The sixth annual AEW Full Gear airs live from Newark, New Jersey tonight, headlined by AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending the title against Orange Cassidy.
TBS Champion Mercedes Mone puts her title on the line against Kris Statlander, while Jack Perry defends the TNT Championship against Daniel Garcia.
In two big matches, Konosuke Takeshita defends the AEW International Championship against Ricochet, while Will Ospreay takes on Kyle Fletcher.
Private Party will defend their AEW World Tag Team titles in a four-way match against The Outrunners, House of Black and The Acclaimed.
Other featured matches include Bobby Lashley vs. Swerve Strickland, Hangman Page vs. Jay White and MJF vs. Roderick Strong.
AEW Women's Champion Mariah May and Mina Shirakawa will host a champagne celebration.
On the Zero Hour pre-show, Big Boom AJ of the Costco Guys meets QT Marshall; Anna Jay takes on Deonna Purrazzo and Dante Martin vs. The Beast Mortos vs. Komander vs. Buddy Matthews is also scheduled.
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Zero hour
The WrestleAunts (Renee Paquette & RJ City), Jeff Jarrett & Paul Walter Hauser welcome us to Zero Hour and discuss today's card. They throw it at the ring of Excalibur, who takes us to the opening competition along with Tony Schiavone and Daddy Magic.
Anna Jay defeated Deonna Purrazzo (with Taya Valkyrie)
Valkyrie tried to distract early, but Jay was able to fend off Purrazzo with a roundhouse kick and a rolling neckbreaker for a two count. Jay went to the top, but Purrazzo took over as referee, allowing Valkyrie to once again distract Jay long enough for Purrazzo to take control. Jay attempted a comeback, but Purrazzo caught a flatliner into a Koji Clutch. Jay escaped and hit another push kick into the double down for the reset. A slugfest ensues, with Jay throwing a series of punches, snap dropkicks and corner attacks. Jay went for the Queen Slayer but Purrazzo almost countered with the Venus De Milo but Jay got the ropes. Both women were up, Jay hit a neckbreaker through the ropes, but Valkyrie pulled Jay outside and hit a spear right in front of referee Mike Posey. Instead of simply disqualifying Purrazzo, he ejected Valkyrie in what we were told in the comments was a “verdict.” Purrazzo pulled in an armbreaker, but Jay quickly rolled her up for a flash pin.
-Lexy Nair is backstage with us Billie Starkzwho we learned is one of the competitors on the ROH side of the 4-Way Women's Cup Qualifiers to see who advances to Wrestle Dynasty at Tokyo Dome. ROH Women's TV Champion Red velvet comes in, says she's in too, then taunts Starkz, saying she's already defeated her. Leyla Hirsch joined and said she was in the match, finally ROH Women's Champion Athena interrupts her and says that she is the last contestant, but wonders why since she has already beaten them all. They all advocate ending the segment.
– After hearing from the pre-show crew about more matches tonight, Lexy Nair stands backstage with QT Marshall and asks him if he would like to show off Big Boom AJ at Rampage at the weigh-in. Marshall runs around New Jersey saying that AJ represents all the trash Jersey has to offer. He's worse than Bruce Springsteen himself and said everyone can thank him for the house tonight.
– A commercial for AEW will be shown airing simultaneously with Fight for the Fallen on HBO MAX on New Year's Day.
Buddy Matthews defeated Dante Martin, Komander (w/Alex Abrahantes) and The Beast Mortos
(Exactly the sprint you'd expect from these four contestants, as the crowd was there from the start. Matthews was very pleased with this crowd, arguably the most he's experienced in his time with AEW. It was an extremely entertaining one Match.)
Loud ovation for Matthews before the bell as they teased him and Mortos several times as they tried but Komander and Martin kept preventing it. Martin threw Komander into a snap hurricanrana on Matthews, but Mortos tested his strength with both Komander and Martin. After losing that fight, Komander and Martin alternated hitting cross-body blocks with assist launches until everyone reached superplex spots, only to be cut off. Martin overtook Matthews, who responded with a dropkick to the outside, allowing Mortos to deliver a twisting tornillo. Matthews followed with a somersault jump that allowed Komander to do his rope jump onto the pile and create a huge boom.
Back inside, Komander wanted to run his shooting star on the rope, Matthews avoided it, but not Mortos, who sent him into the steps. Mortos hit Komander with a hard lungblower and a huge Samoan drop on Martin. Matthews & Mortos finally went to work without interruption as he hit Mortos with a draping DDT. Matthews Lawn slammed Komander into Martin in the corner before jackhammering Komander for a two count. Martin countered Murphy's Law with a roll-up for two while doing the same to Komander until they both popped up and hit stereo big boots. Matthews hit Martin with a Meteora, but Komander was there with a spinning DDT. Mortos charged in with a crucifix bomb, but Martin was there to deliver a springboard lariat to reset and chants of “This Is Awesome.” All four exchanged blows until Mortos started firing headbutts. Komander flew in with a springboard. Poison Rana led to a Martin Frog Splash, but as he made the cover, Matthews hit a curb stomp and stole the win.
