Post by sethisthegoat on Nov 27, 2023 15:05:16 GMT -5
AEW Full Gear
Sun., Nov. 19, 2023
Undefeated AEW star and UWA Women’s Champion Jade Cargill opens the show. She says she thought about not even coming tonight because she’s resting up for a big match at UWA Fallout on Wednesday, even though the Universal Wrestling Alliance bigwigs have yet to name an opponent for her.
This brings out AEW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey, who says that Cargill needs only to name the time and place, and Rousey will be there. The two champions stare each other down in the ring until Sasha Banks’ music hits and the TBS Champion saunters to the ring. She notes that the AEW Women’s Division is the strongest in the world. The tree champions stare each other down until Bianca Belair’s music hits. She reiterates that she is the EST, and she’s going to prove it tonight when she beats Rousey.
—
Match 1 - Jeff Cobb (9-8) vs. Matt Riddle (8-6)
The former partners start quickly, with Cobb getting the early advantage and beating Riddle down. Cobb beats Riddle from “pillar to post” and dominates for the first 7 minutes of the match, but can’t put Riddle away. Cobb gets increasingly frustrated and starts arguing with the ref. Riddle uses this to get momentum, as he chops Cobb’s knees and hits him in the face with the Final Flash (bicycle knee strike)
Riddle hits the Floating Bro as Cobb stands, following that up with a Bro-ton, before locking in the Bromission. Cobb won’t give up and breaks the hold. He hits a variety of suplexes, culminating in a triple rolling gutwrench. He lifts Riddle up for a Tour of the Islands, but Riddle wriggles out and hits a Pele kick! Riddle tries to lift Cobb up for the Bro To Sleep, but Cobb elbows him in the head, then spins around and hits a Bridging German Suplex, locking it in for the pinfall and the win at 13:19. After the match, Riddle tries shaking Cobb’s hand, but Cobb just slaps it away and walks off.
—
Jarrett gives the Apex a pep talk backstage. He notices Wardlow rolling his eyes and calls him out on it. Wardlow responds that he’ll carry his weight in the match.
—
Match 2 - Alexa Bliss (10-5) w/ The Beautiful People vs. Beth Phoenix (12-4)
Bliss is clearly outmatched in the power department, but she uses her speed to stay ahead of Phoenix. The rest of the Beautiful People also surround the ring and constantly distract Phoenix and the ref. Phoenix takes matters into her own hands by going outside the ring and attacking the stable, as each rushes her one at a time: Chokebomb to Velvet Sky; Beth Valley Driver to Angelina Love; Glam Slam to Madison Rayne.
Bliss uses the distraction to springboard out of the ring and onto Phoenix on the outside, where she drives Phoenix’s head into the ringpost. Phoenix appears to be out of it, as Bliss slides her back in the ring, where she hits the Insult to Injury — Standing double knee drop followed by a standing moonsault double knee drop. She then hits the Twisted Bliss splash and gets the pinfall at 8:32. Bliss gathers the Beautiful People after the match and they retreat to the back before Phoenix can get up.
—
Match 3 - AEW Tag Titles - Natural Selection (Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander) (11-1) w/ Cesar Duran vs. Diesel and Razor Ramon © (11-4)
Diesel and Ramon try to use their size to their advantage, while Benjamin and Alexander use their speed and athleticism to stay ahead. Benjamin hits a huge T-Bone suplex on Ramon for a nearfall.
Diesel turns things around by hitting a big boot on a springboarding Alexander, and the bigger men control the middle portion of the match. Ramon hits a Fallaway Slam on Benjamin, then follows that up with a corner lariat and the Hall Buster (bulldog) before going for the Razor’s Edge and a nearfall that is broken up by Alexander.
Duran tries to distract the ref, but catches a big boot to the face. Diesel turns back and catches a super kick from Benjamin, who follows it up with the Paydirt/STO. Dropkick to Ramon gets him off the apron, while Alexander hits the Overtime (frog splash) and the challengers get the pinfall at 14:10. Natural Selection regains the AEW Tag Team Championships! They celebrate with Duran and AEW International Champion Brian Cage.
Following the match, Cage cuts a promo about his upcoming match with Dynamite Kid at UWA Fallout. He says he looks forward to proving his might outside the confines of AEW, and he wants to take on all comers.
—
Match 4 - Harley Race (4-1) vs. Kenny Omega (4-2) - Last Man Standing
The Young Bucks are banned from the arena as Omega and Race have their third (and final?) match in the past 3 months.
