship: Steiner Bros. © (8-0) vs. The Outsiders (1-0)
(Using 1st names for Steiners, and last names for Outsiders)
Rick starts in the ring against Hall, with the Outsider keeping his distance. Rick grows impatient and goes too close to the opponents’ corner, where Nash grabs a hold of him and Hall unleashes a combo of punches to the gut. The Outsiders are able to control much of the early match; every time Scott tries to come to Rick’s aide, Hall and Nash complain to the ref and he’s sent back to his corner.
The Steiners catch their first break about 6 minutes in, when Nash is in the corner waiting for Hall to whip Rick to him. Rick reverses the move, and Hall runs straight into Nash’s boot. Rick makes a hot tag to Scott, and he is able to clean house with a couple clotheslines and a massive German suplex to Nash. He locks in the Steiner Recliner, but Hall breaks it up.
Later in the match, Hall hits the Razor’s Edge on Rick for a nearfall. The Outsiders control things for a few more minutes, but can’t put the Steiners away. They get the win when Rick hits a bulldog on Hall from the top rope while Scott and Nash are fighting on the outside. Nash sees the pin attempt, but breaks it up just after the ref counts the 3 at 12:15. The Steiners retain!
—
Match 5 - AEW Women’s Championship: No DQ: Jade Cargill © (12-0) vs. Paige VanZant (8-2) w/ Ronda Rousey
Cargill and VanZant have a power vs. finesse match from the beginning, with VanZant concentrating on breaking down Cargill’s legs, while Cargill tries hitting big moves. She hits a big powerbomb 2 minutes in, but VanZant kicks out at 2. VanZant continues to hang on despite Cargill’s powerful offense, which starts to frustrate Cargill.
VanZant ducks a big boot and trips Cargill up, then locks in a rear naked choke. Cargill gets to the ropes, but there’s no break due to the no-DQ stipulation. She eventually uses the ropes as leverage and gets a nearfall. Rousey gets on the apron now and says something to VanZant, who comes over to her. Rousey punches VanZant, who falls to the mat! Rousey looks angrily at her, then drops a roll of quarters out of her hand.
Cargill looks stunned over at Rousey and asks what that was about, as the former MMA champion walks up the ramp. Cargill hits the Jaded Finisher and pins VanZant at 8:54 to retain the AEW Women’s Championship and stay undefeated. She grabs the belt, but doesn’t spend any time celebrating the win.
—
Before the next match we see an ad for AEW: Battle of the Belts, which will be broadcast live from Miami on Saturday, January 28! The Battle of the Belts will feature the UWA Men’s, Women’s and Tag Team Championships, all on the line.
—
Coach interviews Brian Cage backstage, who is standing with Natural Selection. Coach asks Cage how Natural Selection might come into play during his title match. Cage replies that the only natural selection that will occur tonight is when the more naturally gifted Brian Cage decimates Cody Rhodes in the ring. Benjamin and Alexander won’t be at ringside. Duran closes the promo by promising big things for their group now and in the future.
—
Match 6 - Stadium Stampede: Chosen Bros, Dude Love, RVD and Sabu vs. The Apex
The match starts with a huge brawl in the middle of the ring between all 10 competitors. Eventually they pair off — Dude Love with James Storm; Riddle with Jarrett; Cobb with Spears; RVD with JBL and Sabu with Roode — and make their way around the arena. Love got an early fall attempt on Storm in the middle of the ring, but it was broken up by Spears.
Some of the high spots -
- Cobb and Spears were in the home locker room. Cobb suplexed Spears into Zach Lavine’s locker, then found a rack of basketballs, where he proceeded to throw them at Spears.
- Sabu leaped from the second level onto Roode, who was on a table. He couldn’t respond to make a pinning attempt.
- Jarrett smashed Riddle over the head with a guitar and went for a pinfall in the arena bar, but Dude Love was nearby to break up the pin.
- Storm tossed Dude Love off the stage and onto the concrete. Storm went for the pin, but a recovered Sabu broke it up and started brawling with Storm and Roode at the same time. Love was eventually stretchered to the back.
- RVD hit the Van Daminator on JBL in the ring for a nearfall.
- In the ring, it was RVD and Sabu against JBL and Beer Money for a while, and the heels gained control. JBL said he was going under the ring to get a table. As he pulled it out, The Hurricane was on it! JBL looked shocked, and the Hurricane popped up and spit green mist into JBL’s face and clotheslined him into the stands.
- Jarrett, Riddle, Cobb and Spears made their way back to the ring, where Spears hit the C4 on Riddle for a nearfall. (Hurricane and Riddle embraced briefly earlier, before Hurricane scampered off)
The Apex got control with a 5-on-4 advantage, and nearly had Riddle’s team beaten when ‘Bang Bang’ was heard over the loudspeakers and Cactus Jack ran out to a thunderous reaction, holding a 2-by-4 wrapped in barbed wire. He cleaned house until the only people in the ring were Riddle’s team and Jarrett.
Riddle was going to hit the BroDerek on Jarrett, but Cactus Jack told him to wait a moment. RVD rolled out of the ring and got another acoustic guitar from under the ring. He handed the guitar to Riddle. Jarrett was being held up by Cobb. Riddle smashed him over the head with the guitar, then got the pinfall victory. The Chosen Bros, etc., won at 31:40.
—
Cody Rhodes is backstage. He vows to retain the championship and says that the Cody Rhodes era is just getting started. He won’t let Brian Cage end his reign prematurely.
