Cageside Seats - AEW Full Gear 2021 full match previews: Omega vs. Page, Punk vs. Kingston, more! Inside Pro Wrestlinghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48257/CSS-Logo-fv.png2021-11-13T19:00:00-05:00http://www.cagesideseats.com/rss/stream/225386042021-11-13T19:00:00-05:002021-11-13T19:00:00-05:00Watch Full Gear’s ‘Buy In’ right here!
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<p id="URSllP">All Elite Wrestling (AEW) goes live on pay-per-view (PPV) at 8 pm ET tonight (Sat., Nov. 13, 2021) from Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota with its <em>Full Gear</em> event. Just a half-hour before, the promotion will offer a free live stream of the pre-show, entitled “The Buy In.”</p>
<p id="0Fp07W">This one will feature a tag team match that serves as a preview for two quarterfinal matches in the tournament to crown the first ever TBS champion, with Nyla Rose & Jaime Hayter joining forces to take on Thunder Roda & Hikaru Shida. </p>
<p id="2j6zNm">That’s one of 10 matches scheduled for the show, three of them title matches. There will be plenty of hype for every one of those matches on The Buy-In but if AEW’s hype isn’t enough for you, we’ve got you covered. There are detailed previews and predictions for each match in this stream right <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/12/22774563/aew-full-gear-2021-full-match-omega-page-punk-kingston-danielson-miro-jericho-att">here</a>.</p>
<p id="ErbxgV">“The Buy In” stream goes live at 7:30 p.m. ET, and you can watch it above.</p>
<p id="8T5hTA">Follow along with <em>Full Gear</em> results and coverage of the entire card right <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/13/22775888/aew-full-gear-2021-live-streaming-match-coverage-results">here</a>.</p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/13/22779806/aew-full-gear-2021-live-stream-the-buy-inSean Rueter2021-11-13T17:00:00-05:002021-11-13T17:00:00-05:00Deserves has everything to do with it
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<h4 id="IgvULD">World championship match</h4>
<p id="6hlmnY">A story AEW’s been telling since before the company started should pay off in Minneapolis on Nov. 13.</p>
<p id="oLXcwO"><strong>The Road to </strong><em><strong>Full Gear</strong></em></p>
<p id="YYE5Px">I’ve written a lot about how much I love <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/7/21/22586989/hangman-page-most-relatable-babyface-bezos-space-tweet-cameo-fundraiser">Hangman Page</a>, <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/2020/5/19/21263986/hangman-page-great-promo-being-the-elite-ep-204-monologue">his character arc</a>, and his <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/7/14/22578144/page-omega-aew-world-championship-build-elite-dark-order-ten-man-elimation-match-title-shots">program with Kenny Omega</a>. Others have done a better job of it, in things ranging from <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBrosnahan/status/1411638991343042562">Twitter threads</a> to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et8bGUJI1-8">YouTube videos</a>. The preview the company put together <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ8HGbMeRko">for their Countdown to <em>Full Gear</em> special</a> is pretty great. This late entry might be my favorite one, though...</p>
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<p id="1crULY">We’ve also seen a full-on media blitz for this match, and the moment we should get at its conclusion. <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a38225563/adam-page-hangman-aew/"><em>Men’s Health</em> had a great interview with Page</a>. <a href="https://www.si.com/wrestling/2021/11/12/aew-full-gear-kenny-omega-hangman-adam-page-story"><em>Sports Illustrated</em> had one with the reigning champion</a>. <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7va54/aew-adam-page-millennial-cowboy"><em>Vice</em> called the Anxious Millenial Cowboy the hero the world needs</a>.</p>
<p id="SifFii">The Ballad of Hangman is deserving of all that hype. Both because it one of the best examples of a hero’s journey wrestling’s ever produced, and because it’s exactly the kind of long-term storytelling with attention to detail many fans have been clamoring for for decades. For example, <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/12/22777536/aew-rampage-results-nov-12-2021-hangman-page-young-bucks-apology-message-ruin-full-gear-omega">Page’s apology & warning to The Young Bucks</a> last night on <em>Rampage</em> was awesome storytelling in its own right, but did you notice Hangman’s wearing the same shirt he wore when <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/2020/9/23/21451821/young-bucks-kenny-omega-hangman-page-split-aew-dynamite-real-relatable">they kicked him out of The Elite</a>? And that in that scene he was relying on drinking to dull his pain, while this version of the cowboy - with his hard-earned and friend-supported confidence - doesn’t need one?</p>
<p id="cu9FZ3">One crucial element of this that hasn’t had quite as much praise heaped on it is Omega’s performance. Kenny has an <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/2018/2/28/17064708/history-of-golden-lovers-kenny-omega-kota-ibushi-video-gif-lgbtq-gay-bullet-club-new-japan-ddt">even longer arc</a> as a talented wrestler who manages his insecurity in ways that aren’t always good for him, and his year long AEW World title reign’s been another great layer in that career-long story. He capped it on Wednesday night by dropping his usual affectations and most of his bluster for a contract signing segment where both men showed more vulnerability than we’re used to while still delivering a traditional pro wrestling scene.</p>
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<p id="36zpgM">This one’s been special, scripted fight fans. Nothing left to do but sit back and soak it all in, as Page does some cowboy shit at the PPV named for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VOuIoxFw4c">a <em>Being The Elite</em> angle</a>.</p>
<p id="bSCp1n"><strong>What to watch for</strong></p>
<p id="vXlzzD"><a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/8/9/22616719/hangman-page-8-year-fan-birthday-video-cowboy-shit">Children cursing</a>? Adults crying? </p>
<p id="TWp6lB">I plan on leaning in to my television and saying, “Good job, Hanger. I’m proud of you.” And I won’t be lying.</p>
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https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/13/22776222/aew-full-gear-2021-hangman-page-kenny-omega-world-title-full-match-previewSean Rueter2021-11-13T14:10:00-05:002021-11-13T14:10:00-05:00A dentist and a black belt walk into a ring...
