AEW Full Gear 2025 Discussion

[Statto]

If it weren't for the fact it seems pretty nailed on to be built around Don Callis Family internal tensions (ultimately ending up with Takeshita vs Okada in the final) or the fact it'd mean many of them taking a bunch of losses, I'd think the reason for switching almost all the men's titles was to be able to stack the Continental Classic field with all their top guys in a TV ratings push.

Because obviously you wouldn't want to muddy the waters with Hangman, King, Bandido or Fletcher holding other belts whilst competing in a gruelling tournament to win the prestigious Continental Championship. You know, the one that's already been unified into the Unified Championship...

[RedTwoster]

31 minutes ago, FLips said:

AEW doesn’t have the heels for Hangman to have a good run. 

I don’t disagree with the comment on heels, but I also don’t think it’s a situation that could be easily remedied. They could be using the time spent on the Joe feud to build someone up, or occupy Hangman with feuds with top babyfaces - maybe OC, Darby or Swerve, now he’s back.

They could have had Okada drop his pointless title and have have him feud with Hangman, or have Page feud with Takeshita as the Okada story bubbles away in the background.

I’d have advocated them putting the title on Will Hobbs over Samoa Joe - if they’d gone from Joe losing to Page last show to a heel Hobbs beating him this PPV, it would have been a genuinely shocking moment that no one would have seen coming.

Perhaps there are reasons not to do this that we’re unaware of, but having Kingston turn heel on his return and win the belt would also have been a better option.

Then there’s Lashley - a title run with him as a heel is also more interesting (in my opinion) than Joe. Maybe they could have loaned Gabe Kidd or Zack Sabre Jr from New Japan, or resumed the Jeff Jarrett storyline for a bit. 

The Bucks feuding with Hangman is more interesting than yet another Omega reunion in the short term, I think. On the months where Hangman’s title challenger is less interesting, no problem - focus on the women’s world champion or even the tag belts. Would anyone have objected to Brodido/FTR closing the show, with Hangman beating Joe earlier on the card? It’s doubtful.

Joe is still a good wrestler, but in 2025, he shouldn’t be your champion - at least, not unless he finds an interesting way to reinvent himself. He’s a very boring character.

[Supremo]

Fuck off.

[RedTwoster]

Also, I don’t want to overlook the fact that Kyle O’Reilly seems to be getting a top level push. Kyle O’fucking Reilly. 

[Chili]

18 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

Also, I don’t want to overlook the fact that Kyle O’Reilly seems to be getting a top level push. Kyle O’fucking Reilly. 

I'd have agreed had they not done such an interesting job with it. His skill is the submission/MMA mix, something Mox opines to be a specialist it, but his lack of form and underestimating O'Reilly lead to a really good story that's played out for me. You didn't see the match, but it was a good payoff and HOPEFULLY the final nail for Mox. There's a promo online with him and the DR where he tries to brush off the match as he rambles like a mad king about to taken out. O'Reilly if anything is going to get a good C2 showing and then rather unfortunately might end up feuding what th fucking Roderick Strong when he costs him a National Title Match or something. Genuinely no issues with O'Reilly getting this shine for me, he's been really good in the role assigned. Plus if Mox won, which I think most of us were kind of expecting, it would have been more shit. I'm all for people getting earned wins that feel like they've accomplished something.

Anyway, other little bits I enjoyed. FTR/Brodido was awesome, Okada being a massive trolling arsehole, PAC winning to tip the scales into him usurping Mox, Ricochet being a brilliant wanker, The Hurt Syndicate selling for over 15 minutes outside to use up their yearly alloted amount of selling in one match, the Mark Briscoe video detailing his importance to the idea of family, Mone not winning (now start working on her fall and rise again, instead of no selling it and winning more belts) and Swerve Strickland looking fantastic and being back. I've really missed him.