—
Match 7 - AEW All-Atlantic Championship: Jake Hager © (6-3) vs. Gable Steveson (8-1) (This is Steveson’s last shot while Hager is champion)
Hager and Steveson circle each other and go for multiple takedowns. Steveson gets the upper hand until Hager rolls out of the ring to recover. Steveson chases after him, but Hager rolls back in the ring and stomps on Steveson as he slides in. He locks in a camel clutch and leans back on Steveson, who eventually breaks the hold with a foot on the ropes. Hager whips Steveson into the ropes, and Steveson ducks on the rebound, stops and hits a dropkick that knocks Hager down. Another dropkick, and then Steveson applies the ankle lock!
He holds it for a long time, until Hager is able to roll through and break the hold. Hager rolls out of the ring again and is limping on his leg. He says he can’t go on with the match and starts to leave, grabbing the championship. Steveson follows him and turns Hager around. He responds by smacking the belt straight into Steveson’s face and draws the DQ at 8:20, giving Steveson the win, and Hager keeps the belt.
—
Co-Main Event - AEW World Championship: Cody Rhodes © (10-2) vs. Brian Cage (6-2) w/ Cesar Duran
Cage tries putting the match away early with some big moves — a swinging side slam backbreaker, Northern lights suplex and the F’n5. Rhodes kicks out at 2. Cage has Rhodes in the corner and rushes toward him, but Rhodes ducked and Cage ran straight into the turnbuckle. Rhodes dropkicked Cage down; then hit another dropkick. Rhodes bounced off the ropes, but Duran grabbed his ankle. The ref told Duran to go to the back.
Cage uses the distraction to hit the Drill Claw on Rhodes and goes for the pin! Rhodes kicks out at 2 and Cage starts yelling at the ref. He calms down before striking the ref, but Rhodes comes up behind him and hits the CrossRhodes! He goes for the pin, but Cage kicks out at 2. He hits a 2nd CrossRhodes, but this time Cage kicks out at 1! Cage pops up and flexes as Rhodes tries for a clothesline that Cage no-sells. He hits the Tornado Claw (discus lariat) but doesn’t go for the pinfall.
He goes to the top rope for the Five Star Elbow Drop! He dives for it, but Rhodes rolls out of the way. Rhodes recovers and hits the CrossRhodes and keeps it locked in for 2 more before going for the pin. Rhodes gets the pin at 12:19 to retain the AEW World Championship!
—
While the ring is being prepared for the barbed wire match, Taz interviews Samoa Joe, while Coach interviews Jon Moxley. Mox vows to cause Joe so much pain, he’ll wish he never came to AEW. This isn’t about good guys and bad guys, heels and faces. It’s about two men who hate each other, causing each other pain. Only bad guys can enter a ring wrapped in barbed wire, and only one man will be standing at the end — Jon Moxley.
The only thing Joe has to say to Mox is, “Joe’s gonna kill you.” Then we get a brief recap of their feud to this point, ending with Mox’s barbed wire match challenge. We cut back to the ring, where the ropes have been replaced with barbed wire. Both men make their entrances to loud cheers from the crowd.
Co-Main Event - Barbed Wire Match: Samoa Joe (1-2) vs. Jon Moxley (2-1)
As soon as the bell rings, the two go at each other. Joe gets the early advantage with a series of kicks and a belly to belly suplex. He’s in no hurry to get near the barbed wire, and works on Mox in the middle of the ring. Joe hits an atomic drop, then sweeps Mox to the ground and locks in an STF. Mox rakes his eyes to get out of the hold, but Joe recovers and hits a powerslam into an armbar. Mox elbows him to the face and they’re standing again.
Mox hits a lariat, but Joe doesn’t budge. He tries again, and Joe roars at Mox and hits a lariat of his own to knock him down, where he locks in a Boston Crab and leans back. He lets go off the hold and decides to whip Mox into the barbed wire ropes, but it gets reversed and Mox whips Joe into them. As Joe staggers away in pain, Mox hits the Paradigm Shift and goes for the pin! 1…2…no!
Mox takes Joe over to the corner and faces him toward the turnbuckle and hits Joe with a dropkick. Joe staggers away and Mox hits a Cutter, but doesn’t go for a fall. He slides out of the ring and grabs his baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire from under the ring. He swings it at Joe in the ring, but Joe rolls out of the way and hits a drop-toe hold that sends Mox face-first into the barbed wire ropes. Mox is bleeding from his face, while Joe has a bloody chest and back.
Joe hits an Enziguri and follows it up with a Ura-nage that sends Mox into the corner. Joe lifts Mox up and hits the Muscle Buster! He goes for the pin, but Mox kicks out at 2. He tries for another Muscle Buster, but Mox pokes him in the eyes and sends Joe back into the corner. Mox hits another Paradigm Shift! But instead of going for the pin, he heads to the barbed wire and pulls some carefully away. He wraps it around Joe's neck and locks in an STF, pulling on the barbed wire!
The ref asks Joe to give up, but the Samoan Submission Machine refuses. Eventually, Mox lets go and rolls Joe over for the pin, but Joe kicks out at 2. Mox goes for the bat and waits for Joe to get up. He swings the bat, but Joe ducks it again and rolls Mox up for a quick 1-count. He follows it up with a dragon suplex and picks the bat up himself. As Mox gets up, Joe buries the barbed wire bat into his gut, where the wire gets stuck. Joe moves behind Mox and locks in the Coquina Clutch! Mox struggles for a long time and eventually passes out. Joe is awarded the victory at 26:04.
The show ends with a highlight package from the evening and an ad for the upcoming Dynamite, which will include the debut of Montel Vontavius Porter, as well as a four-way tag team match for a shot at the titles.