AEW PPVs are always a good time, and AEW Full Gear 2022 should be no different. The roster is stacked, and there are a bunch of interesting storylines – and potential surprises – that could come about at Full Gear, with the company always going all out (excuse the pun) for their Big 4 PPV events.
Here is an initial set of thoughts surrounding the PPV and some of the matches I am most interested in seeing as a lover of pro wrestling and, of course, tacos.
AEW All Out 2022
The Potential Return of the Elite
The Elite returning might be the most intriguing part of this whole show. The trio of Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks have been off TV since September for their roles in the All Out 2022 backstage fight. It was a brawl that completely changed the company’s direction – CM Punk is likely gone forever – and new plans had to hastily be put in place for titles, feuds, and programs.
AEW doesn’t feel like AEW without the presence of the Elite. It was difficult enough to adjust to the company post-Cody Rhodes, but with most of the founding fathers off air, it has been weird. The rumor is that the three wrestlers will come back to go after Death Tringle and the AEW Trios Championship. If they do, this is nailed on to be the night’s match.
Saraya
Saraya/Paige hasn’t graced a wrestling ring as a competitor since being forced to retire while a WWE talent in 2017. It was in a match against Sasha Banks where the damage was don,e and, for the longest time, it looked like that would be the premature end of a career that should have had years to run.
When Saraya appeared in AEW earlier this year, it got the rumor mill going. While she had excelled as non-wrestling talent with WWE, there was a clear link between what had happened to her and the path trodden by Brian Danielson. The fact that he could come back and compete in AEW led to speculation that Saraya would do the same.
This was confirmed on AEW Dynamite this week when Saraya lay down a challenge to Dr. Britt Baker DMD as the Englishwomen had been cleared to wrestle. Full Gear was the obvious place for this match. This immediately becomes the most important women’s match on the card, something that must be frustrating for Toni Storm and Jamie Hayter as their feud for the interim AEW Women’s World Championship.
The Number of Matches
The problem with AEW having such a loaded roster is that giving everyone the screen time they deserve becomes difficult. There are currently nine matches announced for Full Gear if you include the steel cage bout between Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy that will be announced on Friday (another match I am looking forward to as it should blow off this feud and push Jack Perry up the card).
That doesn’t even include the trios’ match I think will happen, so in the end, this could be a card with a dozen or so matches as the likes of Miro, Orange Cassidy, and The Kingdom – newly signed and in need of a push – have nothing to do. The AEW roster has a stunning 142 names on it. This doesn’t even include Ring of Honor wrestlers or NJPW guys like Katsuyori Shibata showing up for special appearances.
AEW doesn’t have enough TV time for all these stars, and the number of matches on this card means some will be over in less than seven minutes. Which will be a shame.
Always remember, folks. Pro Wrestling is Real.