Because AEW only has four pay-per-views a year, there’s always a chance that things will change up a bit around the promotion between each one. But to say that some stuff has gone down since All Out in early September would be a wild understatement.
CM Punk, who won the AEW World Championship that night, is gone, perhaps forever. None of the company’s founding EVPs have been around either, following the most surreal post-event press conference in pro wrestling history.
There have been other absences too, including that of the House of Black (though they appear to be on their way back soon). And there have been notable arrivals, none bigger than that of Saraya, formerly Paige during her WWE days.
Some indicators of lagging interest in AEW, including TV ratings and live event attendance, could be related to all the upheaval. Hitting a home run with Full Gear would certainly help, and fortunately, there’s a much anticipated main event to bat cleanup. Jon Moxley has been the heart and soul of the company just as his promos declare, and MJF is quite simply one of the best all-around young talents in the business (as he’s also fond of pointing out).
Their showdown anchors another very full PPV card that includes four other title matches, a tournament final that will determine either Moxley or MJF’s first challenger, Saraya’s in-ring debut, and a classic grudge match inside a steel cage. Given Tony Khan’s penchant for adding matches during event week, there could still be more in store as well.
Whether it’s a true reset and turning of the page or simply a fun night of pro wrestling, Full Gear definitely has the potential to deliver.
AEW Full Gear 2022
- When: Saturday, November 19
- Where: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
- How to watch: Via Bleacher Report, on-demand through cable and satellite TV providers, and in select movie theaters in the U.S.; via PPV.com in Canada and FITE internationally
- Matches announced: 8
Keep scrolling for our full AEW Full Gear preview, including top storylines and predictions for every match.