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<h4 id="qkPG0z">Women’s World Championship<br>Britt Baker (c) vs. Tay Conti</h4>
<p id="0Wrvqd">Tonight (Sat., Nov. 13, 2021) Britt Baker faces one of her most formidable championship challengers to date, black belt, and all-around badass Tay Conti. </p>
<h4 id="rBpjMb">The Road to Full Gear</h4>
<p id="HizOrd">I make fun of (and complain) about the AEW rankings system all the time because typically - especially when it comes to the women - the writers use it as a crutch to shoehorn in championship challengers with very little storytelling. Fortunately for us, this time, they used the very impressive ranking of Tay Conti to justify her challenge to Britt Baker while giving them actual screen time to forge a feud! </p>
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<p id="zQimog">Tay Conti is hands down one of the most improved wrestlers in the women’s division. She has perfected her unique blend of judo and wrestling and has become one of the most dangerous women in that locker room. She’s also a crowd favorite and has the makings of an excellent babyface champion, something that is frankly almost impossible these days. She got a great look, she’s likable, she has integrity, and she kicks ass in the ring! All of those qualities make her a perfect foil for the champion. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who will leave <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWFullGear?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWFullGear</a> with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEW</a> Women's World Title? Reigning champion <a href="https://twitter.com/RealBrittBaker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealBrittBaker</a> or the top-ranked contender <a href="https://twitter.com/TayConti_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TayConti_</a>? Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWRampage?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWRampage</a> LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/tntdrama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntdrama</a> NOW! <a href="https://t.co/nJIsZvIPy7">pic.twitter.com/nJIsZvIPy7</a></p>— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a href="https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1459366131765026818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2021</a>
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<p id="6Uskr4">Britt, in her own words, is a bad bitch. She’s mean, says what’s on her mind, and isn’t afraid to play dirty. She’s held the championship for a while now, and she’s more than proven herself as champion. In all honestly, she rescued that floundering division. Putting her up against Conti is a classic narrative move. It’s pure Babyface vs. Heel, Good Guy vs. Bad Guy, Hero vs. Villain storytelling. And Tay Conti is a real threat! She’s no slouch in the ring and has made it nearly impossible for Britt and her gang to run roughshod over the division over the past few weeks. She’s been a pain in Britt’s side for weeks, and now Britt gets her chance to put her in her place. </p>
<h4 id="arbrvT">What’s at stake?</h4>
<p id="Hbjkji">It’s pretty clear to anyone paying attention that Britt Baker is going to win this one. Tay Conti is fantastic and will definitely be champion one day, but tonight is not her night. The big question here is <em>how </em>does she lose? Does she lose clean to the champ, or will there be shenanigans involved?</p>
<p id="6dhhdH">Britt is a heel champ. She may be a great in-ring worker, but heels are never above pulling out all the stops - legal or otherwise - to get the win. The match will likely be so hard-hitting and brutal that Britt will deem it necessary to cheat. She’ll get the pin, but it will be a dirty one. In the long run, that’s great for Tay Conti. She may get kicked “to the back of the line,” but she’ll always have a reason to face the champ in her back pocket, and her wrestling dignity will remain intact.</p>
<p id="KDNVZA">If Britt does get a clean pin on Conti, well, it’s still a good look for Britt. Basically, tonight, no matter how it happens, Britt Baker will have a reason to celebrate.</p>
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https://www.cagesideseats.com/2021/11/13/22780064/aew-full-gear-2021-britt-baker-tay-conti-womens-world-title-full-match-previewStellaNYD2021-11-13T12:00:00-05:002021-11-13T12:00:00-05:00Just two normal dudes, talking normal trash, to have a normal fight
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<p id="gMJDHF">Pro wrestling is simple, or at least it always used to be. One guy has problems with another guy, they air that out in the form of a promo, the other guy shows up to air out his own grievances, they talk some trash to each other, and then they fight over it all. The business has turned into something else as WWE has moved it more into Vince McMahon’s vision of “sports entertainment.” AEW follows that same playbook at times, at least in terms of its characters and their presentation, but there are some who have the ability to turn back the clock and give us a good ol’ fashioned pro wrestling feud.</p>
<p id="lsodmh">That’s what CM Punk and Eddie Kingston, who will square off at tonight’s (Sat., Nov. 13, 2021) <em>Full Gear</em> pay-per-view in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have done.</p>
<p id="8L8bDV">It started with Kingston interrupting an interview Punk was giving after he lost a match. This really upset the latter, who demanded an apology out in the ring. As it turned out, these two had some deeply personal issues dating back some 15 years, and that came out in the ensuing face-off.</p>
<p id="ZDjtoa">Watch:</p>
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<p id="zY5MoY">That’s arguably the best back-and-forth of all of 2021, and all they did was go back to the basics. Punk himself said it best in an interview with <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2950351-br-exclusive-aews-cm-punk-on-eddie-kingston-promo-advice-marvel-and-more?share=twitter">Bleacher Report</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="TyHRX3">“We’ve kind of breathed life into what some of the classic legends of pro wrestling used to do on the regular. It’s just two normal dudes talking normal trash. The fun part about pro wrestling is you get to go in a ring and you get to beat the crap out of each other.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="cynSwY">Kingston told <a href="https://www.dazn.com/en-US/news/wrestling/eddie-kingston-says-cm-punk-match-at-aew-full-gear-the-most-personal-fight-of-my-career/1wnblx7fe7ami1r2ame2ojmxxo">DAZN</a> this is “definitely the most personal” match of his career.</p>
<p id="2BWVxM">It’s amazing what you can do when you take two talented wrestlers and let them use some real life issues to promote a match. That’s what we’re getting here.</p>
<p id="RltXCC">AEW is also getting better with their production, with videos like this hyping it up:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"You can change, you can become a better CM Punk. But first, You have to get through me. I’m your Karma."<br>15 years of animosity is unleashed TOMORROW at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWFullGear?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWFullGear</a> on PPV when <a href="https://twitter.com/MadKing1981?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MadKing1981</a> faces <a href="https://twitter.com/CMPunk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMPunk</a>. Order on all major providers, <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BleacherReport</a> & internationally on <a href="https://twitter.com/FiteTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FiteTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/zQKEbxSAaA">pic.twitter.com/zQKEbxSAaA</a></p>— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a href="https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1459279847327420419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a>
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<p id="10ISlj">That’s another fun angle Kingston introduced there — that Punk has always been an asshole and while his story has been so much about how he was mistreated by WWE and what it did to him, there were many others he mistreated on his way to WWE and it clearly did something to them. If he truly wants a full redemption arc in AEW, he’s going to have to reckon with his own karma, and Eddie is that karma coming to collect.</p>
<p id="c3dtIq">So they’ve managed to make it simple while also weaving in a compelling backstory that advances the character arc of the main player and makes his antagonist look like a huge star.</p>
<p id="H1u18K">What a fantastic piece of business.</p>
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https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/13/22779935/cm-punk-vs-eddie-kingston-full-match-preview-aew-full-gear-2021Geno Mrosko2021-11-13T11:30:00-05:002021-11-13T11:30:00-05:00AEW Full Gear predictions!