Edited November 23, 2025 by Chili

[RedTwoster]

57 minutes ago, Chili said:

I'd have agreed had they not done such an interesting job with it. His skill is the submission/MMA mix, something Mox opines to be a specialist it, but his lack of form and underestimating O'Reilly lead to a really good story that's played out for me. You didn't see the match, but it was a good payoff and HOPEFULLY the final nail for Mox. There's a promo online with him and the DR where he tries to brush off the match as he rambles like a mad king about to taken out. O'Reilly if anything is going to get a good C2 showing and then rather unfortunately might end up feuding what th fucking Roderick Strong when he costs him a National Title Match or something. Genuinely no issues with O'Reilly getting this shine for me, he's been really good in the role assigned. Plus if Mox won, which I think most of us were kind of expecting, it would have been more shit. I'm all for people getting earned wins that feel like they've accomplished something.

You’re right, it’s definitely difficult and potentially unfair to comment on something you’ve not seen - but I think it’s reasonable enough to comment on the person being put in this position. O’Reilly just doesn’t merit the TV time or focus when people like Eddie Kingston and even Orange Cassidy are on the sidelines, spinning their wheels. Either of those wrestlers tapping out Mosley would feel appropriate given their shared histories, and give each wrestler a lift at a time AEW probably does need to make more stars. 

It’s compounded a little, I think, by this happening across the board. There are a lot of very uninspiring wrestlers in top positions in AEW right now, which is a huge contrast to the majority of 2025. I feel like they have a lot of the right pieces in place, they’re just playing them wrong. 

[Chili]

5 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

You’re right, it’s definitely difficult and potentially unfair to comment on something you’ve not seen - but I think it’s reasonable enough to comment on the person being put in this position. O’Reilly just doesn’t merit the TV time or focus when people like Eddie Kingston and even Orange Cassidy are on the sidelines, spinning their wheels. Either of those wrestlers tapping out Mosley would feel appropriate given their shared histories, and give each wrestler a lift at a time AEW probably does need to make more stars. 

It’s compounded a little, I think, by this happening across the board. There are a lot of very uninspiring wrestlers in top positions in AEW right now, which is a huge contrast to the majority of 2025. I feel like they have a lot of the right pieces in place, they’re just playing them wrong. 

I mean I'm not massively arsed about what the company does tbh, but the crowds are reacting to KOR in this story so I can see why they went with it, and you're trying to elevate someone new. It's only reasonable to comment on the person through your opinion of them I suppose. I don't mind O'Reilly, of course it would be interesting seeing Eddie or OC doing it, but they're somewhat big established names so having someone unexpected (with a very reasonable build) pull the sword from the stone is alright by me, especially as it wasn't Roderick Strong. All three potential options there would suffice for me, people he's had prior with, and an unexpected foe he underestimated who just absolutely has his number at his own perceived game.

Now Hook has turned by the way I suppose, can we actually do something with Eddie Kingston. I'm hankering for him to start addressing his enemies again. 

Edited November 23, 2025 by Chili

[Infinity Land]

27 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

You’re right, it’s definitely difficult and potentially unfair to comment on something you’ve not seen - but I think it’s reasonable enough to comment on the person being put in this position. O’Reilly just doesn’t merit the TV time or focus when people like Eddie Kingston and even Orange Cassidy are on the sidelines, spinning their wheels. Either of those wrestlers tapping out Mosley would feel appropriate given their shared histories, and give each wrestler a lift at a time AEW probably does need to make more stars. 

It’s compounded a little, I think, by this happening across the board. There are a lot of very uninspiring wrestlers in top positions in AEW right now, which is a huge contrast to the majority of 2025. I feel like they have a lot of the right pieces in place, they’re just playing them wrong. 

Eddie & OC have the ear and trust of TK. If they wanted to be in a different spot than they are they could be. It's why it's a godsend having someone like Swerve back as he's willing to use his position of influence to try and stay relevant. 

[DavidB6937]

1 hour ago, Infinity Land said:

Eddie & OC have the ear and trust of TK. If they wanted to be in a different spot than they are they could be.

