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Full Gear (2020)
View on Wikipedia| Full Gear | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Promotional poster featuring various AEW wrestlers | |||
| Promotion | All Elite Wrestling | ||
| Date | November 7, 2020 | ||
| City | Jacksonville, Florida Cameron, North Carolina[a] | ||
| Venue | Daily's Place | ||
| Attendance | 1,000[1] | ||
| Buy rate | 100,000[2] | ||
| Tagline | Don’t Chase Dreams ... Hunt Goals[3] | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
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| Full Gear chronology | |||
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The 2020 Full Gear was the second annual Full Gear professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It was broadcast on Saturday, November 7, 2020. While the majority of the event aired live from Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida, the Elite Deletion match was taped one week prior at Matt Hardy's home, The Hardy Compound, in Cameron, North Carolina. The event aired through traditional PPV outlets, as well as on B/R Live in North America and FITE TV internationally.
Nine matches were contested at the event, including one on The Buy In pre-show. In the main event, Jon Moxley defeated Eddie Kingston in a "I quit" match to retain the AEW World Championship. In other prominent matches, The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) defeated FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) to win the AEW World Tag Team Championship, Hikaru Shida defeated Nyla Rose to retain the AEW Women's World Championship, Darby Allin defeated Cody Rhodes to win the AEW TNT Championship, and Kenny Omega defeated "Hangman" Adam Page in the AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament final match in the opening bout.
Production
[edit]
Background
[edit]On November 9, 2019, the American professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) held a pay-per-view (PPV) event entitled Full Gear.[4] During All Out on September 5, 2020, the promotion announced that Full Gear would return on Saturday, November 7 that year, thus establishing Full Gear as an annual pay-per-view for AEW. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held at the promotion's home venue of Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida.[5][6] On November 6, the day before Full Gear, TNT aired a one-hour television special previewing the event called Countdown to Full Gear, which averaged 245,000 viewers.[7][8][9]
Storylines
[edit]Full Gear featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines.[10] Storylines were produced on AEW's weekly television program, Dynamite, the supplementary online streaming show, Dark, and The Young Bucks' YouTube series Being The Elite.
On the September 23 episode of Dynamite, Jon Moxley retained the AEW World Championship over Eddie Kingston by making him pass out to a chokehold.[11] On the October 14 episode, Kingston attacked Moxley after the latter's match with Lance Archer, proclaiming that he had never tapped out.[12] The following week, Moxley was scheduled to defend the title against Kingston in an "I quit" match at Full Gear.[13]
On the September 30 episode of Dynamite, it was announced that there would be an eight-man single-elimination tournament culminating at Full Gear with the winner receiving a future AEW World Championship match. Jungle Boy, Rey Fenix, Kenny Omega, Wardlow, Colt Cabana, Adam Page, Joey Janela, and Penta El Zero M were announced as participants.[14][15] The tournament occurred over the following month with former tag team partners Omega and Page advancing to the final at Full Gear.[16]
A four-way tag team match was scheduled for the October 14 episode of Dynamite, with the winning team challenging FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) for the AEW World Tag Team Championship at Full Gear. The four teams were picked at random, and were Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen), Alex Reynolds and John Silver of The Dark Order, The Butcher and The Blade, and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson).[12] The match was won by The Young Bucks.[13] In a promo on the October 28 episode, The Young Bucks said that if they did not win at Full Gear, they would never challenge for the title again.[16]
After Cody wrestled Orange Cassidy to a time limit draw and retained the TNT Championship on the October 14 episode of Dynamite, it was announced that Darby Allin would challenge for the title at Full Gear.[12] Before Full Gear, Cody had a title rematch with Cassidy in a lumberjack match on the October 28 Dynamite, which Cody won, keeping him as the defending champion against Allin.[16]