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<figcaption><a class="ql-link" href="https://www.allelitewrestling.com/how-to-watch-aew-full-gear" target="_blank">AllEliteWrestling.com</a></figcaption>
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<p id="hL58PK">All Elite Wrestling is putting on their annual fall PPV tonight (Sat., Nov. 13, 2021) at Target Center in Minneapolis - <em>Full Gear</em>! </p>
<p id="Jdk0Up">After a free streaming pre-show which starts 30 minutes earlier, the event starts at 8PM Eastern, and can be purchased <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/aew-full-gear-2021-ppv">on Bleacher Report</a> (and traditional PPV) here in the U.S. & Canada, or internationally on <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8836606/type/dlg/sid/CagesideSeats/https://www.fite.tv/" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Fite</a>.</p>
<p id="8nKwaV">The third annual <em>Full Gear</em> changed dates and locations before settling on this weekend in Minnesota, but when & wherever it happened fans were going to be excited for the long-awaited World title clash between Kenny Omega & Hangman Page. We’ll also get CM Punk and Bryan Danielson’s next matches, and just a great card top-to-bottom. </p>
<p id="tkJFtF">We’ve assembled our motley crew to give thoughts & predictions on everything booked the show!</p>
<p id="ixo5bO">Let's get to it.</p>
<h4 id="hZGaXQ">AEW <em>FULL GEAR</em> PREDICTIONS</h4>
<h4 id="OnSeCk">Kenny Omega vs. Hangman Page for the AEW World title</h4>
<p id="Q4myxo"><strong>Geno Mrosko:</strong> My only quibble with this is they are having this culminate at <em>Full Gear</em>, as opposed to their biggest show of the year. No matter. <em><strong>Pick: Hangman Page</strong></em></p>
<p id="THXQnG"><strong>Sean Rueter:</strong> I haven’t been this emotionally invested in a match in a long time, and I’m not even a millennial. Or a cowboy. I am very anxious, though. <em><strong>Pick: Hangman Page </strong></em></p>
<p id="yiv1490475530gmail-m_6444553756601841347yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1485024453438_2939"><a href="https://twitter.com/kfd2010?lang=en"><strong>Kyle Decker</strong></a><strong>:</strong> It’s all led to this. This is pretty much a promotion long angle. It’s has sputtered a little but overall maintained its steam. Hangman wasn’t ready when he faced Jericho for the title at the first AEW PPV now. He’s ready now and AEW knows it. <em><strong>Pick: Hangman Adam Page</strong></em></p>
<p id="HLR00w"><a href="https://twitter.com/Rev_Claire"><strong>Rev. Claire Elizabeth</strong></a><strong>:</strong> This is it. This is what Hangman’s story has been leading towards from day one. AEW have been very good about paying off the stories that work and discarding the ones that don’t, and friends, this story <em>works</em>. There’s nowhere to go from here but Hangman winning the title. I’m ready to cry on a Saturday night, let’s do it! <em><strong>Pick: “Hangman” Adam Page</strong></em></p>
<p id="xrV8yS"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: Omega signed the contract in Page’s blood. I think that sealed Omega’s fate here, if there was ever any doubt about how this story needs to end. <em><strong>Pick: Hangman Page</strong></em></p>
<p id="tKl3p0"><strong>Manolo H. Pizzazz</strong>: It is Hangman’s destiny to win the world title from Omega in this match at <em>Full Gear</em>. If AEW rolls with a bullshit finish for the champ to retain, then I think there is a genuine chance that the ring is showered with garbage from frustrated fans. <em><strong>Pick: Hangman Page</strong></em></p>
<p id="CN2ROu"><a href="http://twitter.com/stella_cheeks"><strong>Stella Cheeks:</strong></a><strong> </strong>Two words: Cowboy Shit. <em><strong>Pick: Hangman Adam Page </strong></em></p>
<p id="DzpXRo"><a href="https://twitter.com/AbstractPo3tic"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong></a>: Ladies and gentlemen, we are finally here. After months and months, one of the most layered stories in professional wrestling finally reaches a conclusion. I say <em>a</em> conclusion because this probably isn’t the end of the story. This is but one of many ends. We’ll probably get enough endings to this thing to make Peter Jackson jealous. But it was expertly told to this point, culminating in someone actually signing a contract in blood on the latest episode of <em>Dynamite</em>. So who wins? Well, I have a quote from <em>The Hateful Eight</em> I’ll share with the group: “When the Hangman catches you, you hang.” <strong>Pick</strong><em><strong>: Hangman Adam Page</strong></em></p>
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<h4 id="hPc4qd">CM Punk vs. Eddie Kingston</h4>
<p id="lMLgiX"><strong>Geno Mrosko:</strong> Good promo, better match? Probably not, and maybe it goes in the other direction harder than anyone wants to admit, but it should be a fight. <em><strong>Pick: CM Punk</strong></em></p>
<p id="SDU1hc"><strong>Sean Rueter:</strong> Another chapter in the Old Man Punk story he’s been telling since arriving in AEW, and I’m on board with that. Mostly I’m just over the moon that we get to see this on this big a stage. <em><strong>Pick: CM Punk </strong></em></p>
<p id="ahlIjH"><strong>Kyle Decker:</strong> This is probably Punk’s hottest feud since joining AEW, despite enjoying his introductory Darby program. I expect Punk to lose eventually. The story seems to be that he’s winning, but it’s a struggle. That struggle will likely catch up to him until he eventually turns heel - his truest form. But I don’t think that loss will be against Eddie, who is great at making himself feel like a big deal before taking the PPV loss. <em><strong>Pick: CM Punk</strong></em></p>
<p id="TDNvBn"><strong>Rev. Claire Elizabeth:</strong> I love CM Punk and his return has filled my heart with the purest joy pro wrestling can offer, but Eddie Kingston <em>is</em> professional wrestling. My heart tells me I cannot choose between these men. But I must, and I will never ever bet against Eddie Kingston when he’s determined to prove people wrong. On Saturday night we’re getting the Eddie Kingston who won the Chikara Grand Championship against all odds with a busted leg and held onto it for over nine hundred days. Let’s rock and roll. <em><strong>Pick: Eddie Kingston</strong></em></p>
<p id="zruFf1"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: Kingston always loses the big pay-per-view match, right? <em><strong>Pick: CM Punk</strong></em></p>
<p id="Wt9YrJ"><strong>Manolo H. Pizzazz</strong>: Kingston isn’t even trying to win. He said that himself. <em><strong>Pick: CM Punk</strong></em></p>
<p id="vK2Ldz"><strong>Stella Cheeks: </strong>Ok, but did Eddie tell a single lie???? I’m going with my heart on this one. <em><strong>Pick: Eddie Kingston</strong></em></p>
<p id="JxpxlE"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: My heart says Eddie Kingston because that man is 1998 personified and I adore him for that. But my head says CM Punk. My only wish is that someone prays to their god—maybe Miro’s—and works a miracle to extend this thing beyond <em>Full Gear</em>. Punk and Eddie are masters and if they did all of this in about a week, imagine what they’d do with three or more. Eddie won’t make it easy on Punk and the Best in the World will continue to eek out Ws. But look for Kingston to be defiant in defeat somehow someway. <strong>Pick</strong><em><strong>: CM Punk </strong></em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="pSUsHV">
