I'm sure to ruffle some feathers with this post and review.
AEW sickos, you've been warned.
I attended AEW Full Gear 2025 at the Prudential Center (I also attended last year), and while I enjoyed the event, I found myself wrestling (pun intended) with my own fandom toward AEW. More so, cultivating and shaping my interests and "style" within the world of pro wrestling.
What I walked away with that night, as I exited the Prudential Center and into the crisp cold air of Newark, NJ, well before the show was over, was this - I like AEW, but it's not for me. And that's okay!
That's the bottom line. And Stone Cold would say so!
The younger version of me would have been all about AEW. The older father version of myself, who now shares his wrestling experience with his son, doesn't find it all that appealing.
I'm not looking to contribute to tribalism within the fandom - there is so much wrestling available, everyone can like what they want. I enjoy the product, but I just can't find myself immersed in it for multiple reasons, which ultimately make up what AEW has become.
For now, here are some quick thoughts on AEW Full Gear 2025:
- Zero Hour was cool, but now we've got "Tailgate Brawl". Ummm okay. As noted many times, I was a fan of the "Zero Hour" name. But whatevs, ultimately it's just the pre-show. No biggie - call it whatever.
- I didn't quite catch all of the four-team tag match as I was exploring the concession stands with my son, but the end of the match was entertaining. The Outrunners are unique and should be featured more. Some of the talent in this match feels worthy of that sentiment as well.
- This year, I know who the Rizzler is! Good for this 40-year-old! This was good harmless entertainment on the pre-sho...Tailgate Brawl!!!
- I find Eddie Kingston to be one of those rare, VERY believable guys in pro wrestling. Hook - I don't get the hype. Well, maybe not yet. Regardless, I'm not sure why this match was added to what felt like a long night.
- Some guy sitting behind us kept explaining (maybe to everyone in our section) that AEW is big on starting the main show mid-match and having pyro explode while the match was going on. It happened. He absolutely marked out. Again, I wasn't sure I understood the novelty or hype around doing that. Especially if it's an "AEW thing".
- The Okada entrance was super cool - though, I miss his old theme.
- PAC is built like a muscle ball. I enjoyed this match between him and Darby Allin. Darby is so unique and is just insane. His entrance, vibe, and overall aura are an AEW staple (nope, not using the silly "pillars" phrase).
- Copy and paste my sentiments on Darby for Toni Storm. Solid match for the ladies.
- I enjoyed the tag team title match...BUT, here is where I start to stray from AEW's "Style"? The match was entertaining, and everyone worked hard; it just got to a point where the false finishes felt exhausting and lacked punch when they happened. Also, the match just moved away from tagging in and out...but whatevs...
Ugh...dude, just go watch your PG WWE stuff!
- It was time for the Casino Gauntlet Match, and I was all over the place with understanding the logic here. I had to quickly look up what the match was (no introduction or rules explained to the live audience). Cool, cool.
- The concept is a great one. However, I didn't understand the missed logic of Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley arranging a quick victory with one of them lying down, then having their own title match down the road. In kayfabe, it's illogical to think they would honorably fight and risk others getting involved and the odds lowering.
- I also had to understand the role of the National Championship within the place of all the other belts. The guy behind us again, randomly explained it to everyone who was willing to listen. He loves AEW. But yet again, I had no idea why two belts became one, and that championship is considered another world title; then the National Championship is a midcard title, along with the TNT Championship, which is being defended later on this night, but NOT on TNT television.
- Ricochet is very entertaining - It's good to see him get that opportunity outside of the WWE.
- There are a lot of Death Riders. Like, A LOT! Their music played many times throughout the night. It felt like an episode of WCW Thunder during the latter part of the nWo days.
- Orange Cassidy is awesome.
- The National Championship belt looks like...well, yeah, I think we all know. And I ask myself, why???
- Jon Moxley and Kyle O'Reilly was very good stuff. I actually enjoyed the slowed, sadistic pace of the match, and while it was No Holds Barred, it was all surrounding a fork. Cool stuff.
- Moxley taps, again?!
- Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe was entertaining. For me, it was the most memorable of the night. Classic garbae match. However, it followed Mox and O'Reilly. And yet, we had a cage match to come. Not sure who is putting this show together, but wouldn't separating these matches (if they had to happen) be for the best?
- The money match concept is lame. Especially considering it was done on the pre-sho...Tailgate Brawl! It would work if we actually believed the Bucks were broke, but what we got was them winning, and then reuniting with Kenny Omega to form the Elite for yet another time within AEW's short history. Enjoyable match, but I'm out on the concept and story.
- Poor Josh Alexander.
- How is Deonna Purazzo not on the card for an NJ show? Yikes.
- AEWs pay-per-views are soooooo long. It's great if you're home and you get your money's worth. But if you're like me, with my son, it's way past bedtime. All it does is make the customers upset. You're making them choose between the welfare of their family and concluding the show?
- Some will say - AEW is not for kids, bro! My response to that is very short - that's very unfortunate. Kids love pro wrestling. Seems like a terrible business approach.
Ultimately, I did see that Kris Statlander and Samoa Joe won, which is awesome. I'll forever be a Joe guy. And I've been a fan of Statlander since she debuted in AEW - those alien days.
However, I did see that Joe was a bloody mess, and I immediately thought about how many visuals we had of a wrestler bleeding profusely throughout the night. It lost its impact when I saw Joe's crimson mask...ehhhh, more blood. It just didn't mean as much.
Again, the show was fun, but the storylines, the over-reliance on blood, gore, and catering to "the sickos" got in the way of it all for me. It's just not my thing...or my favorite way to present pro wrestling. And that's okay! My son and I - we'll still support AEW, but overall, the company feels like a product that knowingly admits it does not cater to the audience that I'm a part of.
:::shoulder shrug:::