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AEW Full Gear
AEW Full Gear
from Wikipedia
AEW Full Gear
AEW Full Gear logo
PromotionsAll Elite Wrestling
First event2019

AEW Full Gear is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Established in 2019, it is held annually in November. The name of the event is a reference to a segment from the YouTube series Being The Elite involving AEW wrestler "Hangman" Adam Page. It is one of AEW's "Big Five" events, along with All In, All Out, Double or Nothing, and Revolution.

History

[edit]

Shortly after the formation of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in January 2019, a recurring segment of The Young Bucks' (AEW Executive Vice Presidents Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) YouTube series Being The Elite began. The segments revolved around AEW wrestler "Hangman" Adam Page, who was always in his full ring gear. The 135th episode of Being The Elite, which was uploaded on January 31, 2019, was in turn titled "Full Gear".[1]

AEW in turn took the title and used it for their November 2019 pay-per-view (PPV) event. The inaugural Full Gear PPV took place on November 9 that year at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.[2] The following year, a second Full Gear was held on November 7, thus establishing Full Gear as an annual PPV for AEW held around Veterans Day—this second event was held at AEW's home base of Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] AEW resumed live touring in July 2021, with the 2021 event held at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[4] The 2022 event was scheduled for the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, marking AEW's first PPV held in the Tri-State area.[5]

AEW President and Chief Executive Officer Tony Khan referred to Full Gear as being one of the promotion's "Big Four" PPVs, their four biggest shows of the year produced quarterly, along with Double or Nothing, All Out, and Revolution.[6] With All In becoming one of AEW's annual events in 2023, it supplanted Double or Nothing as AEW's marquee event, and overall biggest event of the year, with the previous "big four" plus All In becoming the "big five".[7] Out of the five, Full Gear is the only one that is traditionally held on a Saturday, so as to not counter-program against the National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars, which is also owned by the Khan family.[8]

Events

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# Event[9] Date City Venue Main Event Ref.
1 Full Gear (2019) November 9, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland Royal Farms Arena Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega in an Unsanctioned Lights Out match [10][2]
2 Full Gear (2020) November 7, 2020 Jacksonville, Florida Daily's Place Jon Moxley (c) vs. Eddie Kingston in an "I quit" match for the AEW World Championship [3][11]
3 Full Gear (2021) November 13, 2021 Minneapolis, Minnesota Target Center Kenny Omega (c) vs. "Hangman" Adam Page for the AEW World Championship [4]
4 Full Gear (2022) November 19, 2022 Newark, New Jersey Prudential Center Jon Moxley (c) vs. MJF for the AEW World Championship [5]
5 Full Gear (2023) November 18, 2023 Inglewood, California Kia Forum MJF (c) vs. Jay White for the AEW World Championship [12]
6 Full Gear (2024) November 23, 2024 Newark, New Jersey Prudential Center Jon Moxley (c) vs. Orange Cassidy for the AEW World Championship [13]
7 Full Gear (2025) November 22, 2025 TBA [14]
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match

See also

[edit]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
AEW Full Gear is an annual pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by (AEW), a major American promotion founded in 2019. The event debuted on November 9, 2019, at the Royal Farms Arena in , , marking one of AEW's earliest major spectacles. As part of AEW's original "Big Four" flagship PPVs—alongside , , and —Full Gear has established itself as a cornerstone of the promotion's calendar, typically held in November and broadcast live worldwide. Each installment features a high-stakes card of championship defenses, intense grudge matches, and multi-competitor bouts that showcase AEW's top talent and advance key storylines, often drawing significant viewership and critical acclaim for its in-ring quality. Over the years, Full Gear has been hosted in various U.S. venues, with the 2024 edition occurring on November 23 at the in , and the 2025 event set for November 22 at the same location. Standout moments include the inaugural show's co-main events—a successful defense by against and a brutal "Lights Out" unsanctioned match won by over —and the 2021 main event where Hangman Page dethroned Omega to become champion, widely regarded as one of AEW's finest performances. The series has played a pivotal role in AEW's rise, consistently delivering memorable wrestling that emphasizes athleticism, storytelling, and fan engagement, while generating substantial revenue through PPV buys and live attendance.