<h4 id="WHxIob">Lucha Bros (c) vs. FTR for the AEW Tag Team championship</h4>
<p id="CjmaVD"><strong>Geno Mrosko:</strong> They already won the AAA titles. Make it a double dose. <em><strong>Pick: FTR</strong></em></p>
<p id="vapgHw"><strong>Sean Rueter:</strong> There are a lot of moving parts here, with Dax & Cash being aligned with two different heel factions, and I don’t entirely trust Fenix & Penta’s Death Triangle partner (more on that later). But even with the deck stacked against the good guys, it still feels too early to make a change. <em><strong>Pick: Lucha Bros</strong></em></p>
<p id="lT74bK"><strong>Kyle Decker:</strong> FTR won the Triple A titles so they have a win in this program. I don’t expect them to pick up two. <em><strong>Pick: Lucha Bros</strong></em></p>
<p id="XbYnf4"><strong>Rev. Claire Elizabeth: </strong>Maybe it’s just Eddie Kingston’s beautiful article from the other day but I got those wild Memphis brawls on my mind lately, and why not at Full Gear? They fight all around the arena, things get wild, and the match ends up thrown out? Lucha Brothers won the titles in a steel cage and I don’t really expect them to lose them in a vanilla tag title match so soon after, which leaves me in a conundrum, but I don’t want to go big and actually pick a draw or a no-contest, and FTR have more allies who are free and likely to set off a DQ, so a hedged bet here... <em><strong>Pick: Lucha Brothers</strong></em></p>
<p id="G96ASp"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: This is like the Omega/Christian angle from the last PPV, where they try to add interest to an AEW title match by having the challengers (FTR) first beat the champs (Lucha Bros) for a belt from another promotion. And like Omega/Christian, the challengers will then fail when going for the AEW gold. <em><strong>Pick: Lucha Bros</strong></em></p>
<p id="k6dIDU"><strong>Manolo H. Pizzazz</strong>: Super Ranas can shove it. FTR too. <em><strong>Pick: Lucha Bros</strong></em></p>
<p id="4J3gVB"><strong>Stella Cheeks: </strong>Newly minted comedy wrestlers FTR will not be winning this Saturday. <em><strong>Pick: Lucha Bros</strong></em></p>
<p id="sLm6Q9"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: There’s no way on this earth or the 51 other earths that the Lucha Bros. go down during their first big title defense. They need to rock with these belts for a while. <em><strong>Pick: Lucha Bros</strong></em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="houTfq">
<h4 id="giKlZP">Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (c) vs. Tay Conti for the AEW Women’s championship</h4>
<p id="E149Ff"><strong>Geno Mrosko:</strong> The AEW women’s division remains a strange place where it’s hard to tell who is ever going to get over enough to be a top of the line star, mostly because they don’t have as many opportunities to do it. To that end, Baker reigns supreme. <em><strong>Pick: Britt Baker</strong></em></p>
<p id="q0Csco"><strong>Sean Rueter:</strong> Not picking against the dentist until her opponent’s name rhymes with wonder mimosa. <em><strong>Pick: Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.</strong></em></p>
<p id="4kajMB"><strong>Kyle Decker:</strong> Tay Conti feels like a one-off program for Baker. Women like Thunder Rosa, Ruby Soho, or Hikaru Shida are the caliber of opponent I see eventually defeating D.M.D. for the gold. <em><strong>Pick: Britt Baker</strong></em></p>
<p id="53kXb7"><strong>Rev. Claire Elizabeth:</strong> Tay is great, but she ain’t AEW Women’s World Championship great, not yet. <em><strong>Pick: Dr. Britt Baker, DMD</strong></em></p>
<p id="Qq2jEz"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: Tay Conti is a clear placeholder here rather than someone who is a serious threat to the champ. <em><strong>Pick: Britt Baker</strong></em></p>
<p id="Ead5TQ"><strong>Manolo H. Pizzazz</strong>: Numbers game. Baker has two helpers, while Conti only has one Anna Jay. <em><strong>Pick: Dr. Britt Baker DMD</strong></em></p>
<p id="7dP7oa"><strong>Stella Cheeks: </strong>No shade to Tay Conti, but when Britt Baker drops the title it will be to someone more important. <em><strong>Pick: Britt Baker </strong></em></p>
<p id="dnebNp"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: It’s still Britt’s time to shine until a serious dental emergency takes her away from the ring. Since I don’t see that happening this week, we’re going with the good doctor. Tay Conti is dope, but she’s not the one to dethrone the champ. That said, I don’t expect the win to be easy nor will she pick it up without chicanery. <strong>Pick</strong><em><strong>: Dr. Britt Baker, DMD</strong></em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="kMvOLh">
<h4 id="MC6eqA">Miro vs. Bryan Danielson in the finals of the World Title Eliminator Tournament</h4>
<p id="01Sqwh"><strong>Geno Mrosko:</strong> I would rather see Miro win here but my belief is that he loses and, credit to AEW, they’ve done a wonderful job of creating intrigue in what will happen after before it even happens. <em><strong>Pick: Bryan Danielson</strong></em></p>
<p id="J2M9aZ"><strong>Sean Rueter:</strong> Either man works, but I want to see The Redeemer get more angry with and desperate to prove himself to his God. And being the first man in AEW to beat The American Dragon (who’s essentially an amoral badass, giving a program with Page a nice spaghetti western feel) would be a hell of a way to cement Hangman as the top guy. <em><strong>Pick: Bryan Danielson</strong></em></p>
<p id="AiMeGh"><strong>Kyle Decker:</strong> To make this prediction, I need to kind of guess at their original plans. Who would have won in a Moxley vs. Danielson match up? I think Bryan. If he was the plan, I don’t think adding Miro to the mix, who’s still working out issues with his God, is going to change that. <em><strong>Pick: Bryan Danielson</strong></em></p>
<p id="sTUJwH"><strong>Rev. Claire Elizabeth:</strong> Sorry, Miro, but your God is in another castle, and a win over the American Dragon feels like an absolutely perfect way to cement Hangman Page as a fighting champion in one title defense. <em><strong>Pick: “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson</strong></em></p>
<p id="60riA4"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: This is the match that gives me pause about the outcome of the Omega/Page main event, because the Danielson vs. Omega rematch will need to happen at some point. Regardless, the American Dragon is the best wrestler in the USA right now and he should not be losing this match. <em><strong>Pick: Bryan Danielson</strong></em></p>
<p id="SjpLV7"><strong>Manolo H. Pizzazz</strong>: Miro’s weak neck is the bullseye. A man as skilled as Danielson has an endless amount of ways to take advantage of Miro’s vulnerability. <em><strong>Pick: Bryan Danielson</strong></em></p>
<p id="Ysaimn"><strong>Stella Cheeks: </strong>I’m not religious scholar but I’m pretty sure when God is pissed at you, you don’t win wrestling matches. <em><strong>Pick: Bryan Danielson </strong></em></p>
<p id="FSVZmv"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: I really, really, really want to pick Miro. But unfortunately, his calls to his Savior will go unanswered and he, once again, won’t get to do dirty things with Lana. Bryan and Page has more interesting angles than Page and Miro. One day, Miro, but not today. Repent for your sins. <strong>Pick</strong><em><strong>: Bryan Danielson</strong></em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="HljOuW">