After Matt Hardy defeated Sammy Guevara in a Broken Rules match at All Out, Hardy took time off until he was cleared to return, due to an injury sustained during the match.[6] He reunited with Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen) as their manager, but was attacked backstage before their match on the September 16 episode of Dynamite.[17] The attacker was later revealed as Guevara and "The Elite Deletion" match was announced, which took place at The Hardy Compound in Cameron, North Carolina as a cinematic match.[18][19]
On July 15, at Fight for the Fallen, Nyla Rose revealed Vickie Guerrero as her manager.[20] After Rose's match on the October 13 episode of Dark, the duo known as "The Vicious Vixens", challenged Hikaru Shida to an AEW Women's World Championship match. On the October 28 episode of Dynamite, Shida accepted the challenge and the match was officially announced.[21]
MJF, who originally wanted to join Chris Jericho's stable The Inner Circle on November 13, 2019,[22] looked to join a stable after unsuccessfully challenging for Jon Moxley's AEW World Championship at All Out.[23] MJF invited Jericho to "Le Dinner Debonair", a steak dinner where they performed "Me and My Shadow", during which Jericho announced that The Inner Circle would hold a Town Hall meeting to decide whether MJF should join the group.[24] After several questions from Eric Bischoff and others, Jericho brought up that MJF has never beaten him and would give him a match at Full Gear, allowing MJF to join the group if he wins.[25]
Event
[edit]| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Commentators | Jim Ross (PPV) |
| Excalibur (Pre-show and PPV) | |
| Tony Schiavone (Pre-show and PPV) | |
| Don Callis (Omega vs. Page) | |
| Spanish commentators | Alex Abrahantes |
| Dasha Gonzalez | |
| Willie Urbina | |
| German commentators | Günter Zapf |
| Mike Ritter | |
| French commentators | Alain Mistrangélo |
| Norbert Feuillan | |
| Ring announcer | Justin Roberts |
| Referees | Aubrey Edwards |
| Bryce Remsburg | |
| Frank Gastineau | |
| Mike Chioda | |
| Mike Posey | |
| Paul Turner | |
| Rick Knox |
The Buy-In
[edit]On The Buy-In pre-show, a match was contested between Allysin Kay and the NWA World Women's Champion Serena Deeb for the NWA World Women's Championship. Deeb retained the title after submitting Kay with the "Serenity Lock".[26] After the match, Deeb was confronted by the former women's champion Thunder Rosa.[26]
Preliminary matches
[edit]The actual pay-per-view opened with the AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament final match between "Hangman" Adam Page and Kenny Omega, with the winner receiving a future match for the AEW World Championship. Omega performed "One Winged Angel" on Page to win the match.[27]
Next, John Silver faced Orange Cassidy. In the end, Cassidy performed "Beach Break" on Silver to win the match.[27]
After that, Cody (accompanied by Arn Anderson) defended the AEW TNT Championship against Darby Allin. In the end, as both wrestlers tried to roll-up each other to a cover, Allin pinned Cody with a roll-up to win the title.[27]
In the fourth match, Hikaru Shida defended the AEW Women's World Championship against Nyla Rose (accompanied by Vickie Guerrero). Shida retained the title when she pinned Rose after multiple knee strikes.[27]
Next, FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) defended the AEW World Tag Team Championship against The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson). If The Young Bucks lost, they would never be able to challenge for the title again. FTR's manager Tully Blanchard was banned from ringside. Matt came into the match with an injured leg, which FTR targeted. Harwood injured his hand by accidentally punching a ring-post, so the Bucks targeted his hand. The teams used various moves that were signatures of the Hart Foundation, the Steiner Brothers, the Hardy Boyz, the Dudleys, and DIY. In the end, Wheeler performed a superkick on Matt, but instead of attempting to pin Matt, Wheeler performed a springboard 450 splash, which missed as Matt dodged. Matt then superkicked Wheeler and pinned him to win the match and the championship.[27][28][29]
After that, Matt Hardy faced Sammy Guevara in The Elite Deletion match, which took place in Hardy's Compound. During the match, Gangrel and Hurricane Helms made a surprise appearance, with Gangrel helping Guevara and Helms helping Hardy. In the end, Hardy pinned Guevara after a chair shot to the head to win the match.[27]
In the penultimate match, Chris Jericho faced MJF (accompanied by Wardlow). If MJF won, he would be allowed to join The Inner Circle. In the end, MJF rolled up Jericho to win the match, and joined The Inner Circle afterwards.[27] By extension, Wardlow joined The Inner Ciricle as well.[30]
Main event
[edit]In the main event, Jon Moxley defended the AEW World Championship against Eddie Kingston in an "I quit" match. In the end, Moxley choked Kingston with barbed wire, which made Kingston say "I quit". Thus, Moxley retained the title.[27]
Reception