Overview

Concept and Naming

The name "Full Gear" for All Elite Wrestling's (AEW) annual event originates from a segment in 135 of the series Being the , uploaded on January 21, 2019. In this , wrestlers, including , discuss "full gear" in the context of , referring to a performer's complete attire and mental mindset, symbolizing peak physical preparation and intense focus during matches. The term highlights Page's "shredded" appearance and readiness, with his peers encouraging him to embrace this state of total commitment as a mark of professional pride. This conceptual foundation shapes Full Gear's thematic emphasis on high-stakes matches that showcase wrestlers' preparation and intensity, often featuring stipulation bouts like steel cages or matches that test competitors' resolve in their "full gear." Unlike AEW's , which centers on endurance-driven spectacles, or , known for pivotal title defenses and career-defining encounters, Full Gear prioritizes the raw, gear-centric portrayal of wrestlers at their most determined. The event's branding draws directly from this mindset, positioning it as a platform where performers demonstrate comprehensive readiness beyond standard bouts. Conceived in 2019 as AEW's flagship event shortly after the promotion's launch, Full Gear was established to fill a key slot in the annual calendar, leveraging the month's timing near for potential thematic ties to resilience and honor in wrestling narratives. The inaugural edition on November 9, 2019, solidified its role as a cornerstone PPV, building momentum ahead of year-end storylines within AEW's broader event strategy.

Role in AEW's Schedule

AEW Full Gear holds a prominent position as one of the promotion's "Big Four" pay-per-view events, alongside Double or Nothing, All Out, and Revolution, serving as the fourth major show of the year typically scheduled in November. This quarterly structure allows All Elite Wrestling (AEW) to build anticipation around its flagship events, with Full Gear positioned to cap off the fall season and transition into year-end narratives. In terms of , Full Gear plays a key role in resolving major feuds developed throughout AEW's weekly episodes from summer through fall, frequently headlining world title defenses and high-stakes matches that propel ongoing arcs into the winter period. Early iterations of the event incorporated cross-promotional elements through AEW's partnership with (NJPW), featuring wrestlers with ties to both promotions and laying groundwork for future collaborations. Economically, Full Gear contributes significantly to AEW's revenue streams via buys, merchandise sales, and live event gates, with historical buyrates averaging approximately 114,000 across its first five events from 2019 to 2023. For instance, the 2021 edition generated an estimated $7 million in PPV revenue before provider splits, underscoring its importance in sustaining the promotion's expansion from a startup entity to a competitive force in .

History

Inception and Early Planning

Following the success of AEW's debut pay-per-view, , on May 25, 2019, which attracted over 11,000 attendees and strong streaming numbers on Live, the promotion began planning its inaugural slate of quarterly PPVs to capitalize on the momentum and support the upcoming television deal with TNT. The event's name, Full Gear, originated from a recurring segment on the Being the Elite web series featuring executive vice president , first titled in episode 135 on January 21, 2019. In 2019, AEW executives and outlined the promotion's PPV roadmap during media appearances and internal discussions, positioning Full Gear as the November anchor to the schedule after Fight in July and in August, aiming to establish AEW as a year-round competitor in . The official announcement came on September 3, 2019, confirming the event for November 9 at Baltimore's Royal Farms Arena, with Khan emphasizing the promotion's commitment to delivering a stacked card amid the excitement from Double or Nothing's financial and critical success. Planning Full Gear presented several challenges for the nascent promotion, including securing venues like the 14,000-capacity Royal Farms Arena while building credibility as a new entrant in the industry, where established competitors like dominated major bookings. Budgeting was a key concern, with Khan noting in early interviews the need for prudent financial decisions to avoid overextending resources on talent acquisition and production for a projected 10-12 match card, balancing high-profile signings with sustainable costs. Additionally, AEW navigated talent integration from partner promotion (ROH), leveraging crossover opportunities through shared executives like to bolster the roster without immediate full merger. Pre-event hype was amplified through the Being the Elite series and the debut episodes of on October 2, 2019, focusing on marquee storylines such as Chris Jericho's inaugural reign, won at on August 31, and Jon Moxley's high-stakes arrival and push following his June 2019 debut at Fyter Fest. These platforms built anticipation for key matches, including Jericho defending against Rhodes and Moxley facing in an unsanctioned bout, positioning Full Gear as a pivotal showcase for AEW's emerging stars and rivalries.