<h4 id="oUQTfc">MJF vs. Darby Allin</h4>
<p id="kRVQHc"><strong>Geno Mrosko:</strong> Ah, the great balancing act between knocking the babyface down too much and not giving the heel his comeuppance enough. <em><strong>Pick: MJF</strong></em></p>
<p id="uhfQWd"><strong>Sean Rueter:</strong> While I’m fully aware this means I’ve been worked, I really, legitimately want Darby & Sting to make Max shut the f up. <em><strong>Pick: Darby Allin </strong></em></p>
<p id="nyxb7C"><strong>Kyle Decker:</strong> I think Darby Allin should win this. MJF wins a lot. And rightfully so. He’s a heel. But he could afford a loss here and there. Darby winning the battle of two pillars would mean more to him than MJF me thinks. That said, MJF wins more often than not and I think that’s going to be the same here. <em><strong>Pick: MJF</strong></em></p>
<p id="qfbrDK"><strong>Rev. Claire Elizabeth:</strong> My wife is routinely delighted by MJF’s act more than anything else on Dynamite, and honestly I just want her to be happy, so I asked her if she’d rather see him gloat about winning or throw a tantrum about losing. She said “yes” so I’m picking him to win because she thinks he’s cute, on top of the gimmick. <em><strong>Pick: Maxwell Jacob Friedman</strong></em></p>
<p id="FNE8Wr"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: MJF can keep blaming his losses on Wardlow until they finally split up, which I think will be happening soon. <em><strong>Pick: Darby Allin</strong></em></p>
<p id="TLJBCL"><strong>Manolo H. Pizzazz</strong>: Toughest call on the card. Both need a big win. I’m going with MJF for it to lead to him being the first one to beat Sting in AEW. <em><strong>Pick: MJF</strong></em></p>
<p id="WxQ6j2"><strong>Stella Cheeks: </strong>MJF is nothing if not a planner. He has at least three back up plans to ensure that he goes over. <em><strong>Pick: Maxwell Jacob Friedman</strong></em></p>
<p id="950cQQ"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: It would be weird if the bad guy didn’t get beat up, right? I mean, MJF is the epitome of a heel who needs his teeth knocked entirely down his throat. <strong>Pick</strong><em><strong>: Darby Allin</strong></em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="YkDTSu">
<h4 id="iMKphj">Cody Rhodes & PAC vs. Malakai Black & Andrade El Ídolo</h4>
<p id="fjfI5F"><strong>Geno Mrosko:</strong> Cody & PAC definitely aren’t going to get along here. <em><strong>Pick: Malakai Black & Andrade El Ídolo</strong></em></p>
<p id="cQ4R3B"><strong>Sean Rueter:</strong> Can’t shake the feeling that we’re getting an unspoken “WWE wasted our talent” stable, which could mean a PAC turn here. Those three former NXT champions (plus former NXT Tag champs FTR) against the guy who thinks he’s the babyface savior of wrestling, but is actually just another corporate heel? That’s the kind of meta I can get down with. <em><strong>Pick: Malakai Black & Andrade El Ídolo</strong></em></p>
<p id="Ay98oq"><strong>Kyle Decker:</strong> Cody and PAC don’t have any real allegiance outside “the enemy of my enemy” while Black and Andrade are more aligned. Even if it’s not a betrayal like Sean predicts, I don’t see them clicking enough to get the job done. <em><strong>Pick: Malakai Black & Andrade El Ídolo</strong></em></p>
<p id="1BCNZJ"><strong>Rev. Claire Elizabeth:</strong> I’ll be honest, I’m just kind of counting down the hours until Brody King shows up to fill out the House of Black, given the Ring of Honor situation and everything. I don’t know how that fits in with the weird little metastable that Sean describes and I don’t really know how relevant it’ll be to this match, but it’s on my mind. Anyhoozle, Cody got his big pyrrhic singles win and Malakai’s in his mind, so the heels should probably win here. <em><strong>Pick: Andrade el Idolo & Malakai Black</strong></em></p>
<p id="KVonnY"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: Andrade already pinned Cody, so now it’s time for Cody to pin Andrade. <em><strong>Pick: Cody Rhodes & PAC</strong></em></p>
<p id="pbdfiX"><strong>Manolo H. Pizzazz</strong>: There’s no future for Cody and PAC as a tag team. Black and Andrade could make some noise as a duo to kill time waiting for the world title picture to open up. <em><strong>Pick: Malakai Black & Andrade</strong></em></p>
<p id="SnAEdY"><strong>Stella Cheeks: </strong>I’m legally not allowed to talk about Cody Rhodes favorably. As much as it pains me to throw PAC in with Cody, the laws the law. <em><strong>Pick: </strong></em><em><strong>Andrade el Idolo & Malakai Black</strong></em></p>
<p id="Pt6AOV"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: One of these teams needs this W more than the other. And AEW normally does the right thing in these situations. <strong>Pick</strong><em><strong>: Malakai Black & Andrade el Idolo</strong></em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="20lGhF">
<h4 id="ZsoxEd">Inner Circle vs. Men of the Year & American Top Team</h4>
<p id="9aTTqn"><strong>Geno Mrosko:</strong> Dan Lambert is an absolute gem. <em><strong>Pick: Men of the Year & American Top Team</strong></em></p>
<p id="bhvF4d"><strong>Sean Rueter:</strong> Since leaving the dark side, Jericho’s posse doesn’t seem to win unless their backs are against the wall. Guessing we shine up Men of the Year here, and give Jericho & company a win later with their latest loser leaves town/Inner Circle must disband stip. <em><strong>Pick: Men of the Year & American Top Team</strong></em></p>
<p id="BBdWBZ"><strong>Kyle Decker:</strong> There’s part of me who thinks the Top Team should win because Scorpio Sky & Ethan Page should win more. They’re a tandem that gets built up to lose the big one and I think there’s a little more to them than that. That said, with Dan Lambert in there to take the fall, I think Jericho and his boys win this. <em><strong>Pick: Inner Circle</strong></em></p>
<p id="vEaXWJ"><strong>Rev. Claire Elizabeth:</strong> I’m with Sean here, Lambert is a red herring and we’ve already seen that his boys are more than happy to circle the wagons and get him a little shine. He got his big spots in on Dynamite so I expect he’ll hang back here and the MMA boys will mop things up in the ring. <em><strong>Pick: American Top Team & Men of the Year</strong></em></p>
<p id="4SKq73"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: American Top Team needs Jorge Masvidal to win, but I don’t think he’ll be in the building for this one. <em><strong>Pick: Inner Circle</strong></em></p>
<p id="LB39Up"><strong>Manolo H. Pizzazz</strong>: Street fighting is an art. Inner Circle has the experience edge in that form of combat. <em><strong>Pick: Inner Circle</strong></em></p>
<p id="wNAAt3"><strong>Stella Cheeks: </strong>The Inner Circle are established on AEW. American Top Team, despite all the screen time they get, haven’t done squat in AEW. They need the win. <em><strong>Pick: </strong></em><em><strong>American Top Team & Men of the Year</strong></em></p>
<p id="tklH2l"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: I’m going with the Inner Circle. Men of the Year got the rub from being in the story and already have a couple wins over members of the Inner Circle (jerks). Dan Lambert can’t get a W here. Not after “powerbombing” Jericho “through a table.” <strong>Pick</strong><em><strong>: Inner Circle</strong></em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="jT6R9q">
<h4 id="j0Qgvq">SuperKliq vs. Christian Cage & Jurassic Express</h4>
