Jon Moxley vs. Bryan Danielson - Full Gear 2021

Event Overview and Venue Logistics

The fifth annual Full Gear event took place on November 18, 2023, marking a significant return to the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. As one of All Elite Wrestling's prestigious "Big Four" pay-per-views alongside Double or Nothing, All Out, and Revolution, this show traditionally occupies a Saturday slot around Veterans Day week. The production required unique scheduling adjustments because Full Gear occupied the usual time slot for AEW's weekly program, Collision.

Consequently, that weekend's episode of Collision was broadcast live from the same venue on Friday night at 8 p.m., while Rampage also aired from Inglewood later that evening. To maximize accessibility, AEW partnered with Joe Hand Promotions to screen the event in select theaters and out-of-home establishments across North America. The card featured eleven total matches, including three contests on the Zero Hour pre-show, showcasing a packed schedule of high-stakes competition for the Los Angeles crowd.

Main Event Championship Stakes

The evening's primary attraction centered on the AEW World Championship, defended by champion MJF against challenger Jay White. Their intense rivalry was built over weeks of television segments where White claimed responsibility for MJF's past alliances and demanded a title shot after stealing the championship belt. The storyline escalated when White, accompanied by Bullet Club Gold members Juice Robinson and The Gunns, physically assaulted MJF before issuing his formal challenge.

While the main event focused on the world title, the tag team division also saw significant action during the pre-show. MJF was scheduled to defend the ROH World Tag Team Championship alongside a mystery partner against Austin and Colten Gunn. Although Adam Cole originally held the titles with MJF, he suffered a broken foot in September, leading to Samoa Joe stepping in as the replacement after saving MJF from an attack on Rampage.

The Patriarchy vs. The Legends Trios Match

A major narrative thread involved a trios match pitting Sting and Darby Allin against Christian Cage's faction, known as The Patriarchy. This feud ignited after Cage retained the TNT Championship at WrestleDream, where he turned on his former ally Nick Wayne before attacking Allin with Luchasaurus. Although Sting attempted to make the save, Adam Copeland made his surprise AEW debut to rescue both men from further harm. Despite Copeland's initial refusal to fight Cage due to their shared history, repeated attacks by The Patriarchy forced him to join forces with Sting and Allin for Full Gear. This match represented a clash between wrestling generations, featuring the legendary Sting and the newly debuted Copeland against Cage's aggressive stablemates, creating a highly anticipated confrontation that highlighted the deep-seated animosity developed on Dynamite and Collision.

International Title Feud and Roster Expansion

The event also served as a pivotal moment for the AEW International Championship and international talent integration. Jon Moxley had won the title at All Out but lost it to Rey Fenix due to a legitimate concussion before Orange Cassidy regained it. Following Cassidy's successful defense against Claudio Castagnoli, Moxley challenged Cassidy for the championship at Full Gear, setting up a grudge match within the Blackpool Combat Club dynamic. Beyond the in-ring action, the event was notable for the official announcement of Will Ospreay joining AEW full-time. Although Ospreay had been appearing on AEW programming while under contract with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, his transition to the permanent roster was confirmed during this period, officially taking effect in February 2024 after his NJPW obligations concluded.