[edit]Despite the previous pay-per-view, Full Gear was met with critical acclaim. Full Gear had a socially-distanced attendance of just over 1,000 people and a $60,000 gate, believed to be the second biggest wrestling crowd since the COVID-19 pandemic began and biggest gate, with approximately 100,000 pay-per-view buys.[2] The event was universally acclaimed by critics and fans, with many calling it the best PPV of 2020, and many praising The Young Bucks–FTR match, which Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter gave 5.25 stars,.[2] His ratings for the other matches include: 2.5 for Deeb–Kay, 4.5 for Omega–Page, 3.5 for Cassidy–Silver, 4.25 for Allin–Rhodes, 3.25 for Shida–Rose, 3.5 for MJF–Jericho, and 4.25 for Moxley–Kingston. There was no rating for Hardy–Guevara because it was a cinematic match.[2]
Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated said the event "surpassed expectations", Omega–Page was "outrageously good", Allin–Rhodes was the "biggest moment of Allin’s career", The Young Bucks–FTR "had a match of the night performance", and Moxley–Kingston was "not for the weak-hearted".[28] Chris Bengel of CBSSports.com said the event "didn't disappoint", the storytelling for MJF–Jericho was "phenomenal", The Young Bucks–FTR was "arguably one of the best matches in quite some time", and Moxley–Kingston was "entertaining".[31] Joseph Staszewski of New York Post said AEW "hit a ton of high notes" at the event, Hardy–Guevara "had its fun moments", The Young Bucks–FTR "delivered a love letter to tag team wrestling in their long-awaited dream match that lived up to all the hype", and Moxley–Kingston was "brutal and at times uncomfortable".[32]
Jason Powell stated that Full Gear "looked like a great show on paper and it mostly lived up to [his] expectations", except for the Hardy–Guevara match. Powell described Bucks–FTR as "a hell of a match", praising the story that "FTR going against their 'no flips, just fists' motto blew up in their faces", and questioned why this match was not the main event.[27]
Aftermath
[edit]On the following episode of Dynamite, it was announced that Jon Moxley would defend the AEW World Championship against Kenny Omega on the December 2 episode, titled Winter Is Coming.[33]
Results
[edit]AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament
[edit]| Quarterfinals Dynamite (October 21, 2020)[13] | Semifinals Dynamite (October 28, 2020)[16] | Final Full Gear (November 7, 2020)[27] | ||||||||||||
| Penta El Zero M | Forfeit[b] | |||||||||||||
| Rey Fenix | 14:00 | |||||||||||||
| Penta El Zero Miedo | 17:15 | |||||||||||||
| Kenny Omega | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Kenny Omega | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Sonny Kiss[c] | 0:25 | |||||||||||||
| Kenny Omega | Pin | |||||||||||||
| "Hangman" Adam Page | 16:25 | |||||||||||||
| Colt Cabana | 10:50 | |||||||||||||
| "Hangman" Adam Page | Pin | |||||||||||||
| "Hangman" Adam Page | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Wardlow | 9:50 | |||||||||||||
| Wardlow | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Jungle Boy | 8:20 | |||||||||||||
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ The Elite Deletion Match between Matt Hardy and Sammy Guevara was taped a week prior to the event at Hardy's home, The Hardy Compound, located in Cameron, North Carolina.
- ^ Rey Fenix initially defeated Penta via pinfall, but injured his neck during the match. As a result of the injury, Fenix was unable to compete and forfeited his victory to Penta, who advanced in his place.
- ^ Sonny Kiss replaced Joey Janela, who was withdrawn from the tournament due to exposure to COVID-19.
References
[edit]- ^ Ounpraseuth, Jason (November 5, 2020). "Tony Khan Reveals 1,000 Fans Will Be At AEW Full Gear, Daily's Place Running At 20% Capacity". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Observer Staff (November 13, 2020). "November 16, 2020 Observer Newsletter: 2020 Observer Hall of Fame issue". f4wonline.com. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ "AEW Full Gear 2020 Event Talent Poster Tee". Shop AEW. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (August 31, 2019). "AEW Full Gear PPV Announced". PWInsider. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
- ^ Defelice, Robert (September 5, 2020). "AEW Full Gear 2020 Set For 11/7". Fightful. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ a b Powell, Jason (September 5, 2020). "AEW All Out results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley vs. MJF for the AEW Championship, Kenny Omega and Hangman Page vs. FTR for the AEW Tag Titles, Hikaru Shida vs. Thunder Rosa for the AEW Women's Title, Chris Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy in a Mimosa Mayhem match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (November 4, 2020). "With Full Gear on the horizon, the Countdown has begun. Watch the Countdown to #AEWFullGear this Friday night on @TNTDrama at 11e/10c" (Tweet). Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ AEW Countdown to Full Gear | Full Show. YouTube. All Elite Wrestling. November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (November 9, 2020). "Countdown To AEW Full Gear Special Draws Over 200,000 Viewers, Down From All Out Special". Fightful. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- ^ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
