On Saturday night, AEW mounted what was primed to be one of their best cards of the year at AEW Full Gear 2023 on pay-per-view emanating from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, California.

Within the show, there were multiple title changes, title defenses, a wonky main event storyline, and an instant classic Texas Death Match; that will be remembered for some time to come. Let’s recap what went down in the biggest matches of the night and who was victorious.

MJF, one half of the ROH tag team champions, teamed with Samoa Joe to go up against Colten and Austin Gunn. This match aired on Zero Hour before the main pay-per-view even started. After successfully defending the ROH tag team championship belts (Joe was ‘subbing’ for Adam Cole who was out with injury), the Gunns beat down MJF to soften him up for his AEW title defense against “Switchblade” Jay White. The result was an injury to Max’s knee, where he had to be carted off by stretcher and into an ambulance. Now afraid he will lose the belt if he can’t defend his title, MJF pleads with his bff Adam Cole to not let White win the belt.

Fast-forward to the main event, Cole on crutches and in no shape to go up against White, is saved at the last minute by MJF (in a “Stone Cold” Steve Austin-like moment) when he drives himself back to the arena in an ambulance. When Max gets out, he limps to the ring. Cole, is now at ringside and the match is on between White and MJF.  The match felt overbooked with too much interference, too many wrestling tropes, yet somehow with a bum knee and all, and with his Dynamite Diamond Ring, the champ prevailed over White. MJF will now become the longest reigning AEW champion in history surpassing 365 days come Monday.

Courtesy/AEW

No where to be found was the devil mask reveal. Many fans were hoping that this would be a part of the big ending to the show, but it was not meant to be.  Instead, best buds, MJF and Cole celebrated Max’s victory up the ramp.  This bout had a lot to live up to, because the match of the night and probably the year, belonged to Hangman Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland in their Texas Death Match.

The feud between Page and Strickland, and the storyline leading into the match, and through the match, paid off beautifully. While this kind of in-ring battle was not for the faint of heart, as it featured lots of blood, and more blood, if you are a fan of a ‘death match’ or even if you’re not, this one had it all: barbed wire, cinder blocks, staplers, tables, chairs, and more.

Courtesy/AEW

The lasting image will be the moment that Page is welcoming Strickland’s blood to drip down all over his face and down his mouth! As gruesome as it seems, it all made sense, because this was the the culmination of a story that had become very personal. Swerve was jealous of the opportunities Page has had in AEW, to the point of breaking into Page’s home and going near his child in  cradle and then showing a video of the heinous act. As retribution, Page has wanted revenge. This match was a nail-biter, and in the end, Page put over Strickland. It was “Swerve’s House” in LA, as Strickland won the match, which will elevate him to a world title shot.

Another star with momentum going into Full Gear was ‘Timeless” Toni Storm. This new alter-ego gimmick of Storm’s is absolutely brilliant and hysterical, all at the same time. Now, AEW Women’s Champ Hikuru Shida put her title on the line against Toni Storm. During the match, there was constant interference from Storm’s butler, Luther, and much cheating from the challenger. However, the end came when ‘Timeless’ stuffed some sort of metal tray in the back of her tights and delivered a running hip into the corner of the ring against Shida. As predicted, it was “Timeless” Toni Storm’s time. She pinned Shida for the championship. This marks Storm’s third title reign, but the first as her ‘Hollywood’ starlet persona. In the post-show media scrum, Storm left Tony Khan a letter to read about winning the belt and heading off on to an airplane. Very funny, and even Khan couldn’t stop laughing while trying to read it to the press in attendance.

Courtesy/AEW

Storm wasn’t the only new Women’s champ at Full Gear. ‘House of Black’s” Julia Hart took the TBS Women’s championship besting Skye Blue and Kris Statlander in a three-way match for the belt. Hart becomes the youngest women’s champion in company history.

During Full Gear, it was going to be revealed just who was Tony Khan’s latest major signing to the roster. Well, cue the music. It was none other than ‘The Aerial Assassin’ Will Ospreay, and the crowd went nuts. Ospreay explained he still has to finish his contract with NJPW, but it will be completed come February and then in the spring of 2024, Ospreay will be ‘All Elite’ and with it, get ready to see what many consider the best wrestler in the world weekly on television.

Courtesy/AEW

Other major AEW Full Gear moments: 

Orange Cassidy defeated Jon Moxley to retain the AEW International Championship. Yes, Moxley bled, of course. However, this win for Cassidy is a huge one as Moxley put him over, even though “Freshly Squeezed” is one of the best wrestlers in the entire company.

Sting getting his moment in the sun in front of his hometown crowd in Los Angeles and California.  This is said to be the last appearance in Southern California for the ‘Stinger’ before he officially retires next year at AEW Revolution. This occurred following Adam Copeland, Sting and Darby Allin’s opening card victory against Luchasaurus, Christian Cage and Nick Wayne.

Courtesy/AEW

The Young Bucks throwing a massive temper tantrum – destroying the ring and everything at ringside  – after losing to Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho (The Golden Jets). This sets up the ‘Bucks’ continued heel turn.

Ricky Starks and Big Bill retaining the AEW Tag Team Titles in a four-way team ladder match. However, it was the touching admission from Bill in the post-show media scrum where he recalled his battle with the bottle and how wrestling and AEW changed his life, for the good.

So, how would you grade AEW Full Gear 2023? What was your favorite match on the card? Your least favorite? Let us know in the comment section below.