The match quickly spilled to the outside, where Omega hit Race with a suicide dive and a moonsault from the barricade. Omega grabbed a steel chair and smashed it over Race’s head, but Race managed to get up quickly. Race fought back with a low blow and a DDT on the floor, then threw Omega into the steel steps. Race retrieved a table from under the ring and set it up near the announce table. He tried to powerbomb Omega through the table, but Omega escaped and hit Race with a V-Trigger. Omega attempted to hit Race with a One-Winged Angel on the announce table, but Race reversed it and suplexed Omega through the table. Both men were down as the referee began to count.
Race was the first to get up at the count of eight, while Omega barely made it to his feet at the count of nine. Race rolled Omega back into the ring and hit him with a piledriver. Race applied a sleeper hold, trying to choke Omega out. Omega struggled to stay conscious, but managed to break the hold. DDT by Race, who went to the top rope and tried to hit Omega with a diving headbutt, but Omega moved out of the way as Race crashed on the mat. Omega then hit Race with a snap dragon suplex and a second V-Trigger. He lifted Race up for the One-Winged Angel, but Race fought out of it and hit Omega with a back elbow. Race then ran the ropes, but Omega caught him with a third V-Trigger. Omega then finally hit Race with the One-Winged Angel and waited for the count. Race got up at 9.5. Race hit the Texas Piledriver Omega showed no signs of life, as the referee reached the 7…then Omega kipped up! Both men are worn out, and Omega tackles Race through the ropes to the outside. Omega hits a fourth V-Trigger, then gets under the ring and grabs a chair.
Race is up at the count of 9, then catches a chair to the face. Omega brutalizes Race with the chair repeatedly, until the ref pulls him away. Omega screams at him to count…and he does, getting all the way to 10 as Race is motionless. Omega gets the win at 23:29.
—
The words “the time is now” appear on the big screen, followed by images of Tony Khan’s tweets about AEW’s big signing. The crowd’s excitement is palpable…until Dean Malenko’s music hits and the Iceman walks out, flanked by his masked henchman. The crowd boos him mercilessly. Malenko basks in the boos for a moment until he asks the crowd if they were expecting somebody else. He says he’s out here for one reason: He’s heard that Rey Mysterio Jr. is on his way out of AEW. Malenko calls Rey a quitter and says he’ll be happy to escort him out of AEW altogether.
—
Match 5 - AEW Women’s Championship - Ronda Rousey (13-4) © vs. Bianca Belair (7-1)
Rousey used her judo skills to take Belair down. Belair quickly got back to her feet and used her speed and agility to evade Rousey’s strikes. Belair then hit a dropkick and a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Rousey rolled out of the ring to regroup, but Belair followed her and whipped her with her hair braid. Belair threw Rousey back into the ring and went for a splash, but Rousey moved out of the way and locked in an armbar.
Belair managed to reach the ropes and break the hold, but Rousey continued to target her arm with kicks and elbows. Rousey attempted a Piper’s Pit, but Belair countered with a K.O.D. for a close two count. Belair then climbed to the top rope and went for a 450 splash, but Rousey got her knees up and hit a second Piper’s Pit. Rousey then transitioned into another armbar, but Belair refused to tap out. Rousey switched to a triangle choke, but Belair lifted her up and powerbombed her...but Rousey kept the hold locked in! Rousey rolled Belair over and pinned her shoulders to the mat with a bridge, while keeping the triangle choke locked in, with the ref counting the 3 and Rousey retaining her championship at 12 minutes.
—
We see the Young Bucks enter the arena, now that Omega’s match with Race is over. They head to Omega’s dressing room.
—
Match 6 - Sammy Guevara and Tay Melo vs. Mick Foley and Britt Baker
Foley comes out as Mankind to a raucous ovation. Baker and Melo start off the match, with Baker playing the babyface-in-peril. The match turns into a spotfest, with the four wrestlers hitting their high spots, and the heels raking eyes, pulling up tights on pinfall attempts and using the full five-count on rope breaks.
Guevara nearly got the pinfall on Mankind after a 450 Splash, but Baker broke it up with a flying elbow.
The closing moments of the match: Mankind hit a Double Arm DDT on Guevara and Baker hit a Fisherman’s Neckbreaker on Melo. Then Mankind reached into his pants and pulled out Mr. Socko, while Baker reached into her tights and pulled out a Mrs. Socko, both getting a big reaction. Mankind locked in the Mandible Claw and Baker locked in the Lockjaw. Guevara and Melo both struggled for a while, but eventually tapped out, giving the faces the win after a fast-paced 13-minute match. Mankind and Baker celebrated their win, while Guevara and Melo skulked to the back, retching along the way.
—
Tony Khan comes out to the ring next and says it’s now time to announce AEW’s latest big signing. He’s got a big grin on his face as “Time to play the game” hits and the crowd goes nuts as Triple H emerges from backstage, wearing a suit and tie and a big grin on his face. He gets to the ring and grabs the mic.