- ^ Barnett, Jake (September 23, 2020). "9/23 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston for the AEW Championship, Brodie Lee vs. Orange Cassidy for the TNT Championship, Hikaru Shida and Thunder Rosa vs. Ivelisse and Diamante, Miro and Kip Sabian vs. Sonny Kiss and Joey Janela". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ a b c Barnett, Jake (October 14, 2020). "10/14 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of the first anniversary show featuring Jon Moxley vs. Lance Archer for the AEW Championship, Cody vs. Orange Cassidy for the TNT Title, Hikaru Shida vs. Big Swole for the AEW Women's Title, FTR vs. Best Friends for the AEW Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ a b c Powell, Jason (October 21, 2020). "10/21 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Penta El Zero M vs. Rey Fenix, Kenny Omega vs. Sonny Kiss, Colt Cabana vs. Hangman Page, and Wardlow vs. Jungle Boy in AEW Title Eliminator first-round tournament matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ Nason, Josh (September 30, 2020). "Eight-man tourney set for AEW World title shot, finals at Full Gear". Figure Four Online. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (October 7, 2020). "Three Participants Added To AEW Title Number One Contender Tournament". Fightful. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Powell, Jason (October 28, 2020). "10/28 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Cody vs. Orange Cassidy in a lumberjack match for the TNT Championship, Hangman Page vs. Wardlow, and Kenny Omega vs. Penta El 0M in eliminator tournament semifinal matches, Serena Deeb vs. Leyla Hirsch for the NWA Women's Title, Eddie Kingston vs. Matt Sydal". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ AEW Staff (September 16, 2020). "AEW Dynamite Results for September 16, 2020". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (November 2, 2020). "AEW Full Gear HOT TAKE". FITE TV. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ "411Mania".
- ^ Powell, Jason (July 15, 2020). "7/15 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Fight For The Fallen featuring Jon Moxley vs. Brian Cage for the AEW Championship, Cody vs. Sonny Kiss for the TNT Championship, FTR vs. Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (November 4, 2020). "With her #AEW Women's World Championship rematch against @shidahikaru now secured for this Saturday at #AEWFullGear, @NylaRoseBeast returns to action against @theeredvelvett TONIGHT on Dynamite. Watch #AEWDynamite every Wednesday at 8/7c on @tntdrama" (Tweet). Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ MJF Joins Chris Jericho's Inner Circle | AEW Dynamite: Nov. 13, 2019. YouTube. Bleacher Report. November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- ^ Ross Sapp, Sean (November 4, 2020). "MJF Explains Why He Wants To Join The Inner Circle, Will He Lead It?". Fightful. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- ^ Gartland, Dan (October 22, 2020). "Chris Jericho and MJF Did a Full Broadway-Style Musical Number on 'AEW Dynamite'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- ^ Rose, Bryan (October 28, 2020). "Chris Jericho vs. MJF announced for AEW Full Gear". Figure Four Online. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c Powell, Jason (November 7, 2020). "AEW Full Gear "The Buy In" Pre-Show results: Powell's review of Serena Deeb vs. Allysin Kay for the NWA Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Powell, Jason (November 7, 2020). "AEW Full Gear results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston in an I Quit match for the AEW Championship, FTR vs. The Young Bucks for the AEW Tag Titles, Cody vs. Darby Allin for the TNT Title, Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose for the AEW Women's Title, Kenny Omega vs. Hangman Page in the eliminator tournament finals". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Barrasso, Justin (November 8, 2020). "Top Takeaways From AEW 'Full Gear': Recap, Highlights and Analysis". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ Keller, Wade (November 7, 2020). "11/7 AEW Full Gear PPV report: Keller's report on Moxley vs. Kingston, Cody vs. Darby, Shida vs. Rose, Buck vs. FTR, MJF vs. Jericho, Hardy vs. Guevara". pwtorch.com. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- ^ "MJF Joins the Inner Circle After Defeating Chris Jericho at Full Gear". 8 November 2020.
