On November 9th, AEW will be holding Full Gear from the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. Recently, it was announced that the AEW World Championship will be on the line as well. In this match, titleholder Chris Jericho will defend his newly won championship against Cody.
From the get-go, Cody has had a strong showing in AEW. At the promotion’s inaugural event, Double or Nothing, Cody defeated brother Dustin Rhodes in what fans and critics deemed the match of the night. From there, he went on to face Darby Allin at Fyter Fest, which was also well-received barring the controversial ending. A few months following their singles encounter, the Rhodes brothers teamed up to face The Young Bucks at Fight for the Fallen. Most recently, Cody faced Shawn Spears in a winning effort at All Out.
Chris Jericho has had an arguably greater record in All Elite Wrestling. Though he participated in fewer AEW matches than Cody, Jericho’s victories were great, to say the least. At Double or Nothing, Jericho defeated Kenny Omega in a match that guaranteed him a future AEW World Championship match. Leading up to All Out, Jericho had numerous confrontations with “Hangman” Adam Page. In the main event of All Out, Jericho defeated Page, becoming the first-ever AEW World Champion in the process.
The confirmed matches for AEW Full Gear are as follows:
Chris Jericho (c) vs. Cody (AEW World Championship)
Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega
https://twitter.com/AEWrestling/status/1169762173582827520?s=20
Sutter’s Synopsis: To sell fans on Full Gear, AEW had to announce a main event caliber match. The prospect of Jericho defending the AEW World Championship against Cody is not only intriguing but it makes sense.
It’s important to note that Cody has become one of the most popular stars in AEW. Though he also serves as one of the EVPs of the promotion, he receives some of the strongest reactions when he comes out. Furthermore, his angle with Spears has endeared him to fans, making him an even more beloved fan favorite. In order for Jericho’s reign to be meaningful, he needs to face credible stars. In terms of singles competition, it can be debated that Cody is top tier.
As far as early predictions are concerned – and this may change as Full Gear looms closer – I believe Jericho will retain at this event. While I’m certain that Cody will eventually become AEW World Champion, I am of the opinion that the first title reign should be a lengthy one. I don’t see Jericho losing the strap for some time to come.