<p id="Uf8hLA"><strong>Geno Mrosko:</strong> There’s going to be some outside interference that helps the bad guys be just that. <em><strong>Pick: SuperKliq</strong></em></p>
<p id="CP2Hz2"><strong>Sean Rueter:</strong> The future of The Elite, and its sub-groups, looks like it will involve a lot of internal tension. That doesn’t stem from wins. Plus, I want to get back the angle where Jungle Boy was bristling at Christian getting credit for JE’s success. <em><strong>Pick: Christian Cage & Jurassic Express</strong></em></p>
<p id="ykYkv4"><strong>Kyle Decker:</strong> This is a good spot for Jungle Boy to pick up a pinfall victory on Adam Cole to further that program. <em><strong>Pick: Christian & the Jurassic Express</strong></em></p>
<p id="i1es9y"><strong>Rev. Claire Elizabeth:</strong> This is falls count anywhere and I fully expect Bobby Fish to follow up on this week by cementing his alliance with Adam Cole, snatching victory from the jaws of a Snare Trap. <em><strong>Pick: Adam Cole & the Young Bucks</strong></em></p>
<p id="uuI2kn"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: The SuperKliq is potentially a main event level act in the near future, whereas Jurassic Express and Christian are not. <em><strong>Pick: SuperKliq</strong></em></p>
<p id="mHXIVj"><strong>Manolo H. Pizzazz</strong>: It’s time for Jungle Boy to have a breakout win on his résumé. Submitting Adam Cole in the Snare Trap would do the trick. Since it is trios, Cole could easily recover his singles aura. <em><strong>Pick: Christian Cage & Jurassic Express</strong></em></p>
<p id="cXbdlH"><strong>Stella Cheeks: </strong>Taking into account that Kenny’s definitely going to lose, I think it’s safe to say the SuperKliq win this bout. <em><strong>Pick: SuperKliq</strong></em></p>
<p id="4Eo56K"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: Christian and JP all the way. <strong>Pick</strong><em><strong>: Christian & Jurassic Express</strong></em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="KRACAJ">
<h4 id="50ymzU">Thunder Rosa & Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose & Jamie Hayter</h4>
<p id="Rvm5wE"><strong>Geno Mrosko:</strong> Pre-show is for the babyfaces. <em><strong>Pick: Thunder Rosa & Hikaru Shida</strong></em></p>
<p id="vdnOQ1"><strong>Sean Rueter:</strong> Normally I’d go with babyfaces on the pre-show, but at least one and quite possibly both of those wrestlers are advancing in the TBS Tournament matches this is previewing, so let’s give the heels some heat. <em><strong>Pick: Nyla Rose & Jamie Hayter</strong></em></p>
<p id="5rqyM4"><strong>Kyle Decker:</strong> Let’s give one to the good gals on The Buy-In. With Hayter playing henchwoman, she can take a pin here. <em><strong>Pick: Thunder Rosa & Hikaru Shida</strong></em></p>
<p id="BMzp6B"><strong>Rev. Claire Elizabeth:</strong> Low-stakes pre-show match, I gotta pick my girl, let’s go! <em><strong>Pick: Jamie Hayter & Nyla Rose</strong></em></p>
<p id="AT1F51"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: Rosa and Shida are arguably the two best women on the AEW roster. <em><strong>Pick: Thunder Rosa & Hikaru Shida</strong></em></p>
<p id="dsbrYm"><strong>Manolo H. Pizzazz</strong>: Kick the show off on a positive note with a rocking babyface win. <em><strong>Pick: Thunder Rosa & Hikaru Shida</strong></em></p>
<p id="XzrAcO"><strong>Stella Cheeks: </strong>I think Jamie Hayter gets the pin here. She’s going to turn on Britt sooner or later and to do that she needs to establish herself as a viable threat. <em><strong>Pick: Jamie Hayter & Nyla Rose </strong></em></p>
<p id="aMKQe6"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: Two of these women are probably going very far in the TBS Championship tournament. The other two, sadly, are not. Jamie Hayter is my girl, but I’m going with Thunder and Shida, setting up their eventual clash in the tourney. <strong>Pick</strong><em><strong>: Thunder Rosa & Hikaru Shida</strong></em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="irP7K0">
<p id="CjtVtz">That's who we've got. Who are you taking, Cagesiders?</p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/13/22774458/aew-full-gear-2021-predictionsSean RueterKyle DeckerClaire ElizabethCain A. KnightManolo Has PizzazzStellaNYDMarcus BenjaminGeno Mrosko2021-11-13T10:00:00-05:002021-11-13T10:00:00-05:00The World Title Eliminator spotlights a huge benefit of AEW
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/697-_5CVrW-8YU0KcwZZvtTFzow=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70137532/7089869_11132110054245.5.jpeg" />
<figcaption>All Elite Wrestling</figcaption>
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<h3 id="dSoY7J">Miro vs. Bryan Danielson</h3>
<h4 id="rmJGvL">World Title Eliminator Finals</h4>
<p id="hc2Wfv">One of the appeals of AEW for fans and wrestlers alike is the chance for wrestlers to flourish outside a WWE system that may not have given them the opportunity to maximize their talents. There’s many reasons competition in the wrestling business is good, and this is a big one. </p>
<p id="0ynuYm">The World Title Eliminator Finals tonight at <em>Full Gear</em> is an example of this at its best. It was in their original plans, and it is with their current plans.</p>
<p id="pHsaa1">Initially, the finals were likely set to be Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley. Mox was slated to face Orange Cassidy in the semi-finals but ended up taking a <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/2/22760780/jon-moxley-entering-inpatient-alcohol-treatment-program-aew">leave of absence</a> to enter an inpatient alcohol treatment center. Given Cassidy did not win his match against Jon’s replacement Miro, it’s safe to assume he wasn’t the initial plan for the finals.</p>
<p id="ia04gP">Moxley, Danielson, and Miro are all prime examples of the success talent can have when the WWE creative shackles are loosened. </p>
<p id="Qvu1Wb">Now to be clear, Bryan had a great run in WWE. He was never going to be <em>the</em> guy, but after <em>WrestleMania 30, </em>he was usually positioned as one of the guys. His matches were still fantastic, even with in the WWE system. Hell, he likely even had more creative control than others and even spent a bit of time on their creative team. </p>
<p id="MH4Ce7">Yet even with that, he’s getting to do something that he wasn’t able to in WWE. He revived the American Dragon and focused on being the best in-ring wrestler in the world. And while he was always superb in ring in WWE, the focus was never going to be on being the best professional wrestler. They don’t even use that term. </p>
<p id="on5d4l">Working different styles is something that Danielson can now do that he’s not in a company that has one specific one. It makes him feel dangerous in a way that he couldn’t prior.</p>
<p id="OoK8l2">But he was never going to be able to unleash the American Dragon like he has since joining AEW.</p>
<p id="9YP7hf">Moxley had a decent WWE run, but unlike Danielson, it was harder for him to click. Jon has a persona that was hard for WWE to grasp, often shoehorning him in as goofy and silly. At least in his eyes, he had a vision that they were never going to let him realize. So he left and went to AEW where he could realize it. </p>
<p id="Fc9ubh">Mox has been able to demonstrate his unique brand of professional wrestling. He’s cut loose on promos and has been able to expand his in-ring style. Since, he’s become one of AEW’s top guys.</p>