- ^ Bengel, Chris (November 8, 2020). "2020 AEW Full Gear results, recap, grades: Jon Moxley wins a war as title changes shake up All Elite Wrestling". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ Staszewski, Joseph (November 8, 2020). "AEW Full Gear: Young Bucks-FTR dream match was everything and more". New York Post. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ Renner, Ethan (November 11, 2020). "Moxley-Omega World title match set for December 2nd AEW Dynamite". Figure Four Online. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ Khan, Tony [@TonyKhan] (November 4, 2020). "Before tonight's huge Live #AEWDynamite on TNT, I've just secured a big new match for Saturday at The Buy-In available to all! After her NWA World Women's Title win last week + 1st defense on Dynamite, @SerenaDeeb will defend her title against former champion @Sienna Allysin Kay!" (Tweet). Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ AEW Staff (November 5, 2020). "Hangman vs. Omega: Straight, No Chaser..." All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (September 30, 2020). "AEW Announces Eight-Man Tournament To Crown Number One Contender For AEW Title, Finals At Full Gear". Fightful. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (November 4, 2020). "As announced by #AEW CEO & GM @TonyKhan on @BustedOpenRadio, @orangecassidy vs @silvernumber1 has been moved to the Full Gear main card, and he is now in negotiations to bring a new match to the Buy-In this Saturday before #AEWFullGear" (Tweet). Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Rose, Bryan (October 14, 2020). "Darby Allin to challenge for TNT title at AEW Full Gear". Figure Four Online. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (October 28, 2020). ".@shidahikaru made the challenge to @NylaRoseBeast and now will clash at Full Gear next Saturday! Order #AEWFullGear LIVE on PPV on Saturday, Nov 7th on all major cable & satellite providers / @BRLive / @FITETV (International Fans Only)" (Tweet). Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Nason, Josh (October 21, 2020). "FTR vs. Young Bucks Tag Team title match made for AEW Full Gear". Figure Four Online. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (November 4, 2020). "#AEW Social Exclusive Tully Blanchard reads a prepared statement from the attorney of #FTR in regards to this Saturday's #AEW World Tag Team Championship match #AEWFullGear @DaxFTR @CashWheelerFTR" (Tweet). Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Rose, Bryan (October 21, 2020). "Hardy to face Guevara in 'The Elite Deletion' at AEW Full Gear". Figure Four Online. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ "Full Gear 2020". Cagematch.net. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (October 28, 2020). "It's official! Saturday, Nov 7th at Full Gear LIVE on PPV it's @The_MJF vs. @IAmJericho. If MJF wins, he will become the newest member of the Inner Circle.Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama" (Tweet). Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Thompson, Andrew (October 21, 2020). "'I Quit' match for AEW World Championship announced for Full Gear". POSTWrestling. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
External links
[edit]Full Gear (2020)
View on GrokipediaProduction
Background
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced its Full Gear pay-per-view event on September 5, 2020, during the broadcast of its All Out event.[5] The show was set for November 7, 2020, at Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida, which had served as AEW's primary venue since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions that prohibited large gatherings in many locations, the event operated with a limited, socially distanced attendance of approximately 1,000 fans, including sponsors, friends, and family.[7] As a traditional pay-per-view production, Full Gear incorporated the final match of the AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament, where the winner earned a future shot at the AEW World Championship.[8] The event's buildup was promoted extensively through AEW's weekly television programs, including Dynamite on TNT and Dark on YouTube, which featured qualifying matches and segments advancing the card.[9] This tournament structure also helped foster emerging rivalries among participants that carried into the show's matches.Storylines
The storylines leading into Full Gear (2020) centered on intense personal rivalries and championship pursuits developed across AEW's Dynamite and Dark programming throughout late 2020.[10] A prominent arc involved AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending his title against Eddie Kingston, stemming from Kingston's aggressive rise in the promotion. Kingston debuted earlier in the year by challenging Cody Rhodes on Dynamite, earning a contract through compelling promos that established him as a raw, confrontational talent.[10] The feud escalated via heated exchanges and physical confrontations, highlighting Kingston's claim to the championship amid personal animosity, culminating in a high-stakes go-home segment praised for its emotional intensity.[10] The AEW World Tag Team Championship storyline pitted champions FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) against The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), building on years of anticipation from prior encounters in other promotions. The narrative incorporated heel tactics from the Bucks, including distractions and obnoxious behavior, while an injury angle to Matt Jackson's knee added vulnerability and strategy to FTR's approach.