8 Match Star Ratings For AEW Full Gear 2023
4. Kris Statlander Vs. Julia Hart Vs. Skye Blue - TBS Title Match
The three-way TBS Title match did eventually get going, but it verged on lame in the opening act.
Somewhat contrived three-way sequences saw Julia Hart and Skye Blue fall into positions in which they "creepily" stared at one another. This only underscored the corny, universe-breaking idea that mist somehow contains within it a property that can change one's personality. Mercifully, this Shawn Michaels Special of a booking device was abandoned deeper into the match.
It's funny. Watching Kris Statlander kip up to evade double team moves and destroy her opponents with breath-taking, high-angled suplexes woke up the crowd and made them forget about the bizarre implications of a story with wonky, off-putting character alignments. In an awesome bit of physical action, Statlander, determined to draw a reaction and treat the match with more reverence than the fans were prepared to do, threw herself backwards with ferocious snap when bumping for the Code Blue. She thoroughly earned that acute near-fall.
The last act bordered on excellent, developing a pulsating rhythm that over-delivered on the cold, frankly weird storyline.
Further destroying the waning notion of AEW as a sporting endeavour, Hart won the title without pinning the champion - and who hasn't defeated Skye Blue across the last 12 months?
This should at least set up a WrestleDream rematch at Stat's hometown show, Worlds End.
She and Hart deserve a raucous atmosphere for their efforts in recovering and improving in 2023, and the booking has led them to that point (without telling a credible or even coherent story).
Star Rating: ★★★¼