<p id="qZWgq3">Now that Moxley has taken time to get right, Miro has stepped in. And he’s yet another man who’s flourished after arriving in AEW. While in WWE, he was a fan favorite and proved he had charisma, whether it be as a ruthless killer or in comedy bits, and was more than capable in the ring. But he was never going to climb higher than he did. WWE didn’t have him ear marked to be their guy, and there was nothing he would be able to do that changed that.</p>
<p id="UjHmlU">His AEW run started slow when he was the gamer dude and best man to Kip Sabian. But he eventually moved on from that to become God’s Favorite Wrestler, ruthless in ring and charismatic out of the ring. Without any arbitrary ceiling, he’s flourished as a guy who could one day hold the top title in the promotion. </p>
<p id="5uBYOI">Miro and Bryan Danielson have met at least once before when we knew them better as Rusev and Daniel Bryan. It was a Money in the Bank qualifying <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALRTGKPs_iM">match</a> that I’m sure was good, but I don’t have any memory of. But this feels big. This is both men as their best selves fighting for the chance at the company’s top prize. This may not be for the first time, but it sure feels like it.</p>
<p id="8IZtAt">Listen, not everyone leaving WWE for AEW is going to be Danielson, Moxley, and Miro. There are your guys like Shawn Spears, who isn’t going to be a top guy but is still utilized well as a member of the heel faction The Pinnacle. But this World Title Eliminator Finals proves that if a wrestler’s best self wasn’t realized at the competition, at AEW, they have another chance. </p>
<p id="dtKzov">It’s just another reason why it’s great for wrestlers to have options. </p>
<p id="EPhbGI"><em>The Finals of the World Title Eliminator Tournament take place tonight at Full Gear, available on pay-per-view, FITE TV, and Bleacher Report Live. And keep it here at </em><a href="http://CagesideSeats.com"><em>CagesideSeats.com</em></a><em> for all you Full Gear results.</em></p>
<div id="5zfyhg"><div data-anthem-component="poll:10862438"></div></div>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/13/22775557/aew-full-gear-miro-bryan-danielson-world-title-eliminator-final-full-match-previewKyle Decker2021-11-12T19:00:00-05:002021-11-12T19:00:00-05:00The last match added to Full Gear could have the biggest impact on its future
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<figcaption>Boo this man? | <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.instagram.com/stories/cmpunk/2705009916544591194/?hl=en" target="_blank">CM Punk’s Instagram</a></figcaption>
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<h4 id="IgvULD">Tag team match</h4>
<p id="6hlmnY">This Nov. 13 bout was <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/2021/11/12/22777538/rumor-roundup-wwe-releases-unvacinated-wrestler-pay-takeover-name-cody-rhodes-full-gear-bryan-book">allegedly</a> originally a four way, and there’s still no telling who will do violence to who before it’s over.</p>
<p id="sszPZs"><strong>The Road to </strong><em><strong>Full Gear</strong></em></p>
<p id="YYE5Px">It may or may not end up being relevant, but it’s worth remembering that at the first <em>Full Gear</em> back in 2019, MJF screwed Cody Rhodes out of not only beating Chris Jericho to win the AEW World title, but of ever again challenging for that belt.</p>
<p id="igIG9R">We mention that because much of Rhodes’ journey to this year’s <em>Full Gear</em> has caused crowds to <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/10/27/22749856/cody-rhodes-booed-vows-no-heel-turn-andrade-malakai-black-pac-feud">turn on Cody</a> even as he <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/10/6/22713195/cody-rhodes-heel-turn-aew-world-championship">promises</a> never to turn on us. The more fans cheered as <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/9/22/22688769/malakai-black-cody-rhodes-aew-grand-slam-dynamite-gif-video-new-york-brandi">Malakai Black kicked the American Nightmare’s ass</a>, or as <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/9/29/22701391/arn-anderson-great-promo-on-cody-rhodes-video-aew-dynamite">Arn Anderson called him a p*ssy</a>, the more we wondered if the Grandson of a Plumber wouldn’t become a heel who thinks he’s a face. You know, the kind of character that would go back on a vow to never challenge for the World title for “the good of the business.”</p>
<p id="uZc9qW">Aside from the reality-influenced fantasy booking, the build to this match has seen Rhodes lose frequently. Since August, he has a 1 - 3 singles record, with two of those losses inflicted by Black, and one by Andrade El Ídolo.</p>
<p id="5nqiEv">Speaking of El Ídolo, he’ll be making his AEW PPV debut in Minneapolis this weekend, and has only worked five television matches for the company. Three of those have involved PAC, as Andrade’s been fixated on convincing Lucha Bros to leave their Death Triangle alliance with The Bastard. Having been thwarted by Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero M to date, he’s instead struck a deal with FTR... around the same time he teamed up with Black.</p>
<p id="mLAfKf">The FTR/Lucha Bros Tag title feud was actually the backdrop to Tony Khan finally deciding to book this tag bout. Andrade & Black joined Cash Wheeler in attacking PAC after he submitted Dax Harwood, Rhodes joined the fray with Penta & Fenix, and voila!</p>
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<p id="bSCp1n"><strong>What to watch for</strong></p>
<p id="vXlzzD">Feels like I’m typing this for each of the <em>Full Gear</em> match previews I’m writing, but first and foremost, a hell of a match. PAC and Andrade are superb by any metric, Black is as innovative a striker as you’ll find, and Cody is one hell of a storyteller.</p>
<p id="eFeQQQ">The storytelling ramifications should linger longer than however many stars this one gets, though. Everyone involved should be in the main event mix going forward. Of the four, given the way everyone has an opinion about him one way or another, Cody feels like he’s on the cusp of being a very big deal. The question is just how. While you think about that, answer this one for us, too.</p>
<div id="LAFfyW"><div data-anthem-component="poll:10859076"></div></div>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/12/22776219/aew-full-gear-2021-cody-rhodes-pac-andrade-malakai-black-full-match-previewSean Rueter2021-11-12T17:00:00-05:002021-11-12T17:00:00-05:00AEW Minneapolis Street Fight deserves a Prince tribute
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<figcaption>All Elite Wrestling</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="tZCdRR">Time to settle the debate once and for all whether professional wrestlers or MMA athletes are the superior fighters. Kind of. Sort of. Okay, not really.</p>
<p id="qQamjM">AEW is teetering along that line in the story of the Inner Circle versus martial artists Men of the Year and MMA competitors American Top Team. It began with Dan Lambert voicing his grievances of seeing jabrones cosplaying as tough guys in an AEW ring. He took matters into his own hands by bringing real fighters with him and daring anybody to step up. Chris Jericho and the Inner Circle answered the call. The only way to settle such a dispute is in a street fight at the <em>Full Gear</em> PPV on November 13.</p>
<p id="HG7jpL">After Sammy Guevara defeated Ethan Page to retain the TNT Championship, the Inner Circle earned the right to call out which members of American Top Team would be their opponents. Jake Hager wanted a piece of former UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos. Santana wanted to test the pitbull nature of former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski. Jericho added the sizzle to the steak by choosing Dan Lambert.</p>
