Here we are again. Another AEW PPV, and this one with one of the better cards the company has delivered to date. Up and down there are matches that figure to deliver big time whether in the action or in the story they are telling. On top we have maybe the two best talkers in wrestling, who have delivered a build to remember in every respect. Down the card, you have a first-time meeting between two former partners, and a tag team match that was once one of the most anticipated matches in wrestling. Let's waste no time and get to the card.
As always, the show will be LIVE on B/R Live in the US and FITE.TV internationally. Start time is 5PM PT/8PM ET for the main show.
AEW World Championship - I Quit Match - Jon Moxley (c) vs. Eddie Kingston
Six months ago, Eddie Kingston was unsure how much of his wrestling career was left. After floating around the indies for years with brief stints with Impact and the newly-reformed NWA, Kingston felt at the end of his rope. Then in July, he received an opportunity to appear on Dynamite and challenge Cody for the TNT Championship and has never looked back. Quickly establishing himself in the upper echelon of the promotion with his ability to talk his way into and out of anything, Kingston now finds himself in the biggest match of his career with a man he once considered a best friend. That best friend on the other side is the dominant AEW Champion, Jon Moxley, who has yet to find a challenge in AEW that he cannot overcome. Over one year on, not a single person has been able to beat Moxley one-on-one. And neither could Kingston when he tried one month ago, passing out in a choke applied by Mox. This being no normal match, Kingston has to feel better about his chances in a violent brawl. But as Joey Janela and Kenny Omega have learned in the past, facing Moxley with no rules is a dangerous proposition. I will also link the absolutely amazing promo these two had this past week on Dynamite. If you haven't seen it, watch it. If you have, watch it again.
World Title Eliminator Tournament Final - Kenny Omega vs. "Hangman" Adam Page
In some ways, this match is both the culmination of AEW's 2020 and the beginning of their 2021. At the start of the year, with both struggling to find footings as singles wrestlers, Elite stablemates Adam Page and Kenny Omega decided to give a shot at being a tag team and not only did they find a footing but they dominated the division on their way to holding the AEW Tag Titles for almost eight full months. But no matter how high the team flew, there was always an undercurrent of tension between the two men. Much of this initially stemmed from Hangman's insecurities about himself and his abilities, but when it finally came to a head at All Out it became clear the one who was well and truly finished with the team was Omega. Despite Hangman's desire to reclaim the tag titles, Kenny made it known he was ready to achieve his promise as a singles wrestler once and for all. Both men entered the newly-designed Eliminator Tournament to determine the #1 Contender for the World Title, and now they find themselves at the moment that seemed inevitable. For Omega to become the singles star he feels destined to be, he'll have to go through his former partner. And for Hangman to finally find security in his ability and place in AEW, he will have to prove himself against one of the best wrestlers in the world. One man will leave disappointed, but you can be certain these two will find themselves crossing paths again over the next year.
AEW World Tag Team Championship - FTR (c) vs. The Young Bucks
The Young Bucks first year in AEW hasn't gone quite as they envisioned it. Whether it's getting knocked out of the initial Tag Title Tournament by Private Party, being eclipsed by stablemates Kenny Omega and Hangman Page, or even just watching as their allies fell away and their rivals in FTR arrived and captured the titles, the year just has not been kind to the Young Bucks. And with all that pressure finally seeming to get to them, the Bucks have recently acted erratic and out-of-control on their way to finally earning their shot at FTR. Further evidence that they are at their wit's end, The Young Bucks have proclaimed that if they do not successfully capture the AEW Tag Titles on this night, they will never challenge for them again. With Matt carrying a knee injury into this match that may not be the wisest stake to place, but maybe it is just the motivation the Bucks need to finally capture the gold.
TNT Championship - Cody (c) vs. Darby Allin
After taking a brief hiatus to film a TV show, Cody came back with a vengeance and immediately recaptured the TNT Title in a brutal Dog Collar Match with Brodie Lee. With this victory, Cody has seemed to be reinvigorated but maybe more vulnerable than he was in his last reign with the title. After being pushed to a time limit by Orange Cassidy three weeks ago, he needed the help of Arn Anderson in the rematch to overcome Cassidy and keep his title. And now he finds himself against a familiar foe in Darby Allin. These two know each other in and out, and with Cody being both vulnerable and maybe overconfident this may be Darby's best chance yet to finally topple a rival and claim his first championship in AEW.
Chris Jericho vs. MJF
After his loss at All Out to Jon Moxley, MJF went on a search to finally find a team of his own in AEW. Eventually eyeing the Inner Circle as the group he wanted into, MJF made many an attempt to placate leader Chris Jericho (much to the dismay of other members of the team). The two went back and forth in many a ridiculous segment until Jericho finally made his terms known: if MJF wanted to be in The Inner Circle, he had to prove his value by defeating Jericho one-on-one at Full Gear. With these two egos going to battle, neither man wants to be made to look inferior, so expect both to pull out every stop they can to prove themselves above the other. For Jericho this is about establishing he can still compete at the top of AEW, while for MJF it's a chance to claim a victory over an idol.
AEW Women's World Championship - Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Nyla Rose
After losing her AEW Women's Championship to Hikaru Shida in May at Double or Nothing, Nyla Rose went out and found herself a manager in Vickie Guerrero. Since then, Nyla has proven to be head and shoulders above the other women in the division. As Shida spent the summer facing all challengers, Nyla would bide her time until she felt the moment was right. So now these two face off again in a rematch, and with Shida barely escaping the first time with a victory, the question is begged of whether or not she can overcome Rose again.
The Elite Deletion - Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara
At the rate that these two are escalating things, someone might literally die in this match. After a brutal ending between the two at All Out in what seemed like the conclusion, Sammy Guevara attacked Matt Hardy from behind backstage and made it known that he would not stop his crusade until Hardy was retired for good. Hardy, obviously happy to oblige in the mutual destruction, challenged Guevara to meet him on his terms, in The Elite Deletion. Anyone familiar with Hardy knows where this is headed and what kind of match this is going to be, and I expect both men will have their pound of flesh before it's all over.
Orange Cassidy vs. John Silver
Part of the cavalcade of chaos that cost Orange Cassidy his second chance at Cody's TNT Title was the interference of the Dark Order's John Silver. Silver, who has become more and more confident and outlandish in recent weeks, ran into the match and attacked Cassidy behind the referee. Now Cassidy will get his hands on Silver one-on-one and Silver, who has made it clear how much he loves the spotlight, will get the biggest chance of his life in a PPV singles match to prove he is more than just another number on the Dark Order's list.
Buy-In Preshow: NWA Women's World Championship - Serena Deeb (c) vs. Allysin Kay
A late addition to the card, the pre-show match will see the AEW debut of Allysin Kay as she challenges recently-crowned NWA Women's Champion Serena Deeb. As a former NWA Title holder, Kay knows what it takes to capture the championship, but Deeb will use this early defense as a way to prove she is here to stay on top of that division.
And that's the show! As always, the card appears very solid on paper and there are quite a few matches that could end up being the best of the night once everything is said and done. I'd be remiss if I didn't link to some of the wonderful Countdown videos that have been produced for the top matches, so check them out.