Evolution and Key Milestones

The significantly impacted the second iteration of AEW Full Gear in 2020, shifting the event to a limited-capacity format at amphitheater in , where approximately 1,000 socially distanced fans were permitted, marking the largest live audience for an AEW since the onset of restrictions. This adaptation allowed AEW to proceed with live production while adhering to health protocols, setting a for hybrid event formats during . Following the easing of pandemic restrictions, Full Gear 2021 represented a return to full-capacity crowds, expanding to larger venues such as the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which accommodated over 10,400 attendees in a facility capable of seating more than 18,000 for wrestling events. This resurgence facilitated enhancements to the event structure, including the incorporation of pre-show battle royals to build momentum and increased emphasis on women's division storylines, with prominent title defenses elevating the division's visibility on the card. Subsequent years highlighted key milestones in the event's growth and strategic positioning. In 2022, Full Gear returned to the in , establishing it as a recurring "home" venue near AEW's headquarters and enabling a stronger connection to the fanbase. The 2023 edition marked a westward expansion to the in , broadening the event's geographic reach and appealing to West Coast audiences for the first time in the series. By 2024, the event at achieved a record attendance of 10,639 for the Newark market, underscoring sustained demand and production scale. Looking ahead, announcements for the 2025 installment include integrations of new championships, such as the revival of a historic inspired by territorial mergers, to enrich the title landscape.

Events

Past Events (2019–2024)

AEW Full Gear has been held annually since its inception in 2019, serving as a cornerstone event for (AEW). The first six iterations, spanning 2019 to 2024, showcased evolving storytelling, high-stakes matches, and significant championship developments, with attendance growing from modest beginnings to over 12,000 fans in recent years despite challenges like the .
EventDateCity/VenueMain Event
Full Gear (2019)November 9, 2019Baltimore, MD / Royal Farms ArenaJon Moxley def. Kenny Omega (unsanctioned Lights Out match)
Full Gear (2020)November 7, 2020Jacksonville, FL / Daily's PlaceJon Moxley def. Eddie Kingston ("I Quit" match for the AEW World Championship)
Full Gear (2021)November 13, 2021Minneapolis, MN / Target Center"Hangman" Adam Page def. Kenny Omega (AEW World Championship)
Full Gear (2022)November 19, 2022Newark, NJ / Prudential CenterMJF def. Jon Moxley (AEW World Championship)
Full Gear (2023)November 18, 2023Los Angeles, CA / Kia ForumMJF def. Swerve Strickland (AEW World Championship)
Full Gear (2024)November 23, 2024Newark, NJ / Prudential CenterJon Moxley def. Orange Cassidy (AEW World Championship)
The inaugural Full Gear in 2019 marked AEW's second , drawing an attendance of approximately 8,200 fans to a sold-out Royal Farms Arena and establishing the event's reputation for intense, no-holds-barred contests. While no changed hands— retained against Cody in the co-main event—the card featured pivotal moments like MJF's betrayal of Cody, setting up future storylines. In 2020, amid the , Full Gear adapted with a limited audience of about 1,000 at , incorporating innovative cinematic elements such as the pre-taped "Elite Deletion" match at Matt Hardy's . retained the in a brutal "I Quit" match against , but the event saw key title shifts, including capturing the TNT Championship from , elevating the storyline. Full Gear 2021, the first post-pandemic edition with full crowds, attracted 10,442 attendees to the and delivered multiple championship upheavals. "Hangman" dethroned longtime champion in the main event, fulfilling a long-building narrative and ushering in a new era; additionally, won the from , and claimed the TNT Title from . The 2022 event escalated production with 12,106 fans at the , featuring multi-title defenses and celebrity involvement, such as Sting's in-ring return. MJF claimed the from in a grueling dog collar match, while defeated for the Women's World Title, and won the from . Full Gear 2023 drew a peak attendance of 12,904 at the , highlighting AEW's international talent with matches involving stars like and high-profile crossovers. MJF retained the against in a Texas Death Match-style showdown, but captured the TNT Championship from Swerve, and defended the successfully against . The 2024 installment returned to the with 10,639 in attendance, emphasizing faction warfare and title defenses across multiple belts. retained the against in a violent main event, while Daniel Garcia won the TNT Championship from , marking a significant push for the technical wrestler.