[10] This rivalry positioned the match as a defining clash for tag team supremacy, with the Bucks facing permanent exclusion from future challenges if defeated.[10] For the AEW TNT Championship, Cody Rhodes' reign as an established, sometimes arrogant titleholder clashed with the rising underdog momentum of Darby Allin. Allin's persistent challenges and lurking presence on Dynamite contrasted with Cody's ties to storylines involving Orange Cassidy, creating tension over Allin's legitimacy as a contender against Cody's veteran status.[10] In the AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament final, former partners Kenny Omega and "Hangman" Adam Page saw their alliance fracture into competition. Page's shift to a focused babyface role following the dissolution of their tag team partnership set up a narrative of individual ambition, with their tournament progression—marked by key wins—emphasizing the evolving partnership and Page's potential as a future pillar of AEW.[10] MJF's pursuit of membership in Chris Jericho's Inner Circle drove a contentious feud filled with one-upmanship and reluctant alliances. The buildup featured polarizing segments like the "Le Dinner Debonair" musical number on Dynamite in October, which amplified their tension through betrayal and verbal sparring, showcasing MJF's cunning against Jericho's veteran ego.[10][11] Hikaru Shida's defense of the AEW Women's World Championship against Nyla Rose served as a rematch from earlier in the year, rooted in Rose's prior upset victory and ongoing pursuit of the title. However, the arc received criticism for limited development in the women's division, focusing more on Rose's brute force challenging Shida's technical prowess without deep personal stakes.[10][12] The rivalry between Matt Hardy and Sammy Guevara originated from a series of attacks and mishaps, including a high-risk spot at All Out that injured Hardy and paused their conflict. Reignited on Dynamite, the feud escalated through setbacks and physical confrontations, leading to a cinematic stipulation at Hardy's compound to settle their bad blood over Hardy's "broken" persona and Guevara's reckless aggression.[10][13]Event
The Buy-In
The Buy-In pre-show for Full Gear 2020 opened with a singles match for the NWA World Women's Championship, pitting defending champion Serena Deeb against challenger Allysin Kay, as part of the ongoing working relationship between All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).[14] This bout served to showcase talent from the NWA's women's division on AEW's platform, distinct from the promotion's own titles, and marked Kay's debut appearance in an AEW ring.[15] The matchup stemmed from Kay's prior tenure as NWA World Women's Champion and her expressed desire to reclaim the title, positioning it as a high-stakes opener to build momentum for the main card.[16] The 10:23 contest highlighted Deeb's technical prowess, as she methodically targeted Kay early with arm drags, a dragon screw, and focused strikes to the knee, demonstrating her submission-based style.[17][16] Kay showed resilience throughout, countering with a side headlock takeover, a series of arm drags exchanged with Deeb, and a near-fall via her AK-47 finisher, though Deeb evaded by rolling to the floor and retaliated with additional leg work.[18] The intensity built through mutual slaps and strikes, underscoring the cross-promotional ties between AEW and NWA by blending their respective wrestling approaches. Deeb secured the victory and retained the championship by forcing Kay to submit to the Serenity Lock, a bridging figure-four leglock variation, solidifying her dominance in the match.[19] This outcome reinforced the partnership's role in elevating NWA competitors within AEW events, providing a competitive warmup that emphasized women's wrestling without overshadowing the promotion's core storylines.[14]Preliminary Matches
The preliminary matches at Full Gear 2020 showcased a mix of high-stakes title defenses, tournament finals, and personal rivalries, setting the stage for the night's intensity with athletic displays and dramatic finishes.[1][20] The main card kicked off with Kenny Omega defeating "Hangman" Adam Page in the final of the AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament after 16:03, securing a future title shot via One-Winged Angel. The bout maintained a quick, intense pace from the opening bell, featuring explosive exchanges like Page's Buckshot Lariat and rolling elbows countered by Omega's V-Triggers and Tiger Driver '98, with the crowd erupting in approval for the back-and-forth action that highlighted both wrestlers' technical prowess and resilience.[1][20] Next, Orange Cassidy overcame John Silver in 9:46 with a Beach Break, blending comedy and legitimacy to entertain the audience. The match started slowly with humorous spots, such as Silver ripping Cassidy's pockets in an attempt to disrupt his nonchalant style, before accelerating into serious strikes including Silver's gorilla press and Cassidy's swinging DDT, culminating in a Beach Break; fans reacted with amusement to the early antics but grew fully invested as the pace quickened, cheering Cassidy's unexpected aggression.[1][20] Darby Allin captured the AEW TNT Championship from Cody after 16:50 with a victory roll pinfall, marking a pivotal upset in a hard-fought encounter. The pacing built steadily through high-risk maneuvers like Cody's avalanche Cross Rhodes and Allin's dives, with a tense finish involving multiple roll-up attempts amid Allin's resilience despite visible punishment; the crowd buzzed with excitement, roaring in recognition of the generational shift as Allin ascended the ranks.