All Elite Wrestling is taking over New Jersey this weekend with its Full Gear pay-per-view event! There might be more matches added onto this card, such as Konosuke Takeshita defending the International Championship against Ricochet, but until then, here is how this weekend’s show is shaping up as of now.

MJF vs. Roderick Strong

We are finally beginning to see the payoff for the Adam Cole and MJF “Better Than You Bay Bay” run last year. This was the best story in 2023 until World’s End when Adam Cole turned on MJF, but both Cole and MJF had significant injuries they’ve been healing from the majority of 2024. Tony Khan has chosen to continue this story, but flip the roles with MJF serving as his natural-born heel and Adam Cole as the babyface.

For this match, MJF needs a win over Roderick Strong. You have to build MJF up for the inevitable showdown at Adam Cole, which would be apropo to the feud to square off at World’s End.

WINNER: Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Hangman Page vs. Jay White

Jay White already has a 1-0 record over Hangman Page on pay-per-view events, which in wrestling, it always means the tables will turn and we will get a series evened up for the ultimate rubber match… but not so fast!

Hangman Page’s character has thrived in the role of going off the deep end, driven to insanity because of losing matches. What better way to maintain Hangman’s intensity from the Swerve Strickland feud than for Hangman Page to lose back-to-back PPVs to Jay White, forcing him to take an extreme approach to finally beat the Switchblade.

WINNER: Jay White

AEW World Tag Team Championships | Private Party (c) vs. Kings of the Black Throne vs. The Outrunners vs. The Acclaimed

Private Party, Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen, are homegrown talents who are getting their first run as champions and their first title defense on pay-per-view. How long will this title run last? Who knows… But this is going to be a showcase of how they step up as champions, The Outrunners who will look to be in Private Party’s shoes one day, The Acclaimed who have already thrived as champions, and veterans Malakai Black and Brody King added experience to a ring of young, hopeful tag teams.

I don’t foresee any title change this weekend. The Outrunners need to showcase they belong, The Acclaimed have already held gold as a homegrown tag team in their own right, and there are rumors Malakai Black could depart AEW. It makes perfect sense why Private Party retains.

WINNERS: Private Party

TNT Championship | Jack Perry (c) vs. Daniel Garcia

“The Scapegoat” Jack Perry has completely transformed his career from the “Jungle Boy” and a smaller stature Tarzan cosplay to an edgier, more aggressive character that suits him so much better. The CM Punk debacle backstage at All In Wembley 2023 has set Jack Perry up for a career upgrade, and he’s taking full advantage of it. But Daniel Garcia is also a homegrown talent who is waiting for the breakthrough, now that he’s a solos guy, separate from 2point0 and the Jericho Appreciation Society.

This is a 50/50 shot. I can see a scenario where AEW isn’t ready for Jack Perry to lose the TNT Championship, but I see Perry losing the championship this weekend. Allow Garcia to have a solid run with the TNT Championship while The Elite continue to crumble, as the Young Bucks lost their AEW World Tag Team Championships recently and haven’t been seen on television since.

WINNER (and new TNT Champion!): Daniel Garcia

TBS Championship | Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Kris Statlander

Kris Statlander is another homegrown talent showcased on AEW’s Full Gear pay-per-view, facing off against, arguably, AEW’s biggest free agent signing in 2024, Mercedes Mone (fka Sasha Banks in WWE). This is a great way to see how Statlander stacks up, but she’s been impressive in bouts recently against Willow Nightingale. I think this match could deliver and show people what Statlander can do in the ring.

With that said, I don’t see a scenario where Mercedes Mone drops the championship anytime soon. I could almost foresee a champion versus champion, winner-take-all, scenario between Mercedes Mone and the AEW Women’s World Champion somewhere down the line.

WINNER: Mercedes Mone

Swerve Strickland vs. Bobby Lashley

You’re seeing that right, Bobby Lashley is All Elite! Lashley has come to AEW to reunite the Hurt Syndicate (formerly known as the Hurt Business in WWE) with MVP and Shelton Benjamin. MVP tried recruiting Swerve Strickland away from Prince Nana, but when those plans didn’t go according to plan, MVP brought “The All Mighty” to AEW and we’re going to see a classic.

Lashley has a lot to prove in this match, that he can still perform at a high level after his WWE departure, but Swerve’s had the best year of his entire professional career with becoming the first-ever black AEW World Champion. As of now, the Hurt Syndicate only has 3 members when the WWE iteration had 4. Cedric Alexander is currently signed to WWE still, so I could see a fourth member getting involved and revealing themselves. Potentially Lio Rush or Ricochet? Or maybe they wait until the Street Profits leave WWE, if they ever do. Either way, it would be hard imagining Bobby Lashley losing this weekend in his AEW debut.

WINNER: Bobby Lashley

Kyle Fletcher vs. Will Ospreay

Anytime you see Will Ospreay on the card, you’re in for a treat and this will likely be “Match of the Night.” Then consider his opponent is someone he’s familiar with and has traveled the road with, his former Aussie Open and Don Callis Family ally, Kyle Fletcher. Ospreay is one of the most over babyfaces in sometime with AEW and it was only a matter of time before he split from any association with Don Callis, but Kyle Fletcher has embraced Don’s aggressive and “win by any means” nature.

It’s hard picturing Ospreay losing any match, but AEW could write a story that keeps Ospreay looking strong but in losing fashion. Ospreay, for months, refused to embrace Don Callis and his way of doing things, avoiding the Tiger Driver and the use of a screwdriver. So expect for Kyle Fletcher to embrace the screwdriver and win at all costs this weekend at Full Gear.

WINNER: Kyle Fletcher

AEW World Championship | Jon Moxley (c) vs. Orange Cassidy

In an event full of homegrown talent featured on the card (Kris Statlander, Private Party, Jack Perry, Daniel Garcia, MJF, etc.), Full Gear will end with the biggest opportunity of Orange Cassidy’s career: a shot at the AEW World Championship in the main event, the first time headlining a pay-per-view. Orange Cassidy has captivated fans with his unique character approach, going from a nonchalant character to finding his aggression when he needs it most. He’ll need it against Jon Moxley, who has made it his mission to take over a company he put on his back since his arrival at Double or Nothing 2019.

This isn’t time for Jon Moxley to lose the AEW World Championship, but this will be a great way for Orange Cassidy to show why he belongs in the main event more often. It’s a chance of a lifetime. When life gives you Oranges…

WINNER: Jon Moxley

How do you see this weekend’s AEW Full Gear event shaping up? Let us know in the comments what YOU think happens this weekend!