HHH - “Hell has indeed frozen over. It feels great to be here in AEW. The balance of power has shifted in the world of wrestling, and the King of Kings is here to help lift the promotion to new heights. But, Tony? I’m not alone.” Khan went over and whispered in his ear, then nodded his head. “Hit the music.”
“Oh you didn’t know?” hits, and it’s the New Age Outlaws! The Road Dogg Jesse James and Bad Ass Billy Gunn emerge, as James runs through his “Ladies and Gentlemen…” spiel. Triple H grabs the mic and says, “D-Generation X is here in AEW. And if you’re not down with that, we’ve got two words for you!” The crowd chants a loud “Suck it!” as the three men embrace in the middle of the ring.
—
During Goldberg’s entrance, The Young Bucks run out after his fireworks go off and attack Goldberg with a chair. Goldberg shakes it off and spears Matt Jackson. Kenny Omega is there, too, and hits a V-Trigger on Goldberg. Cody Rhodes runs out from the back and hits Nick Jackson with a CrossRhodes before exchanging punches with Omega. Security separates them and the Elite are ejected from the building.
A ref checks with Goldberg, who says he wants to continue with the match.
Match 7 - World Title - Cody Rhodes © (20-4) vs. Goldberg (10-2)
The crowd is split about 70/30 for Rhodes. The Goldberg chants catch the champion off guard a little. They lock up, and Goldberg pushes Rhodes to the corner. He breaks the hold and delivers a hard chop to Cody’s chest, making him wince. Goldberg whips Rhodes to the opposite corner and charges at him, but Cody dodges and hits a dropkick to Goldberg’s back. Rhodes follows up with a springboard crossbody, but Goldberg catches him in mid-air and slams him down with a spinebuster.
Goldberg sets up for the spear; Rhodes counters with a leapfrog, causing Goldberg to crash into the turnbuckle. Rhodes quickly rolls him up from behind, but Goldberg kicks out at two. Rhodes hits a running knee strike to Goldberg’s face, then climbs to the top rope and hits a moonsault, Goldberg kicks out of a pin attempt at 2.
Goldberg blocks a CrossRhodes attempt by elbowing Cody in the face. Goldberg hits the Jackhammer! He covers Rhodes, but Rhodes gets his foot on the bottom rope at the last second. Goldberg argues with the referee, allowing Rhodes to recover. Goldberg goes for another spear, but Rhodes sidesteps and pushes Goldberg into the ropes. Goldberg bounces back and Cody hits the CrossRhodes again. He covers Goldberg and the ref counts to 3 after 15 minutes.
Rhodes retains the championship. He stands on the turnbuckle with the belt, while Goldberg sits, dejected in the middle of the ring. As Rhodes gets down from the turnbuckle, he comes face to face with a standing Goldberg. There’s a tense moment before Goldberg extends his hand. Rhodes takes it and they shake hands, before Goldberg raises Rhodes’ arm and points to him before walking off.
—
Main Event - Blood and Guts - The Bloodline vs. The Apex
Here are some highlights from the match. Shawn Spears and Jey Uso started the match, and the Apex had the man advantage with Wardlow coming in next.
- Wardlow and Spears double team Jey Uso and break him down before Jimmy enters. Jimmy is able to even the odds, and they even hit the 1D on Spears before JBL enters;
- JBL hit a brutal Clothesline from Hell on Jimmy that put him out for a while
- Solo Sikoa went on a run of Samoan Spikes, laying out JBL and Spears…but when he hit Wardlow, the big man just stared back at Sikoa and grabbed him by the throat, hitting a two-handed chokeslam.
- Jarrett came in, armed with his acoustic guitar. He tried hitting Jey Uso with it, but missed. Later in the match, Roman Reigns used the guitar on Jarrett.
- Spears scored the first nearfall of the match by hitting a C4 on Jimmy, but Jey broke it up.
- Throughout the match, Jarrett kept shouting orders at the other members of the Apex, who increasingly shrugged him off.
- Reigns hit a brutal Superman Punch on JBL, and Sikoa tossed him in the corner.
- The cage wasn’t a huge factor in the match — nobody jumped off the top — but The Apex used it a few times to toss members of the Bloodline into; Jey was bleeding by the end;
- As the match neared its climax, both JBL and Spears were down, while Wardlow and Jarrett faced off with the four members of the Bloodline. Jarrett screamed at Wardlow to attack…and the big man finally snapped and hit Jarrett with a Powerbomb Symphony!
- Reigns looked over at Wardlow, questioningly, while Wardlow made a “dusting off my hands” motion and left the ring. Sikoa got the pinfall and the match ended at 28 minutes.
Next up:
AEW is on Thanksgiving break, to return with Dynamite on Wed., Nov. 29! The Winter is Coming special event is scheduled for Dec. 20 and 22.