Upcoming Event (2025)

The 2025 edition of AEW Full Gear is scheduled to take place on November 22, 2025, at the in . The event is promoted as Full Gear presented by DC, stemming from a collaboration between and DC Comics announced on October 1, 2025, which includes comic book crossovers and entertainment-themed integrations to enhance the pay-per-view's appeal. As of November 15, 2025, the preliminary card features several high-profile championship matches built through ongoing storylines on and Collision episodes. These include a defense of the , with champion Hangman Adam Page facing in a intensified by recent confrontations involving The Opps . The will see defending champions Brodin (Bandido and ) collide with FTR ( and ), continuing a rooted in division tensions. For the women's division, AEW Women's World Champion will defend her title against Mercedes Moné, whose ongoing rivalries—highlighted by Moné's dual role as TBS Champion and her aggressive pursuit of top prizes—have been a focal point of recent programming, including fallout and personal betrayals. Additionally, on November 6, 2025, AEW President announced the introduction of the AEW , a revival of the historic National title lineage from wrestling's past, to be contested in a Casino Gauntlet match crowning the inaugural champion and integrating elements of midcard prestige into the event. The announcement has drawn criticism from the NWA regarding the title's lineage, prompting discussions between AEW President and NWA President . Pre-event hype has been building through AEW's weekly shows, positioning Full Gear as a key installment in the 2025 calendar following WrestleDream in October. Tickets went on sale August 25, 2025, via , with strong initial demand reported and projections for attendance exceeding 16,000 fans in the venue's configured capacity for wrestling events. This return to Newark follows previous Full Gears in 2022 and 2024 at the same arena, underscoring the location's history with AEW's marquee shows.

Production Aspects

Venues and Attendance

AEW Full Gear events have primarily been hosted in mid-sized arenas across the , reflecting a strategic focus on accessible markets with strong regional fan bases. The inaugural 2019 event occurred at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, which drew 8,200 attendees. In 2020, amid the , the show shifted to in , where attendance was severely limited to around 1,000 fans to comply with health and safety protocols. The 2021 edition marked a return to fuller capacities at the in , , with 10,442 fans in attendance, serving as an early test of AEW's expansion into Midwestern markets. Subsequent years saw a return to East Coast venues, including the in , for both the 2022 event (12,106 attendees) and the 2024 edition (10,639 tickets distributed). The 2023 pay-per-view ventured westward to the in , achieving 12,904 tickets distributed. The upcoming 2025 Full Gear will once again take place at the in Newark, continuing the pattern of frequent East Coast bookings.
YearVenueLocationAttendance
2019Royal Farms ArenaBaltimore, MD8,200
2020Jacksonville, FL~1,000
2021Minneapolis, MN10,442
2022Newark, NJ12,106
2023Inglewood, CA12,904
2024Newark, NJ10,639
2025Newark, NJUpcoming
Attendance for Full Gear has shown steady growth from its debut, rising from 8,200 in 2019 to a peak of 12,904 in 2023, before a slight dip to 10,639 in 2024; this trajectory has been shaped by post-pandemic recovery, varying arena capacities, and the selection of high-demand urban markets. A clear East Coast emphasis is evident, with four of the seven events (including the upcoming 2025 show) held in the /New York metropolitan area or nearby, leveraging dense population centers for reliable turnout. Logistical considerations have included capacity reductions for public safety during the 2020 event and structures, where tickets typically range from $50 for general admission to $300 or more for ringside seats, averaging around $100 per ticket to balance accessibility and revenue. The 2021 choice of exemplified efforts to broaden geographical appeal beyond coastal strongholds, drawing solid numbers from an untapped regional audience.

Broadcasting and Viewership

AEW Full Gear events are distributed as live pay-per-view (PPV) productions through a combination of traditional cable providers and digital streaming platforms. In the United States, early events were available via InDemand and independent PPV (iPPV) services, with streaming shifting to Bleacher Report Live starting in 2021 for enhanced accessibility on mobile apps, websites, and connected devices. Following the conclusion of the Bleacher Report partnership in September 2024, AEW PPVs, including Full Gear, transitioned to TrillerTV for U.S. distribution, allowing users to access replays and archives from prior purchases. Internationally, FITE TV served as the primary streaming outlet for events from 2019 through 2023, covering markets outside the U.S. TrillerTV has since expanded to handle international streaming in select regions, with the 2025 Full Gear scheduled for Prime Video in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, alongside HBO Max as the primary U.S. platform and TrillerTV for additional access. Pre-show and post-show programming, featuring matches and analysis, airs on YouTube and ties into AEW's flagship program Dynamite for broader reach. Viewership for Full Gear is primarily tracked through global PPV buys across all platforms, revealing fluctuations influenced by external factors and roster appeal. The inaugural event generated approximately 75,000 buys worldwide, establishing a baseline for AEW's PPV performance. The 2020 edition dipped to a similar 75,000 buys, affected by the pandemic's impact on fan engagement and purchasing habits. A significant peak occurred in 2021 with 155,000 buys, driven by star power including CM Punk's in-ring debut after a seven-year hiatus. Subsequent events maintained strong numbers, with 135,000 buys in 2022—featuring Punk in the main event—131,000 in 2023, and 113,000 in 2024, demonstrating sustained interest tied to marquee matchups and wrestler popularity. These figures, sourced from the and encompassing traditional and digital sales, highlight how high-profile talent consistently correlates with elevated buy rates. Production for Full Gear has evolved to enhance viewer experience, incorporating multi-camera setups since AEW's launch in 2019. Events receive international simulcasts in over 50 countries, ensuring global via localized feeds and where applicable. By 2025, production upgrades include expanded camera arrays of 20-25 units and HDR formatting with on platforms like HBO Max, supporting higher-quality streaming for premium events.

