10 Huge AEW Full Gear Predictions You Need To Know

4. Chris Jericho Vs. Cody - AEW World Championship Match

Kenny Omega
Lee South/AEW

Expect something wonderfully, absurdly overbooked - something just below the rung of mess to get this over as the heated spectacle it needs to be, and the technical masterpiece it can't be.

It isn't going an hour. The judges exist to create the illusion of that. It's an attention to detail and an indirect storyline response to the conclusion of PAC Vs. Jon Moxley. It's the World Championship match, it's the biggest match in AEW's short history, and there must be a winner. It's also, potentially, a way to get heat on Jericho and draw in the Inner Circle; Jericho "accidentally" blasting an ageing, beloved judge is precisely the sort of smoke-and-mirrors psychology this dynamic needs.

However the match plays out, AEW has promoted it impeccably. It's so unpredictable. Jericho needs that belt to stay over as Le Champion, a character arc that breeds the excellent, angle-driven fare of the best Dynamite moments. Cody meanwhile is white-hot as a babyface. This match feels like the end of a long chase, but it isn't, and that's the genius twist on delivering something so big so early.

This is AEW's wins-and-losses-matter directive at its most potent.

The aura of Le Champion relies on his undefeated record and undisputed legend. The narrowest of losses informs Cody's aura and creates the demand for his eventual triumph, added stip and all.

PREDICTION: Chris Jericho

Via...

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!