Every AEW PPV Ranked From Worst To Best

6. Full Gear 2020

AEW Full Gear 2021
AEW

A misjudged cinematic match aside, Full Gear was an inexplicable and premature return to a more normal atmosphere. It wasn't normal. 1,000 distanced spectators watched it. But it was so hot and thrilling that they felt like 10,000 strong at its phenomenal peak.

Kenny Omega Vs. Hangman Page I was a cracking, relentless tale of heartbreaking, acute strategic errors. John Silver Vs. Orange Cassidy was a charming banger that blended comedy and unexpected action brilliantly. Cody Vs. Darby Allin was a sumptuous technical affair that held up to the scrutiny of the most tedious limb work snobs without ever detracting from the urgency of the AEW standard. FTR Vs. the Young Bucks lived up to its lofty dream match billing with its incredible, intricate philosophical clash. They worked the stylistic battle with unreal narrative substance.

Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston's brutal I Quit match main event elevated the methodical into art with a pace that was far more emotionally absorbing than boring.

It wasn't perfect. Hikaru Shida Vs. Nyla Rose was a poor sequel. Elite Deletion brought down the sparse crowd. MJF Vs. Chris Jericho was a great TV story match that felt somewhat out of place in the semi-main slot.

But it felt like a real PPV where it had no right to.

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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!