Reception and Legacy

Critical and Fan Reception

AEW Full Gear has received widespread critical acclaim for its in-ring action and storytelling, particularly from prominent wrestling journalist of the . Main events across the series have frequently earned high star ratings, often in the 4 to 4.5 range, highlighting the event's emphasis on athletic match quality. For instance, the 2019 Lights Out match between and was rated 4.5 stars and praised as a potential Match of the Year contender for its intense, hardcore style and narrative depth. Similarly, standout matches from the 2024 event, such as Will Ospreay versus , received 4.75 stars from Meltzer, underscoring the series' consistent delivery of elite-level wrestling. The event has also garnered recognition from the in its annual awards, with multiple AEW pay-per-views, including those in the Full Gear vein, nominated or honored for best major event due to their production and impact. Critics have lauded the series for elevating professional wrestling's prestige through innovative booking and high-stakes rivalries, contributing to AEW's reputation as a premier alternative promotion. Fan reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with the event generating significant buzz on social media platforms, where #AEWFullGear consistently trends worldwide during its broadcasts, reflecting strong engagement from the global audience. Surveys of AEW fans indicate high satisfaction rates, with over 98% expressing enjoyment of the in-ring product at pay-per-views like Full Gear, and approximately 64% viewing the company's overall direction as improved in recent years. The 2023 event received mixed reactions due to its booking, though these did not overshadow the event's broader appeal. In terms of industry impact, Full Gear has been instrumental in boosting AEW's prestige, with its high-profile matches and cross-promotional elements attracting interest from talent across promotions, including former stars, and solidifying the event as a cornerstone of the company's calendar. has acknowledged AEW's success in its annual achievement awards, voting Full Gear-era events as standout for match quality and in reader polls.

Notable Matches and Moments

One of the defining features of AEW Full Gear events has been the inclusion of high-stakes, stipulation-based matches that push the boundaries of in-ring intensity, often incorporating weapons and environmental hazards to heighten drama. The inaugural 2019 event set this tone with the Lights Out Unsanctioned match between and , a brutal encounter featuring , mouse traps, and broken glass that spilled into the crowd and concluded with Moxley's victory via a onto exposed boards. This match, lasting over 20 minutes, exemplified the promotion's willingness to embrace from its outset, drawing comparisons to extreme contests in other promotions while establishing Moxley as a top star. The 2020 edition, held without fans due to the , amplified the raw atmosphere in standout moments like Darby Allin's TNT Championship challenge against . Allin executed daring high-risk maneuvers, including a Coffin Drop from the top of a steel cage onto Rhodes below, incorporating his signature as a prop for added peril and symbolizing his daredevil persona amid the empty arena. This sequence not only highlighted Allin's resilience but also contributed to Rhodes retaining the title in a match praised for its innovative spots despite the lack of live crowd energy. Subsequent years continued this emphasis on personal rivalries resolved through gimmick bouts, such as the 2021 singles clash between and , which served as a bloody capstone to their heated feud built on promos and street fight escalations. Punk secured the win with a GTS after a grueling exchange that left both competitors bloodied, underscoring Punk's undefeated streak in AEW at the time. In 2022, a steel cage match between and escalated their betrayal storyline, with Perry overcoming his former partner via submission in a contest filled with cage-assisted dives and weapon use. The 2023 Texas Death Match between "Hangman" Adam Page and further entrenched Full Gear's reputation for violent storytelling, allowing unrestricted weapons like chairs and chains in a no-holds-barred format where the opponent must answer a 10-count outside the ring. Strickland emerged victorious after a savage sequence involving cinder blocks and a hanging spot, solidifying his rise as a main event contender. Across the series, recurring themes of street fight escalations and gear-testing stipulations—such as and cages—have appeared in a majority of main events, differentiating Full Gear from standard cards by prioritizing physical extremes and narrative payoffs.

References

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