[1][20] Hikaru Shida retained the AEW Women's World Championship against Nyla Rose in 14:09 via knee strikes, overcoming interference to deliver a decisive victory. The intense slugfest featured Shida's rapid-fire running knees clashing with Rose's powerbombs, accelerated by Vickie Guerrero's illegal kendo stick shot, keeping the action edge-of-your-seat; spectators were highly engaged, chanting support for Shida as she rallied with four consecutive knee strikes to seal the win.[1][20] In a grueling tag team title clash, The Young Bucks dethroned FTR as AEW World Tag Team Champions after 28:25 with a Meltzer Driver, ending the champions' reign in a war of attrition. The extended match unfolded as a tactical battle with signature sequences like FTR's Mindbreaker and the Bucks' BTE Trigger, slowed initially by Matt Jackson's leg injury but building to a climactic superkick party; the audience hooked early and remained vocal, popping huge for the upset as the Bucks reclaimed gold.[1][20] The cinematic Elite Deletion match saw Matt Hardy defeat Sammy Guevara in 21:24 following a Twist of Fate onto a chair, incorporating outdoor spectacle for a unique flair. Pacing varied with kooky elements like a golf cart chase and Guevara's moonsault off a tire swing, escalating to destructive spots including a swanton through a table and a final spear through another; fans at home and in attendance alike found amusement in the over-the-top chaos, laughing at the absurdity while appreciating the physical commitment.[1][20] Closing the undercard, MJF bested Chris Jericho in 16:21 by reversing a Judas Effect into a low blow and locking in the Salt of the Earth, earning a spot in The Inner Circle. The deliberate, heel-heavy bout featured counters like Jericho's Walls of Jericho submission and MJF's use of the Dynamite Diamond Ring via Wardlow's distraction, maintaining tension through betrayal themes; despite the heel-vs-heel dynamic, the crowd backed Jericho vocally, booing MJF's cunning tactics throughout.[1][20]Main Event
The main event of Full Gear 2020 featured AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending his title against Eddie Kingston in an "I Quit" match, a stipulation designed to test the competitors' endurance and resolve through unrestricted violence until one verbally submitted.[21] The bout, lasting 19:01, showcased the intense personal rivalry between the two, who share a real-life friendship dating back years in the independent wrestling scene, adding emotional depth to their exchanges as taunts referenced their shared history and mutual respect turned combative.[4][22] From the opening bell, the match erupted into brutal close-quarters brawling, with Moxley immediately hurling a steel chair at Kingston's head, only for Kingston to block and counter with a suplex.[21] Kingston gained early momentum by introducing a barbed wire-wrapped baseball bat, raking it across Moxley's forehead to draw blood, while Moxley retaliated by setting up tables at ringside and executing a Paradigm Shift through them onto the arena floor.[4] The violence escalated as Kingston scattered thumbtacks across the ring mat, slamming Moxley face-first into them before stomping his body, prompting Moxley to pour rubbing alcohol on Kingston's wounds to amplify the pain.[15] Personal barbs flew throughout, with Kingston mocking Moxley's resilience by yelling, "This is what you get for being my friend," underscoring the feud's roots in their off-screen bond.[23] The limited attendance of approximately 1,000 fans at Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida—enforced by COVID-19 protocols with social distancing—created an intimate yet echoing atmosphere that heightened the match's raw, hardcore intensity, as the sparse crowd's reactions reverberated through the otherwise quiet venue.[7] Mid-match, both men traded suplexes and strikes near the thumbtacks, with Kingston briefly dominating by whipping a chair into Moxley's face and applying a figure-four leglock, but Moxley fought back with a piledriver and another Paradigm Shift.[21] Neither submitted to referee inquiries after these high-impact maneuvers, prolonging the carnage until Moxley wrapped a strand of barbed wire around his arm and locked in the Bulldog Choke.[15] Kingston, bloodied and exhausted, finally uttered "I quit" to end the match, allowing Moxley to retain the AEW World Championship in a grueling display that solidified the event's reputation for unyielding physicality.[4]Post-Event
Reception
Full Gear (2020) achieved significant commercial success amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, drawing an estimated 100,000 pay-per-view buys, which aligned with AEW's typical figures for major events that year.[24] The event was held at Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida, with a limited attendance of just over 1,000 spectators, including 850 paid fans, enforced by social distancing protocols to comply with health restrictions.[7] Critically, the event received widespread acclaim for its high match quality, particularly the AEW World Tag Team Championship bout between FTR and The Young Bucks, which wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer rated 5.25 stars out of five in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, marking it as one of the year's standout contests.[25] The main event I Quit match for the AEW World Championship between Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston also drew praise for its intense storytelling and physicality, contributing to the overall perception of Full Gear as a return to form for AEW's pay-per-view output. Media outlets echoed this positive reception, with Pro Wrestling Dot Net's Jason Powell describing the card as "a great show on paper and it mostly lived up to my expectations," highlighting the event's consistent quality despite some outliers like the Elite Deletion match.[21] Similarly, Sports Illustrated commended the event's athleticism and narrative depth in its post-event analysis, noting that "the quality was there throughout" across its extended runtime, underscoring AEW's emphasis on compelling in-ring action and character-driven feuds.[26]Aftermath
