10 Best Wrestling PPVs Of 2019

5. AEW Full Gear

Dustin Rhodes Cody
AEW

Tarnished very slightly by a production hiccup - the noise of the Baltimore crowd was inferred more than it was heard - Full Gear was nonetheless a very strong and very memorable effort.

The Young Bucks put over Proud-N-Powerful in a return to 2018 NJPW storytelling long-form. Nick Jackson's selling here was of the elite level, and the match itself smashed the remit: Santana and Ortiz emerged from it as major players. Hangman Page and PAC perhaps wasn't the wisest choice to follow - it also went 20 minutes - but everything else about the match was deeply intelligent. A gripping, physical, totally believable sequel, it rewarded those who paid attention to the original, particularly in the superbly-constructed finishing sequence.

SCU Vs. Private Party Vs. Lucha Bros. was exhilarating if uneven. Joey Janela Vs. Shawn Spears was almost its exact opposite - solid and well-worked, if not too exciting - but the card recovered with Riho's successful defence of the Women's Championship. Sakura's rag doll bullying and that lightning-quick finishing sequence made for a perfect blend of emotive drama.

Cody Vs. Chris Jericho was the perfect Cody Vs. Chris Jericho match: a slow-burning, understated big-time babyface versus heel masterclass, the likes of which were thought lost to time, but was made timeless here.

Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega disturbed, thrilled, and gripped even those who loathed it by executing an unforgettable festival of scarcely-believable ultra-violence.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!