<p id="C21iOC">On the go-home episode of <em>Dynamite</em>, the bad guys stood tall after an ambush to declare their goal of having Lambert pin Jericho at <em>Full Gear</em>. Lambert added insult to injury by slapping on the Boston crab to ‘submit’ Jericho.</p>
<div id="hEVkjJ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Days before their Minneapolis Street Fight <a href="https://twitter.com/ScorpioSky?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScorpioSky</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialEGO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficialEGO</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/junior_cigano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@junior_cigano</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AndreiArlovski?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AndreiArlovski</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/AmericanTopTeam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmericanTopTeam</a> left the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InnerCircle?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InnerCircle</a> bruised and beaten on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWDynamite?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWDynamite</a> & made it clear their goal is for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DanLambert?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DanLambert</a> to pin <a href="https://twitter.com/IAmJericho?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IAmJericho</a> THIS SATURDAY at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWFullGear?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWFullGear</a>! <a href="https://t.co/Ubh81MCvb3">pic.twitter.com/Ubh81MCvb3</a></p>— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a href="https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1459101161214996484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a>
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<p id="XlTXul"><strong>X-factors:</strong> The aura of Jorge Masvidal has loomed large throughout this feud by knocking out Jericho with a running knee strike. Not once.</p>
<div id="aByauv">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmericanTopTeam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmericanTopTeam</a> out in full force in defense of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DanLambert?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DanLambert</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/GamebredFighter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamebredFighter</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/junior_cigano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@junior_cigano</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/paigevanzant?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@paigevanzant</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/austinv170mma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@austinv170mma</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AndreiArlovski?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AndreiArlovski</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DaltonRosta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DaltonRosta</a>, & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MenOfTheYear?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MenOfTheYear</a> dismantle <a href="https://twitter.com/IAmJericho?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IAmJericho</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/RealJakeHager?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealJakeHager</a> - Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWRampage?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWRampage</a>: Grand Slam NOW on <a href="https://twitter.com/tntdrama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntdrama</a>! <a href="https://t.co/pjAC1gUPAt">pic.twitter.com/pjAC1gUPAt</a></p>— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a href="https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1441599439055974402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2021</a>
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<p id="tHZDFe">But twice.</p>
<div id="uDlopC">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A distraction from <a href="https://twitter.com/paigevanzant?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@paigevanzant</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/GamebredFighter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamebredFighter</a> just knocked out <a href="https://twitter.com/IAmJericho?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IAmJericho</a> with a running knee strike - Tune in NOW for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWRampage?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWRampage</a> LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/tntdrama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntdrama</a> <a href="https://t.co/iFn83Lqr17">pic.twitter.com/iFn83Lqr17</a></p>— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a href="https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1449207856406872065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2021</a>
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<p id="lV0mu1">Masvidal has been away lately preparing for a UFC fight in December. That made it unlikely for him to appear at <em>Full Gear</em>. Masvidal <a href="https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/32600033/jorge-masvidal-injured-training-fight-leon-edwards-ufc-269-card">withdrew from that fight</a> this week due to an undisclosed injury. That really makes it doubtful for Masvidal to show up for the street fight. Even if he could do some sort of spot, the optics would look terrible for him due to pulling out of the UFC bout.</p>
<p id="9zOlnL">Who could replace any planned physicality from Masvidal? The answer is likely Paige VanZant. She’s turned the rudo meter up to 100 and deserves some sort of comeuppance.</p>
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</div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVHIAvqM8BL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant)</a></p>
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<p id="QRFjV8">One other x-factor could be any tributes in the street fight. Since the <em>Full Gear</em> show is in Minneapolis, the match is appropriately named a Minneapolis street fight. When I think of Minneapolis, the first thought is professional sports teams. A close second is Prince. I wouldn’t be surprised if AEW felt the same, since Le Champion is a musical artist and Tony Khan is hip to the hop. The issue would be I’m not sure how a tribute to Prince would fit. If they went the cinematic route, VanZant could be purified in the waters of Lake Minnetonka. If not, then maybe Jericho can wrestle in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7lexXAzrwc">butt out jeans</a>.</p>
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https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/11/12/22778253/aew-full-gear-2021-inner-circle-men-of-the-year-american-top-team-full-match-previewManolo Has Pizzazz