Following Full Gear, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced that AEW World Champion Jon Moxley would defend his title against Kenny Omega, the winner of the AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament, in the main event of the December 2, 2020, episode of Dynamite titled Winter Is Coming.[15] Darby Allin, who captured the AEW TNT Championship from Cody Rhodes at Full Gear, began a series of high-profile defenses that solidified his status as a top singles competitor. His first defense came on the January 13, 2021, episode of Dynamite against Brian Cage, whom Allin defeated via submission with a figure-four leglock.[27][28] Subsequent defenses included victories over Joey Janela in February 2021 and Scorpio Sky in March 2021, each main eventing Dynamite and showcasing Allin's hardcore style.[29][30] The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), newly crowned AEW World Tag Team Champions after defeating FTR at the event, immediately positioned themselves as defensive champions against emerging challengers. Their first title defense occurred on the November 18, 2020, episode of Dynamite against Top Flight (Darius and Dante Martin), which the Bucks won via pinfall.[31][32] Further challengers included Proud and Powerful (Santana and Ortiz), whom the Bucks faced in non-title competition on Dynamite, continuing the promotion's emphasis on tag team division depth.[33] MJF's victory over Chris Jericho at Full Gear for the Dynamite Diamond Ring granted him and Wardlow full membership in The Inner Circle stable, marking a pivotal integration into the group's hierarchy.[34][35] This addition, however, sowed seeds of internal discord, as MJF's ambitious persona began clashing with Jericho's leadership, setting up ongoing tensions that would escalate in subsequent storylines.[36] Omega's triumph in the Eliminator Tournament not only secured his title opportunity but also accelerated his push toward main event supremacy, positioning him as AEW's top babyface contender heading into year-end programming.[15] Meanwhile, the long-running feud between Matt Hardy and Sammy Guevara reached its conclusion with Hardy's victory in the Elite Deletion match at Full Gear, where Hardy powerbombed Guevara through a table off a cabin roof for the win, effectively ending their career-threatening rivalry.[37][38]Results
Matches
The matches from Full Gear (2020) are summarized in the table below, including outcomes, durations, victory methods, and stipulations. All details are drawn from event records.| No. | Match | Stipulation | Result | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy-In | Serena Deeb (c) vs. Allysin Kay | Singles match for the NWA World Women's Championship | Serena Deeb defeated Allysin Kay by submission (Serenity Lock) to retain the title | 10:25 | Pre-show match streamed on YouTube |
| 1 | Kenny Omega vs. "Hangman" Adam Page | AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament final match | Kenny Omega defeated "Hangman" Adam Page by pinfall (One-Winged Angel) to win and earn an AEW World Championship opportunity | 16:25 | Winner advances to challenge for the AEW World Championship |
| 2 | Orange Cassidy vs. John Silver | Singles match | Orange Cassidy defeated John Silver by pinfall (Beach Break) | 9:40 | No title implications |
| 3 | Cody Rhodes (c) (w/ Arn Anderson) vs. Darby Allin | Singles match for the AEW TNT Championship | Darby Allin defeated Cody Rhodes by pinfall (roll-up) to win the title | 17:00 | Title change; first defense for Rhodes |
| 4 | Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Nyla Rose (w/ Vickie Guerrero) | Singles match for the AEW Women's World Championship | Hikaru Shida defeated Nyla Rose by pinfall (multiple knee strikes) to retain the title | 14:10 | Rematch from earlier in the year |
| 5 | FTR (c) (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) | Tag team match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship | The Young Bucks defeated FTR by pinfall (superkick) to win the titles | 28:35 | Title change; Bucks had vowed not to challenge for the titles again if they lost |
| 6 | Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara | Elite Deletion match | Matt Hardy defeated Sammy Guevara by pinfall (chair shot) | 19:39 | Cinematic match taped a week prior at the Hardy Compound in Cameron, North Carolina; featured appearances by Gangrel and Gregory Helms |
| 7 | Chris Jericho vs. MJF (w/ Wardlow) | Singles match | MJF defeated Chris Jericho by pinfall (roll-up) | 16:10 | Winner (MJF) and Wardlow earn membership in The Inner Circle faction |
| 8 (Main event) | Jon Moxley (c) vs. Eddie Kingston | "I Quit" match for the AEW World Championship | Jon Moxley defeated Eddie Kingston when Kingston said "I Quit" to retain the title | 17:35 | Extreme rules with weapons including thumbtacks and barbed wire; concluded the event |