10 Huge AEW Full Gear Predictions You Need To Know
Blood, sweat and gears.
What AEW have achieved with Dynamite in six weeks is remarkable.
F*ck the toxic response to the bullish optimism: AEW is approaching the perfection of the TV formula, flaws and all. The show races by in a vibrant, loud endorphin rush. Almost all of it is all-the-way over. The in-ring action is exhilarating at its best (Private Party Vs. Lucha Bros.), and full of heart even at its roughest (Riho Vs. Nyla Rose, Britt Baker Vs. Jamie Hayter). The exceptionally-structured, inspired angles have created a world in weeks, and the in-advance sporting framework creates an immersive sense of suspension of disbelief.
The balance isn't perfect, but the promise of that balance is, looking at last night's firecracker, and if that reads as hyperbolic, so be it: the best entertainment should inspire a passionate recency bias, otherwise, what's the point?
Most of this has served to build Full Gear, if not the full extent of it.
AEW seems more concerned about the big match, more so than a card of action, the likes of which even the worst or least popular companies can produce with so much global talent operating in such form. Cody Vs. Jericho is the clear hook and USP around which AEW has built the event, and it feels big. It's a real achievement on AEW's part: this is a big-time match between the most entertaining heel and the most over babyface in the game.
But who's going to win?
10. BUY-IN: Britt Baker Vs. Bea Priestley
In its own way, this match is as terrifying as Jon Moxley Vs. Kenny Omega's threat of glass lacerations and head drops from the most disturbing of heights.
Britt Baker is very green, something a receptive and polite audience reaction has masked. Many of Baker's outings are marred in the early going by rough moments of hesitation and miscommunication, and the schedule that works so well for the rest of the talent - they can go full pelt every time because they aren't out there every night - is prohibitive to her development.
Bea Priestley is the former STARDOM Champion. She has a real presence, all nasty body language, and when she reins it in, she can inflict an authentic-looking kicking. She has, however, worn the dreaded dangerous tag with a disturbing frequency. She landed Mayu Iwatani directly on her head just this week, after losing her footing on the top turnbuckle, and has twice injured her very opponent at Full Gear. She concussed her at Fight For The Fallen, and blackened her eye on Dynamite. This has informed a believable grudge, story, and terrific promo on Britt's part - but also a sense of real anxiety.
Bad things happen every time they interact, with the exception of All Out. Their fiery exchanges in the Casino Battle Royale were believably worked.
Baker is the project, but since it's evidently long-term, and looking at the Women's Title picture...
PREDICTION: Bea Priestley