Who will walk out of Full Gear as winners?
AEW is bringing us Full Gear on Saturday, and it is full of big-stakes matches. The AEW, Women’s & Tag Team Championships are all on the line. CM Punk & Bryan Danielson are in marquee matchups. We’re even getting a five on five Minneapolis Street Fight to look forward to. Evan & Javier from the Crossbody of Work Podcast are here to predict all the matches ahead of the show. Here’s who we’ve got walking away a winner:
Nyla Rose & Jamie Hayter vs Hikaru Shida & Thunder Rosa
Evan: A fun little tag match to add to the card. This is one that’s a total toss-up, so we’ll say that the babyfaces take the win.
Prediction – Shida & Rosa
Javier: This match is only here because they don’t want to advance the tournament too soon. Let’s start the crowd off with a babyface win in the Buy-In and keep it moving.
Prediction – Shida & Rosa
Darby Allin vs MJF
Evan: My gut keeps telling me this is going to be a show full of babyface wins. Some heels are going to have to win, and MJF needs a win badly. He’s going to be brought to the main event level soon as a challenger for the TNT or World Championships. Let’s put him on the right track.
Prediction – MJF
Javier: Both of these men need a big win. Darby has been doing a lot of losing and getting beaten up lately, and I think a big win would help heat him up a bit. With that said, MJF is winning. He lost to Chris Jericho at the last PPV and never really wrestles because he’s an attraction. He needs the win more, it would make sense if he wins, and it will probably lead to a match for the TNT title, which he will probably win.
Prediction – MJF
Pac & Cody Rhodes vs Malaki Black & Andrade el Idolo
Evan: If Pac was teaming with Fuego 2, he might have a better shot. Since he has Cody instead, I like the odds of Black & Andrade to take the win. Side note: very excited for Black to be done with Rhodes and move on to a new feud. I like the idea of matching him up against Darby Allin.
Prediction – Black & Andrade
Javier: The odd pairing of Black and Andrade just need this more. PAC is miscast as a babyface and Cody is bulletproof. Give these rising heel stars of AEW a chance to cook.
Prediction – Black & Andrade
Christian Cage & Jurassic Express vs Superkliq (Adam Cole & The Young Bucks) – Falls Count Anywhere
Evan: It would be quite the surprise to see Christian and his jungle friends get the win here. The Superkliq has a much higher position on the card, but this will be a fun match to see. When does Jungle Boy start getting higher profile singles matches instead of running in six-man tags?
Prediction – Superkliq
Javier: I know it would be nice to have the babyfaces win and have a big moment on PPV, but it’s the Superkliq. Plus, there’s a bigger story being told with Adam Cole and he needs as many wins under his belt as he can get. This is a falls count anywhere match and I’m so excited to see what these dudes pull off.
Prediction – Superkliq
The Inner Circle vs Men of the Year & American Top Team – Minneapolis Street Fight
Evan: My prediction boils down to an old tell from weekly television: whoever stands tall on the go-home show is losing the big dance. American Top Team (a concept I am not familiar with at all) stood tall, so they’re going to lose. The Inner Circle could really use a signature win for the team.
Prediction – The Inner Circle
Javier: I’ve actually enjoyed this feud. It’s gone on so long and been so repetitive, but it’s wild seeing an iconic MMA gym be tied with AEW like this. In the end, there’s no doubt that the Inner Circle wins and Dan Lambert taps. The shot has already been called on that. I’m just excited to see if we get any surprises during this, especially with Jorge Masvidal out injured.
Prediction – The Inner Circle
CM Punk vs Eddie Kingston
Evan: After reading his piece in The Players Tribune, I really want Kingston to win. I want him to win everything. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to be “the one” to give Punk his first loss. Who is that one? That’s for Tony Khan to know and us to find out.
Prediction – CM Punk
Javier: I really want to say Kingston is going to win, but that’s the issue with Punk right now. He hasn’t lost yet and Kingston is the guy who should get that first victory, so we’re in a weird limbo. These two are going to have an excellent match. I love the storytelling they’ve done up to this point and I’m excited to see where it goes when the bell rings.
Prediction – CM Punk
Bryan Danielson vs Miro – AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Finals
Evan: It is Miro time! I recently talked about how Miro winning would be the best thing for him and for the tournament. He needs to be redeemed I say! Give us Miro as a world title threat.
Prediction – Miro
Javier: This was the hardest match to pick for me. The finals would’ve been Danielson against Jon Moxley, but Mox did the right thing and checked himself in for alcohol addiction, for which he has my full support. My pick would’ve been Dragon winning and Moxley turning heel on him. With the switch to Miro, it muddies things up for me. On one hand, it would establish Miro as a main event monster and give him a very credible win against an undefeated Danielson. On the other hand, Danielson is undefeated and has a built-in main event story against whoever wins the title.
Prediction – Bryan Danielson
Lucha Bros (c) vs FTR – AEW Tag Team Championships
Evan: This match has high expectations to live up to after the last tag title match on pay-per-view. FTR got one over on Penta & Fenix to win the AAA Tag Titles. I don’t think they get to pull two over on the brothers. FTR may get those titles again one day, but not this day.
Prediction – Lucha Bros
Javier: What a match this is going to be. There’s a bigger story being told here between these two teams and I’m excited to see which way the brass at AEW goes with this one. The Lucha Bros lost to FTR once already, which leads me to think that they’re getting their win back. However, FTR are just bigger with the belts. This was hard, but ultimately I banked on the feud continuing and the Lucha Bros retaining.
Prediction – Lucha Bros
Britt Baker (c) vs Tay Conti – AEW Women’s Championship
Evan: Let’s do a surprise here, shall we? Tay Conti is on fire, Britt Baker has held the title for a long time, and sometimes a surprise is needed. Let’s have Conti win the belt here and maybe lose it again. Let’s shoot for the moon on a surprise win.
Prediction – Tay Conti
Javier: I love Tay Conti. I’m in love with Tay Conti. She’s absolutely on fire and if there was ever a time to put the belt on her, it’s now. The only issue is that she’s not the one that should be beating Baker. It should be Thunder Rosa. That’s the story. It’s unfortunate, but I believe Baker retains her title.
Prediction – Britt Baker
Kenny Omega (c) vs Adam Page – AEW World Championship
Evan: We have reached the crescendo. It is time officially for Adam Page to be the big babyface of AEW. Kenny Omega has had an incredible reign, but it is time for Page to carry the ball.
Prediction – Adam Page
Javier: It’s time. Two years after losing to Jericho in the first AEW title match and one year after losing to Omega in the AEW title eliminator, Hangman gets his moment. AEW played this perfectly. He’s the most over man in professional wrestling right now and it is time he gets his belt.
My prediction is that Hangman will be the first man to kick out of the One-Winged Angel in AEW, he’ll hit the Buckshot Lariat, and he’ll ride into the sunset with a smile on his face because he not only won the gold, he won his self-confidence back. I can’t wait.
Prediction – Adam Page
