Tonight’s AEW Full Gear from the Prudential Center in Newark promises one of AEW’s most stacked November cards in memory — a physical, storyline-driven main event in a steel cage, a trilogy match for the AEW Women’s World Title, the debut of a new AEW National Championship decided in a Casino Gauntlet, plus a pre-show Tailgate Brawl built to crank the atmosphere up before the pay-per-view starts. With Tony Khan and AEW leaning into big stipulations, fresh titles and surprise elements (including a live “mystery” tag team challenge), Full Gear looks positioned to close AEW’s autumn with heat, drama and potential long-term consequences for the roster. 

Here is everything advertised for tonight’s show

Below is a concise rundown of both the Tailgate Brawl preshow and the Full Gear main card — followed by match-by-match analysis and what each match could mean going forward.

Full Gear Tailgate Brawl

• One-hour Tailgate Brawl pre-show (simulcast with Collision / TNT/HBO Max), built as an energetic lead-in to the PPV.  
• The preshow includes several billed matches and special attractions (reports list three notable preshow bouts and an on-air $200K/largest-purse style match), and AEW has also teased surprise appearances / one-off segments designed to push fans into the arena early. Expect quick, high-intensity matches and character moments.  

AEW Full Gear Main Card

• AEW World Championship — Hangman Adam Page (c) vs. Samoa Joe — Steel Cage Match.  
• AEW Women’s World Championship — Kris Statlander (c) vs. Mercedes Moné — trilogy (their rivalry continues here).  
• Casino Gauntlet — Inaugural AEW National Championship to be crowned (multi-entrant gauntlet match).  
• AEW World Tag Team Championship — Brodido (Brodie King & Bandido) (c) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler).  
• No Holds Barred Match — Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly (reported).  
• Additional featured matches and surprise elements (including a newly added mystery tag team match featuring Eddie Kingston & HOOK, announced as a late-card addition and to be revealed live) round out a deep card that sources say totals a dozen-plus matches.  

Match-by-match analysis & what to watch

Tailgate Brawl (Preshow)

AEW’s Tailgate Brawl concept (a one-hour pre-show on TNT/HBO Max) has become more than warmups: it’s an event designed to create narrative momentum and TV ratings while giving surprise spots to big names. Tonight’s Tailgate Brawl is advertised to include quick, crowd-friendly matches and at least one big-money or “purse” style contest that raises stakes without eating main-card time. If AEW wants to seed surprise returns or set up immediate PPV fallout, expect one or two segments from the preshow to be referenced during the main show. The preshow’s pacing — fast, physical, and attention-grabbing — will be crucial for building energy ahead of the steel-cage main event. 

Preshow storylines to watch

• Any surprise appearance (rumored names and international attractions have been floated) could create an immediate post-preshow buzz and be used as either a swerve or to seed WrestleDream/Worlds End plans.  

Hangman Adam Page (c) vs. Samoa Joe — Steel Cage Match (AEW World Title)

A steel cage converts a personal rivalry into a contained, violent spectacle. Samoa Joe’s heel turn and history with Page (and his status as an AEW World Trios Champion) makes Joe a credible threat with motive beyond the belt — revenge and dominance. For Page, the cage is both a shield and a trap: it prevents outside interference (sort of), but it also plays into the “can he finish the story?” narrative. If AEW wants to protect Page’s title credibility while enhancing Joe’s destructive heat, we may see a finish that keeps Page strong while allowing Joe to escalate in character (or conversely, a decisive Joe victory would reshape the main-event scene). The match’s booking will likely determine the 2026 trajectory of AEW’s single and trios divisions. 

What to expect in-ring: stiff strikes, psychology around escape and contact points on the cage, and heavy spots designed to sell finality. Also watch for whether the cage is used to isolate Page — a classic Joe tactic — or whether Page’s team (or allies) are barred from interfering by the stipulation.

Kris Statlander (c) vs. Mercedes Moné — AEW Women’s World Championship (Trilogy)

This is billed as a continuation of a rivalry that has personal heat and athletic stakes. Statlander’s push as an established AEW presence vs. Moné’s star power (and recent run of multiple titles elsewhere) makes this a marquee women’s match. If AEW wants to cement Statlander as a long-term pillar, a title defense here would be the narrative route; a Moné victory would inject cross-promotional intrigue and arguably create fresh programing possibilities for the women’s division. Expect high production, a finish that validates whichever talent the company views as the long-term centerpiece, and potentially a post-match beat that sets up new challengers or a rematch clause. 

