AEW’s Full Gear 2025 in Newark wasn’t just another PPV — it was a pivot point. The show reinforced AEW’s commitment to long-term narrative, elevated its midcard in meaningful ways, and recalibrated its main event scene with both shock and structure. Samoa Joe’s steel‑cage victory over Hangman Adam Page, HOOK’s betrayal, and Swerve Strickland’s return set a new power center. On other fronts, Ricochet becoming the first AEW National Champion, FTR reclaiming tag gold, and Mark Briscoe’s brutal TNT title win all compounded into a playbook full of future story lanes. The penultimate women’s match saw Kris Statlander survive a high-stakes, physical attack by Mercedes Moné, solidifying her place as a fighting champion. (All results drawn from AEW’s official recap.) 

Below is the full, verified card, and a detailed breakdown of why Full Gear 2025 could be a turning point for AEW’s booking and character trajectories.

Full Card Results & Key Moments

Based on AEW’s allelitewrestling.com report, here are the matches and critical highlights: 

1. Bang Bang Gang (Austin Gunn & Juice Robinson) def. $200K Four‑Way Tag Teams (The Acclaimed, Big Bill & Bryan Keith, The Outrunners) — Preshow money match.  
2. Big Boom AJ & QT Marshall def. RPG Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta) — Preshow.  
3. HOOK & Eddie Kingston def. The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) — Preshow.  
4. El Sky Team (Místico, Máscara Dorada & Neón) def. Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita & Hechicero — CMLL World Trios Championship retained.  
5. Ricochet wins the Casino Gauntlet (pinning Kevin Knight) → Becomes the inaugural AEW National Champion.  
6. Kyle O’Reilly def. Jon Moxley — No Holds Barred.  
7. Josh Alexander & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) def. Kenny Omega & Jurassic Express (Jungle Jack Perry & Luchasaurus) — $1,000,000 Trios Match.  
8. Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa (“Timeless Love Bombs”) def. Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir, Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron, and Julia Hart & Skye Blue — 4‑Way Women’s Tag.  
9. PAC def. Darby Allin.  
10. Mark Briscoe def. Kyle Fletcher — No‑DQ for the AEW TNT Championship.  
11. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) def. Brodido (Brody King & Bandido) — AEW World Tag Team Championship.  
12. Kris Statlander (c) def. Mercedes Moné — AEW Women’s World Championship.  
13. Samoa Joe def. “Hangman” Adam Page (c) — Steel Cage Match, AEW World Championship; HOOK betrays Page, Joe hits Muscle Buster, Swerve Strickland returns.  

Analytical Deep‑Dive: Why Full Gear 2025 Matters

1. 

Samoa Joe’s Heel Coup and a New AEW Power Base

• The finish of the steel cage match was far from a clean one. HOOK — long associated with The Opps — revealed his allegiance in a big way by siding with Joe, delivering a title belt to Joe, then allowing the Muscle Buster to land. That heel turn isn’t just a shock; it builds a stable around Joe that could dominate AEW’s top tier.  
• Swerve Strickland’s return immediately complicates things. According to SI.com, after Joe’s win, Strickland cleared The Opps dojo and stood face-to-face with Page and Joe.  This suggests future faction warfare and perhaps a build toward Swerve challenging Joe (or aligning with Page) — the door is wide open for a major storyline shift.

2. 

Ricochet and the Birth of a New Title Tier

• The introduction of the AEW National Championship — and Ricochet winning it — is signal-strength storytelling. AEW didn’t just add a mid-card belt; they built a platform for rising stars. Cageside Seats described the gauntlet as having up to 21 entrants and being “staggered Rumble-style,” which amplifies the prestige of Ricochet’s win.  
• By giving Ricochet the first National Title, AEW can now run a meaningful midcard program on its weekly TV shows, generating challengers and stories without shoehorning every feud into the World Title picture.

3. 

Tag Team Division Reset

• FTR’s win over Brodido is deeply meaningful. According to AEW’s own recap, FTR used a Spike Piledriver plus Shatter Machine to close things out.  
• Brodido had a strong run, and Cageside Seats notes their unique blend of power (with Brody King) and lucha-style speed (with Bandido).  FTR coming back shows AEW trusts them to anchor the tag division — and FTR’s experience offers a stable foundation for either brodido rematches or new challengers.

4. 

Women’s Division Credibility Through Resilience

• Kris Statlander’s defense against Mercedes Moné carried emotional weight. According to AEW’s recap, Statlander suffered a serious arm injury early, and Moné dominated by targeting it.  That narrative — of the underdog fighting through pain — reinforces Statlander’s legitimacy as champion.
• Moreover, Cageside Seats characterizes Moné’s assault as relentless, calling it a “vicious attack” on Statlander’s limb and returning to it repeatedly.  
• Statlander’s ability to turn the match around despite the injury builds her not just as a strong in-ring performer but as a resilient anchor for the women’s division. That makes her a credible cornerstone heading into 2026.

5. 

Violence & Risk: The TNT Title Means Business

• Mark Briscoe’s No‑DQ win over Kyle Fletcher was brutal. Cageside Seats notes the use of tables, chairs, and especially risky spots.  
• Briscoe’s victory likely serves multiple narrative purposes: elevating his legacy, possibly closing a chapter in his feud with Fletcher, and re-establishing the TNT Title as a prize worth fighting dirty for. This could lead to more hardcore-style matches or a renewed weekly presence.
• Also, considering Fletcher’s loss, AEW might position him to chase back the title — or move into a new feud, perhaps tied to his previous alliances or rivalries (e.g., with Takeishi, etc.).

6. 

Future Direction & TV Fallout

• The HOOK heel turn and Swerve’s return set up massive TV angles: expect AEW Dynamite and upcoming Rampage episodes to heavily feature the fallout. Whether it becomes a faction war or a multi-man title feud, the pieces are in place.
• Ricochet’s National Title opens up new weekly storytelling potential. AEW can now craft feuds around that belt, leveraging emerging talent.
• FTR as champions should anchor a strong tag scene, and Briscoe’s TNT win gives the company a wild card for TV violence or character-driven storytelling.
• On the women’s side, Statlander’s win gives her momentum; Moné remains credible, and this match could fuel either a rematch or a new contender storyline.

7. 

Risk vs. Reward: Booking Analysis

• Upside: The show’s big moments (World Title change + return + heel turn) give AEW compelling storylines. Using HOOK as the agent of betrayal adds depth. Ricochet’s coronation is a smart elevation.
• Risk: A heel-turned-hook might be polarizing, and if Swerve is the only person who can challenge Joe, that could bottleneck creative. Also, having so many title changes in one night can create confusion if TV follow-up isn’t strong.
• But if AEW leans in, Full Gear 2025 could pay off as a “reset PPV” — a moment that refocuses multiple divisions and sets up new arcs across Dynamite, Rampage, and future pay-per-views.

Final Take

Full Gear 2025 was not a safe show — it was a transformative one. With Samoa Joe’s shocking World Title win, Swerve’s return, and major title changes across the card, AEW is clearly pressing reset on several fronts while rewarding long-term storytelling. But the success of this reset hinges on what comes next: Can AEW build on HOOK’s betrayal? Will Ricochet’s National Title be more than a gimmick? Can FTR deliver consistent tag matches as champions again? And perhaps most intriguingly: where will Swerve go from here?

If AEW leans into these storylines, Full Gear 2025 will be remembered not just as a PPV, but as the launching pad for year‑defining arcs.

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