That's such a weird thing to say. Are you TK? Are you directly involved in their business? Otherwise no one knows that.

[Chili]

20 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

That's such a weird thing to say. Are you TK? Are you directly involved in their business? Otherwise no one knows that.

He doesn't obviously, but OC works as an agent so he's probably has his ear a bit or a real level of trust. Doesn't mean they could be where they want mind you in my opinion.

[The Gaffer]

AEW managing to fumble and feel quite airless again this badly in a year when WWE became a MAGA marketing experiment is quite something. 

I just wanna feel good watching wrestling, man. 

[DavidB6937]

19 minutes ago, Chili said:

He doesn't obviously, but OC works as an agent so he's probably has his ear a bit or a real level of trust. Doesn't mean they could be where they want mind you in my opinion.

Tony comes across as a people pleaser, which I imagine is quite a difficult thing to manage as a boss of hundreds of wrestlers - many of which have egos. But he's also evidently someone who'll happily book stuff just because he's a big kid at heart who basically has a whole play thing to manage himself. So it's a whole mixture of things and I think that's why the booking can be a bit questionable and up and down. 

[The King Of Swing]

Fuck it. I loved that show almost as much as All In Texas. 

We need to create a new Dick Head of The Year award, just for Okada. And then immediately retire it. 

Woman's four corners match was fun. I thought Mina and Storm clicked a little better here. 

My money is still on Babes of Wrath, for the titles. 

Enjoyed the gauntlet and was happy with Ricochet finally getting a title. Should be fun. 

Hurt Syndicate can fuck off though. Spent most of the match taking a nap. 

Tag title match was good but I personally would have stuck with Brodido. 

Briscoe finally winning the TNT title was a lovely moment. I rip on Fletcher a lot but I do think he shines in hardcore matches. 

Elite reunion was another lovely moment. Trios match was also a lot of fun. 

Overall a shit night for the Don Callis Family, which makes me happy.

Pac Vs. Darby was a good effort. 

Really enjoyed Mox Vs. Kyle, though I think the crowd struggled to actually care for a chunk of it. 

Pac not showing up and Claudio giving Yuta and Garcia a look as Mox and Marina walked away, was a good little nod to their inevitable betrayal. 

Statlander Vs. Mone was good. Happy they stuck with Statlander. 

Hangman did his best to keep the crowd awake. But yeah another long night. 

As for the result. Meh I can live with Joe getting another run and he looked scary as fuck holding the belt while blood was pissing out of his head.

Assuming it's so they can get the title to Swerve without giving away another match between him and Hangman, too soon. 

Wouldn't be shocked if Joe drops it before the end of the year. 

They also have MJF and his contract to fall back on whenever he returns. Hopefully freshened up and less edge lord bellend. 

Hangman and Swerve looked the business standing side by side.

Hangman, Swerve and Eddie as a trio to take on The Opps, maybe? I'd be well up for that. 

 

 

[RedTwoster]

17 minutes ago, The King Of Swing said:

We need to create a new Dick Head of The Year award, just for Okada. And then immediately retire it. 

Okada perfectly encapsulates why Tony Khan’s love of titles is a problem. If the Unified title and its predecessors weren’t a thing, you could have had Hangman drop the title to Okada instead of an ice cold Joe. Okada lording it up as champion, pissing off everyone with his smugness would have been fantastic. And you wouldn’t have to stop the Takeshita storyline either, that can bubble away in the background until things finally come to a head. 

I know you’re good with Joe as a champion though, and I hope your optimism ends up being well-placed. But to say I’m doubtful is a huge understatement. 

[The King Of Swing]

It was the post match that mostly kept me interested in things going forward. More so than Joe actually winning. 

If it had just ended with Joe winning, I would have probably been pissed. 

I'd probably go with Takeshita over Okada when it comes to the world title. 

I think Okada is perfectly fine as an upper midcard champion and all round troll.