Casino Gauntlet — Inaugural AEW National Championship

AEW’s creation of a National Championship that is to be decided in a Casino Gauntlet is a strategic move — it creates a mid-card spotlight and gives multiple contenders a chance to elevate. The gauntlet format rewards both endurance and opportunism; it’s a great vehicle to either plant a new rising star or to give a veteran a storyline boost (reports have named entrants such as Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Ricochet and other high-caliber names). The inaugural champion will immediately carry credibility if AEW books someone with both in-ring cred and promo ability. Watch for booking that sets the title as meaningful (frequent defenses, meaningful challengers) rather than cosmetic. 

Brodido (Brodie King & Bandido) (c) vs. FTR — AEW World Tag Team Championship

FTR challenging for the tag belts is always notable — they bring old-school tag psychology and hot crowd investment. Brodido have legitimate momentum and an unconventional aesthetic; FTR want to reassert themselves as the barometer of tag greatness in AEW. This match should be a technical, chain-wrestling heavy, psychology-driven classic; if AEW wants to elevate the tag division’s prestige, this is the kind of match to do it. Expect crisp exchanges, near-falls, a late sequence of tandem offense, and either a clean title change or a finish that sets up a longer feud. 

Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly — No Holds Barred (reported)

If this is on the card as reported, a No Holds Barred stipulation signals AEW intends to go violent and decisive — the kind of match that resolves a personal CO-RE feud rather than a sports contest. Both competitors have hardcore cred and a background in fights that emphasize submission and aggression; the match will be an opportunity to either bury or revitalize storylines for those involved. 

Mystery tag match (Eddie Kingston & HOOK open challenge)

One of the more intriguing late additions is a live “mystery” tag match reportedly added to the Full Gear lineup: Eddie Kingston and HOOK issued an open challenge and the opponent(s) will be revealed live. That element of unpredictability is classic AEW — it creates social-media chatter and can be used to debut, return or swerve. The success of this spot depends entirely on the reveal: a big name or faction surprise will create an immediate viral moment; a local or lower-card team will be a missed opportunity unless used to further a narrative beat (shocking interference, ambush, etc.). 

Strategic notes & booking possibilities

• Title planting vs. short-term swerve: AEW can use Full Gear to plant long-term champions (e.g., staking Statlander or a newly crowned National Champion as core pillars) or to create short-term swerve headlines (surprise title changes). The presence of a new inaugural belt makes the PPV especially consequential for AEW’s 2026 booking.  
• Cage match main event: the steel cage main should (ideally) be used to end a chapter cleanly — either a definitive title defense or a handoff that changes direction. The finish will reverberate into early-2026 storylines.  
• Preshow integration: expect at least one preshow moment to “bleed” into the main card — either to introduce an opponent, set up a rematch clause, or create an instant heel/face dynamic that Main Card commentary references.  

Full Gear Main Card

• Hangman Adam Page (c) vs. Samoa Joe — Steel Cage (AEW World Championship).  
• Kris Statlander (c) vs. Mercedes Moné — AEW Women’s World Championship (trilogy).  
• Casino Gauntlet — for the inaugural AEW National Championship.  
• Brodido (Brodie King & Bandido) (c) vs. FTR — AEW World Tag Team Championship.  
• Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly — No Holds Barred (reported).  
• Eddie Kingston & HOOK vs. Mystery Opponents — tag match (mystery opponents announced live).  
• Plus: additional undercard matches, surprise returns/segments and possible multi-person matches added in the lead-up (AEW has added matches in the final hours before other PPVs this year, so expect the unexpected).  

Final thoughts

Full Gear 2025 has the trappings of a classic AEW autumn PPV: big stipulations (cage), a new title that reshapes the midcard landscape, high-profile singles and tag title matches, and a pre-show tailored to generate momentum. The success of the show will hinge on clear finishes that either advance long-term storylines or create memorable, justified swerves. If AEW balances decisive outcomes with a few judicious surprises (like the live mystery tag), Full Gear could set the table for an intriguing 2026.

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