10 Huge AEW Full Gear Predictions You Need To Know

9. Shawn Spears Vs. Joey Janela

Kenny Omega
AEW

This is interesting fare for the least-anticipated match on the card, which is a testament to AEW's approach to character-driven storytelling.

The feud, built on Dark, is a bit goofy - the best time to puncture somebody's tongue out with pliers, if at all, isn't on a free-to-air B show - but the dynamic rings true. Men of Tully Blanchard's ilk, to which Shawn Spears aspires, despise Joey Janela for his so-called 'garbage' wrestling mentality. Janela in turn despises that old guard and is on a quest to prove that he can do that which they revere: wrestle. It's a neat story, driven by style and philosophy, which is a nice novelty in an American wrestling promotion. It helps that Janela is totally unhinged, and can put over the aimless Spears as a vicious, technical proposition.

The question is whether Spears needs to rely on Janela to get over - not ideal, long-term - but expect him to pick up the win here.

AEW have invested in the act - literally, in Tully's case - and Janela's bond with the audience is such that a spirited/tainted loss will reinforce it.

PREDICTION: Shawn Spears

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!