10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Full Gear 2021
Kenny Omega Vs. Hangman Page perfects the very vision of AEW - and it's just barely MOTN...
The build to Full Gear 2021 was at once richer than virtually any pro wrestling company has managed ever and weirdly lacking by AEW standards.
The Hangman Page saga spanned well over two years of a brave, audacious and vital mental health arc. Page thought himself the heel, but he was the babyface. At Full Gear, he was ready to face the embodiment of success that fuelled his perceived failures. Eddie Kingston and CM Punk transcended the level of credibility in modern pro wrestling with their incredibly naturalistic working skill. MJF and Darby Allin performed the angle-driven Dynamite standard like two old masters of a form they've only played for two years.
Elsewhere, AEW's trademark dovetailing booking felt less immersive and more shoehorned across the World Tag Team Title match and the so-called 'Codyverse'. It's strange that FTR only attacked Cody to set-up something indirectly, no? Shouldn't they have saved that? He's been telling them to f*ck off since 2016. Dr. Britt Baker moaned about Tay Conti's arse, the Inner Circle got misogynistic in sadly white-hot segments and while purpose-serving, the SuperKliq/Jurassic Express stuff felt weirdly inessential.
As for the show itself...?
Note: your reviewer watched AEW Full Gear 2021 on Fite TV, replays of which are available internationally and on demand. The broadcast was flawless even in an area without the best broadband speeds.